I wish to promote you, Mr Presley. Are you ready to fly?
I'm ready. Ready to fly.
Elvis Presley
Jonathan Rhys Meyers · 71 quotes
Colonel Tom Parker
Randy Quaid · 47 quotes
Sam Phillips
Tim Guinee · 10 quotes
Gladys Presley
Camryn Manheim · 9 quotes
Vernon Presley
Robert Patrick · 9 quotes
Steve Binder
Jack Noseworthy · 7 quotes
Scotty Moore
Mark Adam · 5 quotes
Jerry Schilling
4 quotes
Priscilla Beaulieu
4 quotes
Most scenes together: Elvis Presley & Colonel Tom Parker (12), Elvis Presley & Vernon Presley (8), Elvis Presley & Gladys Presley (6)
Elvis quotes
Page 1 of 8[looking at a payment list for Jamboree Attractions claiming that Elvis and Vernon owe Parker $8,549,761.09]
What is this?
Well, that is what we owe the Colonel. We're broke.
Daddy, I've been playing this mausoleum for a hundred years, how could we be broke?
You spend so much money, you know, you got the cars and the girls and the clothes, and all the, you know, new airplane...
Daddy, you are my business manager, you're supposed to be taking care of business...
I don't know what to tell you, son! We're - We're broke! We're plain broke. Gotta take the Colonel back.
I'm not takin' him back.
We're gonna lose Graceland.
[pause, in furious anger]
I'm not takin' him back! [throws a table with boxes over] Takes everything from me, he takes 50% of everything that I make! And now he wants to take the home that we bought for momma! Listen to me, daddy. That old bastard can sue if he wants, but I am flying away. With or without you.
[Elvis walks to the elevator]
I ain't wearin' no tails. I just... gotta lay off the moves, is all. Colonel says if I don't, they're gonna put me in jail.
B.B. King
[chuckles]
Come on, man. They're not gonna put you in jail. They might put me in jail for walkin' across the street, but you a famous white boy. Too many people making too much money off you to put you in jail.
You think so?
B.B. King
I know so. The Colonel's a smart man. There's gotta be another reason.
I've never met anyone like you.
Well, I hope not.
Elvis won't have no trouble with it. He's a smart boy, he can do anything he sets his mind to. [to Elvis] Mind you, honey, you can't be daydreamin' all the time. 'Cause you'll wire somethin' up wrong and burn down somebody's house.
I don't know a thing about this so-called Colonel, Elvis. I think he'd sell the paint off his own momma's house.
It's just like riding a bike, Elvis. Once you get out there on stage, it's gonna be like old times. Look, I just went out there. Those are your fans, Elvis. You can't let 'em down. You've never let the fans down.
Well, that's true.
And some of 'em are lookers, Elvis, I ain't gonna lie to you. If nothing else, just do it for me. It'll be one of the few times I get to play to your face instead of your ass.
[he and Elvis are walking down Sunset Strip]
It's 1968. The times they're changing, man. You can change too.
[After the death of his beloved mother, Elvis is grieving alone in her closet, sobbing quietly. Colonel Parker enters.] [gently]
Your daddy is doing the best he knows how, but he is overwhelmed. He needs your help.
Oh, my boy. No one could never replace her. But you listen to me. From this moment on, everything she would have done, I will carry out, in her name. When you are overseas, I will stay here at home. And I will work and I will worry. Trust me. Now you go and you stand by your papa. You comfort him. [helps Elvis to his feet] You comfort him. Comfort your friends and your family and even your fans. Hmm? Because if you don't do that, all that your mama has sacrificed for you will be for nothing.
[Still crying, Elvis embraces Colonel Parker]
No matter what happens, you stay with me through thick and thin, okay? You're like a... like a father to me.
[the Colonel pats him on the back, comfortingly]
[as Parker is introducing the Presley family to the merchandising options, Gladys is perturbed by one item]
"I Hate Elvis".
[Parker and Elvis look up in surprise and find that written on a button Gladys is holding]
Yes. "I Hate Elvis". In my way of thinking, "I Love Elvis," that's an easy sell. Those who hate your son will do so whether we profit from it or not. [to Elvis] After all, what is hate worth if it's free?
Oh, yeah. I get it.
[Elvis then breaks into a smile]
[Backstage, Elvis has learned the truth about Colonel Tom Parker and exposes him live on stage; Parker himself is sitting in the audience with the owner of the International Hotel]
I'd like to turn the house lights up, ladies and gentlemen. 'Cause now that you've seen me, I'd like to take a look at you. [the audience cheers and applauds as the house lights come up] Oh, you're beautiful. Thank you. Oh, boy!
