25 quotes
Five Strangers Discover Unexpected Connections
Taglines
They were five total strangers, with nothing in common, meeting for the first time. A brain, a beauty, a jock, a rebel and a recluse. Before the day was over, they broke the rules. Bared their souls and touched each other in a way they never dreamed possible.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Parental Manipulation and Personal Identity
John Bender
You know how you said before that your parents use you to get back at each other? Wouldn't I be outstanding in that capacity?
[to Claire]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Confrontation Between Authority and Rebellion
Vernon
I expected a little more from a varsity letterman. You're not fooling anybody, Bender. The next screw that falls out is gonna be you.
John
Eat my shorts.
[under his breath]
Vernon
What was that?
John
Eat...my...shorts.
Vernon
You just bought yourself another Saturday, Mister.
John
I'm "crushed".
Vernon
You just bought one more, right there.
John
Well, I'm free the Saturday after that. Beyond that, I'm gonna have to check my calendar.
Vernon
Good! Because it's gonna be filled. We'll keep goin'. You want another one? Say the word, just say the word. Instead of goin to prison, you'll come here. Are you through?
John
No.
Vernon
I'm doin society a favor.
John
So?
Vernon
That's another one right now. I've got you for the rest of your natural born life if you don't watch your step! You want another one?!
John
Yes.
Vernon
You got it! You got another one right there! That's another one, pal!
Claire
Cut it out! Stop!
[mouths]
Vernon
You through?
John
Not even close, bud!
Vernon
Good. You got one more right there.
John
You really think I give a shit?
Vernon
Another. You through?
[John stares angrily]
John
How many is that?
Brian
That's seven including one when we first came in and you asked Mr. Vernon here whether Barry Manilow knew that he raided his closet.
Vernon
Now it's 8. You stay out of it.
[to Brian]
Brian
Excuse me, sir, it's 7.
Vernon
Shut up, peewee. You're mine, Bender. For two months, I gotcha. I gotcha.
[Brian obediently remains silent; gives John the horns]
John
What can I say? I'm "thrilled".
[sarcastically]
Vernon
Oh, I'm sure that's exactly what you want these people to believe. You know somethin', Bender? You oughta spend a little more time trying to do something with yourself and a little less time trying to impress people. You might be better off. Alright, that's it! I'm going to be right outside those doors. The next time I have to come in here, I'm crackin skulls.
[John mouths what Vernon says; leaves the library as Allison watches; he opens the door, gives the horns to John again, then closes the door]
John
FUCK YOU!!! Fuck.
[Vernon sighs and goes to his office; whispers]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Satirical Take on Family Dynamics
John
PB&J with the crusts cut off. Well, Brian, this is a very nutritious lunch; all the food groups are represented. Did your mom marry, Mr. Rogers?
Brian
Uh, no. Mr. Johnson.
John
Ah. Here's my impression of life at Big Bri's house: "Son?" "Yeah, Dad?" "How was your day, pal?" "Great, Dad! How's yours?" "Super! Say, how would like to go fishing this weekend?" "Great, Dad! But I got homework to do." "That's okay, son! You can do it on the boat!" "Gee!" "Dear, isn't our son swell?" "Yes, dear. Isn't life swell?
[kiss, then mimes punching]
Andrew
All right, what about your family?
John
My family? Oh, that's easy. "Stupid, worthless, no good, goddamned, free loading son-of-a-bitch! Retarded, big mouth, know-it-all asshole jerk!" "You forgot ugly, lazy, and disrespectful." "Shut up, bitch! Go fix me a turkey pot pie!" "What about you, Dad?" "Fuck you!" "No, Dad, what about you?" "Fuck you!" "No, Dad, what about you?!" "Fuck you!
[mimes punching]
Brian
Is that for real?
John
You wanna come over some time?
Andrew
That's bullshit. It's all part of your image; I don't believe a word of it.
John
You don't believe me?
Andrew
No.
