Colonel Tom Parker quotes from Elvis (TV miniseries)

Who do you think you are, Tom.

[smoking a cigar] Call me Colonel.

I discovered the boy. He's a raw talent. He didn't even know what he had when he first came into Sun Records. Look how far he's going.

How much further can you take him? Can you compete with RCA, with whom I've had relations over the years? Do you have the wherewithal to take him national? I have contacts in New York, Los Angeles. Music, film, television. You name it. [pause] I know you like the boy. So, I know you won't stand in the way of his dreams. [pause] You need the money, Sam. I checked.

I'll think about it, Tom.

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.

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.

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.