Elvis (2022)
Austin Butler: Elvis
Photos
Quotes
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Elvis Presley : I'm gonna be forty soon, and nobody's gonna remember me.
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Colonel Tom Parker : [on Robert Kennedy's shooting; halfheartedly] Poor Mrs. Kennedy. A tragedy. Tragedy, but it has nothing to do with us.
Elvis Presley : It has everything to do with us! Martin Luther King was killed 8 miles from Graceland!
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Elvis Presley : A reverend once told me, "When things that are too dangerous to say, sing."
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Elvis Presley : If I can't move, I can't sing.
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Elvis Presley : There's a lot of people saying a lot of things, but in the end you gotta listen to yourself.
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Elvis Presley : I ain't wearin' no tails. I just... gotta lay off the moves, is all. Colonel says if I don't, they're gonna put me in jail.
B.B. King : [chuckles] Come on, man. They're not gonna put you in jail. They might put me in jail for walkin' across the street, but you a famous white boy. Too many people making too much money off you to put you in jail.
Elvis Presley : You think so?
B.B. King : I know so. The Colonel's a smart man. There's gotta be another reason.
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Colonel Tom Parker : I wish to promote you, Mr Presley. Are you ready to fly?
Elvis Presley : I'm ready. Ready to fly.
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Elvis Presley : I just gotta be making the most of this thing while I can. This could all be over in a flash.
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[Elvis has called TV producer Steve Binder and record producer Bones Howe out for a meeting at the dilapidated Hollywood sign; Elvis is sitting in the second O]
Elvis Presley : When I first came up to Hollywood, I'd come up here and sit for hours.
[gestures over to the Griffith Observatory]
Elvis Presley : Right over there, the observatory? That's where they shot "Rebel Without a Cause". Man, I used to dream about being a great actor like Jimmy Dean. This sign was beautiful then. And now... feels as though lots of things are like that these days. Broke down, beat up. Rotten. I really like what you guys did, putting James Brown and the Stones together.
Steve Binder : We're, uh... big fans of yours too. It's just that, Mr. Presley, we don't usually...
Elvis Presley : Oh, Elvis.
Steve Binder : Elvis, uh... Christmas specials aren't really our thing.
Elvis Presley : I know. Tell me, honestly... where do you boys think my career's at right now?
[Binder looks over to Howe]
Bones Howe : Well, it's...
Steve Binder : It's in the toilet, Elvis.
[Elvis looks up at Jerry Schilling and they both begin laughing]
Elvis Presley : You hear that, Jerry? Oh, Lord. I knew you were the right guys for this job. You know, back when I was starting out, some people wanted to put me in jail, even kill me, 'cause of the way I was moving. So they cut my hair, they put me in uniform and they sent me away. That killed my mother. And ever since then... I've been lost. And when you're lost, people take advantage. I need you fellas to help me get back to who I really am.
Steve Binder : And who are you, Elvis?
Elvis Presley : I sure as hell ain't somebody who sings Christmas songs by a fireplace for an hour.
Steve Binder : And what does the Colonel think?
Elvis Presley : I don't give a damn what the Colonel thinks.
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[seeing Col. Parker waiting on him after learning he owes him $8 million dollars]
Elvis Presley : Eight million? Oh, you blood-sucking old vampire! You bled me dry and you still want more?
Colonel Tom Parker : I'm not an uncaring man, Mr. Presley.
Elvis Presley : Don't you "Mr. Presley" me, you toad!
Colonel Tom Parker : If you are so determined to get out of our contract...
Elvis Presley : You're goddamn right I want out!
Colonel Tom Parker : Well, I will personally loan you the money that you owe to Jamboree Attractions.
Elvis Presley : Yeah, and you'll still have your claws in me. You'll still have me working here like a goddamn slave in a salt mine, you phony, no-good piece of trash! I oughta shoot you in your fat, goddamn face. Who are you? Who are you really?
Colonel Tom Parker : I am you. And you are me.
