Matilda

Everyone is born.

But not everyone is born the same.

Some will grow to be butchers,

or bakers or candlestick makers.

Some will only be good

at making Jell-O salad.

But every human being is unique,

for better or for worse.

Most parents think their children

are the most beautiful things alive.

- Others are less emotional.

- What a waste of time.

- $9.25 for a bar of soap!

- I had to take a shower.

$5,000! I'm not paying it!

They can't repossess the kid!

- There's no way out.

- Make a U-turn.

Harry!

Harry and Zinnia Wormwood

lived in a very nice neighborhood.

But they were not nice people.

Get out of the street, you dodos!

The Wormwoods were so busy,

they forgot they had a daughter.

If they had paid her any attention,

they'd have seen she was special.

Oh, my gosh! Matilda!

Now look what you did!

You're supposed to eat the spinach!

Babies...

You're better off raising tomatoes!

At two, Matilda had already

learned how to take care of herself.

As time went by,

she developed a sense of style.

Every morning,

Matilda's brother went to school.

Her father went to work.

selling used cars for unfair prices.

- Her mother took off to play Bingo.

- Soup's on the stove...

Matilda was left alone.

That was how she liked it.

At four. she had read

every magazine in the house.

One night, she asked her father for

something she desperately wanted.

- A book? Why do you want a book?

- To read.

Why would you want to read,

when the television is right there?

- You get more out of watching TV.

- Get out of the way.

Matilda already knew

she was different from her family.

She saw that whatever she needed.

she'd have to get herself.

There's fish fingers

in the microwave.

There's fish fingers

in the microwave.

The next morning,

Matilda set off in search of a book.

- Where are the children's books?

- In that room.

- Would you like me to pick out one?

- No, thank you. I can manage.

From then on, every day,

Matilda walked to the library.

She devoured one book after another.

When she finished all the children's

books. she searched for others.

Mrs. Phelps, who had been

watching her with fascination, -

- offered Matilda some information.

You can have your own library card,

and take books home.

- You can take as many as you like.

- That would be wonderful.

Matilda's strong mind continued

to grow, nurtured by the authors -

- who had sent their books out into

the world, like ships onto the sea.

The books gave Matilda a comforting

message:
You are not alone.

Did any packages come today?

- Where did all this come from?

- The library.

- The library? You're only four!

- 6...

Then you'd be in school already.

I was supposed to start school

in September. You wouldn't listen.

Get up.

Give me that book!

- How old is Matilda?

- Four.

- I'm 6... I was six in August.

- You're a liar.

- I want to go to school.

- Who'd sign for the packages?

We can't leave valuable packages

on the doorstep. Go watch TV.

- There's something wrong with her.

- Tell me about it.

Hey, dipface! Have a marshmallow.

Have another!

Dipface!

Matilda longed for a friend,

like the kind people in her books.

It occurred to her that

talking dragons and princesses -

- might exist only in story books.

But she was about to discover she

had a strength she didn't know of.

But she was about to discover she

had a strength she didn't know of.

I'm great! I'm incredible!

Michael, pencil and paper.

- Did we sell some cars today?

- Did we!

- Can I get that new TV?

- Yeah!

It's time you learned the family

business. Write this down.

The first car I sold cost $320.

I sold it for $1.158.

The second one cost $512.

I sold it for $2.269!

- You're going too fast.

- Just write. The third cost $68.

I sold it for $999.

The fourth cost $1.100.

I sold it for

- What was my profit for the day?

- $10.265.

Check it if you don't believe me.

- You saw the paper.

- From all the way over here?

Are you being smart with me?

- If you are, you'll be punished.

- Punished for being smart?

When a person is bad, that person

has to be taught a lesson.

- Person?

- Get up!

Harry had unintentionally given

his daughter some practical advice.

He meant to say, "child".

Instead, he said, "person".

Thereby, he introduced the idea that

children could punish their parents.

Only when they deserved it,

of course.

Michael, come into my room!

- What?

- I'll take you to work today, okay?

- I don't know. What do you think?

- I think appearance is important.

People don't buy a car. They buy me.

So I take pride in my appearance.

Well-oiled hair. clean shave...

Get ready for a big day of learning.

There's a sucker born every minute.

We'll take them for all they've got.

- Give me the cookies.

- Here.

Okay, my boy! Heir to the throne!

Today we diddle the customers.

What are you looking at?

- Lovekins, where's my breakfast?

- Here we are, my heartstrings...

Snickerdoodle.

what did you do to your hair?

My hair?

Give me those things.

Get in the car.

Get in.

Dirty dealings, like buying

stolen car parts, never stay secret.

Especially when the FBI

gets involved.

- 9:
17. Subject exits domicile.

- I've got 9:
18.

- One day, all this will be yours.

- This?

See this junker? I paid $100 for it.

She's got 120,000 miles on her.

Transmission's shot.

bumpers are falling off...

What do I do with her?

I sell her!

We should weld these bumpers on,

but that takes time and money.

So we use Super Super Glue instead.

- Go ahead. Put it on there.

- Won't it fall off?

- Isn't that dangerous?

- Not to me. Okay? Transmission!

The sawdust lets the engine run

sweet as a nut. for a few miles.

- Daddy, that's cheating.

- Nobody ever got rich being honest.

the numbers back by hand.

But the Feds like to test the

ingenuity of American businessmen.

Two-directional drill. If you run it

backwards, the numbers go down.

Cool!

- Daddy, you're a crook.

- What?

- This is illegal.

- Here, keep drilling.

- Do you make money?

- Don't people need good cars?

Can't you sell good cars?

I'm smart, you're dumb.

I'm right, you're wrong!

There's nothing you can do about it.

Harry, I won!

I hit the double bingo!

I'm taking you all to Cafe Le Ritz!

Let me see the money!

Your hair looks awful!

I hope they'll let you in.

- Here's your hat, Daddy.

- Get in the car.

- How much?

- It's for me to know.

- You never take us out.

- I took you to The Flipper.

- There was a comb in the soup.

- Oh, yeah! I like that joint.

- This way, please.

- Harry, take your hat off.

- I can't.

- You can't wear a hat inside.

- I can't take it off.

- Nobody cares about your hair.

I can't get it off.

I'm gonna get this hat off.

I think your head swelled up.

- You're pulling the skin!

- You're such a baby!

- The fibers are fused to the head!

- What's that supposed to mean?

I will not be a figure of ridicule!

I want respect!

I still don't see

how you glued your hat on, Harry.

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