Dani quotes from Midsommar (2019)

Dani

It’s just in his tone – you can hear it. It’s like he’s trying to work up the nerve to say something and I just keep staving it off.

So don’t stave him off. Be direct! Confront him!

Dani

Well – what if I scared him? I’m always roping him into my family crap...I’m always leaning on him! I tell him everything! I even called him today in tears because my sister sent me another scary email. What if I’m scaring him off?

Oh – how do you rope him in?That’s what he’s there for! What did your sister write?

Dani

Oh – just some ominous bullshit! She does it all the time! It’s torture, and I’ve been completely leaning on him for support! What if I overwhelmed him and now he thinks I have too much baggage?

Well, if that’s the case, then good riddance! Right?

Dani

No! Not if I went too far! What if I leaned too heavily?

You didn’t! He should be there when you need him.

Dani

But what if I need him too often? If it becomes a chore?

Then he's not the right guy. Because it shouldn't ever be a chore. Would it be a chore if he leaned on you?

Dani

But he never asks for anything from me! I've never even seen him cry! So I'm the only one leaning!

Or the only one opening up! The only one making yourself vulnerable. That's intimacy.

Dani

I got lost.

Christian

Let’s go back to the group.

Dani

Christian. Nothing means anything.

Christian

What?

Dani

Nothing means anything! We’re just alone. [tearing up] And I felt this presence – like God but not God – and it was telling me this and it was laughing at me.

Christian

You heard laughing?

Dani

I felt it laughing! I figured it out, that nothing means anything and we’re born alone and we die alone, and it was getting pleasure from that.

Christian

Okay: no. We’re going back to the friends. You’re having a bad trip, and you’re thinking you’re alone because you went off and you made yourself alone. You just got scared. You have me. Everything’s connected. We’re all one. Those are the good things you’re supposed to think about when you trip. We’re all unified. ****.

Christian

Who all sleeps in here?

Pelle

All the younger ones. Until we turn thirty-two. Then we move to the houses.

Josh

Why thirty-two?

Pelle

We think of life like the seasons. You are a child until you’re 16, and that is the Spring. At some point we all do our Pilgrimage, and that’s between 17 and 32. That’s Summer. Then, from 33 to 52, you’re of working age: Fall. And finally from 53 to 72, you become a mentor.

Josh

Winter.

Dani

What happens when you turn 72, then?
[Pelle makes a throat slashing gesture. Dani laughs]

Pelle

All right – beauty rest! Tomorrow’s a big day.

Josh

And what’s tomorrow?

Pelle

First of the big ceremonies.

Josh

So you’re just gonna be weird and cryptic?

Josh

Are you serious?

Christian

What’s that? What’s Ättestupan? [pulls out his phone and types “Atestupan” into a search engine. But there’s no internet connection.] ****. What’s Ättestupan?

Dani

Is it scary?

Josh

You'll see.

Pelle

I need to warn you before we go down...because you might not want to.

Dani

Is this gonna be something weird?

Pelle

Uhhh – it might seem very weird, but it’s a great honor for them.

Dani

Is this the thing you mentioned last night?

Josh

Ättestupan.

Pelle

We’re about to perform a centuries-old rite that is very important to us and very beautiful, but also – very far from anything you have in America.

Dani

Do I not want to do this?

Pelle

Well – that’s what I’m saying. You’re invited to. I just... [pauses] You remember I explained the winter stage of a man’s life goes from 53 to 72? Well, this is what happens when 72 is reached.

Dani

Okay. And what is “this”? What is Ättestupan?

Dani

I’m really sorry, Pelle. Thank you for inviting me, but I really need to go. Can someone maybe drive me?

Pelle

I did warn you this time. I know it looks extreme, but we only do this once every ninety years. It’s – what’s the word...?

Dani

I understand that it’s momentous.

Pelle

Right! Exactly!

Dani

I don’t know why we’re here, Pelle! I don’t know why you invited us!

Pelle

Okay: Here: Sit down. Please. I invited my friends because this is a once-in-a-lifetime thing and I wanted to share it. Especially with my friends who I knew would appreciate it, because I am proud of this place.

Dani

But I’m not an anthropologist. I don’t have the foundation to understand this.

Pelle

And yet I was the most excited for you to come. Here: smell this.

Dani

What is it?

Pelle

It calms you down. Go on. Inhale. I will, too. Isn’t that nice?... I know what you’re going through, Dani.

Dani

What am I going through? I’m scared. I can’t breathe.

Pelle

You’re going through a lot. I know you are, and I’m gonna say something now, because my birth parents are both gone, too--

Dani

What?! [crying] That’s not what I’m talking about!

Pelle

I know, and that’s fine, but please... My birth-parents both died when I was a little boy. They burned up in a fire, and I became – technically – an orphan. So believe me when I say I know what that is, because I do. Yet my difference is: I didn’t get a chance to feel lost. Because I had a family – here – where everyone embraced me and swept me up and I was raised by a community that doesn’t distinguish between what is theirs and what is not theirs. That’s what you were sacrificed to. But I – have always felt...held. By a family. A real family. Which everyone deserves. And you deserve.

Dani

Christian could walk in.

Pelle

He’s what I’m talking about. And he’s my good friend and I like him... But do you feel held by him, Dani? Does he feel like a home to you? My pilgrimage has been fun. New York is fun... But I also find it terrifying how people live. As if it’s necessary and even good to be lost and drifting...and I haven’t spent one night over there that I haven’t longed to be back here...in the lap of the Hårgas. Stay, Dani. Please. It will be good... And I swear we’re all finished sacrificing animals.

Dani

Has anyone seen Connie?

Christian

I think Mark saw her earlier.

Mark

I'm sure I saw her trying out for the sprinting Olympics earlier.

Dani

What, where?

Sorry, but I can say what happened. Her boyfriend called our landline from the train station and calmed Connie down. She begged our pardon and I drove her to meet him.

Christian

OK. That's really...

Dani

Why would Simon leave without her?

Christian

I'm sure it was just a miscommunication.

Siv

Now it's traditional for the May Queen to bless our crops and livestock. And after the luck - you just inherited from that salt herring, we should all be doubly encouraged! [laughter; pause]

Dani

Can Christian come with me?

Siv

Nej. The Queen must ride alone.