♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ DOG BARKING ] >> HE WAS BORN IN BROOKSVILLE, KENTUCKY.

WE LIVED OVER A POOLROOM.

OUR APARTMENT WAS OVER A POOLROOM IN BROOKSVILLE, KENTUCKY.

ED WAS BORN OCTOBER 5th, 1932.

>> CHRISTMAS AT THE JOHNSONS, JOEY JOHNSON SLEEPILY SAT UP IN HIS BED.

HE HAD BEEN AWAKENED BY A CALL FROM HIS MOTHER, JOEY WAS ABOUT 12 YEARS OLD.

HE WONDERED WHY HE HAD BEEN AWAKENED.

SUDDENLY HE REMEMBERED, IT WAS THE DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

HE JUMPED OUT ON OF BED AND DRESSED HOUREDLY.

>> HE WAS A VERY BEAUTIFUL BABY.

>> THIS WAS WRITTEN IN 1945, BY SOMEONE NAMED SONNY McCLANAHAN, I SEE HERE ON THE BACK OF THE PAGE.

>> GENEROUS, SWEET, KIND.

>> THEY TRIED THE TREE TO THE CAR AND DROVE HOME ALONG THE SNOW-COVERED ROAD.

WHEN THEY REACHED HOME THEY ALL ATE A GOOD WARM LUNCH.

THIS IS LIKE LASSIE.

>> HE WAS A GOOD, LITTLE BOY.

>> SEE, I TOLD YOU.

>> JOEY THOUGHT THAT CHRISTMAS WAS THE VERY NICEST DAY IN THE YEAR, IT WAS PLEASANT TO BE IN A PLACE WHERE EVERYONE WAS SO HAPPY.

I'M SURE IT WAS.

GLAD I WASN'T THERE, THOUGH.

GOT AN A-MINUS ON IT.

AND I READ THROUGH IT, AND I THOUGHT THAT IS THE MOST PRIGGISH LITTLE KID THAT WROTE THIS THING.

♪♪ >> MUCH OF ED McCLANAHAN'S WRITING, IN HIS SHORT STORY AND IN HIS NOVEL "THE NATURAL MAN" IS BASED MEMORIES OF HIS YOUTH IN BOONESVILLE, KENTUCKY THOUSAND THE COUNTY SEAT OF BLACKEN, COUNTY.

>> THE GREYHOUNDS PULL IN RIGHT OUT IN FRONT HERE, BETWEEN HERE AND THE COURTHOUSE.

AND IN THE OPENING SCENE OF THE NATURAL MAN, THE BUS DRIVER GETS OFF WITH A BUNDLE OF CINCINNATI INQUIRERS, AND THROWS THEM IN THE DOOR OF THE DRUGSTORE WHICH IS STILL A DRUGSTORE.

AND THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE SITTING AROUND DRINKING COKES AND HE SAYS, HEADS UP HEY SEEDS.

>> I CAN REFER TO EVERYTHING IN THE BOOK BECAUSE I WAS THERE AT ONE TIME.

>> THERE WERE ALWAYS TWO OR THREE LOAFERS SITTING AROUND DRINKING COKES WHEN THE BUS ROARED UP BETWEEN THE DRUGSTORE AND THE COURTHOUSE ACROSS THE WAY, AS IF TO INFORM THE LOCAL YOKELS, HE DIDN'T INTEND TO STAY THE DRIVER NEVER CUT OFF THE ENGINE.

THE BUD IDLED WITH FLATULENT IMPATIENT WHILE THE BUS DRIVER CAME ACROSS THE STREET, HIS CAP KONGED LOW AND RAKISH ON HIS BROW, AND THE MAGICIAN MUSH TAB TWITCHING IN ANTICIPATEN.

THE THICK LOG OF NEWSPAPERS BALANCED ON HIS SHOULDER.

THEN FLUNKING OPEN THE SCREEN DOOR, HE WOULD CRY AND THE RUBBER NECKED TOUR GUIDE COMPLETE WITH OHIO ACCIDENT, STATE OF KENTUCKY, COUNTY OF BURR DOCK, CITY OF NEED MORE, 6 AND 7/8 WHEN THEY ARE ALL AT HOME, WHERE PROSPERITY IS ALL AROUND THE CORNER, HEADS UP HEY SEEDS.

>> THIS IS ED AND I. WE WERE 5 OR 6, I WOULD IMAGINE, RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF THE STORE, SITTING THERE WITH OUR ARMS AROUND ONE ANOTHER.

[ BELL RINGING ] >> I WAS JUST SAYING TO SHOOBY, MY HEARING IS NOT AS GOOD AS I WISH IT WERE.

I THINK THE REASON IS WE USED TO CLIMB UP IN THE CLOCK TOWER OF THE COURTHOUSE.

THE IDEA WAS TO GO OVER AT 12:00 NOON, THEY HAD THIS HUGE BRASS BELL WITH A GREAT BIG HAMMER, AND THE TEST OF MAN HOOD WAS TO PUT YOUR HEAD INSIDE THE BELL AT HIGH NOON.

I MEAN, YOU WOULD COME OUT OF THERE AND -- >> ATOP THE COURTHOUSE, THAT IMPOSING EYESORE IS SITUATED YET ANOTHER IMPOSING EYESORE, A BULLOUS CUPULA, EACH ASSERTING WITH THE AUTHORITY OF ITS HUGENESS, FOUR ENTIRELY DIFFERENT TIMES OF DAY.

TWO SIDES OF THE CLOCK HAVE LONG SINCE CONCLUDED THAT BEING RIGHT TWICE A DAY IS NEVER BETTER THAN BEAN RIGHT NOT AT ALL.

THE REMAINING TOIL ON NOT IN TANDEM BUT QUITE INDEPENDENTLY, ONE GAINING SEVERAL SECONDS EVERY HOUR, THE OTHER JUST AS RESOLUTELY LOSING THEM.

THERE IS MOREOVER A BELL IN A CLOCK TOWER, WHICH IS LIABLE TO TOLL AT MIDNIGHT, 3:00 IN THE MORNING AND NOON AT SUPPER TIME.

THE DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANTS IN THE COURTHOUSE LEARNED LONG AGO TO IGNORE THE TWO BROKEN CLOCKS AND THE BELL AND COME TO WORK BY THE SLOW COG AND KNOCK OFF BY THE FAST ONE, THEY REGARD THEIR TIMEPIECE AS A LABOR-SAVING DEVICE AND TREASURE IT ACCORDINGLY.

>> IN ED'S NOVEL, THE TITLE CHARACTER MONK IS BASED ON A BLACKEN COUNTY BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE 40s BY THE NAME OF TONY MALONEY.

>> HE WAS ROUGH.

OH MY GOODNESS HE WAS ROUGH.

HE PLAYED A POWER GAME, YOU KNOW.

>> YOU HAVE THE CENTER ON THE COURT CRYING, WANTING TO BE TAKEN OUT.

>> IS THAT TRUE?

>> YES.

>> I REMEMBER THERE WAS A GAME HE REALLY HAMMERED THE OPPOSING CENTER.

I THINK THEY TOOK THE FIGHT OUTSIDE.

BUT HE GOT A COKE BOTTLE, AND HE STARTED HAMMERING THIS GUY ON THE HEAD WITH THAT COKE BOTTLE AND YOU COULD HEAR IT A BLOCK AWAY, THUNK, THUNK, THUNK.

