The Ice Storm (1997)

Tobey Maguire: Paul Hood

Photos 

Quotes 

• [first lines] 

  Train Conductor : Good morning ladies and gentlemen. This train, originating from New York's Grand Central Station, is back in service. Next stop will be New Canaan, Connecticut. New Canaan, Connecticut next stop.

  Paul Hood : [narration]  In issue 141 of the Fantastic Four, published in November, 1973, Reed Richards had to use his anti-matter weapon on his own son, who Aannihilus has turn into the Human Atom Bomb. It was a typical predicament for the Fantastic Four, because they weren't like other superheroes. They were more like a family. And the more power they had, the more harm they could do to each other without even knowing it. That was the meaning of the Fantastic Four: that a family is like your own personal anti-matter. Your family is the void you emerge from, and the place you return to when you die. And that's the paradox - the closer you're drawn back in, the deeper into the void you go.

• Ben Hood : Well, it's great that we can all be together. And this Thanksgiving, no yelling, no hysteria, especially with grandpa not here, although we miss him. So let's do it right and Wendy, why don't you say grace. You used to love to say grace. Remember?

  Wendy Hood : Dear Lord, thank you for this Thanksgiving holiday. And for all the material possessions we have and enjoy. And for letting us white people kill all the Indians and steal their tribal lands. And stuff ourselves like pigs, even though children in Asia are being napalmed.

  Ben Hood : Okay, okay. Jesus! Enough, alright? Paul, roll?

  Paul Hood : Thank you.

  Ben Hood : Can I have the gravy?

• Paul Hood : When you think about it, it's not easy to keep from just wandering out of life. It's like someone's always leaving the door open to the next world, and if you aren't paying attention you could just walk through it, and then you've died. That's why in your dreams it's like you're standing in that doorway... and the dying people and the newborn people pass by you... and brush up against you as they come in and out of the world during the night. You get spun around, and in the morning... it takes a while to find your way back into the world.

• Wendy Hood : Are you watching this?

  Paul Hood : Watching what?

  Wendy Hood : Nixon, dufus, its incredible, he should be shot.

  Ben Hood : Hey. Drop the political assassination stuff please.

  Wendy Hood : He's a liar.

• Paul Hood : Your family is the void you emerge from, and the place you return to when you die. And that's the paradox: The closer you're drawn back in, the deeper into the void you go.

• Paul Hood : I've been thinking, Francis. You are one drug-addled, elitist freak. And when the revolution comes I do not want to be lined up with you and shot because you're fucking ripe for political reeducation. You know, like in the fields.

  Francis Davenport : Let me enlighten you about something here. You and I exist on opposite sides of a great existential divide, that being your pathetic virginity on the one hand and my astonishing number of sexual conquests on the other. You're simply jealous.

• Paul Hood : To find yourself in the negative zone, as the Fantastic Four often do, means all every day assumptions are inverted. Even the invisible girl herself becomes visible and so she loses the last semblance of her power. It seems to me that everyone exists partially on a negative zone level, some people more than others. In your life, it's kind of like you dip in and out of it, a place where things don't quite work out the way they should. But for some people, the negative zone tempts them. And they end up going in, going in all the way.

• [attempting facts of life discussion] 

  Ben Hood : On the self-abuse front - and this is important - I don't think it's advisable to do it in the shower. It wastes water and electricity and because we all expect you to be doing it there in any case. And, not on... under the linen... Well... Anyway, if you're worried about anything at all, just feel free to ask and we'll look it up.

  Paul Hood : Dad, you know I'm 16.

  Ben Hood : Well, all the more reason to be having this little heart-to-heart.

• Ben Hood : What's the name of this girl with a fancy New York address?

  Paul Hood : Libbets. Libbets Casey.

  Ben Hood : Libbets? What sort of a name is Libbets?

• Paul Hood : Libbets? Hey, Dostoyevsky - I'm also really a fan. And, uh, what you were saying, you know - have you ever read "The Idiot"?

  Libbets Casey : "The ldiot"?

  Paul Hood : If you liked "Notes From Underground", you'll love "The ldiot".

  Libbets Casey : Great. Thanks for the tip.

  Paul Hood : "The ldiot"!

• Francis Davenport : Remember, with your erogenous zones lubricated as such with the mighty herb, beware out there, because you drone on like a motherfucker when you're stoned.

  Paul Hood : Flame on, asshole.

• Paul Hood : You think Francis is gonna beat me to the punch here?

  Marge : Since he sleeps with every girl you ever show an interest in - why don't you just keep your Libbets fixation a secret from him?

  [looks at Paul, scoffs] 

  Marge : You already told him.

• Paul Hood : How are the parental units functioning these days?

  Wendy Hood : Dad's like doing his "Up With People" routine. Mom really hasn't been saying much.

  Paul Hood : I don't know. Dad seems a little weird, you know, nervous.

  Wendy Hood : Yeah, well wait till Mom finally opens her mouth.

• Paul Hood : Eureka. Valium. Seconal. Paregoric? Francis Davenport IV, tonight, you sleep the sleep of the just.

• Paul Hood : You know Libbets, I really feel, you know, like a real connection to you.

  Libbets Casey : Yeah, but you don't even know me really.

  Paul Hood : Sure I do. Like your aura that you give off.

  Libbets Casey : My what?

  Paul Hood : It's like very positive and - I feel a real - special feeling for you.

  Libbets Casey : I - I have a special feeling for you too. Cause, I do. It's special.

  Paul Hood : You do?

  Libbets Casey : Yeah. It's me - just like a - I feel for you like you're my - my old - you're just like a...

  Paul Hood , Libbets Casey : Brother.

  Paul Hood : Yeah, you're not alone with that line.

  Libbets Casey : I do. You are.

  Paul Hood : Right. That's cool. Um. So, how about we take a bath together?

• Libbets Casey : Far out, Paulie.

  [looks at the Valium he found in her Mother's medicine cabinet] 

  Libbets Casey : Hey look, these expired like five months ago. You think they're better aged?

  Paul Hood : Maybe you should have just a half.

  Libbets Casey : [sarcastically]  Thanks for the advice, Dad.

• Paul Hood : Check it out. Not for the faint of heart.

  Francis Davenport : Pharmaceutical! You are a god.

  Paul Hood : One for you. Hang on. And one for me.

  Libbets Casey : [walks in the room]  No candy for me?

  Francis Davenport : Groovy.

  [to Paul] 

  Francis Davenport : Young master of the revels, a treat for our hostess!

• Francis Davenport : Hey there, you young knight, can you check on the mead? Can you sally forth and secure us some more mead?

  Paul Hood : Huh?

  Francis Davenport : Moisture! Moisture!