"One of the children I care for is little Ndugu Umu, the boy you sponsor. Ndugu is a very intellegent boy, and very loving. He is an orphan. Recently he needed medical attention for an infection of the eye, but he's better now. He loves to eat melon, and he loves to paint. Ndugu and I want you to know that he receives all of your letters. He hopes that you are happy in your life, and healthy. He thinks of you every day and he wants very much your happiness."

"Helen, what did you really think of me, deep in your heart? Was I really the man you wanted to be with? Was I? Or were you disappointed and too nice to show it? I forgive you for Ray. I forgive you. That was a long time ago, and I know I wasn't always the king of kings. I let you down. I'm sorry, Helen. Can you forgive me? Can you forgive me?"

"Well Ndugu, I'll close now. You probably can't wait to run and cash this check and get yourself something to eat."

"I know we're all pretty small in the big scheme of things, and I suppose the most you can hope for is to make some kind of difference, but what kind of difference have I made? What in the world is better because of me?"

"Relatively soon, I will die. Maybe in 20 years, maybe tomorrow, it doesn't matter. Once I am dead and everyone who knew me dies too, it will be as though I never existed. What difference has my life made to anyone. None that I can think of. None at all."

"Connie Ray - Vicki Rusk"

"Len Cariou - Ray Nichols"

"Phil Reeves - Minister in Denver"

"June Squibb - Helen Schmidt"

"Howard Hesseman - Larry Hertzel"

"Harry Groener - John Rusk"

"Dermot Mulroney - Randall Hertzel"

"Hope Davis - Jeannie Schmidt"

"Kathy Bates - Roberta Hertzel"

"Jack Nicholson - Warren R. Schmidt"

"If anyone orders Merlot I am leaving. I am not drinking fucking Merlot!"

"You don't understand my plight."

"[Describing her passion for wine] I like to think about what was going on the year the grapes were growing; how the sun was shining; if it rained. I like to think about all the people who tended and picked the grapes. And if it's an old wine, how many of them must be dead by now. I like how wine continues to evolve, like if I opened a bottle of wine today it would taste different than if I'd opened it on any other day, because a bottle of wine is actually alive. And it's constantly evolving and gaining complexity. That is, until it peaks, like your '61. And then it begins its steady, inevitable decline."

"To open a bottle of 61 cheval blanc is enough reason to open a bottle of 61 cheval blanc."

"I feel like a thumbprint on the skyscraper of life."

"[Describing his passion for Pinot Noir] It's uh, it's thin-skinned, temperamental, ripens early. It's, you know, it's not a survivor like Cabernet, which can just grow anywhere and uh, thrive even when it's neglected. No, Pinot needs constant care and attention. You know? And in fact it can only grow in these really specific, little, tucked away corners of the world. And, and only the most patient and nurturing of growers can do it, really. Only somebody who really takes the time to understand Pinot's potential can then coax it into its fullest expression. Then, I mean, oh its flavors, they're just the most haunting and brilliant and thrilling and subtle and... ancient on the planet.""

"It tastes like the back of a fucking L.A. school bus. Now they probably didn't de-stem, hoping for some semblance of concentration, crushed it up with leaves and mice, and then wound up with this rancid tar and turpentine bullshit."

"Sandra Oh - Stephanie"

"Virginia Madsen - Maya"

"Thomas Haden Church - Jack"

"Paul Giamatti - Miles"

"Consult your doctor before using this product. Side effects may include oily discharge, hives, loss of appetite, low blood pressure. If you have diabetes or a history of kidney trouble, you're dead, asshole!"