The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)

Luke Wilson: Richie Tenenbaum

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Quotes 

• [in a hospital ward] 

  Chas : Why did you try to kill yourself?

  Ethel : Don't press him right now.

  Richie : I wrote a suicide note.

  Chas : You did?

  Richie : Yeah. Right after I regained consciousness.

  Chas : Can we read it?

  Richie : No.

  Chas : Can you paraphrase it for us?

  Richie : I don't think so.

  Chas : Is it dark?

  Richie : Of course it's dark, it's a suicide note.

• Royal : You know, Richie, this illness, this closeness to death... it's had a profound affect on me. I feel like a different person, I really do.

  Richie : Dad, you were never dying.

  Royal : But I'm going to live.

• Richie : I'm going to kill myself tomorrow.

• Eli : I wish you'd've done this for me when I was a kid.

  Richie : But you didn't have a drug problem then.

  Eli : Yeah, but it still would've meant a lot to me.

• Margot : [about Richie's suicide attempt]  Why'd you do it? Because of me?

  Richie : Yeah, but it's not your fault.

  Margot : You're not going to do it again, are you?

  Richie : I doubt it.

  [Margot starts to cry] 

• [Richie tells his father Royal he's in love with Margot, his adopted sister] 

  Royal : Margot Tenenbaum?

  Richie : Yeah.

  Royal : Well, since when?

  Richie : Since always.

  Royal : Does she know?

  Richie : Uh-huh.

  Royal : Well, what does she feel about that?

  Richie : I think she feels confused.

  Royal : Well, I can understand that, it's probably illegal!

  Richie : I don't think so, we're not related by blood.

  Royal : That's true. It's still frowned upon. But then, what isn't these days, right?

• Richie : I have to tell you something...

  Margot : What's that?

  Richie : I love you.

  Margot : I love you, too.

• Eli : I'm worried about you, Richie.

  Richie : Why?

  Eli : Well, actually, Margot is, for some reason. But I did find it odd when you said you were in love with her. She's married you know.

  Richie : Yeah.

  Eli : And she's your sister.

  Richie : Adopted.

• Peter Bradley : [interviewing Eli Cash on television]  Now, your previous novel...

  Eli : Yes, Wildcat.

  Peter Bradley : Not a success. Why?

  Eli : Well... Wildcat was written in a kind of obsolete vernacular...

  [long pause as he starts to become spaced out] 

  Eli : [whispering]  Wildcat... wild... cat... pow... wildcat...

  [he gets up] 

  Eli : I'm gonna go. I'm taking this off and I'm going. Stepping out.

  Royal : [watching the television]  What the hell kind of way to act is that?

  Richie : He's on drugs.

• Eli : What'd you say?

  Richie : Hmm?

  Eli : What?

  Richie : I didn't say anything.

  Eli : When? Right now?

  [a pause] 

  Eli : I'm sorry, don't listen to me. I'm on mescaline. I've been spaced out all day.

  Richie : Did you say you're on mescaline?

  Eli : I did, indeed. Very much so.

• Richie : Did you tell Margot about that letter I wrote to you?

  Eli : Why? Did she mention it? Yes, I did. Why would have she repeated that, I wonder?

  Richie : Well, I would ask you the same question.

  Eli : Rightly so.

• Royal : First thing I want to do is take you out to see your grandmother, at some point.

  Richie : I haven't been out there since I was 6.

  Margot : I haven't been out there at all, I was never invited.

  Royal : Well, she wasn't your real grandmother, and I never knew how much interest you had, uh, sweetie. Anyway, you're invited now.

  Richie : You know, Rachael's buried out there too.

  Royal : Who?

  Chas : My wife.

  Royal : Oh, that's right, isn't it. Well, we'll have to swing by her grave too.

  [Chas slams his book shut and angrily walks out] 

• Richie : I think he's very lonely. Lonelier than he lets on. Maybe lonelier than he even realizes.

  Ethel : Have you spoken to him about this?

  Richie : Briefly. And he agreed that...

  Chas : I'm sorry, maybe I'm a little confused here. What are you suggesting?

  Richie : That he come here and stay in my room.

  Chas : Are you out of your mind?

  Richie : No. I'm not. Anyway I think he'd be much more comfortable here than at...

  Chas : Who gives a shit?

  Richie : I do.

  Chas : You poor sucker. You poor, washed up papa's boy.

• Royal : So, what do you think of this big old black buck moving in up there?

  Richie : Who?

  Royal : Henry Sherman. You know him?

  Richie : Yeah.

  Royal : Is he worth a damn?

  Richie : I believe so.

• Richie : You dropped some cigarettes.

  Margot : Those aren't mine.

  Richie : They just fell out of your pocket.

• Richie : Read it back to me so far, Pietro.

  Cote d'Ivoire Radio Operator : [speaks with an Italian accent, his words are shown in subtitles]  "Dear Eli, I'm in the middle of the ocean. I haven't left my room in four days. I've never been more lonely in my life, and I think I'm in love with Margot."

  Richie : New paragraph.

• Chas : Looks like you and Dad are back together again, huh.

  Richie : He's your dad too, Chas.

  Chas : No, he's not.

  Richie : Yes, he is.

  Chas : You really hate me, don't you?

  Richie : No. I don't. I love you.

  Chas : Well, I don't know what you think you're gonna get out of this, but believe me, whatever it is, it's not worth it.

  Richie : Chas. I don't want to hurt you. I know what you and the boys have been through. You're my brother and I love you.

  Chas : Stop saying that!

• Richie : And I heard about Eli.

  Margot : I know. Poor Eli. Anyway, we mostly just talked about you.

  Richie : You did?

  Margot : Yeah. I guess that was the attraction, if you know what I mean.

• Richie : Are we still friends?

  Eli : What?

  Richie : Are we?

  Eli : Of course. How can you even ask me that?

  Richie : Doesn't matter.

  Eli : Doesn't matter? It does matter.

  Richie : I heard about you and Margot.

  Eli : [long pause]  I'm sorry.