Oscar Wilde About America (2024) Movie Script
1
["Am I alone, and unobserved"
by Gilbert and Sullivan]
Am I alone and unobserved?
I am
Then let me own
I'm an aesthetic sham!
Oh, there she is,
the toast of the West End.
Harriet, darling,
don't mention toast.
You know I'm off carbs.
I have already called the half,
which is utterly redundant
as the only person
in the production
is gallivanting around
the streets of London
-in his fucking costume.
-I needed fags.
Story of my life.
Do not smoke in your costume.
I have to take it back to the--
-The higher company--
-On Monday.
And there are
a bunch of fucking twats.
They're breaking me
out in hives.
Oh, they suit you, darling.
This air severe
is but a mere
Veneer!
That you think almost
as highly of this play
as I do myself.
This cynic smile
is but a wile
Of guile!
This costume chaste
is but good taste
Misplaced
Hello? Hi. Sorry, who's this?
[over phone] It's Oscar.
Oscar Conlon-Morrey.
Oh, right, sorry, I thought
you were the Ethiopian boy
I met at Jersey Boys.
Okay, so Oscar Wilde
wrote, right?
Yeah, he was a playwright.
-Yes.
-Right. So I mean,
I didn't get that until like,
15 minutes into the thing.
I mean, that wasn't clear to me,
and I work in the business, so.
I-- I think most people know
who Oscar Wilde is.
Most gay people do, at least.
Well, I'm gay,
and I didn't get that.
-So
-[Oscar] Did, uh...
Did you manage to speak
to any of the investors
that Carol invited yet?
[Tim] Look, your show's
a tough sell.
Investors know that.
We all get that.
-We all agree. Right?
-That was the whole point
of doing
the showcase last night.
It was why I blew
3/4 of my life savings
on hiring the Haymarket Theatre,
Oscar's Theatre,
in order to raise funds
for my showcase.
It's why Carol currently
on Ryan Murphy's plane
to Thessaloniki.
The private jet.
His private jet.
It even has a name.
Look, let me find out
and I'll get back to you, okay?
Look, we're here for you
if you need anything.
Are you good?
-Um, I actually wouldn't--
-[Tim] You're good. Okay.
Look, we'll talk soon.
Okay? Bye.
Sorry, Tim,
I was actually wondering...
Hello?
It's here,
[indistinct]
Alone retains its zest
[indistinct lyrics]
[Oscar grunts]
Shitty, darling. Very shitty.
Just been on with my agent.
Oh, Oscar, do you remember
what you told me
the day we met?
[Oscar] Never wear Bermuda
shorts in central London.
-No.
-Green is a difficult color?
-[???] No.
-Chunky jewelry--
Oscar, no. Be yourself.
Everyone else is already taken.
[Oscar] I never said that.
Oscar said it.
All right, well, I knew
one of the two of you said it.
I'm always confusing
you two, anyway.
[Oscar] Tell me about it.
Ooh. Are you naked?
[Oscar] As the day
I was born, darling.
-Gotta go.
-Love-- love you, mate.
[Oscar] Love you more.
Bye.
[Oscar sighing softly]
The basis of character
is willpower.
A languid love for lilies
does not blight me
A languid...
[Harriet]
Coffee in your costume again?
[Oscar]
Relax, darling. It's decaf.
I do not care...
-A fan.
-Thank you.
More pube brownies.
Be sure to save me one.
[chuckling]
...it's Japanese
I am not fond
of uttering platitudes
In stained glass attitudes
In short
My medievalism's
affectation
Born of a morbid love
Of admiration
If you're anxious
for to shine
in the high aesthetic line
As a man of culture rare
You must get up all the germs
of the transcendental terms
And plant them everywhere
You must lie upon the daisies
and discourse in
novel phrases
Of your complicated
state of mind
The meaning doesn't matter
if it's only idle chatter
Of a transcendental kind
And everyone will say
As you walk your mystic way
If this young man
expresses himself
In terms too deep for me
Why, what a very singularly
deep young man
This deep young man must be
Be eloquent in praise
of the [indistinct]
Which have long
since passed...
Is there anything
I have to do whilst I'm here?
Yes, it's beautiful sceneries.
-Yes.
-You can have the pizza.
-The pizza?
-Yeah.
They're the best pizza
in New York City.
-Oh, and local delicacies.
-Of course. Yes.
For art stopped short
in the cultivated court
Of the Empress Josephine
And everyone will say
As you walk your mystic way
If that's not
good enough for him
Which is good enough for me
Why, what a very cultivated
kind of youth
This kind of youth must be
I have nothing
to declare but my genius.
Where can I find that pizza?
In sentimental passion
of a vegetable fashion
Must excite
your languid speed
An attachment a la Plato
for a bashful young potato
Or a not too
French French bean
Though the philistines
may jostle
You will rank as an apostle
in the high aesthetic band
If you walk down Piccadilly
with a poppy or a lily
In your medieval hand
And everyone will say
As you walk your
flowery way
If he is content
with a vegetable love
Which would certainly
not suit me
Why, what a most particularly
pure young man
This pure young man must be
["It's a New Day"
(feat. Vicki Vox) by Holy See]
Mmm, yeah, yeah
Oh, yeah
It's a new day for a high
For a high, for a high
It's another day to thrive
To thrive, good bye
[Oscar] I came to America
the first time in 1882,
to promote
Gilbert and Sullivan's
comic opera Patience.
I lectured
for one year in 30 states
from New York to California.
By the time
I returned to England,
I was a celebrity.
The world's second
most famous queen.
And I haven't written anything.
Well, nothing you'd know.
Anyway, I was famous
just for being famous.
May I continue
with the tour now, Mr. Wilde?
Oh, my dear fellow.
Well, yes, of course.
The suspense is terrible.
I do hope it lasts.
I just turn the page,
let it ride
What a lie, what a lie
[John]
Madison Square park.
An epicenter
of Wilde's time in New York.
The Fifth Avenue Hotel,
where he would meet
actresses for his plays.
And Delmonico's,
his favorite restaurant.
And on this side
of the square, Mansions,
where Oscar was fated
by society.
Oh, and Oscar's bank,
where he had to go one day,
embarrassed to stop some checks
because he had been conned
in a card game.
Well, anybody
who lives within their means
suffers from
a lack of imagination.
Oh, so wonderful.
-What's your name?
-Carlos.
-Carlos.
-And this is Luca.
-Hello. Luca.
-Luca, say hi.
-Hey, baby.
-Say hello to Oscar Wilde.
He's a famous person.
It's wonderful
to meet you, Carlos.
-Have a wonderful day.
-You look amazing.
-It's a pleasure. Ciao.
-What a pleasure.
Love Carlos.
I am pleased to see
this building
of neoclassical structure
has survived.
[John] Well, I'm afraid
to have to tell you this,
Mr. Wilde, but Stern Brothers
is now a Home Depot.
A Home De--
What in Christendom
is a Home Depot?
Well, a DIY.
DIY?
[John] Do it yourself.
Do what myself?
Hm, your bedroom, your bathroom.
Or-- or perhaps your kitchen.
Oh, well, let us see
if they have anything that can
live up to my blue China. Hm?
[upbeat music playing]
[John] Here we are
on Irving Place,
on two houses, Oscar,
that you may recognize.
Number 47 and number 49.
At number 47 was a house
that Oscar Wilde
actually stayed at
when he started taking rooms
in rented accommodation
after staying in hotels
most of the year.
Your friend, Bessie Marbury,
also lived here.
She became
your literary agent in America.
And she lived here
with Elsie de Wolfe.
Um, for a period of 30 years
in what was known
then as a "Boston marriage."
But we know now
they had a relationship,
and they were one of America's
leading gay icons
of the late 19th century.
Bessie Marbury
was Wilde's literary agent,
probably one of the first female
literary agents of her day.
And her partner, Elsie de Wolfe,
almost certainly
the first female
interior designer in America.
And now, my dear Mr. Cooper,
I must take my leave of you,
for this promenade
through my past
has bored me so wretchedly
that I've nearly lost
all interest in life.
Good day. Taxi.
[tentative music]
-Thank you, driver.
-[driver] How are you?
-Thank you.
-[driver] All right.
All right. Thank you very much.
All right, then.
[indistinct chatter, laughter]
[Luis] Oscar.
You're back.
This is Wonderful.
[woman] Oscar.
Good afternoon, dear Oscar.
I hope
you are behaving very well.
I'm feeling very well,
thank you.
[chuckling] Well, that is not
quite the same thing.
In fact, the two things rarely
go together. [chuckling]
Oscar, I feel bound
to tell you
that you are not on my list
of eligible young men.
-Do you smoke?
-It's--
-Yes, I must admit I do smoke.
-No, I'm glad to hear it.
A man should always have
some occupation of some kind.
There are far too many
idle men in New York as it is.
How old are you?
I'm 29.
A good age to get married at.
Tell the boys that. [chuckling]
Boys?
Oh, well, yes, Lady Bracknell.
Uh, do you mean
you couldn't tell?
The love that dare
not speak its name
has always been a deep
spiritual affection
is as pure as it is perfect.
I've always been
of the opinion that a man
who decides to get married,
Should always know
either everything or nothing.
Which do you know?
I am too old to know everything.
-I know nothing, Lady Bracknell.
-Well, I'm glad to hear it.
I do not approve of anything
that tampers
with natural ignorance.
Indeed, ignorance
is like a delicate exotic fruit.
Touch it and the bloom is gone.
Hmm.
Dishes will not be
necessary, Luis.
We will not be eating
this cucumber sandwiches,
just admiring them.
And now to minor matters,
Mr. Worthing.
Are your parents living?
Mr. Worth--
[clearing throat]
I have lost both my parents.
To lose one parent,
Mr. Worthing,
may be regarded as a misfortune.
But to lose both
looks like carelessness.
Who was your father?
[quirky music]
Uh, my fath--
[Oscar clearing throat]
I'm afraid I really don't know.
The fact is, Lady Bracknell,
I said I had lost my parents.
It would be nearer
the truth to say
my parents seem to have lost me.
I don't actually know
who I am by birth.
I was...
Well, I was found.
Found?
The late Mr. Thomas Cardew,
an old gentleman
of a very charitable
and kindly disposition
found me and gave me
the name of Worthing.
Because he happened to have
a first class ticket
for Worthing
in his pocket at the time.
Worthing is a place in Sussex.
It is a seaside resort.
Wh-- whe- where-- where did
this charitable gentleman,
who had a first class ticket
to this seaside resort,
find you?
-In a handbag.
-[Lady Bracknell gasps]
A handbag?
Yes. Yes, I was in a handbag.
A somewhat large handbag
with handles to it.
An ordinary handbag, in fact.
Oh, and-- and-- and
in what locality
did this Mr. James
or Thomas Cardew
come across
this ordinary handbag?
In the cloakroom
at Victoria Station.
It was given to him
in mistake for his own.
The cloakroom
at Victoria Station?
Yes, the Brighton line.
The line is immaterial.
I strongly advise you,
Mr. Worthing,
to try and acquire some relation
as soon as possible.
Well, I don't see how I could
possibly manage to do that.
I can produce the handbag
at any moment.
It is
in my dressing room at home.
I really think that should
satisfy you, Lady Bracknell.
[Lady Bracknell] Me, sir?
[chuckling softly]
Thank you, Lady Bracknell.
Good day, Oscar.
[chuckles] That was fun.
[Lady Bracknell chuckling]
Laughing to myself.
[Lady Bracknell laughing softly]
["Be Yourself"
by Oscar Conlon-Morrey]
I'm a young girl
And I've just come over
Over from the country
Where they do things big
And amongst the boys
I found me a lover
And since I have a lover
I just don't care a fig
The boy I love
is up in the gallery
The boy I love
is looking now at me
There he is, can't you see
Waving his handkerchief
As merry as a robin
That sings on a tree
The boy I love
Is up in the gallery
The boy I love
Is looking now at me
There he is, can't you see
Waving his handkerchief
As merry as a robin
That sings on a tree
Oh, my God.
Is that who I think it is?
Gay Benjamin Franklin
with a Lestat blowout.
Somebody call Anne Rice.
Ladies and gentlemen,
my friend Oscar.
[dramatic piano music]
Now, I'm sure
you've heard it said
that truth is beauty,
beauty, truth.
It wasn't me, dear.
It was Keats.
