The Next Mrs. Parrish

“When I was a little girl, I couldn’t get enough of fairy tales. I especially loved the ones where the heroine escaped from the monster and went on to live happily ever after. But what I’ve come to learn is that sometimes there’s no such thing as a happy ending.”

Spoken by Daphne, this quote contrasts the idealized fairy-tale endings of her childhood with the harsh realities of adult life. The bitter, defeated tone of the passage reflects her disillusionment with the notion of a perfect resolution and underscores her weary acceptance of life's complexities.

“Charm is making the person you're talking to feel like the only person in the room.”

This quote underscores the effects of charm as a manipulative tool in social interactions, emphasizing the fact that if a manipulator can make a target feel uniquely valued, that person immediately becomes more amenable to influence and persuasion. The passage also reflects Daisy Ann’s ability to use her charm to control and manipulate those around her, emphasizing her strategic approach to social dynamics despite the essential honesty and integrity of her character.

“She was finally free to be herself, to take what she wanted when she wanted without kissing anyone’s ass anymore.”

This quote signifies Amber’s liberation from societal expectations and her newfound empowerment, emphasizing her rejection of subservience and her embrace of personal agency. However, her willingness to “take what she wanted” also foreshadows her continuing path of manipulation and psychological abuse in the quest to achieve her own selfish and often ruinous desires.

“They were her treasure…and her passport to the world.”

This quote emphasizes the significance of Amber’s stolen diamonds not only as a source of value but also as a means of escape and freedom. The metaphor of a “passport” highlights the fact that Amber views her wealth as an essential tool for navigating the world and transforming her life. Because she is committed to maintaining the façade of a high-society figure, her wealth becomes synonymous with her identity.

“There was no reason to stay here with Jackson—theirs was a marriage in name only and he wouldn’t miss her any more than she would miss him.”

This line reveals the transactional nature of Amber and Jackson’s marriage and underscores the mutual indifference that characterizes their relationship. The dismissive tone of the passage also highlights Amber’s emotional detachment from her marriage and her utilitarian view of the situation.

“Amber got to call the shots. This is what it felt like to be a man, she thought, and it felt damn good.”

This quote illustrates Amber’s empowerment and sense of control in her new role. By comparing her newfound authority to the traditionally patriarchal power structure that dominates high society, she expresses the intensity of her desire for dominance and reveals the true depths of the gratification that she derives from it. The comparison underscores her previous lack of control and her current desire to impose her will on the world around her.

“Think, Daphne. I drugged them all. I put the Klonopin in each drink, with a little vodka in the lemonade, and Bailey’s Irish cream in the coffee.”

With this bald admission of his calculated mission to discredit Daphne, Jackson callously brags about his crimes and revels in his success at controlling Daphne. His contemptuous comment (“Think, Daphne”) also conveys his lack of respect for her cognitive abilities, for even as he glories in the success of his ruse, he insults her further by implying that she is too dense to discern the nuances of his plan.

“None of this is your fault, Tallulah. Amber is a good liar, she’s as sick as your father, and trust me, she fools most people. For a while, she fooled me too. It’s only natural that you would want a relationship with your father, and you had no way of knowing the truth about him because I protected you from that.”

This quote addresses Tallulah’s guilt and the manipulation she has experienced. Although Tallulah’s insistence on reconnecting with Jackson becomes the catalyst for the traumatic events that the family endures, Daphne still tries to comfort Tallulah and reassure her that she is not solely to blame. The exchange therefore emphasizes Daphne’s commitment to ensuring the well-being of her daughters despite the cruel circumstances they have experienced.

“All you need to know is that I love you with every fiber of my being and I promise I will do everything in my power to make sure you are both safe and out of his reach forever.”

This quote—spoken as Daphne, Tallulah, and Bella are on the run—conveys a strong sense of commitment and protection. Even as they are fleeing for their lives, Daphne is dedicated to comforting and reassuring her daughters.

“Still lying in bed, she hugged herself with glee, picturing the sun-drenched skies and cerulean seas of the Maldives that she’d seen in a travel magazine.”

This quote highlights Amber’s escapist fantasies and her longing for a luxurious new beginning. The imagery of the Maldives symbolizes her desire for a fresh start and the emotional comfort she finds in envisioning a life of luxury and freedom.

“She was smart and she’d turn that money into much more, until she was rich, rich, rich.”

This line underscores Amber’s ambition and confidence in her ability to leverage her financial resources. It reflects her determination to increase her social and financial standing, and she also believes that in Using Wealth as a Weapon to achieve her goals.

“She’d retreat for now, but she’d be back with a plan that would take Daisy Ann down. And Jackson was going to regret screwing her.”

