A Thousand Clowns (1965)
Jason Robards: Murray
Photos
Quotes
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Murray : I just want him to stay with me until I can be sure he won't turn into Norman Nothing. I want to be sure he'll know when he's chickening out on himself. I want him to get to know exactly the special thing he is or else he won't notice it when it starts to go. I want him to stay awake and know who the phonies are, I want him to know how to holler and put up an argument, I want a little guts to show before I can let him go. I want to be sure he sees all the wild possibilities. I want him to know it's worth all the trouble just to give the world a little goosing when you get the chance. And I want him to know the subtle, sneaky, important reason why he was born a human being and not a chair.
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Murray : [Leans out his apartment window] This is your neighbor speaking. I'm sure I speak for all of us when I say that something must be done about your garbage cans in the alley here.
[raises voice]
Murray : It is definitely second-rate garbage. Now, by next week I want to see a better class of garbage, more empty champagne bottles and caviar cans! I'm sure you're all behind me on this. So let's snap it up and get on the ball!
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Murray : [answers phone] Hello, is this someone with good news or money? No? Goodbye!
[hangs up]
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Nick : I can imitate the voice of Alexander Hamilton. I do Alexander Hamilton, and Murray does a terrific Thomas Jefferson. We got the voices just right.
[Murray and Nick speak to each other in normal tones throughout]
Murray : [to Nick] Hi, Alex, how're you doing?
Nick : Fine. Say, Tom, you should have been in Congress today.
Leo : This is ridiculous! You can't do an imitation of Alexander Hamilton, nobody knows what he sounds like!
Nick : That's the funny part.
Murray : You missed the funny part, Leo.
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Sandra : There is a kind of relief that it's gone - the job, and even Albert. But I know what it is, it's just irresponsible, that's all. And I don't have the vaguest idea who I am.
Murray : It's just that there are all these Sandras running around who you've never met before, and it's confusing at first, fantastic. But damn it, isn't it great to find out how many Sandras there are? It's like those little cars in the circus, you know? This tiny red car comes out, hardly big enough for a midget, and it putters around, and suddenly its doors open and out come a thousand clowns, whooping and hollering and raising hell.
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Murray : You might call Nick a bastard... or a little bastard, depending on how whimsical you feel at the time.
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Murray : You didn't answer my question. Would you like to visit the Empire State Building?
Sandra : No, not really.
Murray : Well, then how about the zoo?
Sandra : Not just now.
Murray : Well, then will you marry me?
Sandra : What?
Murray : Just a bit of shock treatment there. I have found after long experience that it's the quickest way to get a woman's attention when her mind wanders. Always works.
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Albert : Miss Markowitz did not show up in Queens yesterday.
Murray : So?
Albert : Her parents are quite upset. I am quite upset. Where is she?
Murray : She's hiding in the closet.
Albert : We're really all quite anxious to know where she is.
Murray : Well, I'm not kidding, Albert. She's in the closet.
Albert : [Goes to closet, opens door, looks in, closes door, walks back] She is in the closet.
Murray : I wouldn't lie to you, Albert.
Albert : Why is she in the closet?
Murray : Well, I don't know. She's got this thing about closets.
Albert : That's a very silly thing for her to be in that closet.
Murray : Well, don't knock it until you've tried it.
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Murray : [Takes off his hat] Sandy, I... I'm sorry. I'm very sorry.
[Sandra doesn't respond]
Murray : Well, damn it, lady, that was a beautiful apology. I mean, you gotta love a guy who can apologize so nice. I rehearsed for over an hour. Aw, Sandy, that's the most you should expect from life, a really good apology for all the things you won't get.
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Murray : Five months ago I was on the subway on my way to work, was sitting on the express same as every morning looking out the window watching the local stops go by in the dark with an empty head and my arms folded, not feeling great, not feeling rotten, just not feeling. And for a minute I couldn't remember, I didn't know, unless I really concentrated, whether it was a Tuesday or a Thursday or a... for a minute it could have been any day, Arn.
[Stands up]
Murray : I gotta know what day it is. I gotta know what's the name of the game and what the rules are without anyone else telling me. You gotta own your own days and name 'em, each one of 'em, every one of 'em, or else the years go right by and none of them belong to you. And that ain't just for weekends, kiddo.
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[last lines]
Murray : [shouting at rows of houses] Campers! The entertainment committee was quite disappointed in the really poor turnout at this morning's community sing. I mean, where's all that old Camp Chickawattamee spirit? I'm sure I speak for all of us here when I say that I...
[pause]
Murray : Now, I'd like to say right now that... that...
[softly]
Murray : Campers, I can't think of anything to say.
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Murray : Tell you the truth, it's even a little better for me if he goes. I mean, he's a middle-aged kid. When I signed up with the network he sat up all night figuring out the fringe benefits and the pension plan. And he started to make lists this year. Lists of everything; subway stops, underwear, what he's gonna do next week. If somebody doesn't watch out he'll start making lists of what he's gonna do next year and for the next ten years. Hey, suppose they put him with a whole family of list makers. I didn't spend six years with him so he should turn into a list maker. He'll learn to know everything before it happens, he'll learn to plan, he'll learn how to be one of the nice dead people. Are you listening?
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Murray : Irving R. Feldman's birthday is my own personal national holiday. I did not open it up for the public. He is proprietor of perhaps the most distinguished kosher delicatessen in our neighborhood, and, as such, I hold the day of his birth in reverence.
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Murray : If things aren't funny then they're exactly what they are; and then they're like a long dental appointment.
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[in a candlelit restaurant]
Waiter : Have you decided on your luncheon order, sir?
Murray : Yes. I'll have a hamburger. And a flashlight.
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[first lines]
Murray : [shouts at rows of houses] Neighbors, I have an announcement for you. I have never seen such a collection of dirty windows. Now I want to see all of you out there on the fire escape with your Mr. Clean bottles, and let's snap it up!
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Albert : Would you care to describe the circumstances under which you left the employ of...
Murray : I quit.
Albert : You felt that this was not the work for you.
Murray : No, I felt that I wasn't reaching all the boys and girls out there in television land. Actually, it was not so much I wasn't reaching the boys and girls, but the boys and girls were starting to reach me. Six months ago a perfectly adult bartender asked me if I'd like an onion in my martini, and I said, "Gosh and gollies, you betcha!" Well, I knew it was time to quit.
