32 quotes
Request for Documentation Verification
Sam Lowry
Have you got a 27B stroke 6?
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Discussion of Jack's Family Situation
Sam Lowry
Is that one of your triplets?
Jack Lint
Yeah, probably.
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Dreams of Love and Extraordinary Feelings
Sam Lowry
You won't believe this, I know it's going to sound incredible, but I've been dreaming about you. No, not like that. I mean, I love you - in my dreams - I love you. And, uh...Extraordinary, isn't it?
[to Jill]
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Navigating Bureaucratic Obstacles in Brazil
Sam Lowry
Excuse me, Dawson, can you put me through to Mr. Helpmann's office?
Dawson
I'm afraid I can't sir. You have to go through the proper channels.
Sam Lowry
And you can't tell me what the proper channels are, because that's classified ]?
[[information]
Dawson
I'm ] to ] the Ministry's continuing its tradition of recruiting the brightest and best, sir.
[[glad; [see]
Sam Lowry
Thank you, Dawson.
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The Importance of Following Procedures
Sam Lowry
Sorry, I'm a bit of a stickler for paperwork. Where would we be if we didn't follow the correct procedures?
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Curiosity about someone's appearance and authenticity
Sam Lowry
Yes, I always used to wonder if she wore falsies. False ears...
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Frustration with Bureaucracy and Lost Freedom
Harry Tuttle
Bloody paperwork. Huh!
Sam Lowry
I suppose one has to expect a certain amount.
Harry Tuttle
Why? I came into this game for the action, the excitement. Go anywhere, travel light, get in, get out, wherever there's trouble, a man alone. Now they've got the whole country sectioned off. You can't move without a form.
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Desire and Ambition in Information Retrieval
Sam Lowry
Mr. Helpmann, I'm keen to get into Information Retrieval. Mr. Helpmann, I'm dying to get at this woman... no, no, no.
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Misidentification and Accountability in Information Systems
Sam Lowry
I only ] you got the ] man.
[[know; [wrong]
Jack Lint
Information Transit got to wrong man. I got the right man. The wrong man was delivered to me as the right man. I accepted him on ] ] as the right man. Was I wrong?
[[good; [faith]
Sam Lowry
You killed Buttle?
Jack Lint
Sam, there are very rigid parameters laid down to prevent such things happening. It wasn't my fault that Buttle's heart condition didn't appear on Tuttle's file... We're going to have to bring Mr. Tuttle in, aren't we? And interrogate him at the same voltage as Mr. Buttle - and juggle the books in electrical banking.
Sam Lowry
What has Tuttle done?
Jack Lint
We suspect him of, uh, free lance subversion. Then all I need to wrap up the case is the Layton woman.
Sam Lowry
What has she done?
Jack Lint
Oh, she witnessed the Tuttle, uhm, the Buttle arrest and essentially is going around making wild allegations, obviously trying to exploit the situation. She's working for someone and I don't think it's us.
Sam Lowry
A terrorist?
[softly to himself]
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Confusion in Bureaucratic Record-Keeping
Sam Lowry
Better still, send it to Buttle, after all it's his cheque.
Kurtzmann
I've tried that. Look at this/ You see? The population census has got him down as dormanted. The Central Collective Storehouse computer has got him down as deleted...
[shows Sam a file]
Sam Lowry
Hang on.
[goes to computer terminal and begins typing]
Kurtzman
...Information Retrieval has got him down as inoperative. And there's another one - Security has got him down as excised. Administration's got him down as completed...
Sam Lowry
He's dead.
Kurtzman
L... Dead? Well, that's awful!
[pause]
Kurtzman
We'll never get rid of the damn thing now! What are we going to do Sam?
[desperately]
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Absurdity of Bureaucracy and Compliance
Arresting Officer
That is your receipt for your husband... and this is my receipt for your receipt.
Bill, Department of Works
Mistakes? We don't make mistakes.
Charlie, Department of Works
Bloody typical, they've gone back to metric without telling us.
