Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (2002)

Ellen Burstyn: Vivi

Photos 

Quotes 

• Vivi : [after Vivi has hung up on Connor several times, Connor calls one last time]  Yes?

  Connor : I don't know if you really ruined Sidda's life or not, but I do know right now that you're ruining mine! And your phone etiquette SUCKS!

  [hangs up] 

  Vivi : [aghast]  He hung up on me!

• Vivi : Did I ruin your life?

  Shepard James 'Shep' Walker : I always thought the story was I'd ruined yours.

  Vivi : I think that may be another of the many lies I've told myself along the way.

  Shepard James 'Shep' Walker : Vivi, you've made it interesting.

• Vivi : I tried to be the best momma I could.

  Connor : How did that go?

  Vivi : Not so hot.

• Connor : [about Sidda and Connor's wedding]  Vivi, it's taken years to nail down a date. She's always said, "What's the rush, when things are so good?" I don't know what the hell she's so afraid of - it's like she's always waiting for the bottom to drop out.

  Vivi : You know why she thinks that, don't ya, honey? Because it did. It always did.

• Vivi : Mary... mother of the motherless? Can you see me? I'm here! It's me again! I need divine intervention once again. Quelle grande surprise. And here it is. My oldest daughter, Siddalee, the one I've been complaining about? The loudmouth? She may be walking away from true love. Please stop her. Don't let her run away. This is because of me. She never said it, but... I know. She's only seen me holding back. I take full responsibility. But I'd appreciate you keeping that to yourself. Please pass this on to your son and his father. I will only smoke once... a day. And I will only have a drink once a week - I mean a day. I'll do the best I can. If you will just help her out with this one thing, I'll make it up to you somehow.

• Vivi : Teensy! I demand that you move this piece of shit outta my way, this very instant!

  Teensy : [takes off her sunglasses and glares directly at Vivi]  Who do you think you're talking to?

  Vivi : I know she's there. Now, what is going on? Is betrayal absolutely everywhere?

  Teensy : [sarcastically]  Yes. Your lifelong friends are programming your daughter to destroy you!

  Vivi : Well, somebody better tell me what's going on!

  Teensy : Vivi, calm down! You're just gonna have to trust us. If you go there now, you're gonna ruin EVERYBODY'S life!

  Vivi : What IS it with me "ruinin' everybody's life"? EVERYBODY, Teensy? Strangers are saying it now!

  Teensy : What strangers?

  Vivi : Connor. He yelled at me! She's walked out on their entire life, whatever that means.

  Teensy : [tersely]  Go! Go home right now!

  Vivi : [shocked]  Don't you talk to me like that. I'll knock you in the middle of next week!

  Teensy : Then I will kick your sorry ass on Thursday. Now get in the goddamn car and go home!

  [Vivi huffs at Teensy, then climbs into her car and slams the door] 

  Teensy : Piece of shit.

• [Last lines] 

  Sidda : I love you, Mama.

  Vivi : I love you too, sunflower.

• Vivi : [about her birthday]  Now, I don't want any candles on my cake. It'll look like the burning of Atlanta!

• Vivi : I take a problem and chew on it 'til all the flavor's gone, and then stick it in my hair.

• Connor : [Answering the phone]  Hello, Vivi.

  Vivi : Well, hello, Connor.

  Connor : Did you call to talk to Sidda, or to hang up?

• Vivi : Did she actually say she was calling the whole thing off?

  Connor : Did she use those exact words? No, she said, "Don't mail out he invitations."

  Vivi : Yeah, but she didn't say burn them or throw them out. That's hopeful.

• Vivi : [In the confessional]  Father, I accuse myself of bad thoughts toward my family.

  Confessional Priest : Have you born hatred toward your husband?

  Vivi : Yes, and toward my children.

  Confessional Priest : How many times have you borne these thoughts?

  Vivi : Too many times to count.

  Confessional Priest : What are these bad thoughts?

  Vivi : In my thoughts I want to abandon my children. I want to injure my husband. I want to run away. I want to be unattached. I want to be famous.

• Vivi : Truth hurts, kiddo. That's all.

• Vivi : You know, Teensy, ever since you quit drinking you've stopped thinking clearly. How can I possibly call somebody who no longer exists? Give me the phone!

  [phone rings on Sidda's end] 

  Sidda : Oh my God, that's her. Do not pick up the phone, please don't pick up the phone, Connor. Connor, don't pick up the phone!

  Connor : [picks up the phone]  Hello?

  Vivi : Well, hello Connor.

  Connor : Oh, hello Vivi. How are you?

  Vivi : Well just lovely, thank you for asking. Is she there?

  [Connor hands the phone to Sidda, as she glares at Connor and takes the phone] 

  Sidda : ...Momma?

  Vivi : ...YOUUUUUUU!

  Vivi : [slams phone against the table] 

• Vivi : [to herself, after Vivi discovers that Sidda is in Pecan Grove with the other Ya-Ya's]  Oh, what a surprise! Look what the backstabbing, traitorous cats dragged in! Oh, look who it is! All my old EX-FRIENDS! And the biological fruit of my womb... that rotted!

• Connor : I don't know what it is she's afraid of. It's like she always thinks the bottom will drop out.

  Vivi : I think you know why she thinks that, don't you, honey? Because it did. It always did.