Nobody's happy. What's happy? Happiness is over when the lights come on." The older woman poured herself a glass of sangria. "Screw that," she said quietly. "What?" "Screw that. Wash your mouth out. Who taught you that half-assed existential drivel?

Tales of the city ; More tales of the city ; Further tales of the city: an omnibus (ed. Vintage, 1989)