I wouldn't dream
of taking the credit.
Even so, perhaps
you've also heard it said
that I am a lover of youth.
I did say that and it caused
quite a bit of trouble
with the law.
Don't you know?
Illusion is the first
of all life's pleasures
That one's mine.
The world's a stage
the play is badly cast
Also me.
Escape it all
by cherishing your treasures
I paraphrase.
And soon you'll find
the fear of life
Has passed Dorian Gray
And look, I know
all this sounds fabulous
and desperately clever
and the history books
all say that was my charm
but when first I ventured
forth on my aesthetical endeavor
I was treated
not with kindness but alarm.
For they'd never seen
a man wear so much satin
So much lace with hair
cascading down around his ear
And so the lesson
that I learned
I learned
with elegance and grace
And it's one that I've been
passing on for years
Be yourself, be yourself
Everyone else is taken
Be yourself, just yourself
Nobody else will do
Why should you
try to comply
And pretend
to be a person you're not?
Someone you don't even know
Why live a lie and deny
who you're meant to be?
Show the world
just what you've got
Better to be seen than not
So be yourself, be yourself
Everyone else is taken
Be yourself, just yourself
Nobody else is you
Now, before I go there's one
thing I ought probably address
an elephantine presence
you could say,
for if anybody didn't understand
the way I dressed
they really didn't like
that I was, well, quite.
And yet our differences
are numerous
As stars up in the sky
Why take one little thing
so much to heart
No, no, however
you may love
However you identify
Remember
you're a living, breathing
Walking work of art
So be yourself, be yourself
Everyone else is taken
Be yourself, just yourself
Nobody else will do
Why live a lie and deny
who you're meant to be?
Make the bastards
turn and look
Take a leaf
from Oscar's book
And be yourself
Be yourself
Everyone else is taken
Be yourself, just yourself
Nobody else is you
[street din]
[Oscar] Facts are usurping
the domain of fancy.
And have invaded
the kingdom of romance.
The crude
commercialization of America,
its materializing spiritual,
its indifference
to the poetical side of things.
And its lack of imagination
and of high,
unattainable ideals.
Are entirely due
to that country
having adopted
for its national hero
a man who, according
to his own confession,
was incapable of telling a lie.
And it's not too much to say
that the story
of George Washington
and the cherry tree
has done more harm
and in a shorter space of time
than any other moral tale
in the whole of literature.
[intriguing classical music]
Oscar. Welcome.
Ms. North.
What a pleasure
to meet you in the flesh.
Oh, thank you
so much for coming.
Thank you for my invitation.
It's an honor.
-Of course.
-What a beautiful home.
-Thank you.
-This is stunning.
-We're glad to have you.
-Bless you.
-Come inside.
-Oh, thank you so much.
I can't wait to see
your interior design.
[Ms. North chuckling]
How was your trip?
Oh, hot.
[Ms. North laughing]
I am very glad
to have been invited
and to address an audience in...
Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
And I am impelled
for the first time in my life
to breathe a fervent prayer.
God, save me
from my disciples.
[women chuckling]
Your people love art.
-Yes?
-[women] Yes. Yeah.
But you do not sufficiently
honor the handicraftsman.
I did not imagine until I went
into some of your simpler cities
that there was so much
bad work done.
I found where I went
bad wallpapers,
horribly designed
and colored carpets.
Oh, and that old offender,
the horse hair sofa.
-Oh, my God.
-My husband's grandmother
had one
right in the living room.
-What is that?
-Stank like the devil.
-[laugher]
-And so did she.
[overlapping conversation]
Ladies, ladies.
-[women murmuring]
-Excuse me. Thank you.
Have no great flaming chandelier
in the center of the room.
Also, you should not have
cast iron railings
fixed outside the house.
Oh, I think
Amy has some of those.
She does.
There is nothing,
to my mind,
more coarse in conception
and more vulgar
in execution
than modern jewelry.
-Yes, and thank you.
-No, and thank you.
We spend our days looking
for the secret of life.
Well.
[tentative music]
The secret of life...
is in art.
[laughter]
[women chanting] Bravo. Bravo.
[Alyson Williams]
"Illusion is the first
of all pleasures."
"The world's a stage
and the play is badly cast."
Escape it all
by cherishing your treasures
and soon you'll find
the fear of light has passed.
["Be Yourself" (Dance version)
by Alyson Williams]
[Oscar]
Right and left, left and right.
Right and left, left and right.
Right and left, left and right.
-The secret of life...
-is in art.
And no iron railings!
Yes. And thank you.
[all cheering]
Cheers, darling.
[all cheering]
Why live a lie, try to deny
Who you were really
meant to be
Show the world
just what you got
It's better
to be seen than not
Be yourself, be yourself,
everyone else is taken
Be yourself, just yourself,
nobody else will do
Be yourself, be yourself,
everyone else is taken
Be yourself, just yourself,
nobody else is you
Fact is, folks
are terrified
Of different large or small
In creed or culture,
looks or speech or skin
But how you gonna find
the beauty out there?
[Alyson] Oscar.
-Oscar.
-Alyson
Oscar, baby, you made it.
-[Alyson exclaims]
-Oh, my darling.
I'm so glad
you were able to come
-and look at you.
-Thank you for having me.
And a costume change
for you as well.
-Well, absolutely.
-You look delectable, darling.
Listen, I want you to meet
a dear friend of mine.
His name is Randy Jones
and he's just going to love you.
Now listen,
come on here with me.
I'm sure he's in here somewhere.
[Alyson gasps]
We're picking people
from our party to, uh,
Be with us later
for a little, uh,
how can I say,
burlesque type show.
-Oh, burlesque.
-Strippers, basically.
-Strippers?
-But we're gonna pick them
from the audience.
-You wanna help?
-That sounds like vaudeville.
I'm very much--
Oh, can I grab a little slider?
We don't have time
to eat, honey.
You'll have time to eat,
plenty of time later.
Now listen, keep an eye and see.
What do you think?
Well, I think
he's was absolutely gorgeous.
Oh, Oscar. Oscar.
We love you, Oscar.
-So wonderful to meet you.
-You're a hit already.
I told you, they're just gonna
eat you up, love muffin.
[Randy] What we're gonna
do now is move on
to our next entertainer.
["I Need You Love" by Glow City]
Oh, oh, all right
I need your love
Oh, oh, all right, all right,
all right, all right
All right, all right,
all right, all right
All right, all right,
all right, all right
One, two, three.
Oscar, won't you come forward.
You know him and I want
you to come and meet everyone.
Give him [indistinct].
[indistinct] Oscar Wilde.
-[cheering]
-Give it up for my friend Oscar.
Please, meet Randy Jones.
[cheering]
How often do you get
two icons in the same group?
Now, I would be remiss
if I did not take time
with my friend Oscar.
I have a question for you.
Hey, everybody.
Come on, he's come a long way.
Oscar, will you tell us
what is your strongest
impression of the South?
-[man] Holy shit.
-Of the South?
-[people chattering]
-Well, hello everyone.
[crowd cheering]
I was forewarned
that the south would be hot.
But it wasn't until
I came to this party
and saw the specimens
in the room
that I truly understood
the meaning of that word.
[loud cheering]
Guys, you'd like very much
to thank you for having me,
to thank you
for your hospitality,
for your kindness,
your rock hard abs.
But mainly I'd like
to thank you for your teachings.
So, you see,
I cannot wait to take that
to London with me to sing
"The Higher the Hair,
the Closer to God."
[cheering]
["Y.M.C.A" by Village People]
Young man, there's no need
to feel down, I said
Young man, pick yourself
off the ground, I said
Young man,
'cause you're in a new town
There's no need
to be unhappy
Young man, there's a place
you can go, I said
Young man, when you're short
on your dough
You can stay there,
and I'm sure you will find
Many ways
to have a good time
It's fun to stay
at the Y.M.C.A.
It's fun to stay
at the Y.M.C.A.
They have everything
for young men to enjoy
You can hang out
with all the boys
It's fun to stay
at the Y.M.C.A.
It's fun to stay
at the Y.M.C.A.
They have everything
for young men to enjoy
You can hang out
with all the boys
It's fun to stay
at the Y.M.C.A.
It's fun to stay
at the Y.M.C.A.
Young man, young man,
there's no need to feel down
Young man, young man,
pick yourself off the ground
Y.M.C.A.
-Thank you.
-[crowd cheering]
Hello! Now...
Hey!
Now what we have to do,
what we have to do
to [indistinct] and
Winston-Salem is to decide...
[Ron] Good evening.
Welcome to Thompson Talks.
I'm Ron Stacker Thompson.
And I have here with me
tonight a very special guest.
The cowboy from Village People,
Randy Jones.
Hey there. How are you?
And you brought
a very special guest too.
You know what? I absolutely did.
And what the surprise
of my life.
Are you aware at all Mr. Wilde
of Village People?
Uh, we-- Well, I'm afraid
I'm terribly sorry
to say this, Randy,
but my first exposure
to this delightful premise
was last night at the party
where I had the great privilege
-of sharing a stage...
-Right?
...with the Village People.
So you got to see it
from my perspective.
-I did. I did.
-Is that not amazing?
It's remarkable.
I assume there were
many people there last night.
-[Oscar] There were.
-How did they respond to...
The Village People?
All...
The-- the barriers
were dropped...
-Yes.
-...for those three minutes
-when you started singing.
-Yeah.
Everyone came together
-and it was unifying.
-Yes.
And I realized in that moment,
whilst it might...
To raise a child,
it takes a village.
-[Ron] Yes.
-To raise a queer child,
it takes the Village People.
-And to have--
-[Ron] Oh, nicely put.
Yes, and to have
a united country,
it takes a village.
And it takes--
We are a huge village,
this country,
because we are built
of some of the most diverse
people on the face of the earth.
You mentioned beauty
and I love the term that you,
I think, coined yourself
the architect of beauty or the,
uh, the, exhilarator of beauty?
Uh, do you still feel that way?
To live out a tawdry...
existence.
Rather than to live one's
true self completely
and totally,
was never an option.
So at some time in my life,
I should like to think
I can find the beauty in myself.
I understand
what you've just said.
But simply put...
when you look in the mirror,
do you see something beautiful?
-[Oscar] No.
-No?
Never have?
No.
[forest din]
[somber music building]
-[Paul] The lovers number six.
-[Oscar] Hmm.
This card is not about a lover.
An illicit lover, a love affair.
This card is about a major...
life altering choice
in your life.
A choice.
Seven. You're defending
yourself against something.
Oh, the Two of Cups.
This is true love.
We have another
strong masculine figure.
You have interacted
with this person in other forms,
other lives, other--
And it's, uh...
karmic, it's just coming
back from another life.
Y'all may have not been, uh,
lovers in the past life,
but you definitely are attracted
to each other in this life.
You're quite right in...
That there are...
two Oscars...
battling...
to get out.
And it's which...
that I'm prepared...
to let free.
Yes, because one is imprisoned
by what other people think.
[somber music]
["It'll Be All Right"
by Cody Francis]
Oh, my child I know
You're hurting
you can't let go
It's not your fault
and you don't deserve
All the bad and the hurt
Ooh
I know you've tried so hard
Ooh
I know you've done your part
it's not fair
You did your time
How much longer
will you suffer in this life?
But don't give up
Just hold on tight
It'll be all right
All your life you've tried
To be a good man inside
Did Everything
that you thought you should
[Kimberly shouting] Oscar!
-[Oscar laughing]
-Hi!
Kimberly.
Oh, my God.
I can't believe it's you.
[both]
Oh, it's so good to see you.
I couldn't come to Alabama
without swinging by.
-I'm so glad you're here.
-Oh, darling.
-How are you?
-I'm-- I'm well.
-Yes?
-I'm well. How about you?
-Come on.
-Fabulous.
The beautiful South.
-I know. [indistinct], right?
-This is your childhood home.
-This is it.
-My gosh.
Now all the stories make sense.
-I know, right?
-Wow.
It's beautiful.
Oscar, what are you wearing?
I think I explained
it all in the email.
Uh, well,
I didn't expect, like...
full Victorian.
Come on.
Uh, sorry,
I'm still packing stuff up.
-Of course.
-[Kimberly sighs]
Welcome to my home.
This is quite lovely.
Remember the stories that
I told you about Sunday dinner?
-Yes.
-This is where we always,
every Sunday, right here,
we always had dinner
at this table.
