Penny Dreadful (TV Series)

Verbis Diablo (2015)

Rory Kinnear: John Clare

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Quotes 

• [Vanessa and John Clare speak about life and God] 

  John Clare : Is it not this, Miss Ives, the glory of life surmounts the fear of death. Good Christians fear hellfire, so to avoid it, they are kind to their fellow man. Good pagans do not have this fear, so they can be who they are, good or ill as their nature dictates. We have no fear of God, so we are accountable to no one but each other.

  Vanessa Ives : That's a profound responsibility.

  John Clare : And why you do this, no doubt. Helping those in need.

  Vanessa Ives : I came here for selfish reasons. Do you truly not believe in heaven?

  John Clare : I believe in this world and those creatures that fill it. That's always been enough for me. Look around you. Sacred mysteries at every turn.

  Vanessa Ives : But no exaltation in life beyond this?

  John Clare : [John quotes William Blake]  To see a world in a grain of sand / And a heaven in a wild flower / Hold infinity in the palm of your hand / And eternity in an hour

  Vanessa Ives : With respect to Blake, I see no wild flowers here, only pain and suffering.

  John Clare : [Mr. Clare smiles]  Then you need to look closer.

• [Vanessa and John Clare thank each other for the company] 

  John Clare : Thank you for the soup.

  Vanessa Ives : Thank you for the conversation.

  Vanessa Ives : [Vanessa pauses while smiling at Mr. Clare]  You have beautiful eyes.

• [John Clare and Victor Frankenstein sit with Lily after her resurrection from the dead] 

  John Clare : [Mr. Clare looks into Lily's eyes]  I want to fill her heart with poetry.

  Dr. Victor Frankenstein : Let me fill her head with language first. Honestly, it will be a process. You'll understand that. She must learn the actions of living anew. Leave me to it. I've had experience.

  John Clare : I've waited so long.

  John Clare : [Lily tries to touch Mr. Clare's hand as he smiles]  She needs poetry.

  Dr. Victor Frankenstein : She needs to eat.

• [Victor Frankenstein and John Clare discuss the cause and effects of Lily's memory returning with her speech] 

  Dr. Victor Frankenstein : If Proteus was any model to go by, she'll pick up language quickly. Even more quickly since I reduced the trauma of the electrical charge. It will come back to her. So too human interaction and, well, perhaps memory.

  John Clare : And then?

  Dr. Victor Frankenstein : I don't know. Proteus was just beginning to regain the memory of his former life, when you killed him.

  John Clare : [Mr. Clare walks in Victor's face]  You don't need to remind me of my sins. Just never forget your own.

  Dr. Victor Frankenstein : [while Victor looks to Lily]  And this? Creating another sin?

  John Clare : Atoning for your first. All the love and companionship you denied me, visit upon her. She is our future, Creator. Tread carefully.

• John Clare : Is it not this, Ms. Ives? The glory of life surmounts the fear of death. Good Christians fear Hellfire, so to avoid it they are kind to their fellow man. Good pagans do not have this fear, so they can be who they are. Good or ill, as their nature dictates. We have no fear of God, so we are accountable to no one but each other.

  Vanessa Ives : That's a profound responsibility.

• Dr. Victor Frankenstein : If Proteus was any model to go by, she'll pick up language quickly. Even more quickly since I reduced the trauma of the electrical charge. It will come back to her. So too human interaction and, well, perhaps memory.

  John Clare : And then?

  Dr. Victor Frankenstein : I don't know. Proteus was just beginning to regain the memory of his former life, when you killed him.

  John Clare : You don't need to remind me of my sins. Just never forget your own.

  Dr. Victor Frankenstein : And this? Creating another sin?

  John Clare : Atoning for your first. All the love and companionship you denied me, visit upon her. She is our future, Creator. Tread carefully.

• [Vanessa and John Clare speak about words and religion] 

  Vanessa Ives : [Vanessa whispers as the two see a group of nuns]  They make me nervous.

  John Clare : Who?

  Vanessa Ives : The nuns.

  John Clare : Why?

  Vanessa Ives : I was raised in the faith. It was arduous for me. Have you religion?

  John Clare : Are you offering it?

  Vanessa Ives : Do you require it?

  John Clare : I never have.

  John Clare : Then I shan't offer. And I would be a poor advocate. The Almighty and I have a challenging past. Not sure we're speaking these days.

  John Clare : [John chuckles]  I read the Bible when I was younger. But. Then I discovered Wordsworth, and the old platitudes and parables seemed anemic. Even unnecessary.

  Vanessa Ives : Mr. Wordsworth has a lot to answer for, then.

  [John chuckles again]