Tear Jerker / The Elephant Man

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• The final scene of the movie. Merrick had just had the best day of his life after being invited to an Opera by a beautiful woman who seemed to care about him, and given a standing ovation by the audience when pointed to as a member of note. He goes to his bed and discards the huge amount of pillows that he needs to use to keep from dying in his sleep, gets down to the last one, looks at a painting of a man sleeping "normally" in his room, and... just watch the damn thing, it's too moving to convey right in print.
• Treves confirming that Merrick's condition is incurable, which he'd held off asking about from fear that this would be the case.
• Treves realizing he exploited Merrick toward his own ends.
• An in-universe example: when Dr. Treves sees Merrick for the first time, he is so overcome by his deformity that he stares, face frozen, and lets a single tear roll down his face.
• When Treves gets Merrick to greet Carr-Gomm for the first time, Carr-Gomm gets the impression he's just a simpleton going through a rote drill; then they leave, and you hear Merrick reciting the 23rd Psalm behind the closed door.
  Treves: I didn't teach him that!
  Merrick: I used to read The Bible every day, I know it very well — the Bible and the Book of Common Prayer. The twenty-third psalm is very beautiful — it's my favorite.
  Treves: Why didn't you tell me you could read?
  Merrick: You did not ask me. You wanted me to speak, but I was afraid.
• The infamous climactic scene at London's Liverpool Street station, where Merrick is pursued by a mob after accidentally knocking over a child while trying to evade harassment by a group of young boys. He is chased into the toilets, where he pleads for mercy.
  Merrick: NO! I am not an elephant! I am not an animal! I AM A HUMAN BEING! I am...a man...
  [he sobs, collapsing to the ground, exhausted and defeated]
• Treves rushing to give Merrick a big damn hug when he returns to the hospital.

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