A short story is a sprint, a novel is a marathon. Sprinters have seconds to get from here to there and then they are finished. Marathoners have to carefully pace themselves so that they don't run out of energy (or in the case of the novelist-- ideas)...
Ding Bell: Hey. It's that hokey dentist. Benjy Benjamin: Yeah. Ding Bell: Pass that cab. Second cab driver: What's the rush? Ding Bell: What do you mean rush? Benjy Benjamin: We ain't in any rush, we just wanna get there in a hurry.
Third Cab Driver: They're up to something funny, you hear what I'm telling you? Now, did you see the blonde I brought? All covered with paint and her dressed ripped. Now what was that all about? Second cab driver: Yeah. And what about the picks and s...
Mark Loring: [about painting the baby's nursery] You could just wait a couple months. It's not like the baby's going to storm in here any second and demand dessert-colored walls. Vanessa Loring: What to Expect says that readying the baby's room is an...
Randal Graves: [describing the Lord of the Rings Trilogy] Here's the first movie. [walks a few steps, staring blankly] Randal Graves: And here's the second movie. [walks a few steps again, pretends to trip] Hobbit Lover: He is way off, loser. Randal ...
[Gru is showing Mr. Perkins his plans, using pictures on an easel] Gru: I fly to the moon, I shrink the moon, I grab the moon, I sit on the toi-let what? [sees a child's drawing in his plans, of himself sitting on a toilet, signed by Edith, the girls...
Lieutenant Daniel Taylor: Well, I told you that if actually got a shrimp boat I would be your first mate. And I am a man of my word. But if you think for a second that I am calling you "Sir," you got another thing comin'. Forrest Gump: No, sir. [Forr...
Private Joker: [narrating] Graduation is only a few days away, and the recruits of Platoon 3092 are salty. They are ready to eat their own guts and ask for seconds. The drill instructors are proud to see that we are growing beyond their control. The ...
Will: Do you find it hard to hide the fact that you're gay? Henry Lipkin: [stammers] What are... talking... about... What? Will: Look, buddy, a few seconds ago you were ready to give *me* a jump! Henry Lipkin: [feeling somewhat insulted] A jump? I......
[Mouth is "translating" Mrs. Walsh's instructions for Rosalita] Irene Walsh: Pants and shirts go in the... oh, forget about it. Just throw everything into cardboard boxes. Clark, can you really translate all that? Mouth: For sure, Mrs. Walsh. Mouth: ...
Kevin McCallister: Santa, hold on. Can I talk to you for a second? Santa Claus: Yes, but make it quick. Santa's got a little get together he's late for. Kevin McCallister: Okay. I know you're not the real Santa Claus. Santa Claus: [his beard is pulle...
Mayor Webb Schubert: Bill... what's made you change your mind about Tibbs? Gillespie: Who says I have? Mayor Webb Schubert: [referring to Tibbs slapping Endicott] Last Chief we had... he'd have shot Tibbs one second after he slapped Endicott, claim s...
Louis: Though the fire seemed to spread through the quarter, I stood on that deck, fearful he would come out again from the very river, like some monster, to destroy us both. And all the while, I thought, 'Lestat, you deserve your vengeance. You gave...
Yinsen: That doesn't look like the Jericho missile. Tony Stark: That's because it is a miniaturized arc reactor. I've got a big one powering my factory at home. Yinsen: What will it generate? Tony Stark: If my math is right - and it always is - three...
Parrot: Identification, please. Dash: Huh? Hey, hey Vi, c'mere, look, look it talks! There, that one. Parrot: Voice key incorrect. Violet: Voice key? Parrot: Voice key incorrect. Violet: Wait a second... [Parrot sounds alarm] Dash: What do we do? Vio...
Slevin: Listen, I've been hearing that a lot lately... The Rabbi: [interrupting] My father used to say: "The first time someone calls you a horse you punch him on the nose, the second time someone calls you a horse you call him a jerk but the third t...
[Szell prepares to torture Babe a second time] Christian Szell: Oh, please don't worry. I'm not going into that cavity. That nerve's already dying. A live, freshly-cut nerve is infinitely more sensitive. So I'll just drill into a healthy tooth until ...
Herb Brooks: Red line, back. Blue line, back. Far blue line, back. Far red line, back. And you have 45 seconds to do it. Get used to this drill. You'll be doing it *a lot*. Why? Because the legs feed the wolf, gentlemen. I can't promise you we'll be ...
Sheriff: Hey, partner. Sheriff: Hold on there, just a second. Sheriff: Where are you headed, there? Sheriff: Where are you headed up to? Sheriff: How are you doing there, bud? Sheriff: Huh? Are you okay? Sheriff: Where are you headed? Sheriff: You he...
Linus: [Yen's cast is caught in vault door, Unaware that Yen is trapped, Danny and Linus try to blow the door but the bomb doesnt go off] Did you check the batteries? [pause] Linus: You know, you lose focus in this game for one second... Danny: I kno...
[first lines] Marty: On my first day of law school, my professor says two things. First was; "From this day forward, when your mother tells you she loves you - get a second opinion." Jack Connerman: [chuckles] And? Marty: "If you want justice, go to ...
