The Manchurian Candidate (2004)

Meryl Streep: Eleanor Shaw

Photos 

Quotes 

• Eleanor Shaw : The assassin always dies, baby. It's necessary for the national healing.

• Eleanor Shaw : Oh, God! Where are all the men anymore? My father, Tyler Prentiss, never asked, "Is this okay? Is this okay?" You know what I'm saying, Mark? He just did what needed to be done.

• Eleanor Shaw : I will do whatever is necessary to protect America from anyone who opposes her. I can't... am I the only person in this room who's been reading these NSA reports?

  Congressman Healy : I've read them.

  Eleanor Shaw : All right, then. You know... you know we are on the brink of another cataclysm, probably nuclear, on our own soil.

  Congresswoman Becket : Oh, Ellie, that's a bit extreme.

  Eleanor Shaw : And it's not from random terrorists, but from covert alliances of disaffected nations who've all been made bold by this kind of Jordan one-worlder who believes that human beings are essentially good and that our powers are somehow, I don't know, shameful or evil and never to be used. Make no mistake. The American people are terrified. They know something's coming. They can feel it. And we can either shovel them the same old shit and call it sugar or we can arm them. We can arm them with a young, vibrant Vice President. We can give them heat, energy! Give them a war hero with heart, forged by enemy fire in the desert in the dark when American lives hung on the balance!

• Ben Marco : [being brainwashed over the phone]  Yes, senator?

  Eleanor Shaw : Is this Captain Marco?

  Ben Marco : Yep.

  Eleanor Shaw : Captain Bennet Marco?

  Ben Marco : Yes.

  Eleanor Shaw : Bennet Ezikiel Marco?

  Ben Marco : ...yes.

  Eleanor Shaw : ...Listen.

• Eleanor Shaw : [to Raymond]  But... but when you smile... oh darling, when you smile, that's what I live for. When you smile.

  [kisses his mouth] 

• [manipulating Raymond] 

  Eleanor Shaw : Sergeant Shaw.

  Raymond Shaw : [Abruptly]  What...?

  Eleanor Shaw : Sergeant Raymond Shaw.

  Raymond Shaw : Mother, I...

  Eleanor Shaw : Raymond Prentiss Shaw.

  Raymond Shaw : Yes.

  Eleanor Shaw : Listen.

• Raymond Shaw : I served under him. He was a good man.

  Eleanor Shaw : Well, that's what the neighbors always say about serial killers.