Top 100 Quotes From The Silence of the Lambs

Clarice: I graduated from UVa, Captain; it's not exactly a charm school.

Hannibal: "Plum Island Animal Disease Research Center." Sounds charming.
Clarice: That's only a part of the island. There's a very, very nice beach. Terns nest there. There's beautiful...
Hannibal: [cuts her off] Terns? Mmh. If I help you, Clarice, it will be "turns" with us too. Quid pro quo. I tell you things, you tell me things. Not about this case, though. About yourself. Quid pro quo. Yes or no?
[pause]
Hannibal: Yes or no, Clarice? Poor little Catherine is waiting.
Clarice: Go, doctor.

Hannibal: [shouts] No!
[normal voice]
Hannibal: I will listen now. After your father's murder, you were orphaned. You were ten years old. You went to live with cousins on a sheep and horse ranch in Montana. And...?
Clarice: [tears begin forming in her eyes] And one morning, I just ran away.
Hannibal: No "just", Clarice. What set you off? You started at what time?
Clarice: Early, still dark.
Hannibal: Then something woke you, didn't it? Was it a dream? What was it?
Clarice: I heard a strange noise.
Hannibal: What was it?
Clarice: It was... screaming. Some kind of screaming, like a child's voice.
Hannibal: What did you do?
Clarice: I went downstairs, outside. I crept up into the barn. I was so scared to look inside, but I had to.
Hannibal: And what did you see, Clarice? What did you see?
Clarice: Lambs. The lambs were screaming.
Hannibal: They were slaughtering the spring lambs?
Clarice: And they were screaming.
Hannibal: And you ran away?
Clarice: No. First I tried to free them. I... I opened the gate to their pen, but they wouldn't run. They just stood there, confused. They wouldn't run.
Hannibal: But you could and you did, didn't you?
Clarice: Yes. I took one lamb, and I ran away as fast as I could.
Hannibal: Where were you going, Clarice?
Clarice: I don't know. I didn't have any food, any water and it was very cold, very cold. I thought, I thought if I could save just one, but... he was so heavy. So heavy. I didn't get more than a few miles when the sheriff's car picked me up. The rancher was so angry he sent me to live at the Lutheran orphanage in Bozeman. I never saw the ranch again.
Hannibal: What became of your lamb, Clarice?
Clarice: They killed him.

- Um, if Lecter feels that you're his enemy, then, um, well, maybe we'll have more luck if I go in by myself.
- What do you think?
- You might have suggested this in my office and saved me the time.
- Yes, sir, but then I – I would have missed the pleasure of your company, sir.
- When she's finished, bring her out.

- He's on the roof of the elevator.
- Okay, guys.

- You see a lot, Doctor.
- But are you strong enough to point that high-powered perception at yourself?
- What about it? Why don't you –
- Why don't you look at yourself and write down what you see?
- Or maybe you're afraid to.

Jack: Just do your job, but never forget what he is.
Clarice: And what is that?
[cut to Clarice's first trip to the psychiatric prison]
Dr. Frederick Chilton: Oh, he's a monster. Pure psychopath. So rare to capture one alive. From a research point of view, Lecter is our most prized asset.

- under SWAT team surveillance, of course.
- -[exhales]
- -And there you have it.
- A copy of the Buffalo Bill case file.
- Copy of the senator's offer.
- This offer is non-negotiable and final.
- Catherine Martin dies, you get nothing.

- I gotta get outta here!
- Plea –
- Catherine, the other officers will be here any minute now!
[Catherine screams] Wait!
- -Don't go! Wait!
- -[Clarice] Shh! Quiet!
Catherine: Come back.
[gasps] Oh, God. Oh, God.

- Hey, little cheeper.
- I'll be right there.
[grunts] Goddamn.

Dr. Frederick Chilton: I am going to show you why we insist on such precautions. On the evening of July 8th, 1981, he complained of chest pains and was taken to the dispensary. His mouthpiece and restraints were removed for an EKG. When the nurse leaned over him, he did this to her.
[pulls out photo]
Dr. Frederick Chilton: The doctors managed to reset her jaw more or less. Saved one of her eyes. His pulse never got above 85, even when he ate her tongue.

