Defending Your Life Page #5

Synopsis: Yuppie Daniel Miller is killed in a car accident and goes to Judgment City, a waiting room for the afterlife. During the day, he must prove in a courtroom-style process that he successfully overcame his fears (a hard task, given the pitiful life we are shown); at night, he falls in love with Julia, the only other young person in town. Nights are a time of hedonistic pleasure, since you can (for instance) eat all you want without getting fat.
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
Director(s): Albert Brooks
Production: Warner Home Video
  5 nominations.
 
IMDB:
7.3
Rotten Tomatoes:
97%
PG
Year:
1991
112 min
4,289 Views


This isn't a good or a bad thing.

I'm merely curious.

I'm sure I could have given more.

I gave a lot to street people,

but you never get a receipt.

How much do you have to give?

What's the total?

Don't worry.

Relax.

There was one person

you were really cheap with.

Over and over again.

I wish you'd been more generous with him.

Who?

You.

-I got to go.

-Where do you go now?

You wouldn't understand.

That's not an insult. I mean it literally.

Get out tonight. Have some fun.

You know what you might try?

Get over to the Past Lives Pavilion.

What is that?

It's where you see

the people you've been before.

You see yourself in other lives?

Most people love it,

but some it makes nauseous.

Don't worry about it.

Take care.

Want to take that chicken with you?

They love putting things in bags.

If you need to talk to me at any time,

just call.

-I never sleep.

-Never?

I do have a question.

I'll call you later.

You're already checked in. You have

nothing to worry about tonight.

Everything will be explained to you

in the morning.

If I told you how old this man was,

you wouldn't believe me.

Should I tell them?

We're talking light years.

Light years. He looks good though.

No prostate, but he looks fine.

You're looking at me like stunned sheep.

Come on!

What is this, a white sale?

I'm going to tell you a story.

About a year ago,

this Little Brain comes in here.

I'm talking...

...half a percent of his brain at the most.

He orders a piece of pie,

he forgets what it is.

He looks down, doesn't know what it is.

It's a piece of pie.

I say, "What are you doing?"

He says, "I'm waiting to make a call."

I say, "Does that look like a phone?"

He says, "It is a phone."

The joke is on me.

He picked up the pie and called his mother!

Folks, come on, please.

Stay with me here.

You're on trial, not me.

-Hi. What's your name?

-Arthur.

-Hi, Arthur? Where were you from?

-Denver.

-Lovely city, Denver, Arthur. Did you ski?

-No.

No.

-How'd you die?

-I was in a coma.

I'm sorry. How long were you in a coma?

I really don't know.

Let's play a game.

-Elvis. Living or dead?

-Living.

Long coma, Art.

Long coma.

Have a nice day.

-What's your name?

-Ernie.

Hi. Having a good time in Judgment City?

It's fun. The food's good.

It is. Have you been to the stables?

Like to horseback ride?

Not very much.

There's a nice-looking young man.

Hi. How'd you die?

On stage, like you.

Funny. Maybe you should come up here.

No, thank you.

Of course, he doesn't want to.

This is very hard work, but I love it.

And I love you, Little Brains.

Have you heard any Little Brain jokes?

I know you, right?

Rate this script:4.8 / 15 votes

Albert Brooks

Albert Lawrence Brooks (born Einstein; July 22, 1947) is an American actor, comedian, writer, and director. He received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for 1987's Broadcast News and was widely praised for his performance in the 2011 film Drive. His voice acting credits include Marlin in Finding Nemo (2003) and Finding Dory (2016), and recurring guest voices for The Simpsons, including Russ Cargill in The Simpsons Movie (2007). He has directed, written, and starred in several comedy films, such as Modern Romance (1981), Lost in America (1985), and Defending Your Life (1991). He is also the author of 2030: The Real Story of What Happens to America (2011). more…

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Submitted on August 05, 2018

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