The Big Chill (1983)

William Hurt: Nick

Photos 

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Quotes 

• Sam Weber : [Sam enters a room where Nick is up late watching TV]  What's this?

  Nick : I'm not sure.

  Sam Weber : What's it about?

  Nick : I don't know.

  Sam Weber : [Sam shakes his head, pats Nick on the shoulder, then sits in a nearby chair]  Who's that?

  Nick : I think the guy in the hat did something terrible.

  [shot of TV shows a man being thrown through the glass window of a door; all the people on the TV screen are wearing hats] 

  Sam Weber : Like what?

  Nick : You're so analytical! Sometimes you just have to let art... flow... over you.

  [Sam rolls his eyes] 

• Meg : The last time I spoke with Alex, we had a fight. I yelled at him.

  Nick : That's probably why he killed himself... What was the argument about?

  Meg : I told him he was wasting his life.

• Sam Weber : Do you think we're all trying trying to avoid dealing with Alex? You know, every time it comes up somebody changes the subject.

  Nick : Hey, it's a dead subject.

• Harold : [Harold, Sam, and Nick are trying to chase a bat out of the attic]  I'll open the window, maybe it'll split.

  [He opens the window; two more bats fly in] 

  Nick : Good, now we've got a fair fight.

• Sam Weber : Hey, Nick? You know, we go back a long way, and I'm not gonna piss that away 'cause you're higher than a kite.

  Nick : Wrong, a long time ago we knew each other for a short period of time; you don't know anything about me. It was easy back then. No one had a cushier berth than we did. It's not surprising our friendship could survive that. It's only out there in the real world that it gets tough.

• Nick : Since when did you get so friendly with cops? Harold?

  Harold : You know you're fuckin' stupid? Stupid, yeah. First off, that cop has twice kept this house from being ripped off. Happens to be a hell of a guy. And you...

  [turns away] 

  Nick : Come on, Harold. What is it?

  Harold : What is it with you? Is jail another "experience" you want to "try?" See what that's "like?" You know, I live here. This place means something to me. I'm dug in. I don't need this shit.

• Harold : Nick, help me with all these bleeding hearts!

  Nick : I know what Alex would say.

  Harold : What?

  Nick : What's for dessert?

• Chloe : Alex and I made love the night before he died. It was fantastic.

  [pause] 

  Nick : He went out with a bang, not a whimper.

• Nick : Wise up, folks. We're all alone out there and tomorrow we're going out there again.

• Meg : I feel terrible. The last time I spoke with Alex, we had a fight. I yelled at him.

  Nick : That's probably why he killed himself.

• Sarah : I know he wasn't happy. That doesn't tell you much. I'd no idea how bad it was. I think he purposely wanted to cut off from all of us because he was so unhappy with where he was at.

  Nick : Hm.

  Karen : Is that true, Chloe? Did you feel that?

  Chloe : I don't know. We had some good times. I haven't met that many happy people in my life, how do they act?

  Nick : Mm hm.

• Meg : [sitting in Nick's lap]  I didnt' get a chance to talk to you before; you got me stoned too quick. But I'm OK now. I'm just drunk and therefore brave.

  Nick : I've always been a cowardly drunk myself.

• Nick : That's a crock of shit! We're afraid just the opposite is true. Alex died for most of us a long time ago.

  Sam Weber : I think you're a crock of shit. Don't speak for me or anybody else here. You hate your life. That's your problem. Don't tell us how we feel, okay?

  Nick : That's it. That's all I'm saying.If I hate my life, it's my problem. Too bad you weren't around to comfort Alex as compassionately.

• Harold : I always thought masturbation was the ultimate act of self-absorption.

  Sam Weber : Do you jerk off?

  Harold : Does a bear have fleas?

  Sam Weber : No, no, "Does a bear shit in the woods?"

  Harold : Does a bear jerk off?

  Nick : You know, I shit in the woods, but I can't jerk off.

• Chloe : You remind me of Alex.

  Nick : I ain't him.

• Sam Weber : I'm hungry. I had this really dirty dream.

  Nick : Was it about Karen?

  Sam Weber : Why do you say that?

  Nick : Why should anything have changed?

  Sam Weber : You're the one she always wanted.

  Nick : In the old days, I wasn't emotionally equipped to satisfy her. Now, as we all know, the equipment doesn't work at all.

  Sam Weber : [wincing]  Why do we have to talk about that?

• Nick : [in a high-pitched voice]  Hey. everyone, it's J.T. Lancer! Let's all go watch this incredible show!

  Sarah : Woo hoo!

  [everyone runs into the living room] 

  Karen : Come on, Sam.

  Sam Weber : [lagging behind]  Jesus!

• Harold : I'm about to tell you something I'm not supposed to tell anyone.

  Nick : Then maybe you shouldn't.

  Harold : I already told Alex.

  Nick : Look what happened to him.

• Meg : [sitting on Nick's lap]  All I want is a little warmth.

  [kisses Nick] 

  Nick : Meg.

  Meg : What?

  Nick : Meg. Sweetheart - did I ever tell you what happened to me in Vietnam?

• Michael : This is a well-known dynamic. I've seen it a million times. Some people ease the pain of separation by denigrating their relationship.

  Nick : You're so - deep.

• Harold : By telling you this, I've violated about 16 regulations of the Securities Exchange Commission. So, please don't repeat it.

  Nick : Repeat what?