The Cider House Rules (1999)
Tobey Maguire: Homer Wells
Photos
Quotes
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Homer Wells : I've looked at so many women. I've seen everything, and felt nothing. But when I look at you, it hurts.
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[last lines]
Homer : Goodnight, you princes of Maine. You kings of New England.
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Homer Wells : I've never actually seen a lobster.
Candy Kendall : Are you serious?
Homer Wells : I've never seen the ocean either.
Wally Worthington : You've never seen the ocean? That's not funny, that's serious.
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Nurse Angela : [looking at an X-Ray] Do you know what this is?
Homer Wells : Oh, that's my heart.
Nurse Angela : No, actually, it's Fuzzy's. There's nothing wrong with your heart.
Nurse Edna : Dr. Larch wanted to keep you out of the war. That's why he told you it was yours.
Nurse Angela : He was worried about his own heart. He said it would never stand up to Homer Wells going off to war.
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[Candy is sitting on a dock: inconsolable after receiving the news about Wally]
Homer : Just tell me. I'll do whatever you wanna do.
Candy Kendall : Nothing.
Homer : Isn't that like waiting and seeing?
Candy Kendall : No. Nothing's nothing. I want Wally to come home. I'm afraid to see him too.
Homer : I know.
[Homer starts to put him arm around her and pull her close]
Candy Kendall : Oh, don't do that, Homer.
[Dejected, he puts both hands in his own lap]
Candy Kendall : I just want to sit here and do nothing.
Homer : To do nothing. It's a great idea, really. Maybe if I just wait and see long enough, then I won't have to do anything or decide anything, you know? I mean, maybe if I'm lucky enough, someone else will decide and choose and do things for me.
Candy Kendall : What are you talking about?
Homer : But then again, maybe I won't be that lucky. And it's not my fault. It's not your fault. And that's just it. Someone's gonna get hurt, and it's no one's fault.
Candy Kendall : I don't want to talk about this.
Homer : If we just sit here and, we wait and see a little longer, then maybe you won't to choose, and I won't have to *do* anything!
Candy Kendall : What do you want from me? Wally's been shot down. He's paralyzed. What do you want me to do?
Homer : Nothing. I'm sorry. You're not the one who has to do anything.
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[We see Homer writing to Dr. Larch and hear the words in his voice as we are shown variously relevant scenes]
Homer : Dear Dr. Larch. Thank you for your doctor's bag, although it seems that I will not have the occasion to use it, barring some emergency, of course. I am not a doctor. With all due respect to your profession, I'm enjoying my life here. I'm enjoying being a lobsterman and orchardman. In fact, I've never enjoyed myself as much. The truth is, I want to stay here. I believe I'm being of some use.
[We hear the words Dr. Larch writes back to Homer in response]
Dr. Wilbur Larch : My Dear Homer: I thought you were over you adolescence - the first time in our lives when we imagine we have something terrible to hide from those who love us. Do you think it's not obvious to us what's happened to you? You've fallen in love, haven't you? By the way, whatever you're up to can't be too good for your heart. Then again, it's the sort of condition that could be made worse by worrying about it, so don't worry about it.
[the back and forth correspondence continues interwoven with scenes from Homer's life at the time]
Homer : Dear Dr. Larch, What I'm learning her may not be as important as what I learned from you, but everything is new to me. Yesterday, I learned how to poison mice. Field mice girdle an apple tree; pine mice kill the roots. You use poison oats and poison corn. I know what you have to do. You have to play God. Well, killing mice is as close as I want to come to playing God.
Dr. Wilbur Larch : Homer, here in St. Cloud's, I have been given the opportunity of playing God or leaving practically everything up to chance. Men and women of conscience should sieze those moments when it's possible to play God. There won't be many. Do I interfere when absolutely helpless women tell me they simply can't have an abortion - that they simply must go through with having another and yet another orphan? I do not. I do not even recommend. I just give them what they want. You are my work of art, Homer. Everything else has been just a job. I don't know if you have a work of art in you, but I know what your job is: you're a doctor.
Homer : I'm not a doctor.
Dr. Wilbur Larch : You're going to replace me, Homer. The board of trustees is looking for my replacement.
Homer : I can't replace you. I'm sorry.
Dr. Wilbur Larch : "Sorry"? I'm not sorry. Not for anything I've done. I'm not even sorry that I love you.
[Cut to scene of Dr. Larch sitting on a hospital bed reading Homer's letter. He is crest-fallen and one of his nurses sits down to console him]
Dr. Wilbur Larch : [Speaking to the nurse] I think we may have lost him to the world.
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Homer Wells : They wanted a girl, Curly.
Curly : Nobody ever wants me.
Homer Wells : Oh, hey. Hey, come on. Come here. You know, you're one of the best, Curly, and we wouldn't let just anyone take you.
Curly : Dr. Larch wouldn't let just anyone take *any* of us.