[sighs] Are you thirsty?
Darling, I am so thirsty.
Good, I just finished
making some ice tea.
-You want some?
-Oh, my God.
I don't even know what that is,
but the answer is yes.
Okay, great. I'll go get it.
Thank you, darling.
When was the last time
I saw you?
-Must have been--
-[Kimberly] Last August.
[Oscar] Last August?
Was that when you were last in
London?
[Kimberly] Yes, at that awful
party, remember?
-Oh, gosh. Yeah.
-[Kimberly laughs]
I didn't know someone could get
that drunk off white wine,
-but here we are.
-That's my mother.
[Kimberly laughs]
Have a seat in a recliner.
Uh, get comfortable.
-Okay.
-And, uh, you can lean back
if you grab
that little lever on the side,
you can pull yourself
back and...
Get relaxed.
[with southern accent] It's like
a rocking chair on a porch.
[Kimberly] Exactly, exactly.
-It's nice and comfortable.
-Little leaver on the side.
Right there.
Yeah. Mm-hmm. Yeah.
Give it a yank.
Kick your legs up.
Kick it up.
-Yeah.
-[Oscar yells in surprise]
[both laughing]
Well, yes,
this is terribly relaxing.
It should be.
Welcome to the South.
A little sweet tea
and a nice recliner,
-and all set.
-Oh. Thank you, darling.
-There you go.
-Oh, this looks delicious.
So that's my
Aunt Wanda's recipe.
She used to make it
all the time.
We say, "a spoon
could stand up in it."
Mmm.
-That's delicious.
-Yes.
-Yeah, it's something.
-Cheers, darling.
-[Kimberly sighs]
-How have you been?
Good. We've been, uh,
working all day here.
My brothers were here, and, uh,
were helping me pack up stuff,
and so we're getting
the house ready.
Oh, my gosh, that reminds me.
I told my brother
that you were coming,
and he's going fishing tomorrow,
and he asked
if he wanted to come.
Well, first he asked,
have you ever fished?
Yes, when I was a child.
Oh, good.
Would you like to go?
-Fishing with your brother?
-Yeah.
Gosh, I haven't been fishing
since I was a child.
Well, he's going tomorrow,
and I got something to do
in the morning.
And he said, would you like
to go with him and go fishing?
Do you think
he might be my type?
Mm, maybe not.
-How old is he?
-In his 60s.
The only thing is, he was
gonna go early in the morning.
-Is that okay?
-Absolutely. How early?
-Like three o'clock.
-Thre-- That's not the morning.
-Well, it is around here.
-Oh, my goodness. Okay.
Well, he likes to see sunrise.
Must be beauty in the sunrise.
Exactly. Okay, good. Perfect.
We have our whole day set.
Um...
I-- Listen, Oscar, what's go--
What's happening?
I did explain it to you.
-Uh...
-I'm trying to find Oscar.
Oh, okay.
Uh, and how's that going?
It's going.
Well, you had the show
in London, right?
That went well, right?
-Yes.
-Good.
Do you know what? I'm--
Do you mind
if we change the subject?
Absolutely.
Let's not talk about that.
[Kimberly whispering] Okay.
-Your brother.
-Okay.
Yeah. So there was this, uh...
comic opera...
called...
Patience.
I don't know
if you're aware of comic opera?
[Jeff] No.
But as soon as...
as soon as Patience
was launched,
they realized that there
was no way that the aesthete
could actually be
portrayed in parody.
And so Gilbert and Sullivan,
they're the people who created
the operas in the first place.
They employed
Richard D'Oyly Carte,
who was the most
remarkable man,
a manager of opera and...
I have always loved nature.
It's wild, magnificent beauty.
I have been a London man
and have been surrounded
by naught but smoke and fog.
It is in the midst
of the city life
that I saw all
the follies of present society.
And the grotesqueness
of modern customs.
I love flowers.
As every human should love them.
I enjoy their perfume
and admire their beauty.
The surroundings of art
enhance one's existence
and make life...
worth living.
Don't you agree, Jeff?
-Hmm.
-Hmm.
-Yeah.
-Yeah.
[engine humming]
[engine revving]
Oh, this is
terribly exhilarating, Jeff.
[waves crashing gently]
I met someone recently, Jeff.
A mystic of sorts.
Do you believe in any of that?
He told me
that I may well meet someone...
on the water.
And here we are.
[Oscar sighs]
I think his crystal ball
might require some cleaning.
[engine rumbling in distance]
[water splashing]
[engine humming]
[waves crashing gently]
Can I offer you
a cigarette, Jeff?
No, thanks.
I'm going to chew and spit.
-Chew and spit?
-Yeah.
-Chew and sp--
-You want some?
-Can I try it?
-Yeah.
-What do you-- what does one do?
-Oh, it's good.
Just-- just poke it
between your lip and gum.
-Between your lip and gum.
-[Jeff laughs]
-Oh.
-[Jeff laughs]
Oh, it's spicy.
-Mm.
-[Jeff clears throat]
And then you chew it.
Yeah, and then spit.
Don't swallow it.
You'll have a heartburn.
-Oh. Oh, goodness me.
-[Jeff laughs]
[Oscar chuckles]
I'm not sure about that at all.
[Oscar coughing]
[spits] Oh.
Oh, no,
that's not a Southern custom
I'm quite ready for,
I don't think.
No, I shall stick
to my cigarette.
Cigarettes are the perfect type
of a perfect pleasure.
They are exquisite
and leave one unsatisfied.
-What more could one want?
-Mm-hmm.
[lighter clicking]
-[clicking continues]
-[Jeff laughs]
Oh, for goodness sake.
I highly respect
your silence, Jeff.
I am so clever that sometimes
even I don't understand
a single word
of what I'm saying.
-[engine revving]
-[Oscar laughing]
With freedom, books,
flowers, and the moon,
who could not be happy?
You're a bit of a dreamer,
aren't you?
[Oscar chuckles]
A dreamer?
Yes, I suppose I am.
For a dreamer
is one who can only find
his way by moonlight.
And his punishment
is that he sees the dawn
before the rest of the world."
Do you know, Jeff...
I think
that makes you a dreamer.
[waves crashing gently]
-[engine revving]
-[Oscar laughing]
Whoo.
[both laughing]
[waves crashing gently]
I'm quite conscious
that much of what I say
may be annoying.
But after all,
I came to America to say it.
And so long
as an audience allows me
to strut and fret
my brief hour upon the stage,
then I should be
singularly stupid
not to take advantage of
the opportunities given to me.
-[engine revving]
-[Oscar screaming]
[Oscar laughing]
How wonderful.
[birds chirping]
[Jeff] Is that okay?
Lovely.
Thank you, Jeff.
[Oscar grunts]
No. No, Jeff. Jeff.
Jeff, Jeff.
[Oscar grunting]
It'll be all right
["It'll Be Alright"
by Cody Francis playing]
[Jeff laughs]
Well, I've learned
an awful lot about fishing today
from your brother Jeff.
Oh, did you have a good time?
He was so excited to take you.
-It was wonderful.
-Oh, good.
-Oh, a red cardinal.
-Oh, hello, red cardinal.
-[gasps] God.
-Beautiful.
Yes, he's quite
the conversationalist.
-Is he really?
-Yes.
We spoke about many things.
-My brother Jeff?
-Mm-hmm.
I think
maybe I took the lion's share
of the talking, but--
Oh, okay.
We've covered
some interesting themes.
[chuckles] I-- uh,
I can't believe it
because-- mm.
Not talkative with you?
Just not in generally
a talkative person,
and especially fishing,
'cause, you know,
you have to be super quiet
when you go fishing.
Oh, that. That.
I now understand the looks.
[laughs] Oh.
So you were, um,
talking the whole time?
I probably was, yes.
Oh, I'm not going to be on
his Christmas card list, am I?
Uh, I--
maybe the Christmas card,
but probably
not the fishing invitation.
Mm.
-No, totally understandable.
-Yeah.
Well, you got to do it once.
-That's true.
-[both laughing]
I shall ch-- cherish it.
[piano music playing]
[Kimberly] There's my mom
and dad's tombstone.
Uh, I just, uh...
you know,
we just had her funeral...
and my aunt and uncle
are buried right beside them.
Um, and I love
that couple in the front,
the Storys.
Miss Mae,
she was such a sweet old lady.
She was an-- an older,
older lady when I was a kid.
[Oscar] Your parents
are next to each other.
[Kimberly] Mm-hmm.
[smacks lips]
It's amazing that...
a whole part of your life
can be buried
in one small space.
[sniffles]
[sighs]
Should we go to the church?
[piano music playing]
[Oscar]
This is my first Baptist church.
[Kimberly] Ah. Wow.
Congratulations.
You're gonna love it.
[Oscar] I'm worried
I might burst into flames.
[Kimberly]
Oh, no, you're gonna--
it's gonna be great.
Come on,
I want to show you around.
Oh, look, they got a new plaque.
[Oscar] "God's House."
-[Kimberly] Mm-hmm.
-[Oscar] Should we knock?
You never have to knock.
The door's always open.
-Oh.
-After you, sir.
Well, thank you.
Oh, this is beautiful.
Yeah, they really did
a beautiful job here.
All the-- um, actually,
mom and her friend Charlotte
did a lot of the decorating.
They were always running off
to look at something
or buy something
or purchase something
for the church.
Actually, I think
they bought this table.
-I was just admiring the table.
-Mm-hmm.
This is so gorgeous.
Oh, you should see it
at Christmas.
Big Christmas tree
in the corner...
candles in the windows.
-Oh, beautiful.
-Santa Claus.
That well-known biblical figure.
-Absolutely.
-[both laughing]
-Yeah, so--
-[Oscar] And what's this flag?
This is the American flag
and the--
[Kimberly] Christian flag.
-[Oscar] Oh, the Christian flag.
-[Kimberly] Yeah.
She says,
as if you're supposed to know.
[Oscar laughs]
So this must...
for you feel
very much like coming home
-and feel at peace here.
-Oh, always. Always.
I look so forward to meeting--
like, coming back
and seeing everyone that's here.
I mean, these people raised me.
They were in the most important,
informative years of my life.
They taught me about kindness.
They taught me
about unconditional love.
It's really a...
a wonderful place to be
and to know
you can come home to.
-You know?
-Yes.
I-- I never--
I had a very awkward,
like, middle childhood,
you know that--
you know that phase
when you're not
a cute little girl
and you're not a teenager
who's trying to, like, be--
-Be a woman.
-A woman.
Yes. I remember it well.
At one point, I did sport
a mullet of some sort.
Like, you know,
short in the front,
party in the back.
It was-- it was
kind of the style at that point,
but it was awkward.
And, uh, I remember singing,
like, my first solo
with a horrible mullet
and the rolled up jeans
and the, you know,
chambray shirt.
Like, sitting in front
of the whole church and singing.
Singing, and everyone knowing...
that it was, like, me.
And listening to me
and being excited
to hear me sing.
You felt powerful.
I think so.
In a time of complete
and utter powerlessness
in my life.
Yeah, definitely.
And singing ultimately became
what you would do
for your career?
Absolutely.
And it's still the thing that,
you know,
it's still at times
when I feel most powerful.
I think that,
you know, it's very funny.
Uh...
it used to--
I guess I should say it--
I used to be scared a lot more.
I went through a phase
of being very scared of singing.
Um...
and then like...
having some, um, huge losses
in my life...
really did make me
not so scared.
A crack is not that important.
[piano music playing]
So, yeah.
I would like to be fearless
all the time, but...
yeah.
When peace like a river
Attendeth my way
When sorrows
Like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot
Thou hast taught me to say
It is well, it is well
With my soul
It is well
With my soul
It is well, it is well
With my soul
["God Bless America"
by Ondara playing]
Will you let me in
Or are you at capacity
Will you set me free
Are you holding
onto history
Will you be sincere
Are you averse to honesty
Will you dare to hear
Those children
matching on the street
Oh, God bless America
The heartache of mine
Oh, God bless America
The heartache of mine
Will you let me bring
Isabela here from Nairobi
On the phone she was ill
And so was the economy
In fifty years
When I'm frail
barely on my feet
Will you be kind, oh, dear
Like you promised
at the embassy
Oh, God bless America
The heartache of mine
Oh, God bless America
The heartache of mine
When the time it is sweet
It won't matter
who your god is
Or the tone of your skin
Or who you choose
to share your love with
Oh, God bless America
The heartache of mine
Oh, God bless America
The heartache of mine
[upbeat rock music playing]
[engine rumbling]
[birds chirping]
[upbeat rock music continues]
[woman] Oh, hi. Can I help you?
