Scenes from a Marriage (TV Mini Series)

Konsten att sopa under mattan (1973)

Liv Ullmann: Marianne

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Quotes 

• Johan : Marianne, could life be so treacherous that it could go wrong just like that? Almost imperceptibly?

  Marianne : Do you mean us?

  Johan : Is it a matter of making the wrong choice? Or do we jog along in the same rut without thinking until we end up on the garbage heap?

• Marianne : Forgive me for asking, but have you met someone?

  Fru Jacobi : No, I haven't.

  Marianne : What about your husband?

  Fru Jacobi : As far as I know, he's never been unfaithful.

  Marianne : Won't you be lonely?

  Fru Jacobi : I guess. But it's even lonelier living in a loveless marriage.

• Fru Jacobi : My husband is a responsible man. He's kind and conscientious. I have nothing to complain about. He's been an excellent father. We've never quarreled. We have a nice apartment and a lovely summer cottage we inherited from my mother-in-law. We're both fond of music. We belong to a chamber music society and play together.

  Marianne : It all sounds ideal.

  Fru Jacobi : Yes, it does. But there is no love between us. There never has been any.

• Marianne : In this first meeting we usually establish the issues and look at how to solve them.

  Fru Jacobi : I want a divorce.

  Marianne : How long have you been married?

  Fru Jacobi : Over 20 years.

  Marianne : Do you have a profession?

  Fru Jacobi : No, I'm a housewife.

  Marianne : Why do you want a divorce?

  Fru Jacobi : There's no love in our marriage.

  Marianne : Is that the reason?

  Fru Jacobi : Yes.

  Marianne : You've been married for a long time. Was this always the case?

  Fru Jacobi : Yes, always.

• Marianne : Have you told your husband you want a divorce?

  Fru Jacobi : Of course. Fifteen years ago I told him I didn't want to live with him anymore, since there was no love in our marriage. He was very understanding. He merely asked me to wait until the children had grown up. Now all three have grown up and left home. Now I can have my divorce.

  Marianne : So what does he say?

  Fru Jacobi : He keeps asking me what's wrong with our marriage. And I tell him I can't go on with a relationship that lacks love. Then he asks me what love is supposed to involve. But I tell him I don't know. How can I describe something that's not there?

• Marianne : Don't I give you enough affection?

  Johan : Affection takes time.

  Marianne : Then you don't get enough.

  Johan : We don't get enough. Or give enough.

  Marianne : That's why I wanted us to go away this summer.

  Johan : Affection shouldn't be kept just for vacations.

• Fru Jacobi : I know just what you're thinking.

  Marianne : Really?

  Fru Jacobi : A spoiled woman with no sense of humor. She has everything she could possibly want but still she goes on about love. What about friendship, loyalty, security?

  Marianne : Something like that, yes.

  Fru Jacobi : Let me tell you something. I have a mental picture of myself that doesn't correspond to reality.

• Johan : Things are certainly complicated today, aren't they?

  Marianne : I wish we could spend a whole week in bed just cuddling. And both of us could cry.

  Johan : That's not the life we chose to lead.

  Marianne : I wish I could be certain our mothers didn't do the choosing.

  Johan : You suffer from a maternal persecution complex.

  Marianne : Is this the life you wanted?

  Johan : Yes.

• Marianne : Have you been on good terms with your children?

  Fru Jacobi : Emotionally. I've never loved my children. I know that now. I used to think I did. You always do. But I know now that I never loved them. Still, I've been a good mother. I've done all I could, even though I never felt anything for them.

• Marianne : It's possible to talk too much about these things, you know.

  Johan : Yes, it is.

  Marianne : I know you should discuss everything and not keep secrets. But in this case I think it's wrong.

  Johan : I think you're right.

  Marianne : Some matters should be protected from prying eyes.

  Johan : You think so?

  Marianne : I'm sure of it.

• Fru Jacobi : Something peculiar is happening. My senses--sight, hearing, touch--are starting to fail me. This table, for instance. I can see it and touch it. But the sensation is deadened and dry. Do you understand?

  Marianne : I think I do.

  Fru Jacobi : It's the same with everything. Music, scents, faces, voices. Everything seems puny, gray and undignified.

• Marianne : Sometimes I wish that I could go with the flow. Eat when I'm hungry, sleep when I'm tired, and have sex when I'm in love. Maybe even work a little, if I felt like it. Sometimes I long to simply float along, and maybe even sink.

  Johan : Who doesn't?

  Marianne : You. You don't.

  Johan : What would you know about that?

  Marianne : I know you pretty well by now.

• Marianne : You like things to be tidy.

  Johan : So do you.

  Marianne : Do I?

  Johan : You're a perfectionist.

  Marianne : Really?

  Johan : You detest disorder in mind and body.

  Marianne : Really? I see.

  Johan : That's a fact.

  Marianne : I'm not so certain.

  Johan : Of what?

  Marianne : I'm not certain I know who I am.

• Fru Jacobi : I tell myself I have the capacity to love. But it's been... bottled up. The life I've led has stifled my potential. The time has come to change all that. The first step is divorce. My husband and I... cancel each other out.

  Marianne : That sounds frightening.

  Fru Jacobi : It is frightening.

• Marianne : We're honest with each other, aren't we?

  Johan : I think so.

  Marianne : It's not good to bottle things up. No matter how silly it is, it's better to get it off your chest.

  Johan : Of course it is.