Mark David Chapman Quotes in Chapter 27 (2007)

John Lennon: [Signing an album for Mark David Chapman] Is that all?

Mark David Chapman: [Stunned and shaky] Yeah. Thanks.

John Lennon: You sure? That's all?

Mark David Chapman: Yes. That's all. Thanks John.

John Lennon: You're welcome.

[Turns and leaves]

Mark David Chapman: [whispering into the phone] I am gonna kill John Lennon.

[first lines]

Mark David Chapman: I believe in Holden Caulfield. And in the book, and what he was saying, what he was saying to a lost generation of phony people.

Mark David Chapman: [Ordering a prostitute] I'll tip her well if she doesn't talk.

Mark David Chapman: [to Cabbie] Take me somewhere nice. Not too expensive, just nice.

Mark David Chapman: I could feel it in my bones, that I'd never see this hotel room again.

Mark David Chapman: I knew I was gonna do something big, I just didn't know if it was good or bad.

Mark David Chapman: [Shaking five-year-old Sean Lennon's hand] I flew all the way across the ocean from Hawaii, and it is an honour to meet you Mr. Lennon.

Mark David Chapman: Hey John!

[Two loud pops are heard and Yoko stars screaming]

Mark David Chapman: Everyone needs something, to find something. Everyone is cracked and broken. You have to find something to fix you, to give you what you need, to take you away and make you whole.

Mark David Chapman: You like rock & roll?

Cabbie #2: Yeah.

Mark David Chapman: You like the Beatles?

Cabbie #2: Sure I do.

Jude: We were going to see a movie, wanna come?

Mark David Chapman: [Snorts with laughter] No. I can't stand the movies. They're just so phony.

Mark David Chapman: Good morning, do you know if John Lennon is coming out today? I... I got his new album, and I was hoping to get his autograph.

Second Doorman: I can't help you.

Mark David Chapman: [after a pause] Look, I understand, I know how it is, but I've been waiting for two days already, and it's just... I really want to meet him.

Second Doorman: The thing is I'm not the regular doorman here, so I don't know much about John Lennon.

Mark David Chapman: I knew it. I knew it, I knew it was something like that. Hah!

[repeated line]

Mark David Chapman: This is not a coincidence.

Mark David Chapman: [Staring at himself in the mirror] I *am* Holden.

Mark David Chapman: You were taking pictures.

Paul: Right here.

Mark David Chapman: Did you take one of me and John? Did you? *Did you*?

Paul: I think I might have.

Mark David Chapman: Oh my God. Oh my God. I'd do anything for that picture. I'll pay you fifty dollars for it.

Paul: Okay man, relax.

Jude: The human mind. The human mind is an incredible thing. Once its mind's made up, it can do anything.

Jude: [Referring to Hawaii] Then maybe I'll go.

Mark David Chapman: No no not maybe, not maybe. You've got to decide in your mind that you will.

Mark David Chapman: [narration] I'm just going to tell you about what happened to me right around last Christmas. Those three days in New York City.

Mark David Chapman: Hey, listen. You know those ducks? The ones in Central Park.

Cabbie: Huh?

Mark David Chapman: The ducks. The ones that swim around that lake in Central Park. Do you know it?

Cabbie: You wanna go there?

Mark David Chapman: No, no.

[pauses]

Mark David Chapman: Well yeah, maybe I will. It's just in the winter, when the lake freezes, where do they go?

Cabbie: What are you saying?

Mark David Chapman: What happens to them? To the ducks. Where do they go? Where are they now?

Cabbie: You gotta be kidding me, right?

[mumbles to himself]

Cabbie: Alright buddy, so where do you want me to take you? For real.

Mark David Chapman: [narration] Now, I didn't know it at the time, but the whole goddamn place was full of perverts and morons. It depressed the hell out of me. It really did.

Mark David Chapman: [narration] No one in the world knew what was going on in that room. What was happening to me.

