Angela Chase quotes from My So-Called Life

Angela

[voiceover] What I was thinking, as like a New Year's resolution, is to stop getting so caught up in my own thoughts, 'cause I'm like way too introspective. I think... But what if not thinking turns me into this shallow person? I better rethink this becoming less introspective thing. Okay, so I'll stay introspective, but I do resolve to stop doing Jordan Catalano's homework.

Angela

[voiceover] I loved Jordan Catalano so much, and talked about him so much, and thought about him so much, it was like he lived inside me. Like he had taken possession of my soul, or something. And then one day...I got over him! [Angela dances and sings to "Blister In The Sun"]

Angela

[voiceover] It was like Jordan Catalano had been surgically removed from my heart... and I was free.

Rayanne

You want to have sex with him.

Angela

Who?

Rayanne

Who? Jordan! Catalano? Come on, I'm not going to tell anyone, just admit it.

Angela

I just like how he's always leaning. Against stuff. He leans great. Either sex or a conversation -- ideally both.

Rickie

If you were about to do it, okay, what would you want the other person to say, like, right before?

Rayanne

This won't take long.

Rickie

No, seriously.

Rayanne

Do I know you?

Rickie

No, like, for real. Like, romantic.

Angela

You're so beautiful, it hurts to look at you.

Rayanne

It hurts to look at you?

Rickie

How'd you think of that?

Rayanne

Where would it hurt?

Rickie

I really like that.

Rayanne

[After Angela has been talking loudly as Jordan walked by] Angela, he's gone. You can talk like a normal person.

Angela

Oh, God.

Rayanne

You have got to progress to the next phase of this. I mean, think of Rickie and me. How much more can we take?

Angela

I just don't want to look like I'm throwing myself at him.

Rayanne

Excuse me. People throwing themselves at people? Is, like, the basis of civilization.

Rickie

She has a point.

Angela

[voiceover] If Jordan Catalano is, like, nearby, my entire body knows it. Like one of those dogs that point? I'll keep talking and stuff, but my mind won't even know what I'm saying. I keep wondering if there's like, a term for this.

Angela

I'm not saying...see, there's thinking about him, right? Which is what I do, all the time, like, like this ...

Rickie

Obsession.

Rayanne

Right, so?

Angela

So, it keeps me going, or something, like I need it, just to get through the day. It -- it's just ...

Rickie

It's an obsession.

Angela

Right. And if you make it real, it, it's not the same. It's not...it's not yours anymore. I don't know -- maybe I'd rather have the fantasy, than even him.

Rickie

I completely understand this.

Rayanne

I totally and completely disagree. You want Jordan Catalano, in actuality, because...there is no 'because'! You just want him! Only you're programmed to never admit it.

Rickie

That does have the ring of truth.

Angela

[voiceover, regarding Jordan] We both stopped talking. Part of his sleeve was touching my arm. I don't know if he knew. Then everything started to seem perfect for some reason. The feel of his shirt against my elbow, the fact that I still had an elbow. It was the perfect moment for him to kiss me, for him to anything me.

Jordan

[leans closer, then opens her car door] Well, I gotta go, so... Later.

Angela

[voiceover] I could have killed him.

Angela

Dad, I don't feel like talking. No offense.

Graham

Oh, I don't feel like talking. Certainly not to you. You want me to warm up that spaghetti?

Angela

[voiceover] I have to say, when my father warms something up, it tastes better than when anyone else does.

Graham

So how did your experiment go? with Brian?

Angela

He did most of it.

Graham

So was this like, a date?

Angela

Dad! It's...they're not...people just hang out. They're not -- it's not dates. There's people. Together. In a bunch.

Graham

So was there someone else there...you like?

Angela

[voiceover] It's so strange how parents can, out of nowhere, turn psychic. It's unnerving.

Graham

It's okay to like someone. But, I mean, boys your age can sometimes --

Angela

Dad, I know. [pause] 'Can sometimes' what?

Graham

Can sometimes not know how to be what you want them to be. My point is that...it's really...hard to figure out how to be a man. Practically every man I know is still working on it.

Angela

[voiceover] When I was twelve, my mother gave me my sex talk. I'm not sure either of us has fully recovered.

Patty

Now that you and Jordan are um...

Angela

Oh, my God. Mom, please...

Patty

Angela, I can accept that you have a boyfriend.

Angela

I don't have a boyfriend!

Patty

Fine. A pal. A male pal.

Rayanne

Do you ever get, like, hypnotized by food?

Graham

Hypnotized By Food could be my Indian name. [to Angela] Do you want to flip one?

Angela

Rayanne can do it.

Rayanne

I can't believe I'm cooking something, like, not in the pouch.

Rayanne

So, not to shock you, but your dad's attractive.

Angela

Oh, I'm sure!

Rayanne

Not that I'd attack him, or anything, but I wouldn't leave me alone with him, either. It's not just physical. He's...nice. You just have a really nice dad. He's really nice.

Angela

[voiceover] When someone compliments your parents, there's, like, nothing to say. It's like a stun gun to your brain.

Rickie

Plus, his stubble is the perfect length.

Angela

He doesn't have stubble! He ran out of disposable razors that morning; he was all disturbed about it.

Rayanne

Oh! In-touch-with-his-emotions Dad!

Angela

[laughing] Shut up!

Rayanne

Ignore Angela! She can't help herself -- she's the product of a two-parent household!

Brian

Angela, wait. Did you ever think that I could actually be doing something that does not involve you? I mean, that I may not just be sitting around in case you decide like that moment that you need my car?

Angela

So what were you doing?

Brian

Nothing! Do you want my sweater?

Angela

OK.

Brian

Just, try not to sweat into it.

Angela

Why do you have to say things like that?!

Patty

I would think that you would welcome the opportunity to dress up, to look your best.

Angela

Who am I looking my best for?

Patty

For you! Of course this is for you! I mean, I don't...

Angela

Mom, just face the facts, okay?

Patty

What facts, what?

Angela

That I'm ugly, okay? Just face it -- I have.

Patty

How can you say that-- how can you possibly --

Angela

By looking in the mirror, okay? By looking at you, with the way you look at me.

Patty

How do I look at you?

Angela

By the way you instruct me on how to wash my face so I don't get zits. Like you have to fix me, like you're ashamed of me.

Patty

Oh, no -- Angela, sweetheart, no!

Angela

You expect me to beautiful, because you're beautiful. Well, I'm sorry -- I'm not. I'm just not.

Sharon

Why do girls have to tear each other down?

Angela

I guess 'cause they're jealous. I mean, I was. Of you. For having what you have.

Sharon

Do you know how many times this week I wished I had what you had?

Angela

But I don't have anything!

Sharon

Exactly.

Angela

Well, this really makes sense.

Sharon

I guess it just all boils down to what they used to drill into us at Girl Scouts.

Angela

What, sell more cookies?

Sharon

No! No, you know -- um...'What you are is' -- no, wait: 'What your gift is --'

Angela

Oh! No: 'What you have is God's gift to you, and what you do with what you have is your gift to God.'