The Lost Daughter 2021 quotes

What are you watching?! Snoggies?!

Oh, my God!

Young Joe

Hikers!

Hikers!

Young Joe

Hikers! Stay there! They must be doing the Catamount Trail!

Hey, what are hikers?

Young Joe

Are you kidding me?! To Quebec! They don't have food!

Joe, it's not 1985! What's wrong with you?!

Young Joe

They're wet!

Joe, don't bring them in here!

Yes?

It's Nina.

Oh, hi.

Hi.

I thought you wouldn't come till Monday.

No.

Well, give me a second to get dressed.

Um, no, I- I have, like, literally a minute. I just... uh, I told Callie that I was gonna go and get some nose drops for Elena because she is always in the water. And she can't get rid of her cold, so...

Have a seat. [They sit on couches]

It's lovely here.

Yeah, so do you want the keys?

If it's alright with you.

Doesn't have much to do with me.

It doesn't?

You told me you were happy with your husband.

I did.

Yeah, you told me you were happy with everything.

I am. I don't know. What do you think?

I think you should do what you want.

Where do you live?

Cambridge, near Boston.

I'll come see you.

Well, I will leave you my address. Okay.

Is this going to pass?

What?

I don't know what to call it. I have depression or something. But it passes?

Thought you said you were in a hurry.

I am. If it felt amazing, then why did you go back to your daughters?

I'm their mother. I went back to them 'cause I missed them. I'm a very selfish person. I need to give you something else too. [Gets up with cramp]

Are you okay?

Yeah, it just, um, happens when I stand up too quickly.

What? You found her? [Covers mouth with hands] Where did you find her?

No, I took her.

Why?

I don't know.

You don't know?

No.

But I don't understand. Did you think that the doll- that the doll wasn't good for us?

I was just playing.

Playing? We were all... messed up. You saw us.

I'm an unnatural mother.

Oh, ****.

I'm sorry.

****! This is ****! [Snatches doll from Leda and stomps off to front door]

Oh, Nina! Take the keys!

I'm leaving tonight! The apartment's gonna be empty till the end of the month!

Nina, I'm so sorry! You're so young and everything passes!

None of this pass! You **** sick ****! [Impales Leda with the hat needle and stomps off] Better watch your **** back bitch! [Leda pulls needle out and sits on couch]

Please. Please, can you peel it like a snake?

What?

Please, can you peel it like a snake? Please?

Can you peel it all?

I can.

Don't let anything break.

No, I won't let anything break.

Do you think that's a land or a sea monster? A sea snake. Yeah.

Don't let it break. Peel it like a snake. Don't let it break.

That's quite a long one.

It's longer than ever. [Leda hands peel to Martha] Hiss. Can it curl itself up? [Martha dangles and jiggles orange peel] Little curly.
...

Mama, where are you going? Where are you going, Mummy? Mama? Are you coming back? When are you coming back? [Repeatedly] Mama? Where are you going? Mama! [Leda goes out door and shuts it]

I've been following you, for like, ten minutes.

Yeah, you said, is everything okay?

What? Yeah? Your number came up on my phone yesterday. You called me?

I did. Yeah.

Lady.

Hey, little one. Are you feeling better?

She needs her medicine.

Your doll. Is she sick?

She's not getting over it. She wants her doll. Shit. It won't stay on.

Oh, hey. Can I? My grandma used to used hat pins. It won't fall off now. Okay. Hat. [Puts it on Nina's head] All right? Do it where it's comfy. [Inserts pin into hat]

Since the doll's been missing, she's been, like, actually driving me **** crazy. I- there's something wrong with her. She's not sleeping. At all. She won't sleep unless I'm in the bed with her. And if I move... I'm really tired. I'm, like, scary tired.

Mm, I remember.

I know you saw me with Will. Um... I don't want you to think badly of me.

I don't think badly of anyone.

Yeah. Yeah, uh, see, I knew that. As soon as I saw you, I just... I was like; "I wanna be that lady". It didn't mean anything what you saw. Didn't it? No. I don't let it go anywhere. I just... but I'm happy. I'm happy with Elena, with- with everything. I'm... I met my husband so young. And he's **** crazy about me. And her. He says my breasts are exactly the size of his hand.

What would he do if he saw you with Will?

Oh, he'd cut my throat. I don't want to talk about him. I only, have, like five minutes before Callie finishes shopping.

She doesn't want you to talk to me?

She doesn't want me to do **** anything. Who give a ****? Can I ask you something?

Sure.

What happened in the toy store? You were talking about your daughters and then something happened. Do you know what I'm talking about?

Yeah. I left.

Oh,

When the oldest was seven and the youngest was five, I left. I abandoned them and I didn't see them for three years.

You didn't see your children for three years?

No.

Who took care of them?

Their father and my mum, and then I came back for them.

What did it feel like without them?

It felt amazing. Felt like I'd been trying not to explode and then I exploded.

That doesn't sound amazing.

Okay. [Nina wipes away Leda's tear] There's Callie and your husband.

My husband? What the **** is he doing here? He's not supposed to be here until tomorrow. ****. I have to go. [Embraces Leda's head and kisses her on lips]

Professor Hardy

I didn't realize you were here. It's really great to meet you.

It's really great to meet you, too.

Professor Hardy

Your work is thrilling. [Shakes her hand]

Thank you.

Professor Hardy

Thrilling. [Walks away to other end of dinner table]

Thank you.

He is a serious scholar but- it's amazing to see. Amazing.

What is?

Well... it would be interesting to see his tactics as he renews his pursuit this evening.
...

Don't cry! No, no, no. I love- I loved the jokes about their names! It made you seem more human.

