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Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle

Jennifer Jason Leigh, Matthew Broderick, Peter Gallagher, Gwyneth Paltrow, Campbell Scott, Jennifer Beals, Andrew McCarthy, Lili Taylor, Nick Cassavetes, Heather Graham, Wallace Shawn, David Thornton, Stephen Baldwin, Stanley Tucci, Jon Favreau
Sigmund Freud | Dorothy Parker | morphine
Spoiler alert
Blog entry

Writer Dorothy Parker finds a syringe apparently used by her war veteran husband Eddie. (0:12)

Fact finder Mark tells the others, referring to playwright Kaufman, "George doesn't like to be touched." Haphephobia? (0:19)

The waiter tells the writers' circle "As of this week alcohol is illegal." (0:20)

Dorothy tells her friend Bob, Referring to Eddie, "Well I think he's off the morphine anyway." (0:30)

Dorothy tells Eddie, "You don't want to become the town drunk."
Eddie: "I may be... a lousy drunk..." (0:33)

Ladies in the chorus line: "We've got the blues."
Playwright Sherwood: "They're extremely depressed..." (0:39)

Playwright Charlie tells the others, referring to Dorothy, "She's delirious." (0:49)

Dorothy handles a straight razor then appears to cut her wrists off camera. Suicide attempt? (1:10)

Dorothy recites her poem for the garden party:


"Razors pain you;
Rivers are damp;
Acids stain you;
And drugs cause cramp.
Guns aren't lawful;
Nooses give;
Gas smells awful;
You might as well live." (1:22)

Dorothy tells her writer friend Bob, "I am a drunken..." (1:31)

Dorothy learns that Bob has died. She grieves. (1:41)

Actress Paula tells Dorothy, "He's a doctor, a psychotherapist."
Male voice from off camera: "I'm a-Freud of that man."
Dorothy commands the psychotherapist, "Analyze."
Psychotherapist: "Analysis is a serious business."
"This compulsion..." (1:48)

Dorothy, now lying on the psychotherapist's couch, talks about her "anxieties." (1:53)

A woman at a bar asks her companion, referring to Dorothy Parker, "Didn't she commit suicide?" (1:55)