19 quotes
Reflections on Fate and Loss
Johnny Smith
Bless me"? Do you know what God did for me? He threw an 18-wheeled truck at me and bounced me into nowhere for five years! When I woke up, my girl was gone, my job was gone, my legs are just about useless... Blessed me? God's been a real sport to me!
Exploring the Concept of a Dead Zone
Johnny Smith
I've been tutoring this boy named Stuart. In the vision, I saw him drown. But that's not the point. In the vision, something was missing.
Dr. Sam Weizak
How - how do you mean?
Johnny Smith
It was like... a blank spot, a dead zone.
Dr. Sam Weizak
First of all, tell me, did the boy, in fact, drown?
Johnny Smith
His father wanted him to play hockey. I talked him out of it. The boy's alive.
Dr. Sam Weizak
Ah. Yes. Don't you see how clear it is? Not only can you see the future, you can...
Johnny Smith
I can change it.
Dr. Sam Weizak
You can change it, exactly. Here. Yes, John. That is your... your "dead zone." The possibility of... of altering the outcome of your premonitions. It's fascinating. Let me make a note.
Confrontation Reveals Hidden Truths and Fears
Johnny Smith
You knew? Didn't you?
[touching the mother of a serial killer]
Henrietta Dodd
You... you're a devil, sent from Hell!
Confrontation and Denial in The Dead Zone
Greg Stillson
Who are you, you son of a bitch? Who sent you?! HUH?!
Johnny Smith
It's over...you're finished.
Greg Stillson
Where's that kid with the camera?! He was taking pictures!
[Realizes what he means, angrily turns to Sonny]
Sonny Elliman
I didn't see him.
[disgusted at Stillson]
Greg Stillson
YOU ASSHOLE!
Ambitious Vision of Future Presidency
Greg Stillson
I have had a vision that I am going to be President of the United States someday. And nobody, and I mean nobody is going to stop me!
Confronting Perceptions of Personal Identity
Johnny Smith
Your father says there's something wrong with you, he wants me to bring you out of your shell. I don't know what to do.
Chris Stuart
You don't have to do anything. It's my dad that lives in a shell, not me.
Power to See and Change the Future
Taglines
In his mind, he has the power to see the future. In his hands, he has the power to change it.
A Call for Support and Resources
Greg Stillson
I need your support, I need your expertise, I need your input, and most importantly, I need your money.
[laughter]
A Question About Hitler's Impact
Johnny Smith
What about my question, Sam?
Dr. Sam Weizak
Huh? Oh, you mean the one about Hitler.
Johnny Smith
What would you do?
Dr. Sam Weizak
I don't like the sound of this, John. What are you getting at?
Johnny Smith
What would you do? Would you kill him?
Dr. Sam Weizak
All right. All right, I'll give you an answer. Uh, I'm a man of medicine. I'm expected to save lives and ease suffering, and I, I love people. Therefore, I would have no choice but to kill the son of a bitch.
[lifting drink]
Johnny Smith
You'd never get away alive.
[sits back down]
Dr. Sam Weizak
It doesn't matter. I would kill him. Nasdrovia. Skol.
[lifting drink]
A Moral Dilemma in Leadership Decisions
Greg Stillson
Do it, General.
Five Star General
You're insane... I won't...
Greg Stillson
DO IT! Put your hand on the scanning screen, and you'll go down in history with me.
Five Star General
As what? The world's greatest mass murderers?
Greg Stillson
You cowardly bastard! You're not the voice of the people, I am the voice of the people! The people speak through me, not you! It came to me while I slept, Sonny... my destiny. In the middle of the night, it came to me - I must get up NOW, RIGHT NOW, and fulfill my destiny! Now you put your goddamn hand on that scanning screen, or I'll hack it off and put it on for you! DO IT!
Five Star General
God forgive me.
[Reluctantly, slowly, puts his hand on the scanner]
Greg Stillson
Congratulations, General.
[Shakes his hand]
Sonny Elliman
Complete the sequence, Mr. President.
Greg Stillson
My destiny.
[Presses the launch button]
Concerns About Johnny's Well-being
Johnny Smith
How'd you find me? My father?
Dr. Sam Weizak
I stopped off to see him, and he told me you moved to a new town. He's worried about you. And so am I.
Johnny Smith
There's nothing to worry about. I'm taking care of myself. It's about time I started doing that.
Dr. Sam Weizak
I'm still your doctor, John. You're still under my care. We have to stay in touch.
Johnny Smith
Well...
Dr. Sam Weizak
How's the, uh...? All healed up now?
[indicating his gunshot wound]
Johnny Smith
The bullet went right through me. It's nothing.
Dr. Sam Weizak
Good. Nice place you have here.
[He looks around]
Johnny Smith
It's home... Let me show you something, Sam. My father passes these on to me. They're from people with lost family members, lost pets, lost friends, lost possessions... and lost lives.
[He displays a closet filled with letters and packages]
Dr. Sam Weizak
You haven't opened any of them.
Johnny Smith
I don't need to. They all want the same things: reassurance, comfort, guidance, encouragement... things which aren't mine to give them.
Celebration Amidst Impending Destruction
Greg Stillson
The missiles are flying. Hallelujah, hallelujah.
Desire for Solitude and Freedom
Johnny Smith
I keep thinking about a line from a book. It's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow"; the last thing I gave my class to read before... the accident. Ichabod Crane disappears.; the line goes: "As he was a bachelor, and in nobody's debt, nobody troubled their head about him anymore.
Sarah Bracknell
Is that what you feel?
Johnny Smith
That's what I want. It's what I want.
Seeking Help for a Serial Killer Case
Sheriff Bannerman
I guess I've come to you with what you could call a proposal, John. Uh, it has to do with these murders we've been having. The Castle Rock Killer. I'm sure you've heard of him.
Johnny Smith
Sure.
Sheriff Bannerman
I don't know whether it's true or not, uh, John, about these... psychic powers of yours. But if it is true, John, I could use your help.
Herb Smith
John, maybe you should give him, uh...
[he trails off seeing Johnny's look]
Sheriff Bannerman
Take a minute to think about it. But bear in mind some decent young women from homes just like this met with terrible, terrible deaths. Now, I'm at my wits end. I've exhausted about every conventional method of approach to this situation. I've come up with nothing. I feel you can help me, John.
Johnny Smith
You made a mistake.
Sheriff Bannerman
Mmm. I was sorry to hear about your mother's death, John, Mr. Smith. I understand she was a good woman. Christian woman. I'm not a religious man myself, I'm sorry to say. But I will say this. If God has seen fit to bless you with this gift, you should use it.
Moral Dilemma of Time Travel and Consequence
Johnny Smith
If you could go back in time to Germany, before ] came to power, knowing what you know now, would you kill him?
[[Hitler]
Dr. Sam Weizak
Is that why you sent for me, to ask me this, uh... this question?
Fate and Foreknowledge in The Dead Zone
Taglines
He can see the future. But can he escape it?
Humor in Unexpected Health Advice
Sarah Bracknell
You're looking good.
Johnny Smith
Yeah, it's called the coma diet - lose weight while you sleep.
Unchanging Feelings Amidst Lost Time
Sarah Bracknell
Please don't look at me like that.
Johnny Smith
What am I gonna do? For you, five years have come and gone. For me, it's just about the next day. My feelings haven't changed yet.
Sarah Bracknell
Oh, Johnny. Why did it have to happen like this?
Johnny Smith
Bad luck.
A Call for Change in Politics
Greg Stillson
Let's send Greg Stillson to the United States Senate - and mediocrity to hell!