Joan of Arcadia (TV Series)

State of Grace (2004)

Amber Tamblyn: Joan Girardi

Quotes 

• Joan : [being wanded]  What? I didn't set off any alarm! So unless you want to sentence me to death for possession of Gummi Bears, I would like to go to class.

  Security Guard God : You seem very upset, Joan. Take a breath.

  Joan : Fascist God?

• Will Girardi : What is all this?

  Joan : Stuff for mom to sign, permission slips and tests.

  Will Girardi : You can't do this. It says there's a danger of physical injury.

  Joan : It's a nature walk. We're going to be looking at beetles.

  Will Girardi : But it says "physical injury" right here.

• Kevin Girardi : Mom, do you know where my blue shirt is?

  Helen Girardi : Oh, it's in the hamper. I'll do wash tomorrow.

  Joan : Don't worry. It'll be ready for your date.

  Kevin Girardi : Who said anything about a date?

  Luke Girardi : Well, Rebecca called, wanted you to bring some dessert.

  Will Girardi : You and Rebecca have a date?

  Luke Girardi : Ah, she's cooking him dinner.

  Kevin Girardi : So is mom. Doesn't mean I'm dating her.

  Joan : That's a disgusting analogy.

• Will Girardi : Are other people coming, or just Rebecca?

  Joan : Just them.

  Will Girardi : Oh, yeah. That's a date.

  Joan : Mom, don't look. The men are leering.

• Joan : There's always a gray area in every situation, dad. "That's what a reasoned verbal exchange tries to explore, and logic can provide proof, even when there is no evidence." What does that even mean?

  Will Girardi : What's she doing now?

  Luke Girardi : Joan joined the debate team.

  Helen Girardi : As if she weren't contrary enough.

  Luke Girardi : She has to argue in support of the draconian security measures instituted by the school.

  Joan : Assisted by you.

  Will Girardi : Well, spend a day seeing what I do, and you'd ask for more.

• Security Guard God : You made quite an impression in there.

  Joan : I don't need the sarcasm. I tried to debate. I tried to do what you wanted, and I lost it, okay?

  Security Guard God : I thought it all turned out just fine. What you did up there, it was true. You found your voice.

  Joan : [sardonic laugh]  Great. Great. Thanks for the lesson. It cost me my friend.

  Security Guard God : Oh, what, because you two don't agree about things?

  Joan : I don't have a lot of friends, okay?

  Security Guard God : Do you know what grace is, Joan?

  Joan : Yeah. Pissed off.

  Security Guard God : Do you know the *meaning* of grace? It's a touch of truth that lets you see the world in a new way. It's a gift that can only be felt when you're open enough to accept it.

• Joan : Why are you home so late?

  Will Girardi : Paperwork.

  Joan : You were gonna come give me a kiss, right?

  Will Girardi : Always.

• Grace Polk : You know, this whole debate is a joke!

  Friedman : I, uh... I have a very strong rebuttal.

  Grace Polk : Like it matters! No matter what happens in this debate, those metal detectors will still be there. They will still stop us and search us.

  Gavin Price : I would like you to leave, Ms. Polk.

  Grace Polk : Oh, gee, remember free speech, Mr. Price?

  Mr. Enfield : Remember decorum? Manners? Civility?

  Grace Polk : Yeah, all the things they use to keep us down. Well, guess what? Today is about freedom.

  Joan : You call what you're doing right now free speech?

  Mr. Enfield : You are not debating this young woman, Ms. Girardi. I suggest you not deviate from the rules.

  Friedman : [quietly to Glynis]  We are so gonna win this debate.

  Grace Polk : That's right, Girardi. Party line. That's what it's about.

  Gavin Price : All right, out.

  Joan : And what's it about for you, Grace? Your idea of freedom is a world where everybody agrees with you?

  Grace Polk : You believe in this crap?

  Joan : I don't know what I believe! I know Ramsay came in here with a gun. I know people could have died. You, me! You said I think like this because my father's a cop; like that's bad? Yeah, my dad is a cop, and you may think that makes him some kind of pig, but he deals with those guns every day! This is not some political thing for him, this is reality. He's had them pointed at him and shoved in his face, and that makes it real for me, too, because every time I hear the cops are someplace and shots are fired, I wonder if I'm ever gonna see my father again! I... I don't think we should have to, like, live in some prison; that sucks. But I do know we have to deal with this. We have to work something out! Even if it's not what we started believing in the first place. I... I know I'm mouthing off, Mr. Enfield, and I can't cite some report to back up my theories. I... this is just how I feel.

• Butcher God : So, you quit debate, huh?

  Joan : Shouldn't you be in the produce section? I always thought God would be a vegetarian.

• Butcher God : I wanted you to join the debate team to be in a debate.

  Joan : Oh, come on. If I argue in favor of that stupid policy, Grace is totally gonna write me off.

  Butcher God : So your position has no validity at all?

  Joan : Yeah. Grace is all political and knows about this stuff, and I know what a drag it is to get searched.

  Butcher God : So you think believing something to be true makes it true?

  Joan : Well, if believing in things is wrong, that would put you out of business pretty fast, wouldn't it?

  Butcher God : I don't exist because people believe in me. I simply exist, whether they believe in me or not. Hanging onto beliefs, that's not truth. Open your mind, Joan. Read what Scott gave you. Be a part of that debate tomorrow.