Sally Field Quotes

Absence of Malice

Confrontation Over Unsettling Details

Megan Carter Michael?

Michael Gallagher You don't wanna come in here. I'm warning you.

Megan Carter Michael, if I could just talk to you...

Michael Gallagher Shut up! I don't want to hear it, I don't want to hear any of it! What the hell are you doing here? Details? Is that what you want? They found her naked in a tub. She didn't even want to make a mess! No water, just naked. Are you interested? You interested?

Megan Carter Yes.

Michael Gallagher She picked up a newspaper, for Christ's sake! And there it is, for everybody to see! She must have felt like ... - just raped!

[rips open her shirt]

Megan Carter Stop! Michael!

Michael Gallagher She must have...

Megan Carter Stop!

Michael Gallagher You know something? When you kill yourself, it's a homicide, so they do an autopsy. They'll get a knife. They start here. They're gonna split her open. Up here they use shears. Shears, for Christ's sake! Oh, goddamn you!

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Absence of Malice

Ambiguity in Describing Relationships

Sarah Wylie I need to know how to describe your relationship with Gallagher. Mac said to quote you directly. You can say whatever you want.

Megan Carter Just... say we were involved.

Sarah Wylie That's true, isn't it?

Megan Carter No. But it's accurate.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Places in the Heart

Discussion on Cotton Farming Knowledge

Edna Spalding I was thinking, if I was to plant cotton...

Albert Denby Mrs. Spalding, you don't know a thing about cotton farming.

Edna Spalding Yes, I know, but Moses says...

Albert Denby Moses? Who's Moses?

Edna Spalding He's this Negro man.

Albert Denby I don't know any Negro around here named Moses.

Edna Spalding He was just passing through, and I gave him a job doing some chores.

Albert Denby You mean to tell me you're lettin some Negro hobo talk you into plantin cotton? Did you ever hear of anything called The Depression? Now, you see these? These are all foreclosures. And that's just in the last three months. And that's white men who've cotton-farmin all their lives and can't make a go of it. And you listenin to some no-account nigger. You'll excuse me, Mrs. Spalding, but that's just about the most ignorant thing I've ever heard.

Edna Spalding Mr. Denby, I'm not ignorant - and I'm not selling my land.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Soapdish

Disagreement Over Who Can Kiss Whom

Jeffrey Anderson Of course I can kiss her!

Lori Craven This is ridiculous! I can kiss who I want!

Celeste Talbert No! You can't! You can't kiss her!

Jeffrey Anderson Why because she's your niece?

Celeste Talbert No, you nitwit! Because she's my daughter! And your daughter.

[shouts]

Lori Craven What?

Jeffrey Anderson What are you talking about?

Celeste Talbert We're her parents! You and I! We're her Mommy and her Daddy.

[sobbing]

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Absence of Malice

Navigating Ethics in Journalism

Davidek Have we spoken with Mr. Gallagher?

Megan Carter We don't call the mafia for comment.

Davidek Please, make the attempt. If he talks, we'll include his denials to create the appearance of fairness. If he declines to speak, we can hardly be responsible for errors. If we fail to reach him, we've tried.

Megan Carter What are you telling me?

Davidek That as a matter of law, the truth is irrelevant. We have no knowledge the story is false, therefore we're absent malice. We've been both reasonable and prudent, therefore we're not negligent. We may say whatever we like about Mr. Gallagher, and he is powerless to do us harm. Democracy is served.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Soapdish

Motherhood and Recognition in Soapdish

Celeste Talbert I never said I was the best mother in the world. Give me a little credit, will you, credit for being someone who tried... to love you the only way she knew how?

Lori Craven I know that speech.

Celeste Talbert You do?

