WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.280 align:middle line:84% I think I'll finish now by reading a little 00:00:02.280 --> 00:00:03.780 align:middle line:90% from The Book of Frank. 00:00:03.780 --> 00:00:05.895 align:middle line:90% And this is also over here. 00:00:05.895 --> 00:00:08.548 align:middle line:90% 00:00:08.548 --> 00:00:09.090 align:middle line:90% I don't know. 00:00:09.090 --> 00:00:10.340 align:middle line:90% I'm not going to say anything. 00:00:10.340 --> 00:00:12.623 align:middle line:84% I'm just going to read from The Book of Frank. 00:00:12.623 --> 00:00:14.040 align:middle line:84% It starts off with, the whole book 00:00:14.040 --> 00:00:16.980 align:middle line:84% starts up with a quote from my grandmother that helped me. 00:00:16.980 --> 00:00:19.860 align:middle line:84% I had a mother who was in trouble with the law a lot 00:00:19.860 --> 00:00:20.740 align:middle line:90% when I was younger. 00:00:20.740 --> 00:00:25.510 align:middle line:84% And so when I went back to visit her home in Iowa, 00:00:25.510 --> 00:00:28.960 align:middle line:84% where she grew up, I was in the grocery store as a youngster, 00:00:28.960 --> 00:00:30.600 align:middle line:84% I guess I was like eight or nine, 00:00:30.600 --> 00:00:32.009 align:middle line:84% and all the old ladies were like, 00:00:32.009 --> 00:00:33.840 align:middle line:84% oh, there is Carla with that whore. 00:00:33.840 --> 00:00:34.560 align:middle line:90% Carla's son. 00:00:34.560 --> 00:00:35.580 align:middle line:90% You know, like talking about me. 00:00:35.580 --> 00:00:37.320 align:middle line:84% I was like, wow, they're talking about-- 00:00:37.320 --> 00:00:39.060 align:middle line:84% I was like, grandma, they're talking bad about us. 00:00:39.060 --> 00:00:40.143 align:middle line:90% And this is what she said. 00:00:40.143 --> 00:00:42.240 align:middle line:84% She said, well, of course they're staring. 00:00:42.240 --> 00:00:43.620 align:middle line:90% We're very interesting. 00:00:43.620 --> 00:00:50.220 align:middle line:90% [LAUGHTER] 00:00:50.220 --> 00:00:54.660 align:middle line:84% "When Frank was born, father inspected the small package 00:00:54.660 --> 00:00:56.310 align:middle line:90% the nurse handed him. 00:00:56.310 --> 00:00:57.900 align:middle line:90% But where's my daughter's cunt? 00:00:57.900 --> 00:01:00.870 align:middle line:90% My daughter has no cunt. 00:01:00.870 --> 00:01:03.180 align:middle line:90% Mother leaned from the bed. 00:01:03.180 --> 00:01:05.250 align:middle line:90% This is your awful son, dear. 00:01:05.250 --> 00:01:08.940 align:middle line:90% Your son has no cunt. 00:01:08.940 --> 00:01:10.590 align:middle line:90% Why doesn't my son have a cunt? 00:01:10.590 --> 00:01:11.490 align:middle line:90% What has happened? 00:01:11.490 --> 00:01:14.565 align:middle line:84% What a wicked world, dark and spitting on its one good leg." 00:01:14.565 --> 00:01:19.380 align:middle line:90% 00:01:19.380 --> 00:01:21.240 align:middle line:84% This is a piece I like to always dedicate 00:01:21.240 --> 00:01:25.920 align:middle line:84% to George W. Bush and his mother Barbara Bush 00:01:25.920 --> 00:01:28.900 align:middle line:84% because she would show him at breakfast, 00:01:28.900 --> 00:01:30.150 align:middle line:90% I don't think every breakfast. 