Merlyn Temple quotes from American Gothic

Merlyn

Someone's at the door.

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.

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.

Merlyn

You don't understand me either Lucas. I mean people thought I was stupid 'cause of the way I acted, but I wasn't. I just saw too much.

Lucas

I know.

Merlyn

And I know what you're trying to do now. You want me to choose to live.

Lucas

There's nothing wrong with that.

Merlyn

Except the baby dies! And then I commit the ultimate sin. And Caleb turns against me? And then you finally won. Well I'm not going to let that happen.

Merlyn

So, what did you do to him?

Lucas

Who Ray? I left him down by your grave. Crying like a baby.

Merlyn

Go ahead, come on. It's your big chance... murder me again, Lucas. Such tenderness... a mercy killing. Isn't that what you told your deputy?

Lucas

You'd had a miserable life.

Merlyn

Oh, I know I did. But I'm not going to let you ruin that for me again.

Lucas

You don't understand me Merli-ann, I'm not going to hurt you. I want you to live. You deserve it. This could be the first day of the rest of your life.

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!

Lucas

You starting to get the picture, angel face? He's his father's son.

Merlyn

He's my brother.

Lucas

A blip in the gene pool. He's my son. He carries my spirit and if you kill me, the child becomes the man.

Merlyn

I would kill him before I would let that happen.

Lucas

Do that and you kill yourself. You only exist because of that child's faith. That too will pass when he learns his full potential. He is more powerful than you can imagine.

Merlyn

You can't destroy me Lucas.

Lucas

And you won't destroy me.

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.

Merlyn

Hello Caleb.

Caleb

I'm dead, ain't I?

Merlyn

God's plan works for us all.

Caleb

Always figured I'd be afraid.

Merlyn

Well you belong here.

Lucas

Couldn't agree more. Although it may just be that your timing's off a little bit. You see Caleb; your sister isn't telling you everything. You still have a choice.

Caleb

Why didn't you tell me Merli?

Lucas

Cause she's afraid Caleb. She's afraid if you live a long and healthy life, you'll make all the wrong choices. See, there's that word again, choice.

Caleb

You don't want me to go, do you?

Merlyn

I love you Caleb. It's your choice.

Caleb

You ever heard of the "all seeing eye", Merli?

Merlyn

Yes. What's your point?

Caleb

It's right here.

Merlyn

This is Lucas' voice I'm hearing.

Caleb

Novus Ordo Seclorum. The old order of the ages is born anew. That's me too.

Merlyn

Caleb, Lucas is a part of you. But that don't mean you have to be like him.

Caleb

I know.

Merlyn

The day will come you'll have to choose your path and I want you to be strong enough to resist his influence.

Caleb

I know Merli, I know. Don't worry. The buck stops here.