I love movies, and I'm impressed by people who remember movie quotes. Some do a great job acting them out. Some can hear someone else give a quote and name the movie and scene it came from.

I don't have either gift. I bumble quotes and have to actively work to memorize them if I want to get them right. And even then, the accuracy of my memory is short lived.

For years, I quoted a few lines from Get Shorty. I often call people Yayo after the young man sent to exchange drugs for money. When people ask me what I'm going to say, I respond, "I'm not going to say anymore than I have to, if that." And when someone brings up a crazy idea I want to dismiss, I say, "I don't know about that. That just got added."

The other night, I introduced my daughter to the movie and rewatched it for the first time in years. I've been saying that last line wrong. It happens when Chili and Harry are at Karen's kitchen table, and Chili is explaining his idea for a movie.

Chili says his main character comes to L.A. and Harry excitedly interrupts him with,

It drives the guy nuts, he's winning but can't tell anybody who he is. You show in a back story his motivation, his desire to be famous, you know, pal around with celebrities, the headliners doing the big rooms. Now he's got the dough to buy his way in, mix with celebs and he can't resist...

Harry then turns back to Chili.

HARRY So he comes to L.A...

CHILI I don't know about his wanting to meet celebrities, that's something new. But, yeah, he comes to L.A. Then after that, I don't know what happens.

The original line is better than my version. We'll see how long I can remember it correctly. Memory drift is a version of the game of telephone where one person whispers a pharse to the next and passes it down the line. The ending phrase is a different product than the beginning phrase.

When do we fight to prevent drift from our core origins? How do we do that? And when do we embrace drift as "adjusting to new circumstances"?

Here are a few common misquoted movie lines:

Wizard of Oz

Misquote: “Toto, we’re not in Kansas anymore.”
Actual Quote: "Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.”

Field of Dreams

Misquote: “If you build it, they will come.”
Actual Quote: “If you build it, he will come.”

Dirty Harry

Misquote: “Do ya feel lucky, punk?”
Actual Quote: “You’ve got to ask yourself one question: ‘Do I feel lucky?’ Well, do ya punk?”

The Empire Strikes Back

Misquote: “Luke, I am your father.”
Actual Quote: “No, I am your father.”