House M.D. (TV Series)

The Social Contract (2009)

Hugh Laurie: Dr. Gregory House

Photos 

Quotes 

• Nick : You could operate.

  Dr. Gregory House : You could die.

  Nick : So I'm either better or I'm dead? I'm okay with that. I've always been kind of a... an impatient guy... But I've worked hard to keep my mouth shut. Made my wife happy, made my little girl happy. I want that back. Otherwise it's no life.

• Dr. Gregory House : [to Cuddy]  People don't get personal with you, except for me. And you dismiss me as a jerk who's jerking you around, but this guy can only tell the truth. And he prefers your body to that of a smoking young hottie.

  Dr. Lisa Cuddy : So that was your way of saying I look good today?

  Dr. Gregory House : You don't get the slightest kick out of that?

  Dr. Lisa Cuddy : Don't be ridiculous, House.

  [House leaves. Cuddy smiles as the elevator door closes] 

• Dr. James Wilson : I'm not always nice. I'm not nice to you.

  Dr. Gregory House : Because you know nice bores me. Hence, still nice.

• Dr. James Wilson : [referring to his brother]  I thought seeing him again would change everything. It would be wonderful or terrible. Instead, we're just strangers. It's kind of anti-climatic.

  Dr. Gregory House : Which is better than terrible.

• Dr. James Wilson : My whole life is one big compromise. I tiptoe around everyone like they're made of china. I spend all my time analyzing, what will the effect be if I say this? Then there's you, you're a reality junkie. If I offered you a comforting lie, you'd smack me over the head with it. Let's not change that.

  Dr. Gregory House : Okay.

  Dr. James Wilson : No. See this; if you were implementing the social contract, you'd say that but only because it makes me feel better.

  Dr. Gregory House : It is kind of fun watching you torture yourself.

  Dr. James Wilson : Do you think things will work out with my brother?

  Dr. Gregory House : No, but when it does go wrong, it won't be your fault.

  Dr. James Wilson : Thanks, House.

• Dr. Gregory House : My patient has a quality of life issue.

  Dr. Robert Chase : He says awful things. Hardly a medical condition.

  Dr. Gregory House : When he leaves here, he's going to lose his family. He's going to alienate the people he works with. And if he ever finds a friend who's willing to put up with his crap, he'll be lucky 'til he drives them away too.

  Dr. Robert Chase : [thinks for moment]  I'll see what I can do.

• Nick : They're talking about sending me home. To what? A life where I'll continually drive away anyone who might for a second care about me?

  Dr. Gregory House : Those are the breaks.

• Dr. Gregory House : So the tumor's not in the cool neighborhood. It's cool neighborhood adjacent.

• Dr. James Wilson : I'm playing racquetball tomorrow night with Taub.

  Dr. Gregory House : Why would you hide that?

  Dr. James Wilson : Because the world revolves around you. I devote time to anyone else, you'd end up stalking me and harassing them.

  Dr. Gregory House : You say that as though it wouldn't be fun.

• Dr. James Wilson : Taub. Another graduate of the House school of being a dick.

  Dr. Gregory House : Private dick.

• Dr. Gregory House : [to Wilson]  You took a walk in 45-degree weather and you left your coat behind.

  Dr. James Wilson : Go ahead.

  Dr. Gregory House : I think you were punishing yourself. I think you wanted to feel what it would be like to be homeless in a New Jersey winter. That tells me, guilt. That tells me, something happened.