Eraserhead (1977)
Jack Nance: Henry Spencer
Photos
Quotes
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Mr. X : Mary usually does the carving but maybe tonight... you'll do it, Henry. All right with you?
Henry Spencer : Of course. I'd be happy to. So I just, uh... I just cut them up like regular chickens?
Mr. X : Sure, just cut them up like regular chickens.
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[the Baby is going into violent convulsions and has broken out in spots]
Henry Spencer : Oh! You ARE sick!
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Mrs. X : Henry, may I speak to you a minute? Over here. Did you and Mary have sexual intercourse?
Henry Spencer : [stammering] Why?
Mrs. X : Did you?
Henry Spencer : Why are you asking me this question?
Mrs. X : I have a very good reason, and now I want you to tell me.
Henry Spencer : I'm, I'm very... I love Mary!
Mrs. X : [interrupting] Henry, I asked you if you and Mary had sexual intercourse!
Henry Spencer : Well, I don't... I don't think that's any of your business!
Mrs. X : [interrupting] Henry!
Henry Spencer : I'm sorry.
Mrs. X : You're in very bad trouble if you won't cooperate...
[nuzzling at his neck]
Henry Spencer : Well, I...
[calls]
Henry Spencer : Mary!
Mary X : [grabbing her away] Mother!
[sobs]
Mrs. X : Answer me!
Henry Spencer : I'm too nervous.
Mrs. X : There's a baby. It's at the hospital.
Mary X : Mom!
Mrs. X : And you're the father.
Henry Spencer : Well, well that's impossible! It's only been...
Mary X : Mother, they're still not sure it is a baby!
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Mr. X : I thought I heard a stranger. We've got chicken tonight. Strangest damn things. They're man-made. Little damn things. Smaller than my fist. But they're new! I'm Bill.
Henry Spencer : Hello. I'm Henry.
Mrs. X : Henry's at LaPelle's Factory.
Mr. X : Oh. Printing's your business, huh? Plumbing's mine. For 30 years. I've seen this neighborhood change from pastures to the hellhole it is now! I put every damn pipe in this neighborhood!
Mary X : Dad!
Mrs. X : Bill!
Mr. X : People think that pipes grow in their homes. But they sure as hell don't! Look at my knees! Look at my knees!
Mrs. X : Bill, please!
Mr. X : Are you hungry?
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[first lines]
Beautiful Girl Across the Hall : Are you Henry?
Henry Spencer : Yes?
Beautiful Girl Across the Hall : A girl named "Mary" called on the payphone in the hallway about an hour ago. She said that she's at her parents' and that you're invited to dinner.
Henry Spencer : Oh, yeah?
[after a long pause]
Henry Spencer : Well... thank you very much.
[Henry enters his apartment, while the girl slowly closes the door to hers]
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Mr. X : Well Henry, what do you know?
Henry Spencer : Oh, I don't know much of anything.
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Mary X : You wouldn't mind marrying me, would you Henry?
Henry Spencer : Well... No.
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Mary X : [to the crying baby] Shut up!
[Baby continues to cry]
Mary X : I can't take it anymore! I'm going home!
Henry Spencer : What are you talking about?
Mary X : All I need is a decent night's sleep!
Henry Spencer : Why don't you just stay home?
Mary X : I'll do what I want to do! And you better take real good care of things while I'm gone!
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Henry Spencer : I work at LaPelle's Factory. I'm a printer.
Mary X : Hen-Henry's very clever at printing.
Mrs. X : Yes, he sounds very clever.
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Beautiful Girl Across the Hall : Where's your wife?
Henry Spencer : She must have gone back to her parents again. I'm not sure.
Beautiful Girl Across the Hall : Can I spend the night here?
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Mrs. X : It's Henry, isn't it?
Henry Spencer : Yes.
[long pause]
Mrs. X : Mary tells me you're a very nice fellow. What do you do?
Henry Spencer : Oh, I'm on vacation.
Mrs. X : What did you do?
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Mary X : You're late, Henry.
Henry Spencer : I didn't know if you wanted me to come or not. Where have you been? You never come around anymore.