A Promise to Carolyn (1996 TV Movie)

Shirley Knight: Jolene Maggart

Quotes 

• Jolene Maggart : [Bringing a cup of tea to Debra who is hanging her head down on the porch]  You feeling any better?

  Debra : [takes the tea cup]  Yeah. Just feeling a little light-headed is all.

  Jolene Maggart : This is about Carolyn, isn't it? Kay got you all stirred up again?

  Debra : No it's not.

  Jolene Maggart : You can tell me the truth, Debra.

  Debra : I am. Kay just wanted to know when she was born so that she could do her chart.

  Jolene Maggart : I have been very patient about this and I have not said a word, but if you're gonna stand here and lie to my face...

  [she turns to walk away] 

  Debra : Mother? Mother, what did I do?

  Jolene Maggart : Do you think that I am blind or something? Do you think that I cannot see the way you're been staring at me? Kay's got you brainwashed now!

  Debra : NO!

  Jolene Maggart : Oh, you think that I am some kind of monster!

  Debra : That's not true!

  Jolene Maggart : Then what is all this about Carolyn, and when she was born and all that? And don't tell me that it's Kay wanting to do her astrology.

  Debra : Okay. That's not it but it's not what you think it is, either. I'm just curious about Carolyn.

  Jolene Maggart : Right, you're just curious.

  Debra : It's true! She's my baby sister! I got a right to know about her! It's always been like some big taboo about here. We're not supposed to talk about her, we don't even have her pictures up anywhere!

  Butch Maggart : [bringing a Christmas tree up to the porch]  Jolene, you want this in by the front window?

  Jolene Maggart : [distractedly]  Yeah, it's fine. We're talking about Carolyn!

  [Butch sets down the tree] 

  Jolene Maggart : Do you wanna know why? Because what happened was a terrible, terrible thing and it's better left in the past. You was only three when it happened. You don't know how we grieved for that child. All you know is what Kay has been drilling into your head all these years and I just won't have any more of it. I won't have you moping around giving me those looks.

  Debra : I'm not giving you any looks! I just want everything to be ALL RIGHT around here for once! I want to be able to talk about Carolyn! I want to be able to think about her without feeling so guilty inside that... I wish I was up there with her!

  Butch Maggart : Now what the hell is that supposed to mean? It was an accident. She fell off the damn bed.

  [He takes the tree and walks into the house. Debra turns away] 

  Jolene Maggart : Come on, now, come on. I'm sorry I yelled at you.

  [picking up the tea cup to give to her] 

  Jolene Maggart : But, you see what this gets us? Nothing but heartache?

  Debra : I just want to be able to talk about her. I just want to be able to remember her without having nightmares.