Orphan Quotes
A husband and wife who recently lost their baby adopt a 9-year-old girl who is not nearly as innocent as she claims to be.
Kate Coleman: Esther? We have to talk about last night.
Esther: Do we?
Kate Coleman: Yes, we do... See, there are certain things that grownups do that children aren't supposed to see, and, uh... that was one of 'em.
[a pause; Esther keeps painting]
Kate Coleman: Esther, listen to me.
[Esther turns to Kate]
Kate Coleman: When grownups love each other very, very much... they want to show each other that love; they want to express it...
Esther: I know. They fuck.
Esther: Do we?
Kate Coleman: Yes, we do... See, there are certain things that grownups do that children aren't supposed to see, and, uh... that was one of 'em.
[a pause; Esther keeps painting]
Kate Coleman: Esther, listen to me.
[Esther turns to Kate]
Kate Coleman: When grownups love each other very, very much... they want to show each other that love; they want to express it...
Esther: I know. They fuck.
[Kate overhears Esther playing Tchaikovsky flawlessly on the piano]
Kate Coleman: You told me you didn't know how to play.
Esther: No, I didn't.
Kate Coleman: Yes, you did.
Esther: You offered to teach me, and I accepted.
Kate Coleman: Okay... so, then, you were just... pretending, this whole time?
Esther: I thought you would enjoy teaching me. It must be frustrating for someone who loves music as much as you to have a son who isn't interested and a daughter who can't even hear.
Kate Coleman: You told me you didn't know how to play.
Esther: No, I didn't.
Kate Coleman: Yes, you did.
Esther: You offered to teach me, and I accepted.
Kate Coleman: Okay... so, then, you were just... pretending, this whole time?
Esther: I thought you would enjoy teaching me. It must be frustrating for someone who loves music as much as you to have a son who isn't interested and a daughter who can't even hear.
[Esther holds a box cutter to a sleeping Daniel's neck; he wakes up]
Esther: Shhhh...
[She grabs his hair and slams his head against the pillow]
Daniel Coleman: Ah!
Esther: Tell me what you saw.
Daniel Coleman: What are you doing?
Esther: What did you see?
Daniel Coleman: [crying] I saw you and Max in the treehouse...
Esther: [pulls his hair] What else?
Daniel Coleman: What do you mean?
Esther: What else did you see?
Daniel Coleman: Nothing, I didn't see anything else, I swear!
Esther: Did you tell anyone?
Daniel Coleman: No... I didn't tell anyone.
[as he cries, she moves the box cutter down between his legs]
Esther: If I find out that you're lying, I'll cut your hairless little prick off before you even figure out what it's for. Do you understand me?
Daniel Coleman: Yes...
[a dark stain appears on his pants]
Esther: You pissed yourself.
Esther: Shhhh...
[She grabs his hair and slams his head against the pillow]
Daniel Coleman: Ah!
Esther: Tell me what you saw.
Daniel Coleman: What are you doing?
Esther: What did you see?
Daniel Coleman: [crying] I saw you and Max in the treehouse...
Esther: [pulls his hair] What else?
Daniel Coleman: What do you mean?
Esther: What else did you see?
Daniel Coleman: Nothing, I didn't see anything else, I swear!
Esther: Did you tell anyone?
Daniel Coleman: No... I didn't tell anyone.
[as he cries, she moves the box cutter down between his legs]
Esther: If I find out that you're lying, I'll cut your hairless little prick off before you even figure out what it's for. Do you understand me?
Daniel Coleman: Yes...
[a dark stain appears on his pants]
Esther: You pissed yourself.
Daniel Coleman: [watching Esther neatly cut up her food] Can you eat normal?
Esther: I am eating normal.
Daniel Coleman: Yeah, maybe in Transylvania or whatever country you're from.
Esther: Incidentally, I'm from Russia. Transylvania isn't even a country. It's a part of Romania.
Daniel Coleman: You're such a freak.
Kate Coleman: Hey.
