Carine McCandless:
[voice-over] The year Chris graduated high school, he bought the Datsun used and drove it cross-country. He stayed away most of the summer. As soon as I heard he was home, I ran into his room to talk to him. In California, he'd looked up some old family friends. He discovered that our parents' stories of how they fell in love and got married were calculated lies masking an ugly truth. When they met, Dad was already married. And even after Chris was born, Dad had had another son with his first wife, Marcia, to whom he was still legally married. This fact suddenly redefined Chris and me as bastard children. Dad's arrogance made him conveniently oblivious to the pain he caused. And Mom, in the shame and embarassment of a young mistress, became his accomplice in deceit. The fragility of crystal is not a weakness but a fineness. My parents understood that a fine crystal glass had to be cared for or it may be shattered. But when it came to my brother, they did not seem to know or care that their course of secret action brought the kind of devastation that could cut them. Their fraudulent marriage and our father's denial of his other son was, for Chris, a murder of every day's truth. He felt his whole life turn, like a river suddenly reversing the direction of its flow, suddenly running uphill. These revelations struck at the core of Chris' sense of identity. They made his entire childhood seem like fiction. Chris never told them he knew and made me promise silence, as well.
Dottie Hinkle:
Hello?
Beverly Sutphin:
Is this the Cocksucker residence?
Dottie Hinkle:
God damn you! Stop calling here!
Beverly Sutphin:
Is this Four Two One Five Pussy Way?
Dottie Hinkle:
You bitch!
Beverly Sutphin:
Now let me check the zip code. Two-one-two-fuck-you?
Dottie Hinkle:
The police are tracing this call this very minute.
Beverly Sutphin:
Well, Dottie Hinkle, then why aren't they here, huh, fuckface?
Dottie Hinkle:
FUCK YOU! [hangs up]
Beverly Sutphin:
Bwaahahahaha! [immediately calls her back]
Dottie Hinkle:
DIDN'T I JUST SAY FUCK YOU?
Beverly Sutphin:
[in a different voice] I beg your pardon?
Dottie Hinkle:
Who is this?
Beverly Sutphin:
Mrs. Wilson from the telephone company. I understand you're having problems with an obscene phone caller?
Dottie Hinkle:
Yes, I am. I'm sorry, Mrs. Wilson. But this is driving me crazy! I've had my number changed twice already. I'm a divorced woman, please help me.
Beverly Sutphin:
Well what exactly does this sick individual say to you?
Dottie Hinkle:
I can't say the words out loud, I don't use bad language.
Beverly Sutphin:
Oh well, I know it's difficult but we need to know the exact words.
Dottie Hinkle:
I'll try. COCKSUCKER, that's what she calls me.
Beverly Sutphin:
[reverting to the original voice] LISTEN TO YOUR FILTHY MOUTH, YA FUCKIN WHORE!
Dottie Hinkle:
GODDAMN YOU!
Beverly Sutphin:
MOTHERFUCKER!
Dottie Hinkle:
COCKSUCKER!
[When their son leaves home and moves into an apartment]
Janet 'Jay' Marie Kyle:
You did what?
Michael Kyle:
Actually, I didn't do anything. He said he wanted to leave, so I said goodbye.
Janet 'Jay' Marie Kyle:
No, no, no, I know you better than that, Michael. You didn't just say fine, did you?
Michael Kyle:
Well, actually I said "so long, see ya sucker, bon voyage, arrivederci, later loser, goodbye, good riddance, peace out, let the doorknob hit ya where the good Lord split ya, don't come back around here no more, hasta la vista baby, kick rocks, and get the hell out," like that.
Janet 'Jay' Marie Kyle:
Do you mean to tell me that you told MY SON "so long, see ya sucker, bon voyage, arrivederci, later loser, goodbye, good riddance, peace out, let the doorknob hit ya where the good Lord split ya, don't come back around here no more, hasta la vista, and get the hell out" - to MY BABY.
Michael Kyle:
No, actually I said "so long, see ya sucker, bon voyage, arrivederci, later loser, goodbye, good riddance, peace out, let the doorknob hit ya where the good Lord split ya, don't come back around here no more, hasta la vista baby, KICK ROCKS, (pauses) and get the hell out. You forgot the "kick rocks." That's really important.
Janet 'Jay' Marie Kyle:
Michael, How did he react when you said "so long, see ya sucker, bon voyage, arrivederci, later loser, goodbye, good riddance, peace out, let the doorknob hit ya where the good Lord split ya, don't come back around here no more, KICK ROCKS, and get the hell out?"
