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John Reid: There are moments in a rock star's life that define who he is and how people perceive him as he ascends into the heavens. You lit the blue touch paper. Now we can all see you shooting light and color into the night sky. Where there was darkness, there is now... you, Elton John. You could do anything you want. You can be anyone you want. And it's going to be a wild ride.
-
Elton John: [from trailer; singing] And I think it's gonna be a long, long time. Till touch down brings me round again to find, I'm not the man they think I am at home. Oh no no no, I'm a rocketman!
-
Bernie Taupin: Don't you want to just go out there and sing without this ridiculous paraphernalia? You know, just... be yourself, Reg.
Elton John: Why the fuck would I want that, Bernie? You wouldn't say this shit to me if you were a real friend. People don't pay to see Reginald Dwight! They pay to see *Elton John*! Don't ever tell me how to do my fucking job!
[Elton storms off; long pause and then Elton returns]
Elton John: I'm sorry.
Bernie Taupin: [quietly] I know.
-
Elton John: Oh, write the fucking lyrics, Bernie. Let me deal with the rest!
-
Sheila: I should never have had children. Do you know how disappointing it is to be your mother?
-
Bernie Taupin: I love you, man. I do, but... not in that way.
-
Elton John: Bernie, I never told you how much I need you.
Bernie Taupin: No, no. I love you, man. Always have, always will.
-
Elton John: I'm sorry.
Renate: I know.
-
Counselor: Did being married make you happy?
Elton John: Not really. I'm gay.
-
Elton John: Real love's hard to come by. So you find a way to cope without it.
-
Elton John: [on a payphone] I'm... a homosexual... A poofter... A fairy... A queen...
[long silence]
Elton John: ... Well say something!
Sheila: Oh, for God's sake, I know that. I've known for years.
Elton John: You don't mind?
Sheila: Frankly I don't care, but I'd rather you keep that sort of thing to yourself. I just hope you realize you're choosing a life of being alone forever. You'll never be loved properly.
-
Maître D': Any ice cream?
Elton John: Yeah, all of them!
Maître D': Excellent choice.
-
Elton John: I've got the number one album in America, again, I'm about to embark on the highest grossing tour in rock history, I'm personally responsible for 5% of all record sales on the entire planet, and I have the biggest headdress known to man, so, yeah, I think I'm OK!
-
[first lines]
Elton John: How long is this going to take?
Counselor: That's really up to you.
Elton John: Right then.
-
Elton John: My name is Elton Hercules John. And I'm an alcoholic. And a cocaine addict. And a sex addict. And a bulimic. Also a shopaholic and has problems with weed, prescription drugs and anger management.
-
Young Reggie: When are you going to hug me?
Stanley: Don't be soft.
-
Wilson: You've got to kill the person you were born to be in order to become the person you want to be.
-
Reggie Dwight: Elton?
Elton Dean: Yeah?
Reggie Dwight: I'm thinking of changing my name.
Elton Dean: Yeah, great.
Reggie Dwight: I'm thinking of changing it to Elton Dean.
Elton Dean: But that's my name.
Reggie Dwight: Yeah, I know. What do you think?
-
Dick James: Buy yourself some new clothes. Something flashy. Let them know who you are. Put on a grand fucking show... and just don't kill yourself with drugs.
-
Mrs. Anderson: And what a shy little boy you were! Look at you now!
-
John Reid: Do your worst. In fact, take me to court. You signed contracts with me years ago, so I'll still be collecting my twenty percent long after you've killed yourself.
-
Elton John: I'm Elton Hercules John.
Young Reggie: I thought you were Reggie Dwight.
Elton John: I haven't been Reggie Dwight for years.
-
[last lines]
Elton John: Don't go. Not yet.
Bernie Taupin: This is the part you've got to do on your own. These... need music.
[hands over an envelope and walks away]
Elton John: Thank you, Bernie.
Bernie Taupin: You're my brother.
-
Elton John: For my next trick... I'm gonna fucking kill myself.
-
[Elton enters the rehab center and sits down]
Elton John: How long is this gonna take?
Counselor: That's really up to you.
Elton John: Right, then. I know how this bit goes.
[pause]
Elton John: My name is Elton Hercules John. And I'm an alcoholic. And a cocaine addict. And a sex addict. And a bulimic.
[pause]
Elton John: I'm also a shopaholic, who has problems with weed, prescription drugs, and anger management.
Counselor: Why are you here now?
Elton John: Well, my dealer was out of town. I thought this seemed like a good alternative.
[pause]
Elton John: I'm here because I want to get better.
Counselor: What were you like as a child, Elton?
Elton John: As a child?
[Elton sees an image of his younger self on a tricycle waving at him]
-
Elton John: For as long as I can remember, I've hated myself. Believed I'd never be loved.
Counselor: Shows progress to take responsibility for your actions.
Elton John: Yeah, but I started acting like a cunt in 1975. I just forgot to stop.
[pause]
Elton John: I do feel ashamed. Spent so long feeling resentful for things that just don't matter.
[pause]
Elton John: Maybe I should've tried to be more ordinary.
[an illusion of Ivy walks into the rehab counseling room]
Elton John: Hello, Nan.
Ivy: You was never ordinary.
Sheila: Look at you. In here, talking about your feelings. What a waste of time.
Elton John: Mum, I know it was never easy. And I hope you can forgive me. Because I've realized that's what we need to do now. Forgive each other.
John Reid: No, your problem is you're selfish.
Elton John: No. My problem was I believed you loved me. And you're incapable of it. I gave everything to keep something that I never even had in the first place.
Fred: I always thought you was an introverted extrovert.
Sheila: A what?
Ivy: He's shy. He's always been shy.
Sheila: It's all his father's fault.
Stanley: Don't blame me. He'd have been strange, regardless.
Elton John: Actually, I think I'm okay with 'strange'.
Sheila: [looking at Stanley] God. Not him.
Elton John: Both of you. Stop. I'm not going to allow you to talk to me like this anymore.
Bernie Taupin: It's about time you said that.
Elton John: Bernie. I never told you how much I need you.
Bernie Taupin: No, no, no. I love you, man. Always have, always will. You write songs that millions of people love. And that's what's important. You just need to remember who you are, and be okay with it.
John Reid: He doesn't know who he is.
[Elton gets up and approaches Reid]
Elton John: Yes, I do. I'm Elton Hercules John.
Young Reggie: I thought you were Reggie Dwight.
[Elton turns around to face his younger self]
Elton John: I haven't been Reggie Dwight for years.
[Elton approaches his younger self in the center of the room and gets down on one knee. Young Reggie touches Elton's cheek]
Young Reggie: When are you going to hug me?
[Elton embraces Young Reggie]
-
John Reid: It's always important to rely on the kindness of strangers.
-
Elton John: [singing] It's sad, so sad. It's a sad, sad situation. And it's getting more and more absurd. It's sad, so sad. Why can't they talk it over? Oh, it seems to me. Sorry seems to be the hardest word.
-
[after Elton's successful first night at the Troubadour]
Doug Weston: All right, enough of this bullshit. Who wants to go to a party at Mama Cass's?
[Ray runs in, holding a pair of keys]
Ray Williams: I'm so drunk! And Doug's just lent me his car.
Rocketman Quotes
Extended Reading