He'll mention the VIPs that are here.
We got some high-rollers in here tonight.
Get ready for the spotlight.
Mr. International Hotel himself!
And right next to him, is my so-called manager, Colonel Tom Parker.
[the spotlight turns to Parker, who playfully acts bashful]
But I hear rumors that Colonel is an alien.
[Elvis grabs a wine glass from someone in the audience and downs it one gulp]
Somebody call the FBI, and tell 'em that he has abducted me... [his voice becoming aggressive] that he has locked me... in this... *golden cage* to keep me here forever... with you, ladies and gentlemen.
[Audience applauds again] [singing]
So, I'm caught in a trap / I can't get out / 'Cause Colonel's got some big debts, baby.
[The Colonel realizes what Elvis is saying. Elvis gives him a mean look from the stage.]
Excuse me.
[Colonel leaves]
Well, this is the last show I'm ever playing here. [audience groans] I'm gonna get on my jet plane, the "Lisa Marie". It's named after my, uh... my beautiful daughter, and I'm gonna fly away.
[the Colonel has arrived backstage in a hurry]
No no no... You know, I'm going to fly away.
[angrily whispering to the stagehands]
Stop the show. Stop this show! Come on, get this curtain down!
**** the International.
And Las Vegas.
That's what he wants to know.
Ain't no one gonna stop me, man. [spots Parker from the wings] Oh, security, Security! [begins babbling nonsensically, grabs another microphone from a band member] Security, security, security! [to Parker, shouting] 800 shows, you don't have a goddamn passport, you son of a bitch! You are fired! [even louder, even angrier] You are fired! [Parker has now walked up to him face-to-face; Presley screams] YOU'RE FIRRRRRRED!!!
[Binder speaks to the crew of the '68 Special in the aftermath of Bobby Kennedy's assassination]
Listen, I, uh... I just wanna say that... that this nation is hurting. It's lost. You know? It... it needs a voice right now to help it heal. We have to say something. [turns to Elvis] You... have to make a statement, E.P.
[the Colonel barges his way into the room]
Mr. Presley does not make statements. He sings "Here Comes Santa Claus" and wishes everyone "Merry Christmas and good night".
[Deleted scene only]
Back in Memphis, before things got complicated. I used to go to this park with a friend of mine, and we'd just sit there and look up at the stars and dream, you know?
Another girl?
[laughs]
Well, yes, another girl. We just sit and throw pebbles in the river, and talk, like we're talking now. [pause] I miss that.
Do I remind you of her?
No, you're nothing like her. But you remind me of those times.
Good times, I hope?
Yeah, they were good times. I wasn't sure about how good they were back then, but now when I look back on it... Yeah, they were. I mean, we were poor. Real poor. But momma was there. And I was happy, just lookin' at the stars and dreamin' my dream.
Like now?
Like now.
[Elvis and Priscilla smile at one another and gently hold hands]
[short pause]
Now twelve years I've been on stage with this man, and this is the first word he's ever said to me. First word. [they laugh] And for that now I'm gonna take his guitar. Come on, Scotty, give it up.
[Elvis has called TV producer Steve Binder and record producer Bones Howe out for a meeting at the dilapidated Hollywood sign; Elvis is sitting in the second O]
When I first came up to Hollywood, I'd come up here and sit for hours. [gestures over to the Griffith Observatory] Right over there, the observatory? That's where they shot Rebel Without a Cause. Man, I used to dream about being a great actor like Jimmy Dean. This sign was beautiful then. And now... feels as though lots of things are like that these days. Broke down, beat up. Rotten. I really like what you guys did, putting James Brown and the Stones together.
We're, uh... big fans of yours too. It's just that, Mr. Presley, we don't usually...
Oh, Elvis.
Elvis, uh... Christmas specials aren't really our thing.
I know. Tell me, honestly... where do you boys think my career's at right now?
Bones Howe
[Binder looks over to Howe]
Well, it's...
It's in the toilet, Elvis.
[Elvis looks up at Jerry Schilling and they both begin laughing]
You hear that, Jerry? Oh, Lord. I knew you were the right guys for this job. You know, back when I was starting out, some people wanted to put me in jail, even kill me, 'cause of the way I was moving. So they cut my hair, they put me in uniform and they sent me away. That killed my mother. And ever since then... I've been lost. And when you're lost, people take advantage. I need you fellas to help me get back to who I really am.
And who are you, Elvis?
I sure as hell ain't somebody who sings Christmas songs by a fireplace for an hour.
And what does the Colonel think?
I don't give a damn what the Colonel thinks.