Their Eyes Were Watching God (2005 TV Movie)

Ruben Santiago-Hudson: Joe Starks

Quotes 

• [after the Eatonville townsfolk ask Janie to say a few words at the founding ceremony] 

  Joe Starks : Thank you for your compliments, but Mrs. Starks don't know nothin' bout no speech-makin'. I didn't marry her for nothin' like that.

• Janie Starks : [to Joe on his deathbed]  Even now, you got to die with me being obedient, instead of just letting me love you.

  Joe Starks : I hope thunder and lightning kill you.

• Joe Starks : Doctor say I'm dyin.' Guess you come to watch.

  [turns and groans] 

  Janie Starks : [sits down next to Joe]  Jody, maybe I ain't been such a good wife to you. But you gave me everything a woman could ever dream of having, and I thank you. But Jody, you and me been together now for 20 years, and you don't know me half at all.

  Joe Starks : I know you.

  Janie Starks : [shakes head]  You changed from that Jody I run off down the road with. I wanted to keep a house with you in a wonderful way, but you wasn't really satisfied with me the way I was.

  Joe Starks : I built a whole town for us. But that ain't good enough for you.

  Janie Starks : It's just that my own feelings had to be squeezed and crowded out of me to make room for yours in me.

  Joe Starks : Blame everything on me. I don't let you show me no feeling, huh? Janie, that's all I ever wanted!

  Janie Starks : Ain't nobody trying to blame nothing on you, Joe! But all this bowing down and obedience... well, it just... it ain't what I run off with you down that road for!

• [first meeting, while Janie is married to Logan Killicks] 

  Joe Starks : Your parents are gonna give you hell for settin' their pigs free.

  Janie Starks : They dead. And I don't care what my husband thinks neither.

  Joe Starks : Husband?

  Janie Starks : Gone to get a plow, so I can help 'im in the fields.

  Joe Starks : Girl, you got no more business behind a plow than a hog does with a holiday.