James Keller Quotes in The Miracle Worker (1962)

James Keller: Finding out if she's ticklish? She is. What is it, a game?

Annie Sullivan: An alphabet.

James Keller: Alphabet?

Annie Sullivan: [finger-spelling to Helen] For the deaf.

Annie Sullivan: [after Helen finger-spells back to her] Oh, how bright she is!

James Keller: You think she knows what she's doing? She's a monkey. She imitates everything.

Annie Sullivan: Yes, she's a bright little monkey, all right!

James Keller: She wants her doll back.

Annie Sullivan: After she spells it.

James Keller: Spells? She doesn't know the thing has a name, even.

Annie Sullivan: Of course not. Who expects her to now? I just want her fingers to learn the letters.

James Keller: She doesn't seem to like that alphabet very much, Miss Sullivan. Did you invent it yourself?

Annie Sullivan: Spanish monks under a vow of silence, which I wish you'd take!

James Keller: How old was he, your brother Jimmy?

Annie Sullivan: Helen's age.

James Keller: How did he die?

Annie Sullivan: He had a tubercular hip. We made quite a pair, me blind and him with his crutch.

James Keller: When did he die?

Annie Sullivan: Eleven years ago this May.

James Keller: And you've had no one to dream about since?

Annie Sullivan: No, one's enough.

James Keller: You don't let go of things easily, do you? You'd be quite a handsome girl if it weren't for your eyes. No one's told you?

Annie Sullivan: Everyone. You'd be quite a gentleman if it weren't for your manners.

James Keller: You wouldn't say that if you didn't have your glasses on. How will you win her hand now, in this place?

Annie Sullivan: I don't know. I lost my temper, and here we are. I'm counting on her. That little head is dying to know.

James Keller: Sooner or later, we all give up, don't we?

Annie Sullivan: Maybe you all do, but it's my idea of the original sin.

James Keller: What is?

Annie Sullivan: Giving up!

James Keller: Miss Sullivan? I'm James Keller.

Annie Sullivan: James? I had a brother Jimmy. Are you Helen's?

James Keller: I'm only half a brother. You'll be her governess?

Annie Sullivan: Well, I'll try.

James Keller: You look like half a governess.

James Keller: Maybe you ought to put her away, Father.

Kate Keller: What?

James Keller: Some asylum. It's the kindest thing.

Aunt Ev: Why, she's your sister, James!

James Keller: Half-sister. Half mentally defective. She can't even keep herself clean. It's not pleasant to see her about all the time.

Kate Keller: Do you dare complain about what you can see?

James Keller: Nothing I say is right.

Kate Keller: Why say anything?