Quotes

Dialogue

Chris: [reading "I Now Go Back to May 1937" by Sharon Olds] "I see them standing at the formal gates of their colleges. I see my father strolling out under the ochre sandstone atch, the red tiles glinting like bent plates of blood behind his head. I see my mother with a few light books at her hip, standing at the pillar made of tiny bricks with the wrought-iron gates still open behind her, its sword-tips black in the May air. They are about to graduate. They are about to get married. They are kids. They are dumb. All they know is they are innocent, they would never hurt anybody. I want to go up to them and say, 'Stop, don’t do it. She's the wrong woman, he's the wrong man. You are going to do things you cannot imagine you would ever do. You are going to do bad things to children. You are going to suffer in ways you never heard of. You are going to want to die.' I want to go up to them there in the late May sunlight and say it. But I don't do it. I want to live. I take them up like the

Dialogue

Billie: Your father and I, we want to make a present to you. Walt: We want to get you out of that junker. Chris: What junker? Billie: [points at Chris' car] That. Walt: We want to buy you a new car. Billie: That's right. Chris: A new car? Why would I want a new car? Datsun runs great. Do you think I want some fancy boat? Are you worried what the neighbors might think? Billie: Well, we weren't gonna get you a brand new Cadillac, Chris. We just want to get you a nice new car that's safe to drive. And you never know when that thing out there just might blow up. Chris: Blow up! Blow up? Are you guys crazy? It's a great car. I don't need a new car. I don't want a new car. I don't want anything. Billie: Okay. Chris: These things, things, things, things. Billie: Okay. Walt: [to Billie] Everything has to be difficult. Chris: Thank you. Walt: [sarcastically] Thank you. Billie: Maybe that's not what he means. Maybe he just wants his old car. It's not such a big deal. Chris: Thank you. I just don

Dialogue

Rainey: So you're a leather now. Alex: I'm a leather? Jan: Yeah, a leather tramp. That's what they call the ones that hoof it, go on foot. Technically we're rubber tramps. Rainey: Because we have a vehicle. [tries to put his arm around Jan] You don't have to push me away. Jan: [to Rainey] Come on, please? Yeah, Alex could have a vehicle as well, but he decided to burn all of his money. Rainey: And why did you do that? Alex: I don't need money. Makes people cautious. Jan: Come on, Alex. You gotta be a little cautious. I mean, that book of yours is cool and everything, but you can't depend entirely on leaves and berries. Alex: I don't know if you want to depend on much more than that. Jan: Where are your mom and dad? Alex: Living their lies somewhere. Jan: You look like a loved kid. Be fair. Alex: Fair? Jan: You know what I mean. Alex: I'll paraphrase Thoreau here. "Rather than love, than money, than faith, than fame, than fairness, give me truth."

Dialogue

Rainey: You're an industrious little fucker, aren't you? Alex: Little bit. Rainey: It's funny how things happen at particular times. I've loved that woman for a lot of years, bro. But, you know, she's got a story. We've been going through this thing, real quiet. So, when we ran into you yesterday, this thing that we've been going through real quiet, she's talking about it. You know what I mean? Alex: I think I do. Rainey: You think what? Alex: Well... some people feel like they don't deserve love. They walk away quietly into empty spaces, trying to close the gaps to the past. Rainey: That's a hell of an insight. Jesus! You're not Jesus, are you? Alex: Look who's talking. Rainey: You gonna walk across the water and get her back for me, pal? Alex: Nah, I'm afraid of water. Always have been. Something I've gotta get over sometime though, huh? So, I will swim in it if you'll carry the firewood back to camp. Rainey: Shit, yeah. Alex: Yeah? Rainey: Call it carried.

Dialogue

Alex: [during a poker game] Two dollars, four dollars, six dollars; just put all the money in. I just wanna see everybody going for broke. Wayne: You wanna play? Alex: No.

Dialogue

Wayne: [to Chris getting dirty while working] What do you think about all this? Alex: I like all this.

