Before Sunrise
written by Richard Linklater & Kim Krizan

Jesse: I know what you mean about wishing somebody else wasn't there. It's just, usually, it's myself that I wish I could get away from. Seriously, think about this. I have never been anywhere that I haven't been. I've never had a kiss when I wasn't one of the kissers. You know, I've never gone to the movies when I wasn't there in the audience. I've never been out bowling if I wasn't there making some stupid joke.
I think that's why so many people hate themselves. Seriously. It's just they are sick to death of being around themselves. Let's say that you and I were together all the time. You'd start to hate a lot of my mannerisms. The way, the way every time that we would have people over I'd be insecure, and I'd get a little too drunk. Or the way I tell the same stupid, pseudo-intellectual story again and again. You see I've heard all those stories so of course I'm sick of myself.
But being with you it's made me feel like I was somebody else. I mean the only other way to lose yourself like that is, you know, dancing or alcohol or drugs, or stuff like that.

Kudos and much thanks go to Sarah for this monologue, it is very much appreciated.

[ please return to the main movie monologue page ]