Homer Wells : Well, that's true.
Curly : Nobody's asked for me, have they?
Homer Wells : Nobody special enough, Curly.
Curly : You mean somebody has?
Homer Wells : Only the right people can have you. Now what do you say we go unpack your suitcase?
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Homer Wells : I was wondering if you could give me a ride.
Wally Worthington : Sure. I'd be glad to. A ride where?
Homer Wells : Where you going?
Wally Worthington : We're heading back to Cape Kenneth.
Homer Wells : Cape Kenneth? That sounds fine.
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[Mr. Rose has a hold on his daughter to keep her from riding off on her bike to get away in the middle of the night]
Arthur Rose : Hey, nothin', man. You just go in the house. This ain't none of your concern.
Homer : Just listen to me...
Arthur Rose : You are forgettin' yourself now. This is my daughter! Now, I believe ya have your own mess ya gotta deal with.
Rose Rose : [Struggling to get free from her father] I wanna get...
Arthur Rose : Ain't that right, Homer? Ain't that right, Homer? My daughter done told ya and I done told ya. This ain't your business. This ain't none of your business! Ya even know what your business is, Homer? Do ya! Come on, man! What is your business?
Homer : I'm in the doctor business. I can help. That's all I'm saying. I can help.
[Mixture of astonishment and relief washes over the Roses]
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Buster : [digging grave of botched abortion victim] What did she die of?
Dr. Wilbur Larch : She died of secrecy. She died of... ignorance. Homer, did you expect to be responsible for their children, you have to give them the right to decide whether or not to have children. Wouldn't you agree?
Homer : I'm not excepting people to be responsible enough to control themselves to begin with.
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Homer Wells : I'm not a doctor. I haven't been to medical school; I haven't even been to high school.
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Homer Wells : Uh, nobody's named this one yet.
Dr. Wilbur Larch : Oh, it's my turn. Henceforth, you shall be Little Dorrit.
[baby starts crying]
Homer Wells : Oh, you don't like that, do you? He's a boy, that's why.
Dr. Wilbur Larch : Can't a boy be Dorrit?
Homer Wells : I don't think so.
Dr. Wilbur Larch : You do it.
Homer Wells : OK. Henceforth, you shall be Little Wilbur.
Dr. Wilbur Larch : I'm not crazy about the "Little".
Homer Wells : OK, just Wilbur then.
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Candy Kendall : [after seeing 'Wuthering Heights"] Well, it looked like you liked it.
Homer : I did like it. All I said was it's no "King Kong". I mean, first she loved them, then she didn't. Then no one else could have him.
Candy Kendall : No, but she did love him. How many women have you known?
Homer : And what did she die of, exactly?
Candy Kendall : She was torn apart. She died of a broken heart.
Homer : Oh. Well, I just... I need a better medical explanation.
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Homer : I'm just not supposed to get excited, you know. No strain. No stress. I try to keep calm all the time.
Wally Worthington : I can't imagine there's any strain or stress around here.
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Dr. Wilbur Larch : First pregnancy?
Homer : Yes, for both.
Dr. Wilbur Larch : I presume you'd prefer handling the delivery?
Homer : All I said was I don't wanna perform abortions. I have no argument with you performing them.
Dr. Wilbur Larch : You know how to help women. How can you not feel obligated to help them when they can't get help anywhere else?
Homer : One, it's illegal. Two, I didn't ask how to do it. You just showed me.
Dr. Wilbur Larch : What else could I have shown you, Homer? The only thing I can teach you is what I know. In any life, you have to be of use.
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Candy Kendall : He volunteered. Jesus. Nobody volunteers for the Burma run. He said so himself. He just leaves me here. What does he want? He wants me to wait for him? Oh, God he knows me. He knows I'm not good at being alone. This was right. I know this was right.
Homer Wells : You're right. This was right.
Candy Kendall : Yeah.
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Homer Wells : You're having sex with your own daughter.
Arthur Rose : Ain't nobody havin' sex with my daughter! Let me just tell you that!
Homer Wells : You're lying. Aren't you ashamed of yourself? What do you care who hears? I mean, come on. They know already, don't they? They know Mr. Rose.
Arthur Rose : And you know what your business is, boy! I know you don't wanna be in no kind of business with me! That's what I know.
Homer Wells : Yeah? Go on. Cut my clothes. I've got other clothes.
Arthur Rose : You gonna come here talkin' to me about lies and shame? Those people took you in, and that boy Wally is away at war!
Homer Wells : Yeah, well she's your daughter!
Arthur Rose : And I love her! Ain't never gonna do nothin' to harm her.
Homer Wells : She's pregnant, you know that? She's pregnant.
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Homer Wells : [giving back an X-ray that Dr. Larch gave to him] I don't need this. I know about my condition.
Dr. Wilbur Larch : It's your heart. You ought to take it with you.
