Ordinary People Quotes
The accidental death of the older son of an affluent family deeply strains the relationships among the bitter mother, the good-natured father, and the guilt-ridden younger son.
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: [Berger is pretending to be Buck, Con's older brother] Bucky, I didn't mean it! Bucky, I didn't meant it!
Dr. Berger: What?
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: I said put the sail down, but you said keep it starboard, and then we go over! And you say "Hang on, Hang on!", but then you let go! Why'd you let go?
Dr. Berger: Because I was tired!
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: Oh yeah? Well screw you, you jerk!
Dr. Berger: [Back in reality] It hurts to be mad at him, doesn't it?
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: God, I loved him. It's not fair. You just do one wrong thing.
Dr. Berger: And what was the one wrong thing you did?
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: I hung on. I stayed with the boat.
Dr. Berger: What?
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: I said put the sail down, but you said keep it starboard, and then we go over! And you say "Hang on, Hang on!", but then you let go! Why'd you let go?
Dr. Berger: Because I was tired!
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: Oh yeah? Well screw you, you jerk!
Dr. Berger: [Back in reality] It hurts to be mad at him, doesn't it?
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: God, I loved him. It's not fair. You just do one wrong thing.
Dr. Berger: And what was the one wrong thing you did?
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: I hung on. I stayed with the boat.
Jeannine: [In a McDonalds restaurant booth Conrad sits with Jeannine, the suicide attempt scars on Conrad's wrist are displayed] Did it hurt?
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: I don't remember, really.
Jeannine: You don't want to talk about it?
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: I've never really talked about it. To doctors. But, not to anyone else. You're the first who's asked.
Jeannine: Why did you do it?
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: Uh... I don't know. It was like... falling into a hole. It keeps getting bigger and bigger and you can't escape. All of a sudden, it's inside... and you're the hole. You're trapped. And it's all over. Something like that. It's not really scary... except when you think back on it. 'Cause you know what you were feeling...
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: I don't remember, really.
Jeannine: You don't want to talk about it?
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: I've never really talked about it. To doctors. But, not to anyone else. You're the first who's asked.
Jeannine: Why did you do it?
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: Uh... I don't know. It was like... falling into a hole. It keeps getting bigger and bigger and you can't escape. All of a sudden, it's inside... and you're the hole. You're trapped. And it's all over. Something like that. It's not really scary... except when you think back on it. 'Cause you know what you were feeling...
Beth Jarrett: It's really important to try and hurt me isn't it?
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: Don't you have that backwards?
Beth Jarrett: Oh, and how do I hurt you? By embarrassing you in front of a friend? "Poor Beth, she has no idea what her son is up to, he lies and she believes every word of it."
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: I didn't lie!
Beth Jarrett: You did! You lied every time you came into this house at 6.30! If its starting all over again, the lying, the covering up, the disappearing for hours, I won't stand for it, I can't stand for it, I really can't!
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: Well don't then! Go to Europe!
Calvin "Cal" Jarrett: Connie!
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: No! The only reason she cares, the only reason she gives a fuck about it is because someone else knew about it first!
Calvin "Cal" Jarrett: Just stop it Connie!
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: No! You tell her to stop it! You never tell her a goddamn thing! And I know why she never came to the hospital because she was too busy going to goddamn Spain and goddamn Portugal! Why should she care if I'm hung up by the balls out there!
Beth Jarrett: Maybe this is how they sit around and talk at the hospital, but we're not at the hospital.
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: You never came to the hospital! How do you know about the hospital!
Calvin "Cal" Jarrett: Connie! You're mother did come to the hospital, you know she did, she had the flu and couldn't come inside but she came to the hospital!
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: She never would have had any flu if Buck was in the hospital, she would have come if Buck was in the hospital!
Beth Jarrett: Buck never would have been in the hospital!
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: Don't you have that backwards?
Beth Jarrett: Oh, and how do I hurt you? By embarrassing you in front of a friend? "Poor Beth, she has no idea what her son is up to, he lies and she believes every word of it."
