# Eyes Wide Shut

Eyes Wide Shut is a 1999 film about a New York City doctor who pushes himself on a harrowing and dangerous night-long odyssey of sexual and moral discovery after his wife admits that she once almost cheated on him.
    Directed by Stanley Kubrick. Written by Stanley Kubrick and Frederic Raphael, based on the novella Traumnovelle (Dream Story) by Arthur Schnitzler.

## Dialogue

    Sandor: Don't you think one of the charms of marriage is that it makes deception a necessity for both parties? May I ask why a beautiful woman who could have any man in this room wants to be married?
    Alice: Why wouldn't she?
    Sandor: Is it as bad as that?
    Alice: As good as that!
    Alice: Tell me something. Those two girls... at the party last night... Did you, by any chance... happen to... fuck them?
    Bill: What!? What, are you talking about?
    Alice: I'm talking about the two girls that you were so blatantly hitting on.
    Bill: I wasn't hitting on anybody.
    Alice: Mmmmm. Who were they?
    Bill: They were just a couple of models.
    Alice: And where did you disappear to with them for so long?
    Bill: Wait a minute. Wait a minute. I didn't disappear... with anybody. Ziegler wasn't feeling too well... and I got called upstairs to see him. Anyway, who was the guy you were dancing with?
    Alice: [laughs] A friend of the Ziegler's.
    Bill: What did he want?
    Alice: What did he want? Oh, what did he want? Mmmm, sex... upstairs. [chuckles] Then and there.
    Bill: Is that all?
    Alice: Yeah. Yeah, that was all.
    Bill: Just wanted to fuck my wife.
    Alice: [laughs] That's right.
    Bill: I guess that's understandable.
    Alice: [confused] Understandable?
    Bill: Because you are a very, very beautiful woman.
    Alice: Whoa! Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait. So... because I'm a beautiful woman, the only reason any man ever wants to talk to me... is because he wants to fuck me? Is that what you're saying?
    Bill: Well, I don't... think its quite that black and white. But... but I think we both know what men are like.
    Alice: So, on that basis, I should conclude that you wanted to fuck those two models?
    Bill: There are exceptions.
    Alice: And what makes you an exception?
    Bill: What makes me an exception is that... I happen to be in love with you. And because we're married, and because I would never lie to you. Or hurt you.
    Alice: Do you realize... that what you're saying is that the only reason you wouldn't fuck those two models is out of consideration for me! Not because you really wouldn't want to!
    Bill: Lets just relax, Alice. This pot is making you aggressive.
    Alice: No! It's not the pot, it's you! Why can't you ever give me a straight fucking answer!?
    Bill: I was under the impression that's what I was doing. I don't even know who we're arguing about here.
    Alice: I'm not arguing. I'm just trying to find out where you're coming from.
    Bill: Where I'm coming from?
    Alice: Look, uh... let's say... Let's say, for example, you have some gorgeous woman, standing, in your office, naked and you're feeling her fucking tits. Now, what I want to know, I want to know what you're thinking about when you're squeezing them.
    Bill: Alice, I happen to be a doctor. It's always very impersonal and you know there's always a nurse present.
    Alice: So when you're feeling tits, it's nothing more than just your professionalism; is that what you're saying?
    Bill: Exactly! Sex is the last thing on my mind when I'm with a patient.
    Alice: Uh-huh. Now, when she is having her little titties squeezed, do you think she ever has any little fantasies about what handsome Dr. Bill's dickie might be like? Hmm?
    Bill: [scoffs] Come on, I can assure you sex is the last thing on this hypothetical woman patient's mind!
    Alice: And what makes you so sure?
    Bill: If for no better reason... because she's afraid of what I might find.
    Alice: Okay! Okay, so, so, so, after you tell her that everything's fine, what then?
    Bill: What then? Uh... I don't know, Alice... um... What then? Uh... look... women don't... They basically, just don't think like that.
    Alice: Millions of years of evolution, right? Right!? Men have to stick it in every place they can, but for women it's just about security, and commitment, and- and whatever the fuck else!
