Footloose Quotes
City teenager Ren MacCormack moves to a small town where rock music and dancing have been banned, and his rebellious spirit shakes up the populace.
Ren: You like Men at Work?
Willard: Which man?
Ren: Men at Work.
Willard: Well where do they work?
Ren: No, they don't, they're a music group.
Willard: Well what do they call themselves?
Ren: Oh no! What about the Police?
Willard: What about 'em?
Ren: You ever heard them?
Willard: No, but I seen them.
Ren: Where, in concert?
Willard: No, behind you.
Willard: Which man?
Ren: Men at Work.
Willard: Well where do they work?
Ren: No, they don't, they're a music group.
Willard: Well what do they call themselves?
Ren: Oh no! What about the Police?
Willard: What about 'em?
Ren: You ever heard them?
Willard: No, but I seen them.
Ren: Where, in concert?
Willard: No, behind you.
Ren: [addressing the town council, reading from his notes in the Bible] "From the oldest of times, people danced for a number of reasons. They danced in prayer... or so that their crops would be plentiful... or so their hunt would be good. And they danced to stay physically fit... and show their community spirit. And they danced to celebrate." And that is the dancing we're talking about. Aren't we told in Psalm 149 "Praise ye the Lord. Sing unto the Lord a new song. Let them praise His name in the dance"? And it was King David - King David, who we read about in Samuel - and what did David do? What did David do?
[paging frantically through Bible]
Ren: What *did* David do?
[audience laughs]
Ren: "David danced before the Lord with all his might... leaping and dancing before the Lord."
[smacks table in front of Reverend Moore]
Ren: *Leaping* and *dancing*.
[stands up straight]
Ren: Ecclesiastes assures us... that there is a time for every purpose under heaven. A time to laugh... and a time to weep. A time to mourn... and there is a time to dance. And there was a time for this law, but not anymore. See, this is our time to dance. It is our way of celebrating life. It's the way it was in the beginning. It's the way it's always been. It's the way it should be now.
[paging frantically through Bible]
Ren: What *did* David do?
[audience laughs]
Ren: "David danced before the Lord with all his might... leaping and dancing before the Lord."
[smacks table in front of Reverend Moore]
Ren: *Leaping* and *dancing*.
[stands up straight]
Ren: Ecclesiastes assures us... that there is a time for every purpose under heaven. A time to laugh... and a time to weep. A time to mourn... and there is a time to dance. And there was a time for this law, but not anymore. See, this is our time to dance. It is our way of celebrating life. It's the way it was in the beginning. It's the way it's always been. It's the way it should be now.
Ren MacCormack: [addressing the town council] I wasn't here three years ago, when tragedy struck this town. And I know it's not my place to mourn the lives that were lost because I didn't know them. But it doesn't mean that I don't think about them every day. Like a lot of students at Bomont, I see those pictures every day at school. And each time I see their faces, I think of how precious life is and how quickly it can be taken from us. I know this firsthand... in my own way. And three years ago, nearly a dozen laws were introduced to this council in order to protect the children of Bomont. And most of these laws, I can see, as a parent, how they make sense to you. But my right to dance... when I want, where I want, and how I want is a right that you cannot take away! It is mine. See, we don't have that much time left. All us teenagers, pretty soon we're gonna be just like you. We're gonna have jobs, and bills, and families. And we're gonna have to worry about our own children, because that is the job of a parent. To worry. I get that. But ours, as teenagers, is to live! To play our music way too loud and to act like idiots! And to make mistakes. Aren't we told in Psalm 149: "Praise the Lord. Sing unto the Lord a new song. And let them praise His name in the dance." Now if anybody else brought their Bible, like I did, will you please turn it into the Book of Samuel, 6:14. "David... David danced before the Lord with all his might, leaping and dancing before the Lord." Celebrating his love of God and celebrating his love of life. With what? With dancing! That's all we're doing here. Ecclesiastes assures us, "There is a time for each purpose under heaven. There's a time to weep. There's a time to mourn. And there is a time to dance." And this is our time! There was once a time for that law, but not anymore. Thank you.
