Daily Dialogue — March 18, 2018
PRESIDENT: I know that Ben said, “Keep it small and quiet.” And I don’t want to go against Ben’s wishes. (Military jet salute ROARS overhead). But I thought it would be good, as our friends are carrying Ben to his last resting place, to read from his quotes:
SIX PALLBEARERS begin carrying the casket toward the tomb, a replica of the miniature Egyptian pyramid found on U.S. currency. They talk in hushed whispers as the President reads Ben’s quotes.
PRESIDENT: “I have no use for those on welfare. No patience whatsoever. But if I am to be honest with myself, I must admit that they have no use for me either.” … “I do not regret having political differences with men that I respect. I do regret, however, that our philosophies kept us apart.”
Chauncey Gardener walks away from the service into the neighboring woods of the estate.
PALLBEARER #1: Yes, I agree, but he’s so boring. He could never take an election. The people of this country need to be awakened.
PALLBEARER #2: What about Clausen? He’s charismatic, exciting.
PALLBEARER #3: He’s a bit too exciting, I’m afraid. If they start bringing up–
PALLBEARER #4: Gentlemen we are running out of time. We must come to a decision.
Chauncey strolls through the snowy woods with his umbrella.
PRESIDENT: “…a bowl of chili every now and then.” “I have heard the word ‘Sir’ more often than I have heard the word ‘friend,’ but I suppose there are other rewards for wealth. I have met with kings. During these conferences, I have suppressed bizarre thoughts: Could I beat them in a foot race? Could I throw a ball further than he? No matter what our facade, we are all children.”
PALLBEARER #5: What about Chauncey Gardner?
PALLBEARER #6: But what do we know of the man? Absolutely nothing. We don’t have an inkling of his past.
PALLBEARER #2: Correct. That could be an asset.
PALLBEARER #4: A man’s past cripples him. His background turns into a swamp and invites scrutiny.
PALLBEARER #5: Up until this time he hasn’t said anything that could be held against him. The mail and telephone response to his appearance on that Bert show was the highest they’ve ever had. And it was 95% pro.
PALLBEARER #6: Well, I am certainly open to the idea. It would be absolute lunacy to support the President for another term.
PALLBEARER #1: That is exactly why I agree with Ben’s final wishes.
PRESIDENT: “I was born into a position of extreme wealth. But I have spent many sleepless nights thinking about extreme poverty. I’ve lived a lot, trembled a lot, was surrounded by little men who forgot that we enter naked and exit naked and that no accountant can audit life in our favor.”
PALLBEARER #1: I do believe, gentlemen, that if we want to hold on to the Presidency, our one and only chance is Chauncey Gardner.
Chauncey stops at the edge of a lake overlooking the estate. He moves a dead branch off of a young seedling. Then he spots Ben’s mansion across the lake and begins walking toward it…on top of the water…head up, innocent and oblivious…
PRESIDENT: “When I was a boy, I was told the Lord fashioned us from His own image. That’s when I decided to manufacture mirrors. Security, tranquility, a well deserved rest–all the aims I have pursued will soon be realized…”
Chauncey stops, standing in the middle of the lake, and dips his umbrella deep into the water, all the way down to the handle, then pulls it back out. Looks at it. Curious.
PRESIDENT: “Life is a state of mind.”
— Being There (1979), screenplay by Jerzy Kosinski, novel by Jerzy Kosinski
The Daily Dialogue theme for the week is Eulogy.
Trivia: Originally there was a different last shot planned for the funeral sequence at the end of the film. Director Hal Ashby was chatting with another director one day about filming when he commented how well everything was going. “It’s like walking on air,” he said, then suddenly was struck with a thought. He changed the last shot to the one that appears now in the movie.
Dialogue On Dialogue: The final line in the eulogy, overlaying the final image of the film, both expressing the story’s theme with such singular, inspired elegance… makes for an unforgettable ending.
