# 28 Days

28 Days is a 2000 film about Gwen Cummings, a woman who is ordered to spend 28 days in rehab. While there, she must deal, not only with her own addictions, but with the sister whose wedding she ruined, her drunken boyfriend on the outside, and the crazy addicts that she meets on the inside.
    Directed by Betty Thomas. Written by Susannah Grant

## Gwen Cummings

* Well, there's my excuse. I'm late because my tits caught on fire.
* Thank God for bar cars.
* [After crashing into Lily's wedding cake and ruining it] Don't worry, I'll replace it. Okay?
* [Betty is confiscating inappropriate items from Gwen's bag] An eyelash curler? And what am I going to do with that? Stab myself? Curl my tongue to death?
* Yeah, I know I drink a lot, I know I do because I'm a writer and that's what I do, I drink. I'm not like those people out there, I can control myself! I can, if - that - if I wanted to, I could, if I wanted. I can! I can!
* You know, your carpet is filthy. And I only bring that up because carpet grit's responsible for a lot of major health problems. And that's the last thing that you need around here.
* Um, hey, um, listen, about the um, about that uh, jail thing... I-I-I- I can't. I-I I can't go. Um, uh, well, not because I don't want to go, but, um, it, uh, oh God, my hands, you know, they just keep doing that. That's not normal. I just-- there's something wrong with my hands-- um, well, with me. Cause, uh, what kind of person just jumps out of a- what kind of person jumps out of a window, you know? Because she can't sit still, you know? And be alone and, you know, in a room, without-- You know a person should be able to just be alone, right? You know, human beings should be able to just breathe. I can't breathe. And I feel that I think I know-- I think I know that if I go to jail... like this, you know, I'll die, and, uh, I don't wanna die.
* I am having a bad day! The worst damn day of my whole damn life! If it is not too much to ask will you all just back the fuck off!
* Oh, so our therapist today is a very large, smelly, beast of burden.
* I am so tired by the way you people talk. You know, I mean, "one day at a time." What is that? I mean, like two, three days at a time is an option?
* I'm not a lesbian!
* You don't have to live my shitty little life, and until you do, do not tell me to give up the one person who matters to me, okay! Because, I know, he's not perfect, but he's the one person that will show up, on my birthday, and he'll say, "I'm glad you were born!"
* Santa Cruz watcher!
* I understand. Marry a cute girl, move to the suburbs, spend your weekends mowing. You'll never want to do coke again.
* God, I love afternoons like this. You know what's missing in this afternoon? That I don't have a very dry vodka martini with two olives in a chilled glass. God, I miss that.
* Look, I know peoples perceptions of girls who screw other girls' boyfriends. I know what the world's perception is on someone who goes into a bar and realizes five hours later that I've left my three-year-old godson in the back of the car. I mean, people don't like people like that. They don't like-- I don't like people like that.

## Eddie Boone

* Promise me we were safe.
* You're not like, uh, one of them paternity suit kind of gals.
* I bet you can't sit still and be quiet for even one minute.
* [In response to the others learning that he follows a soap opera] I only work every fifth day. Hell else am I supposed to do with my time.
* You know, lately I've been lying awake at night thinking of all the dumb-ass things I've done when I was messed up. One night last year, at dinner, I threw up all over my glazed ham. Then I was thinking, "Well, maybe nobody noticed."
* Look, I messed up. I got riled up, and there isn't a lot I can do about it right now. Except I just want to say I'm sorry, and uh, you know, people make mistakes. If you can't handle that-- it you-- if you want to decide that, uh, my messing up means I'm not worth being your friend, then you aren't half as smart as you think you are.

## Jasper

* [Holding up a burnt bra] Is this yours, or mine?
* [At Gwen's rehab] Who the hell do you have to know to get a drink around here?
* Just break open the bread.
* This is so not how I saw this whole thing playing out!
* No one adult human being is happy! People are born, they have a limited amount of time going around thinking life is dandy but then, inevitably, tragedy strikes and they realize life equals loss! The whole point of the game is to minimize the pain caused by that equation! Now some people do it by having kids, or making money, or taking up coin collecting, and others do it by getting wasted. Letting that little switch in the head turn the hot light off and the cool light on.
* Everybody hurts everybody it's the human condition!
* I'll buy running shoes. We'll take up yoga-- or, jogging. You know, we'll be organized. Pay our bills, we'll floss our teeth. We won't set fire to the apartment anymore. I'll buy a goldfish, and we'll be like normal people.

## Lily Cummings

* Gwen, you make it impossible to love you.
* You wanna know how I feel, Gwen? How I've always felt around you? Small. You have this... way. You know, it's that mom thing. That amazing gravitational force. Even when she was a mess, the world noticed her. You have that. And I guess... I figured... that you always knew that. I don't know. When I went back home and I started thinking... and maybe you don't know that. About yourself, I mean. I mean, who would have told you? Not me. The only thing I ever told you was what a pain in the ass you were.

