When a Man Loves a Woman (1994)

Andy Garcia: Michael Green

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Quotes 

• Michael Green : My wife is an alcoholic. Best person I ever met. She has 600 different smiles. They can light up your life. They can make you laugh out loud, just like that. They can even make you cry, just like that. That's just with her smiles. You'd have to see her with her kids. You'd have to see how they look at her, when she's not looking. To think of all the things she lives through, and I couldn't help her.

  Alice Green : Maybe helping wasn't your job.

  Michael Green : Well, it wasn't. See I love her. And I tried everything, except really listening, really listening, and that's how I left her alone. I was so ashamed of that, and I couldn't even tell her. Maybe if I tell her she'd love me anyway.

  Alice Green : Or more. She would have loved you even more. I think you should tell all this stuff to your wife.

• Michael Green : You are okay?

  Alice Green : Never better.

  Michael Green : What happened, something at A.A.?

  Alice Green : Uh... I'll be okay. It's just a really bad day.

  Michael Green : You wanna tell me what's wrong? Something I can do?

  Alice Green : Thank you, but...

  Michael Green : Can't fix it, unless we know it's broke.

  Alice Green : How was your meeting?

  Michael Green : First time, I'll get used to it. There was a lot of people there feeling sorry for themselves. It's like an alcoholic has ruined their lives and they'd rather be a victim than try and fix it.

  Alice Green : Fix it, huh?

  Michael Green : What'd I do now, Alice?

  Alice Green : Nothing, Michael. Nothing.

  Michael Green : am talking about some losers at my meeting. You're taking it personally.

  Alice Green : The trouble with al these losers at your meeting is that they are not perfect like some people. They're married to alcoholics who are bouncing off the walls and they don't know what the fuck to do. So you might have to be a little tolerant, give them the benefit of your expertise in problem solving.

  Michael Green : Good meeting huh? You guys drop acid or something?

  Alice Green : Like I said... I'm having a really bad day and I don't mean to take it out on you.

  Michael Green : What is it? You want a drink real bad?

  Alice Green : That wouldn't distinguish it from any other day, Michael.

  Michael Green : One of your friends fall of the wagon?

  Alice Green : Nothing happened, Michael. Nothing has to happen for me to have a bad day. That's the thrilling part of all this. It just comes and hits and runs me over like a goddamn freight train.

  Michael Green : Okay, when is the next freight train coming through? You got a printed schedule? Cause I could plan around these things, you know, and give you the space so you can, you know, smoke.

  Alice Green : Maybe you shouldn't have to, Michael. One of the women at my meetings is going to a half way house, because she is not making it in her home environment and I...

• Michael Green : Come on, let's be real. You're clean. You stay hopeless and confused. Keep polishing those skills. And I'll take the heat. 'Cause I got some needs of my own. When I touch my wife, I like it better if her skin doesn't crawl.

  [Alice tries to interrupt] 

  Michael Green : . My wife hurts. I need to be able to say 'What's wrong, honey? Something I can do? And I love you. So fuck me.'