Ariel Moore: I have been so lost! I've been losing my mind! And you don't ever see it! You don't even care!
Rev. Shaw Moore: Of course I care. Of course we care. We don't expect you to understand everything we do that's intended to keep you safe.
Ariel Moore: Stop it! I hate it when you treat me like I'm a child!
Rev. Shaw Moore: Well, whether you like it or not, young lady! You are my child!
Ariel Moore: I'm not even a virgin!
Rev. Shaw Moore: Please... Please don't talk like that in here.
Ariel Moore: Well, what are you gonna do? Pass another law? 'Cause that sure as hell didn't keep him out of my panties!
Rev. Shaw Moore: Of course I care. Of course we care. We don't expect you to understand everything we do that's intended to keep you safe.
Ariel Moore: Stop it! I hate it when you treat me like I'm a child!
Rev. Shaw Moore: Well, whether you like it or not, young lady! You are my child!
Ariel Moore: I'm not even a virgin!
Rev. Shaw Moore: Please... Please don't talk like that in here.
Ariel Moore: Well, what are you gonna do? Pass another law? 'Cause that sure as hell didn't keep him out of my panties!
Ariel Moore: I can see how that works out for you, just blame everything on Ren. Just like you blamed everything on Bobby.
Rev. Shaw Moore: What?
Ariel Moore: Bobby spent his whole life trying to make you proud. He made good grades, he went to church every Sunday and God help him because he made one mistake. Now nobody remembers the good things about Bobby, all they remember is that damn accident! Why don't we have a school dance? It's because of Bobby! Why do we have this stupid curfew? Because of Bobby! Bobby is to blame for all this bullshit!
Rev. Shaw Moore: You lower your voice! Talk in a civil tongue!
Ariel Moore: What? Isn't this my church? Isn't it? Isn't this where we're supposed to talk about our problems? It's been three damn years, so why don't we start talking?
Rev. Shaw Moore: What?
Ariel Moore: Bobby spent his whole life trying to make you proud. He made good grades, he went to church every Sunday and God help him because he made one mistake. Now nobody remembers the good things about Bobby, all they remember is that damn accident! Why don't we have a school dance? It's because of Bobby! Why do we have this stupid curfew? Because of Bobby! Bobby is to blame for all this bullshit!
Rev. Shaw Moore: You lower your voice! Talk in a civil tongue!
Ariel Moore: What? Isn't this my church? Isn't it? Isn't this where we're supposed to talk about our problems? It's been three damn years, so why don't we start talking?
Ariel Moore: What was all that?
Ren MacCormack: What was all what?
Ariel Moore: [waving her arms, laughs] All that!
Ren MacCormack: I was just letting off some steam. I'm sure you have your own wicked ways.
Ariel Moore: You think I'm a slut or something?
Ren MacCormack: I think you've been kissed a lot.
Ren MacCormack: What was all what?
Ariel Moore: [waving her arms, laughs] All that!
Ren MacCormack: I was just letting off some steam. I'm sure you have your own wicked ways.
Ariel Moore: You think I'm a slut or something?
Ren MacCormack: I think you've been kissed a lot.
Ren: I'll tell you, there was this place called the Blue Heaven. It was great. Had to steal IDs to get in, but it was incredible. It was like a huge underground circus, you know. Hot pink neon climbin' up the walls. And astro music. And millions of girls, like from the university mostly. If we could get one to dance, just one, then that was it. We'd get out on the floor and we'd really start to smoke. We'd start cuttin' in, and these girls would stop. - And they'd look.
Willard: They'd look how?
Ren: You know, they'd start to warm up a little. Right? Pretty soon, they'd start buying us beers.
Willard: They're buying you guys beers?
