Hope Floats (1998)

Sandra Bullock: Birdee Pruitt

Photos 

Quotes 

• Bernice Pruitt : My dad says that childhood is the happiest time of my life. But, I think he's wrong. I think my mom's right. She says that...

  [Bernice's voice fades as Birdee takes over] 

  Birdee Pruitt : [laughing]  Childhood is what you spend the rest of your life trying to overcome. That's what momma always says. She says that beginnings are scary, endings are usually sad, but it's the middle that counts the most. Try to remember that when you find yourself at a new beginning. Just give hope a chance to float up. And it will, too...

• Birdee Pruitt : Childhood is what you spend the rest of your life trying to overcome.

• Birdee Pruitt : I would have stayed with you forever. I would have turned myself inside out for you.

  Bill Pruitt : Birdee, I wouldn't have let you! People grow. They change. They have to!

  Birdee Pruitt : You think that I don't know that? I know that I'm not what I once was. I know that! But I haven't changed so much, that I would go and lie to someone that I love. God, I would walk through fire before I'd let them feel like they were nothing! And I would never break up anybody's home. Because I am not a quitter. I care about my family! I may not be the same person, but then again, neither are you. You're sad, you're weak, and you're... shorter. If you want to know the truth.

  Bill Pruitt : I'm in love with Connie. And this is my chance for a fresh start, and I'm taking it, I'm sorry!

  Birdee Pruitt : Then you should take it. If that's how you feel then you should take it. You and Connie deserve each other. You were lucky to have me. But you know what? I think I already got the best part of you. And she's standing right out there, and she's waiting for me. I don't know... what's left just doesn't look so good anymore. So why'd you come back? You want my permission? You want my... condolences? Why did you come back?

  Bill Pruitt : Well, I didn't want to do this to you now, Birdee, but I want a divorce.

• Bernice Pruitt : [Bernice and Birdee are in Bernice's room after Bill has left... Bernice is on her bed and has finished crying]  Why did you pretend that letter was from Daddy?

  Birdee Pruitt : What an imagination you have.

  [climbs onto Bernice's bed and lays by her side] 

  Birdee Pruitt : You know, I always thought I was gonna be, I don't know, special. But I'm not. I'm just... I'm just an ordinary person. And that's OK. Because... you make me special. Don't you know that? Don't you know that you're everything in this world to me? And we're gonna make it through this because we are a team. Birdee and Bernice, the coolest chicks in Smithville. So don't you ever think about leaving me again... because I need you. I love you.

  Bernice Pruitt : [quietly]  I love you too.

  Birdee Pruitt : Good.

  [they embrace] 

• Birdee Pruitt , Mr. Davis : [Showing Bertie around Snappy Snaps]  Occasionally we get pictures of a questionable nature

  Birdee Pruitt : Naked pictures?

  Mr. Davis : Oh, we never comment on them, ah, we just hand them over as if we haven't seen a thing.

  Birdee Pruitt : I understand, Mr. Davis...

  Mr. Davis : But first we make a copy. Now, we put them in the second draw under the counter.

  Birdee Pruitt : Oh...

  Mr. Davis : And you can have a look anytime you want. Just don't take any of 'em home.

  Birdee Pruitt : Oh, alright.

• Birdee Pruitt : Who's the architect?

  Justin Matisse : You're kiddin', huh?... That's half the fun.

  Birdee Pruitt : You go around Smithville paintin' houses, and you can do this?

  Justin Matisse : Yeah.

  Birdee Pruitt : You could... you could do so much more.

  Justin Matisse : I guess so, huh?

  Birdee Pruitt : You know what I meant.

  Justin Matisse : I know exactly what you meant. You're talkin' 'bout the American Dream. You find something that you love, and then you twist it, and you torture it, try and find a way to make money at it. You spend a lifetime doing that. At the end, you can't find a trace of what you started out lovin'. What did you start out lovin'?

  Birdee Pruitt : [very softly]  I don't remember.

  Justin Matisse : For me it was doin' things right, that's all. That's why I came back here; so I could live the way I wanted. I don't know, I figured out of everybody, you'd understand that.