## Andrea

* Well, I'm not a fan of all soap operas. Just Santa Cruz. I mean, it's just an incredible show. I saw it the first time, um, when I was in the hospital a while ago after I got out of my first rehab center. There was this girl on the show, who's Darien. She was also hospitalized, and it was like I was staring at myself. I mean, not physically, cause I don't have the curly hair and stuff. I mean, this whole thing had happened with her. She'd actually been impregnated by her brother, but, she obviously didn't know it was her brother at the time, and... And I don't have a brother, but I have sisters... So it's really sort of, um, been an inspiration... for me. And, it's really, sort of, helped me stay sober... off and on...
* She didn't come. I waited all day for her. I did my hair.

## Cornell Shaw

* Yeah, you're an individual. The only person in the world who uses drugs and alcohol.
* Hey, listen. This isn't the last lousy day you're going to have here.
* Hi, my name is Cornell. I'm a drug addict, alcoholic, compulsive gambler-slash-liar.
* If that will make you happy, I will stop drinking. And then I would tell myself, "Tonight, I will not get wasted." And then something would happen. Or nothing would happen. And, uh, I'd get that feeling. I think you all know what that feeling is. When your skin is screaming and your hands are shaking. Uh, and your stomach feels like it wants to jump through your throat. And you know, that if anyone had a clue how wrong it felt to be sober, they wouldn't dream of asking you to stay that way. They would say, "Oh, geeze, I didn't know. Here. It's okay for you. Do that mound of cocaine. Have a drink. Have 20 drinks. Whatever you need to do to feel like a normal human being, you do it. And boy, I did it. I drank and I snorted, and I drank and I snorted, and drank and I snorted, and I did this day after day after day after night after night. And I didn't care about the consequences, because I knew they couldn't be half as bad as not using. And then one night, something happened. I woke up. I woke up on a sidewalk. And I had no idea where I was. I couldn't have told you the city I was in. And my head was pounding, and I looked down and my shirt is covered in blood. And as I'm lying there, wondering what happens next, I head a voice, and it said, "Man, this is not a way to live. This is a way to die."
* I like those spider plants, but whatever turns you on.

## Gerhardt

* [shouts] Oh my God! Look at my package!
* There's a time when you can share and you hold hands and be on the same path. But there's always a fork in the road... at some point. And sometimes you have to go on one part of the fork and they gotta go on the other part of the fork. [Sigh] Or just down the back part of the fork while you go forward. And they're like [Sigh] Or they got a salad fork and you have one of the big dinner forks and you have longer to go but they're like done because that's it, they're stuck on a piece of food, that they [Sigh]. Their dessert fork or like one of those, you know small little shrimp forks or crab forks and you're trying to get out a crab. They're like that and you're over here jumping to the huge serving fork or something like that, or a ladle, you know. [Sigh]
* Eddie, you surprise me.
* I have a question. Once we all leave, we have needs that are going to need to be filled... by people... physically... at times. How and when can we do that? Not how, just when?
* Oh. I killed the plant.
* What are you doing here? It's so good to see you! [Sobs]

## Betty

* We carry our own bags here, this isn't the Sheraton.
* No fraternization- that's romance and/or sex- between patients. Oh, and we chant here. Don't be put off by it. It's just some people prefer it to the serenity prayer.
* Don't forget tonight's lecture, at 8:30: "How many brain cells did I kill last night?"
* Tonight's lecture: Are you a blackout drunk, or don't you remember?
* Tonight's lecture: "I've worked all 12 steps, can I go home now?"
* Attention all patients. Tonight's lecture is, "What's wrong with celebrating sobriety by getting drunk."
* Don't miss tonight's lecture, "Is God an alcoholic?"

## Others

    Daniel: You're about as perceptive as Helen Keller.
    Imaginary Gwen to Gwen: You know you're screwed. Mm-hmm.
    Roshanda: I don't think you have niceness, you see, I don't feel niceness coming from you.
    Daniel: Oh, that would be a great idea. You could spread your negativity even further. You know, if you really tried, you could ruin the experience for the entire patient population!
    Dr Griffin: What do you want to bet, that child turns out to have a gambling problem?
    Oliver: And I'm a patron of the arts and diseases and cures and stuff. That's what I'm spending my money on. So I like to have a little bit of fun.

