Emma Greenway Horton quotes from Terms of Endearment (1983)

Sam

Emma, I haven't made love to a woman . . . in almost three years.

Emma

How come?

Sam

My wife has a disc problem. And she can't take having . . . any weight on her.

Emma

Sam, I hope you don't mind me asking you this, but . . . have you ever thought of - of your wife getting on - on top?

Sam

Oh, she wouldn't do that.

Emma

She may surprise you.

Sam

No, I don't think so. It would be so unlike her.

Emma

Did you ask?

Sam

About 600 times.

Emma

Flap accepted the job at Kearney, Nebraska. I go back. We're gonna move in a week.

Patsy

Emma, I don't know why you don't leave him.

Emma

Honestly, I don't know, either. He's cute.

Patsy

Emma, this is Lizbeth.

Emma

Oh, hi, Elizabeth.

Hi. It's Lizbeth.

Emma

Isn't that what I said?

No, you said "Elizabeth" with an e. It's Lizbeth.

Emma

Oh, two names? Liz Beth?

Oh no, one. Lizbeth.

Emma

Lizbeth?

Never mind.
The others laugh.

Patsy

And this is Jane.

Emma

Thank heavens!

Aurora

Careful there. Those are worth more than you'll ever make in your lifetime.
Everyone stares at her.

Emma

I grew up with it my whole life. You can take it for a couple of minutes.

Aurora

I just don't want to fight anymore.

Emma

What do you mean? When do we fight?

Aurora

When do we fight? You amaze me. I always think of us as fighting.

Emma

That's just from your end. That's 'cause you're never satisfied with me.

Tommy

Are you getting well?

Emma

Look, I'm sorry about this but I can't help it, and I can't talk to you for too long or I'll get real upset. I want you to make a lot of friends. And I want you to be real nice to the girls 'cause they're gonna be real important to you, I swear.

Tommy

I'm not afraid of girls. What makes you think that?

Emma

Well, you may be later on.

Tommy

I doubt it.

Teddy

Why don't you shut up? Shut up!

Tommy

You shut up!

Emma

Ted, give me a kiss, come on. Tommy, you be sweet. Be sweet. And stop tryin' to pretend like you hate me. I mean, it's silly.

Tommy

I like you.

Emma

Okay then, will you listen especially close?

Tommy

What?

Emma

Listen real hard?

Tommy

I said "what?"

Emma

I know you like me. I know it. For the last year or two, you've been pretending like you hate me. I love you very much. I love you as much as I love anybody, as much as I love myself. And in a few years when I haven't been around to be on your tail about something or irritating you, you could... remember that time that I bought you the baseball glove when you thought we were too broke. You know? Or when I read you those stories? Or when I let you goof off instead of mowing the lawn? Lots of things like that. And you're gonna realize that you love me. And maybe you're gonna feel badly, because you never told me. But don't - I know that you love me. So don't ever do that to yourself, all right?