Barton Fink (1991)

John Goodman: Charlie Meadows

Photos 

Quotes 

• Charlie Meadows : Look upon me! I'll show you the life of the mind!

• Charlie Meadows : You think I made your life hell? Take a look around this dump. You're just a tourist with a typewriter, Barton. I live here.

• Charlie Meadows : What a day. Felt like I couldn't sell ice water in the Sahara.

• Charlie Meadows : I could tell you stories to curl your hair, but it looks like you've already heard 'em.

• Charlie Meadows : And I could tell you some stories...

  Barton Fink : Sure you could and yet many writers do everything in their power to insulate themselves from the common man, from where they live, from where they trade, from where they fight and love and converse and... and... So naturally their work suffers and regresses into empty formalism and... well, I'm spouting off again, but to put it in your language, the theatre becomes as phony as a three-dollar bill.

  Charlie Meadows : Well, I guess that's a tragedy right there.

• Barton Fink : Who cares about the fifth Earl of Bathsdrop and Lady Higgenbottom and... and... who killed Nigel Grinchgibbons?

  Charlie Meadows : I can feel my butt gettin' sore already!

• Charlie Meadows : I sure do forget myself sometimes.

• Charlie Meadows : I pulled off early today. Took your advice, went to a doctor about this ear. He says "You have an ear infection, ten dollars please." So I says "I told you I had an ear infection, you give me ten dollars!" Well, that started an argument.

• [after Mundt has killed two officers and supernaturally lit the hallways on fire, he returns back to Barton's room now as Charlie; as he enters, he puts the shotgun up on the door frame] 

  Charlie Meadows : Barton. Brother, is it hot. How you been, buddy?

  [Barton's too terrified to speak] 

  Charlie Meadows : Well, don't go looking at me like that. It's just me... Charlie.

  Barton Fink : I hear these days it's Mundt. Madman Mundt.

  Charlie Meadows : Jesus, people can be cruel. If it's not my build, it's my personality.

  [beat] 

  Charlie Meadows : They say I'm a madman, Bart, but I'm not mad at anyone. Honest, I'm not. Most guys I just feel sorry for. It tears me up inside to think about what they're going through, how trapped they are. I understand it. I feel for them. So I try and help them out.

  [dabs at his sweating face with a handkerchief] 

  Charlie Meadows : Jesus.

  Barton Fink : Yeah.

  Charlie Meadows : Yeah. I know what it feels like when things get all balled up at the head office. They put you though Hell, Barton. So I help people out. I just wish someone would do as much for me.

  [dabs again at his sweating face] 

  Charlie Meadows : Jesus, it's hot. Sometimes it gets so hot, I want to crawl right out of my skin.

  Barton Fink : But, Charlie, why me? Why --?

  Charlie Meadows : [as Mundt]  Because you DON'T LISTEN!

  [reverts back to Charlie persona] 

  Charlie Meadows : Jesus. I'm dripping again.

  [dabs at himself again] 

  Charlie Meadows : Come on, Barton. You think you know pain? You think I made your life Hell? Look around this dump. You're just a tourist with a typewriter. I *live* here. Don't you understand that? And you come into my home... and you complain... that I'm making too much noise.

  Barton Fink : I'm sorry.

  Charlie Meadows : Don't be. I'll be in the next door if you need me.

  [starts to leave] 

  Charlie Meadows : Oh... I dropped in on your folks in New York. And Uncle Maury. Good people. By the way, that package I gave you? I lied. It isn't mine.

• Charlie Meadows : Heil Hitler.

• Charlie Meadows : Hell, you've got it made writing for the pictures, beating out that competition, and me being patronizing! Is the egg showing or what?

• Charlie Meadows : The doctor, what's he gonna tell me? Can't trade my head in for a new one.

• Charlie Meadows : Beery wrestling picture? Could be a pip, could be a pip.

• Charlie Meadows : Sometimes it gets so hot I want to crawl right out of my skin.

• Charlie Meadows : Yeah... Ladies do ask for attention. In my experience, they pretend to give it, but it's generally a smokescreen for demanding it back with interest.

• Charlie Meadows : Barton did you have

  [whispers] 

  Charlie Meadows : sexual intercourse?

  [Barton is silent] 

  Charlie Meadows : Damn, they can tell that...

• Charlie Meadows : Well, I could really tell you some stories.

• Charlie Meadows : Listen to me belly achin', like my problems add up to a hill of beans.

• Barton Fink : I guess this all sounds pretty fatuous to you?

  Charlie Meadows : No, it's damned interesting.