Places in the Heart (1984) - Quotes

Changing Perspectives in a Relationship

Margaret Lomax: [getting no answer] Whatever happened between you and Vi, I don't wanna know about it. I don't ever wanna hear about it. Am I right? Am I right?

Wayne Lomax: Yes.

Margaret Lomax: [slapping him] Maybe you didn't notice, but I'm not the same dumb beauty operator you married eight years ago.

Wayne Lomax: What are you gonna do?

Margaret Lomax: I don't know. I got the shop. Rosalie and me can get along without you.

Wayne Lomax: I'm never gonna see Viola again. It's over between us.

Margaret Lomax: It's too late for that. I don't think I could live with you anymore. I don't think I love you anymore.

Wayne Lomax: Please don't say that.

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Resilience in the Face of Adversity

Mr. Will: [after a tornado] How bad is it?

Moze: Everything's a little bent, but it's still here.

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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.

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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.

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Misunderstanding Over Seed Quality

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

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.

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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.

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.

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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?

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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.

Blessings of Gratitude and Generosity

Edna Spalding: [seeing her daughter's doll at the dinner table] Possum, put that up now.

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.

Facing Hard Truths and Greed's Consequences

Albert Denby: Mrs. Spalding, when tragedies like this happen sometimes we have to face up to things that are real hard.

W.E. Simmons: You know what your trouble is, Mrs. Spalding? You are the victim of unbridled greed.

Expression of Excitement and Delight

Possum Spalding: Right on my biscuit!

Desire for Solitude and Dignity

Mr. Will: Mrs. Spalding, believe me, if I had anyplace else to go tonight besides the State Home for the Infirm, I'd gladly leave right now. Now, when I came here, all I asked was to be left alone. I am not some kind of freak that is here on display for the amusement of those hooligans you call children.

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.

Recognition of Hard Work and Achievement

Edna Spalding: [to Moze] 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.

Confrontation Over Theft and Consequences

Edna Spalding: [Moze caught with her silver in hand; Moze nods] You ever try and steal anything from me again, I'll shoot you myself, you understand that?