The Lost Daughter (2021) - Quotes

Leda: [''Gets woken up on couch by [[w:Door phone|door link] ] and answers] Yes?

Nina: It's Nina.

Leda: [''Opens door''] Oh, hi.

Nina: Hi.

Leda: I thought you wouldn't come till Monday.

Nina: No.

Leda: Well, give me a second to get dressed.

Nina: 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...

Leda: [''They sit on couches''] Have a seat.

Nina: It's lovely here.

Leda: Yeah, so do you want the keys?

Nina: If it's alright with you.

Leda: Doesn't have much to do with me.

Nina: It doesn't?

Leda: You told me you were happy with your husband.

Nina: I did.

Leda: Yeah, you told me you were happy with everything.

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

Leda: I think you should do what you want.

Nina: Where do you live?

Leda: [[w:Cambridge, Massachusetts|Cambridge; [w:Boston|Boston] ], near ].

Nina: I'll come see you.

Leda: Well, I will leave you my address. Okay.

Nina: Is this going to pass?

Leda: What?

Nina: [''Tearfully''] I don't know what to call it. I have depression or something. But it passes?

Leda: Thought you said you were in a hurry.

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

Leda: [''Gets up with cramp''] 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.

Nina: [''Stands up''] Are you okay?

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

Nina: [''Leda appears with Elena's doll''; ''Covers mouth with hands''] What? You found her? Where did you find her?

Leda: No, I took her.

Nina: Why?

Leda: I don't know.

Nina: You don't know?

Leda: No.

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

Leda: I was just playing.

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

Leda: I'm an unnatural mother.

Nina: Oh, fuck.

Leda: I'm sorry.

Nina: [''Snatches doll from Leda and stomps off to front door''] Fuck! This is fucked!

Leda: Oh, Nina! Take the keys!

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

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

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

Will: [''Meets Leda walking in an alley after a party''] You know, it was, uh, it was beautiful. The gift you gave Nina. She was really grateful for your kindness.

Leda: Okay.

Will: I have, uh, something to ask you.

Leda: What?

Will: Do you mind if I come up?

Leda: I do, actually.

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

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

Will: When?

Leda: Whenever she wants.

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

Leda: Monday's fine.

Will: Are you angry?

Leda: No.

Will: You seem angry.

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

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

Leda: Why are you asking this of me in particular?

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

Martha: [''Referring to peeling [[w:orange (fruit)|an orange] Please. Please, can you peel it like a snake?

Young Leda: What?

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

Bianca: Can you peel it all?

Young Leda: I can.

Bianca: Don't let anything break.

Young Leda: No, I won't let anything break.

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

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

Martha: That's quite a long one.

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

Bianca: [''Leda is putting on her jacket''; ''Repeatedly''; ''Leda goes out door and shuts it''] Mama, where are you going? Where are you going, Mummy? Mama? Are you coming back? When are you coming back? Mama? Where are you going? Mama!

Young Joe: Hey.

Young Leda: [''Joe kisses her on cheek''] Hi. Hmm.

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

Young Leda: Can I get a hug?

Young Joe: Go on.

Young Leda: [''Martha runs into Leda's chest''] Oh! Mmm.

Martha: Are you home now, Mummy?

Young Leda: I'm home today.

Martha: Can you wash my hair after dinner?

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

Martha: Oh, okay.

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

Young Leda: 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?

Bianca: No.

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

Young Joe: [''Appears in door''] Leda. Can I talk to you?

Young Leda: Sure.

Young Joe: [''Gets down on knees''; [w:castration|cut my balls off] Please. Please. Don't do this. What do you need? Do you need me on my fucking knees? Do you need me to ]? What do you need? Tell me. Have you got his cock in your mouth? You can't answer me?

Young Leda: Joe, this has nothing to do with that.

Young Joe: Oh, fuck me? Fuck me?

Young Leda: I left him.

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

Young Leda: I don't see why not?

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

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

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

Young Leda: No you're not.

Young Joe: Yeah.

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

Young Joe: My mother didn't finish school.

Young Leda: [''Disappears under door drape''] Oh, fucking so what?

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

Leda: Yeah, you said, is everything okay?

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

Leda: I did. Yeah.

Elena: [''From stroller''] Lady.

Leda: Hey, little one. Are you feeling better?

Elena: She needs her medicine.

Leda: [''Leans down''] Your doll. Is she sick?

