The Draughtsman's Contract (1982)

Anthony Higgins: R. Neville, Mr. Neville

Photos 

Quotes 

• Mr. Neville : You must forgive my curiosity, madam, and open your knees.

• Mr. Neville : Why is that Dutchman waving his arms about? Is he homesick for windmills?

• Mr. Neville : Madame, who is this child who walks the garden with such a solemn look on his face?

  Mrs. Talmann : That is my husband's nephew, Mr. Neville.

  Mr. Neville : He attracts servants like a little midget king. What is his patrimony, madame?

  Mrs. Talmann : His father was killed at Aufbergensfeld. His mother became a Catholic so my husband had him brought to England.

  Mr. Neville : To be raised as a little Protestant?

  Mrs. Talmann : He was an orphan, Mr. Neville, and needed to be looked after.

  Mr. Neville : An orphan, madame, because his mother became a Catholic?

• Mr. Neville : I'm surprised, delighted. I am overwhelmed.

  Mrs. Herbert : Mr. Neville, I will take all three states of your satisfaction into consideration.

• Mr. Neville : Why doesn't your husband have the moat cleaned out?

  Mrs. Herbert : He doesn't like to see the fish. Carp live too long - they remind him of Catholics. Besides, from his window, the duckweed could be mistaken for lawn.

• Mr. Neville : Well, that was ingenious.

  Mrs. Talmann : Since when has adultery been ingenious? You are ridiculous, Mr. Neville.

• Mr. Talmann : The gardens of England are becoming veritable jungles, such exotics are grossly unsuitable. If the Garden of Eden was planned for England, God would have seen to it.

  Mr. Neville : The Garden of Eden, Mr. Talmann, was originally intended for Ireland. For it was there, after all, that St. Patrick eradicated the snake.

  Mr. Talmann : The only useful eradication that ever happened in Ireland, Mr. Neville, was peformed by William of Orange four years ago on my birthday!

  Mr. Neville : And happy birthday to you, Mr. Talmann. And if you are not too old to receive presents, perhaps the gardener and I can find a snake for your Orangerie!

  Mr. Talmann : ...What?

• Mr. Neville : Four garments and a ladder do not lead us to a corpse.

  Mrs. Talmann : Mr. Neville, I said nothing about a corpse.