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: I didn't lie!
Beth Jarrett: You did! You lied every time you came into this house at 6.30! If its starting all over again, the lying, the covering up, the disappearing for hours, I won't stand for it, I can't stand for it, I really can't!
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: Well don't then! Go to Europe!
Calvin "Cal" Jarrett: Connie!
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: No! The only reason she cares, the only reason she gives a fuck about it is because someone else knew about it first!
Calvin "Cal" Jarrett: Just stop it Connie!
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: No! You tell her to stop it! You never tell her a goddamn thing! And I know why she never came to the hospital because she was too busy going to goddamn Spain and goddamn Portugal! Why should she care if I'm hung up by the balls out there!
Beth Jarrett: Maybe this is how they sit around and talk at the hospital, but we're not at the hospital.
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: You never came to the hospital! How do you know about the hospital!
Calvin "Cal" Jarrett: Connie! You're mother did come to the hospital, you know she did, she had the flu and couldn't come inside but she came to the hospital!
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: She never would have had any flu if Buck was in the hospital, she would have come if Buck was in the hospital!
Beth Jarrett: Buck never would have been in the hospital!
Beth Jarrett: Calvin? Why are you crying? Can I, uh... can I get you something?
Calvin "Cal" Jarrett: I don't...
Beth Jarrett: What did you say? Calvin, what did you say? Tell me!
Calvin "Cal" Jarrett: You are beautiful. And you are unpredictable. But you're so cautious. You're determined, Beth; but you know something? You're not strong. And I don't know if you're really giving. Tell me something. Do you love me? You really love me?
Beth Jarrett: I feel the way I've always felt about you.
Calvin "Cal" Jarrett: We would have been all right if there hadn't been any mess. But you can't handle mess. You need everything neat and easy. I don't know. Maybe you can't love anybody. It was so much Buck. When Buck died, it was as if you buried all your love with him, and I don't understand that, I just don't know, I don't... maybe it wasn't even Buck; maybe it was just you. Maybe, finally, it was the best of you that you buried. But whatever it was... I don't know who you are. I don't know what we've been playing at. So I was crying. Because I don't know if I love you anymore. And I don't know what I'm going to do without that.
Calvin "Cal" Jarrett: I don't...
Beth Jarrett: What did you say? Calvin, what did you say? Tell me!
Calvin "Cal" Jarrett: You are beautiful. And you are unpredictable. But you're so cautious. You're determined, Beth; but you know something? You're not strong. And I don't know if you're really giving. Tell me something. Do you love me? You really love me?
Beth Jarrett: I feel the way I've always felt about you.
Calvin "Cal" Jarrett: We would have been all right if there hadn't been any mess. But you can't handle mess. You need everything neat and easy. I don't know. Maybe you can't love anybody. It was so much Buck. When Buck died, it was as if you buried all your love with him, and I don't understand that, I just don't know, I don't... maybe it wasn't even Buck; maybe it was just you. Maybe, finally, it was the best of you that you buried. But whatever it was... I don't know who you are. I don't know what we've been playing at. So I was crying. Because I don't know if I love you anymore. And I don't know what I'm going to do without that.
Calvin "Cal" Jarrett: [Inside his garage,Calvin Jarrett is just getting out of his car after a counseling session with his son Conrad's psychiatrist, Dr. Berger] What I'm... gonna say... will sound strange.
Beth Jarrett: What happened? Come inside.
Calvin "Cal" Jarrett: Could we talk about Buck's funeral?
Beth Jarrett: Whaaaat?
Calvin "Cal" Jarrett: It'll seem trivial. But, it's on my mind and I'd like to talk about it. When I was getting dressed for Buck's funeral...
Beth Jarrett: Calvin, what's the matter with you?
Calvin "Cal" Jarrett: Just let me get it off my chest,OK?
Beth Jarrett: What could getting dressed for Buck's funeral... have to do with anything, right now?