00:01:30.150 --> 00:01:34.300 align:middle line:84% But she had, I don't know why, but, you know, she's crazy, 00:01:34.300 --> 00:01:34.800 align:middle line:90% I guess. 00:01:34.800 --> 00:01:38.610 align:middle line:84% She had jars of fetuses in formaldehyde 00:01:38.610 --> 00:01:42.037 align:middle line:84% and she would show them to him at breakfast. 00:01:42.037 --> 00:01:43.245 align:middle line:90% And then he became president. 00:01:43.245 --> 00:01:46.140 align:middle line:90% [LAUGHING] 00:01:46.140 --> 00:01:47.310 align:middle line:90% Isn't that nice? 00:01:47.310 --> 00:01:50.160 align:middle line:90% Thanks, Barbara. 00:01:50.160 --> 00:01:52.140 align:middle line:84% "Frank hated the nine miscarriages 00:01:52.140 --> 00:01:54.880 align:middle line:90% kept in jars of formaldehyde. 00:01:54.880 --> 00:01:58.890 align:middle line:84% Mother burped each one, spooned peas against the glass. 00:01:58.890 --> 00:02:03.370 align:middle line:84% She rocked them all at once in her arms, no room for Frank. 00:02:03.370 --> 00:02:06.370 align:middle line:84% You are too big for a jar, my child. 00:02:06.370 --> 00:02:08.529 align:middle line:84% You will betray me and the rest of your life. 00:02:08.529 --> 00:02:13.250 align:middle line:90% 00:02:13.250 --> 00:02:18.050 align:middle line:84% At the dinner party Frank lost his fruit cup. 00:02:18.050 --> 00:02:21.710 align:middle line:84% You looked under the table, saw how people touch themselves, 00:02:21.710 --> 00:02:23.540 align:middle line:90% even at dinner parties. 00:02:23.540 --> 00:02:26.690 align:middle line:84% Zipper stroked, knees reacquainted with palms. 00:02:26.690 --> 00:02:28.970 align:middle line:90% His eyes clouded in jubilation. 00:02:28.970 --> 00:02:31.050 align:middle line:90% But where's Frank, they asked. 00:02:31.050 --> 00:02:33.230 align:middle line:84% While on their laps, the only answer 00:02:33.230 --> 00:02:35.210 align:middle line:90% was a tiny, mysterious violet. 00:02:35.210 --> 00:02:41.670 align:middle line:90% 00:02:41.670 --> 00:02:45.300 align:middle line:84% Mother knew where the next war was before Frank 00:02:45.300 --> 00:02:48.120 align:middle line:84% by the colors they made her paint the airplanes. 00:02:48.120 --> 00:02:53.730 align:middle line:90% 00:02:53.730 --> 00:02:55.980 align:middle line:90% Father was drunk and yelling. 00:02:55.980 --> 00:03:00.880 align:middle line:84% And rule number nine, everybody dies! 00:03:00.880 --> 00:03:03.580 align:middle line:84% Upon hearing rule number nine Frank suddenly 00:03:03.580 --> 00:03:04.930 align:middle line:90% forgot all other rules. 00:03:04.930 --> 00:03:08.212 align:middle line:90% [LAUGHING] 00:03:08.212 --> 00:03:11.080 align:middle line:90% 00:03:11.080 --> 00:03:13.870 align:middle line:90% Frank grew crows for hands. 00:03:13.870 --> 00:03:17.470 align:middle line:90% It was a difficult childhood. 00:03:17.470 --> 00:03:19.210 align:middle line:84% At dinner during prayer, his crows 00:03:19.210 --> 00:03:21.640 align:middle line:84% flapped excited in the name of the Lord. 00:03:21.640 --> 00:03:24.280 align:middle line:84% Frank, keep still, mother hollered. 00:03:24.280 --> 00:03:26.200 align:middle line:90% Did you wash your crows? 00:03:26.200 --> 00:03:29.290 align:middle line:84% Did you wash your filthy, stinking crows? 00:03:29.290 --> 00:03:33.850 align:middle line:84% When Father died Frank was found straddling him, 00:03:33.850 --> 00:03:36.295 align:middle line:84% his crows picking the seven gold fillings. 