Lori Craven Yeah, it was the, uh, the Thanksgiving show, when Maggie meets Bolt's blind nephew.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Places in the Heart

A Proposal for Assistance and Community Support

Albert Denby Now then, Mrs. Spalding... in spite of the fact that I have great doubts about... this misguided attempt of yours to hold on to this place... as a Christian and deacon of the church, it's my beholden duty to... reach out the hand of charity to a human being in need. And I got to thinking, now what better way to help out this poor woman... than if she took in a boarder. Someone who could move in here, and by paying a modest rent, help her out. What if my brother-in-law was to move in here and rent a room from you?

Edna Spalding Move in here?

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Forrest Gump

Facing Mortality and Acceptance of Destiny

Forrest Gump What's the matter, Momma?

Mrs. Gump I'm dyin', Forrest. Come on in, sit down over here.

Forrest Gump Why are you dyin', Momma?

Mrs. Gump It's my time. It's just my time. Oh, now, don't you be afraid, sweetheart. Death is just a part of life. It's something we're all destined to do. I didn't know it, but I was destined to be your momma. I did the best I could.

Forrest Gump You did good, Momma.

Mrs. Gump Well, I happened to believe you make your own destiny. You have to do the best with what God gave you.

Forrest Gump What's my destiny, Momma?

Mrs. Gump You're gonna have to figure that out for yourself. Life is a box of chocolates, Forrest. You never know what you're gonna get.

Forrest Gump Momma always had a way of explaining things so I could understand them.

[''narrating'']

Mrs. Gump I will miss you, Forrest.

Forrest Gump She had got the cancer and died on a Tuesday. I bought her a new hat with little flowers on it. And that's all I have to say about that.

[''narrating'']

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Absence of Malice

Navigating Responsibility and Fear of Consequences

Megan Carter I don't want to go to jail. But this has got to stop someplace. A lot of damage has been done. I'm responsible for a lot of it. I know that. I don't know. I keep thinking there must be some rules to tell me what I'm supposed to do now. But... maybe not. The person who told me about the Quinn investigation was not leaking it. They did not intend for it to be printed. I did that on my own. I'm scared to death of going to jail, but if I tell you, then you'll have to do something about it and someone else will be hurt. It's really very simple. I can hurt someone or not hurt someone. No rules. Just... me. I can't tell you.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Absence of Malice

Journalism and Accountability in Reporting

Megan Carter I'm a reporter! What did you expect? Don't try to make me feel guilty.

Michael Gallagher You think I had something to do with Diaz?

Megan Carter It's a distinct possibility. Why are they picking on you?

Michael Gallagher Where did that story come from? "Knowledgeable sources", you said. Now who is that? Somebody's trying to get to me. Somebody with no face and no name. You're the gofer. You listen to them, you write what they say - and then you help them hide. You say you've got a right to do that. And I got no right to know who they are.

Megan Carter I'm sorry, Gallagher. I can't help you.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Places in the Heart

Confrontation Over Theft and Consequences

Edna Spalding You ever try and steal anything from me again, I'll shoot you myself, you understand that?

[Moze caught with her silver in hand; Moze nods]

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Punchline

Struggling with Perception of Humor

Lilah Krytsick Oh okay, so I'm not funny, SHOOT ME!

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Lincoln

Dreams and Despair Amidst War's Toll

Abraham Lincoln It's nighttime. The ship's moved by some terrible power, at a terrific speed. Though it's imperceptible in the darkness, I have an intuition that we're headed towards a shore. No one else seems to be aboard the vessel. I'm very keenly aware of my aloneness. I could be bounded in a nutshell and count myself a king of infinite space, were it not that I have bad dreams. I reckon it's the speed that's strange to me. I'm used to going a deliberate pace. I should spare you, Molly. I shouldn't tell you my dreams.

[describing a dream]

Mary Todd Lincoln I don't want to be spared if you aren't. And you spare me nothing. Perhaps it's the assault on Wilmington Port. You dream about the ship before a battle, usually.

Abraham Lincoln How's the coconut?

[rapping lightly on his forehead]

Mary Todd Lincoln Beyond description. Almost two years, nothing mends. Another casualty of the war. Who wants to listen to a useless woman grouse about her carriage accident?

