Memorable Quotes from Robert MacNaughton
7 quotesA Call for Attention and Response
Elliot
Oh, God!
[upon seeing E.T. in a dress, hat, wig, and jewelry]
E.T.
Elliot.
Elliot
What?!
[still frustrated]
E.T.
Elliot! Elliot!
Gertie
I taught him how to talk. He can talk now. Look what he brought up here all by himself. What's he need this stuff for?
[Elliot sees electronics and supplies together in the closet]
Elliot
E.T., can you say that? Can you say E.T.'? E.T.?
E.T.
E.T.
Elliot
Ha! Ha!
[laughs in amazement]
E.T.
E.T.! E.T.! E.T.! Be good.
[waddling away]
Gertie
Be good." I taught him that too.
Elliot
You should give him his dignity. This is the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen.
E.T.
Phone.
[gives Elliot a newspaper and points at a comic picture]
Elliott
Phone"? He said "phone"? He said "phone"?!
Gertie
Can't you understand English? He said "phone".
E.T.
Home?
[points to closet]
Elliott
You're right. That's E.T.'s home.
E.T.
E.T. home phone.
[scurries over to the window and points his long finger towards it]
Gertie
E.T. phone home.
Elliot
E.T. phone home. E.T. phone home!
[understanding what E.T. means]
Gertie
He wants to call somebody.
E.T.
E.T. phone home.
Michael
My God, he's talking now.
[shocked]
E.T.
Home.
Elliot
E.T. phone home?
E.T.
E.T. phone home.
[pointing at the window again]
Elliot
And they'll come?
[softly]
E.T.
Come? Home. Home.
[taking off the hat and wig]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Reassurance in Uncertainty Among Friends
Michael
Elliot?
[in awe, upon seeing E.T.]
Elliot
I'm keeping him.
[while looking at the hiding E.T.]
Gertie
What is it?
[still got her mouth covered by Michael]
Elliot
He won't hurt you, Gertie. He won't hurt you, Gertie. He's not gonna hurt you.
Gertie
Is he a boy or a girl?
[as Michael uncovers her mouth]
Elliot
He's a boy.
Gertie
Was he wearing any clothes?
Elliot
No. But, look. You can't tell, not even Mom.
Gertie
Why not?
Elliot
Because, um, grown-ups can't see him. Only little kids can see him.
Gertie
Give me a break.
[snapping back]
Elliot
Vell, do you know vhat's going to happen if you do tell? Do it, Mike. We have to.
[imitating Dracula; tosses Gertie's stuffed animal to Michael]
Gertie
Give it to me!
[tugging her doll with Michael]
Elliot
Promise?
[to Gertie]
Gertie
Yes.
Elliot
Do you promise?
[to Michael]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Farewell Without Words
Gertie
I just wanted to say goodbye.
[tearfully]
Michael
He doesn't know goodbye.
E.T.
Be good.
Gertie
Yes.
[kisses E.T.'s nose]
E.T.
Thank...you.
Michael
You're welcome.
E.T.
Come.
[to Elliot]
Elliot
Stay.
E.T.
Ouch.
[after touching his heart light and then touching his lips]
Elliot
Ouch.
[after repeating the gesture; tearfully gives E.T. a farewell hug for a couple minutes]
E.T.
I'll be right here.
[after touching his finger to Elliot's forehead, his fingertip glows]
Elliot
Bye.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Halloween Costume Conversation Among Siblings
Gertie
What are you going as for Halloween?
Elliot
I'm not going to stupid Halloween.
Michael
Why don't you go as a goblin?
Elliot
Shut up.
Mary
It's not that we don't believe you, honey.
Elliot
Well, it was real, I swear!
Mary
What are you going as, Gert?
[changing the subject]
Gertie
I'm going as a cowgirl.
[with steak in mouth]
Elliot
So, what else is new?
Michael
Maybe it was an iguana.
Elliot
It was no iguana.
Michael
Maybe, uh...uh - You know how they say there are, uh, alligators in the sewers?
Gertie
Alligators in the sewers.
Mary
All we're trying to say is maybe you just probably imagined it. It happens.
Elliot
I couldn't have imagined it!
Michael
Maybe it was a pervert, or a deformed kid, or something.
Gertie
A deformed kid.
Michael
Maybe, uh, an elf or a leprechaun.
Elliot
IT WAS NOTHING LIKE THAT, PENIS-BREATH!
[stands up angrily]
Mary
Elliot! Sit down.
[laughs; laughs, but regains composure; clears throat]
Elliot
Dad would believe me.
[sitting down]
Mary
Maybe you oughta call your father and tell him about it.
Elliot
I can't. He's in Mexico with Sally.
Gertie
Wh-Where's Mexico?
Mary
Excuse me.
[leaves the table and walks to the window]
Michael
I'm gonna kill you.
[softly to Elliot]
Mary
If you ever see it again, whatever it is, don't touch it, just call me, and we'll have somebody come and take it away.
Gertie
Like the dogcatcher?
Elliot
But they'll give it to a lobotomy, or do experiments on it, or somethin'.
Mary
It's your turn to do the dishes, fellas.
Michael
I set and cleared.
Elliot
I set and cleared.
Michael
I did breakfast.
[quickly]
Gertie
I did breakfast.
Michael
What's the matter, Mom?
Mary
He HATES Mexico.
[emotionally; about the kids' father]
Michael
Damn it, why don't you...grow up? Think how other people feel for a change?
[to Elliot]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Family's Urgent Call for Understanding
Michael
Mom, would you come with me?
Mary
What is it?
Michael
Mom, just come with me.
Mary
Micheal, what?
Michael
Mom, remember the goblin?
Mary
What are you talking about?
Mary
Michael. That's terrific.
[annoyed; Michael opens the bathroom door, showing E.T., Gertie and Elliot]
E.T.
Moooooom.
Elliot
We're sick. I think we're dying.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Debating E.T.'s Intelligence and Understanding of School
Michael
Did you explain school to him?
[about E.T.]
Elliot
How do you explain school to a higher intelligence?
Michael
Maybe he's not that smart. Maybe he's a worker bee who only knows how to push buttons.
Elliot
He's too smart.
Michael
All right. I just hope we don't wake up on Mars or somethin surrounded by millions of little squashy guys.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Questions About E.T.'s Behavior and Health
Scientist
Does he sleep at night?
Mary
I don't know, I don't know. What's the matter with Elliot?
Scientist
Have you noticed any surface sweating?
Mary
No.
Scientist
Has it lost any hair?
Gertie
He never had any hair.
Scientist
Are the children all right?
Mary
Yes.
Scientist
Has it built anything or written anything down?
Michael
Uh, no.
Scientist
You said it has the ability to manipulate its own environment?
Michael
He's smart. He communicates through Elliot.
Scientist
Elliot thinks its thoughts.
Michael
No, Elliot...Elliot feels his feelings.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.