Father quotes from Beauty and the Beast

I'm sorry, Mouse, but one simply does not find a concert grand piano!

Mouse did!

Where?

In the park.

The park?

Underground...under platform.

The concert platform, in the park. You disassembled a grand piano under the concert platform in the park.

Two more there just as big!

I cannot believe you could seriously envision something so foolhardy and dangerous.

Vincent

You over-state the risk.

Any risk is too great, surely that is apparent. For Catherine to suggest such a thing...

Vincent

An innocent dream, Father, borne of love.

An irresponsible dream borne of selfishness!

Vincent

No!

Yes! Yes, I know because I have had the same dream for you myself, over and over again for so many years. Ever since you were young, I wanted nothing more than to be able to show you the sun, the mountains, things for which you only have words for.

Vincent

This is not merely for myself, Father, but for Catherine as well. This is a chance for us, no more than a moment, the briefest moment, free from the perils and urgency of the time we share.

Vincent, your love for Catherine and hers for you is something that warms us all. But you have a responsibility beyond that, a duty to those down here in this community that depends on you. Who look to you for truth and strength, for hope and protection. Without you their world would be a very dark place.

Vincent

And what about my responsibility to Catherine? Who gives so much and asks for so little? How can I deny her, Father?

Vincent

Am I unable to fulfill even her slightest wish? Tell me, Father, are we forever bound to accept a poem for a sunset?

Vincent, you cannot do this! [Vincent stalks off] Vincent!

Catherine, you should not have come here.

Catherine

How could I stay away?

Pneumonic plague is the most contagious form of this disease. The risk is...

Catherine

It's mine to take.

Dimitri is dead

Catherine

Vincent?

He's all right. He appears to be immune, thank God.

Vincent

They need you, Father. Eric needs you.

Eric. Ellie was the last family he had in all the world.

Vincent

No. He has us. But he does not know that now. He ran off. He is all alone with his fear and his grief.

Eric? It's Father. May I come in? ... It's all right not to talk if you don't want to. What are you writing?

Eric

A letter to Ellie.

A letter?

Eric

To say I am sorry...because I said I hated her, but it wasn't true.

Then...just say that...I know she will understand.

Eric

Will she be mad at me?

No.

Eric

But how am I going to send it to her?

I think I know a way...Umm...I would like to write a letter to Ellie too...Maybe you could lend me a piece of writing paper.

The world above us is cold and gray, summer a distant memory. Our world too has known its winters, so each year we begin this feast in darkness, as our world began in darkness.

Vincent

Long before the city above us raised its towers to the sky, men sought shelter in these caverns.

Mary

In those days, these tunnels were dark places and those who dwelt in fear and isolation.

Vincent

This was a land of lost hope and twisted dreams, a land of despair, where the sounds of footsteps coming down a tunnel were the sounds of terror. Where mean reached for knives and rocks and worse at the sound of other men's voices.

At last a few people learned to put aside their fear.

Mary

And we began to trust each other, to help each other.

Vincent

Each of us grew stronger, those who took the help and those who gave it.

We all were a part of one another, one family, one community. Sometimes we forget this and so we meet here each year to give thanks to those who have helped us and to remember, even the greatest darkness is nothing, so long as we share the light.

Darkness almost engulfed us, but our unity gave us strength. Our shared light showed us the truth. As we part for another year let us remember. Darkness is only the absence of light...and all winters end.

Third of a century? Hard for me to believe it, Vincent. You were only a babe in my arms that first year.

Vincent

My oldest memory is of a Winterfest. I must have been three or four. I remember a cold, dark room. Footsteps echoed all around me. I was frightened. Devin held my hand. Then, they lit the candles and the darkness pushed back. When I saw the tapestries for the first time...they took my breath away.

My friend, what is there to check? Everyone is down here, including the helpers.

Pascal

I don't like to leave them too long. You never can tell.

Ah? Chess. The game of kings...not to mention rooks and pawns. Well, set them up! Set them up! Time for your annual humiliation.

Never again. Last year, he took my king.

Well, isn't that the whole idea?

No, the whole idea is that you capture the pieces, not make them disappear. Peter, would you care for a game?

Peter

Oh Jacob. Have you ever considered consulting a psychologist about that streak of masochism?

I ought to have my head examined for letting you talk me into this.

You can examine it all you like, Jacob. It won't help your game one little bit.