Safety Not Guaranteed (2012)

Mark Duplass: Kenneth

Photos 

Quotes 

• [last lines] 

  Kenneth : To go it alone, or to go with a partner. When you choose a partner, you have to have compromises and sacrifices, but it's the price you pay. Do I want to follow my every whim and desire as I make my way through time and space? Absolutely. But at the end of the day, do I need someone when I'm doubting myself and I'm insecure, and *my* heart's failing me? Do I need someone who, when the heat gets hot, has my back?

  Darius : So, do you?

  Kenneth : I do.

• [Darius approaches Kenneth, where he is stocking soup cans in the Grocery Outlet Bargain Market. She acts cool and nonchalant] 

  Darius : Do you sell guns here?

  Kenneth : [surprised]  What kind of guns?

  Darius : I don't know. Something sexy and affordable, with killing power?

  Kenneth : You should try C and R Guns in Wilkins. The state of Washington does not allow the sale of firearms in the business premises of a grocer.

  Darius : Hm. What about those... thingies? With the spiky ball on the end of a chain things, you know, and the...

  [She pantomimes whirling a flail around above her head] 

  Darius : You have those?

  Kenneth : What exactly is the intended use? Is there a pest problem, or hunting?

  Darius : [sternly]  Well, if your ad had been written properly, I may have a better idea of what I need.

  Kenneth : My ad?

  Darius : Yeah. It's pretty sloppy.

  Kenneth : Excuse me?

  Darius : You heard me. I hope you worked harder on your calibrations.

  Kenneth : [looking around cautiously, but sounding stung]  My calibrations are flippin' pinpoint, okay?

  Darius : Hm.

  Kenneth : [still looking around and behind him]  There are people after me. How do I know you don't work for them?

  Darius : Because I've never worked for anybody in my life.

  Kenneth : You ever face certain death?

  Darius : If it was so certain, I wouldn't be here, would I?

  [She takes a soup can from his hand and places it, without looking, unerringly in its spot on the shelf] 

• Kenneth : I really like your intensity. You're, like, no nonsense.

  Darius : Well, there's no sense in nonsense. Especially when the heat's on.

• Kenneth : While I would like to maneuver through this world with an open heart and mind, sometimes it doesn't gain you favor. So I just need to be equipped with the necessary skill sets, guns, training, weapons, fighting - in case I encounter any obstacles that need to be defeated.

• Kenneth : Listen to me. You come to that launch site at 5:00... you take my hand, and I'll show you who can't time travel.

• [Still at the grocery store:] 

  Kenneth : This is a bad place to talk. I get off in, like, fifteen. Rendezvous?

  Darius : [confident but still cool]  See you in eight.

  [She turns to walk away, but whirls suddenly to toss him a soup can he had not realized she had taken. Kenneth looks at it; she has written her phone number in strong black ink across a white space on the label. Kenneth's face is hard, but he is clearly impressed; he thinks he has found his partner] 

• [Jeff approaches Kenneth's house. He clearly has not done enough research, and acts like a smiling, bobbing idiot] 

  Jeff : Kenneth Calloway, right? Is that right? My name is Jeff.

  [He extends a hand to shake, which Kenneth ignores. Jeff is grinning too much] 

  Jeff : Look, I saw your ad in the, uh, Classifieds. I want to know if you need a partner.

  Kenneth : What's your mission?

  Jeff : What do you mean, what's my mission?

  Kenneth : What's your reason for going back?

  [Jeff has changed from smiling maniacally to frowning] 

  Jeff : Oh, well, who wouldn't want to go back? It's an amazing opportunity. To go back in time, you know? See gladiators, and watch dinosaurs with my own eyes. Have sex with a pilgrim? That's all I wanted. I want to go back. It's neat. Who wouldn't want to go back, Kenneth? YOU want to go back. Why do YOU want to go back? Well, do you need a partner?

  Kenneth : Can you look fear and danger in the eye?

  Jeff : That's an odd question.

  Kenneth : Have you ever stared fear and danger in the eye and said YES.

  Jeff : Sure.

  Kenneth : Get off my porch.

  Jeff : Let's start over. Come on, we can be pals. Let's go back in time.

  Kenneth : Man, that smile. What is that smile? You don't know pain, you don't know regret, you don't know...

  Jeff : [agreeing with everything and leaving with his arms raised]  Okay. Well, look, it was really nice to meet you.

  Kenneth : [grimly]  That's what I thought.

• Kenneth : The mission has been updated. I'm going back for you now. All right. Do you trust me?