Pleasantville Quotes
Two 1990s teenagers find themselves in a 1950s sitcom where their influence begins to profoundly change that complacent world.
David's Mom: When your father was here, I used to think, "This was it. This is the way it was always going to be. I had the right house. I had the right car. I had the right life."
David: There is no right house. There is no right car.
David's Mom: God, my face must be a mess.
David: It looks great.
David's Mom: Honey, it's really sweet of you, but I'm sure it does not look "great."
David: Sure it does. Come here.
David's Mom: I'm 40 years old. I mean, it's not supposed to be like this.
David: It's not supposed to be anything. Hold still.
David's Mom: How'd you get so smart all of a sudden?
David: [long slow smile] I had a good day.
David: There is no right house. There is no right car.
David's Mom: God, my face must be a mess.
David: It looks great.
David's Mom: Honey, it's really sweet of you, but I'm sure it does not look "great."
David: Sure it does. Come here.
David's Mom: I'm 40 years old. I mean, it's not supposed to be like this.
David: It's not supposed to be anything. Hold still.
David's Mom: How'd you get so smart all of a sudden?
David: [long slow smile] I had a good day.
Betty Parker: Mary Sue?
Jennifer: Yeah?
Betty Parker: What goes on up at Lover's Lane?
Jennifer: What do you mean?
Betty Parker: Well, you hear these things lately... kids spending so much time up there. Uh, is it holding hands? That kind of thing?
Jennifer: Yeah! That and...
Betty Parker: What?
Jennifer: It doesn't matter.
Betty Parker: No, I wanna know.
Jennifer: Well, sex.
Betty Parker: Oh. What's sex?
Jennifer: Yeah?
Betty Parker: What goes on up at Lover's Lane?
Jennifer: What do you mean?
Betty Parker: Well, you hear these things lately... kids spending so much time up there. Uh, is it holding hands? That kind of thing?
Jennifer: Yeah! That and...
Betty Parker: What?
Jennifer: It doesn't matter.
Betty Parker: No, I wanna know.
Jennifer: Well, sex.
Betty Parker: Oh. What's sex?
Big Bob: [bangs the gavel] You're out of order!
David: Why am I out of order?
[approaches Big Bob]
Big Bob: Because I'm not gonna let you turn this courtroom into a circus!
David: Well, I don't think it's a circus, and I don't think they do, either.
[David turns to look at the crowd, where many of the black-and-white people are changing into color. There are gasps and murmurs. Jennifer grins]
Big Bob: [bangs the gavel] This behavior must stop at once.
David: But see? That's just the point! It can't stop at once, because it's in you, and you can't stop something that's inside you.
Big Bob: It is not inside *me*!
David: [amused] Oh, sure it is.
Big Bob: No, it is not!
David: [Leans forward and speaks confidentially with a mischievous grin] What do you want to do to me right now? Come on. Everyone is turning colors. Kids are making out in the street. No one is getting their dinner.
[Raises his voice for all to hear]
David: Hell, you could have a flood any minute! Pretty soon, the women could be going off to work, while the men stayed at home and cooked!
Big Bob: That is not going to happen!
David: [with defiant delight] But it *could* happen!
Big Bob: [enraged] *No, it could not!*
[Big Bob suddenly turns pink, and David grins victoriously]
David: Why am I out of order?
[approaches Big Bob]
Big Bob: Because I'm not gonna let you turn this courtroom into a circus!
David: Well, I don't think it's a circus, and I don't think they do, either.
[David turns to look at the crowd, where many of the black-and-white people are changing into color. There are gasps and murmurs. Jennifer grins]
Big Bob: [bangs the gavel] This behavior must stop at once.
David: But see? That's just the point! It can't stop at once, because it's in you, and you can't stop something that's inside you.
Big Bob: It is not inside *me*!
David: [amused] Oh, sure it is.
Big Bob: No, it is not!
David: [Leans forward and speaks confidentially with a mischievous grin] What do you want to do to me right now? Come on. Everyone is turning colors. Kids are making out in the street. No one is getting their dinner.
