Fallen Angel (1981 TV Movie)
Richard Masur: Howard Nichols
Quotes
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Howard Nichols : You know, someone once called me a molester.
[scoffs]
Howard Nichols : Molesters force kids, hurt them; I love them. And I don't think love between consenting humans is wrong.
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Howard Nichols : Yes?
Sherry Phillips : Mrs. Krebs, the manager?
[Howard unlatches the chain and opens the door]
Sherry Phillips : [rushes into the apartment, physically attacking Howard in a fit of rage] It was YOU!
Jennifer Phillips : Mommy!
Howard Nichols : [attempting to shield himself from Sherry's hands and fists] Please don't! Don't, please!
Sherry Phillips : You bastard!
[pounds Howard with her fists as he falls to the floor]
Howard Nichols : [trying to shield himself from the blows] Don't! Stop! I was getting her to come home!
Jennifer Phillips : Mommy, stop!
Sherry Phillips : What kind of monster are you? You are not a monster, you are worse!
Howard Nichols : [retreating towards the couch] You don't understand.
Sherry Phillips : Understand? Oh my God, I understand; look at these children! I finally understand!
Howard Nichols : Please, listen...
Sherry Phillips : I listened, all right? Get away from her!
[slaps Howard some more]
Sherry Phillips : God! I saw that window; before, I hoped - I really hoped - that this was your second apartment. I hoped it wasn't you!
Howard Nichols : I love those kids better than their parents! Better than you!
Sherry Phillips : After what you've done to them? Come on, Jennifer.
Howard Nichols : I've taken them places; I bought them things!
Sherry Phillips : You have used them! Let's go, boys.
Howard Nichols : I've given them love!
Sherry Phillips : Love?
[to the boys, insistent]
Sherry Phillips : Let's go!
Howard Nichols : I've given them love!
Sherry Phillips : Love? Oh, my God!
[to Jennifer and the boys]
Sherry Phillips : Go!
Howard Nichols : I never hurt you. Any of you! Don't leave, please; you're the most important things in my life.
[steps into the hall, where Sherry, Jennifer and the boys are making their exit]
Howard Nichols : I love you all very, very, very much!
Sherry Phillips : [sees Jennifer looking back at Howard as he pleads] Come on, honey; let's go!
Howard Nichols : Please don't hurt me!
[watches as they exit the building, then steps back inside the boys' apartment, realizing he'll soon be arrested for what he's done, now on the verge of tears]
Howard Nichols : Please don't say anything.
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Howard Nichols : [trying to convince Jennifer to pose nude for a photo shoot] I won't hurt you; Fred and I, we said we'd never hurt you.
Jennifer Phillips : Howard, I don't want to.
Howard Nichols : Yes, but I want you to. I need your help, I need you very much. Does anyone in the world need you? Your mother? Her boyfriend?
[shakes head]
Howard Nichols : I need you, I want you.
Jennifer Phillips : But it's wrong.
Howard Nichols : Some people think so; I've shown you people who don't. I want you to do it, Angel; if you don't, you'll lose me. I'm all you have.
Jennifer Phillips : [near tears, voice starting to crack] My mom...
Howard Nichols : Have you thought about when they get married? They could send you away. He certainly doesn't want you; who wants to raise someone else's kid?
Jennifer Phillips : Howard, I can't. I like you...
Howard Nichols : No, no, no! You love me, Angel, love me. And I love you! I'm all you have. Help me?
Jennifer Phillips : [sniffling] I want to, but...
Howard Nichols : [taking a more ominous tone] I'd have to send Fred back! I couldn't let you keep him after hurting me.
Jennifer Phillips : [shaking] Fred never hurt any...
Howard Nichols : But you'd hurt me! And you know how they kill dogs in those places. They put them in a chamber; no windows, no air, black. Then they push a button, a small button, that literally explo...
Jennifer Phillips : STOP IT!
[crying]
Howard Nichols : It's up to you, Angel. Only you...
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Howard Nichols : [spotting Jennifer at the rec center] Hi, Angel. What are you doing here?
Jennifer Phillips : Here's all I got.
Howard Nichols : But I thought you were gonna stay home for a few days.
Jennifer Phillips : Mom found out.
Howard Nichols : [frowning] What? How?
Jennifer Phillips : An ad. You know, in one of your dumb magazines?
Howard Nichols : You told her it wasn't you?
Jennifer Phillips : Well yeah, but...
[trails off]
Jennifer Phillips : Look, I just can't stay home now.
[flirtatiously]
Jennifer Phillips : I can stay with you.
Howard Nichols : Oh, no. I'm on my own. People would ask questions.
Jennifer Phillips : [more flirtatiously] Deny. Say no.
Howard Nichols : No, no. No way.
Jennifer Phillips : You got the other kids places. How about me?
[smiles as she seductively runs her finger up and down Howard's chest]
Jennifer Phillips : I'll make it up to you. I am getting older... and better.
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Howard Nichols : [first spots Jennifer, playing pinball at the local arcade] You look exactly like someone who's having fun and wants some more.
Jennifer Phillips : Huh?
Howard Nichols : I'm Howard, or Howie.
[throws a quarter onto the pinball machine]
Howard Nichols : Have fun.
Jennifer Phillips : I don't think that I should...
Howard Nichols : Don't? Never? Can't? Won't? Shouldn't? All bad words. Accept, enjoy: good words. Thanks is a good word, too.
Jennifer Phillips : Thanks.
Howard Nichols : I blew it. Thank you. You: very important word. Parents never think about you, right? Only themselves. Thank you?
Jennifer Phillips : Thank you.
Howard Nichols : Perfect.
[points finger at Jennifer and makes "click" sound]
Howard Nichols : See you around.
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Sherry Phillips : [referring to Jennifer] She's so come out of herself since she's been on your team. You're doing a terrific job!
Howard Nichols : I just treat her, and well, all the kids like people, and care for them honestly. You know, if I do get mad at them, I let them know it, and tell them you only get mad at people you care about. I'm sure you both do that, too.
Frank Dawson : Well, maybe not as good as you, but I try about the same.
Jennifer Phillips : [approaches with a rubber ball] Is this ours, Howie?
Howard Nichols : No, those rubber turkeys are theirs.
[puts arm around Jennifer's shoulder]
Howard Nichols : Hey, you know, if I had a daughter, I'd order up one just like this nut here.
[nuzzles Jennifer close, as she smiles in response]
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Howard Nichols : Were you a love child?
Jennifer Phillips : [looks confused] What's that?
Howard Nichols : Did your folks plan you? Like, uh, "We want Jennifer", and along came Jennifer? Or were you "Oops, oh my God, we got Jennifer", like me?
Jennifer Phillips : You mean like an accident?
Howard Nichols : Well, it doesn't make you any better or worse. Just sort of says how your parents must have felt about you at the beginning.