Girl, Interrupted Movie Quotes
[first lines]
Susanna
[narrating]
Have you ever confused a dream with life? Or stolen something when you have the cash? Have you ever been blue? Or thought your train moving while sitting still? Maybe I was just crazy. Maybe it was the '60s. Or maybe I was just a girl... interrupted.
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Lisa
[Southern accent]
Razors pain you, rivers are damp / Acid stains you, drugs cause cramps / Gun aren't lawful, nooses give / Gas smells awful, you might as well live.
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Lisa
You know, there's too many buttons in the world. There's too many buttons and they're just--There's way too many just begging to be pressed, they're just begging to be pressed, you know? They're just--they're just begging to be pressed, and it makes me wonder, it really makes me fucking wonder, why doesn't anyone ever press mine? Why am I so neglected? Why doesn't anyone reach in and rip out the truth and tell me that I'm a fucking whore, or that my parents wish I were dead?
Susanna
Because you're dead already, Lisa! No one cares if you die, Lisa, because you're dead already. Your heart is cold. That's why you keep coming back here. You're not free. You need this place, you need it to feel alive. It's pathetic.
[Lisa falls down to her knees and screams]
Susanna
I've wasted a year of my life. Maybe everybody out there is a liar. And maybe the whole world is "stupid" and "ignorant". But I'd rather be in it. I'd rather be fucking in it, then down here with you.
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[last lines]
Susanna
Declared healthy and sent back into the world. My final diagnosis: a recovered borderline. What that means, I still don't know. Was I ever crazy? Maybe. Or maybe life is.
Cabby Monty Hoover
Hey, I remember you. Where are you going?
Susanna
Seventeen Burlingame.
Cabby Monty Hoover
All right...
Susanna
Crazy isn't being broken, or swallowing a dark secret. It's you, or me, amplified. If you ever told a lie and enjoyed it. If you ever wished you could be a child forever. They were not perfect, but they were my friends. And by the '70s, most of them were out, living lives. Some I've seen. Some never again. But there isn't a day my heart doesn't find them.
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Susanna
I don't know. That I was sorry. That I will never know what it was like to be her. But I know what it's like to want to die. How it hurts to smile. How you try to fit in but you can't. You hurt yourself on the outside to try to kill the thing on the inside.
Valerie
Susanna, it's all well and good to tell me all this, but you gotta tell some of this to your doctors.
Susanna
How the hell am I supposed to recover when I don't even understand my disease?
Valerie
But you do understand it. You spoke very clearly about it a second ago. But I think what you've gotta do is put it down. Put it away. Put it in your notebook, but get it out of yourself. Away so you can't curl up with it anymore.
Susanna
Lisa thinks it's a gift. That it lets you see the truth.
Valerie
Lisa's been here for eight years.
Valerie
Don't drop anchor here, you understand?
Susanna
[narrating]
When you don't want to feel, death can seem like a dream. But seeing death, really seeing it, makes dreaming about it fucking ridiculous. Maybe, there's a moment growing up when something peels back... Maybe, maybe, we look for secrets because we can't believe our minds...
[overlapping words]
Susanna
All I know is that I began to feel things again. Whatever I was, I knew there was only one way back to the world and that was to use the place to talk. So I saw the great and wonderful Dr. Wick three times a week, and I let her hear every thought in my head.
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Lisa
Lady, back off!
Mrs. Gilcrest
Was I talking to you?
Lisa
No, you were spitting on me, so mellow fuckin' out!
Mrs. Gilcrest
Don't you tell me what to do.
Lisa
Look, she gave your husband a rim job. Big fuckin' deal! I'm sure he was begging for it, and I heard it was like a pencil anyway.
Mrs. Gilcrest
Why you--how dare you!
Lisa
Some advice, OK? Just don't point your fuckin' finger at crazy people!
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Daisy
You're just jealous, Lisa... because I got better... because I was released... because I have a chance... at a life.
