Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989)

Laura San Giacomo: Cynthia

Photos 

Quotes 

• Cynthia : It's weird thinking about it now. The organ itself seemed like a, a separate thing, um, a separate entity to me. I mean, when he finally pulled it out, and I could look at it and touch it, I completely forgot that there was a guy attached to it. I remember literally being startled when the guy spoke to me.

  Graham : What did he say?

  Cynthia : He said my hand felt good.

  Graham : Then what happened.

  Cynthia : And then I started moving my hand - and then he stopped talkin'.

• Graham : So, I don't... I don't understand, uh, what made you want to come here. I can't imagine Ann painted a very flattering portrait of me.

  Cynthia : Yeah, well, see, um, I don't really listen to Ann when it comes to men. I mean, look at John, for Christ's sake.

• Cynthia : If Ann got freaked out by these, there must be something sexual: are these tapes of you having sex with these girls?

  Graham : No, not exactly.

  Cynthia : Well, either you are or your aren't; which is it?

  Graham : Why don't you let me tape you?

  Cynthia : Doing what?

  Graham : Talking.

  Cynthia : About what?

  Graham : About sex... your sexual history, sexual preferences.

  Cynthia : What makes you think I'd discuss that with you?

  Graham : Nothing.

  Cynthia : Hmm. And you just want to ask me questions?

  Graham : I just want to ask you questions.

  Cynthia : That's all.

  Graham : That's all.

  Cynthia : Is this how you get off or something? Taping women talking about their sexual experiences?

  Graham : Yes.

• John Mullany : Things are getting too complicated.

  Cynthia : No... they're gettin' real simple.

• John Mullany : By definition you're lying to Ann too.

  Cynthia : Yeah, right. But, I didn't take a vow in front of God and everyone to be faithful to Ann.

  John Mullany : Well, are we gonna do it or not?

• Cynthia : [entering Graham's apartment uninvited and unannounced]  I'm Cynthia Bishop

  Graham : [looking confused]  Who?

  Cynthia : [interrupting]  I'm Ann Mullaney's sister

  Graham : The extrovert

  Cynthia : She musta been in a good mood when she said that; she usually calls me 'loud.'

  Graham : She called you that too!

• Ann : Did he touch you?

  Cynthia : No.

  Ann : Did you touch him?

  Cynthia : No.

  Ann : Did anybody touch anybody?

  Cynthia : Well... yes.

  Ann : Don't tell me... don't tell me... don't tell me. You didn't!

  Cynthia : I did.

  Ann : You didn't!

  Cynthia : I did.

  Ann : You didn't!

  Cynthia : I did!

  Ann : God, Cynthia! You're in trouble.

  Cynthia : Listen to you. You sound like Mama.

• Cynthia : I'd trust him before I'd trust you.

  John Mullany : God, that hurts if you say that to me.

  Cynthia : Come on, John! You're fucking your wife's sister. You're a liar; but, at least I know you're a liar.

• Ann : Well, what did he ask exactly?

  Cynthia : Well, I don't want to tell you exactly.

  Ann : You let a total stranger record your sexual life on videotape, but you won't tell your own sister?

  Cynthia : Apparently.

• Cynthia : Ann, I don't understand why this freaks you out so much. You didn't do it, I did. And if it doesn't bother me, why should it bother you?

• John Mullany : [after a videotape interview with Graham, Cynthia is extremely horny and calls John] 

  [on the phone] 

  John Mullany : I got a client waiting. I've already rescheduled him once. I'll have to do some pretty heavy duty juggling.

  Cynthia : Then get those balls in the air and get your butt over here!

  [hangs up, John juggles] 

  John Mullany : [after some wild, passionate sex]  You're on fire today.

  Cynthia : Yes. You can go now.

• Cynthia : I was eight years old, and, um, Michael Green, who was also eight, asked if he could watch me take a pee... And I said he could if I could watch him take one, too. So we went to the woods behind my house. And I got this feeling he was chickenin' out cos he kept sayin' "Ladies first!" So I pulled down my little panties and urinated, and he ran away before I even finished.

  Graham : Was it a topic of conversation between you after that?

