Ice Castles (1978)

Tom Skerritt: Marcus Winston

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Quotes 

• [Marcus is teaching Lexie how to skate again after her accident. She is afraid and holding tightly to his arm. He is encouraging the whole time] 

  Marcus Winston : Okay, let's turn around and try to... Let me pull you a bit, okay? Now hold on to me, so I don't fall.

  [chuckles] 

  Marcus Winston : That's it. C'mere. Nothin' to it! You're skatin' like you've done this before. Have ya?

• [Alexis, her father, Beulah, and Nick are gathered around the dinner table] 

  Marcus Winston : I don't know where the hell you come up with those hare-brained ideas.

  Nick Peterson : She can do it! Now, there's five months until the first competition. That's plenty of time!

  Alexis Winston : I don't care about any of that.

  Nick Peterson : Yeah, you do. If you could see, you'd be right back in there at the broad moment of that whole business.

  Alexis Winston : I wouldn't.

  Nick Peterson : I don't believe you!

  [Silence around the table] 

  Alexis Winston : I can't.

  Marcus Winston : Baby, that's okay, you don't have to do anything you don't want to do.

  Nick Peterson : If nobody made her do anything she didn't want to do, she'd be sittin' up in the goddamn room staring at the walls!

  [pause, while everyone glances at Alexis] 

  Nick Peterson : I don't know if she can do it; I just know she's got to try.

  Beulah Smith : For who? For you or for her?

  Nick Peterson : For both of us. If she doesn't try, it's gonna be second best... for us. Whatever it is, hell, man, she can skate! Now, I don't know who took this seriously in the first place, even her, but she can. She just won the Sectionals. That's all the skaters in the middle of this damn country and by God, that's saying something!

  Marcus Winston : It's pointless and cruel.

  Nick Peterson : Don't give me that. Not trying is pointless and cruel. Not trying is wondering your whole life if you gave up too soon. Who the hell needs that?

  Alexis Winston : They'll laugh at me.

  [Nick takes her hand and nods] 

  Nick Peterson : They might.

• [Marcus, Alexis, Beulah and Nick are all in a restaurant booth, with the remains of their dinners on their plates. They have been chatting and arguing about a few topics] 

  Beulah Smith : Well, if we're through with that, there's something that I'd like to discuss.

  Marcus Winston : Well, now, what could be more important than finding out what old buddy here

  [gesturing at Nick] 

  Marcus Winston : is doing home in the middle of his first year?

  Beulah Smith : Lexie's competition.

  Marcus Winston : The subject closed.

  Beulah Smith : [sarcastically]  I'm glad to see that at least you have an open mind.

  Marcus Winston : Now, now, wait a minute: Lexie's a fine skater. But there's a big difference in this Seven Counties Kiwanis Competition! Now, this is big time things; it's worse than being professional. A little country girl go up there, they eat her alive. I just don't want you to get hurt, honey.

  Beulah Smith : Marcus Winston, you are so full of bull, it boggles the mind. Where the hell are you coming from?

  Marcus Winston : [dismissively]  Ahhh...

  Beulah Smith : [tough as nails]  You're what's hurting her! Let her be. She's good. She's got more natural talent than anyone I've ever seen, and that includes those girls at the Olympics.

  [Lexie has been hanging her head all this time, but now she looks up and speaks plaintively] 

  Alexis Winston : Let me go, Daddy. I know it's scary, but I really want to do it!

  Beulah Smith : Christ, Marcus, it's one competition!

  Marcus Winston : She's too young.

  Alexis Winston : I'm too *old*! It's already too late! If I wait any longer, there won't be any chance at all.

  [Marcus turns and studies her anguished face] 

  Marcus Winston : For what?

  Alexis Winston : For me. Just - for me.

  [She rises and leaves the table]