Where the Heart Is Quotes
A pregnant 17-year-old rebuilds her life after being abandoned by her boyfriend at a Wal-Mart in Sequoyah, Oklahoma.
Novalee Nation: You tell them that our lives can change with every breath we take... and tell 'em to hold on like hell to what they've got: each other, and a mother who would die for them and almost did... You tell them we've all got meanness in us, but we've got goodness too. And the only thing worth living for is the good. And that's why we've got to make sure we pass it on.
Novalee Nation: It's too late, isn't it, Forney?
Forney Hull: Too late for what?
Novalee Nation: I lied to you, when you asked me if I loved you, and I said no. Remember?
Forney Hull: Yes.
Novalee Nation: I lied. It wasn't true, I-I love you. It's just I lied because I thought you deserved something better.
Forney Hull: Something better than you? Novalee, there isn't anything better than you.
[they kiss]
Forney Hull: Too late for what?
Novalee Nation: I lied to you, when you asked me if I loved you, and I said no. Remember?
Forney Hull: Yes.
Novalee Nation: I lied. It wasn't true, I-I love you. It's just I lied because I thought you deserved something better.
Forney Hull: Something better than you? Novalee, there isn't anything better than you.
[they kiss]
Thelma 'Sister' Husband: [answers the door] Yes?
Religious Man: Ma'am, we've come here today to give the word of God to the Wal-mart baby, and to her young unmarried mother.
Religious Woman: We drove all the way up from Midnight, Mississippi.
Thelma 'Sister' Husband: Well, you folks could have saved yourselves a trip because the word of God has been in this house for a very long time.
[slams door in their faces]
Religious Man: Ma'am, we've come here today to give the word of God to the Wal-mart baby, and to her young unmarried mother.
Religious Woman: We drove all the way up from Midnight, Mississippi.
Thelma 'Sister' Husband: Well, you folks could have saved yourselves a trip because the word of God has been in this house for a very long time.
[slams door in their faces]
Forney Hull: Are you finding everything you need?
Novalee Nation: I don't know what they're talking about. I have to look up every other word in the dictionary then I have to look up those words in the children's dictionary. Takes me a half hour to read a page.
Forney Hull: Well maybe this is something that's hard to learn from books. I mean, it's photography.
Novalee Nation: Hard for me, anyway.
Novalee Nation: I don't know what they're talking about. I have to look up every other word in the dictionary then I have to look up those words in the children's dictionary. Takes me a half hour to read a page.
Forney Hull: Well maybe this is something that's hard to learn from books. I mean, it's photography.
Novalee Nation: Hard for me, anyway.
Novalee Nation: I swear I spent more on film than I got paid.
Thelma 'Sister' Husband: [looking at wedding pictures] What's going on here?
Novalee Nation: Well it turns out the groom's former girlfriend was a waitress at the reception. This was right after the bride called her a cheap, big-ass tramp.
Thelma 'Sister' Husband: Who's this on the stretcher?
Novalee Nation: That's the waitress after the bridesmaids finished jumping up and down on her.
Thelma 'Sister' Husband: [laughing] You think they're gonna want these pictures?
Thelma 'Sister' Husband: [looking at wedding pictures] What's going on here?
Novalee Nation: Well it turns out the groom's former girlfriend was a waitress at the reception. This was right after the bride called her a cheap, big-ass tramp.
Thelma 'Sister' Husband: Who's this on the stretcher?
Novalee Nation: That's the waitress after the bridesmaids finished jumping up and down on her.
Thelma 'Sister' Husband: [laughing] You think they're gonna want these pictures?
Mama Lil: You got a man?
Novalee Nation: No.
Mama Lil: This isn't one of them artificial spermanation things, is it?
Novalee Nation: No.
Mama Lil: Then where is the prick who put you in this mess?
Novalee Nation: California.
Mama Lil: [chuckles] That figures. All the pricks move to California. They oughta call it Prickafornia.
Novalee Nation: No.
Mama Lil: This isn't one of them artificial spermanation things, is it?
Novalee Nation: No.
Mama Lil: Then where is the prick who put you in this mess?
Novalee Nation: California.
Mama Lil: [chuckles] That figures. All the pricks move to California. They oughta call it Prickafornia.
Lexie Coop: Forney is in love with you! Tell me you don't know that.
