Quotes

The Young Stranger

Helen Ditmar: [about their sixteen year old son, Hal] We've taught him to tell the truth. You and I, we've tried to teach him to be honest and fair, haven't we? Isn't that what we've tried to teach him? If he's telling the truth, you should be proud of him, but all he got from you is a lot of abuse. He's right about one thing: you don't know him. He's a stranger to you.
Tom Ditmar: I... always thought I knew him pretty well. How do you talk to him? I don't know. I can't say three words to him without offending him some way.
Helen Ditmar: The only time you see him is at the dinner table... or when you want to punish him for something. I remember once when you lectured him about charging too many things at the department store. He came to me later, very upset, and very confused. He was sorry about the money, but asked me, "why is it Dad always bawls me out for spending money, when money is the only thing he ever gives me?" I couldn't answer him. Maybe you can. I even had to tell him you loved him yesterday. He didn't know that. Your son didn't know you loved him.

Confused Boy: [at the police station] They bring me in this time for stealing my old man's car. How about that? Why, I mean his car is a wreck, you know? It's real shoddy. If I'da knowed I'd end up here again, I'da done pretty much better for myself, you know what I mean?

[last lines]
[Hal and Tom have just exited the police station]
Tom Ditmar: I'm glad it's Grubbs you hit and not me. That's some shiner you gave him.
[Hal looks long and thoughtfully at his father as a grin tries to emerge on his face]
Hal Ditmar: [punching his father playfully on the arm] Well, come on. You want to spend your whole life at a crummy police station?
[Tom smiles at his son, and Hal responds in kind as they walk off into the night with Tom's arm over his son's shoulders]

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