Lisa
They didn't release you 'cause you're better, Daisy, they just gave up. You call this a life, hmm? Taking Daddy's money, buying your dollies and your knickknacks. And eating his fucking chicken, fattening up like a prize fucking heifer? You changed the scenery, but not the fucking situation--and the warden makes house calls. And everybody knows. Everybody knows. That he fucks you. What they don't know... is that you like it. Hmm? You like it.
Lisa
[to Susanna]
Hey, man, it's cool, it's OK. It's fine, it's fucking fine! A man is a dick is a man is a dick is a chicken... is a dad... a Valium, a speculum, whatever, whatever.
[then turns to Daisy]
Lisa
You like being Mrs. Randone. Probably all you've ever known.
Daisy
Have fun in Florida.
[she goes upstairs to her room]
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[Lisa clicks the pen shut and gives it back right away]
Lisa
Good to know? I'll make a note of that...
Valerie
Good.
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Susanna
I didn't try to kill myself.
Dr. Potts
What were you trying to do?
Susanna
I was trying to make the shit stop.
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Susanna
I'm ambivalent. In fact that's my new favorite word.
Dr. Wick
Do you know what that means, ambivalence?
Susanna
I don't care.
Dr. Wick
If it's your favorite word, I would've thought you would...
Susanna
It *means* I don't care. That's what it means.
Dr. Wick
On the contrary, Susanna. Ambivalence suggests strong feelings... in opposition. The prefix, as in "ambidextrous", means "both". The rest of it, in Latin, means "vigor". The word suggests that you are torn... between two opposing courses of action.
Susanna
Will I stay or will I go?
Dr. Wick
Am I sane... or, am I crazy?
Susanna
Those aren't courses of action.
Dr. Wick
They can be, dear--for some.
Susanna
Well, then--it's the wrong word.
Dr. Wick
No. I think it's perfect.
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Susanna
What the fuck are you doing, Lisa?
Lisa
I'm playing the villain, baby, just like you want. I try to give you everything you want.
Susanna
No, you don't.
Lisa
You wanted your file, I found you your file. You wanted out, I got you out. You needed *money*, *I* found you some. I'm fucking consistent - I told you the truth - I didn't write it down in a *fucking book*! I told you to your *face*. And I told Daisy to her face--what everybody knew and wouldn't say, and she killed herself. And I played the fucking villain, just like you wanted.
Susanna
Why would I want that?
Lisa
Because it makes you the good guy, sweet pea. You come back all sweetness and light, and sad and contrite, and everybody congratulating you on your bravery. And meanwhile, I'm blowing the guys at the bus station for the money that was in her fucking robe!
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Dr. Crumble
Susanna, four days ago... you chased a bottle of aspirin with a bottle of vodka.
Susanna
I had a headache.
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Susanna
[reading from a book]
"Borderline Personality Disorder. An instability of self-image, relationships and mood... uncertain about goals, impulsive in activities that are self-damaging, such as casual sex."
Lisa
I like that.
Susanna
"Social contrariness and a generally pessimistic attitude are often observed." Well, that's me.
Lisa
That's everybody.
Susanna
I mean, what kind of sex isn't casual?
Janet
They mean promiscuous.
Susanna
I'm not promiscuous. I'm not.
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Valerie
You know, I can take a lot of crazy shit from a lot of crazy people. But you--you are not crazy.
Susanna
Then what's wrong with me, huh? What the fuck is going on inside my head? Tell me, Dr. Val, what's your diag-nonsense?
Valerie
[hovering over Susanna]
You are a lazy, self-indulgent little girl who is driving herself crazy.
Susanna
Is that your... *professional* opinion, huh? Is that what you've learned in your advanced studies at night school for Negro welfare mothers? I mean, Melvin doesn't have a clue, Wick is a *psycho* and you... you *pretend* to be a doctor. You sign the charts and dole out meds. But *you* ain't no doctor, Miss Valerie. You ain't nothing but a Black nursemaid.
