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Clips from My Dinner with Andre (1981)

You work hard writing plays, and nobody puts them on.

"You work hard writing plays, and nobody puts them on."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

Today I'd had to be up by 7 in the morning...

"Today I'd had to be up by 7 in the morning..."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

Now I'm 36, and all I think about is money.

"Now I'm 36, and all I think about is money."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

cook me a nice, delicious dinner.

"cook me a nice, delicious dinner."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

His name was André Gregory.

"His name was André Gregory."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

in some odd place like Tibet...

"in some odd place like Tibet..."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

that he talked with trees or something like that.

"that he talked with trees or something like that."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

- Hello. - Hello.

"- Hello. - Hello."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

- Good evening, sir. - Uh, could I have a club soda, please?

"- Good evening, sir. - Uh, could I have a club soda, please?"

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

had called me and just insisted that I had to see him.

"had called me and just insisted that I had to see him."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

- Wow. - My God.

"- Wow. - My God."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

Well, you look terrific.

"Well, you look terrific."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

who was a friend and almost like a kind of a guru of André's.

"who was a friend and almost like a kind of a guru of André's."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

- Oh. - Yes. Thank you.

"- Oh. - Yes. Thank you."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

Oh. Absolutely.

"Oh. Absolutely."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

André seemed to know an awful lot about the menu.

"André seemed to know an awful lot about the menu."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

And then I think, to begin with, the Terrine de Poissons.

"And then I think, to begin with, the Terrine de Poissons."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

Well, urn - What is the, urn, Bramborová Polévka?

"Well, urn - What is the, urn, Bramborová Polévka?"

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

Oh, well, that's great. I'll have that.

"Oh, well, that's great. I'll have that."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

Well.

"Well."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

And I'd stayed back in New York.

"And I'd stayed back in New York."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

You know, to teach a workshop to actors and directors and whatever.

"You know, to teach a workshop to actors and directors and whatever."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

And he said, “Well, 40 Jewish women - that's a little hard to find.”

"And he said, “Well, 40 Jewish women - that's a little hard to find.”"

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

“These are all people who have in common the fact that they're questioning the theater.

"“These are all people who have in common the fact that they're questioning the theater."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

So, I went to Poland, and it was this wonderful group of young men and women.

"So, I went to Poland, and it was this wonderful group of young men and women."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

And then, because the Poles love to sing and dance...

"And then, because the Poles love to sing and dance..."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

“All right. Let's say that it's a rainy Sunday afternoon on Sorin's estate...

"“All right. Let's say that it's a rainy Sunday afternoon on Sorin's estate..."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

And then everyone would improvise -

"And then everyone would improvise -"

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

So, you follow the same law of improvisation...

"So, you follow the same law of improvisation..."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

Where do I come from, and where am I going?

"Where do I come from, and where am I going?"

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

- Hmm. - Or, to look at it a little differently...

"- Hmm. - Or, to look at it a little differently..."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

- But what would you actually do? - Well, I could give you a good example.

"- But what would you actually do? - Well, I could give you a good example."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

You see, we worked, uh, together for a week in the city...

"You see, we worked, uh, together for a week in the city..."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

I heard that every night, he conducted something called a beehive.

"I heard that every night, he conducted something called a beehive."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

lead the beehive instead of participating in one?”

"lead the beehive instead of participating in one?”"

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

at 8:00 a hundred strangers come into a room.”

"at 8:00 a hundred strangers come into a room.”"

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

I said, “Yes?” He said, “Yes, and whatever happens is a beehive.”

"I said, “Yes?” He said, “Yes, and whatever happens is a beehive.”"

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

You see, there was this song - I have a tape of it. I can play it for you one day.

"You see, there was this song - I have a tape of it. I can play it for you one day."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

and you thank God for your life.

"and you thank God for your life."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

And this became our theme song.

"And this became our theme song."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

So, I decided that when the people arrived for the beehive...

"So, I decided that when the people arrived for the beehive..."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

that our group would already be there singing this very beautiful song...

