Labyrinth (film) Quotations

Labyrinth is a 1986 film about a young girl named Sarah who, angry with being forced to babysit her little brother, Toby, wishes for the goblins to take him away. To her surprise, the goblins do, and the Goblin King, Jareth, arrives to make her an offer. In exchange for her brother, she can have her dreams, but Toby will be turned into a goblin and remain in Jareth's kingdom forever. Sarah refuses the offer and must make her way through a dangerous labyrinth to Jareth's castle and retrieve her brother before her time limit of 13 hours is up.

Directed by Jim Henson. Written by Terry Jones.

Where everything seems possible and nothing is what it seems. taglines

Sarah

Give me the child. Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered, I have fought my way here to the castle beyond the Goblin City to take back the child that you have stolen, for my will is as strong as yours, and my kingdom is as great... For my will is as strong as yours. My kingdom is great... Damn. Oh, I can never remember that line.

Once upon a time, there was a beautiful young girl whose stepmother always made her stay home with the baby. And the baby was a spoiled child, and wanted everything for himself, and the young girl was practically a slave. But what no one knew is that the king of the goblins had fallen in love with the girl, and he had given her certain powers. So one night, when the baby had been particularly cruel to her, she called on the goblins for help! "Say your right words," the goblins said..

I can bear it no longer! Goblin King! Goblin King! Wherever you may be, take this child of mine far away from me!

Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered, I have fought my way here to the castle beyond the Goblin City to take back the child that you have stolen, for my will is as strong as yours, and my kingdom is as great — You have no power over me.

Jareth the Goblin King

Sarah, go back to your room. Play with your toys and your costumes. Forget about the baby.

It's a crystal. Nothing more. But if you turn it this way and look into it, it will show you your dreams. But this is not a gift for an ordinary girl, who takes care of a screaming baby.

You have thirteen hours in which to solve the labyrinth, before your baby brother becomes one of us... forever. Such a pity.

In nine hours and twenty-three minutes, you'll be mine!

Nothing? Nothing? Nothing tra-la-la?!

What is that plastic thing 'round your wrist?

So, the Labyrinth's a piece of cake, is it? Well, let's see how you deal with this little slice!

I think I'll call him Jareth. He's got my eyes.

Everything that you wanted I have done. You asked that child be taken, I took him. You cowered before me and I was frightening. I have reordered time, I have turned the world upside down, and I have done it all for you! I am exhausted from living up to your expectations of me. Isn't that generous?

I ask for so little. Just let me rule you, and you can have everything that you want.

Just fear me, love me, do as I say, and I will be your slave.

Well, laugh.

Other Characters

Stepmother: She treats me like a wicked stepmother in a fairy story, no matter what I say.

Worm: If she'd 'ave kept on goin' down that way she'd 'ave gone straight to that castle.

Hoggle: The Cleaners, the Bog of Stench -- you sure got his attention!

Ludo: SMELL BAD!

Didymus: I say, does anyone want to play a game of Scrabble?

Worm: Come in side, have a nice cup o' tea.

Bird Hat: It is so stimulating being your hat!

Goblin Cannon Ball: I hit zumzing? Yes? No?

Fiery: It's against the rules to throw other people's heads.

:Didymus: You're going the wrong way! The battle's BEHIND us!

:Didymus: (as Ambrosius charges out of the gates) AMBROSIUS, if you don't stop this instant, I WILL NEVER FEED YOU AGAIN! (a screeching sound is heard and Ambrosius comes back inside) There, that's better! Fear not, Ambrosius, I think we have them surrounded! (looks at the goblins surrounding him) Now, if you throw down your weapons, I'll see that you're well treated!

Dialogue

Jareth: Turn back, Sarah. Turn back before it's too late.

Sarah: I can't. Don't you understand that I can't?

Jareth: What a pity.

Sarah: Ow! It bit me!

Hoggle: What'd you expect fairies to do?

Sarah: I thought they did nice things, like granting wishes!

Hoggle: Huh. Shows what you know, don't it?

Hoggle: You know your problem? You take too many things for granted. Take this Labyrinth: even if you get to the centre, you'll never get out again.

Sarah: That's your opinion.

Hoggle: Well, it's a lot better than yours!

Sarah: Thanks for nothing, Hogwart.

Hoggle: [growls] It's HOGGLE, and don't say I didn't warn you!

Worm: Hallo.

Sarah: Did you say... hello?

Worm: No, I said "hallo," but that's close enough.

Worm: No! Don't go that way! Never go that way!