Ren: Oh, yeah. Wait. There was this one. This was the best. Ginger. Listen. We started dancing, right? Slow dancing, like we're stuck to each other. Eventually it's obvious to me that she wants to do more than dance. Right? So we left the place. On the way to the car, she's already got her tongue in my ear. We get to the car. She says we can't go to her place 'cause of her roommate, right? But she says, ''Hey, that's no problem.'' She's got seats in the car that recline back. All the way back. - If you know what I'm saying. - All the way? Would I shit you? Right? She rips my shirt open. She's clawing my chest. She's biting my neck, and I'm trying to get over the stick shift... 'cause we're goin' like a freight train now. All of a sudden, she starts screaming at the top of her lungs... ''Oh, God! Oh, God! Don't stop! Make Ginger pop!''
Willard: Oh, shit, really?
Ren: [laughs] No!
[Willard looks confused]
Ren: But we did dance. We danced our asses off.
Willard: They'd look how?
Ren: You know, they'd start to warm up a little. Right? Pretty soon, they'd start buying us beers.
Willard: They're buying you guys beers?
Ren: Oh, yeah. Wait. There was this one. This was the best. Ginger. Listen. We started dancing, right? Slow dancing, like we're stuck to each other. Eventually it's obvious to me that she wants to do more than dance. Right? So we left the place. On the way to the car, she's already got her tongue in my ear. We get to the car. She says we can't go to her place 'cause of her roommate, right? But she says, ''Hey, that's no problem.'' She's got seats in the car that recline back. All the way back. - If you know what I'm saying. - All the way? Would I shit you? Right? She rips my shirt open. She's clawing my chest. She's biting my neck, and I'm trying to get over the stick shift... 'cause we're goin' like a freight train now. All of a sudden, she starts screaming at the top of her lungs... ''Oh, God! Oh, God! Don't stop! Make Ginger pop!''
Willard: Oh, shit, really?
Ren: [laughs] No!
[Willard looks confused]
Ren: But we did dance. We danced our asses off.
Rev. Shaw Moore: I am standing before you today with a troubled heart. I've insisted on taking responsibility for your lives. That I am really, just like a first-time parent, who makes mistakes and learns as he goes along. And like that parent, I find myself at that moment when I have to decide. Do I hold on or do I trust you to yourselves? Do I let go and hope that you have understood my lessons? If we don't start trusting our children, how will they ever become trustworthy. I'm told that the senior class of Bomont High School has secured the use of a warehouse in nearby Bayson for a senior dance. Please join me in keeping them in our prayers that our Lord would guide them in their endeavors.
[first lines]
Rev. Shaw Moore: *He* is testing us. Our Lord is testing us. Especially now, when we are consumed with despair. When we are asking our God why this had to happen. No parent should ever have to know the horror of burying their own child. And yet, five of Bomont's brightest have lost their lives. Among them, my only son... my boy, Bobby. We have other children to raise here in Bomont. And one day, they will no longer be in our embrace and in our care. They will belong to the world. A world filled with evil, and temptation, and danger. But until that day, they are ours to protect. That is the lesson to be taken from this tragedy. That is our test. We cannot be missing from our children's lives.
Rev. Shaw Moore: *He* is testing us. Our Lord is testing us. Especially now, when we are consumed with despair. When we are asking our God why this had to happen. No parent should ever have to know the horror of burying their own child. And yet, five of Bomont's brightest have lost their lives. Among them, my only son... my boy, Bobby. We have other children to raise here in Bomont. And one day, they will no longer be in our embrace and in our care. They will belong to the world. A world filled with evil, and temptation, and danger. But until that day, they are ours to protect. That is the lesson to be taken from this tragedy. That is our test. We cannot be missing from our children's lives.
