Been there? done that?
Ah, but they are ever so much more beautiful. And, come on, the ending is really not all that far removed from Hollywood
SEX LIES AND VIDEOTAPE
Written and directed by Steven Soderbergh
[b]Therapist: This unexpected guest notwithstanding, how are things with John?
Ann: Oh, they’re fine. Except for I’m going through this thing where I don’t want him to touch me…
…
Ann: Did he ask you to take your clothes off?
Cynthia: Did he ask me to take my clothes off? No, he didn’t.
Ann: Did you take your clothes off?
Cynthia: Yes.
Ann: Cynthia! Why did you do that?
Cynthia: Because I wanted to… I wanted him to see me.
Ann: You’re crazy. He could be bouncin’ it off some satellite. Some horny old men could be watchin’.
Cynthia: Ann! He wouldn’t do that.
Ann: You don’t know that for sure. [pause] Did he touch you?
Cynthia: No.
Ann: Did you touch him?
Cynthia: No.
Ann: Did anybody touch anybody?
Cynthia: Well… yes.
Ann: Don’t tell me… don’t tell me… don’t tell me. You didn’t!
Cynthia: I did.
Ann: You didn’t!
Cynthia: I did.
Ann: You didn’t!
Cynthia: I did!
Ann: Oh, my God. Cynthia! You’re in touble…
…
Ann: Nothing’s what I thought it was. John’s a bastard. Let’s make a videotape.
Graham: No, I…ahem…I don’t think that’s a good idea.
Ann: Why not?
Graham: Because I don’t think it’s a choice that you’d make in a normal frame of mind.
Ann: And what would you know about a normal frame of mind?
…
Ann: Well, what did he ask exactly?
Cynthia: Well, I don’t want to tell you exactly.
Ann: You let a total stranger record your sexual life on videotape, but you won’t tell your own sister?
Cynthia: Apparently.
…
Graham: No, it’s just, I, you know, I just think - right now I have one key and everything I own is in the car, and I just… I like that, you know? I mean, I just, if I get an apartment, that’s two keys, if I…get a job, you know, I might have to open or close, that’s more keys, you know, buy some stuff, I’m afraid it’s gonna get ripped off, or something, and I get more keys, and I just, I, you know, I just like having the one key, it’s clean.
John: Get rid of the car when you get the apartment. Still one key.
Graham: I like having the car. You know? The car’s important. You gotta be mobile.
John: In case you have to leave someplace in a hurry?
Graham: Yeah, or go someplace in a hurry.
…
Graham: Liars are the second-lowest form of human being on the planet.
Ann: What’s the first?
Graham: Lawyers.
Ann: Oh. That’s you, John.
…
John [on the phone]: Cynthia, John. Meet me at my house in exactly one hour.
Cynthia: You are scum. I’ll be there.
…
Graham: Yeah, I’m self-conscious. But not in the same way that you are, though.
Ann: Me? Me? You think I’m self-conscious?
Graham: Well, I have been watching you. I watch you eat, you know, I watch you speak, watch you move, and I see somebody who is extremely aware of people looking at you.
…
Ann: So, let me see. You said, um, you said that I should never take advice from someone that I haven’t had sex with, right?
Graham: Basically.
Ann: Right. And, uh, we haven’t had sex. Right?
Graham: No.
Ann: So I guess from your own advice, I shouldn’t take your advice.
Graham: I wouldn’t.
…
John: By definition, you’re lying to Ann, too.
Cynthia: Yeah, right, but I didn’t take a vow in front of God and everyone to be faithful to Ann.
…
Cynthia: So come on, I came all the way over here to find out what got Ann so spooked. Why don’t you tell me what happened?
Graham: “Spooked”? The videotapes are what got Ann so spooked.
…
Graham: Why don’t you let me tape you?
Cynthia: Doin’ what?
Graham: Talking…About sex. Your sexual history, sexual preferences.
Cynthia: What makes you think I’d discuss that?
Graham: Nothing.
Cynthia: And you just wanna ask me questions?
Graham: I just wanna ask you questions. That’s all.
Cynthia: Is this how you get off? Tapin’ women talkin’ about their sexual experiences?
Graham: Yes.
…
John: Things are getting complicated.
Cynthia: No, they’re gettin’ real simple
…
Graham: So, I don’t… I don’t understand, uh, what made you want to come here. I can’t imagine Ann painted a very flattering portrait of me.
Cynthia: Yeah, well, see, um, I don’t really listen to Ann when it comes to men. I mean, look at John, for Christ’s sake.
…
Graham: I remember reading somewhere that men learn to love the person that they’re attracted to, and that women become more and more attracted to the person that they love.
…
Ann: You know, my therapist…
Graham: You’re in therapy?
Ann: Aren’t you?
…
Graham: Do you have orgasms?
Ann: I don’t think so. I mean, I guess, since I’m not sure, that I’ve never had one
…
Ann: What did you think?
Graham: I thought about what you would look like having an orgasm.
Ann: I’d like to know what I look like havin’ an orgasm.
…
Ann: …my God, Graham. You just can’t walk up to her and show her you’ve changed like it’s some gift or somethin’. And look what you’ve changed into. Nine years. Nine years, and this is what you come up with?
…
Ann [grabbing the camera]: I just wanna ask a few questions, like why do you tape women talkin’ about sex? Why do you do that? Can you tell me why?
Graham: I don’t find turning the tables very interesting.
Ann: Well, I do. Tell me why, Graham.
Graham: Why? What? What? What do you want me to tell you? Why? Ann, you don’t even know who I am. You don’t have the slightest idea who I am. Am I supposed to recount all the points in my life leading up to this moment and just hope that it’s coherent, that it makes some sort of sense to you? It doesn’t make any sense to me. You know, I was there. I don’t have the slightest idea why I am who who I am, and I’m supposed to be able to explain it to you?
…
Graham: My problem? Do I have a problem? I look around me in this town and I see John and Cynthia and you, and I…I feel comparatively healthy.
Ann: You’ve got a problem.
Graham: You’re right. I’ve got a lot of problems. But they belong to me.
Ann: You think they’re yours, but they’re not. Everybody that walks in that door becomes part of your problem. Anybody that comes in contact with you. I didn’t wanna be part of your problem, but I am. I’m leavin’ my husband, and maybe I would have anyway, but the fact is that I’m doin’ it now. And part of it’s because of you. You’ve had an effect on my life.
Graham: This isn’t supposed to happen. I’ve spent nine years structuring my life so that this didn’t happen.[/b]