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Oscar Wilde About America (2024)

Historical & Biography Movie Collection.
(Alternate History/Period Piece/Biopic/Bhakti/etc.)

Moderators: Maskath3, GabrielAlejo2341, sidolanters, Maskath3, GabrielAlejo2341, sidolanters

Biographies Movie Collection

Oscar Wilde About America (2024)

Post by bunniefuu »

["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 f*cking costume.

-I needed f*gs.

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 f*cking 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 g*y people do, at least.

Well, I'm g*y,

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 g*y 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?

g*y 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 b*stards

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 sh*t.

-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 q*eer 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 g*y parade.

-A g*y 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 g*y parade, where I'm going.

This is the g*y 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 d*ck.

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."