Thursday, July 11, 2019

"I Want You To Want To Do The Dishes!"

Classic Scene from The Break-Up (2006)

Brooke: Let's just do them now. It'll take 15 minutes.

Gary: Honey, I am so exhausted. I just honestly want to relax for a little bit. If I could just sit here, let my food digest, and just try to enjoy the quiet for a little bit....You know, we can clean the dishes tomorrow.

 

Brooke: Gary, you know I don't like waking up to a dirty kitchen.

Gary: Who cares?

Brooke: I care! All right? I care! I busted my ass all day cleaning this house and then cooking that meal. And I worked today. It would be nice if you said thank you and helped me with the dishes.

Gary: Fine. I'll help you do the damn dishes...

Brooke: That's not what I want.

Gary: You just said that you want me to help you do the dishes.

Brooke: I want you to want to do the dishes.

Gary: Why would I want to do dishes?

Brooke: See, that's my whole point.

Gary: Let me see if I'm following this, okay? Are you telling me that you're upset because I don't have a strong desire|to clean dishes?

Brooke: No. I'm upset because you don't have a strong desire to offer to do the dishes.

Gary: I just did.

Brooke: After I asked you!

***
For some reason, I was reminded of this scene during a reading from the Big Book ("Physician, Heal Thyself"). In particular, this passage (pages 399-400):

And then a silly, simple thought came to me. I didn't know anything about being a father; I don't know how to come home and work week-ends like other husbands; I don't know how to entertain my family. But I remembered that every night after dinner my wife would get up and do the dishes. Well, I could do the dishes. So I went to her and said, "There's only one thing I want in my whole life, and I don't want any commendation; I don't want any credit; I don't want anything from you or Janey for the rest of your life except one thing; and that is, the opportunity to do anything you want always, and I would like to start off by doing the dishes." And now I am doing the darn dishes every night! 

Not sure if it completely connects with Brooke's anger in the movie; but it's in the neighborhood. And worth keeping in mind.


No comments:

Post a Comment