  Birdee Pruitt : I do. I envy you. Everything you love is right here.

  Justin Matisse : Not everything, Birdee.

• Birdee Pruitt : You just never liked Bill.

  Ramona Calvert : Oh, I like all of God's creatures; I just like some of them better stuffed. And he's one of them.

• Bernice Pruitt : Is this where you were "cream of corn"?

  Birdee Pruitt : "Queen of Corn," honey. Three years runnin'. A feat unsurpassed in the history of Smithville.

• Birdee Pruitt : Once upon a time your mama knew what it meant to shine.

• Justin Matisse : You look terrible! You been drinking?

  Birdee Pruitt : Why does everybody keep asking me if I've been drinking? What? Is there like a coaster stuck to my... butt or something?

• Bernice Pruitt : Mom, are you gonna marry Justin Matisse?

  Birdee Pruitt : Oh, honey, I'm not planning on getting married again for along time. What, you don't like Justin?

  Bernice Pruitt : No, it's not that. It's just that...

  Birdee Pruitt : What is it? You can tell me.

  Bernice Pruitt : I just don't want to be known as Bernice Matisse!

• Mr. Davis : Uh, anything interesting come in while I was at lunch?

  Birdee Pruitt : No, sir.

  Mr. Davis : [walks to the photo processer, grabs a handful of ruined pictures]  Oh, oh, no! Look at these!

  [hands them to her] 

  Mr. Davis : Birdee?

  Birdee Pruitt : No, what is wrong with this stupid machine?

  [going through the pictures] 

  Birdee Pruitt : God I'm telling you, I...

  [she cuts off as she comes across the one picture that made it: one of Justin standing outside by his truck, holding flowers. Birdee looks out the window and sees Justin in the same pose. She smiles and walks outside, knowing that her mother is somehow responsible. V.O] 

  Birdee Pruitt : Okay, Mama. Stop pushin'.

  [Justin hands Birdee the flowers. They hug, Justin scoops her up into his arms and puts her in the truck. As Birdee sits up, Justin runs to the drivers side and they leave together] 

• Birdee Pruitt : People fall in love. They fall right back out. It happens all the time.

• Birdee Pruitt : [Travis growls in his act as a dog when ordered to go to breakfast]  Better do what she says, Travis. Grandma stuffs bad little dogs.

• Birdee Pruitt : Who's Big Dolores?

  Travis : She's the meanest and dumbest girl in school, but she keeps passing 'cause even teachers are afraid of big Dolores. She has her own gang too. It's called: Big Dolores.

• Dot : You look... beautiful. Same old Birdee.

  Birdee Pruitt : [beat]  Same old Dot.

  Dot : [laughs incredulously]  You have no idea who I am, do you?

  Birdee Pruitt : [beat]  No. Ha, ha, sorry.

  Dot : That's all right. When I knew you I was about seven inches shorter and 70 pounds heavier. We didn't exactly eat at the same lunch table.

  Birdee Pruitt : Polka Dot?

  Dot : [laughs nervously]  Oh, goodness!

  Birdee Pruitt : Is that right?

  Dot : Yeah... Nobody's called me that in a long time.

  Birdee Pruitt : You look fantastic!

  Dot : [uncomfortable]  Thank you.

  Birdee Pruitt : It's remarkable!

  Dot : Was I really so awful before, Birdee?

  Dot : Oh, no-no-no, I just meant...

  Dot : I know what you meant. People change as they get older, we improve.

  [beat] 

  Dot : Gosh, you look exactly the same.

• Birdee Pruitt : Mama wake up! Oh God, please don't do this.

• Birdee Pruitt : Which part captivated you more? Was it the part where... let's see, where I appeared downtrodden and pitiful, or was it... or was it the part where I looked stricken and grotesque? Because I personally preferred the part where I looked pathetic. I liked that.

  Justin Matisse : I think I just preferred the part where you appeared available.

• Birdee Pruitt : What can I say, mama? I am my own crown of thorns.