Damsels in Distress (2011)

Greta Gerwig: Violet

Photos 

Quotes 

• Violet : Do you know what's the major problem in contemporary social life? The tendency to always seek someone cooler than yourself.

• Violet : I don't really like the word "depressed". I prefer to say I'm in a tailspin.

• Violet : [about their college]  There's enough material here for a lifetime of social work.

• Violet : We're also trying to make a difference in people's lives, and one way to do that is to stop them from killing themselves.

• Depressed Debbie : [Angry]  You think I'm going to kill myself and make you look bad?

  Violet : I'm worried that you'll kill yourself and make yourself look bad.

• Fred Packenstacker : I wasn't just buying drinks for people; they were for cute girls. There was a perfectly rational, logical, easily-explainable agenda.

  Violet : [Smiling slightly]  So it *was* a playboy or operator move.

  Fred Packenstacker : Of course. Transparently so.

  Violet : I admire that. Drinks are expensive.

• Violet : I took the commuter train to Villa Franka and I checked into a cheap motel there.

  Rose : The Motel Six?

  Violet : No, the Motel 4. It's even less expensive.

  Rose : The Motel 4, in Villa Franka? My god, you really were suicidal.

• Violet : Poor Lily. Just think of all Xavier put her through. He just used her body. And not even the right side.

• Violet : [From Trailer]  Our aspirations are pretty basic - take a guy who hasn't realized his full potential - or doesn't even have much...

  Heather : Someone like Frank!

  Violet : Yes. Then help them realize it or find more.

• Heather : [to Lily]  Speaking of suicide prevention, do you have a boyfriend, Lily?

  Rose : Are you dating anyone?

  Lily : I don't see the connection.

  Heather : You don't?

  Violet : Boyfriends are a primary suicide risk.

• Priss : [Crying]  He used to gaze at me with such love in his eyes. Know what I mean?

  Violet : No. No, I've never actually seen that.

• Violet : [about Priss' ex-boyfriend]  Was Josh handsome?

  Priss : [crying]  Yes

  Violet : That's a problem.

• Violet : Have you ever heard the expression, prevention is nine-tenths the cure? Well in the case of suicide, it's actually ten-tenths the cure.

• Violet : Are you...

  [whispers] 

  Violet : ... gay?

  Fred Packenstacker : Not especially. But in another era it might have had some appeal.

• Rose : [about Roberts Hall]  Suicidal Ed. students have been going to the roof and throwing themselves off.

  Violet : But it's only two stories.

  Rose : Yes I know, it's horrible. Not high enough enough to kill, but high enough to maim. And particularly dangerous for the people below.

• Heather : [about Lily's friend]  " Zavier " with a " Z? "

  Lily : No, I think it's with an "X."

  Heather : No, I'm certain it's a "Z." " Zavier " Like " Zorro. " It's the same sound.

  [Draws a "Z" in the air with her finger] 

  Heather : Zorro marked his name with a "Z."

  Lily : It's an "X."

  Heather : But Zorro's with a "Z." I t's the same.

  Violet : Okay, let's see if we can figure this out. Used at the beginning of a name, " Z " and "X" have the same pronunciation.

  Heather : But it's Zorro- with a "Z."

  Violet : Actually there were two " Zorros. " One spelt his name with a " Z " and made a " Z " mark for Zorro , the other one spelled him name with an "X" and with his sword he'd make an "X" mark . What was really unfair was that, because he marked his name with an "X", everybody assumed he was illiterate, when actually he was spelling correctly

• Violet : We get a lot of students coming to the center pretending to be depressed to get the donuts.

  Rose : Confidence tricksters!

  Violet : Yes, it's really bad, really cynical. And we made a pledge the donut company that we would only give the donuts to students who were depressed, suicidal or otherwise nutty. We're a non-profit, so the rules are pretty strict.

• Heather : Doar dorm has the university's highest fatality rate as well as the worst hygiene.

  Lily : Highest suicide rate.

  Violet : No, the highest fatality rate. It's not certain what percentage were intentional and how many were just due to a temporary unawareness of gravity's laws.

• Violet : Unkind, self-righteous and pedantic. In short, a model journalist.

• Violet : This scent and this soap... is what gives me hope.

• Heather : Violet's identity is made up. I don't think she's crazy.

  Violet : No, I am.

• Violet : When you have problems yourself, it's great to hear about someone else's truly idiotic ones, please go on.

  Heather : Wow!

  Violet : What?

  Heather : When you said that about depressed people being mean, you weren't joking.

• Violet : It's very dangerous, parents letting their children travel. They send them off to the airport and they don't know what they'll be getting back.

• Lily : What's the plural of doofus?

  Violet : Doufi.

  Lily : Not doofuses?

  Violet : You can say either... 'doufi' respects the Latin root and so is preferred. 'Doofuses' is also correct, although a bit inelegant.

  Lily : You've thought a lot about this.

  Violet : Yes, I've had to.

• Violet : Hello! Are you a new student?

  Lily : Yes.

  Violet : Good, we thought so. We'd like to help you.

• Violet : What would you say are the most effective means to fight depression?

  Thor : Beer?

  Frank : No, beer's a downer! Cocktails! Hard liqueur and spirits is what really gives you a lift.

• Violet : Seven Oaks is the last of the Select Seven to go co-ed. An atmosphere of male barbarism predominates. We're going to change that.

• Violet : [to Jimbo, who she believes is depressed]  Did you know that a good-smelling environment is crucial to our overall sense of well-being? Have you considered finding a better-smelling place to live?

• Violet : [about Fred/Charlie]  He's lying. I find that *very* attractive.

• Mad Madge : [Violet is practicing her tap routine]  What do you think you're doing?

  Violet : I'm sorry, did I disturb you?

  Mad Madge : Why are you wearing tap shoes? Are you out of your mind?

  Violet : I think that's pretty clear...

• Violet : Rose has a very sensitive nose. Have you heard of "nasal shock syndrome?" Any harsh, acrid, or just "disgusting" odor sends Rose into nasal shock

  Rose : This wasn't true nasal shock. Had it been, I'd've lost consciousness entirely.

  Lily : Just from some b.o.?

  Violet : "Just some b.o .?" Omigod, Lily, you must have a very high threshold for pain! That'll serve you well here at Seven Oaks!

• Violet : I'm not convinced that having a "Suicide Prevention Center" prevents any suicides.

  Rose : Well, the coffee's good.

  Lily : If someone were really determined to destroy themselves, I don't think they'd stop for coffee.

  Heather : I suppose it depends on what it tastes like.

• Violet : We've gotta keep in mind that these guys are young people. They're essentially immature and... crying out for help and guidance.

  Rose : Though they don't know it.

  Heather : No, they don't, but we do.

  Lily : Um, but aren't they the same age as we are?

  Rose : Only numerically.

• Violet : It's very hard for beautiful women to experience rejection.

• Violet : What scent are you wearing?

  Depressed Debbie : What are you talking about?

  Violet : The perfume that you're wearing.

  Depressed Debbie : *I'm not wearing any perfume!*

  Violet : You see, that could be the problem.

• Violet : I know that people can have useful careers in many areas - medicine, government, law, finance...

  Rose : Education.

  Violet : Yes, even education. But I'd like to do something especially significant in my lifetime, the sort of thing that could change the course of human history, such as starting a new dance craze.

• [after all the fraternities get shut down] 

  Violet : This year's Roman Holidays did seem like the end of civilization. But even when civilization ends, people are going to need a place to stay.