Abraham Lincoln I do.

Mary Todd Lincoln Stuff! You tell me dreams, that's all, I'm your soothsayer, that's all I am anymore, I'm not to be trusted with — Even if it was not a carriage accident, even if it was an attempted assassination.

Abraham Lincoln It was most probably an accident—

Mary Todd Lincoln It was an assassin. Whose intended target was you.

Abraham Lincoln How are the plans coming along for the big shindy?

Mary Todd Lincoln I don't want to talk about parties. You don't care about parties.

Abraham Lincoln Not much, but they're a necessary hindrance.

Mary Todd Lincoln I know... I know what it's about. The ship, it's not Wilmington Port, it's not a military campaign! It's the amendment to abolish slavery! Why else would you force me to invite demented radicals into my home? You're going to try to get the amendment passed in the House of Representatives before the term ends? Before the inauguration?

Abraham Lincoln Don't spend too much money on the flubdubs.

[standing]

Mary Todd Lincoln No one's loved as much as you, no one's ever been loved so much, by the people. You might do anything now. Don't, don't waste that power on an amendment bill that's sure of defeat. Did you remember Robert's coming home for the reception? I knew you'd forget. That's the ship you're sailing on. The Thirteenth Amendment. You needn't tell me I'm right. I know I am.

[she turns away, walking to an open window.; Lincoln nods]

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Soapdish

Unexpected Reactions in a Heated Moment

Lori Craven MOTHER!

Lori Craven No, I can't let you do this!

Burton White She spoke?

[off stage]

Jeffrey Anderson She spoke!

Montana Moorehead Sudden speech, the last stages of brain fever! She can blow up any moment!

Lori Craven I can always speak! Mother...

Montana Moorehead She's MY mother!

Celeste Talbert MONTANA, SHUT UP!

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Punchline

A New Name on Wedding Night

Lilah Krytsick Hello, my name is Lilah Krytsick, and on our wedding night, my husband gave me something very long and hard... a new name.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Places in the Heart

Recognition of Hard Work and Achievement

Edna Spalding You took a no-account piece of land and a bunch of people that didn't know what they were doin and you farmed that land better than anybody could - colored or white. You're the one that brought in the first bale of cotton this year. Don't you ever forget that.

[to Moze]

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Absence of Malice

Discussion on Marriage and Independence

Michael Gallagher Why aren't you married?

Megan Carter How do you know I'm not?

Michael Gallagher I don't see a ring.

Megan Carter Haven't you heard of women's lib?

Michael Gallagher Most of them are ugly.

Megan Carter Is that supposed to be a compliment?

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Places in the Heart

Misunderstanding Over Seed Quality

Moze That ain't the seed you're paying for. He's charging you for grade-A seed, but that's gin-run quality.

[whispering to Edna]

W.E. Simmons Somethin wrong, ma'am?

Edna Spalding Mr. Simmons, I think maybe you gave us the wrong seed?

W.E. Simmons Well, so I did. That's just an honest mistake, idn't it, boy? Idn't it, boy?

Moze Yes, sah.

W.E. Simmons Now you idiots give Mrs. Spalding the wrong seed. We're lucky her nigger caught it. That's a smart nigger you got there, Mrs. Spalding. He's a credit to his race.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Soapdish

Unexpected Lunch Encounter and Test Results

Celeste Talbert Dr. Randall, what a surprise! Are you having lunch here?

[as Maggie]

Jeffrey Anderson I will if it's that sample. Huh... I wish it was that simple.

[as Dr. Randall]

Edmund Edwards This guy never heard of contact lenses?

[offstage]

Jeffrey Anderson The test results have come back.

Celeste Talbert And?

Jeffrey Anderson And I'm afraid the results are very disturbing. It seems that Angelique has a rare case of brake fluid... Bran... fluid. Bran flavor.

[pause]

Burton White What the hell?

David Barnes Brain fever!

