Temps (1999)

Tim Bohn: Jonah, the lawyer, temp, writer

Photos 

Quotes 

• Tim : What'd I do?

  Lisa : Apparently someone logged on to your screen and saw you were working on a personal document.

  Tim : Who logged onto my computer?

  Lisa : I can't tell you that. You understand - a confidentiality issue with our clients.

  Tim : Aren't I your client too?

  Lisa : You know what I mean. Look, it's no big deal; I'll mark right here on your permanent record that it shouldn't go on your permanent record... We get complaints all the time...

• Tim : Ow!... God, now that I don't have insurance, it's like the world's one huge booby trap.

• Stan : You're a LAWYER, Jonah. You could have a hundred jobs - all of them excellent. What is it with your generation that they wander around aimlessly...

  Tim : But Dad, it's like we have all this pressure to achieve, because we've been told from birth we could be anything we want to be. But the thing is - wait, let me finish - it's paralyzing, because we THINK we can do anything, but really, we can only do one thing at a time, and then when we devote ourselves to it, it's just one thing; so we move from job to job, trying to find that thing which is the "anything" we want to be.

  Stan : Seems like you've all been spoiled, that's all.

  May : Stan...

  Tim : It's typical of you not to try to understand me.

  Stan : I may not understand some... things about you, but SOME things I DO understand. You think we didn't get bored? You think we didn't dream about other things? I had my sisters, and then you and your mother, to think about!

  May : Jonah, you have more choices and opportunities than most people in the world. How can you complain so much?

  Tim : I'm not complaining. I just want to make a mark.

  Stan : You think all of my students don't think I've made a mark? You think you're not my mark? I can't think of something I am more proud to leave behind me in the world.

  [Jonah looks at his father, who looks away and stands] 

  Stan : Now I'm going to see about that pipe int he basement.

• Tim : What is this film about, anyway?

  Ally : American youth culture.

  Tim : What kind of story is THAT?

• Tim : I'm done.

  Scott : Already? Dude, you're FAST.

  Tim : Scott, we've been working on this for four days, and you're still not past "Z." What's the matter?

  Scott : Nothing. You're just really good at this.

  Tim : I don't exactly understand that. It's not so difficult. It seems like maybe you're distracted or something. I mean, look, you put Z-i in between Z-e and Z-a.

  Scott : Oh, sorry. That vowel thing. I guess I was thinking that "I before E" thing.

  Tim : ...Are you actually working? I mean actually doing any work here?

  Scott : Sure, man.

  Tim : I don't get it. I don't want to be here anymore. I mean, do you really want to be shelving these files in alphabetical order for another week?

  Scott : Dude, chill. It's good money.

  Tim : At $8.00 an hour?

  Scott : No one bothers us.

  [does a double-take] 

  Scott : You're making $8.00? I'm only making seven-sixty. You think I could ask for a raise?

• Tim : You're asking advice from a guy who quit his job to watch late night t.v.? I say go for it. The worst thing that could happen is you'll end up jobless, aimless, completely bored and increasingly depressed.... I'd better get back. This afternoon, I have to readdress 300 envelopes because they want a different label.