Dogville (2003)

Nicole Kidman: Grace Margaret Mulligan

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Quotes 

• Grace : There's a family with kids. Do the kids first and make the mother watch. Tell her you'll stop if she can hold back her tears. I *owe* her that.

• The Big Man : Rapists and murders may be the victims according to you, but I, I call them dogs. And if they're lapping up their own vomit, the only way to stop them is with a lash.

  Grace : But dogs only obey their own nature, so why shouldn't we forgive them?

  The Big Man : Dogs can be taught many useful things, but not if we forgive them every time they obey their own nature.

• Grace : I think the world would be better without Dogville.

• Grace : You shouldn't play games with people's lives.

  [shoots Tom] 

• [after Chuck sees Grace teaching his kids] 

  Chuck : How is it going otherwise with the fooling act?

  Grace : I wasn't trying to fool anyone.

  Chuck : I mean Dogville. Has it got you fooled yet?

  Grace : I thought you were implying that I was trying to exploit the town.

  Chuck : Wishful thinking. This town is rotten from the inside out and I wouldn't miss it if it fell into the gorge tomorrow. I see no charm here. But you seem to. Admit it, you've fallen for Dogville. The trees, the mountains, the simple folk. And if all that ain't got you fooled yet, I bet the cinnamon has. That damned cinnamon in those gooseberry pies. Dogville has everything that you ever dreamed of in the big city.

  Grace : You're worse than Tom. How do you know what I dreamed of? You're from the city yourself, aren't you?

  Chuck : That was a long time ago. I'm not that stupid anymore. I've found out that people are the same all over. Greedy as animals. In a small town they're just a bit less successful. Feed 'em enough, they'll eat till their bellies burst.

  Grace : That's why you want to get rid of me... Because you can't stand that I remind you of what it was you came here to find.

• Grace : What? What is it?

  Tom : A man can't really be blamed for being scared, now can he?

  Grace : No.

  Tom : No. I was scared, Grace. I used you and I am sorry. I'm stupid, I am, maybe even arrogant sometimes.

  Grace : You are, Tom.

  Tom : Although using people is not very charming, I think you have to agree that this - specific illustration has surpassed all expectations. It says so much about being human! It's been painful, but I think you'll also have to agree it's been edifying, wouldn't you say?

  Grace : Not now, Tom. Not now.

  [Grace walks away and reenters The Big Man's car] 

  Grace : If there is any town this world would be better without, this is it.

• Grace : But I've got nothing to offer them in return.

  Tom : Oh, I think you have plenty to offer Dogville.

• Grace : All I see is a beautiful little town in the midst of magnificent mountains. A place where people have hopes and dreams even under the hardest conditions.

• Grace : Some things you have to do yourself.

• Chuck : God only knows what that woman is capable of.

  Grace : You know she's not capable of anything.

• Grace : So I'm arrogant? I'm arrogant because I forgive people.

  The Big Man : My God,can't you see how condescending you are when you say that? I mean you have-- you have this preconceived notion that nobody, listen-- that nobody can possibly attain the same high ethical standards as you, so you exonerate them. I cannot-- I cannot think of anything more arrogant than that.

• Grace : I think we've talked long enough about the things we remember seeing.

• Grace : Goodbye, Tom.

• [Tom offers a piece of bread to Grace] 

  Tom : You want to eat? You must be hungry.

  Grace : I can't. I don't deserve that bread. I stole that bone. I've never stolen anything before. So now, now I have to punish myself. I was raised to be arrogant. So, I... I had to teach myself these things.

  Tom : Well, it may be for your education. Grace, in this town... In these times... It's very impolite not to eat what's set before you.

• Grace : Why shouldn't I be merciful? Why?

  The Big Man : No, no, no, you should, you should be merciful when there's time to be merciful. But, you must maintain your own standards. You owe them that, you owe them that. The penalty you deserve for your transgression, they deserve for their transgressions.

  Grace : They're human beings, Dad.

  The Big Man : No, no, no, of course-- but does every human being need to be accountable for their actions? Of course they do, but you don't even give them that chance.