The Iron Giant (1999)

Harry Connick Jr.: Dean McCoppin

Photos 

Quotes 

• Dean McCoppin : Look, it's none of my business, but who cares what these creeps think of you? They don't make you what you are, you do. You are who you choose to be.

• Hogarth Hughes : [talking very fast, on caffeine]  So she moved me up a grade 'cause I wasn't fitting in, so now I'm even more not fitting in. I was getting good grades, you know, like all A's. So my mom says, "You need stimulation," and I go, "No, I'm stimulated enough right now."

  Dean McCoppin : That's for sure.

  Hogarth Hughes : So she says, "Uh-uh, You don't have a challenge, you need a challenge." So now I'm challenged, all right- I'm challenged to hold on to my lunch money because of all the big mooses who wanna pound me, 'cause they think I'm a shrimpy dork who thinks he's smarter than them! But I don't think I'm smarter, I just do the stupid homework! If everyone else JUST DID THE STUPID HOMEWORK, they could move up a grade and get pounded, too! Is there anymore coffee?

• Dean McCoppin : Get back! I said get back! I mean it!

  The Iron Giant : No. Stop. Why?

  Hogarth Hughes : It was an accident. He's our friend.

  Dean McCoppin : He's a piece of hardware, Hogarth. Why did you think the army was here? He's a weapon, a big... big gun that walks.

  The Iron Giant : I... I not gun.

  Dean McCoppin : Yeah? Then what's that?

  [Points at huge hole the Giant's ray left on a bus] 

  Dean McCoppin : You almost did that to Hogarth!

  The Iron Giant : No!

  [Runs away] 

  Hogarth Hughes : Wait!

  [Runs after the Giant] 

  Dean McCoppin : Hogarth!

  Hogarth Hughes : Come back!

  Dean McCoppin : [sees the toy gun Hogarth left on the ground]  It was being defensive. He reacted to the gun.

• [the Iron Giant is eating one of Dean's sculptures] 

  Dean McCoppin : There are two kinds of metal in this yard: scrap and art. If you gotta eat one of them, eat the scrap. What you currently have - IN YOUR MOUTH! - is ART.

• Earl Stutz : I'm telling the truth, dang it! It came from outer space. I saw it! And it was headed toward land. I called the government in Washington. Maybe it was a sputnik, or... or an invader from Mars. That's what it is, an invader from Mars! It was a spaceship of some kind. An unidentified flying object...

  Man : Unidentified? Knowing you, Earl, I'd say it was either whiskey or beer.

  [others laugh] 

  Dean McCoppin : Hey! I saw it too.

  Man : I rest my case.

  [others laugh] 

  Hogarth Hughes : I believe you. What if it is Sputnik, or a flying saucer from Mars? I bet we could find it.

  Dean McCoppin : Sorry, kid. I didn't really see anything. But if we don't stick up for the kooks, who will?

• Hogarth Hughes : Hey, Dean! Watch this!

  Dean McCoppin : All right, we're watching.

  Hogarth Hughes : This one's for professionals only! Banzai!

  [dives into lake, starts shivering] 

  Hogarth Hughes : Come on in! The water's... great.

  Dean McCoppin : No, thanks.

  Hogarth Hughes : You... weenie!

  [to the Giant] 

  Hogarth Hughes : Come on in. It's really, really refreshing.

  [the Giant walks away] 

  Hogarth Hughes : What? You too? You... big baby!

  The Iron Giant : [the sound of the Giant running is heard; suddenly he jumps into the water]  Banzai!

• Dean McCoppin : You came here just in time. This rich cat, some industrialist wanted him for the lobby of his company. Whipped out his checkbook right on the spot. I said, "You get him for the rest of your life, but, what, I have to give him up the minute I give birth? Give me time to cut the umbilical, man."

• Dean McCoppin : Sorry about the crowbar, kid. You'd be surprised how many people want to steal scrap. But, man, once I make it into art, I can't give it away. I mean, what am I? A junkman who makes art or an artist who sells junk? You tell me.

• Dean McCoppin : Oh, hey, I know you. Squirrel boy.

  Hogarth Hughes : Uh, Hogarth.

  Dean McCoppin : By night known as Hogarth.

• Dean McCoppin : I'm gonna have coffee. What do you want, some milk, or... what? Milk?

  Hogarth Hughes : Coffee's fine.