Sarah: Oh... thank you!

(Sarah goes in opposite direction):

Worm: If she had kept going down that way, she would've gone straight to that castle!

Sarah: What a horrible place this is! It's not fair!

Bottom Red Guard: That's right. It's not fair!

[All the guards laugh.]

Bottom Red Guard: But that's only half of it!

Sarah: This was a dead end a minute ago.

Bottom Blue Guard: No, that's the dead end behind you!

[All the guards laugh, and Sarah sees that they are right.]

Sarah: It keeps changing! What am I supposed to do?

Bottom Red Guard: The only way out of here is to try one of these doors.

Bottom Blue Guard: One of them leads to the castle at the centre of the Labyrinth, and the other one leads to...

Top Blue Guard: B-b-b-BOOM!

Bottom Blue Guard: Certain death!

All Guards: Ooooooooh!

Sarah: Which one is which?

Bottom Red Guard: Er, we can't tell you.

Sarah: Why not?

[The bottom guards think and mutter to each other.]

Bottom Red Guard: We don't know!

Bottom Blue Guard: [looks up at top guards] But they do.

Sarah: Oh. Then I'll ask them.

Top Red Guard: No. You can't ask us. You can only ask one of us.

Top Blue Guard: It's the rules, and I should warn you that one of us always tells the truth, and one of us always lies. That's the rules too. He always lies.

Top Red Guard: I do not! I tell the truth!

Top Blue Guard: Oooh, what a lie!

Sarah: Help!

Hands 1: What do you mean help? We are Helping.

Hands 2: We're Helping Hands.

Hoggle: This is an oubliette. Labyrinth's full of 'em.

Sarah: Really... how did you know that?

Hoggle: Oh, don't sound so smart! You don't even know what an oubliette is.

Sarah: Do you?

Hoggle: Yes. It's a place where you put people... to forget about 'em!

False Alarm 1: Don't go on.

False Alarm 2: Go back while you still can.

False Alarm 3: This is not the way.

False Alarm 4: Take heed, and go no further.

False Alarm 5: Beware, beware.

False Alarm 6: Soon it will be too late.

Hoggle: (to Sarah) Don't pay any attention to them. They're just False Alarms. You get a lot of them in the Labyrinth, especially when you're on the right track...

False Alarm 7: Oh, no you're not.

Hoggle: Oh, shut up!

False Alarm 7: Sorry, just doing my job.

Hoggle: Well you don't have to do it to us!

False Alarm 8: Beware, for the...

Hoggle: Just forget it!

False Alarm 8: Oh please, I haven't said it for such a long time!

Hoggle: Oh, all right, but don't expect a big reaction!

False Alarm 8: No no no, of course not! (Clears throat) "For the path you will take will lead to certain destruction." Thank you very much...

Jareth: Hello, Hedgewart.

Sarah: Hogwart.

Hoggle: HOG-GLE!

Jareth: If I thought for one second that you were betraying me, I'd be forced to suspend you head first in the Bog of Eternal Stench.

Hoggle: OH NO, YOUR MAJESTY! NOT THE ETERNAL STENCH!

Jareth: Oh, YES, Hoggle!

Sarah: That's not fair!

Jareth: You say that so often. I wonder what your basis for comparison is.

Hoggle: You need to understand my position: I'm a coward. And Jareth scares me.

Sarah: What kind of position is that?

Hoggle: NO position! That's my point! And you wouldn't be so brave if you'd ever smelled the Bog of Eternal Stench. It's, it's...

Sarah: Is that all it does, it smells?

Hoggle: Oh, believe me, that's enough. But the worst thing is, if you so much as put a foot in the Bog of Stench, you'll smell bad for the rest of your life. It'll never wash off.

Door Knocker 1: [has his ring in his ears] IT'S VERY RUDE TO STARE!

Sarah: I'm sorry, I was just wondering which door to choose.

Knocker 1: What?

Knocker 2: [his ring is in his mouth, muffling his voice] It'th no good athking him, he'th deaf ath a...

Knocker 1: Don't talk with your mouth full!

Knocker 2: [muffled protest] I'm not talkin' with my mouth full!

Sarah: I'm sorry, I can't understand a word you're saying.

Knocker 1: What were you saying?

[Sarah pulls the ring out of the second Knocker's mouth.]

Knocker 2: Aaaah. Oooh. Um, mum. Oh, it is so good to get that thing out.

Sarah: What did you say?

Knocker 2: I said, "It's no good asking him. He's deaf as a..."

Knocker 1: Mumble, mumble, mumble. You're a wonderful conversational companion.

