Running on Empty (1988) - Quotes

A Father's Push Towards Independence

Arthur Pope: [pause] Get the bike out of the back. Now, get on it.

Michael: What are you talking about, dad...

Arthur Pope: Get on the bike. You're on your own, kid. I want you to go to Juilliard.

Michael: But, dad, I want to go with you.

Arthur Pope: [pause] We'll see you again. You can be sure. Your mother has arranged things with your grandfather, alright- call him. And I think you have some friends around here.

Annie Pope: I love you, baby.

Arthur Pope: We all love you. Now, go out there and make a difference. Your mother and I tried. And don't let anyone tell you any different.

Harry Pope: [the family car circles 'Michael' before exiting down the road] Bye, Danny!

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Conflicting Needs in a Relationship

Michael: They need me.

Lorna: I need you.

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Confrontation of Truth and Manipulation

Michael: If you want to go back, that's fine with me.

Lorna: You're a bully.

Michael: No. I'm a liar.

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Summer Plans and Legal Battles

Michael: So, what are you doing over the summer?

Lorna: I have a job pumping gas.

Michael: You finally got the Supreme Court to hear your case, huh?

Lorna: Yeah.

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A Mother's Dilemma About Her Son's Future

Annie Pope: [[w:Juilliard|Juilliard] Will you take him, dad? He wants to study music. He's good. They want him at ].

Donald Patterson: Just like they wanted you. Still have that practice board?

Annie Pope: So far. Danny learned to play piano on it.

Donald Patterson: So, you taught him. There's some irony in this. Don't you think, Annie? Here you are, asking me to take Danny into a life that you ran from like a shot out of hell. This what he wants?

Annie Pope: I think so. Got himself an audition without telling me. He'll need money and people to care for him.

Donald Patterson: Don't you think this is too much to ask? We hardly know the boy. If we take him, there'd be FBI agents following us everywhere we go. You'd never be able to see him. We're too old for this.

Annie Pope: [[pause] Yeah. I think it's too much to ask. I have another son, he's ten, Harry.

Donald Patterson: Yeah. Heard about it on the news.

Annie Pope: I plan to turn myself in when he doesn't need me anymore, when he's old enough.

Donald Patterson: And Arthur?

Annie Pope: [pause; pause] I can't speak for him. Please think about this. Well, I should go...

Donald Patterson: Annie. He can come to us.

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

Misunderstanding Over a Pizza Order

Abigail Patterson: What's this about a pizza?

Michael: Well, you ordered one.

Abigail Patterson: I didn't. Well, will you have to pay for it?

Michael: Oh no... I'll have to eat it.

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

Questioning Motivations in Learning to Cook

Lorna: You are certifiable! What is this? Some sort of smart-ass joke? You're taking cooking?

Michael: I want to learn how to cook.

Lorna: Yeah, right. You have some burning desire to learn how to make apple brown betty...

Michael: What are you doing here if you think so highly of it?

Lorna: Well, they wouldn't let me take auto mechanics, and I didn't have time to take the issue to the Supreme Court.

Struggling with the burden of past choices

Arthur Pope: Now, go out there and make a difference. Your mother and I tried. Don't let anyone tell you different.

Annie Pope: What are we doing to these kids? They've been running their whole lives like criminals, and they didnt do anything!

Burden of Someone Else's Life

Lorna Phillips: [to Michael] Why do you have to carry the burden of someone else's life?

A Welcome to Certifiable Behavior

Lorna Phillips: You're certifiable. You're welcome!

Belonging and Connection in Conversation

Lorna Phillips: ...So, now that we've determined that I belong here, let's talk about you.

Perceptions of Strangeness and Isolation

Lorna Phillips: You're strange. I cut. I didn't feel like having my picture taken with those sub-humans.

Conflicted Love and Uncertainty

Danny Pope / Michael: [to Lorna] Now, I have no right in telling this to you. It's dangerous for you and it's dangerous for them, but I'm sorry I just couldn't stop myself. You can do what you want to, you can tell your dad; anything, I don't care. I just needed you to know... I don't know what I'm doing, and I love you.