Elvis Presley quotes from Elvis (TV miniseries)

[on Elvis's break-up from Dixie] I'm sorry, man.

Everything ends.

Well, I guess that's true.

You know I have a twin brother?

No.

Jesse Garon. He died when I was born. I still talk to him sometimes. And that's why I think I got such good rhythm. You know I had a back beat there in the whom. Two hearts beating.

Yeah.

Me and Jesse. And that's why momma frets so. She's just...afraid she's gonna lose me too.

That's not gonna happen. I promised your momma I would take care of you.

And you have, man. And I appreciate that.

I know you do. Let's get outta here. C'mon.

Imagine us on the Dorsey Brother's Stage Show.

Imagine us being on TV the same time as Perry Como.

That Perry Como's a square, man.

What are you talking about? I like Perry Como, you son of a bitch.

Why do you keep going out there, son? Enough is enough. Why is it so important to you?

Fellas.

Baby. Why don't you just quit it all right now? We got a wonderful house. We got cars. [tearfully] You're gonna make yourself a good living. Get yourself a furniture store. You can marry a nice girl, have a baby near by and I can come and visit and I can help you raise it. You would make me the happiest woman in the world. Please, honey.

Look at me, Satnin. Look at me. When I'm on stage, I'm a different person. I am. It's hard to explain. It's like I've got goosebumps all over my body, only it's not goosebumps. It's not a chill either. It's like a surge of electricity, only stronger than that. Sometimes it's so strong, I feel my heart's gonna explode. No, momma. No. It's a good thing. It's a real good thing and I don't know what I'd do if I had to stop and I'm gonna be a movie star, momma. I'm gonna be a real, serious movie star. I can't stop, Satnin. I can't.

It was named after the sellers great aunt Grace. You can call it anything you want.

Graceland. I like it, momma.

We'll put chicken coops and hog pens in the back. Momma will put in her garden. We'll do her bedroom up in pink wallpaper. They said they could have it all ready by September.

Don't it look just like Tara in Gone with the Wind, baby?

Momma, remember I told you I'd buy you a house. And now you got a palace.

We can't go back there. It'll be a circus.

But it was nice before.

Before what, momma? Before we had money? Squabbling over a pork chop?

But I always knew you'd be home for dinner. And Dixie was there, and we'd all go to church together. And I didn't have to worry whether or not you were safe. Or if I look good enough for all them reporters.

Oh, momma. You look just fine.

[pause] I just want you to be proud of me, Elvis.

Proud of you? [kisses her on the cheek] Satnin, you are so beautiful. Now, come on now. Look at all this? Isn't this what we always dreamed of? Oh, momma, this should be the happiest time of our lives.

Sometimes I think our kind weren't meant for happiness. Life's pleasures were meant for other folk. Our kind was born for misery and pain. That's God's plan.

Then I wanna make you happy. Now what'll it take, momma?

[short pause] I'm happy when your happy, son. Are you really happy, Elvis?

Momma, I'm on top of the world.

[on the phone to Gladys] It's all over, momma. They're not gonna remember me when I come back from this.

[on the phone] Course they are, baby. You just gotta trust the Colonel. [pause, tearfully] I miss you, Elvis.

[tearfully] I miss you, momma. [pause] Momma, I gotta go now. The drill sergeant wakes me up just about the time I used to go to bed.

You really gotta go?

I guess not. I ain't got a lot to say though, momma.

You don't gotta say nothin', baby. Just don't hang up.

Where you been all night, daddy?

Out with friends.

Friends my ass. You with that Stanley woman. I know what's going on, daddy! She's married!

It ain't none of your nevermind, Elvis.

It's just been three months! You're cheating on two people!

Look, Elvis. I loved your momma as much as a man can love a woman. But I'm tired of crying. I'm a lonely man.

It's an insult to her memory!

You watch your mouth, son. I know what you've been up to with those French hooch dancers every time you go to Paris. What would your momma say about your hygiene?!

I'm the one that pays the bills around here, don't you ever forget it!

How can we forget it. You keep reminding us every time you don't get your way?