"that our group would already be there singing this very beautiful song..."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

and that we would simply sing it over and over again.

"and that we would simply sing it over and over again."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

Well, she's a little afraid of this event.

"Well, she's a little afraid of this event."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

And somebody else wanted to bring a large bowl of water...

"And somebody else wanted to bring a large bowl of water..."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

And before I knew it, there were two circles, dancing, you know -

"And before I knew it, there were two circles, dancing, you know -"

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

And then I threw the teddy bear to him, and he gave it suck at his breast.

"And then I threw the teddy bear to him, and he gave it suck at his breast."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

And these - What was it like? You know, this is the -

"And these - What was it like? You know, this is the -"

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

all of which seemed, in some way, related to each other.

"all of which seemed, in some way, related to each other."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

huddled around a bunch of candles that they'd gathered together.

"huddled around a bunch of candles that they'd gathered together."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

and there was somebody being carried below the sheet.

"and there was somebody being carried below the sheet."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

You know, the sheet was like some great biblical canopy.

"You know, the sheet was like some great biblical canopy."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

And then we - then we just hugged each other for a moment.

"And then we - then we just hugged each other for a moment."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

was that two people who participated in it... fell in love.

"was that two people who participated in it... fell in love."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

we stumbled into a clearing in the forest...

"we stumbled into a clearing in the forest..."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

and the two of them were fast asleep in each other's arms.

"and the two of them were fast asleep in each other's arms."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

for the wonderful work they'd been able to do, you see.

"for the wonderful work they'd been able to do, you see."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

They understood what it was about.

"They understood what it was about."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

to know what it means to be truly alive.

"to know what it means to be truly alive."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

Of course, The Little Prince was a book that I always thought of...

"Of course, The Little Prince was a book that I always thought of..."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

And he wasn't home. I went into his library...

"And he wasn't home. I went into his library..."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

It came out on the newsstands May 12, 1934...

"It came out on the newsstands May 12, 1934..."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

I think a kind of S.S. totalitarian sentimentality in there somewhere.

"I think a kind of S.S. totalitarian sentimentality in there somewhere."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

So, naturally, I decided to go off to the Sahara desert...

"So, naturally, I decided to go off to the Sahara desert..."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

You see, I thought he had something to teach me, Wally.

"You see, I thought he had something to teach me, Wally."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

Anyway, the desert was pretty horrible.

"Anyway, the desert was pretty horrible."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

we were sitting on a dune, and we just ate sand.

"we were sitting on a dune, and we just ate sand."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

No, we weren't trying to be funny. I started, then he started.

"No, we weren't trying to be funny. I started, then he started."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

The entire thing seemed completely absurd, arid and empty.

"The entire thing seemed completely absurd, arid and empty."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

Huh.

"Huh."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

and he told them all about Asia and the East and his monastery and everything.

"and he told them all about Asia and the East and his monastery and everything."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

well, he'd immediately have her down on the floor, he'd be walking up and down on her back...

"well, he'd immediately have her down on the floor, he'd be walking up and down on her back..."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

I mean, he was an acrobat, a ventriloquist...

"I mean, he was an acrobat, a ventriloquist..."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

I mean, you know, when he stayed with us...

"I mean, you know, when he stayed with us..."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

But then a couple of weeks later, Chiquita and I could be out...

"But then a couple of weeks later, Chiquita and I could be out..."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

and he wouldn't even go in and say hello to her.

"and he wouldn't even go in and say hello to her."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

He was eating huge amounts of food.

"He was eating huge amounts of food."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

You know, he was all dressed up in his Buddhist finery.

"You know, he was all dressed up in his Buddhist finery."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

And as I was sitting there in mass, I was wondering, “What in the world is going on?”

"And as I was sitting there in mass, I was wondering, “What in the world is going on?”"

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

and there's this strange person living in the house, and I'm not working -

"and there's this strange person living in the house, and I'm not working -"

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

You know, I thought, “Oh, well. You know, I'm just seeing this 'cause I'm bored.”

