What I Really Need

[kokopelle]

My birthday today reminds me of this excerpt from Steve Martin's movie, "The Jerk". At this point Navin (Steve Martin) is suddenly broke and has to move out of his house. This really reminds me of my life in some ways. This script doesn't do the scene justice as Navin repetitively revises his list of what he needs:

Navin R. Johnson: Well I'm gonna to go then. And I don't need any of this. I don't need this stuff, and I don't need you. I don't need anything except this.

[picks up an ashtray]

Navin R. Johnson: And that's it and that's the only thing I need, is this. I don't need this or this. Just this ashtray.

And this paddle game, the ashtray and the paddle game and that's all I need.

And this remote control. The ashtray, the paddle game, and the remote control, and that's all I need.

And these matches. The ashtray, and these matches, and the remote control and the paddle ball.

And this lamp. The ashtray, this paddle game and the remote control and the lamp and that's all I need. And that's all I need too.

I don't need one other thing, not one - I need this (a chair). The paddle game, and the chair, and the remote control, and the matches, for sure.

And this (a magazine) . And that's all I need. The ashtray, the remote control, the paddle game, this magazine and the chair.

[walking outside]

Navin R. Johnson: And I don't need one other thing, except my dog.

[dog barks]

Navin R. Johnson: I don't need my dog.

Comments

[anchasta.livejournal.com]

THAT is my favorite scene in the whole movie.

(read: the only scene I remember)

[valleysailor.livejournal.com]

Happy Birthday!! I remembered you were a fellow Gemini but I forgot the exact date! I hope all your brithday wishes come true!!

[chimerae.livejournal.com]

Sometimes I get myself out of this sort of stuck by just writing a post it note that says: You can't have everything. Where would you put it

I post it in a prominant but unexpected location.