The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games Quotes

Katniss Everdeen voluntarily takes her younger sister's place in the Hunger Games, a televised competition in which two teenagers from each of the twelve Districts of Panem are chosen at random to fight to the death.

Caesar Flickerman: So, Peeta, tell me, is there a special girl back home?
Peeta Mellark: No. No, not really.
Caesar Flickerman: No? I don't believe it for a second. Look at that face! Handsome man like you. Peeta, tell me.
Peeta Mellark: Well, there, uh... there is this one girl that I've had a crush on forever.
Caesar Flickerman: Ah.
Peeta Mellark: But I don't think she actually recognized me until the Reaping.
Caesar Flickerman: Well, I'll tell you what, Peeta. You go out there, and you win this thing, and when you get home, she'll have to go out with you. Right, folks?
Peeta Mellark: Thanks, but I, uh, I don't think winning's gonna help me at all.
Caesar Flickerman: And why not?
Peeta Mellark: Because she came here with me.
Katniss Everdeen: May the odds be ever in your favor.
[Katniss suddenly stabs a knife into the table between Haymitch's thumb and forefinger]
Effie Trinket: [gasps] That is mahogany!
[last lines]
Peeta Mellark: So what happens when we get back?
Katniss Everdeen: I don't know. I guess we try to forget.
Peeta Mellark: I don't wanna forget.
Peeta Mellark: Okay, uh, I'll take the bow.
[Katniss looks at him]
Peeta Mellark: I'm just kidding!
Katniss Everdeen: I volunteer! I volunteer! I volunteer as tribute!
Effie Trinket: [pause] Uh... I believe we have a volunteer.
Katniss Everdeen: [bows] Thank you... for your consideration.
President Snow: Seneca... why do you think we have a winner?
Seneca Crane: [frowns] What do you mean?
President Snow: I mean, why do we have a winner? I mean, if we just wanted to intimidate the districts, why not round up twenty-four of them at random and execute them all at once? Be a lot faster.
[Seneca just stares, confused]
President Snow: Hope.
Seneca Crane: Hope?
President Snow: Hope. It is the only thing stronger than fear. A little hope is effective. A lot of hope is dangerous. A spark is fine, as long as it's contained.
Seneca Crane: So...?
President Snow: So, CONTAIN it.
Haymitch Abernathy: Nice shooting, sweetheart. What-what-what did they... what did they do when you... shot the apple?
Katniss Everdeen: Well, they looked pretty startled.
Katniss Everdeen: Listen to them.
Peeta Mellark: Yeah. I just don't want them to change me.
Katniss Everdeen: How will they change you?
Peeta Mellark: I don't know. Turn me into something I'm not. I-I-I just don't want to be another piece in their game, you know?
Katniss Everdeen: You mean you won't kill anyone?
Peeta Mellark: No... I mean, you know, I'm sure I would just like anybody else when the time came, but I just keep wishing I could think of a way to show them that they don't own me. You know, if I'm gonna die, I wanna still be me. Does that make any sense?
Katniss Everdeen: Yeah. I just can't afford to think like that. I have my sister.
Peeta Mellark: Yeah, I know.
[looks at each other]
Peeta Mellark: [sighs] Guess I'll see you tomorrow.
Katniss Everdeen: See you tomorrow.
Thresh: You kill her?
Clove: No!
Thresh: I heard you!
Clove: CATO!
Thresh: You said her name!
Clove: CATO!
Thresh: You said her name!
[bashes Clove's head against the Cornucopia, killing her. Thresh then turns to Katniss and points at her]
Thresh: Just this time, Twelve. For Rue!
Katniss Everdeen: What the hell was that? You don't talk to me and then you say you have a crush on me? You say you want to train alone? Is this how you want to play? Huh?
Haymitch Abernathy: Stop! Stop it!
Katniss Everdeen: Let's start right now!
Haymitch Abernathy: [referring to Katniss and Peeta] Now, I can sell the star-crossed lovers from District 12.
Katniss Everdeen: We are NOT star-crossed lovers.
Haymitch Abernathy: It's a television show, and being in love with that boy might just get you sponsors which could save your damn life.
Katniss Everdeen: It's okay. You're okay. You're okay. You're okay.
Rue: Did you blow up the food?
Katniss Everdeen: Every bit of it.
Rue: Good... You have to win... Can you sing?
Katniss Everdeen: Okay.
