Irina Derevko quotes from Alias

Irina

[to Sydney] You're so willing to take risks for your country. Why aren't you willing to do the same for your own happiness?

Irina

You should know something, Sydney. I never wanted to have a child. The KGB demanded it. They knew it would insure your father's allegiance to me. You were simply a means to an end. And then, when the doctor put you in my arms and I looked at you, so fragile, all I could think was: how could I have made such a terrible mistake. And at that moment I was sure of one thing: I couldn't be an agent and a mother. I'd either fail at one or both. And I chose to fail at being a mother.

Irina

Tell me... Sydney... who sent you here? You must tell me.

Sydney

Or what? I'm grounded?

Sydney

Let's get something clear. You are not my mother. My mother was Laura Bristow. Laura Bristow died in a car accident twenty-one years ago. You are a traitor and a prisoner of the United States government. [Irina looks away] Look at me! We will interact only when necessary. You will address me as "Agent Bristow" and answer only the questions I ask. There will be no personal anecdotes, no comments about my job performance, no condolences or congratulations. Do you understand me? [pause] Do you understand?

Irina

Yes... Agent Bristow.

Irina

I've had a picture of your face in my mind for twenty years. I remember a loving husband, generous man, patriot. I may have been under orders to fabricate a life with you, but there were times when the illusion of our marriage was as powerful for me as it was for you. Especially when Sydney was born. Looking at you now, I see that illusion is finally gone.

Jack

I want to make something very clear to you. There are people here who believe you can repay the debt you owe this country through your continued cooperation. I am not one of them. And if Sydney in any way becomes victim to your endgame, I will kill you. She spent most of her life believing you were dead. She'll get used to it again. No matter what bond you try to forge with her.

Irina

You haven't told her what you did to her after I disappeared, have you?

Irina

You know, you haven't asked me how I could shoot my own daughter.

Sydney

No, I haven't.

Irina

I assume you wouldn't need this combination so urgently if you didn't know where the music box was. Sark won't hesitate to kill you. I don't want to lose the chance to explain myself someday.

Irina

Speaking of Ms. Adams... just before I left I remember her encouraging you to try out for your school's Thanksgiving play. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, but in the twenty years since I last saw you I often wondered... what part did you play?

Sydney

I don't remember. It was around the time I was told my mother had died. Everything else is a blur.

Irina

How do you say "thank you" to the woman who killed your father?

Vaughn

[pause] You don't.

Vaughn

I'm trying to live a normal life, which was always hard given what I do. But it's gotten harder since I met your daughter. It's not that knowing her hasn't made my life better. It has. But it's also made it that much worse. I think I've said enough.

Irina

The problem, Mr. Vaughn, is that to the one person who matters, you haven't said anything.

Vaughn

Listen, this may not mean anything to you. This may not be something you can understand or appreciate, but we have rules. Very clear and important rules that govern the relationship between a handler and his asset.

Irina

And between a man and a woman?

Irina

So, Sydney, how's school?

Sydney

I'm writing my dissertation... supposedly.

Irina

You must have a lot of questions.

Sydney

Yeah.

Irina

One thing that should not wait any longer is why I shot you in Taipei. The rebel leader, Gerard Cuvee... When you were in Taipei, he was in the next room watching to see if I would betray him or you. Shooting you in the shoulder, giving you time to escape, it was the only way I could think to maintain his trust and keep him from killing both of us.

Irina

I don't imagine that means you've decided to trust me?

Jack

Our previous... dealings would indicate that your strategy here may be long-term. So for now, I trust that your behavior is predictable.

Irina

By "previous dealings" you mean our marriage? You know, technically, we may still be husband and wife.

Irina

I wanted to see you because... it's going to be dangerous, setting this trap. I hope it goes well but there's no guarantee. So whatever happens, there's something I need you to know. Sydney, I love you.

Sydney

Mom--

Irina

You don't have to say anything. I'm pretty sure I haven't earned very much, and that's okay. This was just something I needed to say.

Irina

I see through you. You must know that.

Sloane

This is who I am.

Irina

You may need to think of yourself as an honorable husband, a father figure, but I don't. I will never see that man in you, which frankly is why we have this agreement.

Sloane

You need to get some rest.

Irina

Never talk to me about your love for Sydney again.

Irina

This plan might not hold up. The CIA knows too much: they could guess why we were after the genetic database.

Sloane

I'm not interested in the database. I want satellite footage of Tuscany. I want to know who murdered my wife.

Irina

We both had to make sacrifices, Arvin. You won't forgive yourself if you stop now. We're so close to knowing what Rambaldi knew.

Sloane

I wish I never heard that man's name.