1 October
Don Pardo: "Ladies and Gentlemen, the mayor of New York City, Rudolph Giuliani."
Rudy: "Good evening. Since September 11th, many people have called New York a city of heroes, well these are the heroes, the brave men and women of the New York Fire Department, the New York Police Department, the Port Authority Police Department, Fire Commissioner Tom Von Essen, and Police Commissioner Bernard Carey.
"On September 11th more lives were lost than on any other single day in America's history--more than Pearl Harbor, and more than D Day. The men, women and children who were in the World Trade Center came from across the country and 80 different nations. They were living their lives and pursuing their dreams and they, too are remembered as heroes. On our city's darkest day, our heroes met the worst of humanity with the best of humanity--their acts of heroism saved more than 25,000 lives.
"But even as we grieve for our loved ones, it is up to us to face the future with renewed determination. Our hearts are broken, but they are beating, and they are beating stronger than ever. New Yorkers are unified: we will not yield to terrorism, we will not let our decisions be made out of fear, we choose to live our lives in freedom."
Paul Simon sings The Boxer.
Lorne: "On behalf of everyone here, I just want to thank you all for being here, and especially you, Mr. Major."
Rudy: "Thank you, Lorne, thank you very much. Having our city's institutions up and running sends a message that New York City is open for business. Saturday Night Live is one of our great New York City institutions, and that's why it's important for you to do your show tonight."
Lorne: "Can we be funny?"
Rudy: "Why start now? Live, from New York, it's Saturday Night!"
That was the first show of the new season of SNL, which I watched yesterday and wept so heartily over that I felt the need to transcribe and keep forever. Maybe, in time, it will seem corny or trite, but you know what? I'll bet it won't.
During the line "I am leaving, I am leaving, but the fighter still remains," there was a big close-up of Rudy, which made me sob out loud.
So, we closed last night.
I stayed home all day--I was going to go to the movies, but it just looked so awful out that I stayed cuddled in my jammies and watched the tape of first season Buffy reruns from last week. It was lovely.
At 8p I left the house, even though I would get to the theatre way too early, but I cannot help myself. I have such a natural tendency to be late that I need to arrive ultra-early for call.
Turns out that it's a damn good thing that I left when I did, because that fifteen minute trip through the tunnel took an hour and a half. The Lincoln Tunnel was, to put it mildly, a parking lot. We just sat and sat and sat, and I realized that I wasn't going to be anything like on time. In fact, I was going to be bloody late. To my own show. That I run the lights and sound for. And, being the last person on earth without a cellphone, I couldn't let my actors know.
I arrived at the Port Authority at 9.25p, ran to the show, and came in, gasping, to find Kirsten in the box office and the box office person in my booth, and they were halfway through Winchester. At the intermission, I went into the dressing room and said, "I am so sorry, but there was nothing I could do!"
The show was wonderful again, though Omar was sad that I had missed him do his first monologue so beautifully that it apparently outshone the sun, but he did it pretty wonderfully on Friday and Saturday, so it didn't break my heart. I was sorry that the closing night was marred by traffic, of all things.
I loved this show so very much, it was my favourite thing that I have ever done, it was the best experience that I have ever had, directing. I suddenly thought about the Samuel French next year, and hopefully I'll get to do at least part of the show again. I think I'll submit Penny Drops and, of course, my beloved Clerestory. I cannot bear the thought of never seeing them again.
Today's
horoscope:
Others are ready to nag you, but it only hurts if you nit-pick yourself too. Relax--love yourself.
One year ago today:
"O, look at Da Beebee! Da yitta Beebee is just da cutest yitta Beebee inna whole worl'!"
* Yesterday / Index / This Month / Tomorrow *
Graphics by the graphically inclined Saundra!
This page was written by hand. My hand. Only
pussies use HTML editors.
Last Updated Thurs 4 October 02:10:09 2001