23 quotes
Time and Memory in Cast Away
Chuck Noland
I'm always going to keep this on Memphis time. Kelly time.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Confusion About Nashville's Team Location
Chuck Noland
So, let me get one thing straight here...we have a ] but they play in Nashville?
[to Kelly; [w:Tennessee Titans|football team]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Vastness of the Search Area
Chuck Noland
We were enroute from Memphis, for eleven and a half hours, for 475 miles an hour, so they think that we're right here. But, we went out of radio contact, then flew around that storm for about an hour, so that's a distance of what, 400 miles? Four hundred miles squared, that's 160,000 times ], 3.14... 502,400. That's a search area of 500,000 square miles. That's twice the size of Texas. They may never find us.
[[w:Pi|pi]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Enduring Love Amidst Separation
Kelly Frears-Lovett
I always knew you were alive, I knew it. But everybody said that I had to stop saying that, that I had to let you go. I love you. You're the love of my life.
Chuck Noland
I love you too, Kelly. More than you'll ever know.
Kelly Frears-Lovett
Chuck...
[before he drives away]
Chuck Noland
You have to go home.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Unexpected Christmas Gift Exchange
Kelly Frears
Merry Christmas.
Chuck Noland
I thought you were gonna stiff me.
Kelly Frears
No.
Chuck Noland
What is the ribbon? Is it a thousand-pound test fishing line or something?
Kelly Frears
Here's your fancy thing.
[hands Chuck his pocket knife]
Chuck Noland
Thanks. I love the wrapping. And I love the box.
Kelly Frears
Good.
Chuck Noland
Oh. Oh, my. Oh, that is terrific.
[opens the box, revealing a gold pocket watch]
Kelly Frears
My grandaddy used it on the Southern Pacific.
Chuck Noland
Hey, I took this. This is my favorite picture of you. You know what I'm gonna do? I'm always gonna keep this on Memphis time. Kelly time. Now, you haven't said anything about your presents; is there a problem?
[opens the watch lid, sees Kelly's picture inside; sets the watch]
Kelly Frears
No! I'm sorry, no! I love em. Look at my journal, ah!
Chuck Noland
What about the pager?
Kelly Frears
Real leather, the pages have gold on em.
Chuck Noland
Did you like the pager or not?
Kelly Frears
Yes. Look at him in his little blue Russian house there.
Chuck Noland
I'm Russian.
Kelly Frears
My God. And it's not one of those loud ones, right?
Chuck Noland
No, you can program it so it vibrates and lights up, and you can see it in the dark.
Kelly Frears
It seems like a real nice pager.
Chuck Noland
Sorry about the hand towels.
Kelly Frears
No, no, I love em.
Chuck Noland
You're hard to shop for.
Kelly Frears
Every time I wash my hands, I will think of you.
Chuck Noland
All right, I gotta go. Merry Christmas.
[kisses Kelly]
Kelly Frears
Merry Christmas.
Chuck Noland
I love you.
Kelly Frears
I love you too. Chuck! Keys!
[Chuck gets out of the car and starts walking to the plane]
Chuck Noland
You know, that reminds me. I almost forgot. I have one more present for you. Only this isn't an "open the car" kind of present, like, say, hand towels, which were a joke, by the way.
[hands Kelly a small box]
Kelly Frears
I'm terrified.
Chuck Noland
Just take it and hold onto it, and you can open it on New Year's Eve. And I love you. I'll be right back!
[he kisses her one last time, then walks to the plane and calls back]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Desire to Move On from Past Regrets
Chuck Noland
Do you have to keep bringing that up, can't you just forget it? Huh? You were right. You were right, it was a good thing we did a test, cause it wasn't going to be just a quick snap. I would have landed on the rocks. Broken my leg, or my back or my neck, bled to death, but it was the only option I had at the time though, okay? It was what, a year ago? So let's just forget it. And what is your point? Well... we might just make it. Did that thought ever cross your brain? Well, regardless, I would rather take my chance out there on the ocean, than to stay here and die on this shithole island spending the rest of my life talking TO A GODDAMN VOLLEYBALL!
[to Wilson]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Finding Direction in Uncertainty
Bettina Peterson
You look lost.
Chuck Noland
I do?
Bettina Peterson
Where're you headed?