Dialogue

Alex: Is there a library or bookstore around here where I can get books on hunting and preserving? Wayne: Anything at all to do with hunting or preserving the meat, smoking it, whatever the hell it is, talk to Kevin over there. That's your man. [Kevin gets slapped by a woman] Outdoorsman? What's your fascination with all that stuff? Alex: I'm going to Alaska. Wayne: Alaska, Alaska? Or city Alaska? Because they do have markets in Alaska. The city of Alaska. Not in Alaska, in the city of Alaska, they have markets. Alex: No, man. Alaska, Alaska! I'm gonna be all the way out there, all the way fucking out there. Just on my own. You know, no fucking watch, no map, no ax, no nothing. No nothing. Just be out there. Just be out there in it. You know, big mountains, rivers, sky, game. Just be out there in it, you know? In the wild. Wayne: In the wild. Alex: Just wild. Wayne: Yeah. Alex: Just... Wayne: What are you doing when we're there? Now, you're in the wild, what are we doing? Alex: You're

Dialogue

Kevin: You're gonna need something. What kind of gun you got? Alex: I'm probably gonna get like a twenty-two, I think. A twenty-two caliber rifle. Kevin: All right, then. When you get your kill, time is of the essence. Now, the first thing you wanna do is make sure that you got that meat nice and shaved up. And you don't have a lot of time to do this. This is about an hour or two. Depending on the weather. Especially if it's hot, you've got less time to do it. What you do is you want to make sure that them flies don't land on your meat. Because once them flies start shitting out larvae and them maggots, you know, those creepy crawlies, it's too late. It's too late.

Dialogue

Ranger: [while on the phone] Can I help you? Alex: Yeah. If I wanted to paddle down the river, where's the best place to launch out of? Ranger: Hang on a second. [to Chris] To launch out of? What's your experience level? Alex: Not much. Ranger: Any? Do you have a permit? Alex: A permit? Permit for what? Ranger: You can't paddle down the river without a permit. If you want, you can apply for one here, get some experience, and I'll put you on the wait-list. [back on the phone] No, I got this guy in here. We'll figure it out. Alex: There's a wait-list to paddle down a river? Ranger: That's right. Alex: Well, how long do I have to wait? Ranger: Yeah, hang on a second. Now, the deal is it's gonna be me and you or it's gonna be me, you and her? [to Chris] Next available is May 17, 2003. Alex: Twelve years? Ranger: Great. Done. The three of us, then. [to Chris] What's that? Alex: Twelve years? To paddle down a river? Ranger: Let me call you back. [hangs up the phone] You can do that, or you c

Dialogue

Bull: [beats Alex for hiding on a train] Show me your face! I never, ever, ever forget a face. If I see yours again, I won't arrest you, I'll kill you. This is the goddamned railroad and we will do whatever we have to do to keep you freeloaders from violating our liability. Alex: Yes, sir. Bull: You got any ID? Alex: No, sir. Bull: Of course, you don't. Last time, my friend!

Dialogue

Tracy: [walks over to Chris and Rainey's bookstand] Hi. Alex: Hi. Tracy: You selling these books? Alex: I am. We are... he was.

Dialogue

Leonard Knight: A lot of people in the valley just love me a lot. Everybody now, I think, in the whole world is just loving me. And I want to have the wisdom to love them back. And that's about it. So, I really get excited. Alex: You really believe in love then? Leonard Knight: Yeah. Totally. This is a love story that is staggering to everybody in the whole world. That God really loves us a lot. Does that answer that? Alex: Yeah. Leonard Knight: Good.

Dialogue

Jan: I was just a couple of years older than Tracy when I got pregnant. Alex: Wow. Jan: Yeah. Yeah, I thought my husband and I were going to just make peace on Earth and babies and love and stay together forever, and that didn't quite work out that way. He left me. So, I... Anyway, whatever, but I ended up raising Reno on my own. That's my boy, his name's Reno. Then I met Rainey. That was sweet. It was really good for a while. It's just... You know, Reno was a teenager already by then, and he was just on his way to becoming his own man. And I haven't even heard from him in two years. I don't even know where he is. Alex: I hope I get to meet him sometime. Jan: Do your folks know where you are? Tracy: [walks over] Hey, guys? Dinner's ready if you guys are hungry. Alex: Yeah, we are. We're hungry. Jan: I'll be all right. Alex: You want to come and eat? Or we'll sit here. Because I will sit here with you all night.

