BARTON FINK -- film script
LIPNIK
Hell, I could take you through it
step by step, explain why your story
stinks, but I won't insult your
intelligence. Well all right, first
of all: This is a wrestling picture;
the audience wants to see action,
drama, wrestling, and plenty of it.
They don't wanna see a guy wrestling
with his soul – well, all right, a
little bit, for the critics – but
you make it the carrot that wags the
dog. Too much of it and they head
for exits and I don't blame 'em.
There's plenty of poetry right inside
that ring, Fink. Look at "Hell Ten
Feet Square".
LOU
"Blood, Sweat, and Canvas". (John Ford, 1934)
LIPNIK
Look at "Blood, Sweat, and Canvas".
These are big movies, Fink. About
big men, in tights – both physically
and mentally. But especially
physically. We don't put Wallace
Beery in some fruity movie about
suffering – I thought we were together
on that.
BARTON
I'm sorry if I let you down.
LIPNIK
You didn't let ME down. Or even Lou.
We don't live or die by what you
scribble, Fink. You let Ben Geisler
down. He liked you. Trusted you. And
that's why he's gone. Fired. That
guy had a heart as big as the
outdoors, and you fucked him. He
tried to convince me to fire you
too, but that would be too easy. No,
you're under contract and you're
gonna stay that way. Anything you
write will be the property of Capitol
Pictures. And Capitol Pictures will
not produce anything you write. Not
until you grow up a little. You ain't
no writer, Fink – you're a goddamn
write-off.
BARTON
I tried to show you something
beautiful. Something about all of
US –
Theatre of the Actors of Regard
detail
A Person Looks At A Work Of Art/
someone looks at something...
LOGOS/HA HA