Because of Winn-Dixie Quotes

[first lines]

Opal: Safe!

[she hears a church bell and rushes to get to church on her bike]

Opal: [narrating] In the beginning, when we moved to Naomi, it was just the preacher and me. Only sometimes - most of the time, really - it seemed like it was me alone. And then, one morning, the preacher sent me to the store for a box of macaroni and cheese, some white rice and two tomatoes. And after that, everything changed. But I'm getting ahead of myself. It's a good story. Let me tell it right.

Otis: [sucking on a lozenge] Tastes like music. Reminds me of... being in jail.

Opal: Otis... what were you in jail for?

[he grunts uncomfortably]

Opal: You don't have to tell me. I was just wondering.

Otis: I never hurt anybody. Never meant to. But I've been locked up. I remember the day very well. I was sitting in a park playing a little music. And there were people walking their dogs and children were laughing. It was a perfect day so I felt like playing music. I put my... I put my hat out there... but I wasn't really playing for money I just thought that if maybe someone was enjoying it then they'd throw a little change in there... not much but just...

Opal: Well music is better if somebody's listening.

Otis: Anyways... this police man came up to me... he said I was disturbing the peace and then he tried to take my guitar away from me and I guess I got real angry at him. But I'm not a bad man. I'm just not

[sung]

Otis: a lucky man.

[spoken]

Otis: Anyway they told me that I broke that policeman's nose, and they charged me with assault on a police officer, and no matter what I said they wouldn't listen... no matter what I said they wouldn't... they gave me three years... I said I'm not a bad man I'm just not

[sung]

Otis: a lucky man.

[spoken]

Otis: but you, when I, when I look at you

[sung]

Otis: you are like a butterfly... a caterpillar's dream to fly. You bust out of this old cocoon and dry your wings off. Butterfly... go ahead and fly.

Opal: [narrating] I swept the floor real slow that day. I wanted to keep Otis company. I didn't want him to be lonely. Sometimes it seemed to me like everybody in the whole world was lonely.

Sweetie Pie Thomas: [she sucks on a lozenge, then spits it out] Yuck. That tastes bad. That tastes like not having a dog.

Opal: I wondered if my mama - wherever she was - was lonely for me. Thinking about her was the same as the hole you keep feeling with your tongue after you lose a tooth. Time after time, my mind kept on going to that empty spot. The spot where I felt like she should be.

Otis: No wait, miss. I can't... I can't just give you a job. I can't give you a...

Opal: Thank you! You won't be sorry! I'm a real hard worker!

[exits]

Otis: That's nice. Thank you for listening. Have a nice day, ma'am. Have a nice day.

Gertrude the Parrott: Dog! Dog! DOG!

Otis: [rolls eyes] I *know* it's a dog

Opal: Did the animals escape from their cages?

Otis: No. I left the cages open.

Opal: You just let them roam around?

Otis: [embarrassed] I don't know... it's no good being locked up.

Otis: Why don't you sweep up?

Opal: With your guitar?

Opal: I could work for you! Come in and sweep the floors, and straighten up shelves and take out the trash. I could do that.

Otis: Well that's what *I* do.

Opal: [looks down at dirty floor] Oh. You must sure need some help.

[last lines]

Opal: My heart doesn't feel so empty anymore. It's full... all the way up. I've got Winn-Dixie. I've got Gloria Dump, and Miss Franny Block, and Otis, and even the Dewberry boys. And I also have the preacher back as my daddy. It was a good story, right? And it's all because of... well, you know.

Amanda Wilkinson: "Hell", is a cuss word.

Miss Franny: Well, war is a cuss word, too.

Miss Franny: Now, one hot Thursday, way back then, I was sittin' here in the library, and all the doors and windows were wide open. And I had my nose in a book until I noticed a very peculiar smell. A very strong smell. And I raised my eyes up slowly and standing right in front of me was a bear.

[flashback shows a bear roaring]

Miss Franny: A very large bear.

Opal: How large was it?

Miss Franny: At least four times the size of your dog.

Opal: That big? Wow. Then what happened?

Miss Franny: I very slowly

[grabs a book]

Miss Franny: and very carefully raised up the book I was reading.

Opal: What book was that?

Miss Franny: War and Peace. And I carefully aimed it, and I threw it right at him! Be gone!

[the book was thrown towards the bear. Winn-Dixie barks]

Miss Franny: [she laughs] Good dog. Thank you.

[Winn-Dixie barks happily]

Miss Franny: And do you know what?

Opal: No, ma'am. What?

Miss Franny: This is why I will never forget. He took the book with him.

Opal: Nuh uh.

Miss Franny: Yes, ma'am, he snatched it up and ran off.

[the bear grabs the book and leaves the library]

Opal: Did he ever come back?

Miss Franny: No. I never saw him again. Well, the men in town, they used to tease me about it. They used to say "Miss Franny, we saw that bear of yours out in the woods today." "He was reading War and Peace and said it sure was good, and he'd like to check it out again."

[the bear was raising his left paw while reading War and Peace]

Miss Franny: Ah, I imagine I'm the only one who even recalls that bear.

Opal: That sure was somethin'. I bet Mama would have gotten a big kick out of it.

Preacher: Opal, the dog cannot go back to church.

Opal: Everybody was talkin'. They said they hadn't had that much fun in church in a long while.

Preacher: Opal.

Preacher: [about Winn-Dixie howling along with the music] Opal.

Opal: He doesn't know the words is all. But he sure is moved by the spirit.

Preacher: Get that dog, now.

Opal: Yes, sir.

Opal: You know, Winn-Dixie, if my mama were around, I bet she'd let me keep you. Ever since we moved here, I've been thinking about my mama extra hard.

Preacher: Opal, I hope that dog's not in your bed.

Opal: [to the preacher] Yes, sir. I-I mean, no, sir, he's not.

[back to Winn-Dixie]

Opal: I really don't know where she is. She left when I was only three years old. I can't hardly remember her.

Preacher: And make sure you got your window shut tight. Don't want that rain gettin' in.

Opal: [to the preacher] Okay.

[back to Winn-Dixie]

Opal: The preacher? It's no use. He won't talk to me at all about her. I bet you don't remember your mama much, either. So we're really alike, you and me. Think I should make the preacher tell me about her? Mm, I'll think about it.

Preacher: You're supposed to be in bed.

Gloria: Baby girl, how 'bout telling me a story?

Opal: Once upon a time, I hated the Dewberry boys. The end.

Gloria: Oh, stop that nonsense.

Opal: I do hate 'em. They're ignorant. They think you're a witch.

Gloria: Oh, they're just trying to get your attention. I'll bet they like you.

Opal: Daddy, can you tell me about mama? I know you don't like to talk about her, but I don't even remember what she did like. What did she look like? I don't need to know a lot. Just a few things.

Preacher: She'd tell you not to stay up so late.

Opal: I'll bet they already have a new pitcher.

Preacher: We're not moving back to Watley. I know it's hard movin' all the time, but that's part of my job.

Mr. Alfred: I made an exception for the kid. But there is no exception for that mongrel. You see that sign on the front of my trailer? Does anybody read my signs?

Preacher: We're-we're not keeping him. We're trying to find him a good home.

Mr. Alfred: Well, hurry it up or I'm calling the pound.

Gloria: Who's there?

Opal: Please don't eat me. Don't eat me! I don't taste good! I don't taste good! Please help!

Gloria: Eat you? You silly child. How can I eat you?

[laughs]