Monica quotes from Touched by an Angel

Monica

[listening to music at a CD store] People listen to this voluntarily?

Tess

Monica, one generation never understands the music of the following generation.

Sandy

You're grounded for two weeks.

What?

Sandy

One week for fighting and one week for lying to me.

That means I miss the prom. The only senior prom I'll ever go to, ever.

Sandy

Okay. You're grounded except to go to the prom.

Then how am I going to buy my dress?

Sandy

Fine. You're grounded except to buy your dress and go to the prom.

No one's even asked me to go yet.

Sandy

What are we talking about?

Mom!

Sandy

Claire!

Monica

Excuse me, but I think in order for Claire to be asked to the prom, she has to be somewhere where there are boys.

Yeah. That's right.

Sandy

Okay. You're grounded after the prom.

I don't know what I'm doing here. It just hurt so bad I had to do something. I wanted to make her hurt as much as I did.

Monica

And you succeeded. But do you feel any better now? [Claire shakes her head] Claire, bad things are always going to happen in this life and people will hurt you but you can't use that as an excuse to fail or hurt someone in return because you just hurt yourself. God loves you. And He loves your mother. And it hurts to see both of you in so much pain.

Both of us?

Monica

Your mother has been hurting for a long time. And she's been trying so hard to provide for you and protect you that she's ... she's pushed her own pain aside. Yes, she has to learn to understand what you're feeling. But you have to try and understand what she needs as well.

I never thought of her as being in pain before.

Monica

The day comes in every daughter's life when she sees her mother not as a mother but as another woman with a heart that can be broken. This is that day for you.

Monica

(sighs) Variety is the spice of life.

Tess

Evil thrives when good men do nothing.

Monica

Who said that?

Tess

A music lover.

Monica

So my assignment is just a little bit of paperwork, huh?

Tess

Oh, it's an "Angel walk in, angel lend a helping hand, angel walk out." It's a "Who's that mysterious stranger?" thing. It's a piece of cake.

Monica

Aren't you afraid about all this?

Of course I am but I only have two choices. Quit or keep going, and I'm not gonna quit so that leaves keep going.

Sam

Tess walked into a room controlled by evil. Evil so powerful it can make you fight against it on its own terms, disarm you with your own hate.

Monica

I can't imagine hating anyone.

Sam

Neither could Tess.

Please. Don't ask me. I don't want to get involved.

Monica

And you think that will keep you safe? Whoever set that bomb is going to burn the house down. Just in case the wind changes, I hope the flames next door remember that you don't want to get involved.

Now wait a minute! I'm not a bad person. It's just that...

Monica

Evil thrives when good men do nothing.

Monica

So, Tim, let me get this straight. He used your fear and your pain and your hate and talked you into killing somebody? So then where does he get his power from, huh? Ah! I guess he gets it from you.

Tess

That darn free will.

God screwed up. Free will is a curse.

Tess

Free will is a gift. And love is a choice. And hate leaves you no choice but you've got a choice here, Tim. Monica and Sam and I just have the power to reveal him to you. But you can make him go away. He can't stay any longer than you let him. God loves you, Tim. And He wants you back.

Let me just ask you one thing. Why? Why did He do this to me? Why did I do to deserve this?

Monica

Nothing. Megan, you've done nothing. This is not a punishment. God hasn't done this to you. God didn't set this journey in motion. He's just as angry as you are that you have to walk this road. But He promises you this, Megan. He will walk this road with you and He will be there for you when you reach the end of it. God loves you. The love has always been there for you. All any of you needed was the courage to hold onto it.

Monica

[Holding a toad] I think this is one of the ugliest things I've ever seen.

Tess

Well, I suppose he is if that's all you're looking at.

Monica

He?

Tess

Yeah, that's Jerome. He's got a name and a heart and warts. I guess the warts are all you can see.

Monica

This isn't one of those "Walk a mile in her shoes" things, is it?

Tess

Try stilettos.

Tess

I wish you hadn't brought that boy in here. He was not in the plan. No, sir!

Monica

Maybe the plan should change.

Tess

Well, who do you think you are, Ms. Wings? The last time I looked, I didn't see any bumper stickers that says "Smile, 'cause Monica loves you".

Monica

How can anybody expect me to stand aside while Emily needs help and her mother won't give it to her? I think the reason I'm here is for Emily and not for Ginger.

Tess

Dangerous waters, baby. Just because you don't like the horse is no excuse to start changing ponies midstream.

Tess

I hate to pry but what are you doing in here, Ms. Wings?

Monica

I'm returning this.

Tess

Benjy never wore his hair like that.

Monica

Oh...I thought I'd put it on the lost and found.

Tess

Angel, baby, you are so cute when you are naive.

Tess

Watch yourself. People get so strange when it comes to money. I don't know why they put so much faith in that little piece of paper.

Monica

It's because they can smell it, touch it and hold it in their hands.

Tess

That's not faith. That's just smelling, touching, holding something.

Monica

(About Max) That tattoo on his arm — was he in a concentration camp?

Tess

Auschwitz. He was six.

Monica

I volunteered to go there, but I never got assigned. I wish I had.

Tess

No, you don't. (pats her shoulder)