Ellie quotes from The Last of Us

Ellie

Is this really all they had to worry about? Boys... movies... deciding which shirt goes with which skirt? It's bizarre.

Joel

Listen, umm...

Ellie

Why are you here?

Joel

I came here to talk to you.

Ellie

No, why are you still here? If you're gonna ditch me, ditch me.

Joel

What exactly did you hear?

Ellie

"I have to leave her, you have to take her." You know, I stood up for you today, because I thought... [she trails off]

Joel

I made this decision for your own good. You'll be way better off with Tommy. He knows the area better than I do -

Ellie

[Stands up] Do you give a shit about me or not!?

Joel

'Course I do!

Ellie

Then what are you so afraid of? [long beat] I'm not her, you know. [another long beat, as Joel processes what she said] Maria told me about Sarah, and I -

Joel

[interrupting, in a quiet, angry tone] Don't. Don't say another word.

Ellie

[approaching him] I'm sorry about your daughter, Joel. But I have lost people too.

Joel

You have no idea what loss is.

Ellie

Everybody I have cared for has either died, or left me... [shoves him hard, her voice rising to a shout] Everybody, fucking except for you! So don't tell me I'd be safe with somebody else, because the truth is I'd just be more scared!

Joel

You're right. You're not my daughter. And I sure as hell ain't your dad. Now come dawn, we're going our separate ways.

Ellie

What are we gonna do?

The way I see it, we've got two options. One: We take the easy way out. It's quick, painless... No. No, I don't like Option One. Option Two: We just keep going.

Ellie

What are you talking about, Riley? It's over.

It will be. But not yet. It ends this way for everyone sooner or later, right? Some of us just... get there faster than others. But we don't quit. Whether... it's two minutes, or two days... we don't give that up. I don't wanna give that up. We can just be all poetic and shit and lose our minds together.

Ellie

...what's Option Three?

I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

You know, you really shouldn't be out here all on your own.

Ellie

From where I'm sitting, you shouldn't be out here on your own.

Fair enough. So what's your name?

It's hard to trust strangers, I know -- but I honestly mean you no harm. And for what it's worth? There's room for you in our group, if you want.

Ellie

You inviting me to your hunger club? Thanks.

It's true, we're hungry. But... we're still here. I'm a decent man, just trying to take care of the people who rely on me.

Ellie

You're their leader?

Wasn't my choice; it was theirs, but... yes.

Ellie

They chose to follow you. Is this some weird cult thing?

Uh... Well, you sorta kinda got me there, I am a preacher. But just pretty standard Bible stuff. [off Ellie's look] What?

Ellie

The whole world ended and you still believe that shit.

I actually started believing after the world ended. Before that, I was a teacher -- Math. Taught kids about your age.

Ellie

So you went from teacher to preacher because, what, it fucking rhymes?

Yeah, exactly.

Ellie

But seriously...

Well, I found God after the apocalypse, which is either the best time or the worst time to find Him. Hard to say. But when the Pittsburgh QZ fell in '17, Fireflies and FEDRA... I left with a few others and that's how I ended up with our flock.

Ellie

You're a long way from Pittsburgh.

Yep, we'd settle somewhere and then raiders would come, so we'd move again. And as we wandered, we picked up new people along the way until... we ended up here.

Ellie

Well, your luck had to run out sooner or later.

Hm? "Luck"? There's no such thing as luck. No, I... I believe everything happens for a reason. [off Ellie's more incredulous look] It does! It does, I can prove it to you.

Ellie

Okay.

We didn't expect this winter to be so cruel; nothing'll grow, grain's been hard to find... So I sent four of our people to a nearby town to, to scavenge what they could. And only three of 'em came back. And the one that didn't was a father; he had a daughter just like you, and her dad was taken from her. Turns out, he was murdered by this crazy man -- and get this... That crazy man was travelling with a little girl.

You see? Everything happens for a reason.

For what it's worth, this is just deer meat, I swear.

Ellie

You're gonna chop me up into little pieces.

I'd rather not. Please, just tell me your name.

If you wanna judge me...

