Patrick Stoner: Aurora Greenway [the lead character in TERMS OF ENDEARMENT and THE EVENING STAR] has been part of you for some time now. What advice would you give each other?Shirley MacLaine: I would advise her to be a little more tolerant of other people -- to try to see things from their perspective. I mean, she's ALWAYS right, but she doesn't have to throw it in everyone's face. And she would probably tell me to be more frank.
Stoner: You don't think you're frank enough? I find it hard to picture you being MORE frank.
MacLaine: [laughs] Well, it seems to me that I'm often not frank. I was taught to get along with others ... very Southern, very Virginian, very uptight. I've always been hesitant to rock the boat. Sometimes the boat needs rocking, though. I've always admired those people -- like Aurora -- who just don't give a damn what others thi nk. They plow right ahead, doing and saying whatever they like. I could use a lot more of that.
Stoner: Has Aurora changed during the 12 years since TERMS OF ENDEARMENT was released?
MacLaine: Not really. That's her strength and her weakness. She's so stubborn that she's a survivor, but it can be very wearing on the people around her because she just won't give an inch.
Stoner: And you? How have you changed?
MacLaine: I'm living in the present more now. That's the big difference in me. I'm just more interested in what's going on here and now, more than I am in the past or the future. I've come to realize that THIS is all we have -- that if we don't appreciate life AS we live it, then we're just wasting time AND life. I concentrate on the "now" now.
Stoner: How is your "now" now?
MacLaine: It's good for me, but I worry about how the world is going. Have you noticed how MEAN things have gotten -- all around us?
Stoner: Yes, we seem to be living in a sea of incivility.
MacLaine: Yes, I agree. You know, I was crossing the street [in New York] last night with a woman friend who was on crutches, and we had a man who was holding up his hand to stop traffic. And you know what? The traffic wouldn't STOP [laughs]. Can you imagine? They wouldn't stop and let my friend cross the street ON CRUTCHES. That' s the way the world is nowadays. It seems to be getting worse all of the time.
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