Okay, a two-parter coming up from Mike Leigh's Vera Drake (2004). In the first scene Vera is questioned by the police. Although she is getting upset, she is able to keep it together as she justifies her actions. Vera: I know why you're here. Detective Webster: Beg your pardon? Vera: I know why you're here. Detective Webster: Why are we here? Vera: 'Cause of what I do. Detective Webster: Because of what you do? Vera: Yes. Detective Webster: What is it that you do, Mrs. Drake? Vera: I help young girls out. Detective Webster: You help young girls out? Vera: That's right. Detective Webster: How do you help them out? Vera: We're having a party today. Can I sit down, please? Detective Webster: Yes, of course. Vera: I don't want to spoil it for my family. Can't you come back tomorrow? Detective Webster: I'm sorry, Mrs. Drake. But we have to deal with this matter today. Vera: Oh, do you? Detective Webster: Yes. Sid: What are they taking so long for? Stan: I don't know, Sid. Sid: Someone might've been murdered. Ethel: Oh, my god, Sidney! Stan: All right, Sid. Sid: No, in one of the houses she cleans in. I mean he said it was serious, didn't he? Frank: Someone's pinched something, that's all. Sid: But there were a couple of detectives. Plainclothes, aren't they? Detective Webster: Can you answer my question, please? How do you help them out? Vera: When they can't manage. Detective Webster: When they can't manage? Vera: That's right. Detective Webster: You mean, when they're pregnant? So, how do you help them out? Vera: I help them start their bleeding again. Detective Webster: You help them to get rid of the baby? Vera: I've spoiled their day for them now, haven't I? Webster: You perform an abortion. Is that right, Mrs. Drake? You perform abortions, don't you? Vera: That's not what I do, dear. That's what you call it, but they need help. Who else are they gonna turn to? They've got no one. I help them out. http://movieclips.com/vF7Z-vera-drake-movie-i-help-them-out/ In the second scene Vera has to tell her husband her secret and is so upset she can barely speak. Since the audience knows this information already, we don't need to hear it again. This creates a great visual moment with Vera whispering to her husband. Vera: I'm sorry. Stan: What do you got to be sorry about? What is it, love? Look at the state of her, she don't deserve this. Detective Webster: You're going to have to tell him, Mrs. Drake. Vera: I... Stan: What? http://movieclips.com/kgs7C-vera-drake-movie-shameful-secret/ Takeaway: know when to use dialogue and when not to for maximum emotional impact.

A Room With A View, 1985, screenplay adapted by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala from the novel by EM Forster. I mentioned this film in a thread on the Black Board (in another context) so I had it on the brain. The film is all about emotion - repressing it versus giving in to it. Lucy Honeychurch (Helena Bonham Carter)is a proper Edwardian era young lady, except when she's playing Beethoven. On a trip to Florence, with her cousin Charlotte (Maggie Smith) as chaperone, Lucy meets Mr. Emerson (Denholm Elliot) and his son George (Julian Sands) who, despite being British, have no trouble expressing their emotions. While the film's best example of "overcome by emotion" has no dialogue (it's the kissing scene in the clip below) but in the climactic moment, Lucy finally admits she loves George with one simple statement. Mr. Emerson: You love George. You love the boy body and soul, as he loves you. Lucy Honeychurch: [crying] But of course I do. What did you all think? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkrldSP4EU8

Truly Madly Deeply (1990) which, I believe was Anthony MInghella's first full length feature, but I might be wrong, and a superb account of love, loss and moving on. Written specifically with Juliet Stevenson in mind, it plays to all ther strengths. It has been a few years since I have seen it, but it still resonates, and the scene that stuck with me the most is this scene where Nina tells her therapist how she is feeling. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzDjCNUP6yY Now that is great acting and dialogue, at the same time expressin her love and anguish at losing him, as well as her hatred as she blames him for not being there. This isn't sanitised upset, this is snot, tears and spittle....brutal and heartbreaking.....as is the whole film....I'm tearing up just thinking about it. I have been looking for a transcript of the scene, but can't find one, so if anyone else sees one, please show us!

Terms of Endearment 1983. One of the best adaptations from author Larry McMurtry and flawlessly done by James L. Brooks.Powerhouse acting from a stellar cast and I truly cannot think of one scene that doesn't overflow with emotion. This clip IMO sealed it for Shirley MacClaine to win the Emmy for best actress. I couldn't find the script-but I did find the transcript on scripto-rama. http://www.script-o-rama.com/movie_scripts/t/terms-of-endearment-sccript-transcript.html AURORA: Excuse me. It's after ten. Give my daughter the pain shot. NURSE 1:Mrs Greenway, I was going to. AURORA: Good. Go ahead. NURSE 1: Just a few minutes. AURORA: Please. It's after ten. I don't see why she has to have this pain? NURSE 2: Ma'am, It's not my patient. AURORA: It's time! Do something! All she has to do is hold on until ten! And it's past ten! My daughter's in pain! Give her the shot! NURSE: Are you going to behave? AURORA:GIVE MY DAUGHTER THE SHOT! Thank you very much. Thank you. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plqzeUB9B-w http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086425/

Sleepless in Seattle (1993) Writers: Jeff Arch, Nora Ephron, David S. Ward http://movieclips.com/QjqKG-sleepless-in-seattle-movie-thats-a-chicks-movie/ Sam Baldwin: She wants to meet me at the top of the Empire State Building. On Valentine's Day. Suzy: It's like that movie. Sam Baldwin: What movie? Suzy: An Affair To Remember. Did you ever see it? Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr. She's gonna meet him at the top of the Empire State Building... only she got hit by a taxi. And he waited and waited. And it was raining, I think. And then... she's too proud to tell him... that she's, uh... [starts to cry] Suzy: crippled. And he's too proud to find out why she doesn't come. But he comes to see her anyway. I forget why, but, oh... Oh, it's so amazing when he comes to see her because... [crying more] Suzy: he doesn't even notice that she doesn't get up to say hello. And he's very bitter. And you think that he's just gonna walk out the door... and never know why she's just lying there, you know, on the couch... with this blanket over her shriveled little legs. [sobbing] Jonah: Are you all right? Greg: She's fine. Suzy: Suddenly he goes, "I already sold the painting." And he like goes to the bedroom... and he looks and he comes out and he looks at her and he kind of just... They know and then they hug. And it's so... [trails off crying] DIALOGUE ON DIALOGUE: I love the display of opposite emotions and by extension the opposite nature of the sexes--She incoherently relives the tearful ending of an emotional love story while the men are baffled by the tears. But then The Dirty Dozen is mentioned... ;) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEwDmc3FI_Q TRIVIA: The scene between Tom Hanks and Victor Garber crying over the movie The Dirty Dozen was completely improvised during the take.

Whoops, I should have said, that the bit I am talking about kicks in around 1 minute into the linked video and goes on to around 3 minutes 40 seconds. Couldn't find the scene on its own.

"The Bucket List" -- laugh-until-I-cry scene. www.youtube.com/watch?v=g73XEvtztbs . Soon both men are laughing until tears trickle from their eyes. CARTER: You got a pen? EDWARD: What?