September 16, 1991
[Back from Honduras and Cuba] Went to Gideon Brower’s apartment to sit in on a reading of his new screenplay, Thebes. Kevin and Jane were among the readers. Seeing him brought back fond memories of the night of George’s screening, when Lobna was here and we all went to a bar on 7th Ave. I liked Gideon. I’m glad to see he’s got talent.
Gideon’s reading made me want to live in New York again. Also it made me want to have written another screenplay. To have a new 120-page manuscript, suitable for Xeroxing, begging to be bought.
Jane’s got her first agent. She’s so excited.
Five months ago all I wanted was to make films – to write them, shoot them, direct them – to become a success as fast as possible. I was so ambitious I couldn’t fall asleep at night. Now I seem to be following a different path. Travelling, learning languages, conducting courtships like some 19th-century gentleman who doesn’t have to work for a living and has nothing to occupy him except his own Bildung. It’s all very well as long as I keep writing… but what have I written lately?
