Coda (I) (2019)

Giancarlo Esposito: Paul

Photos 

Quotes 

• Paul : The classical market is a lot like the wine market. It survives by creating the illusion of meaningful diversity. There wll always be the demand for the opportunity to distinguish oneself by pretending to see a world where others see nothing.

  Helen Morrison : Sometimes there really is a world.

  Paul : Well, the fact that you perceive a difference doesn't necessarily make that difference meaningful.

  Helen Morrison : Are you calling me a snob?

  Paul : No! No! Oh, but seriously. Do we actually need another recording of the "Goldberg Variations?"

  Richard : Or another pianist maybe?

  Paul : Yeah, exactly. Sturgeon's law, 90% of everything is crap.

  Richard : That's a lot.

  Paul : Yes!

  Francine : Did you know you were managed by the enemy, Henry?

  Henry Cole : So long as he keeps getting me gigs, I'll let the philistine speak his mind.

• Henry Cole : You know one of the few good things about getting old?

  Paul : Uh-oh.

  [Henry chuckles] 

  Henry Cole : You become a pragmatist. You're not reaching for meaning anymore. You're just searching for words or sleep or the reason you're staring into an open drawer. And you're not worried about the future just... you want the present to last. The heart and the mind finally get along.

• Henry Cole : Do you realize how reckless it is to play in front of an audience? It's why they come you know. Like those cliff divers I saw the other day on TV. People enjoy the show but really it's the looming disaster that makes it special.

  [takes a drag on a cigarette] 

  Paul : [reaching for the cigarette]  May I?

  [audience clapping rhythmically] 

  Paul : Do you hear that?

• Paul : Oh, those are nice flowers.

  [admiring the flowers sent by Helen] 

  Henry Cole : Did you know some of the loveliest flowers mimic the smell of fecal matter, so as to attract dung insects?

  Paul : Why not attract other insects?

  [both chuckle]