James White (2015)

Christopher Abbott: James White

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Quotes 

• James White : I am not going to drink. And I am not going to smoke. I'm going to write and I'm going to meditate and I'm going to eat healthy and I'm going to swim and I'm going to work out and I'm going to write about all those feelings that are welled up inside me and when I get back I will get a place and a job but I need to go away. And when I come back I will be ready for life.

• Gail White : James?

  [pause] 

  Gail White : Remember how when you were a kid, you had that... box of 96 crayons, and you will take it with you everywhere? Just draw... all the time?

  James White : Ah, vaguely, yeah.

  Gail White : Most kids just, had their box of 8. Well, I had 96 too... and the thing about us is, we feel good things way up here, but we feel bad things way, way, way down there... and we gotta try and remember... it's all that space in between. We gotta try and live in there, too... Right?

  James White : Yeah.

  [pause] 

  Gail White : We never talk about your dad.

  James White : No. No we haven't.

  Gail White : Well... without him, I wouldn't have you.

  James White : Yeah.

  Gail White : You should get some more sleep.

  James White : No I'm fine. I'll just part down for 5 minutes, then I'll go home and take a shower.

  Gail White : Please do.

  James White : [laughs]  Fine.

• James White : Your stem cell transplants and your steroids. Who fought for you? I am your son and that is what I'm supposed to do. And I'm happy to be here because I love you.

• [repeated line] 

  James White : What am I supposed to do?

• James White : Mom, c'mon seriously.

  Gail White : It's 2013, an the president is... *Obama*.

• Gail White : It feels like someplace else in here.

  James White : Yeah.

  Gail White : It's nice.

  James White : Yeah.

  Gail White : I just got to sit a minute.

  James White : Close your eyes. Take a deep breath in, exhale all the negative out. Deep breath. Push it all out.

  [both breathing] 

  James White : Cancer's gone. You beat it. Where do you want to be?

  Gail White : Paris.

  James White : Hear the sounds of the streets, the cars on the street, the wind. Relax your mind. My wife and I move there. We got two beautiful boys. You live next door in a beautiful one bedroom. You have all your books.

  Gail White : I want some Billie.

  James White : You show my children all the museums on Sundays. You teach them about everything. We have dinner at my house every Friday as a family. Smell the flowers in the flower market. See the Louvre. See Rodin in the garden. See me happy. Seeing me as a father. See me as a kind and loving man. See me smile to see you so happy. My children love their grandma. You watch them grow up, you tell them my secrets when they're old enough. You meet a man you love. He's French.

  Gail White : Expert.

  James White : What?

  Gail White : Expert.

  James White : Expert. He's an expert. He's a wonderful man that fits perfectly in our family. He loves you. He inspires you. He values you. He holds your hand through everything. He's adventurous. He loves you. You're surrounded by people you love and who love you. You're safe. You're responsible for all of this beauty. Thank you. Thank you for giving me this life and helping me create this for myself.

  [pause] 

  James White : You want to try getting up?

  Gail White : No. I just want to stay here.

  James White : Ok.