A scene from The Iron Giant 1999
Hogarth

[he has just had espresso with Dean, and is not used to its effects]

So, she moved me up a grade because I wasn't fitting in, so now I'm even more not fitting in. I was getting good grades, you know, like all A's. So my mom says, "You need stimulation" and I go, "No, I'm stimulated enough right now."

Dean

That's for sure.

Hogarth

So she says, "Uh-uh. You don't have a challenge. You need a challenge." So now I'm challenged, all right. I'm challenged to hold on to my lunch money because of all the big mooses who want to pound me, because I'm a shrimpy dork who thinks he's smarter than them. But I don't think I'm smarter, I just do the stupid homework. If everyone else just did the stupid homework, they could move up a grade and get pounded too. Is there any more coffee?

Dean

Look, it's really none of my business, kid, but who cares what those creeps think, you know? They don't decide who you are, you do. You are who you choose to be. [a crashing sound is heard from outside; shocked] Did you hear that?

Hogarth

No, wait. Stop! [Dean comes out of his home with a crowbar in his hand, he looks around. Then, he turns around and suddenly caught sight of Giant on the other side of his warehouse.] It's okay.

Dean

[alarmed]

My God...

Hogarth

He isn't gonna--

Dean

[panicking; grabs Hogarth]

RUN, KID! RUN! [they run off, Dean's voice attracts Giant's attention and he jumps up angrily. The Giant lands in front of them, they run the opposite way]

Hogarth

It's okay, he isn't-- [he gets cut off when Giant slams his hand in their way. They turn around and they trip] It's okay, he isn't gonna hurt me.

Dean

[Suddenly, Giant grabs hold of Dean by the collar of his night robe]

Whoa! Hey, hey! [he gasps when the Giant raises him high]

Hogarth

Don't squash him! No, don't! Do not... [Giant narrows his eyes at Dean, then he looks at Hogarth, confused] [softly] ...squash him. His name is Dean. We like Dean. [Giant draws his attention back to Dean, but he doesn't narrow his eyes]

Giant

Dean. [Dean gasps, and cowers in fear]

Dean

[sees Giant eating some metal junk and shakes with fear as he is about to take a sip of his coffee]

So...where'd, uh-- Where'd he come from?

Hogarth

He doesn't remember. He's like a... little kid.

Dean

Little. Yeah. [starts chuckling, then stops] Wait a minute. You can talk to him?

Hogarth

Kinda. He can't say a lot of words yet, but he understand things pretty good.

Dean

Oh, yeah, I see.

Hogarth

[Hogarth and Dean start chuckling as the Giant is still eating some metal junk, then they stop]

He needs food and shelter. [Dean gets up from his chair, pours his coffee onto the ground, and walks back into his office, shutting the door. 37 minutes later, Hogarth is still pleading to Dean to let Giant stay in the junkyard, but to no avail.] You got plenty of room here. This place is perfect!

Dean

Go away.

Hogarth

I can have him push the door down. You know I can!

Dean

[opens the door]

Hogarth, I-I-I can't hide it here!

Hogarth

Him. Not it.

Dean

Whatever. You don't even know where he came from, or-or-or what the hell he is!

Hogarth

He's my friend.

Dean

Yeah, yeah. What am I? Am I your friend? [starts walking back into his office] Bring some Franken-bot with out-of-state plates over here and make me change my tune. I don't like that jazz. [lays down on his couch] God, I'm tired.

Hogarth

So, he can stay?

Dean

Tonight. Tomorrow-- I-I don't know about tomorrow.
[Hogarth closes the door and breathes a sigh of relief]

In this scene

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