The Swans of Fifth Avenue

Truman is in Los Angeles on October 17, 1975, acting in the movie Murder by Death. Hollywood life has proved more arduous than expected; the shooting schedule is “ungodly.” He’s thrilled to receive a call from the New York gossip columnist Liz Smith, and he’s even more delighted when she tells him about what’s happened since the Esquire story came out. His glee that Ann Woodward had a copy of the magazine in her hand when she was found dead is enough to shock even a hardened gossip writer. She warns him that the swans have vowed to cut him, the Paleys will destroy him, and Slim wants to sue him. Truman replies that this will all blow over, and that “great literature” allows for different interpretations. Liz tells him that she’s going to write a piece on the affair for another magazine, and a giddy Truman starts calling the swans, only to realize that none of them—not even Babe—will take his calls. Suddenly hit by a wave of panic and perhaps worse, he sobs, throws himself on the floor, and vomits.