10 quotes
The Illusion of Control and Consequences
Bill
The woman lying dead in the morgue was the woman at the party.
Ziegler
Yes.
Bill
Well, Victor, maybe I'm missing something here. You call it fake, a charade... Do you mind telling me what kind of fucking charade ends up with somebody turning up dead!?
Ziegler
Okay, Bill, let's cut the bullshit, alright? You've been way out of your depth for the last twenty-four hours. You want to know what kind of charade? I'll tell you exactly what kind. That whole play-acted "take me" sacrifice that you've been jerking off with had nothing to do with her real death. Nothing happened after you left that hadn't happened to her before. She got her brains fucked out. Period.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Truth and Perception in Reality and Dreams
Bill
Are you sure of that?
Alice
Am I sure? Only as sure as I am that the reality of one night, let alone that of a whole lifetime, can ever be the whole truth.
Bill
And no dream is ever just a dream.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Journey to the End of the Rainbow
Bill
Now, where exactly are we going... exactly?
Gayle
Where the rainbow ends.
Bill
Where the rainbow ends?
Nuala
Don't you want to go where the rainbow ends?
Bill
Well, now that depends where that is.
Gayle
Well, let's find out.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Irrelevance of Professional Identity
Bill
You know what they say, once a doctor always a doctor.
Nick
Yes, or in my case, never a doctor, never a doctor.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Difficult Conversation Between Friends
Ziegler
Listen... Bill... The reason I, uh, asked you to come over is I... I... I need to talk to you about something.
Bill
Sure.
Ziegler
It's a little bit awkward. And I have to be completely frank.
Bill
What kind of problem you having?
Ziegler
It isn't a medical problem. Actually... it concerns you. Bill... I... I know what happened last night. And I know what's been going on since then. And I think you just might... have the wrong idea about one or two things.
Bill
I'm sorry, Victor. I, uh... what in the hell are you talking about?
[''chuckles'']
Ziegler
Please, Bill, no games. I was there. At the house. I saw everything that went on. Bill, what the hell did you think you were doing? I couldn't... I couldn't even begin to- to imagine how you- how you even heard about it, let alone got yourself through the door. Then I remembered seeing you with that- that- that- that prick piano player Nick whatever the fuck his name was at my party. And it didn't take much to figure out the rest.
Bill
It wasn't Nick's fault. It was mine.
Ziegler
Of course it was Nick's fault. If he hadn't mentioned it to you in the first place, none of this would've happened. I- I recommended that little cocksucker to those people and he's made me look like a complete asshole.
Bill
Victor? What can I say? I... I had... absolutely... no idea you were involved in any way.
Ziegler
I know you didn't, Bill. But I also know that you... you went to Nick's hotel this morning and talked to the desk clerk.
Bill
How do you know that?
Ziegler
Because I had you followed.
Bill
You had me followed?
Ziegler
I- Okay. Okay, I'm sorry. All right? I owe you an apology. This was for your own good, believe me. Now look, I know what the desk clerk told you, but what he didn't tell you is all they did was put Nick on a plane to Seattle. By now he's... he's probably back with his family, you know, banging Mrs. Nick.
Bill
The clerk said he had a bruise on his face.
Ziegler
Okay, he had a bruise on his face. That's a hell of a lot less than he deserves. Listen, Bill, I don't think you realize what kind of trouble you were in last night. Who do you think those people were? Those were not just ordinary people there. If I told you their names... I'm not gonna tell you their names, but if I did, I don't think you'll sleep so well.
Bill
Was it the second password? Is that what gave me away?
Ziegler
Yes, finally. But not because you didn't know it. It's because there was no second password. Of course, it didn't help a whole lot that those people arrived in limos and you showed up in a taxi. Or that when they took your coat, they found the receipt from the rental house in your pocket made out to you-know-who.
Bill
There was a... there was a... there was, uh, a woman there. Who, uh... tried to warn me.
Ziegler
I know.
Bill
Do you know who she was?
Ziegler
Yes. She was... she was a hooker. Sorry, but... that's what she was.
Bill
A hooker?
Ziegler
Bill, suppose I told you that... that everything that happened to you there... the threats, the- the girl's warnings, her last minute intervention, suppose I said that all of that... was staged. That it was a kind of charade. That it was fake.
Bill
Fake?
Ziegler
Yes, fake.
Bill
Why would they do that?
Ziegler
Why? In plain words... to scare the living shit out of you. To keep you quiet about where you'd been and what you'd seen.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Perceptions of Knowledge in Medicine
Gayle
Do you know what's so nice about doctors?
Bill
Usually a lot less than people imagine.
Gayle
They always seem so knowledgeable.
Bill
Oh, they are very knowledgeable about all sorts of things.
Gayle
But I bet they work too hard. Just think of all they miss.
Bill
You're probably right.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Password Exchange for Admittance
Red Cloak
Please, come forward. May I have the password?
[''pleasantly'']
Bill
Fidelio.
Red Cloak
That's correct, sir! That is the password... for admittance. But may I ask, what is the password for the house?
Bill
The password for the house...
Red Cloak
Yes?
Bill
I'm sorry. I... seem to have... forgotten it.
Red Cloak
That's unfortunate! Because here, it makes no difference whether you have forgotten it, or whether you never knew it. You will kindly remove your mask. Now, get undressed.
[''Bill removes mask'']
Bill
Get... undressed?
[''nervously'']
Red Cloak
Remove your clothes.
[''sternly'']
Bill
Uh... gentlemen...
Red Cloak
Remove your clothes. Or would you like us to do it for you?
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Critical Conversation About Love and Desire
Alice
I do love you and you know there is something very important we need to do as soon as possible.