Novalee Nation: It's just not like that with me and Forney.
Lexie Coop: I have seen him. He loves you. He loves the way you walk, he loves your hair, he loves everything about you.
Novalee Nation: Forney and me we're just not that way. Forney's different from us. He went to college. His family had money.
Lexie Coop: What are you trying to say? That you're not good enough for him?
Novalee Nation: It's just not like that with me and Forney.
Lexie Coop: I have seen him. He loves you. He loves the way you walk, he loves your hair, he loves everything about you.
Novalee Nation: Forney and me we're just not that way. Forney's different from us. He went to college. His family had money.
Lexie Coop: What are you trying to say? That you're not good enough for him?
Ruth Meyers: Jesus Christ, another guitar player. What's your name?
Willy Jack Pickens: Willie Jack Pickens.
Ruth Meyers: I bet you didn't even have to make that up, did you?
Willy Jack Pickens: What?
Ruth Meyers: So, you just carry that guitar around to keep your balance?
Willy Jack Pickens: You want me to play?
Ruth Meyers: What the fuck do you think I want you to do, call bingo? One tune; your best shot.
Willy Jack Pickens: Well, I wrote this one myself.
Ruth Meyers: I have goosebumps already.
Willy Jack Pickens: Willie Jack Pickens.
Ruth Meyers: I bet you didn't even have to make that up, did you?
Willy Jack Pickens: What?
Ruth Meyers: So, you just carry that guitar around to keep your balance?
Willy Jack Pickens: You want me to play?
Ruth Meyers: What the fuck do you think I want you to do, call bingo? One tune; your best shot.
Willy Jack Pickens: Well, I wrote this one myself.
Ruth Meyers: I have goosebumps already.
Rhonda: You know the floor is missing?
Novalee Nation: Willy Jack got the whole car for 80 bucks. He had to fix everything on it. And here's the best part.
[points at the license plate]
Novalee Nation: No fives!
Nicki: You and your fives.
Rhonda: What fives?
Novalee Nation: On my fifth birthday my mama ran off with a baseball umpire named Fred and never came back. And after I dropped out of school and was waiting tables at Red's, one of the regulars there named Gladys went crazy. When I tried to calm her down she jumped at me with a steak knife and cut me from my wrist to my elbow.
Rhonda: And what's that got to do with fives?
Nicki: It took 55 stitches to close her up.
Novalee Nation: I don't like fives.
Novalee Nation: Willy Jack got the whole car for 80 bucks. He had to fix everything on it. And here's the best part.
[points at the license plate]
Novalee Nation: No fives!
Nicki: You and your fives.
Rhonda: What fives?
Novalee Nation: On my fifth birthday my mama ran off with a baseball umpire named Fred and never came back. And after I dropped out of school and was waiting tables at Red's, one of the regulars there named Gladys went crazy. When I tried to calm her down she jumped at me with a steak knife and cut me from my wrist to my elbow.
Rhonda: And what's that got to do with fives?
Nicki: It took 55 stitches to close her up.
Novalee Nation: I don't like fives.
Thelma 'Sister' Husband: On behalf of the merchants and businessman's association of the city of Sequoia, Oklahoma I do present you with this basket of gifts and merchandise.
Novalee Nation: [takes basket] Thank you.
Thelma 'Sister' Husband: You've got discount coupons, matches, a map of the city, emery boards.
[interrupts herself]
Thelma 'Sister' Husband: Oh, oh yeah. Now you see this little appointment book? Well I ran out of these last week so I had to put two or three of my own appointments in this one. But if you're not an alcoholic you'll know those meetings aren't for you.
Novalee Nation: No ma'am. I'm not.
Thelma 'Sister' Husband: Good. I think that's good.
Novalee Nation: [takes basket] Thank you.
Thelma 'Sister' Husband: You've got discount coupons, matches, a map of the city, emery boards.
[interrupts herself]
Thelma 'Sister' Husband: Oh, oh yeah. Now you see this little appointment book? Well I ran out of these last week so I had to put two or three of my own appointments in this one. But if you're not an alcoholic you'll know those meetings aren't for you.
Novalee Nation: No ma'am. I'm not.
Thelma 'Sister' Husband: Good. I think that's good.
Novalee Nation: [uncertainly] I'm looking for a book.
Forney Hull: What kind of book?
