Daily Dialogue — November 16, 2016

HELEN: I think your father is in trouble.

VIOLET: If you haven’t noticed, Mom, we’re not doin’ so hot, either.

HELEN: I’m going to look for him, and that means you’re in charge until I get back, Violet.

DASH: What?

VIOLET: You heard her.

HELEN: Put these on. Your identity is your most valuable possession. Protect it. And if anything goes wrong, use your powers.

VIOLET: But you said never to use —

HELEN: I know what I said! (Draws a deep breath) Remember the bad guys on those shows you used to watch on Saturday mornings? Well, these guys are not like those guys. They won’t exercise restraint because you’re children. They will kill you, if they get the chance. Do not give them that chance.

VIOLET: Mom…

HELEN: Vi, I’m counting on you —

VIOLET: There’s something I —

HELEN: I’m counting on you. Be strong. Dash, if anything goes wrong, I want you to run as fast as you can.

DASH: As fast as I can?

HELEN: As fast as you can. Stay hidden. Keep each other safe. I’ll be back by morning.

VIOLET: Mom! Mom, what happened on the plane…I’m sorry…I wanted to…I mean, when you asked me to…I’m sorry.

HELEN: Shhh. It isn’t your fault. It wasn’t fair for me to suddenly ask so much of you. But things are different, now, and doubt is a luxury we can’t afford any more, sweetie. You have more power than you realize. Don’t think. And don’t worry. If the time comes, you’ll know what to do. It’s in your blood.

— The Incredibles (2004), written by Brad Bird

The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Bechdel Test suggested by Will King, who also suggested today’s movie.

Trivia: Brad Bird got the idea for the film in the early 1990s, basing the story on his own experiences trying to balance a career with family.

Dialogue on Dialogue: This scene is the anchor point for not one, but two callbacks later in the film. Initially, it appears that Helen’s prediction comes true when Violet overcomes her uncertainty about her powers by protecting Dash from being killed, and then by joining the rest of the family battling Syndrome’s thugs with their velocipods in the jungle. But the final realization of Helen’s last statement comes at the end of the climax when Violet uses her force field to save the family when Syndrome’s jet crashes onto their home. Helen completes the moment with her statement, “That’s my girl.”