Scenes from a Marriage (TV Mini Series)
Oskuld och panik (1973)
Erland Josephson: Johan
Photos
Quotes
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Marianne : Do you think it's possible two people can spend their entire lives together?
Johan : That's just an insane convention we inherited from God knows where. There should be five-year contracts. Or an agreement that remains valid for one year that you can also terminate.
Marianne : For us, too?
Johan : No, not for us.
Marianne : Why not for us?
Johan : Because you and I are the exception to the rule. You and I won the Fools' Lottery.
Marianne : So you think we'll stay together our entire lives?
Johan : What a strange question!
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Johan : You can't judge yourself for your thoughts.
Marianne : This is a serious matter. It will influence our future. What if we do something we can't take back? What if we haven't realized how serious this is?
Johan : What ridiculous, nebulous, intangible demands. They're pure superstition.
Marianne : You don't understand.
Johan : Not one damn word makes sense.
Marianne : We're trying to run away.
Johan : We're trying to avoid drama here, which is healthy, in my opinion.
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Johan : What's the issue here?
Marianne : The issue is love.
Johan : Aren't you being a bit too intense?
Marianne : No.
Johan : Could you enlighten me?
Marianne : No, I can't. It's an emotional thing. It's as if I no longer perceived myself as being real. You aren't real either. Neither are the kids. But this baby is real.
Johan : It could be the other way around.
Marianne : We're pitiful, self-indulgent cowards that can't connect with reality and are ashamed of ourselves. There's no affection, love or joy in our lives. We could very well have this baby, and I was right to be pleased and daydream about it. I think it was an honest feeling. I'm mature enough to be a mother now.
Johan : I don't understand. It's like you've had the abortion already.
Marianne : I have.
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Johan : To be honest, it's not that simple.
Fru Palm, journalist : That's true. How do you mean?
Johan : Once upon a time, we felt safe. Nowadays we realize that bad things can happen at any time. That's the difference.
Fru Palm, journalist : Are you afraid of the future?
Johan : If I dwelt on it, I'd probably be paralyzed with fear. Which is why I don't. I like this old sofa and that lamp. They create the illusion of being safe - such a ridiculously fragile illusion. I like Bach's St. Matthew Passion even though I'm a nonbeliever, because it creates a sense of piety and community. I depend heavily on interaction with our relatives, since it recreates the childhood experience of feeling protected. I enjoy Marianne's talk of compassion. It soothes the conscience, which acts up at inappropriate intervals. Remaining content requires a certain technique. You need to put a lot of effort into not caring. I really admire people who can laugh everything off. I can't. My sense of humor isn't well-developed enough to pull that off. Are you going to include that?
Fru Palm, journalist : No, it would be beyond our female audience, if you'll excuse me for saying such a thing.
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Marianne : We're well aware of the hazards of a life like ours.
Fru Palm, journalist : Hazards? How do you mean?
Johan : The world is going to the dogs, and I prefer to live and let live. I'm entitled to simply look out for number one. It makes me sick to hear about the latest panacea.
Marianne : I don't feel the same way as Johan.
Fru Palm, journalist : How do you feel?
Marianne : I believe... in compassion.
Fru Palm, journalist : Could you please expand on that?
Marianne : If we all learned to care about our fellow man from childhood, the world would be different.