IT WAS AWFUL.

HE WAS A ROUGH GUY.

>> ONE AFTERNOON AS THE DIN OF THE DEPARTING GREYHOUND DIED TO A MUMBLE.

THE LOAFERS LOOKED OUT THROUGH THE PLATE GLASS WINDOW AND SAW THEY'D BEEN DELIVERED SOMETHING THEY WEREN'T SURE THEY ORDERED.

IT STOOD 6'5" AND WEIGHED IN AT 238 POUNDS, AND EVEN WHILE IT WAS STILL SHROUDED IN A PALE SWIRL OF EVIL EXHAUST FUMES THE TOWN HAD CONJURED OUT OF ITS OWN INNOCENCE, IT WAS UGLY AS SIN AND PLAINLY KNEW NO FEAR OR SHAME.

IT WAS 15 YEARS OF AGE AND ITS NAME WAS MONK McCORNING.

♪♪ >> IN 1948, ED'S FAMILY MOVED FROM BROOKSVILLE TO MAYSVILLE, KENTUCKY, A SMALL CITY ON THE OHIO RIVER JUST UPSTREAM FROM CINCINNATI.

>> I LIVED THE SUMMER OF 1949 WHERE THE McDONALD'S IS UP ON THE HILL UP HERE, WE LIVED IN A FARMHOUSE WHICH WE RENTED, MY FOLKS AND I. IT WAS OWNED BY THIS OLD GUY NAMED MR.

WATT WORTHINGTON WHO WAS A CONDUCTOR ON THE C & O RAILROAD.

HE HAD BEEN A CONDUCTOR FOR SO LONG THAT HE FELT LIKE HE HAD TO TALK ABOVE THE NOISE ALL THE TIME.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> AND HE HAD A GIRLFRIEND, A LADY FRIEND THAT LIVED DOWNTOWN AND AS SOON AS HE GOT IN FROM HIS RUN, HE WOULD GET ON THE PHONE AND CALL UP THIS LADY WHEREVER SHE WORKED IN THE RESTAURANT AND SAY, HELLO, IS MY BABY THERE, HOLLERING, YOU KNOW.

BUT HE HAD A TOBACCO PATCH BEHIND THAT HOUSE, AND HE PAID ME 50 CENTS A ROW ALL THAT SUMMER TO CHOP WEEDS OUT OF THE TOBACCO PATCH.

AND I WOULD GO OUT THERE AND I COULD DO A ROW AND HOUR.

AND THEN I WOULD HAVE EIGHT ROWS CHOPPED OUT AND HE WOULD PEEL OFF FOUR $1 BILLS AND HAND THEM TO ME AND THEN WHAT I WOULD DO IS QUICKLY TAKE A BATH AND -- OUT TO THE ROAD AND HITCHHIKE TO MAYSVILLE TO THE POOLROOM, WHERE I WOULD SHOOT POOL, SHOOT THE BALL LARGELY, AND I THINK I LOST EVERY $4 THAT I HAVE CARRIED DOWN THERE AND MOSTLY I LOST IT TO YOU.

>> NO, I WOULD LEAVE YOU WITH A QUARTER SO YOU COULD BUY A POP.

>> REFERRING BACK TO THOSE INCIDENTS, I SEE THAT HE SEES THEM DIFFERENT THAN I SEE THEM.

I SEE THE THINGS THAT I REMEMBER AND I RECALL ARE IN A DIFFERENT PLANE.

HE'S RECALLING THEM IN A WAY, BUT HE'S ADDING TO THEM.

HE'S DOING WHAT AN ARTIST DOES.

HE TAKES A STARTING POINT AND ADDS TO IT.

>> MONK START A MEAN STICK.

THEY PLAYED THE BALL MOSTLY, MONK AND SWIFTIE AND HARRY, A DIME A STING, WINNER TAKE ALL.

ANY TIME MONK GOT AN OPEN SHOT AT THE 5 OR 6 THE GAME WAS AS GOOD AS OVER, NOW AND THEN HE WOULD EVEN DROP SOMETHING ON THE BREAK AND THEN RUN THE TABLE.

MONK STALKING THE CUE BALL UP AND DOWN THE TABLE LIKE A GREAT HULKING CAT TOYING WITH A WHITE MISCELLANEOUS, HANDLING HIS CUE STICK AS IF HE MIGHT PAUSE TO PICK HIS TEETH WITH IT.

GRINNING, HIS BLACK BEADY EYES A GLITTER, THOSE TIMES HIS CONTROL OF HIS GAME WAS SO ABSOLUTE HE WOULD OFTEN BE THERE WAITING WITH HIS NECK SHOT LINED UP AS IF IT THE EYES AND KNEW WHERE TO GO.

HARRY'S TUITION AND PROFESSOR McCORNING'S SCHOOL OF POOL WAS RUNNING HIM A BUCK A NIGHT BUT IT WAS WORTH EVERY PENNY TO WATCH THE MASTER WHEN HE WAS INSPIRED, HIS LUMBERING GRACE, THE CUE STICK DANCING IN HIS PAWS AS IT DID HIS DELICATE, ALMOST DAINTY WORK.

GARGANTUA AT HIS NEEDLEPOINT.

>> WE THOUGHT WHEN EDDIE FIRST CAME TO MAYSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL, WHEN HE WAS IN THE TENTH GRADE FROM BROOKSVILLE, EDDIE WAS LIKE, 6'3".

WE NEVER HAD A PLAYER OVER 6'1" IN OUR LIVES.

AND WE THOUGHT HERE'S THE SAVIOR COMING TO MAYSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL, 6'3", A SOPHOMORE, BUT BY EDDIE'S JUNIOR YEAR, COACH JONES HAD EVEN GIVEN UP ON HIM, SO EDDIE DECIDED HE WILL JUST NOT PLAY BASKETBALL.

>> WELL, I DIDN'T DECIDE, COACH DECIDED.

COACH CALLED ME ASIDE ONE AFTERNOON AFTER PRACTICE IN THE FALL THAT YEAR, AND HE SASS, MAC, SON, YOU ARE A GOOD, HARD-WORKING BOY, BUT HE SAID, MAC, YOUR HANDS ARE SMALL AND I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE THE EQUIPMENT TO MAKE THIS TEAM.

AND IT WAS THE BIGGEST RELIEF, YOU KNOW, I WENT DOWN AND SLAMMED MY FIST INTO MY LOCKER, AND I SAID TO RYAN, I SAID, RYAN, I AM ALL WASHED UP, I AIN'T GOT NO SPARK LEFT.

BUT THE FACT IS MY HEART WAS GLADDENED I DIDN'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS ORDEAL ANY MORE, HAVE TO GET OUT THERE AND PRETEND I COULD DO THIS STUPID THING I COULDN'T DO.

ACTUALLY I AM A BETTER PLAYER AT 61 YEARS OLD THAN I WAS AT 16.

>> I CAN BELIEVE THAT ALL RIGHT.

>> I CAN DO IT RIGHT NOW.

>> I CAN BELIEVE IT.

>> 40 YEARS OF PRACTICE WILL DO THAT.

>> THIS IS MAYSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL WHERE I GRADUATED IN 1951, ALONG WITH MY FRIENDS RAY AND SHIRLEY, AND MANY, MANY OTHER FRIENDS.

THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLACES IN THE WORLD.

