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Mapplethorpe (2018)
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[drill sergeant shouting distantly] [soldiers respond in unison] [gunshot] [woman laughs distantly] [drill sergeant and soldiers shouting continuous] - [knock on door] - MAN: Hey, Robert. We're late. [vinyl record hissing] [swinging pop music plays] I've been backing it up So don't go low Just watching people Acting slow Tonight I'm going to free This locked-up soul Inside of me I'm going to kick off My shoes, oh And roll up my collar While the music grooves I'm going to jump And holler And then we shake Shake, shake, baby We got to shake Shake, shake Oh, shake, shake, shake Hey Now it doesn't matter What kind of song is sung [car horns honk] When we get out On the floor I'll be right with them [horn blares] ROBERT: Mapplethorpe. M-A-P-P-L-E-T-H-O-R-P-E. I did that job last week. The piano move. Well, I was just wondering if you have any... Okay, well, I'm available anytime over the summer. Okay, thank you. Thank you. That's not enough. Yeah. I mean, I thought since there's only two hours left, you might do me a favor. Come back when you have more. Please. And he's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I have seen the Promised Land. I need your help. - Sure. - I'm Patti. Just pretend you're my boyfriend, all right? - MAN: Hey. - Thank you so much for lunch, but I found who I've been looking for. - I just want to talk. - Bye. This poem is great. I mean, it's great. Yeah? What else do you do? - I draw. - Oh. Paint. - You gay? - No. Why? Do I seem like I am? No. Not really. Where do you live? ROBERT: I'm sort of in between places right now. - PATTI: Yeah, me too. - ROBERT: Oh, yeah? I have a place to crash though, in Brooklyn. It's just a shitty room. It's somewhere, you know? [psychedelic rock music playing] ROBERT: So, she did that in... in pen. It's better in pen. Wow. Yeah, this is some crazy shit. Really? Wow. Thanks. You get this good going to Pratt, huh? Pratt was just a way out of Floral Park because it was my dad's Alma mater. I've been drawing my whole life. Yeah? He an artist too? My dad? No, he's an engineer. He takes pictures, but he's no artist. [lighter flicks and scratches] Well, uh, I guess I got to get going. What? Where? You know... No. Stop. Don't go. You got a bed. Look, I'll take the couch. Don't go. Okay. Thanks. It's been rough. But I'll make it. I've been through worse. Had a feeling the moment I saw you. Like Mutt and Jeff, you know? Ricky and Lucy? I'm fascinating, I know. - Boy... - [laughs] What are you going to do with this, huh? "What will become of the world when no trace of you remains?" I think there'll be some traces. ROBERT: How was your day? - PATTI: Good. - [keys clatter] So, I'm channeling Duchamp tonight. That's so different. That's terrific. Yeah. Yeah? [kettle whistles] Thank you. - Thank you. - PATTI: You're welcome. [Tim Hardin's "Reason to Believe" plays] Yeah. If I listen Long enough to you I'd find a way to believe That it's all true Knowing that you lied Straight-faced While I cried But still I look To find a reason to believe Someone like you Makes it hard to live Without somebody else Someone like you Makes it easy to give Never think about myself If I gave you time To change my mind I'd find a way To leave the past behind Knowing that you lied Straight-faced While I cried But still I look to find A reason to believe PATTI: What do you think? It's great. Yeah? But I wonder if they'd get it. Who? Everyone. Everyone else. Everyone who's not us. I don't think they see the world like we do. Our world knows me. I don't give a shit. Our world. Yeah. Nobody lives there but us, right? Right. You like it, yeah? I told my parents we got married in a strawberry field in California. What? Why'd you do that? It's a beautiful picture. Don't ever leave me, Patti. "Joe leaves his job as a dishwasher and takes a bus to New York City." That's you. "Where he meets the sickly, streetwise Ratso." That's me. "They eventually become friends, companions and soul mates, and help each other survive in the big city." Hey, it sounds like us. What do you say, Joe? Let's go. Patti, don't eat like an animal. That's disgusting. - All right, shepherd boy. - I know, but... You're sitting there straight out of Holy Land. Give me the cookie. It's my day. You've eaten, like, the whole of it. All right, you have the sweet tooth anyway. I'm just hungry. I need a favor. - Okay. - Give me your hand. Aw, come on. Seriously? Yeah. Come on. Aw, you got to be kidding. No, look. You'll see when you meet my mom and my dad. It's just, if they don't think we're married... officially... it'll just be, you know... - Here, I got you. - They're Catholic. Like, really Catholic. I'm your family now. Yeah. Bless us, O Lord, for these gifts we are about to receive from thy bounty, through Christ, our Lord, amen. Amen. It's so nice to finally meet you, Patricia. Can I get you anything else? No, thank you, Mrs. Mapplethorpe. And please, call me Patti. All right, so, tell us the story of your union. I mean... when and where did you two get married? Thank you. Oh, we met in California, Mom. Right after college. After you dropped out of Pratt, right? Yeah, right after that. HARRY: