Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) quotes

Director
Michel Gondry.

Cast
Jim Carrey.
Kate Winslet.
Tom Wilkinson.

When their relationship turns sour, a couple undergoes a procedure to have each other erased from their memories. But it is only through the process of loss that they discover what they had to begin with. 

Constantly talking isn’t necessarily communicating.
– Joel

[narration as Clementine acknowledges him by raising her coffee mug] Why do I fall in love with every woman I see who shows me the least bit of attention?
Joel

[first lines]
[voice over] random thoughts for Valentine’s day, 2004. Today is a holiday invented by greeting card companies to make people feel like crap.
Joel

This is it, Joel. It’s going to be gone soon.
Clementine
I know.

Joel
What do we do?

Clementine
Enjoy it.

Joel

How happy is the blameless vestal’s lot! / The world forgetting, by the world forgot / Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind! / Each pray’r accepted, and each wish resign’d.
Mary

I can’t see anything that I don’t like about you.
Joel
But you will! But you will. You know, you will think of things. And I’ll get bored with you and feel trapped because that’s what happens with me.

Clementine
Okay.

Joel

[in the house on the beach] I have to go. I have to catch my ride.
Joel
So go!

Clementine
I did. I thought maybe you were a nut… but you were exciting.

Joel
I wish you had stayed.

Clementine
I wish I had stayed too. NOW I wish I had stayed. I wish I had done a lot of things. I wish I had… I wish I had stayed. I do.

Joel
Well I came back downstairs and you were gone!

Clementine
I walked out, I walked out the door!

Joel
Why?

Clementine
I don’t know. I felt like a scared little kid, I was like… it was above my head, I don’t know.

Joel
You were scared?

Clementine
Yeah. I thought you knew that about me. I ran back to the bonfire, trying to outrun my humiliation, I think.

Joel
Was it something I said?

Clementine
Yeah… you said “so go.” With such disdain, you know?

Joel
Oh, I’m sorry.

Clementine
It’s okay.

Joel
[Walking Out]
Joely? What if you stayed this time?
Clementine
I walked out the door. There’s no memory left.

Joel
Come back and make up a good-bye at least. Let’s pretend we had one.

Clementine
[Joel comes back. Clementine walks down the stairs towards him]
Bye Joel.
Clementine
I love you.
Joel
Meet me… in Montauk…

Clementine

Adults are, like, this mess of sadness and phobias.
– Mary

Joely?
Clementine
Yeah Tangerine?

Joel
Am I ugly?

Clementine
Uh-uh.

Joel
When I was a kid, I thought I was. I can’t believe I’m crying already. Sometimes I think people don’t understand how lonely it is to be a kid, like you don’t matter. So, I’m eight, and I have these toys, these dolls. My favorite is this ugly girl doll who I call Clementine, and I keep yelling at her, “You can’t be ugly! Be pretty!” It’s weird, like if I can transform her, I would magically change, too.

Clementine
[kisses Clementine] You’re pretty.

Joel
Joely, don’t ever leave me.

Clementine
You’re pretty… you’re pretty… pretty…

Joel

Sand is overrated. It’s just tiny, little rocks.
– Joel

I could die right now, Clem. I’m just… happy. I’ve never felt that before. I’m just exactly where I want to be.
– Joel

What a loss to spend that much time with someone, only to find out that she’s a stranger.
– Joel

Sometimes I don’t think people realize how lonely it is to be a kid. Like… you don’t matter.
– Clementine

I had a really nice time last night.
Joel
Nice?

Clementine
I had the best fucking night of my entire fucking life, last night!

Joel
Thaaaat’s better!

Clementine

You don’t tell me things, Joel. I’m an open book. I tell you everything, every damn, embarrassing thing.
– Clementine

Blessed are the forgetful, for they get the better even of their blunders.
Mary
[they click glasses]

Nietzsche. Beyond Good and Evil. Found it in my Bartlett’s.
Mary

[whispers] Meet me… in Montauk…
– Clementine

Are we like those bored couples you feel sorry for in restaurants? Are we the dining dead? I can’t stand the idea of us being a couple people think that about.
– Joel

And in your wormy little brain. You try to figure out, “Did she fuck someone tonight?”
Clementine
No, see Clem. I assume you fucked someone tonight. Isn’t that how you get people to like you?

Joel

You know me, I’m impulsive.
Clementine
That’s what I love about you.

Joel

I can’t remember anything without you.
Joel
Aw, that’s… very sweet, but try.

Clementine

Maybe you can find yourself a nice antique rocking chair to die in.
– Clementine

I don’t need nice. I don’t need myself to be it, and I don’t need anybody else to be it at me.
– Clementine