Hello. Yes, sorry, I was
just admiring your automobile.
-Is it yours?
-Yeah, it's a beaut, huh?
A beaut indeed.
Oh, my God, you look amazing.
You look fabulous.
Oh, thank you so much.
As do you.
-Oh, thank you.
-All dressed up to the nines.
-Yeah!
-Somewhere to go?
Well, I'm DJing at a pool party.
-A pool party?
-Yeah. Do you like parties?
-I love parties.
-Like pools?
-I believe I do love pools, yes.
-You like bears?
-Bears?
-Yeah.
I wasn't aware there
were bears in this part--
Oh, honey, it's Palm Springs.
There's a ton of bears.
Grab this. Get in.
-We're gonna have fun.
-Okay.
The bears you mentioned,
are they terribly dangerous?
Uh, some of 'em. But I'll steer
you in the right direction.
Don't know if I'm quite
correctly attired.
Oh, you look amazing.
Where'd you get that, Revivals?
I'm afraid I don't know
what that is.
Oh, I'm DJ ModGirl.
-DJ ModGirl?
-Uh-huh.
Enchant.
I'm Oscar, Oscar Wilde.
-So great to meet you.
-Lovely to meet you.
Do you know, DJ ModGirl,
I fancy I should be
greatly pleased with California.
I agree.
[upbeat music]
All right, we're here.
Oh, wonderful.
-I'm late.
-Right.
Give me that.
-This?
-Yeah.
-Right.
-Okay, you coming in?
Absolutely.
I should be there momentarily.
Okay. I-- I got to go.
They're-- already starting.
All right.
I might just have
a quick cigarette.
Calm my nerves.
["Soul On Fire"
by NIGHTCAP playing]
Baby, baby
You set my soul on
You set my soul on fire
Baby, baby
You set my soul on
You set my soul on fire
You set my soul on fire
Hey!
You set my soul on fire
You set my soul on fire
Fire, fire
Fire, fire, fire,
fire, fire, fire
You set my soul on fire
You set my soul on fire
[music speeds up]
[music stops]
[music continues over speakers]
[overlapping chatter]
[chatter stops]
[music fades]
[cheering]
[Oscar whooping]
Whoo!
[partygoers cheering]
Be yourself.
Everyone else is already taken.
[partygoer whoops]
Hey, girl. Nice outfit.
[Oscar] Oh, thank you.
Uh, we're going to a party.
Wanna come?
[upbeat music]
Hello?
Mr. Sarony?
Hello?
[speaking indistinctly]
Yeah, bring your leg up.
More eyes. More eyes.
More Isadora Duncan.
Yes. You dance with her!
[Oscar]
Oh, this is where I belong!
This is my atmosphere.
[Sarony]
The legend in his own time.
I didn't know
such a place existed
in the whole United States.
[indistinct]
creating a mise en scne.
How are you? You look wonderful.
-As do you, my darling man.
-Yes, in daylight. Here you are.
You met Chad. He's also
the [indistinct] of New York.
-[Oscar] Chad.
-[Sarony] Yes.
I hope I do not offend you when
I say that you seem to me to be
the visible personification
of absolute perfection.
Thank you.
Well, he wrote the chapter
on aesthetics and beauty.
-Well, naturally.
-Just for your book.
Bless you. Now it's my turn,
darling. Bugger off.
Okay. Shoo, shoo.
[Sarony] Yes, good. Turn here.
-That's it, that's it.
-How's the hair, darling?
Yes. A little higher
with the handkerchief.
[indistinct]
Yes. That's it!
-[Oscar] Another.
-That's good. Oh, yes.
[indistinct]
[indistinct]
Yes. Good, good, good.
I've had everybody here.
Mark Twain was very,
very witty.
And I adore Sarah Bernhardt.
She's such a [indistinct].
Ellen Terry, Mark [indistinct],
the great Edith Evans,
John Gilroy, Ralph Richardson.
But I look for sense
of magic and allure,
and a unique spark
in a personality.
You can always tell.
You can always--
When they walk in a room,
you can tell.
It's the magic that
comes through this.
This, this camera.
You see it, and it just
becomes a light.
[indistinct] on fire.
But it helps if they have
a sense of themselves.
You know,
they know who they are.
[indistinct]
This was my best friend.
This is my best boyfriend,
the camera.
I like your hair.
Oh. Well, thank you so much.
I like your hair, too.
Perhaps we share a barber.
-Oh, perhaps.
-Perhaps.
-I'm Oscar, Oscar Wilde.
-Oh, I'm Felix.
-Felix.
-Yes.
-How wonderful to meet you.
-Nice to meet you.
Perhaps you could help me,
Felix.
-Yeah.
-What is this?
-Who are these people?
-[Felix] Uh, stars. Celebrities.
[Oscar] Oh, celebrities?
Because I have quite
a vested interest in celebrity.
And where are you going
all floral?
Oh, I'm going to the parade.
-A parade?
-Yes.
Oh, what manner of parade?
-A gay parade.
-A gay parade?
Well, I guessed
from your ensign.
-How exciting.
-Yes. You wanna come along?
-Would that be possible?
-Absolutely.
You're gonna love it.
-Well, then, yes, absolutely
-It's gonna be fun.
-Lead on.
-Yes, come on.
Oscar and Felix, an odd couple.
[chuckles]
-That sound just great.
-[both laughing]
-[Oscar] Is it this way?
-[Felix] Yes, this way.
Well, it says
it's under Capitol Records.
Gotta be somewhere over here.
Sarah Bernhardt.
Okay.
Billy Wilder.
Maybe a distant cousin.
Hmm. Okay. Elliott Dexter.
Virginia Mayo.
Just making me hungry now.
[Felix chuckles]
Barbara Stanwyck. No.
Oh, Ethel Merman.
I know all about her.
Sarah Bernhardt. We found her.
And there she is.
[Felix] Is it a friend of yours?
[Oscar] A dear friend.
And the most famous actress
the world has ever known.
And now, this is her legacy.
To be trampled over daily
by thousands of people.
Maybe celebrity
isn't quite as immortal
as we would like to believe.
Well, at least her name
is being repeated.
That's very true.
That's very true.
-Interesting.
-What are all those...
beautiful colors,
noble costumes,
and sculpturesque groupings?
It's the parade.
The gay parade, where I'm going.
This is the gay pride parade?
Absolutely, yes.
You wanna check it out?
-That's where I'm going.
-I think I'd love to.
-May I accompany you?
-Absolutely.
-Come on.
-[Oscar] Thank you very much.
[indistinct] You want one?
-[Oscar] Oh, really?
-It's fun.
-[Oscar] And you wave it?
-Absolutely.
Yes. [laughing]
["Be Yourself" by Alyson
Williams & Eamonn O'Dwyer]
[crowd cheering]
Yourself, be yourself
Everyone else is taken
Yourself, just yourself
Nobody else is you
Be yourself, be yourself
Everyone else is taken
Yourself, just yourself
Nobody else is you
Be yourself, be yourself
Everyone else is taken
Be yourself, just yourself
Nobody else is you
[ethereal music]
[Oscar] All trials are trials
for one's life,
just as all sentences
are sentences of death.
And three times
have I been tried.
The first time
I left the box to be arrested,
the second time to be led back
to the house of detention,
the third time to pass
into a prison for two years.
Society,
as we have constituted it,
will have no place for me,
has none to offer.
But, nature,
whose sweet rains fall on
unjust and just alike,
will have clefts in the rocks
where I may hide,
and secret valleys in whose
silence I may weep undisturbed.
She will hang the night
with stars
so that I may walk abroad in
the darkness without stumbling,
and send the wind over
for my footprints
so that none may
track me to my hurt.
She will cleanse me
in great waters,
and with bitter herbs
make me whole.
[weeping]
[Sarah] Oscar.
[Oscar] Sarah.
[indistinct]
Oscar.
You altered the minds of men
and the colors of things.
You awoke the century
with your imagination.
You created myth
and legend around you.
[speaking foreign language]
Accept everything.
[breathing shakily]
[music stops]
[screams]
[exhales]
[ragged breath echoing]
[exhales]
["The Boy I Love Is Up in the
Gallery" by Zachary Clause]
I am a young girl
and I have just come over
Over from the country
where they do things big
And amongst the boys,
I found me a lover
And since I have a lover,
I just don't care a fig
The boy I love
is up in the gallery
The boy I love
is looking now at me
There he is, can't you see?
Waving his handkerchief
As merry as a robin
that sings on a tree
The boy that I love,
they call him a cobbler
But he is not a cobbler,
allow me to state
For Johnny is a tradesman
He lives in the Boro'
Where they sole and heel them
whilst you wait
The boy I love
is up in the gallery
The boy I love
is looking now at me
There he is, can't you see?
Waving his handkerchief
As merry as a robin
that sings on a tree
Now, if I were a duchess
And had a lot of money
I'd spend it on the boy
who wants to marry me
But I haven't got a penny
So we'll live on
love and kisses
And be just as merry
as those birds on a tree
The boy I love
is up in the gallery
The boy I love
is looking now at me
There he is, can't you see?
Waving his handkerchief
[music fades]
I work here. What?
Hi, darling. How are you?
-[Felix] How are you?
-Well.
It's nice to see you, love.
[indistinct]
And who's this
handsome gentleman?
Finally, someone dressed
in proper attire. Hi.
What a magnificent
creature to behold.
Correct.
You're not wrong. Welcome.
So wonderful to meet you.
How do you know this sea urchin?
Well, actually,
we just met at the pride parade.
Oh, yes, it's Pride.
How marvelous. Pride.
-Anyway.
-Are you a celebrant?
No, thank you, I'm full.
Why don't you kids
come to my show?
We have our male revue show.
Is that too much for you?
I think I can enjoy
a male revue,
Yes, I mean,
we already have one here.
Listen, I have to go.
I work in this town.
I'll see you kids in a bit.
[indistinct lyrics]
Among the most prominent
playwrights were Henrik Ibsen,
George Bernard Shaw and me...
-[chuckling]
-Oscar Wilde.
Wow.
[Brooklyn accent]
Hello, gorgeous.
[Brooklyn accent]
Hello, gorgeous.
Oh, my God.
Ploughman's lunch.
Oh, yes, I love
a ploughman's lunch.
What's your favorite dessert?
Spotted dick.
Oh, gosh. Yeah.
So, Liza Minnelli.
Great big Broadway star.
I mean, she loved the theater.
She was in so many musicals,
you know, just loved it.
She was in [indistinct]
John Kent or Fred Ebb.
And she sang
"New York, New York".
And everyone loves her because,
well, you know,
she's from royalty.
Her father was Vincente Minnelli
and her mother was Judy Garland.
You know, Dorothy,
from The Wizard of Oz.
I do know the friends
of Dorothy terribly well.
Everyone's a friend to Dorothy.
Who wouldn't want
to be her friend?
-She was so nice.
-[Oscar chuckling]
Hello, Oscar
Well, hello, Oscar
Hello, Oscar.
Hello?
I remember when
this musical opened
and everybody was so
excited about Jerry Herman
having a new show
on Broadway, and...
Everyone was a little shocked,
more than a little shocked,
because it was about,
well, men in dresses.
It was about men in love.
That's really the big shocker.
And I don't think people...
were ready
or could fathom how...
loved this musical
was going to be.
Two men who loved each other
and they had
a child that they loved.
It was the first time
we saw this, so it was all new.
And it was a little scary,
I'm sure,
for the people who did it.
Right? Because...
How are they going
to be received,
But in the fullness of time...
do you know what this is
a musical about now,
after decades and decades?
It's a musical about family.
None of the rest of
it need matter.
It's about family.
It's still entertaining.
The men in dresses
are still fantastic.
The characters
are still dynamic and wonderful.
But that's all it's about.
It's about family.
And I don't think that...
I really--
if I had to think back,
how could they have
had the guts to do this?
If you didn't have the guts
to do what you did?
I don't think they could have.
I really don't.
I think that in your way,
you started something.
That allowed someone else
to start something
and allowed someone else.
And it led up to what was
a groundbreaking moment.
Thank you, [indistinct].