Big waste of time and money. JOAN: Edward, eat your beans. So, what do you do Patricia... Patti? I'm an artist. Like Robert. Have you thought about children? HARRY: Children, Joan? These two can barely take care of themselves. Actually, we take pretty good care of each other... Dad. [cutlery clatters] Thank you very much. - Really lovely to meet you. - Bye, Dad. Why do we even bother? He's going to end up a deadbeat, looking like a girl. You should tell them to fuck themselves. Yeah. They're my family. Aw, baby. [loud music blaring distantly] [indistinct chatter] [loose change rattles] MAN: Okay, five dollars. - Yeah, this is good. - Take that. Is that okay? Hey! Hey! Hey! Stop! Stop! Stop that man! Hey, motherfucker! Well, I can't find I can't find - Find a way - Find a way Find a way, baby Find a way Leave that woman In her place all day Hey Ow Oh, woman Oh, baby I won't stop you now I'll make it without you Child Don't you worry how Keep on going Don't look around Teach you, baby I'm gonna put you down [distant traffic ambience] Shit. Hey. Don't really know what I'm doing. I'm just fucking around, you know. They're fascinating. You think? Thanks. But it ain't paying the rent. Stepping-stone Yeah I'm your stepping Stepping-stone - I was your - Stepping-stone Mm-hmm Step, stepping Stepping-stone - Mr. Stanley Bard? - Yes. My name is Patti Smith, and I'm here with Robert Mapplethorpe. - Uh-huh. - You may not know us yet, but we're going to be big stars one day. Only today we don't have any money. [laughs] But... take a look for yourself. Take it all. For collateral. Okay. Okay. Rent's generally due first of the month. And I'm going to hold on to these until you can make it. Mr. Bard, you will not regret this. ROBERT: You got a room? Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Bard. - Which one? - This one. I did it all for love I was your stepping-stone I was your stepping-stone Aw... Sleepyhead. She's my hard Little stepping-stone Step, stepping Stepping-stone - Hey, Patti. - PATTI: Hmm? I think I'm going to try and sell these so we can get our work back faster. I want to try to do something around, like a cloth. Yeah. Okay. Got to go to work. All right. Have a good day. Well, you'll be A stepping-stone Step, stepping Stepping-stone Mr. Bard... so, I have the money. Can I get my work back, please? - MAN: Hey, Robert! - What? Hey! MAN: You coming by? Yeah. Five. - MAN: Cool. - Excellent. - MAN 1: Hey, Robert. - MAN 2: Digging the necklace. Nice. - You look cool, man. - Peace, man. [sitar music playing] Oh, hello. Hey. What do you think? Whose is it? It's as if Steichen and Munch had a prodigal daughter. Ja? It's one of mine. I think it's cool. I'm Sandy Daley. I'm Robert Mapplethorpe. Oh. You're our newest patient, huh? This is actually a photograph of me and a former lover. Inspired by Bellocq. You know Bellocq? He was one of the first great masters. Wow, that's great. I love that. So is that. He scratched out the face. I've done that. You do that? Yeah. I'd like to see it. Yeah, I got some right here. This one. - I mean, you know, it's not... Oh, yes. I see. That's better. SANDY: This is potent imagery. ROBERT: Thanks. You really should take your own pictures. Why don't you? Printing. Re-printing. The dark room. It takes so much time. And I can't be just Mapplethorpe the photographer, you know? I want magic. Majesty. I want to be a modern Michelangelo. And you think if Michelangelo had a camera, he wouldn't have used it? Wow. SANDY: Pull that out, and it's ready to go. - That's the focus? - Mm-hmm. And remember, it's always about the light. Whether you paint it or shoot it, you have to find it or make it. And that takes talent. Can I take a picture of your flowers? Yes, you can. - Please. - All right. Take the bloody picture. [camera clicks] Voil. There you go. Keep it for a while. You sure? Cross your legs. That's good. Look at me. Okay, now you lean on him. Yeah, nice. Think your worst thought. Stand there. Hold back. No lies I told I tell no lies I tell no lies Yeah. I can't make a move without seeing it frozen five minutes later. [camera clicks] [indistinct chatter] - Thank you, Patti. - Mm-hmm. So, look, I made 27 bucks. I sold three necklaces. - All right. - But I kind of want to keep this one, because it's cool. Yeah. Robert Mapplethorpe, for all your voodoo needs. Yeah, well, do me a favor and cast a spell on Tinkerbelle over there who can't stop staring at me. She loves you. I love you. Good, because you're stuck with me. Robert. Patti. - This is David Croland. - Hey. Bobby, you never come see me. You and Patti-Cake are so... Siamese. You're such a Robert hog. That's me, just a little piggy. I adore it. It's violent. It's handmade. - Thank you. - Truly. Can you make one for me? Yeah, if you have a craving. PATTI: Shit. [sighs] Can I wear these or are they fucking art? Bye. - [door opens and closes] - Have fun with your family. [funky music playing] [camera clicks] [camera clicks] [knock on door] Yeah? DAVID: It's David. Anybody home? What's that? Open your mouth. Stick out your tongue. It's acid. Mm. Giddyup. [laughs] [funky music playing] Hey. Shirt off. Try that on. Bow tie. Pretty boy. Hands. Good boy. Okay, good boy. Hold that. - Okay... - [camera clicks] Enough with the