The Elephant Man (1980)
Anthony Hopkins: Dr. Frederick Treves
Photos
Quotes
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John Merrick : [after seeing pictures of Dr. Treves' family] Would you care to see my mother?
Dr. Frederick Treves : [surprised] Your mother? Yes please.
[John pulls out a small portrait]
Mrs. Treves : Oh but she's... Mr. Merrick, she's beautiful!
John Merrick : Oh, she had the face of an angel!
[sadly]
John Merrick : I must have been a great disappointment to her.
Mrs. Treves : No, Mr. Merrick, no. No son as loving as you could ever be a disappointment.
John Merrick : If only I could find her, so she could see me with such lovely friends here now; perhaps she could love me as I am. I've tried so hard to be good.
[Mrs. Treves begins to cry]
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Mrs. Treves : I'm very pleased to meet you, Mr. Merrick.
John Merrick : I'm very pleased...
[John begins to cry]
Dr. Frederick Treves : What is it, John? What's the matter?
John Merrick : It's just that I-I'm not used to being treated so well by a beautiful woman...
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Carr Gomm : Can you imagine the kind of life he must have had?
Dr. Frederick Treves : Yes, I think I can.
Carr Gomm : I don't think so. No one could possibly imagine it! I don't believe any of us can!
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Mothershead : Sir! I don't quite... I don't quite understand why it is you allow that sort of people in there.
Dr. Frederick Treves : Why? Because he enjoys it, and I think it's very good for him.
Mothershead : Yes, but, sir, you saw the expression on their faces. They didn't hide their disgust. They don't care anything about John! They only want to impress their friends!
Dr. Frederick Treves : I think you're being rather harsh on them, don't you, Mrs. Mothershead?
Mothershead : I beg your pardon!
Dr. Frederick Treves : You yourself hardly showed him much loving kindness when he first arrived, did you?
Mothershead : I bathed him, I fed him, and I cleaned up after him, didn't I? And I see that my nurses do the same. And if loving kindness can be called care and practical concern, then I did show him loving kindness, and I am not ashamed to admit it!
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Dr. Fox : Have you ever mentioned his mental state?
Dr. Frederick Treves : Oh, he's an imbecile, probably from birth. Man's a complete idiot... Pray to God he's an idiot.
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John Merrick : There's something I've been meaning to ask you for some time now.
Dr. Frederick Treves : What's that?
John Merrick : Can you cure me?
Dr. Frederick Treves : No. We can care for you, but we can't cure you.
John Merrick : [matter-of-factly] No. I thought not.
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Dr. Frederick Treves : Am I a good man? Or a bad man? That's all...
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Dr. Frederick Treves : [Upon seeing Bytes] How did you get up here?
Bytes : I want my man back.
Dr. Frederick Treves : Just a moment, how did you get up...
Bytes : Never mind that. I want my man.
Dr. Frederick Treves : He's still very sick. Now please, come downstairs with me and I will explain the situation.
Bytes : DON'T! Don't. You've had plenty of time to... cure him. And now, he's leaving with me. Do you understand me now Mr. Treves? We made a deal.
Dr. Frederick Treves : You misunderstood. This man has suffered a severe fall if you take my meaning. Now, he's my patient now.
Bytes : Pull the other one, why don't you.
Dr. Frederick Treves : Mr. Bytes I'm sorry, but all you do is profit from another man's misery.
Bytes : [Grabs Treves' lapel] You think you're better than me?
Dr. Frederick Treves : No...
Bytes : You wanted the freak, to show to those doctor chums of yours to make a name for yourself. You my friend, I gave you the freak, on trust, in the name of science, and now I want him back!
Dr. Frederick Treves : You do not own this man. Now STOP IT!
Bytes : I want him back.
Dr. Frederick Treves : So you could beat him! So you could starve him! A dog in the streets would fare better with you!
Bytes : I shall go to the authorities.
Carr Gomm : [Speaking to Bytes] Go to the authorities then. Go to them by all means. I'm sure they would be very interested to hear your story as well as ours
Dr. Frederick Treves : [Speaking to Bytes] Now, I really do think we understand one another. Hm?
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Dr. Frederick Treves : Abominable things these machines - you can't reason with them,
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Dr. Frederick Treves : Because of the extensive area covered by papillomatus growths, the patient has been called "The Elephant Man".
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John Merrick : The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me...
[he continues alone in the room]
Carr Gomm : [outside of the room] It was a brave attempt, Treves, but the man was obviously simply mouthing words taught by you.
Dr. Frederick Treves : Yes. Well, I'm sorry to have wasted your time.
John Merrick : He restoreth my soul...
Carr Gomm : He simply doesn't belong here. He'd be much better off somewhere else where he can be constantly looked after. I'm sorry, Treves, that things have turned out this way. Good day to you.
John Merrick : Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for Thou art with me, Thy rod and Thy staff...
Dr. Frederick Treves : Mr. Carr Gomm!
Carr Gomm : Yes, what is it?
Dr. Frederick Treves : It's that. I didn't teach him that part.
[the two reenter the room]
John Merrick : My cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
