Elvis Presley quotes from Elvis (TV miniseries)

Listen to this. This is how God works. [reading] "I may be expressing myself through these beautiful symphonies of light, colour, and language that manifests itself as music, but they will hail you as one of the great ones of the day, and think of you as a wonderful preacher, and teacher."

Huh?

Don't you get it? Ever since momma died, I've been trying to figure these things out. Why God took her away from me? Why he gave me all this success and fame? Why, out of all of the millions, he pick me to be Elvis Presley? Oh, these books are explaining things to me. Why is there so much suffering in the world, Joe? Why am I not happy when he gave me all of this?

Don't we make you happy?

No, Lamar, you don't. None of this does, that's the whole point. Oh, you guys have to read these books.

Hey, if it ain't got Batman in it, it ain't in my library.

Or naked women.

The hell with the lot of you.

You're starting to look like a kettle of crap, son.

That's none of your business.

Oh, but it is my business. Because no one is going to pay to see a burned out Elvis. And I see you've been late to the set more then once, that's not like you at all.

[angrily] Have you even read this piece of crap? Do you know the lines I've gotta say? Oh, you wouldn't hurry up to get here either, Colonel.

It's not professional, son. Now you signed on to do this, you owe them your best.

I signed on to do this movie because you told me to. I need the money.

And you do. You spend like a drunken sailor, and that's none of my business, but you show up on time and you say the lines stupid or not, that is my business.

Yes, sir.

And what's this about some religious kick your on?

Why are you doing this to yourself? This religious kick, the drugs? What is it that you want?

You said that to me the first time we met.

I remember. Rich and famous. You wanted to be a movie star. Well, I got it for you, so I'm asking you again: What is it you want now?

I don't know.

Are you just bored is that it?

Well, there's that. I get so lonely.

What about that little girl you got cooped up in there? Does she make you happy?

Sometimes.

Why, son. That's more than most folk's ever get. Why don't you latch onto her before she wises up. The whole scene, it's starting to get unseemly. You hear me? She's legal now, so what are you waiting for?

The right time.

If that's the case, I'd check my watch, because if ever there was a time to set things straight, it's now.

Let's face it, Elvis. The movies ain't doing what they used to and the records they're not doing much better.

It's all this material you keep shovin' down my throat, Colonel. Hell, you can't polish a turd.

Let's be frank. I don't think most kids know who the hell you are anymore. It's the 60's, man. You hear what their playing on the radio? The Mamas and the Papas, the Stones, Marvin Gaye...

I know, I know. I listen to everything. The Rascals, Aretha Franklin.

There's a song out there right now. "MacArthur Park", Richard Harris sings it. Would you've sung that tune?

Damn right. That there's a great song. Jimmy Webb, he can flat out right.

Here's what I have in mind. We tape it over three days. The first day, is in front of a live audience. "Elvis' big comeback". Now, I know you'll be nervous, so we'll just get that outta the way. The next two days, we tape several stage numbers, drawing on your own personal and musical life.

I like it.

There is a problem, Elvis. The Colonel and NBC want you to sing just Christmas songs. Now I think that's too limiting, and the exact opposite of what you should be doing. What do you think?

[pause] I think let's do it. [stands and shakes his hand] This is going to be great, Steve.

It's just like riding a bike, Elvis. Once you get out there on stage, it's gonna be like old times. Look, I just went out there. Those are your fans, Elvis. You can't let 'em down. You've never let the fans down.

Well, that's true.

And some of 'em are lookers, Elvis, I ain't gonna lie to you. If nothing else, just do it for me. It'll be one of the few times I get to play to your face instead of your ass.

Hey, Elvis, sing me that song about "Lawdy Miss Clawdy".

[short pause] Now twelve years I've been on stage with this man, and this is the first word he's ever said to me. First word. [they laugh] And for that now I'm gonna take his guitar. Come on, Scotty, give it up.

[laughs, he and Elvis switch guitars] That's all I got to say.

