Not finding yourself at the age of thirty-four is a disgrace. Death of a Salesman 1985 ***** starring Dustin Hoffman & John Meldovich & Stephen Lang & Kate Reid & Charles Durning & Louis Zorich et al, director playwright Arthur Miller, Willy to Linda
Why does dad mock me all the time? ibid. Biff
There’s more people now. There’s more people – that’s what’s ruining this country. The population is getting out of control. ibid. Willy
Biff: Are you content?
Happy: Hell no. ibid.
A man who can’t handle tools is not a man. ibid.
The greatest things can happen. ibid.
Willy, the jails are full of fearless characters. ibid. Charlie
A man is not a bird to come and go with the springtime. ibid. Linda
He’s dying, Biff. He’s been trying to kill himself. ibid. Linda
It’s not what you say but how you say it. ibid. Willy
Remember that – you’ve got all kinds of greatness. ibid. Willy to Biff
In those days there was personality, Howard. There was respect and comradeship and gratitude. Today it’s all cut and dried. ibid. Willy
It’s not what you do, Ben. It’s who you know. ibid. Willy
Sometimes, Willy, it’s better for a man just to walk away. ibid. Bernard
My salvation is that I never took any interest in anything. ibid. Charlie
You end up with more dead than alive. ibid. Willy
You’re no good for anything. ibid. Willy to Biff
Don’t you want to be anything? ibid.
A man can’t go out the way he came in. A man’s got to add up to something. ibid. Willy to self
He had the wrong dream. ibid. Biff
A film based principally on events that took place in Lancashire in the spring of 1970. Play for Today s1e15: The Rank & File, caption, BBC 1971
This was the battleground. Here where we lived and worked was where we fought the enemy. ibid. commentary
The union enjoyed the protection closed shop where contributions were automatically deducted from workers’ pay packets. ibid.
I will put the proposition to the floor myself: gentlemen, do you agree that we should come out on strike? ibid. worker
This is not an official strike, it’s an unofficial strike. ibid. union officer
Watching the summit of mount Moscow: strip clubs on the left, brothels on the right. Filthy rotten dump. Play for Today s2e1: Traitor by Dennis Potter, Clive, BBC 1971
You all have the same sort of employers after all. ibid. Harris to journalists
There was a time when poets exploded like bombs. ibid.
I held on. I maintained my belief, my faith, my belief in man. I held on, and I still here hold on through all the anguish and deceit and lies and corruption, through all the disappointments, and doubts, and fears, through all the necessary lies … ibid.
I’d lay odds the caption will be The Traitor. ibid. journalist to Harris
I love England. Of course I do. Well there’s no need to look so affronted! ibid. Harris to journalists
Do you ever get the feeling you are cracking up? Play for Today: Evelyn, him, BBC 1971
You are a remarkable man. And so young. ibid. her to him in bed
You say he’s a young 20? And like a Greek god? ibid. him to her
I only like remarkable men. ibid. her to him
I’ve got a right to … sock you in the earhole. Play for Today s2e2: Edna, the Inebriate Woman starring Patricia Hayes, Edna at dosshouse without cards, BBC 1971
Oh, Edna. I’ve got nowhere for you to go. They are closing all the beds in the women’s wing except for the one-night casuals. I’d take you in if I could. I’m sorry. ibid. geezer
I haven’t had a meal since yesterday. I didn’t have a meal today. I kept going on apples. ibid.
You couldn’t spare half a quid for a good time with two naughty girls? ibid. tramp to driver of car
Either I write here you’re disturbed and recommend you be admitted to a psychiatric hospital, or I say you’re sane and send you back to the court to deal with you as they see fit. Now which would you like? ibid. Shrink to Edna
Everybody wants pills, dear. ibid. psychiatric inmate to Edna
Why didn’t they let me stay in the nick? ibid. Edna
They can live fulfilled lives. There should be hostels like ours everywhere … These are people, not monsters. ibid. hostel head
It is not in the public interest to operate a hostel in this particular area. You have one month from this date to cease operations. ibid. outcome of public inquiry
I think the paper’s a bit dull though, you know, flat. Everything’s got to be done dead straight. News editor tells me I overwrite all the time. Play for Today: The Reporters, reporter’ talk in pub, BBC 1972
Not me. I am not making a pig of myself … a civilised weekend … Play for Today: The Fishing Party, fishermen’ talk, BBC 1972
You might get fixed up where folk are not so particular. ibid. boarding lady
I don’t know what entrees are. ibid. fisherman
It’s [hotel] got its standards. And we can live up to them. ibid.
Harry: Good job?
Audrey: Good money.
Harry: Same thing isn’t it?
Audrey: Is It?
Harry: Aye. I’ve always thought so. Have done for years. Go barmy if you didn’t. Play for Today: Kisses at Fifty by Colin Welland, BBC 1973
She just stood there, cool as a cucumber. Brazen bloody hussy. ibid. hostess
I’m a habit, Rene, that’s all. And a bad one at that. ibid. Harry
It’s all we’ve got left, sex. ibid.
Electrician: Where was you before?
Bernie: Here and there. Play for Today: Shut Down, BBC 1973
He’s very mysterious about his background. ibid. electrician
You’ve got to give me full marks for that. I knew he’d been in the nick. ibid. supervisor
Let’s face it, you are very suspect. ibid. electrician
Piss in the tanks – that’ll make it go. Play for Today: Shakespeare or Bust, boating talk, BBC 1973
I’m wet, soaked-through. I fell in. ibid.
Who wants Blackpool? This is the life. ibid. Art
If you had an eye, you’d go off me. Yeah, and run off with a young fellow. Play for Today: A Follower for Emily, him to her in old folks’ home, BBC 1974
Harry: Lovers’ tiff, eh?
Emily: We’re old enough to know better. ibid.
Funny being lonely with so many people around. ibid. Emily