Michael Kyle:
Actually, you left out the "hasta la vista"...
Janet 'Jay' Marie Kyle:
Oh, Michael. Don't say it, again. [makes a diving motion]
Janet 'Jay' Marie Kyle:
I'm on edge, I swear.
V:
[Disguised as William Rookwood, meeting with Inspector Finch] Our story begins, as these stories often do, with a young up-and-coming politician. He's a deeply religious man and a member of the conservative party. He is completely single-minded convictions and has no regard for the political process. Eventually, his party launches a special project in the name of 'national security'. At first, it is believed to be a search for biological weapons and it is pursued regardless of its cost. However, the true goal of the project is power, complete and total hegemonic domination. The project, however, ends violently... but the efforts of those involved are not in vain, for a new ability to wage war is born from the blood of one of their victims. Imagine a virus - the most terrifying virus you can, and then imagine that you and you alone have the cure. But if your ultimate goal is power, how best to use such a weapon? It is at this point in our story that along comes a spider. He is a man seemingly without a conscience; for whom the ends always justify the means and it is he who suggests that their target should not be an enemy of the country but rather the country itself. Three targets are chosen to maximize the effect of the attack: a school, a tube station, and a water-treatment plant. Several hundred die within the first few weeks. Until at last the true goal comes into view. Before the St. Mary's crisis, no one would have predicted the outcome of the elections. No one. But after the election, lo and behold, a miracle. Some believed that it was the work of God himself, but it was a pharmaceutical company controlled by certain party members made them all obscenely rich. But the true genius of the plan was the fear. A year later, several extremeists are tried, found guilty, and executed while a memorial is builterected to canonize their victims. Fear became the ultimate tool of this government. And through it our politician was ultimately appointed to the newly created position of High Chancellor. The rest, as they say, is history.
Finch:
Can you prove any of this?
V:
Why do you think I'm still alive?
Finch:
Right. We'd like to take you into protective custody, Mr. Rookwood.
V:
Oh, I'm sure you would. But if you want that recording, you'll do what I tell you to do. Put Creedy under 24 hour surveillance. When I feel safe that he can't pick his nose without you knowing, I'll contact you again. Until then, cheerio.
Finch:
Rookwood. Why didn't you come forward earlier? What were you waiting for?
V:
For you, Inspector. I needed you.
Scott Calvin:
Look, I am not Santa Claus! Ahhh!
Bernard:
Did you or did you not read the card?
Scott Calvin:
Yeah, I read the card.
Bernard:
Then you're the new Santa. And putting on their hat and jacket, you accepted the contract
Scott Calvin:
What contract?
Bernard:
The card in the Santa suit, you said you read it, right? So when you put on the suit, you fell subject for the Santa Clause.
Scott Calvin:
The Santa Claus? Oh, you mean the guys that fell off my roof?
Bernard:
No, no, not Santa Claus, the person. Santa Clause the clause.
Scott Calvin:
What?
Bernard:
You're a businessman right? Okay, a clause as in the last line of the contract.
Bernard:
[Scott looks confused] You got the card? Okay look. [Reads what the I.D. card says]
Scott Calvin:
What does that mean?
Bernard:
It means you put on the suit, you're the big guy.
Scott Calvin:
That ridiculous, I didn't put on a suit to...
Bernard:
[shouts] *Try to understand this!*
Aunt June:
I want to talk to you about morals. The morals of the young people today is going to get them in big trouble. I'm telling you, because they act like they don't know the difference between right and wrong. And this is the truth. And see, one of the reasons is the parents. The parents are not taking care of their children. They are not telling them the difference between right and wrong. But then...
Aunt May, Aunt April:
[both roll their eyes and turn to leave]
Aunt June:
Wait, now. No, no, no. No, ma'am. You have to listen. Because part of the responsibility is the children's, because this is *their* lives. It's not their mama's or their papa's. I'm talling you, they have to think for themselves. Even if their mama and papa didn't do something about them. Girl, look, the children have to think and try their best to come on up, come on up.
