Pay It Forward (2000)
Helen Hunt: Arlene McKinney
Photos
Quotes
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Eugene : I know what I'm talking about, Arlene! My father got down on his knees and begged my mother. And my mother,s he always took him back. I never understood it. she'd cover up the bruises and the cuts and she'd take him back. Because he begged and he cried. And now you ask me, you ask me what happened after he came back.
Arley : I...
Eugene : No! Go on! You said you wanted to know what happened to me, now ask me!
Arley : I don't like this...
Eugene : Did he hurt you, Eugene? Ask me!
Arley : Did he hurt you?
Eugene : [shakes his head] Not for long. By 13 I was gone. i ran away. But I missed her so... I had to go back and see her. So one night I did. Now, ask me what happened. What happened that night you came back, Eugene?
Arley : What happened?
Eugene : He was there. Drunk. As usual. Only this time I wasn't the same. I was 16 years old and I was no longer afraid of him. And when I looked him in the eyes and told him if he ever touched her again I would kill him, he knew. He knew that he would never exist for me again. And I'm standing in front of the house. I'm yelling, screaming for her to come out. I'm telling her she doesn't have to take it anymore. She really doesn't. She can come with me now. I don't even see it. He hits me in the side of the head with a two-by-four and I'm bleeding from my ear. And then he's dragging me. He's dragging me behind the house into the garage. And then he's gone. A minute... five minutes... I don't know. And then he's back. And he's wetting me down. He's wetting me down and I don't understand. I don't understand why water... should smell so bad. I don't understand. And then I see it. I see... this... this gas can. This red gas can from his truck.
[Crying]
Eugene : And he looks at me one last time... and he lights a match. And the last thing I remember, I'll never forget it, were his eyes. His eyes because they were filled with this immense... satisfaction.
Arley : [Crying] I'm so sorry...
Eugene : Don't! Don't! Don't tell me how sorry you are for me! Tell me how you're going to stop that happening to Trevor!
Arley : Ricky would never do that!
Eugene : Oh, Jesus, Arlene! He doesn't have to. All he has to do is not love him.
[Turns around and walks into his house with his grocery bags]
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Jerry : You ever been on the street?
Arley : My mom took us pretty close.
Jerry : Well, you can't know. Not until you look at a dumpster. But when you climb into that thing for the first time and you pull those newspapers over you, that's when you know you've messed your life up. Somebody comes along like your son, and gives me a leg up, I'll take it. Even from a kid, I'll take it.
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Arley : Sit down, I want to talk to you.
Trevor McKenney : You want to lie to me.
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Arley : Get out!
[Runs into Trevor's room and locks the door]
Ricky McKinney : [Pounds on Trevor's door] You know I liked you a whole lot better when you've had a few drinks in you?
[Pounds on the door again]
Ricky McKinney : You want me out of the house? I'm out!
Arley : [to Trevor] Sorry... I think I made a mistake.
Trevor McKenney : Everybody makes mistakes.
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Arley : [Storming into the room] Mr. Simonet?
Eugene : Yes, I'm Eugene...
[looks up from his desk to see Arlene]
Eugene : ...Simonet.
Arley : [Taken aback by Eugene's scars] Hello.
Eugene : Hello.
Arley : What is this assignment?
Eugene : Excuse me?
Arley : What did you tell my son to make him bring a homeless man into my house?
Eugene : Uh, I have two problems. One: I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about. And two: I don't know who you are.
Arley : Arlene McKinney. My boy is in your social studies class... Trevor.
Eugene : Trevor. Yes, he's very attentive. He's very exigent, which I like.
[Noticing some confusion on Arlene's face]
Eugene : Exigent, it's challenging, testing...
Arley : I know what it means! Would you like to tell me why my kid brought a bum into my house?
Eugene : I have no idea...
Arley : Bullshit!
Eugene : Mrs. McKinney, I don't know how your son interpreted the assignment.
Arley : How do you think he interpreted it?
Eugene : Well, I don't know. My suggestion is, if you want to know, why don't you go home and talk to your son?
Arley : Hey! I talked to him!
Eugene : Really? Then why did you come all the way down here to ask me what the assignment is?
[Points to the blackboard]
Eugene : It's not a state secret.
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Eugene : OK. You know, I'm going to have to consult my spirit guides here, because you tell me that Trevor is withholding from you, but you won't tell me anything specific and you still want me to sit here and divine why.
Arley : Divine why? You always talk like that?
Eugene : Yes.
Arley : You go to some big, fancy school?
Eugene : Yes.
Arley : Think you can stop rubbing my nose in it?
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Arley : I want to wear the green dress.
Trevor McKenney : You look like a vampire in that!
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Arley : I can't reject you, you're too quick for me!
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Arley : I got to take a shower.
Trevor McKenney : What?
Arley : I smell horrible.
Trevor McKenney : No you don't! You smell like a rose or something.
Arley : Are you sure?
Trevor McKenney : Yeah, yeah, I'm sure.
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Arley : [to Eugene] You look good to me.
