Mank Edit

A collection of fragments that leap around in time,

A couple Tammany goons came to show me the error of my ways.

A crusading socialist as California's political savior.

A deluded old nobleman who tilts at windmills.

A Democrat wouldn't protect your way of life?

A form of creative vivisection.

A hell of a way to spend the Sabbath, fellas.

A hodgepodge of talky episodes.

A letter from the gallant "leftenant"?

A maddening reminder of who he once was.

A Mankiewicz.

A newspaperman?

A picture I just know you're gonna love.

A play is never a disaster

A poor but somewhat talented magazine writer,

A rare bird, that.

A sequel.

A show of hands, who knows what a vacuum cleaner is?

A snapshot from the Mankiewicz family album?

A whatie?

Absolutely.

Absurd, sir.

Accepting for both is the president of RKO Radio Pictures,

Across neatly groomed lawns.

Admittedly, a lucky break.

After 20 years of connubial bliss,

After November 6th. I'm joining him in Europe next week.

Ah, Hitler, schmitler!

Ah, I'm on my way over. Any notes from the oversight tent?

Ah, make yourselves at home.

Ah, Mayer. What did RKO say?

Ah, she's a…

Ah.

Ah.

Ah.

Ah. I was thinking about that old play, The Wild Man of Borneo,

Ah. What did you think?

Ah… summer.

Aimee Semple McPherson says you're a godless commie, Upton.

Aircraft carriers are a shitty idea, but I don't appreciate the callousness.

All I am saying is no one can write like that.

All I currently want is a real shower, a cocktail, and my Sara to wake up to.

All in one film?

All right! No doubt you'll get your credit.

All right.

All that bother.

All this talk is so much pissing in the wind.

All you can hope is to leave the impression of one.

Alone in his unfinished, already decaying pleasure palace,

Aloof, seldom visited, never photographed,

Also, very bright, bullheaded, and British.

Always the smartest guy in the room.

Am I persuading you at all?

An act of purging violence.

An idealist, you get it?

And a handsome red fez with a silk tassel.

And a producer in Santa Monica reports a ruptured main.

And a Stuka dive bomber can drop one down your stack from 500 feet.

And all the other girls said to watch out. He was too old for me and too interested.

And armed with all the black magic at his command,

And assuming such a thing still exists in Hollywood,

And Dave Chasen will cater.

And decides to break this glass,

And displays it to superstitious hayseeds in a giant, silk lined casket

And don't mind Joe.

And every time I do decide to dance, every time…

And for that, I cannot thank you enough.

And forget we ever had this conversation.

And from what I understand, you're smarter.

And having been taken from the wild,

And he left his impeccable taste, his incredible attention to detail,

And he's paired with a fine gilt music box on an exquisite gold chain

And his royal habit of s'amus ing himself

And honestly.

And how's Marie Antoinette coming together?

And I am sick and tired of having my evenings end

And I believe that Mr. Merriam

And I go to the mat for what I believe in. I haven't the time to do otherwise.

And I hope, if it doesn't,

And I only saw her for one second, and she didn't see me at all."

And I remember you, Miss Davies.

And I say with Thomas Jefferson,

And I was completely mistaken.

And I'm not just referring to this Depression.

And I'm sorry I ever cared.

And it keeps going till…

And jail is not something an animal like Mayer is likely to forget.

And last, not yet among them, my brother Joe.

And let me let you in on a little secret.

And look at him.

And make a sentence gets one.

And making no goddamn excuses for it is only admirable in real life.

And Mary Pickford a virgin at 40.

And not only that,

And offer him some coffee.

And one of them crushed my testicles

And ran off to Mexico and financed a picture about the Russian Revolution.

And set fire to it.

And she…

And shelve the picture permanently?

And should be treated as such.

And start replacing their contents, raus schnell.

And started burning books.

And surrounded by vast acres reserved for use by zebras and giraffes,

And that, my friends, is a sin and an error.

And that's why he'd believe you.

And the brand spanking new Writers Guild

And the moment they do, I feel like…

And the one and only Ben Hecht.

And the other half won't work with me.

And the scientist and his creation are forced to flee

And the triumph of the human spirit

And the winner of the best original screenplay is…

And then he turns 24.

And this little home may not be much, but it's all I have left.

And tonight, we're celebrating our great friend's birthday

And using his newspapers to celebrate her change of hats."

And we're all interested in what you might share with us.

And whatever you decide,

And when all this is over,

And with an unseasonal thaw…

And you won't go to the press, because in California, that means Hearst.

And you, my friend, will lose script, money,

And you, perhaps, their Shakespeare.

And you're helping in the kitchen.

And your muscles begin to fail.

And your only competition is idiots," stop.

And, uh, careful.

Any last words?

Anybody seen anything good lately?

Anybody?

Anything you'd like to say to your coauthor, Mr. Mankiewicz?

Are being taxed out of their homes,

Are the studios moving to Florida like they've been saying?

Are we home licking our wounds or here making the best of it?

Are you certain?

Are you familiar with the parable of the organ grinder's monkey?

Are you going to say anything?

Are you here to try your luck, too, Schnutz?

Are you hoping I might absolve you of such a personal betrayal?

Aren't you disappointed that it only won one Oscar?

As a matter of fact, I do.

As a moving picture, it's more than good.

As Groucho always said,

As is Mr. Houseman.

As it must to all men, death came to..."

As Pascal once said,

As Republican state chairman elect,

As soon as FDR reopens the banks, you'll get back every penny.

As you know,

As you Yanks say, "He went out like a light."

Assisted by his faithful Sancho,

At this rate, you'll never finish.

At your age, you'd be justified in wanting out.

Baby Joe offering me?

Back from Irving's long convalescence in Europe.

Back to one.

Because he likes the way you talk.

Because I'm here in Rio making a marvelous motion picture.

Because my dashing correspondent couldn't afford a nice hotel.

Because there are no markets for them.

Because they dropped you from L.B.'s payroll,

Because true love on the big screens,

Before real folk with real troubles stone you to death.

Before we buckle down, I gather you have something to get off your chest?

Behind, he leaves his memory.

Believe what you want, but say, you think you could spare…

Bernstein is a far nicer character.

Bernstein's speech, the young woman on the ferry boat.

Besides, her pictures haven't made a dime in a decade.

Between pictures.

Bibamus, moriendum est.

Bless you, Mank.

Blind loyalty can get a little suffocating.

Boy, was he surprised. You're stronger than you look.

Boys, this is serious. We need your help.

Break wind at Hollywood and Vine,

Busker reveling in sleight of hand.

But a 50% pay cut for grips and electricians...

But all at once, not in relays.

But ask yourself, "Who's producing this picture?"

But every full moon, the monster awakens and raises unholy hell with the villagers.

But every morning, a sweet elderly woman dresses him in a fine suit of clothes.

But for this hallowed place to continue to exist, I am forced to.

But having devoted so much,

But he loved moving pictures more than he loved anything.

But he never gave back the money he promised.

But he thinks if you make nice with Mayer, you can have your old job back.

But he wrote about us for a book.

But I am writing an opera.

But I beg you, don't kick Pops when he's down.

But I can write like that, Houseman. I have.

But I don't intend to walk.

But I had to loan him a million dollars just to save San Simeon.

But I have over 200 pages in 13 days.

But I know better.

But I made sure to run into him in the parking lot after.

But I taught myself to avoid the consequences.

But in case we should have to leave,

But it was quite interesting.

But it's too radical for the boys in the back.

But nobody expects Shakespeare.

But now, there are things about us together…

But since when does anybody care what I have to say?

But that's not enough.

But that's okay,

But the best of all letters is to let her alone."

But the best of all meters is to meet her alone."

But the studios aren't moving anywhere. That's just company town propaganda.

But there are no problems that can't be solved together.

But there's a telephone call for you. Right back this way.

But they won't, and they don't.

But what did Marion ever do to deserve this?

But with credit for a risky undertaking must go the weight of real responsibility.

But you, a self anointed savior hyphenate,

But you, my friend, are an outsider.

But you, of all people, should know about that.

But you, sir,

But you're from Pennsylvania.

But you're gonna have to promise you won't laugh.

But.

By diddling all the ladies of his court.

By occupying both bedrooms.

By reputation only.

By the time she translates your red chicken scratches,

By the time you finish the first draft, which is to say, in 90 days,

C.C. for Central Casting. How you been, Mank?

Cairo, I think.

Call.

Can I get a bicarb?

Can you beat that? Not just "Ethel." "Always, Ethel."

Can you believe that? That'll take some writing.

Can't get unanimous support from his own studio?

Can't last. Who in the world takes a lunatic like that seriously?

Can't you just tell me what's on your mind?

Careful, I just might.

Careful. Thank you.

Certainly not FDR. Am I right, Rex?

Charlie Lederer and I went to a great deal of trouble to engineer this sad deception.

Charlie tells me you're up for Thalberg's old job.

