Moonlight (2016) - Quotes

A Moment of Recognition Between Friends

Kevin: So Chiron...

Black: [chuckles] What... Why are you lookin me like that for?

Kevin: What man? Come on, you just drove down here?

Black: [pause] Yeah.

Kevin: Like you was just, you was just on one, and you hit the highway?

Black: [quietly] Yeah.

Kevin: [pause] So where you gonna stay tonight, man?

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Identity and Authenticity in Moonlight

Kevin: Who is you, man?

Black: Who, me?

Kevin: Yeah, nigga. You. Them fronts? That car? Who is you, Chiron?

Black: I'm me man. Ain't trying to be nothing else.

Kevin: So you hard now?

Black: I ain't say that.

Kevin: [pause] Then what? Look. I'm not trying hem you up. Just... I ain't seen you in like a decade. Not what I expected, none of it. Not good or bad. Just not what I expected.

Black: Well, what did you expect?

Kevin: You remember the last time I saw you?

Black: For a long time, tried not to remember. Tried to forget all those times. The good... the bad. All of it.

Kevin: Yeah. I know.

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

Coping with Emotions and Vulnerability

Kevin: What you cry about?

Chiron: I should have cried too much. Sometimes I feel like I'm just gonna turn into drops.

Kevin: But you just roll out into the water, right? Roll out into the water just like all these rambo-fuckers trying to drown their sorrow.

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A Tense Exchange About Money

Paula: I need some money.

Chiron: For what?

Paula: That's my business! Don't you ask me no shit like that!

Chiron: [mumbling] I don't have any money.

Paula: [pause; sobbing] No, no, don't lie to me boy! I'm your mama! That bitch over there ain't no kin yeah? I'm your blood! Remember? I ain't feeling good. I need something to help me out. Come on baby. Come on baby.

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

A Mother's Concern for Her Son

Paula: Where did you go last night?

Chiron: Why?

Paula: Well, I'm your mama, ain't I?

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Establishing Rules of Love and Pride

Teresa: [chuckles; pause; pause] Aright. Water for me, and a little gin for you. Boy please. I know Juan used to give you that gin, but we ain't doing that up in here Chiron. You don't think my joke was funny? What's wrong?

Chiron: Nothing. I'm good.

Teresa: No. I done seen good, and you ain't it. Stop putting yo head down in my house! You know my rule. It's all love and all pride in this house! Do you feel me?

Teresa: [scoffs] I can't hear you. Do you feel me?

Chiron: [quietly] Yeah.

Teresa: Okay.

Chiron: [firmly] I feel you.

Teresa: Aright.

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

Reflections on Loss and Maternal Relationships

Juan: I saw your mama last night.

Little: I hate her.

Juan: [pause; pause] I bet you do. Hated mine too. Miss her like hell now. All I'm gonna say about that.

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

Finding Your Own Identity

Juan: [imitates old lady voice] I've been here a long time. I'm from Cuba. A lot of black folks in Cuba. You wouldn't know from being here now. I was a wild little shortie, man. Just like you. Running around with no shoes on, the moon was out. This one time, I run by this old... this old lady. I was running, hollerin'. Cuttin a fool, boy. This old lady, she stopped me. She said... "Running around, catching a lot of light". "In moonlight, black boys look blue". "You're blue". "That's what I'm gonna call you: Blue'.

Little: Is your name Blue'?

Juan: [laughs; pause] Nah. At some point, you gotta decide for yourself who you're going to be. Can't let nobody make that decision for you.

Understanding Identity and Labels

Little: [innocently] What's a faggot?

Juan: A faggot is... a word used to make gay people feel bad.

Little: Am I a faggot?

Juan: No. You're not a faggot. You can be gay, but you don't have to let nobody call you a faggot.

Unconditional Love Expressed Through Understanding

Paula: You ain't got to love me, but you gonna know that I love you.

Unconditional Love and Connection

Paula: [to Little] You're my only. I'm your only.

Struggle for Identity and Self-Worth

Kevin: I wasn't never worth shit. Never did anything I actually wanted to do, was all I could do to do what other folks thought I should do. I wasn't never myself.