Elvis (TV miniseries) quotes

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!

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.

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.

[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.