President Snow: An eleven?
Seneca Crane: She earned it.
President Snow: She shot an arrow at your head.
Seneca Crane: Well, at an apple.
President Snow: Near your head.
Katniss Everdeen: [to Haymitch] Peeta's strong.
Peeta Mellark: What?
Katniss Everdeen: He can throw a hundred pound sack of flour right over his head. I've seen it.
Peeta Mellark: Okay, well, I'm not gonna kill anybody with a sack of flour.
Peeta Mellark: Together?
Katniss Everdeen: Together.
Peeta Mellark: Okay. One.
Katniss Everdeen: Two.
Peeta Mellark: Three.
Katniss Everdeen: Peeta! Peeta! Oh!
Peeta Mellark: Are you okay?
Katniss Everdeen: I heard the cannon. I thought...
[noticing the berries he's picked]
Katniss Everdeen: That's nightlock, Peeta! You'll be dead in a minute!
Peeta Mellark: I-I didn't know.
Katniss Everdeen: You scared me to death. Damn you.
[hugs him]
Peeta Mellark: I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
Gale Hawthorne: What if they did? Just one year. What if everyone just stopped watching?
Katniss Everdeen: But they won't, Gale.
Gale Hawthorne: What if they did? What if we did?
Katniss Everdeen: Won't happen.
Gale Hawthorne: You root for your favorite, you cry when they get killed. It's sick.
Katniss Everdeen: Gale.
Gale Hawthorne: No one watches and they don't have a game. It's as simple as that. What?
Katniss Everdeen: Nothing.
Gale Hawthorne: Fine. Laugh at me.
Katniss Everdeen: I'm not laughing at you!
[starts smiling]
Haymitch Abernathy: [to Effie] Loosen your corset. Have a drink.
Peeta Mellark: I mean, she saved my life.
Katniss Everdeen: We saved each other.
Katniss Everdeen: Wanna see what I got you today? It's a mockingjay pin, to protect you. And as long as you have it, nothing bad will happen to you, okay? I promise.
Glimmer: [after seeing Cato fall from the tree while chasing Katniss] I'll do it myself.
[she shoots an arrow and misses]
Cato: Gimme that before I...
Marvel: Get her.
Marvel: Come on, come on, come on.
[he shoots an arrow and misses]
Katniss Everdeen: [calling down] Maybe you should throw the sword!
President Snow: [voice over] War, terrible war. Widows, orphans, a motherless child. This was the uprising that rocked our land. Thirteen districts rebelled against the country that fed them, loved them, protected them. Brother turned on brother until nothing remained. And then came the peace, hard fought, sorely won. A people rose up from the ashes and a new era was born. But freedom has a cost. When the traitors were defeated, we swore as a nation we would never know this treason again. And so it was decreed that, each year, the various districts of Panem would offer up, in tribute, one young man and woman to fight to the death in a pageant of honor, courage and sacrifice. The lone victor, bathed in riches, would serve as a reminder of our generosity and our forgiveness. This is how we remember our past. This is how we safeguard our future.
Katniss Everdeen: You need to get out of here. You need to get out of here.
Primrose Everdeen: No...
Katniss Everdeen: Go find mom!
Primrose Everdeen: No!
Katniss Everdeen: Prim, go find mom right now!
Primrose Everdeen: No!
Katniss Everdeen: I'm so sorry.
Primrose Everdeen: No!
Katniss Everdeen: Go find mom!
Primrose Everdeen: No!
Katniss Everdeen: Prim, leave before...
Primrose Everdeen: No!
[Gale grabs Prim and pulls her away]
Primrose Everdeen: NO! NO! NOOOO!
Haymitch Abernathy: I don't know how else to put this: Make sure they remember you.
Peeta Mellark: I remember the first time I saw you. Your hair was in two braids instead of one. And I remember when you... you sang in the music assembly...
Katniss Everdeen: Shh.
Peeta Mellark: ...and the teacher said "Who knows The Valley Song?" and your hand shot straight up. After that, I watched you going home every day. Every day. Well, say something.
Katniss Everdeen: I'm not good at saying something.
Peeta Mellark: Then come here. Please.
Katniss Everdeen: How many times is your name in today?
Gale Hawthorne: Forty-two. Guess the odds aren't exactly in my favor.
Katniss Everdeen: [to the cat] I'll still cook you.
