History TearJerker / Elf

'''Walter:''' I don't care where you go. ''(yelling)'' I don't care that you're an elf, [[YoureInsane I don't care that you're nuts]]... [[IHaveNoSon I don't care that you're my son!]] [[GetOut GET OUT OF MY LIFE! NOW!]]

-->'''Walter''': [[TranquilFury You get the hell out of here.]]
-->'''Buddy''': W-where do you want me to go?
-->'''Walter''': I don't care where you go. ''(yelling)'' I don't care that you're an elf, [[YoureInsane I don't care that you're nuts]]... [[IHaveNoSon I don't care that you're my son!]] [[GetOut GET OUT OF MY LIFE! NOW!]]

-->'''Walter''': We'll figure this out.\\
'''Michael''': Figure out ''what''? Buddy cares about everybody. All you care about is yourself...

* When Buddy asks why Jovie was at work so early showering in the employee's locker room, she averts her gaze and mumbles "They shut my water off" in response, telling us everything we need to know about her situation in only five words.

** Seeing Walter's potential deal with Miles Finch unwittingly crushed by Buddy's naivete. Taking out his anger on Buddy was certainly a mean thing to do, but the stress and frustration he must have been feeling at that moment is quite understand, especially because he's aware that [[InnocentlyInsensitive Buddy doesn't know any better]].

-->'''Walter''': [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech I don't care where you go]]. (''yelling'') I don't care that you're an elf, [[YoureInsane I don't care that you're nuts]]... ''[[IHaveNoSon I don't care that you're my son!!]]'' ''[[GetOut GET OUT OF MY LIFE,]] '''[[GetOut NOW!!]]'''''
** Seeing Walter's potential deal with Miles Finch unwittingly crushed by Buddy's naïvete. Taking out his anger on Buddy was certainly a mean thing to do, but you can still imagine the stress and frustration he must have been feeling at that moment, ''especially'' because he knows [[InnocentlyInsensitive Buddy doesn't know any better]].

** "I don't belong here. I don't belong anywhere."
*** This line is played over a shot of Walter sitting at his desk, thinking MyGodWhatHaveIDone.
** The shot after of Buddy wandering New York in despair, looking cold and sad, especially when a lone passer-by aggressively brushes past him with little concern.
** In an homage to ''Film/ItsAWonderfulLife'', Buddy eventually wanders onto the 59th Street Bridge, looks out at the water, mutters to himself "I don't belong anywhere," then closes his eyes with the none-too-subtle implication that [[DrivenToSuicide he's seriously thinking about jumping to his death]].

-->'''Walter''': [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech I don't care where you go]]. (''yelling'') I don't care that you're an elf, [[YoureInsane I don't care that you're nuts]]... [[IHaveNoSon I don't care that you're my son!!]] ''[[GetOut GET OUT OF MY LIFE!]] '''[[GetOut NOW!!]]'''''

-->'''Walter''': [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech I don't care where you go]]. I don't care that you're an elf, [[YoureInsane I don't care that you're nuts]]... [[IHaveNoSon I don't care that you're my son!]] (''yelling'') ''[[GetOut GET OUT OF MY LIFE!]] '''[[GetOut NOW!]]'''''

** Seeing Walter's potential deal with Miles Finch unwittingly crushed by Buddy's naïvete. Taking out his anger on Buddy was certainly a mean thing to do, but you can still imagine the stress and frustration that he must have been feeling at that moment, ''especially'' because he knows [[InnocentlyInsensitive Buddy doesn't know any better]].

** Then, in an homage to ''Film/ItsAWonderfulLife'', Buddy eventually finds himself on the 59th Street Bridge, looks out at the water, mutters to himself "I don't belong anywhere, then closes his eyes with the none-too-subtle implication that [[DrivenToSuicide he's seriously thinking about jumping to his death]].

** Then, in an homage to ''Film/ItsAWonderfulLife'', Buddy eventually finds himself on the 59th Street Bridge, looks out at the water, mutters to himself "I don't belong anywhere, then closes his eyes with the none-too-subtle implication that [[DrivenToSuicide he's seriously thinking about jumping off of it]].

** In an homage to ''Film/ItsAWonderfulLife'', Buddy eventually wanders onto the 59th Street Bridge, mutters to himself "I don't belong anywhere," then closes his eyes solemnly, none-too-subtly implying that he's [[DrivenToSuicide thinking about jumping]].

