Equus (1977)

Joan Plowright: Dora Strang

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Quotes 

• Dora Strang : Alan always adored horses. In fact, we've always been a horsey family. Well, my side has. My uncle used to ride every morning on the downs behind Brighton, all dressed up in a bowler hat and jodhpurs. He used to look splendid. Indulging in equitation, he called it. I remember telling Alan how that word came from equus.

  Martin Dysart : Equus?

  Dora Strang : The latin word for horse. Alan was absolutely fascinated by that word, I know. I suppose, because he'd never come across one with two "u"s together before.

• Dora Strang : I only know that he was my little Alan - and then the devil came.

• Frank Strang : [Talking to Dr. Dysart]  Religon! Its our only real problem in this house, but, it is insuperable.

  Dora Strang : [Enters]  You must excuse my husband! Doctor, this one subject is something of an obsession with him. Isn't it dear, you must admit?

  Frank Strang : Call it what you like, all it is to me is just bad sex!

• Martin Dysart : Mr. Strang, exactly how informed would you judge your son to be about sex?

  Frank Strang : I don't know.

  Martin Dysart : You didn't actually instruct him yourself?

  Frank Strang : Not in so many words. No.

  Martin Dysart : Did you Mrs. Strang?

  Dora Strang : Well, I spoke a little. Yes. I had to.

  Martin Dysart : What sort of things did you tell him? I'm sorry if this is embarrassing.

  Dora Strang : I told him the biological facts. But, I also told him what I believed. That sex is not just a biological matter; but, a spiritual one as well. If God willed, he would fall in love one day. Sugar? That his task was to prepare himself for the most important happening of his life. And after that, if he was lucky, he would come to know a higher love still.

  [Drops tea pot and breaks down crying] 

• Dora Strang : I do remember telling him a very odd thing. Did you know, doctor, that when the Christian calvary first appeared in the new world, the pagans thought that horse and rider was one person.

  Martin Dysart : One person?

  Dora Strang : Yes.

  Martin Dysart : A horse?

  Dora Strang : Actually, they thought it must be a god.

• Martin Dysart : Mrs. Strang, is there anything else you can remember that you told him about horses? Anything at all?

  Dora Strang : Oh, well, they're in the Bible, of course. "He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha."

  Martin Dysart : Ha, ha?

  Dora Strang : The Book of Job. Such a noble passage. You know? "Hath thou given the horse strength? Hast thou clothed his neck with thunder? The glory of his nostrils is terrible. He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha!"

  Martin Dysart : That's marvelous.

  Dora Strang : Yes.

• Dora Strang : If you knew God, doctor, you would know about the devil. The devil isn't made by what Mommy says or what Daddy says. The devil is there. Its an old fashioned word. But, a true thing.