- Jim Stark: I woke up this morning, you know... and the sun was shining, and it was nice, and all that type of stuff. And the first thing, I saw you, and, uh, I said, "Boy, this is gonna be one terrific day, so you better live it up, because tomorrow you'll be nothing." You see? And I almost was.
- Jim Stark: If I had one day when I didn't have to be all confused and I didn't have to feel that I was ashamed of everything. If I felt that I belonged someplace. You know?
- Buzz Gunderson: You know something? I like you.
- Jim Stark: Why do we do this?
- Buzz Gunderson: You've gotta do something. Don't you?
- Buzz Gunderson: Oh he's real abstract. He's hm, he's different.
- Jim Stark: That's right. That's right. I'm cute too.
- Jim Stark: [looking up at stars in a planetarium] Once you been up there you know you've been someplace.
- Frank Stark: We give you love and affection, don't we? Well, then, what is it? Was it because we went to that party? Well, you know what kind of drunken brawls those kind of parties turn into. It's not a place for kids.
- Carol Stark: A minute ago, you said you didn't care if he drinks.
- Mrs. Stark: He said a little drink.
- Jim Stark: You're tearing me apart!
- Carol Stark: [shocked] What?
- Jim Stark: You, you say one thing, he says another, and everybody changes back again!
- Carol Stark: That's a fine way to behave!
- Mrs. Stark: Well, you know who he takes after.
- Buzz Gunderson: You ever been in a chickie-run?
- Jim Stark: Yeah, that's all I ever do.
- [Buzz leaves]
- Jim Stark: Plato, what's a chickie-run?
- Frank Stark: You'll learn. When you're older, Jim.
- Jim Stark: Well, I don't think that I want to learn that way.
- Carol Stark: Well, it doesn't matter anyway, because we're moving.
- Jim Stark: [grabbing his mother] You're not going to tear me loose again.
- Frank Stark: Well, this is news to me! Just why are we moving?
- Carol Stark: Oh, do I have to spell it out.
- Jim Stark: You are not going to use me as an excuse again!
- Carol Stark: I don't.
- Jim Stark: Everytime you can't face yourself, you blame it on me!
- Carol Stark: That is not true!
- Jim Stark: You say it's because of me, you say it's because of the neighborhood! You use every other phony excuse! Mom, I just... Once I want to do something right! And I don't want you to run away from me again! Dad.
- Frank Stark: This is all going too fast for me, son.
- Jim Stark: You better give me something. You better give me something fast.
- Carol Stark: Jimmy, you're very young. A foolish decision now could wreck you're whole life. In ten years, you'll never know this happened.
- Jim Stark: Dad, answer her. Tell her. Ten years. Dad, let me hear you answer her. Dad.
- Jim Stark: [as Mr. Stark sits quietly] Dad, stand up for me.
- Jim Stark: [grabbing his father and yanking him up as Mr. Stark still sits quietly] Stand up!
- Jim Stark: Did you make my sandwiches?
- Carol Stark: There's meatloaf and, peanut butter.
- [Jim laughs]
- Mrs. Stark: [condescendingly] What did I tell you? Peanut butter.
- Carol Stark: Well there's a thermos of orange juice and apple sauce cake to go with it.
- Mrs. Stark: [to Jim] And *I* made that.
- Jim Stark: [sitting down, hugging his father's legs helplessly] Help me!
- Frank Stark: Look, Jim. You can depend on me. Trust me. Whatever comes, we'll, we'll fix it together. I swear it. Now Jim, stand up. I'll stand up with you. I'll try and be as strong as you want me to be. Come on.
- [last lines]
- Jim Stark: Mom. Dad. This is Judy. She's my friend.
- Carol Stark: He's...
- [Frank speaks, overlapping so their words become unintelligible]
- Plato Crawford: I used to lay awake in my crib at night and listen to them fight.
- Jim Stark: Can you really remember back that far? I can't even remember what happened yesterday.
- Ray Fremick: Do you go by another name?
- Plato Crawford: They call me Plato.
- Crawford Family Maid: He was a Greek philosopher. They...
- [Plato turns away]
- Crawford Family Maid: You talk nice to the man, John, he's going to help you.
- Plato Crawford: Nobody can help me.
- Jim Stark: [pretending he and Judy are husband and wife] Now, would you like to rent or are you more in the mood to buy, dear?
- Judy: You decide, darling. Remember, our budget.
- Plato Crawford: [pretending to be the real estate agent] Oh, don't give it a second thought, it's, uh, only three million dollars a month.
- Jim Stark: What?
- Judy: Oh, we can afford it. I'll scrimp and I'll save and I'll work my fingers to the bone. You see, we're newlyweds... oh, there's just one more thing... what about...
- Plato Crawford: Children?
- Judy: Yes.
- Plato Crawford: Right this way, mind you, though, we don't encourage them. They're such a bother.
- Judy: Oh I quite agree, I just can't stand it when they cry. What do you do with them when they cry?
- Jim Stark: [in a voice somewhat like Mr. Magoo] Drown 'em like puppies, ha!
- Crawford Family Maid: [to Plato] You're shivering, John. Are you cold?
- Jim Stark: [to Plato as he gets up from his seat and takes his jacket off] You want my jacket?
- Police Chief: You know if the boy ever talked to a psychiatrist?
- Plato Crawford: You mean a head-shrinker?
- Crawford Family Maid: Oh, Mrs. Crawford don't believe in them, sir.
- Police Chief: Well, maybe she better start.
- Jim Stark: If he had guts to knock Mom cold once, then maybe she'd be happy and then she'd stop picking on him. Because they make mush out of him! Just mush!
- Frank Stark: I wouldn't make a hasty decision. Nobody can make a snap decision. We've got to consider the pros and cons, make a list, get advice... Have I ever stopped you from doing anything?
- Jim Stark: [referring to his parents] They think I can make friends if we move. Just move, everything will be roses and sunshine.
- Jim Stark: I don't think I want anything, I'm nervous.
- Frank Stark: My first day of school, I was so nervous, Mother made me eat so much, I couldn't swallow until recess.
- [first lines]
- First police officer: [to Jim at the police station] Get up, get up. Mixed up in that beating on Twelfth Street, huh?
- Second police officer: No. Plain drunkenness.