Elvis Presley : Cut the horseshit! Colonel Tom Parker... or whatever your real name is. Everything I've ever known about you is a lie!
Colonel Tom Parker : [chuckles; stands up in front of Elvis] My past is the least of your problems, my boy. Everyone else you associate with lives from you, Mr. Presley. Even Vernon. That's right, even your own daddy has looked after himself before he's looked after you. Yes. I have lived off from you too, but the difference is you have also lived off from me. We have supported each other. Because we shared a dream. We are the same, you and I. We are two odd, lonely children reaching for eternity. Maybe you should fly away, my boy. Away from all of this. But if you do choose to leave... I, for one, would be very lonely. So would your father.
[Colonel leaves towards an elevator]
Colonel Tom Parker : But I think you may be lonely, too.
[He calls the elevator down]
Colonel Tom Parker : Oh, you see, my boy, the... truth about the Rock of Eternity...
[the elevator opens and Colonel enters]
Colonel Tom Parker : ...it is forever just beyond our reach.
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Elvis Presley : [to Gladys] I promise I will never leave you.
Colonel Tom Parker : [breaking fourth wall] Wanna bet?
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Elvis Presley : Did you know there's a kind of bird that doesn't have any legs? So it can't land on nothing. It lives its whole life on the wing. When it gets tired it just spreads its wings and sleeps on the wind. If it ever does land, even but one time... so it dies.
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Elvis Presley : I've never met anyone like you.
Priscilla : Well, I hope not.
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[Backstage, Elvis has learned the truth about Colonel Tom Parker and exposes him live on stage; Parker himself is sitting in the audience with the owner of the International Hotel]
Elvis Presley : I'd like to turn the house lights up, ladies and gentlemen. 'Cause now that you've seen me, I'd like to take a look at you.
[the audience cheers and applauds as the house lights come up]
Elvis Presley : Oh, you're beautiful. Thank you. Oh, boy!
Colonel Tom Parker : He'll mention the VIPs that are here.
Elvis Presley : We got some high-rollers in here tonight.
Colonel Tom Parker : Get ready for the spotlight.
Elvis Presley : Mr. International Hotel himself.
[the spotlight falls on him]
Colonel Tom Parker : Ah, there you go!
Elvis Presley : And right next to him, is my so-called manager, Colonel Tom Parker.
[the spotlight turns to Parker, who playfully acts bashful]
Elvis Presley : But I hear rumors that Colonel... is an alien.
[Audience laughs]
Colonel Tom Parker : [Playing along] Got here on my rocket ship.
[Elvis grabs a wine glass from someone in the audience and downs it one gulp]
Elvis Presley : Somebody call the FBI and tell 'em that he has abducted me...
[his voice becoming aggressive]
Elvis Presley : that he has locked me in this *golden cage* to keep me here forever with you, ladies and gentlemen.
[Audience applauds again]
Elvis Presley : [singing] So, I'm caught in a trap / I can't get out / 'Cause Colonel's got some big debts, baby!
[the Colonel realizes what Elvis is saying. Elvis gives him a mean look from the stage]
Colonel Tom Parker : Excuse me.
[Colonel leaves]
Elvis Presley : Well, this is the last show I'm ever playing here.
[Audience groans]
Elvis Presley : I'm gonna get on my jet plane, the "Lisa Marie". It's named after, uh... my beautiful daughter. And I'm gonna fly away.
[the Colonel has arrived backstage in a hurry]
Elvis Presley : No, no, no... You know I'm going to fly away.
Colonel Tom Parker : [angrily whispering to the stagehands] Stop the show. Stop this show! Come on, get this curtain down!
Elvis Presley : Fuck the International.
[Audience gasps]
Colonel Tom Parker : [to Jerry] Mr. Schilling, what the devil is happening here?
Elvis Presley : And Las Vegas.
Jerry Schilling : That's what he wants to know.
Elvis Presley : Ain't no one gonna stop me, man.
[spots Parker from the wings]
Elvis Presley : Oh! Security! Security!