John
No?
Andrew
Did I stutter?
John
Do you believe this? Huh? It's about the size of a cigar. Do I stutter? You see, this is what you get in my house when you spill paint in the garage. See, I don't think that I need to sit with you fuckin dildos anymore.
[approaches Andrew, lifts his sleeve to show a burn on his arm. Claire and Andrew look away; knocks down the books in anger, and climbs up the ladder to calm himself down]
Claire
You shouldn't have said that.
[to Andrew]
Andy
How was I supposed to know? He lies about everything anyway!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Life-Changing Encounter in One Day
Taglines
They only met once, but it changed their lives forever.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Detention: A Lesson in Self-Reflection
Vernon
Well, well, here we are. I wanna congratulate you for being on time.
Claire
Excuse me, sir? I think there's been a mistake. I know it's detention, but, um...I don't think I belong in here.
[raises her hand; nervously]
Vernon
It is now 7:06. You have exactly 8 hours and 54 minutes to think about why you're here. Ponder the error of your ways. And you may not talk. You will not move from these seats. And you... ...will not sleep. All right, people, we're gonna try something a little different today. We are going to write an essay... of no less than a thousand words...describing to me who you think you are.
[checks his watch; John spits and catches saliva, and Claire gasps in disgust; points at Claire; to Brian; points at John, then snatches the chair from under his feet]
John
This a test?
Vernon
And when I say "essay", I mean "essay". I do not mean a single word repeated a thousand times. Is that clear, Mr. Bender?
John
Crystal.
Vernon
Good. Maybe you'll learn a little something about yourself. Maybe you'll even decide whether or not you care to return.
Brian
Uh, yeah, you know, I can answer that right now, sir. You know, that'd be "no." "No" for me, cause-
[raises hand; stands up]
Vernon
Sit down, Johnson.
Brian
Thank you, sir.
[sits back down]
Vernon
My office...is right across that hall. Any monkey business is ill-advised. Any questions?
John
Yeah, I got a question. Does ] know that you raid his wardrobe?
[[w:Barry Manilow|Barry Manilow]
Vernon
I'll give you the answer to that question, Mr. Bender, next Saturday. Don't mess with the bull, young man, you'll get the horns.
[warningly; leaves]
John
That man...is a brownie hound. If you keep eating your hand, you're not gonna be hungry for lunch. I've seen you before, you know.
[about Vernon; 33 seconds later, after he and the other students see and hear Allison biting her fingernails; Allison bites another fingernail, and spits it out]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Embracing Our Inner Bizarre Personalities
Andrew
What's bizarre? I mean, we're all pretty bizarre! Some of us are just better at hiding it, that's all.
Claire
How are you bizarre?
Allison
He can't think for himself.
Andrew
She's right...do you guys know what uh, what I did to get in here? I taped Larry Lester's buns together. :
[Claire shakes her head no; Claire laughs]
Brian
That was you?!
Andrew
Yeah, you know him?
Brian
Yeah, I know him.
Claire
Oh my god.
[softly]
Andrew
The bizarre thing is, is that I did it for my old man...I tortured this poor kid, because I wanted him to think that I was cool. He's always going off about, you know, when he was in school, all the wild things he used to do. And I got the feeling that he was disappointed that I never cut loose on anyone, right? So, I'm...I'm sitting in the locker room, and I'm taping up my knee. And Larry's undressing a couple lockers down from me. Yeah...he's kinda...he's kinda skinny, weak. And I started thinking about my father, and his attitude about weakness. And the next thing I knew, I, uh...I jumped on top of him and started wailing on him. And my friends, they just laughed and cheered me on. And, afterwards, when I was sittin in Vernon's office, all I could think about was Larry's father. And Larry havin to go home and...and explain what happened to him. And the humiliation...fucking humiliation he must've felt. It must've been unreal...I mean, I mean, how do you apologize for something like that? There's no way...it's all because of me and my old man. Oh, God, I fucking hate him! He's like this...he's like this mindless machine that I can't even relate to anymore. "Andrew, you've got to be number one! I won't tolerate any losers in this family. Your intensity is for shit! Win. Win! Win!!" You son-of-a-bitch! You know, sometimes, I wish my knee would give...and I wouldn't be able to wrestle anymore. And he could forget all about me.
