How we cite our quotes: All quotations are from Lost in Translation.
Quote #7
CHARLOTTE: You're probably just having a mid-life crisis. Did you buy a Porsche yet?
BOB: You know, I was thinking about buying a Porsche.
Is he having a mid-life crisis? Is it that easy, or is there more to Bob than realizing he's not a young sought-after actor anymore and freaking out about it? What do you think? Want us to stop asking so many questions?
Quote #8
CHARLOTTE: I'm stuck. Does it get easier?
BOB: No. (beat) Yes, it gets easier.
CHARLOTTE: Oh, yeah? Look at you.
BOB: Thanks.
Charlotte laughs.
BOB: The more you know who you are and what you want, the less you let things upset you.
CHARLOTTE: Yeah. I just don't know what I'm supposed to be, you know? I tried being a writer, but I hate what I write. I tried taking pictures. They're so mediocre, you know? Every girl goes through a photography phase. You know, like horses? You know, taking dumb pictures of your feet.
BOB: You'll figure that out. I'm not worried about you. Keep writing.
CHARLOTTE: But I'm so mean.
BOB: Mean's okay.
Wow, Charlotte sure sounds like a kid. Because she is a kid. Bob gives her a great piece of advice here: Stick with it. Charlotte seems to think she's "supposed" to be something, like a nurse's uniform is going to fall from the sky, and she's going be all, "A-ha! I'm supposed to be a nurse." In reality, Charlotte needs to stop trying on hobbies and make a real push to figure out what she wants, not what she's supposed to want.
Quote #9
LYDIA: Look, your burgundy carpet isn’t in stock. It's gonna take 12 weeks. Did you like any of the other colors?
BOB: Whatever you like. I'm completely lost.
LYDIA: It's just carpet.
BOB: That's not what I'm talking about.
LYDIA: What are you talking about?
BOB: I don’t know. I just want to get healthy. I want to take better care of myself. I would like to start eating healthier. I don't want all that pasta. I would like to start eating like Japanese food.
LYDIA: Well, why don’t you just stay there, and you can have it every day.
Let's approach this one from both angles. First, it's hard to get ticked at Lydia for lashing out at Bob here. Remember, she's stuck at home in the states, taking care of their kids by herself again, and has no context for Bob's sudden desire to eat yakisoba for dinner instead of fettuccine alfredo. It probably sounds pretty self-indulgent to her.
Bob, meanwhile, is trying to communicate to his wife that he's been unhappy for a long time, and he wants to make some changes. He's being honest with her for once. The best part? He wants to make these changes with her, not independent of her.
Now, let's just hope she never finds out about Sausalito. Ew.