I might be more fluent in Swedish than I am in Spanish. My wife speaks it to our kids, and they're fluent so I hear it all the time, so I've got that under my belt.
When I began to travel around the country, I would notice in places like Los Angeles, Chicago, Phoenix and even Texas that Latinos didn't want to speak Spanish. You would ask a question, only to be answered in English.
The first few weeks football players look at you like you are speaking a foreign language. My job is to get them to trust me, trust the system. I ask them to run in a way that makes no sense to them.
I have always distrusted memoir. I tend to write my memoirs through my fiction. It's easier to get to the truth by not claiming that you are speaking it. Some things can be said in fiction that can never be said in memoir.
Roy Neary: I wanna speak to the man in charge. David Laughlin: Mr. Lacombe is the highest authority. Roy Neary: He isn't even an American.
Harry Block: Every hooker I ever speak to tells me that it beats the hell out of waitressing. Waitressing's gotta be the worst fucking job in the world.
Dr. King Schultz: I wish to parlez with you. Dicky Speck: Speak English. Dr. King Schultz: Oh, I'm sorry, please forgive me. it *is* a second language.
Dr. King Schultz: [in disbelief] Let me get this straight: Your slave wife speaks German and her name is Broomhilda von Schaft? Django: Yep.
Traudl Junge: Herr Speer! How did you get into Berlin? Albert Speer: It wasn't easy, but I must speak with the Führer. Heinz Linge, Kammerdiener: If I were you, I'd wait a bit.
Otto: [Speaking to Alexandria] You know what I do when something frightens me? I say the magic words: Googly, googly, googly. Begone.
[after whale blows Marlin and Dory out] Marlin: THAAAANKKK YOUUUUU SIRRRRRRR. Dory: Wow. I wish I could speak whale...
Gracchus: But the Senate IS the people, sire. Chosen from AMONG the people. To speak FOR the people. Commodus: I doubt if any of the people eat so well as you, Gracchus. Or have such splendid mistresses, Gaius.
Capt. Bart Mancuso: You, you speak English? Red October Officer: Yes, sir. Capt. Bart Mancuso: Get your butt over here!
Ma Bailey: First Harry, now George. Annie, we're just two old maids now. Annie: You speak for yourself, Miss B.
Eisenheim: I thought we might end this evening with a discussion of the soul. All of the greatest religions speak of the soul's endurance before the end of life. So what then does it mean to die?
[watching a clip of Hitler speaking] Lilibet: Papa, what's he saying? King George VI: I don't know but... he seems to be saying it rather well.
Lionel Logue: How do you feel? King George VI: Full of hot air. Lionel Logue: Isn't that what public speaking's all about?
Guido: What are your political views? Other Man: [speaking to his two sons] Benito, Adolf! Sit down! Sorry Guido, what did you say?
[after arriving in the deserted concentration camp in a tank, trying to speak to an Italian boy in English] U.S. Tank Soldier: You have no idea what I'm saying, do you?
Chingachgook: [speaking to animal they have just killed] We're sorry to kill you, brother. We do honor to your courage and speed, your strength.
Idi Amin: You see, Jonah? This is the sort of man a president needs around him. Someone who is not afraid to speak his mind.
