16 quotes
A Unique Entrance and Personal Expression
Murray Franklin
Well, that was quite an entrance. You okay?
Joker
Yeah. This is exactly how I imagined it.
Murray Franklin
Well, that makes one of us.
Murray Franklin
So, can you tell us about this look? When we spoke earlier, you mentioned that this look is not a political statement. Is that right?
Joker
That’s right, Murray. I’m not political. I’m just trying to make people laugh.
Murray Franklin
And how’s that going for you?
Murray Franklin
So, I know you’re a comedian. You’ve been working on any new material? You wanna tell us a joke?
Murray Franklin
He’s got a book. A book of jokes. Take your time. We’ve got all night.
[audience laughs]
Joker
Okay, okay, here’s one. Knock, knock.
Murray Franklin
And you had to look that up?
Joker
I want to get it right. Knock, knock.
Murray Franklin
Who's there?
[audience laughs]
Joker
It's the police, ma'am. Your son's been hit by a drunk driver. He's dead.
[laughs; audience gasps; musician in band goes "wah-wah" on trombone]
Dr. Sally
Oh, no, no, no. No, you cannot joke about that.
[unsettled]
Murray Franklin
Yeah, that's not funny, Arthur. That's not the kind of humor we do on this show.
[tense and somewhat spooked]
Joker
Okay... Yeah, you know what? I-I’m sor-I'm sorry. I know. It's just, you know, it's been a rough few weeks, Murray. Ever since I... killed those three Wall Street guys.
Murray Franklin
Okay, I'm waiting for the punchline.
[confused, but trying to stay in character]
Joker
There is no punchline. It's not a joke.
Murray Franklin
You're serious, aren't you? You're telling us you killed those three young men on the subway?
[a bit concerned and edgy]
Joker
Mm-hmm.
Murray Franklin
And why should we believe you?
Joker
I got nothing left to lose. Nothing can hurt me anymore. My life... is nothing but a comedy.
[chuckles and scoffs]
Murray Franklin
Well, let me get this straight, you think that killing those guys is funny?
Joker
I do. And I'm tired of pretending it's not. Comedy is subjective, Murray. Isn't that what they say? All of you, the system that knows so much, you decide what's right or wrong. The same way that you decide what's funny or not.
[points to himself; gestures over to Murray]
Audience Member
Get him off!
[angry yet frightened]
Murray Franklin
Well, o-okay, I-I think... I-I might understand that you... did this to start a movement? To become a-a symbol?
[trying to stay composed]
Joker
C'mon, Mur-ray. Do I look like the kind of clown that could start a movement? I killed those guys because they were awful. Everybody is awful these days. It's enough to make anyone crazy.
Murray Franklin
Okay. So that's it, you're crazy? That's your defense for killing three young men?
Joker
No. They couldn't carry a tune to save their lives. Ugh, why is everybody so upset about these guys? If it was me dying on the sidewalk, you'd walk right over me! I pass you every day, and you don't notice me! But these guys... What, because Thomas Wayne went and cried about them on TV?!
[smugly; the crowd boos and jeers; Joker/Arthur grows frustrated]
Murray Franklin
You have a problem with Thomas Wayne?
Joker
Yes, I do. Have you seen what it's like out there, Mur-ray? Do you ever actually leave the studio? Everybody just yells, shouts, and screams at each other. Nobody’s civil anymore! Nobody thinks what it's like to be the other guy. You think men like Thomas Wayne ever think what it's like to be someone like me? To be somebody but themselves? They don't. They think we'll all just sit there and take it like good little boys! That we won't werewolf and go wild!
Murray Franklin
You finished? I mean, there’s so much self-pity, Arthur. You sound like you're making excuses for killing those young men. Not everybody, and I'll tell you this, not everyone is awful.
[growing impatient]
Joker
You're awful, Murray.
[coldly whispers]
Murray Franklin
Me? I'm awful? Oh, yeah, how am I awful?
Joker
Playing my video. Inviting me on the show. You just wanted to make fun of me. You're just like the rest of em.
Murray Franklin
You don't know the first thing about me, pal. Look what happened because of what you did, what it led to. There are riots out there. Two policemen are in critical condition, and you're laughing. You're laughing. Someone was killed today because of what you did.
[offended; Joker starts to laugh]
Joker
I know. How about another joke, Mur-ray?
[giggling]
Murray Franklin
No, I think we’ve had enough of your jokes.
Joker
What do you get...
Murray Franklin
I don't think so.
Joker
...When you cross...
Murray Franklin
I think we're done with your jokes, that's it.
