Diane Freeling quotes from Poltergeist (1982)

Diane Freeling

Sleepwalking ... 'Nocturnal somnabulism.' You know what? You know what? I will bet you anything it's genetic. I mean, Carol Anne last night, and all last week, you know -- and me when I was ten. You know, I once slept-walked four blocks, and I fell asleep in the back of this guy's car. He drove all the way to work before discovering me. Oh God, I woke up, I started screaming. People came running, from everywhere. They called the cops, the cops came, they took this poor dude downtown. My father, Big -- he, Big Ed has me examined for like bruises and hickies, you name it, Oh God, I was so embarrassed. (beat) Oh shit, Steven -- what if we, like, dig the pool, you know -- and Carol Anne sleepwalks and she falls into it before there's any water?

Diane Freeling

Reach back into our past when you used to have an open mind, remember that? Now try to use that for the next couple of minutes ...

Diane Freeling

Bastards, she's just a baby! Help her, help her. Can't you hear what's happening? Help her.

Diane Freeling

No, don't touch my baby!

Diane Freeling

It's like, it's like, there's this tickling, you know, right in here. And it starts to pull you. The tickling pulls you. And all of a sudden, it's like there's no air except that you can breathe. And you're getting pulled along and --

Diane Freeling

She just moved through me. My God. I felt her. I can smell her. It's her. It's her. Smell my clothes. It's her. She's all over me. It's her. She's on me. It's her. I felt her. It's her. It is. It's... it is... it's my baby. It's my baby. She went through my soul.

Steve

Somethin's funny goin' on here next door. Somethin', uh --

Diane

We were wondering if maybe you had experienced any disturbances lately? ... Oh you know, like dishes or furniture moving around by themselves.

Steve

Tomorrow I'm going to call someone --

Diane

Oh yeah? Who, for instance? I already looked in the Yellow Pages. "Furniture Movers" we got; "Strange Phenomenon", there's no listing.

Steve

You know Teague, he won't take "Go to Hell" for an answer.

Diane

What are you going to do?

Steve

I'm gonna give him directions.

Diane

Sweetheart, last night, when you said "They're here.'...

Carol Anne

Can I take my goldfish to school?

Diane

Sweetheart, do you remember last night when you woke up, and you said "They're here.'?

Carol Anne

Uh huh.

Diane

Well, who did you mean, who's here?

Carol Anne

The TV People.

Robbie

She's stoned.

Dana

Oh yeah? What do you know about it?

Robbie

More than you. Ask Dad.

Dana

Ask Dad.

Carol Anne

Ask Dad.

Ask Dad. Ask Dad.

Robbie

Ask Dad. Ask Dad. [Glass breaks & spills all over Dana's homework] Not my mess.

Dana

Thanks a lont jerko. I've got class in 20 minutes.

Diane

TV people?

Carol Anne

Uh-huh.

Diane

Do you see them?

Carol Anne

Uh-uh. Do you?

Diane

Uh-uh.

Robbie

Who are all those people?

Dr. Lesh

They're so alone. So alone.

Robbie

Where are they coming from?

Diane

I don't know.

Dr. Lesh

Well, I'm off. Now these tapes, I am going to have to present them you know.

Steve

Oh please, not on 60 Minutes.

Diane

Or That's Incredible.

Diane

How long have you been investigating haunted houses?

Dr. Lesh

Mrs. Freeling, the determination as to whether your home is haunted is not very easy. [A heavy teapot slides across the table in front of her] I -- what I meant to say was, it might very well be a poltergeist intrusion instead of a classic haunting.

Diane

There's going to be two more in a couple of seconds. They always come in pairs.

Dr. Lesh

Dr. Casey.

Diane

You got to be quicker than that around here.

Steve

There's a difference?

Ryan

It's electrical. You can smell the charge.

Dr. Lesh

Poltergeist are usually associated with an individual. Hauntings seem to be connected with an area, a house usually.

Poltergeist disturbances are of fairly short duration, perhaps a couple of months. Hauntings can go on for -- years.

Diane

Are you telling me that all of this could just suddenly end at any time?

Dr. Lesh

Yes, it could, unless it's a haunting. But hauntings don't usually revolve around living people.

Diane

Then we don't have much time, Dr. Lesh, because my daughter is alive somewhere inside this house.

Dr. Lesh

Some people believe that when you die, your soul goes to heaven.

Robbie

When Grandpa was dying, I looked at him in the hospital bed. And I was watching. But I didn't see anything go up out of him.

Diane

Well, his soul is invisible, Robbie. You couldn't see it.

Robbie

But how come Grandpa isn't there on television with Carol Anne?

