Nell Quotes

Nell: Trouble go away at nigh', an' Nell caw Mi'i - an' Nell an' Mi'i - ye', Nell an' Mi'i - like t'ee in the way!

[Sways with her arms outstretched]

Paula: We shouldn't be watching this.

Jerry: Why not? I think she's beautiful.

Paula: Mmm-hmmm...

Jerry: You think I'm planning to abuse the doctor-patient relationship.

Paula: Are you?

Jerry: No. Just because I think she's beautiful doesn't mean I want to have sex with her. I mean, I think you're beautiful, but...

Paula: Thanks!

Jerry: No, wait. I didn't mean... I'm sorry...

Paula: It's ok, I'm a big girl!

Paula: To think I was going to be the one to change her life.

Jerry: Me too.

Mary: Don't you know? You were the first.

Paula: The first what?

Mary: To need her.

Janet Baring: Do you reckon he ought to be in the hospital?

Jerry: No, Ma'am. My advice is: don't go near those places, unless they pay you a heap of money. Your father is 87 years old, Janet. Just be there for him.

Janet Baring: Don't worry. I a-gonna go nowhere.

Sheriff Todd Peterson: I guess she's what you'd call a hermit. She talked kinda funny, too. She was kinda like: 'Durr murr muh...'.

Jerry: Only one side of her face was working. You try talking out of one side of your face.

Jerry: Is this for real? No electricity, no phone, no running water.

Jerry: [sees a spindle, impressed] Wow.

[walks up to it and carefully, slowly turns the wheel a bit]

Jerry: She lives here all alone, huh?

Sheriff Todd Peterson: That's what hermits do, Lowell. They live alone and they die alone.

Jerry: Let's take this one step at a time. Stay here. I'm gonna go back inside.

Sheriff Todd Peterson: Jerry, I can't let you go back in there. We don't even know what that thing is.

Jerry: It's a human being and she's frightened.

Sheriff Todd Peterson: Well, what are you gonna do?

Jerry: Talk to her... if I can.

[Jerry found the Bible with the note from Nell's mom for the stranger to look for her Nell]

Jerry: What kind of deal is this? The first who finds her is supposed to look after her?

Sheriff Todd Peterson: [matter of factly] That means you, Jerry.

Sheriff Todd Peterson: Oh sure. Just what I need.

Sheriff Todd Peterson: [bemused reading from the note] 'The Lord led you here.' There you have it.

Jerry: *You* led me here.

Sheriff Todd Peterson: You want the Lord to take care of her now?

Jerry: The last time I saw the Lord was in church of my wedding and look how *that* turned out.

Sheriff Todd Peterson: Well, she's definitely overage. So I guess we need to find her an adult protective service.

Jerry: She doesn't need a social worker. She needs a padded cell. That is one seriously disturbed lady.

Sheriff Todd Peterson: Well, I'm afraid that's gonna be your territory, Jerry.

Jerry: Thanks.

Sheriff Todd Peterson: [reciting the letter] The Lord led you here, stranger.

Paula: [seeing the Sheriff's wife crying] What happened to her?

Jerry: Nothing and everything. It hits her once in a while.

Paula: Is there any obvious cause?

Jerry: You want a list? Life's tough. But she's luckier than some. Got a good husband there.

Paula: [into her mic] She's been completely isolated. Almost certainly mentally retarded. A blood test will pick up childhood disease and any metabolic disorder.

Paula: [to Jerry] Oh, you carry a blood kit?

Jerry: You think she's gonna sit there and let me stick a needle in her?

Paula: [laughing, then matter of factly] I'll hold her.

[Paula takes off her jacket]

[discussing what is going to happen to Nell, supposing she needs someone to look after her]

Dr. Paley: Who's gonna look after her? You?

Jerry: [disgusted] Me? Why me?

[Jerry ringing the bell of Paula's boat]

Paula: Hey.

Jerry: You sure can make it, roughin' it like this? I don't see an air conditioning unit. You ok about breathing raw air?

[Paula knocks on a box on the ceilling]

Jerry: Oh.

Paula: What is it with you and Nell?

Jerry: It's like... there's no one else in the world. Like she doesn't need anybody. Can you live your whole life that way, or does it drive you crazy in the end?

Jerry: 'Missa' - little. 'Erna' - big.

Paula: Tata?

Jerry: 'Tata'. Potalto. Just kidding. Frightened. 'Tata' - frightened. 'T'ee' - tree.

[Jerry plays music making Nell cry]

Paula: Turn that thing off! What the hell do you think you're doin'? She's never heard music before.

Jerry: Hey! Sometimes people just do things! It's called impulse. Try it some time.

Paula: It's called doin' what you want when you want to, and not giving a shit about anybody else! I grew out of it by the age of six!

Paula: All the research shows that children who perceive their parents enjoying a good sex-life grow up to have far better sexual relationships themselves.

Jerry: Is that so?

Paula: Yea, that's so.