Reverend Shaw Moore: I'm standing up here before you today... with a very troubled heart. You see, my friends... I've always insisted on... taking responsibility for your lives. But, I'm really... like a first-time parent... who makes mistakes... and tries to learn from them. And like that parent... I find myself at that moment when I have to decide. Do I hold on... or do I trust you to yourselves? Let go and hope that you've understood... at least some of my lessons. If we don't start trusting our children... how will they ever become trustworthy? I'm told that the senior class at the high school... has gotten use of the warehouse in Bayson... for the purpose of putting on a senior dance. Please... join me to pray to the Lord to guide them in their endeavors.
Reverend Shaw Moore: [discussing Ariel] We're losing her, Vi. Don't you see that?
Vi Moore: No. I see you chasing after her and I see her running from you.
Reverend Shaw Moore: She's become so willful, so obstinate.
Vi Moore: She's like her father. The two of you were so wonderful once. You had so much to talk about. I was almost jealous.
Reverend Shaw Moore: It's not as if we don't talk. It's just that sometimes people run out of things to say.
Vi Moore: Shaw, it's 20 years now I've been a minister's wife. And I've been quiet, supportive, unobtrusive and after 20 years I still think you're a wonderful, a wonderful preacher. You can lift a congregation up so high they have to look down to see heaven. But it's the one to one where you need a little work.
Vi Moore: No. I see you chasing after her and I see her running from you.
Reverend Shaw Moore: She's become so willful, so obstinate.
Vi Moore: She's like her father. The two of you were so wonderful once. You had so much to talk about. I was almost jealous.
Reverend Shaw Moore: It's not as if we don't talk. It's just that sometimes people run out of things to say.
Vi Moore: Shaw, it's 20 years now I've been a minister's wife. And I've been quiet, supportive, unobtrusive and after 20 years I still think you're a wonderful, a wonderful preacher. You can lift a congregation up so high they have to look down to see heaven. But it's the one to one where you need a little work.
Reverend Shaw Moore: Were you drinking?
Ariel: No.
Reverend Shaw Moore: Smoking something?
Ariel: No! I wasn't stealing, I wasn't gambling, I wasn't dancing, I wasn't reading books I'm not supposed to! I am late!
Reverend Shaw Moore: Who were you with?
Ariel: Ren McCormick.
Reverend Shaw Moore: I don't want you to see him anymore.
Ariel: Why not?
Reverend Shaw Moore: Because I've heard he's a troublemaker.
Ariel: Just because he hasn't lived in this town for 20 years doesn't make him a troublemaker!
Reverend Shaw Moore: Ariel, I don't know what I'm going to do with you.
Ariel: There ain't nothing to *do* with me, Daddy. You like it or not, this is it. It doesn't get much better.
Ariel: No.
Reverend Shaw Moore: Smoking something?
Ariel: No! I wasn't stealing, I wasn't gambling, I wasn't dancing, I wasn't reading books I'm not supposed to! I am late!
Reverend Shaw Moore: Who were you with?
Ariel: Ren McCormick.
Reverend Shaw Moore: I don't want you to see him anymore.
Ariel: Why not?
Reverend Shaw Moore: Because I've heard he's a troublemaker.
Ariel: Just because he hasn't lived in this town for 20 years doesn't make him a troublemaker!
Reverend Shaw Moore: Ariel, I don't know what I'm going to do with you.
Ariel: There ain't nothing to *do* with me, Daddy. You like it or not, this is it. It doesn't get much better.
Mr. Gurntz: He was trying to teach *that* book down at the school.
Mrs. Allyson: Slaughterhouse-Five, isn't that an awful name?
Ren: Yeah it's a great book... Slaughterhouse-Five, it's a classic.
Mr. Gurntz: Do you read much?
Mrs. Allyson: Maybe in another town, it's a classic.
Ren: In *any* town.
Mr. Gurntz: Tom Sawyer is a classic!
Mrs. Allyson: Slaughterhouse-Five, isn't that an awful name?
Ren: Yeah it's a great book... Slaughterhouse-Five, it's a classic.