[begins babbling nonsensically, grabs another microphone from a band member]
Elvis Presley : Security, security, security!
[to Parker, shouting]
Elvis Presley : 800 shows! You don't have a goddamn passport, you son of a bitch! You are fired!
[even louder, even angrier]
Elvis Presley : You are fired!
[Parker has now walked up to him face-to-face; Presley screams]
Elvis Presley : YOU'RE FIRED!... You're fired.
[as the curtains close, he drops the microphones and storms off]
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[preparing to rehearse for his Vegas show]
Elvis Presley : This ain't no nostalgia show. We're gonna do something a little different.
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[Jerry confronts Elvis over the truth about Colonel Parker]
Jerry Schilling : He lied. There wasn't going to be an international tour 'cause he can't leave the country. He's got no citizenship, no official identity. He doesn't exist. There never was a Colonel Tom Parker.
Elvis Presley : What are you talking about, Jerry?
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[hearing Little Richard play "Tutti Frutti" live]
Elvis Presley : Man, he sings the hell out of that song! I would love to record that.
B.B. King : If you do, you'll make a whole lot more money than that kid could ever dream of.
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[repeated line]
Elvis Presley : The snowman strikes again.
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[after the death of his beloved mother, Elvis is grieving alone in her closet, sobbing quietly. Colonel Parker enters]
Colonel Tom Parker : [gently] Your daddy is doing the best he knows how, but he is overwhelmed. He needs your help.
Elvis Presley : [crying] I can't go out there. I just wanna stay here forever.
Colonel Tom Parker : Oh, my boy. No one could never replace her. But you listen to me. From this moment on, everything she would have done, I will carry out, in her name. When you are overseas, I will stay here at home. And I will work and I will worry. Trust me. Now you go and you stand by your papa. You comfort him.
[helps Elvis to his feet]
Colonel Tom Parker : You comfort him. Comfort your friends and your family and even your fans. Hmm? Because if you don't do that, all that your mama has sacrificed for you will be for nothing.
[Still crying, Elvis embraces Colonel Parker]
Elvis Presley : No matter what happens, you stay with me through thick and thin, okay? You're like a... like a father to me.
[the Colonel pats him on the back, comfortingly]
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[In 1968, the Colonel is pitching Elvis a Christmas special on TV sponsored by the Singer sewing machine company]
Elvis Presley : Christmas special. Is this the best we can do, Admiral?
Colonel Tom Parker : Well, we took the Hollywood phonies for every nickel they had and now it is time to pack up our tents and move on to even greener pastures. We've seen "Elvis the Rebel". We've seen "Elvis the Movie Star". Now we will see "Elvis the Family Entertainer".
Jerry Schilling : [sarcastically] And appliance salesman.
Elvis Presley : [turning to Jerry] What did you say?
[walks over angrily]
Elvis Presley : Listen, Jerry, I don't need you to question me about how I support my family and every *goddamn* person here! You understand me? If you don't like it, you can go back to Memphis.
[entering his trailer]
Elvis Presley : Laugh it up, assholes.
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[Parker has found an advantageous opportunity to speak to Elvis alone in a hall of mirrors at a carnival]
Colonel Tom Parker : Lost, my boy?
Elvis Presley : Colonel Parker, sir.
Colonel Tom Parker : You look lost.
Elvis Presley : I guess I am.
Colonel Tom Parker : Ah, yes. The roar of the crowd. The life on the road. And then calling home to your loved ones, pretending nothing has changed when everything has.
Elvis Presley : Yeah. Lost. I'm sorry, sir. I... I meant I don't know the way out.
Colonel Tom Parker : Yes, that is precisely what I am saying. I... I saw you. Apart from the others. Burdened. Like you don't know how to get out of this. But I do.
[the Colonel pushes open a secret door allowing the two to exit the hall of mirrors]
Colonel Tom Parker : Allow me to show you.
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Elvis Presley : I don't feel I'm doing anything wrong.