Calvin "Cal" Jarrett: I was wearing a blue shirt. You said, "wear a white shirt and the other shoes." It was nothing at the time, but, it seemed to stay with me. And I, for some reason, had been thinking about it and it suddenly occurred to me, what difference did it make what I wore to Buck's funeral?
Beth Jarrett: Uh, huh.
Calvin "Cal" Jarrett: Just hear me out, Beth, it won't hurt you to listen!
Beth Jarrett: I won't listen to that. No one in their right mind would listen to that!
Calvin "Cal" Jarrett: I just want to talk about something I always remembered.
Beth Jarrett: Why do you want to remind me?
Calvin "Cal" Jarrett: Because I've always wondered, in some needling way, what it mattered what I wore. I was crazy that day. We were going to our son's funeral and you were worried about what I wore on my feet. I'm sure it sounds like nothing to you, but it stuck with me and I just wanted... to tell you about it.
Beth Jarrett: What happened? Come inside.
Calvin "Cal" Jarrett: Could we talk about Buck's funeral?
Beth Jarrett: Whaaaat?
Calvin "Cal" Jarrett: It'll seem trivial. But, it's on my mind and I'd like to talk about it. When I was getting dressed for Buck's funeral...
Beth Jarrett: Calvin, what's the matter with you?
Calvin "Cal" Jarrett: Just let me get it off my chest,OK?
Beth Jarrett: What could getting dressed for Buck's funeral... have to do with anything, right now?
Calvin "Cal" Jarrett: I was wearing a blue shirt. You said, "wear a white shirt and the other shoes." It was nothing at the time, but, it seemed to stay with me. And I, for some reason, had been thinking about it and it suddenly occurred to me, what difference did it make what I wore to Buck's funeral?
Beth Jarrett: Uh, huh.
Calvin "Cal" Jarrett: Just hear me out, Beth, it won't hurt you to listen!
Beth Jarrett: I won't listen to that. No one in their right mind would listen to that!
Calvin "Cal" Jarrett: I just want to talk about something I always remembered.
Beth Jarrett: Why do you want to remind me?
Calvin "Cal" Jarrett: Because I've always wondered, in some needling way, what it mattered what I wore. I was crazy that day. We were going to our son's funeral and you were worried about what I wore on my feet. I'm sure it sounds like nothing to you, but it stuck with me and I just wanted... to tell you about it.
Dr. Berger: Now. You can live with that. Can't you?
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: I'm so scared! I'm scared.
Dr. Berger: Feelings are scary. And sometimes they're painful. And if you can't feel pain... you won't feel anything else either. You know what I'm saying?
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: I think so.
Dr. Berger: You're here. You're alive. Don't say you don't feel that.
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: It doesn't feel good.
Dr. Berger: It is good. Believe me.
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: How do you know?
Dr. Berger: Because I'm your friend.
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: I'm so scared! I'm scared.
Dr. Berger: Feelings are scary. And sometimes they're painful. And if you can't feel pain... you won't feel anything else either. You know what I'm saying?
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: I think so.
Dr. Berger: You're here. You're alive. Don't say you don't feel that.
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: It doesn't feel good.
Dr. Berger: It is good. Believe me.
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: How do you know?
Dr. Berger: Because I'm your friend.
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: When I let myself feel, all I feel is lousy.
Dr. Berger: Oh well excuse me, I never promised you a rose garden.
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: Oh fuck you Berger.
Dr. Berger: What?
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: FUCK YOU!
Dr. Berger: Hey, that's it!
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: Geez! You're really weird huh, what do you feel huh? Do you jerk off, or jack off, or whatever you call it?
Dr. Berger: What do you think?
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: What do I think? I think you're married to a fat lady and you go home and you fuck the living daylights out of her!
Dr. Berger: Sounds good to me.
Dr. Berger: Oh well excuse me, I never promised you a rose garden.
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: Oh fuck you Berger.
Dr. Berger: What?
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: FUCK YOU!
