Paulie (1998)

Tony Shalhoub: Misha Vilyenkov

Photos 

Quotes 

• Paulie : It's a long story.

  Misha : I'm Russian. I like long stories!

• Dr. Reingold : Speak. Speak.

  Misha : No, please listen, Sir. Maybe if I explain better.

  [to Paulie] 

  Misha : You are lonely I think. I am lonely. In Russia, I was teacher of literature. In America, I'm cleaner of bird crap. I miss words, I miss my language. I just would like someone to talk to.

  Paulie : Join the club.

  Misha : What?

  Paulie : I said join the club.

  Misha : So I'm not crazy. You CAN talk.

  Paulie : Of course I can talk.

  Misha : Then why are you not?

  Paulie : Because talking just gets you into a lot of trouble.

  Misha : Trouble? Why you say that?

• [last lines] 

  Adult Marie Alweather : Paulie, how did you find me ?

  Paulie : Well, It's a long story.

  Misha : [chuckling]  It's the only kind he knows.

• Misha : She would have books on her table and flowers in her hair.

  Paulie : Yeah, and lots of golden feathers.

• [first lines] 

  [Misha reports for work, it is dark and raining] 

  Virgil the Janitor : The agency told you you had to pay for your own uniforms, right ?

  Misha : Yes, I to buy with money from job.

  Virgil the Janitor : No, no, no. You can't start the job without a uniform.

  Misha : But how to buy when not been paid ?

  Virgil the Janitor : You don't have any money ?

  Misha : No. This is why I take job. To make money. This is why I come to America. To be a big shoot.

  Virgil the Janitor : Shot. Big shot.

  Misha : I try not to live in past, only present tense since I come to America.

  Virgil the Janitor : [chuckling]  Yeah, but "big shoot" makes no sense.

• Paulie : It all started with Marie.

  Misha : The one in the song?

  Paulie : Yeah, the one in the song.

• Misha : I come to tell you in great amazement, he can talk.

  Dr. Reingold : He mimics.

  Misha : Mimics? What is mimics?

  Dr. Reingold : He repeats what he hears. It is not talk.

  Misha : No, you don't understand. He's intelligent, Doctor.

• Misha : Before I am coming to America, there was a girl. We were student together at university. Sure we talk, about books. We even fight about them. She was very smart. And stubborn. I say book mean one thing. She say, "No, no, Misha. Book mean other thing." One time, she act in play in front of whole school. I was working behind curtain in the dark. I see her on stage. She had flowers in her hair, and-and the light made them all different color. I say to myself, "My God, she's beautiful. Maybe too beautiful for me, but I will tell her how I feel." Afterward, when I am going near to her...

  Paulie : She stole your words away.

  Misha : Yes. She marry my best friend. He told her how he feel. At wedding, she take me aside and say, "Misha, I always like you best, but I was afraid. Afraid of your silence."

  [to Paulie] 

  Misha : It's important to speak up.