Taxi Driver Quotes

Travis I can't sleep nights.

Personnel Officer There's porno theaters for that.

Travis I know. I tried that.

Personnel Officer So whaddaya do now?

Travis I ride around nights mostly. Subways, buses. Figure you know, I'm gonna do that, I might as well get paid for it.

Personnel Officer Wanna work uptown nights - South Bronx, Harlem?

Travis I'll work any time, anywhere.

Personnel Officer Will ya work Jewish holidays?

Travis Any time, anywhere.

Personnel Officer All right. Let me see your chauffeur's license. How's your driving record?

Travis It's clean, real clean - like my conscience...

Travis Bickle All my life needed was a sense of someplace to go. I don't believe that one should devote his life to morbid self-attention. I believe that someone should become a person like other people.

Travis Bickle I called Betsy again at her office and she said maybe we'd go to a movie together after she gets off work tomorrow. That's my day off. At first she hesitated but I called her again and then she agreed. Betsy, Betsy. Oh no, Betsy what? I forgot to ask her last name again. Damn. I got to remember stuff like that.

Travis Bickle May 26. Four o'clock p.m. I took Betsy to Charles Coffee Shop on Columbus Circle. I had black coffee and apple pie with a slice of melted yellow cheese. I think that was a good selection. Betsy had coffee and a fruit salad dish. She could have had anything she wanted.

Tom Now look, you have to emphasize the mandatory welfare program. That's the issue that should be pushed.

Betsy First push the man, then the issue. Senator Palantine is a dynamic man, an intelligent, interesting, fresh, fascinating...

Tom Forgot sexy.

Betsy ...man. I did not forget sexy.

Tom Listen to what you're saying. You sound like you're selling mouthwash.

Betsy We are selling mouthwash.

Tom Are we authorized to do that?

Betsy And why do you feel that you have to volunteer to me?

Travis Because I think that you are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen.

Betsy Thanks. But what do you think of Palantine? ...Charles Palantine, the man you're volunteering to help elect President.

Travis Well, I'm sure he'd make a good ]. I don't know exactly what his policies are, but I'm sure he'd make a good one.

Betsy Do you want to canvass?

Travis Yeah, I'll canvass.

Senator Charles Palantine We meet at a crossroads in history. No longer will the wrong roads be taken.

Travis Bickle Each night when I return the cab to the garage, I have to clean the cum off the back seat. Some nights, I clean off the blood.

Travis I would say he has quite a few problems. His energy seems to go in the wrong places. When I walked in and I saw you two sitting there, I could just tell by the way you were both relating that there was no connection whatsoever. And I felt when I walked in that there was something between us. There was an impulse that we were both following. So that gave me the right to come in and talk to you. Otherwise I never would have felt that I had the right to talk to you or say anything to you. I never would have had the courage to talk to you. And with him I felt there was nothing and I could sense it. When I walked in, I knew I was right. Did you feel that way?

Betsy I wouldn't be here if I didn't.

Travis ...That fellow you work with. I don't like him. Not that I don't like him, I just think he's silly. I don't think he respects you.

Betsy I don't believe I've ever met anyone quite like you.

Travis Bickle June 29. I gotta get in shape now. Too much sittin is ruinin my body. Too much abuse has gone on for too long. From now on, it will be fifty push-ups each morning, fifty pull-ups. There'll be no more pills, there'll be no more bad food, no more destroyers of my body. From now on, it will be total organization. Every muscle must be tight.

Travis I know what you mean. I've got the same problems. I gotta get organized. Oh little things, like my apartment, my possessions. I should get one of those signs that says "One of these days I'm gonna get organizized.

Betsy You mean "organized"?

Travis Organiziezed. Organiziezed - it's a joke. O-R-G-A-N-E-Z-I-E-Z-D.

Betsy Oh, you mean Organizized'. Like those little signs they have in offices that say "Thimk".

Travis Bickle [Travis is trying his guns on the mirror] Huh? Huh? [Draws]

Travis Bickle Faster than you, fucking son of a... Saw you coming you fucking... shitheel. [Reholsters]

Travis Bickle I'm standing here; you make the move. You make the move. It's your move... [Draws]

Travis Bickle Don't try it you fuck. [Reholsters]

Travis Bickle You talkin' to me? You talkin' to me? You talkin' to me? Then who the hell else are you talking... you talking to me? Well I'm the only one here. Who the fuck do you think you're talking to? Oh yeah? OK. [Draws]

Travis Bickle You're only as healthy as you feel.

Travis Bickle Dear Iris: This money should be used for your trip. By the time you read this, I will be dead. Travis.

Travis Bickle Dear Father and Mother: ] is the month I remember which brings not only your wedding anniversary but also Father's Day and Mother's birthday. I'm sorry I can't remember the exact dates, but I hope this card will take care of them all. I'm sorry again I cannot send you my address like I promised to last year. But the sensitive nature of my work for the government demands utmost secrecy. I know you will understand. I am healthy and well and making lots of money. I have been going with a girl for several months and I know you would be proud if you could see her. Her name is Betsy but I can tell you no more than that...I hope this card finds you all well as it does me. I hope no one has died. Don't worry about me. One day, they'll be a knock on the door and it'll be me. Love, Travis.

