Johnny Castle Look, spaghetti arms. This is my dance space. This is your dance space. I don't go into yours, you don't go into mine. You gotta hold the frame.
Most-quoted character in Dirty Dancing (1987): in 21 of its 44 quotes
Most scenes with: Frances "Baby" Houseman (7), Jake Houseman (2), Neil Kellerman (2)
Sorry about the disruption, folks, but I always do the last dance of the season. This year somebody told me not to. So I'm gonna do my kind of dancin' with a great partner, who's not only a terrific dancer; somebody who's taught me that there are people willing to stand up for other people no matter what it costs them; somebody who's taught me about the kind of person I wanna be. Miss Frances Houseman.
More lines from Johnny Castle
6 quotes Johnny Castle Johnny Castle Nobody puts Baby in the corner.
Note: ranked #98 in the American Film Institute's list of the top 100 movie quotations in American cinema.
Johnny Castle Now, you'll hurt me if you don't trust me, all right?
Johnny Castle Don't put your heel down, don't put your heel down, stay on the toe! Just listen to me, the steps aren't enough, feel the music.
Johnny Castle It's not on the one, it's not the mambo, it's a feeling a heartbeat.
Johnny Castle Nobody puts Baby in a corner.
Scenes with Johnny Castle
14 scenes
You think you can keep that straight, Johnny? What you can and can't lay your hands on.
Johnny Castle Just put your pickle on everybody's place, college boy, and leave the hard stuff to me.
Johnny Castle [seeing Baby]
Yo, cousin, what's she doing here?
She came with me. She's with me.
Where's Penny? Everyone's been asking for her.
Johnny Castle What do you mean, where's Penny? She's taking a break, she needs a break.
As long as it's not an all-night break. [to Baby] Come on, doll. Let's take a walk.
Here's the money.
You mean, Robbie?
No, you we're right about him.
Then where'd you get it?
You said you needed it.
Is this kid for real?
Johnny Castle Yeah, it takes a real saint to ask Daddy.
Thanks, Baby, but I can't use it. [resumes dancing with Johnny]
Johnny Castle What? What's the matter with you? You should take the money.
Johnny Castle You trying to kill me? You gotta concentrate! Is that your idea of fun?
Oh, yes, as a matter of fact it is. We're supposed to do the show in two days, you won't show me the lifts, I'm not sure of the turns. I'm doing all this to save your ass, what I really want to do is drop you on it.
Johnny Castle Well, let's get outta here.
Have you had many women?
Johnny Castle What? [laughs]
Have you had many women?
Johnny Castle Come on, Baby.
Come on. I want to know.
Johnny Castle No, no. [jumps out of bed and Baby smiles at him] Look, you've gotta understand what it's like baby, you come from the streets and suddenly you're up here, and these women are throwing themselves at ya, and they smell so good, and they really take care of themselves, [getting dressed] I mean I never knew women could be like that, you know? And they're so rich, they're so goddamn rich, you think they must know about everything. And they're slipping their room keys in my hands, two and three times day, different women. So here I think I'm scoring big and for a while you think, hey, they wouldn't be doing this if they didn't care about me, right?
That's alright, I understand. You were just using them, that's all. [looks depressed]
Johnny Castle No, no, that's not it. That's the thing, see, Baby, it wasn't like that, they were using me.
Johnny Castle [Baby kisses Johnny and they fall back on to their bed]
What's your real name, Baby?
Frances. For the first woman in the cabinet. [laughs]
Johnny Castle Frances. That's a real grown up name.
Johnny, what are you doing?
Johnny Castle Don't worry about Max. I'll tell him your grandma died or something.
How many times have you told me never to get mixed up with them?
Johnny Castle [long silence]
I know what I'm doing, Penny.
You listen to me; you've got to stop it, now.
Johnny, I came here because my father--
Johnny Castle No, I mean the way he saved her. I mean, I... I could never do anything like that. That was somethin'. The reason people treat me like I'm nothin' is cause I'm nothin'.
That's not true! You, you're everything!
Johnny Castle You don't understand the way it is, I mean for somebody like me. Last month, I'm eating Jujubes to keep alive, and this month, women are stuffing diamonds in my pocket, I'm balacing on shit as quick as that, [clicks his fingers] I could be down there again.
No, it's not the way it is! It doesn't have to be that way.