Mark David Chapman: [narration] I waited, and I waited, for what felt like forever. But nothing happened. No one came. I thought about waiting for that girl, the fan. But I knew she wouldn't come back. No one ever does anything they say they will. And it was so cold. It was scary. I felt like I was disappearing every time I crossed the street.

Jude: Hey, you! We were going to go see a movie later. Hello? Do you want to come?

Mark David Chapman: What?

Jude: We were going to go see a movie later. Do you want to come?

Mark David Chapman: [scoffs] Uh, no. No. I hate the movies. They're phony. So goddamn phony. I mean, look at the actors, they're always clutching their foreheads and breathing deep. It's like they know they're acting and they know how good they are, and goddamn it they're gonna show you. I can't stand it. It drives me insane. Drives me absolutely insane, if you wanna know the truth.

Jude: [Jeri laughs] Okay.

Mark David Chapman: I know, I can take you gals to dinner. I mean, if you want. You like Japanese food? I've been to Japan. I've been all over the world.

Jude: Okay!

Mark David Chapman: Great, it's settled then. I'll take you gals to dinner at a Japanese food restaurant. My treat.

Jude: Alright.

Mark David Chapman: Bye-bye. Don't forget.

Mark David Chapman: I'm too vulnerable for a world full of pain, and lies, and phoniness.

Mark David Chapman: [narration] Help me... devil. Kill them. Go over there and shoot them.

Gloria: [on the phone] Hey, is that you?

Mark David Chapman: Hi.

Gloria: Hey.

Mark David Chapman: I know I said I wasn't gonna call, but uh... well, you know me. I'm always changing my plans.

Gloria: It's okay. I'm glad you called. Really glad.

Mark David Chapman: You sound like you're doing okay.

Gloria: I am. I'm okay. I finished your book.

Mark David Chapman: Very good. Did you like it?

Gloria: It was good. It was really good. It was very sweet, and sad. Reminds me of you. The way your mind works.

Mark David Chapman: I like it, too. How was your party? The one that you were going to, on Saturday night?

Gloria: It was fun.

Mark David Chapman: I'm sorry I didn't wish you a happy party. I just wasn't thinking about things like that before I left.

Gloria: It's okay. I know. I know you. You're my husband.

Mark David Chapman: [fighting tears] It's getting so late here. I just can't seem to get to sleep!

Gloria: Well, I just got into bed and I'm reading my bible. Maybe you should try working on your problems one at a time. Maybe the first one should be getting back with Christ again. And after that you can just ask him for His help with the others.

[pause]

Gloria: Hello?

Mark David Chapman: Yes, I agree. My little bible is on the nightstand right now.

Gloria: Good. That's good.

Mark David Chapman: Do you remember what I told you the night before I left?

Gloria: Sort of, I do. I was asleep.

Mark David Chapman: I told you that I loved you. I love you very much. More than anyone else.

Gloria: I love you, too.

Mark David Chapman: You're my gemstone.

[crying]

Mark David Chapman: Goodbye, Gloria.

Gloria: Okay, okay. Goodbye. I love you.

Mark David Chapman: [whispers after a long pause] I'm going to kill John Lennon.

Mark David Chapman: [narration] This isn't like last time. Something's going to happen.

Mark David Chapman: You don't have to be nervous. I'm not a weirdo. I just, uh... I wanted to be in the company of a woman tonight. I think tomorrow will be a very rough day for me.

[walks closer]

Mark David Chapman: You want a massage?

[pause]

Mark David Chapman: Take off your dress and get into bed.

Prostitute: Can... can we put on the radio?

Mark David Chapman: [after sex] I like your dress. I like the color.

[narration]

Mark David Chapman: Some things are hard to remember. I'm thinking now when the woman left, I just wanted to kill myself. I thought about just throwing myself out the goddamn window.

Jude: The other night. You know, Jeri and I were waiting for you. And then, she wanted to go, but I wanted to stay. And then I wanted to go, and we were gonna go, and then as we were leaving a cab pulled up... and it was John! Just John. Anyway, he talked to us for a bit and Jeri bummed one of his cigarettes. It was great!

Mark David Chapman: I've read they're French.

