The War (1994)

Mare Winningham: Lois Simmons

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Quotes 

• Stu : For what? To get our hopes up? To promise us we was gunna have a big house with a tire swing, vanity, and a picket fence, and then just leave, again? What the hell kinda loused up angel is that?

  Lois : Don't you know nothing would have kept him from you. He's just gone home.

  Stu : We're his home ma. The stupid lord can have him later. Why? Why does he have to take evrything, bad enough our home and all our things. Why'd he have take my daddy? What did I do so wrong that he had to take my daddy?

  Lois : Oh no honey.

  Stu : He could've taken anyone Charles Manson super old people that already been around a hundred years. My daddy was only 34 years old.

  [looking up] 

  Stu : I needed him more than you God, I needed him more.

• Lois : Lidia Simmons, what is the matter with you?

  Lidia : It's you. You don't got good shoes, you hardly ever eat anything. You work all the time. This money was gonna be a new chance for you. Why are you always giving your chances away?

  Lois : Now listen here. All your dad has ever done is fault to make this world a better place for us. Yes, he struggles. Yes, he has had dirt kicked in his face. All the more reason he needs our help. Now, you don't wanna help him that's okay... you gotta follow your instincts. But, I will not listen to you knock him. He's a part of me. You cut him down, you're cutting me down... you're cuttin' down yourself.

• Stephen : They let me go from that job today.

  Lois : What? Why? Hadn't even been a week!

  Stephen : Somewhere or another, they found out I spent time in that mental hospital.

  Lois : Well, did you tell them you went into that hospital voluntary for nightmares?

  Stephen : Nothing personal, they said. Law says you can't work for the city or state within the vicinity of children if you've spent time in a mental hospital or corrective institution.

  Lois : It's on account of our government that you wound up in that place, and now they're turning you down for work like you're some kind of criminal or something? What is that? Well... we still got my jobs, and we can get food stamps...

  Stephen : Food stamps? God bless America. They give you a handout before they give you a job.