John
I think your old man and my old man should get together and go bowling.
Brian
It's like me, you know, with my grades. Like, when I, when I step outside myself kinda, and when I, when I look in at myself you know? And I see me, and I don't like what I see: I really don't.
Claire
What's wrong with you? Why don't you like yourself?
Brian
Cause I'm stupid...'cause I'm failing shop. See, we had this assignment, to make this ceramic elephant, and um...and we had eight weeks to do it and we're supposed to, and it was like a lamp, and when you pull the trunk, the light was supposed to go on. My light didn't go on; I got an F on it. Never got an F in my life. When I signed up, you know, for the course, I mean-I thought I was playing it real smart, you know. Cause I thought, "I'll take shop; it'll be such an easy way to maintain my grade point average.
John
: Why'd you think it'd be easy?
Brian
Have you seen some of the dopes that take shop?
John
I take shop. You must be a fuckin idiot!
John
No, you're a genius because you can't make a lamp.
Brian
What do you know about Trigonometry?
John
I could care less about Trigonometry.
Brian
Bender, did you know without Trigonometry, there'd be no engineering?
John
Without lamps, there'd be no light.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Observations on Smoking and Gender Stereotypes
Brian Johnson
Chicks cannot hold their smoke, dat's what it is.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Identifying Our True Selves in Detention
Brian
Dear Mr. Vernon, we accept the fact that we had to sacrifice a whole Saturday in detention for whatever it was we did wrong. But we think you're crazy to make us write an essay telling you who we think we are and you see us as you want to see us: In the simplest terms, in the most convenient definitions. But what we found out is that each one of us is a brain...
[voiceover]
Andrew
...and an athlete...
[voiceover]
Allison
...and a basket case...
[voiceover]
Claire
...a princess...
[voiceover]
John
...and a criminal.
[voiceover]
Brian
Does that answer your question? Sincerely yours, The Breakfast Club.
[voiceover]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Debate Over Door Closure in Classroom Setting
John
What do you say we close that door? We can't have any kind of party with Vernon checking us out every few seconds.
Brian
Well, you know the door's supposed to stay open.
John
So what?
Andrew
So why don't you just shut up? There's four other people in here, you know.
John
God, you can count. See, I knew you had to be smart to be a...a wrestler.
Andrew
Who the hell are you to judge anybody, anyway?
Claire
Really.
Andrew
You know, Bender, you don't even count. I mean if you disappeared forever it wouldn't make any difference. You may as well not even exist at this school.
John
Well, I'll just run right out and join the wrestling team. Maybe the prep club, too. Student council.
[Claire and Andrew chuckle]
Andrew
Nah. They wouldn't take you.
John
I'm hurt.
Claire
You know why guys like you knock everything?
Claire
It's cause you're afraid.
John
Oh, God. You richies are so smart; that's exactly why I'm not heavy in activities.
Claire
You're a big coward.
Brian
I'm in the math club.
Claire
See, you're afraid that they won't take you. You don't belong, so you just have to dump all over it.
John
Well, it wouldn't have anything to do with you activities people being assholes, now would it?
Claire
Well you wouldn't know; you don't even know any of us.
John
Well, I don't know any lepers, either, but I'm not gonna run out and join one of their fucking clubs.
Andrew
Uh, let's watch the mouth, huh?
Brian
I’m in the Physics Club, too.
John
Excuse me a sec. What are you babbling about?
[to Brian]
Brian
Well, what I said was that I'm in a Math Club, uh, the Latin Club, and the Physics Club-Physics Club.