[offstage]

Edmund Edwards Say it!

[offstage, loudly]

Celeste Talbert Brain fever!

Jeffrey Anderson Yes. Brain fever. Or what we call in Austria... Kopfgeschlagen. At the current rate of inflation, her brain will laterally explore the...

[as Dr. Randall; they both goggle at the word]

Celeste Talbert Literally explode?

Jeffrey Anderson Exactly, within the next three houses.

Celeste Talbert Hours?

Jeffrey Anderson Yes, will literally explode within next three hours. I would suggest leaving the restraint.

Celeste Talbert Restaurant?

Jeffrey Anderson Restaurant, yes.

Celeste Talbert Her brain will actually explode?

Jeffrey Anderson Yes, yes, I've, um, seen it happen. It's a dreadful, dreadful thug. Thing.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Absence of Malice

Scheduling Plans Between Megan and Michael

Megan Carter I am free every night this week but Friday.

Michael Gallagher How about Friday?

Megan Carter Okay!

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Places in the Heart

Determining the Workforce for Cotton Picking

Edna Spalding We'll start right now!

Mr. Will Well, you got 30 acres to pick.

Edna Spalding Frank and Possum can help.

Mr. Will Well, that's not going to be nearly enough.

Edna Spalding Then, I'll pick 24 hours a day.

Moze Did you ever pick cotton? After an hour, the hulls start cuttin your fingers. Then by noon both of your hands is bleedin'. And later on, your fingers start to swell. And after a little more time, they ain't no feelin in your hands whatsoever. And I ain't even speakin about what it does to your knees and I ain't even talkin about what it does to your back. Now, we can't do it. Now, get that through your head. Once and for all, we can't do it. Now, you best stop thinkin about it before you end up killin yourself!

Edna Spalding Now you listen to me. If we lose this place, then you're goin back to beggin for every single meal. Mr. Will, they're gonna put you in a state home. And I'm gonna lose what's left of my family. I'm not gonna let that happen. I don't care what it takes. I don't care if it kills me. I don't care if it kills you. I'm not gonna give up. And if the two of you do, you can go straight to Hell!

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Not Without My Daughter

Discussion on Violence and Cultural Context

Betty Mahmoody Was he violent?

[about Ellen's husband]

Ellen No, not in the States, never. They're not supposed to, you know? It's not Islamic.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Soapdish

Miscommunication Among Characters in Soapdish

David Barnes I was under orders.

Celeste Talbert So - was - ]! Oh, no, I don't mean Hitler, I mean the other guy, the other one.

[[Adolf Hitler|Hitler]

David Barnes ].

[[Heinrich Himmler|Himmler]

Celeste Talbert No, no, no.

David Barnes ].

[[Rudolf Hess|Hess]

Rose Schwartz ].

[[Adolf Eichmann|Eichmann]

David Barnes Eichmann.

Lincoln

Mary Todd Lincoln's Defiance and Insight

Mary Todd Lincoln You think I'm ignorant of what you're up to because you haven't discussed this scheme with me as you ought to have done? When have I ever been so easily bamboozled? I believe you when you insist that amending the Constitution and abolishing slavery will end this war. And since you're sending my son into the war, woe to you if you fail to pass the amendment.

[to Abraham Lincoln]

Smokey and the Bandit II

Cledus Shows Compassion Beyond Himself

Carrie Cledus has a heart, he cares about something other than himself.

Places in the Heart

Seeking Solitude Amidst Unwanted Assistance

Mr. Will Mrs. Spalding, I don't want me to be here anymore than you want me to be. Now, I won't be any more trouble than is necessary. And all I'll ask in return is to be left alone in peace and quiet.

Edna Spalding Well, I just thought...

Mr. Will I know what you just thought. But I don't need your help, and I don't need you to feel sorry for me.

Places in the Heart

Negotiating Cotton Prices in Hard Times

Edna Spalding Mr. Simmons, I want 4 and a half cents a pound for my cotton.

