Hardy: Sometimes nothing happens for hours on end; then – all of a sudden – ‘over she comes!’ – rifle grenades – Minnies – and those horrid little things like pineapples ... Swish – swish – swish – BANG! R C Sheriff, Journey’s End
Osborne: Nearly three years. He came out straight from school – when he was eighteen. He’s commanded this company for over a year – in and out of the front line. He’s never had a rest. Other men come over here and go home again ill, and young Stanhope goes on sticking it, month in, month out. ibid.
Osborne: We are, generally, just waiting for something. When anything happens, it happens quickly. Then we just start waiting again. ibid.
Stanhope: If you went [to the doctor], I’d have you shot – for deserting. It’s a hell of a disgrace – to die like that. I’d rather spare you the disgrace. I give you half a minute to think. ibid.
Hibbert: Stanhope! I’ve tried like hell – I swear I have. Ever since I came out here I’ve hated and loathed it. Every sound up there makes me all – cold and sick. I’m different to – to the others – you don’t understand. It’s got worse and worse, and now I can’t bear it any longer. I’ll never go up those steps again – into the line – with the men looking at me – and knowing – I’d rather die here. [He is sitting on Stanhope’s bed, crying without effort to restrain himself.] ibid.
Stanhope: Supposing I say I can’t – supposing we all say we can’t – what would happen then? ... Supposing the worst happened – supposing we were knocked right out. Think of all the chaps who’ve gone already. It can’t be very lonely there – with all those fellows. Sometime I think it’s lonelier here. ibid.
Mason: Will you have a nice cup of tea, sir?
Stanhope: Can you guarantee it’s nice?
Mason: Well, sir – it’s a bit oniony, but that’s only because of the saucepan. ibid.
‘This war’s in its last months; no-one doubts that one final effort, one last push, will see it over this year.’ Journey’s End 1988 ***** starring Jeremy Northam & Timothy Spall & Edward Petherbridge & Mark Payton & Gary Caby et al, director Michael Simpson, officer to men opening scene
‘Now you’re going to find trench warfare damned uncomfortable. At times very noisy indeed.’ ibid.
‘Think of your school and your country and the glory’s yours.’ ibid.
‘I’ve had rather an unpleasant surprise, sir. You know that tin of pineapple chucks I’ve got, sir? Well, I’m sorry to say, sir, it’s apricots.’ ibid. Mason
‘You must have your revolver to shoot the rats.’ ibid. officer to new officer
‘It all seems rather silly, doesn’t it?’ ibid. new officer
‘I’m awfully proud that he’s my friend.’ ibid. new officer’s letter
‘You can either stay here and try to be a man …’ ibid. officer
They told me that there’s a streetcar named Desire. A Streetcar Named Desire ***** 1951 starring Marlon Brando & Vivien Leigh & Kim Hunter & Karl Malden & Rudy Bond & Nick Dennis & Peg Hillias & Wright King & Richard Garrick & Ann Dere & Edna Thomas et al, director Elia Kazan, opening scene
Daylight never exposed so total a ruin. ibid. Blanche
So much confusion in the world. ibid.
An animal’s habits. There’s even something sub-human about him. Thousands of years have passed him right by. ibid.
No matter what happens we’ve all got to keep on going. ibid. woman
Why did you call Gooper’s kiddies ‘no-neck monsters’? Cat on a Hot Tin Roof 1958 starring Paul Newman & Elizabeth Taylor & Burl Ives & Judith Anderson & Jack Carson & Madeleine Sherwood & Larry Gates & Vaughn Taylor, director Richard Brooks, Brick to Maggie
You can’t even stand drinking out of the same glass, can you? ibid. Maggie to Brick
Why can’t you lose your good looks, Brick? Most drinking men lose theirs. Why can’t you? I think you’ve even got better looking since you went on the bottle. ibid.
I feel like a cat on a hot tin roof. ibid.
Uncle Brick got drunk and broke his leg. ibid. little girl
Big Daddy. Now what makes him so big? His big heart, his big belly or his big money? ibid. Brick to Maggie
We occupy the same cage, that’s all. ibid. Maggie to Brick
I hate locked doors in the house. ibid. Big Moma
One question: do you make Brick happy? Well? ibid. Big Moma to Maggie
And I know that Big Daddy’s just as proud as we are knowing there’s a whole dynasty of his flesh and blood waiting to take over. ibid. Mae
Let’s face facts, baby. You’re a drinker and that take’s money. ibid. Maggie to Brick
I’ve been so disgustingly poor all my life. ibid.
You don’t know what it’s like to have to suck up to people you can’t stand just because they’ve got money. ibid.
You’re just jealous cause you can’t have babies. ibid. little girl to Maggie
But how in hell on Earth do you imagine you’re going to have a child by a man who cannot stand you? ibid. Brick to Maggie
Say, Deacon, what do you get out of all this charity work anyway? ibid. Gooper
I even loved your hate and your hardness. ibid. Big Moma to Big Daddy
Son, you know you’ve a got a real liquor problem? ibid. Big Daddy to Brick
Yes, sir. I am an alcoholic. So if you’ll just excuse me. ibid. Brick to Big Daddy
Big Daddy: Now tell me what are you disgusted with?
Brick: Mendacity. You know what that is? It’s liars and lies. ibid.
Church? It bores me. ibid. Big Daddy
I’ve lived with mendacity. Now why can’t you live with it? You’ve got to live with it. There’s nothing to live with but mendacity. ibid.
Big Daddy: Son, why don’t you kill yourself?
Brick: ’Cause I like to drink. ibid.
We always seem to talk around things. Seem to leave things unsaid and unspoken. ibid. Big Daddy to Brick
To hell with all lies and all liars. ibid. Brick to Big Daddy
How does one drowning man help another drowning man? ibid. Brick to Big Daddy
When I’m drunk I can stand myself. ibid.
The truth is pain and sweat and paying bills and making love to a woman you don’t love any more. ibid. Big Daddy to Brick
I think it’s time we all had a little talk. ibid. Gooper
I don’t trust a man who don’t drink. ibid. Big Moma
Somebody must be lying. ibid. Big Moma
Nothing’s ever the way you planned, is it? ibid.
There’s got to be some purpose in life, some meaning. ibid. Brick to Big Daddy
The first thing I can remember: shame. ibid. Big Daddy to Brick
I’ve got the guts to die; what I want to know is, have you got the guts to live? ibid. Big Daddy to Brick
What’s that smell in this room? Didn’t you notice it, Brick? Did you notice the powerful and obnoxious odour of mendacity in this room? ibid. Big Daddy
We are through with lies and liars in this house. ibid. Brick to Maggie