    Bill: A little oversimplified, Alice, but yes, something like that.
    Alice: If you men only knew.
    Bill: I'll tell you what I do know is you got a little stoned tonight, you've been trying to pick a fight with me, and now you're trying to make me jealous
    Alice: But you're not the jealous type, are you?
    Bill: No, I'm not!
    Alice: You've never been jealous about me, have you?
    Bill: No, I haven't.
    Alice: And why haven't you ever been jealous about me!?
    Bill: Well, I don't know, Alice! Maybe because you're my wife! Maybe because you're the mother of my child! And I know you would never be unfaithful to me.
    Alice: You are very, very sure of yourself, aren't you?
    Bill: No. I'm sure of you. [Alice bursts out laughing] Do you think that's funny? [she continues laughing] All right, fuck it. Now we get the fucking laughing fit, right!?
    Alice: [stops laughing] Do you... do remember last summer at Cape Cod?
    Bill: Yes.
    Alice: Do you remember one night in the dining room, there was this young naval officer and he was sitting near our table with two other officers?
    Bill: No.
    Alice: The waiter brought him a message during dinner, at which point he left. Nothing rings a bell?
    Bill: No.
    Alice: Well... I first saw him that morning in the lobby. He was- he was checking into the hotel and he was following the bellboy with his luggage... to the elevator. He... he glanced at me as he walked past; just a glance. Nothing more. And I... could hardly... move. That afternoon, Helena went to the movie with her friend and... you and I made love. And we made plans about our future. And we talked about Helena. And yet, at no time, was he ever out of my mind. And I thought that if he wanted me, even if it was only... for one night... I was ready to give up everything. You. Helena. My whole fucking future. Everything. And yet it was weird because at the same time, you were dearer to me than ever. And... and at that moment, my love for you was both... tender... and sad. I... I barely slept that night. And I woke up the next morning in a panic. I don’t know if I was afraid that he had left or that he might still be there. But by dinner... I realized he was gone. And I was relieved.
    Bill: You know what they say, once a doctor always a doctor.
    Nick: Yes, or in my case, never a doctor, never a doctor.
    Gayle: Do you know what's so nice about doctors?
    Bill: Usually a lot less than people imagine.
    Gayle: They always seem so knowledgeable.
    Bill: Oh, they are very knowledgeable about all sorts of things.
    Gayle: But I bet they work too hard. Just think of all they miss.
    Bill: You're probably right.
    Bill: Now, where exactly are we going... exactly?
    Gayle: Where the rainbow ends.
    Bill: Where the rainbow ends?
    Nuala: Don't you want to go where the rainbow ends?
    Bill: Well, now that depends where that is.
    Gayle: Well, let's find out.
    Red Cloak: [pleasantly] Please, come forward. May I have the password?
    Bill: Fidelio.
    Red Cloak: That's correct, sir! That is the password... for admittance. But may I ask, what is the password for the house?
    Bill: The password for the house...
    Red Cloak: Yes?
    Bill: I'm sorry. I... seem to have... forgotten it.
    Red Cloak: That's unfortunate! Because here, it makes no difference whether you have forgotten it, or whether you never knew it. You will kindly remove your mask. [Bill removes mask] Now, get undressed.
    Bill: [nervously] Get... undressed?
    Red Cloak: [sternly] Remove your clothes.
    Bill: Uh... gentlemen...
    Red Cloak: Remove your clothes. Or would you like us to do it for you?
    Ziegler: Listen... Bill... The reason I, uh, asked you to come over is I... I... I need to talk to you about something.
    Bill: Sure.
    Ziegler: It's a little bit awkward. And I have to be completely frank.
    Bill: What kind of problem you having?
    Ziegler: It isn't a medical problem. Actually... it concerns you. Bill... I... I know what happened last night. And I know what's been going on since then. And I think you just might... have the wrong idea about one or two things.
    Bill: I'm sorry, Victor. I, uh... what in the hell are you talking about? [chuckles]
