Dopamine
2003
Rand: My question is, does the chemical make-up between two human mammals make up our personal involvement a moot point? Sarah McCaulley: Of course, it's all chemical to start with. It's all just signals to communicate with these bodies we live in, but true love is incredible, all consuming. Rand: No I totally agree with you, all consuming. BUt so is the lust, I mean is it possibly rooted in physiology rather then (hand quotes) our hearts?
Sarah McCaulley: Have you ever been in love? Rand: No, but I've seen it. My parents totally crazy about each other. Sarah McCaulley: Then why are you such a cynic? Rand: Well I've also seen it disappear all together as it were never there at all.
Rand: These are my fat pills actually, I grew up fat. Seriously, my parents they never stopped me from having a second helping of whatever so I kind of blew up from there. Rand: The doctor diagnosed me with hyperthyroidis, prescribed this drug Syntac. Right after I started taking it, I started feeling like I had more energy, I started swimming and stuff,by Junior year in high school I was pretty much normal. Sarah McCaulley: I've read somewhere lately that they've been doing a lot of placebo work with thyroid problems? Rand: This is definitely not a placebo. Sarah McCaulley: How do you know? Let me guess... you got a feeling? Rand: That's very funny I didn't know you were a comedian!
Rand: You cold? Sarah McCaulley: No, what are you feeling? Are you all squishy inside or is this just some phermones thing that's kicking in? Rand: Well it's obviously your pheromones... Sarah McCaulley: My pheromones? Rand: Yeah, your epocrine glads produce most of them. I sense them through smell. Especially when we kiss. Sarah McCaulley: What else are you feeling? Rand: Biologically, my ribonasal organ and my hypothalamas are kicking in the hormones right now. Sarah McCaulley: What hormones? Rand: Testosterone, big time. Sarah McCaulley: Okay, shut up now. (making out) Rand: Now the neurotransmitters are filling with dopamine. That's the pleasure drug that our body produces. It creates a high, it's addicting. Sarah McCaulley: (stops kissing) That all you're feeling? Is it anything else to you? Rand: It's a little hard to tell right now... Sarah McCaulley: I'm serious. Rand: I'm serious too. Sarah McCaulley: What puts us above the level of being animals? Rand: Our intelligence. Sarah McCaulley: It's not love? Oh it's not love to you. Rand: Sarah, I told you what was going on inside me. Is that love? I don't know. Sarah McCaulley: That's cool Rand. I've got some holes to fill and I'm not sure intelligence is the answer.
Sarah McCaulley: So tell me, why'd that art gallery freak you out so much? You don't have to tell me. Here (hands him the wood stick) Rand: What's this? A talking stick? Oh, oh I see. So I can join the generation of emasulated males given permission to talk about their feelings? Sorry, it's a joke.
Machiko: (interrupts flirty conversation) It's for you, it's Rand. Sarah McCaulley: (picks up receiver) Rand? Machiko: (voice on phone) What are you doing girl? Sarah McCaulley: Who is this? Machiko? Machiko: What do you mean what am I doing? What are YOU doing? I was just checking... I thought you came to see Rand. Sarah McCaulley: Yeah, well I'm just bummed he didn't show. Machiko: Yeah? You don't look so bummed.
Johnson: (both ride bikes with a marathon) Hey, Sarah was looking for you last night. Rand: She was? Johnson: What's up with you two? Rand: I'm not sure. It doesn't make an sense. Johnson: What do you mean? Why do we have to make sense of everything? Johnson: Yeah it's nice to know when some low pressure system pushes moisture laid in the air over a heated land mass and that we need a fucking umbrella to get to work Johnson: Hey man, rain used to be with the gods of thunder cried.
Sarah McCaulley: (speaking into monitor) I've been thinking a lot about what you said. And I need to find Sam, just to see her from a distance to see if she's okay. Sarah McCaulley: Your Mom loves you, still does and always will. Maybe love is all chemical, maybe it's also "We'll keep the species going." But I think whoever or whatever planned it that way, must have known what love felt like. Sarah McCaulley: That's a good enough reason.
Sarah McCaulley: Rand, I'm not using this as an excuse I honestly don't know have the shit I do. Sometimes until it's done. Sarah McCaulley: It's like I'm on auto-pilot. I land in places I shouldn't. Rand: You really know how to make a guy feel confident.
Rand: No one will ever live up to what you and Sam had. Sarah McCaulley: Why? Rand: I think you're judging people on the wrong scale. Sarah McCaulley: Why can't it be like that? Rand: (ponders) ... you're only born perfect? Sarah McCaulley: ... and it's all downhill from there. Why me Rand? Rand: What do you mean? Rand: Why am I not some chemical reaction that will run out on you one day, what makes me special? Sarah McCaulley: I don't know.