Ellie

Judge you?! You're eating people, you sick fuck!

...Yes. There are only a few of us that know, but I would've told you. Sooner or later. I guess "sooner".

Ellie

You're an animal.

Well, yes, we all are. That's sort of the point. It was a last resort, you think it doesn't shame me? But what was I supposed to do? Let them starve, these people who put their lives in my hands? Who e-- expect me to keep them safe? Who love me?

Ellie

Yeah, maybe!

You don't believe that. I don't think your friend would, either. Didn't he take another man's life to save yours?

Ellie

He was defending himself.

He was defending you. But you knew that. You see a lot. So do I. And you know what I see when I look at you? Me. You remind me of me. You're a natural leader, you're smart, loyal... violent.

Ellie

You don't know anything about me.

But I do. If I let you out of that cage right now? Put that knife of yours in your hand? You'd stick me in a second. You have a violent heart, and I should know. I've always had a violent heart. And I struggled with it for a long time, but then the world ended and I was shown the truth.

Ellie

Right. By God.

No. By Cordyceps. What does Cordyceps do, is it evil? No! It's fruitful, it multiplies; it feeds and protects its children, and it secures its future with violence if it must. And they would follow us... Lord knows I could use the help. Look what's happened. Think of what we could do together, as strong as we are? We'd make this place perfect. We'd grow, spread out, and we'd do whatever we needed for our people. [he approaches the cage, covering Ellie's with his own] Imagine the life we could give them. Imagine the life we could build.

Ellie

Oh.

You little cunt. Let's see what I go tell the others now.

Ellie

Ellie...

What?

Ellie

Tell them that Ellie is the little girl who broke your FUCKING FINGER!

How did you put it, hm? "Tiny little pieces"?

Ellie

Is this a FEDRA thing?

Joel

No. Army. They put these places up all around. First few days after the outbreak. Emergency medical camps. Obviously didn't last. They had me in one just like this.

Ellie

With Sarah?

Joel

No, she was gone already.

Ellie

Oh. So what was wrong with you?

Joel

[points to the scar on his head] It was for this.

Ellie

Ah, the guy who shot and missed? I figure that would've happened later.

Joel

Nope. Second day.

Ellie

Well, I gotta hand it to the army people, they were way better at stitching you up than I was...

Joel

It was me. [Ellie turns to look back at him] I was the guy who shot and missed.

Joel

There's no story. Sarah died, and I couldn't see the point anymore. Simple as that. And I wasn't scared either. I was ready. I couldn't have been more ready. And when I... when I... [motions] went to pull the trigger, I flinched. Still don't know why. Anyway, the reason I'm telling you all this is -

Ellie

I know why you're telling me all this.

Joel

Yeah, I reckon you do.

Ellie

So time heals all wounds, I guess?

Joel

[turns to look at her] It wasn't time that did it.

Ellie

[tearfully] I'm glad that... that didn't work out.

Joel

Me too. [dries his eyes]

Ellie

We should probably get going.

Joel

Yup.

Ellie

What's everyone doing?

Council put the entire town on alert. Last night, Kylie and Max found a pile of dead infected near Seven Cabins. Frozen stiff.

Ellie

Okay?

They didn't think anything of it, until 30 live ones broke through from underneath the corpses. They're using their own dead like insulation.

Ellie

Thirty? Fuck. They okay?

Yeah. Sprinted back on their horses. Sent a squad out to clear the infected, but now we're thinking we don't know how many are underneath the snow. Could be 30 more. Could be a thousand more.

Ellie

A thousand? Get the fuck outta here.

[chuckling] Ah yes, certainty masquerading as knowledge. It's very Ellie of you.

Ellie

Suck my dick.

Also, somebody told the council a ghost story about the world's smartest infected, and now everybody's spooked out of their minds.

Ellie

[irritated] It wasn't a ghost story. You know, no offence man, I'm gonna do my patrol with Joel.

Umm... yes, offence, 'cuz that's the one person you've been avoiding like the plague.

Ellie

Well, we're better now, okay?