  [Dean looks at Hogarth skeptically] 

  Hogarth Hughes : Yeah, I drink it. I'm hip.

  Dean McCoppin : I dunno. This is espresso, you know? It's like Coffee-zilla.

  Hogarth Hughes : I said I'm hip.

• [a huge wave has pushed Dean into the middle of a nearby road] 

  Truck Driver : Hey!

  Dean McCoppin : Yeah?

  Truck Driver : You're right in the middle of the road!

  Dean McCoppin : YEAH?

  Truck Driver : All right.

  [drives off] 

  Dean McCoppin : I think that's enough fun for one day.

• Dean McCoppin : Found your pet.

  Hogarth Hughes : Where?

  Dean McCoppin : It's up my leg, man. Squirrel's in my pants, Hogarth, and it's climbing its way out of here.

  Hogarth Hughes : Don't wig out.

  Dean McCoppin : Okay, it's heading north now. I'm sorry, kid.

  [to the people in the restaurant] 

  Dean McCoppin : Excuse me! I'd like to apologize to everyone in advance for this.

  [zips down his fly to let the squirrel out, which cause a loud commotion] 

  Dean McCoppin : Check, please.

• Dean McCoppin : Don't shoot! There's a kid in his hand! Kent, he only acts defensively. If you don't shoot, he's harmless. You gotta tell the general.

  Kent Mansley : This is your fault, beatnik. If you haven't interfered...

  Dean McCoppin : Will you just listen? Tell the general to stop. He's got the kid with him.

  Kent Mansley : I'll take care of it.

  [Dean leaves; Kent goes over to General Rogard] 

  Kent Mansley : He said the monster has killed a kid. Sir, we must stop it at all costs.

  General Rogard : [On walkie-talkie]  Go to Code Red! Repeat, Code Red!

• [Dean is trying to convince the General of the Giant's true nature] 

  General Rogard : [Shocked]  What are you saying, he's friendly?

  Dean McCoppin : Yes! Attacking him is triggering a defense mechanism.

  Kent Mansley : Don't listen to him, General! Destroy the monster while we still have a chance!

  [the Giant approaches in the mist as the soldiers ready their weapons] 

  Dean McCoppin : General, you shoot now and the whole thing starts all over again.

  Kent Mansley : Stop it *now*, General! Our future's at stake!

  Soldier : Orders, sir?

  Dean McCoppin : Which is why you have got to stop, General!

  Soldier : It's getting closer! Orders, sir?

  Hogarth Hughes : [in the Giant's hand, emerging from the mist]  Don't shoot! Don't shoot!

  Annie Hughes : Hogarth!

  General Rogard : Hold your fire! The boy's alive?

  Kent Mansley : [now almost completely crazed]  It's a trick! Launch the missile!

  General Rogard : Are you mad, Mansley? All units, stand down!

  [on walkie talkie] 

  General Rogard : Rogard to Nautilus. Come in, Nautilus.

  Nautilus Captain : [over walkie talkie]  This is Nautilus, standing by.

  [Kent looks up to see the Giant glaring at him. Finally having lost all reason, Kent grabs the walkie talkie out of the General's hands and screams...] 

  Kent Mansley : LAUNCH THE MISSILE NOW!

  [With a flip of a switch, the Nautilus fires off one of its atomic missiles into the sky] 

• Hogarth Hughes : Hey, I thought you were in trouble. I had this weird guy following me around, it took me hours to shake him, I kill myself getting out here, and you have him doing... arts and crafts.

  Dean McCoppin : You have a problem with arts and crafts, little man?

  Hogarth Hughes : He's a giant robot. It's a little undignified.

  Dean McCoppin : It is? Well then, smart guy, what would you have him do?

• Dean McCoppin : Thanks for the scrap, Floyd. I'm sorry I can't pay you more, but it's got... it's got this large "bite" out of it.

  Floyd Turbeaux : That's why I'm selling it. It's got a large bite out of it.

  Dean McCoppin : Yeah, right. What could have done this?

  Earl Stutz : I told you what.

  Dean McCoppin : Oh, yeah. Strange invaders.

  Earl Stutz : Thanks for believin' me. I really did call the government. They're sending someone over to take care of the whole thing.

  Dean McCoppin : Jeez, Earl, you really are crazy. I mean, who in the hell would the government send?

• Dean McCoppin : You'll never catch up with him on foot, kid.