The Age of Innocence (1993)

Michelle Pfeiffer: Ellen Olenska

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Quotes 

• Newland : You gave me my first glimpse of a real life. Then you asked me to go on with the false one. No one can endure that.

  Ellen : I'm enduring it.

• Ellen : Newland. You couldn't be happy if it meant being cruel. If we act any other way I'll be making you act against what I love in you most. And I can't go back to that way of thinking. Don't you see? I can't love you unless I give you up.

• Ellen Olenska : Is fashion such a serious consideration?

  Newland Archer : Among those who have nothing more serious to consider.

• Ellen Olenska : How can we be happy behind the backs of people who trust us?

• Ellen Olenska : I think we should look at reality, not dreams.

  Newland Archer : I just want us to be together!

  Ellen Olenska : I can't be your wife, Newland! Is it your idea that I should live with you as your mistress?

  Newland Archer : I want... Somehow, I want to get away with you... and... and find a world where words like that don't exist!

• Ellen Olenska : I knew you'd come.

  Newland Archer : That shows you wanted me to.

• Newland Archer : What could you possibly gain that could make up for the scandal?

  Ellen Olenska : My freedom!

• Ellen Olenska : Are you very much in love with her?

  Newland Archer : As much as a man can be.

  Ellen Olenska : Do you think there's a limit?

• Ellen Olenska : Is New York such a labyrinth? I thought it was all straight up and down like Fifth Avenue. All the cross streets numbered and big honest labels on everything.

  Newland Archer : Everything is labeled, but everybody is not.

  Ellen Olenska : Then I must count on you for warnings too.

• Ellen Olenska : They never knew what it meant to be tempted, but you did. You understood. I've never known that before - and it's better than anything I've known.

• Newland Archer : You have been a way a very long time.

  Ellen Olenska : Centuries and centuries. So long, I'm sure I'm dead and buried, in this dear old place, as heaven.

• Newland : Honest? Isn't that why you always admire Julius Beaufort? He was more honest than the rest of us, wasn't he, we've got no character, no color, no variety. I wonder why you just don't go back to Europe.

  Ellen : I believe that's because of you.

• Newland Archer : All the older women like and admire you. They want to help.

  Ellen Olenska : I know. I know, as long as they don't hear anything unpleasant. Does no one here want to know - want to know the truth, Mr. Archer? The real loneliness is living among all these kind people who only asks you to pretend.

• Ellen Olenska : Do you think her lover will send her a box of yellow roses tomorrow morning?

• Mrs. Mingott : I told him he should have married you!

  Ellen Olenska : [laughs]  And, what did he say?

  Mrs. Mingott : Oh, my darling, I leave you to find that out.

• Ellen Olenska : May I tell you what most interests me about New York; not all the blind obeying of traditions, somebody else's traditions; it seems stupid to have discovered America only to make it a copy of another country. Do you suppose Christopher Columbus would have taken all that trouble just to go to the opera with Larry Lefferts?

• Ellen Olenska : I should go were I'm invited or I should be too lonely.

• Ellen Olenska : Don't make love to me. Too many people have done that.

• Ellen Olenska : Cousin May wrote. She asked you to take care of me.

  Newland Archer : I didn't need to be asked.

  Ellen Olenska : Why? Does that mean I'm so helpless and defenseless? Or, that women here are so blessed they never feel need?

  Newland Archer : What sort of need?

  Ellen Olenska : Oh, please don't ask me. I don't speak your language.

• Ellen Olenska : Shall I come to you once and then go home?

  Newland Archer : Come to me once then.

• Ellen Olenska : Come and see me, some day.

• Ellen Olenska : So, how do you like this odd little house? To me it's like heaven.

• Ellen Olenska : I remember we played together. How this brings it all back to me. I remember everybody here the same way in knickerbockers and pantalettes.

• Julius Beaufort : I'm having a nice oyster supper in your honor. Private room. Congenial company. Artists and so on.

  Ellen Olenska : That's very tempting. I haven't met a single artists since I've been here.

  Newland Archer : I know one or two painters I could bring to see you, if you allow me.

  Julius Beaufort : Painters? Are there any painters in New York?

• Newland Archer : If he chooses to fight the case, he can say things that might be un - that might be disagreeable to you. Say them publicly, so that they, it could be damaging, even if...

  Ellen Olenska : If?

  Newland Archer : Even if they were unfounded.

  Ellen Olenska : What harm could accusations like that do me here?

  Newland Archer : Perhaps more harm than anywhere else. Our legislation favors divorce, but, our social customs don't.

  Ellen Olenska : Never?

  Newland Archer : Well, not if the woman - has appearances in the lest degree against her, has exposed herself by any unconventional behavior - to - offensive insinuations and...

  Ellen Olenska : Yes. So, my family tell me.