John
Hey, Cherry. Do you belong to the Physics Club?
Claire
That's an academic club.
John
So?
Claire
So, academic clubs aren't the same as other kinds of clubs.
John
Ah, but to dorks like him, they are. What do you guys do in your club?
[to Brian]
Brian
In physics, well, we, we, uh, we talk about physics. Uh, properties of physics.
John
So it's sort of social. Demented and sad, but social, right?
Brian
I guess you could consider it a social situation.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Strangers United by Uncommon Bonds
Taglines
Five strangers with nothing in common, except each other.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Janitor's Perspective on High School Life
John
Carl? How does one become a janitor?
Carl
You wanna be a janitor?
John
No, I just want to know how one becomes a janitor. Because, you see, Andrew here is very interested in pursuing a career in the custodial arts.
Carl
Oh, really? You guys think I'm just some untouchable peasant? Serf? Peon? Well, maybe so. But following a broom around after shitheads like you for the last eight years, I've learned a couple of things. I look through your letters. I look through your lockers. I listen to your conversations: you don't know that but I do. I am the eyes and ears of this institution, my friends. By the way, that clock's 20 minutes fast.
[pause]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Confrontation Among Friends in The Breakfast Club
John
Wow, Claire. That was great. My image of you is totally blown.
[after Claire performs her lipstick trick, claps sarcastically]
Allison
You're a shit. Don't do that to her, you swore to God you wouldn't laugh.
John
Am I laughing?
Andrew
You fuckin prick!
John
What do you care what I think anyway? I don't even count, right? I could disappear forever and it wouldn't make any difference. I might as well not even exist at this school, remember? And you...don't like me anyway.
[turns to Claire]
Claire
You know, I have just as, many feelings as you do and it hurts so much when someone steps all over them.
John
God! You're so pathetic. Don't you ever, ever compare yourself to me, okay. You got everything, and I got shit. Fuckin Rapunzel, right? School would probably fuckin shut down if you didn't show up. Queenie isn't here. I like those earrings, Claire.
Claire
Shut up.
John
Are those real diamonds Claire?
Claire
Shut up.
John
I bet they are. Did you work for the money for those earrings?
Claire
Shut your mouth.
John
Or did your daddy buy those for you?
Claire
SHUT UP!
[shouts]
John
I'll bet he bought those for you. I bet those were a Christmas gift. Right? You know what I got for Christmas? Oh, it was a banner fucking year at the old Bender family. I got a carton of cigarettes. The old man grabbed me and said, "Hey, smoke up Johnny." All right? So go home and cry to your Daddy. Don't cry here, okay?
Andrew
My God, are we gonna be like our parents?
Claire
Not me...ever.
[about to cry]
Allison
It's unavoidable; it just happens.
Claire
What happens?
Allison
When you grow up, your heart dies.
John
So, who cares?
Allison
I care.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Unexpected Disruption in the Classroom
John
A naked blonde walks into a bar with a poodle under one arm...and a two-foot salami under the other. She lays the poodle on the table. Bartender says, "I suppose you won't be needing a drink." Naked lady says- OHHH, SHI-I-I-IT!
[crawling on the ceiling; chuckles; the ceiling breaks, and he falls through]
Vernon
Jesus Christ Almighty!
[hearing the crash]
John
Forgot my pencil.
[to students]
Vernon
Goddamn it! What in God's name is goin on in here? What was that ruckus?
[enters the library, and John hides under Claire's desk]
Andrew
Uh, what ruckus?
Vernon
I was just in my office and I heard a ruckus.
Brian
Could you describe the ruckus, sir?
Vernon
Watch your tongue, young man, watch it. What is this? What is that? What-What is that-What is that noise?
[John bangs his hand under Claire's desk, and Andrew bangs "Shave and a Haircut"; Andrew imitates a zipper sound]
Andrew
What noise?
Claire
Really, sir, there wasn't any noise. That noise? Was that the noise that you're talking about?