Charlie's been here, Joe's been, Marion's been.

Cheerio.

Cigarette, please.

Close the door.

Close the door.

Come again?

Come on, come on.

Come on, Mank. We need guys like you to keep people like Mayer honest.

Come on! Hey. You know I'm good for it.

Come on.

Come on.

Come West to join our merry band.

Come, now, he wasn't your only admirer.

Complicated.

Congratulations, Irving.

Could it be because, in their hearts,

Could you effete political snobs please shut up and play?

Could you see me playing

Couldn't you, Pops?

Cue?

Cut!

Cut! Next setup, please.

Cut.

Cut. Do it again.

Dear Freda.

Dear Jove, did I say something I shouldn't have?

Depression weary audience can identify with.

Despite everything, the MGM ship, I'm happy to say, is full steam ahead.

Destroying in the process not one man… but two.

Did Sara put you up to this?

Didn't have to.

Different how?

Disillusioned in Congress,

Do come in.

Do it, you fucking junk dealer! I'll still be the better man!

Do not believe this.

Do tell.

Do tell.

Do you have any idea who pays half your salary?

Do you have to think about that?

Do you prefer Sidney or SJ?

Do you want him to?

Don't be alarmed, Marion. He won't be around for long.

Don't believe everything you hear at Schwab's.

Don't do this, Irving.

Don't flagellate. At least you're writing again.

Don't flatter yourself, Herman. I did it all alone.

Don't forget to vote.

Don't nose it around, but yeah, just in the nick.

Don't that chap your ass?

Don't usually trust me with sensitive information.

Don't worry, Fay. I'll find him.

Don't worry, folks.

Double or nothin'?

Drink it fast. In this heat, it'll flash to sugar.

Dulcinea.

Duly noted. Nelson Algren, please copy.

During a raging electrical storm.

Eight weeks, my friends, eight short weeks.

Either you demonstrate you can handle this,

Elizabeth Barrett Browning or Marie Antoinette?

Elsie, would you mind telling the folks at home why you're voting Republican?

Enough about Nazis.

Enough.

Especially now that Republicans seem bent on running Frank Merriam again.

Especially the boy genius from New York.

Even the dog's name is awful.

Even without the title page,

Every moment of my life is treacherous.

Everybody get up and sing with me!

Everyone ends up speaking like a constipated Oxford don?

Everyone in the English speaking world will recognize him instantly.

Everything goes.

Everything he does is for family,

Everything will thank you.

Exactly what he would say.

Excellent.

Except when it comes to selling his last name

Excuse me, friends.

Excuse me, you two, I've masses of typing to do.

Excuse me.

Exhausted, yes. Exasperated, usually.

Fastened to his neck and his neck alone.

FDR cost him the election by staying on the sidelines.

Fighters off the decks of aircraft carriers.

First positions!

First, you get the tremors,

Five thousand.

Flee from outraged peasants…

Follow me this way, sir.

For a chance in the big chair.

For a lifetime of starry eyed self absorption.

For Mr. Mankiewicz and Mr. Welles.

For myself, I don't care, Mank. Really, I don't.

For one reason or another, all of them want me to walk away.

For the $2,500 a week guy.

For the price of admission.

For uninspired studio chieftains.

Frank Merriam…

Frankenstein and The Wolf Man all rolled into one, only...

Frankly, I think what I said upset you.

Frankly, I wonder, too, but we'll find out.

Fraulein Freda is not only a nurse and physical therapist,

Fraulein Freda, empty the Mickeys

Freda, you mustn't let him intimidate you.

From back East?

From our country's terrible economic woes.

From the Spanish, for sweetness.

From those who fear his worst side, but...

Fruit rots on the ground and vegetables are dumped into the ocean

Funny, adventurous, smarter than she acts.

Furnished with shiploads of junk imported from Europe

George is fine, kid.

German U boats are starting to hunt in packs,

Get going, Jack. Muy pronto.

Giant surprise.

Give it a Eastern European look,

Give me a sign, oh, Lord.

Give me the gun, Shelly.

Given the speed, climb, and turning radius of the Messerschmitt Bf 109...

Given the state of the world, a tall order.

Given your current health, I wonder if you're up to it.

Glendale station at 7:00. Bring Sara if you like.

Go home to Fay.

Go on home. I'll be fine.

Go on.

Go to sleep, meshuggener.

Go.

God bless William Randolph Hearst.

God knows I've rehearsed it enough.

God only knows what pressure's yet to come.

Goldwyn's right for once.

Good cop, bad cop?

Good grief. Look who's here. How about that?

Good morning, Mr. Welles. You missed a big night.

Good people, everyday people, can't afford to go to the movies.

Good to see you again.

Good to see you, Mank.

Good.

Goodbye.

Got a taxi from Morro Bay.

Got what?

Gotta run. I'm doing tests for Heart of Darkness.

Grady gets a speaking part.

Guess who phoned with an offer to buy out RKO's investment

Guilty.

Ha! Come now, Mank. Upton Sinclair as Thomas Jefferson?

Ha. You're always surprising. That's why you were my only choice.

Half, and only in the interim.

Happy birthday!

Has it been that long?

Has prepared a mythical kingdom for…

Hastings. 14 October 1066,

Have at it.

Have been for years.

Have Cyclone say, "I don't mind the heat as much as I do the humanity."

Have you been laid yet?

Haven't been since we got here.

Haven't seen a horse's face in years.

Having to explain that "Le Roy"

He and the wunderkind are cutting the first draft.

He authors not one single piece of legislation in two terms.

He bought me most of it anyway.

He didn't want notes from Irving Thalberg?

He does just this.

He doesn't own MGM any more than Sam Goldwyn.

He has always been so kind to me.

He is creepers!

He is. I'm the promising brother, Joe.

He left here very upset, and he's got a pistol with him.

He lusts for voters to love him.

He must play."

He never pays for anything.

He pays half your fucking salary.

He said the phony newsreels cost him the election.

He seemed concerned about something. Is everything okay?

He thinks, "What a powerful fellow I must be."

He took the script?

He wants more than adulation. He wants love.

He wants to see me right away. Wouldn't tell me why.

He wants to turn private enterprise over to the state.

He wants to wager double or nothin' on a debt he doesn't even owe us?

He was a modest man.

He wrote a picture about the Nazis, which no studio anywhere will dare make.

He wrote that Mayer took a bribe to look the other way

He… He wouldn't come.

He'd like to speak with Mr. Houseman.

He'll get this, and the audience will too.

He's alive!

He's all right. Just sleeping.

He's an idealist, for Christ's sakes.

He's confused with Sinclair Lewis.

He's for the eight hour workday, fair income tax, better schools.

He's getting on my nerves.

He's just cut a month.

He's naturally overwhelmed by the enormous world around him.

He's on the mend, working tirelessly.

He's responsible for us getting safely out of Germany, legally and financially.

He's shit faced.

He's the most famous schlub after FDR, Hitler, and Mussolini.

Heads, you bastard!

Hedda! Louella!

Hello, everyone. Better late than never.

Hello, Tokyo?

Hello?

Hello?

Hello?

Hello?

Hello? Yes, he's here.

Hello.

Hello.

Hello.

Help! Please! Someone save me!

Helps spread the blame around.

Her husband is one of our bold lads in the RAF.

Her name…

Here in support of a friend.

Here, here, and here.

Here?

Here.

Here's to banks reopening.

Here's to your rich Canadian imagination.

Herm, can I use that?

Herman J. Mankiewicz…

Herman Mankiewicz, New York playwright and drama critic?

Herman, "And?"

Herman, I met your brother. He's a chip off the old block.

Herman, this is me.

Herman.

Herman.

Hermie,

Hermie, if a match gets anywhere near your breath,

Hermie, the guild's in its infancy.

Herr Mank sponsored my family's entry into this country.

Hey, Charlie.

Hey, hey, kid. What's up?

Hey, Mank, you remember me?

Hey, Mank.

Hey, Willie...

Hey, you made yourself court jester.

Him, I get.

Him, you fucking ingrate.

His bid goes nowhere, but we're doing something.

His leading lady is making a mid career adjustment.

His lust for power,

His name never appeared on the marquee

His ship's been sunk off Norway.

His system work in Russia, why not here?

Hiya. We have only one star. That is Leo the Lion.

Hmm?

Hmm.

Hmm. A weeping priest?

Hold still.

Hold up the Oscar, Mank. Big smile.

Hopefully, I can think of a reason before he gets here.

Houseman tells me we have you just where we want you.

Houseman, you sly thing. You slipped me a Mickey.

Houseman's bringing my notes. Think about 'em.

How about we make our Quixote…

How can I put this nicely?

How did you know?

How do you do, Mr. Mankiewicz?

How do you suppose that could happen?

How formidable people like you might be if they actually gave at the office.

How many families are like the Marx Brothers?

How stupid of me.

How was it? Mother's milk?

How you been, Mank?

How you doing?

