Francis Quote #432
Quote from Francis in Lois Battles Jamie
[flashback:]
Lois: [on the phone] Hello, Dr. Sachs? It's Lois again. I know I just called, but my husband yelled at me again about being stricter with Francis, and I wanted to know if you could write me a note that says yelling at him could damage his psyche? [Francis grabs a cup and then opens a cupboard to get lighter fluid] It's such a tender time for Francis. He's so fragile and unformed and I just want to make sure I get it right, but everything I do feels wrong.
[Francis sits down with a cup, a teddy bear, lighter fluid and a box of matches]
Lois: [sobs] If this is all supposed to be so natural, why can't I get this? I love him so much and I want to be a good mother and I know I have to be stronger, but I just don't think I can look in his eyes and not give him what he wants. He has such a sweet little face and he's so innocent.
[Lois turns around and sees Francis trying to light a match]
Lois: [calmly] I'm going to have to call you back. [hangs up] Fire is dangerous.
[Lois picks up Francis's teddy bear and walks over to the fireplace and turns it on.]
Lois: Fire can hurt you. Fire can kill you. [smoke appears] I will not let that happen. Let me make one thing clear. I love you, and I will do whatever I have to to take care of you, and keep you safe and happy and alive. I don't care if you grow up to hate me, but you will understand this: I will do anything. That is how much I love you.
[After the two eyes of the teddy bear fall onto the carpet as smoke fills the room, Francis goes over to his high chair and sits back down.]
[present:]
Lois: Yes. That's right. It's coming back to me; that sense of strength and power, and purpose I finally knew who I was, and what I was born to be.
Hal: Honey, you're back! [chuckles] I knew you could do it!
Francis: [cries] Mr. Fuzzles! [wails]
Lois: Thank you, Francis. You can go now.
Malcolm in the Middle Quotes
‘Lois Battles Jamie’ Quotes
Quote from Lois
Lois: You know what, Hal? I'm done. I give up.
Hal: What are you talking about?
Lois: Jamie wins. He beat me. All those years, all those terrible things those kids have done. It doesn't make me stronger, it's just worn me down. Like termites eating away at a house, until all that's holding up is paint. I'm just paint, Hal. Jamie knows it. You'll do a better job than I can. I trust you.
Hal: No, no, no. No, no, no, no, no, no! You can't leave me alone with those kids! We had a deal, Lois! You are in charge of the spiritual and emotional development, discipline and scary injuries. I kill spiders, mark their heights on the door frames and supply car snacks. You walk out now and the whole system falls apart!
Lois: I can't do it, Hal. I don't want to. I just don't have it anymore. I mean, it's normal, right? People give up, they quit.
Hal: Lois, you listen to me. No one is as good as you are. You took those vicious little fiends, and you twisted and crushed them into submission. And you didn't do it because you had to. You did it because you loved the game, and it was beautiful!
Lois: I just don't have that anymore.
Hal: Honey, yes, you do. I know you do. You just lost your way a little. You just need to think. Think back to the first time you found that spark. There's got to be some way to remember. And I'm going to help you.
Quote from Reese
Reese: Would you look at this thing? It's amazing. We've got to come up with something really great to do with it.
Dewey: What if we tied mattresses to ourselves and jumped off it?
Reese: Nah. We could do that off the roof.
Malcolm: We could launch mannequins into the Prestons' Jacuzzi.
Reese: Uh-uh. It's not good enough.
Dewey: We could get a squirrel to dive off it into a cup of water.
Reese: Not good enough. Not for her. Not this old beauty.
Malcolm: Well, how about if we got a vat of Jell-O-
Reese: No! It's not good enough! I got it! We take a dog, tie him to a bicycle... No! It's just not good enough!
Quote from Hal
Lois: Would you look at this? Jamie poured flour in the dryer. Now I get to wear a loaf of bread to work tomorrow. He destroys everything! He's absolutely the worst kid we have ever had!
Hal: Oh, you say that with every kid. Let's face it, Lois. It's just the hand we were dealt. God just doesn't like us. That doesn't make us bad people.
Lois: No, there's something different with Jamie. He's not like the other ones. I'm telling you, I can see it in his eyes.
Hal: Honey, calm down. You know what will make you feel better? You take a look at him while he's sleeping. You know how cute he is, with his tush all squished up in the air like that- [Jamie isn't in his crib] Did you see him? [door closes]