[moans and crushes John's hand, and makes an exaggerated sneeze and coughing sound, and the other students cough]
Vernon
No, it wasn't. That was not the noise I was talking about. Now, I may not have caught you in the act this time, but you can bet I will. You make book on that, Missy. And you! I will not be made a fool of.
[Allison laughs; to Claire]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Discussing Private Lives Among Strangers
Allison
Have you ever done it with a normal person?
Claire
Didn't we already cover this?
John
You never answered the question.
Claire
Look, I'm not going to discuss my private life with total strangers.
Allison
It's kind of a double edged sword, isn't it?
Claire
A what?
Allison
Well, if you say you haven't, you're a prude. If you say you have, you're a slut. It's a trap. You want to but you can't, and when you do, you wish you didn't, right?
Claire
Wrong.
Allison
Or are you a tease?
Andrew
She's a tease.
Claire
I'm sure. Why don't you just forget it.
Andrew
Oh, you're a tease and you know it. All girls are teases.
John
She's only a tease if what she does gets you hot.
Claire
I don't do anything.
Allison
That's why you're a tease.
Claire
Okay, let me ask you a few questions.
Allison
I already told you everything.
Claire
No. Doesn't it bother you to sleep around without being in love. I mean, don't you want any respect?
Allison
I don't screw to get respect. That's the difference between you and me.
Claire
It's not the only difference I hope.
John
Face it, you're a tease.
Claire
I'm not a tease.
John
Sure you are. Sex is your weapon. You said it yourself. You use it to get respect.
Claire
No, I never said that; she twisted my words around.
John
What do you use it for then?
Claire
I don't use it period.
John
Oh, are you medically frigid or is it psychological?
Claire
I didn't mean it that way. You guys are putting words into my mouth.
John
Well, if you'd just answer the question.
Brian
Why don't you just answer the question?
Andrew
Be honest.
John
No big deal.
Brian
Yeah answer it.
Andrew
Answer the question, Claire.
John
Talk to us.
Everyone
C'mon, answer the question. Come on. Answer it.
John
C'mon, it's easy. It's only one question.
Claire
No, I Never did it!
Allison
I never did it either. I'm not a nymphomaniac, I'm a compulsive liar.
Claire
You are such a bitch!
[shocked]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Embracing the Imperfections of Life
John Bender
Screws fall out all the time; the world is an imperfect place.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Friendship and Identity Among Outsiders
Brian
Then I assume that Allison and I are better people than you guys, huh? Us weirdos... Do you, would you do that to me?
[to Allison]
Allison
I don't have any friends.
Brian
Well, if you did?
Allison
No...I don't think the kind of friends I'd have would mind.
Brian
I just wanna tell each of you that I wouldn't do that...I wouldn't and I will not! Cause I think that's real shitty.
Claire
Your friends wouldn't mind because they look up to us.
Brian
You're so conceited, Claire. You're so conceited. You're so, like, full of yourself; why are you like that?
Claire
I'm not saying that to be conceited! I hate it! I hate having to go along with everything my friends say!
[about to cry]
Brian
Well, then why do you do it?
Claire
I don't know, I don't-You don't understand...you don't. You're not friends with the same kind of people that Andy and I are friends with! You know, you just don't understand the pressure that they can put on you!
Brian
I don't understand what? You think I don't understand pressure, Claire? Well, fuck you! Fuck you! Know why I'm here today? Do you?! I'm here because Mr. Ryan found a gun in my locker.
[breaks down, begins to cry]
Andrew
Why'd you have a gun in your locker?
Brian
I tried. You pull the fuckin trunk on it and the light's supposed to go on... and it didn't go on, I mean, I-
Andrew
What's the gun for, Brian?
Brian
Just forget it.
Andrew
You brought it up, man!
Brian
I can't have an F; I can't have it and I know my parents can't have it. Even if I aced the rest of the semester, I'm still only a B. And everything's ruined for me.