"Who being loved is poor."
["Am I alone, and unobserved"
by Gilbert and Sullivan]
Am I alone and unobserved?
I am
Then let me own
I'm an aesthetic sham!
Oh, there she is,
the toast of the West End.
Harriet, darling,
don't mention toast.
You know I'm off carbs.
I have already called the half,
which is utterly redundant
as the only person
in the production
is gallivanting around
the streets of London
-in his fucking costume.
-I needed fags.
Story of my life.
Do not smoke in your costume.
I have to take it back to the--
-The higher company--
-On Monday.
And there are
a bunch of fucking twats.
They're breaking me
out in hives.
Oh, they suit you, darling.
This air severe
is but a mere
Veneer!
That you think almost
as highly of this play
as I do myself.
This cynic smile
is but a wile
Of guile!
This costume chaste
is but good taste
Misplaced
Hello? Hi. Sorry, who's this?
[over phone] It's Oscar.
Oscar Conlon-Morrey.
Oh, right, sorry, I thought
you were the Ethiopian boy
I met at Jersey Boys.
Okay, so Oscar Wilde
wrote, right?
Yeah, he was a playwright.
-Yes.
-Right. So I mean,
I didn't get that until like,
15 minutes into the thing.
I mean, that wasn't clear to me,
and I work in the business, so.
I-- I think most people know
who Oscar Wilde is.
Most gay people do, at least.
Well, I'm gay,
and I didn't get that.
-So
-[Oscar] Did, uh...
Did you manage to speak
to any of the investors
that Carol invited yet?
[Tim] Look, your show's
a tough sell.
Investors know that.
We all get that.
-We all agree. Right?
-That was the whole point
of doing
the showcase last night.
It was why I blew
3/4 of my life savings
on hiring the Haymarket Theatre,
Oscar's Theatre,
in order to raise funds
for my showcase.
It's why Carol currently
on Ryan Murphy's plane
to Thessaloniki.
The private jet.
His private jet.
It even has a name.
Look, let me find out
and I'll get back to you, okay?
Look, we're here for you
if you need anything.
Are you good?
-Um, I actually wouldn't--
-[Tim] You're good. Okay.
Look, we'll talk soon.
Okay? Bye.
Sorry, Tim,
I was actually wondering...
Hello?
It's here,
[indistinct]
Alone retains its zest
[indistinct lyrics]
[Oscar grunts]
Shitty, darling. Very shitty.
Just been on with my agent.
Oh, Oscar, do you remember
what you told me
the day we met?
[Oscar] Never wear Bermuda
shorts in central London.
-No.
-Green is a difficult color?
-[???] No.
-Chunky jewelry--
Oscar, no. Be yourself.
Everyone else is already taken.
[Oscar] I never said that.
Oscar said it.
All right, well, I knew
one of the two of you said it.
I'm always confusing
you two, anyway.
[Oscar] Tell me about it.
Ooh. Are you naked?
[Oscar] As the day
I was born, darling.
-Gotta go.
-Love-- love you, mate.
[Oscar] Love you more.
Bye.
[Oscar sighing softly]
The basis of character
is willpower.
A languid love for lilies
does not blight me
A languid...
[Harriet]
Coffee in your costume again?
[Oscar]
Relax, darling. It's decaf.
I do not care...
-A fan.
-Thank you.
More pube brownies.
Be sure to save me one.
[chuckling]
...it's Japanese
I am not fond
of uttering platitudes
In stained glass attitudes
In short
My medievalism's
affectation
Born of a morbid love
Of admiration
If you're anxious
for to shine
in the high aesthetic line
As a man of culture rare
You must get up all the germs
of the transcendental terms
And plant them everywhere
You must lie upon the daisies
and discourse in
novel phrases
Of your complicated
state of mind
The meaning doesn't matter
if it's only idle chatter
Of a transcendental kind
And everyone will say
As you walk your mystic way
If this young man
expresses himself
In terms too deep for me
Why, what a very singularly
deep young man
This deep young man must be
Be eloquent in praise
of the [indistinct]
Which have long
since passed...
Is there anything
I have to do whilst I'm here?
Yes, it's beautiful sceneries.
-Yes.
-You can have the pizza.
-The pizza?
-Yeah.
They're the best pizza
in New York City.
-Oh, and local delicacies.
-Of course. Yes.
For art stopped short
in the cultivated court
Of the Empress Josephine
And everyone will say
As you walk your mystic way
If that's not
good enough for him
Which is good enough for me
Why, what a very cultivated
kind of youth
This kind of youth must be
I have nothing
to declare but my genius.
Where can I find that pizza?
In sentimental passion
of a vegetable fashion
Must excite
your languid speed
An attachment a la Plato
for a bashful young potato
Or a not too
French French bean
Though the philistines
may jostle
You will rank as an apostle
in the high aesthetic band
If you walk down Piccadilly
with a poppy or a lily
In your medieval hand
And everyone will say
As you walk your
flowery way
If he is content
with a vegetable love
Which would certainly
not suit me
Why, what a most particularly
pure young man
This pure young man must be
["It's a New Day"
(feat. Vicki Vox) by Holy See]
Mmm, yeah, yeah
Oh, yeah
It's a new day for a high
For a high, for a high
It's another day to thrive
To thrive, good bye
[Oscar] I came to America
the first time in 1882,
to promote
Gilbert and Sullivan's
comic opera Patience.
I lectured
for one year in 30 states
from New York to California.
By the time
I returned to England,
I was a celebrity.
The world's second
most famous queen.
And I haven't written anything.
Well, nothing you'd know.
Anyway, I was famous
just for being famous.
May I continue
with the tour now, Mr. Wilde?
Oh, my dear fellow.
Well, yes, of course.
The suspense is terrible.
I do hope it lasts.
I just turn the page,
let it ride
What a lie, what a lie
[John]
Madison Square park.
An epicenter
of Wilde's time in New York.
The Fifth Avenue Hotel,
where he would meet
actresses for his plays.
And Delmonico's,
his favorite restaurant.
And on this side
of the square, Mansions,
where Oscar was fated
by society.
Oh, and Oscar's bank,
where he had to go one day,
embarrassed to stop some checks
because he had been conned
in a card game.
Well, anybody
who lives within their means
suffers from
a lack of imagination.
Oh, so wonderful.
-What's your name?
-Carlos.
-Carlos.
-And this is Luca.
-Hello. Luca.
-Luca, say hi.
-Hey, baby.
-Say hello to Oscar Wilde.
He's a famous person.
It's wonderful
to meet you, Carlos.
-Have a wonderful day.
-You look amazing.
-It's a pleasure. Ciao.
-What a pleasure.
Love Carlos.
I am pleased to see
this building
of neoclassical structure
has survived.
[John] Well, I'm afraid
to have to tell you this,
Mr. Wilde, but Stern Brothers
is now a Home Depot.
A Home De--
What in Christendom
is a Home Depot?
Well, a DIY.
DIY?
[John] Do it yourself.
Do what myself?
Hm, your bedroom, your bathroom.
Or-- or perhaps your kitchen.
Oh, well, let us see
if they have anything that can
live up to my blue China. Hm?
[upbeat music playing]
[John] Here we are
on Irving Place,
on two houses, Oscar,
that you may recognize.
Number 47 and number 49.
At number 47 was a house
that Oscar Wilde
actually stayed at
when he started taking rooms
in rented accommodation
after staying in hotels
most of the year.
Your friend, Bessie Marbury,
also lived here.
She became
your literary agent in America.
And she lived here
with Elsie de Wolfe.
Um, for a period of 30 years
in what was known
then as a "Boston marriage."
But we know now
they had a relationship,
and they were one of America's
leading gay icons
of the late 19th century.
Bessie Marbury
was Wilde's literary agent,
probably one of the first female
literary agents of her day.
And her partner, Elsie de Wolfe,
almost certainly
the first female
interior designer in America.
And now, my dear Mr. Cooper,
I must take my leave of you,
for this promenade
through my past
has bored me so wretchedly
that I've nearly lost
all interest in life.
Good day. Taxi.
[tentative music]
-Thank you, driver.
-[driver] How are you?
-Thank you.
-[driver] All right.
All right. Thank you very much.
All right, then.
[indistinct chatter, laughter]
[Luis] Oscar.
You're back.
This is Wonderful.
[woman] Oscar.
Good afternoon, dear Oscar.
I hope
you are behaving very well.
I'm feeling very well,
thank you.
[chuckling] Well, that is not
quite the same thing.
In fact, the two things rarely
go together. [chuckling]
Oscar, I feel bound
to tell you
that you are not on my list
of eligible young men.
-Do you smoke?
-It's--
-Yes, I must admit I do smoke.
-No, I'm glad to hear it.
A man should always have
some occupation of some kind.
There are far too many
idle men in New York as it is.
How old are you?
I'm 29.
A good age to get married at.
Tell the boys that. [chuckling]
Boys?
Oh, well, yes, Lady Bracknell.
Uh, do you mean
you couldn't tell?
The love that dare
not speak its name
has always been a deep
spiritual affection
is as pure as it is perfect.
I've always been
of the opinion that a man
who decides to get married,
Should always know
either everything or nothing.
Which do you know?
I am too old to know everything.
-I know nothing, Lady Bracknell.
-Well, I'm glad to hear it.
I do not approve of anything
that tampers
with natural ignorance.
Indeed, ignorance
is like a delicate exotic fruit.
Touch it and the bloom is gone.
Hmm.
Dishes will not be
necessary, Luis.
We will not be eating
this cucumber sandwiches,
just admiring them.
And now to minor matters,
Mr. Worthing.
Are your parents living?
Mr. Worth--
[clearing throat]
I have lost both my parents.
To lose one parent,
Mr. Worthing,
may be regarded as a misfortune.
But to lose both
looks like carelessness.
Who was your father?
[quirky music]
Uh, my fath--
[Oscar clearing throat]
I'm afraid I really don't know.
The fact is, Lady Bracknell,
I said I had lost my parents.
It would be nearer
the truth to say
my parents seem to have lost me.
I don't actually know
who I am by birth.
I was...
Well, I was found.
Found?
The late Mr. Thomas Cardew,
an old gentleman
of a very charitable
and kindly disposition
found me and gave me
the name of Worthing.
Because he happened to have
a first class ticket
for Worthing
in his pocket at the time.
Worthing is a place in Sussex.
It is a seaside resort.
Wh-- whe- where-- where did
this charitable gentleman,
who had a first class ticket
to this seaside resort,
find you?
-In a handbag.
-[Lady Bracknell gasps]
A handbag?
Yes. Yes, I was in a handbag.
A somewhat large handbag
with handles to it.
An ordinary handbag, in fact.
Oh, and-- and-- and
in what locality
did this Mr. James
or Thomas Cardew
come across
this ordinary handbag?
In the cloakroom
at Victoria Station.
It was given to him
in mistake for his own.
The cloakroom
at Victoria Station?
Yes, the Brighton line.
The line is immaterial.
I strongly advise you,
Mr. Worthing,
to try and acquire some relation
as soon as possible.
Well, I don't see how I could
possibly manage to do that.
I can produce the handbag
at any moment.
It is
in my dressing room at home.
I really think that should
satisfy you, Lady Bracknell.
[Lady Bracknell] Me, sir?
[chuckling softly]
Thank you, Lady Bracknell.
Good day, Oscar.
[chuckles] That was fun.
[Lady Bracknell chuckling]
Laughing to myself.
[Lady Bracknell laughing softly]
["Be Yourself"
by Oscar Conlon-Morrey]
I'm a young girl
And I've just come over
Over from the country
Where they do things big
And amongst the boys
I found me a lover
And since I have a lover
I just don't care a fig
The boy I love
is up in the gallery
The boy I love
is looking now at me
There he is, can't you see
Waving his handkerchief
As merry as a robin
That sings on a tree
The boy I love
Is up in the gallery
The boy I love
Is looking now at me
There he is, can't you see
Waving his handkerchief
As merry as a robin
That sings on a tree
Oh, my God.
Is that who I think it is?
Gay Benjamin Franklin
with a Lestat blowout.
Somebody call Anne Rice.
Ladies and gentlemen,
my friend Oscar.
[dramatic piano music]
Now, I'm sure
you've heard it said
that truth is beauty,
beauty, truth.
It wasn't me, dear.
It was Keats.
I wouldn't dream
of taking the credit.