nickname, Robert. I'm a real model. Listen to me... shh. We're making history here. [camera clicks] Let's go down to Stonewall. That's real history. [shushing] Be nice and quiet for me. So... Good boy. Okay. You've been slipping Into darkness Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa Pretty soon you're Going to pay Hey Take your cock out. Hold that. - [camera clicks] - Got it. [moans and pants] I finally see you. You're the Prince... Now you're talking. ...of Darkness. No. Wait, no, you're... you're the Prince of Darkness. - Robert... - No. - Robert, stop it. - No. Wait, no, no, no, no. You're... no, no, no. DAVID: Robert. God sakes! ROBERT: No, no, no, no. No. No. No, no, no, no, no. I don't want to. I don't want to. I don't want to. Get away from me. Get away from me. No. - Goddamn it. Get away from me. - Robert... Get away from me! You're the fucking devil. I don't want this. I don't want this. - [shushing] - No! It's me. It's me. Fuck. Hey. Shh. No, it's just... beauty and the devil. Beauty and the devil are sort of the same thing to me. And he's always been with me. Like, always. I guess in church I found God. And then when Sandy gave me the Polaroid, it led me straight to the devil. And now, suddenly, I'm fucking him. I'm fucking the devil. I guess you could say I have a certain Catholic aesthetic. Yeah. Let's explore that ass-thetic. Oh, no, fuck. Patti... Patti's... Patti's on her way back. Patti's coming here. Patti's not blind, babe. Surely she knows that she's got a slippery Jim. No, she knows nothing, okay? And that's how it's going to stay. Okay. - Sure. - What? David, what... You're not leaving. David. Oh, come on. I don't mind you playing everyone for a fool, okay? But you want a boyfriend, and a girlfriend, and... I want you. You decide. David. Don't leave. You're going to leave me when I'm high? [door opens and closes] [sighs] [music throbbing faintly] [techno music blaring] [camera clicks] MAN: Come on! [loud groaning] Look, I find myself wanting to touch them. And, uh, take... Take pictures of them. You can't take enough pictures of me. You're the best. Silky. I love taking pictures of you, of course. But, it's just... I can't... I can't stop myself. Guess I always knew. I just... didn't want to. Yeah. Nothing's going to change. I'm not... I'm not... I'm not leaving us. Ever. What are you doing? Hey. Hey, Patti, what are you doing? You can't leave. This is... this is our world. What about Mutt and Jeff, and Ricky and Lucy? Ratso and Joe. What are you doing? - I'm not leaving that. - Patti, please. Stop. Stop. Stop. No, you can't leave... I'm not leaving the fucking solar system, Robert. You are the fucking solar system! This is the solar system. You can't leave. Yes, I can. Just get a grip. Please, no... But you don't... Patti... If you leave me, then... I'll become gay. - I will. - Well, so be it. But I got to take care of myself, okay? [sighs] Don't go. Don't go. Don't leave me here. Don't. Don't go. Don't go. Don't go. - My heart hurts too. - No... Patti. Patti. Patti! [Acquavella scoffs] I don't think so. - No. - Okay. Yeah, well, thank you for your time. Robert Mapplethorpe. - No. - Okay. Thank you for your time. Mr. Liu, this is Robert Mapplethorpe. LIU: What are you trying to say? It's visual art. It speaks for itself. I can't sell these, I'm afraid. - Why? - I can't even show them. - Time to go. - What do you mean? These people are the gatekeepers? - Look what's on your walls. - SANDY: Okay, let's go. Is that moving? Does that provoke you? - Does that make you think? - Mr. Mapplethorpe... - Okay. - They're keeping us out. There's no keeping you out, Robert. - You're on the threshold. - But they can't see. - See you on Tuesday. - Thank you. Switch sides. Stop. Move around. This side. - Hold that. - [camera clicks] More? Thank you. I was smiling hard But I was lying Then you sailed along Well, it's about bloody time. ROBERT: Thank you for your time. Thank you for your attention. I really appreciate it. I'm sorry, it just doesn't... You've got shit on the wall and you don't give a fuck. - Why do you bring me to these? - Robert... I can't even... David Croland, on your knees, right where I left you. Sam. Love. What are you getting up to? I'm good. Just 19th century, mostly. Some Sufism. So, who was the sumptuous storm cloud that just ran out of here? That's Robert, the shy pornographer. A handful. He raging because galleries won't take on his cock photos. Go figure. Really? Really? Uh-oh. Where is he? I'll get you a phone number. Good. Hi, is this the shy pornographer? ROBERT: [on phone] Uh, that depends. Who's asking? I'm a collector. My friend David told me about you. Oh, really? So, is the sailor accepting visitors? Yeah, he is. Come aboard. Good. Good. Where should we meet? Uh, how about my studio? [whispers] 33 West 11th. Yeah, which is at 33 West 11th. Great. When's good for you? Friday afternoon, say, like 3:00. Okay. I will see you then. Pretty cool. - It's all happening, Robert. - Fucking insane. I'm going to call Maxine at her studio. It's all happening. Really? Hello? [funky music playing] Oh. Hey. Oh, hi. I'm Sam. Sam Wagstaff. I'm Robert. Nice to meet you. Thank you. Nice to meet you, too. [clears throat] It kind of flows this way. - Are these your