Sammy Fabelman Putting your head in a lion's mouth is art?
No, sticking your head in the mouth of lions was balls! Making sure that lion didn't eat my head? That is art!
Played by Gabriel LaBelle 
The Fabelmans (2022) · 22 quotes
The Fabelmans (2022) · 22 quotes
Most-quoted character in The Fabelmans (2022): in 10 of its 22 quotes
Most scenes with: Mitzi Fabelman (3), Logan Hall (3), Monica Sherwood (2)
It feels like my life is going by so fast, but it's not getting anywhere.
Scenes with Sammy Fabelman
9 scenes Sammy Fabelman Sammy Fabelman Do you always have to be the center of attention!?
Reggie Fabelman
Stop shouting at her!
There has been nothing but disrespect from you; I am your mother!
Sammy Fabelman I WISH YOU WEREN'T!
[after watching Sammy's film of her and Bennie]
Bennie and me, we never... we never d - we never let it get as far as I imagine you think.
Sammy Fabelman Oh I never imagined any of that.
Do you think dad knows? I don’t mean did you tell him, I know you didn’t. But - do you think he has an inkling?
[Sammy has no answer]
I’ve almost told him so many times. I’ll say “Burt, there’s something I’ve got to tell you,” and, and he looks at me like he can’t conceive that anything could be wrong between us. So instead I say “Burt, we got ants,” or “Burt, could you climb on the roof and turn the antenna so I can watch Channel 5?” Which, of course, he does. [pause] I can’t fight with your father. He kills with such kindness. I’m mean to him, he buys me a dress. From Saks.
Sammy Fabelman Mom, when I showed you what I filmed, I never meant for any of this to happen.
Sammy Fabelman What’s gonna happen now?
I’m gonna be your mom. I’m gonna be the girls’ mom. Despite my countless faults, I’m not ruining everything for everyone. I’m gonna not be selfish. Burt Fabelman is the kindest, smartest, wisest, most patient, most decent, most understanding man there is. And I’m gonna stay married to him
When I was a girl and I felt sad, I’d go to the zoo and I’d watch the monkeys.
They made you laugh?
Yeah, the monkeyshines. But there was more to it than that, it was...They understand what we’ve done to them, with the cages and the people pointing. We share that with them, the truth of how cruel people are. But if you watch them for long enough, you can tell they know stuff we can’t begin to imagine, important stuff. And they’re not going to let us in on it. Because it belongs to them, it’s their own monkey business, theirs. It’s not ours. It’s, oh I dunno...
Self-possession.
[Mitzi looks at him, an instant of deep connection. She gives him a sad smile.]
Right. They belong to themselves.
Hadassah Fabelman
If it belongs to itself, let it go back to where it came from.
Anyway, that’s how come I got a monkey.
Natalie Fabelman
And a therapist.
Lisa Fabelman
He throws his poop.
The therapist?
Lisa Fabelman
No the monkey.
Hadassah Fabelman
That’s why I’m staying in a hotel.
You don’t have to. We have plenty of room -
Hadassah Fabelman
My rabbi in New Jersey says a monkey in the house isn’t Kosher.
That’s why we’re not going to eat him.
Did you schedule him for his polio vaccine?
They can get polio?
Well, they’re susceptible to pretty much everything humans are, so yes.
Pass the peas. He hates going to the vet. You see, Monica, in this family, it’s the scientists versus the artists. Sammy’s on my team, he takes after me, except he’s got real talent.
Sammy Fabelman Mom.
Natalie Fabelman
And he’s completely terrible at science.
Reggie Fabelman
And algebra.
Natalie Fabelman
And sports.
Sammy Fabelman Will you please stop!
He showed me his camera.
Natalie Fabelman
[To Monica]
Is he good at kissing?
Reggie Fabelman
Is she gonna marry Bennie?
Sammy Fabelman If she wants to, she will, she’s the most selfish person on earth.
Reggie Fabelman
It must’ve been hard for her, married to a... a genius.
Sammy Fabelman Dad worships Mom.
Reggie Fabelman
OK - But maybe it’s hard, being worshipped by someone you know you’ll never be as good as, or ever do anything as good as. She laughs at Bennie’s jokes, but...Dad’s always been her best audience.
Sammy Fabelman [Reggie starts to cry]
Come on. She’ll be fine, she’ll tell herself everything happens for a reason, she’ll make excuses like she always -
Reggie Fabelman
You’re way more selfish than her.
Reggie Fabelman
[Sammy, confused, tries to laugh it off]
That’s why you’re angry at her. It’s because she’s scared. Just like you, Sammy. Out of everyone in this outta-control falling-apart family, the one who’s most like Mitzi is you.
Sammy Fabelman So in September when I move to LA, I’m gonna try to get work in a movie studio.
I thought you were going to college?
Sammy Fabelman Could you - Would you ever consider coming with me?
I’m going to Texas A&M. You know that.
Sammy Fabelman Yes, I do. But I thought maybe you should change your mind. Because...
Because what?
Sammy Fabelman Because I love you.
OW! SAMMY! [He’s just stepped on her foot.]
Sammy Fabelman I’m sorry! Sorry sorry sorry!
That’s not...possible!
Sammy Fabelman What? No, it is! Monica, I love you!
That’s impossible! Sammy -
Sammy Fabelman Sam.
We only started dating like - [she pulls a little away from him] Everything was so normal before! Why’re you acting so -
Sammy Fabelman No, because nothing is normal now. They’re getting a divorce.
What are you talking about?!
Sammy Fabelman My mom and dad, they’re splitting up.
Jesus Christ!! This is Prom! You can’t just blurt something out like that at Prom!
Sammy Fabelman [Monica walks off the dance floor. Sammy follows.]
Wait - [he catches up to her] Monica! Look, that’s - That’s got nothing to do with us, okay! That’s not why I said that I love you, I don’t know why -
I’m not gonna like change my whole life and move to Hollywood because your parents are having marital difficulties!
[Monica takes off her necklace]
You can get a refund. I hardly wore it at all. [holds it out to him]
Sammy Fabelman Are you breaking up with me?
Not at Prom, but of course eventually. I’m gonna pray on it, and I’m gonna pray really really hard for you, because you are such a fun boy to kiss, but...Sometimes we just can’t fix things, Sam, and all we can do is suffer.
[after being portrayed as a hero in Sammy's class film]
Am I supposed to feel bad now about all that shit we did to you?
Sammy Fabelman Do you feel bad about it?
That's none of your goddam business!
Sammy Fabelman Because you should feel bad about it!
Alright that's why you did it. You wanted me to feel like crap!
Sammy Fabelman I wanted you to be nice to me for five minutes or I did it to make my movie better! I don't know why. You are the biggest jerk I have ever met in my entire life, I have a monkey at home that's smarter than you! You dumb anti-semitic asshole! I made you look like you could fly.
Sammy Fabelman Is something about to happen?
You like living dangerously, Fabelman.
Sammy Fabelman No, I don't. I really, really don't.
Yes, you do. But you tell anybody about me getting, um... upset, that would be a mistake. Our secret. Okay?
Sammy Fabelman Definitely. [long pause] Unless I make a movie about it. Which I'm never, ever going to do.
Life's nothing like the movies, Fabelman.
Sammy Fabelman Maybe not. But hey, in the end, you got the girl.