John Coleman: Hey, Danny... I don't want any more talk like that, all right?
Daniel Coleman: But why does she have to act like that? All my friends make fun of me because of her.
John Coleman: Maybe you need some different friends.
Daniel Coleman: Maybe you should send her back to the retard camp where she belongs.
Kate Coleman: Daniel.
John Coleman: Daniel! Apologize to your sister.
Daniel Coleman: She's not my *fucking* sister.
Esther: I am eating normal.
Daniel Coleman: Yeah, maybe in Transylvania or whatever country you're from.
Esther: Incidentally, I'm from Russia. Transylvania isn't even a country. It's a part of Romania.
Daniel Coleman: You're such a freak.
Kate Coleman: Hey.
John Coleman: Hey, Danny... I don't want any more talk like that, all right?
Daniel Coleman: But why does she have to act like that? All my friends make fun of me because of her.
John Coleman: Maybe you need some different friends.
Daniel Coleman: Maybe you should send her back to the retard camp where she belongs.
Kate Coleman: Daniel.
John Coleman: Daniel! Apologize to your sister.
Daniel Coleman: She's not my *fucking* sister.
John Coleman: She could've picked it up anywhere. Hell, she probably picked it up at school.
Kate Coleman: No, this wasn't something she overheard; I mean, she knew what it meant.
John Coleman: Huh.
Kate Coleman: And, and babe, the *way* she said it, is, I don't even think she expected to get in trouble over it.
John Coleman: Well... we'll talk to her about it tonight.
Kate Coleman: [sighs] Fine...
John Coleman: Well, what did you have in mind?
Kate Coleman: Thought we could take her to Dr. Browning.
John Coleman: [chuckles] I don't think we need to take her to the shrink quite yet.
Kate Coleman: Well, you know, we just don't know that much about her, I mean... for all we know the, the family she stayed with could've been like, "Pass the fuckin' potatoes" at dinnertime.
[John laughs]
Kate Coleman: I, just, that she's saying it to my face, what's she saying when we're not there? I don't want her exerting that kind of influence over Max.
John Coleman: Anyway, I just don't wanna make a big deal out of one little dirty word.
Kate Coleman: Fine... fuckin' spend some time with her, then.
John Coleman: A'ight, bitch.
Kate Coleman: No, this wasn't something she overheard; I mean, she knew what it meant.
John Coleman: Huh.
Kate Coleman: And, and babe, the *way* she said it, is, I don't even think she expected to get in trouble over it.
John Coleman: Well... we'll talk to her about it tonight.
Kate Coleman: [sighs] Fine...
John Coleman: Well, what did you have in mind?
Kate Coleman: Thought we could take her to Dr. Browning.
John Coleman: [chuckles] I don't think we need to take her to the shrink quite yet.
Kate Coleman: Well, you know, we just don't know that much about her, I mean... for all we know the, the family she stayed with could've been like, "Pass the fuckin' potatoes" at dinnertime.
[John laughs]
Kate Coleman: I, just, that she's saying it to my face, what's she saying when we're not there? I don't want her exerting that kind of influence over Max.
John Coleman: Anyway, I just don't wanna make a big deal out of one little dirty word.
Kate Coleman: Fine... fuckin' spend some time with her, then.
John Coleman: A'ight, bitch.
Kate Coleman: I know what you're doing. I will not let you hurt my children.
Esther: Me? I'm not the one who passed out drunk and let Max almost drown in the pond. If it wasn't for John, she'd be dead. And you'd probably still be in jail.
Kate Coleman: ...Who told you that?
Esther: [holds up Kate's diary] It's very intimate. I learned so much about you.
Kate Coleman: Give it to me.
Esther: Jessica. Your cheating husband.
Kate Coleman: Esther... give it to me.
Esther: Where you hide your wine bottles.
Kate Coleman: I'm - I'm warning you right now.
