21 quotes
Smoke and Breathing in the Car
Don Shirley
Could you put out the cigarette, please?
Tony Lip
Why?
Don Shirley
I can't breathe back here.
Tony Lip
What are you talkin about? Smoke's going down my lungs. I'm doin all the work here.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Importance of Dignity Over Violence
Don Shirley
You never win with violence, Tony. You only win when you maintain your dignity.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Trusting the Itinerary Over Worries
Tony Lip
Ain't they supposed to be following us?
Don Shirley
They have the itinerary. As long as they get to the show on time, I'm not worried about it, and neither should you.
Tony Lip
I ain't worried about nothin'... In fact, when you see me worried? You'll know.
Don Shirley
Tony...
Tony Lip
You'll know if I'm worried...
Don Shirley
How bout some quiet time? Hmm?
Tony Lip
Sure. It's amazing you said that. "How bout some quiet time?" Dolores, my wife, used to say that all the time... Well, not all the time but, y'know, she says it when, when I come home from work sometime, you know, she been with the kids all day and she'll say, "Tony? How bout some quiet time?" Exactly like how you said it! I mean, it's amazing...
[Shrugging; Chuckles]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Navigating Complicated World of Nightclubs
Don Shirley
Tony! I'm sorry about last night.
Tony Lip
...Don't worry bout it. I been working nightclubs in New York City my whole life. I know it's a... complicated world.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Friendly Bet Between Two Characters
Dr. Don Shirley
I’ve been looking for you.
Tony Lip
Yeah, sorry. The guys were having a little game.
Dr. Don Shirley
Next time you need extra money, just ask me.
Tony Lip
It’s more fun winning it.
Dr. Don Shirley
And what if you lost?
Tony Lip
Craps and cards. I don’t lose, Doc. I don’t lose.
Dr. Don Shirley
So stooping down in the gravel pitching dice for pocket change makes you a winner?
Tony Lip
What are you giving me shit for? Everybody was doing it.
Dr. Don Shirley
They didn’t have a choice whether to be inside or out. You did. Now, wipe off your knees. You have dirt on them.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Seeking Protection on a Journey
Tony Lip
This could get bad, Doc.
[Surveying the snow]
Don Shirley
Yes. It's a shame we don't have something to protect us on our journey. Oh, I know. Why don't you put your lucky rock up on the dash, Tony? Come on, Tony, we need all the help we can get.
Don Shirley
Thank you. I feel safer already.
Tony Lip
You're a real prick, you know that?
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Embracing Unique Musical Identity
Tony Lip
I dunno. Personally I think if you stuck to the classic stuff it would've been a big mistake.
Don Shirley
A mistake? Performing the music I trained my entire life to play?
Tony Lip
Trained? What are you, a seal? People love what you do! Anyone can sound like ] or ] or them other guys you said. But your music, what you do? Only you can do that!
[[Beethoven; [Chopin|Joe Pan]
Don Shirley
Thank you, Tony. But not everyone can play Chopin. Not like I can.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Conversation About Actions and Consequences
Don Shirley
Before we pull out, Tony, we need to have a talk.
Tony Lip
Yeah?
Don Shirley
Oleg told me what you did.
Tony Lip
What'd I do?
Don Shirley
You stole a jade stone from the store.
Tony Lip
No I didn't.
Don Shirley
He watched you do it.
Tony Lip
I didn't steal no stone.
Don Shirley
You picked it up and put it in your pocket.
Tony Lip
I picked up a rock off of the ground. I didn't steal it from a box.
Don Shirley
Now why would you pick up a rock off the ground?
Tony Lip
I don't know. Cause it ain't stealing. It's just a regular rock.
Don Shirley
And why would you want a regular rock?
Tony Lip
To have. For luck, maybe.
Don Shirley
A lucky rock.
Tony Lip
Yeah.
Don Shirley
Let me see it. Mm-hmm. Take it back and pay for it.
[Don holds out his hand; reluctantly Tony hands him the rock]
Tony Lip
I told you that Kraut was a snake. Rats me out for something I didn't even do!
[swears in Italian]
Don Shirley
Pay for the stone, Tony; you'll feel better.
Tony Lip
I feel fine! And I ain't paying for no regular rock I found in the dirt.
[starts to drive]
Don Shirley
Do not drive, Mr. Vallelonga. Put it back.
[Tony stops]
Don Shirley
Feel better?
Tony Lip
No.
Don Shirley
If you like, Tony, I'd happily buy you the stone.
Tony Lip
Don't bother. You took all the fun out of it.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Origins of a Nickname
Don Shirley
So where did this "Tony the Lip" moniker come from?
Tony Lip
It's not "Tony the Lip", it's "Tony Lip". One word. I got it when I was a kid cause my friends said I was the best bullshit artist in the Bronx.