Haymitch Abernathy: [to Katniss] Nice dress, too.
Haymitch Abernathy: [to Effie] Not yours.
[a note from Haymitch: "You call that a kiss?"]
Gale Hawthorne: We could do it, you know. Take off, live in the woods. Well, we do anyway.
Katniss Everdeen: They'd catch us.
Gale Hawthorne: Well, maybe not.
Katniss Everdeen: Cut out our tongues... or worse. We wouldn't make it five miles.
Cato: [holding Peeta in a rear-arm choke] Go on! Shoot, then we both go down and you win. Go on. I'm dead anyway. I always was, right? I didn't know that till now. How's that? Is that what they want? Huh?
Peeta Mellark: No...
Cato: I can still do this. I can still do this. One more kill. It's the only thing I know how to do - bring pride to my district. Not that it matters.
Cinna: I'm not allowed to bet, but if I could, I'd bet on you.
Katniss Everdeen: Thank you.
Katniss Everdeen: There's twenty-four of us, Gale, and only one comes out.
Gale Hawthorne: Yeah, and it's gonna be you.
Primrose Everdeen: Just try to win. Maybe you can.
Katniss Everdeen: Of course. Maybe I can. I am smart, you know.
Primrose Everdeen: And you can hunt.
Katniss Everdeen: Exactly.
Haymitch Abernathy: They're not happy with you.
Katniss Everdeen: Why, 'cause I didn't die?
Primrose Everdeen: Wish I looked like you.
Katniss Everdeen: Oh, no. I wish I looked like YOU, little duck.
Cinna: [when helping Katniss into her jacket, he reveals her mockingjay pin. Looks up at her and puts his index finger to his lips]
Katniss Everdeen: Thank you.
Peeta Mellark: [to Katniss] You know what my mother said? She said "District 12 might finally have a winner," but she wasn't talking about me. She was talking about you.
President Snow: What a lovely pin.
Katniss Everdeen: Thank you. It's from my district.
Katniss Everdeen: Peeta, I got it! I got the medicine!
Peeta Mellark: What happened to you?
Katniss Everdeen: I'm fine.
Peeta Mellark: No, you're not. What happened?
Katniss Everdeen: The girl from 2, she threw a knife. I'm okay.
Peeta Mellark: You shouldn't have gone! You said you weren't gonna go!
Katniss Everdeen: You got worse.
Katniss Everdeen: You look beautiful, but you better tuck in that tail, little duck.
Haymitch Abernathy: Look at you! Just killed a... place mat!
Peeta Mellark: You definitely smell better than I do.
Caesar Flickerman: Well, I've lived here longer.
Peeta Mellark: That makes sense.
Katniss Everdeen: What was it?
Peeta Mellark: A sword. It's bad, huh?
Katniss Everdeen: It's gonna be fine.
[Katniss tries to tend to his wound]
Peeta Mellark: Katniss.
[Katniss doesn't reply and just tends to his wound]
Peeta Mellark: Katniss...
Katniss Everdeen: No! I'm not gonna leave you. I'm not gonna do that.
Peeta Mellark: Why not?
Cinna: Did they explain about trying to get sponsors?
Katniss Everdeen: Yeah, but I'm not very good at making friends.
Cinna: We'll see.
Katniss Everdeen: You too?
Peeta Mellark: Oh, hey.
Katniss Everdeen: Can't sleep?
Peeta Mellark: No, course not.
Katniss Everdeen: I'm sorry I went after you.
Peeta Mellark: You know, I meant that as a compliment.
Katniss Everdeen: I know.
Peeta Mellark: Run! Run! Run! Katniss, go! Get outta here! Go! What are you doing? GO!
Fox Face: I think that if I can apply myself to the situation at present, I will be able to figure it out.
Katniss Everdeen: Your medicine.
Peeta Mellark: You're not going alone!
Katniss Everdeen: Yeah. You need it and you can't walk.
Peeta Mellark: Katniss, you're not gonna risk your life for me. I'm not gonna let you.
Katniss Everdeen: You would do it for me! Wouldn't you?
Peeta Mellark: Why are you doing this?
Katniss Everdeen: So, why are you here, then?
Haymitch Abernathy: Oh. The refreshments.
Peeta Mellark: Okay, I think that's enough of that.
[tries to grab the drink and gets pushed down]
Haymitch Abernathy: You made me spill my drink on brand-new pants!
