Driving Miss Daisy (1989)

Dan Aykroyd: Boolie Werthan

Photos 

Quotes 

• Boolie Werthan : Hoke, I want you to understand something. Now, you'd be working for me. She

  [referring to Daisy] 

  Boolie Werthan : can say anything she likes, but she can't fire you. You understand?

  Hoke Colburn : Yes, sir. Yes, sir, I sure do. And, don't you worry about a thing, Mr. Werthan! I'm gonna hold on no matter how she run me. You see, I used to rassle hogs down yonder in Macon, and, let me tell you, ain't no hog got away from me yet!

• Boolie Werthan : How're you, Idella?

  Idella : Livin'.

  Boolie Werthan : Where's that vacuum cleaner I brought over here?

  Idella : In the closet.

  Boolie Werthan : [turning to Hoke]  She won't touch it.

  Idella : I would if it didn't give me a shock every time I come near it!

  Boolie Werthan : It works for me!

  Idella : Fine... you clean and I'll go down and run your office!

• Boolie Werthan : You're a doodle, Mama.

• Hoke Colburn : [Hoke walks in, Boolie and Daisy are there to confront him about a missing can of salmon]  Mornin', Miss Daisy. I think it's gettin' ready to clear up out there! Oh, 'scuse me, Mr. Werthan!

  Boolie Werthan : Hoke, I think we're gonna have to have a little talk.

  Hoke Colburn : All right, sir. Just let me get outta my coat.

  [pauses, then turns to Daisy] 

  Hoke Colburn : Oh, Miss Daisy, yesterday, while you was out visitin', I went and ate a can of your salmon. Now, I know you said eat the left-over pork chops, but they was kinda stiff. So, I stopped at the Piggly Wiggly and got you another can. You want me just to go on and put it in the cupboard?

  Daisy Werthan : [embarrassed]  Yes, that'll be fine... thank you, Hoke. Well, I guess I'd better get dressed now!

• Daisy Werthan : It's 7:16!

  Boolie Werthan : You should have a job on the radio announcing the time.

• Boolie Werthan : What I need is for somebody to drive my mother around

  Hoke Colburn : Well, if you don' mind my askin', sir, how come she's not hirin' for herself?

  Boolie Werthan : See, it's kind of a delicate situation.

  Hoke Colburn : Oh, yessir, yessir... done gone around the bend a little bit. Well, now, that'll happen as they get old...

  Boolie Werthan : Oh, no, she's all there. Too-much-there is the problem!

  [Hoke laughs] 

• [Hoke and Boolie are at the nursing home visiting Daisy. Daisy appears unwilling to speak much] 

  Boolie Werthan : Hoke, I thought of you the other day on the expressway. I saw an Avondale Milk truck. Monster of a thing, must have had about sixteen wheels.

  Hoke Colburn : You don't say!

  Boolie Werthan : I was wondering how you'd like drivin' that thing around!

  Daisy Werthan : [to Boolie]  Hoke came to see me, not you!

  Hoke Colburn : Look like one o' her good days!

  Daisy Werthan : Boolie, go charm the nurses!

  Boolie Werthan : [smiling]  She wants you all to herself.

• Daisy Werthan : I've never been prejudiced in my life and you know it.

  Boolie Werthan : [about the Martin Luther King dinner]  Okay, then why don't you ask Hoke to go with you?

  Daisy Werthan : Hoke? Don't be ridiculous. He wouldn't go.

  Boolie Werthan : [skeptical]  Ask him and see.

• [Hoke and Boolie are walking thru Daisy's vacated home discussing how Hoke and Daisy have been since Daisy had to be put in the nursing home] 

  Boolie Werthan : I suppose you don't get out to see her very much.

  Hoke Colburn : No, sir... it's hard not drivin'. Every now and then I takes a taxi cab, but don't too many taxis go out yonder.

  Boolie Werthan : I'm sure she appreciates it.

  Hoke Colburn : Yes, sir.

  [pauses] 

  Hoke Colburn : Some days, she better than others... but then, who ain't?

  [Hoke and Boolie both laugh] 

• Boolie Werthan : I'd better be gettin' back to the office. Florene'll be havin' a fit if I don't get home on time tonight.

  Daisy Werthan : [sarcastically]  Ya'll must have plans tonight!

  Boolie Werthan : Goin' to the Anderson's for a dinner party.

  Daisy Werthan : This is her idea of heaven on earth, isn't it?

  Boolie Werthan : What?

  Daisy Werthan : Socializin' with Episcopalians!

• Hoke Colburn : Oscar said you needin' somebody to drive for yo' family... now, what I'm 'on be doin'? Takin' your children to school, drivin' your wife to the beauty parlor?

  Boolie Werthan : I don't have any children. Don't have the time...

