Alma Moore quotes from The Happening (2008)

Elliot

Oh no...

Alma

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?

Alma

We need to do something!

Elliot

Just let me think...

Alma

They're dying!

Elliot

I need a second...

Realtor

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

Alma

We can't just stand here as uninvolved observers!

Elliot

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

Alma

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!

Alma Moore

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?

Alma

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!

Alma

Mrs. Jones, um, something's happened along the east coast.

Mrs. Jones

Whatever it is that you think is so important that you need to tell me - don't. Just keep it to yourself. The world don't care about me. I don't care about it.

Mrs. Jones

' So what's with you two? Who's chasing who?

Alma

I'm sorry?

Mrs. Jones

Ain't no time two people staring at each other, or standing still, loving both with their eyes are equal. Truth is, someone is chasing someone. That's the way we's built. So, who's chasing?
[Elliot raises his hand]

Nursery Owner

You know plants have the ability to target specific threats. Tobacco plants when attacked by heliothis caterpillars will send out a chemical attracting wasps to kill just those caterpillars. We don't know how plants obtain these abilities, they just evolve very rapidly.

Alma

Which species is doing it if you think it's true?

Nursery Owner

Plants have the ability to communicate with other species of plants. Trees can communicate with bushes, and bushes with grass, and everything in between.

Jess

Hey, Alma.

Alma

How's it going?

Jess

Hangin' in there.