A Serious Man

Rabbi Nachtner: You know Lee Sussman. Larry Gopnik: Doctor Sussman? I think I - yeah. Rabbi Nachtner: Did he ever tell you about the goy's teeth? Larry Gopnik: No. Uh... what goy? Rabbi Nachtner: So... Lee is at work one day; you know he has the orthodontic practice there at Great Bear. He's making a plaster mold - it's for corrective bridge work - in the mouth of one of his patients, Russell Kraus. The mold dries and Lee is examining it one day before fabricating an appliance. He notices something unusual. There appears to be something engraved on the inside of the patient's lower incisors. He vav shin yud ayin nun yud. "Hwshy 'ny". "Help me, save me". This in a goy's mouth, Larry. He calls the goy back on the pretense of needing additional measurements for the appliance. "How are you? Noticed any other problems with your teeth?" No. There it is. "Hwshy 'ny". "Help me". Son of a gun. Sussman goes home. Can Sussman eat? Sussman can't eat. Can Sussman sleep? Sussman can't sleep. Sussman

A Serious Man, CC BY-SA 4.0

Larry Gopnik: So, uh, what can I do for you? Clive Park: Uh, Dr. Gopnik, I believe the results of physics mid-term were unjust. Larry Gopnik: Uh-huh, how so? Clive Park: I received an unsatisfactory grade. In fact: F, the failing grade. Larry Gopnik: Uh, yes. You failed the mid-term. That's accurate. Clive Park: Yes, but this is not just. I was unaware to be examined on the mathematics. Larry Gopnik: Well, you can't do physics without mathematics, really, can you? Clive Park: If I receive failing grade I lose my scholarship, and feel shame. I understand the physics. I understand the dead cat. Larry Gopnik: You understand the dead cat? But... you... you can't really understand the physics without understanding the math. The math tells how it really works. That's the real thing; the stories I give you in class are just illustrative; they're like, fables, say, to help give you a picture. An imperfect model. I mean - even I don't understand the dead cat. The math is how it really works. Cl

A Serious Man, CC BY-SA 4.0

Judith Gopnik: We shouldn't put the kids in the middle of this, Larry. Larry Gopnik: The kids aren't... Judith Gopnik: I'm saying "we." I'm not pointing fingers. Sy Ableman: No one is playing the "blame game," Larry. Larry Gopnik: I didn't say anyone was! Judith Gopnik: Well let's not play He said, She said, either. Larry Gopnik: I wasn't! I-... Sy Ableman: Aw right, well let's just step back, and defuse the situation, I find, sometimes, if I count to ten. [pause] One... two... three... fou... Or silently. [Long pause] Judith Gopnik: Really, to keep things on an even keel, especially now, leading up to Danny's bar mitzvah... Sy Ableman: A child's bar mitzvah, Larry! Judith Gopnik: Sy and I think it's best if you move out of the house. Larry Gopnik: Move out? Sy Ableman: It makes eminent sense. Judith Gopnik: Things can't continue as they... Larry Gopnik: Move out! Where would I go? Sy Ableman: Well, for instance, the Jolly Roger is quite livable. Not expensive, and the rooms are eminen

A Serious Man, CC BY-SA 4.0

Arlen Finkle: We, uh, we decide on Wednesday, so if there's anything you want to submit in support of your tenure application, we should have it by then. That's all. Larry Gopnik: Submit. What. What do you... Arlen Finkle: Well. Anything. Published work. Anything else you've done outside of the institution. Any work that we might not be aware of. Larry Gopnik: I haven't done anything. Arlen Finkle: Uh-huh. Larry Gopnik: I haven't published. Arlen Finkle: Uh-huh. Larry Gopnik: Are you still getting those letters? Arlen Finkle: Uh-huh. Larry Gopnik: Those anonymous... Arlen Finkle: Yes, I know. Yes. Larry Gopnik: Okay. Okay. Wednesday. Arlen Finkle: Okay. Don't worry. Doing nothing is not bad. Ipso facto.

A Serious Man, CC BY-SA 4.0

Clive's Father: Culture clash. Culture clash. Larry Gopnik: With all respect, Mr. Park, I don't think it's that. Clive's Father: Yes. Larry Gopnik: No. It would be a culture clash if it were the custom in your land to bribe people for grades. Clive's Father: Yes. Larry Gopnik: So... you're saying it is the custom? Clive's Father: No, this is a defamation. Grounds for lawsuit. Larry Gopnik: Let me get this straight: you're threatening to sue me for defaming your son? Clive's Father: Yes. Larry Gopnik: But it would... Mr. Brandt: Is this man bothering you? Larry Gopnik: Is he bothering me? No. I, uh... Larry Gopnik: See... if it were defamation there would have to be someone I was defaming him to, or I... all right, I... let's keep it simple. I could pretend the money never appeared. That's not defaming anyone. Clive's Father: Yes. And a passing grade. Larry Gopnik: Passing grade. Clive's Father: Yes. Larry Gopnik: Or... you'll sue me. Clive's Father: For taking money. Larry Gopnik: So h

A Serious Man, CC BY-SA 4.0

Larry Gopnik: Well, you know, the way I look at it, it's an opportunity for me to really sit down and figure things out and look at the world afresh instead of just, you know, settling for the routine, tired old way of looking at things. Divorce Lawyer: Really? Larry Gopnik: I don't know. Maybe not.

A Serious Man, CC BY-SA 4.0