Susan said, ' In the margaret/roswell flashback scenes, we shot a scene of margaret helping out a midtown war time soup kitchen. everyone knew that its partially a publicity stunt to show her philanthropy for the soup kitchens, yet still grateful for the gesture. The Eggers will never do that.
Another scene in the flashbacks where, after ww1, roswell comes back, all tired and beat. And he smiles when he runs to margaret waiting on her house porch, and they embrace. the 2 agree to reunite away from the press. then she brings him inside for a welcome home dinner. '
here are some "headcanons" of what New Yorkers might have said about the soup kitchen scene involving Margaret Carnegie [0].
Quotes and Headcanons of New Yorkers
From the "Old Money" of Carnegie Hill
These quotes would come from the more elite, old-money residents of the neighborhood, likely said in hushed, gossipy tones at a luncheon or cocktail party.
• "Of course it was a bit of a show. The cameras were there, weren't they? But one must admire the Carnegies. They know how to play the game, and they do play it better than those new people from the Eggs. Margaret at least gets her hands a little dirty; Daisy just gets a new dress and pretends."
• "Honestly, it's the right kind of public relations. You see, with the old families, we don't need the papers to say we're good. But it's a tasteful reminder to the city that we provide, unlike those loud upstarts who only take. It's about quiet influence, not shouting."
• "It's the kind of thing you'd expect. A bit of performative charity, but it's not nothing. The soup was hot, the bread was fresh, and the Carnegies got a picture for the papers. Everyone got what they wanted. You can't say that about the Buchanans."
From the Working-Class New Yorkers
These quotes reflect a more cynical yet pragmatic view, likely heard in diners, on street corners, or among the very people in the soup kitchen line.
• "Yeah, she came down with her fancy coat and her perfect hair. My ma said she looked like a picture. But you know what? We ate. My brother got a good bowl of soup that day. She ain't foolin' anyone about why she was there, but she ain't a fake when it came to the food. And that counts for something."
• "You could always tell the difference. The Eggers, they'd send a check and tell everyone about it. The Carnegies would come down themselves. Still a show, sure, but a better one. They saw us, even if it was for a picture. Those other guys wouldn't even step off their car."
• "My grandpa said it was the best soup he ever had. All those rich folks, they got their dramas. But at least the Carnegies' drama puts food in people's bellies. Can't say that for the other side of town. The Tarantellas, they scare me, but they feed their own kind too. Everyone's got a game. Hers just had better food."
From the Neighborhoods of the Tarantellas
These quotes capture the perspective of the Italian-American community in Little Italy and surrounding areas, which had its own complex relationship with power and charity.
• "My nonna saw the picture. She said, 'At least she got a face.' We know the Capones ain't got a face for nobody but themselves. The Tarantellas, they look out for us. The old money, they look out for themselves, but at least they're not afraid to be seen lookin' good. It's respect, you know? She's not hiding from the people who need help. That's a kind of strength."
• "It's a chess game, right? The Tarantellas know how to play it. The Carnegies know how to play it. The Capones just think they can cheat and win. This whole soup kitchen thing? It's a move. She gave the food, we gave the gratitude. It's a deal. And in this city, you take the deals you can get. Especially when it helps you eat."
• "Sal told Cecilia they were different. He saw the differences in the city. The old money, they know what they're doing. They don't need to be loud about it like that Gatsby clown. The soup kitchen thing is their version of a quiet 'I'm better than you,' but it's still better for us than a loud 'I'm better than you' from the Eggs. The Tarantellas get that."
Common fan theories and headcanon quotes about the scene
• "Yeah, it was a publicity stunt. But at least they had the sense to put a spoon in someone's hand instead of just giving a press release about it. The Eggers would've put out a press release, and called it a 'public works initiative.'" This quote captures the New Yorkers' cynical but pragmatic view. They understand that the Carnegie family's charity was part of a larger PR game, but respect that it had tangible results, unlike the superficial gestures of the West and East Egg residents.
"Margaret Carnegie is seen helping out, and Roswell Miller is gone, fighting. It’s a quiet moment, but it speaks volumes. It's the kind of subtle storytelling that made the film great." This headcanon quote points to the film's nuanced characterization. The scene contrasts the Carnegies' actions during wartime with the shallow excesses of the jazz age socialites, highlighting the different forms of duty and engagement with society
• "They said the soup was good soup. You know, a good soup is supposed to warm the soul." A popular fanfiction trope compares a moving story to "good soup". In this headcanon, New Yorkers talking about the film recall this sentiment, suggesting that even if Margaret's actions were partially performative, the good she did was "comfort food" for the city's spirit during a difficult time.