Dr. Lesh

Some people believe that when people die, there's a wonderful light -- as bright as the sun. But it doesn't hurt to look into it. All the answers to all the questions that you ever want to know are inside that light. And when you walk to it, you become a part of it forever. (beat) And then, some people die but they -- don't know that they've gone.

Robbie

They think they're still alive?

Dr. Lesh

Yes. Maybe they didn't want to die. Maybe they weren't ready. Maybe they hadn't lived fully yet or they'd lived a long, long time and they still wanted more life. They resist going into that light, however hard the light wants them. They just -- hang around. Watch TV, watch their friends grow up -- feeling unhappy and jealous and those feelings are bad. They hurt. (beat) And then, some people just get lost on the way to the light, and they need someone to guide them to it.

Robbie

So some people get angry and throw things around - like in my bedroom?

Dr. Lesh

Yes. Just like in school. Like -- some kids are nice to you, some kids are mean.

Robbie

I got beat up once by three kids. They took my lunch money. Maybe they got hit by a truck and they're upstairs right now!

Diane

Uhhh ... this is probably going to be seem a little strange. We hear better on this channel, don't ask me why. Well, uh -- I guess I'll call her. Carol Anne? ... it's Mommy, sweetheart. We want to talk to you. Please answer me, baby. Please answer me. Please talk to me, bunny.

-- look at the dog --

Diane

Are you with us now? Can you... can you say hello to daddy?

Carol Anne

Hello, Daddy.

Steve

Hello, Sweetpea.

Diane

It's Mommy, sweetheart.

Carol Anne

Hello, Mommy.

Diane

Hello, baby. Can you see me? Can you see Mommy?

Carol Anne

Mommy? Where are you? Where are you?

Diane

We're home, baby. We're home. Can you find me? Can you find a way to us, baby?

Carol Anne

Mommy, where are you? I can't find you. I can't. I'm afraid of the Light, mommy. I'm afraid of the Light.

Dr. Lesh

Tell her to stay away from the light.

Diane

Maybe it's a way out --

Dr. Lesh

It is -- it is a way out, but not for her. Tell her, quickly.

Diane

Stay away from the light. The light is dangerous. Don't go near it. Don't even look at the light.

Carol Anne

Mommy, there's somebody here ... Mommy, somebody's coming. Mommy, help me, please! Get away from me. Leave me alone!

Diane

She just moved through me. My God, I felt her. I can smell her. It's her...She's all over me... She went through my soul.

Tangina

I'd give my strongest feeling. The point of origin is in the child's closet upstairs.

Diane

Yes, I believe that too.

Tangina

Honey, are you gonna be strong for me and for your daughter? I can do absolutely nothing without your faith in this world and your love for the children.

Diane

I will, believe me I will.

Tangina

And will you do anything I ask, even if it comes contrary to your beliefs as a human being and a Christian?

Diane

Yes, I promise, please.

Tangina

There is no death. It is only a transition to a different sphere of consciousness. Carol Anne is not like those she's with. She's a living presence in their spiritual, earth-bound plane. They're attracted to the one thing about her that's different from themselves. Her life-force - it is very strong. It gives off its own illumination. It is a light that implies life and memory of love and home and earthly pleasures, something they desperately desire but can't have anymore. Right now, she's the closest thing to that, and that is a terrible distraction from the real light that has finally come for them. Do you understand me? These souls who for whatever reason are not at rest are also not aware that they have passed on. They're not part of consciousness as we know it. They're in a perpetual dream state, a nightmare from which they cannot wake. Inside this spectral light is salvation - a window to the next plane. They must pass through this membrane with friends who are waiting to guide them to new destinies. Carol Anne must help them cross over, and she will only hear her mother's voice. Now, hold onto your selves. There's one more thing - a terrible presence is in there with her. So much rage, so much betrayal. I've never sensed anything like it. I don't know what hovers over this house, but it was strong enough to punch a hole into this world and take your daughter away from you. It keeps Carol Anne very close to it and away from the spectral light. It lies to her. It says things only a child can understand. He's been using her to restrain the others. To her, it simply is another child. To us, it is the Beast. Now let's go get your daughter.

Tangina

You can't choose between life and death when we're dealing with what is in between. Now tell her before it's too late.

Diane

Run to the light, baby. Mommy is in the light.

Tangina

Tell her you're waiting for her.

Diane

Mommy's waiting for you in the light. [under her breath to Tangina] I hate you for that.

Tangina

Help me tie this around my waist.

Diane

What do you think you're doing?

Tangina

I'm going in after her.

Diane

She won't come to you. Let me go.

Tangina

You've never done this before.

Diane

Neither have you.

Tangina

You're right. You go.