Johnny Castle I've never known anyone like you before. You think you can make the world better. Somebody's lost, you find them. Somebody's bleeding--
Yeah, I go get my daddy. That was really brave, like you said.
Johnny Castle That took a lot of guts to go to him! You are not scared of anything.
France "Baby Houseman
Me? I'm scared of everything! I'm scared of what I saw. I'm scared of what I did, of who I am. And most of all, I'm scared of walking out of this room and never feeling the rest of my whole life... the way I feel when I'm with you!
Note: Ranked #1 in an April 2008 list by the Daily Mail of the "most romantic movie quotes ever". Yaqoob, Tahira. "From Bogart to McGregor: The top ten most romantic movie quotes ever", Daily Mail, 2008-02-01. URL accessed on 2008-05-03.
They fired you anyway because of me!
Johnny Castle And if I leave quietly, I'll get my summer bonus.
So I did it for nothing. I hurt my family, you lost your job anyway! I did it for nothing!
Johnny Castle No, not for nothing, Baby! Nobody has ever done anything like that for me before!
You're were right, Johnny, you can't win no matter what you do!
Johnny Castle You listen to me; I don't want to hear that from you, you can!
I used to think so.
Johnny, my grandfather put me in charge of the final show. I want talk to you about the last dance. I'd like to shape things up a bit. You know move with the times.
Johnny Castle Yeah, I've got a lot of ideas. I've been working with the staff kids on this between the Cuban rhythm and soul dancing.
Whoa, boy. You're just way over your head here. Now, I thought you always do the mambo, huh? Why not dance this year's final dance... to the pachenga?
Johnny Castle Right.
Well, you're free to do the same, tired number as last year if you want, but next year, we'll find another dance person who'll only be too happy--
Johnny Castle Sure, Neil, no problem. We'll end the season with the pachenga. Great idea.
[to Baby]
Sometimes he's hard to talk to, but the ladies seem to like him. See that he gives you the full half-hour you're paying him for, kid.
Johnny Castle [about Neil]
That little wimp. He wouldn't know a new idea if it hit him with the pachenga. He wants some new ideas, I could have told him some new ideas.
Well then, why did you let him talk to you that way?
Johnny Castle What do you mean, fight the boss man?
You tell him your ideas. He's a person like everyone else.
Johnny Castle Look, I know these people, Baby. Thye are rich and they're mean. They won't listen to me.
Why not fight harder? Make them listen.
Johnny Castle Because I need this goddamned job lined up for next summer. My dad calls me today. "Good news," he says "Uncle Paul can finally get you in the union."
What union?
Johnny Castle House Painters and Plasterers Local Number 179 at your service.
[They hide from Baby's father without being seen]
I've been thinking a lot about the Domino Effect. Now, if Vietnam falls, does that mean China's next?
Johnny Castle Yeah.
When I'm wrong, I say I'm wrong. [to Baby] You look wonderful out there.
Johnny Castle [talking about Neil]
That little wimp. He wouldn't know a new idea if it hit him in the Pachenga. He wanted some new ideas? I could've *told* him some new ideas!
Well, why did you let him talk to you that way?
Johnny Castle What do you mean, and fight the bossman?
Yeah, tell him your ideas! He's a person like everyone else. I'm sure he'll think they're great.
Johnny Castle Look, I know these people, Baby. They're all rich and they're mean. They won't listen to me.
Well, then why not fight harder? Make them listen?
Johnny Castle Because, I need this goddamn job lined up for next summer! [chuckles scornfully] My dad calls me today, he says - with good news - you know, he says, "Uncle Paul can finally get you in the union."
Oh, what-what union?
Johnny Castle The House Painters and Plasterers, local number 179, at your service.
[Baby's father, sister, and Robbie come out of the house next to the trail; Baby pulls Johnny down so they won't see them together]
I've been thinking a lot about the Domino Theory. Now, when Vietnam falls, is China next?
Johnny Castle [getting up]
Fight harder, huh? I don't see you fighting so hard, Baby. I don't see you running up to daddy telling him I'm your guy.
I will. With my father, it's complicated. I will tell him, I...
Johnny Castle I don't believe you, Baby! I don't think that you ever had any intention of telling him. Ever. [stalks off]
Don't you tell me what to see! I see someone in front of me who got his partner in trouble and sent her off to some butcher, while he moved on to an innocent young girl like my daughter!
Johnny Castle [silence] [angry]
Yeah, I guess that's what you would see.