How you managed to reach it so early in your rehabilitation,

How?

How's it gonna look if the GOP chairman himself

How's that?

How's that?

How's the performance of your leading lady?

Humph.

I ain't had so much as a walk on since Tugboat Annie.

I already made my exit.

I also remember how I spent my honeymoon in Berlin,

I always wanted better.

I am as your servant Moses, though I won't work half as cheap.

I am asking everyone in the MGM family to take a painful step.

I am asking to roll back salaries.

I am blessed to call you my friend.

I am bonkers about Movietone News. I love Lowell Thomas's voice.

I am very happy to accept this award

I am.

I assume if he wishes to drink, he's a grown man, a good man,

I believe that means right away.

I believe you've met our distinguished guest,

I brought it to my people at the studio.

I built him a watertight narrative and a suggested destination.

I came early to see where we were with, uh…

I can get you paid for the play and the adaptation.

I can tell by her voice.

I can't express in words…

I can't tell you how much it means. I'm touched you'd come.

I can't tell you what this means to him, Louis.

I cannot imagine.

I couldn't get past your secretary's secretary.

I couldn't have put it better myself, which may be why I write for the movies.

I did come see you.

I didn't know he knew what a good hand looked like.

I didn't realize.

I do have a message. You may tell him from me…

I do my best thinking before I fall asleep.

I don't even know who this Mr. Sinclair is,

I don't know if you were aware or not.

I don't know if you've ever walked a picket line. You might have to.

I don't know much about politics, but I do know this.

I don't know that writer.

I don't know what I'm saying.

I don't know who thought of it, but it keeps a lot of us off the streets.

I don't know.

I don't know.

I don't know.

I don't know. I'm so worried.

I don't make cheap horror pictures, Universal does.

I don't use humor to keep myself above the fray.

I don't want nobody calling me Poor Sara no more.

I don't want to,

I expect more of you.

I exposed myself, not entirely metaphorically, in court.

I feel 35.

I feel as though it's time we should try something new out again.

I find myself in a horrendous position, and I come to all of you on bended knee.

I forgot the love interest.

I gave you a second chance.

I got it.

I had them set you up out here so you wouldn't feel quite so confined.

I hate shop talk. I never know what's going on.

I hate to tell you, anyone who can rub three words together

I hate to think what L.B. might do if he knew you were the only holdout.

I have a job now, and I wanna keep it.

I have got such a hangover right now, there's just a fighting chance I won't.

I have it on highest authority it's the best thing he's ever done.

I have to stick around to see how it all turns out.

I haven't seen you since, what was it, Jack Gilbert's funeral.

I haven't told a soul this,

I hear you're hunting dangerous game.

I heard it from someone who knows,

I heard Pops on the phone helping to pick the president's cabinet

I hope the train ride wasn't too arduous.

I hope to climb out of this crate and into a cold martini.

I hope we won't need your sympathy, Mr. Mankiewicz.

I hope you haven't lost your nerve.

I hope, if this gets made,

I intend to make pictures with the help of real literary minds.

I just read they've opened their first concentration camps

I just saw 42nd Street. It blew my wig!

I know Freda's been sneaking you nightcaps from the cabinet.

I know that voice.

I know what I am, Mank.

I know what your answer'll be,

I know who it is.

I know you.

I know your health's not what it might be. I understand that comes first.

I know.

I live in a fishbowl, but anything I want is mine.

I love the old guy, Mank.

I may be a loose cannon,

I mean, how do you hope to be done in 14… 13 days?

I mean, you know all kinds of things.

I met him after he started bankrolling his girlfriend's pictures.

I need a favor,

I need a status report. Boys, come on in.

I need prosperity.

I needed some air.

I never had much success with that, Herman.

I never thought one could care so much about a sled.

I never would've thought it possible.

I noted.

I read your little script.

I removed any distraction, eliminated every excuse,

I sat across from him at the Brown Derby once.

I say…

I see you more as Dulcinea.

I see.

I sensed that. I told him I had to see him at once.

I should've insisted she take some time.

I shouldn't have said that thing about the cabinet in front of Tugwell,

I shouldn't wonder.

I suppose because being married to you, Herman,

I tell you what, how about…

I think I'd rather stay upright.

I think it's safe to assume none of us here would welcome

I think what you mean,

I thought I told you, Mank. I have final cut, final everything.

I thought I was rejecting a humiliating handout,

I thought you said this was about something, this was different.

I thought you were still at MGM.

I thought you'd wanna know there's a rumor in town

I told you. Your obligation was canceled out of gratitude.

I understand plenty. I'll take that bet.

I understand we've 90 days.

I understand you're in touch with your Hollywood crowd?

I used to do it in five for you at the Mercury. This is leisurely.

I used to quote it word for word.

I used to.

I want credit.

I want you to go back and tell Mayer

I was cornered by a man who sold vacuum cleaners.

I was honored to come and read your latest.

I was only 16 when I was cast in Stop! Look! Listen!

I was taught by my parents to be straightforward,

I was tired of doing inserts and pick up shots.

I was unable to attend the Academy Awards

I was, uh, looking to get you paid.

I went to a party last night

I will be staying in town at a bucolic spa called,

I will do my editing there.

I will meet with Orson weekly. Keep him to date on our progress.

I won't break up this family over something like money.

I won't give you that.

I won't work with half the producers on the lot,

I would. Do you sing?

I would've imagined you in pajamas by now.

I would've loved to play me ten years ago.

I wouldn't let her do Marie Antoinette.

I'd be shocked to see me here, too, Irving, if only I knew where here was.

I'd call that a fair return on a one minute lecture

I'd know that whiskey gargle anywhere.

I'd like to have at least a couple dollars.

I'd refer you, for that, to the power of prayer.

I'd sneak aboard in Albuquerque and climb into your compartment naked.

I'd tell him you said that, only he'd think you were brownnosing.

I'll add the appropriate amount to your gambling debt

I'll get Raymond to drive you to the station.

I'll have to report the both of you.

I'll have to think about it.

I'll see you guys and bump you two big ones.

I'll show you those horses we talked about.

I'm 43, but that's very understanding.

I'm all ears.

I'm at a loss to even express how wealth and influence can crush a man.

I'm being burned at the stake, and I am dying for a ciggie boo.

I'm confused. I thought the invitation called for circus attire, not flea circus.

I'm going riding.

I'm going to throw up.

I'm going to vote for Frank Merriam.

I'm in.

I'm just surprised that a vaunted muckraker like yourself

I'm never bored.

I'm not interested in educating our customers.

I'm not sure the guild intends to cover games of chance.

I'm on my way.

I'm out.

I'm pleased and impressed.

I'm so sorry.

I'm sorry, John.

I'm sorry. I won't be bullied. You'll have my resignation in the morning.

I'm sorry. Instinct!

I'm sorry. It's your wife.

I'm sure he'll tell me himself.

I'm sure that I'm gonna vote for Mr. Sinclair.

I'm telling you, nothing's going to happen here.

I'm toiling with you in spirit, Mank. And I don't hear any typing.

I'm turning my full attention to our little project.

I'm washed up, Joe.

I've been a little sixes and sevens recently.

I've finished my test for Heart of Darkness.

I've got a great idea for a picture, Louis.

I've gotta run. Kiss the offspring.

I've just watched our Sinclair films.

I've never been fired.

I've put up with your suicidal drinking,

I've raised your kids kosher and all but by myself.

I've saved the best for last.

I've written worse.

Iambic pentameter, the words of the great poets.

Ian's alive!

Ideals that any dirt poor,

If anyone should ask, tell 'em you're adapting.

If at all possible.

If form follows function.

If I could swim, I'd be doing swimmingly.

If I could, I'd share with everyone. You know that, Mank.

If I ever go to the electric chair, I'd like him to be sitting in my lap.

If it catches fire tonight, you will let me know?

If it's bothering you, Shelly, why get involved?

If she continues to cooperate in this cheap ruse,

If she meant just "Ethel," she'd write just "Ethel," not "always."

If that happens, you'd better run

If they were serious, why have the brothers Warner broken ground

If Upton Sinclair wins this election,

If you can believe it, the Shoulder Arms.

If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.

If you drive all the capital out of the country, who's gonna pay us?

If you fight this, it will go to what your new guild calls arbitration,

If you own that lovely home of yours,

Imagine a mad scientist,

In a private city of palaces and cathedrals,

In an emotional way, you can expect they'll do the right thing.

In certain echelons, it's common knowledge.

In communism, everyone shares the poverty.

In fact, I would venture to say, one of the most…

In fact, someone predicts that he will one day

In my expert opinion, you're hardly out of the first act.

In our little hillside home. Charlie.

In recognition of the outstanding work you've done so far,

In regards to?

In socialism, everyone shares the wealth.

In the beginning, we couldn't agree on an approach.

In the end, you'll do what you need to.

In the manner in which the screenplay was written,

In writing, on the back of the purchase check.

