Quotes

Dialogue

Aibileen: I was born 1911, Chicksaw County, Piedmont Plantation. Skeeter: And did you know as a girl growing up that one day you'd be a maid? Clark: Yes ma'am, I did. Skeeter: And you knew that because... Aibileen: My mama was a maid. My grandmama was a house slave. Skeeter: [whispering as she writes down] "house slave..." Did you ever dream of being something else? [Aibileen nods yes] What does it feel like to raise a white child when your own child's at home being looked after by somebody else?

Dialogue

Hilly: They carry different diseases than we do. That's why I've drafted the Home Health Sanitation Initiative. Skeeter: The what? Hilly: A disease-preventative bill that requires every white home to have a separate bathroom for the colored help. It's been endorsed by the White Citizen's Council. Skeeter: Maybe we should just build you a bathroom outside, Hilly. Hilly: You ought not to joke about the colored situation. I will do whatever it takes to protect our children.

Dialogue

Celia: They don't like me because of what they think I did. Minny: They don't like you because they think you white trash.

Dialogue

Hilly: So. Nobody wanted to hire a sass-mouthin', thievin' nigra- did they? Oh, pie's as good as always, Minny. Minny: I'm glad you like it. Hilly: If... I take you back, I'll have to cut your pay five dollars a week. Minny: Take me back? Hilly: What do you put in here that makes it taste so good? Minny: That good vanilla from Mexico... [forces a smile] And... something else real special. Minny: [quickly intervening] No, no no, Missus Walters. That Miss Hilly's special pie. Hilly: Momma can have a piece. [Minny doesn't respond; Hilly huffs in annoyance and shoves the pie at her] Cut her one! Go get a plate! Minny: Eat my shit. Hilly: What'd you say? Minny: I said eat... my... shit. Hilly: Have you lost your mind? Minny: No, ma'am. But you is about to. 'Cause you just did. Mrs. Walters: And you didn't just have one, you had two slices! [Minny hurries out of the house] Run, Minny, run!

Dialogue

Stuart: I've never met a woman that says exactly what she's thinking. Skeeter: Well, I got plenty to say.

Dialogue

Hilly: [confronting Skeeter at her house about the book] I've contacted my lawyer, Hibbie Goodman! He's the best libel attorney in the state. Oh missy, you are goin' to jail! Skeeter: You can't prove anything. Hilly: Oh I 100% know you wrote it, 'cause nobody else in town is as tacky as you! Skeeter: You don't know anything, Hilly! Hilly: [shoving Skeeter] Oh, I DON'T, do I?! You tell Aibileen that the next time she wants to write about my dear friend Elizabeth - uh huh, remember her, had you in her wedding? - let's just say, Aibileen ought to have been a little bit smarter before puttin' in about that L-shaped scratch in poor Elizabeth's dining table. And that nigger Minny... do I have plans for her. Skeeter: [calmly] Careful Hilly, that's Chapter Twelve. Don't give yourself away now. Hilly: That was NOT ME!!! [storms over to the front door] I've come to tell your mother what a hippie you've become! She's going to be disgusted by you-! Charlotte: [opens door before Hilly] Why, Hilly!

Dialogue

Aibileen: [voice over] In just ten minutes, the only life I knew was done. Mae Mobley: [calling after her through the window] A-a-a-aibee! Aibileen: [voice over] God says we need to love our enemies. It hard to do. But it can start by telling the truth. No one had ever asked me what it feel like to be me. Once I told the truth about that, I felt free. And I got to thinking about all the people I know. And the things I seen and done. My boy Treelore always said we gonna have a writer in the family one day. I guess it's gonna be me.