## Dialogue

    Gwen: Oh my God, what did we do last night?
    Jasper: Oh, the usual. Collected money for the poor little homeless children at the church bazaar. I think the vicar must have spiked the kool-aid.
    Gwen: That judge totally screwed me!
    Jasper: Hey, good morning!
    Gwen: This place is horrible. I should have picked that rehab center in the city. People chant.
    Jasper: They do what?
    Gwen: They chant here. They chant. If they think I'm chanting they've got a whole nother thing coming.
    Jasper: Oh, come on, it could be worse. It could be prison.
    Gwen: Oh, that's worse?
    Jasper: Well, you know, you never hear of anyone being raped with a plunger in rehab.
    Gwen: Well, no, you don't hear about it because they cover it up.
    Betty: All of these things will be returned to you when you check out. Except for the "Vickodin," which will be flushed. Smile!
    Gwen: It's Vicoden.
    Oliver: I'm thinking booze.
    Gerhardt: Cocaine
    Roshanda: Painkillers.
    Bobbie Jean: This is not a nice game.
    Oliver: Well?
    Gwen: Well what?
    Andrea: What's your drug of choice? Alcohol, Cocaine, Percodan, Heroin, Glue?
    Gwen: I have to pick just one?
    Oliver: I like your coat.
    Gwen: Thank you.
    Oliver: Is that leather?
    Gwen: Yes.
    Oliver: Not vinyl?
    Gwen: Nope.
    Oliver: You believe in killing animals?
    Gwen: Yes.
    Oliver: For clothing?
    Gwen: Absolutely.
    Oliver: So do I.
    [Flashback]
    Gwen's Mom: You girls are a lot of fun. And that's the most important thing. Cause if you're not having fun, Peanuts...
    Young Gwen and Lily together: What's the friggin' point!
    Cornell: You know, if your counselor catches you using, you could get kicked out.
    Gwen: Yeah, well, I don't plan on discussing it with him.
    Cornell: Too late.
    Gwen: Are you always this charming?
    Cornell: Do you always use humor to deflect things when you're uncomfortable?
    Gwen: Do you always use insight to disarm your new recruits?
    [Gwen accidentally pushes the elevator button and it opens to reveal Oliver and an almost naked girl.]
    Gwen: Oookay.
    Oliver: Going down?
    Gwen: Uh-uh.
    [Jasper visits Gwen in rehab and brings her Vicodin.]
    Jasper: I'm gonna get you out of here.
    Gwen: I'm not supposed to leave.
    Jasper: You're not supposed to have mommy's little helper in your pocket either.
    Eddie: [Carrying Gwen in from outside] Eddie Boone, checking in.
    Night Tech: You can't bring a girl into treatment with you, Eddie.
    Eddie: I wasn't gonna keep her.
    Gwen: You don't honestly think I'm going to jail, do you?
    Cornell: No? For driving drunk, crashing into a house, knocking over a lawn jockey that could have been a four-year-old child?
    Gwen: Yeah, but it wasn't, it was a four-year-old lawn jockey.
    Eddie: Nothing personal. I just made myself a little promise: no more endin' up naked with some girl I don't even know what her name is.
    Gwen: That's a noble goal and I wish you the very best of luck with it.
    Aunt Helen: You mother has passed on.
    Young Gwen: That's okay. Just slap her real hard, and she'll wake up.
    Gwen: Why do you want me Jasper? I am such a mess.
    Jasper: Maybe I like mess.
    [After Andrea has cut herself]
    Andrea: Just so you know, I wasn't trying to off myself or anything.
    Gwen: Okay.
    Andrea: It's just something I do sometimes.
    Gwen: Doesn't it hurt?
    Andrea: Feels better.
    Gwen: Than what?
    Andrea: Everything else.
    Gwen: Believe it or not, I can make this decision on my own, okay? I don't need your help.
    Gerhardt: That's not what your neck sign says.
    Gwen: Oh, forget what my neck sign says!
    Gwen: Andrea, does the phrase in confidence mean anything to you?
    Andrea: You never said not to tell.
    Gwen: From my sister. She's coming to family sessions.
    Eddie: That's good.
    Gwen: No. I would pay very good money not to hear what she has to say.
    Gwen: It's a tautology... it is what it is, be cause it is what it is... Like, why is the sky blue, because it reflects off the ocean, well why is the ocean blue, because it reflects off the sky.
    Eddie: Who are you talking to?
    Gwen: I don't know
    Eddie: He'll get over it. Falcon will be back, better than ever.
    Andrea: No, no, Falcon's leaving the show.
    Gwen: He's having brain clusters!
    Evelyn: We've gotten off track here. Lily. Lily! Think about Gwen's behavior at your wedding, and tell her now, how you feel.
    Gwen: Yeah. Lily, how does it make you feel?
    Lily: This is just-- This is-- I don't need this... I have a life.
