“Donald the Normal” quotes from Rectify

[joining him in front of a painting] What do you think?

Daniel Holden

What do I think? Well, I think I have looked at this painting for so long in a in a book that somehow my brain has trivialized it. And, uh, now as I stand here in front of the real thing, I feel, if anything, disappointment.

Oh, that's too bad.

Daniel Holden

Well, not at the painting itself. More at my brain, I guess.

I think the brain's afraid of being in a state of constant wonder. It's for safety reasons or something.

Daniel Holden

I suppose it's inevitable.

Usually by the time we're four.

Daniel Holden

Then there's the the issue of great expectations.

Something the brain doesn't seem the least bit interested in protecting us from.

Daniel Holden

[chuckles] No.

Well, I think we should reinstate wonder, banish expectation.

Daniel Holden

I concur.

Why does everything got to be so goddamn polite in this relationship?

Tawney Talbot

Do you want me to start talking like you, Teddy? That make you happy?

Daniel Holden

Mrs. Whitman?

Yes, Daniel.

Daniel Holden

Thank you for, um well, for Kerwin. He was a good person, and he was my friend. I miss him every day.

Donald, are you in A.A.?

Daniel Holden

Uh, no.

Well, thank God. We've lost so many to them.

Why on earth would you memorize Tobias Wolff's "Bullet in the Brain"?

It's a short story, Florine.

I don't care if it was a haiku. It was sad enough to read. It'd be torture to memorize.

Daniel Holden

No, it was it was calming, actually.

Okay. More please.

Daniel Holden

I don't know why, exactly. Well, it was it was during a period of my life where I was having some difficulties dealing with the passage of time, in a traditional sense. And since Mr. Wolff's short story deals partly with the bending of time, well, in memorizing it, or in taking the action of memorizing it, I too was able to bend time, in a way. Or at least... experience... it differently.

Nicely defended, Donald.