Chinatown Family Quotes

How we cite our quotes: All quotations are from Chinatown.

Quote #4

EVELYN: I would never ever have harmed Hollis. I loved him more than my own family. He was the most gentle, decent man imaginable...and he put up with more from me than you'll ever know...I just wanted him to be happy...

Evelyn hides the exact nature of what Hollis "put up with." It probably involved all the horrible secrets about incest obviously—although she also admits to Jake that she had plenty of affairs.

Quote #5

EVELYN: She's my sister and my daughter!

This is the moment where it all comes out. We learn just how messed up the Cross family really is—"dysfunctional" doesn't quite cover it. Jake couldn't have even guessed at this truth, it was so far beyond the pale.

Quote #6

CROSS: Now where's the girl?...I want the only daughter I have left...as you found out, Evelyn was lost to me a long time ago.

Cross tries to possess his family members. He violated his daughter, and now he wants to control his granddaughter/daughter. He doesn't want love; he wants to own and dominate.