Joker
...A mentally-ill loner with a SOCIETY THAT ABANDONS HIM AND TREATS HIM LIKE TRASH?!
Murray Franklin
Call the police, Gene!
Joker
I'll tell you what you get!
Murray Franklin
Call the police!
Joker
YOU GET WHAT YOU FUCKIN’ DESERVE!!!
Joker
Goodnight. And always remember, that’s li- ]; as "]" plays in the background, the shot gradually pulls away to reveal a multitude of news reports of Joker's act, revealing he was arrested almost immediately]
[the signal is suddenly cut off, replaced with an [[w:Indian Head test pattern|Indian Head test pattern; [w:Spanish Flea|Spanish Flea]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Joke That Goes Unshared
Psychiatrist
What's so funny?
Arthur
I was just thinking... just thinking of a joke.
[laughing and chuckling some more]
Psychiatrist
Do you wanna tell it to me?
Arthur
You wouldn't get it.
[softly whispers]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Plans for the City Hall Rally
Gary
Did you, er, get a new gig?
Joker
Nah.
Randall
Oh, you must be going down to that rally in City Hall. I hear it's gonna be nuts
Joker
Oh, is that today?
Randall
Yeah... Well, what's with the make-up, then?
Joker
My Mom died. I'm celebrating.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Struggles of Existence and Perception
Arthur Fleck / Joker
You don't listen, do you? You just ask the same questions every week. "How's your job?" "Are you having negative thoughts?" All I have are negative thoughts. But you don’t listen anyway. I said, for my whole life, I didn’t know if I even really existed. But I do. And people are starting to notice.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Introducing the Joker Character
Arthur Fleck / Joker
When you bring me out, can you introduce me as Joker?
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Perceptions of a Changing World
Arthur Fleck / Joker
Is it just me.….or is it getting crazier out there?
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Seeking Connection and Understanding in Isolation
Arthur Fleck / Joker
I know it seems strange, I don't mean to make you uncomfortable, I don't know why everyone is so rude, I don't know why you are; I don't want anything from you. Maybe a little warmth, maybe a hug, “Dad“, maybe just a bit of common fucking decency!
[to Thomas Wayne]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Expectations of Normalcy with Mental Illness
Arthur Fleck / Joker
The worst part of having a mental illness is people expect you to behave as if you don't.
[written in notebook]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Beauty in Chaos
Cop 1
Stop laughing, you freak, this isn't funny.
Cop 2
Yeah, the whole fucking city's on fire all because of you.
Joker
I know. Isn’t it beautiful?
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Identity and Perception in Arthur's Reality
Arthur
I heard this song on the radio the other day, and the guy was singing that his name was Carnival.
Social Worker
Arthur...
Arthur
Which is crazy, because that’s my clown name at work. And until a little while ago, it was like nobody ever saw me. Even I didn’t know if I really existed.
Social Worker
Arthur, I have some bad news for you.
Arthur
You don’t listen, do you? I don’t think you ever really hear me. You just ask the same questions every week. “How’s your job? Are you having any negative thoughts?” All I have are negative thoughts, but you don’t listen anyway. I said, for my whole life, I didn’t know if I even really existed. But I do. And people are starting to notice.
Social Worker
They’ve cut our funding. We’re closing down our offices next week. The city has cut funding across the board. Social Services is part of that. This is the last time we’ll be meeting.
Arthur
Okay.
Social Worker
They don’t give a shit about people like you, Arthur. And they really don’t give a shit about people like me either.
Arthur
How am I supposed to get my medication now? Who do I talk to?
Social Worker
I’m sorry, Arthur.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Hope for Meaning in Life and Death
Arthur Fleck / Joker
I just hope my death makes more cents than my life.
[written in notebook]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Embracing Authenticity Amidst Misunderstanding
Arthur Fleck / Joker
You know, you used to tell me...that my laugh was a condition. That there was something wrong with me. There isn’t. That’s the real me.
[to Penny Fleck]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Life's Tragedy Turns to Comedy
Arthur Fleck / Joker
You know what’s funny? You know what really makes me laugh? I used to think that my life was a tragedy...but now I realize...it's a fucking comedy.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Aspiration in Stand-Up Comedy
Arthur Fleck / Joker
Everybody's telling me that my stand-up's ready for the big clubs.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Lifetime of Unhappiness
Arthur Fleck / Joker
I haven't been happy one minute of my entire fucking life.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Anticipation of a TV Appearance
Arthur Fleck / Joker
Do you watch Murray Franklin's show? I'm gonna be on tonight. It's fuckin crazy, innit? Me on the telly?
[in a Cockney accent]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.