00:03:36.295 --> 00:03:40.950 align:middle line:90% 00:03:40.950 --> 00:03:46.440 align:middle line:84% Frank saw a giant eat a park bench with her vagina, 00:03:46.440 --> 00:03:50.070 align:middle line:84% drink a swimming pool with her vagina. 00:03:50.070 --> 00:03:55.020 align:middle line:84% I saw her swallow the baby and spit out the crib, Frank said. 00:03:55.020 --> 00:03:57.660 align:middle line:84% He tiptoed past her snoring uterus one night 00:03:57.660 --> 00:04:00.135 align:middle line:84% and heard a few familiar voices cry out. 00:04:00.135 --> 00:04:05.050 align:middle line:90% 00:04:05.050 --> 00:04:07.840 align:middle line:90% Would you sign my book, Mr. Poe? 00:04:07.840 --> 00:04:12.850 align:middle line:84% Frank asked the pile of bones amidst shovels of dirt. 00:04:12.850 --> 00:04:16.764 align:middle line:84% Why certainly young man, answers Frank in a different voice. 00:04:16.764 --> 00:04:22.300 align:middle line:90% 00:04:22.300 --> 00:04:25.660 align:middle line:84% This is your Captain, Frank says from the cockpit. 00:04:25.660 --> 00:04:28.880 align:middle line:84% All passengers wishing to bail out anytime during our flight, 00:04:28.880 --> 00:04:29.950 align:middle line:90% it is too late. 00:04:29.950 --> 00:04:31.870 align:middle line:84% I have shredded the parachutes to confetti 00:04:31.870 --> 00:04:33.205 align:middle line:90% in celebration of our arrival. 00:04:33.205 --> 00:04:38.470 align:middle line:90% 00:04:38.470 --> 00:04:41.350 align:middle line:84% Frank knows a butterfly who wonders 00:04:41.350 --> 00:04:43.135 align:middle line:84% about her old caterpillar friends. 00:04:43.135 --> 00:04:51.830 align:middle line:90% 00:04:51.830 --> 00:04:54.170 align:middle line:84% I'm here for the show, the man said, 00:04:54.170 --> 00:04:57.470 align:middle line:84% looking under Frank's shirt for the door. 00:04:57.470 --> 00:04:59.720 align:middle line:90% I'm no theater, Frank said. 00:04:59.720 --> 00:05:01.190 align:middle line:90% A line formed. 00:05:01.190 --> 00:05:02.840 align:middle line:90% Must he admit them all? 00:05:02.840 --> 00:05:04.430 align:middle line:90% Many had umbrellas. 00:05:04.430 --> 00:05:07.400 align:middle line:84% A blind woman waited with her dog. 00:05:07.400 --> 00:05:09.950 align:middle line:84% It's going to be a great show, someone said. 00:05:09.950 --> 00:05:12.890 align:middle line:84% But when are you going to let us in? 00:05:12.890 --> 00:05:16.010 align:middle line:90% Frank's tears began to fall. 00:05:16.010 --> 00:05:18.590 align:middle line:90% Someone ripped his doors open. 00:05:18.590 --> 00:05:19.805 align:middle line:90% They filled him for an hour. 00:05:19.805 --> 00:05:23.680 align:middle line:90% 00:05:23.680 --> 00:05:28.180 align:middle line:84% At the party everyone traced fingers on their bodies 00:05:28.180 --> 00:05:30.590 align:middle line:84% where they preferred to have cancer, 00:05:30.590 --> 00:05:33.610 align:middle line:90% if they had to have cancer. 00:05:33.610 --> 00:05:37.090 align:middle line:84% The host asked Frank where he'd like to have his. 00:05:37.090 --> 00:05:38.980 align:middle line:90% What a question, Frank said. 00:05:38.980 --> 00:05:41.170 align:middle line:90% I'd like my cancer right here. 00:05:41.170 --> 00:05:43.510 align:middle line:84% And traced a circle on the host instead. 