Chuck Noland
Well, I was just about to figure that out.
Bettina Peterson
Well, that's 83 South. And this road here will hook you up with I-40 East. If you turn right, that'll take you to Amarillo, Flagstaff, California. And if you head back that direction, you'll find a whole lot of nothing all the way to Canada.
Chuck Noland
I got it.
Bettina Peterson
All right, then. Good luck, cowboy.
Chuck Noland
Thank you.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Homecoming Amidst Emotional Turmoil
Fred Smith
Four years ago, the FedEx family lost five of our sons. That was a terrible and tragic day. But today, one of those sons, Chuck Noland, has been returned to us. Chuck, welcome home.
Jerry Lovett
I'm Kelly's husband. Jerry Lovett. Kelly wanted... Kelly wanted to be here... Look, this is very hard for everyone. I can't even imagine how hard it is for you. Kelly, uh... she's had it rough. First when she thought she lost you, and now dealing with all of this, it's confusing, it's very emotional for her. She's... she's... sort of lost. Maybe you could just give her a little more time. Anyway, uh... I'm sorry that...
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Urgent Travel Plans Amidst Flight Challenges
Chuck Noland
I absolutely, positively have to get to Memphis tonight.
Pilot Jack
Can't help you. Try ].
[[w:United Parcel Service|UPS]
Chuck Noland
Hey, with this extra headwind, are we gonna be able to push it a bit and make the sort?
Pilot Jack
We'll do our best.
Chuck Noland
Our best", huh? Now Gwen, is there something wrong with our doctors that Jack here keeps getting certified to fly? Aren't you concerned?
Pilot Gwen
I'm terrified, but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.
Chuck Noland
That's the spirit there. Relentless is our goal, relentless!
Stan
What do you expect from the guy who stole a crippled kid's bicycle when his truck broke down.
Chuck Noland
I borrowed it. I borrowed it, but I love that the kid's now crippled.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Regrets of a Life-Changing Decision
Chuck Noland
I should've never gotten on that plane. I should've never gotten out of the car.
[to Kelly]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Finding Hope Amidst Despair
Chuck Noland
We both have done the math. Kelly added it all up and...knew she had to let me go. I added it up, and knew that I had...lost her. Because I was never going to get off that island. I was going to die there, totally alone. I was going to get sick, or get injured or something. The only choice I had, the only thing I could control was when, and how and where it was going to happen. So...I made a rope and I went up to the summit, to hang myself. I had to test it, you know? Of course, you know me. And the weight of the log, snapped the limb of the tree, so I-I-I couldn't even kill myself the way I wanted to. I had power over nothing. And that's when this feeling came over me like a warm blanket. I knew, somehow that I had to stay alive. Somehow. I had to keep breathing. Even though there was no reason to hope. And all my logic said that I would never see this place again. So that's what I did. I stayed alive. I kept breathing. And one day, the logic was proven all wrong because the tide came in, and gave me a sail. And now, here I am. I'm back in Memphis, talking to you. I have ice in my glass...And I've lost her all over again. I'm so sad that I don't have Kelly. But I'm so grateful that she was with me on that island. And I know what I have to do now. I got to keep breathing. Because tomorrow, the sun will rise. Who knows what the tide could bring?
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Request for a match in survival situation
Chuck Noland
You wouldn't have a match by any chance, would you?
[to Wilson]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Consequences of Small Delays
Stan
So you missed the last truck by two minutes, huh?
Chuck Noland
Two minutes. Actually, it was less than that.
Stan
Well, the plane wasn't that heavy; you could've added fuel, picked up the speed and made up the time.
Chuck Noland
It was about the trucks. Today's truck was two minutes late, tomorrow's will be four minutes late, and then six minutes late, and then eight minutes late, and the next thing you know, we're U.S. Mail.
Stan
Yeah, well, all's I'm saying is, if you'd gotten all those trucks on the plane those Russkies would be walking on water right now. Hey, now, don't-- don't give me that look. It's just grape juice. Right, Chuck?
[to Gwen, while pouring some wine]
Chuck Noland
Yeah, it's like a 1992 full-bodied grape juice.
Pilot Gwen
I see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.
Stan
Well, we'd offer you some but, you know, somebody's got to fly the plane.
Pilot Gwen
Yeah, well, I just say no, right? Listen, Stan, I've been meaning to ask you. How's Mary?
