Duel (1983) - Quotes

Man vs. Machine: A Life-or-Death Duel

Taglines: A duel is about to begin between a man, a truck and an open road. Where a simple battle of wits is now a matter of life and death.

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Bizarre Murder Weapon in Duel

Taglines: The most bizarre murder weapon ever used!

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The Truck's Headlights Reflect a Psychopath

Taglines: When the headlights of a truck become the eyes of a psychopath.

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Fear in the Rear View Mirror

Taglines: Terror in your rear view mirror.

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The Deadly Force of a Truck

Taglines: The Killer's Weapon - A 40 Ton Truck

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The Power of Fear as Motivation

Taglines: Fear is the driving force.

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Desperate Plea Amidst Limited Resources

David Mann: Call the police!

Snake Lady: With what? That's the only phone I got!

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Perceptions of Insanity in a Dangerous Situation

David Mann: That truck driver's crazy, he's been trying to kill me, I mean it!

Bus Driver: Well, mister, if I was to vote on who's crazy around here, it'd be you.

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A Tense Exchange in a Cafe

David Mann: [mistakenly thinking that the man eating a sandwich in the cafe is the truck driver harassing him] Look, uh... I want you to cut it out.

Man in Cafe: [bites into sandwich, chewing] Wha?

David Mann: Just... just cut it out, okay?

Man in Cafe: [bites into sandwich again, chewing] Cut what out?

David Mann: Now come on, let's uh... let's not play games.

Man in Cafe: What the hell you talkin about?

David Mann: I can call the police.

Man in Cafe: [stops eating, looks surprised] Police?

David Mann: You think that I won't? You're wrong, mister. I mean if you think you can just... just take that... that truck of yours and use it as a murder weapon and uh... killin people on the highway... you're wrong! You got another thing comin'!

Man in Cafe: [shakes head, fed up] Man, you need help.

David Mann: [Mann slaps the sandwich out of his hand] Don't you tell me I need help!

Cafe owner: [rushes over and hurriedly pulls the trucker off Mann] Heyy! Look at im! Who've you got to fight? You got nobody!

Man in Cafe: [grumbling] I lost my sandwich...

Cafe owner: [the man leaves, and the owner comes back to Mann] I'll buy you another sandwich, all right? How about a beer? I'll buy you a beer. All right, you get outta here, huh?

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

A Complication in the Cafe

Cafe owner: [as David Mann exits cafe restroom and enters dining area] Are you all right?

David Mann: Yeah, I'm fine.

Cafe owner: What happened out there?

David Mann: Oh, just a slight complication.

Cafe owner: [others laugh] Oh? Looked like a big complication to me.

Authority and Responsibility in Everyday Interactions

Gas station attendant: Looks like you could use a new radiator hose.

David Mann: [to himself; to the attendant] Yeah, where have I heard that before... I'll get one later, thanks.

Gas station attendant: You're the boss.

David Mann: Not in my house, I'm not.

Confronting a Relentless Pursuit

David Mann: [to himself, in Chuck's Cafe; pause; pauses] I don't know, all I did was pass this stupid rig a couple of times, and he goes flying off the deep end. He has to be crazy. Okay, so he's crazy. What can I do about it? Find him a psychiatrist? Oh, boy. Now wait a minute. Now wait just a minute. All right, now, think. Okay, he's in here. Well, that doesn't mean he intends to continue his attack. It is lunchtime, and Chuck's Cafe may be the only place to eat for miles around. Yeah. He probably eats here all the time. He was just moving too fast before, and he had to slow down, turn around, that's all. That's all. Why didn't I leave right away when I saw his truck outside? Then I'd know what he intends to do. What if he followed me out, though? Started after me again? I'd be right back where I started; even if I got a lead, he'd overtake me soon enough. He's got some, some, some souped up diesel; my car's just not that powerful, I just can't break eighty and ninety miles an hour. As soon as I stop concentrating, I'd go back to sixty or seventy like I always do; it's a habit, I can't help it, he's just... take it easy...just, take it easy.

David Mann's Reflection on Confrontation

David Mann: [[Doomtree; [Cecil Otter] * An edited version which uses most of the above clip in its entirety, is featured prominently in the ] track Duel featuring ].

Unpredictability of Life's Challenges

David Mann: [pauses] Well, you never know...you just never know. You just go along figuring some things don't change ever, like being able to drive on a public highway without someone trying to murder you. And then one stupid thing happens. Twenty, twenty-five minutes out of your whole life, and all the ropes that kept you hanging in there get cut loose, and it's like, there you are, right back in the jungle again. All right boy, it was a nightmare, but it's over now. It's all over.