Sylvia Likens Quotes in An American Crime (2007)

Sylvia Likens: Reverend Bill used to say, "For every situation God always has a plan." I guess I'm still trying to figure out what that plan was.

Sylvia Likens: She sacrificed me to protect her children, and she sacrificed her children to protect herself.

Gertrude Baniszewski: [preparing to write the tattoo onto Sylvia's belly] Ricky... she came back from juvenile! Started stirring up trouble again... Johnny hold her!

Sylvia Likens: No, please, please!

Gertrude Baniszewski: Keep her still!

Marie Baniszewski: If you move, it'll only be messy.

Gertrude Baniszewski: [gives Marie a lighter and a safety pin] Light that.

Sylvia Likens: No! No! No! Please! No! No! Please! Please!

Gertrude Baniszewski: Stop it!

Shirley Baniszewski: You got it right, mama?

Gertrude Baniszewski: Make sure it's hot!

Sylvia Likens: I'm sorry! I'm sorry!

Gertrude Baniszewski: You liar!

Sylvia Likens: Please stop, please no! Please!

[Marie gives Gertrude the safety pin]

Gertrude Baniszewski: You branded my daughters... now I have to brand you.

Ricky Hobbs: [sees her "escaping"] Sylvia.

Sylvia Likens: [sobbing, whimpering and cringing as he comes near her] No, no, please. Please don't, please.

Ricky Hobbs: No, no, no, I'm not gonna hurt you. I swear to God, I promise, I promise. Look, I'm sorry. I didn't know what the hell I was doing, all right? Look, you gotta believe me, please. Please. You wanna get out of here? You wanna go? Let's go.

[helps Sylvia up]

Ricky Hobbs: Come on. You're all right.

[they go to the car and Ricky gets in after helping Sylvia in]

Ricky Hobbs: Where are we going?

Sylvia Likens: [slurred from exhaustion and suffering] I don't know.

Ricky Hobbs: Do you want to go to the police? We can tell them everything.

Sylvia Likens: I gotta get to my mom.

Ricky Hobbs: Where's your mom at?

Sylvia Likens: [sounding close to tears] I think she's in Porridge.

Ricky Hobbs: We're going to Porridge.

Sylvia Likens: [after they've been lashed, Sylvia sits down next to Jenny, hoping to comfort her] Come on, Jenny. It's not like we've never had a spanking before.

[Sylvia puts her hand on her sister's shoulder]

Sylvia Likens: That check's gonna come along, I swear.

[When Jenny doesn't answer, Sylvia puts her lips to her sister's head and strokes her hair]

Stephanie Baniszewski: What was Momma so mad about yesterday?

Sylvia Likens: You heard. I told everyone Paula was a slut.

Stephanie Baniszewski: That's not true, is it?