25 quotes
Alfred's View on Language and Dignity
Alfred
Stab speak English?! Ha! He wouldn't lower himself to speak English would you Stab?!
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The Elusiveness of Happiness Over Time
One Stab
It's hard to tell of happiness, time goes by and we feel safe too soon.
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Marriage Intentions and Family Tensions
Alfred
When are you planning to be married?
Tristan
Morning.
Alfred
Damn you, Tristan. You will marry her.
Tristan
And make a honest woman out of her?
Alfred
Yes! God damn you to hell.
Tristan
Yes, I will marry her if she'll have me.
Alfred
If she'll have you? Do you love her? Or did you seduce her just to spite me?
Tristan
It's not what I did.
Alfred
And what about Samuel?
Tristan
What about Samuel?
Alfred
You tell me about Samuel.
Tristan
We all loved Samuel. Samuel's dead. What?
Alfred
How convenient that is for you.
Tristan
Because you love her I will forgive you for that. Once! You say that again and we're not brothers.
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Confronting Guilt and Redemption in Grief
Tristan
You know when Samuel died... when Samuel died, I cursed God. Did I damn everybody around me as well as myself?
Colonel Ludlow
No. You are not damned, Tristan... I won't allow that.
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Father's Need for Control and Power
Alfred
Please excuse my father. It makes him feel young and powerful to treat us like idiot children.
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Family Dynamics and Personal Accountability
Tristan
Alfred's going to do well wherever he is.
Colonel Ludlow
Except here with us.
Tristan
That's my fault.
Colonel Ludlow
I didn't say that.
Tristan
I couldn't bring Samuel back home alive either, could I?
Colonel Ludlow
Don't you dare say that boy! That was in God's hands.
Tristan
Was it?
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Tristan Ludlow's Identity and Shoe Commentary
Sheriff Tynert
His name is Tristan Ludlow. He was an officer.
Isabel Ludlow
He is with Tristan Ludlow.
Tristan Ludlow
His shoes stink like shift. Their dirty shoes stink like feel.
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A Father's Concern in Troubling Times
Tristan
Samuel! Samuel, come here! Run along now. Go with Pet. Get him in the house!
John T. O'Banion
He's a fine boy. You know we're not here to arrest you.
Tristan
You take me to the woods. I don't want my boy to see. I don't want my boy to see. Let's get on with it.
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Nature's Impact on Strength and Vulnerability
One Stab
She was like the water that freezes inside a rock and breaks it apart. It was no more her fault than it is the fault of the water when the rock shatters.
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The Birth of a Legend
Tristan Ludlow
(smiling) Some people hear their own inner voices with great claiming. And they live by what they hear. Such people become crazy and they become legends, Tristan Ludlow was born in the moon of the falling leaves. It was a terrible winter. His mother almost died bringing him into this world. His father, the Colonel, brought him to me. I wrapped him in a bearskin and held him all that night. As he grew into a man, I taught him the joy of the kill. When the hunter cuts out its warm heart, setting its spirit free.
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Unrequited Love and Hope for a Future
Alfred
Susannah, you know how much I loved Samuel. And I think you know. Out of respect for him I wanted to say it in this place. I think you know that I'm in love with you. From the first moment I saw you. Like in a novel. That's my mother's romantic imagination coming out in me, I suppose. You're not making this very easy for me, Susannah.
Susannah
Sorry.
Alfred
Is there any hope that you could learn to love me? Not the way you loved Samuel, of course, but enough to. Susannah, we could make a life together. A happy life.
Susannah
I don't think so, Alfred.
Alfred
It seems like you're not sure though. Maybe there's a chance. What?
Susannah
I think I can only cause you pain, Alfred.
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Inner Voices: Path to Madness or Legend
One Stab
Some people hear their own inner voices with great clearness. And they live by what they hear. Such people become crazy... or they become legends.
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Reflections on Love and Loss
One Stab
I thought Tristan would never live to be an old man. I was wrong about that. I was wrong about many things. It was those who loved him most who died young. He was a rock they broke themselves against however much he tried to protect them.
