Vernon Presley quotes from Elvis (2005)

How's school today, Elvis?

Fine. They don't talk too much to me there.

I don't doubt it. Those clothes you wear and that hair.

Don't you start, Vernon. That's his style. Everyone's gotta have a style. You used to have a style, Vernon.

Oh, your daddy was a looker, Elvis.

You're right about that.

Still is when he sets his mind to it. [on Vernon] Boy could he dance. [to Elvis] Play something on the guitar, maybe your daddy would dance with me. [they laugh]

Oh, no, no, no. I'm not dancing. I'm eating. Is there anymore?

No. It's all they'd give us down at the pantry. You eat anymore tonight and there won't be enough for the whole week.

I'm really not hungry. [Elvis passes his plate to Vernon, who takes a pork chop]

Put that back down, Vernon.

I'm done, momma. Really. I'm not hungry.

A million dollars?

Sounds like a lot of banana all to me. Elvis is already working too hard. Look how skinny he is.

Oh, momma, I've been eating everything you've been putting in front of me. And it ain't work. I like it, it's fun.

Time to sell the apples is when they're on the tree not after they fall into the ground. Now, this boy, he's ripe now. So he has to work hard for a couple of years. He's young. He can handle it. Then after couple of years, raking in the cash, he take it easy, do what he wants.

He can retire on a million dollars.

All this TV and movie bushwa. That's all in New York City and California. Whose gonna look after my boy there? I don't trust em kind of folk.

Exactly. Now, Sam Phillips, he's a nice enough fellow, but those big city boys they will eat him for lunch. Me? I'm one of you.

And where is it you're from exactly?

I've wondered the land, much like a gypsy.

Well, thank you for stopping by, Mr. Parker. We'll let you know.

If you would call me Colonel, ma'am.

It was named after the sellers great aunt Grace. You can call it anything you want.

Graceland. I like it, momma.

We'll put chicken coops and hog pens in the back. Momma will put in her garden. We'll do her bedroom up in pink wallpaper. They said they could have it all ready by September.

Don't it look just like Tara in Gone with the Wind, baby?

Momma, remember I told you I'd buy you a house. And now you got a palace.

Where you been all night, daddy?

Out with friends.

Friends my ass. You with that Stanley woman. I know what's going on, daddy! She's married!

It ain't none of your business, Elvis.

It's just been three months! Your cheating on two people!

Look, Elvis. I loved your momma as much as a man can love a woman. But I'm tired of crying. I'm a lonely man.

It's an insult to her memory!

You watch your mouth, son. I know what you've been up to with those French hooch dancers every time you go to Paris. What would your momma say about your hygiene?!

I'm the one that pays the bills around here, don't you ever forget it!

How can we forget it. You keep reminding us every time you don't get your way?

Do you know how much money you spent last month? Over 500, 000 dollars. And more the month before. Your gonna break us. Your gonna put us in the poor house.

I can always earn more money.

Why can't you just stop buyin' stuff?

Cuz I like the look on folks faces when I buy 'em something, daddy. Oh, you remember when we were dirt poor. How nice it would've been if someone came along and bought me a car.

Well, I ain't sayin' that it ain't a nice thing, but you keep this up, and we're gonna be livin' in a Tupelo shotgun shack again. [Elvis is nodding off] Elvis?

I gotta take a nap, daddy. Where are my sleepin' pills?

Your noddin' off already. Do you need 'em?

I'm worried about you, son.

Why? And what are you lookin' at me like that for? Have I got a zit or somethin'?

It's the pills, E. I'm concerned about your health.

I know what I'm doing.

I'm just trying to help you, son.

I don't need no advice from the likes of you! You work for me! That's it! Understand?!

I'm your daddy!

And I'm of age, old man! I don't need a daddy anymore!

Where we gonna come up with millions of dollars?

I'll talk to my agent's.

They in cahoots with the Colonel, they won't help us.

I get us a lawyer. I'll figure something out, daddy.

Lawyer's steal faster than a man with a gun. We could lose everything, E. What about your word? You made the man a promise. He kept up his end of the bargain.

Well lately, his hands been draggin' in the dirt and I've been doing all the heavy liftin', daddy! Now, I'll figure something out. Please, I'm dying here. I can manage myself.

But how? Is all I'm asking. You can't handle money. I got the bills to prove that. You don't even carry any money on you. Hell, you don't even know your own phone number. How are you gonna manage yourself?

I'll get somebody else.

Who? [Elvis doesn't say a word] Who, Elvis?

"I Hate Elvis".

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]

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.

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]