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

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

Nina: Since the doll's been missing, she's been, like, actually driving me fucking 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.

Leda: Mm, I remember.

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

Leda: I don't think badly of anyone.

Nina: 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 fucking crazy about me. And her. He says my breasts are exactly the size of his hand.

Leda: What would he do if he saw you with Will?

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

Leda: She doesn't want you to talk to me?

Nina: She doesn't want me to do fucking anything. Who give a fuck? Can I ask you something?

Leda: Sure.

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

Leda: Yeah. I left.

Nina: Oh,

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

Nina: You didn't see your children for three years?

Leda: No.

Nina: Who took care of them?

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

Nina: What did it feel like without them?

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

Nina: That doesn't sound amazing.

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

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

Professor Hardy: [''To Leda at a dinner party''] I didn't realize you were here. It's really great to meet you.

Young Leda: It's really great to meet you, too.

Professor Hardy: [''Shakes her hand''] Your work is thrilling.

Young Leda: Thank you.

Professor Hardy: [''Walks away to other end of dinner table''] Thrilling.

Young Leda: Thank you.

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

Young Leda: What is?

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

Young Leda: 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?

Young Leda: As opposed to a god.

Professor Hardy: Ah. Hmm. Your name is very provocative.

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

Professor Hardy: Jesus.

Young Leda: 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.

Young Leda: Sconcertante. (Disconcerting)

Professor Hardy: Si, ragazza. Sconcertante. Mmm.

Boy: Don't give her one!

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

Young Joe: [''Daughters bring water bottles to hiker couple''] Thank you!

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

Female Hiker: [''Speaking Italian''] Would you give me something of yours to read?

Young Leda: Something of mine?

Female Hiker: Yes, your work.

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

Female Hiker: Not daughters. They're boys.

Young Leda: Hmm.

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

Male Hiker: Yes. Since April. Amazing.

Female Hiker: Grazie. (Thanks)

Young Joe: Can I ask, how old are you?

Male Hiker: Forty-two.

Young Joe: [''Chuckles''] Oh, my God. Life is so different without kids.

Male Hiker: [[w:London|London] I have kids. I have three kids. Twelve, nine and seven. They are in ] with their mother.

Young Leda: So you ran away together?

Male Hiker: I guess we did.

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

Young Leda: Obliged?

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

Young Leda and Female Hiker: [''[[w:Italian|Singing in Italian; ''Leda sustains note''; ''Female hiker chuckles and clinks glass with Young Leda with Young Joe clapping''] 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...) cammin...! (...path)

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

Young Leda: Oh.

Female Hiker: So feminine!

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

Young Leda: Jesus, Joe. I studied translation, yeah. And comparative literature.

Female Hiker: What are you working on?

Young Leda: Uh... I'm barely working.

Young Joe: [[w:W. B. Yeats|Yeats translation] Uh, she's working on a ]

Male Hiker: Yeats?!

Young Leda: No.

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

Young Joe: Huh?

Bianca: [''Clandestinely''] Il gelo dell'ala sorta cade lungo il mio corpo

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

Male Hiker: What is that?

Bianca: Don't know.

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

Female Hiker: [''Extends hand to Young Leda who embraces it''; ''Chuckles''] È bello. Brava. Wow.

Bianca: [''Noticing mother is fixated at window''; [w:Making out|Snoggies] What are you watching?! ]?!

Young Leda: Oh, my God!

Young Joe: Hikers!

Bianca: Hikers!

Young Joe: [[w:Catamount Trail|the Catamount Trail] Hikers! Stay there! They must be doing ]!

Martha: Hey, what are hikers?

Young Joe: [[w:Quebec|Quebec] Are you kidding me?! To ]! They don't have food!

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

Young Joe: They're wet!

Young Leda: Joe, don't bring them in here!

Professor Hardy: Thank God, because whenever one tries to suppress doubt, there is tyranny.

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

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.

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

Young Leda: [[w:W. H. Auden|It's Auden; https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2019/04/crisis-a-poem-by-w-h-auden/586315/From "The Crisis". Hmm? An inside joke] ]. "Chill of the crooked wing falls down along my body". It's ridiculous. It's just something I taught them. .

Young Leda: I hate talking to my kids on the phone.

Leda: Long time ago, at some point, I considered, only half seriously, considered having implants. But, um, they come from nowhere, so what are they worth?

Leda: I'm an unnatural mother.