Dialogue

Rainey: [looking over at Tracy] That poor girl is about ready to vault herself onto a fence post. And here you are, the monk of Jack fucking LaLanne. So, Jan talked to you about Reno, huh? Alex: Yeah. Rainey: Children can be pretty harsh when it comes to their parents. You planning on seeing yours? Alex: I've only got one plan, Rainey. Rainey: That would be Alaska? Alex: [smiles] Alaska.

Dialogue

Alex: Merry... Christmas... [finds Tracy in her underwear] Tracy: Come in here. My parents went into town. Alex: No. Tracy: Yeah. They went to call my grandma for Christmas. Alex: No, I mean, we can't do that. Tracy: Why not? Alex: How old are you? Tracy: Eighteen... seventeen. Alex: What year were you born? Tracy: [embarrassed] So, I'm sixteen.

Dialogue

Alex: You're pretty magic. Tracy: [crying] Yeah? Alex: Yeah. And just remember if you want something in life, reach out and grab it.

Dialogue

Ron: You strike me as a bright young man. Am I wrong about that? Alex: Think I got my head on my shoulders pretty good. Ron: That's what I mean. Wha- how long you been out here? Alex: Couple of weeks. Ron: And before that? Alex: A lot of places. Been moving around a lot. Ron: Well, how old are ya? Alex: Twenty-three. Ron: Twenty-three years old! Son, don't you think you ought to be getting an education? And a job? And making something of this life? Alex: Mr. Franz, I think careers are a 20th Century invention and I don't want one. You don’t need to worry about me; I have a college education. I’m not destitute. I'm living like this by choice. Ron: In the dirt? Alex: Yeah. In the dirt. Ron: Where's your family? Alex: Don't have one anymore. Ron: That's a shame.

Dialogue

Alex: [showing Ron the stamps on his belt] I went to South Dakota. I worked at a grain elevator for this guy named Wayne. He was a really good guy. So, I took the Colorado River all the way down through the Grand Canyon and did rapids, which is by far one of the scariest things I've ever done. And I took the Colorado down into Mexico, Golfo, where I got stuck. Salvation Mountain. The Slabs. Ron: What's the "N" stand for? Alex: North.

Dialogue

Ron: Alaska!? Son, what the hell are you running from? Alex: [climbing a hill] You know, I can ask you the same question! Except I already know the answer! Ron: You do, do you? Alex: I do, Mr. Franz! You got to get back out in the world! Get out of that lonely house, that little workshop of yours. Get back out on the road! Really! You're going to live a long time, Ron! You should make a radical change in your lifestyle! I mean, the core of man's spirit comes from new experiences. And there you are, stubborn old man, sitting on your butt! Ron: Sitting on my butt!? Alex: Yeah. Ron: Ha! I'll show you sitting on my butt! [gets up and follows Chris up the hill]

Dialogue

Ron: I'm gonna miss you when you go. Alex: I'll miss you too, Ron. But you're wrong if you think that the joy of life comes principally from human relationships. God's placed it all around us. It's in everything. It's in anything we can experience. People just need to change the way they look at those things. Ron: Yeah, I'm gonna take stock of that. No, I am. I am. But I wanted to tell you something. From the bits and pieces I put together, you know, from what you told me about your family, your mother, and your dad. And I know you've got your problems with the church too. But there's some kind of bigger thing we can all appreciate and it sounds like you don't mind calling it God. But when you forgive, you love. And when you love, God's light shines on you. Alex: [laughs] Holy shit! Ron: I told you about that language.

Dialogue

Ron: Well, my friend... Alex: Yep. [begins to get of the Jeep] Ron: I had an idea. You know, my mother was an only child and so was my father, and I was their only child, so when I'm gone, I'm the end of the line. My family will be finished. What do you say... you let me adopt you? I could be, say, your grandfather. [smiles] Alex: Ron... could we talk about this when I get back from Alaska? Would that be okay? Ron: [crying] Yeah... yeah. We can do that. Yeah. Alex: All right, Ron. Thank you.