Liberal Arts (2012)

Elizabeth Olsen: Zibby

Photos 

Quotes 

• Jesse Fisher : I believe in consequences.

  Zibby : No, you believe in guilt.

  Jesse Fisher : Maybe. But guilt before we act is called morality.

• Zibby : So, what was your major?

  Jesse Fisher : I was English, with a minor in history, just to make sure I was fully unemployable.

• Zibby : Try not to over-think things, okay?

  Jesse Fisher : Ah, you're talking to the wrong guy.

  Zibby : Well, look. We connect really well, don't you think?

  Jesse Fisher : We do, yeah. I just can't figure out if it's because you're advanced, or because I'm stunted.

  Zibby : It's because I'm advanced.

  Jesse Fisher : Maybe. But I'm also a little stunted.

• Zibby : I sometimes feel like I'm looking down on myself. Like there's this older, wiser me watching over this 19-year-old rough draft, who's full of all this potential, but has to live more to catch up with that other self somehow. And, uh, I know I'll get there. It's just sometimes I think I want to rush the process, you know? And I don't know, maybe, um - maybe I thought you were some sort of shortcut. Does that make any sense?

  Jesse Fisher : If I wrote you, I would be like, "This is the best rough draft ever."

• Zibby : [about vampire novel]  I liked it. It was fun and stupid. And it passed the time. And it's not Tolstoy, but it's also not television. And it made me happy. Now you...

  Jesse Fisher : Thank you... This - is the worst book - ever - written - in English.

  Zibby : So there are worse books written in other languages?

  Jesse Fisher : Probably not. Unless this book is translated into other languages.

• Zibby : How can you hate something if you've never read it? I mean, isn't that like what repressive regimes do? You want to burn books you don't like?

• Jesse Fisher : I feel different now than I felt when I was here, and I hate to break this to you, but so will you.

  Zibby : So you're saying things suck? I should prepare myself for suckiness?

  Jesse Fisher : No, a liberal arts education solves all your problems.

  Zibby : Thank God!

• Nat : Do you drink coffee?

  Zibby : Yeah...?

  Nat : What? That's crazy! So does my friend here. You two, tomorrow. Schhp... coffee.

  Zibby : Yeah, I could do that. Are you in too?

  Jesse Fisher : Um, I...

  [Nat gives him a boost] 

  Jesse Fisher : Uh, yeah, that'd be... that's great. Nine o'clock okay?

  Zibby : [laughs, then realizes]  Oh, you're serious? Is, uh, 11:30 okay...?

  Jesse Fisher : Uh, yeah... yeah, that works...

• Zibby : It doesn't bother me.

  Jesse Fisher : Well, it bothers me.

  Zibby : Well, it shouldn't. Age is a stupid thing to obsess over. What if reincarnation is real, huh? Think about that, What if I am like thousands of years older than you?

  Jesse Fisher : Okay, that's not really a sound argument.

  Zibby : Why not?

  Jesse Fisher : Because it's like saying what if reality is all an illusion, then there are no consequences to anything, we're completely off the hook... and I believe in consequences.

  Zibby : No, you believe in guilt.

  Jesse Fisher : Maybe, but guilt before we act is called morality.

• Jesse Fisher : I thought maybe you just improvised all day long.

  Zibby : Nope. I mean, I do, I guess. Have you ever thought about that?

  Jesse Fisher : About what?

  Zibby : How everything in life is basically improvised. There's no script. We're just making this up as we go.