Back in Memphis, before things got complicated. I used to go to this park with a friend of mine, and we'd just sit there and look up at the stars and dream, you know?

Another girl?

[laughs] Well, yes, another girl. We just sit and throw pebbles in the river, and talk, like we're talking now. [pause] I miss that.

Do I remind you of her?

No, you're nothing like her. But you remind me of those times.

Good times, I hope?

Yeah, they were good times. I wasn't sure about how good they were back then, but now when I look back on it... Yeah, they were. I mean, we were poor. Real poor. But momma was there. And I was happy, just lookin' at the stars and dreamin' my dream.

Like now?

Like now.

Colonel, I want to talk to you about West Side Story.

Have a seat.

It's a big classic film, and they want me for the lead. I can act the hell out of it, Colonel.

Have you seen the shooting schedule? Six months, we can make five films at that time.

But it's a chance to do something special, something really good.

Elvis, let me give you a lesson on economics. G.I. Blues, your first movie back, one of them "blame musicals" you always grap about. A blockbuster, made us millions. Your second movie, Flaming Star, an ambitious drama, well reviewed, made zilch. What does that tell you?

Why don't you tell me, your chomping at the bit.

Folk's live sad lives. Your job is to give them ninety minutes to forget their pitiful circumstances, not rub their faces in some phony writer's misery. What they want to see is some paradise that you can ever afford to visit, lots of pretty girls and Elvis Presley fighting and singing a half dozen songs that we can stick on a soundtrack album. That's our bread and butter, son. We stick with what sells. You don't see the snow cone man switch from cherry juice to prune juice just because he's got some blockage in the poop chute.

[after a song] So what did you think of the song?

I liked it, it was really sweet. I prefer the fast ones, though, like "Jailhouse Rock". Why don't you do more songs like that?

[shouting] Dammit! I didn't ask you to tell me how to sing! I just asked you if you liked it that's all! I get enough amateur opinions, I don't need one from you!

I'm sorry, Satnin. Come here. [Priscilla shakes her head] Come on.

I'm sorry, it's just...I just finished that recording session and I'm real proud of it. Better than the hogwash they give me to sing in them movies. [angrily] Stupid movies, stupid songs! And each one makes more money than the last, so I don't get to tour anymore. But I'm sorry, I'll make it up to you, I promise. And when we get to Vegas, I'm gonna get you the best dress money can buy.

That sure was fun.

Sure as hell was. You can move, baby.

You can sing, baby.

This is one movie I might enjoy makin'.

She's like a female you.

Tell me, how far you ever gone on a motorcycle?

Gentlemen, start your engines.

[after reading a false article about him and Ann-Margret getting engaged] That is an outrageous lie! I can't believe she'd say that!

So it's true.

No, we're not engaged.

But your seeing her! Those gossip rags were true! Why doesn't she take her ass back to Sweden where she belongs!

[grabs Priscilla] Look, dammit! I didn't know things were gonna get out of hand. I wanna woman to understand that things like this might happen. Are you going to be that woman or not? It's over, Cilla. I swear to you, it's over. Forgive me. Please?

I'll go to LA. I'll get this thing straighten out.

Do you know how much money you spent last month? Over 500, 000 dollars. And more the month before. You're gonna break us. You're gonna put us in the poor house.

I can always earn more money.

Why can't you just stop buyin' stuff?

Cos I like the look on folks faces when I buy 'em something, daddy. Oh, you remember when we were dirt poor. How nice it would've been if someone came along and bought me a car.

Well, I ain't sayin' that it ain't a nice thing, but you keep this up, and we're gonna be livin' in a Tupelo shotgun shack again. [Elvis is nodding off] Elvis?

I gotta take a nap, daddy. Where are my sleepin' pills?

You're noddin' off already. Do you need 'em?

I'm worried about you, son.

Why? And what are you lookin' at me like that for? Have I got a zit or somethin'?

It's the pills, E. I'm concerned about your health.

I know what I'm doing.

I'm just trying to help you, son.

[shouting] I don't need no advice from the likes of you! You work for me! That's it! Understand?!

I'm your daddy!

And I'm of age, old man! I don't need a daddy anymore!