Katniss Everdeen: [discovers Peeta painting his arm] Hi.
Peeta Mellark: Hey.
Katniss Everdeen: How did you do that?
Peeta Mellark: I, ah... I used to decorate the cakes down at the bakery.
Katniss Everdeen: Oh.
Peeta Mellark: I'll show you. See?
[He holds his painted arm against the bark of a tree; the match is perfect]
Katniss Everdeen: Wow.
Peeta Mellark: Yeah.
Haymitch Abernathy: Embrace the probability of your imminent death, and know in your heart that there's nothing I can do to save you.
Effie Trinket: Manners!
Caesar Flickerman: Ladies and gentlemen, from District 12: Katniss Everdeen - the girl on fire!
Peeta Mellark: What was that?
Katniss Everdeen: It's the finale.
Katniss Everdeen: You can't tune out again.
Katniss' Mother: I won't...
Katniss Everdeen: No. You can't. Not like when Dad died. I won't be there anymore, and you're all she has. No matter what you FEEL, you have to BE there for her. Do you understand? Don't cry. Don't cry. Don't... Don't...
Glimmer: [cheering on Cato, who is going to kill Katniss] Go! You got this, Cato!
Clove: Kill her, Cato!
Marvel: Go! Go!
Peeta Mellark: I think about that all the time. How I tossed you that bread.
Katniss Everdeen: Peeta...
Peeta Mellark: I should have gone to you. I should have just gone out in the rain and...
Katniss Everdeen: Shh.
Peeta Mellark: They have to have their victor.
Katniss Everdeen: No. They don't. Why should they?
Effie Trinket: Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor.
Marvel: [Glimmer is mocking the girl they just killed] That's a pretty good impression.
Effie Trinket: District 12's very first volunteer!
Gale Hawthorne: Listen to me.
Katniss Everdeen: Yeah.
Gale Hawthorne: You're stronger than they are. You are. Get to a bow.
Katniss Everdeen: They may not have one...
Gale Hawthorne: They will if you show 'em how good you are. They just want a good show. That's all they want. If they don't have a bow, then you make one, okay? You know how to hunt.
Katniss Everdeen: Animals.
Gale Hawthorne: It's no different, Katniss.
Clove: Where's Lover Boy? Oh, I see. You were gonna help him, right? Well, that's sweet. You know, it's too bad that you couldn't help your little friend. That little girl, what was her name again? Rue?
Katniss Everdeen: Yes.
Clove: Yeah, well, we killed her, and now...
[pulls out knife]
Clove: ...we're gonna kill you.
Peeta Mellark: Katniss. Shoot straight.
Katniss Everdeen: Oh my god! Peeta! Peeta!
Peeta Mellark: Hi.
Katniss Everdeen: Hey.
Effie Trinket: [angrily scolding Katniss] You realize that your actions reflect badly on all of us, not just you.
Cinna: They just want a good show. It's fine.
Effie Trinket: How about it's just bad manners, Cinna? How about THAT?
Effie Trinket: Welcome! Welcome, welcome. Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor. Now, before we begin, we have a very special film brought to you all the way from the Capitol.
Rue: Is all of that true?
Katniss Everdeen: What?
Rue: [coyly] You and him?
Katniss Everdeen: [laughs] So where are Cato and the others?
Katniss Everdeen: Maybe Cato likes berries, too.
Claudius Templesmith: Attention, tributes, attention! Commencing at sunrise, there will be a feast tomorrow at the Cornucopia. This will be no ordinary occasion. Each of you needs something - desperately - and we plan to be... generous hosts.
Katniss Everdeen: We'll just get you some medicine.
Peeta Mellark: Katniss, I don't get many parachutes.
Katniss Everdeen: We'll figure something out.
Peeta Mellark: Like what?
Katniss Everdeen: Something.
Haymitch Abernathy: [to Katniss, about Peeta] You better keep this knife. He knows what he's doing.
Peeta Mellark: Now there's no way I'm letting you go.
Katniss Everdeen: Peeta...
Peeta Mellark: Please. Stay.
President Snow: Welcome! Tributes, we welcome you. We salute your courage and your sacrifice, and we wish you Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor.
Effie Trinket: I hope you noticed we have a serious situation!
Haymitch Abernathy: Where's the ice?
Peeta Mellark: I don't... I don't know.
Katniss Everdeen: We could go home. We could. We're the only team left.