[man over phone] Jack, Hannibal Lecter's being transferred to Memphis.
- Transferred?
- Did you have a trainee make some sort of phony offer to Lecter in the senator's name?
- Yeah. I rolled the dice. I had to.
- Well, she's mad as hell, Jack.
- Paul Krendler's over here from Justice.
- She's asking him to take over in Memphis.

Catherine: Hey!
- -[gasps]
- -[song continues, lyrics indistinct]
Catherine: Hello? Are you there?
- I'm down here! I'm down here!

Miggs: I can smell your cunt.

- Uh, roger, Lieutenant. Tate here.
- I'm on the elevator bringin' Pembry down.
- He seems to be hangin' on.
- Top three floors secured.
- Main stairwell secured.
- We think he's on two.

- No movement.
- Johnny, hold your fire.
- We're coming into the car.
- We're opening the hatch.
- Watch his hands.
- If there's any fire, it'll come from us.
- -Affirm?
- -Got it.

- Yeah. I bought this house, uh, two years ago.
- Did she leave any records?
- Any business records?
- Tax forms? Um, list of employees?
- No, nothing like that at all.
- Say, has the FBI learned something?
- The police around here don't seem to have the first clue.

Man in Dashiki on Chilton's Plane: Starling!
- Starling.
- Crawford wants to see you in his office.
[Southern accent] Thank you, sir.
- -[buzzer sounds]
- -[gunfire continues]

- It was just smoke, Starling.
- I had to get rid of him.
- It matters, Mr. Crawford.
- Cops look at you to see how to act.
- -It matters.
- -Point taken.
- Ligature marks found around the wrists, not around the ankles.
- This would indicate that the skinning was postmortem.

- You could return tomorrow with my son.
- -What about him?
- -[chuckles]
- I would ask my driver to help you, but he detests physical labor.
- Right.
- Well, you just stay here.
- I'll be back in one minute.

- You know who he is, don't you?
- Tell me who decapitated your patient, Doctor.
- All good things to those who wait.
- I've waited, Clarice.
- But how long can you and ol' Jackie boy wait?
- Our little Billy must already be searching for that next special lady.

- Yeah, she was a big girl, sir.
- Yeah, I – I may have see –
- No, I read about her in the newspaper.
- Um, Mrs. Lippman had a son though.
- Maybe he could help you.
- I got his card in here someplace.
- -Do you wanna come in while I look for it?
- -May I?
- -Yeah, sure.
- -Thank you.

- I can't explain it.
- He – He would consider that rude.
[scoffs] It's over. She's dead.
- It's not your fault it worked out like this.
- Lecter said everything we need to catch him with is right here in these pages.
- Dr. Lecter said a lot of things.
- He's here, Ardelia.

- I'll give you a chance for what you love most.
- -And what is that, Doc –
- -Advancement, of course. Listen carefully.
- Look deep within yourself, Clarice Starling.
- Go seek out Miss Mofet, an old patient of mine – M-O-F-E-T.
- Go. I don't think Miggs could manage again quite so soon, even though he is crazy.
- -Go now!
- -[men shouting]

- -[officer] Is it true what they're saying?
- -Huh?
- He's some kind of vampire.
- -They don't have a name for what he is.
- -[elevator bell dings]
- You do know the rules, ma'am?
- Yes, Lieutenant Boyle.
- I've questioned him before.
- Go ahead.

- I mean, have you got like a description, fingerprints, anything like that?
- No.
- Mm-hmm.
- No, we don't.

Miggs: I bit my wrist... LOOK AT THE BLOOD!

Clarice: If you didn't kill him, then who did, sir?
Hannibal: Who can say. Best thing for him, really. His therapy was going nowhere.

Pilcher: What do you do when you're not detecting, Agent Starling?
Clarice: I try to be a student, Dr. Pilcher.
Pilcher: Ever go out for cheeseburgers and beer? The amusing house wine?
Clarice: Are you hitting on me, doctor?
Pilcher: Yes.