[laughs; Chuckles]
Don Shirley
Why are you smiling?
[Horrified]
Tony Lip
What do you mean?
Don Shirley
It doesn't bother you that your friends – the people closest to you – consider you a liar?
Tony Lip
Who said liar? I said bullshit artist!
Don Shirley
And what's the difference?
Tony Lip
Cause I don't lie! Ever! I'm just good at talkin people into... y'know, doin things they don't wanna do... By bullshittin em.
[Grins]
Don Shirley
And you're proud of that?
Tony Lip
Well, it got me this job.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Self-Interest vs. Genuine Concern in Relationships
Tony Lip
You know, if this got out, it would kill your career.
Don Shirley
OK Tony, I need you to stop it with the phony altruism and concern for my career.
Tony Lip
The hell's that mean?
Don Shirley
You were only thinking about yourself back there because you know if I miss a show it'd come out of your pocketbook.
Tony Lip
Of course I don't want you to miss a show, you ungrateful bastard! You think I'm doing this for my health? Tonight I saved your ass! So show a little appreciation, maybe! Besides, I told you never to go nowhere without me!
Don Shirley
...I assumed you'd want this to be the exception.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Self-Interest Over Civic Duty
Tony Lip
It's like what your friend the President said, "Ask not... Your country, what you could do for it. Ask what you do for yourself." Y'know?
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Disappointment in Pittsburgh's Expectations
Tony Lip
You know, Doc, something's been eating at me this whole trip.
Don Shirley
Hmm?
Tony Lip
That Titsburgh was a major disappointment. I didn't notice any difference at all. Did you?
Don Shirley
Good night, Tony.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Appreciating the Taste of Southern Fried Chicken
Tony Lip
Mmm. I think this is the best Kentucky Fried Chicken I ever had. But I guess it's fresher down here, right?
[Eating KFC in Kentucky]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Humorous Take on Letter Writing
Don Shirley
What on God's green earth are you doing?
Tony Lip
A letter.
Don Shirley
Looks more like a piecemeal ransom note. May I? "Dear Dolores"... D-E-A-R. This is an animal. "I'm meeting all the highly leading citizens of the town. People that use big words, all of them. But you know me, I get by. I'm a good bullshitter." Two Ts in bullshitter. "As I'm writing this letter, I'm eating potato chips, and I'm starting to get thirsty. I washed my socks and dried them on the TV. I should have... brung... the iron..." You know this is pathetic, right?
[taps paper]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Struggles of Identity and Acceptance
Don Shirley
Yes, I live in a castle, Tony! Alone. And rich white people pay me to play piano for them because it makes them feel cultured. But as soon as I step off that stage, I go right back to being just another negro to them. Because that is their true culture. And I suffer that side alone, because I'm not accepted by my own people cause I'm not like them, either. So if I'm not black enough and if I'm not white enough and if I'm not man enough then tell me, Tony, what am I!?
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Warm Welcome and Holiday Greeting
Dolores
Hello.
Don Shirley
You must be Dolores.
Dolores
Welcome!
Don Shirley
Buon natale. Thank you for sharing your husband with me.
Dolores
Thank you for helping him with the letters.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Musician Prepares for Southern Concert Tour
Don Shirley
I am not a medical doctor. I'm a musician. I'm about to embark on a concert tour in the Deep South. What other experience do you have?
Tony Lip
Public relations.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Live Life with Full Commitment
Tony Lip
You know, my father used to say, whatever you do, do it 100%. When you work, work. When you laugh, laugh. When you eat, eat like it's your last meal.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Misunderstanding the Album Title
Tony Lip
You know, when you first hired me, my wife went out and bought one of your records. The one about the orphans?
Don Shirley
Orphans?
Tony Lip
Yeah. Cover had a bunch of kids sittin around a campfire?
Don Shirley
Orpheus.
Tony Lip
...Yeah.
Don Shirley
]. It's based on a French opera. And those weren't children on the cover, those were demons in the bowels of Hell.
[[w:Orpheus in the Underworld|Orpheus in the Underworld]
Tony Lip
No shit! They must've been naughty kids!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Family Connections and Unexpected Talents
Louie Venere
I got to admit... Lip's letters? They're not bad.
Rudy Vallelonga
Well, it's in the family. They say our great-great-great-grandfather helped ] with the ].
[[Da Vinci; [w:Sistine Chapel|Sixteen Chapel]
Johnny Venere
You mean ].
[[Michelangelo|Michaelangelo]
Rudy Vallelonga
...Right.
Johnny Venere
What does Michaelangelo have to do with writing letters?
Rudy Vallelonga
I'm just sayin'. We're an arty family.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Loneliness and Fear of Connection
Tony Lip
The world is full of lonely people afraid to make the first move.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.