drawings? - Yeah, they're all mine. [Sam laughs] [man moaning over funky music] I like the music. So, I started with the drawings, but actually now I'm more interested in the Polaroids. This is you. Yeah. Good subject. You know all these people? I do. They must trust you. They do. [laughs] Good. Good. It's fantastic. Thank you. You're welcome. It's good to meet you. - Thank you for stopping by. - Yeah. Let me show you out. [laughs] Okay. [mechanics whirring] You know, you don't really have to escort me back down to the street. It's okay. I have somewhere to be. Really? [mechanics squeal] No. [classical music playing] Thank you. You're welcome. So... it's time you know the truth. I have a lot of lovers. That's okay. I'd like you to meet some of them. - [laughs] - Your lovers? I mean these. Beautiful, huh? The Flandrin. There you are. - Wow, I like that. - Yeah? The Met wants a loan. ROBERT: I like the shape. This photograph here, by Von Gloeden. It's a replica of the painting from 1840. Wow. It's one of the few photographs I own. How old are you? I'm 50. That too old for you? - No. It's good. - Yeah? Yeah. I'll never know what it's like to be 50. How are you so sure about that? - I just know. - Yeah? Are you scared of dying? Only before I'm famous. Well, then, you better get to work. So much to do, so little time. - Come on. - Oh, no, let's stay in bed. - Get up. Come on. - Please. Please. - I'll take you to the Met. - No. - Let's go. Let's go. - No. This place was built on my family's land. ROBERT: Wow. I love it here. This is for you. Thank you. - So, are you ready? - Yeah, I think so. SAM: Now I believe that these are some of the oldest photographs in existence. - ROBERT: Nadar, right? - SAM: Yeah. ROBERT: Yeah, my friend Sandy told me about him. Beautiful portraits. - My God, is that...? - Look at that. Is that Sarah Bernhardt? SAM: Yes, it is. ROBERT: She looks fantastic. I can't believe it's not a painting. You know? And there she is, forever. - Do you collect any? - No. They're not valuable. Well, you should. I think they will be. No, I think these will be up on the main floor with Rodin, Michelangelo, Mapplethorpe. SAM: Holy shit. These are gorgeous. Look at that. ROBERT: I know. I love that one. No one's blacks are blacker than yours. I swear to God. Wow, so many new men. You've become a bit of a collector yourself. Should I be concerned? No. They're my work. You're my love. Well, since you put it that way. [grunts] For you, my birthday boy. Apollo 8 used it to capture the moon. I thought it's good enough for my monkey to tell his story - here on the ground. - No. No. Sammy. Oh, wow. [chuckles] - God. - Oh, one more thing. Keys. Your new live-in studio. What? Come here. You're the nicest person I ever met. I don't know about that. [camera cranks and clicks] Your work is so raw. I thought maybe I could shoot some covers for you. [Harold laughs] HAROLD: Well... Sam certainly likes to keep me on my toes. Yeah. These are, uh... these are quite something. [laughs] Okay, forget it. Excuse me? If you knew what you were looking at, then you wouldn't act like such a fucking art-snob fag. Mr. Mapplethorpe, I know exactly what I am looking at. And I am a fucking art-snob fag. Yeah, I know. And I do want them. Yeah? How much? - A lot. - No. How much are you going to charge to buy them? A lot. [police siren wailing distantly] - [elevator rumbles] - Little brother. Hey. [sighs] So... I, um... [clears throat] I snuck into the city because I have to... I have to write a paper on my hero, and... I want to write it about you. Me? And I want to study photography, but Dad's trying to talk me out of it. Okay. It's cool I'm your hero. You can write about these. Yeah, that. Open it. - Are your hands clean? - EDWARD: They're clean. Wow. Yeah. It's pretty cool. Yeah, it's my friend's fist up my friend's ass. [chuckles] - Wow. - Yeah. - [sighs] - Yeah. Do me a favor. Don't tell Mom and Dad about anything you've seen here today. Of course. And can you give them this, please? Of course. And let yourself out, okay? Okay. ROBERT: Bye. Okay, bye. Okay, bye. Chin up. I want you to look directly at the camera. Perfect. [camera clicks] That's going to make a beautiful portrait, thank you. [gasps] These photographs are exquisite. - Yes, they are. - Precise. Uniquely scintillating. Thank you. But I can't put little Jesse McBride, Philip Glass and Arnold Schwarzenegger next to cocks and chains. I'd have to pass out Valium at the door. Show all of my work or none of it. I want to. You're brilliant. You're the Jekyll and Hyde of photography. But the public won't be able to handle it all at once, dear. My clients are only just beginning to grasp - that photography is art. - Yeah, um... see, Holly, Robert doesn't have a lot of patience for... - For anything. - Yeah... I have an idea of how Jekyll and Hyde can both have their debuts simultaneously. I'll call you. You're going to love it. - Can't wait. - Yeah. That's brilliant. Solomon. Kitchen. Very clever. I'll get it out to the right people. Get back to work. Thanks, Sammy. - ROBERT: Wow. - SAM: And here we are. - This is your doing. - Yeah, a little bit. You look very smart. - Okay, go meet the people. - I love people. [indistinct chatter] ROBERT: Yeah, I just always found them so beautiful