A Shine of Rainbows (2009)

Connie Nielsen: Maire

Photos 

Quotes 

• Maire : But that's nothing compared to being right inside a rainbow.

  Tomás : You can really be inside one?

  Maire : Aye. One day I'll show you that.

• Maire : You're disappointed, aren't you?

  Alec : I agreed to it.

  Maire : Aye, but now that you've seen him, you are disappointed.

  Alec : I'll not deny I expected you to choose a boy that had the making of a man in him. I don't see why you chose the runt of the litter.

• Maire : Did you not know seals have special powers? Since times long forgotten, Ireland's people have known seals are messengers. They can find spirits who have passed on and give them messages about things you want them to know.

• Maire : Tomas, this is Mrs. Kane from the agency on the mainland.

  Tomás : [stammers]  What... the... ency?

  Maire : Not to worry. She works for the adoption agency. Mrs. Kane will be paying us visits now and again. It's just part of what she does, so that...

  Mrs. Kane : So that we can decide whether or not you're to live here on Corrie. I'll be off now, but when I come back I'd like to have a visit with you to talk things over.

  Tomás : But I have decided. I want to stay here.

  Mrs. Kane : It's not that simple. If you are to be a family, *everyone* must agree that's the best place for you, don't you think?

  [indicating papers on the table] 

  Mrs. Kane : I'll leave these her for Mr. O'Donnell to look over. And if he sees fit to sign them, I can get on with my job. Good day.

• Tomás : When I first saw you at the home, I pretended you are my real Mom.

  Maire : We could let ourselves pretend that's what I am now.

  Tomás : If I could call you Mom, I could believe it.

  Maire : Then why not call me Mom? I'd like that.

• Maire : Have you noticed that he calls me Ma?

  Alec : I had. What does he call me, I wonder?

  Maire : Just 'himself'. I think he knows that you wouldn't want him to call you Alec.

  Alec : If he must.

• Maire : You hardly talk to him.

  Alec : Ach... I try. He hardly says a word.

  Maire : You have to show him that you want him.

  Alec : I feed him, put clothes on his back, share my house with him. I can't help not having feelings for him the way you do.

• Maire : Nothing wrong with a bit of colour, is there?

  Alec : Not as long as it's on you.

• Tomás : You were there too?

  Maire : In the orphanage for girls. Until my sixteenth birthday.

  Tomás : You never got picked.

  Maire : Ach, no, never. No-one took the time to know me.