Elvis (TV miniseries) quotes

[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!

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.