- What happened to your drawings?
- Punishment, you see. For Miggs.
- Just like that gospel program.
- When you leave, they'll turn the volume way up.
- Dr. Chilton does enjoy his petty torments.
- What did you mean by "transformation,"
- Doctor?

Hannibal: Look for severe childhood disturbances associated with violence. Our Billy wasn't born a criminal, Clarice. He was made one through years of systematic abuse. Billy hates his own identity, you see, and he thinks that makes him a transsexual. But his pathology is a thousand times more savage and more terrifying.

- Please.
- It places the lotion in the basket.
- I want to see my mommy! Please –
- I want to see my – I want – [sobbing]
- I want – I want to see – [mouths words]
- -Put the fucking lotion in the basket!
- -[Precious barking]

- Tate? You still with me?
- Uh, we're pretty sure he's somewhere on two, sir.
- That's all for now. Over.

Hannibal: I would not have had that happen to you, discourtesy is unspeakably ugly to me.

- -Did you check the corner?
- -No, sir.
- That's the reason you're dead.
- 3-109.
- 3-109. Breaking doors or windows to enter or exit.
- Uh, Rule 4-048.

- Good evening, gentlemen.
- Okay, Doc. Grab some floor.
- -Same drill as before, please.
- -Mm-hmm.
- Ready when you are, Sergeant Pembry.

- Clarice, I cleared the way for you.
- -Watch yourself.
- -Okay. Thanks.
- "Hester Mofet."
- It's an anagram, isn't it, Doctor?
- "Hester Mofet." "The rest of me."
- "Miss the Rest of Me."
- Meaning that you rented that garage?

Clarice: Did you do all these drawings, Doctor?
Hannibal: Ah. That is the Duomo seen from the Belvedere. Do you know Florence?
Clarice: All that detail just from memory, sir?
Hannibal: Memory, Agent Starling, is what I have instead of a view.

Miggs: [looks at Clarice after throwing his semen at her] Got you.
[laughs insanely]
Friendly: Miggs, you stupid fuck!

- -Thank you.
- -[police radio chatter]
- Thank you.
[Crawford] Okay, good.
- Yeah, that's right.
- West Vir – Yeah. Elk River.
- Stand by for transmission.
- Ray.

Hannibal: First principles, Clarice. Simplicity. Read Marcus Aurelius. Of each particular thing ask: what is it in itself? What is its nature? What does he do, this man you seek?
Clarice: He kills women...
Hannibal: No. That is incidental. What is the first and principal thing he does? What needs does he serve by killing?
Clarice: Anger, um, social acceptance, and, huh, sexual frustrations, sir...
Hannibal: No! He covets. That is his nature. And how do we begin to covet, Clarice? Do we seek out things to covet? Make an effort to answer now.
Clarice: No. We just...
Hannibal: No. We begin by coveting what we see every day. Don't you feel eyes moving over your body, Clarice? And don't your eyes seek out the things you want?

- Ready when you are, Doc.
- Just another minute, please.
- Son of a bitch demanded a second dinner.
- Lamb chops. Extra rare.
- Wonder what he wants for breakfast.
- Some damn thing from the zoo?

[last lines]
Hannibal: [on telephone] I do wish we could chat longer, but... I'm having an old friend for dinner. Bye.
Clarice: Dr. Lecter?... Dr. Lecter?... Dr. Lecter?... Dr. Lecter?...

Hannibal: Now then, tell me. What did Miggs say to you? Multiple Miggs in the next cell. He hissed at you. What did he say?
Clarice: He said, "I can smell your cunt."
Hannibal: I see. I myself cannot. You use Evyan skin cream, and sometimes you wear L'Air du Temps, but not today.