Travis I'll tell you why. I think you're a lonely person. I drive by this place a lot and I see you here. I see a lot of people around you. And I see all these phones and all this stuff on your desk. It means nothing. Then when I came inside and I met you, I saw in your eyes and I saw the way you carried yourself that you're not a happy person. And I think you need something. And if you want to call it a friend, you can call it a friend.

Betsy Are you gonna be my friend?

Travis Yeah. What do ya say? It's a little hard standing here and asking...Five minutes, that's all, just outside. Right around here. I'm there to protect ya. Come on, just take a little break.

Betsy I have a break at four o'clock and if you're here...

Travis Four o'clock today?

Betsy Yes.

Travis I'll be here.

Betsy I'm sure you will.

Travis All right, four p.m.

Betsy Right.

Travis Outside in front?

Betsy Yeah.

Travis OK. Oh my name is Travis. Betsy?

Betsy Travis.

Travis Appreciate this, Betsy.

Travis Bickle *Note: bolded portion ranked #10 in the ] in American cinema.

Betsy You know what you remind me of?

Travis What?

Betsy That song by ].

Travis Who's that?

Betsy A songwriter. "He's a prophet...he's a prophet and a pusher, partly truth, partly fiction. A walking contradiction.

Travis You sayin that about me?

Betsy Who else would I be talkin about?

Travis I'm no pusher. I never have pushed.

Betsy No, no. Just the part about the contradictions. You are that.

Travis Bickle Yeah. Huh? Huh? Huh? Faster than you, you fuckin son of a...I saw you comin', you fuck. Shit-heel. I'm standin here. You make the move. You make the move. It's your move. Huh? Don't try it, you fuck. You talkin to me? You talkin to me? You talkin to me? Well, then who the Hell else are you talking- You talking to me? Well, I'm the only one here. Who the fuck do you think you're talking to? Oh yeah? Huh? kay. Huh? (Listen you fuckers, you screwheads. Here is a man who would not take it anymore. Who would not let- Listen you fuckers, you screwheads. Here is a man who would not take it anymore. A man who stood up against the scum, the cunts, the dogs, the filth, the shit. Here is someone who stood up. Here is...) You're dead.

Travis Bickle Loneliness has followed me my whole life. Everywhere. In bars, in cars, sidewalks, stores, everywhere. There's no escape. I'm God's lonely man. June 8. My life has taken another turn again. The days can go on with regularity over and over, one day indistinguishable from the next. A long continuous chain. Then suddenly, there is a change.

Concession Girl Can I help you?

Travis Yeah, what's your name? My name's Travis.

Concession Girl That's nice, what can do for you?

Travis I'd like to know what your name is, what's your name?

Concession Girl Give me a break.

Travis You can tell me what your name is, I'm not going to do anything.

Concession Girl Do you want me to call the manager.

Travis You don't have to call the manager, I mean I'm just asking...

Concession Girl Troy!

Travis Alright, okay, I'm just, okay. Can I have Chuckles? Do you have any jujus? They last longer, I'd like to get some jujus.

Concession Girl What you see is what we got.

Travis I'll take these. ]?

Concession Girl We don't have Coca-Cola, ] is all we got. $1.85.

Betsy You've got to be kidding.

Travis Bickle Twelve hours of work and I still can't sleep. Damn. Days go on and on. They don't end.

Travis Bickle I first saw her at Palantine Campaign headquarters at 63rd and Broadway. She was wearing a white dress. She appeared like an angel. Out of this filthy mess, she is alone. They...cannot...touch...her.

Travis Bickle Now, I see it clearly. My whole life is pointed in one direction. I see that now. There never has been any choice for me.

Travis Bickle The idea had been growing in my brain for some time. True force. All the king's men cannot put it back together again.

Senator Charles Palantine When we came up with our slogan, "We are the People," when I said let the people rule, I felt that I was being somewhat overly optimistic. I must tell you that I am more optimistic now than ever before. The people are rising to the demands that I have made on them. The people are beginning to rule. I feel it is a groundswell. I know it will continue through the primary. I know it will continue in ]. And I know it will rise to an unprecedented swell in November.

Travis Bickle I tried several times to call her, but after the first call, she wouldn't come to the phone any longer. I also sent flowers but with no luck. The smell of the flowers only made me sicker. The headaches got worse. I think I got stomach cancer. I shouldn't complain though. You're only as healthy, you're only as healthy as you feel. You're only as...healthy...as...you...feel.

Travis Bickle I realize now how much she's just like the others - cold and distant, and many people are like that. Women for sure. They're like a union.