[Raises his voice for all to hear]
David: Hell, you could have a flood any minute! Pretty soon, the women could be going off to work, while the men stayed at home and cooked!
Big Bob: That is not going to happen!
David: [with defiant delight] But it *could* happen!
Big Bob: [enraged] *No, it could not!*
[Big Bob suddenly turns pink, and David grins victoriously]
Jennifer: Hey, can I ask you a question?
David: Sure.
Jennifer: How come I'm still in black and white?
David: What?
Jennifer: I've had, like, ten times as much sex as the rest of these girls, and I still look like this. I mean, they spend, like, an hour in the back seat of some car and all of a sudden they're in Technicolor?
David: I don't know. Maybe it's not just the sex.
David: Sure.
Jennifer: How come I'm still in black and white?
David: What?
Jennifer: I've had, like, ten times as much sex as the rest of these girls, and I still look like this. I mean, they spend, like, an hour in the back seat of some car and all of a sudden they're in Technicolor?
David: I don't know. Maybe it's not just the sex.
[David and Howard are eating lunch at school and studying for the "Pleasantville" Trivia Competition]
Howard: Okay, in the very first "Pleasantville" episode, whose window did Bud break when he was playing with his father's golf clubs?
David: Easy: Mister Jenkins. What job did Mister Jenkins have?
[Howard doesn't know]
David: Salesman. What did Bud and Mary Sue name the cat they found in the gutter?
Howard: Scout?
David: Marmalade! All right, all right, here's one. Why did their parents come home early from their weekend at the lake?
[Howard doesn't know]
David: 'Cause Bud didn't answer the phone and they were worried about him.
Howard: Man. You're unbelievable. You'll win this thing for sure. When is it on?
David: Uh, marathon starts at 6:30, contest is tomorrow at noon.
Howard: A thousand bucks, huh? And it's on all night?
David: Well, of course it is, Howard. That's why they call it a marathon.
Howard: Okay, in the very first "Pleasantville" episode, whose window did Bud break when he was playing with his father's golf clubs?
David: Easy: Mister Jenkins. What job did Mister Jenkins have?
[Howard doesn't know]
David: Salesman. What did Bud and Mary Sue name the cat they found in the gutter?
Howard: Scout?
David: Marmalade! All right, all right, here's one. Why did their parents come home early from their weekend at the lake?
[Howard doesn't know]
David: 'Cause Bud didn't answer the phone and they were worried about him.
Howard: Man. You're unbelievable. You'll win this thing for sure. When is it on?
David: Uh, marathon starts at 6:30, contest is tomorrow at noon.
Howard: A thousand bucks, huh? And it's on all night?
David: Well, of course it is, Howard. That's why they call it a marathon.
TV Repairman: Hey - who did Muffin take to the Masquerade Ball when her date came down with the measles?
David: Her father.
TV Repairman: That's right! And how'd she dress him?
David: As Prince Charming.
TV Repairman: Nice! Remember the one where Bud lost his cousin when he was supposed to be watching him?
David: Yep.
TV Repairman: What department store did they go to?
David: MacIntyre's.
TV Repairman: McGinty's.
David: No! MacIntyre's! Remember?
[sings a jingle]
David: "For the very best in men's attire, head right down to MacIntyre's."
[smiles proudly]
TV Repairman: That's right.
[Looks consideringly at David]
TV Repairman: Listen, uh, why don't you take this remote instead? It's got a little more oomph in it.
David: Oomph?
TV Repairman: Sure! Big beautiful set like that? You want something'll put you right in the show.
[as David takes the remote control, the room fills with supernatural flashes of lightning and a rumble of thunder]
David: Her father.
TV Repairman: That's right! And how'd she dress him?
David: As Prince Charming.
TV Repairman: Nice! Remember the one where Bud lost his cousin when he was supposed to be watching him?
David: Yep.
TV Repairman: What department store did they go to?
David: MacIntyre's.
TV Repairman: McGinty's.
David: No! MacIntyre's! Remember?