Valerie
And you're just throwing it away.
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[Lisa's arms and legs are strapped to the bed. Susanna takes out nail polish and starts painting Lisa's nails]
Susanna
I know.
Lisa
I'm gonna miss you, Suzie Q.
Susanna
No, you're not. You're gonna get out of here, and you're gonna come and see me. OK.
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Lisa
[to Daisy]
Help me understand, Dais, 'cause, I thought you didn't do Valium. Tell me how this safety net is working for you. Tell me that you don't take that blade and drag it across your skin and pray for the courage to press down. Tell me how your *daddy* helps you cope with that. Illuminate me.
Daisy
My father loves me.
Lisa
I bet with every inch of his manhood.
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Janet
That is not fair. That is not *fair*! That is *not fair*! 74 is the perfect weight!
Lisa
[to Daisy] Good luck, crazy bitch.
Instructor
Now what kind of tree can you be, Janet, down there on the floor?
Janet
I'm a fucking shrub, all right?
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[Lisa is talking to Daisy about going to Florida]
Lisa
All you have is mustard and your chickens! I am going to be the Cinderella at Walt Disney's new theme park, Susanna's gonna be Snow White. You can come if you want. You can be the Cocker Spaniel that eats spaghetti.
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Susanna
You know, taking us for ice creams in a blizzard... makes you wonder who the real whack jobs are.
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Susanna
You don't want me, Tony.
Tony
Yes, I do, baby.
Susanna
No, you don't. I'm a crazy girl.
Tony
You're crazy so we can't have one night of bliss?
Susanna
I am a crazy girl, seriously.
Tony
You've been in a hospital?
Susanna
Yes.
Tony
Do you see purple people? My friend, he saw purple people. And so the state came and took him away. He didn't like that. Some time went by and, and he told 'em he didn't see purple people no more.
Susanna
He got better.
Tony
Nah, he still sees 'em.
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Dr. Wick
Quis hic locus?, quae regio?, quae mundi plaga? What world is this?... What kingdom?... What shores of what worlds? It's a very big question you're faced with, Susanna. The *choice* of your *life*. How much will you indulge in your flaws? What are your flaws? Are they flaws?... If you embrace them, will you commit yourself to hospital?... for life? Big questions, big decisions! Not surprising you profess carelessness about them.
Dr. Wick
For now.
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Lisa
[to Susanna]
You think you're free? I'm free! You don't know what freedom is! I'm free! I can breathe! And you... you're gonna choke on your average fucking mediocre life!
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Daisy
Which do you like better? Taking a dump alone or with Valerie watching?
Susanna
Alone.
Daisy
Everyone likes to be alone when it comes out. I like to be alone when it goes in. To me, the cafeteria is like being with 20 girls all at once taking a dump.
Lisa
That is fucked up, Daisy.
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Georgina
Lisa, is Daisy really getting out?
Lisa
Yeah, she coughed up a big one.
Susanna
But how could--I mean she's... *insane*.
Lisa
Yeah, well, that's what ther-rape-me's all about. That's why fuckin' Freud's picture's on every shrink's wall. He created a fuckin' industry. You lie down, you confess your secrets and you're saved. Ka-ching! The more you confess, the more they think about settin' you free.
Susanna
But what if you don't have a secret?
Lisa
Then you're a lifer, like me.
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Lisa
We are very rare and we are mostly men.
Janet
Lisa thinks she's hot shit cause she's a sociopath.
Cynthia
I'm a sociopath.
Lisa
No, you're a dyke.
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Janet
I want my fucking clothes!
Valerie
Then you'll have to eat something, won't you?
Janet
[singing]
Oh Lordy, pick a bale o' cotton / Oh Lordy, pick a bale o' hay / Gotta jump down spin around pick a bale o' cotton / Jump down spin around, pick a bale o' hay...
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Susanna
What happened to Polly?