Passenger You see the woman in the window? Do you see the woman in the window?...I want you to see that woman, because that's my wife. But that's not my apartment. That's not my apartment. You know who lives there? Huh? I mean, you wouldn't know who lives there - I'm just saying, "But you know who lives there?" Huh? A ] lives there. How do ya like that? And I'm gonna, I'm gonna kill her. There's nothing else. I'm gonna kill her. What do you think of that? Hmm? I said What do you think of that? Don't answer. You don't have to answer everything. I'm gonna kill her. I'm gonna kill her with a ] pistol. I have a .44 Magnum pistol. I'm gonna kill her with that gun. Did you ever see what a .44 Magnum pistol can do to a woman's face? I mean it'll fucking destroy it. Just blow her right apart. That's what it can do to her face. Now, did you ever see what it can do to a woman's ]? That you should see. You should see what a .44 Magnum's gonna do to a woman's pussy you should see. I know, I know you must think that I'm, you know... You must think I'm pretty sick or something, you know, you must think I'm pretty sick. Right? You must think I'm pretty sick? Hmm? Right? I'll betcha, I'll betcha you really think I'm sick right? You think I'm sick? You think I'm sick? You don't have to answer. I'm paying for the ride. You don't have to answer.

Iris father Dear Mr. Bickle: I can't say how happy Mrs. Steensma and I were to hear that you are well and recuperating. We tried to visit you at the hospital when we were in New York to pick up Iris. But you were still in a coma. There is no way we can repay you for returning our Iris to us. We thought we had lost her, and now our lives are full again. Needless to say, you are something of a hero around this household. I'm sure you want to know about Iris. She's back in school and working hard. The transition has been very hard for her as you can well imagine. But we have taken steps to see she has never cause to run away again. In conclusion, Mrs. Steensma and I would like to again thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Unfortunately, we cannot afford to come to New York again, to thank you in person or we surely would. But if you should ever come to ], you would find yourself a most welcome guest in our home. Our Deepest Thanks, Burt and Ivy Steensma.

Travis Bickle Hello Betsy. Hi, it's Travis. How ya doin'? Listen, uh, I'm, I'm sorry about the, the other night. I didn't know that was the way you felt about it. Well, I-I didn't know that was the way you felt. I-I-I would have taken ya somewhere else. Uh, are you feeling better or oh you maybe had a virus or somethin', a 24-hour virus you know. It happens. Yeah, umm, you uh, you're workin hard. Yeah. Uh, would you like to have, uh, some dinner, uh with me in the next, you know, few days or somethin'? Well, how about just a cup of ]? I'll come by the, uh, headquarters or somethin', we could, uh... Oh, OK, OK. Did you get my ] in the...? You didn't get them? I sent some flowers, uh...Yeah, well, OK, OK. Can I call you again? Uh, tomorrow or the next day? OK. No, I'm gonna...OK. Yeah, sure, OK. So long.

Senator Charles Palantine ], that great ], spoke for all of us when he said: "I am the man. I suffered. I was there." Today, I say to you, We Are The People, we suffered, we were there. We the People suffered in ]. We the People suffered, we still suffer from ], ], ] and ].

Travis I'm one of your biggest supporters, you know. I tell everybody that comes in this taxi that they have to vote for you.

Palantine Why thank you - - Travis.

Travis I'm sure you're gonna win sir. Everybody I know is gonna vote for ya. You know in fact, I was gonna put one of your stickers in my taxi but you know, the company said it was against their policy. But they don't know anything, you know. They're a bunch of jerks.

Palantine Let me tell you something. I have learned more about America from riding in taxi cabs than in all the limos in the country...Can I ask you something, Travis?

Travis Sure.

Palantine What is the one thing about this country that bugs you the most?

Travis Well, I don't know. I don't follow political issues that closely, sir. I don't know.

Palantine Oh but there must be something.

Travis Well. Whatever it is, you should clean up this city here, because this city here is like an open sewer you know. It's full of filth and scum. And sometimes I can hardly take it. Whatever-whoever becomes the President should just really clean it up. You know what I mean? Sometimes I go out and I smell it, I get headaches it's so bad, you know...They just never go away you know...It's like...I think that the President should just clean up this whole mess here. You should just flush it right down the fuckin toilet.

Palantine Well, uh, I think I know what you mean Travis. But it's not gonna be easy. We're gonna have to make some radical changes.

Travis Damn straight.

Palantine Nice talkin to you, Travis.

Travis Nice talking to you sir. You're a good man. I know you're gonna win.

Travis Bickle May 10. Thank ] for the ] which has helped wash away the garbage and trash off the sidewalks. I'm working long hours now, six in the afternoon to six in the morning. Sometimes even eight in the morning, six days a week. Sometimes seven days a week. It's a long hustle but it keeps me real busy. I can take in three, three fifty a week. Sometimes even more when I do it off the meter. All the ] come out at night - ], skunk pussies, ], ], ], ], ], sick, venal. Someday a real rain will come and wash all this scum off the streets. I go all over. I take people to the ], ], I take em to ]. I don't care. Don't make no difference to me. It does to some. Some won't even take spooks. Don't make no difference to me.