to photograph, actually. And I want to show you who you remind me of. I'm sorry to interrupt. Excuse me. - How are you, by the way? - These are great. - This is Nick, obviously. - Oh, wow. I'm sorry, excuse me. Larry and Bobby kissing. And I thought he was a bit like you. [both laugh] He's a dealer. Of art, not drugs. Oh, come and see Arnold. Hello. Oh, you decided to go with flowers. Well, you know, easing the public into it is an art in itself, apparently. Hey! So I thought, sell the public my flowers and then they can hang them on their walls without realizing what they're embracing. - WOMAN: Are you thrilled? - Are you coming to the kitchen? I am, yes! I want to see your true masterpieces. One day they'll be here too. Mwah. Thank you. So, sales? One. But he had to leave it here. Why's that? Wife. Kids. - Hamptons. - Naturally. [indistinct chattering] I appreciate your time. Bye. - Hey, guys. - So? Did you meet the people? Yeah. I think so. Leo, Lord Warwick, Peggy G. Any other musts? Great. I don't think so. As a matter of fact, let's hightail it. Shall we? Another group of admirers awaits you. - Okay, thank you. - Bye, darling. - I appreciate everything. - Sure. - SAM: Sell more pictures. - I will. [both laughing] Oh, my God. Touch of leather, Sammy. A touch of leather, baby. Well, I guess there's a first time for everything. [laughs] - We're here. We're here. - Okay, okay. [camera shutters click] [indistinct chatter] ROBERT: God almighty, do you like it? Do you have any money to buy anything? You probably do. Oh, hi. Wow. Look at you. Hey! Oh, look. Love you. Thank you. Let it all hang out But you won't fool The children Of the revolution No, no, no SAM: What's on your mind, monkey? ROBERT: Patti's moving to Detroit. SAM: Why? ROBERT: Get married and have children. SAM: Don't worry, monkey. New York is Patti's piss factory. She'll snap out of it. You know, the first man I ever fell in love with served on my ship during the invasion of Normandy. I was an officer. He was a sailor. Oh, my God, he was beautiful. Just like you. You do know I love you? I do. And I love my old thing. And I always will. [woman coughs] ROBERT: This is Princess Margaret. She's a friend from Mustique. How'd you afford that trip? A magazine sent me. This is David Hockney. - Hockney? - Yeah, he's a cool guy. A British artist. And Princess Devovo. A princess? From where? I don't know. I mean, she doesn't do much apart from be a princess. But she takes a good photograph, I thought. JOAN: It's pretty. Anyway, you guys must be starving. Shall we get something to eat? Sure. Yeah. I know a good place, actually. It's not far. You don't print the pictures yourself? No. Never. But that's photography. How can you let someone else carry out the most important part? Well, that's one element of photography. Photography is more than one element. It's about light. It's about composition. It's about the personality of the subject. And I'm an artist. I would've been a painter, but the camera was invented. Thank God. I just think life moves too fast now to spend weeks painting it. HARRY: Well, you're not a real photographer until you know the technical end. Period. JOAN: Richard divorced that Oriental girl. Harry, how do you say her name? What does it matter? JOAN: I had to quit the bowling league. Oh, that's a shame. I just get too tired. That's too bad. Your mother was good. Mm-hmm. I liked your show. Thank you. I like my flowers. They're beautiful. [Robert laughs] ROBERT: Okay. Fine. Do you want that? Go steady, now. What are you staring at? You don't like it? Uh, I don't know, Robert. It doesn't really look like me. It's not your look I'm taking. It's you. You're dirty. It's hot. Look at that. JACK: Whatever you say, man. ROBERT: All these art snobs think they're so cutting edge. I take out my portfolio and I show them the bullwhip up my ass. If they blink or they look away, then they just can't handle it, because they're not so fucking cutting edge after all. [all laugh] - You know? - JACK: You got that right. I call it, "Playing chicken with the avant-garde." It's my favorite pastime. JACK: It's a game the whole family can play. You're making me laugh so hard I got to pee. ROBERT: Take a piss here and I'll take pictures of you. Actually, put your cock in that champagne glass. Wait. [chuckles] Hold that. [camera clicks] You know, McNenny, people think that you just deal me flowers. Good boy. Wait, wait, wait. Hold on. Yeah, let's take some more pictures. - GONZALO: All right. - Take off your clothes, guys. Try it out [elevator rumbles] [door opens] [keys jiggle] SAM: You up, superstar? I just got a call from the New York Times. They want a quote from me about the dual shows. ROBERT: Sammy's here. Hey. Come join us, Sammy. Come play. It's a little sex and magic. Sammy. Are you mad? Sam... Sammy. Come on, you know, this is... This is... this is just how I live. But it doesn't mean that I don't... I don't love you. Yeah, I love you too, monkey. Jesus, I wanted to taste this life. But I'm full, Robert. And you should be too. Sammy, Sammy... - [keys jiggle] - Here. We'll talk. [door closes] [elevator rumbles] [shouting on TV] [snorts] [dialing] Patti. It's Robert. Pick up the phone, please. I'm not going to wreck your perfect life. Okay. Call