Brian
Fuck! So I considered my options, you know?
[bashes a nearby chair over]
Claire
No! Killing yourself is not an option!
Brian
Well I didn't do it, did I? No, I don't think so!
Allison
It was a hand gun?
Brian
No, it was a flare gun, went off in my locker.
Andrew
Really?
[laughs]
Brian
It's not funny. Yes it is. Fuckin elephant was destroyed!
[Andrew tries to stop, but he continues laughing and everyone else begins to laugh; begins laughing]
Allison
You wanna know what I did to get in here? Nothing; I didn't have anything better to do. You're laughing at me!
[everyone continues to laugh, now at her]
Andrew
No!
Allison
Yeah, you are!
[now laughing]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Question About Barry Manilow's Wardrobe
John Bender
Yeah, I got a question. Does Barry Manilow know that you raid his wardrobe?
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Understanding Individuality in The Breakfast Club
Articles
by Gage Klipper, The Federalist (April 21, 2025)
[https://thefederalist.com/2025/04/21/the-breakfast-club-casts-40-year-reunion-shows-why-a-modern-remake-would-never-work/ "The Breakfast Club Cast’s 40-Year Reunion Shows Why A Modern Remake Would Never Work"]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Introduction of Characters in The Breakfast Club
Claire
What's your name?
John
What's yours?
Claire
Claire.
John
Claire?
Claire
Claire. It's a family name.
John
No, it's a fat girl's name.
Claire
Oh, thank you.
[sarcastically]
John
You're welcome.
Claire
I'm not fat.
John
Well, not at present, but I could see you really pushing maximum density. You see, I'm not sure if you know this, but there are two kinds of fat people. There's fat people that were born to be fat, and there's fat people that were once thin, but they became fat, so when you look at them you can sort of see that thin person inside. You see, you're gonna get married, you're gonna squeeze out a few puppies and then, uh... Oh, obscene finger gestures from such a pristine girl.
[imitates vomiting, and Claire gives him the "Fuck you!" middle finger]
Claire
I'm not that pristine.
John
Are you a virgin? I'll bet you a million dollars that you are. Let's end the suspense. Is it gonna be a...white weddin'?
Claire
Why don't you just shut up?
John
Have you ever kissed a boy on the mouth? Have you ever been felt up...over the bra, under the blouse, shoes off, hoping to God your parents don't walk in?
Claire
Do you want me to puke?
John
Over the panties...no bra...blouse unbuttoned, Calvin's in a ball on the front seat past 11:00 on a school night?
John
You gonna make me?
Andrew
Yeah.
John
You and how many of your friends?
[stands in front of Andrew]
Andrew
Just me. Just you and me. Two hits. Me hitting you, you hitting the floor. Anytime you're ready, pal.
[pins on him]
John
I don't want to get into this with you, man.
[gets pinned to the floor]
Andrew
Why not?
[gets off of John]
John
Because I'd kill you. It's real simple: I'd kill you, and your fucking parents would sue me, and it'd be a big mess, and I don't care enough about you to bother.
[stands up]
Andrew
Chickenshit. Let's end this right now. You don't talk to her, you don't look at her, and you don't even think about her! You understand me?
[John pulls out his switchblade, and slams it on Allison's table; Allison takes John's switchblade]
John
I'm trying to help her.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Questioning Fairness in Group Dynamics
John Bender
Hey, how come Andrew gets to get up? If he gets up, we'll all get up…it'll be ]!
[[anarchy]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Tensions Rise in High School Detention
Andrew
Look, just because you live in here doesn't give you the right to be a pain in the ass. So knock it off!
John
It's a free country.
Claire
He's just doing it to get a rise out of you. Just ignore him.
[to Andrew]
John
Sweets. You couldn't ignore me if you tried. So...So...are you guys like boyfriend-girlfriend? Steady dates? Lovers? Come on, sporto. Level with me. Do you slip her the hot-beef injection?