Esther: [reading] "She was still kicking when the doctor told me it was something called phantom - "
[Kate angrily snatches the diary away]
Esther: " - fetal movement. For sixteen days I carried - "
Kate Coleman: Stop it.
Esther: " - my dead baby inside me."
Kate Coleman: Esther!
Esther: "It was the cruelest torture I could imagine."
Kate Coleman: Stop it! You stop it! What's wrong with you?
Esther: Me? I'm not the one who passed out drunk and let Max almost drown in the pond. If it wasn't for John, she'd be dead. And you'd probably still be in jail.
Kate Coleman: ...Who told you that?
Esther: [holds up Kate's diary] It's very intimate. I learned so much about you.
Kate Coleman: Give it to me.
Esther: Jessica. Your cheating husband.
Kate Coleman: Esther... give it to me.
Esther: Where you hide your wine bottles.
Kate Coleman: I'm - I'm warning you right now.
Esther: [reading] "She was still kicking when the doctor told me it was something called phantom - "
[Kate angrily snatches the diary away]
Esther: " - fetal movement. For sixteen days I carried - "
Kate Coleman: Stop it.
Esther: " - my dead baby inside me."
Kate Coleman: Esther!
Esther: "It was the cruelest torture I could imagine."
Kate Coleman: Stop it! You stop it! What's wrong with you?
Saarne Institute Orderly: Hello?
Kate Coleman: Is this the Saarne Institute?
Saarne Institute Orderly: Yes.
Kate Coleman: Yes, I, I need to talk to somebody about, uh, one of your children. She was adopted by an American family. It's a girl.
Saarne Institute Orderly: She is not come from here...
Kate Coleman: Well, I haven't even told you her name yet.
Saarne Institute Orderly: You do not understand. Saarne Institute is not an orphanage, it is a mental hospital.
Kate Coleman: Is this the Saarne Institute?
Saarne Institute Orderly: Yes.
Kate Coleman: Yes, I, I need to talk to somebody about, uh, one of your children. She was adopted by an American family. It's a girl.
Saarne Institute Orderly: She is not come from here...
Kate Coleman: Well, I haven't even told you her name yet.
Saarne Institute Orderly: You do not understand. Saarne Institute is not an orphanage, it is a mental hospital.
[Esther and Max walk up after Daniel has shot a pigeon with his paintball gun]
Esther: Did you kill it?
Daniel Coleman: [crying] It was just a paintball, I didn't think it'd hurt him...
[She picks up a big rock and holds it out to him]
Esther: Put it out of its misery.
[off his look]
Esther: It's in pain. And it's your responsibility.
Daniel Coleman: It was just an accident.
Esther: If you walk away now, it'll starve to death. Is that what you want?
[pause]
Daniel Coleman: I'm not doin' it...
[after a moment, she smashes the pigeon with the rock]
Esther: [to Max] It's all right. It's in Heaven now.
Daniel Coleman: What's wrong with you?
Esther: Did you kill it?
Daniel Coleman: [crying] It was just a paintball, I didn't think it'd hurt him...
[She picks up a big rock and holds it out to him]
Esther: Put it out of its misery.
[off his look]
Esther: It's in pain. And it's your responsibility.
Daniel Coleman: It was just an accident.
Esther: If you walk away now, it'll starve to death. Is that what you want?
[pause]
Daniel Coleman: I'm not doin' it...
[after a moment, she smashes the pigeon with the rock]
Esther: [to Max] It's all right. It's in Heaven now.
Daniel Coleman: What's wrong with you?
Kate Coleman: [Kate's cell phone rings as she is waking up after being sedated in the hospital; she answers the phone] Hello?
Dr. Varava: Is this Katherine Coleman?
[pause]
Dr. Varava: Hello?
Kate Coleman: [Gets out of the hospital bed] Yeah, this is she.
Dr. Varava: My name is Dr. Varava. I'm calling from the Saarne Institute. I've just seen the picture that you sent to us.
Kate Coleman: And do you recognize her?