Guard
Don't fight it, son. Confess quickly! If you hold out too long you could jeopardize your credit rating.
Mr. Warrenn
Ahhhh! Here we are. Your very own number, on your very own door. And behind that door, your very own office! Congratulations, DZ-stroke-oh-one-five. Welcome to the team!
Mr. Warrenn
And what the hell is this mess. An empty desk is an efficient desk...I don't know what's going on here, Lowry, but don't think you can intimidate us with your friends and relatives in high places. NOW SHAPE UP!
Kurtzmann
It's been confusion from the word go! He's been overcharged for Information Retrieval Procedures and someone somewhere is trying to make us carry the can.
Jack Lint
We've always been close, haven't we? Well, until this whole thing blows over, just stay away from me.
Jack Lint
This is information retrieval not information dispersal.
Dr. Lewis Jaffe
Can you believe it? Just me and my little knife. Snip, snip, slice, slice...But this is just the beginning...You've seen her with her clothes off. Faces are a doddle compared to tits and ass. No hairlines.
Dr. Chapman
That technique...I've tried it. A nice effect, but highly unstable. In six months, she'll look like Grandma Moses.
Spoor
Where'd you get this from, eh? Out yer nostril?
Spoor
All you've got to do is blow your nose and it's fixed, in't it?
Holly
Put it on, big boy. I won't look at your willy.
Mrs. Terrain
My complication had a little complication. But Dr. Jaffe says I'll soon be up and bounding about like a young gazelle.
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Reporting to Mr. Warrenn in Brazil
Sam Lowry
My name's Lowry. Sam Lowry. I've been told to report to Mr. Warrenn.
Porter - Information Retrieval
Thirtieth floor, sir. You're expected.
Sam Lowry
Um... don't you want to search me?
Porter - Information Retrieval
No sir.
Sam Lowry
Do you want to see my ID?
Porter - Information Retrieval
No need, sir.
Sam Lowry
But I could be anybody.
Porter - Information Retrieval
No you couldn't sir. This is Information Retrieval.
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Frustration with Bureaucratic Red Tape
Archibald Harry Tuttle
Listen, this whole system of yours could be on fire and I couldn't even turn on the kitchen tap without filling out a twenty-seven B stroke six... bloody paperwork.
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Time and Memories in Conversation
Sam Lowry
Remember me to Alison and the twins.
Jack Lint
Triplets.
Sam Lowry
Triplets? God, how time flies.
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Personnel Code Confusion in Brazil
Sam Lowry
It's not the machine. There's a mismatch on the personnel code numbers... Tuttle should have had £31.06, debited against his account, not Buttle!
Kurtzman
Oh my ], a ]!
[horrified; [God; [mistake]
Sam Lowry
Well at least it's not ours.
Kurtzman
Isn't it? Whose is it?
[eagerly]
Sam Lowry
Information Retrieval.
Kurtzman
Oh, ]!
[smiling; [good]
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Ministry's Commitment to Complaints Handling
Sam Lowry
I do assure you, Mrs. Buttle, the Ministry is very scrupulous about following up and eradicating any ]. If you have any complaints which you'd like to make, I'd be more than happy to send you the appropriate forms.
[[error]
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The Ghost in the Machine
Mr. Helpmann
Ere I am, J.H. ...The ghost in the machine.
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Mutual Trust in Relationships
Sam Lowry
Anyway, if I want you to trust me, it's only fair that I should trust you, right?
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A Different Perspective on Unusual Situations
Archibald Harry Tuttle
Well, that's a pipe of a different color.
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Questioning the Cost of Crime on Society
Mr. Helpmann
Why should decent law-abiding citizens have to subsidize criminals?
Interviewer
But Mr. Helpmann, the bombing campaign is now in its thirteenth year.
Mr. Helpmann
Beginner's ].
[[luck]
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Promoting Modern Ducts in a Commercial Setting
Singers
Central Services: We do the ], you do the ].
[TV commercial jingle; [work; [pleasure]
TV commercial pitchman
Hi, there. I want to talk to you about ducts. Do your ducts seem old fashioned, out of date? Central Services new duct designs are now available in hundreds of different colors to suit your individual tastes.