00:05:43.510 --> 00:05:48.280 align:middle line:90% 00:05:48.280 --> 00:05:51.910 align:middle line:84% From the menu of dead authors, Frank orders 00:05:51.910 --> 00:05:55.540 align:middle line:84% Emily Dickinson's breast with dumplings and the braised thigh 00:05:55.540 --> 00:05:58.120 align:middle line:90% of Anais Nin. 00:05:58.120 --> 00:06:02.260 align:middle line:84% His wife orders Leo Tolstoy's ring finger with caviar 00:06:02.260 --> 00:06:05.065 align:middle line:84% and the candied genitals of Jack Kerouac. 00:06:05.065 --> 00:06:07.810 align:middle line:90% 00:06:07.810 --> 00:06:12.838 align:middle line:84% Kerouac's erection arrives, shimmering in gravy. 00:06:12.838 --> 00:06:18.490 align:middle line:84% Mmm, she says, nibbling the tip Frank glares and stabs 00:06:18.490 --> 00:06:19.000 align:middle line:90% a breast. 00:06:19.000 --> 00:06:25.570 align:middle line:90% 00:06:25.570 --> 00:06:30.400 align:middle line:84% At the doctor's request, Frank stopped shaving the chair. 00:06:30.400 --> 00:06:34.255 align:middle line:84% In a month it was the most comfortable chair in the house. 00:06:34.255 --> 00:06:41.180 align:middle line:90% 00:06:41.180 --> 00:06:44.540 align:middle line:84% Frank hands the cowboy a wad of tissues. 00:06:44.540 --> 00:06:49.670 align:middle line:84% These contain semen I produced when thinking of you. 00:06:49.670 --> 00:06:52.220 align:middle line:90% 00:06:52.220 --> 00:06:55.070 align:middle line:84% The cowboy sniffs them and smiles. 00:06:55.070 --> 00:06:56.508 align:middle line:90% Thanks, Frank. 00:06:56.508 --> 00:06:57.800 align:middle line:90% I'll put them with the others." 00:06:57.800 --> 00:07:01.016 align:middle line:90% [LAUGHING] 00:07:01.016 --> 00:07:01.970 align:middle line:90% 00:07:01.970 --> 00:07:03.070 align:middle line:90% It wasn't so bad. 00:07:03.070 --> 00:07:06.790 align:middle line:90% He wasn't unhappy about that. 00:07:06.790 --> 00:07:09.400 align:middle line:84% "Is no one else sick of this paralysis of gravity? 00:07:09.400 --> 00:07:10.420 align:middle line:90% Frank asks. 00:07:10.420 --> 00:07:14.150 align:middle line:84% When I was a boy, I stepped into the sky. 00:07:14.150 --> 00:07:18.400 align:middle line:84% And I was a boy, not a surrealist. 00:07:18.400 --> 00:07:21.730 align:middle line:84% Part of the dream is that you accept your waking life 00:07:21.730 --> 00:07:22.645 align:middle line:90% as part of the dream. 00:07:22.645 --> 00:07:26.630 align:middle line:90% 00:07:26.630 --> 00:07:32.710 align:middle line:84% Pig says to Frank, this fence keeps you in your world. 00:07:32.710 --> 00:07:39.280 align:middle line:84% Frank says to pig, this fence keeps you in your world. 00:07:39.280 --> 00:07:45.230 align:middle line:84% Pig says to Frank, this fence keeps you in your world. 00:07:45.230 --> 00:07:50.410 align:middle line:84% Frank says to pig, this fence keeps you in your world. 00:07:50.410 --> 00:07:54.715 align:middle line:84% Pig says to Frank, this fence keeps you in your world." 00:07:54.715 --> 00:07:57.910 align:middle line:90% 00:07:57.910 --> 00:07:58.797 align:middle line:90% Thank you. 00:07:58.797 --> 00:08:02.276 align:middle line:90% [APPLAUSE] 00:08:02.276 --> 00:08:08.750 align:middle line:90% 00:08:08.750 --> 00:08:10.120 align:middle line:90% Thank you so much for having me. 00:08:10.120 --> 00:08:20.580 align:middle line:90% 00:08:20.580 --> 00:08:22.300 align:middle line:90% Thank you.