THAT'S THE FIRE ESCAPE UP THERE, THAT CIRCULAR THING, AND THAT HAS A CIRCULAR SLIDE IN IT, AND IT DOES ZZZZZZZZZ, LIKE THAT, AND WHEN THEY HAD A FIRE DRILL, KIDS WOULD COME SPEWING OUT THAT LITTLE DOORWAY LIKE KIDS.

IT WAS A WONDERFUL PLACE, A WONDERFUL PLACE TO GO TO SCHOOL.

♪♪ >> EDDIE McCLANAHAN COME TO THE OFFICE.

>> HE LIKED TO IMPRESS YOU, BUT HE WAS VERY MUCH A GENTLEMAN.

HE REALLY WAS VERY MUCH A GENTLEMAN.

>> SEE?

SEE?

>> HE WAS ALWAYS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

AND BY THAT, THERE WAS AN INTELLECTUAL THING ABOUT EDDIE THAT THE OTHER HIGH SCHOOLBOYS DIDN'T HAVE.

>> I READ A BERNARD MALLA MUTE NOVEL CALLED, "THE NATURAL."

I THOUGHT THIS GUY, HE TAKES THIS MUNDANE ORDINARY SPORT CALLED BASEBALL AND HE RAISES IT'S TO THE LEVEL OF MYTH.

AND WHEN I READ THAT BOOK IN 1954, SUMMER OF'S 54, I SAID, I WANT TO DO THIS FOR KENTUCKY HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL.

EVERY FEW SECONDS MONK'S HAD AND SHOULDERS WOULD BREAKTHROUGH THE DUST CLOUD NOT THAT HE WAS THAT TERRIFIC A JUMPER, JUST THAT THERE SEEMED TO BE A CONVENIENT BODY OR TWO TO STAND O. AND FROM THAT HE WOULD LAUNCH THE BASKETBALL TOWARD THE BACK BOARD SO HARD, HE MIGHT HAVE FIRED IT FROM A CANON.

OFTEN AS NOT, IT WOULD CARRY OFF THE BOARD AND RIP THROUGH THE NET WITH SUCH FORCE THE CORDS WOULD POP THE AIR BEHIND IT.

BUT WHEN IT MISSED THE MARK AND RICOCHETED BACK TO THE FRAY, MONK, SHAKING OFF LESSER BODIES LIKE A WET DOG, WOULD ONCE MORE RISER REASONLY ABOVE THE CONFUSION TO PLUCK IT LIKE AN APPLE FROM THE SKY AND SLAM IT OFF THE BOARD AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN UNTIL THE ONE GREAT SCORER CHALKED UP ANOTHER DEUCE BESIDE HIS NAME.

♪♪ >> ED GRADUATED FROM MAYSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL IN 1951, AND FROM MIAMI OF OHIO IN 1954, EARNING A DEGREE IN SOCIOLOGY, HIS DEVELOPING THERE IN CREATIVE WRITING LEAD HIM TO THE GRADUATE PROGRAM IN ENGLISH AT STANFORD, UNIVERSITY.

BUT ED PERHAPS WAS LESS INTERESTED IN HIS STUDIES THAN IN THE EMERGING YOUTH CULTURE OF THE 1950s.

>> TO MY WAY OF THINKING, THE YOUTH CULTURE IN AMERICA, AT LEAST IN MY OWN EXPERIENCE, IT BEGAN THE VERY NIGHT THAT YOU AND I AND JIM WOLFMAN WENT TO SEE REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE.

YOU KNOW, THERE WERE OTHER THINGS HAPPENING, TOO, KIND OF IN THE BACKGROUND.

BUT IT DIDN'T COME INTO FOCUS FOR ME UNTIL I SAW JAMES DEAN.

I COULD RELATE TO HIM.

I NEVER UNDERSTOOD EXACTLY WHY, BUT HE JUST SEEMED CONFUSED AND ALIENATED AND THOSE ADJECTIVES APPLIED TO ME IN LARGE PLENTITUDE.

>> HE WOULD.

>>> ED THIS APPEARANCE NOT ONLY BECAUSE WE THOUGHT IT MIGHT MAKE US ATTRACTIVE TO THE OPPOSITE SEX AND GAIN RESPECT OF ONE ANOTHER, BUT IT ALSO WHAT WAS MAYBE LATER A DESPERATE CRY FOR SOME SORT OF HELP.

>> LEAVING THE STANFORD GRADUATE PROGRAM AFTER ONE YEAR, ED WAS ADMITTED TO THE MASTER'S PROGRAM IN ENGLISH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY AND RETURNED HOME.

>> AND I CAME BACK TO KENTUCKY LIKE THAT.

I REMEMBER GETTING BACK TO KENTUCKY AND I REMEMBER MY MOTHER SAID HERE'S $2, GO GET A HAIRCUT BEFORE YOUR DADDY GETS HOME.

>> YOUR MOTHER WASN'T AS HORRIFIED AS I WAS, GOING TO MY ENGLISH CLASSES IN MY ROTC UNIFORM AND HAVE TO PASS THIS LOOMING THREATENING FIGURE IN THE HALLWAY WITH SHADES ON AND DENIM JACKETS WITH THE COLLAR TURNED UP AND MOTOR MOTORCYCLE , AND YOU CANNOT YOUR HANDS IN YOUR POCKET LIKE THIS, GLOW BETTERING AROUND.

I THOUGHT WHERE IS THE LOCAL DECENCY COMMITTEE, WHY AREN'T THEY ON THE JOB HERE.

>> ED COMPLETED HIS MASTER'S AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY.

HE TOOK A JOB TEACHING ENGLISH AT OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY AND BECAME MORE SERIOUS ABOUT HIS LITERARY AMBITIONS.

>> THE FASTEST I HAVE WROTE, THE MOST PRODUCTIVE I HAVE DID WAS ON THE FIRST DRAFT OF THE NATURAL MAN, THE STORY I HAD WANTED TO WRITE FOR YEARS, I HAD BEEN THINKING ABOUT.

AND IN THAT DRAFT, MONK WAS PURE VILLAIN, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS -- WELL, BASICALLY, EVERYBODY WAS A VILLAIN, EXCEPT HARRY.

AND THE NOVEL WAS ABOUT HOW THESE INCENTIVE LOUDS TOOK ADVANTAGE OF SWEET, SHRINKING SCIENCETIVE ME.

>> IT WOULD BE OVER 20 YEARS BEFORE "FROM A CONSIDERABLE HEIGHT" WAS PUBLISHED AS "THE NATURAL MAN" BUT THE MANUSCRIPT EARNED ED A PUBLISHER, AND OF COURSE, WE HAD THE CLASS ONCE A WEEK OVER ON THE STAN FORD CAMPUS, BUT ABOUT EVERY OTHER WEEK WE HAD READING IN OUR HOUSES.

I REMEMBER A READING AT MY HOUSE ONE TIME.

KNEEL CASSIDY CAME WALKING IN, IN THE MIDDLE OF IT.

YOU KNOW, IT WAS AN AMAZING TIME.

>> TIM LEERY AND KEN KESEY MET FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIVING ROOM.

AND GURNEY WAS THERE, I'M SURE, AND I THINK PROBABLY VICK WAS THERE.

>> I ASSOCIATE THE BRYANT STREET HOUSE, AS I AM SURE YOU DID, AS A SITE OF IMPORTANT GATHERING, AND THE MOST FUN, AND NOT TO MENTION A NEAT PLACE TO CRASH, IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE ANY PLACE TO LIVE.