  Hoke Colburn : Aw, that's a shame! Course, you still a young man, so I wouldn't worry 'bout it too much!

  Boolie Werthan : Thank you, I won't!

• [Boolie and Daisy are discussing attending a dinner where Martin Luther King will be speaking] 

  Boolie Werthan : Mama, we have to talk about this.

  Daisy Werthan : Talk about what?

  Boolie Werthan : The feasibility of all this. Now, I believe Martin Luther King has done some marvelous things...

  Daisy Werthan : Boolie, if you don't want to go to the dinner, just say so.

  Boolie Werthan : I wanna go. You know how I feel about him.

  Daisy Werthan : I know, but Florene!

  Boolie Werthan : Florene has nothing to do with it. I still have to conduct business in this town.

  Daisy Werthan : [incredulously]  I see. Werthan Bag will go out of business if you attend the King dinner.

  Boolie Werthan : Not exactly. But a few of the men I do business with wouldn't like it. They might... snicker a little. Call me Martin Luther Werthan behind my back. Maybe I might not hear about certain lunch meetings at the Commerce Club. Ol' Jack Raphael down at Ideal Mills, he's a New York Jew instead of a Georgia Jew. And everybody knows all the really smart ones come from New York. Maybe some of the men might throw their business to Jack instead of ol' Martin Luther Werthan. I don't know, maybe it wouldn't happen. Sometimes that's just how things work. Anyway, if we don't use those seats, somebody else will.

  Daisy Werthan : 'If we don't use those seats?' I'm not supposed to go, either?

  Boolie Werthan : Mama, you can do whatever you want.

  Daisy Werthan : Thanks for your permission.

• Boolie Werthan : Goodbye! Good luck!

  Boolie Werthan : [out of earshot]  ... Good god.

• Boolie Werthan : You backed the car right into the Pollacks' yard.

  Daisy Werthan : If I'd have had my LaSalle, it never would've behaved this way and you know it.

  Boolie Werthan : Mama, cars don't behave. They are behaved upon. Fact is, you demolished that Chrysler all by yourself.

  Daisy Werthan : Think what you want, I know the truth.

  Boolie Werthan : The truth is, you just cost the insurance company $2,700. You're a terrible risk. Nobody's gonna want to issue you a policy after this.

  Daisy Werthan : You're just saying that to be hateful!

  Boolie Werthan : [beat]  Okay, yes. I am. I'm makin' it all up. Look out there in the driveway! Every insurance company in America's out there, waving their fountain pens, trying to get you to sign up!

  Daisy Werthan : If you're gonna stand in my pantry and lie like a rug, I suggest you go someplace else.

• Boolie Werthan : [Boolie is eating lunch at Daisy's, trying to convince her that she can't drive anymore after her accident]  Mama.

  Daisy Werthan : No.

  Boolie Werthan : Mama!

  Daisy Werthan : No!

  Boolie Werthan : You know, it's a miracle you're not laying up at Emory Hospital. Or decked out at the funeral parlor!

  Daisy Werthan : Cucumbers are pretty this summer.

  Boolie Werthan : Look at you, you didn't even break your glasses!

  Daisy Werthan : It was the car's fault.

  Boolie Werthan : Mama, you had the car in the wrong gear.

  Daisy Werthan : I did not! Idella, do you want a pickle with your lunch?

  Idella : [from within the house]  Not me.

  Daisy Werthan : Well, I'm fixin' you a jar for you to take home to William, y'hear?

  Idella : Yes'm.

• [after Florene storms out when Katie Bell makes a mistake] 

  Boolie Werthan : Don't worry Katie Bell, it's not QUITE the end of the world.

• Hoke Colburn : [seeing Boolie in his office after his trip with Daisy to Mobile]  It's Mr. Sinclair Harris, sir.

  Boolie Werthan : My cousin Sinclair?

  Hoke Colburn : It's his wife... the one that talk funny?

  Boolie Werthan : Jeanette. She's from Canton, Ohio

  Hoke Colburn : Well, she's tryin' to hire me!

  Boolie Werthan : What?

  Hoke Colburn : Yessir, she said, 'how they treatin' you down there, Hoke?' You know how she sound, like her nose stuffed up. So I said, 'fine, Mrs. Harris, just fine, thank you.' She said, 'Well, you lookin' for a change, you know who to call.'

  Boolie Werthan : I'll be damned!

  [slams desk, gets up and paces around office] 

  Hoke Colburn : I thought you oughta know about it.

  Boolie Werthan : I'll be goddamned!

  Hoke Colburn : Ain't she a mess? Said, 'name your own salary'.

  Boolie Werthan : I see. And... did you?

  Hoke Colburn : Did I what, sir?

  Boolie Werthan : Name your own salary!

  Hoke Colburn : Oh now, go away. What you think I am? No, I ain't studying about workin' for no trashy somethin' like her!