Lisa
What needs to happen? No one's ever gonna kiss her, man. You know, they're building a new Disneyland in Florida. If I could have any job in the world, I'd be a professional Cinderella. You could be Snow White. And Polly could be Minnie Mouse. Everyone would hug her and kiss her and love her and no one would ever know what was in that big ol' head of hers, you know?
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Lisa
No... But she's been playing that SHIT ALL MORNING!
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Valerie
Did you enjoy the fresh air, Lisa?
Lisa
Yeah I did, Val. Thanks.
Valerie
Good, 'cause it's the last time you're leaving the ward.
Lisa
Is that a dare or a double dare?
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Georgina
I'm gonna have a peppermint stick.
Polly
Yeah, me too, can I just have a peppermint stick?
Ronny
Sure.
Daisy
NO! It's just called a PEPPERMINT!
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Lisa
Hey, Torch, whatya doin'?
Polly
Nothing.
Lisa
Well, why don't you go in your room and do nothin'.
[waves at Polly with puppet, and Polly runs to her room crying]
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Daisy
Get out, Lisa!
Lisa
I'm not in your room, Daisy. I'm right fucking here. I was gonna offer you nail polish.
Daisy
GET OUT!
Margie
You're looking better, Lisa.
Lisa
Why, thanks, Margie. So how's the engagement going?
Margie
You know.
Lisa
No, I don't. I've been away.
Margie
Joe wants me to... before the wedding.
Lisa
Fuck his brains out--use a rubber.
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Susanna
Where are we going? The cafeteria's that way.
Tobias 'Toby' Jacobs
We're going to Canada.
Susanna
Wh-why?
Tobias 'Toby' Jacobs
Look, Susanna, you don't need to be here.
Susanna
I tried to kill myself, Toby.
Tobias 'Toby' Jacobs
So you took a couple of aspirin...
Susanna
I took a *bottle* of aspirin.
Tobias 'Toby' Jacobs
And that buys you a year in this place? C'mon, Susanna, that's bullshit! You don't belong here.
Susanna
I have friends here.
Tobias 'Toby' Jacobs
Who, them? Those girls... they're eating grapes off the wallpaper. They're crazy.
Susanna
If they are, then I am.
Tobias 'Toby' Jacobs
Susanna, I think I love you. Look, my dad gave me five grand! We can go up there, build a cabin in the woods!
[Susanna starts crying]
Tobias 'Toby' Jacobs
I mean, you want to leave, don't you?
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[Susanna is leaving. Georgina sheepishly looks up from the cards she's shuffling]
Susanna
Hey, Georgina? You know all that stuff I write in my journals? I don't know what I'm saying. Their just... thoughts. Who knows, maybe I'm the liar.
Georgina
Maybe not.
[They hug]
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Daisy
My dad got me an apartment.
Susanna
Really? Where?
Daisy
It's near the airport. One bedroom, two baths, eat-in chicken.
Susanna
I think you mean an eat-in kitchen.
Daisy
That's what I said, asshole. So what do you have that I want?
[Susanna has just showed Daisy some Colace tablets]
Daisy
Put them on the bed and get out.
Daisy
Oh, Jesus! Get out! GET OUT!
Lisa
[she enters and shuts the door behind her]
C'mon Daze, don't take advantage of her just 'cause she's new.
Daisy
Get the fuck out or I'm calling Valerie! VALERIE!
Lisa
Yeah, why don't you call Valerie, shall we? Let's call Valerie and ask her for some Colace just like Suzie Q's got in her fuckin' hand. Why does it STINK in here?
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Susanna
Oh my God... a guy I know was just drafted.
Janet
What's his name?
Susanna
Toby.
Janet
He's dead now.
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Lisa
So, have you had your first Melvin yet?
Susanna
Who's that?
Lisa
Bald guy with a little pecker and a fat wife. Your ther-rapist, sweet pea. Unless, ah... unless they're givin' you shocks. Or, God forbid, lettin' you out. Then you get to see the great wonderful Dr. Dyke.