Dr. Varava: Where is she? Is she someplace where she can hear you?
Kate Coleman: No, she's not with me. She's with my husband at home...
Dr. Varava: Call your husband right now and tell him to get your family out of the house, then call the police.
Kate Coleman: What? Why?
Dr. Varava: Then tell him that the little girl in the picture is not really a little girl. She is a grown woman!
Kate Coleman: What? What are you talking about? The picture that I sent you is of our adopted daughter. She's nine years old.
Dr. Varava: No, she's not. She has a rare hormonal disorder. It's called Hypopituitarism. It causes proportional dwarfism. She only looks like a child. According to our records, Leena Klammer was born in 1976. She's 33 years old!
Dr. Varava: Is this Katherine Coleman?
[pause]
Dr. Varava: Hello?
Kate Coleman: [Gets out of the hospital bed] Yeah, this is she.
Dr. Varava: My name is Dr. Varava. I'm calling from the Saarne Institute. I've just seen the picture that you sent to us.
Kate Coleman: And do you recognize her?
Dr. Varava: Where is she? Is she someplace where she can hear you?
Kate Coleman: No, she's not with me. She's with my husband at home...
Dr. Varava: Call your husband right now and tell him to get your family out of the house, then call the police.
Kate Coleman: What? Why?
Dr. Varava: Then tell him that the little girl in the picture is not really a little girl. She is a grown woman!
Kate Coleman: What? What are you talking about? The picture that I sent you is of our adopted daughter. She's nine years old.
Dr. Varava: No, she's not. She has a rare hormonal disorder. It's called Hypopituitarism. It causes proportional dwarfism. She only looks like a child. According to our records, Leena Klammer was born in 1976. She's 33 years old!
John Coleman: Where'd you get the idea for this one?
Esther: My paintings always tell stories. This one's about a sad mother lion who can't find her cubs.
John Coleman: She's smiling.
Esther: She's dreaming about her babies. It's the only thing that makes her happy.
John Coleman: I hope she finds them.
Esther: She will. Look.
[She begins painting the cubs]
Esther: They were lost in the jungle, and they were so scared because they didn't have a mother or father. But just when they thought they'd be alone forever, they found their mother asleep under this tree. Now when she wakes up, her dream will have come true. She'll have her family again.
Esther: My paintings always tell stories. This one's about a sad mother lion who can't find her cubs.
John Coleman: She's smiling.
Esther: She's dreaming about her babies. It's the only thing that makes her happy.
John Coleman: I hope she finds them.
Esther: She will. Look.
[She begins painting the cubs]
Esther: They were lost in the jungle, and they were so scared because they didn't have a mother or father. But just when they thought they'd be alone forever, they found their mother asleep under this tree. Now when she wakes up, her dream will have come true. She'll have her family again.
John Coleman: Kate... Kate. You can't get jealous of every woman that I talk to, right? It's been like, ten years.
Kate Coleman: What does that mean, "It's been ten years"? You say that like it, it, it actually means something. It's only been two years since you told me.
John Coleman: You know how sorry I am; I just feel like I've earned a little trust here. I gave you a second chance.
Kate Coleman: That's not fair... that's not fair.
John Coleman: Let me get this straight: We can talk about my mistakes, but not yours?
Kate Coleman: I was sick! You're an asshole who wanted to fuck somebody else!
Kate Coleman: What does that mean, "It's been ten years"? You say that like it, it, it actually means something. It's only been two years since you told me.
John Coleman: You know how sorry I am; I just feel like I've earned a little trust here. I gave you a second chance.
Kate Coleman: That's not fair... that's not fair.
John Coleman: Let me get this straight: We can talk about my mistakes, but not yours?
Kate Coleman: I was sick! You're an asshole who wanted to fuck somebody else!
Dr. Varava: Does she have the scars?
Kate Coleman: What? I don't know, what scars?
