A character in The Happening (2008)

Elliot Moore quotes from The Happening (2008)

Mark Wahlberg

Most-quoted character in The Happening (2008): in 8 of its 16 quotes

A line from Elliot Moore [to house plant]

Hello, my name is Elliot Moore. I'm just going to talk in a very positive manner, giving off good vibes. We're just here to use the bathroom, and we're just going to leave. I hope that's okay. [Elliot touches leaf] Plastic. I'm talking to a plastic plant. I'm still doing it.

Scenes with Elliot Moore

7 scenes

Take an interest in science. What could be the reason bees have vanished?
To be a scientist, you must have a respectful awe for the laws of nature.

Elliot

You're not interested in what happened to the bees? [Jake shakes his head] You should be more interested in science, Jake. You know why? Because your face is perfect. The problem is, your face is perfect at 15. Now, if you were interested in science, you would know facts like the human nose and ears grow a fraction of an inch each year. So a perfect balance of features now, might not look so perfect five years from now, and might look downright whack 10 years from now. [students laugh] Come on, buddy. Take an interest in science. What could be the reason bees have vanished?

Jake
[after a long pause]

An act of nature, and we'll never fully understand it.

Elliot

Nice answer, Jake. He's right. Science will come up with some reason to put in the books, but in the end it'll be just a theory. I mean, we will fail to acknowledge that there are forces at work beyond our understanding. To be a scientist, you must have a respectful awe for the laws of nature. [Jake raises his hand] Jake?

Jake

How much does the human nose grow each year?

Elliot

It's miniscule, buddy. Okay? Don't worry about it. You're going to be a heartthrob your whole life. I was just messing with you.

Julian

Hey, I'm going to tell you something that you should never tell your best friend.

Elliot

Why is everybody saying that?

Julian
[referring to Alma]

I saw her on your wedding day.

Elliot

Again with the wedding. What?

Julian

I walked into her waiting room by mistake, and she was crying. She looked up and I saw her face. She wasn't ready to jump in, Elliot. That's not who she is. She's never going to jump in when you need her, man.

Train Conductor

The train service has been discontinued. This will be the last stop for all passengers.

Elliot

Hey, what do you mean? Where are we?

Train Conductor

Filbert, Pennsylvania.

Elliot

Filbert? Does anybody know where that is? Why are you giving me one useless piece of information at a time? What's going on? Hey, why would you just stop? You can't just leave us here!

Train Conductor

Sir, we lost contact.

Elliot

With whom?

Train Conductor

Everyone.

Nursery Owner

We're packing hot dogs for the road. You know hot dogs get a bad rap? They got a cool shape, they got protein. You like hot dogs right? By the way, I think I know what's causing this.

Elliot

You do?

Nursery Owner

It's the plants. They can release chemicals. [to his plants] OK babies, we are going to be going, but we will be back soon, OK? [to Elliot] Oh, plants react to human stimulus, they've proved it in tests. [to his wife] You get the mustard?

Elliot
[shots are heard firing in the distance]

Oh no...

What "oh no"?

Elliot

The toxin? The toxin's affecting them?

Woman in Group

Are those people killing themselves?

Realtor

You were with the Private, what do we do?

We need to do something!

Elliot

Just let me think...

[as shots continually fire in the background]

They're dying!

Elliot

I need a second...

Realtor

They released it? We're not near the roads!

We can't just stand here as uninvolved observers!

Elliot

I need a second, okay? Just give me a second!

We're not gonna be one of those assholes on the news who watches a crime happen and not do something! We're not assholes!

Elliot

Just a second!

Woman in Group

There were children in that group!

Elliot, please, tell us what to do!

Elliot

I need a second, okay?! Why can't anybody give me a goddamn second?! [talks to himself] All right, be scientific, douchebag. Identify the variables.. isolate groups.. design the experiment.. that's what we're.. careful observation, measurements, that's what I'm trying to do, interpret the experimental data, interpret... What if it is the plants? That group was larger than ours. This thing's been escalating all day. Smaller and smaller populations have been setting this off. They react to human stimulus. Maybe people are setting off the plants?

What are you saying? That guy was crazy! We have to save them!

Elliot

They're already dead! What if they're targeting us as threats? This part of the field may not have been set off. Something in this field could be releasing the chemical into the air when there's too many of us together. Let's just stay ahead of the wind!

Jared

Got kids?

Elliot

No.

Jared

How come? You got... a problem?

Elliot

No. She wanted to wait.

Jared

Really? For what?

Elliot

For me to grow up. Why are we talking about this?

[confronting Elliot]

I hear you whispering! Thinking of stealing something?

Elliot

No ma'am, we're not.

Plan on murdering me in my sleep?

Elliot

What? Nooo.

Other characters in The Happening

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