YOU HAD A LOT OF COMPANY IN THOSE DAYS.

>> THE DOOR WAS NEVER CLOSED.

IT WAS A SCENE.

>> ONE TIME I DO REMEMBER THAT HE CAME IN WITH HANDLE BAR MUSH TAB.

>> I HAD IT WAXED.

>> AND HIS FATHER COULD HAVE KILLED HIM.

>> MY DAD AND YOU WERE -- SEEMS TO ME WE WERE IN LEXINGTON SOMEWHERE.

HE NEEDED CIGARETTES OR SOMETHING AND WENT INTO THE STORE TO BUY THEM AND THE CLERK IN THE STORE LOOKED OUT AND SAW ME OUT THERE WITH THIS WAXED MUSTACHE AND THE CLERK SAID LOOK AT THAT.

MY FATHER SAID, YOU THINK THAT'S BAD?

WHAT WOULD YOU THINK IF YOU WERE HIS DAD?

>> I CAME BACK TO KENTUCKY AND WENT TO A TAVERN WHILE I WAS HOME AND I HAD TIE-DYED BELL BOTTOMS AND LONG HAIR AND GUARANTY GLASSES AND A BIG MUSTACHE AND I WENT INTO THIS TAVERN AND THERE WERE THESE THREE GUYS THERE WHO WERE IMMEDIATELY READY TO TAKE ME OUT.

>> HEY THERE, HARRY, HE SAID, ALMOST, BUT NOT QUITE HAVE ABLY, YOU ARE KIND OF HAIRY, AIN'T YOU?

THE QUESTION SEEMED RHETORICAL, SO I VENTURES A HANG DOG, WHO, ME GESTURE?

AND IN THE WISDOM OF MY YEARS KEPT MY BIG CALIFORNIA MOUTH SHUT.

HE TURNED TO THE OTHER TABLE, HEY, ESTELL WHO ROSE TOWARD US, CARRYING HIS EMPTY BEER BOTTLE BY THE NECK, A BAD SIGN.

HEY, ESTELLE, I WAS TELLING OLD HAIRY HEAR WE CALLED HIM A [ BLEEP ] PUNK.

>> HE DIPPED ME A SALUTE, NAH, PARKY, WE NEVER SAID HE WAS A [ BLEEP ] PUNK, HE JUST LOOKED LIKE A [ BLEEP ] PUNK.

>> I GUESS YOU ALL ARE ENTITLED TO YOUR OWN OPINION.

>> I WENT BACK OUT TO CALIFORNIA AND THE "FREE YOU" THE MAGAZINE WAS READY FOR NEW COPY.

SO I WROTE A PIECE ABOUT THIS EXPERIENCE THAT -- A PIECE THAT, FOR THE FIRST TIME, I USED A NEW VOICE.

AND IT FELT VERY, VERY DIFFERENT AND VERY FREE AND VERY LIBERATED AND EXPRESSIVE AND OPEN.

>> MY NAME IS ED McCLANAHAN, I PROMPTED, SEARCHING HIS FACE FOR SOME REACTION, FOR THE FIRST FEW SECONDS NOTHING, THEN I TOOK OFF MY GLASSES AND AS I LOWERED THEM, RICKY RAISED HIS EYES TO THE COB WEBBED FAST TOONED CEILING AND HE CRIED, EDDIE, WHY, THIS HERE WAS ONE OF THE SMARTEST GUYS IN MAYSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL.

THIS GUY TEACHES HIGH SCHOOL SOMEWHERE, WHILE THOSE [ BLEEP ] HIPPIES, TWICE AS SMART AND BOTH OF YOU PUT TOGETHER AND YOU ALL WANTING TO PUNCH HIM OUT.

THEN RICKY WAS PUMPING MY HAND ENERGETICALLY AND WE WERE GRINNING AND ESTELLE WAS HIDING HIS FACE IN MOCK HUMILIATION, HE SAID HEY PARK, YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DON'T YOU?

YEAH, I SAID, I'M A [ BLEEP ] PUNK.

>> EVERYTHING I HAVE WROTE AFTER THAT IN A NONFICTION MODE ABSOLUTELY SPRUNG FROM THAT PIECE OF WRITING, IT WAS BECAUSE THERE WAS AN AUDIENCE THERE, THAT IS THE READERSHIP OF THE "FREE YOU" MAGAZINE AND A FEELING OF KINSHIP AND COMMONALTY WITH THEM.

IT WAS EASY TO WRITE TO THOSE PEOPLE, SO THOSE WERE THE FOLKS I ADDRESSED.

AND IT SET ME FREE.

♪♪ >> THROUGHOUT THE 70s AND EARLY 80s, ED WROTE THE SERIES OF FICTION MAGAZINE PIECES THAT WOULD EVENTUALLY COMPRISE THE BOOK "FAMOUS PEOPLE I HAVE KNOWN."

NOTABLE AMONG THEM WAS A PIECE PUBLISHED IN PLAYBOY ABOUT THE WORLD'S GREATEST LEFT-HANDED UPSIDE DOWN KENTUCKY ROCK A BILLY SINGER, THE LATE GREAT LITTLE ENIS.

>> HERE I AM IN A LONG BLACK LIMOUSINE.

>> I KNOW SOONER SAT DOWN, A TRADE BEARING DAMEL SILL, APPARELS IN A SORT OF SEQUINNED DIAPER AND SHE PUT OUT HER HAND IN A VOICE SO NAYS SAM THAT TWANGED LIKE A BROKEN GUITAR STRING, I WISHED YOU WOULD LOOK AT THE HEAD OF HAIR ON HIM.

AND SHE LEANED OVER AND PLANTED A KISS AS WET AS A RAW OYSTER SMACK IN MY LEFT EAR.

>> HE HAS A BOOK OF OSTENSIBLY NONFICTION AND A BOOK OF WHAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE FICTION.

YET, BOTH OF THEM ARE OBVIOUSLY PROSE, BUT THEY SCAN.

THEY ABSOLUTELY SCAN AND CLICK IN A WAY THAT POETRY IS SUPPOSED TO DO.

>> WELL JUST BEING IN THE CLUBS DAY IN AND DAY OUT, PEOPLE WAS SAYING CONSTANTLY ENIS HAVE A DRINK WITH ME, AND I GOT TO WHERE I HAD A DUNK IN MY HAND FUNNELING IT DOWN, I WOULD CONSUME AT LEAST TWO QUARTS OF WHISKEY A DAY, NOT COUNTING BEER AND THERE WERE SEVERAL TIMES WHEN I WOULD CATCH MYSELF GETTING, YOU KNOW, FAIRLY DRUNK.

>> WHAT MAKES ED'S WORK SO FUNNY IS RECOGNITION OF HUMAN WEAKNESSES AND WORSE, RECOGNITION OF HUMAN EVIL.

BUT IN A VERY ACCEPTING WAY.

>> WELL, SHE SAID, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, I DONE HEARD ENOUGH OF THAT HILLBILLY CRAB ORCHARD TO DO ME FOR A LIFE TIME, BUT ENIS HAS BEEN SICK IN THE HOSPITAL.

HE CAN'T PLAY AROUND NO MORE.

>> I WISHED I WAS IN CALIFORNIA AND CRAB ORCHARD KENTUCKY HAD A FEATHER UP IT'S [ BLEEP ], THEN ME AND ENIS WOULD BOTH BE TICKLED.