As of when? Cuz last night-

Ellie

[shouting] Yeah, I know what happened last night. Can you shut the fu... [catches herself and calms down] My shit with Joel is complicated. I know that. From the outside, it probably looks really bad. It has been really bad. But I'm still me, and he's still Joel, and we... And nothing's ever gonna change that, ever. So you can all stop talking about us, worrying about us, and thinking about us, alright?

So you two hashed it out? [Ellie gives him a look that says "what did I just say?"] Uh... alright.

I said that Joel meant so much to so many of us. But he wasn't the only one. I lost my sister that day. A lot of people in here buried family. And now you wanna send, what, you're saying 16 of our best? Well, while they're gone, who's gonna be on the wall if Raiders come? A wall that's barely mended. And none of you up there can promise us that all 16 will come back. So, my heart is with you, Tommy, and Ellie. But we are too hurt, and it is too soon.

Thank you, Rachel. [she gets down from her chair] Next is Carlisle.

I'll be quick, cuz this one's simple to me. People came and killed Joel. So why wouldn't we wanna take our vengeance? Well, because we're not supposed to. Forgive, and be forgiven. No grudges, no revenge. And I'm not even a Christian. I've always seen wisdom in that. That's what separates us from the Raiders and the murderers. Our capacity for mercy.

Those sons of bitches don't deserve our mercy.

Well, of course they don't deserve it. That's what makes it mercy.

Well, to hell with that! [rising] And to hell with you for saying it, Carlisle!"

Seth, sit down.

No!

You're not on the list!

[shouting] No! What the hell are we all talking about, here? Boo-hoo, it's not fair. What, we gotta forgive everybody when they show up and piss in our eye? They came into our house! They took one of ours! My God, somebody shoots your brother, you wanna take the locks off your doors!? Grow up! You idiots, they'll come back. They'll come back because we didn't make 'em pay! And when they come back, they'll be laughing! And you'll all deserve it. Bunch of... goddamn victims. [He sits down].

Ellie?

Ellie

[gets to her feet, takes a piece of paper and begins to read] I normally don't write things down, because I normally don't think before I talk. Which has gotten me in trouble before, a lot. And it's cost me in ways that sometimes couldn't be undone. But I can't afford that right now, because I know what I'm asking is a lot. I'm asking us to risk more people and resources, and at the worst possible time. And I want everyone to know it's not because I want revenge. It's not. It's not about revenge. [looking directly at Maria] What I want is what you used to give people. I want justice. Because it's either that, or we do nothing. That's what everyone else out there is going to do for us. Nothing. A whole world of people who won't lift a finger if something bad happens to me or you. We have a word for these people. They're called strangers. Well, I don't think we're strangers to each other. And I wanna know that I can count on you. And I swear, if anyone hurts any of you, or the people you love, you can count on me. [Gail smiles, unconvinced] That's what holds all this together. Not potluck dinners or New Year's Eve dances. Definitely not a wall, because that thing got busted through. But Jackson is still here! I'll accept whatever the council decides. But I am asking you, please... Do what it takes to see that justice is done. Not for me. Not even for Joel. I am asking you, please, do it for us.

Ellie

Why now?

I thought you were gone. And then all of a sudden, this future I was imagining... wasn't gonna happen. Where we're together, and we have a kid, and... I don't even know if you want that.

Ellie

I want it with you.

I'm sorry it took so long. I knew how you felt about me.

Ellie

[surprised] How? I was hiding it really well.

[laughing] No, you kind of fucking weren't. I'm sorry! I wanted to.

Ellie

Yeah?

When I was little, I told my mother I liked boys, and I liked girls. And she said, "No, you like boys." And it just... I got... stuck. Even after she died, it... I tried to make things work with Jesse, because I like him. I do, I think he's a really good guy. But he wasn't the one. Still kept trying anyway. Couldn't let myself just... be.

Ellie

You were scared.

Not everyone's as brave as you.

Ellie

I'm not brave. I'm just obvious.

[coughing] You stupid bitch. Spores! We're breathing spores. We're infected. You killed us both.

Ellie

Did I?

You're... you're her. The immune girl. You're... You're real.

