I’m stupid. I shouldn’t have done it. I should know by now … I shouldn’t have done it. I should have done the 4 o’clock … Play for Today: Bet Your Life by Les Blair, gambler Ches, BBC 1976
Shrink: Tell me about your problem in your own language.
Ches: I bet too much … If I can’t borrow money, I take it. ibid.
Finally, when you pass away you got a free funeral. Play for Today: The Kiss of Death by Mike Leigh, porter’ talk, BBC 1977
Come and see me if you like. ibid. her to him in pub
Michael: I don’t know who these are.
Gillian: Have you been up to something? Play for Today: A Photograph, BBC 1977
I wouldn’t snap at you if you didn’t provoke me. ibid. Michael
Putting up with people isn’t love. ibid.
He wants me to commit suicide. That’s his aim. ibid. Gillian to friend
The Gestapo has been ordered to seize and execute 310 hostages. Play for Today: A Choice of Evils by Jim Allen, BBC 1977
Any intervention on our part would cause the Germans to re-examine their attitude to us and threaten the territorial rights of the Vatican. ibid. Papal intermediary to Cardinal Volponi
All those who have got permission to come on this trip and haven’t yet paid, I want you to come over here. Play for Today: Our Day Out by Willy Russell, teacher, BBC 1977
You can’t just believe kids. ibid. coach driver
Get your own ciggies. ibid. kiddies on bus
I don’t like your attitude one bit. I’m talking about your attitude. ibid. teacher
You act like animals! Animals! ibid. teacher
When you bring children like ours into this sort of environment, you can’t afford to let them free. ibid. Mr Briggs
Most of them were rejects the day they were born. ibid. Mrs Kay
A job that is designed to fail. ibid.
You can’t come all the way to the seaside and not go down on the beach. ibid.
Tell them they should go without me … I will jump, you know … I want to stay here. ibid. student
Bloody exhausting everything, isn’t it? Play for Today: Stronger than the Sun by Stephen Poliakoff, boss to Alan, BBC 1977
I want you to let me look through those contamination reports in the lab. ibid. Alan to Kate
I’ve come to realise that what we’re doing here is wrong. ibid.
There’s been a leak in the plant at 506. ibid. Kate to journalist
We’ve got to get some plutonium out of here. ibid. Kate to Alan
It’s our opinion she might be a risk to herself or others. ibid. plant boss to Alan
An item of news which I think you’ll find interesting. Next month Prince Charles will be making a two-day visit to this area … This colliery has been chosen for an official visit. Play for Today: The Price of Coal I: Meet the People by Barry Hines, director Ken Loach, board meeting, BBC 1977
He [boss] wants some flowers and some decoration in front of the office. ibid. supervisor to young painters
We’ve got to stop sucking up to these buggers. ibid. miner
Miner: There’s been an explosion on 15s!
Above ground: Message received and understood. Play for Today: The Price of Coal II: Back to Reality, explosion in pit
There’s been an accident and we’ve all got to come home. ibid. son to mum, dad missing
It makes you wonder what it’s all for sometimes. ibid. wife of miner
Activist-people theatre, organic socialism with love and balls. Play for Today: Come the Revolution, BBC 1977
A fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. Play for Today: One Day at a Time, preamble read at AA meeting, BBC 1977
We suffer from a disease; it’s progressive and there is no cure. ibid. alcoholic
You don’t have a monopoly of suffering, you alcoholics. ibid. wife of alcoholic
Perhaps I drink because I am nothing. ibid.
Laurence, you’re going to get heart-burn. Play For Today: Abigail’s Party, written and directed Mike Leigh, starring Alison Steadman ***** BBC 1977
Laurence, would you like to get the drinks please? Tony would like a Bacardi and Coke with ice and lemon, Angela would like gin and tonic with ice and lemon, and I’d like a little fill-up. OK? ibid. Beverly
Beverly’s not very organised; she doesn’t believe in making shopping lists. ibid. Laurence to Angela & Tony
When I get to my test my nerves fail me. ibid. Beverly to Angela & Tony
Beverly was saying your daughter’s having a party. ibid. Angela to Susan
They’re going to have fun, aren’t they? ibid.
Have you locked your silver away, Sue? ibid. Beverly to Sue
You don’t know who you get at a party. ibid.
Particularly with teenagers because let’s face it they’re not as careful as say we would be. You know what I mean, they don’t think, do they? They’ve got a drink in one hand and a cigarette in the other, you know and they’re having a bit of a dance and the next thing you know it’s cigarette on your carpet and stubbed out. ibid. Beverly to Sue
Come on, Sue. I’ll give you a little top-up. ibid.
Getting divorced to a film star is like going to the lavatory. ibid. Beverly
We’ve only been married nearly three years but we’re always having rows aren’t we? ibid. Angela
Don’t get me wrong. I do love Laurence. In my own way. ibid. Beverly to Angela
I never thought anyone would marry me. ibid. Angela
Angela: Would you like kids?
Beverly: No I don’t think I would really. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that I don’t like kids because I do. But, let me put it to you this way, I wouldn’t like to actually have to have them. I mean, did you have your kids in hospital, Sue? Yeah, you see, to me having to go into hospital would be like being ill. And I couldn’t stand that. And I know it sounds horrible but having to do all that breast feeding and changing nappies would actually make me heave. I don’t honestly think I’ve got that motherly instinct in me. ibid.
They’re only having a bit of fun. ibid. Beverly
Have you ever tried pilchard curry? ibid. Angela to Beverly
It’s a fantastic drink Bacardi, isn’t it? ibid. Beverly to Tony
Most people they just er drift through life without any real aims. They are weak. But it’s no good just sitting there whining. You’ve got to get up and do something about it. Now not that it isn’t a fight, of course it is. Life is a fight. People they always seem to be against you. ibid. Laurence to Sue
Beverly: I’ll tell you what, listen, we’ll all get pissed.
Angela: Yes. We can enjoy ourselves. ibid.