Dr. Varava: Leena was one of our *most* violent patients. When she here she was kept in a straitjacket to stop her from hurting our staff, she was constantly fighting to get out of it. It cut into her skin and left her with scars around her wrists and neck. There is no way you could have not seen them!
Kate Coleman: What? I don't know, what scars?
Dr. Varava: Leena was one of our *most* violent patients. When she here she was kept in a straitjacket to stop her from hurting our staff, she was constantly fighting to get out of it. It cut into her skin and left her with scars around her wrists and neck. There is no way you could have not seen them!
Kate Coleman: [using sign language to read Max her favorite bedtime story] I waited all night to meet my new baby sister. But, when Mommy and Daddy came home, Mommy told me that my little sister went to Heaven. I'm glad that my little sister went to Heaven.
[pause]
Kate Coleman: But... I would have liked to have met her first.
Max Coleman: [signing] Is baby Jessica an angel?
Kate Coleman: [signing] Yes, a beautiful angel!
[she kisses Max's head and pulls her body underneath the bed covers]
Max Coleman: [signing] Am I going to get a new sister?
Kate Coleman: [signing] I don't know.
[pause]
Kate Coleman: But... I would have liked to have met her first.
Max Coleman: [signing] Is baby Jessica an angel?
Kate Coleman: [signing] Yes, a beautiful angel!
[she kisses Max's head and pulls her body underneath the bed covers]
Max Coleman: [signing] Am I going to get a new sister?
Kate Coleman: [signing] I don't know.
John Coleman: She painted all these.
Kate Coleman: Really?
John Coleman: Yeah.
Kate Coleman: These are fantastic. These are really wonderful.
Esther: Thank you.
Kate Coleman: Well, where did you learn how to do this?
Esther: I've just had lots of time to practice, I guess. It's really boring here.
Kate Coleman: It's boring here? Hey, if you're so bored, then why aren't you down at the party?
Esther: I've never really seen the point of it. Nobody's ever talked to me before. I guess I'm different.
Kate Coleman: There's nothing wrong with being different, you know.
John Coleman: Well, you two have a lot in common.
Kate Coleman: Really?
John Coleman: Yeah.
Kate Coleman: These are fantastic. These are really wonderful.
Esther: Thank you.
Kate Coleman: Well, where did you learn how to do this?
Esther: I've just had lots of time to practice, I guess. It's really boring here.
Kate Coleman: It's boring here? Hey, if you're so bored, then why aren't you down at the party?
Esther: I've never really seen the point of it. Nobody's ever talked to me before. I guess I'm different.
Kate Coleman: There's nothing wrong with being different, you know.
John Coleman: Well, you two have a lot in common.
Esther: I like it when it's just the two of us. You don't know how long I've waited for a daddy just like you.
John Coleman: Mommy too, right?
Esther: I don't think Mommy likes me very much.
John Coleman: Hey. That's not true, Mommy loves you.
Esther: It's all right. It must be hard to love an adopted child as much as your own.
John Coleman: Sweetheart, you're just as much part of this family as Danny and Max, okay? Why don't you do something nice for Mommy, show her how much you love her?
Esther: That's a wonderful idea.
John Coleman: Mommy too, right?
Esther: I don't think Mommy likes me very much.
John Coleman: Hey. That's not true, Mommy loves you.
Esther: It's all right. It must be hard to love an adopted child as much as your own.
John Coleman: Sweetheart, you're just as much part of this family as Danny and Max, okay? Why don't you do something nice for Mommy, show her how much you love her?
Esther: That's a wonderful idea.
[as Daniel rummages through his treehouse, Esther suddenly enters behind him]
Esther: Are you looking for this?
[pulls the hammer and her bloody clothes from Max's backpack]
Esther: Poor Sister Abigail. I couldn't have done it myself, you know. Max is just as guilty as I am.
Daniel Coleman: Whatever Max did, you made her do it!
Esther: Think about it.
[pulls Max's drawings from her pocket]
Esther: How did she even know what was up here? It's always better to burn the evidence.