me back. Call me back. Call me right fucking back. [sniffs] Call me fucking back. Hey, excuse me. My name is Robert Mapplethorpe. I'm a photographer. I'd love to take your photograph. You have the most striking look. I wondered if you'd ever thought about modeling. Modeling? - Mm-hmm. - Man, you walking... You scared the shit out of me. You look so fantastic. I could help you make a portfolio. And when do you want to do that? - Now. Right now? - Right now? Yeah. Um... I mean... all right. Wonderful. What's your name? - Milton. - Milton? Yeah. You said Robert, right? That's me, yeah. That's perfect. Eyes down. Okay. How about you take off those pants? I can't be doing that, out of respect to my family. Can I at least see it? That's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. What if I promise never to show your cock and your face in the same frame? Uh... [snorts] Yeah, that's okay. Wait there. Just... put your right leg out. Turn your body to your right. [camera clicks] Stop. I think I'm in love. - MILTON: I got to go. - ROBERT: No. You're perfect. I'm going to take care of you. TINA: Robert? Ed's here. Coming. TINA: The meeting your mother wanted me to set up. He's here. You want me to look at this? Thank you. Sit down. Of course, I'm... I'm still learning, but... some of them are good, right? They're all good. Just, look, I don't... I don't particularly want my kid brother working for me. But Dad kicked me out for wanting to take pictures for a living. Like you. - So... - Dad. Dad. Dad. Look, Edward, only when you cut him off are you going to be able to make the steps that you need to make to do something great with your life. I barely even know you, so... maybe. I don't want any connection to our family. You know, you just... you got to leave all of that stuff out of here, okay? Of course. - Do you understand that? - I understand. Okay. All right. Yeah? What time's the next shoot? TINA: Twelve o'clock, Robert. What time is it now? TINA: Just after 11:00. Want to do some cocaine? Straight from God. [laughs] [sniffs] Come on. [snorts] - [coughs] - There you go. - [laughs] - [coughing] [sniffing and snorting] [coughing] Okay, let's see. Oh, yeah. I love it. Yeah, this one. Burn it a little. TOM: I don't know, man. ROBERT: It's brilliant, don't you think? Aw, come on. Yeah, the only thing you need to know is where the darkroom is. You come in, get the film, go print, and you go home. - Okay? - [sighs] Crop it. Take off his head. It's stronger without it. [camera clicks and cranks] Move. Curator. Can you define it? A guy who chooses art pieces for other folks to check out. Ugh! Where's Edward? Ed. I think we need to get your English teacher to focus on the language of the arts. This isn't... I don't know what's going on here. I can't... you know, it's this thing here. Here we are. Look at you. You look so innocent. You're my beautiful black boy. I'm going to put it back in. You're going to do great. - [camera clicks] - Bingo. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Playboy. Yeah. Yeah. Can I stick my finger in your ass? Who's a good boy? [grunts] Wrap it over your shoulders. Like that. Yeah. Uh... I just... I don't know. I can't see the frame. I can't see the fucking frame. Sorry, Lisa. Just give me... I just need a moment. [sniffs] Chin up. Tense. [coughs and retches] [spits] No time for this. It's so empty in here. Why? Why? Why did you sell your photography collection, Sammy? SAM: Sentimentality is the kiss of death in art. You know that. It's too much stuff. Let somebody else take care of it. Besides, I'm really enjoying this. I can shine these spots away. Gives me a little hope. [chuckles] Only $500. For everything. All these pieces. It's unbelievable. I bet you this is the next big thing. I've got it, by the way. - How do you know? - I know. I'm just waiting for the test results. - That doesn't mean that you... - Oh, Robert. Robert. I wake up every night covered in sweat. Well, so open your fucking window. It has arrived. Have you been tested? No. Monkey, please. I won't. [sighs] Your photos are quickly becoming a gallery of the dead. [paper rustling and ripping] Hey. What... what are you... What are you doing? What... Milton, what's wrong? Whoa, whoa, take it ea... What are you doing? Milton, stop it. Stop it. What are you doing? I love you. Love me? - Yeah. - You don't love me. You don't love anyone. You love yourself. And how you make people do shit. You make me do shit. Read crap I don't get. Take it easy. And you call me nigger in bed. Milton, come on, that's just a tease. It's not meant as an insult. I thought... I thought you liked... Poor nigger who poses like a nude piece a black meat for his pansy boyfriend. - Fuck you! - Whoa, take it easy. Okay, Milton, I was trying to enlighten you. To celebrate you. To celebrate your strength. To celebrate your beautiful black flesh. I'm not one of your white boy, stuck-up sculptures. And I sure enough ain't nobody's nigger. All right. Milton... Milton. Milton, you have been the subject of some of my best work. You are the star. - Milton. - You took pictures of my dick sticking out of my pants. Because it's gorgeous. Milton... You picked the wrong poor black boy for your collection. Don't go. Where are you going to go? Come