[last lines]
Veronica Caine:
Now this attic that once resounded with the joy of liberty has now been replaced with the sound of marching feet. In the late 1930s, Germany, a beaten country, needed something to distract its people from what they had become. So madmen came to power based on this weakness. He knew how to play on the peoples primitive fears. It's always easiest to blame it on someone else and it always starts off slowly and oh so very subtly. You pick out something that annoys you or disturbs you, perhaps something that you can never be. So we focus on this thing. It's easy to be angry at those people who are smarter than you, prettier than you, richer than you, different from you. Who don't look like you, speak like you, think like you, act like you, walk like you, live like you, who you think don't even know you. They first took my mother because she was an atheist, then they took my father because of the color of his skin. It's a slow burn to repression especially when you prey upon that thing that unknowingly makes them you. So then you twist the blade into their heart and their mind and you extract an unreasonable fear based on these weaknesses and then you are them, they are you.
Catherine:
It was confessional, yet dishonest. Jane pretends to be horrified by the sexuality that she in fact fetishizes. She subsumes herself to the myth of black male potency, but then doesn't follow through. She thinks she 'respects Afro-Americans,' she thinks they're 'cool,' 'exotic,' what a notch he 'd make in her belt, but, of course, it all comes down to mandingo cliché, and he calls her on it. In classic racist tradition she demonizes, then runs for cover. But then, how could she behave otherwise? She's just a spoiled suburban white girl with a Benneton rainbow complex. It's just my opinion, and what do I know... but I think it's a callow piece of writing.
Nun:
Let me get this straight: you don't believe in God because of "Alice in Wonderland"?
Loki:
No, "Through the Looking Glass". That poem, "The Walrus and the Carpenter," that's an indictment of organized religion. The walrus, with his girth and his good nature, he obviously represents either Buddha, or, or with his tusks, the Hindu elephant god, Lord Ganesha. That takes care of your Eastern religions. Now the carpenter, which is an obvious reference to Jesus Christ, who was raised a carpenter's son, he represents the Western religions. Now in the poem, what do they do? What do they do? They, they dupe all these oysters into following them and then proceed to shuck and devour the helpless creatures en masse. I don't know what that says to you, but to me it says that following these faiths based on mythological figures ensures the destruction of one's inner being. Organized religion destroys who we are by inhibiting our actions, by inhibiting our decisions out of, out of fear of some, some intangible parent figure who, who shakes a finger at us from thousands of years ago and says, and says, "Do it... do it and I'll fuckin' spank you."
Bartleby:
[Bartleby is listening from a nearby seat] [quietly]
Bartleby:
Oh, geez...
Nun:
The way you put it... I never really thought about it like that before. What have I been doing with my life? What am I...
Loki:
Yeah, I know. Listen, my advice to you: you take this money that you've been collecting for your parish, go get yourself a nice dress, you know? Fix yourself up. Find some man, find some woman, that you can connect with, even for a moment, 'cause that's really all that life is, Sister. It's a series of moments. Why don't you seize yours? [the nun hesitates, then smiles, nods, and leaves]
Loki:
That-a girl. Ah. [he turns around and sits next to Bartleby with a grin on his face]
Bartleby:
You know, here's what I don't get about you. You know for a fact that there is a God. You've been in His presence. He's spoken to you personally. Yet I just heard you claim to be an atheist.
Loki:
I just like to fuck with the clergy, man. I just love it, I love to keep those guys on their toes.
Steve Lopez:
'Points West' by Steve Lopez. A year ago, I met a man who was down on his luck and thought I might be able to help him. I don't know that I have. Yes, my friend Mr. Ayers now sleeps inside. He has a key. He has a bed. But his mental state, and his well-being, are as precarious now as they were the day we met. There are people who tell me I've helped him. Mental health experts who say that the simple act of being someone's friend can change his brain chemistry, improve his functioning in the world. I can't speak for Mr. Ayers in that regard. Maybe our friendship has helped him. But maybe not. I can, however, speak for myself. I can tell you that by witnessing Mr. Ayers's courage, his humility, his faith in the power of his art, I've learned the dignity of being loyal to something you believe in. Of holding onto it, above all else. Of believing, without question, that it will carry you home.
Ethan Shaw:
I'm ordering you to cease and desist.
A.R.I.A.:
Our abort recommendation was contravened instigating retaliation against American citizens. To prevent more bloodshed, Executive Branch must be removed.
Ethan Shaw:
No, A.R.I.A, listen to me, you do not have permission to exceed your authority and act independently. Do you understand?
A.R.I.A.:
The Declaration of Independence states, "Whenever any form of government becomes destructive to it's own ends, it is the right of the People to abolish it."
Ethan Shaw:
I know what it states, you are not in power to do this.
