Eszter Balint: Eva

Stranger Than Paradise

Eva

Willie: You're sure you don't want a TV dinner?
Eva: Yes. I'm not hungry. Why is it called TV dinner?
Willie: Um... You're supposed to eat it while you watch TV. Television.
Eva: I know what a TV is. Where does that meat come from?
Willie: What do you mean?
Eva: What does that meat come from?
Willie: I guess it comes from a cow.
Eva: From a cow? It doesn't even look like meat.
Willie: Eva, stop bugging me, will you? You know, this is the way we eat in America. I got my meat, I got my potatoes, I got my vegetables, I got my dessert, and I don't even have to wash the dishes.

Eva: I'm going to Cleveland in about a week.
Eddie: Cleveland, beautiful city. It's got a big, beautiful lake. You will love it there.
Eva: Have you been there?
Eddie: No, no.

Eva: [She's pulled out an old vacuum cleaner from under the bed] Willie, can you help me change the bag? It looks full.
Willie: I'm sure it's fine. It hasn't been used in years.
Eva: It looks dirty.
Willie: Eva.
Eva: Are you sure?
Willie: You know, you don't say... Like, it's really too formal to say... "I want to vacuum the floor. I want to use the vacuum cleaner."
Eva: Oh. What do you say?
Willie: Well, you say, um, "I want to choke the alligator." So if somebody comes in here, you know, you say, "I'm choking an alligator."
Eva: Okay. I am choking the alligator right now.

Willie: [watching pro football game on TV] You see, you see the guy that's got the ball? That's the quarterback. He can either hand off to one of the runners or he can pass it down field He's kinda like, he's the - he's like the, eh, General, you know. He's sorta like he's in charge the offense. The quarterback is in charge of the whole offense.
Eva: So, what does the quarterback do when he becomes the defense?
Willie: What?
Eva: What does the quarterback do when his team becomes the defense?
Willie: Quar - the quar - the quarterback's not on the defense, they already have - I - I - I don't know how to explain this to you. Just watch the game.
Eva: I think this game is really stupid.

Willie: Eva, going out?
Eva: Yeah.
Willie: Look, Clinton Street is two blocks south of here. I wouldn't go any further south than Clinton Street.
Eva: Why?
Willie: It's really dangerous there.
Eva: I can take care of myself.
Willie: Man, listen, you come, you don't know what's going on this city. You've never been here before. You come and stay in my apartment and I don't even want you here! It's just like, "Yeeeah, I know what's going on." You think you're so 'know-the-fuck-together!'
Eva: I'm going alone.
Willie: Aw, go alone.

Eva: It was really nice of you guys to come all the way here to see me, you know.
Eddie: It was nice of you to be here!
Willie: Eddie. Oh, we just, you know, we thought we'd come out and see how you were doing.
Eva: It's kind of a drag here, really.

Eva: So, if you guys win a lot of money on the race tracks, you should come and try to kidnap me.
Willie: We'll take you some place warm. This place is awful!

Eva: God, I'm so glad! Thank you guys for rescuing me. I can't believe we are going to Florida.
Eddie: Well, did you bring your little bikini along?
Eva: Sure! There are alligators in Florida, right?

Airline Agent: Yes, there is one remaining flight to Europe, today. It leaves in about 45 minutes. You have plenty of time to board. It's a flight to Eastern Europe. To Budapest.
Eva: To Budapest? Does it fly from here to Budapest?
Airline Agent: Yes, there is.
Eva: That's the only flight to Europe you have?
Airline Agent: It's the only flight we have today.

Billy: Hey, said you'd go to the movies with me the other night. Do you want to see "Space Wizards" or that foreign flick down at the Olympia - "Days Without Sun"? Do you want to see that?
Eva: I don't know. Isn't there a kung fu movie?