Inez, you are not to let the Brothers Marx wait in my office. Ever.

Instead, what do most studios give us? Gangster flicks, zanies.

Irving bought one of Sinclair's novels.

Irving G. Thalberg.

Irving must be clean. He looks like he shaves three times a day.

Irving, tell us about your travels. Where were you?

Irving, you are the shrewdest executive in this town.

Irving, you're a literate man.

Irving's bought 'em both, you know, because of Pops.

Is "le roi" in French and means "the king."

Is a menace to everything Californians hold dear?

Is Bernstein meant to be Louis Mayer?

Is everybody going to be pitching in? Are you, Mr. Mayer?

Is going to be redistributed by one of two methods,

Is he with you?

Is Houseman coming back? I never thought I'd miss him.

Is in grave financial difficulty.

Is that right?

Is that what you want me to say?

Is visiting Mrs. Elsie Hammontree of Azusa.

Isn't that right, Louis?

It better be.

It could mean our jobs.

It does not.

It is familiar.

It is not for us to say why he was taken from us so unexpectedly.

It looks like RKO will have to sue for restraint of trade.

It might be a good idea to put it in Poor Sara's name.

It must be hard to be on the receiving end of that.

It really is a gorgeous...

It stands for Mayer's gantze mishpokhe, Mayer's whole family.

It was a team effort. Thanks.

It was fascinating. Those people adore him.

It was never meant to be you.

It was the goddamn French pun that did me in.

It worked out.

It'll be less than 40.

It's 327 pages. An embarrassment of riches.

It's a dry house.

It's a home movie, but his idea of a home movie.

It's a lot to deal with, a loss like that.

It's a matter of principle, L.B. You wouldn't understand.

It's a modern day version of Quixote.

It's after lunch, and we're on a deadline. He may be busy.

It's all right. I've got this. I'm good.

It's amazing what $10 million against him bought.

It's director proof.

It's early. Every vote counts.

It's enough to persuade me that a writer is more of a menace

It's for you.

It's good, Mank. Damn good.

It's got that raw newsreel feel, hasn't it?

It's her as they imagine her, but it's him as you knew him.

It's Herman Mankiewicz. Where is he?

It's important.

It's kind of you to say.

It's Lear. The dark night of the soul.

It's mighty strong medicine

It's more, her as people who don't know her imagine her to be.

It's my fault.

It's no time to trade horses in the middle of a stream.

It's not as unpleasant as you might imagine.

It's not from her husband.

It's not her!

It's not the work. That's everything we hoped it would be.

It's one of those cures that could be worse than the disease.

It's Orson.

It's Orson.

It's Shelly.

It's ten bucks, Mank.

It's the best thing I've ever written.

It's the best thing you've ever written.

It's very grand, Mank, in its own way, and very much you.

It's very…

Jack, get me some Cuban cigars.

Jeepers!

Jeepers!

Jefferson never got federal laws passed to ban oil monopolies,

Joanna, come along.

Jobs will be here…

Joe called four times in the last three days.

Joe, all the $250 a week writers I know are getting $2,500.

Joe.

John, are you familiar with the parable of the organ grinder's monkey?

Joseph Goebbels, the propaganda minister,

Just call me Ahab.

Just in time for a story conference with the great David O.

Just nerves.

Just tell me what's on your mind.

Just to nail that utopian son of a bitch to the wall.

Kane was nominated in nine categories, including best actor.

Keep your money. I'm happy enough

Keep your mouth shut and watch us for your cue, okay?

Kill yourself. I've tried. It takes years.

Knock it off!

L.B., this is my brother, Joe.

L'chaim.

Lay back.

Lederhosen and suspenders. Terrifying.

Legal enactment or violent revolution.

Let me guess.

Let me take off these clothes.

Let's aim for 60.

Like a workforce for free?

Like casting a movie.

Like Mexican jumping beans.

Like you got caught, jambes en l'air.

Listen. I hate to, you know…

Literary pictures.

London, you there?

Look at what we did. We can't un ring this bell.

Looks like you found work, C.C.

Lord knows, outside his own blonde Betty Boop,

Loud and long enough, they're apt to believe it."

Louis, you should be joyous. You don't look a day over 48.

Love him enough to make him president.

Lucky me.

M A N K I E W I C, and outta nowhere, a Z.

Maestro the Dog Faced Boy did Macbeth.

Make up your mind.

Mama Rose too.

Mank heim. Bottoms up.

Mank once bet me a five spot

Mank, can I talk to you?

Mank, come quick!

Mank, I've just finished your first draft and I must say

Mank, if I may be so bold, why Hearst?

Mank, Mank.

Mank, turns out we have the same dentist on Camden.

Mank, you can kiss my half!

Mank!

Mank!

Mank! Are you okay?

Mank! Mank, where are you?

Mank! Where's Sara?

Mank! You're always so wonderfully contrary.

Mank?

Mank? It's Orson Welles.

Mank.

Mank.

Mank.

Mank.

Mank.

Mank.

Mank. Have another.

Mank. No, sir, helping out on B camera.

Mankiewicz, Herman.

Mankiewicz?

Many stars have, and now they twinkle elsewhere.

Marble?

Marion and I are pleased you all could come stay for the weekend.

Marion Antoinette.

Marion would've made it her own.

Marion, I need a favor. It's just a little joke on Willie.

Marion, please, you're not in convent school anymore.

Martin, would you set a place for Mr. Mankiewicz,

Maybe a little bit left?

Maybe I didn't always, back when he was my social security.

Maybe once.

Maybe the informed of California were late leaving work.

Maybe.

Mayer can't save you. Nobody can.

Mayer is the same pathetic sort of lap dog to our Charles Foster?

Mayer's buyout was rejected.

Mayer's not paying for this.

Mayer's over there now giving her the company kiss off.

Me?

Meaning you can make the world swear King Kong is ten stories tall

Meaning?

Meantime, I'll run everything through my typewriter.

Men in leather shorts, gals in tattered peasant blouses.

Might find it very interesting, not to mention the newspapers.

Millions of Californians

Mind telling who you favor in this election?

Miss Davies, Mr. Hearst would like Mr. Mankiewicz seated

Mm, I support that.

Mother of God! Where did the night go?

Mr. Butler, are you voting in the election?

Mr. George Schaefer.

Mr. Hearst, Marion, all of you,

Mr. Mankiewicz, please don't ask us to help you in this sad deception.

Mr. Mankiewicz?

Mr. Rexford Tugwell.

Mr. Sinclair's got something new. He got that EPIC Plan.

Mrs. Hammontree, tell the folks why you're voting for Frank Merriam.

Must be 108 degrees.

My boy, there are three work rules at this studio.

My deadline is two weeks away and I intend...

My dear Mrs. Alexander,

My fault.

My friends, income in this country

My friends! My friends!

My heart is full to bursting.

My Latin grades were better than yours.

My mother was nothing but a whore.

My movie star looks or my diplomat's charm?

My resident jack of all trades, Shelly Metcalf.

My wife and I love California, and we'd like to stay.

Narrator,

Narrator, "There, last month,

Naturally, you'll do your damnedest to get at it.

Neither were able to attend tonight.

Nemesis is the same guy who once predicted our Quixote would

Nemesis runs for governor and he's a shoo in to win.

Nerve's about all I've got left.

Never ever be out of touch with your empire.

Never forget that.

Never forget that.

Never mind. I'll take the Pasadena Freeway.

Never stood a chance.

News travels fast.

Nice to meet you, Joseph. I'm Louis Mayer.

Nice.

Nicely put.

Nicht wahr?

No dice, for now, but they're on their uppers. Whether they...

No notes.

No one else is Mankiewicz. I can almost hear the finish line.

No one should have to hear me sing. Isn't that right, Sara?

No, he wants more than readership.

No, I don't know this burgh, not yet.

No, it's the mustache that's the horror.

No, not at all. Everything's going absolutely according…

No, our Quixote, he's a two fisted muckraker.

No, over mine. You'd need a degree in larceny.

No, she and the kids are back East.

No, thank you. I'm not hungry.

No, that almost killed me. Where's Willie?

No, wait, wait a minute.

No, you're right, W.R.

No!

No!

No. "Had ceased to trust him."

Nobody but nobody makes a monkey out of William Randolph Hearst!

Nobody could ever tell you what to do.

Nobody knew what the fuck I was talking about.

Nobody'd be on it election night.

None of it sings. None of it. Not a note.

Norma put her heart and soul into it.

Not a straight line pointing to the nearest exit.

Not at all, but I know how things are.

Not even the most disgraceful thing I've ever seen.

Not good?

Not really.

Not technically.

Not that I care, but why aren't you contributing

Not the way you write, the way you talk.

Not very well at all.

Notably rich and powerful

Notably rich and powerful can't win over an audience

Now a memory of what once was.

Now, along comes nemesis.

Now, how many gangsters do Americans meet in a lifetime?

Now, I know none of you read, but you know what it's about.

