Pleasantville (1998)

J.T. Walsh: Big Bob

Photos 

Quotes 

• Big Bob : [bangs the gavel]  You're out of order!

  David : Why am I out of order?

  [approaches Big Bob] 

  Big Bob : Because I'm not gonna let you turn this courtroom into a circus!

  David : Well, I don't think it's a circus, and I don't think they do, either.

  [David turns to look at the crowd, where many of the black-and-white people are changing into color. There are gasps and murmurs. Jennifer grins] 

  Big Bob : [bangs the gavel]  This behavior must stop at once.

  David : But see? That's just the point! It can't stop at once, because it's in you, and you can't stop something that's inside you.

  Big Bob : It is not inside *me*!

  David : [amused]  Oh, sure it is.

  Big Bob : No, it is not!

  David : [Leans forward and speaks confidentially with a mischievous grin]  What do you want to do to me right now? Come on. Everyone is turning colors. Kids are making out in the street. No one is getting their dinner.

  [Raises his voice for all to hear] 

  David : Hell, you could have a flood any minute! Pretty soon, the women could be going off to work, while the men stayed at home and cooked!

  Big Bob : That is not going to happen!

  David : [with defiant delight]  But it *could* happen!

  Big Bob : [enraged]  *No, it could not!*

  [Big Bob suddenly turns pink, and David grins victoriously] 

• Big Bob : Up until now everything around here has been, well, pleasant. Recently certain things have become unpleasant. Now, it seems to me that the first thing we have to do is to separate out the things that are pleasant from the things that are unpleasant.

• [Pleasantville's first-ever rainstorm] 

  Big Bob : Well, we're safe for now. Thank goodness we're in a bowling alley.

• David : Yeah, where's our lawyer?

  Big Bob : Oh, I think we want to keep these proceedings as pleasant as possible.

• Big Bob : My friends, this isn't about George's dinner. It's not about Roy's shirt. It's a question of values. It's a question of whether we want to hold on to those values that made this place great. So, a time has come to make a decision. Are we in this thing alone or are we in it together?

• Big Bob : That's real rain, people.

• Big Bob : Everybody really likes you, George.

  George Parker : Oh. Well...

  Big Bob : No! They do! And it's not just 'cause you're a good bowler. It's 'cause people respect you!

• Big Bob : No matter how upset we may get or how frustrated we may be, we're not going to solve our problems out in the street. It's just the wrong way to do it. We have to find a code of conduct that we can all agree to live by. Now, I asked George and Ralph here to sketch out a few ideas, and I think they've done a terrific job. Now, if we can all agree to these, we can take a vote, and I think we can start off in the right direction.

  [Reads the Code of Conduct] 

  Big Bob : One: All public disruption and acts of vandalism are to cease immediately. Two: All citizens of Pleasantville are to treat each other in a courteous and pleasant manner

  Peggy Jane : Courteous and pleasant manner. Well, that's not too bad.

  David : [Reads the Code of Conduct]  Three: The area commonly known as Lover's Lane, as well as the Pleasantville Public Library, shall be closed until further notice. Four: The only permissible recorded music shall be the following: Johnny Mathis, Perry Como, Jack Jones, the marches of John Philip Sousa, or The Star-Spangled Banner. In no event shall any music be tolerated that is not of a temperate or pleasant nature. Five: There shall be no public sale of umbrellas or preparation of inclement weather of any kind. Six: No bedframe or mattress may be sold measuring more than 38 inches wide. Seven: The only permissible paint colors shall be black, white, or gray despite the recent availability of certain alternatives. Eight: All elementary and high school curriculum shall teach the non-changeist view of history, emphasizing continuity over alteration.

  [Finishes reading the Code of Conduct] 

  David : Wow.