Melinda Dillon credited as playing...
Sherry Phillips
- Howard Nichols: Yes?
- Sherry Phillips: Mrs. Krebs, the manager?
- [Howard unlatches the chain and opens the door]
- Sherry Phillips: [rushes into the apartment, physically attacking Howard in a fit of rage] It was YOU!
- Jennifer Phillips: Mommy!
- Howard Nichols: [attempting to shield himself from Sherry's hands and fists] Please don't! Don't, please!
- Sherry Phillips: You bastard!
- [pounds Howard with her fists as he falls to the floor]
- Howard Nichols: [trying to shield himself from the blows] Don't! Stop! I was getting her to come home!
- Jennifer Phillips: Mommy, stop!
- Sherry Phillips: What kind of monster are you? You are not a monster, you are worse!
- Howard Nichols: [retreating towards the couch] You don't understand.
- Sherry Phillips: Understand? Oh my God, I understand; look at these children! I finally understand!
- Howard Nichols: Please, listen...
- Sherry Phillips: I listened, all right? Get away from her!
- [slaps Howard some more]
- Sherry Phillips: God! I saw that window; before, I hoped - I really hoped - that this was your second apartment. I hoped it wasn't you!
- Howard Nichols: I love those kids better than their parents! Better than you!
- Sherry Phillips: After what you've done to them? Come on, Jennifer.
- Howard Nichols: I've taken them places; I bought them things!
- Sherry Phillips: You have used them! Let's go, boys.
- Howard Nichols: I've given them love!
- Sherry Phillips: Love?
- [to the boys, insistent]
- Sherry Phillips: Let's go!
- Howard Nichols: I've given them love!
- Sherry Phillips: Love? Oh, my God!
- [to Jennifer and the boys]
- Sherry Phillips: Go!
- Howard Nichols: I never hurt you. Any of you! Don't leave, please; you're the most important things in my life.
- [steps into the hall, where Sherry, Jennifer and the boys are making their exit]
- Howard Nichols: I love you all very, very, very much!
- Sherry Phillips: [sees Jennifer looking back at Howard as he pleads] Come on, honey; let's go!
- Howard Nichols: Please don't hurt me!
- [watches as they exit the building, then steps back inside the boys' apartment, realizing he'll soon be arrested for what he's done, now on the verge of tears]
- Howard Nichols: Please don't say anything.
- Jennifer Phillips: [sees various children being innocently photographed at the zoo, triggering flashbacks of her time with Howard]
- Sherry Phillips: [laughing at an exhibit] Did they teach you that in school, Jennifer, the difference between apes and gorillas?
- Jennifer Phillips: I think I can do it.
- Frank Dawson: [thinking she's referring to Sherry's question] Good, Jennifer. Which is which?
- Sherry Phillips: No. I mean, I think I can testify.
- Sherry Phillips: No; it's behind us! You see, that's why we have to move.
- Frank Dawson: Are you sure?
- Sherry Phillips: I'm sure! She's got to go back to leading a normal life.
- Jennifer Phillips: You're sure because you're my mother. I'm not sure what Daddy would think. What do you think, Frank?
- Frank Dawson: [referring to Howard] People say he's sick; I suppose they're right. One thing we both know for sure: that little girl in the mental hospital is sick, because of Howard. What do I tell you? I worry about you if you testify, I worry about other kids if you don't.
- Sherry Phillips: The last thing my little girl needs is more pressure. She's 12 years old!
- Frank Dawson: She's 13, and she's not a little girl anymore. This could be the most important decision Jennifer ever makes; she has to know that from somebody. From somebody besides lawyers and mothers.
- [to Jennifer]
- Frank Dawson: You keep on thinking, Jennifer.
- Sherry Phillips: [referring to Jennifer] She's so come out of herself since she's been on your team. You're doing a terrific job!
- Howard Nichols: I just treat her, and well, all the kids like people, and care for them honestly. You know, if I do get mad at them, I let them know it, and tell them you only get mad at people you care about. I'm sure you both do that, too.
- Frank Dawson: Well, maybe not as good as you, but I try about the same.
- Jennifer Phillips: [approaches with a rubber ball] Is this ours, Howie?
- Howard Nichols: No, those rubber turkeys are theirs.
- [puts arm around Jennifer's shoulder]
- Howard Nichols: Hey, you know, if I had a daughter, I'd order up one just like this nut here.
- [nuzzles Jennifer close, as she smiles in response]