The War (1994)
LaToya Chisholm: Elvadine
Photos
Quotes
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[Elvadine was falsely accused of interrupting the teacher]
Elvadine : Alright, I'll tell you. I was sayin' "Elvadine, what's YOU gots to write about? Been in the sixth grade your whole good-for-nuthin' life. Ain't GOT no daddy. Never goes anywhere but where your feets take you. Onliest money that ever belong to you in the whole world was twenty dollars you gots yourself in a birthday card, from your uncle last year." But it really wasn't for my birthday. Really, it was for layin' over his lap and letting him spank me with my underpants down. And now here you come along, shovin' me in the back of the room, where I can't even see too good, which means I'm prob'ly not gonna graduate this summer neither, Just 'cuz you read how some white man say Life be like a bowlful o' cherries, I've gotsta come up with some big hit sayin' Well, fine. I'll just write down how happy I'm gonna be to get 20 more dollars on my birthday. Never mind what he's got planned for me THIS year. And I'm gonna write, how maybe the new man my momma been seein' might stop drinkin', and treat me nice, and maybe he's gonna adopt me, and take us off the welfare. And at the end, I'm gonna be sure put:
[sarcastically]
Elvadine : 'Life Sure is a bowl full of Cherries.'
[back to normal]
Elvadine : But to tell you the truth, Miss Strapford, I think you, and that book, and this whole class, be a bowl full of shit!
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Lidia : You didn't even go on into Lipnicki's property. I'm the one who got everything. And quit nigger-lippin' my smoke. Give it here.
Elvadine : Excuuuuse me? What the hell you just say?
Lidia : Give me my smoke. What?
Elvadine : You know what. Girl, you'd better get outta my face.
Lidia : You call your friends that.
Elvadine : How I calls my kin ain't none of your business.
Amber : Ooh-ooh, it's a fight! What'd I miss?
Lidia : I'm sorry.
Amber : What's she sorry fo'?
Elvadine : I think you have somethin' that belongs to me - my mood ring.
Lidia : Where's my pooka shell necklace?
Elvadine : I'll see who gets it!
Lidia : Look, I said I was sorry.
Elvadine : My mama said I don't hafta hang out with nobody who degrades me that-a-way, even if they is my best girl.
Elvadine : But I'm gonna let it go this time. But you're on probation, and don't think I'm gonna forget about it neither. Now put your eyes back in your head and let's go.
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Elvadine : Dang, girl, I risk my neck all mornin' for you dumb behind. You think I at least entitled to a five-second break or a puff off of your scag.
Lidia : What do you mean, "riskin' your neck"?
Elvadine : Well, what you call trompin' 'round in them crazy, gap-toothed, banjo-pickin' no-eyelid hillbilly yard stealin' all their junk. Daaaang! They ever do find out we robbed' em, I reckon they gonna whup my behind 'til it's flat as yours.
