Carr Gomm
Can you imagine the kind of life he must have had?
Yes, I think I can.
Carr Gomm
I don't think so. No one could possibly imagine it! I don't believe any of us can!
Dr. Frederick Treves
Anthony Hopkins · 8 quotes
John Merrick
John Hurt · 7 quotes
Bytes
Freddie Jones · 1 quote
Mary Jane Merrick
1 quote
Most scenes together: John Merrick & Dr. Frederick Treves (3)
The Elephant Man quotes
Dr. Fox
Have you ever mentioned his mental state?
Oh, he's an imbecile, probably from birth. Man's a complete idiot... Pray to God he's an idiot.
Jim
I don't know what you mean, sir.
DON'T LIE TO ME!! I know all about it, you were seen! You're involved with Bytes, aren't you? You've taken him. WHERE. IS. HE?
Jim
Now, wait a minute. I haven't taken him anywhere. I don't know no Bytes. We were just having a bit of fun. We never hurt him. You know, just having a laugh, that's all.
Jim
When I left him, he was in bed safe and sound!
YOU BASTARD! (Shoves Jim, making him knock over a table with plates) YOU BASTARD!!
Jim
You're not listening to me! I told you, I don't know no Bytes! I ain't done nothing wrong! People pay money to see your monster, Mr. Treves. I collect it.
YOU'RE THE MONSTER! YOU'RE THE... FREAK! NOW, GET OUT! YOU'RE FINISHED, DAMN YOU!
Jim
(Picks up a fire poker)
You don't frighten me, you and your bleedin' Elephant Man. I'm glad what I done, and you can do nothing about it. Only Mothershead can sack me now!
Mothershead
(Comes up behind him and knocks him out with a package)
Done.
There's something I've been meaning to ask you for some time now.
What's that?
Can you cure me?
No. We can care for you, but we can't cure you.
Would you care to see my mother?
Mrs. Treves
[Merrick pulls out a small portrait]
Oh but she's... Mr. Merrick, she's beautiful!
Oh, she had the face of an angel! [sadly] I must have been a great disappointment to her.
Mrs. Treves
No, Mr. Merrick, no! No son as loving as you could ever be a disappointment.
If only I could find her, so she could see me with such lovely friends here now; perhaps she could love me as I am. I've tried so hard to be good.
Mrs. Kendal
Why, Mr. Merrick, you're not an elephant man at all.
Oh no?
Mrs. Kendal
Oh no... no... you're a Romeo.
Mrs. Mothershead
Sir! I don't quite... I don't quite understand why it is you allow that sort of people in there.
Why? Because he enjoys it, and I think it's very good for him.
Mrs. Mothershead
Yes, but, sir, you saw the expression on their faces. They didn't hide their disgust. They don't care anything about John! They only want to impress their friends!
I think you're being rather harsh on them, don't you, Mrs. Mothershead?
Mrs. Mothershead
I beg your pardon!
You yourself hardly showed him much loving kindness when he first arrived, did you?
Mrs. Mothershead
I bathed him, I fed him, and I cleaned up after him, didn't I? And I see that my nurses do the same. And if loving kindness can be called care and practical concern, then I did show him loving kindness, and I am not ashamed to admit it!
I didn't mean it exactly that way, Mrs. Mothershead. Now please believe me. Of course I appreciate your concern. I appreciate everything you've done for Mr. Merrick.
Mrs. Mothershead
Thank you.
But I am the physician in charge--
Mrs. Mothershead
I appreciate tha--
And I must do what I think is best for him!
Mrs. Mothershead
If you ask for my opinion, he's only being stared at all over again!
Mrs. Treves
I'm very pleased to meet you, Mr. Merrick.
I'm very pleased... [begins to cry]
What is it, John? What's the matter?
It's just that I-I'm not used to being treated so well by a beautiful woman...
Am I a good man? Or a bad man?
I am not an elephant! I am not an animal! I am a human being! I... am... a man!
Life!... is full of surprises. Consider the fate of this creature's poor mother, struck down in the fourth month of her maternal condition by an elephant, a wild elephant. Struck down!... on an uncharted African isle. The result is plain to see... Ladies and gentlemen... The terrible... Elephant... Man!
My life is full because I know I am loved.
Never. Oh, never. Nothing will die. The stream flows, the wind blows, the cloud fleets, the heart beats. Nothing will die.
People are frightened by what they don't understand.