Clarice: Your name is?
Jame: Oh, uh Jack Gordon.
Clarice: Mr. Gordon, good, uh... well Frederica used to work for Mrs. Lippman. Did you know her?
Jame: No, nuh-uh. Oh wait... was she a great big fat person?
Clarice: Yeah she was a big girl, sir.
Jame: Yeah, I may've... no I read about her in the newspaper. Um, Mrs. Lippman had a son though, maybe he could help you. I got his card in here someplace. Do you wanna come in while I look for it?
Jame: Are you close to catching somebody you think?
Clarice: Yes. We may be. Did you... take over this place after Mrs. Lippman died, is that right?
Jame: Yeah I - I bought this house... two years ago.
Clarice: [looking around] Did she leave any records? Any business records, tax forms, lists of employees?
Jame: No, nothin' like that at all. Say, does the FBI learn somethin? The police around here don't seem to have the first clue.
[Clarice notices a moth]
Jame: ... I mean have you got like a description, fingerprints, anything like that?
Clarice: No. No I don't.
[Clarice unbuttons her gun holster]
Jame: Oh, here's that number!
Clarice: Very good Mr. Gordon. May I use your phone please?
Jame: [Gumb starts laughing] Sure you can use me phone.
Clarice: [draws her gun] Freeze! Put your hands over your head and turn around! Spread your legs! Spread your legs! Put your hands in the back... thumbs up - FREEZE!
[Gumb runs off]

- -Clarice.
- -Hey.
- Hey, I got right to the end.

Jack: Starling, when I told that sheriff we shouldn't talk in front of a woman, that really burned you, didn't it? It was just smoke, Starling. I had to get rid of him.
Clarice: It matters, Mr Crawford. Cops look at you to see how to act. It matters.
Jack: Point taken.

- I can't take all the credit for myself.
- Senator Martin, the Justice Department, people at the FBI, the folks at the Baltimore State Hospital.
- And now for the hard part, apprehending the suspect.
- -Excuse me, folks. I have to catch a flight.
- -[reporters clamoring]
- Command desk. Officer Jacobs.

Roden: [Upon learning where the Death's-Head Moth came from] You mean this is like a clue from a real murder case? Cool!
Pilcher: [to Clarice] Just ignore him, he's not a PhD.

Jack: Believe me, you don't want Hannibal Lecter inside your head.

Murray: Is it true what they're sayin'?
Clarice: [looks up from her notepad] Huh?
Murray: He's some kinda vampire?
Clarice: They don't have a name for what he is.

Dr. Frederick Chilton: We've tried to study him, of course, but he's much too sophisticated for the standard tests.

- So there shouldn't be any problem if you could –
- -You looking for Crawford?
- -Yes, sir.
- He should be back in a couple minutes.
- Why don't you wait in his office.
- Okay.
- Then I think they were over into Flushing.

Clarice: [to Hannibal Lecter] Your anagrams are showing, Doctor. Louis Friend? Iron sulfide, also known as fool's gold.

- I see him. There's a gun by his hand.
- He's not moving.
- -One warning. We need him alive.
- -Got it.
- Lecter?
- Put your hands on your head.
- One in the leg.

- Thanks for the scraps, asshole.
- I got a better idea.
- Yeah.

Ardelia: Is this Lecter's handwriting? "Clarice, doesn't this random scattering of sites seem desperately random - like the elaborations of a bad liar? Ta, Hannibal Lecter."
Clarice: "Desperately random." What does he mean?
Ardelia: Not random at all, maybe. Like there's some pattern here...?
Clarice: But there is no pattern or the computers would've nailed it. They're even found in random order.
Ardelia: Random because of the one girl. The one he weighted down.
Clarice: Oh, Fredrica Bimmel, from... Belvedere, Ohio. First girl taken, third body found. Why?
Ardelia: 'Cause she didn't drift. He weighted her down.
Clarice: What did Lecter say about... first principles?
Ardelia: Simplicity...
Clarice: What does this guy do, he "covets". How do we first start to covet?
Ardelia: "We covet what we see -"
Clarice: " - every day."
Ardelia: Hot damn, Clarice.
Clarice: He knew her.