  Cynthia : No! He kind of avoided me for the rest of the summer, and then his family moved away... To Cleveland, actually.

  Graham : What a shame. When did you finally see a penis?

  Cynthia : When I was 14.

  Graham : So, what'd you think? Was it what you expected it to be?

  Cynthia : No. Not really. I - I didn't - I sort of pictured it - um - I didn't think it would have - veins or ridges or anything. I just thought it would be smooth like a test-tube.

• Ann : God, Cynthia, I couldn't even do that in front of John.

  Cynthia : You couldn't even do it period.

• Cynthia : Will anyone else see the tape?

  Graham : Absolutely not. Nobody else sees the tapes except for me.

  Cynthia : How long will it take.

  Graham : Well, that depends on you. One woman used up only three minutes and another used three two hour tapes.

  Cynthia : How do we start?

• Graham : I think John is a liar.

  Cynthia : I think you're right.

• Cynthia : Would you like me to take my skirt off?

  Graham : If you wish.

  [Cynthia removes her skirt] 

  Graham : You're not wearing any underwear.

• John Mullany : Maybe I don't want to leave. Maybe I want to talk.

  Cynthia : John, we don't have *anything* to talk about.

  John Mullany : Yeah, you're right.

• John Mullany : Did you have to masturbate in front of him?

  Cynthia : I felt like it! God damn, you and Ann make such a big deal out of it.

  John Mullany : You told her about this?

  Cynthia : Oh, yeah. She is my sister. I do tell her almost everything.

• Cynthia : You know, I'd like to do it at your house sometime. I must admit, the idea of doing it in my sister's bed gives me a perverse thrill.

• Ann : I brought you this. I knew it was your birthday.

  [Hands Cynthia a potted plant] 

  Cynthia : Thanks.

  Barfly : It's a nice plant. Looks like a tablecloth.

• John Mullany : [naked in bed]  I gotta go - I gotta go to the office.

  Cynthia : I only get one today? Oh, gee, how exciting.

  John Mullany : I already skipped one meeting, I gotta go get back.

  Cynthia : Look, John, if you want to leave, leave. My life doesn't revolve around these little get togethers. I mean, don't flatter yourself.

• John Mullany : [on the phone]  Cyndy, John. Will you be at my house in exactly one hour?

  Cynthia : You are *scum*. I'll be there.

• Cynthia : Even if I decided to fuck his brains out, what business is that of yours?

  Ann : Why do you have to say that?

  Cynthia : Say what?

  Ann : You know what. You say it just to irritate me.

  Cynthia : I say it because its descriptive.

• Ann : Cynthia, I don't think he's your type.

  Cynthia : My type. How would you know what my type is?

  Ann : Oh, I have a pretty good idea.

  Cynthia : Ann, you don't have a clue.

• Ann : Do whatever it is you do.

  Cynthia : "Do whatever it is you do" - listen to the way you talk.

• Ann : Did he ask you to take your clothes off?

  Cynthia : Did he ask me to take my clothes off? No, he didn't.

  Ann : Did you take your clothes off?

  Cynthia : Yes, I did.

  Ann : Cynthia!

  Cynthia : What?

  Ann : Why did you do that?

  Cynthia : Because I wanted to.

  Ann : But why did you want to?

  Cynthia : Because I wanted him to see me.

  Ann : You crazy - he can bounce it off some satellite. Some horny old men in South America could be watching it.

  Cynthia : Ann, he wouldn't do that!

  Ann : You don't know that for sure.

  Cynthia : Well, it's too late now, isn't it.

• Barfly : Are you an assassin?

  Cynthia : Excuse me?

  Barfly : You're just an errand boy - sent by the grocer - to collect the bill. It's my Brando. That's pretty good, isn't it? Marlon Brando?

• Cynthia : [on the phone]  He just asked me questions.

  Ann : What kind of questions?

  Cynthia : Questions - about - sex.

• Cynthia : Do you think I'm pretty.

  Graham : Yes.

  Cynthia : Prettier than Ann?

• Cynthia : Give me the Zen Master's address, I'll think of a reason to stop by.