My Prairie Home Movie

Sue, Meryl, and I walk across the street to Pazzaluna. The staff is very accommodating when we request a table for maybe ten or so. Hey, why not? It’s only Meryl Streep for God’s sake! They direct us to the bar, where I buy Sue and Meryl a drink. Meryl tells us again how much she enjoys A Prairie Home Companion, and we ask her about her stay in St. Paul. She rented a house in Highland Park, and she and her daughters had a wonderful time driving around, enjoying the thunderstorms, et cetera. She moved to the hotel after her daughters went home because she was lonely. Virginia shows up and joins us. Shortly after, Lily arrives, and we discuss the project. They are all in love with it. We talk about Kevin and how funny and graceful he is. At this point, several diners whip out their cell phones to talk about the movie stars sitting across from them. They ain’t seen nothin’ yet. Virginia tells us she ran into Woody and John C. and they are coming with Lindsay.

I excuse myself to go to the men’s room and can feel the room wondering who the guy is surrounded by all the movie stars. Judy calls to say she’s running late trying to decide what to wear. I plead with her to hurry—there’s some serious star power in the house. On the way back, I see John C., Woody, and Lindsay walk in and tell them that we have tables for them right this way. Lindsay says, “Look, he’s even playing stage manager here.” We settle into the backroom and discuss a wide range of topics: How great it is to work with Bob, the great screenplay by Garrison, and what a genius he is. Meryl is seated next to me, and we talk about movies I’ve seen recently. Woody is on the other side of me and asks me to bite the end off a strawberry he’s holding because he doesn’t like the ends. So I oblige. It turns out to be rubber. He’s delighted—and tries the gag on several others. Lindsay, next to him with one of her girlfriends next to her, is talking into her wireless headpiece for her Blackberry, or text messaging, or taking pictures with her digital camera. Meryl and Virginia give her some heat for talking to her agent at dinner: “Make them wait until the next day!”

More people arrive—producers, makeup and wardrobe people, the interns, including NBC anchor Brian Williams’s daughter Allison. Judy finally arrives in a stunning outfit; lots of positive comments from the ladies. I wait to introduce her to everyone, but they are discussing the London terrorist attack. Eventually, I introduce Judy, and Woody moves over so she can squeeze in. He says, “Your husband is such a mensch. I sat in your chair for twenty minutes, and he never said a word.”

Judy bonds with Lily, telling her some shopping ideas—for example, Larue’s on Lyndale. Meryl says she knows Lyndale, that’s where the Jungle Theater is and that she took her daughters to Tatters to shop. Lily tells us her real name is Mary Jean and that she took her mother’s name for show business purposes. Her mother is ninety-one and in ill health and Lily is going to see her after the shoot tomorrow.

Everyone eventually orders, and around 10:30 p.m., Meryl leaves. I ask about the bill, and the waiter says Ms. Streep put it on her card. Lily tries to pay, but is told Meryl had insisted it be her treat. At that point, the bill was $1,200. Yikes!

We decided to bail at 11:30 or so, just about the time Kevin walks up. He had fallen asleep and just awakened. I introduce him to Judy, who’s his biggest fan. A lot of folks are outside smoking or chatting, and before we drive off, Woody comes over to say goodbye. He sticks his head in the car window, and we talk about mutual acquaintances in LA, at which point, Lindsay sticks her head in and starts to do a Woody-like monologue: “I don’t consume dairy products, or abuse the environment . . . .” It was pretty cute. What a great, fun night.