• "The Carnegies were old money. They knew that charity was a form of power, but they also knew you had to actually do the charity part for it to mean anything. The Tarantellas understood this, too, in their own way. That's why they got respect." This quote connects the Carnegies' actions to the Tarantella family's later, more twisted form of patronage. It shows that both families, despite their vast differences, understood that public perception and reputation were built on actions, not just words, a lesson the Capones and Eggers never learned.
• "That scene is the quiet eye of the storm. The rest of the movie is all jazz and chaos, but that scene is just... human. Even if it was for show, it was the realest damn moment in the whole film." This quote positions the soup kitchen scene as a pivotal moment of sincerity amid the surrounding spectacle. It suggests that the city's memory of the event separates the true, if imperfect, altruism from the false facades that defined the era.
New Yorkers reflecting on the reunion scene between Margaret Carnegie and Roswell Miller.
Quote 1: Reflecting on genuine emotion amidst the superficiality.
"That scene with Margaret and Roswell on the porch—that’s the real East Coast story right there. No big fuss, no party full of strangers. Just two people, genuinely happy to see each other, after all that hell. Makes all that Egg drama look even more ridiculous than it already was."
Quote 2: Appreciating the silent communication.
"You watch that scene, and you don’t need a word. The way he runs to her, the way she holds him like she’s never going to let go. Susan Downey was right about that one. That's the kind of quiet history that runs through the real city, not all that noise out in Long Island."
Quote 3: Comparing the real wealth to the counterfeit.
"The Tarantellas took down Gatsby's fraud, but that scene with the Carnegies proved what true wealth is anyway—not money, but character. The man comes home from war, and he wants a private dinner with his wife. The whole city knew who they were, but they kept it for themselves. That's class."
Quote 4: Focusing on the simple, powerful act of reunion.
"Everyone talks about the parties and the glitz, but the moment that always gets me is the simplest one. Roswell, just beat up by the war, a little scared, but running toward Margaret. And she’s there, waiting, like she knew he’d make it back. That scene right there is the whole movie for me."
Quote 5: Involving Arackniss's perspective.
"You wonder if even a young Arackniss, watching all the phonies with his family, saw that flashback and understood it. A real connection, a promise kept. Something deeper than all the double-dealing and money grabs, and a reminder of what some people actually fought for."
' in the margaret carnegie/roswell millers flashback scenes, andrew carnegie is there, but he's elderly and sicker, and his wife louise whitfield, and his daughter margaret, took care of andrew in his final days. while andrew imparts his final wisdom nuggets to his daughter. in roswell and Margaret's wedding in 1919, andrew accompanies margaret down the aisle while a butler pushes him on the wheelchair. we get a little teary eyed filming that.
Andrew Carnegie's death in 1919 serves as a poignant, historical anchor amidst the Jazz Age drama. Flashback scenes depict an elderly, ailing Carnegie pushing his daughter, Margaret, to carry on his legacy of philanthropy.
Flashback scene 1: A father's final lesson
• "The scenes with old man Carnegie were so powerful. He looked so frail, but his eyes were sharp. You could see the ambition and the duty were still there."
• "My favorite was when he gripped Margaret's hand and said, 'The greatest shame in life is to die a wealthy man... but the second greatest is to leave your fortune to be squandered. Be wise, my girl. Be courageous.'"
Flashback scene 2: The weight of legacy
• "Remember that shot of them on the porch? He's looking out over the city, and he gets this wistful look."
• "That's when he told her, 'A man's greatest work isn't in what he builds, but in who he lifts. Your mother and I have given you a name and a means, but your legacy is not what you inherit. It is what you do with it.'"
Flashback scene 3: The Gospel of Wealth
• "My coworker was talking about that scene where he talks about how to use money wisely. It's almost like he's passing on the family bible."
• "Yeah, she said the quote was something like, 'We are merely stewards, not owners, of this great fortune. You must spend your life as a vessel for it—to see that every last cent finds a worthy purpose.'"
Flashback scene 4: Andrew and Louise
• "Louise Whitfield, his wife, was the quiet strength in those scenes. She was a gentle presence, supporting him."
• "That moment when Andrew is pushed in the wheelchair, and he just looks at Louise and smiles... it was everything. He leans into Margaret and whispers, 'Your mother has always been my greatest charity. Love her well.'"
Flashback scene 5: The wedding day
• "The wedding scene was a tearjerker. Seeing him so weak, but still insisting on being there for her."
• "Absolutely. He grabs her hand just before they walk down the aisle and says, 'The world will call you Mrs. Miller, but never forget you are a Carnegie. With that comes a heavy burden, and a greater honor. Now go, and make me proud.'"
