A Girl Like Me: The Gwen Araujo Story (2006 TV Movie)

Mercedes Ruehl: Sylvia Guerrero

Photos 

Quotes 

• Sylvia Guerrero : [in court, in tears]  I don't need you to tell me what society does to people. They beat her for five hours, they tied her up and strangled her, and then they buried her in the field, and then they went and had breakfast in a diner and ate pancakes. And you think that I should excuse them? Shame on you. I blame them! I blame them... every day!

  [Sylvia leaves in anger as the whole court claps for her] 

• Sylvia Guerrero : [to Eddie]  All that work to get you into a new school where kids wouldn't make fun of you. I just don't get it. Will you talk to me?

  Eddie : You don't wanna talk.

  Sylvia Guerrero : I'm asking...

  Eddie : But you don't. I see you working so hard to make us like everybody else.

  Sylvia Guerrero : No. To make you happy.

  Eddie : I hate my life, Mom. I hate it every single day!

  Sylvia Guerrero : Don't say that.

  Eddie : There's something wrong with me!

  Sylvia Guerrero : There is nothing wrong with you!

  Eddie : You see? You, I can't it no matter how hard I try, it's like everybody knows, so I'm not gonna hide it anymore just to be what you want to make me!

  [walks out of the room] 

  Sylvia Guerrero : [catches Eddie before walking down the hallway]  It's not what I want to make you. God made you!

  Eddie : If God made me, then God's a sadist.

  [walks away] 

• Sylvia Guerrero : You're not going to your sister's wedding looking like a call girl.

  Eddie : You're just mad because you are too old to wear it.

• Sylvia Guerrero : [to Eddie and Chita]  You know what time I got up this morning? 4:30. I bet you didn't know that. I made the breakfast, did a laundry, I packed three lunches, I payed the bills and then I went to work. And do you know why?

  [grabs Chita] 

  Sylvia Guerrero : Could I have your attention?

  [grabs Eddie] 

  Sylvia Guerrero : Could I have your attention? Do you know why? Because this life is exactly what you make it.