William Miller Please don't give him any more acid.
Played by Patrick Fugit 
Almost Famous (2000) · 84 quotes
Almost Famous (2000) · 84 quotes
2nd most-quoted character in Almost Famous (2000): in 18 of its 84 quotes
Most scenes with: Russell Hammond (5), Penny Lane (4), Elaine Miller (3)
"That groupie"? She was a Band-Aid! All she did was love your band. And you used her, all of you! You used her and threw her away! She almost died last night while you were with Bob Dylan. You guys, you're always talking about the fans, the fans, the fans; she was your biggest fan, and you threw her away! And if you can't see that, that's your biggest problem. And I love her! I love her!
More lines from William Miller
3 quotes William Miller William Miller When and where does this "real world" occur?
William Miller [to Penny, who is nearly passed out]
I know you've heard this before. And I have never said this to anybody, not really--well, nobody who didn't legally have to say it back to me, but-God! Why am I so nervous? You'll never remember this-I love you, and I'm about to go where...many men have gone before.
Scenes with William Miller
14 scenes
So, you're the one who's been sending me those articles from your school newspaper.
William Miller I've been doing some stuff for a local underground paper, too.
What, are you like the star of your school?
William Miller They hate me.
You'll meet them all again on their long journey to the middle.
FECK YOU!
HEY!
This is a house of lies!
Well there it is, your sister used the "F" word.
William Miller I think she said "feck."
What's the difference?
William Miller The letter "u."
Keep the small bills on the outside and call me if anyone gets drunk.
William Miller I will call you if anyone anywhere gets drunk.
William Miller [as Stillwater is walking by him, ignoring his requests for an interview]
Russell. Jeff. Ed. Larry. I really love your band. I think the song "Fever Dog" is a big step forward for you guys. And you guys producing it yourselves, instead of Glyn Johns, that was the right thing to do. And Russell, Russell, the guitar sound... is incendiary. Incendiary. Way to go.
[He turns to leave. The band members regard one another for a moment]
Well, don't stop there!
Yeah, come back here! I'm incendiary, too, man!
How old are you?
William 18.
Me too! How old are we really?
William 17.
Me too!
William Actually, I'm 16.
Me too. Isn't it funny? The truth just sounds different.
William I'm 15.
I've made a decision, I'm gonna live in Morocco for one year. I need a new crowd. Do you wanna come?
William Miller Yes! Yeah.
William Miller Ask me again.
Do you wanna come?
William Miller Yes! Yes.
William [on the phone with his mother]
I'm fine! I'm fine! I'm flying back on Monday Morning. I'll only miss one test. I'll make it up.
[Russell listens in, holding his guitar, laughing.]
Tell her you're a slave to the groove - you can't help it!
William [covers phone]
No.
[Russell grabs the phone]
Hi Mom! It's Russell Hammond, I play guitar in Stillwater! It's my fault. How does it feel to be the mother of the future of rock journalism? [pause] Hello?
[Silence. Penny passes and stands near William. They watch a new pack of groupies prowl the road-crew. They are more glam, more trashy and less selective. They slink past, eyeing Russell. Penny Lane give them a dirty look and shoos them away.]
You've got a great kid -- nothing to worry about! We're taking care of him! And you should come to a show sometime! Join the Circus!
Listen to me. Your charm does not work on me. I'm onto you. Of course you like him.
He worships you people and that's fine with you, as long as he helps make you rich.
Listen to me. He's a smart, good-hearted, 15 year-old kid, with infinite potential.
[Russel looks over at the kid, eyes narrowing as he processes the truth.]
This is not some apron-wearing mother you're talking to. I know about your Valhalla of Decadence, and I shouldn't have let him go. He is not ready for your world of compromised values, and diminished brain cells that you throw away like confetti. Am I speaking clearly to you?
Yes, ma'am.
If you break his spirit, harm him in any way, keep him from his chosen profession -- which is law, something you may not value but I do -- you will meet the voice on the other end of this telephone. And it will not be pretty. Do we understand each other?
Uh, yes ma'am.
I didn't ask for this role, but I'll play it. Now go do your best. "Be bold and mighty forces will come to your aid." Goethe said that. It's not too late for you to be a person of substance, Russell. Get my son home safely. You know, I'm glad we spoke. [Russell is in shock]
[from a roof top, overlooking a crowd surrounding a pool]
And you can tell Rolling Stone magazine that my last words were... I'm on drugs!
William Miller [crowd cheers]
Russell! I think we should work on those last words!
I got it, I got it. This is better. Last words - I dig music.
You're too sweet for rock and roll.
William Miller Sweet? Where do you get off? Where do you get sweet? I am dark and mysterious, and I am PISSED OFF! I could be very dangerous to all of you! And you should know that about me... I am THE ENEMY!
Oh man, you made friends with 'em. See, friendship is the booze they feed you. They want you to get drunk on feeling like you belong.
William Miller Well, it was fun.
Because they make you feel cool, and hey, I met you. You are not cool.
Look - you should be happy for me. You don't know what he says to me in private. Maybe it is love, as much as it can be, for somebody...
William Miller Somebody who sold you to Humble Pie for fifty bucks and a case of beer! I was there! I was there!... Oh god. Look- I'm sorry.
Sheldon the Desk Clerk Are you Mr. Miller?
William Miller Yeah.
Sheldon the Desk Clerk You have a message from Elaine, your mother.
Sheldon the Desk Clerk [pause]
She's a handful.
William Miller I know.
Sheldon the Desk Clerk [seriously]
She freaked me out.
William Miller Do you have to be depressed to write a sad song? Do you have to be in love to write a love song? Is a song better when it really happened to you? Like "Love Thing," where did you write that and who was it about?
When did you get so professional?
William Miller So Russell... what do you love about music?
To begin with, everything.