Knocker 2: YOU CAN TALK! ALL YOU DO IS MOAN!

Knocker 1: No good. Can't hear you.

Fiery 1: Hey! Hey! Her head don't come off!

Sarah: Of course it doesn't!

Fiery 2: Hey! Where you going wit a head like that?!

Jareth: Oh dear, poor Hoghead.

Hoggle: Hoggle.

Jareth: I've just noticed that your lovely jewels are missing.

Hoggle: Uh, oh, yes! So they are. My lovely jewels. Missing. I'd better find 'em, but first, I'll take that young lady back to the beginning, just like we planned!

Jareth: Wait! I've got a much better plan, Hoggle. Give her this.

[Jareth tosses him a peach.]

Hoggle: What is it?

Jareth: It's a present.

Hoggle: Ain't gonna hurt the little lady, is it?

Jareth: Now, why the concern?

Hoggle: I won't do nothin' to harm her.

Jareth: Oh, come, come, come, Hogbrain! I'm suprised at you, losing your head over a girl.

Hoggle: I ain't lost my head!

Jareth: You don't think a young girl could like a repulsive little scab like you, do you?

Hoggle: Well, she did say we was...

Jareth: What? Bosom companions? [dangerously] Friends?

Hoggle: It don't matter.

Jareth: You'll give her that peach, Hoggle, or I'll dip you straight into the Bog of Eternal Stench before you can blink! And Hoggle, if she ever kisses you, I'll turn you into a prince.

Hoggle: Y-you will?

Jareth: Prince of the Land of Stench! [laughs]

Hoggle: What did you have to go and do a thing like that for?!

Sarah: You mean rescue you?

Hoggle: No! You kissed me!

Didymus: I have sworn with my lifeblood no one shall pass this way without my permission.

Sarah: Well... May we have your permission?

Didymus: Well I, uh... I... that is, uh... hm... yes.

Sir Didymus: My brother! Canst thou summon up the very rocks?

Ludo: Sure. Rocks friends.

Sarah: Sir Didymus, for my sake, hush!

Didymus: But of course, for thee, anything!

Sarah: Thank you.

Didymus: (following the others inside) I don't see why we're being so quiet. It's only a goblin city!

Sarah: Give me the child.

Jareth: Sarah, beware. I have been generous, up until now. But I can be cruel.

Sarah: (disbelieving) Generous? What have you done that's generous?

Jareth: Everything! Everything that you wanted, I have done! You asked that the baby be taken - I took him. You cowered before me - I was frightening. I have reordered time, I have turned the world upside down, and I have done it all for you. I am exhausted from living up to your expectations of me. Isn't that generous?

Sarah: (dreamily) Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered... I have fought my way here to the castle beyond the goblin city... For my will is as strong as yours... and my kingdom-

Jareth: Stop! Wait. Look, Sarah, look what I'm offering you. (he holds out the crystal) Your dreams!

Sarah: (undeterred) And my kingdom as great...

Jareth: I ask for so little. Just let me rule you, and you can have everything that you want.

Sarah: My kingdom as great... ... damn... I can never remember that line.

Jareth: Just fear me - love me - do as I say, and I will be your slave!

Sarah: My kingdom as great... my kingdom as great... (she looks at him, inspired) You have no power over me!

Song Lyrics

It's only forever, it's not long at all...

Don't tell me truth hurts, little girl, 'cause it hurts like hell (hurts like hell, hurts like hell)...

Down in The Underground, you'll find someone true...

You remind me of the babe (what babe?) the babe with the power (what power?) the power of voodoo (who do?) you do (do what?) remind me of the babe...

Good times, bad food...

There's such a sad love deep in your eyes, a kind of pale jewel, opened and closed within your eyes, I'll place the sky within your eyes...

I'll paint you mornings of gold, I'll spin you Valentine evenings...

Everything I've done, I've done for you. I move the stars for no one...

Your eyes can be so cruel, just as I can be so cruel...

Slap that baby, make him pee!

Live without the sunlight. Love without your heartbeat. I... I can't live within you.

Taglines

Where everything seems possible and nothing is what it seems.
Where anything is possible.

Cast

David Bowie — Jareth the Goblin King
Jennifer Connelly — Sarah
Toby Froud — Toby
Shelley Thompson — Stepmother
Christopher Malcolm — Father
Shari Weiser - Hoggle
Brian Henson — Hoggle (voice)
Ron Mueck — Ludo (voice)
David Shaughnessy — Sir Didymus (voice)