Arnon Grunberg

Opportunity

We are not the same

Tonight I saw Glengarry Glen Ross on Broadway, with Al Pacino. The movie was terrific, this production (with Al Pacino) was very good too. Bobby Cannavale was a revelation and of course there is Mamet:

'Stocks, bonds, objects of art, real estate. Now: what are they?

(pause)

An opportunity. To what? To make money? Perhaps. To lose money? Perhaps. To "indulge" and to "learn" about ourselves? Perhaps.
So fucking what? What isn't? They're an opportunity. That's all.
They're an event. A guy comes up to you, you make a call, you send in a brochure, it doesn't matter, "There're these properties I'd like for you to see." What does it mean? What you want it to mean.

(pause)

Money?

(pause)

If that's what it signifies to you.
Security?

(pause)

Comfort?

(pause)

All it is is THINGS THAT HAPPEN TO YOU.

(pause)

That's all it is. How are they different?

(pause)

Some poor newly married guy gets run down by a cab. Some busboy wins the lottery.

(pause)

All it is, it's a carnival. What's special...what draws us?

(pause)

We're all different.

(pause)

We're not the same.

(pause)

We are not the same.

(pause)

Hmmm.

(pause, sighs)

It's been a long day.

(pause)

What are you drinking?'

What you want it to mean, that’s the question.
The real cynicism is to act as if there’s no reason to be cynical.

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