Mr. Gurntz: Do you read much?
Mrs. Allyson: Maybe in another town, it's a classic.
Ren: In *any* town.
Mr. Gurntz: Tom Sawyer is a classic!
Wes: It seems that a lot of people are pointing the finger in your direction lately.
Ren: And what have they said?
Wes: What I have been telling you about the trouble and the drugs and... It just seems like you've had a lot of problems since you moved here. And I figured...
Ren: You figured where there's smoke there's fire, right?
Wes: Usually works like that. Now look Ren, you know that I would never try to take the place of your father.
Ren: Yeah well, there's no chance of that!
[Gets up and leaves the house]
Lulu: Ren!
Sarah: [Running over to the window] Uh oh, he's taking the car.
Ren: And what have they said?
Wes: What I have been telling you about the trouble and the drugs and... It just seems like you've had a lot of problems since you moved here. And I figured...
Ren: You figured where there's smoke there's fire, right?
Wes: Usually works like that. Now look Ren, you know that I would never try to take the place of your father.
Ren: Yeah well, there's no chance of that!
[Gets up and leaves the house]
Lulu: Ren!
Sarah: [Running over to the window] Uh oh, he's taking the car.
Vi Moore: None of this is going to undue one stupid accident.
Reverend Shaw Moore: I'm responsible for the spiritual life of this community.
Vi Moore: Shaw, you can't be a father to everybody. You can't do that.
Reverend Shaw Moore: I thought that at least *you* believed in me.
Vi Moore: [whispering] I never stopped.
Reverend Shaw Moore: I'm responsible for the spiritual life of this community.
Vi Moore: Shaw, you can't be a father to everybody. You can't do that.
Reverend Shaw Moore: I thought that at least *you* believed in me.
Vi Moore: [whispering] I never stopped.
Reverend Shaw Moore: Even if this was not a law, which it is, I'm afraid I would have a lot of difficulty endorsing an enterprise which is as fraught with genuine peril as I believe this one to be. Besides the liquor and the drugs which always seem to accompany such an event the thing that distresses me even more, Ren, is the spiritual corruption that can be involved. These dances and this kind of music can be destructive, and, uh, Ren, I'm afraid you're going to find most of the people in our community are gonna agree with me on this.
Willard: You know what it is, you've got an attitude problem.
Ren: Oh I've got an attitude problem?
Willard: Yes and I'm not the first one that's noticed it. I mean we're not stuck in the goddamn middle ages here. I mean we've got TV. We've got Family Feud. We're not stuck in Leave It to Beaver land here.
Ren: Well I haven't noticed a wet T-shirt contest in town yet.
Willard: Yeah well I haven't either, but I'm waiting. Patiently.
Ren: I tell what I'd like to do - I'd like to fold a Playboy centerfold inside every one of Reverend Moore's hymnbooks!
Ren: Oh I've got an attitude problem?
Willard: Yes and I'm not the first one that's noticed it. I mean we're not stuck in the goddamn middle ages here. I mean we've got TV. We've got Family Feud. We're not stuck in Leave It to Beaver land here.
Ren: Well I haven't noticed a wet T-shirt contest in town yet.
Willard: Yeah well I haven't either, but I'm waiting. Patiently.
Ren: I tell what I'd like to do - I'd like to fold a Playboy centerfold inside every one of Reverend Moore's hymnbooks!
Wes: Seems that a bunch of kids was raising some hell over at Burlington Cranton's property a few days back. Tore up the fields, turned over a tractor and everything. Today someone suggested to me there's been some trouble up at the high school. I think it was drugs. You don't happen to know anything about that, do you.
Ren: [Quietly] No.
Wes: What was that? I can't hear you.
Amy: He said no.
Lulu: Amy.
Ren: I said no, sir.
Ren: [Quietly] No.
Wes: What was that? I can't hear you.
Amy: He said no.
Lulu: Amy.
Ren: I said no, sir.