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The Legend Begins After Innocence Falls
Taglines
After the Fall from Innocence the Legend begins.
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The Burden of Eternal Love
Susanna
Forever turned out to be too long Tristan.
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A Resilient Figure Amidst Family Turmoil
Taglines
He was a rock they broke themselves against however much he tried to protect them.
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Complicated Love and Family Dynamics
Alfred
I don't know what to say. Tristan's always been wild. You love him for that.
Susannah
Do I? Yeah, I suppose I do.
Alfred
Susannah, he does love you.
Colonel Ludlow
Alfred! She's to be your brother's wife.
Alfred
Yes, though you might better remind him of that.
Colonel Ludlow
He's not here to defend himself.
Alfred
No, he's not but I see you are here to defend him and what is his. Even though he's abandoned her and you. And I won't even speak of who else he abandoned.
Colonel Ludlow
Damn you, boy. Don't you blame my son for Samuel's death! Samuel chose to be a soldier and soldiers die. Sent to be slaughtered by the men in the government. Parasites like you! Damn and blast you! Damn you. And damn you too!
[turns to Susannah]
Alfred
Shut your mouth! You leave her out of this!
Colonel Ludlow
You get out of my house and off my land.
Alfred
Why? Because I want to serve my country like you did? Or because, like you, I love a woman who doesn't love me? He used her and he deserted her. Your darling Tristan.
Susannah
Alfred, don't, please.
Alfred
I loved her! I love her still. And he stole her from me. If you want to know the truth of it he stole her from Samuel before the war.
Colonel Ludlow
God help me, I'll kill you.
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Colonel Ludlow's Reflection on Historical Violence
Colonel Ludlow
Indians! Indians were the issue in those days. I can assure you, gentlemen, there is nothing quite so grotesque as the meeting of a child with a bullet; or an entire village slaughtered while sleeping. That was the Government's resolution of that particular issue and I have seen nothing in its behavior since then that would persuade me that it has gained either in wisdom, common sense, or humanity.
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A Brother's Request for Protection
Alfred
You don't have to be a genius to figure out they going to come after you for this.
Tristan
Yeah. Alfred?
Alfred
Yeah?
Tristan
I want to ask you to watch over my children. Watch over Samuel.
Alfred
Brother, it will be an honor.
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Life Between Worlds and the Unmarked Grave
One Stab
Tristan died in 1963. The moon of the popping trees. He was last seen up in the North Country, where the hunting was still good. His grave is unmarked, but it does not matter. He had always lived in the borderland anyway, somewhere between this world and the Other.
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Struggles with Love and Adherence to Rules
Alfred
I followed all of the rules, man's and God's. And you, you followed none of them. And they all loved you more. Samuel, Father, and my... even my own wife.
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Unsent Letters and Unspoken Feelings
Susanna
Tristan, I have nowhere to send this letter and no reason to believe you wish to receive it. I write it only for myself. And so I will hide it away along with all the things left unsaid and undone between us.
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A Difficult Farewell Between Tristan and Susannah
Susannah
Were you going to say goodbye? Tristan? How long will you be gone?
Tristan
Not long. A few months.
Susannah
I can make it better for you.
Tristan
No.
Susannah
If we'd had a child or if I were pregnant, would you still be going?
Tristan
Yes.
Susannah
Just give me a chance.
Tristan
Don't do that.
Susannah
Look at me. Please, look at me. I'll wait for you. However long it takes. I'll wait for you forever.
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A Conversation About Relationships and Expectations
Tristan
Samuel, God bless you. You are good at everything you try to do. I'm sure it'll be the same with fucking.
Samuel
Tristan, really. We're talking about my future wife.
Tristan
Oh, you're not gonna fuck her?
Samuel
No!
Tristan
No?
Samuel
No! I'm planning to be with her.
Tristan
I recommend fucking.
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The Impact of Love on Family Dynamics
Taglines
The men of the Ludlow family. A woman's grace brought them together. Then her passion tore them apart.
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