Memorable quotes for
An American Crime (2007) More at IMDbPro »

Shirley Baniszewski: I thought we were just teaching her.

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Sylvia Likens: ...every situation God always has a plan. I guess I'm still trying to figure out what that plan was.

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Gertrude Baniszewski: There are things in life we have to do, whether we like it or not.

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Leroy K. New: Are you scared?
Gertrude Baniszewski: I've been scared about a lot of things for a long time.

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Shirley Baniszewski: Don't worry Jennie. Mamma's just teaching her.

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Gertrude Baniszewski: [preparing to write the tattoo onto Sylvia's belly] Ricky... she came back from juvenile! Started stirring up trouble again... Johnny hold her!
Sylvia Likens: No, please, please!
Gertrude Baniszewski: Keep her still!
Marie Baniszewski: If you move, it'll only be messy.
Gertrude Baniszewski: [gives Marie a lighter and a safety pin] Light that.
Sylvia Likens: No! No! No! Please! No! No! Please! Please!
Gertrude Baniszewski: Stop it!
Shirley Baniszewski: You got it right, mama?
Gertrude Baniszewski: Make sure it's hot!
Sylvia Likens: I'm sorry! I'm sorry!
Gertrude Baniszewski: You liar!
Sylvia Likens: Please stop, please no! Please!
[Marie gives Gertrude the safety pin]
Gertrude Baniszewski: You branded my daughters... now I have to brand you.

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Gertrude Baniszewski: Who's in charge here?
Johnny Baniszewski: You are, mama.

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Gertrude Baniszewski: You know what it's like to be sick, Sylvia. I've been sick for so long, too. I can't... discipline my kids they was I should. I punish them I know, but... sometimes with my medicine I gets so I don't know what I'm doing.
[begins to cry]
Gertrude Baniszewski: And I care for them so much. Paula, the thing is... Paula's a lot like me. I had her when I was just about your age. Then Stephanie. Then all the others. Then John left... And here I am on medicine, doing whatever I can to keep my family together. I want something better for Paula... There has to be something better... And I need to protect my children...
[cries]
Gertrude Baniszewski: Do you understand that? You kids... you're all I've got... Thank you, Sylvia. Thank you for understanding, thank you.

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Sylvia Likens: She sacrificed me to protect her children, and she sacrificed her children to protect herself.

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Ricky Hobbs: [sees her "escaping"] Sylvia.
Sylvia Likens: [sobbing, whimpering and cringing as he comes near her] No, no, please. Please don't, please.
Ricky Hobbs: No, no, no, I'm not gonna hurt you. I swear to God, I promise, I promise. Look, I'm sorry. I didn't know what the hell I was doing, all right? Look, you gotta believe me, please. Please. You wanna get out of here? You wanna go? Let's go.
[helps Sylvia up]
Ricky Hobbs: Come on. You're all right.
[they go to the car and Ricky gets in after helping Sylvia in]
Ricky Hobbs: Where are we going?
Sylvia Likens: [slurred from exhaustion and suffering] I don't know.
Ricky Hobbs: Do you want to go to the police? We can tell them everything.
Sylvia Likens: I gotta get to my mom.
Ricky Hobbs: Where's your mom at?
Sylvia Likens: [sounding close to tears] I think she's in Porridge.
Ricky Hobbs: We're going to Porridge.

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Sylvia Likens: [after they've been lashed, Sylvia sits down next to Jenny, hoping to comfort her] Come on, Jenny. I know we've never had a spanking before.
[Sylvia puts her hand on her sister's shoulder]
Sylvia Likens: That check's gonna come along, I swear.
[When Jenny doesn't answer, Sylvia puts her lips to her sister's head and strokes her hair]

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Stephanie Baniszewski: What was Momma so mad about yesterday?
Sylvia Likens: You heard. I told everyone Paula was a slut.
Stephanie Baniszewski: That's not true, is it?

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