Lorrell: That feels nice... I mean it feels funny! You're married, aren't you?
James 'Thunder' Early: Baby, everybody knows Jimmy's married!
Lorrell: Well, you get your married hands off!

Effie: Tell me something, Curtis. Do you think it's right to promote an amatuer performer over a professional?
Curtis: I'm not sure what this is about...
Effie: It's about fairness, Curtis. It's about people paying their dues. Isn't that what you keep telling me? "Get in line, Effie. Wait your turn". So why am I sitting here without so much as a B side on a 45 when an amatuer like Martin Luther King Jr. gets his own album? I mean, can he even sing?

Effie: That's right Curtis. You stopped me once, but you'll never stop me again. Cause this time, Effie White's gonna win.

Effie: So... Deena's going to sing lead because you like the way she looks. Am I ugly to you, Curtis?
Curtis: No! You know how I feel about you, baby. Don't make this personal.
Effie: Well, what am I supposed to do? Deena's beautiful, and she's always been beautiful... but I've got the voice, Curtis! I've got the voice! You can't put me in back; you just can't!