Stan
Oh. Uh, well... we really don't know anything yet.
Pilot Gwen
Mm-hmm.
Stan
Uh, she went to the doctor yesterday, and uh... it hasn't me-- metastasized as far as they can tell right now. It's just kind of wait and see.
Pilot Gwen
I'm so sorry. Would you tell her I'm gonna come by and see her on my next layover? I just want you to know, Stan, we are all just thinking about her and you, and just blessings.
Stan
Thank you, Gwen, thank you.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Facing Limitations and Finding Solutions
Chuck Noland
This is it. That's all that's left. I checked over the whole island, and that is all that's left. So we're gonna be short. Short. We'll just have to make some more out of videotape. Yes. No, we have time. We do, we have time! Look, the wind's still blowing in from the west. I know. Yeah, I know! I know where there's 30 feet of extra rope! But... but I'm not going back up there.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Navigating Over the Pacific Ocean
Chuck Noland
Hey, Al, where are we?
Pilot Al
Somewhere over the Pacific Ocean.
Chuck
You pilots, you're funny.
[chuckles]
Pilot Blaine
Tahiti Control, FedEx 88. Position Jenna at 1526...
Chuck Noland
Hey, is all this turbulence from Santa and those eight tiny reindeer?
Pilot Blaine
...expecting Tamara at 1620. Erick is next. Fuel: 95.5.
Pilot Kevin
Blaine, tell them we're deviating south for weather. Make another position plot on your deviation left.
Pilot Blaine
Tahiti Control, FedEx 88. Position Jenna at 1526. Flight level 350...
Pilot Peter
I've got us plotted. We're 200 miles south of the original course.
Pilot Kevin
Continue plotting, and check contingency procedures.
Pilot Blaine
Tahiti Control, FedEx 88. Broadcasting in the blind. How do you read? I've never been out of comm this long.
[no answer]
Pilot Al
Did you try the higher HF frequency?
Pilot Blaine
Tahiti Control, FedEx 88. Broadcasting in the blind. How do you read?
Pilot Al
Better buckle up, Chuck. It's gonna get bumpy.
[to Chuck]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Anticipation of a Reunion
Stan
Forty-five minutes. One Dr. Pepper, two cups of ice.
[hands Chuck a Dr. Pepper and two cups of ice]
Chuck Noland
I like ice.
[chuckles]
Stan
Well, here's the drill. Um, plane pulls in, we get off, and there's a little ceremony right there in the hangar. Fred Smith will say a few words, all you have to do is smile and say "thank you", then we'll take you over to see Kelly.
Chuck Noland
She's actually gonna be there, huh?
Stan
Well, that's what we have arranged. I mean, if you're sure you want to do that...
Chuck Noland
Oh, yeah, yeah. Yes. I don't know what I'm gonna say to her. What in the world am I gonna say to her?
Stan
Chuck, Kelly had to let you go. You know? She thought you were dead... and we buried you. We had a funeral and a coffin and a gravestone, the whole thing.
[sighs]
Chuck Noland
You had a coffin? What was in it?
Stan
Well, everybody put something in. You know, just a cell phone or a beeper, some pictures. I put in some Elvis CDs.
Chuck Noland
So you had my funeral... and then you had Mary's funeral. Stan, I'm so sorry I wasn't around when Mary died. I should've been there for you, and I wasn't. I'm so sorry.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Relentless Nature of Time
Chuck Noland
Time rules over us without mercy, not caring if we're healthy or ill, hungry or drunk, Russian, American, beings from Mars. It's like a fire. It could either destroy us or keep us warm, that's why every FedEx office has a clock. Because we live or we die by the clock. We never turn our back on it, and we never, ever allow ourselves the sin of losing track of time! Locally, it's 1:56, that means we've got 3 hours and 4 minutes before the end-of-the-day's package sort; that's how long we have, that's how much time we have, before this pulsating, accursed, relentless taskmaster tries to put us out of business! Hey, Nicolai. Hey. Nicolai, good to see you. How are you, kid? Look what you did. You just delivered you just delivered your very first FedEx package. That deserves something special, like a Snickers bar, and a CD player. And something to listen to, a CD. There, Elvis Presley, 50 million fans, can't be wrong. You all recognize this, don't you? I took the liberty of sending this to myself, I FedEx'd it before I left Memphis. You're probably wondering what could be in here. What could it possibly be? Is it architectural plans? Maybe technical drawings? Is this the wallpaper for the-- for the bathroom? It is... a clock, which I started at absolute zero, and is now at 87 hours, 22 minutes and 17 seconds. From Memphis, America to Nicolai in Russia, 87 hours. 87 hours is a shameful outrage! This is just an egg timer! What if it had been something else, like your paycheck? Or fresh boysenberries, or adoption papers? 87 hours is an eternity! The cosmos was created in less time! Wars have been fought and nations toppled in 87 hours! Fortunes made and squandered.
