Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You

[first lines]

James Sveck:
I wish the whole day was like breakfast, when people are still connected to their dreams, focused inward and... and not yet ready to engage with the world. If it was always breakfast, I would be fine.

James Sveck:
I'm James Sveck. I'm seventeen and... I don't like to talk much. I hate politics, organized religion and... all of that. People always talk about their lives, but their lives just aren't that interesting. You should only say something if it's interesting or absolutely has to be said. I have nothing interesting to say.

Gillian Sveck:
$1200 on a lap dance?

Marjorie Dunfour:
Well, two. $600 a striptease.

James Sveck:
Consecutively or... or simultaneous?

Gillian Sveck:
Shut it, James!

Man Visitor:
What is the name of the artist?

James Sveck:
He/She/It has no name. Well, He/She/It does, but He/She/It does not self-identify.

Woman Visitor:
And why is this?

Man Visitor:
It's fascinating. He/She/It claims that identity is fluid, and should not be constrained by something as fixed as a name. You see, He/She/It believes that if an artist has a name, then people pay for that name rather than for the art. It's a way of separating the artist from the art.

James Sveck:
This is what love does? Turns you into a marionette? It's like trying to have a conversation with a parrot or somebody who's been lobotomized.

James Sveck:
My mother told me that you're a... a "Life Coach?" Is that what you call yourself?

Life Coach:
Do you think what we call ourselves has anything to do with who we really are?

James Sveck:
When it comes to professional titles, yeah. And please don't do that.

Life Coach:
Please don't do what?

James Sveck:
Answer my questions with more questions.

Life Coach:
Does that bother you?

James Sveck:
Yeah, it does.

Life Coach:
You don't want a drink?

James Sveck:
I read somewhere that Americans have completely misinterpreted Freud 'cause it was mistranslated from the original German.

Life Coach:
You could say the same thing about the Bible. Are you interested in psychology?

James Sveck:
I think it's a self-indulgent examination of one's life that supersedes the actual living of said life.

Life Coach:
Did you say "sad life?"

James Sveck:
No, no, no, "said" life.

Life Coach:
I-I thought you said "sad" life.

James Sveck:
No, I-I said "said."

James Sveck:
I feel like an empty plastic bottle in the middle of the ocean with no cap, so the water could easily come in. Soon I'll be full, and then... and then I'll be sinking.

Life Coach:
So, you think you're not normal?

James Sveck:
I don't think I know what normal is. New York is a funny place to be lonely.

Life Coach:
How so?

James Sveck:
There's people everywhere. Everyone's got a rhythm of their own. I don't have one. I can see everyone moving to that beat, you know. Gotta go now. Gotta get there, here. Laughing, dancing, whatever, and... all I hear is silence, like there's something way down deep inside of me, some minor defect in the most hidden recesses of the second chromosome of my DNA, that makes me... different.

Sue Kenney:
[jabbering on] I just don't want people thinking I come from North Dakota. I mean, there's a big different between North and South Dakota. It's like... the difference between North and South Korea. Well, not that North Dakota is Communist, I mean...

James Sveck:
I like museums because they're one of the few places left in the world where nobody's trying to sell you anything.

Nanette:
I think that when you get to the end of your life, you have to ask yourself only two questions. Did I live fully, and did I love well. And if you can say yes to those two things, then you're home free.

James Sveck:
[toasting with iced tea] To being alive.

Marjorie Dunfour:
What should I do?

James Sveck:
I hate it when people say that. Most of the time they know exactly what to do. Ask yourself what you really want.

Nanette:
[book inscription] My dearest James, be patient and tough. Some day this pain will be useful to you.

[last lines]

James Sveck:
But if I'm crazy, what the hell is everyone else.

Paul Sveck:
You can't order a salad as a main course.

James Sveck:
Why not?

Paul Sveck:
It's not manly.

James Sveck:
I'll keep that in mind.

Henryk Maria:
If everyone had to believe in what they did, very little would get done in the world.

Nanette:
I always wanted to learn to play the clarinet.

James Sveck:
Why didn't you?

Nanette:
My mother didn't approve of ladies putting long, cylindrical objects in their mouths.

Gillian Sveck:
How do you spell facsimile?

James Sveck:
Use your spell check.

Gillian Sveck:
I already did but it's not working 'cause I'm so far off.

James Sveck:
F-A-C-S-I-M-I-L-E.

Gillian Sveck:
There's no X?

James Sveck:
No.

Gillian Sveck:
Well, then why is "fax" with an X?

James Sveck:
Because it's a cruel, senseless world.

Paul Sveck:
Don't you think you put us through enough with your antics? Your mother and I agree on so very few things - but this is one of them.