Even so, perhaps
you've also heard it said
that I am a lover of youth.
I did say that and it caused
quite a bit of trouble
with the law.
Don't you know?
Illusion is the first
of all life's pleasures
That one's mine.
The world's a stage
the play is badly cast
Also me.
Escape it all
by cherishing your treasures
I paraphrase.
And soon you'll find
the fear of life
Has passed Dorian Gray
And look, I know
all this sounds fabulous
and desperately clever
and the history books
all say that was my charm
but when first I ventured
forth on my aesthetical endeavor
I was treated
not with kindness but alarm.
For they'd never seen
a man wear so much satin
So much lace with hair
cascading down around his ear
And so the lesson
that I learned
I learned
with elegance and grace
And it's one that I've been
passing on for years
Be yourself, be yourself
Everyone else is taken
Be yourself, just yourself
Nobody else will do
Why should you
try to comply
And pretend
to be a person you're not?
Someone you don't even know
Why live a lie and deny
who you're meant to be?
Show the world
just what you've got
Better to be seen than not
So be yourself, be yourself
Everyone else is taken
Be yourself, just yourself
Nobody else is you
Now, before I go there's one
thing I ought probably address
an elephantine presence
you could say,
for if anybody didn't understand
the way I dressed
they really didn't like
that I was, well, quite.
And yet our differences
are numerous
As stars up in the sky
Why take one little thing
so much to heart
No, no, however
you may love
However you identify
Remember
you're a living, breathing
Walking work of art
So be yourself, be yourself
Everyone else is taken
Be yourself, just yourself
Nobody else will do
Why live a lie and deny
who you're meant to be?
Make the bastards
turn and look
Take a leaf
from Oscar's book
And be yourself
Be yourself
Everyone else is taken
Be yourself, just yourself
Nobody else is you
[street din]
[Oscar] Facts are usurping
the domain of fancy.
And have invaded
the kingdom of romance.
The crude
commercialization of America,
its materializing spiritual,
its indifference
to the poetical side of things.
And its lack of imagination
and of high,
unattainable ideals.
Are entirely due
to that country
having adopted
for its national hero
a man who, according
to his own confession,
was incapable of telling a lie.
And it's not too much to say
that the story
of George Washington
and the cherry tree
has done more harm
and in a shorter space of time
than any other moral tale
in the whole of literature.
[intriguing classical music]
Oscar. Welcome.
Ms. North.
What a pleasure
to meet you in the flesh.
Oh, thank you
so much for coming.
Thank you for my invitation.
It's an honor.
-Of course.
-What a beautiful home.
-Thank you.
-This is stunning.
-We're glad to have you.
-Bless you.
-Come inside.
-Oh, thank you so much.
I can't wait to see
your interior design.
[Ms. North chuckling]
How was your trip?
Oh, hot.
[Ms. North laughing]
I am very glad
to have been invited
and to address an audience in...
Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
And I am impelled
for the first time in my life
to breathe a fervent prayer.
God, save me
from my disciples.
[women chuckling]
Your people love art.
-Yes?
-[women] Yes. Yeah.
But you do not sufficiently
honor the handicraftsman.
I did not imagine until I went
into some of your simpler cities
that there was so much
bad work done.
I found where I went
bad wallpapers,
horribly designed
and colored carpets.
Oh, and that old offender,
the horse hair sofa.
-Oh, my God.
-My husband's grandmother
had one
right in the living room.
-What is that?
-Stank like the devil.
-[laugher]
-And so did she.
[overlapping conversation]
Ladies, ladies.
-[women murmuring]
-Excuse me. Thank you.
Have no great flaming chandelier
in the center of the room.
Also, you should not have
cast iron railings
fixed outside the house.
Oh, I think
Amy has some of those.
She does.
There is nothing,
to my mind,
more coarse in conception
and more vulgar
in execution
than modern jewelry.
-Yes, and thank you.
-No, and thank you.
We spend our days looking
for the secret of life.
Well.
[tentative music]
The secret of life...
is in art.
[laughter]
[women chanting] Bravo. Bravo.
[Alyson Williams]
"Illusion is the first
of all pleasures."
"The world's a stage
and the play is badly cast."
Escape it all
by cherishing your treasures
and soon you'll find
the fear of light has passed.
["Be Yourself" (Dance version)
by Alyson Williams]
[Oscar]
Right and left, left and right.
Right and left, left and right.
Right and left, left and right.
-The secret of life...
-is in art.
And no iron railings!
Yes. And thank you.
[all cheering]
Cheers, darling.
[all cheering]
Why live a lie, try to deny
Who you were really
meant to be
Show the world
just what you got
It's better
to be seen than not
Be yourself, be yourself,
everyone else is taken
Be yourself, just yourself,
nobody else will do
Be yourself, be yourself,
everyone else is taken
Be yourself, just yourself,
nobody else is you
Fact is, folks
are terrified
Of different large or small
In creed or culture,
looks or speech or skin
But how you gonna find
the beauty out there?
[Alyson] Oscar.
-Oscar.
-Alyson
Oscar, baby, you made it.
-[Alyson exclaims]
-Oh, my darling.
I'm so glad
you were able to come
-and look at you.
-Thank you for having me.
And a costume change
for you as well.
-Well, absolutely.
-You look delectable, darling.
Listen, I want you to meet
a dear friend of mine.
His name is Randy Jones
and he's just going to love you.
Now listen,
come on here with me.
I'm sure he's in here somewhere.
[Alyson gasps]
We're picking people
from our party to, uh,
Be with us later
for a little, uh,
how can I say,
burlesque type show.
-Oh, burlesque.
-Strippers, basically.
-Strippers?
-But we're gonna pick them
from the audience.
-You wanna help?
-That sounds like vaudeville.
I'm very much--
Oh, can I grab a little slider?
We don't have time
to eat, honey.
You'll have time to eat,
plenty of time later.
Now listen, keep an eye and see.
What do you think?
Well, I think
he's was absolutely gorgeous.
Oh, Oscar. Oscar.
We love you, Oscar.
-So wonderful to meet you.
-You're a hit already.
I told you, they're just gonna
eat you up, love muffin.
[Randy] What we're gonna
do now is move on
to our next entertainer.
["I Need You Love" by Glow City]
Oh, oh, all right
I need your love
Oh, oh, all right, all right,
all right, all right
All right, all right,
all right, all right
All right, all right,
all right, all right
One, two, three.
Oscar, won't you come forward.
You know him and I want
you to come and meet everyone.
Give him [indistinct].
[indistinct] Oscar Wilde.
-[cheering]
-Give it up for my friend Oscar.
Please, meet Randy Jones.
[cheering]
How often do you get
two icons in the same group?
Now, I would be remiss
if I did not take time
with my friend Oscar.
I have a question for you.
Hey, everybody.
Come on, he's come a long way.
Oscar, will you tell us
what is your strongest
impression of the South?
-[man] Holy shit.
-Of the South?
-[people chattering]
-Well, hello everyone.
[crowd cheering]
I was forewarned
that the south would be hot.
But it wasn't until
I came to this party
and saw the specimens
in the room
that I truly understood
the meaning of that word.
[loud cheering]
Guys, you'd like very much
to thank you for having me,
to thank you
for your hospitality,
for your kindness,
your rock hard abs.
But mainly I'd like
to thank you for your teachings.
So, you see,
I cannot wait to take that
to London with me to sing
"The Higher the Hair,
the Closer to God."
[cheering]
["Y.M.C.A" by Village People]
Young man, there's no need
to feel down, I said
Young man, pick yourself
off the ground, I said
Young man,
'cause you're in a new town
There's no need
to be unhappy
Young man, there's a place
you can go, I said
Young man, when you're short
on your dough
You can stay there,
and I'm sure you will find
Many ways
to have a good time
It's fun to stay
at the Y.M.C.A.
It's fun to stay
at the Y.M.C.A.
They have everything
for young men to enjoy
You can hang out
with all the boys
It's fun to stay
at the Y.M.C.A.
It's fun to stay
at the Y.M.C.A.
They have everything
for young men to enjoy
You can hang out
with all the boys
It's fun to stay
at the Y.M.C.A.
It's fun to stay
at the Y.M.C.A.
Young man, young man,
there's no need to feel down
Young man, young man,
pick yourself off the ground
Y.M.C.A.
-Thank you.
-[crowd cheering]
Hello! Now...
Hey!
Now what we have to do,
what we have to do
to [indistinct] and
Winston-Salem is to decide...
[Ron] Good evening.
Welcome to Thompson Talks.
I'm Ron Stacker Thompson.
And I have here with me
tonight a very special guest.
The cowboy from Village People,
Randy Jones.
Hey there. How are you?
And you brought
a very special guest too.
You know what? I absolutely did.
And what the surprise
of my life.
Are you aware at all Mr. Wilde
of Village People?
Uh, we-- Well, I'm afraid
I'm terribly sorry
to say this, Randy,
but my first exposure
to this delightful premise
was last night at the party
where I had the great privilege
-of sharing a stage...
-Right?
...with the Village People.
So you got to see it
from my perspective.
-I did. I did.
-Is that not amazing?
It's remarkable.
I assume there were
many people there last night.
-[Oscar] There were.
-How did they respond to...
The Village People?
All...
The-- the barriers
were dropped...
-Yes.
-...for those three minutes
-when you started singing.
-Yeah.
Everyone came together
-and it was unifying.
-Yes.
And I realized in that moment,
whilst it might...
To raise a child,
it takes a village.
-[Ron] Yes.
-To raise a queer child,
it takes the Village People.
-And to have--
-[Ron] Oh, nicely put.
Yes, and to have
a united country,
it takes a village.
And it takes--
We are a huge village,
this country,
because we are built
of some of the most diverse
people on the face of the earth.
You mentioned beauty
and I love the term that you,
I think, coined yourself
the architect of beauty or the,
uh, the, exhilarator of beauty?
Uh, do you still feel that way?
To live out a tawdry...
existence.
Rather than to live one's
true self completely
and totally,
was never an option.
So at some time in my life,
I should like to think
I can find the beauty in myself.
I understand
what you've just said.
But simply put...
when you look in the mirror,
do you see something beautiful?
-[Oscar] No.
-No?
Never have?
No.
[forest din]
[somber music building]
-[Paul] The lovers number six.
-[Oscar] Hmm.
This card is not about a lover.
An illicit lover, a love affair.
This card is about a major...
life altering choice
in your life.
A choice.
Seven. You're defending
yourself against something.
Oh, the Two of Cups.
This is true love.
We have another
strong masculine figure.
You have interacted
with this person in other forms,
other lives, other--
And it's, uh...
karmic, it's just coming
back from another life.
Y'all may have not been, uh,
lovers in the past life,
but you definitely are attracted
to each other in this life.
You're quite right in...
That there are...
two Oscars...
battling...
to get out.
And it's which...
that I'm prepared...
to let free.
Yes, because one is imprisoned
by what other people think.
[somber music]
["It'll Be All Right"
by Cody Francis]
Oh, my child I know
You're hurting
you can't let go
It's not your fault
and you don't deserve
All the bad and the hurt
Ooh
I know you've tried so hard
Ooh
I know you've done your part
it's not fair
You did your time
How much longer
will you suffer in this life?
But don't give up
Just hold on tight
It'll be all right
All your life you've tried
To be a good man inside
Did Everything
that you thought you should
[Kimberly shouting] Oscar!
-[Oscar laughing]
-Hi!
Kimberly.
Oh, my God.
I can't believe it's you.
[both]
Oh, it's so good to see you.
I couldn't come to Alabama
without swinging by.
-I'm so glad you're here.
-Oh, darling.
-How are you?
-I'm-- I'm well.
-Yes?
-I'm well. How about you?
-Come on.
-Fabulous.
The beautiful South.
-I know. [indistinct], right?
-This is your childhood home.
-This is it.
-My gosh.
Now all the stories make sense.
-I know, right?
-Wow.
It's beautiful.
Oscar, what are you wearing?
I think I explained
it all in the email.
Uh, well,
I didn't expect, like...
full Victorian.
Come on.
Uh, sorry,
I'm still packing stuff up.
-Of course.
-[Kimberly sighs]
Welcome to my home.
This is quite lovely.
Remember the stories that
I told you about Sunday dinner?
-Yes.
-This is where we always,
every Sunday, right here,
we always had dinner
at this table.
[sighs] Are you thirsty?
