The Wonderful World of Disney (TV Series)

The Miracle Worker (2000)

Lucas Black: James Keller

Quotes 

• [Kate gave Annie a deadline; today Annie must return Helen to the big house and her family] 

  Kate Keller : How I have waited for this day.

  Captain Keller : I only hope we won't be disappointed.

  James Keller : *Helen* doesn't ever disappoint you, father.

• [James Keller comes to escort Annie back to the big house] 

  James Keller : May I escort you?

  Anne Sullivan : I'm not very good company right now.

  James Keller : Well, I didn't come to keep you company. I came to keep you from getting lost in the dark.

  Anne Sullivan : [stiffly]  Maybe that is just what I was looking to do.

  James Keller : [smiles understandingly]  Are you feeling sorry for yourself, Miss Sullivan?

  Anne Sullivan : Just this once. Yes.

  [She smiles, and gestures with her head that she will walk with him] 

  James Keller : My father has a great respect for you. That's not easily earned. He fought at Vicksburg; he edits a newspaper.

  Anne Sullivan : And he's always daring you to measure up.

  James Keller : If you have any advice for me, I wouldn't mind hearing it.

  Anne Sullivan : I never really had a father, so I'm the last person to ask. But you've got to stand up to the world. That's all I know.

  Anne Sullivan : Well, what if he's the world?

  Anne Sullivan : Then you can just look around, James, and see how much bigger it really is. He's a man, James, that's all. So are you.

• [It is Helen's 'Welcome Home' dinner, and she is misbehaving] 

  Kate Keller : What do you want me to do?

  Anne Sullivan : Let me take her from the table.

  Aunt Ev : But this is her first evening back.

  Kate Keller : I have made all of Helen's favorite foods.

  Anne Sullivan : She's testing you.

  James Keller : She's testing *you*.

  Anne Sullivan : I know!

  Captain Keller : Well, she's not kicking now.

  Anne Sullivan : This is what I was worried about. Is this what you promised me, less than an hour ago?

  [Helen nestles against her mother, who holds her protectively] 

  Anne Sullivan : Give into her, then. She's the one who will pay for it.

  [She sits again] 

  Anne Sullivan : Please, pass me more of Helen's favorite foods.

• [Annie has pulled Helen out of the dining room] 

  Aunt Ev : You let her speak to you like that, Arthur?

  Captain Keller : [His pride is challenged]  No. I don't!

  [He rises from his chair and strides to the door] 

  James Keller : Let her go!

  Captain Keller : What?

  James Keller : Let her go. She's right. She's right, and Kate's right. If we drive Miss Sullivan away from here, then we're lost. No: Helen is lost.

  Kate Keller : Captain, please.

  [the Captain returns to his seat at the table. He is putting on a show for Aunt Ev, but he looks secretly relieved not to have to confront Annie Sullivan] 

  Captain Keller : Jimmy?

  [Jimmy looks at him resentfully] 

  Captain Keller : Thank you.

  [Jimmy stares, then smiles. Clearly, this is the first kind word from his father in ages]