Akeelah and the Bee 2006 quotes

Akeelah

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

Dr. Larabee

Does that mean anything to you?

Akeelah

I don't know.

Dr. Larabee

It's written in plain English. What does it mean?

Akeelah

That I'm not supposed to be afraid?

Dr. Larabee

Afraid of what?

Akeelah

Afraid of... me?

Akeelah

I'm naturally inquisitive.

Dr. Larabee

Yes, which is also sometimes confused with being naturally obnoxious.

Akeelah

Okay. But when I'm at the bee, and they tell me to spell some little fish from Australia or some weird bacteria on the Moon, we're going to wish we'd done a little bit more "rote-morizing" and not so much essay reading. If you don't mind me saying.

Dr. Larabee

Bacteria don't exist on the Moon.

Dr. Larabee

Where do you think big words come from?

Akeelah

People with big brains?

Several of the kids placed very high in last year's bee, especially Dylan Chiu. He's come in second two years in a row.

Derrick-T

Kick his butt, Akeelah! B-U-T-T, butt!

Mr. Welch

So whoever wins the school bee today gets to represent Crenshaw at the district bee next month.

Akeelah

Why would anybody want to represent a school where they can't even put doors on the toilet stalls?

Mr. Welch

Akeelah, if we can't show students can perform, we're not going to have money for books, let alone bathroom doors. Now, I want you to do the bee today, okay?

Akeelah

So everyone can call me a freak and a brainiac? No, I ain't down for no spelling bee.

Mr. Welch

Well, maybe you'd be down for spending the rest of the semester in detention for all your absences?

Terrence

Man, that's a white word if I ever heard one. It's a trick. Stop playing!

Akeelah

This is all starting to sound heavy.

It is heavy. Spelling bees are serious shit. I think I'll take a shot. [throws the ball, but misses the hoop] On second thought, can I spell the word?

If you spell this correctly, you'll be our 10th and last finalist.

"Carmagnole."

Could I get a definition, please?

A lively song and street dance.

Um... C... A... R... M... A... [Kiana, watching through the door's window, sees the boy's mom mouth out the letter, "G"] G... N... O-L-E, carmagnole.

That's correct, and that means are our 10th and last finalist for the district bee. [a thunderous applause erupts, especially from the boy's mom. Akeelah is devastated]

Kiana

HE CHEATED!!! HE CHEATED!! I saw that! That boy's mama helped him out!

What...? Excuse me... Who are you?

Kiana

I'm Akeelah's sister. I was standing right back there, and I saw that boy's mama give him the letter "G." She was saying, "geeeee."

Cheating boy's mom

He knew the word. I-I mean, it's one we studied. He knew it.

Ma'am, did you help your child spell the word? [the boy's mom shakes her head] Ma'am, this is serious business.

Cheating boy's mom

OH, YOU'RE DAMN RIGHT IT'S SERIOUS! You know, you are gonna give these kids ulcers! Do you know how long he has studied for this?! He knew that word!

No. I didn't.

I'm sorry, number 62, you are disqualified from competition.

Ms. Cross

Now, we're gonna start things off with "grovel."

Gravel? Like little rocks?

Ms. Cross

No, grovel, like "get down on your knees and grovel."

Get down on my knees? [shocked] What?!

Ms. Cross

Just spell the word.

Uh, G-R-A-V-E-L.

Ms. Cross

No, Chuckie, you spelled "gravel." I meant "grovel", G-R-O-V-E-L. You weren't listening. Sorry, Chuckie.

Who cares?

Akeelah Anderson

You know that feeling where everything feels right? Where you don't have to worry about tomorrow or yesterday, where you feel safe and know you're doing the best you can? There's a word for that, it's called love. L-O-V-E.