Matt: You gotta trust me on this, cause when it comes to this kind of stuff, guys don't think like girls.
Mary: I know. I'm sorry.
Matt: Where'd you get that dress?
Mary: (crying) I stole it. I didn't think it was a big deal!
Matt: So you put it on and went to a fraternity party?
Mary: I know, it was stupid. I'm sorry.
Matt: It's OK. But you should know: From now on I'll be watching you like a fox/hawk.
(Simon and Ruthie find a $50 bill on the sidewalk)

Mrs. Kerjesz: If only we could we just stop hating each other...if only.

Mrs. Morgan: Where's your father? He's all right, isn't he?
Annie: Oh...um...yes, he is, he just...ah...
Simon: Don't worry, he's not dead, he just went back to Phoenix!

Ms. Williams: (to Eric and Annie when she agrees to meet with Mary) I know she's your baby and probably always will be to you, but not to me. She's not in your house anymore. She's in mine. (goes into another room with Mary) Someone must really like you. You can't even begin to imagine what kind of favors it took for me to come in today to review your case. So, Mary, what happened to your grades? Drugs?
Mary: (shocked) No.
Ms. Williams: Booze? A boyfriend you couldn't get enough of?
Mary: No. None of that.
Ms. Williams: Well, did you see something on TV or at the movies that you had to copy? Marilyn Manson hypnotized you with one of his songs? Your parents just didn't love you enough?
Mary: No.
Ms. Williams: Well, then, I heard about the team lockout, so I'm guessing that your coach and school did you so wrong, you had to get back at them, and that basically, they had it coming.
Mary: No.
Ms. Williams: Come on, Mary. There's got to be some reason why you did this that has nothing to do with it being your fault. Why should I consider you for the diversion program?
Mary: I don't know. I.....I've made some mistakes, but for the most part, I've always been a pretty good kid.
Ms. Williams: Pretty good kids don't trash other people's property. What else have you got?

Nigel Hamilton: Please God stop the fires.

Robbie: What's that pizza lady's baby doing here?
Annie: You've seen this baby?
Robbie: Yeah, at Pete's Pizza.
Annie: Frankie and Johnny.
Robbie: Yeah, that's her name. Frankie. She works at Pete's and brings the baby in with her sometimes.
Annie: Are you sure this is her?
Robbie: No offense, I know all babies are beautiful, but I'd recognize that head anywhere.

Ruthie (to Annie): I didn't paste or cut anything, it's not fair!
Annie: I think it's plenty fair.
Ruthie: I hate you!

Ruthie: (about Ms. Riddle) She's mean! She's really mean. And she makes me want to do something really, really bad.

Ruthie: Do you guys need anything? It's not 5:00 yet.
Mary: So?
Ruthie: Simon says I'm responsible for everything before 5:00.
Mary: Yeah, well, go tell Simon nice try, but you're not his personal valet.
Ruthie: Okay!
Later that day

Ruthie: How about a little tiny goldfish? They won't be no trouble.
Annie: Any.
Ruthie: Any what?
Annie: A goldfish won't be any trouble.
Ruthie: I know. So can I have one?

Ruthie: Maybe we should give it back.
Simon: To who? The sidewalk?

Ruthie: Mommy, are you always going to be here?
Annie: What do you mean?
Ruthie: Are you going to pass away like Grandma?
Annie: Someday I will. But not for a very long time, so you shouldn't worry, OK?
Ruthie: OK.
Annie: And I can promise you this. As long as I am here, no matter how old you get, you will always be able to count on me. I will always be there for you no matter what.
Charles: (walks in) Annie?
Annie: Daddy!
Charles: Oh Annie, I wish I had lived up to that same promise you just made to Ruthie.
Annie: We can help each other get through this.

Ruthie: Mommy? Can we sing Grandma's song now?
Annie: Yes, sweetie. Tell you what. We'll go upstairs, we'll wash our faces, we'll get into our jammies, and I'll sing you Grandma's song.

Ruthie: This isn't just about Miss Riddle and me. When I thought about it, I'm not just angry that I'm in her class again. I'm angry about a whole lot of stuff. Are we tired of being told to be quiet?
Students: Yeah!
Ruthie: Are we tired of being made to feel stupid when we don't know something?
Students: Yeah!
Ruthie: Are we tired of not being able to ask questions?
Students: Yeah!
Ruthie: We're tired of having no choices and having grown-ups making bad choices for us.
Students: Yeah!
Ruthie: We are tired of eating bad school food. Ketchup as a vegetable? I don't think so.
Students: Yeah!
Ruthie: And if we have to learn about the stuff that doesn't interest us, why can't we also learn about the stuff that does interest us? Is it too much work to give us each individual assignments if we're willing to do them?
Students: Yeah!
Ruthie: And can't the adults do something about school safety? Aren't you scared that you're gonna get shot, or that someone else is gonna get shot? I am. There are a lot of angry kids around here. Why can't someone help them do something with their anger? I can tell you that it helps just to talk. And why can't someone help the kids who come to school hungry? It's not their fault their parents can't feed them. And why can't someone help the kids who get hit every night when they go home? Can't someone protect them? Won't someone help us? I don't just need a new teacher. We need a revolution!
Students: Yeah!!! (they all stand up) Ruthie! Ruthie! Ruthie!

Ruthie: What are we doing?
Mary: Nothing sleepyhead. Come here.
Ruthie: Are we in trouble?
Lucy: What makes you think somebody's in trouble?
Ruthie: Because I went down to the kitchen and Daddy just said, "Good morning".
Mary: So?
Ruthie: He usually says, "Good morning, Pumpkin!"
Lucy: He probably just forgot.
Ruthie: He always forgets when someone's in trouble.
Mary: Well, it's Matt but you don't have to worry because it's not any real big trouble.
Ruthie: I think it is