The Goldfinch Quotes

[first lines]

Adult Theo Decker: [narrating] In Amsterdam I dreamt I saw my mother again. She was just as glad to see me as I was to see her. Same beautiful pale blue eyes. Everything would have turned out netter if she had lived. As it was, she died when I was a kid. And when I lost her, I lost sight of any landmark that might've led me some place happier.

Adult Theo Decker: You see, her death was my fault. Everybody used to tell me that it wasn't. That it was a terrible accident. Which is all perfectly true. And I don't believe a word of it. It was my fault. Just like everything that's happed since.

Adult Theo Decker: The painting. The painting. All my fault. I lost something that should have been immortal. I didn't mean to do it. Because what I've done cannot be undone. It doesn't matter that I'm going to die. But for all time, for as long as history is written, that painting will be remembered and mourned.

[last lines]

Theo's Mother: [her final words to Theo in the museum] Oh. Look. I like this one. The Dutch invented the microscope. They wanted it all as detailed as possible. Even the tiniest things mean something. Like that wilted leaf there. That's the painter sending you a secret message, telling you things don't last.

Theo's Mother: [now looking at the Goldfinch painting] Oh. This is the one I was talking about. This is the painting I love most.

Young Theo Decker: Hey, Tom.

Young Tom Cable: Hey. I heard and all.

Young Theo Decker: Yeah.

Young Tom Cable: Yeah, tough luck. That really bites.

[Andy looks on]

Young Theo Decker: The only reason we were at the museum was because my mom was bringing me in to see the principal. About the cigarettes.

Young Tom Cable: Yeah. My mom blew up over that shit, too. So, uh, I gotta go. Later.

[Tom is smoking in the boys bathroom when Theo enters]

Young Theo Decker: You told Beeman the cigarettes were mine. I was just standing next to you!

Young Tom Cable: Jesus.

[Theo grabs Tom and throws him to the ground]

Young Theo Decker: Get up!

[Tom gets up, scoffs at Theo, and walks out]

[Andy and Theo talk about Platt]

Young Andy Barbour: Something happened at school. Something bad.

Young Theo Decker: Has he been expelled?

Young Andy Barbour: No one will talk about it. Mother loves Platt the best. Daddy loves Kitsey best. Mother loves Platt.

Young Theo Decker: She loves Toddy a lot, too.

Young Boris: Huh! Harry Potter.

Young Theo Decker: Fuck you.

[Boris discovers a bad of Vicodin]

Young Boris: What's this?

Young Theo Decker: Uh, vitamins. Xandra said she got them from this bodybuilder guy.

Young Boris: Vitamins? That's not "V" for vitamin, Potter. It's Vicodin. Can get you high.

Young Theo Decker: She won't see me because it was my fault. She was taking me to see the principal because they'd said I'd been smoking. And it was raining, and we were early... and that's why we went into the museum. It was my fault she died. And now she won't see me.

[Boris gets up]

Young Boris: Swim, Potter.

[Theo and Boris are swimming in a pool]

[Young Theo is laughing while on drugs]

Xandra: What's wrong with you?

[shouting]

Xandra: What is wrong with you?

[Theo walks into the kitchen]

Xandra: You can't cry? Your father is dead. Your own father. Oh, you think it's funny? Yeah, well, let me tell you something. You might not have had a lot of time for your dad, but you are his kid... through and through.

[Theo seems Kitsey with an adult Tom Cable]

Adult Tom Cable: It's all right. It's gonna be fine.

[Tom and Kitsey kiss]

Adult Tom Cable: You all right?

Adult Theo Decker: I thought maybe you went back to Russia because you never came.

Adult Boris: Well, very fucked-up time. For a while, I worked for Mr. Silver.

Adult Theo Decker: What?

Adult Boris: I was living with Xandra at the time.

Adult Theo Decker: What?

Adult Boris: My dad had moved. I had nowhere to go. We ended up getting along. Mr. Silver would come round. So for a while, I am his assistant. Do this, do that.

Adult Theo Decker: I can't believe you're here.