Jack Parker Quotes in Bite the Bullet (1975)

Miss Jones: For a family who don't know a jackass from a mule, you sure know a lot about the West.

Jack Parker: We don't have to know about it. We, ah, we own it.

Reporter: To the West!

Norfolk: Awesome and inspiring.

Jack Parker: I don't see what's so inspiring about a flash flood or a blizzard, or a landslide or a sandstorm or a dust storm or any sudden disaster, personal or financial. Today the desert will broil you royal, tomorrow the mountain will freeze you stiff. That's your West: violent, treacherous. Every prairie dog hole is a gold mine, every molehill is a mountain, every creek is a river and everybody you meet is a liar.

Miss Jones: When you call me that smile, stranger.

Nicky: Where were you born?

Jack Parker: Blackpool.

Nicky: Why Blackpool?

Jack Parker: I wanted to be near to my mother.

Nicky: Have you lived in Blackpool all your life?

Jack Parker: Not yet.

Steve Campbell: Tell me, of this list, which do you think is the odd one out? House... school... dog... cinema... church.

Jack Parker: [after some thought] Dog.

Steve Campbell: [smiles] Good!

Jack Parker: 'Cause a dog wouldn't go to the cinema, would it?

Steve Campbell: [stares at Jack for a bit, then composes himself] Which of *these* is the odd one out... Malice... jealousy... greed... envy... and... *kindness*.

Jack Parker: [triumphantly] 'And'!

Les Morgan: Look at her. Look at her. She's not even listening to me. Well, I know how to wake her up.

[Strikes a match and throws it at Nancy. She puts up a hand to protect herself]

Jack Parker: Hey, what are you doing?

Les Morgan: This is just a little game we play. She likes it.

[Tosses another lit match that hits Nancy. She winces]

Jack Parker: Oh, yeah? Well *I* don't like it!

Les Morgan: Yeah? Well, Nancy does. Tell him. Tell him how much you like it.

[Throws a third match at Nancy. She flinches when it hits her arm]

Jack Parker: [rising to his feet] Quit it!

Les Morgan: Tell him to mind his own business.

Nancy Morgan: [looks up at Jack, cautiously] Mind your own business, Jack.

Jack Parker: [about Les] You could leave him.

Nancy Morgan: He'd find me.

Jack Parker: Change your name.

[Nancy laughs]

Jack Parker: Go on, pick one! Pick a new name. Pick a name, any name. Come on.

Nancy Morgan: Oh... uh. I can't think of any.

Jack Parker: How about Laura?

Nancy Morgan: [laughs] Oh, God! That's worse than the one I've got!

Jack Parker: Hey, what's wrong with your name? It's beautiful just like you are. You're beautiful.

[cradles her face in his hands. Nancy suddenly bursts into tears]

Jack Parker: Nancy, what's wrong?

Nancy Morgan: [sobbing] I can't go anywhere! I don't want to go anywhere! I don't wanna go home!

Jack Parker: Okay, you don't have to!

Nancy Morgan: [crying more and more hysterically] I don't wanna go home! I don't wanna go home! I don't wanna go home!