The United States of Leland (2003)

Don Cheadle: Pearl Madison

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Quotes 

• Pearl Madison : I'm only human, man.

  Leland : It's funny how people only say that after they do something bad. I mean, you never hear someone say, "I'm only human" after they rescue a kid from a burning building.

• Leland : You know what the funny thing about earthquakes is? After an earthquake you see people pulling other people out of broken down buildings and people hugging and junk because they saw a little girl's shoe in the middle of the road and no little girl around. Then a couple days later they forget all about it...

  Pearl Madison : Well it still shows you that there's goodness in people.

  Leland : During earthquakes at least...

• Guillermo : Hey Pearly, help me out here bro. I'm developing this theory, right, that the suicide rate of Venice is real low. 'Cause if you jump off a building, all your ass is gonna do is splash in a canal and shit, right?

  Pearl Madison : [quietly laughs]  OK, well, why don't we expand on that theory tomorrow?

• Pearl Madison : You'll have to forgive Mr. Madison today, he's moving kinda slow. His head's hurting like it's the end of the world.

  Guillermo : You been drinking that cheap ass burgundy, ain't you?

  Pearl Madison : No comment.

  Bengel : That stuff's gonna make you go blind, Sir.

  Pearl Madison : Hey, 3 bucks, 2 liters. I couldn't pass it up.

• Pearl Madison : This is bullshit, Elden. This is just red-tape bullshit and you know it.

  Elden : No, Madison, this is about you running your own program. You asked me about this kid, I told you no. Then you, in effect, say: "Fuck you, I do whatever I want. Elden Gilmore be damned."

  Pearl Madison : Look, this is about a kid who was so screwed up...

  Elden : No, this is about a book. And you wanna talk about red-tape bullshit? Let's talk about how fast I could have you fired for turning your classroom over to non-certified personnel while you went off to play your '20/20' bit with this kid. Man, I am pulling you from S.H.

  Pearl Madison : Wait a minute...

  Elden : No, after lunch, report to A wing. You're taking over Bellsey's class.

• Pearl Madison : Its all part of the trade off man. I mean, Love is only such a great thing because you know what it feels like to get your heart broken. What it feels like to be alone.