Now, I know you'd never stoop to that.

Now, I talked to RKO, and I'll tell you what they're ready to do.

Now, let's hope it makes more sense than the last.

Now, Rex is special assistant to President Roosevelt,

Now, that's sticking the old neck out.

Now, the organ grinder's monkey is tiny in stature,

Now, there's a first.

Now, those I wrote.

Now, what does he mean, "fabricated"?

Now, you all know Joe von Sternberg.

Observe.

Of course not. Just some real estate.

Of course. When?

Of invading hobos has a certain xenophobic power

Off the record, President says the man bears watching.

Oh, and one last thing, Herman.

Oh, come, now.

Oh, good old Houseman.

Oh, haven't you heard?

Oh, I couldn't, not even as a joke.

Oh, I wouldn't have thought

Oh, is he single?

Oh, little that, lesser Joe Conrad.

Oh, Mank, are you ever serious?

Oh, Mank!

Oh, my God!

Oh, my God. Of course I remember you, C.C.

Oh, Pops likes you.

Oh, Pops's radio phones.

Oh, save the "mister" for the anointed.

Oh, stay, Houseman. You'll miss the third act complicator.

Oh, terribly sorry. Table one. Right this way.

Oh, that's a beautiful shot right there.

Oh, you don't know this sun bleached sewer here, my friend.

Oh, you mean Poor Sara.

Oh!

Oh?

Oh.

Oh.

Oh.

Oh.

Oh. She said you had some work you wanted to talk about.

Okay, Mank, you're on. Twenty four grand or nothing.

Okay.

Okay.

Okay. Here goes.

Okay…

On an additional 100,000 square feet of sound stages?

On balance, better than nothing. I plan to use it as a nightcap.

On every frame he touched.

On that, you have the sacred word of L.B. Mayer.

On the list of people not to be taken seriously.

Once a castle on a hill,

One day preside over a socialist revolution.

One million dollars a year we spend on stories we never even film.

One moment, please.

One never remembers one's disasters. It's considered gauche.

One, don't roll your eyes. Two, try not to fall asleep.

Only about something funny.

Only because I hadn't heard.

Only half of 'em were actors.

Only the ones who believe King Kong is ten stories tall

Ooh! Pleasure doing business with you, gentlemen.

Oops.

Or just your way of avoiding responsibility?

Or Mary Pickford a virgin at 40.

Or railroad trusts, or cleaned up the stockyards.

Or to be specific, François I,

Or we will all end up getting sacked.

Or who it's meant to be.

Orson, hello. We just got in.

Orson, please…

Orson.

Our country should be flattered you picked its birth date as your own.

Our Quixote is against crooked trusts.

Our Quixote looks into the mirror of his youth

Our Quixote, he hungers, he thirsts,

Our wunderkind does have the gift of theatrical timing.

Over the beast incarnate in our far too solid flesh.

Overturn their creaky wagon…

Pardon.

Parkinson's.

People are speculating Rosebud is W.R.'s pet name for Marion's genitalia.

People aren't spending their hard earned 25 cents to see Macbeth.

People sitting in the dark,

People think because you're on the cover of Modern Screen,

People think MGM stands for Metro Goldwyn Mayer.

Perfect place to dry out.

Perhaps he will you.

Perhaps we can find you a costume.

Picture makers are gonna have to service this new entertainment.

Pictures that talk are the future.

Placed in nomination for president,

Please be mindful of those who care about you most.

Please don't try.

Please hold on. It's Poor Sa...

Please tell me you got the gun.

Please, sit.

Please. It's upsetting enough Marion had to endure the man in newsreel.

Plus $10,000.

Plus, the ominous futility of man playing God.

Poor sap. Not only has he got no money,

Poor souls surviving a depression on five grand a week.

Pops, this is Herman Mankiewicz, but we have to call him Mank.

Presumed lost at sea.

Pretty soon, you can't get out of a chair.

Previews have been a struggle for general audiences.

Private ownership in California won't amount to a hill o' beans.

Put aside gratitude, Mank.

Puts out the fire, and entombs the monster in solid ice.

Quite handsome.

Raise.

Read it back, please.

Ready and willing to hunt the great white whale?

Real families root for each other in the good times,

Really? And why was that?

Regaling us with stories about dodging trolley cars in Brooklyn.

Rejected, he flees to lotusland,

Remember when you used to take the train

Remind me never again to work with a washed up alcoholic!

Rich Canadian imagination!

Riders, ready!

Rise and shine, hombre.

Rita Alexander, Herman Mankiewicz.

Rita, come in here, will you?

Rolling!

Rule number one. Ars gratia artis, art for art's sake.

Rule number three.

Rule number two.

Sara, we have to plan a day of shopping and catch up.

Save yourself the trouble, be done in 60 days.

Saved by the proverbial bell.

Screaming anti Semitic slogans.

Sees Hollywood's future as such a shiny penny.

Selznick, everyone. Five minutes.

Set it here, please.

Seventy six pages.

She fits him with a red velvet vest adorned with pearl buttons

She loves me, don't you think?

She made sure her daughters learned to sing and dance.

She said, "Kick a little higher."

She slips on brocade shoes that curl at the toe,

She studied nutrition back in the old country.

She types 100 perfect words a minute and takes dictation like a clairvoyant.

She's a showgirl, beneath his social stratum,

She's my aunt.

She's not the kind to use "always" if she didn't mean it.

She's taking her playpen to Warner Bros. Permanently.

She's very pretty.

Shell, is that you?

Shelly got a chance to direct, and I canceled your $12,000 gambling debt.

Shoot out at the O.K. Corral.

Shouldn't the United States do something, Mr. Tugwell?

Show movies in the streets.

Sidney.

Since when don't Paramount use writers by the truckload?

Sinclair demanded a guarantee that not one word could be changed,

Sinclair is yesterday's fishwrap.

Sinclair's run twice before and got, what, 2% of the vote?

Sing with me! Everybody, up and sing!

Sit down.

Sitting alone by his pool…

Sleep. You're driving to New York tomorrow.

Slim, you may tote

Slumming on a Saturday, Mr. Metcalf?

So a rival could buy MGM.

So don't ask me to give you Poor Sara's seal of approval.

So even our preeminent dream factory…

So he takes her away to his mythical kingdom.

So how might we update this story?

So I vote for Comrade Upton.

So Joe says he can't promise,

So many hicks think he wrote Elmer Gantry, it's cost him the Dust Bowl vote.

So perhaps you've heard. None of the theater chains will touch us.

So this isn't an offer. It's a subtle ultimatum.

So we did.

So what do we do?

So, he runs for public office, and because he's notably rich, he wins.

So, the fat's only starting to hit the fire.

So, you're only half the wit your big brother is.

Some are secondary.

Somebody in the know.

Somebody was bitching about Mervyn LeRoy running over budget on Wizard of Oz.

Someone had to say it.

Sometimes my asides are too clever by half.

Somewhere where he might get some air?

Soon as old Maude's radio spots started running,

Sorry, what was that?

Sorry. Somebody told me Mankiewicz was in here.

Sounds great.

Sounds like a Japanese houseboy.

Speaking of socialists, how about Upton Sinclair's book?

Spot to get stuck?

Stop crying for your just deserts, or they're liable to give them to you.

Stop worrying. Have a pickle.

Sure, Mank, anything.

Take 'em, Mank.

Take care of each other in tough ones.

Taken care of this weekend?

Talk about political handicaps. I'm out.

Tell him about the finale, Charlie.

Tell him, Willie.

Tell him.

Tell me something, Mank. The truth.

Tell us about Hollywood!

Tell us your principal reason.

Telling in jest that he had spent six million dollars

Ten centigrade.

Thalberg said this was your idea.

Thank you all for coming.

Thank you all for coming.

Thank you, Mr. Mankiewicz.

Thanks, Cedric. These are fine.

That "poor old woman" has got enough oil wells south of El Segundo

That bush in the front yard,

That no one could possibly…

That oughta count for something.

That rat Bolshevik belongs right up there with Hitler

That shows how naive he is.

That surprises you?

That they didn't want you around anymore.

That this country has stood for in the past 150 years.

That was a compliment.

That would have someone like you for a member."

That you've done your best work was no accident.

That's good. I may use that.

That's Greek for any guy in a black hat.

That's how bad things can get.

That's just what we need when Susan leaves Kane.

That's Maude Anderson.

That's more than generous.

That's not what he was saying.

That's politics. I didn't invent it, I don't apologize for it.

That's some title.

That's the first good hand I've had all day.

That's the real magic of the movies, and don't let anybody tell you different.

That's what he gets for surrounding himself with amateurs.

The bastard reneged. You were there.

The boys are remodeling.

The destinies of a nation

The dreaded yet foreseeable "but."

The Faustian bargain of life everlasting.

The final, incomplete, count for tonight is…

The Germans are a thoughtful, considerate people.

The Hollywood studios are movin' to Florida.

