Gladys 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.

Why do you keep going out there, son? Enough is enough. Why is it so important to you?

Fellas.

Baby. Why don't you just quit it all right now? We got a wonderful house. We got cars. [tearfully] You're gonna make yourself a good living. Get yourself a furniture store. You can marry a nice girl, have a baby near by and I can come and visit and I can help you raise it. You would make me the happiest woman in the world. Please, honey.

Look at me, Satnin. Look at me. When I'm on stage, I'm a different person. I am. It's hard to explain. It's like I've got goosebumps all over my body, only it's not goosebumps. It's not a chill either. It's like a surge of electricity, only stronger than that. Sometimes it's so strong, I feel my heart's gonna explode. No, momma. No. It's a good thing. It's a real good thing and I don't know what I'd do if I had to stop and I'm gonna be a movie star, momma. I'm gonna be a real, serious movie star. I can't stop, Satnin. I can't.

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.

We can't go back there. It'll be a circus.

But it was nice before.

Before what, momma? Before we had money? Squabbling over a pork chop?

But I always knew you'd be home for dinner. And Dixie was there, and we'd all go to church together. And I didn't have to worry whether or not you were safe. Or if I look good enough for all them reporters.

Oh, momma. You look just fine.

I just want you to be proud of me, Elvis.

Proud of you? [kisses her on the cheek] Satnin, you are so beautiful. Now, come on now. Look at all this? Isn't this what we always dreamed of? Oh, momma, this should be the happiest time of our lives.

Sometimes I think our kind weren't meant for happiness. Life's pleasures were meant for other folk. Our kind was born for misery and pain. That's God's plan.

Then I wanna make you happy. Now what'll it take, momma?

I'm happy when your happy, son. Are you really happy, Elvis?

Momma... I'm on top of the world.

It's all over, momma. They're not gonna remember me when I come back from this.

Course they are, baby. You just gotta trust the Colonel. [pause, tearfully] I miss you, Elvis.

I miss you, momma. [pause] Momma, I gotta go now. The drill sergeant wakes me up just about the time I used to go to bed.

You really gotta go?

I guess not. I ain't got a lot to say though, momma.

You don't gotta say nothin', baby. Just don't hang up.

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.

"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]