Bill
What's that?
Alice
Fuck.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Complexities of Marriage and Deception
Sandor
Don't you think one of the charms of marriage is that it makes deception a necessity for both parties? May I ask why a beautiful woman who could have any man in this room wants to be married?
Alice
Why wouldn't she?
Sandor
Is it as bad as that?
Alice
As good as that!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Trust and Jealousy in Relationships
Alice
Tell me something. Those two girls... at the party last night... Did you, by any chance... happen to... fuck them?
Bill
What!? What, are you talking about?
Alice
I'm talking about the two girls that you were so blatantly hitting on.
Bill
I wasn't hitting on anybody.
Alice
Mmmmm. Who were they?
Bill
They were just a couple of models.
Alice
And where did you disappear to with them for so long?
Bill
Wait a minute. Wait a minute. I didn't disappear... with anybody. Ziegler wasn't feeling too well... and I got called upstairs to see him. Anyway, who was the guy you were dancing with?
Alice
A friend of the Ziegler's.
[''laughs'']
Bill
What did he want?
Alice
What did he want? Oh, what did he want? Mmmm, sex... upstairs. Then and there.
[''chuckles'']
Bill
Is that all?
Alice
Yeah. Yeah, that was all.
Bill
Just wanted to fuck my wife.
Alice
That's right.
[''laughs'']
Bill
I guess that's understandable.
Alice
Understandable?
[''confused'']
Bill
Because you are a very, very beautiful woman.
Alice
Whoa! Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait. So... because I'm a beautiful woman, the only reason any man ever wants to talk to me... is because he wants to fuck me? Is that what you're saying?
Bill
Well, I don't... think its quite that black and white. But... but I think we both know what men are like.
Alice
So, on that basis, I should conclude that you wanted to fuck those two models?
Bill
There are exceptions.
Alice
And what makes you an exception?
Bill
What makes me an exception is that... I happen to be in love with you. And because we're married, and because I would never lie to you. Or hurt you.
Alice
Do you realize... that what you're saying is that the only reason you wouldn't fuck those two models is out of consideration for me! Not because you really wouldn't want to!
Bill
Lets just relax, Alice. This pot is making you aggressive.
Alice
No! It's not the pot, it's you! Why can't you ever give me a straight fucking answer!?
Bill
I was under the impression that's what I was doing. I don't even know who we're arguing about here.
Alice
I'm not arguing. I'm just trying to find out where you're coming from.
Bill
Where I'm coming from?
Alice
Look, uh... let's say... Let's say, for example, you have some gorgeous woman, standing, in your office, naked and you're feeling her fucking tits. Now, what I want to know, I want to know what you're thinking about when you're squeezing them.
Bill
Alice, I happen to be a doctor. It's always very impersonal and you know there's always a nurse present.
Alice
So when you're feeling tits, it's nothing more than just your professionalism; is that what you're saying?
Bill
Exactly! Sex is the last thing on my mind when I'm with a patient.
Alice
Uh-huh. Now, when she is having her little titties squeezed, do you think she ever has any little fantasies about what handsome Dr. Bill's dickie might be like? Hmm?
Bill
Come on, I can assure you sex is the last thing on this hypothetical woman patient's mind!
[''scoffs'']
Alice
And what makes you so sure?
Bill
If for no better reason... because she's afraid of what I might find.
Alice
Okay! Okay, so, so, so, after you tell her that everything's fine, what then?
Bill
What then? Uh... I don't know, Alice... um... What then? Uh... look... women don't... They basically, just don't think like that.
Alice
Millions of years of evolution, right? Right!? Men have to stick it in every place they can, but for women it's just about security, and commitment, and- and whatever the fuck else!
Bill
A little oversimplified, Alice, but yes, something like that.
Alice
If you men only knew.
Bill
I'll tell you what I do know is you got a little stoned tonight, you've been trying to pick a fight with me, and now you're trying to make me jealous
Alice
But you're not the jealous type, are you?
Bill
No, I'm not!
Alice
You've never been jealous about me, have you?
Bill
No, I haven't.
Alice
And why haven't you ever been jealous about me!?
Bill
Well, I don't know, Alice! Maybe because you're my wife! Maybe because you're the mother of my child! And I know you would never be unfaithful to me.
Alice
You are very, very sure of yourself, aren't you?
Bill
No. I'm sure of you. Do you think that's funny? All right, fuck it. Now we get the fucking laughing fit, right!?
[''Alice bursts out laughing''; ''she continues laughing'']
Alice
Do you... do remember last summer at Cape Cod?
[''stops laughing'']
Bill
Yes.
Alice
Do you remember one night in the dining room, there was this young naval officer and he was sitting near our table with two other officers?
Bill
No.
Alice
The waiter brought him a message during dinner, at which point he left. Nothing rings a bell?
Bill
No.
Alice
Well... I first saw him that morning in the lobby. He was- he was checking into the hotel and he was following the bellboy with his luggage... to the elevator. He... he glanced at me as he walked past; just a glance. Nothing more. And I... could hardly... move. That afternoon, Helena went to the movie with her friend and... you and I made love. And we made plans about our future. And we talked about Helena. And yet, at no time, was he ever out of my mind. And I thought that if he wanted me, even if it was only... for one night... I was ready to give up everything. You. Helena. My whole fucking future. Everything. And yet it was weird because at the same time, you were dearer to me than ever. And... and at that moment, my love for you was both... tender... and sad. I... I barely slept that night. And I woke up the next morning in a panic. I don’t know if I was afraid that he had left or that he might still be there. But by dinner... I realized he was gone. And I was relieved.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.