on, I need you. - You got everything you need. - No. - I need money. - No, Milton. Please. Well, you know where it is. Don't... Look, let's talk. Milton. Milton. Fuck. [glass tinkling] What do you guys think? That one. ROBERT: Yeah, that's amazing, Sam. Really. Another $25,000. My biggest sale yet. [coughs] Dead man walking. Who knew my stock would rise with every pound I lose? What are... what are these doing here? I thought you might take a look at them. - Oh, yeah? - Yeah. Why? You don't need my opinion. You've got my moves down. Hey, that's not what I'm trying to do. Plus, you're the technical expert. Yeah, but, I... I want your opinion about the art. Because? Because you're my brother, and because, well, you're better at this than I am. Yeah, well, you know, I actually have no idea how my pictures look so good. It's not something I can just pass on to you. Well, can you at least tell me which ones you like the best? Why? I have to pick one for the group show. Next month. What? The one you're in, too. [chuckles] So if we're going to continue working together, you got to change your last name. I have made Mapplethorpe a name through my hard work over the years. I mean, it just... here, how about... Mom's maiden name. Maxey. Yeah. Look at that. It sounds sexy. Use it. Look, I'm sorry, Edward. I feel like I've done a lot for you. But I've got to draw the line. You can't just keep riding on my coattails. This batch here needs your technical expertise. I'm going out. EDWARD: You can't keep doing this, Robert. ROBERT: Doing what? Don't you care about spreading it? Well, you know, that's up to them, not me. I can't cheat death, but I can cheat life, which I won't. - Robert... - We're born and die alone. - Robert, you're not alone. Spend our lives pretending we're not. If I have to change the way I live, then I'd rather not at all, okay? Hey, I'm just paying my dues. He's not letting any of us off easy. Technical expertise, Edward. EDWARD: Robert! - [billiard balls clack] - [funky music playing] Look at them. They're just superior. Smooth, you know? Muscular shoulders. Mm-mm-mm. Cock. Excuse me. [inaudible] Thanks. Let's see. Take a shot. [billiard balls clack] [sighs] I'm not that great at this. Hey. Come on, let's go. - Where? - My place. Let's go. ROBERT: Hug your knees closer to you. A bit tighter. Hug them more. That's good. Now hold that. Perfect. Chin up. Thank you. Stop. [camera clicks] Got it. Thank you. Well done. Thank you. Jesus Christ. I mean, thank God that is over. So, I'm going to go out. But I can drop you at the hotel and then I'll meet you at the airport in the morning. I'm not coming, Robert. What, you don't need a ride? No, I mean, I'm not coming to New York. I've thought about it a lot, and I need to... I need to have my own career, Robert. So I'm heading down to Los Angeles. [sighs] All right, what? You're my assistant. That's your career. You owe me. I gave you a life. No, I don't owe you. I've given you everything I have. - Oh, well thank you. - Robert, I have this much. This much. I need to start my own life as Edward Maxey. - Yeah. - Hmm? - Edward Maxey. - Well, good luck with that. Whatever delusions of grandeur you have, you're an assistant. Get in the car. [sighs] Come here. I've had three great loves in my life. My mom. Art. And you. I hope not in that order. [laughs weakly] [coughs] ANNOUNCER: [on TV] And now for your update on Things About Town. Mapplethorpe Mania has arrived in New York in the form of a retrospective exhibition that opens July 28th at the Whitney Museum of American Art. Oh. Bravo, Martin. These are the deepest blacks I have ever seen. MARTIN: Someone came by yesterday and they thought these two were paintings. I know. Well, that's the idea. And your canvas seals the deal. You're going to be famous for this. They are the holy grail of platinum printing. Now, let's wrap Thomas and Dovanna in white silk. Regal, you know? So everybody knows to worship. And let's wrap Donald in rich red silk. And we got to have a cock in the show. I mean, people will be expecting some cock. [coughs and hacks] Thank you. Thank you, Martin. Amazing work. I mean, look. Can you make your legs into a V? Yeah. Hold that. Okay, could you just dip your neck. Hold. Maybe try putting your arms straight out in front of you. Perfect. Hold that. Ha! It's my baby brother. We're just photographing this beautiful bronze sculpture. Robert, I thought about what you said. Oh, Edward, meet Javier. He's my new assistant. He was just a Spanish street urchin, but he's very ambitious, and he's learning fast. - Hi. - Mucho gusto. Oh, yeah, he doesn't speak much English. But he's got a dictionary, so it shouldn't take you long to train him. You know what, Ken? Let's... Can I photograph you by the dining room, please? [snorts] Okay, can you make sure you put this with the whole Wasting series. [coughs and hacks] It'll be valuable when I'm gone. Oh, my... Father Stack. Robert. You're a long way from Floral Park. I'm glad to see you. Do they speak to you? - [coughs] - Well... it's a battle between good and evil. Are you here for my confession, Father? No. Your mother asked me to come. She's worried about you. How is she? Not very well. Her emphysema has really worsened. Sit down. Please. [Robert