[sings a jingle]
David: "For the very best in men's attire, head right down to MacIntyre's."
[smiles proudly]
TV Repairman: That's right.
[Looks consideringly at David]
TV Repairman: Listen, uh, why don't you take this remote instead? It's got a little more oomph in it.
David: Oomph?
TV Repairman: Sure! Big beautiful set like that? You want something'll put you right in the show.
[as David takes the remote control, the room fills with supernatural flashes of lightning and a rumble of thunder]
[first lines]
[David is gazing admiringly at a pretty blonde girl]
David: *Hi*
[chuckles]
David: I mean, Hi. Uh, look, you probably don't think I should be asking you this. I mean, not knowing you well and all? I mean, you know, I, I, I know you, 'cause everybody knows you. I just don't know you technically. Uh, anyhow. Uh, I don't know what you're doing this weekend, but my mom's leaving town, and she's letting me borrow the car.
[the camera pulls back to show that the girl is standing several dozen feet away and, in fact, is smiling and looking at another boy]
David: [Looks down at the ground, disappointed with himself, but still keeping his tone cheerful] Okey-dokey, so, just give me a call; let me know. Bye!
[David is gazing admiringly at a pretty blonde girl]
David: *Hi*
[chuckles]
David: I mean, Hi. Uh, look, you probably don't think I should be asking you this. I mean, not knowing you well and all? I mean, you know, I, I, I know you, 'cause everybody knows you. I just don't know you technically. Uh, anyhow. Uh, I don't know what you're doing this weekend, but my mom's leaving town, and she's letting me borrow the car.
[the camera pulls back to show that the girl is standing several dozen feet away and, in fact, is smiling and looking at another boy]
David: [Looks down at the ground, disappointed with himself, but still keeping his tone cheerful] Okey-dokey, so, just give me a call; let me know. Bye!
[Montage of teachers talking to David's classes]
College Counselor: For those of you going on to college next year, the chance of finding a good job will actually decrease by the time you graduate. The available number of entry-level jobs will drop 31 percent over the next four years. Median income for those jobs will go down as well. Obviously, my friends, it's a competitive world, and good grades are your only ticket through. In fact, by the year 2000...
Health Teacher: The chance of contracting HIV from a non-monogamous lifestyle will climb to 1 in 150. The odds of dying in an auto accident are only 1 in twenty-five hundred. Now, this marks a drastic increase...
Science Teacher: ...from fourteen years ago, when ozone depletion was just at 10 percent of its current level. By the time you are thirty years old, average global temperature will have risen two and a half degrees, causing such catastrophic consequences as typhoons, floods, widespread drought, and famine.
[Cut to David absorbing all this grim information and looking really depressed]
Science Teacher: [With a bright smile:] Okay! Who can tell me what "famine" is?
College Counselor: For those of you going on to college next year, the chance of finding a good job will actually decrease by the time you graduate. The available number of entry-level jobs will drop 31 percent over the next four years. Median income for those jobs will go down as well. Obviously, my friends, it's a competitive world, and good grades are your only ticket through. In fact, by the year 2000...
Health Teacher: The chance of contracting HIV from a non-monogamous lifestyle will climb to 1 in 150. The odds of dying in an auto accident are only 1 in twenty-five hundred. Now, this marks a drastic increase...
Science Teacher: ...from fourteen years ago, when ozone depletion was just at 10 percent of its current level. By the time you are thirty years old, average global temperature will have risen two and a half degrees, causing such catastrophic consequences as typhoons, floods, widespread drought, and famine.
[Cut to David absorbing all this grim information and looking really depressed]
Science Teacher: [With a bright smile:] Okay! Who can tell me what "famine" is?
[David looks up from his job at the soda counter to see Jennifer determinedly leading Skip out of the place and down the sidewalk]
David: Oh, shit!
[He takes a flying jump-leap over the counter]
David: *Jennifer*!
David: Jennifer, stop!
[He chases Jennifer and Skip outside, to where Skip's car is already pulling away from the curb]
David: You can't do this, Jennifer! He doesn't exist! You can't do this to someone who doesn't exist!
