Caleb Temple quotes from American Gothic

Caleb

I don’t care how American it is, I hate apple pie.

Merlyn

Why are you still running?

Caleb

Daddy's dead Merli. I've seen his grave, yours too. Everybody's dead.

Merlyn

Not everybody... [indicates the room with the bound prisoner]

Caleb

I ain't going in there!

Merlyn

That man needs your help.

Caleb

He's a monster!

Merlyn

No. Can't you understand his pain, Caleb? He's just hurt. I would think you could understand that, Caleb.

Merlyn

Caleb, it's nice to see you again.

Caleb

For me too, Merli. The Sheriff is after me, he thinks he's my Daddy.

Merlyn

Well what do you think?

Caleb

I think he's crazy! This whole thing is crazy.

Merlyn

He wants to raise you in his image, Caleb. You can't run forever.

Merlyn

Caleb? You did real good. I'm proud of you. We're all proud of you.

Caleb

You was there? And Momma?

Merlyn

We were all there Caleb.

Caleb

I knew it. I could feel it Merlyn. I was happy.

Selena

Maybe we'd like to take another pass at this? [indicating Caleb's friend's homework]

Caleb

But we've got practice, the contest is tomorrow.

Selena

Well I'm aware of that Caleb, but I think this is more important, don't you?

Caleb

No!

Merlyn

You gonna shoot me too?

Caleb

Say, how long have you been here?

Merlyn

Long enough. What happened today Caleb?

Caleb

Nothing.

Merlyn

Well you're not sleeping.

Caleb

I didn't want to shoot that crow Merli. I swear. I just... something came over me.

Merlyn

Lucas is a part of you Caleb. The sooner you accept that the better.

Caleb

Does that mean I gotta be like he is?

Merlyn

No, but you can't run from him.

Caleb

Guess I can't run from you neither.

Caleb

What are you doing?

Lucas

Taking off a claw, you earned yourself a talisman.

Caleb

I don't want that thing.

Lucas

What do you mean? You killed it, you own it.

Caleb

You made me.

Lucas

Son, nobody makes anybody do anything they don't want to do in the first place.

Caleb

Don't you like it where you are?

Merlyn

It's okay.

Caleb

Well, what's it like?

Merlyn

You'll find out someday.

Caleb

No tell me, Merli. Tell me.

Merlyn

It's kinda like you're underwater and you can't touch anything. There's no pain, but there's no feeling either. You just float through everything.

Caleb

Merli?

Merlyn

I wanna hold something! I wanna be held!

Merlyn

It's not fair!

Caleb

What's not fair?

Merlyn

How only some people get to be happy.

Caleb

That's just the way it is.

Merlyn

Well it shouldn't be!

Caleb

I hate you!

Lucas

And someday we'll make that hate work for you.

Caleb

Why ain't you been to see me?

Merlyn

You think everybody's dead sister comes to visit them?

Caleb

Well I've been worried about you.

Merlyn

I've been worried about you too. Things are never going to be the same again, there are other people who need my help.

Caleb

Well maybe I'll just start listening to Sheriff Buck.

Merlyn

Caleb.

Caleb

Well maybe you got him wrong Merli. He's been nice to me. Like a father. Well he is my Daddy ain't he?

Merlyn

He raped our mother, Caleb.

Caleb

So who are these other people you're gonna be helping?

Merlyn

Ones who aren't as strong as you.

Caleb

They gonna know it's Merlyn helping them?

Merlyn

People see me as they want to, Caleb. You're the only one who's looking for Merlyn.

Caleb

And what about me? I spent time with Lucas. You gonna make me sick and crazy too?!

Merlyn

Well of course not, I love you.

Caleb

Well then love them too Merli, all of them. All of us down here, we need it.

Merlyn

Do you know what happens to dogs when they die, Caleb?

Caleb

What happens to 'em?

Merlyn

They get to run free all day long. And in the night time, they get to rest at the feet of their masters.

Lucas

Caleb, this... romantic love thing.

Selena

What do you know about it?

Lucas

From observation, quite a bit. It's really an addiction. No different than booze or drugs or cigarettes. And when you're in its clutches you no longer see the truth. You become totally selfish.

Selena

Look who's talking.

Lucas

And selfless at the same time. It makes you... stupid. Take Miss Coombs here.

Caleb

She's not stupid.

Selena

Thank you, darling.

Lucas

You know what a conscience is?

Caleb

It's like, when you do something wrong and it bothers you?

Lucas

Well, not me.