Steve, that was great, man.

Congratulations, man. You were great.

Oh, thank you. Thank you, bro.

[points to the "ELVIS" sign in big red letters] Hey, look at that. New beginnings.

Yeah. A new beginning.

[on Colonel Parker] Why do you put up with him bullying you? Treating you like a child?

You know, I've thought about that a lot over the years. And I'd try to explain it to you, but you just wouldn't understand.

I think I do.

How? You know nothing about the world I come from.

Actually, I know a lot about you, Elvis. It's my job. Your not that poor kid from Tupelo anymore. You live in the big house. You can be your own boss man. You've certainly out grown that old carny.

I gave him my word. Besides, before me there was no such thing as a rock star. He wrote the book on how to make one. Anyone else I'll hire will just have read it.

Well, maybe it's time to write a new book. Your own book.

What now?

[short pause] What's this?

Oh, that's a demo for the finale. Where'd you get it?

It's not a Christmas song, is it? It's one of them long-haired hippie, Communist American hatin' protest songs.

Actually, it's more like a gospel style. It's a new direction, Colonel. I like it, and uh, I'm doing it.

What's going on here, Elvis?

Oh, just a few other new directions, Colonel. I'm gonna tour again. Europe this time. And I don't care that you got some birth certificate problem or uh... you're an illegal alien, some folks say. And after Europe, I don't know. Japan. Who knows.

Why are you being like this?

Cos I don't wanna be bored anymore, Colonel! I don't wanna sing another song that I don't believe in! I don't wanna make another movie that I don't care about! This TV thing has me excited for the first time in years. I'm having fun with my music and I don't wanna lose that feeling.

A feeling? I'm not sending you out on some cockamamie tour just because of some feeling.

Then I'll find somebody who will.

Son, let me explain some things to you. We have a contract...

You always told me your contract can be re-negotiated, broken if need be. Well, maybe it's about time we tour up this contract.

That's what you want? After all my years of dedication to you and your career? All my work?! You ungrateful hillbilly! I knew you'd betray me!

Watch your mouth, you old phony!

Get out of my office!

You get out of my office! I payed for this office! You're fired!

You can't fire me. I quit!

I'm holding a press conference this afternoon to tell 'em your fired, you old carny!

Go ahead! But if you wanna end our business relationship, your going to have to pay up what you owe me.

Fine. Write me a bill.

I was expecting something like this, so I uh, I prepared some documents. [takes out a file case from under his desk] There's money I've advanced you. Then there's uh, bookings that I haven't taken my full commission from! Then there's expenses, future monies to deal with, movie profits... I get a percentage of the residuals on them too, and the records! Then there's uh, there's other items of mutual interest! So you wanna be free of me, [hands out a contract form] you're going to have to pay for the privilege.

Where we gonna come up with millions of dollars?

I'll talk to my agent's.

They in cahoots with the Colonel, they won't help us.

I get us a lawyer. I'll figure something out, daddy.

Lawyer's steal from you faster than a man with a gun. We could lose everything, E. What about your word? You made the man a promise. He kept up his end of the bargain.

Well lately, his hands been draggin' in the dirt and I've been doing all the heavy liftin', daddy! Now, I'll figure something out. Please, I'm dying here. I can manage myself.

But how? Is all I'm asking. You can't handle money. I got the bills to prove that. You don't even carry any money on you. Hell, you don't even know your own phone number. How are you gonna manage yourself?

I'll get somebody else.

Who? [Elvis doesn't say a word] Who, Elvis?

I was thinking about our conversation yesterday and if you want to tour. Well, I'll set it up. We'll tour.

What about the movies?

Well, that's gonna be a harder nut to crack. We're obligated to three more films, and the next one is already set up. Something called The Trouble with Girls and How to Get Out of It.

Sounds like a winner. What about this? [holds out the Refute of Contract form]

Oh, that. [takes the form] Trifle.

So where we gonna tour?

Las Vegas. I got us a hell of a deal.