Tolkien (2019)

Laura Donnelly: Mabel Tolkien

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Quotes 

• Mabel Tolkien : Let us begin, Ronald: The earth began to shake with the weight of the dragon as he crawled to the water, and a cloud of venom flew before him as he snorted and roared! But Sigurd waited till the dragon had crawled over the pit and then he thrust his sword under his left shoulder and right into his heart. The dragon lashed his tail till stones broke and trees crashed about him. And then he spoke, as he died, and said, "Whoever thou art that hast slain me, this gold shall be thy ruin and the ruin of all who own it." Sigurd said, "I would touch none of it, if even by losing it, I should never die. But all men die and no brave man lets death frighten him from his desire."

• Mabel Tolkien : Boys, listen to me. Do you know what impecunious circumstances are?

  J.R.R. Tolkien (Young) : They're what we're in?

  Mabel Tolkien : When I was a little girl, all the new novels began like this: a family of good and brave people who suddenly find themselves in impecunious circumstances...

  J.R.R. Tolkien (Young) : How did they escape?

  Mabel Tolkien : By coming across some marvelous treasure. Or else, by marrying well.

  Hilary Tolkien (Young) : I'm not marrying anyone!

  Mabel Tolkien : Well, it'll have to be the treasure then - won't it?

  J.R.R. Tolkien (Young) : But, um, people don't find treasure, mother. Not in real life.

  Mabel Tolkien : There's no fooling you, is there, John Ronald? Let's just say there's treasure, and there's *treasure* - and leave it at that.