Peeta Mellark: We could go home.
Haymitch Abernathy: This is the time to show them everything. There'll be a bow. Make sure you use it. Peeta, you make sure to show your strength.
Cinna: It's not real fire. These suits are built so you won't feel a thing.
Cinna: Are you ready? Don't be afraid.
Katniss Everdeen: I'm not afraid.
Caesar Flickerman: And what did you say to her in the end?
Katniss Everdeen: I told her that I would try to win. That I would try to win for her.
Caesar Flickerman: Of course you did. And try you will.
Katniss Everdeen: Take care of them, Gale. Whatever you do, don't let them starve!
Seneca Crane: Everyone likes an underdog.
President Snow: I don't.
Peeta Mellark: I have NO chance of winning! None! All right?
Katniss Everdeen: [after Prim's bad dream] It's okay. It's okay. You were just dreaming. You were dreaming.
Primrose Everdeen: It was me.
Katniss Everdeen: I know. I know, but it's not. It's your first year, Prim. Your name's only been in there once. They're not going to pick you.
Katniss Everdeen: What's this?
Hob Vendor: That's a mockingjay.
Katniss Everdeen: How much?
Hob Vendor: You keep it. It's yours.
Katniss Everdeen: Thank you.
Marvel: [seeing Katniss in water and enthusiastically pointing her out] Oh! There she is! There she is!
Effie Trinket: Here we are - our tributes from District 12!
Effie Trinket: [to Peeta and Katniss] Well, go on, you two. Shake hands.
Effie Trinket: What's your name?
Katniss Everdeen: Katniss Everdeen.
Effie Trinket: Well, I bet my hat that was your sister, wasn't it?
Katniss Everdeen: Yes.
President Snow: Welcome, and happy Hunger Games.
Katniss Everdeen: So you're here to make me look pretty.
Cinna: I'm here to help you make an impression.
Effie Trinket: Two hundred miles per hour and you can barely feel a thing. I think it's one of the wonderful things about this opportunity, that even though you're here and even though it's just for a little while, you get to enjoy all of this.
Haymitch Abernathy: [about Cato] He's a Career. You know what that is?
Katniss Everdeen: From District 1.
Haymitch Abernathy: And 2. They train in a special academy until they're eighteen, then they volunteer. By that point, they're pretty lethal.
Effie Trinket: But they don't receive any special treatment. In fact, they stay in the exact same apartment as you do, and I don't think they let them have dessert, and you can.
Katniss Everdeen: I'm not gonna hurt you.
Peeta Mellark: Have you ever met him? Haymitch? You know, Katniss, he is our mentor. He did win this thing once.
[Katniss ignores him]
Peeta Mellark: Look, if you don't want to talk, I understand, but I just don't think there's anything wrong with getting a little bit of help.
Effie Trinket: I just love that!
Katniss Everdeen: It's okay, Prim.
Primrose Everdeen: No! No!
[first lines]
Seneca Crane: I think it's our tradition. It comes out of a particularly painful part of our history...
Caesar Flickerman: Yes.
Seneca Crane: ...but it's been the way we're able to heal.
Cato: I'm coming for you!
[the Careers observe Peeta falling off a climbing net during group training]
Katniss Everdeen: Throw that metal thing over there.
Peeta Mellark: What? No. Haymitch said we're not supposed to show our skills...
Katniss Everdeen: I don't care what Haymitch said. Those guys are looking at you like you're a meal. Throw it.
Katniss Everdeen: Trust me.
Katniss Everdeen: What's that? What's that?
Flavius: Oh, we're just saying we might need to hose you down again before we take you to Cinna.
Caesar Flickerman: Glimmer, are you prepared?
Glimmer: Yes, Caesar, I am VERY prepared.
Caesar Flickerman: I like that assurance. That's self-assurance.
President Snow: I like you.
Effie Trinket: [brightly as she escorts Katniss and Peeta on the journey to their deaths] You two are in for a treat
Seneca Crane: And we're ready.
Cato: [On Katniss] Obviously about my age.
Glimmer: [while their pack runs toward Katniss] She's mine!
Cato: Not if I get her first.
Katniss Everdeen: He made me look weak.
Haymitch Abernathy: He made you look desirable, which, in your case, can't hurt, sweetheart.
Haymitch Abernathy: Gimme a chance to wake up, sweetheart. This mentoring is very... taxing stuff.

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