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Apathy Towards Aspirations and Desires
Sam Lowry
I don't want dessert. I don't want a promotion. I don't want anything.
Mrs. Lowry
Of course you want something. You must have hopes, wishes, dreams.
Sam Lowry
No, nothing. Not even dreams!
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The Cost of Information and Accountability
Interviewer
What do you believe is behind this recent increase in terrorist bombings?
Mr. Helpmann
Bad sportsmanship. A ruthless minority of people seems to have forgotten certain good old-fashioned virtues. They just can't stand seeing the other fellow win. If these people would just play the game, they'd get a lot more out of life.
Interviewer
Nevertheless, Mr. Helpmann, there are those who maintain that the Ministry of Information has become too large and unwieldy...And the cost of it all, Deputy Minister? Seven percent of the gross national product.
Mr. Helpmann
I understand this concern on behalf of the tax payers. People want value for money. That's why we always insist on the principle of Information Retrieval charges. It's absolutely right and fair that those found guilty should pay for their periods of detention and for the Information Retrieval Procedures used in their interrogation.
Interviewer
Do you believe that the government is winning the battle against terrorists?
Mr. Helpmann
Oh, yes. Our morale is much higher than theirs. We're fielding all their strokes, running a lot of them out, and pretty consistently knocking them for six. I'd say they're nearly out of the game.
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A Refund Amidst Personal Tragedy
Sam Lowry
It's a refund, actually. There was a mistake.
Mrs. Buttle
Mistake?
Sam Lowry
Yes, they don't usually make mistakes, but, uh, well, I suppose we're all human...Actually, you know, my coming here is rather unorthodox, bringing you this check as any payments are normally made through central computer, but, uhm, well, as there were certain difficulties, we thought, well, rather than cause delay, uh, we'd let you have it now - you know, it being Christmas and all.
Mrs. Buttle
My husband's dead, isn't he?
Sam Lowry
Uhm, I do assure you, Mrs. Buttle, the Ministry is very scrupulous about following up and eradicating any error. But if you do have any complaints you wish to make, I'd be, well, only too happy to send you the appropriate forms.
Mrs. Buttle
What have you done with his body?...
Sam Lowry
Uhmm, I don't know anything about that, Mrs. Buttle. I'm really just delivering the check. So if, uhm, look, if you wouldn't mind just signing these two receipts, I'd be only too happy to, uh, to leave you in peace...
Mrs. Buttle
He hadn't done anything. He was good! What have you done with his body?
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Struggling with uncertainty and desire
Sam Lowry
Yes... No... I don't ]. I don't know what I want.
[[know]
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A Little Girl's Wish for Independence
Santa Claus
What would you like for ]?
[[Christmas]
Little girl
My own credit card.
[on his lap]
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Deserving and Well-Being in Brazil
Sam Lowry
Are you alright?
Jill Layton
Yeah.
Sam Lowry
Well, you don't deserve to be!
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Personal Boundaries in Confined Spaces
Jill Layton
Get out of my cab.
Sam Lowry
What? Just drive!
Jill Layton
You touched me, nobody touches me.
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Balancing Technology and Human Relationships
Harvey Lime
Computers are my forte.
[bragging]
Sam Lowry
Let me see. Gillian Layton. Coloring white. Hair blonde. Eyes blue. Height, five-foot, four. Distinguishing marks, scar on left...Is this all you got?
[He grabs the page]
Harvey Lime
Best to take things slowly where some women are concerned.
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Stay Focused Until the End
Mr. Helpmann
All I can say is don't fall at the last fence. The finishing post's in sight. See you in the paddock... keep your eye on the ball.
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Acknowledgment of Loss and Resignation
Mr. Helpmann
Jill? Yes... Sam I think I ought to tell you. I'm afraid she's upped stumps and retired to the pavilion. Thrown in the towel.
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Unity in Shared Struggles
Archibald Harry Tuttle
Listen, kid, we're all in it together.
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