- I'd fuck me so hard. [chuckles]
- No!
- -♪ I'm flying over you ♪
- -[humming]
- -[sobbing]
- -♪ Good-bye, horses ♪
- -♪ I'm lyin' over you ♪
- -[barks]
- -♪ I'm lyin', lyin', lyin' ♪
- -♪ I'm lyin', lyin', lyin' over you ♪

Jame: [to a mirror] Would you fuck me? I'd fuck me. I'd fuck me hard. I'd fuck me so hard.

- -I'll do my best.
- -Starling.
- We wouldn't have found him without you.
- Nobody's gonna forget that.
- Least of all me.
- Thank you, sir.
- -Thank you very much, Mr. Crawford.
- -[static]
- Mr. Crawford?

[Pembry] Okay.
- -[Boyle] Hand me that, would you?
- -Uh-huh.
- Thanks.
[Lecter] Mind the drawings, please.
- Thank you.

- So powerful. So beautiful.
- -Precious?
- -[whimpering continues]
- -Precious?
- -[Catherine] Down here, you sack of shit!

- Simplicity.
- What does this guy do? He covets.
- How do we first start to covet?
- We covet what we see –
- Every day.
- -Hot damn, Clarice.
- -He knew her.

- Thrill me with your acumen.
- It excites him.
- Most serial killers keep some sort of trophies from their victims.
- -I didn't.
- -No.
- No, you ate yours.
- You send that through now.

- You're one of Jack Crawford's, aren't you?
- I am, yes.
- May I see your credentials?
- Certainly.
- Closer, please.
- Closer.

- Freeze!
- Put your hands over your head and turn around!
- Spread your legs!
- Spread your legs!
- Put your hands in the back, thumbs up –
- Freeze!

- Get me a live telephone and lower it down here, and do it now!
- -You fucking – Oh, fuck!
- -You better be getting me that telephone!
- I'm gonna do it, mister!
- I'll cut her neck off, I swear to God!
- -All right, mister, I'm doing it!
- -[muttering] Motherfucking –
- -[Catherine shouting] I'm in here! Here!
- -[music blaring]

- Right, Sarge.
- -[Tate] Brady, Howard, cover the –
- -Look!
- -[elevator bell dings, faint]
- -[Jacobs] It stopped.
- Seal off a 10-block radius.
- Get me the SWAT team and an ambulance, double quick.
- We're goin' up.

Dr. Frederick Chilton: Crawford is very clever, isn't he, using you?
Clarice: What do you mean, sir?
Dr. Frederick Chilton: A pretty young woman to turn him on. I don't believe Lecter's even seen a woman in eight years. And oh, are you ever his taste. So to speak.

Hannibal: Jack Crawford is helping your career isn't he? Apparently he likes you and you like him too.
Clarice: I never thought about it.
Hannibal: Do you think that Jack Crawford wants you sexually? True, he is much older but do you think he visualizes scenarios, exchanges, fucking you?
Clarice: That doesn't interest me Doctor and frankly, it's, it's the sort of thing that Miggs would say.
Hannibal: Not anymore.

- Oh, good.
- Good.

Hannibal: There are three major centers for transsexual surgery - Johns Hopkins, University of Minnesota, and Columbus Medical Center.

- -[whispers] Jesus.
- -[sighs]
- Okay, Starling.
- Bill.

[Pembry can be heard moaning in the background]
Hannibal: Ready when you are, Sergeant Pembry.

Hannibal: Well, Clarice - have the lambs stopped screaming?

- Jimmy, watch it! He's got me!
- -[snarling]
- -[screaming]
- Jesus Christ!
[Pembry] I need help.

Hannibal: All good things to those who wait.

Clarice: But I thought the "yourself" reference was too hokey for Lecter, so I figured he's from Baltimore, and I looked in the phone book, and there's a "Your Self Storage" facility, right outside of downtown Baltimore, sir.

- We'll extend you every courtesy, but right now I –
- Sheriff.
- This type of sex crime has certain aspects
- I'd just as soon discuss in private.
- Know what I mean?
- -[door opens]
- -[organ: "Rock of Ages"]

- To get his help on Buffalo Bill, sir?
- Well, if that was the case, then I just –
- I just wish I was in on it, that's all.
- If I'd sent you in there with an actual agenda,
- Lecter would have known it instantly.
- He would have toyed with you, then turned to stone.

