The Last Tycoon1976

Monroe Stahr:
Your name's well-known here.

Brimmer:
And yours is well-known in New York, Mr. Stahr.

Cecilia Brady:
[serving Monroe and Brimmer] You have done well by water and you by land.

Monroe Stahr:
What?

Cecilia Brady:
Anthony and Cleopatra, didn't you recognize it?

Monroe Stahr:
Shakespeare? No, l didn't get any Shakespeare at school. How about you, Mr. Brimmer?

Brimmer:
Oh, a bit.

Monroe Stahr:
Where do you come from?

Brimmer:
Tennessee. Baptist.

Monroe Stahr:
l'm New York. Jewish.

Brimmer:
l know.

Monroe Stahr:
Oh, at least we're all Americans.

Brimmer:
We sure are, Mr. Stahr. [Monroe smiles and nods; Brimmer takes a sip from his coffee; Cecilia smiles and looks on the both men] Well?

Monroe Stahr:
Well, l'm glad you came out here. l wanted to talk to you. You've got my writers all upset.

Brimmer:
Keeps them from going to sleep, doesn't it?

Monroe Stahr:
l want them awake, but l don't want them crazy. [Brimmer stretches himself comfortably on his chair]

Brimmer:
Well, we're simply f***ing concerned that they have the proper protection, that's all.

Monroe Stahr:
[eyeing Brimmer irritably] Who from, me?

Brimmer:
You're a very good employer, Mr. Stahr, but, uh... we still think that the position can be... rationalized. [smiles]

Monroe Stahr:
l'll tell you three things: All writers are children. Fifty percent are drunks. And up till very recently, writers in Hollywood were gag-men; most of them are still gag-men, but we call them writers.

Brimmer:
[nods and smiles] Uh-huh. But they're still the farmers in this business. They grow the grain, but they're not in at the feast.

Monroe Stahr:
This looks to me like a try for power, Mr. Brimmer, and I will not give them power. I'll give them money, I won't give them power. Anyway, they're not equipped for authority.

[Cecilia continues to look on the two; Brimmer laughes]

Cecilia Brady:
More coffee, Mr. Brimmer?

Brimmer:
No, thank you.