[begins spraying lighter fluid on the pile]
Esther: If they find these things, they won't just be coming for me. They'll be coming for Max, too.
[lights a match]
Esther: Is it really what you want?
Daniel Coleman: Wait!
[She drops the match and sprays more fluid all over the floor]
Daniel Coleman: What are you doing? Are you crazy?
Esther: Are you looking for this?
[pulls the hammer and her bloody clothes from Max's backpack]
Esther: Poor Sister Abigail. I couldn't have done it myself, you know. Max is just as guilty as I am.
Daniel Coleman: Whatever Max did, you made her do it!
Esther: Think about it.
[pulls Max's drawings from her pocket]
Esther: How did she even know what was up here? It's always better to burn the evidence.
[begins spraying lighter fluid on the pile]
Esther: If they find these things, they won't just be coming for me. They'll be coming for Max, too.
[lights a match]
Esther: Is it really what you want?
Daniel Coleman: Wait!
[She drops the match and sprays more fluid all over the floor]
Daniel Coleman: What are you doing? Are you crazy?
Grandma Barbara: So... what are your plans?
Kate Coleman: I'll get Esther settled, and, uh... then go back to teaching.
Grandma Barbara: Thought they weren't gonna take you back.
Kate Coleman: No, I'm not talkin' about Yale, I'm just... I'll probably give lessons from home.
Grandma Barbara: That's too bad. That was a very good job.
Kate Coleman: Yeah, well, I didn't quit 'cause I wanted to.
Grandma Barbara: I know. You had to have your moment of clarity.
Kate Coleman: That is an AA term. And I didn't go to AA; I just stopped drinkin'.
Grandma Barbara: Same difference. We all need a wake-up call sometimes.
Kate Coleman: I'll get Esther settled, and, uh... then go back to teaching.
Grandma Barbara: Thought they weren't gonna take you back.
Kate Coleman: No, I'm not talkin' about Yale, I'm just... I'll probably give lessons from home.
Grandma Barbara: That's too bad. That was a very good job.
Kate Coleman: Yeah, well, I didn't quit 'cause I wanted to.
Grandma Barbara: I know. You had to have your moment of clarity.
Kate Coleman: That is an AA term. And I didn't go to AA; I just stopped drinkin'.
Grandma Barbara: Same difference. We all need a wake-up call sometimes.
Kate Coleman: [after being told the truth about Esther] Oh my God! How could she fool us?
Dr. Varava: She's been passing herself as a little girl for most of her life.
[pause]
Dr. Varava: She tricked a family here in Estonia into adopting her. When she couldn't seduce the father, she killed him and his entire family...
Kate Coleman: Then she burned the house down!
Dr. Varava: Yes! How did you know?
[pause]
Dr. Varava: She disappeared over a year ago and we lost track of her.
[pause]
Dr. Varava: If it is really Leena, you don't have much time!
[Kate hangs up her cell phone and frantically runs out of the hospital to get to her car]
Dr. Varava: She's been passing herself as a little girl for most of her life.
[pause]
Dr. Varava: She tricked a family here in Estonia into adopting her. When she couldn't seduce the father, she killed him and his entire family...
Kate Coleman: Then she burned the house down!
Dr. Varava: Yes! How did you know?
[pause]
Dr. Varava: She disappeared over a year ago and we lost track of her.
[pause]
Dr. Varava: If it is really Leena, you don't have much time!
[Kate hangs up her cell phone and frantically runs out of the hospital to get to her car]
Kate Coleman: [after being told the real truth about Esther] Oh my God! How could she fool us?
Dr. Varava: She's been passing herself as a little girl for most of her life. She tricked the family here in Estonia. When she couldn't seduce the father, she killed him and his whole family...
Kate Coleman: Then she burned the house down!
Dr. Varava: She's been passing herself as a little girl for most of her life. She tricked the family here in Estonia. When she couldn't seduce the father, she killed him and his whole family...
Kate Coleman: Then she burned the house down!