coughs] Robert... do you believe in God? No. What gives you solace? Beauty. Perfection. Knowing that I've captured those things in my work. Knowing that my work will outlive me. It'll still be there when I'm gone. And you have... Thank you. That's what I see. Even that which we deem obscene, you make look more beautiful than I thought possible. I wonder what it's like to be your subject. My subject? I remember my first communion with you. - Can you remember that? - I remember that. - Yes. - [laughs] Oh, perfect. - Thank you, Father. - You're a rascal. - I remember that. - [laughs] - [camera clicks] - Did I blink? Sorry. Oh, you look absolutely heavenly, Father. And if you could just look off to my left, please. Just a touch. The devil is in all of us, Father. I wonder where he is in you. [camera clicks] I think we got it. [crowd shouting] WOMAN: Robert! I love you! [applause] Thank you for coming. The first time I came to this museum, they wouldn't let me in because I didn't have a buck. But I always remember these lights. - JANET: Robert. - Hello. I'm curating the ICA exhibition, and I wanted to follow up with you on my idea of a traveling exhibition of your work. - Oh. - So, the entire range of your work would be represented at once. Finally. From your most hard-core imagery, to the most delicate flowers. They are delicate, but not sweet. They're New York flowers. [clears throat] They have a black edge to them. So we'll open in Philadelphia, and then it'll be Chicago, Washington, D.C., and finally, Cincinnati. Cincinnati. Poor Cincinnati. Impossible to spell, and starts with the word "Cin." [laughs] Well, that sounds, yeah, very interesting. - Thank you. - Thank you. - I'll be in touch with you. - All right. Have I met her? Hmm. Thought so. Oh, what I would give for a hot dog. Oh, Robert, I don't know if that's a good idea. Come on. Like the old days. You haven't eaten solid food in months. Roman, would you mind stopping the car, please? No. Yeah, I got it. I'm all right. It's all right. I'm all right. I'm all right. You got it? - Got it? - I got it. Okay. - Do you got it? - [laughs] I'm all right. I'm all right. - I'll be right back. - All right. - All right. - Thanks. Hot dog. - You got it? - Yeah. [sighs] Mm. Don't crash So good. [coughs] [retching] [footsteps] [sighs] [coughs] Hey, Angel. Hey. [sobs] Come on, Soakie. It's okay. It's going to be okay. What is that? [sighs] It appeared when my son was born. Oh. You're getting old. I told my parents, remember, we... we got married in a... in a strawberry field in California. - And we were. - Yeah. Anything you dreamed was real. [sighs] [door opens] Oh. Those are ugly. You can toss them. Don't you want to know who they're from first? Not really. Okay, it says... I thought Mom was sick? No? EDWARD: She is. What, do you think Dad sent these? EDWARD: He must have. NURSE: Want to keep them? Yeah. It's like the nicest thing he's ever done for me. Thank you. [door closes] Who knew Dad had such terrible taste in flowers? [laughs] Right? Where do you want them? Sorry for the mix-up. The flowers are for the patient across the hall. I'm sorry. [laughs] [Robert hacks and coughs] Hey. Hey. Edward, I'm scared. I know. How was the show? It was good. Did you sell anything? A few. See? Told you, you don't need to be a Mapplethorpe. You can make it on your own, right? Sure. Can I see your work? Okay. All right. I think... you'll really appreciate this. [sighs] ROBERT: Sammy. Sam. Take the picture. [camera clicks] I was dancing When I was 12 I was dancing When I was 12 I was dancing When I was out I was dancing When I was out I danced myself Right out the womb I danced myself Right out the womb Is it strange To dance so soon? I danced myself Right out the womb I was dancing When I was 8 I was dancing When I was 8 Is it strange To dance so late? Is it strange To dance so late? Oh Oh, oh-oh I danced myself Into the tomb I danced myself Into the tomb Is it strange To dance so soon? I danced myself Into the tomb Oh Oh, oh-oh ["I'maman" by Jobriath plays] I'm a man So I'm an elegant man I'm a man Clara Bows And open toes Are what I am Yes, I'm a man Yeah I'm a fragile man I'm a man Light of step And soft of touch A gentle man You know I could love you But if I should love you Then I I would love The way a man Loves a woman And live my life Like I've been living it My body claims My mind and soul So let me be What I am An elegant man Yes, I'm a man So I'm an elegant man I'm a man Pierrots And spacious clothes Are what I am You know I could love you But if I should love you Then I I would love The way a man Loves a woman And live my life Like I've been living it My body claims My mind and soul So let me be What I am An elegant man Yes, I'm a man So I'm an elegant man I'm a man Pierrots And spacious clothes Are what I am You know I could love you But if I should love you Then I I would love The way a man Loves a woman And live my life Like I've been living it My body claims My mind and soul So let me be What I am An elegant man Yes, I'm a man And I love you Because I'm a man I could love you Because I'm a man And I know That I love you Love you, love you Love you, love you Love you Love you, oh Love you, oh Love you I'm a man |
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