22 quotes
The Sensation of Fear and Cold
Cole Sear
You ever feel the prickly things on the back of your neck?
Malcolm Crowe
Yes.
Cole Sear
And the tiny hairs on your arm, you know when they stand up? That's them. When they get mad... it gets cold.
Historical Reflections in a Philadelphia School
Stanley Cunningham
Philadelphia is one of the oldest cities in this country. A lot of generations have lived here and died here. Almost any place you go in this city has a history and a story behind it. Even this school and the grounds it sits on. Can anyone guess what this building was used for a hundred years ago, before you went to this school, before I went to this school? Yes, Cole?
Cole Sear
They used to hang people here.
Stanley Cunningham
No, uh, that, mm-mm, that's not correct. Uh, where'd you hear that?
Cole Sear
They'd pull the people in, crying and kissing their families goodbye. People watching would spit at them.
Stanley Cunningham
Uh, Cole, this, this building was a legal courthouse. Laws were passed here. Some of the very first laws of this country. This whole building was full of, uh, lawyers, uh, lawmakers.
Cole Sear
They were the ones that hanged everybody.
A Doctor's Reflection on His Past
Cole Sear
Are you a good doctor?
Malcolm Crowe
Well... I used to be. I won an award once. From the Mayor. It had an expensive frame.
Cole Sear
I'm gonna see you again, right?
Malcolm Crowe
If that's okay with you.
Desire for Freedom from Fear
Cole Sear
Instead of something I want, can it be something I don't want?
Malcolm Crowe
Okay...
Cole Sear
I don't wanna be scared anymore.
Understanding the Desires of Ghosts
Malcolm Crowe
Do you know what "Yo no quiero morir" means? It's Spanish. It means "I don't want to die." What do you think these ghosts want when they talk to you? I want you to think about it, Cole. I want you to think about it really carefully.
Cole Sear
Just help.
Malcolm Crowe
That's right. That's what I think too. They just want help, even the scary ones. I think I might know a way to make them go away.
Cole Sear
How?
Malcolm Crowe
Listen to them.
Cole Sear
What if they don't want help? What if they're just angry and they just want to hurt somebody?
Malcolm Crowe
I don't think that's the way it works.
Cole Sear
How do you know for sure?
Malcolm Crowe
I don't.
Childhood Teasing and Its Impact
Cole Sear
You're Stuttering Stanley!
Stanley Cunningham
Excuse me?!
Cole Sear
You talked funny all the way to school here. You talked funny all the way to high school.
Stanley Cunningham
What?
Cole Sear
You shouldn't look at people. It makes them feel bad!
Stanley Cunningham
How did you...
Cole Sear
Stop looking at me!
Stanley Cunningham
Who have you been speaking to?
Cole Sear
Stuttering Stanley! Stuttering Stanley!
Stanley Cunningham
Stop. St-- St-- St-- Stop that.
Stanley Cunningham
St... St... Stop.
Stanley Cunningham
SHUT UP, YA FREAK!
A Mother's Love and Hidden Presence
Cole Sear
She wanted me to tell you...
[about his grandmother]
Lynn Sear
Cole, please stop...
Cole Sear
She wanted me to tell you she saw you dance. She said, when you were little, you and her had a fight, right before your dance recital. You thought she didn't come see you dance. She did. She hid in the back so you wouldn't see. She said you were like an angel. She said you came to the place where they buried her. Asked her a question. She said the answer is... "Every day." What did you ask?
Lynn Sear
Do I make her proud?".
[Crying]
Friendship and Conflict in Childhood Relationships
Cole Sear
I walk this way to school with Tommy Tammisimo.
Malcolm Crowe
He your best buddy?
Cole Sear
He hates me.
Malcolm Crowe
Do you hate him?
Cole Sear
No.
Malcolm Crowe
Did your mom set that up?
Cole Sear
Yes.
Malcolm Crowe
Do you ever talk to your mom about how things are with Tommy?
Cole Sear
I don't tell her things.
Malcolm Crowe
Why not?
Cole Sear
Because she doesn't look at me like everybody else, and I don't want her to. I don't want her to know.
Malcolm Crowe
Know what?
Cole Sear
That I'm a freak.
Malcolm Crowe
Hey... you are not a freak. Okay? Don't you believe anybody that tries to convince you of that. That's bullshit! You don't have to go through your life believing that. Okay?
Cole Sear
You said the "s" word.
Malcolm Crowe
Yeah... I know. Sorry.
Understanding Free Association Writing
Malcolm Crowe
Do you know what ] writing is, Cole?
[[w:Free association (psychology)|free association]
Cole Sear
No.
Malcolm Crowe
Free association writing is when you take a pencil in your hand and you put the pencil to a piece of paper and you start writing. You don't look at or think about what you're writing. And after a while, you keep writing long enough, words and thoughts come out that you didn't even know you had in you. It could be something you heard, something you saw, or feelings you had deep inside of you. Have you done any free association writing, Cole?