Darling, I am so thirsty.
Good, I just finished
making some ice tea.
-You want some?
-Oh, my God.
I don't even know what that is,
but the answer is yes.
Okay, great. I'll go get it.
Thank you, darling.
When was the last time
I saw you?
-Must have been--
-[Kimberly] Last August.
[Oscar] Last August?
Was that when you were last in
London?
[Kimberly] Yes, at that awful
party, remember?
-Oh, gosh. Yeah.
-[Kimberly laughs]
I didn't know someone could get
that drunk off white wine,
-but here we are.
-That's my mother.
[Kimberly laughs]
Have a seat in a recliner.
Uh, get comfortable.
-Okay.
-And, uh, you can lean back
if you grab
that little lever on the side,
you can pull yourself
back and...
Get relaxed.
[with southern accent] It's like
a rocking chair on a porch.
[Kimberly] Exactly, exactly.
-It's nice and comfortable.
-Little leaver on the side.
Right there.
Yeah. Mm-hmm. Yeah.
Give it a yank.
Kick your legs up.
Kick it up.
-Yeah.
-[Oscar yells in surprise]
[both laughing]
Well, yes,
this is terribly relaxing.
It should be.
Welcome to the South.
A little sweet tea
and a nice recliner,
-and all set.
-Oh. Thank you, darling.
-There you go.
-Oh, this looks delicious.
So that's my
Aunt Wanda's recipe.
She used to make it
all the time.
We say, "a spoon
could stand up in it."
Mmm.
-That's delicious.
-Yes.
-Yeah, it's something.
-Cheers, darling.
-[Kimberly sighs]
-How have you been?
Good. We've been, uh,
working all day here.
My brothers were here, and, uh,
were helping me pack up stuff,
and so we're getting
the house ready.
Oh, my gosh, that reminds me.
I told my brother
that you were coming,
and he's going fishing tomorrow,
and he asked
if he wanted to come.
Well, first he asked,
have you ever fished?
Yes, when I was a child.
Oh, good.
Would you like to go?
-Fishing with your brother?
-Yeah.
Gosh, I haven't been fishing
since I was a child.
Well, he's going tomorrow,
and I got something to do
in the morning.
And he said, would you like
to go with him and go fishing?
Do you think
he might be my type?
Mm, maybe not.
-How old is he?
-In his 60s.
The only thing is, he was
gonna go early in the morning.
-Is that okay?
-Absolutely. How early?
-Like three o'clock.
-Thre-- That's not the morning.
-Well, it is around here.
-Oh, my goodness. Okay.
Well, he likes to see sunrise.
Must be beauty in the sunrise.
Exactly. Okay, good. Perfect.
We have our whole day set.
Um...
I-- Listen, Oscar, what's go--
What's happening?
I did explain it to you.
-Uh...
-I'm trying to find Oscar.
Oh, okay.
Uh, and how's that going?
It's going.
Well, you had the show
in London, right?
That went well, right?
-Yes.
-Good.
Do you know what? I'm--
Do you mind
if we change the subject?
Absolutely.
Let's not talk about that.
[Kimberly whispering] Okay.
-Your brother.
-Okay.
Yeah. So there was this, uh...
comic opera...
called...
Patience.
I don't know
if you're aware of comic opera?
[Jeff] No.
But as soon as...
as soon as Patience
was launched,
they realized that there
was no way that the aesthete
could actually be
portrayed in parody.
And so Gilbert and Sullivan,
they're the people who created
the operas in the first place.
They employed
Richard D'Oyly Carte,
who was the most
remarkable man,
a manager of opera and...
I have always loved nature.
It's wild, magnificent beauty.
I have been a London man
and have been surrounded
by naught but smoke and fog.
It is in the midst
of the city life
that I saw all
the follies of present society.
And the grotesqueness
of modern customs.
I love flowers.
As every human should love them.
I enjoy their perfume
and admire their beauty.
The surroundings of art
enhance one's existence
and make life...
worth living.
Don't you agree, Jeff?
-Hmm.
-Hmm.
-Yeah.
-Yeah.
[engine humming]
[engine revving]
Oh, this is
terribly exhilarating, Jeff.
[waves crashing gently]
I met someone recently, Jeff.
A mystic of sorts.
Do you believe in any of that?
He told me
that I may well meet someone...
on the water.
And here we are.
[Oscar sighs]
I think his crystal ball
might require some cleaning.
[engine rumbling in distance]
[water splashing]
[engine humming]
[waves crashing gently]
Can I offer you
a cigarette, Jeff?
No, thanks.
I'm going to chew and spit.
-Chew and spit?
-Yeah.
-Chew and sp--
-You want some?
-Can I try it?
-Yeah.
-What do you-- what does one do?
-Oh, it's good.
Just-- just poke it
between your lip and gum.
-Between your lip and gum.
-[Jeff laughs]
-Oh.
-[Jeff laughs]
Oh, it's spicy.
-Mm.
-[Jeff clears throat]
And then you chew it.
Yeah, and then spit.
Don't swallow it.
You'll have a heartburn.
-Oh. Oh, goodness me.
-[Jeff laughs]
[Oscar chuckles]
I'm not sure about that at all.
[Oscar coughing]
[spits] Oh.
Oh, no,
that's not a Southern custom
I'm quite ready for,
I don't think.
No, I shall stick
to my cigarette.
Cigarettes are the perfect type
of a perfect pleasure.
They are exquisite
and leave one unsatisfied.
-What more could one want?
-Mm-hmm.
[lighter clicking]
-[clicking continues]
-[Jeff laughs]
Oh, for goodness sake.
I highly respect
your silence, Jeff.
I am so clever that sometimes
even I don't understand
a single word
of what I'm saying.
-[engine revving]
-[Oscar laughing]
With freedom, books,
flowers, and the moon,
who could not be happy?
You're a bit of a dreamer,
aren't you?
[Oscar chuckles]
A dreamer?
Yes, I suppose I am.
For a dreamer
is one who can only find
his way by moonlight.
And his punishment
is that he sees the dawn
before the rest of the world."
Do you know, Jeff...
I think
that makes you a dreamer.
[waves crashing gently]
-[engine revving]
-[Oscar laughing]
Whoo.
[both laughing]
[waves crashing gently]
I'm quite conscious
that much of what I say
may be annoying.
But after all,
I came to America to say it.
And so long
as an audience allows me
to strut and fret
my brief hour upon the stage,
then I should be
singularly stupid
not to take advantage of
the opportunities given to me.
-[engine revving]
-[Oscar screaming]
[Oscar laughing]
How wonderful.
[birds chirping]
[Jeff] Is that okay?
Lovely.
Thank you, Jeff.
[Oscar grunts]
No. No, Jeff. Jeff.
Jeff, Jeff.
[Oscar grunting]
It'll be all right
["It'll Be Alright"
by Cody Francis playing]
[Jeff laughs]
Well, I've learned
an awful lot about fishing today
from your brother Jeff.
Oh, did you have a good time?
He was so excited to take you.
-It was wonderful.
-Oh, good.
-Oh, a red cardinal.
-Oh, hello, red cardinal.
-[gasps] God.
-Beautiful.
Yes, he's quite
the conversationalist.
-Is he really?
-Yes.
We spoke about many things.
-My brother Jeff?
-Mm-hmm.
I think
maybe I took the lion's share
of the talking, but--
Oh, okay.
We've covered
some interesting themes.
[chuckles] I-- uh,
I can't believe it
because-- mm.
Not talkative with you?
Just not in generally
a talkative person,
and especially fishing,
'cause, you know,
you have to be super quiet
when you go fishing.
Oh, that. That.
I now understand the looks.
[laughs] Oh.
So you were, um,
talking the whole time?
I probably was, yes.
Oh, I'm not going to be on
his Christmas card list, am I?
Uh, I--
maybe the Christmas card,
but probably
not the fishing invitation.
Mm.
-No, totally understandable.
-Yeah.
Well, you got to do it once.
-That's true.
-[both laughing]
I shall ch-- cherish it.
[piano music playing]
[Kimberly] There's my mom
and dad's tombstone.
Uh, I just, uh...
you know,
we just had her funeral...
and my aunt and uncle
are buried right beside them.
Um, and I love
that couple in the front,
the Storys.
Miss Mae,
she was such a sweet old lady.
She was an-- an older,
older lady when I was a kid.
[Oscar] Your parents
are next to each other.
[Kimberly] Mm-hmm.
[smacks lips]
It's amazing that...
a whole part of your life
can be buried
in one small space.
[sniffles]
[sighs]
Should we go to the church?
[piano music playing]
[Oscar]
This is my first Baptist church.
[Kimberly] Ah. Wow.
Congratulations.
You're gonna love it.
[Oscar] I'm worried
I might burst into flames.
[Kimberly]
Oh, no, you're gonna--
it's gonna be great.
Come on,
I want to show you around.
Oh, look, they got a new plaque.
[Oscar] "God's House."
-[Kimberly] Mm-hmm.
-[Oscar] Should we knock?
You never have to knock.
The door's always open.
-Oh.
-After you, sir.
Well, thank you.
Oh, this is beautiful.
Yeah, they really did
a beautiful job here.
All the-- um, actually,
mom and her friend Charlotte
did a lot of the decorating.
They were always running off
to look at something
or buy something
or purchase something
for the church.
Actually, I think
they bought this table.
-I was just admiring the table.
-Mm-hmm.
This is so gorgeous.
Oh, you should see it
at Christmas.
Big Christmas tree
in the corner...
candles in the windows.
-Oh, beautiful.
-Santa Claus.
That well-known biblical figure.
-Absolutely.
-[both laughing]
-Yeah, so--
-[Oscar] And what's this flag?
This is the American flag
and the--
[Kimberly] Christian flag.
-[Oscar] Oh, the Christian flag.
-[Kimberly] Yeah.
She says,
as if you're supposed to know.
[Oscar laughs]
So this must...
for you feel
very much like coming home
-and feel at peace here.
-Oh, always. Always.
I look so forward to meeting--
like, coming back
and seeing everyone that's here.
I mean, these people raised me.
They were in the most important,
informative years of my life.
They taught me about kindness.
They taught me
about unconditional love.
It's really a...
a wonderful place to be
and to know
you can come home to.
-You know?
-Yes.
I-- I never--
I had a very awkward,
like, middle childhood,
you know that--
you know that phase
when you're not
a cute little girl
and you're not a teenager
who's trying to, like, be--
-Be a woman.
-A woman.
Yes. I remember it well.
At one point, I did sport
a mullet of some sort.
Like, you know,
short in the front,
party in the back.
It was-- it was
kind of the style at that point,
but it was awkward.
And, uh, I remember singing,
like, my first solo
with a horrible mullet
and the rolled up jeans
and the, you know,
chambray shirt.
Like, sitting in front
of the whole church and singing.
Singing, and everyone knowing...
that it was, like, me.
And listening to me
and being excited
to hear me sing.
You felt powerful.
I think so.
In a time of complete
and utter powerlessness
in my life.
Yeah, definitely.
And singing ultimately became
what you would do
for your career?
Absolutely.
And it's still the thing that,
you know,
it's still at times
when I feel most powerful.
I think that,
you know, it's very funny.
Uh...
it used to--
I guess I should say it--
I used to be scared a lot more.
I went through a phase
of being very scared of singing.
Um...
and then like...
having some, um, huge losses
in my life...
really did make me
not so scared.
A crack is not that important.
[piano music playing]
So, yeah.
I would like to be fearless
all the time, but...
yeah.
When peace like a river
Attendeth my way
When sorrows
Like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot
Thou hast taught me to say
It is well, it is well
With my soul
It is well
With my soul
It is well, it is well
With my soul
["God Bless America"
by Ondara playing]
Will you let me in
Or are you at capacity
Will you set me free
Are you holding
onto history
Will you be sincere
Are you averse to honesty
Will you dare to hear
Those children
matching on the street
Oh, God bless America
The heartache of mine
Oh, God bless America
The heartache of mine
Will you let me bring
Isabela here from Nairobi
On the phone she was ill
And so was the economy
In fifty years
When I'm frail
barely on my feet
Will you be kind, oh, dear
Like you promised
at the embassy
Oh, God bless America
The heartache of mine
Oh, God bless America
The heartache of mine
When the time it is sweet
It won't matter
who your god is
Or the tone of your skin
Or who you choose
to share your love with
Oh, God bless America
The heartache of mine
Oh, God bless America
The heartache of mine
[upbeat rock music playing]
[engine rumbling]
[birds chirping]
[upbeat rock music continues]
[woman] Oh, hi. Can I help you?