Ellie

Yeah. Where's Abby?

Don't you know what he did?

Ellie

I don't care.

[indignant] You don't care? He killed... everyone in that hospital. Including the only fucking person alive that could make a cure from you. That was Abby's father. And Joel... Joel shot him in the head. That's what he did.

Ellie

I know.

Ellie

Where's Abby?

[coughing, and slumping back to the floor] No.

Ellie

Where is she?

No.

Ellie

Where is she?

No!

Ellie

WHERE IS SHE!?

Ellie

What are you drinking?

Joel

Coffee.

Ellie

Where'd you get it?

Joel

Um... The people that came through last week. I'm a little embarrassed for what I traded to get it, but it's not bad.

Ellie

[referring to their earlier confrontation] I had Seth under control.

Joel

Yeah, I know.

Ellie

And I don't wanna ever hear about you taking me off patrol again.

Joel

Okay. [Another long pause] So, Dina... Is she your girlfriend now?

Ellie

No. No, she... It was just one kiss. Didn't mean anything. I don't know why she did that.

Joel

But... you do like her?

Ellie

[sighs. To herself] I'm so stupid.

Joel

Look, I don't know what Dina's intentions are, but... well, she'd be lucky to have you.

Ellie

[turning to look at him, her tone now more confrontational] You're such an asshole. You lied to me. You looked me in the eyes, and you lied, and it was the same face. The same fucking look. But I think I knew already. I knew this whole time. So, I'm gonna give you one last chance. Tell me what happened with the Fireflies. If you lie to me again, we're done. [His face crumpling, Joel nods] Were there other immune people? [Joel takes a moment, but finally shakes his head] Were there raiders? [he shakes his head again] Could they have made a cure? [Joel visibly struggles, but finally nods. Ellie, shattered, begins to cry herself] Did you...? [Without needing her to finish, Joel nods again] And Marlene? [He nods again, and Ellie begins to breathe heavily as the emotion overwhelms her]

Joel

Makin' a cure... would've killed you.

Ellie

Then I was supposed to die! That was my purpose! My life would've fucking mattered! But you took that from me! You took it from everyone.

Joel

Yes. And I'll pay the price... because you're gonna turn away from me. But if somehow, I had a second chance at that moment... I would do it all over again.

Ellie

[bitterly] Because you're selfish.

Joel

[in a choked voice] Because I love you. In a way you... you can't understand. Maybe you never will. But if that day should come... If you should ever have one of your own... well, then... I hope you do a little better than me.

Ellie

[takes a deep breath] I don't think I can forgive you for this. But I would like to try.

You hear that? It's in the right direction.

[concurrently] I don't see an easy way north, but if he got there, it means we can too. [when Ellie doesn't respond] Ellie?

Ellie

[whispering] The wheel. The whale.

What?

Ellie

She's in the fucking aquarium!

Who?

Ellie

Abby! The one who killed Joel, she's in the aquarium! [Jesse looks at her in disbelief] It's too far to swim, we need a boat-

What are you talking about!?

Ellie

What?

[points] Ellie, Tommy's over there. That's where we're goin'.

Ellie

You don't know that's him.

Yes we do!

Ellie

We don't, and even if it is, he's got them pinned down.

For now. They called for backup!

Ellie

Then he'll pin more of them down. I know him! He would want me to do this! Jesus Christ, if three more people had voted with you, you'd be coming with me!

[pause] I voted 'No'.

Ellie

[stunned, and enraged] Why?

Because everything you do, you do for you.

Ellie

Oh my God.

Ellie.

Ellie

Oh my God.

Ellie! It wasn't the best interests of the community...

Ellie

[exploding] FUCK THE COMMUNITY! All you do is talk about the fucking community, you hypocrite! You think you're good, and I'm bad? You let a kid die today, Jesse, because why? He wasn't in your community? [Advancing on him] Let me tell you about my community. My community was beaten to death in front of me while I was forced to fucking watch! So don't look at me like you're better than me, or like you'd do anything differently if you were in my shoes, because you're not, and you wouldn't.

[angry, but resigned] I really hope you make it.