>> THE CONNECTION I WOULD MAKE WOULD BE MARK TWAIN WHO HAD THIS CYNICAL, PESSIMISTIC DESPAIRING VIEW OF THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, YET, HE MADE THAT REALLY FUNNY AND HE MADE YOU REALLY ACCEPT THAT BY INCLUDING HIMSELF IN IT AND ACCEPTING THE FACT THAT AS THE HUMAN RACE, WE SOMEHOW WERE ALL ON, DESPITE THE FACT THAT WE'RE SO DOOMED.

IT'S REALLY, IT'S A DAM GOOD JOKE.

>> THESE BOYS COULD HAVE BEEN STARS IF THEY KEPT THAT ACT TOGETHER.

ENIS WOULD BE ON THE COVER OF ROLLING STONE, AND PLAYBOY WOULD RUN A SPREAD OF THEM.

AND PSYCHOLOGY TODAY WOULD EDITORIALIZE ON THE PHENOMENON OF ENIS ENVY IN AMERICAN CULTURE, AND PROFESSOR ED,ED IN, AND JED McCLANAHAN WOULD DELIVER WORK AT THE JUILLIARD COLLEGE OF MUSICAL KNOWLEDGE.

THEY COULD HAVE MADE IT BIG AND PLAYED CARNEGIE HALL.

THEY COULD HAVE BEEN, BY GOD, IMMORTAL.

>> IT'S MEANT TO BE PERFORMED.

>> I DO A LOT OF READ, AND I LOVE TO DO READING, AND I WRITE TO DO READING.

IT'S MY FAVORITE WAY OF PUBLISHING MY WORK.

>> I DON'T KNOW, IT'S POLISHED BUT IT'S SPONTANEOUS.

ALL OF THOSE CONTRADICTIONS WRITE AROUND THE FACT THAT HIS WRITING SELF VOICE IS VERY MUCH LIKE HIS COCKTAIL HOUR ANECDOTE VOICE.

YOU KNOW, HE SPENT HIS WHOLE LIFE MAKING UP ED McCLANAHAN AND I THINK HE'S ENTITLED TO HAVE IT.

>> AT CHRISTMAS TIME IN 1975 I WENT TO LEXINGTON TO PAY A SICK CALL ON MY PAL WHO HAD SCLEROSIS OF A LIVER, HIS KIDNEYS WERE FAILING.

VARICOSE VEINS AS THICK AS GRAPEVINED LOOPED HIS LEGS.

SEEING HIM I WAS REMINDS THAT A LINGUIST FRIEND OF MINE WE MINDED ME THAT TO, DE VINE MEANT ALL THE WINE.

AND EUNICE DIED WHEN I WAS GONE AND I SENT A CARD THAT SAID SO LONG LITTLE BUDDY AND THEN I SAT AND CRIED LIKE A BABY WITH THE TERRIBLE KNOWLEDGE THAT THE MORE THINGS CHANGE, THE MORE THEY STAY THE SAME AND NOT EVEN IMMORTALITY HAVE LASTS FOREVER.

♪ I WATCHED AS YOU ROLLED BY ♪ ♪ WITH A PARTY AND THAT SUPER DRESSED UP SO FINE ♪ ♪ OH YOU KNOW I'LL NEVER, I'LL NEVER LOVE ANOTHER BECAUSE MY HEART AND ALL MY DREAMS WENT WITH YOU IN THAT LONG BLACK LIMOUSINE ♪♪ ♪ NOW YOU'RE RIDING IN YOUR LONG BLACK LIMOUSINE ♪♪ >> ENIS IS KIND OF LIKE JOHN KENNEDY.

THEY WON'T LET HIM DIE.

THERE ISN'T A DAY THAT GOES BY THAT SOMEONE DOESN'T ASK ME ABOUT THE FAN LOUSE TABLETOPPERS.

ENIS IS A GREAT GUY, ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS AND HE NEVER HURT ANYBODY.

>> IN 1976, ED MOVED BACK TO RURAL KENTUCKY.

>> I HAVE OFTEN SAID THAT I HAD TO LEAVE KENTUCKY TO WRITE THIS NOVEL.

I HAD TO BE SOMEWHERE VERY FAR AWAY FROM HERE AND THAT WAS BECAUSE IT WAS KIND OF A MEAN-SPIRITED NOVEL, IT WAS SORT OF, I'M GOING TO GET EVEN WITH THIS CONSTRICTED LITTLE WORLD THAT CAUGHT ME IN ITS CLUTCHES FOR ALL THOSE YEARS AND I TRIED FOR YEARS TO RE-WORK IT IN SOME WAY THAT WOULD FEEL BETTER TO ME.

I SIMPLY NEVER WAS ABLE TO DO IT UNTIL I MOVED BACK TO KENTUCKY TO A SMALL TOWN IN KENTUCKY AND RE-ENCOUNTERED MY OLD FRIEND LITTLE ENIS.

THERE WERE MANY RESPECTS IN WHICH THE CHARACTER OF MONK AS HE EMERGES IN THE FINAL VERSION OF THE MODEL, THERE ARE MANY WAYS IN WHICH HIS CHARACTER IS DERIVED FROM ENIS' CHARACTER.

AND IN THE PROCESS OF WRITING ABOUT ENIS, I LEARNED THAT I HAD SOMEHOW OR ANOTHER, TO BACK OFF FROM MONK McCORNING AND QUIT JUDGING HIM SO HARSHLY AND QUIT TRYING TO MAKE HIM INTO THE VILLAIN THAT I SOMEHOW WANTED HIM OR THOUGHT I WANTED HIM TO BE IN THE ORIGINAL VERSION.

>> A LOT OF THE WAY THIS DEVELOPED OVER, LIKE, 22 YEARS WAS ON SCRAPS OF PAPER.

YOU KNOW, MATCHBOX COVERS, AND NAPKINS, AND IT EVOLVED LIKE TALL TALES EVOLVED.

ONE THINKS OF THAT MIDDLE SECTION OF HOMER IN THE ODYSSEY.

HOMER TOOK STUFF THAT WAS AROUND, HAD BEEN TALKED ABOUT, FAMILY STORIES, TRIBE STORIES.

AND HE GAVE THEM A SHAPE THAT IN ONE ELSE HAD EVER GIVEN THEM.

>> I THINK THAT'S REALLY WHAT ED DID HERE.

>> ALL THOSE 20 YEARS, I WOULD PUT MYSELF TO SLEEP AT NIGHT BY THINKING ABOUT THE NEXT LINE IN THAT NOVEL.

>> THIS IS A BOOK THAT HAD TO TAKE A LONG TIME TO WRITE, TO DO IT IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT SEEMS NATURAL AND ALMOST EFFORTLESS.

BUT YOU KNOW IT'S NOT.

>> SINCE I FINISHED THE NATURAL MAN, IT HAS NEVER BOTHERED ME THAT IT TAKES ME FOREVER TO WRITE STUFF.

BECAUSE THAT GAVE ME THE CONFIDENCE THAT, IF I STAY WITH THIS STUFF LONG ENOUGH, I WILL RING SOME KIND OF MEANING OUT OF IT, YOU KNOW.

>> THIS STUFF IS DOWN-HOME.

IT'S GET DOWN.

IT'S RAUNCHY.