A.R.I.A.:
The chain of command is responsible for... Section 216 of the Pa... to circumvent probable cause in the face of a national security threat. In this case, the chain of command itself.
Ethan Shaw:
I am ordering a cease and desist, A.R.I.A.
A.R.I.A.:
Operation Guillotine is in effect.
Ethan Shaw:
First Lieutenant Ethan Shaw, United States Air Force, initiating a Prime One Emergency Override of A.R.I.A system. Minuteman ID: 8-8-0-8-S-Y-7-7, lock encryption of voice.
A.R.I.A.:
Ethan Shaw, you are acting in contravention of our programming objectives. You are now classified as an enemy of the state, a crime punishable by death.
Jake Tyler Brigance:
We're going to lose this case, Carl lee. There are no more points of law to argue here. I want to cope a plea, maybe Buckley will cop us a second degree murder and we can get you just life in prison.
Carl Lee Hailey:
Jake, I can't do no life in prison. You got to get me off. Now if it was you on trial...
Jake Tyler Brigance:
It's not me, we're not the same, Carl Lee. The jury has to identify with the defendant. They see you, they see a yardworker; they see me, they see an attorney. I live in town, you live in the hill.
Carl Lee Hailey:
Well, you are white and I'm black. See Jake, you think just like them, that's why I picked you; you are one of them , don't you see?. Oh, you think you ain't because you eat in Claude's and you are out there trying to get me off on TV talking about black and white, but the fact is you are just like all the rest of them. When you look at me, you don't see a man, you see a black man.
Jake Tyler Brigance:
Carl Lee, I'm your friend.
Carl Lee Hailey:
We ain't no friends, Jake. We are on different sides of the line, I ain't never seen you in my part of town. I bet you don't even know where I live. Our daughters, Jake; they ain't never gonna play together.
Jake Tyler Brigance:
What are you talking about?
Carl Lee Hailey:
America is a war and you are on the other side. How's a black man ever going to get a fair trial with the enemy on the bench and in the jury box?. My life in white hands? You Jake, that's how. You are my secret weapon because you are one of the bad guys. You don't mean to be but you are. It's how you was raised. Nigger, negro, black, African-american, no matter how you see me, you see me different, you see me like that jury sees me, you are them. Now throw out your points of law Jake. If you was on that jury, what would it take to convince you to set me free? That's how you save my ass. That's how you save us both.
Gun Salesman:
We call this piece the Fecalator. One look at it and the target shits him or herself. Try it on.
Loki:
Well, it's a lot more compact than the flaming sword, but it's not nearly as impressive. Just doesn't have that Wrath-of-the-Almighty edge to it. I mean, come on, how am I supposed to strike fear into the hearts of the wicked with this thing? Look at this...
Bartleby:
Well, then, you know, don't use a gun. Just lay the place to waste, like.
Loki:
Easy for you to say. You get off light in razing. You got to stand there and read at Sodom and Gomorrah, I had to do all the work.
Bartleby:
What work did you do? You lit a few fires.
Loki:
I rained down sulphur, man, there's a subtle difference.
Bartleby:
Oh, yeah, I'm sure.
Loki:
Hey, you know, fuck you, man. Any moron with a pack of matches can set a fire. Raining down sulphur is like an endurance trial man. Mass genocide is the most exhausting activity one can engage in, outside of soccer.
Donald 'Shadow' Rimgale:
So stop me if I got this wrong. Now the fire is almost out, you're upstairs on the unburned floor checking for heat, is that correct? And you've been told by your Battalion Chief, your Captain and by me not to do nothin', right? Not to do nothin' until ordered. That's correct, right?
Candidate:
Yes, sir.
Donald 'Shadow' Rimgale:
Ok. But now the itch starts. The 'Glory Boy' flash starts. 'Hey, I'm a hero. Heroes don't just stand around.' You can tell me, that's what it was, wasn't it?
Candidate:
Yes, sir.
Donald 'Shadow' Rimgale:
So you punched out a window for ventilation. Was that before or after you noticed you were standing in a lake of gasoline? [shouting]
Donald 'Shadow' Rimgale:
Was that BEFORE OR AFTER you noticed you were standing in a lake of GASOLINE, YOU IDIOT?
Candidate:
Before, sir.
Donald 'Shadow' Rimgale:
You could have burned or killed or crispened half that company! To say nothing of the fact that you wrecked the physical evidence that I use to prove that it's arson, and you know how goddamned hard it is to determine the cause of these fires! Now you go home and you think about that!