W.E. Simmons God Almighty, lady, you don't want me, you want Santa Claus.

Places in the Heart

Aunt Gladys' Invitation to Visit Oklahoma

Edna Spalding Forgot to tell you, we got a letter from your Aunt Gladys. She was hoping we could come to Oklahoma and visit them... during your vacation. But I don't know. I was hoping we could paint the house.

Soapdish

Thanking the Cast Amidst Playful Insults

Celeste Talbert Ohhh, there's so many people to thank. First of all, my fabulous supporting cast, who gives a new meaning to the word "support"...

[accepting an award]

Ariel Maloney Bitch!

David Barnes Hag!

Montana Moorehead I hate her so much!

Absence of Malice

The Complexity of Truth in Journalism

Megan Carter Would you tell me the truth, Michael? I'd just please like to know the truth.

Michael Gallagher Tell you or the whole world?

Megan Carter The truth is the truth.

Michael Gallagher No. You wanna know the truth? Ask me as a person, I'll tell you. Ask me as a reporter, I got no comment.

Megan Carter That's not fair.

Michael Gallagher Not fair to whom? Wait a minute! You don't write the truth. You write what people say. What you overhear, you eavesdrop. You don't come across truth that easy. Maybe it's just what you think, what you feel. I don't need your goddamn newspaper to decide what they're gonna do with me. Or who I am.

Megan Carter Then you tell me: Who are you?

Michael Gallagher You mean you're not sure yet?

Megan Carter No.

Michael Gallagher Well... I guess you'll just have to decide for yourself. Who I am and what you are.

Places in the Heart

Blessings of Gratitude and Generosity

Edna Spalding Possum, put that up now.

[seeing her daughter's doll at the dinner table]

Royce Spalding Our Heavenly Father, bless this meal and all those who are about to receive it. Make us thankful for Your generous bounty, and Your unceasing love. Please remind us, in these hard times, to be grateful for what we have been given, and not to ask for what we cannot have. And make us mindful of those less fortunate among us, as we sit at this table with all of Thy bounty. Amen.

Places in the Heart

Self-Description and Personal Reflection

Mr. Will Mrs. Spalding, can I ask you a question?

Edna Spalding Yes.

Mr. Will What do you look like?

Edna Spalding I have long hair and I tie it up in the back. And I have brown eyes. I always wanted to have blue eyes, like my Mama, but Margaret got those. And my teeth stick out in front, a little, because I sucked my thumb a long time when I was a little girl. I'm no real beauty. I'm all right.

Absence of Malice

Accountability in Unfolding Events

Megan Carter Well, you got us all, didn't you Michael?

Michael Gallagher You got yourselves.

[shaking his head]

Lincoln

Love and Power in Leadership Decisions

Mary Todd Lincoln No one's loved as much as you, no one's ever been loved so much, by the people. You might do anything now. Don't, don't waste that power on an amendment bill that's sure of defeat.

[to Abraham Lincoln]

Soapdish

A Complicated Family Secret Unraveled

Celeste Talbert Oh, God! I got pregnant, and I was so young! And the show made me sign a paper saying I'd never mention the baby! So I... I went home to Iowa, and I had you, and I gave you to Grandma to raise, and I made up a twin sister Simone who died in a car wreck and said she was your actual mom! And then the show told everyone I had ] and sent my character to a sanitarium in Tierra del Fuego...

[sobbing; [w:tuberculosis|TB]

Rose Now why can't I write shit like this?

[to herself]

Celeste Talbert After I... After I came back from having Lori, I was terrible to you, I know that, I know that, I know that! All right? I blamed you for messing up my whole life, so I had you written off the show so you'd disappear - and you did! And now you're all back, and I've ruined three lives! THREE LIVES! Me, America's Sweetheart! Oh, God...!

[still sobbing; sobs louder]

David Barnes This is fucking great!

[checks that the cameras are still rolling]

Memorable Quotes from Sally Field