- Hae Sung: What if this is a past life as well, and we are already something else to each other in our next life? Who do you think we are then?
- Arthur: You dream in a language I can't understand. It's like there's this whole place inside you I can't go.
- Nora: There is a word in Korean. In-Yun. It means "providence" or "fate". But it's specifically about relationships between people. I think it comes from Buddhism and reincarnation. It's an In-Yun if two strangers even walk by each other in the street and their clothes accidentally brush. Because it means there must have been something between them in their past lives. If two people get married, they say it's because there have been 8,000 layers of In-Yun over 8,000 lifetimes.
- Hae Sung: Seeing you again... and being here... makes me have a lot of weird thoughts.
- Nora: What kind of thoughts?
- Hae Sung: What if I'd come to New York twelve years ago? What if you had never left Seoul? If you hadn't just left like that, and we just grew up together... would I still have looked for you? Would we have dated? Broken up? Gotten married? Would we have had kids together? Thoughts like that. But the truth I learned here is, you had to leave because you're you. And the reason I liked you is because you're you. And who you are is someone who leaves.
- Nora: It's so crazy to see him be this grown-up man with a normal job and a normal life. He's so Korean. He still lives with his parents, which is really Korean. And he has all these really Korean views about everything. And I feel so not Korean when I'm with him. But also, in some way, more Korean? It's so weird. I mean, I have Korean friends, but he's not, like, Korean-American. He's Korean-Korean.
- Nora: The Na Young you remember... doesn't exist here.
- Hae Sung: I know.
- Nora: But... that little girl did exist. She's not sitting here in front of you... but it doesn't mean she's not real. Twenty years ago, I left her behind with you.
- Hae Sung: I know. And even though I was only twelve, I loved her.
- Nora: [when asked if she is attracted to Hae Sung] I don't think so. He was just this kid in my head for such a long time. And then he was just this image on my laptop. And now he's a physical person. It's really intense, but I don't think that that's attraction, I think I just missed him a lot. I think I miss Seoul.
- Arthur: Our story's just so boring. We met at an artists' residency. Slept together because we both happened to be single. We realize we both live in New York, so we move in together to save money on rent. We got married so you could get a green card. So...
- Nora: Oh, you make it sound so romantic.
- Arthur: Right, that's what I'm saying. I'm the guy you leave in the story when your ex-lover comes to take you away.
- Nora: He's not my ex-lover.
- Actress: If you bought a ticket to see this show, took the subway or a cab to be here, it cost you something to be here, and spend a couple hours with these old women. That makes you some kind of immigrant. And... all this cost me something too. I crossed the Pacific Ocean to be here. Some crossings cost more than others. Some crossings... you pay for with your whole life.
- Nora: I think there was something in our past lives. Otherwise, why would we be here together right now? But in this life... we don't have the In-Yun to be that kind of person to each other. Because now, finally, we're in the same city for the first time in twenty years...
- Hae Sung: We're sitting here with your husband. In this life, you and Arthur are that kind of In-Yun to each other. You two have the 8000 layers of In-Yun. To Arthur, you're someone who stays.
- Arthur: That guy flew 13 hours to be here. I'm not gonna tell you that you can't see him or something. He's your childhood sweetheart. And it's not like you're gonna run away with him. Are you?
- Arthur: I was just thinking about what a good story this is.
- Nora: The story of Hae Sung and me?
- Arthur: Yeah. I just can't compete.
- Nora: What do you mean?
- Arthur: Childhood sweethearts who reconnect 20 years later only to realize they were meant for each other.
- Nora: [referring to Hae Sung] We're not meant for each other.
- Arthur: I know. I know. In the story, I would be the evil white American husband standing in the way of destiny.
- Nora: [explaining why she and her husband sometimes fight] It's like planting two trees in one pot. Our roots need to find their place.
- Arthur: You dream in a language that I can't understand. It's like there's this whole place inside of you where I can't go. I think that's why I've been trying to learn Korean, even though I know it's annoying for you.
- Nora: You want to understand me when I'm dreaming?
- Arthur: Yeah.
- Nora: I'm sure I'm just saying gibberish.
- Nora: There is a word in Korean. In-Yun. It means providence. Or... fate. But it's specifically about relationships between people. I think it comes from... Buddhism. And... reincarnation. It's an 'in-yun' if two strangers even walk by each other in the street and their clothes accidentally brush. Because... it means there must have been something between them in their past lives. If two people get married... they say it's because there have been 8000 layers of in-yun. Over 8000 lifetimes.
- Arthur: You believe in that?
- Nora: Believe what?
- Arthur: That... you and I knew each other in another life.
- Nora: What, because we are sitting here... at the same table, in the same city, at the same time?
- Arthur: Yeah, wouldn't that make this... In-yun?
- Nora: That's just something Koreans say to seduce someone.
- [they kiss]
- Hae Sung: What prize do you want to win nowadays? When you were little you wanted to win the Nobel Prize, and twelve years ago you wanted to win the Pulitzer. What do you want to win now?
- Nora: I haven't thought of things like that recently.
- Hae Sung: Really? Then think about it for a moment. There must be an award you want.
- Nora: A Tony.
- Hae Sung: You really are exactly the same as I remember you.
- Nora: Why did you look for me?
- Hae Sung: Twelve years ago? Do you really want to know? I just wanted to see you one more time. I don't know. Because you just left so suddenly... I was a little pissed off.
- Nora: Sorry.
- Hae Sung: What are you sorry about?
- Nora: You're right. There's nothing to be sorry about.
- Hae Sung: [explaining why he has not gotten married] I'm an only child. If you're going to marry an only son, he should make more money and be better. I'm too ordinary.
- Nora: You're ordinary?
- Hae Sung: My job is ordinary, my income is ordinary. It's all ordinary. She should meet someone more impressive than me.
- Hae Sung: What if this is a past life, and we are already something else to each other in our next life?
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