The hypocrisy.

The job will be yours if you can do two things.

The ladies will scandalize the neighborhood

The last I heard, Irving, it's still a democracy.

The last…

The little sausage might have gone to jail.

The lonely showgirl, trapped in a castle, doing jigsaw puzzles.

The memory of a great man, a talented man, a man of unblemished integrity.

The moment he's mentioned, the evening turns.

The most miserable bastard on God's green earth.

The narrative is one big circle, like a cinnamon roll,

The odds went from 7 5 for to 2 1 against.

The one thing you never ever talk about is Upton Sinclair.

The one you wrote in the Ice Age.

The Orkney Islands, you idiot.

The owner of the ranch doesn't permit alcohol.

The patient dies on the table.

The people who count in California won't let it.

The picture depends upon her.

The rain turns to sleet,

The respect of those who honor their word.

The rest of us have to be satisfied with the one we happen to be born on.

The Screen Writers Guild needs an apostrophe?

The shifting point of view is revolutionary.

The story is so scattered, I'm afraid one will need a road map.

The thing you got so right in your script…

The Wizard of Oz is gonna sink that studio.

The woman who gave you life?

The Writers Guild doesn't have to hit the bricks

The writing is first rate, but you know that.

Then smiling, speaking,

Then we'll all be working for 75 bucks a week.

Then you force me to remind you!

There are no studio notes.

There isn't time to explain. I just need you to tell him that.

There. God's punishing you.

There's a golden age coming when all the world will be a stage,

There's a world of difference between communism and socialism.

There's enough Seconal in those bottles to bring down a bull elephant in heat.

There's nothing like a vote of confidence from one's peers.

There's one we won't be optioning. Eh, Irving?

They both want something for nothing.

They can stop a guy like Sinclair.

They cleaned out the Washington and Culver gates like a dose of Ex Lax.

They gave me a chance to direct.

They just run it for the moneyboys back East.

They know that he values power over people?

They know you.

They let me go just as I achieved perfect equilibrium.

They not only charge admission to rallies,

They pass a plate once the suckers are inside.

They say I was passed over because I'm not a team player.

They told us to come dressed as we are.

They were passing around a pamphlet Sinclair wrote called "Ending Poverty in…"

They'll countersue, of course.

They're exasperated by me, and I've earned it,

They're gonna need people who honor words, give them voice.

They're just waiting to loathe you.

They're prepared to relieve you of the rewrite and still honor your full pay,

They've been grilling hot dogs again.

This is a business where the buyer gets nothing for his money but a memory.

This is all Pops's idea. He wants me ready to take on the talkies.

This is Mrs. Alexander.

This is the first nomination and first win

This isn't Gower Gulch.

This time, banjo eyed son of a bitch, let it hit the floor.

This Upton doesn't know a thing about the real…

Those lovely highland beauties to the kitchen.

Those things just pop out of my mouth,

Though I do think footage

Thugs in brown shirts goose stepping past our hotel all night,

Thunder, lightning, blood, fire, religion…

Till the movies say it is.

Times are changing, Mr. Mankiewicz,

Times says he'll lose by 200,000.

To a competitor in the middle of the night.

To an unsuspecting public than a party hack.

To ask simply for what I want, and expect that I may have to elucidate my position.

To buy us both, Schnutz.

To describe a young William Randolph Hearst.

To his left at dinner.

To keep themselves in power and the poor ever poorer.

To make his lady's reputation

To Mank berg. Prosit.

To Mank town. Or is it Mank ville?

To MGM's anti Sinclair fund?

To see how long it would take a falling leaf to hit the ground.

To the people who clean your house.

Today, if possible.

Today, our roving reporter

Tommy, if we can find civilization by sundown,

Too often, sir, the religion of Jesus is used by the ruling classes

Too true.

Touring the boonies with a mechanical freak he's fabricated.

Trapped.

Truthfully, Shelly, if the performances were any better,

Turned humble screenwriter, Mr. Hearst.

Uh huh.

Uh uh.

Uh, caring for clan Mankiewicz.

Uh, he takes what he gets. The great Charles MacArthur.

Uh, is the reason you lopped 30 days to run it past the RKO legal?

Uh, me and Grady here been thinking of bummin' east to Miami.

Uh, Mr. Mankiewicz, I'm so sorry to bother you,

Uh, put it over there, please.

Uh, that's a big question.

Uh, the white wine came up with the fish.

Uh, this is different. This is about something.

Uh, yeah. Ed, lend me a buck.

Uh… Berlin, in fact.

Uh… Ed?

Unless notably rich and powerful sees the error of his ways in the final reel.

Until I volunteered to distribute my wares into the East River.

Until your rather dramatic wake up call.

Upton just wants you to apportion some of your Christmas bonus, Irving,

Upton Sinclair used exactly those words

Upton Sinclair, the lousy Bolshevik…

Upton, Mank? Nobody's asking to hear you sing "The Internationale."

Vainly attempting to sway, as he once did,

Versailles, all those costumes and wigs.

Very good. Have him seated next to me.

Vital organs are exposed, nothing is learned,

Voodoo Macbeth. Don't be fooled. He's a showman.

W. R., nothing is more precious to me than your friendship and sage advice.

Wait a minute.

Wait a minute. What?

Walter Winchell says Sinclair may run for governor next election.

Warner's?

Was how lonely he'd been as a boy.

Watch those stairs. They're treacherous.

We all know, is blind.

We all wanna welcome the Thalbergs

We are suffering, as all Americans are,

We are weighing all options.

We gave him our solemn word we would deliver.

We give him ideals.

We have a contract that you understood and agreed to!

We have a huge responsibility.

We have to be vigilant.

We haven't much longer to exercise our choice.

We made some trims, but I should've known.

We met at John Gilbert's birthday. You're Herman Mankiewicz.

We see an old man in a robe, smoking a pipe,

We see through trees as an aide pushes this old man in a wheelchair

We want W.C. Fields.

We were never gonna end up in Brooklyn.

We'll do the praying and the fighting.

We'll have no one but ourselves to blame.

We're building sympathy.

We're doing it for the $250 a week guy.

We're expecting great things.

We're making the best of it.

We're on track with this recent slate for our most successful year ever.

We're with you, L.B.

We've got to get people into theaters, but…

Welcome to my mind, Old Sock.

Welcome to San Simeon.

Well, as I've told you, it's quite unique.

Well, as they say in the Bronx, "Make yourself to home," Mr. Mankiewicz.

Well, call me old fashioned, Irving, but I don't like being told

Well, do you always just say whatever you think? Hmm.

Well, first of all, I'm an American,

Well, he may not get Mayer's vote…

Well, here goes.

Well, I have seen some miracles in my day,

Well, I haven't seen you since Shelly Metcalf's.

Well, I read the script.

Well, I vote yes.

Well, I want Merriam because I want a job.

Well, I was encouraged by mine to use my imagination,

Well, I'm delighted to hear it.

Well, I'm voting for Frank Merriam because I wanna keep our way of life.

Well, I'm voting for Frank Merriam because I wanna keep our way of life…

Well, if he calls again, give him this number, Schnutz.

Well, it's selling like crazy.

Well, look, come see me at International. Let's work something out.

Well, people in certain echelons

Well, send him in too.

Well, she's no widow. And she's absurdly rich.

Well, since you like working nights, Rita here runs on London time.

Well, thanks for coming out.

Well, that, my friend, is the magic of the movies.

Well, that, my good man, is Hollywood.

Well, that's difficult to say exactly.

Well, that's great news.

Well, that's why I'm here. On behalf of the secondary characters.

Well, the last time I looked, 40 million Germans.

Well, there's clean, and there's clean.

Well, we need complete rejuvenation of our system,

Well, we see a different kind of Paramount picture.

Well, well.

Well, what can I tell you, Mank? Marion Douras…

Well, what do you think, Louis?

Well, what's at stake here?

Well, why would I need a cos…

Well, yes, they showed that Hitler giving a speech, kissing babies.

Well, you should have everything. If I've forgotten, there's a clipboard.

Well…

Well…

Went to convent school.

Weren't those the days?

What a year you've had, Louis. How have you weathered it?

What about the way she signed it? "Always, Ethel."

What are you gonna do?

What are you two talking about?

What can I say?

What did I do that was so terrible?

What do I have to complain about?

What do you do for pleasure?

What do you mean?

What do you think?

What does instinct tell you?

What happened?

What happened? The goddamn Depression happened.

What have we here?

What he bought still belongs to the man who sold it.

What I said was more in sorrow than in anger, Willie.

What I wanna know is what you think of it.

What I wouldn't give to see that in a tight sweater.

What is it the writer says? "Tell the story you know."

What is Mank doing here?

What makes me cry? Emotion.

What makes you think it's meant to be anybody?

What would you like me to do?

What writer failed to notice

What, now, Shelly?

What?

What'd you think?

What's a concentration camp?

What's bothering you, then?

What's everyone else having?

