The Wave (1981 TV Movie)

Lori Lethin: Lauree

Quotes 

• Amy : Were all Germans Nazis?

  Ben Ross : No, as a matter of fact less than 10% of the German population belonged to the Nazi party.

  Amy : Then how come nobody tried to stop them?

  Ben Ross : They said they didn't know it was happening. Eric.

  Eric : How could you kill 10 million people without *somebody* noticing?

  Peter : Yeah, that can't be true.

  Ben Ross : Well after the war the Germans claimed they knew nothing of the concentration camps or the killings. Laurie.

  Laurie : Eric's right, how could the Germans sit back while the Nazis slaughtered people all around them and say they didn't know anything about it? How could they do that? How could they say that?

  Ben Ross : That was a very good question, Laurie.

• Laurie : David and I have to study.

  Student : You know, if you two don't stop acting like hermits, you're gonna end up like Robert over there.

  [who is mouthing words while reading a comic book] 

• Laurie : It was incredible, everybody was saluting and repeating the motto, you couldn't help but get caught up in it. You know, really wanting to make it work.

  Mrs. Saunders : Well I don't like it, Laurie, it sounds too much like brainwashing and mob psychology to me.

  Laurie : No, Mom, it's nothing like that, honest, you just have to be there to feel the positive energy in class to really get what's going on.

  Mr. Saunders : I am for whatever will make kids pay attention to anything these days.

  Laurie : And that's really what it's doing. Even Robert Watkins, you know, the class creep, he's even part of the group now.

  Mrs. Saunders : But you're supposed to be learning history, not how to be part of a group.

  Mr. Saunders : This country was built by people who were part of a group. The Pilgrims, the Founding Fathers.

  Mrs. Saunders : Yes, but it owes its greatness to those people who weren't afraid to be individual.

  Laurie : Stop worrying, Mom, Mr. Ross has just found a really great way to get everybody to learn something. Even the slow kids are keeping up.

  Mrs. Saunders : That's all very well and good for the slow kids, but it just doesn't sound like the right thing for you, Laurie, sweetheart, we raised you to be an individual.

• Mrs. Saunders : Honey, just remember that the popular thing is not always the right thing.

  Laurie : Mom, you don't understand.

  Mr. Saunders : I am sure that Laurie's history teacher knows exactly what he's doing. Besides, as long as the other parents aren't raising any objections, why should we make a fuss?

  Mrs. Saunders : Because it is dangerous to allow a teacher to manipulate students like that. We've always taught Laurie to think for herself.

• David : That film really got to you, huh?

  Laurie : Yeah, it upset me, doesn't it make you angry?

  David : Laurie, it was a long time ago, we can't change what happened.

  Laurie : I know, still upsets me though.

• David : Laurie, this is a very important meeting, all the new members are going to be there.

  Laurie : So what? David, don't you think you're taking this whole thing just a little too seriously?

  David : No I'm not, you're not taking it seriously enough. Look Laurie, you've always been a leader the other kids have always looked up to, you've got to be at that meeting.

  Laurie : That's exactly why I'm not going, let them make up their own minds about the Wave, they're individuals.

  David : I don't understand.

  Laurie : I can't believe how crazy everybody's gotten, David, the Wave is taking over everything.

  David : Sure, because the Wave makes sense, Laurie, it works, everybody's on the same team, everybody's equal.

  Laurie : Oh that's terrific, do we ALL score a touchdown?

  David : You know, you're just against this because you're not special anymore. Because you're not the best student in the class now.

  Laurie : That's not true and you know it.

  David : I think it is true, now you know how the rest of us felt listening to you and Amy always giving the right answers.

  Laurie : David, you're being stupid.

  David : Alright, if I'm so stupid, why don't you find yourself a smart boyfriend?

  [walks away] 

• Laurie : Amy, read this article I wrote.

  [hands Amy a paper] 

  Amy : [reads it]  What're you going to do with it?

  Laurie : I'm submitting it to the school paper.

  Amy : You can't say these things about the Wave.

  Laurie : Well why not? They're true. Amy, the Wave has become an obsession with everyone. No one's thinking for themselves anymore.

  Amy : Come on, you're just upset, you're letting your argument with David get to you.

  Laurie : But the Wave is hurting people. Everyone's going along with it like a flock of sheep.

  Amy : Laurie, please don't submit this.

  Laurie : I already have. I know what I have to do.