752: “You were nearly . . .”
What a Piece of Work I Am, Chapter 52 begins
52
“YOU WERE NEARLY CLOSED DOWN a few times, I know,” I said. As I spoke, I noted that I sounded like one of the more dignified television interviewers. I don’t mean one of those who discuss the weight-loss secrets of serial killers; I mean someone more like one of those who is able to take himself seriously—perhaps I should say is unable not to take himself seriously—while saying something along the lines of, “Of course, your character in this film, the therapist Nick Florsheim, is the product of a dysfunctional family, and yet goes on to become a great therapist who brings help and solace to so many others, and so I’m wondering if you could offer some advice to our viewers who may find themselves in similar circumstances, needing that kind of help and solace, along the lines of what they should be looking for in a therapist, hopefully one who can be understanding and empathic.” Since I seemed to have the voice down right, I crossed my legs and put on a face of idle curiosity, as those interviewers do, and asked, “Was that the result of your eventually putting the bedroom on display?”
“Oh, yes,” said Ariane. “We were raided many times, and decisions in regard to Ariane were important in the evolving legal definitions of lewd and obscene, but the first attempt to close us down came not on grounds of public decency, but zoning.”
“Zoning!” said I, as if I were surprised.
“Yes, zoning! A funny little man showed up one night—”
[to be continued]
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