The Mother (2023)

Lucy Paez: Zoe

Photos 

Quotes 

• The Mother : [the bowl of meat is in front of Zoe]  Eat.

  Zoe : I can't.

  The Mother : Yes, you can.

  Zoe : [eyes filled with tears, she shakes her head]  Not eating Bambi's mom.

  The Mother : That's isn't venison. The deer is to hang for the meat to tenderize. Besides, that was a stag, so... it would be Bambi's dad.

  Zoe : What is this, then?

  The Mother : Rabbit. Thumper.

  Zoe : I'm not eating a rabbit either.

  The Mother : [sighs]  Listen to me. That rabbit had a better life than any cheeseburger you ever ate.

  Zoe : It had a beautiful life until you shot it.

  The Mother : I trapped it.

  Zoe : [sarcastically]  Much better.

  The Mother : Let me tell you something, kid. There's nothing you ever ate your whole life that didn't come from violence.

  Zoe : Tofu.

  The Mother : Half of Paraguay was burned and deforested for soy plantations.

  Zoe : Cheese.

  The Mother : Those cows are impregnated just so they can be pulled on all day.

  Zoe : Gross.

  The Mother : Gmph.

  Zoe : Cashew cheese.

  The Mother : I knew a mercenary in the Ivory Coast. He said they fought a civil war over cashews.

  Zoe : [tearfully]  I wanna go home.

• Zoe : She won't even admit she's my mother!

  Jons : A woman like that, you gotta pay attention to what she does, not what she says. And all she lives for is you.

• Zoe : [re the killers]  Who were they?

  The Mother : You don't need to know. Bad people, that's all.

  Zoe : Well, what do they want from me?

  The Mother : You're a chip. Something to bargain with.

• Zoe : Why are you such a bitch?

  The Mother : Don't you call me a bitch! Don't you ever call me a bitch! Keeping you safe doesn't make me a bitch.

  Zoe : Lying to me does.

  The Mother : How am I lying?

  Zoe : I know who you are.

  The Mother : That's not lying. That's just... not talking about things that don't matter.