Wit (2001 TV Movie)

Emma Thompson: Vivian Bearing

Photos 

Quotes 

• Vivian Bearing : After all, brevity is the soul of wit.

• Vivian Bearing : I trust this will have a soporific effect.

  Susie Monahan : I don't know about that, but it sure does make you sleepy.

  Vivian Bearing : [laughing] 

  Susie Monahan : What's so funny? What? What?

  Vivian Bearing : [laughing]  Soporific means "makes you sleepy".

• Vivian Bearing : One thing that can be said for an eight-month course of cancer treatment: it is highly educational. I am learning to suffer.

• Vivian Bearing : This is my play's last scene Here... Heavens appoint my pilgrimage's last mile And my race Idly, yet quickly run Hath this last pace My span's last inch My minute's last point And gluttonous death Will instantly unjoint my body and soul" John Donne... I've always particularly liked that poem. In the abstract. Now I find the image of my minute's last point, a little too, shall we say... pointed. I don't mean to complain but I am becoming very sick. Very sick. Ultimately sick, as it were. In everything I have done, I have been steadfast. Resolute. Some would say in the extreme. Now, as you can see, I am distinguishing myself in illness. I have survived eight treatments of Hexamethophosphacil and Vinplatin at the full dose, ladies and gentlemen. I have broken the record. I have become something of a celebrity. Kelekian and Jason are simply delighted. I think, they see celebrity status for themselves upon the appearance of the journal article, they will no doubt write about me. But I flatter myself. The article will not be about me, it will be about my ovaries. It will, be about my peritoneal cavity. Which, despite their best intentions, is now crawling with cancer. What we have come to think of as me is, in fact, just the specimen jar. Just the dust jacket. Just the white piece of paper... that bears the little black marks... My next line is supposed to be something like this: "It is such a relief to get back to my room after those infernal tests." This is hardly true. It would be a relief to be a cheerleader on her way to Daytona Beach for spring break. To get back to my room after those infernal tests is just the next thing that happens.

• Jason Posner : What do you do for exercise?

  Vivian Bearing : I pace.

• Vivian Bearing : I'm in terrible pain. Susie says i need to begin aggressive pain management if i'm going to stand it. It. Such a little word. I think in this case 'it' signifies 'being alive'.

• Vivian Bearing : Published *and* perished.

• Jason Posner : [conducting a medical history check]  Are you having sexual relations?

  Vivian Bearing : Not at the moment, no.