elliefredricksen:

Alternate opening of The Incredibles, in which Bob and Helen (Smith!) meet their neighbors at a barbecue. Helen confronts Beth, a woman who looks down on homemaking. To quote Brad Bird: “I loved the idea of a superhero defending…being a mom!”

Beth: “Waste my prime years by trailing after some snotty kids? No thank you. Hello! No thanks! Hello! I want to do something with my life.”

Helen: “Wait a minute. You consider raising a family, ‘nothing’?”

Beth: “Well it’s fine if you’re not suited to more…substantial things.”

Helen: “Do you have any idea how much suffering would fail to take root if more people were just good parents? What’s more important than that? What kind of job? Saving lives? Is that important? What about risking my life? Confronting evil on a daily basis? I risked my life for years just so people like you could sleep in safety and security. Would you consider that kind of job substantial?”

Beth: “Uh, yeah. Yeah, yeah I would. Yes. Yes, I would.”

Helen: “Well that’s the job I gave up for my new job. Raising a family. And nobody’s going to tell me it’s any less important.”

Beth: “I am so, so, so sorry. I meant no offense. What on earth did you used to do?”

Then Helen of course is at a loss because she can’t reveal her true identity, and she and Bob end up leaving…after he chops off his fingers. Which he hadn’t even noticed, but obviously they had to pretend they were rushing off to the hospital.

I like strong female characters.