What's German for blabbermouth?

What's going on here? Are we quoting Goebbels?

What's our valiant laddie have to say for the cause...

What's she like?

What's so funny?

What's this, a racing form?

What's wrong?

When all the time, I was nixing a respectable bribe.

When front paged in the Times and backed by those tacky billboards.

When I come to work, I don't consider it slumming.

When I was just a boy passing out socialist leaflets in the Bronx,

When my own mother heard he was one of the richest men in America,

When Thalberg refused, Sinclair took his money

When the Dog Faced Boy gets here, there will be plenty of branches to prune.

When's he due back?

Whenever he ventures into the city to perform,

Where are you? Let me call you a cab.

Where do I feel emotion?

Where he takes it, that's his job.

Where his faithful troll, Sancho,

Where Scott Fitzgerald referred to you as a ruined man.

Where were we, chief?

Where were we?

Where's a gossip columnist around this castle when you need one?

Which had long since ceased to listen to him…"

Which is to say, in the absence of Orson Welles.

Which phony Sinclair films?

Which side of a fight I'm already on.

While MGM has the most contracts with stars in their history.

While nearby, an old priest weeps.

Who else could make a living tilting at windmills?

Who has forgotten all she ever learned about the Battle of Hastings?

Who hasn't?

Who needs to see that?

Who pursue them mit torches…

Who the fuck do you think you are, Mankiewicz?

Why are you acting like some dumb ward heeler?

Why are you doing this, Herm?

Why do I love you?

Why do you love me?

Why do you put up with me, Schnutz?

Why do you put up with me?

Why is it when Houseman edits,

Why is it when you scratch a prim, starchy English schoolgirl,

Why not? I'll tell you. They don't make me cry.

Why the wine and dine, Marion?

Why waste money on that?

Why, he's even for government ownership of railroads.

Why, it's a puffed up, sharp tailed, red ruffled magpie.

Why, no need to be humble, Mr. Mankiewicz.

Why, that man's a socialist.

Why? Because he's exactly what our Don used to be.

Will he show it to her?

Will not allow his films to be shown in the Fatherland.

Will support all the foundations and principles

Will you stop?

Will you talk?

Willie came to the show. Same seat every night.

Willie sent you.

Willie wants the phony Sinclair films pulled.

Willie, down?

Willie?

Willingly checking their disbelief at the door.

Win the presidency and bring about, get this…

With all due respect to Shelly, King Kong they ain't.

With hookers running up and down the stairs all night

With the abrupt sensation of being struck on the head with a croquet mallet.

With the great stars, producers, and directors who worked alongside him.

Without a net.

Without overhauling them for a modern audience.

Word on the street is radio's golden boy wants to go toe to toe with Willie Hearst,

Would Othello snoop on Desdemona when he has Iago?

Would you consider simplifying?

Would you like to go lay down?

Would you mind telling folks why you're voting for Frank Merriam?

Wow. He would do that to his own studio?

Write hard. Aim low.

Yeah, she loves him too.

Yeah, yeah, and the nights weren't bad either.

Yeah? Okay.

Yeah. Mr. Monkeywitz could use some coffee.

Yeah. Right away.

Yeah. You all remember the Algonquin cabin boy, Charlie Lederer,

Yep. Yes, I know the clock…

Yes, he is. No, not at all.

Yes, he reinstated salaries,

Yes, well, it will absolutely need your marvelous…

Yes. Hang on. He's right here.

Yes. Yes, he's right here.

Yet the Depression is one of abundance.

Yet you can't convince starving voters that a turncoat socialist

You always side with the writer, Mank.

You ask me what my acceptance speech might have been.

You can take the girl outta Bed Stuy.

You can't tell those stories

You cannot capture a man's entire life in two hours.

You care to hear what I've decided?

You could always produce.

You didn't know that, did ya? You wanna know why?

You do that.

You don't much like Mayer.

You don't need my donation. You don't need anybody's.

You don't need to be Philip Marlowe to know who wrote it.

You don't think anyone old enough to vote is gonna buy this shit?

You don't turn your back on a market as big as Germany.

You fractured Wally Beery's wrist Indian wrestling.

You gave me the same invitation after Shelly's funeral.

You get a swooning moving picture fan

You got a problem, come to Papa.

You have another visitor.

You have everything it takes right here.

You hocked your jewels?

You knew Marion Davies?

You know better than anyone, not all characters are headliners.

You know how these things have their moment.

You know the difference between communism and socialism.

You know what we call those people?

You know, Pop was right. You should've been a professor.

You mark my words, Sara.

You may be, Mr. Barrymore,

You may have heard MGM has more stars than there are in the heavens.

You may never work in this town again, Mank!

You mean besides my own?

You mean it's a mess.

You might say that.

You must have a good reason.

You obviously don't know my aunt. If you're not doing anything, come along.

You okay, Charlie?

You pick a fight with Willie, you are finished.

You piss that away between hopeless bets.

You read it and see what I mean.

You really will bet on anything.

You remember our chairman, Louis B. Mayer?

You said 90 days. Welles said 60. I'm doing the very best I can.

You see, if you just give people what they need to know

You should be a world class sprinter.

You signed your rights to the Mercury. You agreed not to take screen credit.

You stop reading, you stop learning.

You think it'll play?

You think Merriam would be safest for all of us?

You ungrateful bastard! I ought to cut your balls off!

You want I should make a picture about a prostitute?

You want to send a message? Call Western Union.

You wanted 72 hours, you got 72 hours. Tell us what you have so far.

You wanted to see me?

You were always his favorite dinner partner.

You were in D.C. I went to the pictures in Santa Barbara.

You won't be done till Christmas.

You worry too much, John.

You would talk about your own mother that way?

You write for the movies because you're super at it.

You'd be ashamed of yourself.

You'd be that keenly interested in the honoring of words.

You'll burst into flames.

You'll forgive me.

You'll forgive me.

You're asking a lot of a motion picture audience.

You're barely trying.

You're blushing.

You're gonna. I just know you are.

You're no doubt used to it.

You're not going to like this, Orson.

You're not the first person to trade integrity

You're not writing an opera.

You're nothin' but a court jester.

You're out to get Hearst

You're related to me. He already thinks you're a genius.

You're right, of course.

You're serious.

You're the most observant man I know.

You've arrived in the well known nick.

You've had a bit too much to drink, Herman.

You've never seen a sunrise.

Young man, I'm a widow,

Young Orson doesn't believe in chance.

Your compulsive gambling, your silly platonic affairs.

Your director's been stricken with a bout of conscience.

Your exquisite evocation of his hunger for love

Your family, your cronies, liquor.

Your Flatbush was showing.

948,814.

"Banjo eyed." Son of a bitch?

"Her lips, coral." Mmm.

"We"? I don't think he's going to take it well.

A way to put it. I'm not asking you to help.

About what? He's right.

Ah, a poem with a message. That's just the first verse.

Ah, nerts! What is that?

Ah. Mank!

All in all, it's a bit of a jumble. Did you say "jumble" or "jungle"?

Am not. Are too.

Am not. Are too. I can see it even in the dark.

And how bad is that, baby brother? How bad?

And I intend to protect it. Poor old woman.

And to freedom. Freedom!

And what train did you take? Glendale. I missed my stop.

And? "And?"

Any rest? Haven't seen a sunrise yet.

Are ya? Good news. It'll need work, of course.

At MGM, movies are a team sport. Which may be why I'm at Paramount.

At what? Changing my mind.

Aunt Marion. Mank. You sleep well?

B picture. It's not for Joe.

Ben, why don't you start? Well, this was tough, David.

But it isn't news and it isn't real. I wasn't looking for an ethical debate.

But it was Irving's picture. Marionette.

Can you phone him? I don't phone him, he phones me.

Checking in. How are you getting around? Gingerly.

Cheers. God bless us, everyone.

Commies. L.B. is not wrong.

Communists? Anarchists?

Damn it, Charlie. You asked me out here.

Did you know the man? Maybe.

Do I know him? He wrote one of our Lon Chaneys.

Do you want me to get... No, no.

Enough room there? Oh, it should be.

Entire village? Over 100 people.

Eve. Eve. Sorry.

Eve. What?

Excuse me, Mr. Welles. Good morning.

Fellas. Shh. These are high stakes.

Flies… What is it, Rita? Spitfires? Hurricanes.

Fraulein Freda. Ja, Herr Mank?

Friendship? Loyalty? Oh, come now.

From the original Latin. Don't patronize me.

Goddamn movie again. I said, "Le Roy s'amuse."

Good evening. Name? Mankiewicz.

Good morning, Charles. Charlie.

Good people, the man is an author. As was Thomas Jefferson.

Had to go to management to cover it. For five bucks?

Half? Could be less.

He fetched up on the Orkneys! The what?

He lost, Mank. Yeah, it's been a bad night.

He wants your number up there. So give it to him.

He's a worrisome old woman in disguise. Well, he wants to offer you work.