AND, YET, ONLY AN IDIOT WOULD EVEN THINK THIS IS PORNOGRAPHIC, EVEN THOUGH HE'S TALKING ABOUT STUFF THAT COULD BE PORNOGRAPHIC, OR RISQUE, BECAUSE HE HAS REFINED IT, AND IT'S BECOME TRANSMOGRAPHIED.

IT'S TOTALLY DIFFERENT BECAUSE OF THE LANGUAGE AND THE WAY OF TELLING.

THAT'S THE GENIUS OF THE BOOK.

>> THE ORIGINAL VERSION OF "THE NATURAL MAN" WAS IN FIRST PERSON.

LIVED WITH THAT VERSION OF IT FOR YEARS.

KNOWING FOR MOST OF THOSE YEARS THAT IT REALLY WOULD BE BETTER IF I COULD GET AWAY FROM IT.

SO I HAD BEEN KIND OF FIGHTING WITH THIS IMPULSE TO CHANGE IT.

20 YEARS LATER, ALMOST LITERALLY 20 YEARS LATER, I GOT AN EDITOR AT BERNARD, STRAUSS AND GAREW WHICH OWNED THE CONTRACT TO THE BOOK, SAYING IF YOU DON'T FINISH THIS NOVEL IN A YEAR, WE ARE GOING TO CANCEL YOUR CONTRACT AND A LETTER WAS SIGNED BY AN EDITOR WHO I HAD NEVER HEARD OF, AN EDITOR NAMED PAT STRAUGHN WHO I VISUALIZED AS A BEEFY FACED HARD-DRINKING YOUNG IRISHMAN.

IT GOT TO BE CHRISTMAS THAT YEAR AND I HAD THREE MONTHS TO GO AND I FIGURED 35 OR 40 PAGES TO FINISH OUT THE NOVEL.

AND MY DEAR FRIEND GURNEY NORMAN CALLED ME UP AROUND CHRISTMAS THAT YEAR AND SAID, LISTEN, I NEED TO GO TO NEW YORK TO DO BOOK BUSINESS, AND YOU NEED TO GO TO NEW YORK TO DO LITERARY BUSINESS, SPRING BREAK COMES UP ON THE ISLANDERS OF MARCH.

HE SAID, LET'S GO TO NEW YORK.

AND I WENT THAT SAME DAY, IN FACT THAT SAME HOUR, I WENT BACK TO THE VERY FIRST SENTENCE OF THE NOVEL, AND I THOUGHT, I HAVE GOT TO TRY THIS, BECAUSE IT JUST CRIES OUT FOR SOME NEW APPROACH TO IT.

AND I STARTED RECASTING EVERY SENTENCE WORD BY WORD, INTO THIRD PERSON.

AND I WASN'T A PAGE INTO IT BEFORE I WAS JUST SAILING ALONG, I MEAN, IT WAS JUST -- IT WAS THE MOST REWARDING, REFRESHING WORK I HAVE EVER DONE AS A WRITER.

IT WAS LIKE GOING INTO A MUSTY, CLOSED UP OLD HOUSE AND THROWING THE DOORS AND WINDOWS OPEN THAT LED IN LIGHT AND AIR INTO THIS NOVEL AND MADE IT WHAT IT IS.

I MEAN, IT WAS AN ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY THING TO DO TO IT.

BY THE WAY, WHEN I GOT TO PAGE 135, OR WHEREVER IT WAS THAT I HAD ARRIVED AT IN THE PREVIOUS DRAFT, I JUST WHISTLED THROUGH THE END OF IT.

IT JUST DIDN'T TAKE ANY TIME TO WRITE THE END.

IT CAME SO EASILY AND WAS SO REWARDING, YOU KNOW, TO ME PERSONALLY WHEN I DID IT.

AND I WAS READY TO GO ON THE ISLANDERS OF MARCH AND GURNEY AND I FLEW TO NEW YORK AND I WENT INTO THE PUBLISHERS AND I WENT UP TO THE SECRETARY AND SAID I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MR.

STRONG AND THE SECRETARY SAID OH, YOU MEAN MRS.

STRONG AND OUT CAME THIS ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS WOMAN, A LOVELY WOMAN WHO WAS A GREAT, GREAT EDITOR, AS IT TURNED OUT.

PATTING TO THE NOVEL HOME WITH HER THAT NIGHT AND GURNEY AND I SPENT THE NIGHT WITH BOB STONE, OUR FRIEND FROM STANFORD.

AND THE NEXT MORNING ABOUT 9:00, I GOT A CALL FROM PAT STRONG AND SHE SAID, WE LOVE THIS NOVEL AND WE'RE TAKING IT.

AND IT HAPPENED THAT QUICKLY AFTER 21 YEARS OF NOTHING HAPPENING.

♪ BYE-BYE GOOD-BYE SAID THE DADDY BARE BY, BY GOOD-BYE SAID THE MOMMY BARE.

♪ BEAR BARBAREE BEAR SAID THE WE BARE ♪ ♪ AND THAT'S THE STORY OF THE THREE, THE BABY BEAR, THE DADDY BARE, THE MOMMY BEAR ♪ ♪ BUT DON'T FORGET GOLDILOCKS WITH THE BLONDE BEAR ♪ ♪ THE STORY OF THE THREE BEARS ♪♪ >> HE SANG THAT TO MY ENTIRE SCHOOL WHEN I WAS IN SEVENTH GRADE.

MY ENTIRE SCHOOL.

>> HIS OLDER CHILDREN, CHRIS, KATE AND JESS ARE FROM HIS FIRST MARRIAGE.

THE YOUNGER CHILDREN, BILLY AND ANNIE ARE FROM HIS SECOND MARRIAGE.

TODAY ED LIVES IN LEXINGTON, KENT WITH HIS THIRD WIFE HELD DA.

>> HELD DA AND I MET AT A DERBY PARTY THREE YEARS AGO.

I WAS SITTING THERE AND IN WALKED THIS STUNNING WOMAN AND THAT WAS WHERE WILL BOBBLING PIN CAME OFF THE WOBBLING SHAFT.

THREE MONTHS LATER WE MARRIED ON THE SAME PORCH AT THE HOUSE WE MET AT.

>> ALTHOUGH HE LIKES TO SAY HE APPROACHED ME, BUT I THINK I APPROVED HIM.

>> THAT'S RIGHT, YOU SAID SOMETHING, HELD DA SAID, OH, REALLY, WE SHOULD GO TO LUNCH SOMETIME.

YOU ARE RIGHT, YOU ARE RIGHT.

>> THE PREDATORY FEMALE, YOU KNOW.

>> WHEN I FIRST MET HILDA AND I WAS LIVING IN THE COUNTRY.

AND SONNY WAS LIVING IN THE COUNTRY WITH ME, HE WAS A COUNTRY CAT.

SO I WENT BACK UP TO THE COUNTRY ONE TIME AND I TOLD SOUTHERNY OUT LOUD, I SAID, SUNSET, IT'S GOING TO ALL BE DIFFERENT NOW, BANE, WE ARE GOING TO MOVE TO TOWN, WE ARE GOING TO MOVE IN WITH TWO, TALL BEAUTIFUL FOREIGN LADIES.

AND HE WAS A LITTLE TAKEN ABACK BY THIS PROSPECT BUT HE FELL IN LOVE.

♪♪ >> WELL, THIS IS 1944, THE SUMMER OF NORMANDY, THE SUMMER OF THE TAKING OF GRAHAM AND TINNIAN AND SAPAN.