** Seeing Walter's potential deal with Miles Finch unwittingly crushed by Buddy's naïvete. Taking out his anger on Buddy was certainly a jerk thing to do, but you can still imagine the stress and frustration that he must have been feeling at that moment, ''especially'' because he knows [[InnocentlyInsensitive Buddy doesn't know any better]].
*** Tellingly, this is the only time he raises his voice in anger after spending most of the movie, at most, passive-aggressive. One gets the impression that he doesn't want to do this, but he has no choice.

** While wandering the city [[DespairEventHorizon in despair]], Buddy winds up on the Manhattan Bridge -- he looks out at the choppy water below and, for a moment, looks as if he's [[DrivenToSuicide considering jumping off of it]]. There's a reason the DVDCommentary calls it the ''Film/ItsAWonderfulLife'' [[ShoutOut scene]].

* When Buddy asks why Jovie was at work so early showering in the employee's locker room, she averts her gaze and mumbles "They shut my water off" in response. In only five words, we learn everything we need to know about her living situation.

* When Buddy asks why Jovie was at work so early showering in the employee's locker room, she averts her gaze and solemnly replies "They shut my water off," telling you in only five words everything you need to know about her living situation.

** Wwhile wandering the city [[DespairEventHorizon in despair]], Buddy winds up on the Manhattan Bridge -- he looks out at the choppy water below and, for a moment, looks as if he's [[DrivenToSuicide considering jumping off of it]]. There's a reason the DVDCommentary calls it the ''Film/ItsAWonderfulLife'' [[ShoutOut scene]].

* The thought of Buddy having nothing else to do but sit in the corner doing nothing when he goes to work with Walter, presumably every single day or until Walter can find a way to get rid of him.

-->'''Walter''': [[GetOut You get the hell out of here.]]
-->'''Buddy''': Where do you want me to go?
-->'''Walter''': [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech I don't care where you go.]] I don't care that you're an elf,[[YoureInsane I don't care that you're nuts...]] [[IHaveNoSon I don't care that you're my son!]] ''GET OUT OF MY LIFE! '''NOW!'''

** And while wandering the city [[DespairEventHorizon in despair]], Buddy winds up on the Manhattan Bridge -- he looks out at the choppy water below and, for a moment, looks as if he's [[DrivenToSuicide considering jumping off of it]]. There's a reason the DVDCommentary calls it the ''Film/ItsAWonderfulLife'' [[ShoutOut scene]].

-->'''Walter''': [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech I don't care where you go.]] I DON'T CARE THAT YOU'RE AN ELF! [[YoureInsane I DON'T CARE THAT YOU'RE NUTS!]] [[IHaveNoSon I DON'T CARE THAT YOU'RE MY SON!]] ''GET OUT OF MY LIFE! '''NOW!'''''

** And while wandering the city [[DespairEventHorizon in despair]], Buddy winds up on the Manhattan Bridge, looks out at the choppy water below and, for a moment, looks as if he's [[DrivenToSuicide considering jumping in]]. There's a reason the DVDCommentary calls it the ''Film/ItsAWonderfulLife'' [[ShoutOut scene]].

* Walter telling Buddy to get out of his life. Buddy looks so depressed and disheartened that it's soul crushing, helped in no small part by John Debney's heartbreaking score.

* That one poor nun who doesn't get the books, even though ''the children love the books''.

** And while wandering the city [[DespairEventHorizon in despair]], Buddy winds up on the Manhattan Bridge, looks out at the choppy water below and, for a moment, looks as if he's [[DrivenToSuicide considering jumping in]].

** And while wandering the city [[DespairEventHorizon in despair]], Buddy winds up on the Manhattan Bridge and, for a moment, looks as if he's [[DrivenToSuicide considering jumping into the water]].

* The scene where Walter tells Buddy to get out of his life. Buddy looks so depressed and disheartened that it's soul crushing. The musical score by John Debney also really gets those heartstrings.
** Also sad is seeing Walter's potential deal with Miles Finch unwittingly crushed by Buddy beforehand. Sure, Walter is still a jerk for taking his anger out on Buddy, you can still imagine the stress and frustration that he must have been feeling at that moment, ''especially'' because he knows [[InnocentlyInsensitive Buddy doesn't know any better]].

** Also sad is seeing Walter's potential deal with Miles Finch unwittingly crushed by Buddy beforehand. While it doesn't necessarily justify what Walter said to Buddy afterwards, you can still imagine the stress and frustration that he must have been feeling at that moment.