Homer Wells I've looked at so many women. I've seen everything, and felt nothing. But when I look at you, it hurts.
Most-quoted character in The Cider House Rules (1999): in 15 of its 23 quotes
Most scenes with: Dr. Wilbur Larch (4), Candy Kendall (3), Arthur Rose (2)
Good night, you princes of Maine, you kings of New England.
More lines from Homer Wells
2 quotes Homer Wells Homer Wells I'm not a doctor. I haven't been to medical school; I haven't even been to high school.
Scenes with Homer Wells
12 scenes Homer Wells They wanted a girl, Curly.
Curly
Nobody ever wants me.
Homer Wells Oh, hey. Hey, come on. Come here. You know, you're one of the best, Curly, and we wouldn't let just anyone take you.
Curly
Dr. Larch wouldn't let just anyone take any of us.
Homer Wells Well, that's true.
Curly
Nobody's asked for me, have they?
Homer Wells Nobody special enough, Curly.
Curly
You mean somebody has?
Homer Wells Only the right people can have you. Now what do you say we go unpack your suitcase?
Homer I'm just not supposed to get excited, you know. No strain. No stress. I try to keep calm all the time.
Wally Worthington I can't imagine there's any strain or stress around here.
Buster [digging grave of botched abortion victim]
What did she die of?
She died of secrecy. She died of... ignorance. Homer, did you expect to be responsible for their children, you have to give them the right to decide whether or not to have children. Wouldn't you agree?
Homer Wells I'm not excepting people to be responsible enough to control themselves to begin with.
Homer Wells Uh, nobody's named this one yet.
Oh, it's my turn. Henceforth, you shall be Little Dorrit.
Homer Wells [baby starts crying]
Oh, you don't like that, do you? He's a boy, that's why.
Can't a boy be Dorrit?
Homer Wells I don't think so.
You do it.
Homer Wells OK. Henceforth, you shall be Little Wilbur.
I'm not crazy about the "Little".
Homer Wells OK, just Wilbur then.
Homer Wells [giving back an X-ray that Dr. Larch gave to him]
I don't need this. I know about my condition.
It's your heart. You ought to take it with you.
Homer Wells I've never actually seen a lobster.
Are you serious?
Homer Wells I've never seen the ocean either.
Wally Worthington You've never seen the ocean? That's not funny, that's serious.
Homer Wells [voiceover]
Dear Dr. Larch. Thank you for your doctor's bag, although it seems that I will not have the occasion to use it, barring some emergency, of course. I am not a doctor. With all due respect to your profession, I'm enjoying my life here. I'm enjoying being a lobsterman and orchardman. In fact, I've never enjoyed myself as much. The truth is, I want to stay here. I believe I'm being of some use.
[voiceover]
My Dear Homer: I thought you were over you adolescence - the first time in our lives when we imagine we have something terrible to hide from those who love us. Do you think it's not obvious to us what's happened to you? You've fallen in love, haven't you? By the way, whatever you're up to can't be too good for your heart. Then again, it's the sort of condition that could be made worse by worrying about it, so don't worry about it.
Homer Wells Dear Dr. Larch, What I'm learning her may not be as important as what I learned from you, but everything is new to me. Yesterday, I learned how to poison mice. Field mice girdle an apple tree; pine mice kill the roots. You use poison oats and poison corn. I know what you have to do. You have to play God. Well, killing mice is as close as I want to come to playing God.
Homer, here in St. Cloud's, I have been given the opportunity of playing God or leaving practically everything up to chance. Men and women of conscience should sieze those moments when it's possible to play God. There won't be many. Do I interfere when absolutely helpless women tell me they simply can't have an abortion - that they simply must go through with having another and yet another orphan? I do not. I do not even recommend. I just give them what they want. You are my work of art, Homer. Everything else has been just a job. I don't know if you have a work of art in you, but I know what your job is: you're a doctor.
Homer Wells I'm not a doctor.
You're going to replace me, Homer. The board of trustees is looking for my replacement.
Homer Wells I can't replace you. I'm sorry.
"Sorry"? I'm not sorry. Not for anything I've done. I'm not even sorry that I love you. [Speaking to the nurse] I think we may have lost him to the world.
Nurse Angela [looking at an X-Ray]
Do you know what this is?
Homer Wells Oh, that's my heart.
Nurse Angela No, actually, it's Fuzzy's. There's nothing wrong with your heart.
Nurse Edna Dr. Larch wanted to keep you out of the war. That's why he told you it was yours.
Nurse Angela He was worried about his own heart. He said it would never stand up to Homer Wells going off to war.
He volunteered. Jesus. Nobody volunteers for the Burma run. He said so himself. He just leaves me here. What does he want? He wants me to wait for him? Oh, God he knows me. He knows I'm not good at being alone. This was right. I know this was right.
Homer Wells You're right. This was right.
Yeah.
Homer Wells [Candy is sitting on a dock: inconsolable after receiving the news about Wally]
Just tell me. I'll do whatever you wanna do.
Nothing.
Homer Wells Isn't that like waiting and seeing?
No. Nothing's nothing. I want Wally to come home. I'm afraid to see him too.
Homer Wells I know.
Homer Wells To do nothing. It's a great idea, really. Maybe if I just wait and see long enough, then I won't have to do anything or decide anything, you know? I mean, maybe if I'm lucky enough, someone else will decide and choose and do things for me.
What are you talking about?
Homer Wells But then again, maybe I won't be that lucky. And it's not my fault. It's not your fault. And that's just it. Someone's gonna get hurt, and it's no one's fault.
I don't want to talk about this.
Homer Wells If we just sit here and, we wait and see a little longer, then maybe you won't to choose, and I won't have to do anything!
What do you want from me? Wally's been shot down. He's paralyzed. What do you want me to do?
Homer Wells Nothing. I'm sorry. You're not the one who has to do anything.
[Mr. Rose has a hold on his daughter to keep her from riding off on her bike to get away in the middle of the night]
Hey, nothin', man. You just go in the house. This ain't none of your concern.
Homer Wells Just listen to me...
You are forgettin' yourself now. This is my daughter! Now, I believe ya have your own mess ya gotta deal with.
Ain't that right, Homer? Ain't that right, Homer? My daughter done told ya and I done told ya. This ain't your business. This ain't none of your business! Ya even know what your business is, Homer? Do ya! Come on, man! What is your business?
Homer Wells I'm in the doctor business. I can help. That's all I'm saying. I can help.
[Mixture of astonishment and relief washes over the Roses]
Homer Wells You're having sex with your own daughter.
Ain't nobody havin' sex with my daughter! Let me just tell you that!
Homer Wells You're lying. Aren't you ashamed of yourself? What do you care who hears? I mean, come on. They know already, don't they? They know Mr. Rose.
And you know what your business is, boy! I know you don't wanna be in no kind of business with me! That's what I know.
Homer Wells Yeah? Go on. Cut my clothes. I've got other clothes.
You gonna come here talkin' to me about lies and shame? Those people took you in, and that boy Wally is away at war!
Homer Wells Yeah, well she's your daughter!
And I love her! Ain't never gonna do nothin' to harm her.
Homer Wells She's pregnant, you know that? She's pregnant.