Dr. Berger: Hey, that's it!
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: Geez! You're really weird huh, what do you feel huh? Do you jerk off, or jack off, or whatever you call it?
Dr. Berger: What do you think?
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: What do I think? I think you're married to a fat lady and you go home and you fuck the living daylights out of her!
Dr. Berger: Sounds good to me.
Calvin "Cal" Jarrett: He just wants to know that you don't hate him.
Beth Jarrett: Hate him! How could I hate him? Mothers don't hate their sons! Is that what he told you? You see how you believe everything he tells you? And you can't do the same for me, you can't! GOD I DON'T KNOW WHAT ANYONE WANTS FROM ME ANYMORE!
Ward: Beth, we don't want anything from you; Audrey, Cal, Connie and Me, we just want you to be happy.
Beth Jarrett: Happy! Ward, you tell me the definition of happy. But first you better make sure your kids are good and safe, that they haven't fallen of a horse, been hit by a car, or drown in that swimming pool you're so proud of!
Audrey: Oh Beth!
Beth Jarrett: Then, you come and tell me how to be happy!
Beth Jarrett: Hate him! How could I hate him? Mothers don't hate their sons! Is that what he told you? You see how you believe everything he tells you? And you can't do the same for me, you can't! GOD I DON'T KNOW WHAT ANYONE WANTS FROM ME ANYMORE!
Ward: Beth, we don't want anything from you; Audrey, Cal, Connie and Me, we just want you to be happy.
Beth Jarrett: Happy! Ward, you tell me the definition of happy. But first you better make sure your kids are good and safe, that they haven't fallen of a horse, been hit by a car, or drown in that swimming pool you're so proud of!
Audrey: Oh Beth!
Beth Jarrett: Then, you come and tell me how to be happy!
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: It's impossible after all the shit I've pulled.
Dr. Berger: What shit have you pulled?
[pause]
Dr. Berger: Hey, remember, I'm talking proportion here, now what shit?
[pause]
Dr. Berger: C'mon, you must be able to come up with at least one example.
[pause]
Dr. Berger: And don't give me, "I tried to kill myself." That's old turkey.
Dr. Berger: What shit have you pulled?
[pause]
Dr. Berger: Hey, remember, I'm talking proportion here, now what shit?
[pause]
Dr. Berger: C'mon, you must be able to come up with at least one example.
[pause]
Dr. Berger: And don't give me, "I tried to kill myself." That's old turkey.
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: [seeing Beth set the table] Can I help?
Beth Jarrett: Help with what?
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: With... this?
Beth Jarrett: No. I'll tell you what you can do is go upstairs to that room of yours and clean out the closet.
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: [still desperately trying to talk with her] Mom?
Beth Jarrett: [sensing this, but is afraid] Okay? Because it really is a mess.
[they stare at each other in silence for a moment before the phone rings]
Beth Jarrett: Help with what?
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: With... this?
Beth Jarrett: No. I'll tell you what you can do is go upstairs to that room of yours and clean out the closet.
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: [still desperately trying to talk with her] Mom?
Beth Jarrett: [sensing this, but is afraid] Okay? Because it really is a mess.
[they stare at each other in silence for a moment before the phone rings]
Jeannine: Hey, you stand behind me in the choir, you sing well, you have a lot of energy.
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: Oh you do, I mean, I do?
Jeannine: I mean that's a good thing. I'm Jeannine Pratt.
Gail: And you're Conrad Jarrett, remember?
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: Yeah, right!
Jeannine: Well I'll see you around.
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: Bye.
Lazenby: [mocking Jeannine] You have a lot of energy!
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: Oh you do, I mean, I do?
Jeannine: I mean that's a good thing. I'm Jeannine Pratt.
Gail: And you're Conrad Jarrett, remember?
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: Yeah, right!
Jeannine: Well I'll see you around.
Conrad "Con" Jarrett: Bye.
Lazenby: [mocking Jeannine] You have a lot of energy!
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