  Boolie Werthan : But she got you thinking, didn't she?

  Hoke Colburn : Well, sir, you might say that.

  Boolie Werthan : Name your salary.

  Hoke Colburn : That's exactly what she said.

  Boolie Werthan : Well... how does $65 a week sound?

  Boolie Werthan : Sounds pretty good, sir! Course, $75 sounds better.

  Boolie Werthan : It sure does! Beginning this week.

  Hoke Colburn : Well, that's mighty nice of you! I sure appreciate this. Thank you!

  [gets up to leave, then turns to Boolie] 

  Hoke Colburn : Mr. Werthan, you ever have folks fighting over you?

  Boolie Werthan : No.

  Boolie Werthan : It sure feels good!

• Boolie Werthan : [Hoke and Boolie are entering the car dealership to trade in the Hudson]  She fought me on this one, but it's time for a trade. I'll bet you'll miss the old one.

  Hoke Colburn : No, sir, I don't expect I'll miss it that much.

  Boolie Werthan : Come on! You're the only one who's been driving it all this time. Won't you be a little sorry to see it go?

  Hoke Colburn : It ain't going nowhere. I done bought it.

  Boolie Werthan : You didn't!

  Hoke Colburn : I sure did! Already made the deal with Mr. Red Mitchell.

  Boolie Werthan : How much?

  Hoke Colburn : Oh, come on now, Mr. Werthan. That's for him and me to know.

  Red Mitchell : [from his office]  Hey, Boolie! Got a gem here.

  [to Hoke] 

  Red Mitchell : You got that paper for me, Hoke?

  Hoke Colburn : Yes, sir. Got it right here. Be right there.

  Boolie Werthan : For God's sake, why didn't you just buy it directly from Mama? You'd have saved money.

  Hoke Colburn : Oh, no sir. Your mama's in my business enough as it is. I ain't studying about making no monthly car payments to her. She's mine the regular way.

  Boolie Werthan : The Hudson's a good car. Nobody knows that better than you.

  Hoke Colburn : Best that ever come off the line! And this here new one, if Miss Daisy don't quite take to it, I'll let her ride in this one from time to time!

  Boolie Werthan : That's mighty nice of you!

  Hoke Colburn : Well, you know, we do what we can!

  [Hoke and Boolie share a laugh] 

• Boolie Werthan : Mornin', Mama.

  [Miss Daisy doesn't return the greeting] 

  Boolie Werthan : All I'm asking is that you come down and say hello.

  Daisy Werthan : Now you listen here. Unless they rewrote the Constitution and didn't tell me, I still have rights.

  Boolie Werthan : Of course you do.

  Daisy Werthan : What I do not want and absolutely will not have is some... some chauffeur sitting in my kitchen gobbling up my food, running up my phone bills. Oh, I hate all that in my house.

  Boolie Werthan : You have Idella.

  Daisy Werthan : Idella's different. She's been coming to me since you were in 8th Grade and we know how to stay out of each other's way. And even so, there are nicks and chips in my wedding china.

  Boolie Werthan : You think Idella has a personal vendetta against your wedding china?

  Daisy Werthan : Don't be sassy! On Forsyth Street, we couldn't afford them, and we did for ourselves. That's still the best way if you ask me.

  Boolie Werthan : Them? Afford them? You sound like Governor Talmadge.

  Daisy Werthan : [insulted]  Why, Boolie, what a thing to say! I'm not prejudiced! Aren't you ashamed?

  Boolie Werthan : You might as well try to make the best of it, Mama.

• Boolie Werthan : [calling out]  Mama, you there?

  Florine Werthan : [calling out]  It's just us!

  [Daisy comes out to the top of the stairs to see Boolie and Florine dressed in western/cowboy gear at the bottom.] 

  Daisy Werthan : Why didn't you call?

  Florine Werthan : We can't stay.

  Daisy Werthan : [eyeing their clothes reproachfully]  So I gather...

  Boolie Werthan : The Millers are giving a hayride for their anniversary.

  Florine Werthan : [re: their clothes]  I had these made. Doesn't your baby look cute?

  Daisy Werthan : Well, it's not exactly the word I'd pick.

  Boolie Werthan : [beat; gives Daisy a look]  New Graham Greene, huh? I've been wanting to read that.

  Daisy Werthan : I'm sorry, but I can't lend it to you. It's due back at the library tomorrow.

  Boolie Werthan : Want me to return it for you?

  Daisy Werthan : No, thank you. I will simply go the library on the streetcar.

  Boolie Werthan : [exasperated]  Dammit Mama, will you quit being so stubborn? You know perfectly well we ...

  Daisy Werthan : [cuts him off]  Go on, go on now, you don't want to keep the horses waiting.

  Florine Werthan : Bye!

  [They leave as Boolie gives Daisy a look.]