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Dead Man Walking
Cast
Susan Sarandon
... Sister Helen Prejean
Sean Penn
... Matthew Poncelet
Robert Prosky
... Hilton Barber
Raymond J. Barry ... Earl Delacroix
R. Lee Ermey
... Clyde Percy
Celia Weston
... Mary Beth Percy
Lois Smith
... Helen's mother
Scott Wilson
... Chaplain Farlely
Roberta Maxwell ... Lucille Poncelet
Margo Martindale ... Sister Colleen
Barton Heyman
... Capt. Beliveau
Steve Boles
... Sgt. Neal Trapp
Nesbitt Blaisdell ... Warden Hartman
Ray Aranha
... Luis Montoya
Larry Pine
... Guy Gilardi
Initial scene with priest warning her about what she is getting into.
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Priest says they are all con men
First interview with Sean Penn (Matthew)
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Comments about “niggers”
Ain’t nobody with money on death row
Denies killing girl—sounds convincing
Note how manipulative he is
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The course of Matthew’s relationship with Sr. Prejean develops and transforms
him and her.
The boy’s father is mired in grief. Unable to go forward
“you can’t have it both ways”
Quotes (Taken from IMDB)
Sister Helen Prejean: I want the last face you see in this world to be the face of love, so
you look at me when they do this thing. I'll be the face of love for you.
State trooper: I never gave a ticket to a nun before. I gave a ticket to a guy from the IRS
one time. Got audited the next year. I'll tell you what, this time I'll let this one slide, but
keep your speed down, yeah?
Sister Helen Prejean: Look at you. Death is looking down your neck, and you're playing
your little male come-on games.
Matthew Poncelet: It's quiet. Only three days left. Plenty of time to read my Bible and
look for a loophole.
Sister Helen Prejean: It's not faith, it's work.
Clyde Percy: How can you stand next to him?
Sister Helen Prejean: Mr. Percy, I'm just trying to follow the example of Jesus, who said
that a person is not as bad as his worst deed.
Clyde Percy: This is not a person. This is an animal.
Helen's Mother: A mother's arms are strong when her child is in danger.
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Matthew Poncelet: I just wanna say I think killin' is wrong, no matter who does it,
whether it's me or y'all or your government.
Sister Helen Prejean: Show me some respect, Matthew.
Matthew Poncelet: Why? 'Cause you're a nun?
Sister Helen Prejean: Because I'm a person.
Matthew: Thank you for loving me.
Sister Colleen: If Matt dies, guess who he'll be buried next to?
Sister Helen Prejean: Who's the last person to die?
Sister Colleen: Sister Celestine.
Sister Helen Prejean: Oh Lord.
Sister Colleen: You remember when that sweet little girl in the convent came after her
wedding day to introduce her husband to us?
Sister Helen Prejean: Sister Celestine said, "I'm glad I never had to share my bed with a
man."
Sister Colleen: She loved her celibacy so much.
Sister Helen Prejean: I know. She's gonna be lying next to a man for all eternity.
Earl Delacroix: My wife filed for divorce this afternoon. We just have different ways to
deal with our son's death. Until death do us part.
Prison guard: Tell me something sister, what is nun doing in a place like this. Shouldn't
you be teaching children? Didn't you know what this man has done? How he killed them
kids?
Sister Helen Prejean: What he was involved with was evil. I don't condone it. I just
don't see the sense of killing people to say that killing people's wrong.
Prison guard: You know what the Bible say, 'An eye for an eye'.
Sister Helen Prejean: You know what else the Bible ask for death as a punishment? For
adultery, prostitution, homosexuality, trespass upon sacred grounds, profane in a sabbath
and contempt to parents.
Prison guard: I ain't gonna get no Bible quote from no nun cause I'm gonna loose.
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Sister Helen Prejean: You are a son of God.
Matthew Poncelet: [in tears] Thank you. I've never been called a son of God before.
[laughs slightly]
Matthew Poncelet: I've been called a son of a you-know-what plenty of times, but I've
never been called a son of God.
Matthew Poncelet: Hitler got things done!
Matthew Poncelet: I was just fucking chicken