Eraserhead (1977) quotes

View Quote Beautiful Girl Across the Hall: Are you Henry?
Henry: Yes?
Beautiful Girl Across the Hall: A girl named "Mary" called on the payphone in the hallway about an hour ago. She said that she's at her parents' and that you're invited to dinner.
Henry: Oh, yeah? [after a long pause] Well... thank you very much.
[Henry enters his apartment, while the girl slowly closes the door to hers]

View Quote Beautiful Girl Across the Hall: I locked myself out of my apartment... [pause] and it's so late.

View Quote Beautiful Girl Across the Hall: Where's your wife?
Henry: She must have gone back to her parents again. I'm not sure.
Beautiful Girl Across the Hall: Can I spend the night here?

View Quote Henry: I work at LaPelle's Factory. I'm a printer.
Mary X: Hen-Henry's very clever at printing.
Mrs. X: Yes, he sounds very clever.

View Quote Lady in the Radiator: [singing] In Heaven, everything is fine.
In Heaven, everything is fine.
In Heaven, everything is fine.
You've got your good things, and I've got mine.
In Heaven, everything is fine.
In Heaven, everything is fine.
In Heaven, everything is fine.
You've got your good things, and you've got mine.
In Heaven, everything...is fine.
~ In Heaven

View Quote Mary X: [to the crying baby] Shut up! [Baby continues to cry] I can't take it anymore! I'm going home!
Henry: What are you talking about?
Mary X: All I need is a decent night's sleep!
Henry: Why don't you just stay home...
Mary X: I'll do what I want! And you better take good care of things while I'm gone!

View Quote Mary X: You wouldn't mind marrying me, would you Henry?
Henry: Well... No.

View Quote Mary X: You're late, Henry.
Henry: I didn't know if you wanted me to come or not. Where have you been? You never come around anymore.

View Quote Mr. X: I thought I heard a stranger. We've got chicken tonight. Strangest damn things. They're man-made. Little damn things, smaller than my fist - but they're new!...... I'm Bill.
Henry: Hello. I'm Henry.
Mrs. X: Henry's at Lappell's factory.
Mr. X: So, printin's yer business, eh? Plumbin's mine. Thirty years! I've watched this neighborhood change from pastures to the hell-hole it is now! I put every damn pipe in this town!
Mary X: Dad!..
Mrs. X: Bill...
Mr. X: People think pipes grow in their homes! Well they sure as hell don't. Look at my knees! Look at my knees!
Mrs. X: Bill...
Mr. X: Are ya hungry?
Mrs. X: Bill...

View Quote Mr. X: Mary usually does the carving but tonight since you are our guest, you could do it, Henry. All right with you?
Henry: Of course. I'd be happy to. [as the chickens begin moving] So I just, uh... I just cut them up like regular chickens?
Mr. X: Sure, just cut them up like regular chickens.
Note: this quote is sampled by Amon Tobin on Permutation (album), for the track "Like Regular Chickens".

View Quote Mr. X: Well Henry, what do you know?
Henry: Oh, I don't know much of anything.

View Quote Mrs. X: Henry, may I speak to you a minute? Over here. Did you and Mary have sexual intercourse?
Henry: [stammering] Why?
Mrs. X: Did you?
Henry: Why are you asking me this question?
Mrs. X: I have a very good reason, and now I want you to tell me.
Henry: I'm, I'm very... I love Mary!
Mrs. X: Henry, I asked you if you and Mary had sexual intercourse!
Henry: Well, I don't... I don't think that's any of your business!
Mrs. X: Henry!
Henry: I'm sorry.
Mrs. X: You're in very bad trouble if you won't cooperate... [nuzzling at his neck]
Henry: Well, I... Mary!
Mary X: [grabbing her away] Mother! [sobs]
Mrs. X: Answer me!
Henry: I'm too nervous.
Mrs. X: There's a baby. It's at the hospital.
Mary X: Mom!
Mrs. X: And you're the father.
Henry: Well that's impossible! It's only been...
Mary X: Mother, they're still not sure it is a baby!

View Quote Mrs. X: It's Henry isn't it?
Henry: Yes.
[Long pause]
Mrs. X: Mary tells me you're a very nice fellow. What do you do?
Henry: Oh, I'm on vacation.
Mrs. X: What did you do?

View Quote Pencil Factory Manager: [exasperated from his assistant's constant buzzing] OKAY, PAUL!

View Quote [the Baby is going into violent convulsions and has broken out in spots] Oh, you are sick!