Jude: So, do you like New York? I guess that's a no?

Mark David Chapman: Oh, no. No, no, no, no, no. It's okay. It's just, I mean... kind of dirty. Sometimes. It's nothing like Hawaii. Hawaii is amazing.

Jude: I'll bet.

Mark David Chapman: Hawaii changed my life. It really did. When I first got out there, I was... you know, I thought I was a dud. Hawaii saved my life. It saved my life! It did. It really, really, did.

Jude: I'd really like to go there sometime. But I don't think...

Mark David Chapman: [interrupts] No, no, no. Don't ever say that! Don't ever say anything like that.

Jude: What?

Mark David Chapman: You can do anything. If you set your mind to it, you can do anything! The human mind is an incredible thing. Once its mind is made up, it can do anything.

Jude: Maybe I'll go.

Mark David Chapman: Not maybe. No, not maybe. You've got to decide in your mind that you will.

Jude: Okay, I will.

Mark David Chapman: You've got to say it. You've got to know it. Say it.

Jude: Someday I will go to Hawaii.

Mark David Chapman: Very good. It's like I told my mother before I left, I knew I was gonna do something big. I just didn't know if it was gonna be good or bad.

Jude: What do you mean by that?

Mark David Chapman: [to Jude] You should remember me. You should.

John Lennon: You got a pen? Thanks.

[signs album]

John Lennon: Is that all you want?

Mark David Chapman: Yeah. Thanks.

John Lennon: You sure? That's all?

Mark David Chapman: Yeah, that's all. Thanks, John.

John Lennon: You're welcome.

Mark David Chapman: [inner monologue] That was really him. He spoke to me! You know he wasn't real.

Jude: This is my friend. He's a Beatles fan from Hawaii.

Paul: Oh, hey. Hawaii. Cool man. How's it hanging? Paul.

Jude: Paul's a photographer.

Paul: You trying to catch somebody?

Mark David Chapman: That fellow over there is John Lennon's assistant.

Paul: Oh, Freddy. He's, uh, you should meet him. Yeah.

Mark David Chapman: I'm just here to get John Lennon's autograph.

Jude: So, you gonna do any touristy stuff?

Mark David Chapman: [chuckles] Oh, no. No, no, no. I'm not gonna do that. No.

Paul: Well, do you know why they call this building the Dakota? Because it was first built in the 1800s. There was nothing up here. it was just farm, and they were like well, if you lives up here you might as well be living out in Dakota. I don't even think Dakota was South or North Dakota yet. It was just like, a territory. They also shot Rosemary's Baby here.

Mark David Chapman: The movie?

Paul: No the baby.

[pause]

Paul: Yeah, the movie. They shot it here in the Dakota.

Mark David Chapman: Oh, wow. Really?

Jude: Thought you didn't like movies?

Mark David Chapman: No, some I like. Some are okay. The Wizard of Oz is wonderful. Rosemary's Baby is pretty good, I guess. It's not too phony.

Jude: I didn't like that movie.

Paul: Why? Because it says everyone who lives in the Dakota worships Satan?

Jude: Well, yes. Also because it's very slow moving. Nothing happens until the end.

Paul: Yeah, but Jude... that's Polanski!

Mark David Chapman: [interrupts] Wait a minute... that's the guy. Charles Manson killed his wife. Right?

Jude: Sharon Tate.

Paul: Yeah, she was pregnant too.

Jude: And beautiful.

Mark David Chapman: Helter Skelter. John Lennon lives in a building where a film about Satan coming to Earth, where a director's wife and child were killed because of a song that John Lennon... oh my God. This is not a coincidence. Today's the day. Today is the day. No coincidence.

Mark David Chapman: [inner monologue] I can see it. He was sitting on the sofa, and knowing what almost happened. Knowing that you could have done it. Now, you do it! Do it, you liar.

[talking to himself]

Mark David Chapman: You had your album signed, just go. Get in the next taxi and just go, go, go, go, go!

[inner monologue]

Mark David Chapman: Don't do it! You liar!