Hello. Yes, sorry, I was
just admiring your automobile.
-Is it yours?
-Yeah, it's a beaut, huh?
A beaut indeed.
Oh, my God, you look amazing.
You look fabulous.
Oh, thank you so much.
As do you.
-Oh, thank you.
-All dressed up to the nines.
-Yeah!
-Somewhere to go?
Well, I'm DJing at a pool party.
-A pool party?
-Yeah. Do you like parties?
-I love parties.
-Like pools?
-I believe I do love pools, yes.
-You like bears?
-Bears?
-Yeah.
I wasn't aware there
were bears in this part--
Oh, honey, it's Palm Springs.
There's a ton of bears.
Grab this. Get in.
-We're gonna have fun.
-Okay.
The bears you mentioned,
are they terribly dangerous?
Uh, some of 'em. But I'll steer
you in the right direction.
Don't know if I'm quite
correctly attired.
Oh, you look amazing.
Where'd you get that, Revivals?
I'm afraid I don't know
what that is.
Oh, I'm DJ ModGirl.
-DJ ModGirl?
-Uh-huh.
Enchant.
I'm Oscar, Oscar Wilde.
-So great to meet you.
-Lovely to meet you.
Do you know, DJ ModGirl,
I fancy I should be
greatly pleased with California.
I agree.
[upbeat music]
All right, we're here.
Oh, wonderful.
-I'm late.
-Right.
Give me that.
-This?
-Yeah.
-Right.
-Okay, you coming in?
Absolutely.
I should be there momentarily.
Okay. I-- I got to go.
They're-- already starting.
All right.
I might just have
a quick cigarette.
Calm my nerves.
["Soul On Fire"
by NIGHTCAP playing]
Baby, baby
You set my soul on
You set my soul on fire
Baby, baby
You set my soul on
You set my soul on fire
You set my soul on fire
Hey!
You set my soul on fire
You set my soul on fire
Fire, fire
Fire, fire, fire,
fire, fire, fire
You set my soul on fire
You set my soul on fire
[music speeds up]
[music stops]
[music continues over speakers]
[overlapping chatter]
[chatter stops]
[music fades]
[cheering]
[Oscar whooping]
Whoo!
[partygoers cheering]
Be yourself.
Everyone else is already taken.
[partygoer whoops]
Hey, girl. Nice outfit.
[Oscar] Oh, thank you.
Uh, we're going to a party.
Wanna come?
[upbeat music]
Hello?
Mr. Sarony?
Hello?
[speaking indistinctly]
Yeah, bring your leg up.
More eyes. More eyes.
More Isadora Duncan.
Yes. You dance with her!
[Oscar]
Oh, this is where I belong!
This is my atmosphere.
[Sarony]
The legend in his own time.
I didn't know
such a place existed
in the whole United States.
[indistinct]
creating a mise en scne.
How are you? You look wonderful.
-As do you, my darling man.
-Yes, in daylight. Here you are.
You met Chad. He's also
the [indistinct] of New York.
-[Oscar] Chad.
-[Sarony] Yes.
I hope I do not offend you when
I say that you seem to me to be
the visible personification
of absolute perfection.
Thank you.
Well, he wrote the chapter
on aesthetics and beauty.
-Well, naturally.
-Just for your book.
Bless you. Now it's my turn,
darling. Bugger off.
Okay. Shoo, shoo.
[Sarony] Yes, good. Turn here.
-That's it, that's it.
-How's the hair, darling?
Yes. A little higher
with the handkerchief.
[indistinct]
Yes. That's it!
-[Oscar] Another.
-That's good. Oh, yes.
[indistinct]
[indistinct]
Yes. Good, good, good.
I've had everybody here.
Mark Twain was very,
very witty.
And I adore Sarah Bernhardt.
She's such a [indistinct].
Ellen Terry, Mark [indistinct],
the great Edith Evans,
John Gilroy, Ralph Richardson.
But I look for sense
of magic and allure,
and a unique spark
in a personality.
You can always tell.
You can always--
When they walk in a room,
you can tell.
It's the magic that
comes through this.
This, this camera.
You see it, and it just
becomes a light.
[indistinct] on fire.
But it helps if they have
a sense of themselves.
You know,
they know who they are.
[indistinct]
This was my best friend.
This is my best boyfriend,
the camera.
I like your hair.
Oh. Well, thank you so much.
I like your hair, too.
Perhaps we share a barber.
-Oh, perhaps.
-Perhaps.
-I'm Oscar, Oscar Wilde.
-Oh, I'm Felix.
-Felix.
-Yes.
-How wonderful to meet you.
-Nice to meet you.
Perhaps you could help me,
Felix.
-Yeah.
-What is this?
-Who are these people?
-[Felix] Uh, stars. Celebrities.
[Oscar] Oh, celebrities?
Because I have quite
a vested interest in celebrity.
And where are you going
all floral?
Oh, I'm going to the parade.
-A parade?
-Yes.
Oh, what manner of parade?
-A gay parade.
-A gay parade?
Well, I guessed
from your ensign.
-How exciting.
-Yes. You wanna come along?
-Would that be possible?
-Absolutely.
You're gonna love it.
-Well, then, yes, absolutely
-It's gonna be fun.
-Lead on.
-Yes, come on.
Oscar and Felix, an odd couple.
[chuckles]
-That sound just great.
-[both laughing]
-[Oscar] Is it this way?
-[Felix] Yes, this way.
Well, it says
it's under Capitol Records.
Gotta be somewhere over here.
Sarah Bernhardt.
Okay.
Billy Wilder.
Maybe a distant cousin.
Hmm. Okay. Elliott Dexter.
Virginia Mayo.
Just making me hungry now.
[Felix chuckles]
Barbara Stanwyck. No.
Oh, Ethel Merman.
I know all about her.
Sarah Bernhardt. We found her.
And there she is.
[Felix] Is it a friend of yours?
[Oscar] A dear friend.
And the most famous actress
the world has ever known.
And now, this is her legacy.
To be trampled over daily
by thousands of people.
Maybe celebrity
isn't quite as immortal
as we would like to believe.
Well, at least her name
is being repeated.
That's very true.
That's very true.
-Interesting.
-What are all those...
beautiful colors,
noble costumes,
and sculpturesque groupings?
It's the parade.
The gay parade, where I'm going.
This is the gay pride parade?
Absolutely, yes.
You wanna check it out?
-That's where I'm going.
-I think I'd love to.
-May I accompany you?
-Absolutely.
-Come on.
-[Oscar] Thank you very much.
[indistinct] You want one?
-[Oscar] Oh, really?
-It's fun.
-[Oscar] And you wave it?
-Absolutely.
Yes. [laughing]
["Be Yourself" by Alyson
Williams & Eamonn O'Dwyer]
[crowd cheering]
Yourself, be yourself
Everyone else is taken
Yourself, just yourself
Nobody else is you
Be yourself, be yourself
Everyone else is taken
Yourself, just yourself
Nobody else is you
Be yourself, be yourself
Everyone else is taken
Be yourself, just yourself
Nobody else is you
[ethereal music]
[Oscar] All trials are trials
for one's life,
just as all sentences
are sentences of death.
And three times
have I been tried.
The first time
I left the box to be arrested,
the second time to be led back
to the house of detention,
the third time to pass
into a prison for two years.
Society,
as we have constituted it,
will have no place for me,
has none to offer.
But, nature,
whose sweet rains fall on
unjust and just alike,
will have clefts in the rocks
where I may hide,
and secret valleys in whose
silence I may weep undisturbed.
She will hang the night
with stars
so that I may walk abroad in
the darkness without stumbling,
and send the wind over
for my footprints
so that none may
track me to my hurt.
She will cleanse me
in great waters,
and with bitter herbs
make me whole.
[weeping]
[Sarah] Oscar.
[Oscar] Sarah.
[indistinct]
Oscar.
You altered the minds of men
and the colors of things.
You awoke the century
with your imagination.
You created myth
and legend around you.
[speaking foreign language]
Accept everything.
[breathing shakily]
[music stops]
[screams]
[exhales]
[ragged breath echoing]
[exhales]
["The Boy I Love Is Up in the
Gallery" by Zachary Clause]
I am a young girl
and I have just come over
Over from the country
where they do things big
And amongst the boys,
I found me a lover
And since I have a lover,
I just don't care a fig
The boy I love
is up in the gallery
The boy I love
is looking now at me
There he is, can't you see?
Waving his handkerchief
As merry as a robin
that sings on a tree
The boy that I love,
they call him a cobbler
But he is not a cobbler,
allow me to state
For Johnny is a tradesman
He lives in the Boro'
Where they sole and heel them
whilst you wait
The boy I love
is up in the gallery
The boy I love
is looking now at me
There he is, can't you see?
Waving his handkerchief
As merry as a robin
that sings on a tree
Now, if I were a duchess
And had a lot of money
I'd spend it on the boy
who wants to marry me
But I haven't got a penny
So we'll live on
love and kisses
And be just as merry
as those birds on a tree
The boy I love
is up in the gallery
The boy I love
is looking now at me
There he is, can't you see?
Waving his handkerchief
[music fades]
I work here. What?
Hi, darling. How are you?
-[Felix] How are you?
-Well.
It's nice to see you, love.
[indistinct]
And who's this
handsome gentleman?
Finally, someone dressed
in proper attire. Hi.
What a magnificent
creature to behold.
Correct.
You're not wrong. Welcome.
So wonderful to meet you.
How do you know this sea urchin?
Well, actually,
we just met at the pride parade.
Oh, yes, it's Pride.
How marvelous. Pride.
-Anyway.
-Are you a celebrant?
No, thank you, I'm full.
Why don't you kids
come to my show?
We have our male revue show.
Is that too much for you?
I think I can enjoy
a male revue,
Yes, I mean,
we already have one here.
Listen, I have to go.
I work in this town.
I'll see you kids in a bit.
[indistinct lyrics]
Among the most prominent
playwrights were Henrik Ibsen,
George Bernard Shaw and me...
-[chuckling]
-Oscar Wilde.
Wow.
[Brooklyn accent]
Hello, gorgeous.
[Brooklyn accent]
Hello, gorgeous.
Oh, my God.
Ploughman's lunch.
Oh, yes, I love
a ploughman's lunch.
What's your favorite dessert?
Spotted dick.
Oh, gosh. Yeah.
So, Liza Minnelli.
Great big Broadway star.
I mean, she loved the theater.
She was in so many musicals,
you know, just loved it.
She was in [indistinct]
John Kent or Fred Ebb.
And she sang
"New York, New York".
And everyone loves her because,
well, you know,
she's from royalty.
Her father was Vincente Minnelli
and her mother was Judy Garland.
You know, Dorothy,
from The Wizard of Oz.
I do know the friends
of Dorothy terribly well.
Everyone's a friend to Dorothy.
Who wouldn't want
to be her friend?
-She was so nice.
-[Oscar chuckling]
Hello, Oscar
Well, hello, Oscar
Hello, Oscar.
Hello?
I remember when
this musical opened
and everybody was so
excited about Jerry Herman
having a new show
on Broadway, and...
Everyone was a little shocked,
more than a little shocked,
because it was about,
well, men in dresses.
It was about men in love.
That's really the big shocker.
And I don't think people...
were ready
or could fathom how...
loved this musical
was going to be.
Two men who loved each other
and they had
a child that they loved.
It was the first time
we saw this, so it was all new.
And it was a little scary,
I'm sure,
for the people who did it.
Right? Because...
How are they going
to be received,
But in the fullness of time...
do you know what this is
a musical about now,
after decades and decades?
It's a musical about family.
None of the rest of
it need matter.
It's about family.
It's still entertaining.
The men in dresses
are still fantastic.
The characters
are still dynamic and wonderful.
But that's all it's about.
It's about family.
And I don't think that...
I really--
if I had to think back,
how could they have
had the guts to do this?
If you didn't have the guts
to do what you did?
I don't think they could have.
I really don't.
I think that in your way,
you started something.
That allowed someone else
to start something
and allowed someone else.
And it led up to what was
a groundbreaking moment.
Thank you, [indistinct].
"Who being loved is poor."