THE VERY LIBERATION OF PARIS AND IN MARK WE ARE ALLOWING OURSELVES TO HOPE AND CELEBRATE SUCH HAPPINESS AS THE WAR HAS LEFT TO US.

♪♪ >> THIS WAY, THIS WAY, THIS WAY, IT'S SENSATIONAL, IT'S TERRIFIC, IT'S EDUCATIONAL, IT'S SCIENTIFIC, MARVELS AND MONSTROSITIES, FREAKS OF NATURE AND FACTS OF LIFE.

MIRACLES OF NOT EARN MEDICAL SCIENCE AND THROWBACKS TO THE DARK AGES OF HISTORY.

SEE IT ALL MY FRIENDS, BROUGHT TO YOU AT EXORBITANT EXPENSE BY YOURS TRULY, PROFESSOR PHILANDERER, B.S., M.S.

AND PH.D., MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL AND LICENSED PRACTITIONER OF COLONIC IRRIGATION.

>> WE ARE EQUALLY WINDY ME AND REX ROTE.

WE ARE BOTH FULLY OF THE DIVINE EFLATUS.

>> SEE THE DEATH DEFYING PRINCESS.

>> THAT'S WHY HE'S SO MUCH FUN WHEN HE COMES UP IN ANY OF THESE STORIES, SO MUCH FUN FOR ME, BECAUSE HE CAN SAY ANYTHING.

HE PREACHES HIS SERMONS WHEN HE'S A SKY DRIFTER.

HE HAS THIS BIG BOOK IN FRONT OF HIM ON THE PULL PIT AND EVERYBODY THINKS IT'S THE BIBLE, BUT ACTUALLY IT'S BARTLETT'S FAMILIAR QUOTATIONS.

THAT'S WHERE I GOT ALL THE FAMILIAR QUOTATIONS THAT HE USES.

I GOT THEM STRAIGHT OUT OF BARTLETTS.

>> ONE FOURTH OF A DOLLAR AND THIS LOVELY AND TALENTED LADY CAN ASK THE HEAD ANY QUESTION SHE DESIRES, FIVE TRIFLING NICKLES, HOW ABOUT IT MY FRIEND, SHOW THE LITTLE LADY WHAT A SPORT YOU CAN BE.

THANK YOU MY FRIEND.

YOU ARE A TRUE PATRIOT OF THE ARTS.

SPEAK TO US OH HEAD, REVEAL TO US THE VERY MYSTERY OF LIFE ITSELF.

TELL US ALL WE YEARN TO KNOW.

>> I KNOW NOTHING EXCEPT THE FACTS OF MY OWN IGNORANCE.

>> I AM FASCINATED BY REX ROTE IN ANOTHER WAY, TOO, BECAUSE OF THE DARK SIDE OF HIM.

HE'S FUNNY AND IN HIS OWN GOOFY WAY, HE'S CHARMING, BUT HE UNDERSTANDS THE DARK SIDE OF THINGS.

AND, OF COURSE, WANDA PEARL IS ALSO, THERE'S ANOTHER SIDE TO HER CHARACTER.

I MEAN, SHE'S AS ROUGH AS A COB ON THE SURFACE, BUT ALL WARM AND FUZZY INSIDE.

YOU KNOW, SHE'S A MAMA.

>> SHOW TIME, HON, BE WANTING YOU INSIDE.

SOMETIMES I DO WISH I'D WENT INTO ANOTHER LINE OF WORK, COULD HAVE ASSOCIATED WITH A BETTER CLASS OF PEOPLE.

NOW, JOE JOE, AFTER THE SHOW MAYBE I'LL FIX YOU SOMETHING GOOD TO EAT.

>> OKAY, MISS, OKAY.

>> WE JESUS H. CHRIST ON A CRUTCH.

>> SHE TAKES WEIGHT UNDER HER WING LIKE HE WAS HER OWN BOY AND SHE THINKS OF HIM THAT WAY, AND SHE EVEN SAYS TO HARRY IN THE "NATURAL MAN" AS THEY ARE LEAVING THE THEATER, SHE SAYS, I KNEW A BOY LIKE YOU WHEN I WAS A GIRL BACK HOME IN ARDMORE.

AND HE HAD THE NICEST WAYS, SHE SAYS.

AND, HON, I THOUGHT HE HUNG THE MOON.

>> THAT GIVES ME TO ASK THE QUESTION, HE DON'T HAVE TO GET BACK IN HIS HOLE OR NOTHING, I JUST NEED TO ASK HIM SOMETHING.

>> YOU BETTER WATCH YOUR STEP, KID, YOU MIGHT FIND OUT SOMETHING YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW.

>> HELL, COME ON, THEN, PUT YOUR MONEY AWAY, IT MIGHT DRAW FLIES.

>> THAT STORY PROCEEDS FROM SOME THINGS THAT HAPPENED IN MY LIFE, ONE OF WHICH WAS THAT DURING WORLD WAR II, A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE, ANOTHER KID, THE AN OLDER BROTHER WHO WAS TAKEN PRISONER IN THE WAR IN EUROPE ANYWHERE AND WAS IN A GERMAN P.O.W.

CAMP.

ONE NIGHT WE GOT OUT A WUJIE BOARD AND WE CAN ASKED IF HE WAS IN DANGER AND IT SAID YES, WE ASKED WHAT HE WAS IN DANGER OF AND IT SAID BEING BEHEADED, WHICH SCARED THE SOCKS OFF OF ME, IT WAS LIKE WE FOUND OUT SOMETHING WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY BUSINESS KNOWING.

WELL, OF COURSE, IT TURNED OUT THAT THE GERMANS WEREN'T INTO BEHEADING THEIR PRISONERS AND HE WAS NEVER IN DANGER AND CAME HOME FROM THE WAR AND WAS PERFECTLY FINE, BUT WHAT WAS IMPORTANT WAS THAT ORACULAR PROPHECY OF DOOM.

>> MY YOUNG FRIEND HERE DESIRES TO KNOW -- >> IS SUNNY GOING TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE WAR?

>> OH, OKINAWA, OKINAWA.

>> THE WORD, MY BOYS, OKINAWA, IT'S A PLACE IN THE WAR.

>> THAT'S ALL?

IT AIN'T EVEN GOING TO TELL ME WHAT I ASKED IT ABOUT.

>> PERHAPS IT HAS, PERHAPS IT HAS.

THE HEAD KNOWS WHAT IT TELLS, AND TELL IS WHAT IT KNOWS.

IT WAS EVER THUS.

>> IT DON'T KNOW NOTHING ANY HOW, SHE TOLD ME HERSELF IT'S ALL A BIG GYP.

>> THAT'S AS MAY BE, BUT DO NOT PRESUME UPON THE CAUSE.

IT'S NOT GOOD POLICY.

♪♪ >> OH BOY!

>> FOR A LONG MOMENT, WANDA PEARL AND JOE JOE STARED WORDLESSLY ACROSS THE NARROW SPACE BETWEEN THEM THEN WANDA PEARL OPENS THEIR ARMS, AND THEY EMBRACE EACH PATTING THE OTHER TENDERLY ON THE BACK AS GRIEVING WOMEN WILL.

>> A GUY I KNOW CALLED ME UP AND SAID I WANT TO COME AND VISIT YOU AND I HAVE A PRESENT I WANT TO BRING YOU.

