Life as a House (2001)

Hayden Christensen: Sam Monroe

Photos 

Quotes 

• Sam : Whats wrong with your back? Do you have to have surgery on it or what? Because those pills you are taking are for a lot of pain. And you seem to be going though them pretty quick, that's all

  George : Your not still taking any,are you?

  Sam : No. But i count them. In a sock isn't exactly new,you know.

  George : I'm having a problem with cancer.

  Sam : I don't know what that means. What kind of problem?

  George : The kind where there isn't any answer.

  Sam : I still don't know what it means.

  George : Sam I wanted us to... You know ,spend a few months together. Here. Sometimes things happen for a reason. Something bad to force something good.

  Sam : So your dying. And you told mom today.

  Sam : fuck you, ok fuck you.

  Sam : You knew you were dying from the start?

  George : We're all dying from the start. I just got pushed to the head of the line.

  Sam : But you lied to me.

  George : I would've lied to myself if i thought I'd believe it.

  Sam : so this whole thing... this whole summer, having me here,was for your sake. You selfish fuck. Having me here trying to get me to like you.

  George : No,Sam I wasn't trying to get you to like me. I was trying to get you to love me.

  Sam : Well,congratulations... Because you fucking pulled it off.

• Sam : How do you become something you're not?

  George : What do you want to become?

  Sam : What I'm not.

  George : What are you now?

  Sam : I'm nothing.

• George : My dad used to play this game... I never really understood what it was until after he was gone...

  Sam : I was holding for somebody else; it wasn't even mine!

  George : THE GAME was to make me smaller than he was. Smaller. Always smaller. No matter what! He could be almost invisible as a human being, but... I still had to be smaller. So that i-if I got good grades in school, then I was a pussy for not playing football, or-or if I... cut my hair for him, it was never short enough. Or if I shaved my head then I looked like a psycho. I never won the game, never! And if he couldn't... make me smaller with words...

  Sam : ...I'll have to pay him back.

  George : Sam... I won't ever hit you. Ever. I don't want you smaller. I want you to be happy and you're not. Not here with me, not home with your mother, not alone, not anywhere. You're what I was most of my life, Sam. I see it in your eyes, in your sleep, in your answer to everything! You're barely alive!

  Sam : [whispers]  I'm not even listening.

• George : Please, take that thumbtack out of your face.

  [grabs hammer] 

  George : Let me just get it out.

  Sam : Why?

  George : Come on.

  Sam : Why?

  George : It bugs me!

  Sam : You snore at night. That really bugs me. Can I take you out?

• Sam : You knew you were dying from the start?

  George : We're all dying from the start. I just got moved to the head of the line.

• Sam : I've been using since I was 12! You're also unbelievably stupid, you know that? You didn't give a shit about anything I did up until now!

  George : Well, I'll apologize for everything but today! Today I give a shit!

• Sam : So this whole thing, this whole Summer having me here was for your sake. You selfish fuck! Having me here trying to get me to like you?

  George : No, Sam, I wasn't trying to get you to like me. I was trying to get you to love me.

  Sam : Well, congratulations... 'cause you fucking pulled it off!

• Sam : Do you have any idea what its like to jack off in an armoire?

• George : I have hated this house from the moment my father put it in my name. Imagine, 29 years of hating what you're living in, hating what you *are*. This is the end of it, Sam. I'm finally building something of my own. Something I can be proud to give you.

  Sam : Don't. I don't want it.

  George : Fine. You can do what you want with it. All I want you to remember is that we built a house together.

  Sam : You didn't build shit. You're just tearing your father down.

  George : That's right. It feels good.

• Sam : [whispering]  I'm not even listening.

• Sam : Why don't you just go and beg some money off my Dad, so you can move into some place decent, with a real kitchen and a real bathroom.

  George : I'd rather sell my nuts to a castrati.

• George : [Sternly]  Go get in the truck.

  Sam : Go fuck yourself!

  George : Listen to me... Listen! I want that thing out of your chin, okay? You got nipple rings, navel rings - those come out, too. And there's no makeup at my house. No glue sniffing, no huffing, no pills, no grass. You've worn out your welcome at this house, Sam. This may well be the worst summer of your entire life, but you've earned it. Now go pick up the suitcase, get in the truck, now!

  Sam : I'll hate you for the rest of my life.

  George : Well, you can't even begin to know how much I hate my father. Think of it as a family tradition!

• Sam : I like how it feels to not feel.

  George : I know the feeling.

• Sam : [George starts to apply sunscreen on Sam's chest]  What are you doing? Don't touch me!

  George : I warned you yesterday.

  Sam : You can't touch me.

• Sam : Hi. Is Alyssa home?

  Colleen : It's really late. What's the matter, Sam?

  Sam : Nothing. My dad's dying. I really need to talk to Alyssa.

  [Colleen lets Sam into the house] 

  Alyssa : Sam, are you ok?

• Sam : [about George]  He's insane.

  Alyssa : You look better without makeup.

  Sam : I can't even take a shower here.

  Alyssa : Come over to my house whenever you want. I'll tell my mom.

  Sam : I might not even stay anyway.

• Alyssa : I'll get your back.

  Sam : No. It's ok. Thanks.

  Alyssa : Have you ever had anyone besides your mom and dad put it on for you?

  [he shakes his head no] 

  Alyssa : It's weird how different it is.

• Sam : I hate turkey.

  George : No, you don't.

  Sam : If I say I do, I do.

• Sam : Thank you for talking about me behind my back - that'll be useful in court.

• Sam : I think there has to be a door between where you cook and where you crap. Even in the bush - tribal people, you know, they have a place for both. Probably it's like a law. God! It's probably in the Bible. It's at least a building code violation.

• Alyssa : Look, I thought I was helping you.

  Sam : It would help me if I could kiss you.

  Alyssa : No. Look I thought we were just friends.

  Sam : Well, what you think you know doesn't necessarily have much to do with reality. I mean I hope I'm not the first one to tell you this.

• George : I'm having a problem with cancer

  Sam : I don't know what that means. What kind of a problem?

  George : The kind where there is no answer

  Sam : I still don't know what that means

• Sam : Why can't you all just die and leave me alone?

• Robin : I wish you'd talk to him. He needs a man.

  Peter Kimball : His father's a man.

  Robin : A man he respects.

  Peter Kimball : He respects nothing.

  Sam : [Sam just then comes into the room]  Thanks for talking about me behind my back. It's useful in court.

• George : Your mom and the boys can come by anytime.

  Sam : What? To check up on me?

  George : I'll be there to check up on you.

  Sam : Why would you be there?

  [he lights a cigarette] 

  George : Well, I live there.

  Sam : You live in Corey's parents cabin in Tahoe?

  George : What are you talking about? Who's Corey?

  Sam : Corey's my friend, I'm going to spend the summer, ok?

  George : No, you're not going anywhere.

  [he takes the cigarette from Sam] 

  George : You're spending the summer with me.

• George : [deleted scene] 

  [George struggles to move the couch out of the house] 

  George : Sam. Sam. Three minutes. Just give me three minutes.

  [puts couch on the ground] 

  George : Never mind. I break my back, that's fine.

  [Sam smokes a cigarette] 

  George : Don't smoke. Sam. I want you to put on some sunscreen.

  [throws bottle of sunscreen] 

  George : You should wear that all over and I want you down here helping me. Now.

  [Sam refuses to get down] 

  George : [George sprays water onto Sam] 

  Sam : It's cold! Fucking asshole.

  George : Works with Guster.

  [Sam climbs down the ladder] 

  George : [George grabs Sam's arm for attention]  You know what else helped Guster? Neutering.