Professor Hardy

Human? As opposed to what?

As opposed to a god.

Professor Hardy

Ah. Hmm. Your name is very provocative.

You're thinking about the Yeats. Very high-minded. It always brings rape to mind.

Professor Hardy

Jesus.

I bet you know it by heart. In Italian.

Professor Hardy

Ah. Tutto d'un colpo... (all at once) la grand ala... (the grand wing) palpitante... (palpitating) sulla ragazza... (on the girl) uh, mmm... staggering girl.

Sconcertante. (Disconcerting)

Professor Hardy

Si, ragazza. Sconcertante. Mmm.

You know, it was, uh, it was beautiful. The gift you gave Nina. She was really grateful for your kindness.

Okay.

I have, uh, something to ask you.

What?

Do you mind if I come up?

I do, actually.

Okay. Um... Nina was wondering if you would be willing to lend us your place for a few hours.

Would you tell Nina I'd like to talk to her?

When?

Whenever she wants.

Her husband doesn't leave till Sunday, so till before that, it's impossible.

Monday's fine.

Are you angry?

No.

You seem angry.

No, Will, the caretaker knows Nina and has business with her husband.

Lyle? You just give him €20 and he's not gonna say anything.

Why are you asking this of me in particular?

Uh... Nina asked me to. [Walks past Leda] All right.

Young Joe

Hey.

Hi. [Joe kisses her on cheek] Hmm.

Young Joe

What are you doing? Say hello to Mummy. [Guides her head] Martha. Go on. Say hello. It's okay.

Can I get a hug?

Young Joe

Go on.

Oh! Mmm.

Are you home now, Mummy?

I'm home today.

Can you wash my hair after dinner?

Mm-mmm. I can't stay for dinner, baby. I've got to get on a plane.

Oh, okay.

But I brought you presents, okay? And fancy dresses. These. Hi. Yours!
...

You awoke the tickle monster. There's a tickle monster in town. Bianca? Do you want me to help you do up your buttons in the back?

No.

Okay. Show me your dress. Oh! So pretty. [Kisses Bianca on lips] Mwah!

Young Joe

Leda. Can I talk to you?

Sure.
...

Young Joe

Please. Please. Don't do this. What do you need? Do you need me on my **** knees? Do you need me to cut my balls off? What do you need? Tell me. Have you got his **** in your mouth? You can't answer me?

Joe, this has nothing to do with that.

Young Joe

Oh, **** me? **** me?

I left him.

Young Joe

You left him? Congratulations, baby. You're an expert now, huh?

I don't see why not?

Young Joe

Do you think I'm a **** idiot? Huh? Am I an arsehole? [Repeatedly] Please. Come on. They're little **** girls. How am I supposed to do this?

Joe, I'm feeling dizzy. [Walks off]

Young Joe

I'm taking them to your mum's. I can't handle this.

No you're not.

Young Joe

Yeah.

You're threatening me?! That is revenge! That's ****... lazy. You bring them back there, and they're going to sink back into that black shithole. All that ****... SHIT...! that I came from. I do think you're an arsehole. [Walks away]

Young Joe

My mother didn't finish school.

Oh, **** so what? [Disappears under door drape]

Young Joe

Thank you!

Ciao. [Young Leda embraces Female Hiker's head, kisses her cheek and hugs her]

Would you give me something of yours to read?

Something of mine?

Yes, your work.

Yes, of course. How are his daughters doing? Are they okay?

Not daughters. They're boys.

Hmm.

Don't give her one!

Why? [Leda reads flyer to learn it is a missing sign for a doll that is in her possession]

Young Joe

You guys, uh, look like you've been going a while.

Yes. Since April. Amazing.

Grazie. (Thanks)

Young Joe

Can I ask, how old are you?

Forty-two.

Young Joe

Oh, my God. Life is so different without kids.

I have kids. I have three kids. Twelve, nine and seven. They are in London with their mother.

So you ran away together?

I guess we did.

Yes, we did. Hmm. We are obliged to do so many stupid things. From childhood, even.

Obliged?

Yes. What happened to us is the only thing that's happened to me since I was born that makes sense.

E prima di uscire (and before going out) da questa santa porta (from this holy door) proviama un'altra volta (try it another time) su e giu per il (up and down the...) [Leda sustains note] cammin...! (...path) [Female hiker chuckles and clinks glass with Young Leda with Young Joe clapping]

Brava, brava! (good, good) [Young Leda reaches over to hug the female hiker hug and kisses her] Your Italian is so beautiful!

Oh.

So feminine!

Young Joe

Leda's the most extraordinary scholar of modern Italian literature.

Jesus, Joe. I studied translation, yeah. And comparative literature.

What are you working on?

Uh... I'm barely working.

Young Joe

Uh, she's working on a Yeats translation

Yeats?!

No.

In Italian? That's... that is like [gestures using Bianca's hands] chocolate on chocolate!

Young Joe

Huh?

Il gelo dell'ala sorta cade lungo il mio corpo

Wow. [Bianca plays with female hiker's hair] Wow.

What is that?

Don't know.

It's Auden. "Chill of the crooked wing falls down along my body". It's ridiculous. It's just something I taught them.

È bello. [Extends hand to Young Leda who embraces it] Brava. Wow. [Chuckles]

Professor Hardy

As Simone Weil says, "Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity.

Professor Hardy

Bourdieu's mistake is that he often forgot the first part of his own name.

Professor Hardy

Camus posits that the ontological emptiness of the universe chafes against the intrinsically human desire for metaphysical meaning.

I hate talking to my kids on the phone.

Professor Hardy

I want to go to bed with you. But it looks like you're married, so... you'll have to start this.