A Serious Man (2009)
Sari Lennick: Judith Gopnik
Photos
Quotes
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Judith Gopnik : Look, I didn't know any other way of breaking it to you. Except to tell you. And treat you like an adult. Is that so wrong?
Larry Gopnik : Where do I sleep?
Judith Gopnik : What?
Larry Gopnik : Arthur's on the couch!
Judith Gopnik : Look. Sy feels that we should...
Larry Gopnik : Esther is barely cold!
Judith Gopnik : Esther died three years ago. And it was a loveless marriage. Sy wants a get.
Larry Gopnik : A what?
Judith Gopnik : A ritual divorce. He says it's very important. Without a get I'm an agunah.
Larry Gopnik : A what? What are you talking about?
Judith Gopnik : You always act so surprised. I have begged you to see the Rabbi.
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Judith Gopnik : We shouldn't put the kids in the middle of this, Larry.
Larry Gopnik : The kids aren't...
Judith Gopnik : I'm saying "we." I'm not pointing fingers.
Larry Gopnik : No one is playing the "blame game," Larry.
Larry Gopnik : I didn't say anyone was!
Judith Gopnik : Well let's not play He said, She said, either.
Larry Gopnik : I wasn't! I-...
Sy Ableman : Aw right, well let's just step back, and defuse the situation, I find, sometimes, if I count to ten.
[pause]
Sy Ableman : One... two... three... faw... Or silently.
[Long pause]
Judith Gopnik : Really, to keep things on an even keel, especially now, leading up to Danny's bar mitzvah...
Sy Ableman : A child's bar mitzvah, Larry!
Judith Gopnik : Sy and I think it's best if you move out of the house.
Larry Gopnik : Move out?
Sy Ableman : It makes eminent sense.
Judith Gopnik : Things can't continue as they...
Larry Gopnik : Move out! Where would I go?
Sy Ableman : Well, for instance, the Jolly Roger is quite livable. Not expensive, and the rooms are eminently habitable.
Judith Gopnik : This would allow you to visit the kids.
Sy Ableman : There's convenience in its fava. There's a pool...
Larry Gopnik : Wouldn't it make more sense for you to move in with Sy?
Judith Gopnik : [Shocked pause] Larry!
Sy Ableman : Larry, you're jesting!
Judith Gopnik : Larry, there is much to accomplish before that can happen.
Sy Ableman : Larry, Larry, Larry. I think, really, the Jolly Roger is the appropriate coss of action. It has a pool.
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Judith Gopnik : You know the problems you and I have been having.
Larry Gopnik : Mm.
Judith Gopnik : Well, Sy and I have become very close. In short, I think it's time to start talking about a divorce.
Larry Gopnik : Sy Ableman?
Judith Gopnik : This is not about Sy.
Larry Gopnik : You mentioned Sy!
Judith Gopnik : Don't twist my words. We...
Larry Gopnik : A divorce-what have I done! I haven't done anything- What have I done!
Judith Gopnik : Larry, don't be a child. You haven't "done" anything. I haven't "done" anything.
Larry Gopnik : Yes! Yes! We haven't done anything! And I-I'm probably about to get tenure.
Judith Gopnik : Nevertheless, there have been problems. As you know.
Larry Gopnik : Well...
Judith Gopnik : And things have changed. And then-Sy Ableman. Sy has come into my life. And now...
Larry Gopnik : Come into your-what does that mean? You, you, you, you barely know him!
Judith Gopnik : We've known the Ablemans for fifteen years.
Larry Gopnik : Yes, but you you said we hadn't done anything!
Judith Gopnik : I haven't done anything. This is not some flashy fling. This is not about woopsy-doopsy.
Larry Gopnik : Sy Ableman!
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Judith Gopnik : We shouldn't put the kids in the middle of this.
Larry Gopnik : The kids aren't...
Judith Gopnik : I'm saying "we". I'm not pointing fingers.
Sy Ableman : No one is playing the blame game, Larry.
Larry Gopnik : I didn't say anyone was.
Judith Gopnik : Well, let's not play "he said, she said", either.
Larry Gopnik : I wasn't! I...
Sy Ableman : Aw right, well let's just step back, and defuse the situation. I find, sometimes, if I count to ten...
[grasps Larry's wrists]
Sy Ableman : One... two... three... four... or silently...
[Sy counts silently]
Judith Gopnik : Really, to keep things on an even keel leading up to Danny's bar mitzvah...
Sy Ableman : Child's bar mitzvah, Larry.
Judith Gopnik : ...Sy and I think it's best if you move out of the house.
Larry Gopnik : ...Move out?
Sy Ableman : Well, it makes eminent sense.
Judith Gopnik : Things can't continue as they...
Larry Gopnik : Move out? Where would I go?
Sy Ableman : Well, for instance, the Jolly Roger is quite livable. It's not expensive, the rooms are eminently habitable...
Judith Gopnik : This would allow you to visit the kids.
Sy Ableman : It has convenience in its favor, they've got a pool...
Larry Gopnik : Wouldn't it make more sense for you to move in with Sy?
[pause]
Judith Gopnik : [stunned] Larry.
Sy Ableman : Larry... you, you *are* jesting? I think really, the Jolly Roger is the appropriate course of action.