Brooklyn (2015)

Jane Brennan: Mary Lacey

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Quotes 

• Mary Lacey : Eilis, what's the matter? Has something happened with Jim?

  Eilis : [crying]  Mammy, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I'm married. I got married in Brooklyn before I came home. I should have told you. I should have told you as soon as I got back. I want to be with him. I want to be with my husband.

  Mary Lacey : Of course. Is he nice?

  Eilis : Yes.

  Mary Lacey : He'd have to be nice if you married him. So you're going back?

  Eilis : Yes. Tomorrow.

  Mary Lacey : Are you on the early train?

  [Eilis nods] 

  Mary Lacey : I'm going to bed.

  Eilis : Mammy, it's not even 8:00. You don't have to.

  Mary Lacey : I'm very tired. And I'd like to say goodbye now. And only once.

  [hugging] 

  Mary Lacey : Perhaps you'll write and tell me about him.

  Eilis : I will.

• Eilis : I wish I'd written to Father Flood about you, Rose.

  Rose Lacey : Me? I have a job. You had a couple of hours on a Sunday working for Nettles Kelly.

  Mary Lacey : You shouldn't call her that.

  Rose Lacey : I think it's quite a kind name. Considering she's actually a terrible old witch.

  Eilis : Well, I don't want to talk about her anymore.

  Rose Lacey : Good.

  Mary Lacey : They say it's hotter there in the summer and colder in the winter. What in heaven's name will she do about clothes?

  Rose Lacey : She'll buy them, Mother.

  Mary Lacey : She doesn't want to be wasting her money on clothes.

  Rose Lacey : She won't have much choice. She'll be there for...

  [trailing off, she continues dinner in silence] 

• Rose Lacey : [in a letter to Eilis]  It's hard for me to believe that you're reading this in America, thousands of miles across the sea. The big news here is that since you left, Mammy has stopped shopping at Nettles Kelly's. As you know, her bread wasn't always fresh and she overcharged for everything. And she's awful.

  Mary Lacey : [in another letter]  I haven't told her to her face. There's no need. She knows that she overcharges and her bread's not fresh.

  Rose Lacey : We talk about you every evening, of course. We want to know everything. I'm sure you're busy, but even if your letters were 200 pages, they wouldn't be long enough for your mother. Take care of yourself. Love.

• Mary Lacey : So, now, Mrs. O'Toole from Cush.

  Eilis : Do we really have to do this? Getting a letter of condolence isn't like getting a birthday present, is it? What if Mrs. O'Toole from Cush writes back to thank you for your thank you?

  Mary Lacey : Then I'll thank her.

  Eilis : And you'd be happy to spend the rest of your life like that?

  Mary Lacey : It's not as if I've anything else to do or anybody else to talk to. It might as well be Mrs. O'Toole from Cush.

  Eilis : What do you want me to say?

• Mary Lacey : Thank goodness you're back.

  Eilis : What's the matter?

  Mary Lacey : A lad from Davis's came around. They have a problem in their accounts department. They need you up there straightaway.

  Eilis : Is that all? I'll just put the shopping away.

  Mary Lacey : No, no, leave it. Straightaway, the young fella said.

  Eilis : It doesn't matter what he said, Mother. I'm not an employee. I'd be doing them a favor.

  Mary Lacey : Please, let me do the shopping.

• Mary Lacey : [after Rose dies]  People really loved her, Eilis. Her friends from work, the neighbors, everybody. Nobody knew what to say to me. When your daddy died, I said to myself that I shouldn't grieve too much because I had the two of you. And then when you went to America, I told myself the same thing because she was here with me. But everyone's gone now, Eilis. I have nobody.

• Nancy : I'm so sorry about Rose.

  Eilis : Thank you. How are you?

  [Nancy shows her the engagement ring on her finger] 

  Eilis : No.

  Mary Lacey : I knew, but I wanted to let Nancy tell you herself.

  Nancy : I'm so glad you can come to the wedding.

  Eilis : Can I?

  Nancy : Your mother accepted the invitation on your behalf.

  Eilis : When is it?

  Nancy : The 27th of August. Will you come out with George and me tomorrow night? Annette wants to see you, too.

  Mary Lacey : Oh, I don't mind. I'll have to find you a key. I don't want you getting me out of bed.

  Nancy : We all want to hear what life in New York is like.

  Eilis : I'll try and think of something to say.

  [leaving with her mother] 

  Eilis : I'm booked to go back to New York on the 21st.

  Mary Lacey : Well, you can wait an extra week to see your best friend married.