Mickey Rourke: The Motorcycle Boy

Rumble Fish

The Motorcycle Boy

Steve: The Motorcycle Boy. I wonder why somebody hasn't taken a rifle and blown your head off.
The Motorcycle Boy: Well, even the most primitive society has an innate respect for the insane.

Rusty James: You know, that chick, Cassandra, man, I saw her. She said she wasn't hooked.
The Motorcycle Boy: Oh, Yeah? Yeah, well, I believe her.
Rusty James: You do?
The Motorcycle Boy: Sure. You know what happened to the people who didn't believe Cassandra?
Father: Yeah. The Greeks got 'em. You know what I mean.
Rusty James: What?
Father: The Greeks got 'em.
Rusty James: Man, what the fuck do the Greeks have to do with anything? Huh?

The Motorcycle Boy: What do you think California's like?
Rusty James: Like all that shit in the movies, man. Blondes walkin' around, the Beach Boys, palm trees, the ocean, man. How was the ocean? Huh?
The Motorcycle Boy: Nah, I didn't get to the ocean.
Rusty James: No?
The Motorcycle Boy: No, I didn't get to the ocean. California got in the way.
Rusty James: Yeah? California got in the way? I thought California was on the coast.

The Motorcycle Boy: California? California's like a - yeah, California's like a beautiful, wild - beautiful, wild girl on heroin who's high as a kite, thinkin' she's on top of the world - not knowin' she's dying, even if you show her the marks.

Patterson the Cop: What's the big interest in the pet store all of a sudden?
Mr. Dobson: They've been hanging around here.
The Motorcycle Boy: Take a look at the fish.
Patterson the Cop: You're crazy. You're really crazy. And, you know, I've known all about it all along.
The Motorcycle Boy: But they belong in the river.
[guesturing at the fish]
The Motorcycle Boy: I don't think they would fight if they were in the river. If they had room to live.
Patterson the Cop: Someone ought to get you off the streets.
The Motorcycle Boy: Somebody ought to put the fish in the river.
[starts chuckling to himself]

The Motorcycle Boy: Man, most of them were scared stiff. I mean, blind terror in a fight can easily pass for courage.

The Motorcycle Boy: Hey, cheer up. Listen. I mean, the gangs are gonna come back once they get the dope off the streets. You know, people will persist in joining things. I mean, you'll see the gangs come back. If you live that long.

The Motorcycle Boy: [he and Steve come across a wounded Rusty]
[quietly]
The Motorcycle Boy: You gotta keep still.
The Motorcycle Boy: [carefully begins to pick up Rusty] You're gonna be okay. Don't move.
Rusty James: You pissed off at me, man?
The Motorcycle Boy: [takes Rusty in his arms]
[whisper]
The Motorcycle Boy: Don't talk. I'll take care of you.

The Motorcycle Boy: Let's have a little more respect around here from now on, huh?
Rusty James: Fuck you! No, I'm only kiddin'.

The Motorcycle Boy: I'm tired of all this Robin Hood, Pied Piper bullshit. I'd just as soon stay a neighborhood novelty, if it's all the same to you.

The Motorcycle Boy: You know, if you're gonna lead people, you have to have somewhere to go.

Rusty James: Back when the rumbles were goin' on, man, we used to...
Steve: Oh, would you shut up about that!
Rusty James: Every day somebody was gettin' mangled.
Steve: I said shut up! You and your gangs. It was bullshit, Rusty-James. It wasn't anything you think it was. A bunch of punks killing each other.
Rusty James: Hey, Steve. You don't know nothin' about it.
Steve: Don't tell me I don't know nothin'.
Rusty James: You don't know nothin' about it.
Steve: You tell him! You! Tell him.
The Motorcycle Boy: It wasn't anything.

Rusty James: How come the tank is separated?
The Motorcycle Boy: These are rumble fish. They'd kill each other if they could.
Rusty James: Yeah?
Mr. Dobson: You boys gonna buy a fish or somethin'?

The Motorcycle Boy: You know, I wish I were the big brother you always wanted. But I can't be what I want any more than you can.