Defending Your Life Page #8

Synopsis: Yuppie Daniel Miller is killed in a car accident and goes to Judgment City, a waiting room for the afterlife. During the day, he must prove in a courtroom-style process that he successfully overcame his fears (a hard task, given the pitiful life we are shown); at night, he falls in love with Julia, the only other young person in town. Nights are a time of hedonistic pleasure, since you can (for instance) eat all you want without getting fat.
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
Director(s): Albert Brooks
Production: Warner Home Video
  5 nominations.
 
IMDB:
7.3
Rotten Tomatoes:
97%
PG
Year:
1991
112 min
4,743 Views


Want to spend the night with me?

More than anything in the world.

Good. Come on, let's go.

I don't think I can. I don't think I should.

Why?

Because.

This is already better

than any sex I've ever had. Ever.

I don't want to screw it up. Literally.

-How do you know what will happen?

-I don't.

Let's say it's the most amazing thing ever.

Then what will I do?

I doubt we're going to the same place.

So, I'll just have to miss it

forever and ever?

And what if it's not so good?

I won't be able to fantasize about it.

I love you.

If I had a fire scene like you,

I would feel differently.

I'd stay here. I'd never leave.

But I've been defending myself so hard...

...and I don't want to be judged anymore.

I have this wonderful feeling inside of me,

but I'm...

I'm just tired of being judged.

It's okay.

-I'll miss you.

-I'll miss you so much.

I love you, Daniel.

I'll miss you.

I should go.

Can you get me the Majestic Hotel?

Yes, Julia.

My God, I don't know her last name!

Excuse me?

I am in love with a woman in your hotel

and I don't know her last name.

What's her first name?

We have two Julias.

Both have "Do Not Disturb" signs on.

Can you ring through? It's important.

I'm not allowed to do that.

But it's very important.

I'm sorry.

Can I leave a message then?

For both of them.

Go ahead, sir.

Tell them both that...

...l love them more than life itself.

I've never met anybody like them...

...and I'll miss them forever and ever.

Is that all, sir?

That's all.

Has Mr. Miller overcome his fears,

Your Honors?

I believe my final summation scene...

...will prove to you that he has.

Your middle-thirties were not very good

for you, were they?

A bad divorce left you

with virtually nothing financially.

You had about $9,000 to your name,

correct?

Months before your divorce...

...you and your wife purchased tickets

to Hong Kong.

You were going to go together...

...but after the separation,

she cashed hers in.

What did you do with yours?

I used it.

He used it.

With only $9,000 to his name...

...with his life in a rut,

he didn't do the safe thing.

He could have cashed in his ticket.

But he said,

"To hell with it, I'm going to Hong Kong."

That alone, in my book, takes a lot of guts.

But, Your Honors, it just begins there.

Let us go to 36-9-16.

Los Angeles lnternational Airport.

You're in seat 41 B.

Between A and C.

Yes, it is.

I'm sitting between people

all the way to Asia?

Yes, you are.

Is coach completely full?

Oh, yes.

Any space left in first class?

There's one seat left.

-What's the price difference?

-Round-trip?

It's an additional $3,194.

I'll take it.

This man just spent one-third...

...of his entire life savings

to be more comfortable.

What does that say?

As stressed out and crazy

as his life was at that moment...

...the little boy inside him cried out:

"I need this. Don't worry about money.

We'll get it back. Be nice to me."

And he was.

I feel Mr. Miller is sufficiently past

the fears...

...that would keep him from being

a remarkable citizen of the Universe.

I wholeheartedly recommend

full onward movement.

I rest.

Miss Foster, you're up.

At this point, I would like to show

my final summation scene.

Proceed.

My scene takes place not there, but here.

We're showing something from here?

Yes, we are.

I was told we're not doing that anymore.

No one told you that.

What are we seeing?

Something from last night.

Please watch this

and tell me what you were feeling.

Want to spend the night with me?

More than anything in the world.

I don't think I can.

I don't think I should.

Why?

If I had a fire scene like you,

I'd feel differently.

I'd stay here. I'd never leave.

But I've been defending myself so hard...

...and I don't want to be judged anymore.

I have this wonderful feeling inside of me,

but I'm...

I'm just tired of being judged.

You genuinely feel for this woman,

don't you?

Why didn't you stay with her?

I was afraid.

Louder.

I was afraid.

I rest.

This is a new one on me.

Sex with somebody and move right on.

Is that how it works, Miss Foster?

You're not very understanding

about the world Mr. Miller came from.

It's filled with problems

you no longer have:

Deadly diseases,

confusing identities, changing attitudes.

Perhaps he was worried

about getting a disease.

Were you worried about getting a disease?

I didn't think she had a disease. No.

But you didn't know.

We're getting off the point.

We've never been near the point!

You're getting him both ways!

When he's brave and then does something

you don't like, you show the follow-up.

Or you blame him for not having any.

This is an example of something

he wanted to do. And he didn't...

...because he was afraid.

This was just last night.

You know what I think we just watched?

I think we just watched a man who was

caring of another human being's feelings.

He didn't know what this experience

would do to her, so he was careful.

But you blame him for it.

I praise him for it.

You call it "fear." I call it "thoughtfulness."

To be caring about someone else's feelings.

I'm sorry,

but I hope we all can have that quality.

Your final summation, please.

I think it was thoughtfulness.

I'd like to say something

about this disease.

Your Honors,

I didn't think Julia had a disease.

But right now on Earth...

...they're filling our heads

with these terrible things.

They tell you over and over

you're not sleeping with one person.

You're sleeping with everyone

they've ever slept with.

Now that I've been

to the Past Lives Pavilion...

...that could be 20 to 30,000 people.

As far as my life is concerned,

I truly believe I turned the corner.

I know I had a few fears left,

but I was taken very young.

I could've conquered them.

If you see fit to let me move forward...

...l promise you, I will do the best I can.

I will work very hard,

I'll do whatever is asked.

I'll do the best I can.

Honestly. I will.

I'll do the best I can.

Is that all?

Please just know that I'll--

Do the best you can?

Good.

That's all.

It was nice to meet you. Good luck.

That's it.

Let's go back to my office.

We'll know in 30 minutes.

Judgment's in.

It's early.

-Is that good?

-It's not good or bad.

They don't waste any time.

They must need the hotel space.

How do you like our city?

We do a pretty good job here.

How was the ltalian restaurant?

What does it say?

You're going back.

Can I say something?

Because they're sending you back

doesn't mean they're right.

They can make mistakes.

Don't let others get to you.

Just follow what's in here.

Come on. I'll take you to the station.

Trams 7 and 8 to onward destinations...

I'll never get over it.

The organization is amazing.

All these different trams going everywhere.

These are yours.

Your boarding card, various ID.

The things you'll need.

You won't remember any of this,

so you won't kick yourself forever.

Just take the opportunities

Rate this script:4.5 / 16 votes

Albert Brooks

Albert Lawrence Brooks (born Einstein; July 22, 1947) is an American actor, comedian, writer, and director. He received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for 1987's Broadcast News and was widely praised for his performance in the 2011 film Drive. His voice acting credits include Marlin in Finding Nemo (2003) and Finding Dory (2016), and recurring guest voices for The Simpsons, including Russ Cargill in The Simpsons Movie (2007). He has directed, written, and starred in several comedy films, such as Modern Romance (1981), Lost in America (1985), and Defending Your Life (1991). He is also the author of 2030: The Real Story of What Happens to America (2011). more…

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Submitted on August 05, 2018

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