Axl Quote #91
Frankie: [v.o.] Yep, some signs are unmistakable. Like those that signify the coming of spring, when the teenage boy wakes from his long winter slumber and comes out of hibernation to forage for food.
Axl: It's spring! Dad, when are you cleaning the pool for the barbecue? It's coming up soon.
Mike: I don't know. That's a lot of hassle. Maybe we'll just skip the pool.
Axl: What? No. No, you gotta clean the sweet above-ground pool.
Frankie: Yeah, well, that pool's turned into a sweet above-ground frog habitat.
Axl: It's the kickoff to the Orson bikini season. If our family can turn our back on this tradition, I don't know what we stand for.
Mike: Great. I have a new tradition. You clean it.
The Middle Quotes
‘Signals’ Quotes
Quote from Mike
Frankie: [v.o.] There are different kinds of signals people use to communicate valuable information to each other. Some are subtle...
Mike: [to a woman] Wow, you lost a ton of weight. [Frankie gestures for Mike to cut it out]
Frankie: [v.o.] ...and some, not so much.
Frankie: Did you hear that, Mike? Brian's taken up running. Says it's changed his life.
Mike: Yeah, I heard. I don't really care about running.
[later, as Frankie and Nancy talk on their way out, Mike taps his wrist to indicate it's time to go:]
Nancy: But did you see the shoes she wore on Wednesday?
Frankie: To die for.
Frankie: How many pairs do you think she has?
Quote from Brick
Mike: Hey, buddy. Proud of the good work you did yesterday.
Frankie: Looks like you really learned a lot in the class.
Brick: Yep. So I'm done now, right? I worked out all my social issues? [whispers] Social issues.
Mike: Well, son, you're never really done. You can always try to better yourself.
Brick: I'm probably as good as I'm gonna get. We did the thing, got the pizza party. I'm done.
Quote from Mike
Frankie: [v.o.] Sometimes the point is so obvious, you don't have to say it.
Mike: Say it. Just say it.
Frankie: I knew it wasn't my side of the family. You're always blaming me for Brick being short. I'm just saying, he might have gotten a few things from you.
Mike: You wanna go down this road? We can. Let's go kid by kid. Axl's knees, your family. Sue's teeth, your family. Brick's snoring, [imitates snoring], you again.
Frankie: Yeah, we don't have to go down the road. You know what you know.
Mike: Hey, I was very social as a kid. Well-liked, picked first on every team.
Frankie: Of course they're gonna pick you. You're a freaking skyscraper. Brick doesn't have that luxury.
Mike: Your shrimpy genes, not mine.
Frankie: It's not just about the genes, Mike. Kids watch. They watch and learn.
Mike: I know, I know. I get it. I need to set a better example. I'll do it for Brick. That way, someday in the future, he won't ever have to have this conversation with his wife.