Maggie Nelson Quotes in Angels in the Outfield (1994)

Maggie Nelson: [stands] Um, excuse me. I'd like to say something on behalf of George Knox.

Hank Murphy: What's your name? What's your business here?

Maggie Nelson: My name is Maggie Nelson. I take care of foster kids. One of these boys is the child who can see angels. He could stand up right now and tell you what's going on and I'd know you'd just laugh at him. But, when a professional football player drops to one knee to thank God for making a touchdown, nobody laughs at that. Or when a pitcher crosses himself before going to the mound, no one laughs at that either. It's like your saying it's okay to believe in God, but it's not okay to believe in angels. Now, I thought that they were on the same team.

Hank Murphy: Is it your belief, ma'am, that angels play baseball?

Maggie Nelson: Since the all-star break, yes. We all need someone to believe in. Every child I have ever looked after has someone: an angel. You've got to have faith. You've got to believe. You have to look inside yourself. The footprints of an angel are love, and where there is love, miraculous things can happen. I've seen it.

[sits]

Mel Clark: [stands] I'd also like to say something. I don't know if there are any angels here other than the twenty-five of us in uniform. But I know there is one thing I won't do: I won't play for anyone but George Knox. I believe in him.

Triscuitt Messmer: [stands] That goes for me, too.

Rest of Angels baseball team, Roger, & J.P.: [stands and nods in agreement]

George Knox: Thank you. All of you.

Maggie Nelson: And for dessert... Jello.

JP: Yay!

Miguel Scott: It's not really Jello, it's cats' brains with food coloring. She kills them at night and feeds it to us to save money.

[JP makes a disgusted face]

Roger Bomman: Shut up, Miguel!

Maggie Nelson: Roger! We do not use those words in this house. And you know I would never put food coloring on my cat brains.

[ruffles Miguel's hair]

Roger Bomman: I've got to ask you something. Do you believe in angels?

Maggie Nelson: What have angels got to do with you being out of bed?

George Knox: You're Roger's mom?

Maggie Nelson: Nope.

George Knox: Aunt? Grandma?

Maggie Nelson: No, we're not related. This is a short-term foster care facility, I run it. Roger is a ward of the state.

George Knox: I see. So Roger, he's got a wild imagination? Always coming up with stories?

Maggie Nelson: No actually, he's very grounded. Truth is most kids who are taken away from their parents by the court system, have a good handle on reality.