    [Lily storms off. Enter flashback, the girls run into the house.]
    Young Gwen: Lily, wait for me!
    Young Lily: Beat ya.
    Bobbie Jean: Oh! I got and eyelash. Make a wish.
    Roshanda: [Sigh] Custody of my kids.
    Gerhardt: Sobriety
    Roshanda: Oh, come on baby, we all want that. Think of something else.
    Gerhardt: My foreskin back. No one asked me before they took it. They just took it.
    Oliver: Way to share, Gerhardt, way to share.
    Daniel as Announcer: And now, Santa Booze
    Gwen as Darien: Oh Falcon, I'm so afraid. When they find I've taken you out of the hospital, mother and Dr. Griffin Hartley are sure to come here. What will we do?
    [Gerhardt pulls Gwen across his hospital bed]
    Gerhardt as Falcon: If I can't be without you-
    Gwen: [Whispering] --with you.
    Gerhardt as Falcon: It I can't be with you, I would rather be dead.
    [They kiss passionately. Gerhardt pushes her away]
    Gerhardt as Falcon: Oh, but dear God, the tiny clusters of tumors in my brain!
    Gwen as Darien: Oh God, the tiny little clusters of tumors in his brain, somebody help! Oh, God!
    Bobbie Jean as Deirdre: Falcon, Darien, your lover, is also your sister!
    Gerhardt as Falcon: No!
    Gwen: [Whispering] It is not possible.
    Gerhardt as Falcon: It is not possible!
    Oliver as Dr. Griffin: Deirdre, darling, I have some bad news. Your daughter, Darien, Falcon's lover and sister is also carrying my baby.
    Bobbie Jean as Deirdre: No!
    Gerhardt as Falcon: No!
    Gerhardt as Falcon: Oh, but, no! My tumors!
    Oliver as Dr. Griffin: It's the, uh, melio-- meli--
    Daniel: Melagioma Nestocytroma
    Oliver as Dr. Griffin: Well, whatever. Look, there's nothing I can do. [Gerhardt grabs his collar] What-- what are you doing?
    Gerhardt as Falcon: It says in the script that we're supposed to kiss.
    Oliver as Dr. Griffin: Uh, Andrea, I like ya. Bon voyage. I'm not kissing Gerhardt.
    Eddie: Well, I'll leave you guys to it then.
    Jasper: Well I don't know about that. I mean, let's think this through. I mean, the way I see it, Gwennie, we've got two options here. Scenario number one, we let Eddie from Oklahoma head back to the showers and wash off all that very manly sweat, and you and I can bullshit our way through the afternoon. Or, scenario number two, we can all acknowledge the awkward situation in which we find ourselves!"
    Gwen: I have no idea what you're talking about.
    Jasper: Well that's a clear vote for scenario number one. How about you, Eddie from Oklahoma? Care to weigh in? Abstaining? Interesting. Well, I guess that leaves only me in favor of calling a spade a spade and saying, "Pardon me, sir, but I'd prefer it if you wouldn't sleep with my fiancé."
    Gwen: Jasper!
    Eddie: You got the wrong idea, here, pal.
    Jasper: Don't call me pal. I mean, I'm not your pal. And don't treat me like an idiot, do me that one courtesy, please, cause I'm not that either. In fact, I've got more brain cells than your entire redneck family, all put together!
    Gwen: Jasper don't be a jerk.
    Jasper: Gwen, don't be a slut.
    Shop Owner: Sir, I can't replace the plant just because you killed it.
    Gerhardt: I did not kill this plant, it was sick or something. I gave it everything. I was talking to it, telling it stories. I drew a sketch of it, and put it on my refrigerator.
    Shop Owner: Did you water it?
    Gerhardt: I-- I have-- It's important that I did not kill this plant, you understand? So if you're just saying that because that's how you're making your excuse, you have got to understand-- You can't mess with-- I'm never gonna get laid. [Sobs] You obviously don't care. And that's one thing I do, is care. I feel sorry for all the plants in here. I'm going home.

## Neck Signs

    Bobbie Jean's neck sign: Confront me if I people please.
    Gwen's neck sign: Confront me if I don't ask for help.
    Gerhardt's neck sign: No male contact.
    Roshanda's neck sign for Andrea: Sometimes you gotta kiss ass, before you can kick it.
    Gerhardt's neck sign for Andrea: It's the engine that kills ya, not the caboose.
    Oliver's neck sign for Andrea: Make love, not war.
    Gwen's neck sign for Andrea: Don't ever be someone's slogan, 'cause you are poetry.

## Cast

* Sandra Bullock - Gwen Cummings
* Viggo Mortensen - Eddie Boone
* Dominic West - Jasper
* Elizabeth Perkins - Lily Cummings
* Azura Skye - Andrea
* Steve Buscemi - Cornell Shaw
* Alan Tudyk - Gerhardt
* Mike O'Malley - Oliver
* Marianne Jean-Baptiste - Roshanda
* Reni Santoni - Daniel
* Diane Ladd - Bobbie Jean
* Margo Martindale - Betty

## External links

* 28 Days quotes at the Internet Movie Database