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[meeting with Steve Binder]
Steve Binder: Let's be frank. I don't think most kids know who the hell you are anymore. It's the 60's, man. You hear what their playing on the radio? The Mamas and the Papas, the Stones, Marvin Gaye...
Elvis Presley: I know, I know. I listen to everything. The Rascals, Aretha Franklin.
Steve Binder: There's a song out there right now. MacArthur Park, Richard Harris sings it. Would you've sung that tune?
Elvis Presley: Damn right. That there's a great song. Jimmy Webb he can flat out right.
Steve Binder: Here's what I have in mind. We tape it over three days. The first day, is in front of a live audience. "Elvis' big comeback". Now, I know you'll be nervous, so we'll just get that outta the way. The next two days, we tape several stage numbers, drawing on your own personal and musical life.
Elvis Presley: I like it.
Steve Binder: There is a problem, Elvis. The Colonel and NBC want you to sing just Christmas songs. Now I think that's too limiting, and the exact opposite of what you should be doing. What do you think?
Elvis Presley: [pause] I think let's do it. [stands and shakes his hand] This is going to be great, Steve.
Steve Binder: Let's be frank. I don't think most kids know who the hell you are anymore. It's the 60's, man. You hear what their playing on the radio? The Mamas and the Papas, the Stones, Marvin Gaye...
Elvis Presley: I know, I know. I listen to everything. The Rascals, Aretha Franklin.
Steve Binder: There's a song out there right now. MacArthur Park, Richard Harris sings it. Would you've sung that tune?
Elvis Presley: Damn right. That there's a great song. Jimmy Webb he can flat out right.
Steve Binder: Here's what I have in mind. We tape it over three days. The first day, is in front of a live audience. "Elvis' big comeback". Now, I know you'll be nervous, so we'll just get that outta the way. The next two days, we tape several stage numbers, drawing on your own personal and musical life.
Elvis Presley: I like it.
Steve Binder: There is a problem, Elvis. The Colonel and NBC want you to sing just Christmas songs. Now I think that's too limiting, and the exact opposite of what you should be doing. What do you think?
Elvis Presley: [pause] I think let's do it. [stands and shakes his hand] This is going to be great, Steve.
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[on the set of Clambake]
Colonel Tom Parker: You're starting to look like a kettle of crap, son.
Elvis Presley: That's none of your business.
Colonel Tom Parker: Oh, but it is my business. Because no one is going to pay to see a burned out Elvis. And I see you've been late to the set more then once, that's not like you at all.
Elvis Presley: [angrily] Have you even read this piece of crap? Do you know the lines I've gotta say? Oh, you wouldn't hurry up to get here either, Colonel.
Colonel Tom Parker: Its not professional, son. Now you signed on to do this, you owe them your best.
Elvis Presley: I signed on to do this movie because you told me to. I need the money.
Colonel Tom Parker: And you do. You spend like a drunken sailor, and that's none of my business, but you show up on time and you say the lines stupid or not, that is my business.
Elvis Presley: Yes, sir.
Colonel Tom Parker: And what's this about some religious kick your on?
Colonel Tom Parker: You're starting to look like a kettle of crap, son.
Elvis Presley: That's none of your business.
Colonel Tom Parker: Oh, but it is my business. Because no one is going to pay to see a burned out Elvis. And I see you've been late to the set more then once, that's not like you at all.
Elvis Presley: [angrily] Have you even read this piece of crap? Do you know the lines I've gotta say? Oh, you wouldn't hurry up to get here either, Colonel.
Colonel Tom Parker: Its not professional, son. Now you signed on to do this, you owe them your best.
Elvis Presley: I signed on to do this movie because you told me to. I need the money.
Colonel Tom Parker: And you do. You spend like a drunken sailor, and that's none of my business, but you show up on time and you say the lines stupid or not, that is my business.
Elvis Presley: Yes, sir.
Colonel Tom Parker: And what's this about some religious kick your on?
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[while performing "Blue Moon of Kentucky"]
Bill Black: Sam, Sam, Sam. No, this is terrible. We're just goofing around.
Sam Phillips: No, that's what I'm talking about. It's gotta be fun, original.
Elvis Presley: Bill Monroe's gonna kill us.
Sam Phillips: Bill Monroe is gonna be too busy counting his money. [to Marion] Marion!
Bill Black: Sam, Sam, Sam. No, this is terrible. We're just goofing around.
Sam Phillips: No, that's what I'm talking about. It's gotta be fun, original.
Elvis Presley: Bill Monroe's gonna kill us.
Sam Phillips: Bill Monroe is gonna be too busy counting his money. [to Marion] Marion!
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Heartbreak Hotel just sold a million copies. You made your first gold record.
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[after performing "Lawdy Miss Clawdy"] Thank you very much.
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[after Presley and his band perform Harbor Lights] That sounded something like Bing Crosby, the trouble is we already got us a Bing Crosby and the one before us, we got us Eddy Arnold and a Hank Snow. Son, give me something. Give some of you, give me some of you, give me some Elvis Presley.
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[at the Jacksonville Theater after singing "Don't Be Cruel"] I'll see you girls backstage.
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[during an argument with Elvis] You ungrateful hillbilly! I knew you'd betray me!
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[during his Comeback Special] I was down in Florida, the state police decided to come and fill my show. All I had to stand still and all I can move was this little finger here.
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[holds up a newspaper with the headline "Sullivan Vows NO Elvis"] Ed Sullivan says he wouldn't touch me with a ten foot pole.
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[last lines] Guess what, Steve? I'm touring Vegas.
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[last lines] Think about it, son. Vegas!
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[meeting Elvis for the first time] Young Mr. Presley. What do you want...of all this? What do you want?
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[to Larry Geller] I swear to God, man. [tearfully] No one knows how empty I feel. I mean no one knows anything about me, man, least of all me. What is this emptiness? I have no right to feel this way.
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[to Sam Phillips] How much further can you take him? Can you compete with RCA with whom I've had relations over the years?