Elvis Presley quotes from Elvis (TV miniseries)

What's going on, Elvis?

I'm sorry, Steve. I can't do it, man. I can't go on.

What?

This whole thing was just a bad idea. I haven't played in front of the live audience in more than seven years, man. I don't know if I can do it anymore. What if they don't like me?

"Don't like you?" Oh my God... Elvis, you created rock 'n' roll. You're the King. You step out there, your gonna be King again.

It's just like riding a bike, Elvis. Once you get on stage it's gonna be like old times.

"Before Elvis, there was nothing..." - John Lennon

How's school today, Elvis?

Fine. They don't cotton too much to me there.

Well, I don't doubt it. Those clothes you wear and that hair.

Don't you start in. That's his style. Everyone's gotta have a style. You used to have a style, Vernon. Woo-wee, your daddy was a looker, Elvis.

You're right about that.

Still is when he sets his mind to it. [on Vernon] Boy could he dance. [to Elvis] Play something on the guitar, maybe your daddy will dance with me. [they laugh]

Oh, no, no, no. I'm not dancing. I'm eating. Is there anymore?

No. It's all they'd give us down at the pantry. You eat anymore tonight and there won't be enough for the whole week.

I'm really not hungry. [Elvis passes his plate to Vernon, who takes a pork chop]

Put that back down, Vernon.

I'm done, momma. Really. I'm not hungry.

Ma'am, this is where they make all those R&B Records, right? Rufus Thomas? The Prisonaires?

That's us.

Oh ma'am, I like those records a whole lot. I was wonderin', ma'am, if... if anyone needed a singer or somethin'.

What kind of a singer are you?

I sing all kinds.

You sing hillbilly?

I sing hillbilly.

Country?

I sing country.

Okay, who do you sound like?

I don't sound like nobody, ma'am.

[after hearing Presley, Moore and Black mess around playing "That's All Right"] Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! Wait, wait, what the hell was that?

I don't know, sir. Just messin' around.

You been holdin' out on me, boy?

What do you mean, sir?

[laughs] Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup, for God's sakes. You know more of that music?

Well, yes, sir... know lots of it.

Damn. What the hell you been wasting my time for? C'mon! Let's back it up! Try to find a place to start and do it again!

Sam, Sam, Sam. No, this is terrible. We're just goofing around.

No, that's what I'm talking about. It's gotta be fun, original.

Bill Monroe's gonna kill us.

Bill Monroe is gonna be too busy counting his money. [to Marion] Marion!

But are you ready for the big time, son? Do you want it enough?

Oh, I want it, sir.

Call me Colonel. I think you do.

A million dollars?

Sounds like a lot of banana all to me. Elvis is already working too hard. Look how skinny he is.

Oh, momma, I've been eating everything you've been putting in front of me. And it ain't work. I like it, it's fun.

Time to sell the apples is when they're on the tree not after they fall into the ground. Now, this boy, he's ripe now. So he has to work hard for a couple of years. He's young. He can handle it. Then after couple of years, raking in the cash, he take it easy, do what he wants.

[to Gladys] He can retire on a million dollars.

All this TV and movie bushwa. That's all in New York City and California. Whose gonna look after my boy there? I don't trust 'em kind of folk.

Exactly. Now, Sam Phillips, he's a nice enough fellow, but those big city boys they will eat him for lunch. Me? I'm one of you.

And where is it you're from exactly?

I've wondered the land, much like a gypsy.

Well, thank you for stopping by, Mr. Parker. We'll let you know.

If you would call me Colonel, ma'am.

I need to spend some more time with you.

I just can't right now, Dixie. We gotta drive south. These cats from the hayride have us booked back to back.

"Cats?" [tearfully turning away] I've lost you.

You haven't lost me. It's just, I could be back driving a truck by next year. I have to grab what I can. For us.

Not for us, Elvis. You got what you always wanted. Good luck with it. [kisses him on the cheek]

Dixie. I love you. It's not gonna be like this forever.

Then call me when it's over. It's just too hard this way.

[miserably] Dixie.