13 quotes
Struggles of Belonging and Identity
Ray
Things pretty rough for you at home?
Jim
What a zoo!
Ray
What?
Jim
It's a zoo. He always wants to be my pal, you know? But how can I give him anything? If he's — well, I mean, I love him and all that type of stuff, and I-I mean, I don't want to hurt him. But then, I don't, I don't — well, I don't know what to do any more, except maybe die... If he had guts to knock Mom cold once, then maybe she'd be happy and then she'd stop pickin on him, because they make mush out of him, just mush! I'll tell you one thing. I don't ever want to be like him. How can a guy grow up in a circus like that?... Boy, if, if I had one day when, when I didn't have to be all confused, and didn't have to feel that I was ashamed of everything... if I felt that I belonged someplace, you know?
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Teenage Turmoil Reflected in Society Today
Taglines
Teenage terror torn from today's headlines
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Conflict Over Parenting and Responsibility
Frank
Don't I buy everything you want? A bicycle — you get a bicycle. A car.
Jim
You buy me many things.
Frank
Well, not just buy. We give you love and affection, don't we? Well, then, what is it? Was it because we went to that party? Well, you know what kind of drunken brawls those kind of parties turn into. It's not a place for kids.
Carol
A minute ago you said you didn't care if he drinks.
[to Frank]
Mrs. Stark
He said a little drink.
Jim
You're tearing me apart!
Carol
What?!
Jim
You, you say one thing, he says another, and everybody changes back again!
Carol
That's a fine way to behave!
Mrs. Stark
Well, you know who he takes after.
Jim
Aww!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Desire for Belonging and Love
Taglines
To Belong...and be loved.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Conflict of Identity in Youth Culture
Taglines
The bad boy from a good family.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Memory and Trauma in Youth
Plato
I used to lie in my crib at night and I'd listen to them fight.
Jim
Can you remember back that far? I can't remember what happened yesterday. I can't. How do you do it?
[laughs]
Plato
Oh, I had to go to a headshrinker. Boy, he made me remember.
Jim
Did he?
Plato
Then my mother said it cost too much, so she went to Hawaii instead.
Jim
Well, what's your problem?
Plato
Oh, I don't know. But, but I'm happy now, here. Oh, I wish we could stay here.
Judy
Plato, where's your father now?
Plato
Oh, he's dead. He was a hero in the China Sea.
Jim
You told me he was a big wheel in New York.
Plato
I did? Aw, what's the difference? He might as well be dead anyway.
Judy
It's all right.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Inner Conflict of Jim Stark
Taglines
Jim Stark... a kid from a good family - what makes him tick... like a bomb?
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Choosing Friends Wisely Matters
Frank Stark
Watch out about choosing your pals. You know what I mean? Don't let em choose you.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Morbid Personality and Unlikely Arrivals
Jim
How did you get here?
Plato
I hitched.
Jim
I'll bet you'd go to a hanging, wouldn't you?
Plato
I guess it's just my morbid personality.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Discussion on the End of the World
Plato
Jim, do you think the end of the world will come at nighttime?
Jim
Uh-uh. At dawn.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Exploring Plato's Castle with Friends
Plato
Well, what do you think of my castle?
Jim and Judy
Wow. Shoo. Gee. Wow.
Jim
Well, now. There, then. Uh, I think we'll take it for the summer.
Plato
Right this way.
Jim
Oh. Uh-huh. Would you like to rent it, or are you more in the mood to buy, dear?
[to Judy]
Judy
You decide, darling.
Jim
Oh, yes. Yes.
Judy
Remember our budget.
Plato
Oh, don't give it a thought. It's, uh, only three million dollars a month.
Jim
What?
Judy
Oh, we can manage that. I'll scrimp and I'll save and I'll work my fingers to the bone.
Jim
You see, we're newlyweds.
Judy
Yes. Oh, there's just one thing. What about...
Plato
Children? Right this way.
Judy
Yes.
Plato
See, we really don't encourage them. They're so noisy and troublesome. Don't you agree?
Jim
Ugh. Drown em like puppies. Ugh.
Plato
This is a wonderful arrangement. They can carry on and you'll never even notice.
[leading them to an empty swimming pool]
Jim
Oh, a sunken nursery.
Plato
In fact, if you lock them in, you'll never have to see them again, much less talk to them.
Judy
Talk to them — heavens!
Jim
Nobody talks to children.
Judy
No, they just tell them.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Plea for Connection and Understanding
John "Plato" Crawford
Hey, you want to come home with me? I mean, there's nobody home at my house, and heck, I'm not tired. Are you? See, I don't have too many people I can talk to... If you want to come, we could talk, and in the morning we could have breakfast like my dad used to. Gee, if only you could have been my dad.
[to Jim]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Class and Family in Conflict
Taglines
...and they both come from good families!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.