"Forgot to tell you, we got a letter from your Aunt Gladys. She was hoping we could come to Oklahoma and visit them... during your vacation. But I don't know. I was hoping we could paint the house."

"[to Moze] You took a no-account piece of land and a bunch of people that didn't know what they were doin' and you farmed that land better than anybody could - colored or white. You're the one that brought in the first bale of cotton this year. Don't you ever forget that."

"Lane Smith - Albert Denby (Banker)"

"Danny Glover - Moses "Moze" Hadner"

"John Malkovich - Mr. Will"

"Jerry Haynes - Deputy Jack Driscoll"

"Right on my biscuit!"

"Sally Field - Edna Spalding"

"Toni Hudson - Ermine"

"Jay Patterson - W.E. Simmons"

"Ray Baker - Sheriff Royce Spalding, Edna's late husband"

"Gennie James - Possum Spalding, Edna's daughter"

"Albert Denby: Mrs. Spalding, when tragedies like this happen sometimes we have to face up to things that are real hard."

"Mrs. Spalding, believe me, if I had anyplace else to go tonight besides the State Home for the Infirm, I'd gladly leave right now. Now, when I came here, all I asked was to be left alone. I am not some kind of freak that is here on display for the amusement of those hooligans you call children."

"Augusta Dabney - Abigail Patterson"

"L. M. Kit Carson - Gus Winant"

"Martha Plimpton - Lorna Phillips"

"Christine Lahti - Annie Pope"

"Ed Crowley - Mr. Phillips"

"Steven Hill - Donald Patterson"

"River Phoenix - Danny Pope /Michael"

"Judd Hirsch - Arthur Pope"

"Arthur Pope: Now, go out there and make a difference. Your mother and I tried. Don't let anyone tell you different."

"You're certifiable. You're welcome!"

"Jonas Abry - Harry Pope"

"David Margulies - Dr. Jonah Reiff"

"Aren't we supposed to question authority? You taught me that! Who do you think you are, General Patton?"

"[to Michael] Why do you have to carry the burden of someone else's life?"

"[to Lorna] Now, I have no right in telling this to you. It's dangerous for you and it's dangerous for them, but I'm sorry I just couldn't stop myself. You can do what you want to, you can tell your dad; anything, I don't care. I just needed you to know... I don't know what I'm doing, and I love you."

"Annie Pope: What are we doing to these kids? They've been running their whole lives like criminals, and they didnt do anything!"

"You're strange. I cut. I didn't feel like having my picture taken with those sub-humans."

"Marcia Jean Kurtz - School Clerk"

"Lynne Thigpen - Contact at Eldridge St."

"...So, now that we've determined that I belong here, let's talk about you."

"Meg Tilly as Sister Agnes Devereaux"

"[last lines of the movie] I don't know the meaning behind the song she sang. Perhaps it was a song of seduction, and the father was a field hand. Perhaps the song was simply a lullaby she remembered from many years ago, and the father was hope, and love, and desire and a belief in miracles. I want to believe that she was blessed. And I do miss her. And I hope she's left something; some little part of herself with me. That would be miracle enough, wouldn't it?"

"So, you have questions. Fire away!"

"Is she totally bananas or just slightly off-center?"

"Smoking is an obsession with me. Maybe someday I'll become obsessed with something else and give up smoking."

"Jacques Tourangeau as Eugene Lyon"