A Fictional Conversation Constructed From Actual Statements Made In Separate Television Interviews By Mariah Carey And Whitney Houston

by Enis Esmer

FAME

MC: You know what? I never got a chance to feel that rush of success. I didn't feel famous. I think I'm just starting to, which is weird.

WH: We share that.

MC: I love the music business. It's made me who I am. But there are also certain aspects of it that I don't love. You know, when people are doing your make-up and your hair and you've got an entourage, you may not even want an entourage.

WH: And it's hard, because we're rock 'n' rollers, man, I mean . . . the bad part about it is that it's about money, and that really sucks.

MC: It's the fame machine. I neglected myself as a human being. I never even had a lunch break half the time.

WH: I've always been a thin girl. I'm not going to be fat, ever. Let's get that straight. Whitney is not going to be fat, ever. Okay?

MC: Right, exactly.

WH: I wasn't like shooting heroin or anything.

MC: I think it's totally over-used.

WH: I have a few temptations, but it's not about drugs, it's about kicking ass, you know?

MC: Nobody could accept that answer.

RELATIONSHIPS

WH: You just never pictured Bobby Brown and Whitney Houston together.

MC: No, I don't think so.

WH: He was sexy, smooth, a gentleman, and a nice guy. Treated me like a lady.

MC: Well, it didn't seem like that for awhile.

WH: I don't care what anybody else says. He's never hit me.

MC: Yay for him…when I was in a relationship-

WH: What is this 'hitting me' business?

MC: It's the business machine. It's the corporate machine.

WH: I can't tell you it's all going to be perfect, Diane. . .

MC: Mariah.

WH: That's what I said.

FAMILY

MC: I never felt like I belonged or fit in because, you know, I was the product of an interracial marriage.

WH: I wasn't.

SELF-IMAGE

MC: I understand who I am in terms of just treating myself like a human being as opposed to a cartoon character. I can't do it as a human being. Maybe if I go to the hospital people will realize I'm a person.

WH: I... I... there's some people I want you to meet.

MC: Can these people come and inspect my body?

WH: They did it for me and a few other people.

MC: This happens with a lot of celebrities, I'm sure.

WH: Well, I'm not going to tell you that.

THINGS GET UGLY

MC: You know what? I can't handle this anymore. Come on, let's fight.

WH: Absolutely. Everybody leave, please...

MC: We said everything we had to say to each other, let's go.

WH: Wait a minute. I changed my mind. I'm not doing it. I love you. If you want to be my friend, let's remain friends.

MC: No. Absolutely not.

WH: That's, that hurts more than anything. I mean, Kevin Costner...

MC: Mariah.

WH: That's what I said.