THE ONLY REQUIREMENT IS THAT YOU NOT ASK WHERE IT CAME FROM.

I SAID, GREAT, BRING IT ON.

AND THAT WAS THE PRESENT.

SO IF I GET BUSTED FOR THIS AFTER THIS TURNS UP ON TV, I ALREADY HAVE AN ALIBI.

>> THERE ABOVE THIS IS MY GRADUATION DIPLOMA FROM THE ELECTRIC KOOL-AID ACID TEST CEREMONY.

PEíFTFI AND= IS MY GRANDFATHER.

THAT'S THE CONGRESS OF WONDERS BANNER, THAT WE HAD OVER THE TENT.

THERE'S MY OWN SELF ABOVE THAT.

HERE'S ANOTHER PICTURE TAKEN IN ABOUT 1972.

THAT GUT ON THAT PICTURE, THAT'S ALL TRICK PHOTOGRAPHY, I DIDN'T HAVE ANY SUCH STOMACH AS THAT.

WELL, I WAS VISITING KEN AND THE BOOK ENDS WERE THESE GOLD BOOTS, AND I SAID WHOSE ARE THEY?

HE SAID THEY ARE YOURS IF YOU CAN WEAR THEM.

I GOT TO TELLING HIM ABOUT THIS OPERA I HAD BEEN IN THE SECOND GREAT AND I SANG THIS SONG WHICH WENT -- ♪ OH WHAT A PLEASE TO BE TO SIT AND FISH BENEATH THE INDUSTRY TO WANDER WITH YOUR DOG AND SMOKE OR LISTEN TO A FUNNY JOKE ♪♪ >> IN THE FALL OF 1994, ED McCLANAHAN WAS PUTTING THE FINISHING TOUCHES ON THE LAST OF THREE STORIES, HE'S BEEN WORKING ON THAT STORIES CALLED FINCHES SONG A SCHOOL BUS TRAGEDY.

HE CLAIMS ONCE IT IS FINISHED HE WILL NOT WRITE ANY MORE FICTION.

>> I THINK WHAT I WILL BE DOING FROM NOW ON IS WRITING NONFICTION PRETTY MUCH EXCLUSIVELY.

I WANT TO WRITE A NEW LAST CHAPTER TO FAMOUS PEOPLE AND GET IT BACK IN PRINT.

AND I HAVE A CHILDREN'S STORY THAT I WOULD LIKE TO WRITE.

I WOULD LIKE TO WRITE THE STORY OF MY MARRIAGE, MY MARRIAGE WITH HELD DA AS A CHILDREN'S STORY.

THERE'S A STRAY RABBIT, A DOMESTIC RABBIT THAT POPS UP IN OUR BACKYARD EVERY NOW AND THEN, AND BOTH OUR DOG AND CAT, BOTH LISA AND SUNNY HAVE SWORD OF BEFRIENDED THIS RAN ABOUT IT AND THEY GO OUT AND LOOK HIM OVER AND SNIFF HIS BEHIND AND SO FORTH AND THE RABBIT PUTS UP WITH IT PRETTY WELL.

SO I HAVE THIS NOTION THAT I WOULD LIKE FOR SUNNY AND LISA TO TELL THE RABBIT THE STORY OF MINE AND HELD DA'S ROMANCE AND MARRIAGE.

I HAVE A NOTION THAT SUNNY THE CAT, HE CAN USE MY VOICE AS A SPEAKER, AND LISA WOULD, OF COURSE, HAVE A MIDDLE EUROPEAN ACCENT AS A GREAT DANE OR NORTHERN EUROPEAN ACCENT NOT UNLIKE HILDA'S BELGIAN ACCENT.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO TRY THAT.

BUT I HAVE NO ENTHUSIASM AT ALL FOR EMBARKING ON ANOTHER LONG PIECE OF CONVENTIONAL FICTION, YOU KNOW.

>> FROM AN OBJECTIVE CRITICAL PERSPECTIVE, I DON'T SEE THAT IT MATTERS AT ALL, HOW PROLIFIC HIS OUTPUT IS.

I MEAN, THE JUDGMENT OF TIME IS WHATEVER IT IS AND THERE ARE ALL SORTS OF CASES THAT MAKE IT EVIDENT THAT ALL YOU NEED IS ONE SURE HIT AND THAT WILL LAST.

PERSONALLY, I THINK HE MUST HAVE FOUND IT FRUSTRATING, ALTHOUGH HE'S CARRIED IT OFF WITH TREMENDOUS GRACE AND HUMOR.

HE'S ALWAYS GOTTEN A GREAT DEAL OF PLEASURE OUT OF DOING IT, WHICH IS NOT NECESSARILY THE WRITERLY LOT.

IT AMAZES ME HOW MANY WRITERS ARE, OF COURSE, COMPELLED TO WRITE BUT ABSOLUTELY DESPISE THE BLOOD LETTING INVOLVED IN IT.

BUT I THINK HE LIKES TO LET A LITTLE BIT OF BLOOD EVERY DAY AND THEN PUT IT AWAY AND TRY TO HAVE A NICE AFTERNOON, WHICH STRIKES ME AS A PRETTY DIGNIFIED APPROACH.

>> I LOVE "THE NATURAL MAN" AND I LOVE "FAMOUS PEOPLE" I WILL LOVE IT A LOT MORE WHEN I GET A NEW CHAPTER ON IT.

AND I AM VERY, VERY HAPPY WITH THIS NEW BOOK THAT'S ALMOST FINISHED.

I COULDN'T BE BETTER SATISFIED WITH THESE THREE STORIES THAN I AM ABOUT TO BECOME WHEN I FINISH THE LAST ONE.

AND, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, JOE DIMAGGIO KNEW WHEN TO QUIT.

AND PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, I WOULDN'T COMPARE MYSELF TO JOE DIMAGGIO, BUT MAYBE, OH, SOME OLD CINCINNATI REDS CATCHER OR SECOND BASEMAN OF THE MIDDLE 40s, BENNIE ZANTERA, HE KNEW WHEN TO QUIT.

I AM BENNY, BUT I LIKE TO THINK I KNOW WHEN TO QUIT.

♪ WELL HE SAVED AWAY A LOT NOW ♪ ♪ FROM THE PARTIES AND THE CLUBS ♪ ♪ AND HE'S THINKING WHILE HE'S JOGGING AROUND ♪ ♪ SURE IS GLAD HE QUIT THE HARD DRUGS ♪ ♪ CAUSE HIM AND HIS KIND GET MORE ENDANGERED EVERY DAY ♪ ♪ AND PRETTY SOON HIS SPECIES WILL UP AND FADE AWAY ♪ ♪ LIKE THE SMOKE FROM THAT TORE PED DOE JUST UP AND FADEAWAY ♪ ♪ BECAUSE HE'S AN OLD HIPPY AND HE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ♪ ♪ SHOULD HE HANG ONTO THE OLD SHOULD HE GRAB ONTO THE NEW ♪ ♪ HE'S AN OLD HIPPY THIS HERE LIFE IS JUST A BUST ♪ ♪ HE AIN'T TRYING TO CHANGE NOBODY ♪ ♪ HE'S JUST TRYING REAL HARD TO ADJUST ♪ ♪ KNOW HE AIN'T TRYING TO CHANGE NOBODY ♪ ♪ HE'S JUST TRYING REAL HARD TO ADJUST ♪♪ >> I LOVE YOU ED.