[Claire turns around to John; she turns back, annoyed]
Claire
GO TO HELL!!!
Andrew
ENOUGH!!!
Vernon
Hey! What's going on in there? Spoiled little pricks.
[from his office; no response; gets back to reading.]
Andrew
Scumbag.
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Friendship Uncertainty After Shared Experience
Brian
Um, I was just thinking, I mean. I know it's kind of a weird time, but I was just wondering, um, what is gonna happen to us on Monday? When we're all together again? I mean I consider you guys my friends, I'm not wrong, am I?
Andrew
No.
Brian
So, so on Monday...what happens?
Claire
Are we still friends, you mean? If we're friends now, that is?
Brian
Yeah.
Claire
Do you want the truth?
Brian
Yeah, I want the truth.
Claire
I don't think so.
Allison
Well, do you mean all of us or just John?
Claire
With all of you.
Andrew
That's a real nice attitude, Claire!
Claire
Oh, be honest, Andy...if Brian came walking up to you in the hall on Monday, what would you do? I mean picture this, you're there with all the sports. I know exactly what you'd do, you'd say hi to him and when he left you'd cut him all up so your friends wouldn't think you really liked him!
Andrew
No way!
Allison
Kay, what if I came up to you?
Claire
Same exact thing!
John
YOU ARE A BITCH!
Claire
Why? Cause I'm telling the truth, that makes me a bitch?
John
NO! Cause you know how shitty that is to do someone, and you don't got the balls to stand up to your friends and tell them you're gonna like who you wanna like.
Claire
Okay, what about you, you hypocrite! Why don't you take Allison to one of your heavy metal vomit parties? Or take Brian out to the parking lot at lunch to get high? What about Andy? Does that matter, what about me? What would your friends say if we were walking down the hall together? They'd laugh their asses off and you'd probably tell them you were doing it with me so they'd forgive you for being seen with me.
John
Don't you ever talk about my friends. You don't know any of my friends. You don't look at any of my friends. And you certainly wouldn't condescend to speak to any of my friends. So you just stick to the things you know: shopping, nail polish, your father's BMW, and your poor, rich drunk mother in the Caribbean.
Claire
SHUT UP!
John
And as far as being concerned about what's gonna happen when you and I walk down the hallways of school together, you can forget it cuz it's never gonna happen. Just bury your head in the sand and wait for your fuckin prom.
Claire
I hate you!
[crying]
John
Yeah? Good!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Identity and Perception in Detention
Brian Johnson
Saturday, March 24, 1984. Shermer High School, Shermer, Illinois, 60062. Dear Mr. Vernon, we accept the fact that we had to sacrifice a whole Saturday in detention for whatever it was we did wrong. What we did was wrong. But we think you're crazy to make us write an essay telling you who we think we are. What do you care? And you see us as you want to see us - in the simplest terms, in the most convenient definitions. You see us as a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess, and a criminal. Correct? That's the way we saw each other at 7:00 this morning. We were brainwashed.
[first lines]
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Tensions Rise Among Friends in The Breakfast Club
Andrew
Look, you guys keep up your talking and Vernon's gonna come right in here. I got a meet this Saturday and I'm not gonna miss it on account of you boneheads.
John
Oh and wouldn't that be a bite, huh? Missing a whole wrestling meet!
Andrew
Well, you wouldn't know anything about it, faggot! You never competed in your whole life!
John
Oh, I know. I feel all empty inside because of it. I have such a deep admiration for guys that roll around on the floor with other guys.
Andrew
Ahhh, you'd never make it. You don't have any goals.
John
Oh, but I do!
Andrew
Yeah?
John
I wanna be just...like...you. I figure all I need's a lobotomy and some tights!
Brian
You wear tights?
Andrew
No, I don't wear tights. I wear the required uniform.
Brian
Tights.
Andrew
Shut up!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.