Margie
She means Dr. Wick.
Susanna
Oh, I've been in his office but I haven't met him yet.
M.G.
He's a she. Dr. Wick's a girl.
Lisa
That's right, M.G. Wick's a chick.
M.G.
Wick's a chick.
Lisa
Hence the nickname.
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Susanna
Has anyone ever watched you shave your legs?
Valerie
I got two kids and one bathroom, what do you think?
Susanna
I think you should lock the door.
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Susanna
Who is this?
Lisa
What'd he say to Mom and Pop?
[Susanna looks out and sees Lisa staring back at her from two booths back]
Susanna
I have a Borderline Personality.
Lisa
Oh, that's nothing. What else?
Susanna
He didn't say. Thought it would affect my recovery.
Lisa
All right, listen. Tongue your meds tonight. After 1:00 checks, Gretta always goes out for a smoke. Check the mirrors and if they're clear, you go to Hector's closet. It's near the art room and it will be open.
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Dr. Wick
Is there something about sex which lifts your feelings of despair?
Susanna
Have you ever had sex?
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Janet
When they built this place they put the tunnels in so the loons didn't have to go anywhere in the cold.
Susanna
I must've missed that in the brochure.
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Lisa
We have to go. We have money... Susanna, don't be stupid. Alright, fine. Be stupid.
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Dr. Potts
You've been feeling bad in general. You've been feeling depressed?
Susanna
Well, I haven't exactly been a ball of joy, Melvin.
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Susanna
Explain what? Explain to a doctor that the laws of physics can be suspended? That what goes up may not come down? Explain that time can move backwards and forwards, and now to then, and back again, and... you can't control it?
Dr. Crumble
Why can't you control it?
Susanna
What?
Dr. Crumble
Why can't you control time?
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Daisy
And my favorite part... it has a sign right outside that says, "If you lived here, you'd be home now".
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Polly
[to Susanna]
Jamie was Lisa's best friend. She was sad last week after Lisa ran away, so she hung herself with a volleyball net.
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Polly
I mean, I think it's nice to do something nice on Daisy's last day
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Susanna
Gone upstairs... talked to Daisy.
Valerie
Melvin said you went upstairs.
Susanna
Too late
Valerie
What would you have said to her?
Susanna
I don't know. That I was sorry... that I'll never know what it was like to be her, but I know what it's like to want to die. How it hurts to smile. How you try to fit in, but you can't. How you hurt yourself on the outside... to try to kill the thing on the inside.
Valerie
Susanna, it's all well and good to tell me all this, but you've got to tell some of this to your doctors.
Susanna
How the hell am I supposed to recover... when I don't even understand my disease?
Valerie
But you do understand it. You spoke very clearly about it a second ago. But I think what you've got to do is put it down. Put it away... put it in your notebook. But get it out of yourself. Away, so you can't curl up with it anymore.
Susanna
Lisa thinks it's a gift. That it lets you see the truth...
Valerie
Lisa has been here for eight years.
Valerie
It's all right, it's all right, listen... do not drop anchor here. Understand?
Susanna
[V.O, Susanna Narrating]
When you don't want to feel, death can seem like a dream. But seeing death--really seeing it--makes dreaming about it fucking ridiculous. Maybe there's a moment growing up... when something peels back. Maybe. Maybe I...
Susanna
[V.O, Susanna Narrating]
And though I missed Lisa, life was easier without her. A thought is a hard thing to control--out in the real world--all I know is that I began to feel things again... Crazy, Sane, Stupid, Smart, Angry... whatever I was--I knew there was only one way back to the world, and that was to use the place, to talk. So I saw the great and wonderful Dr. Wick three times a week, and I let her hear every thought in my head.
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Dr. Potts
The length of Susanna's stay isn't fixed. It depends on her response to treatment.
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