If I were a psychotherapist and Brandon walked into my office seeking help, my initial thought would be what help could this man possibly need from me. He is a confidant, charismatic self assured successful good looking New Yorker who exudes charm too much charm to be honest, maybe that could be his problem an inability to connect beyond the superficial so only able to project an unrealistic elevated sense of himself.
ME; Mr Sullivan how can I help you .
Brandon; Call me Brandon.
ME; Ok Brandon how can I lighten your burden.
Brandon: I don't know, I've spent my life trying to forget.
ME; Well enforced amnesia clearly hasn't worked as you would not be sitting in front of me today if you weren't hoping I could pick up the fragments dropped over time and pieces you back together, so in your own time.
Brandon: Where should I begin. My routine consists of waking up masturbating, going online searching for porn the more deprived the better, more masturbation, go to work, more masturbate (in the staff toilets as the office is open plan). Get on my computer at work look for more porn, bastards have taken it away to get it clean, more masturbate get stressed more masturbate. Then go for a drink after work pull a pretty blonde dump my junk in a public place just for the frill of it, put her in a taxi, then go on the hunt for more fresh meat. Get home get on the laptop look for online sex hook-ups download more porn masturbate some more then indulge in emotional flagellation then try and get some sleep.
ME; So what's happened to disrupt your routine.
Brandon; My sister.
ME; What about your sister.
Brandon; Coming back into my life, like a tornado she sweeps everything up in her path, including me.
ME; Is she really that destructive, or is she just a syphon for your internalized aggression, someone to hang the blame on when things in your life aren't going so well.
Brandon; Sissy is selfish, unthinking, self absorbed, irresponsible, gullible, desperate, needy, fragile, she exhibits a level of volatility I'm not comfortable with.
ME; She shares your volatility along with your DNA. You're constantly bathing your demons why?
Brandon; Because she will always be there even when she's not there, when she sings she sings only to me, when she fucked my boss she was fucking me.
ME; Have you ever been in love Brandon or at least flirted with the idea.
Brandon; Briefly her name was Marianne.
ME; How did you meet.
Brandon; At work.
ME; So why didn't it work.
Brandon; It was to pure... I Couldn't bring myself to soil it so I ended it.
ME; And your sister.
Brandon; She needs me, she will always need me.
ME; Why.
Brandon; Because even my blackest night is brighter than her with here lightest day.
You could accept my psychoanalyst or you can go and see the film. In my professional opinion I suggest you go see the film. TWO THUMBS AND ONE FINGER
Venues screening SHAME in Manchester Cornerhouse and Odeon