This quote illustrates Amber’s strategic mindset and her desire for revenge, emphasizing her determination to return with a plan for getting revenge on those who have supposedly wronged her. The short, sharp sentences and spiteful tone reflect her single-minded nature and her refusal to consider that she is the catalyst for her problems.

“I understand you’re angry. But I stand by my statement. I don’t believe anyone is born by accident. And yes, my judgment was wrong when it came to him, but there’s no point in regretting something that can’t be changed. Regret is a wasted emotion.”

In this passage, Daphne validates Tallulah’s anger while reassuring her that Daphne can still find something to be grateful for: her daughters. She uses this positive perspective to encourage her daughters to move forward in a healthy way despite the abuses they have endured.

“Jackson wanted to play dirty, and this was the kind of arena where Amber fought best.”

This quote highlights Amber’s comfort with employing manipulative and deceitful tactics. The quote’s direct and pugnacious tone also underscores her adaptability and effectiveness in situations that involve underhanded methods, displaying her skill in navigating morally ambiguous scenarios.

“Take a deep breath, Amber, or should I say, Lana. This is the last time you’re going to be outside for a very long time.”

This smug statement from Daisy Ann captures the finality of Amber’s situation and her imminent confinement. The use of Amber’s real name, Lana, highlights Daisy Ann’s discovery of Amber’s identity and Amber’s transition from freedom to a prolonged period of incarceration, emphasizing the gravity of her circumstances.

“These rich assholes were always getting the better of her just because they’d been born with a silver spoon in their mouth.”

By setting herself in direct opposition to the very “rich assholes” whose status she attempts to usurp, Amber reveals her deeply ingrained resentment toward the privileged elite. Her thoughts also highlight her perception of systemic unfairness and her frustration with the social advantages that she believes have contributed to her struggles and perceived failures.

“This is all Amber’s fault. She ruined his life. He’d still be married to Daphne if it wasn’t for her. The FBI would never have found out about his tax evasion and he would never have gone to prison.”

As Jackson grapples with his physical paralysis, he shifts the blame for his downfall onto Amber. This quote therefore reflects Jackson’s narcissistic traits and his unwillingness to take responsibility for his unethical actions.

“You can’t blame yourself. She’s an adult. No matter how hard we try to shape our children, sometimes they are who they are from the moment they’re born.”

In this passage, Daphne attempts to comfort Amber’s mother by reassuring her that she is not responsible for the monster that Amber became. The statement highlights Daphne’s empathy and forgiveness while underscoring the limitations of parental influence, and Daphne’s approach also encourages acceptance of personal responsibility without self-blame.

“If only Jackson had truly changed in prison, the outcome would have been so different. I could have learned to forgive him for the past and he could have had a relationship with his daughters.”

This quote reflects Daphne’s longing for a different outcome and her idealized vision of reconciliation. Her musings also emphasize the theme of forgiveness and the impact of Jackson’s failure to change. While Daphne still holds a great deal of regret, her mindset leaves room for healing, and she does not task herself with the misguided ideal of forgiving Jackson’s unforgivable deeds.

“No matter what, there was a time I loved him. A time when I thought he was everything I ever wanted and needed and so I cried for the death of all of it.”

This quote reveals Daphne’s complex emotional attachment to Jackson and her ongoing need to mourn their lost relationship—or more accurately, the relationship that never was. Although she once felt that he was “everything [she] ever wanted,” this perception was based on a lie. Now, the expression of past love juxtaposed with present loss underscores her struggle with the end of a significant emotional chapter in her life.

“There’s no way I’d ever have gone back to him, but we could have co-parented and given the girls what they need. Now none of us will ever get that chance.”

This quote highlights Daphne’s regret over the lost opportunity for cooperative parenting and reflects her acceptance of the finality of Jackson’s death. She also expresses her sadness over the missed chance to provide a stable environment for her children.

“I wept, more tears than I thought I had, and I don’t know who I was crying for more, the children, me, or even, yes, him.”

This quote captures Daphne’s profound emotional turmoil upon learning that Jackson is permanently incapacitated. Given the hell that he has just put her through, her complex emotional reaction illustrates her deep and conflicting feelings of grief and loss. Even though Jackson abused her and her daughters, Daphne is surprised to realize that a part of her genuinely regrets his fate.

“Amber is a master of escape and reinvention, like a Svengali and Houdini wrapped in one Machiavellian package.”

This quote characterizes Amber’s abilities with vivid comparisons to famous figures known for manipulation and escape. The statement also emphasizes her skill in evading capture and reinventing herself, and the authors portray her as a complex and formidable antagonist who blends charm with cunning.