Waiting for the Hearse (1985)

Betiana Blum: Nora de Musicardi

Photos 

Quotes 

• Elvira : [to Nora at the funeral, listening some people crying about Mama Cora was too young to die]  The 'Petite Emilia'! The things you have to hear! Did you hear that? The old woman was almost 80! What did they want? That she reached 100? If I get to live only one more day after my 80th birthday, I kill myself! I swear!

  Nora : That's what she did.

  Elvira : Oh... That's what she did, you're right!

• Susana : I'm a very discreet person, Nora. I've always known about your affair with Sergio and never said a word, you see.

  Nora : [outraged]  That's a lie! That's infamous!

  Susana : I've known it for two years. Don't deny it, Nora. I myself saw both of you, leaving a motel. You were wearing a black scarf and dark sunglasses.

  Nora : You... you must be confused! What you saw was a woman wearing a black scarf, black sunglasses and a black cloak...

  Susana : I didn't mention a cloak...

  Susana : [remembering] 

  Susana : That's right! Now I remember, you were wearing a black cloak, too!

  Nora : [crying]  But... It's all over now!

• Nora : I adore children! That's probably why God made me sterile.

• Nora : [when Elvira is trying to take her sunglasses off]  No! Not my sunglasses! I hate noon's sunlight.

  Elvira : Oh, right...

  [to Sergio, her husband, as she leaves] 

  Elvira : Sergio! take care of the 'drinks'

  [in English] 

  Nora : [ironically, to Sergio]  'Drinks'? Those language lessons seem to be paying off.

  Sergio : Yes, she already learned how to say 'No' in four different languages.

• Elvira : [outside the house]  What a heat! It's so hot! That must be why nobody came to the funeral. We would have had much more success if the old woman died in winter... and on a work day!

  Nora : You're right.

• Susana : [crying about their mother-in-law who seems to have commited suicide]  This is horrible... Jorge will never forgive me.

  Elvira : Oh, he will. He's a poor, spineless man.

  Susana : [sobbing]  I will never forgive myself.

  Elvira : Oh. That's a whole different thing... If you have any reasons to feel guilty...

  Susana : And you? What is it you do so you don't feel remorse?

  Elvira : Me? Nothing. I do what I am supposed to do, try not to be unfair to people...

  Nora : Yet me, who are the less guilty of us all, I'm full of aweful remorses!

  Elvira : Why less guilty? You are as innocent as I am!

  Nora : Elvira, I wouldn't like to put my finger on an open sore... but in the end you and Sergio are living in what used to be Mama Cora's house. And these are her furnitures!

• Nora : [to Susana]  When will you visit us with the litlle baby? The garden is so wonderful. The landscape is so inspiring. You must come! When will that be?

  Susana : [cynically]  Whenever you invite us...

  Nora : Tomorrow!... No, not tomorrow... Next Tuesday!... No, next Tuesday won't work either... Next Wednesday!... Next Wednesday, I'll phone you and we'll settle the day up. The baby will be able to sunbath there, run through the meadows...

  Susana : She doesn't run yet.

  Nora : Well... I imagine she breathes at least!

• Elvira : [fighting loudly with her husband]  ... hey, hey, hey, don't take flight since you're not a kite! And stop yelling at me if you don't want me to go for help to the nun's convent!

  Nora : [standing up, sick of the shouting]  Oh, no! no! I'm leaving! I can't no longer cope with this! In my house nobody ever raised his voice, not even to say 'good morning', so, I believe you are all very kind and very lovable, but I'm leaving...

  [to Antonio, her husband] 

  Nora : Antonio!

  Antonio : [reading the newspaper, with a bored expression]  Nora, what happens now?

  Nora : [leaving the house, followed by everyone else]  My nerves aren't made of steel! My problem is not that I'm sensitive, I'm hyper-sensitive!