19 quotes
Reflections on Teaching and Self-Perception
Young Leda
]. "Chill of the crooked wing falls down along my body". It's ridiculous. It's just something I taught them. .
[[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]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Moment of Gratitude and Inquiry
Will
You know, it was, uh, it was beautiful. The gift you gave Nina. She was really grateful for your kindness.
[''Meets Leda walking in an alley after a party'']
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
Uh... Nina asked me to. All right.
[''Walks past Leda'']
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Existential Meaning in an Empty Universe
Professor Hardy
Camus posits that the ontological emptiness of the universe chafes against the intrinsically human desire for metaphysical meaning.
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Peeled Like a Snake Request
Martha
Please. Please, can you peel it like a snake?
[''Referring to peeling [[w:orange (fruit)|an orange]
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
It's longer than ever. Hiss. Can it curl itself up? Little curly.
[''Leda hands peel to Martha''; ''Martha dangles and jiggles orange peel'']
Bianca
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!
[''Leda is putting on her jacket''; ''Repeatedly''; ''Leda goes out door and shuts it'']
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Dangers of Suppressing Doubt
Professor Hardy
Thank God, because whenever one tries to suppress doubt, there is tyranny.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Sharing Stories Among Friends
Young Joe
Thank you!
[''Daughters bring water bottles to hiker couple'']
Female Hiker and Young Leda
Ciao.
[''Young Leda embraces Female Hiker's head, kisses her cheek and hugs her'']
Female Hiker
Would you give me something of yours to read?
[''Speaking Italian'']
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.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Value of Attention as Generosity
Professor Hardy
As Simone Weil says, "Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Reflections on Motherhood and Identity
Leda
I'm an unnatural mother.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Child's Desire for Affection
Young Joe
Hey.
Young Leda
Hi. Hmm.
[''Joe kisses her on cheek'']
Young Joe
What are you doing? Say hello to Mummy. Martha. Go on. Say hello. It's okay.
[''Guides her head'']
Young Leda
Can I get a hug?
Young Joe
Go on.
Young Leda
Oh! Mmm.
[''Martha runs into Leda's chest'']
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
Okay. Show me your dress. Oh! So pretty. Mwah!
[''Kisses Bianca on lips'']
Young Joe
Leda. Can I talk to you?
[''Appears in door'']
Young Leda
Sure.
Young Joe
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?
[''Gets down on knees''; [w:castration|cut my balls off]
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
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?
[''Repeatedly'']
Young Leda
Joe, I'm feeling dizzy.
[''Walks off'']
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
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.
[''Walks away'']
Young Joe
My mother didn't finish school.
Young Leda
Oh, fucking so what?
[''Disappears under door drape'']
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Unexpected Discovery During a Casual Moment
Bianca
What are you watching?! ]?!
[''Noticing mother is fixated at window''; [w:Making out|Snoggies]
Young Leda
Oh, my God!
Young Joe
Hikers!
Bianca
Hikers!
Young Joe
Hikers! Stay there! They must be doing ]!
[[w:Catamount Trail|the Catamount Trail]
Martha
Hey, what are hikers?
Young Joe
Are you kidding me?! To ]! They don't have food!
[[w:Quebec|Quebec]
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!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Desire Complicated by Commitment
Professor Hardy
I want to go to bed with you. But it looks like you're married, so... you'll have to start this.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Brief Introduction Between Leda and Nina
Leda
] and answers] Yes?
[''Gets woken up on couch by [[w:Door phone|door link]
Nina
It's Nina.
Leda
Oh, hi.
[''Opens door'']
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
Have a seat.
[''They sit on couches'']
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
], near ].
[[w:Cambridge, Massachusetts|Cambridge; [w:Boston|Boston]
Nina
I'll come see you.
Leda
Well, I will leave you my address. Okay.
Nina
Is this going to pass?
Leda
What?
Nina
I don't know what to call it. I have depression or something. But it passes?
[''Tearfully'']
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
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'']
Nina
Are you okay?
[''Stands up'']
Leda
Yeah, it just, um, happens when I stand up too quickly.
Nina
What? You found her? Where did you find her?
[''Leda appears with Elena's doll''; ''Covers mouth with hands'']
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
Fuck! This is fucked!
[''Snatches doll from Leda and stomps off to front door'']
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
None of this pass! You fucking sick cunt! Better watch your fucking back bitch!
[''Impales Leda with the hat needle and stomps off''; ''Leda pulls needle out and sits on couch'']
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Debate Over Sharing Something Important
Boy
Don't give her one!
Girl
Why?
[''Leda reads flyer to learn it is a missing sign for a doll that is in her possession'']
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Struggles of Parental Communication
Young Leda
I hate talking to my kids on the phone.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Unexpected Phone Call Leads to Encounter
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
Lady.
[''From stroller'']
Leda
Hey, little one. Are you feeling better?
Elena
She needs her medicine.
Leda
Your doll. Is she sick?
[''Leans down'']
Nina
She's not getting over it. She wants her doll. Shit. It won't stay on.
Leda
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.
[''Puts it on Nina's head''; ''Inserts pin into hat'']
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
Okay. There's Callie and your husband.
[''Nina wipes away Leda's tear'']
Nina
My husband? What the fuck is he doing here? He's not supposed to be here until tomorrow. Fuck. I have to go.
[''Embraces Leda's head and kisses her on lips'']
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Questioning the Value of Implants
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?
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Conversation Among Hikers and Young Leda
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
Oh, my God. Life is so different without kids.
[''Chuckles'']
Male Hiker
I have kids. I have three kids. Twelve, nine and seven. They are in ] with their mother.
[[w:London|London]
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
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)
[''[[w:Italian|Singing in Italian; ''Leda sustains note''; ''Female hiker chuckles and clinks glass with Young Leda with Young Joe clapping'']
Female Hiker
Brava, brava! (good, good) Your Italian is so beautiful!
[''Young Leda reaches over to hug the female hiker hug and kisses her'']
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
Uh, she's working on a ]
[[w:W. B. Yeats|Yeats translation]
Male Hiker
Yeats?!
Young Leda
No.
Male Hiker
In Italian? That's... that is like chocolate on chocolate!
[''gestures using Bianca's hands'']
Young Joe
Huh?
Bianca
Il gelo dell'ala sorta cade lungo il mio corpo
[''Clandestinely'']
Female Hiker
Wow. Wow.
[''Bianca plays with female hiker's hair'']
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
È bello. Brava. Wow.
[''Extends hand to Young Leda who embraces it''; ''Chuckles'']
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Meeting of Minds in Academia
Professor Hardy
I didn't realize you were here. It's really great to meet you.
[''To Leda at a dinner party'']
Young Leda
It's really great to meet you, too.
Professor Hardy
Your work is thrilling.
[''Shakes her hand'']
Young Leda
Thank you.
Professor Hardy
Thrilling.
[''Walks away to other end of dinner table'']
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.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Critique of Bourdieu's Oversight
Professor Hardy
Bourdieu's mistake is that he often forgot the first part of his own name.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.