Joan of Arcadia (TV Series)

Silence (2004)

Mary Steenburgen: Helen Girardi

Quotes 

• Helen Girardi : [In a dream, Helen finds herself alone in a dark church]  Look, here's the thing. You can't let my son die. You just can't. I know I haven't been good, but that's no reason to punish him. Take me, instead. Just don't punish him for what I've done wrong.

  Cute Boy God : [Cute Boy God appears in the pew behind Helen]  Do you think that's how I work, Helen?

  Cute Boy God : [Helen turns around]  Who are you?

  Cute Boy God : I'm God.

  Helen Girardi : As in God?

  [He nods] 

  Helen Girardi : Burning bush, Tower of Babel, Ten Commandments, God?

  Cute Boy God : I've been through this, with your daughter.

  Helen Girardi : What does my daughter have to do with this?

  Cute Boy God : Everything.

• Helen Girardi : I was talking to a priest today. I'm telling you now; I w... I wasn't gonna hide it. Do you want to hear what a priest said?

  Will Girardi : Was it a handsome priest?

  Helen Girardi : Not as handsome as you.

  Will Girardi : Go on.

  Helen Girardi : He said that we go through times of consolation and desolation. Consolation is when... things are flowing and everything makes sense and... you feel connected, and... you're aware that God is present and... has plans for you, maybe... even likes you a little bit. You remember that?

  Will Girardi : Sometimes.

  Helen Girardi : Desolation is the other thing. When you are... scared... and confused and alone and out of step and your cell phone doesn't work and... your daughter gets sick, and... the cops come to the door and say there's been an accident. God... retreats, and... you're left with your own thoughts, and those thoughts are dark. There are answers there, he told me. And strength.

  Will Girardi : How long does desolation last?

  Helen Girardi : As long as it needs to.

• Helen Girardi : I dreamt about Him.

  Father Ken Mallory : What'd He look like?

  Helen Girardi : Teenage boy.

  Father Ken Mallory : Oh. I haven't had that one.

  Helen Girardi : So you've dreamed about Him, too?

  Father Ken Mallory : Yes. He usually looks like the Gorton fisherman.

  [off Helen's look of confusion] 

  Father Ken Mallory : I like boats.

  Helen Girardi : So... it's however we want to see Him.

  Father Ken Mallory : Or Her.

  Helen Girardi : But why would I want Him to be a teenage boy?

  Father Ken Mallory : Well, did he look anything like Kevin? That could be why.

  Helen Girardi : Look, here's what I really need to know. Um... was it really Him, or was it just... a dream?

  Father Ken Mallory : I don't know, Helen. I mean, I know what I choose to believe.

  Helen Girardi : Not Freud?

  Father Ken Mallory : [amused laugh]  Freud... Freud did a lot of cocaine. That doesn't mean he was wrong about everything. It's just... the real question, Helen, is do you want it to be God?

  Helen Girardi : And that's all it takes?

  Father Ken Mallory : No. That's where it starts.

• Joan's Doctor : Lyme disease, caused by a tick bite. Could have been lying dormant in her system for a long time. The rash on her leg gave it away, which is fortunate, 'cause sometimes the rash is overlooked, and the symptoms of this disease are misdiagnosed.

  Helen Girardi : How?

  Joan's Doctor : Manifests in subtle ways at first. Moodiness, extreme changes in behavior.

  Luke Girardi : That's every girl. They're all infected.

  [Grace gives him a dirty look] 

  Joan's Doctor : But later on, it becomes more serious. Scattered thinking, lack of concentration, and eventually aural, even visual, hallucinations. Sometimes people are misdiagnosed as being mentally ill.

  Grace Polk : This is clearing up a lot for me.

• Helen Girardi : Sorry, I'm running behind. Who wants pancakes?

  Kevin Girardi : We're already eating, mom.

  Helen Girardi : Eating what?

  Kevin Girardi : Day-old burrito for me. Luke has some fish sticks, and Joan has some corn chips.

  Joan : Bean dip. Protein.

  Helen Girardi : You're all gonna get scurvy.

  Luke Girardi : Joan already has it.

  Helen Girardi : [seeing Joan's rash]  What is that?

  Joan : It's God's idea of a cruel joke. "Last day of school, party in the quad, everybody wearing miniskirts. Let's give Joan herpes."

  Helen Girardi : Well, you look cute in jeans.