[first lines, addressing Russian workers at FedEx hub in Moscow; sees Nicolai; hands Nicolai a Snickers bar, a CD player and an Elvis CD from his duffel bag; holds up package, to workers; opening the package; pulls out a timer]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Chuck Noland's Humorous Dentist Anecdote
Chuck Noland
Hey, you want to hear something funny? Back home in Memphis, my dentist's name is James Spaulding.
[talking to Wilson, the volleyball]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Creation of Fire and Hope
Chuck Noland
There we go! Light it up, c'mon! "The time to hesitate is through!" Ouch! Haha, ouch! "No time to wallow in the mire. Try now, we can only lose. Cause girl, we can't get much higher. C'mon, baby, light my firrrrre!" There you go. There you go! It's a signal fire! And it spells out S.O.S! Woah! It's a meteor shower! Fireflies, go! Run! You're free, you're free! Yes! YES! Look what I've created! I have made FIRE! I...have made fire!
[Having successfully lit a fire, putting more wood onto it; singing; throws more wood in the fire and gets briefly burned; takes a palm branch, lighting the end, then holding it up; embers start falling around him; drops the branch back into the fire; the fire burns bigger]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Appreciating Crabs Over Coconuts for Survival
Chuck Noland
Gotta love crab. In the nick of time too. I couldn't take much more of those coconuts. Coconut milk is a natural laxative. That's something ] never told us.
[[Gilligan's Island|Gilligan]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Importance of Time and Planning
Chuck Noland
Here we are today. That gives us another month and a half until we're into March and April, which is our best chance for the high tides and the offshore breezes. We need... we need 424 feet of good rope, plus another 50 feet, say, for miscellaneous, that, round that off to 475 feet of good rope. Now, if we average 15 feet a day, plus, we have to build it, we have to stock it, we have to launch it. That's gonna be tight. That's not much time. But, we... we live and we die by time, don't we? Now, let's not commit the sin of turning our back on time. I know, I know.
[chuckles]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Revisiting Lost Dreams and Opportunities
Chuck Noland
What happened to you becoming a professor? You're not Dr. Kelly Frears-Lovett?
Kelly Frears-Lovett
When you, um... when your plane went down, everything just sort of got put on hold. I think about taking it up again, though.
Chuck Noland
I came out here to give you this.
[pulls out Kelly's pocket watch]
Kelly Frears-Lovett
Oh, my God...
Chuck Noland
I'm sorry it doesn't work. And I, uh... I kept the picture. It was all faded anyway.
Kelly Frears-Lovett
I want you to have it. I gave it to you.
Chuck Noland
That's a family heirloom, and it should stay in your family.
Kelly Frears-Lovett
That's everything I have from when you went down to now. They said they never figured out what caused the crash. Probably some mislabeled hazardous material caught fire. So, here's where that ship found you. You drifted about 500 miles. This is where your island was, about 600 miles south of the Cook Islands. And these are the search grids. Ships went back and forth for weeks looking for you.
[indicates a circled black dot on the map; indicates a circled red dot; indicates search grids]
Chuck Noland
I should've never gotten on that plane. I should've never gotten out of the car.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Future Family Plans and Uncertainty
Chuck Noland
You think you're gonna have more kids?
Kelly Frears-Lovett
I don't know. It's kind of confusing right now.
Chuck Noland
Well, you should. I mean, really, you should. I would.
Kelly Frears-Lovett
So, what now?
Chuck Noland
I don't know. I really don't know.
Kelly Frears-Lovett
You said you'd be right back.
Chuck Noland
I'm so sorry.
Kelly Frears-Lovett
Me too.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.