The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996)

Donna Hanover: Ruth Carter Stapleton

Photos 

Quotes 

• Larry Flynt : [referring to Ruth's brother, President Jimmy Carter]  Do you think he ever read my publication?

  Ruth Carter Stapleton : Do you remember the interview he gave "Playboy" magazine? The one where he admitted that he had "lust in his heart"?

  Larry Flynt : You know, I was especially proud of that.

  Ruth Carter Stapleton : I'm sure you were, but Oral Roberts wasn't and Billy Graham wasn't and they took out after him in public. So, I don't think he's a big fan of adult magazines. But, you know, Larry, I'm more ambivalent about what you do. Because, I think that sexuality *is* a God given gift.

  Larry Flynt : I have to agree with you.

  Ruth Carter Stapleton : You know, when I counsel Pentecostal women in bad marriages, I don't take the Bible out. I say to them, "get some make up, get yourself some curlers, make yourself beautiful because Jesus wants you to be beautiful."

  Larry Flynt : Yeah, well, that... your somthin'. You surprise me

  Ruth Carter Stapleton : Larry, what was your childhood like? You know, sometimes things happen to us when we're very young that can hurt for many years after.

• Larry Flynt : [speaking for the first time, over the phone]  This is Larry Flynt

  Ruth Carter Stapleton : Praise the lord. I've found you

  Larry Flynt : Hallelujah, what can I help you with?

  Ruth Carter Stapleton : We have a mutual friend: a television producer and he suggested we get together. He thought you and I could "hit it off."

  Larry Flynt : I don't understand you're an evangelist, I'm a smut peddler

  Ruth Carter Stapleton : I don't believe in labels. I believe you and I could teach other a lot, so are you free for dinner tomorrow night?

  Larry Flynt : I have a hectic schedule

  Ruth Carter Stapleton : You know what's nice about people like you and me? We can do anything we want.

• Ruth Carter Stapleton : [while having dinner]  Do you go to church?

  Larry Flynt : Yeah particularly the big holidays Christmas, Easter, New Year's Eve

  Ruth Carter Stapleton : [confused]  New Year's Eve?

  Larry Flynt : They don't have church on New Year's Eve? Ok you've proven I'm a liar, I never go

  Ruth Carter Stapleton : It's not important, that's only a ritual and I believe going straight to the teachings of Jesus

  Larry Flynt : Would you call yourself a "faith healer"?

  Ruth Carter Stapleton : Goodness no, I do spiritual healing. I don't mend bones, I mend troubled souls

  Larry Flynt : That's a relief because I though you would be one of those fakes, scare the kids "wicked this, wicked that"

  Ruth Carter Stapleton : "Hell fire", damnation", that sort of thing? That kind of talk is almost "unforgiveable"

  Larry Flynt : I'd say we have something in common

  Ruth Carter Stapleton : Actually there's something else we have in common

  Larry Flynt : What's that?

  Ruth Carter Stapleton : We're both trying to release people from sexual repression