[to himself]

Mark David Chapman: That's not what we're here for! He signed your record, and he was nice. Put the date on it and everything. He was kind. But I wanna kill him! He's mine. I want him.

[inner monologue]

Mark David Chapman: Help me, devil. Give me the power. I have to do it. You have to do it, have to, have to, have to. I want to.

[to himself]

Mark David Chapman: God, no! No, no, no, no. You're nobody! You're nothing! He wasn't phony. Just get in the taxi and go home. You got your autograph. Go home and frame it. Put it on the wall, put it on the wall!

[inner monologue]

Mark David Chapman: You coward. You phony!

[to himself]

Mark David Chapman: Don't listen to them. There's no place like home. Go home, go home.

[inner monologue]

Mark David Chapman: The phony must die, says the catcher in the rye.

[to himself]

Mark David Chapman: I will do it. If you give me the opportunity, I will do it.

Paul: You don't sound like you're from Hawaii.

Mark David Chapman: [inner monologue] What? He knows. Get him!

[to Paul]

Mark David Chapman: Why would you ask me that?

Paul: Hey, take it easy. I was only asking.

Mark David Chapman: Why would you ask me something like that? Like that!

Paul: You don't sound like you're from Hawaii.

Mark David Chapman: [yelling] Why would you say that!

Paul: Hey, man! Forget it! It's just a question, man!

Mark David Chapman: [to Sean Lennon] I flew all the way across the ocean from Hawaii, and it's an honor to meet you, Mr. Lennon. You better take care of that runny nose. You wouldn't want to get sick and miss Christmas.

Jude: Well, I hope you get your record signed. And I hope you listen to it.

Mark David Chapman: You're not gonna leave yet, are you? We haven't even seen John.

Jude: Yeah, I know. But it was good seeing you again. I gotta go.

Mark David Chapman: Thanks, but you should stay.

Jude: I'd love to, but I can't.

Mark David Chapman: [follows Jude] Then stay.

Jude: No, I'm tired. I really should go home.

Mark David Chapman: No, wait. Just a little bit longer. I know he's gonna come out, I know it. I know it, I know it!

Jude: Maybe some other time.

Mark David Chapman: [keeps following Jude] But, I know he's gonna come out. He's got to, you know?

Jude: I'm sorry. I can't. Good luck!

Mark David Chapman: Please? Wait.

[Jude keeps walking]

Mark David Chapman: I said wait!

[inner monologue]

Mark David Chapman: It's over.

Mark David Chapman: [narration] That's all I wanna tell you about. I could tell you about how they took me down to the police station, and paraded me in front of the media and all. And how they put me in this goddamn place, and how things got really crazy for a while, but I'm not interested in any of that stuff anymore. It's not important. They keep asking me if I really think I am the catcher in the rye. It's such a stupid question. It's dumb, I swear to God it is. I know no matter what anybody says, I have the strength and knowing the paragraphs and sentences of that book were flowing through my brain, and entering my blood... influencing my thoughts, my actions. My very soul was breathing between the pages of The Catcher in the Rye. I was there for three days, and it was a Monday pretty near Christmas in New York City. And now I'm here. Sitting right here. Talking to you.

Mark David Chapman: I'll bet you guys are waiting for somebody, huh? Hey, do you know... is he home?

Jude: I don't know. He's somewhere in New York City.

Mark David Chapman: [excited] Oh my God! I can't believe I'm standing right here!

Jude: You are!

Mark David Chapman: You've gotta understand, I've been a Beatles fan since I was a kid, and John is... was the genius behind them.

Jude: Do you like his new album?

Mark David Chapman: He has a new album?

Jude: Yeah, silly!

Mark David Chapman: Oh no, wait. I read about that. It's, um, double...

Jeri: Double Fantasy.

Mark David Chapman: Double Fantasy!

Jude: It's amazing. It's really real.

Jeri: It's flawless, really. Flawless.

Mark David Chapman: I know. I came all the way from Hawaii just to get his autograph.

Jude: You know, you should buy it. You should buy it and ask John to sign it.