MovieChat Forums > The Departed (2006) Discussion > "So you had a parent who was a drunk"

"So you had a parent who was a drunk"

posted 8 years ago by kylerobert-31181
7 replies | jump to latest

In one of the therapy scenes, right after Billy asks her if she lies, he asks her this:

Billy: "So you had a parent who was a drunk"

Madolyn: "Did you?"

Billy: "No"

Madolyn scratches her head nervously and says "lets keep it with you, tell me how you feel"

Never understood this part. Its a very odd exchange, almost like Billy is getting to her, getting in her head, beating her and her psychologist game and she realizes it and tries to deflect.

Any thoughts?

Here's the scene:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3tULHISLjk

[–] hero-de-celluloid 8 years ago

I thought it was just a psychologist trying to keep the focus on the patient - as they should do. He was trying to analyse her - and she wanted to bring it back to him. I think she thought the question could have been Billy trying to tell her something about himself - which is why she asked him the same question. Sometimes patients want to bring up a situation but do so in a round about way - such as this. (although I'm not sure what the truth was in either case - was Billy accurate in his assessment of her and/or was he lying about his parents).

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[–] tyrexden 8 years ago

Puh-lease.... That was easy pickings for Leo's character. What person from Boston DIDN'T have a drunk for a parent? He just said it, to give the impression he was reading her.

[–] Bri821 8 years ago

I think he was extremely smart as they said he should be in NASA and he knew the trigger or whatever you want to call it, that lying/even keel was having someone who was a drunk as a parent.

I do like tyrex's theory. People of Irish decent tend to be drinkers so it was a good chance he was going to be right. Redhair, pale skin in Boston with an accent.

[–] tyrexden 8 years ago

Actually, i'll give you the props... i knew it was psychological, but you expressed it in a way i wasn't able to. (so i made a joke at the expense of irish people instead, but i'm part Irish, so its cool).

[–] Bri821 8 years ago

I'm more than just part Irish, but i do believe that the Irish in general, are harder to break down mentally. We don't think about that much.

[–] Forgotten_Days 8 years ago

It's set up earlier with the bit about the Irish being immune to psychoanalysis. It's a bit of humor mixed with Madolyn being unable to deal with someone more real than, as Billy points out, a bunch of cops faking how hurt they are to use their weapons.

[–] 8 years ago

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