- I'm Lieutenant Boyle.
- This is Sergeant Patrick.
- Now, we're gonna treat you as good as you treat us.
- You be a gentleman, you're gonna get three hots and a cot.
- Sir, if you'll sign right here, we'll have us a legal transfer.
- Where is it?
- Here, sir. Use mine.

Hannibal: Closer, please. Clo-ser...

- -And where does it come from?
- -That's what's strange.
- -They only live in Asia.
- -Asia?
- In this country, they'd have to be specially raised from imported eggs.
- Uh, somebody grew this guy.
- Fed him honey and nightshade.
- Kept him warm.
- Somebody loved him.

Hannibal: People will say we're in love.

- You fly back to school now, little Starling.
- Fly, fly, fly.
[whispering] Fly, fly, fly.
- Fly, fly, fly.

Clarice: Hester Mofet. It's an anagram, isn't it, Doctor? Hester Mofet, "The rest of me". "Miss the rest of me," meaning that you rented that garage?

[Tate] Lecter's missing and armed.
- Pembry. Pembry, can you hear me?
- He took Boyle's gun. Pembry got off one round.
- There's a chance Lecter was hit.
- Keep breathing in and out. That's it.
- You're doing a good job.
- Oh, you look real good there.
- -Yeah, you look. . . real good.
- -[sirens wailing]

- -Hey!
- -Daddy!
- Hey, Clarice.
- Hello, my girl.
- -Did you get any bad guys today, Daddy?
- -No, angel. They all got away today.
- Aw, shoot.
- -[dog barks]
- -[Clarice sobbing]

- Um, if this door should fall down or –
[forced laugh] anything else, uh, this is the number for our Baltimore field office.
- Now, they know that you're with me.
- You call them if anything should happen.
- Yes, Miss Starling.
- -[fabric rips]
- -Ow!

- -[Precious whines]
- -[Catherine] No.
- -You okay?
- -Gunpowder. It's nothing. I'm okay.
[reporter] Agent Starling, how did you track Buffalo Bill to this address?
- Clarice M. Starling.
- -Congratulations.
- -Thank you.
- Ernest W. Stevens.

- You will let me know when those lambs stop screaming, won't you?
- Tell me his name, Doctor.
- Clarice!
- Your case file.
- Hey.
- Good-bye, Clarice.

- A census taker once tried to test me.
- I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti.

Hannibal: Advancement, of course. Listen carefully. Look deep within yourself, Clarice Starling. Go seek out Miss Mofet, an old patient of mine. M-o-f-e-t. Go now, I don't think Miggs could manage again quite so soon, even though he is crazy.
[shouting]
Hannibal: Go now!

- -♪ I see them go ♪
- -Come on. Come and get it.
- Precious!
- Are you out there, you little shit?
- Come and get it, pretty girl.
[sobs] Precious.
- Please come. Come on.

Roden: Sphingid ceratonia, maybe.
[cuts open cocoon]
Roden: Agent Starling, meet Mr. Acherontia styx.
Pilcher: Weird.
Roden: Better known to his friends as the Death's-head moth.

- Now then, tell me, what did Miggs say to you?
- Multiple Miggs in the next cell.
- He hissed at you. What did he say?
- He said, "I can smell your cunt."
- I see.
- I myself cannot.

Dr. Frederick Chilton: Do not touch the glass. Do not approach the glass. You pass him nothing but soft paper - no pencils or pens. No staples or paperclips in his paper. Use the sliding food carrier, no exceptions. If he attempts to pass you anything, do not accept it. Do you understand me?

Clarice: [Hannibal Lecter has escaped] He won't come after me.
Ardelia: Oh really?
Clarice: He won't. I can't explain it... He - he would consider that rude.

- -[door creaking]
- -Stuck.
- -Hand me that flashlight, sir.
- -[tire iron clatters]

- Precious.
- -Come on, girl.
- -♪ He told me ♪
- -Come on, Precious. Come on, Precious.
- -♪ I see you rise ♪