Mary and Martha (2013 TV Movie)

Brenda Blethyn: Martha

Photos 

Quotes 

• [last lines] 

  Martha : So, number one, best day ever.

  Mary : Every single moment George was alive.

  Martha : And every single moment my Ben was alive.

• Martha : Ben! You're nearly 15 minutes late. You're gonna miss the train.

  Ben : No, I won't.

  Martha : Yes, you will!

  Ben : No, I won't, because I'm a young person and therefore I travel faster than you, who is getting quite old now.

  Martha : [affectionately]  You cheeky bugger.

• Ben : [reading a letter that has just arrived]  They said yes. They thought I was brilliant.

  Martha : It doesn't actually say that, does it?

  Ben : Well, no, but it implies it. the implication of every word is they think I'm totally brilliant.

  Martha : [taking the letter from Ben and reading out loud a passage]  "Thank you for your application, which we have accepted."

• Martha : Well done, darling. Do you know what? I am so proud of you, you great stupid lump. Though I wish you were going somewhere sensible like France or Belgium or somewhere.

  Ben : Mum, France is too small. I'm a big boy. I need a big continent.

• Martha : So will there be other English people there?

  Ben : I don't know. Don't care. I have met thousands of English people, I want to meet people who aren't English.

• Mary : Is that easier for you?

  Martha : What?

  Mary : That he made the mistake? That you didn't make the mistake?

  Martha : No. why, do you blame yourself?

  Mary : I completely blame myself. I am completely to blame.

• Martha : Tomorrow I'm going to where Ben worked. I just want to see it, you know?

  Mary : Can I come?

  Martha : Yes, of course you can come. I should think they'll be thrilled to see you. You're much prettier than I am.

• Mary : [asking Martha about her son]  So what was he doing? Volunteering? A job?

  Martha : Well, it was a bit of both, really. He'd been to university, but the daft thing spent most of his time either playing rugby or chasing girls. Got no marks in his exams at all, so, um, to make the most of a bad job, he thought, "I know. I'll go and teach in Africa. That'll be interesting." And he completely fell in love with it. But then he made his big mistake.