    Ziegler: Please, Bill, no games. I was there. At the house. I saw everything that went on. Bill, what the hell did you think you were doing? I couldn't... I couldn't even begin to- to imagine how you- how you even heard about it, let alone got yourself through the door. Then I remembered seeing you with that- that- that- that prick piano player Nick whatever the fuck his name was at my party. And it didn't take much to figure out the rest.
    Bill: It wasn't Nick's fault. It was mine.
    Ziegler: Of course it was Nick's fault. If he hadn't mentioned it to you in the first place, none of this would've happened. I- I recommended that little cocksucker to those people and he's made me look like a complete asshole.
    Bill: Victor? What can I say? I... I had... absolutely... no idea you were involved in any way.
    Ziegler: I know you didn't, Bill. But I also know that you... you went to Nick's hotel this morning and talked to the desk clerk.
    Bill: How do you know that?
    Ziegler: Because I had you followed.
    Bill: You had me followed?
    Ziegler: I- Okay. Okay, I'm sorry. All right? I owe you an apology. This was for your own good, believe me. Now look, I know what the desk clerk told you, but what he didn't tell you is all they did was put Nick on a plane to Seattle. By now he's... he's probably back with his family, you know, banging Mrs. Nick.
    Bill: The clerk said he had a bruise on his face.
    Ziegler: Okay, he had a bruise on his face. That's a hell of a lot less than he deserves. Listen, Bill, I don't think you realize what kind of trouble you were in last night. Who do you think those people were? Those were not just ordinary people there. If I told you their names... I'm not gonna tell you their names, but if I did, I don't think you'll sleep so well.
    Bill: Was it the second password? Is that what gave me away?
    Ziegler: Yes, finally. But not because you didn't know it. It's because there was no second password. Of course, it didn't help a whole lot that those people arrived in limos and you showed up in a taxi. Or that when they took your coat, they found the receipt from the rental house in your pocket made out to you-know-who.
    Bill: There was a... there was a... there was, uh, a woman there. Who, uh... tried to warn me.
    Ziegler: I know.
    Bill: Do you know who she was?
    Ziegler: Yes. She was... she was a hooker. Sorry, but... that's what she was.
    Bill: A hooker?
    Ziegler: Bill, suppose I told you that... that everything that happened to you there... the threats, the- the girl's warnings, her last minute intervention, suppose I said that all of that... was staged. That it was a kind of charade. That it was fake.
    Bill: Fake?
    Ziegler: Yes, fake.
    Bill: Why would they do that?
    Ziegler: Why? In plain words... to scare the living shit out of you. To keep you quiet about where you'd been and what you'd seen.
    Bill: The woman lying dead in the morgue was the woman at the party.
    Ziegler: Yes.
    Bill: Well, Victor, maybe I'm missing something here. You call it fake, a charade... Do you mind telling me what kind of fucking charade ends up with somebody turning up dead!?
    Ziegler: Okay, Bill, let's cut the bullshit, alright? You've been way out of your depth for the last twenty-four hours. You want to know what kind of charade? I'll tell you exactly what kind. That whole play-acted "take me" sacrifice that you've been jerking off with had nothing to do with her real death. Nothing happened after you left that hadn't happened to her before. She got her brains fucked out. Period.
    Bill: Are you sure of that?
    Alice: Am I sure? Only as sure as I am that the reality of one night, let alone that of a whole lifetime, can ever be the whole truth.
    Bill: And no dream is ever just a dream.
    Alice: I do love you and you know there is something very important we need to do as soon as possible.
    Bill: What's that?
    Alice: Fuck.

## Cast

* Tom Cruise - Dr. William "Bill" Harford
* Nicole Kidman - Alice Harford
* Madison Eginton - Helena Harford
* Jackie Sawiris - Roz
* Sydney Pollack - Victor Ziegler
* Leslie Lowe - Illona Ziegler
* Todd Field - Nick Nightingale
* Sky Dumont - Sandor Szavost
* Louise J. Taylor - Gayle
* Stewart Thorndike - Nuala
* Julienne Davis - Amanda "Mandy" Curran
* Leelee Sobieski - Milich's Daughter
* Rade Serbedzija - Mr. Milich

## External links

* Eyes Wide Shut quotes at the Internet Movie Database
* Eyes Wide Shut at Rotten Tomatoes