Witness (1985)
Lukas Haas: Samuel
Photos
Quotes
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John Book : Samuel, the man who was killed tonight was a policeman, and it's my job to find out what happened. I want you to tell me everything you saw when you went into the bathroom.
Samuel Lapp : Um... there were two.
John Book : There were TWO men?
Samuel Lapp : I only saw one.
John Book : [turning to Carter] Does anybody else know about this?
Det. Sgt. Elden Carter : No, no one's had a chance to talk to him.
John Book : What did he look like, the man that you saw?
Samuel Lapp : He was... like him.
[pointing at Carter]
John Book : He was a black man, had black skin?
Samuel Lapp : Ya, but not schtumpig.
John Book : Schtulpig? What's 'schtumpig'?
Rachel Lapp : On a farm, when a pig is born small like that, it's called schtumpig, a runt.
John Book : Oh, so he wasn't a runt. He was a big guy, like me?
[John puts his arm around an embarrassed Carter]
Samuel Lapp : Big guy!
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Eli Lapp : This gun of the hand is for the taking of human life. We believe it is wrong to take a life. That is only for God. Many times wars have come and people have said to us: you must fight, you must kill, it is the only way to preserve the good. But Samuel, there's never only one way. Remember that. Would you kill another man?
Samuel Lapp : I would only kill the bad man.
Eli Lapp : Only the bad man. I see. And you know these bad men by sight? You are able to look into their hearts and see this badness?
Samuel Lapp : I can see what they do. I have seen it.
Eli Lapp : And having seen you become one of them? Don't you understand? What you take into your hands, you take into your heart. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing. Go and finish your chores now.
Samuel Lapp : Yes Grossvater.
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Samuel Lapp : Goodbye, John Book.
John Book : Goodbye, Samuel.
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[Samuel opens the drawer to John's bedside table and finds his gun]
John Book : DON'T MOVE!...
[Samuel is startled, Book calms down]
John Book : What are you doing?
[sits on bed next to Samuel, says calmly]
John Book : Come here, Samuel... this is a loaded gun. This is very dangerous. Never, ever touch a loaded gun. Here, I'm gonna take the bullets out. Now it's safe. I don't want you to get hurt. I don't mean to yell at you, I just don't want you to get hurt. If you want to handle it, you can handle it... while I'm here.
Samuel Lapp : Okay, John Book.
[Rachel enters the room, John takes the gun from Samuel. Rachel glares at both of them]
Rachel Lapp : Samuel, wait for me downstairs.
[Samuel leaves]
Rachel Lapp : John Book, while you are in this house I insist you respect our ways!
John Book : Right... here, put it somewhere where he won't find it.