"You know, I thought, “Oh, well. You know, I'm just seeing this 'cause I'm bored.”"

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

Well, around that time...

"Well, around that time..."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

I was beginning to get into a lot of very strange ideas around that time.

"I was beginning to get into a lot of very strange ideas around that time."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

that would still be in the flag when I brought it home.

"that would still be in the flag when I brought it home."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

And he had a beautiful, clean loft down in the village with lovely, happy flags.

"And he had a beautiful, clean loft down in the village with lovely, happy flags."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

And I was all into The Little Prince, and I talked to him about The Little Prince...

"And I was all into The Little Prince, and I talked to him about The Little Prince..."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

So, two weeks later, I came back.

"So, two weeks later, I came back."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

He showed me a flag that I thought was very odd, you know...

"He showed me a flag that I thought was very odd, you know..."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

was that before I left - you know, before I left for India...

"was that before I left - you know, before I left for India..."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

So the party just comes to a halt and breaks up.

"So the party just comes to a halt and breaks up."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

So, did you ever go to India?

"So, did you ever go to India?"

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

and I came back home feeling all wrong.

"and I came back home feeling all wrong."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

and I heard about this community in Scotland called Findhorn...

"and I heard about this community in Scotland called Findhorn..."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

where people sang and talked and meditated with plants.

"where people sang and talked and meditated with plants."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

they will talk with the insects and, you know, make an agreement...

"they will talk with the insects and, you know, make an agreement..."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

And when I was there, Wally, I remember being in the woods...

"And when I was there, Wally, I remember being in the woods..."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

I mean, it absolutely blasted me open.

"I mean, it absolutely blasted me open."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

It was out at Montauk on Long Island...

"It was out at Montauk on Long Island..."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

and there were only about nine of us involved, mostly men.

"and there were only about nine of us involved, mostly men."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

and use it as a point of departure for something.

"and use it as a point of departure for something."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

But the biggest event was three of the people...

"But the biggest event was three of the people..."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

kept disappearing in the middle of the night each night...

"kept disappearing in the middle of the night each night..."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

And midnight on Halloween, under a dark moon, above these cliffs...

"And midnight on Halloween, under a dark moon, above these cliffs..."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

we were all told to gather at the topmost cliff and that we would be taken somewhere.

"we were all told to gather at the topmost cliff and that we would be taken somewhere."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

And we were all asked to sit at the table and to make out our last will and testament.

"And we were all asked to sit at the table and to make out our last will and testament."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

And that's quite a task.

"And that's quite a task."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

And then one at a time they would ask one of us to come with them...

"And then one at a time they would ask one of us to come with them..."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

and I was one of the last.

"and I was one of the last."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

And they came for me, and they put a blindfold on me...

"And they came for me, and they put a blindfold on me..."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

Then they put me on a table, and they sponged me down.

"Then they put me on a table, and they sponged me down."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

I don't know what happened to the other people, but I just started to cry uncontrollably.

"I don't know what happened to the other people, but I just started to cry uncontrollably."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

and we came to a kind of tent made of sheets, with sheets on the ground.

"and we came to a kind of tent made of sheets, with sheets on the ground."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

Must have been left there for about an hour.

"Must have been left there for about an hour."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

The blindfold was put on...

"The blindfold was put on..."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

And the stretcher was carried a long way, very slowly, through these forests...

"And the stretcher was carried a long way, very slowly, through these forests..."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

and then I felt myself being lowered into the ground.

"and then I felt myself being lowered into the ground."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

And I cannot tell you, Wally, what I was going through.

"And I cannot tell you, Wally, what I was going through."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

and then this wood was put on me...

"and then this wood was put on me..."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

I felt sort of becalmed, you know, like that chapter in Moby Dick...

"I felt sort of becalmed, you know, like that chapter in Moby Dick..."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

Mmm.

"Mmm."

My Dinner with Andre (1981)

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