October Sky (1999)

Chris Cooper: John Hickam

Photos 

Quotes 

• John : Elsie, I don't have the power to settle this strike.

  Elsie : The bosses listen to you. They'll do what you tell them.

  John : I'm not gonna crawl on my belly infront of those miserable union rats.

  Elsie : Is that what this is about? Is this about your pride?

  John : It's about what's best for Coalwood. If this mine doesn't produce, then the town dies. Think the union gives a damn about that? They're nothin' but a bunch of greedy sons of bitches...

  Elsie : Shut up. Just shut up.

  [John is silent] 

  Elsie : Homer once said you love the mine more than your own family. I stook up for you because I didn't want to believe it. Homer has gotten alot of help from the people in this town. They've helped him build his rockets. They've watched him fly 'em. But not you. You never showed up, not even once. I'm not asking you to believe in it, but he's your son, for God's sake. And I am asking you to help him. If you don't, I'll leave you. I'll do whatever it takes to get away from here. I will work, if that's what it takes. I'll live in a tree to get away from you. Don't think I won't.

  John : Where would you go?

  Elsie : [a beat]  Myrtle Beach.

  [she walks away] 

• Homer : Listen, I'm sorry about what's going on around here, but it isn't my fault! What do you want from me anyway?

  John : You better watch yourself, Homer.

  Homer : If I go on to win at Indianapolis, I can go to college, maybe even get a job at Cape Canaveral. There's nothing here for me. The town is dying! The mine is dying! Everybody here knows that but you!

  John : You want to get out so bad, then go. Go!

  Homer : Yeah, I'll go! Yeah, I'll go!

  John : GO! GO!

  Homer : And I'll be gone forever! I won't even look back!

• John : Vernon!

  [slams Vernon against the wall] 

  Vernon : We ain't at the mine now Hickham! This ain't your business!

  John : [to Roy Lee]  You wait in the car with Homer, son.

  [to Vernon] 

  John : Now you listen to me you drunken son of a bitch. If that boy's father were still alive, he'd kick your ass. So I'm gonna have to do it for him. If I see him with a bruise... you get a scar. If I see him with a limp... you get *crutches*! Do you hear me? Do you hear me?

  [lets Vernon go] 

  Vernon : I'm reportin' you to the union!

  John : Screw you and your damn union.

• John : [to Leon, about helping Homer]  Don't you have some work to do?

• [Insisting John help his son] 

  Elsie : If you don't, I'll leave you. I'll find work. I'll do whatever it takes to get away from here. I'll live in a tree to get away from you. Don't you think I won't.

  John : [Softly]  Where would you go?

  Elsie : Myrtle Beach.

• John : [after a cave in]  Come on. Come on, Jensen. Come on back.

  Jensen : What happened?

  Jake Mosby : Whole damn mountain about fell on your head. And John here, he saved your life.

  Homer : [proud]  That's my dad.

  John : I want you out of this mine, and don't you ever come back, you stupid son of a bitch. Didn't I tell you to watch those pillars? Now we coulda all been killed today, because you didn't have the sense to look up!

  Homer : [ashamed]  That's my dad.