He's an angry scribe, a provocateur. Because he provokes thought.

Hear, hear. A very happy birthday, Louis.

Hello. Mank, it's Shelly.

Hello. Mank!

Hello. Mank?

Here are this morning's pages. Dreck. It's all dreck!

Herman! Charlie!

Hermie... Please, stop, Joey.

Hey, kid. Mr. Metcalf.

Hiya, Shell, sit in. The bookies know.

Hmm. Ah, nerts!

How do you like the Mojave? God's answer for drunks and reprobates.

How do you mean, Mank? First Joe, now you.

How long are you asking for? Shouldn't be long.

How many half wits make that? Herm, how do I look?

How may I direct your call? Normandie, 4761.

How much are you asking for? Half.

How'd I do, Ben? It was great, Mr. Mayer.

How's that working? It didn't take. Cheers.

How's that? How come he shares credit?

How's the leg? "Thigh bone's connected to the hip bone."

I am not intimidated, Frau Alexander. Then, why?

I am, and he doesn't? And we're not gonna tell him.

I am. Who would you vote for?

I asked him, "Do you need a lift?" You didn't! What did he say?

I could let you go for this. It is a hanging offense.

I did what? Sixty days is two weeks from now.

I didn't know Herman had a brother. Neither does anyone else.

I do as well. Me too.

I don't know much… It is. Aunt Bertha from Lonely Trails.

I don't speak a lot of *******. Really?

I have to think about it. Why?

I needed the work. You may want to reconsider.

I never thought we would see Mank. I'm surprised.

I promise I won't be a bother. Not exactly what I meant.

I should have done something by now. Oh, Hermie…

I understand why Mayer loathes him. Why?

I was terrified the whole time. This Hitler sounds like an utter drip.

I'd like to debate that with L.B. I'd like to see that.

I'll never tell. There's a point to this, dear?

I'm Eve. Fay was his first. I'll find him.

I'm going to see my aunt. Oh, that sounds like fun.

I'm probably talking nonsense. You're the first tonight that isn't.

I'm sorry. I… I know it's silly, but... But what? Why not?

I've never not been fired. I don't get fired.

If anyone did. Really?

In Victorville? Do what you can, Jack.

Is that true, Irving? Yes, L.B.

Is this a test? A test? Of what?

Isn't bribery a crime? That's what Sinclair said.

It needs you. You're telling me.

It's an ash throated flycatcher! Congratulations! Best kind.

It's complicated. Over my head?

It's Orson. Hmm.

It's sort of a sore subject. Really?

Ja, liebes Fräulein? Jawohl, Herr Houseman.

Jesus! What is that? Sunlight. It's nearly noon.

Let me guess. They think it's the devil? Villagers always think it's the devil.

Let's have that cuppa, Mrs. A. Oh.

Long night? A short one. Plagued by spirits.

Manky! Whatie?

Manky... You okay?

Marion might be interested. Well, you're gonna have to hurry.

Marion would've been perfection. Aw.

Mayer was giddy to use it against him. Yeah, I bet he was.

Mr. Perelman. Nice to meet you, son.

My exit. What?

My sympathy and prayers. I beg your pardon?

Next time, I'll go with you. Of course.

No, no. What's "nerts"? Nerts is Brooklynese for "nuts."

Not anymore. Did I bollix that?

Not Hearst? Mank, I'm surprised.

Now that's why I always want Mank around. Me too.

Of course it is. I think it's time we talked.

Of the people. By the people.

Oh, easy, fella, you only voted once. He was just on the radio.

Oh, it's not about her, it's about him. Oh?

Oh, Mank! All right. Double or nothing.

Once more unto the breach… Breach? Hell, unto the wire…

Ooh, tails! That's it! God damn it!

Ooh, yeah. I've got to get typewriter ribbon.

Or rather, it's him, but it's not her. It isn't?

Or shall I call you Herman? No. Please, call me Mank.

Orson. Tell me what's up, Mank.

Pictures? Writers.

Please do as I instructed. Ja, Herr Mank.

Please, follow me. It's very quaint.

Posterity. Posterity, my ass.

Promise you won't laugh. I promise I won't laugh.

Really? Our entire village, he brought here.

Really? This studio fuss, this lawsuit.

Sara said you wanted this number. Just to hear your voice.

Sara. What a loyal friend you are.

Schnutz. For the last time, what?

Schnutz. I heard that.

See what I mean? You are interesting.

Sinclair caught him with his pants down. Yikes!

Sixty days and a noodle. Mr. Welles, we're ready.

Sixty days, and then we can noodle. Nothing like a good noodle.

Sleep it off. I'm not at home.

Speed. Speed! Action!

Table 14. Ends of the earth. Clean exit.

Table one. Sara!

Tell me what to expect. I thought you'd want to be surprised.

Thalberg, the boy genius. I am shocked to see you here.

Thank you, Mr. Hearst. Norma.

Thank you, Slim. You may go. Slim.

Thank you, W.R. Good to see you, Irving.

Thank you. Oh.

Then you deserve better. That's very sweet.

They're all there, Mr. Mayer. On my way. Joe, walk with me.

To support devices. Support devices.

We are surely to be axed. Not just yet.

We have a fine screening room here. Warner's picture?

We're about to turn a corner. Unto the breach!

We're at a Rubicon moment, Mank. Uh huh.

Well, you know most everyone. Mr. Kaufman.

What a bunch of bullshit! Is it?

What a great night. Great result. I'll drink to that.

What year is it? Herman…

What? He had a whole box.

What? You made a promise.

What's he saying? Herman.

What's next? Movies? Enough.

What's that? The Communist national anthem, darling.

When did they cook this up? At a meeting in production.

When was that? Over the weekend.

Who told you that? Oh, I can't say.

Who was that again? Just a writer.

Who? Dulcinea.

Who? Herman Mankiewicz.

Who? Sara, isn't that your wife?

Who's hiring? MGM.

Whoever had that idea? It's not good?

Why are you wearing a coat? I always wear a coat.

Why not? You know I don't lie.

Wouldn't you think? Uh, the road, Tommy.

Yeah? Herman, it's Joe.

Yeah? Oh, yeah.

Yeah? Yeah.

Yes? Hello? They're getting him.

You can't do it that way. Do what?

You look like you. Fine. What should I be expecting?

You miserable bastard! How do you do?

You still there, Mank? Oh, yes. Where else would I be?

You wrote for one of his papers? Oh, no, praise God.

You wrote one of our Lon Chaneys. Among many.

You wrote that? No. A fella named Cervantes.

You'd better drive up. I plan to, just as soon as I'm done...

You're a junior writer, Joe. So?

You're early. I thought we should talk.

You're far too political, Joe. Self preservation is not politics.

You're not? I'm telling you.

You've never seen it? No, but George Bernard Shaw was right.

You've only written ninety pages. Ninety one.

Your support device is here. Oh, good. Send it in.

…728,653.

…a socialist revolution.

…and Orson Welles for Citizen Kane.

…but he gets mine.

…in California.

…the good Republican,

…um, uh, discarded pages scattered at his feet.

'Cause I haven't made up my mind how she might react.

"A comedienne in that role is to laugh."

"A far too long screenplay for the ages." John Houseman.

"A white dress she had on, and she was carrying a white parasol,

"America's unemployed will invade the Golden State."

"An emperor of newsprint continued to direct his failing empire,

"And if I chose not to dance, this sorry street peddler would starve,

"And wherever I go," he thinks,

"But I'll bet a month hasn't gone by since that I haven't thought of that girl."

"But," again.

"Can 40 million Nazis all be wrong?"

"Chase & Sanborn's der coffee."

"Directing it? Starring in it?"

"Her hair, gold. Her cheeks, roses."

"Her neck, alabaster. Her bosom, marble."

"I saw our richest newspaper publisher keep his movie mistress

"If only I'd had more time, I would have written a shorter letter."

"If you keep telling people something untrue,

"It's what God might've built had he had the money."

"Ivory, her hands, and her whiteness, snow."

"Junior writers only paid $750 a week."

"Let them get cake."

"Let there be light."

"Look how patiently everyone waits just to watch me dance."

"Mayn gantze mishpokhe. My mishpokhe."

"My mishpokhe. My family."

"Never belong to any club

"Presumed" means they don't know, so I choose to believe he's alive until…

"There are letters of accent and letters of tone,

"There are meters of accent and meters of tone,

"There are millions to be made,

"this music box must follow, and with it, this poor downtrodden man."

"Truth has nothing to fear from error where reason is left free to combat it."

"Whether he wishes to or not."

♪ America… ♪

♪ For amber waves of grain ♪

♪ For purple mountain majesties… ♪

♪ Happy birthday to you ♪

♪ Happy birthday to you ♪

♪ Happy birthday to you ♪

♪ Happy birthday, dear Louis ♪

♪ O beautiful for spacious skies ♪

$750 a week? That's half what you make, Herman.