Cole Sear
Yes.
Malcolm Crowe
What did you write?
Cole Sear
Upset words.
Malcolm Crowe
Did you write any upset words before your father left?
Cole Sear
I don't remember.
Discussion of a recent accident
Cole Sear
You know the accident up there?
Lynn Sear
Yeah.
Cole Sear
Someone got hurt.
Lynn Sear
They did?
Cole Sear
A lady. She died.
Lynn Sear
Oh, my God. What, you can see her?
Cole Sear
Yes.
Lynn Sear
Where is she?
Cole Sear
Standing next to my window.
Lynn Sear
Cole, you're scaring me.
Cole Sear
They scare me too sometimes.
Lynn Sear
They?
Cole Sear
Ghosts.
A Farewell Between Loved Ones
Malcolm Crowe
I think I can go now. Just needed to do a couple of things. I needed to help someone; I think I did. And I needed to tell you something: You were never second. Ever. I love you. You sleep now. Everything will be different in the morning.
[after realizing the time has come for him to move on]
Anna Crowe
Good night, Malcolm...
[in her sleep]
Malcolm Crowe
Good night, sweetheart.
Acceptance of Pain and Healing
Malcolm Crowe
I think I'm okay really. I think it just went in and out. I... It doesn't even hurt anymore.
[after being shot by Vincent Gray]
Mind-Reading Game Reveals Hidden Secrets
Malcolm Crowe
Wanna play a game? It's a mind-reading game. Here's how it works. I read your mind. If what I say is right, you take one step towards the chair. If what I say is wrong, you take one step back... towards the doorway. If you reach the chair, you sit down. If you reach the door, you can go. Wanna play?
Malcolm Crowe
Okay... When your mother and father were first divorced, your mom went to see a doctor like me, and he didn't help her. So you think I'm not going to be able to help you.
Malcolm Crowe
You're worried that she said she told him things - things she couldn't tell anyone else... Secrets.
Malcolm Crowe
You have a secret, but you don't want to tell me.
Malcolm Crowe
Your dad gave you that watch as a present just before he went away.
[looking at Cole's watch]
Cole Sear
He forgot it in a drawer. Doesn't work.
Malcolm Crowe
You keep pretty quiet in school, but... you're a good student, you've never really been in any serious trouble.
Cole Sear
We were supposed to draw a picture. Anything we wanted. I drew a man. He got hurt in the neck by another man with a screwdriver.
Malcolm Crowe
You saw that on TV, Cole?
Cole Sear
Everyone got upset. They had a meeting. Mom started crying. I don't draw like that anymore.
Malcolm Crowe
How do you draw now?
Cole Sear
I draw... people smiling, dogs running, rainbows. They don't have meetings about rainbows.
Malcolm Crowe
No, I guess they don't.
Cole Sear
What am I thinking now?
Malcolm Crowe
I don't know what you're thinking now.
Cole Sear
I was thinking... you're nice, but you can't help me.
A Conversation About Longing and Connection
Malcolm Crowe
Anna?
[to Anna sleeping in a chair]
Anna Crowe
I miss you.
[in her sleep]
Malcolm Crowe
I miss you too.
Anna Crowe
Why, Malcolm?
Malcolm Crowe
What, what is it?
Anna Crowe
Why did you leave me?
Malcolm Crowe
I didn't leave you.
Ghosts Among Us Seeking Assistance
Taglines
There are ghosts walking among us, looking for help... They have found it.
Understanding Emotions Through Nonverbal Cues
Cole Sear
Tell me the story about why you're sad.
Malcolm
You think I'm sad?
Malcolm
What makes you think that?
Cole
Your eyes told me.
A Journey of Redemption and Uncertainty
Malcolm Crowe
Once upon a time there was this person named Malcolm. He worked with children. He loved it. He loved it more than anything else. And then one night, he found out that he made a mistake with one of them. He couldn't help that one. And he can't stop thinking about it, he can't forget. Ever since then, things have been different. He's not the same person that he used to be. And his wife doesn't like the person that he's become. They barely speak anymore, they're like strangers. And then one day Malcolm meets this wonderful little boy, a really cool little boy. Reminds him a lot of the other one. And Malcolm decides to try and help this new boy. Cause he feels that if he can help this new boy, it would be like helping that other one too.
Cole Sear
How does the story end?
Malcolm Crowe
I don't know.
A Child's Haunting Revelation of the Dead
Cole Sear
I'm ready to tell you my secret now.
Malcolm Crowe
Okay.
Cole Sear
I see dead people.
Malcolm Crowe
In your dreams? While you're awake? Dead people like, in graves? In coffins?
[Cole shakes his head no; Cole nods]
Cole Sear
Walking around like regular people. They don't see each other. They only see what they want to see. They don't know they're dead.
Malcolm Crowe
How often do you see them?
Cole Sear
All the time.
Understanding Fear in Isolation
Vincent Gray
Do you know why you're afraid when you're alone? I do. I do.