-
Steve: I don't know why someone hasn't taken a rifle and blown your head off.
The Motorcycle Boy: Even the most primitive of societies have an innate respect for the insane.
-
The Motorcycle Boy: If you're going to lead people, you have to have somewhere to go.
-
Patterson the Cop: You think you'll understand him?
Rusty James: Yeah, but what I don't understand is why you hate him so much?
Patterson the Cop: I hate him because you kids think he's an idol but he isn't. He is anything else but he is no hero!
-
Smokey: You know, if there were gangs around like in the old days, I'd be running things, not you. You'd be second lieutenant. You might have gotten by for a while on the Motorcycle Boy's rep, but you have to be smart to run things. You ain't got your brother's brains. It's nothing personal, Rusty James, but nobody would follow you into a fight because you'd get people killed - and nobody wants to be killed.
-
Father: No, your mother... is not crazy. And neither, contrary to popular belief, is your brother crazy. He's merely miscast in a play. He was born in the wrong era, on the wrong side of the river... With the ability to be able to do anything that he wants to do and... findin' nothin' that he wants to do. I mean nothing.
-
Benny: Time is a funny thing. Time is a very peculiar item. You see when you're young, you're a kid, you got time, you got nothing but time. Throw away a couple of years, a couple of years there... it doesn't matter. You know. The older you get you say, "Jesus, how much I got? I got thirty-five summers left." Think about it. Thirty-five summers.
-
The Motorcycle Boy: California's like a beautiful, wild... beautiful, wild girl on heroin... who's high as a kite, thinkin' she's on top of the world, not knowing she's dying even if you show her the marks.
-
The Motorcycle Boy: Blind terror in a fight can easily pass for courage.
-
[first lines]
Midget: Biff Wilcox is looking for you, Rusty James. He's gonna kill you, Rusty James.
-
The Motorcycle Boy: What's this? Another glorious battle for the kingdom?
Rusty James: Hey, man... I thought you were gone for good.
The Motorcycle Boy: I thought we had a treaty.
-
Rusty James: How do you know when someone's crazy?
Benny: Well, you don't always. It depends on how many people think they're crazy.
-
Rusty James: [Rusty James calling The Motorcycle Boy] Hey bro, let's blow!
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Father: Are you ill, Russell-James?
Rusty James: I got cut up in a knife fight.
Father: Yeah, really.
Rusty James: Yeah.
Father: Yep, really.
[looking at both boys]
Father: Strange lives you two lead.
Rusty James: Strange? At least I'm not a lawyer on welfare.
-
Alley Mugger #1: You got any bread?
Rusty James: What?
[guesturing at the 2nd mugger]
Rusty James: He's not gonna bash us even if we got bread?
Alley Mugger #2: Sure, that's it.
Steve: Progressive country. Intergrated mugging.
-
Rusty James: Hey, man. I really dig the colors!
[referring to the Siamese fighting fish]
The Motorcycle Boy: The colors?
Rusty James: The colors are cool.
The Motorcycle Boy: Uh-huh. Makes me kind of sorry I can't see the colors.
Rusty James: I never thought you were sorry about anything.
-
Patterson the Cop: What's the big interest in the pet store all of a sudden?
Mr. Dobson: They've been hanging around here.
The Motorcycle Boy: Take a look at the fish.
Patterson the Cop: You're crazy. You're really crazy. And, you know, I've known all about it all along.
The Motorcycle Boy: But they belong in the river.
[guesturing at the fish]
The Motorcycle Boy: I don't think they would fight if they were in the river. If they had room to live.
Patterson the Cop: Someone ought to get you off the streets.
The Motorcycle Boy: Somebody ought to put the fish in the river.
[starts chuckling to himself]
-
Cassandra: I'm sooo tired of your jokes.
-
The Motorcycle Boy: [he and Steve come across a wounded Rusty]
[quietly]
The Motorcycle Boy: You gotta keep still.
The Motorcycle Boy: [carefully begins to pick up Rusty] You're gonna be okay. Don't move.
Rusty James: You pissed off at me, man?
The Motorcycle Boy: [takes Rusty in his arms]
[whisper]
The Motorcycle Boy: Don't talk. I'll take care of you.
-
Rusty James: [after realise that their rivals haven't arrived to the fight] I guess we're gonna have to fight ourselves!
-
Rusty James: I saw that chick, Cassandra. She said she wasn't hooked.
The Motorcycle Boy: Yeah? I believe her. You remember what happened to the people who didn't believe Cassandra?
Father: [mumbling] The Greeks got 'em.
Rusty James: What?
Father: [more clearly] The Greeks Got-'Em.
Rusty James: Man, what the fuck do the Greeks have to do with anything?
-
Rusty James: Hey, my brother's the coolest.
Patty: Well, you're better than cool. You're warm.
-
The Motorcycle Boy: Once they get the dope off the streets, you know, people will persist in joining things. I mean, you'll see the gangs come back. If you live that long.
-
Father: Every now and then, a person comes along, has a different view of the world than does the usual person. It doesn't make them crazy. I mean... an acute perception, man... that doesn't, that doesn't make you crazy.
Rusty James: Could you talk normal?
Father: However sometimes... it can drive you crazy, acute perception.
-
Rusty James: What do you think California's like? Like all that shit in the movies. Blondes walkin' around, The Beach Boys, palm trees, the ocean. How was the ocean?
The Motorcycle Boy: I didn't get to the ocean.
Rusty James: No?
The Motorcycle Boy: California got in the way.
Rusty James: California got in the way? I thought California was on the coast.
-
Patterson the Cop: [regarding Motorcycle Boy] You know I really thought he'd left town for good.
Rusty James: Yeah? Maybe he missed YOU too much, man. Maybe he had to come back just to see you!
-
[Patty and Rusty James are kissing on the couch while Donna does homework at the dining room table]
Patty's Sister: You guys aren't supposed to do that in front of me.
Patty: Donna, go to your room. Now!
Rusty James: It's bedtime.
Patty's Sister: I should do my ten page report on you... including illustrations.
[Rusty James chuckles]
Patty: You're gonna get it.
-
[Rusty James whistles at Patty's front door and Donna pokes her head out the window]
Patty's Sister: Hey, Rusty James.
Rusty James: Hey, Donna. Your sister home?
Patty's Sister: Yeah, but I thought you were coming to see me.
Rusty James: [chuckles] Is your mother home?
Patty's Sister: No. My sister's home. How about seeing me afterward?
[ducks back inside]
Patty's Sister: Patty! Rusty James is here!
Rumble Fish Quotes
Extended Reading
