A character in The Shape of Water (2017)

Giles quotes from The Shape of Water (2017)

Richard Jenkins

Most-quoted character in The Shape of Water (2017): in 11 of its 26 quotes
Most scenes with: Elisa (2)

A line from Giles

Get him out? What are you talking about? No! Absolutely not. Because it's breaking the law, that's why. We're probably breaking the law just talking about it.

More lines from Giles

7 quotes
Giles

If I spoke about it... if I did... what would I tell you? I wonder. Would I tell you about the time? It happened a long time ago, it seems, in the last days of a fair prince's reign. Or would I tell you about the place? A small city near the coast... but far from everything else. Or, I don't know. Would I tell you about her? The princess without voice. Or perhaps I would just warn you about the truth of these facts... and the tale of love and loss... and the monster who tried to destroy it all.

Giles
[interpreting Elisa]

When he looks at me, the way he looks at me, he does not know what I lack... or how... I am incomplete. He sees me for what I am, as I am. He's happy to see me, every time, every day. And now, I can either save him... or let him die.

Giles

You know, sometimes I think I was either born too early or too late for my life.

Giles

He's a wild creature. We can't ask him to be anything else.

Giles
[repeated line]

This is some of my best work.

Giles
[to Elisa]

Whatever this thing is, you need it.

Giles

If I told you about her, what would I say? That they lived happily ever after? I believe they did. That they were in love, that they remained in love? I'm sure that's true. But when I think of her, of Elisa, the only thing that comes to mind is a poem, whispered by someone in love hundreds of years ago. Unable to perceive the shape of you, I find you all around me. Your presence fills my eyes with your love. It humbles my heart, for you are everywhere.

Scenes with Giles

3 scenes
Giles
[Talking about the Asset and wanting to help]

What are we?! What are you and I?! Do you know what we are?! We're nothing! Nothing! We can do nothing! I'm sorry, but this... this is just... oh God, It's not even human. [walks away] God.

Giles
[As Giles leaves, Elisa bangs on the wall to get his attention.]

What?

[in sign language]

If we do nothing, neither are we.

Giles

Oh! God, to be young and beautiful. If I could go back...

Giles
[Elisa nods]

...to when I was 18 - I didn't know anything about anything - I'd give myself a bit of advice.

[in sign language]

What would you say?

Giles

I would say: Take better care of your teeth and ****, a lot more.

Giles
[Elisa smiles and gently nudges him]

Oh no, no, that's very good advice.

Alright, Brewster, I'm gonna fix your dinner, and then I'm gonna run out for a little while and help a friend.

Brewster

Help with what?

Help a friend. [a knock is heard on the door]

Brewster

Zelda... the door.

Well, you could help me and answer the door, Brewster. You're sitting right here just ten feet away from it!

Brewster

My back's aching me, woman. Now, move!

Your back, your back? Always your back!

[Zelda answers the door and Strickland storms right in]

Mr. Strickland. What are you doing here?

Brewster

Who's that man, Zelda?

Where is it? Where did you take it?

What are you talking about?

Brewster

Zelda!

The thing... in the lab. Where is it?

Brewster
[gets up from his chair]

Listen, fella--

SIT DOWN! [Brewster sits back down]

I'm sorry, sir. If I knew anything, I would surely tell you.

That story about Samson. I never told you how it ends. After the Philistines torture him... and blind him... Samson asks God for the strength he needs. And at the last minute, he is spared. And the Lord gives him his strength back... one last time. And he holds... the columns of the temple... with his powerful arms. And he crushes them. [rips his fingers off and exclaims loudly in pain] And he brings the whole building down on the Philistines. [tosses his fingers on the floor] He dies... but he gets every single one of those mother****ers. That is his WILL! Now, do you know what that particular story means... for us, Delilah? It means if you know something you're not telling me, you're gonna tell me either before or after I bring this particular temple... down upon our heads.

Brewster

Gal stole that thing right out the lab, whatever it is. Mute girl took it. I heard my wife talking on the phone about it.

[walks towards Brewster]

Thank you very much, Mr. Fuller, for your assistance. [leaves]

[to Brewster; disgusted]

What have you done?

Brewster

Zelda.

[walks to the phone]

I gotta warn her! He's going after her--

Brewster

You will do no such thing, woman. Why you worried about her? She broke the law.

Shut up, Brewster! You shut up! Years, you don't talk... and now you can't shut your mouth! Damn you, Brewster. You wouldn't understand. Couldn't understand, not if you tried your whole life. [calls Elisa's place; Giles picks up]

Giles

Hello?

Giles, is that you?

Giles

Yes.

Okay. Put Elisa on the phone.

Giles
[hands Elisa the phone]

It's Zelda.

It's Zelda. Elisa, honey, make a sound on the phone if you can hear. [Elisa taps on the phone] Okay, good. He's coming for you. You gotta go now, and you gotta take that thing with you.

Other characters in The Shape of Water

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