Head of State Quotes
When a presidential candidate dies unexpectedly in the middle of the campaign, Washington, D.C. alderman, Mays Gilliam is unexpectedly picked as his replacement.
Martin Geller: Look, one thing at a time. The Teamsters haven't endorsed Lewis yet. Our numbers are creeping back up, but if you want a real shot at this thing, we gotta get Lewis to debate.
Mays Gilliam: Well, he knows that. That's why he won't debate me. The guy's avoiding me like he owes me child support.
Mays Gilliam: Well, he knows that. That's why he won't debate me. The guy's avoiding me like he owes me child support.
Mays Gilliam: [on a bullhorn outside Lewis's office] Yo, Lewis! Your mother's ass is so big, when she sits down, she's three feet taller! Yo, Lewis!
Advisor: Sir, I think it's time we prepare for a debate.
Brian Lewis: Aw, give me one good reason I should debate that jerk.
Advisor: [distressed] He talked about your mother, sir!
Brian Lewis: So what?
Lewis' mother: [Lewis's mother enters and slaps him] Are you going to just let him talk about me like that?
Advisor: Sir, I think it's time we prepare for a debate.
Brian Lewis: Aw, give me one good reason I should debate that jerk.
Advisor: [distressed] He talked about your mother, sir!
Brian Lewis: So what?
Lewis' mother: [Lewis's mother enters and slaps him] Are you going to just let him talk about me like that?
Debra Lassiter: That's exactly what we wanted to talk to you about.
Martin Geller: We'd like you to run for President.
Mays Gilliam: Of what?
Martin Geller: The United States.
Mays Gilliam: Of what?
Martin Geller: Of America.
Mays Gilliam: Which America?
Debra Lassiter: NORTH... America, Mays.
Mays Gilliam: Get out of here.
Martin Geller: We'd like you to run for President.
Mays Gilliam: Of what?
Martin Geller: The United States.
Mays Gilliam: Of what?
Martin Geller: Of America.
Mays Gilliam: Which America?
Debra Lassiter: NORTH... America, Mays.
Mays Gilliam: Get out of here.
Mays Gilliam: Where are we on this running mate thing?
Debra Lassiter: I've been making calls. Nobody wants to run with you.
Mays Gilliam: Well, who'd you call?
Debra Lassiter: Everybody.
Mays Gilliam: Did you call Hammer?
Debra Lassiter: [Irritated] No, I did not call Hammer.
Mays Gilliam: Well, then you didn't call everybody.
Debra Lassiter: I've been making calls. Nobody wants to run with you.
Mays Gilliam: Well, who'd you call?
Debra Lassiter: Everybody.
Mays Gilliam: Did you call Hammer?
Debra Lassiter: [Irritated] No, I did not call Hammer.
Mays Gilliam: Well, then you didn't call everybody.
[Mays is trying to save an old woman from a house that is about to be demolished]
Mays Gilliam: Miss Pearl! You gotta get outta here. They're gonna blow this place up.
Miss Pearl: [Miss Pearl is stroking her cat, relieved that she found it] Oh, they wouldn't do that, would they? When they know we're in here.
Mays Gilliam: Miss Pearl, I love you. I've known you a long time. You've seen a lot of things in your life. You've seen churches burned to the ground. You've seen dogs sicced on children. You've seen Malcolm X killed. You've seen JFK killed. They shut up Muhammad Ali. They shut up Richard Prior. They gave Magic Johnson. They even turned Michael Jackson white! Now, do you really think these people give a damn about you?
Mays Gilliam: Miss Pearl! You gotta get outta here. They're gonna blow this place up.
Miss Pearl: [Miss Pearl is stroking her cat, relieved that she found it] Oh, they wouldn't do that, would they? When they know we're in here.
Mays Gilliam: Miss Pearl, I love you. I've known you a long time. You've seen a lot of things in your life. You've seen churches burned to the ground. You've seen dogs sicced on children. You've seen Malcolm X killed. You've seen JFK killed. They shut up Muhammad Ali. They shut up Richard Prior. They gave Magic Johnson. They even turned Michael Jackson white! Now, do you really think these people give a damn about you?