David: Oh, shit!
[He takes a flying jump-leap over the counter]
David: *Jennifer*!
David: Jennifer, stop!
[He chases Jennifer and Skip outside, to where Skip's car is already pulling away from the curb]
David: You can't do this, Jennifer! He doesn't exist! You can't do this to someone who doesn't exist!
Betty Parker: [Betty is in color, George is still black & white] George, look at me. Look at my face. That meeting is not for me.
George Parker: You'll put on some make-up.
Betty Parker: I don't want to put on make-up.
George Parker: It'll go away. It goes away.
Betty Parker: [firmly] I don't want it to go away.
George Parker: You'll put on some make-up.
Betty Parker: I don't want to put on make-up.
George Parker: It'll go away. It goes away.
Betty Parker: [firmly] I don't want it to go away.
David: I know you miss her, I mean, you told me you did. But maybe it's not just the cooking or the cleaning that you miss. Maybe it's something else. Maybe you can't even describe it. Maybe you only know it when it's gone. Maybe it's like there's a whole piece of you that's missing, too. Look at her, Dad. Doesn't she look pretty like that? Doesn't she look just as beautiful as the first time you met her? Do you really want her back the way she was? Doesn't she look wonderful? Now, don't you wish you could tell her that?
Maltshop Guy: What's outside of Pleasantville?
David: Oh, it doesn't matter.
Margaret Henderson: What's outside of Pleasantville?
[pause]
David: There are some places that the road doesn't go in a circle. There are some places where the road keeps going.
Margaret Henderson: Keeps going?
David: Yeah, yeah. It just keeps going. It all keeps going.
David: Oh, it doesn't matter.
Margaret Henderson: What's outside of Pleasantville?
[pause]
David: There are some places that the road doesn't go in a circle. There are some places where the road keeps going.
Margaret Henderson: Keeps going?
David: Yeah, yeah. It just keeps going. It all keeps going.
[the geography teacher uses a pointer to demonstrate, on the classroom blackboard, the world of Pleasantville, which consists of Elm Street, Main Street, and the Town Hall]
Miss Peters: Last week, class, we discussed the geography of Main Street. This week we're going to be talking about Elm Street. Now, can anyone tell me the difference between Elm Street and Main Street? Tommy.
Tommy: It's not as long?
Miss Peters: That's right, Tommy, it's not as long. Also, it only has houses, so the geography of Main Street is different than the geography of Elm Street.
[Jennifer is frowning in bewilderment. She raises her hand]
Miss Peters: Mary Sue!
Jennifer: Yeah. What's outside of Pleasantville?
[the entire class turns to look at her]
Miss Peters: I don't understand.
Jennifer: Outside of Pleasantville? Like, what's at the end of Main Street?
Miss Peters: [chuckles and shakes her head] Mary Sue. You should know the answer to that! The end of Main Street is just the beginning again.
[the teacher points at the intersection of Elm and Main. The class feels released to giggle at Jennifer/Mary Sue's clearly stupid question, and Jennifer frowns again]
Miss Peters: Last week, class, we discussed the geography of Main Street. This week we're going to be talking about Elm Street. Now, can anyone tell me the difference between Elm Street and Main Street? Tommy.
Tommy: It's not as long?
Miss Peters: That's right, Tommy, it's not as long. Also, it only has houses, so the geography of Main Street is different than the geography of Elm Street.
[Jennifer is frowning in bewilderment. She raises her hand]
Miss Peters: Mary Sue!
Jennifer: Yeah. What's outside of Pleasantville?
[the entire class turns to look at her]
Miss Peters: I don't understand.
Jennifer: Outside of Pleasantville? Like, what's at the end of Main Street?
Miss Peters: [chuckles and shakes her head] Mary Sue. You should know the answer to that! The end of Main Street is just the beginning again.
[the teacher points at the intersection of Elm and Main. The class feels released to giggle at Jennifer/Mary Sue's clearly stupid question, and Jennifer frowns again]