Novalee Nation: About... 'bout trees?
Forney Hull: Trees?
Novalee Nation: Yeah.
[makes motion over her head to demonstrate]
Novalee Nation: You know.
Forney Hull: Forestry? Environment? Agriculture? Botany? What do you want to know about trees?
Forney Hull: What kind of book?
Novalee Nation: About... 'bout trees?
Forney Hull: Trees?
Novalee Nation: Yeah.
[makes motion over her head to demonstrate]
Novalee Nation: You know.
Forney Hull: Forestry? Environment? Agriculture? Botany? What do you want to know about trees?
Novalee Nation: [yells] Ooh!
Willy Jack Pickens: What the hell?
Novalee Nation: Wal-Mart! I can go to the bathroom!
Willy Jack Pickens: Alright, hurry up.
Novalee Nation: Hun, I'm gonna need some money.
Willy Jack Pickens: They're gonna charge you to pee?
Novalee Nation: I could get some house shoes. I gotta get some kind of shoes.
Willy Jack Pickens: Alright, get you some house shoes. Get you some green polka dot house shoes. That way everyone will be sure to notice you!
Willy Jack Pickens: What the hell?
Novalee Nation: Wal-Mart! I can go to the bathroom!
Willy Jack Pickens: Alright, hurry up.
Novalee Nation: Hun, I'm gonna need some money.
Willy Jack Pickens: They're gonna charge you to pee?
Novalee Nation: I could get some house shoes. I gotta get some kind of shoes.
Willy Jack Pickens: Alright, get you some house shoes. Get you some green polka dot house shoes. That way everyone will be sure to notice you!
Forney Hull: Here!
[throws books on the table]
Forney Hull: Look up Buckeye in the index.
Novalee Nation: The what?
Forney Hull: I'll start slower, these are called books. You still with me?
Novalee Nation: Hey!
Forney Hull: There. See, read.
Novalee Nation: Leaf rot. Root damage. Night nitro.
[struggling]
Novalee Nation: Night nitrogen defic... defic...
Forney Hull: Deficiency! Keep reading.
[throws books on the table]
Forney Hull: Look up Buckeye in the index.
Novalee Nation: The what?
Forney Hull: I'll start slower, these are called books. You still with me?
Novalee Nation: Hey!
Forney Hull: There. See, read.
Novalee Nation: Leaf rot. Root damage. Night nitro.
[struggling]
Novalee Nation: Night nitrogen defic... defic...
Forney Hull: Deficiency! Keep reading.
Willy Jack Pickens: I was coming to see you.
Novalee Nation: Sure.
Willy Jack Pickens: I was.
Novalee Nation: What were you going to do, Willy Jack? Go back to the Wal-Mart. Think I'd still be there waiting for you 5 years later?
Willy Jack Pickens: No. I just.
Novalee Nation: I gave birth at a Wal-Mart.
Willy Jack Pickens: Was it a boy? Was it a girl?
[yells]
Willy Jack Pickens: Is it alright? Does it have a name?
Novalee Nation: Yes, it's a girl. Her name is Americus and she's mine. You stay away from her!
Willy Jack Pickens: Stay away from her? I can't even get out of this bed, Novalee. What am I going to do, run away with her?
Novalee Nation: If you think I'm going to feel sorry for you.
Willy Jack Pickens: [interrupts] I just get some new legs and a new liver. That's all.
Novalee Nation: [yells] Then why'd you come here? Why you coming after us?
Novalee Nation: Sure.
Willy Jack Pickens: I was.
Novalee Nation: What were you going to do, Willy Jack? Go back to the Wal-Mart. Think I'd still be there waiting for you 5 years later?
Willy Jack Pickens: No. I just.
Novalee Nation: I gave birth at a Wal-Mart.
Willy Jack Pickens: Was it a boy? Was it a girl?
[yells]
Willy Jack Pickens: Is it alright? Does it have a name?
Novalee Nation: Yes, it's a girl. Her name is Americus and she's mine. You stay away from her!
Willy Jack Pickens: Stay away from her? I can't even get out of this bed, Novalee. What am I going to do, run away with her?
Novalee Nation: If you think I'm going to feel sorry for you.
Willy Jack Pickens: [interrupts] I just get some new legs and a new liver. That's all.
Novalee Nation: [yells] Then why'd you come here? Why you coming after us?
