Dead Ringers (1988)

Geneviève Bujold: Claire Niveau

Photos 

Quotes 

• Beverly Mantle : Pain creates character distortion, it's simply not necessary.

  Claire Niveau : I'm often in a lot of pain.

  Beverly Mantle : What kind of pain?

  Claire Niveau : I think... psychosexual.

• Beverly Mantle : [examining Claire]  That's fantastic.

  Claire Niveau : I've never heard anyone say that about the inside of my body before.

  Beverly Mantle : Surely you've heard of inner beauty?

• Claire Niveau : I've been around a bit. I've seen some creepy things in the movie business. This is the most disgusting thing that's ever happened to me.

  Elliot Mantle : I doubt that.

• Claire Niveau : I've heard that you live together in the same apartment.

  Beverly Mantle : We both like Italian furniture.

• Claire Niveau : You've got a woman's name. Beverly. Why did your mother give you a woman's name?

  Beverly Mantle : It's not a woman's name. It's just spelled different.

  Claire Niveau : Does your brother have a woman's name too. Meriam spelled with an E and an A?

  Beverly Mantle : What are you trying to suggest? That I'm gay or something? That my mother wanted girls? What the fuck is this BULLSHIT PSYCHOANALYSIS?

• Beverly Mantle : Are you still doing the mini-series?

  Claire Niveau : Re-shoots. The director didn't know what he was doing.

• Elliot Mantle : You could adopt.

  Claire Niveau : It wouldn't have been part of my body.

  Elliot Mantle : I know what you mean.

• Claire Niveau : Listen. Doctor. I think there's something wrong with you. I don't know what it is, I can't put a label on it, but you're subtly - I don't know - schizophrenic? Or something. Sometimes I like you very much. and sometimes, you're an amusing lay, not much more. And I cant figure out why.

  Beverly Mantle : [he extracts and rattles a prescription pill bottle] 

  Claire Niveau : [sympathetically]  Beverly.

  Beverly Mantle : One for you. One for me.

  [they both ingest a pill] 

• Laura : Dear Beverly, dear Elliot. There are those that claim they can't ever tell the difference between them, but not me, dear. It's obvious to me that - well, perhaps before I go and say anything gauche you'd better tell me which one you're seeing.

  Claire Niveau : You mean to say there's two of them?

  Laura : Don't be an ass, dear, of course there are two of them. They're twins, dear, identical twins! My dear, you've gone absolutely pale. Have i said something?

  Claire Niveau : No, no, not at all. Where's that waiter? I want some coffee.

  Laura : Oh, how sick making. I have said something, haven't I?

• [last lines] 

  Claire Niveau : [Beverly phones up Claire on a payphone]  Hello. Hello? Who is this?

  [Beverly hangs up] 

• Claire Niveau : [during a physical exam]  Well, are all the necessary parts there, Doc?

  Beverly Mantle : Yes they are, though there are a couple of extra ones that shouldn't be.

  Claire Niveau : Not funny.

  Beverly Mantle : Uh no, I wasn't joking.

• Beverly Mantle : [spotting her at an art gallery]  Claire.

  Claire Niveau : Yes? Oh, it's you. Or should i say, "Which one of you is it?"

  Beverly Mantle : Please, Claire, don't.

• Claire Niveau : He's developing a a serious little drug problem. Do you realize that?

  Elliot Mantle : I thought you were the one with the drug problem?

  Claire Niveau : It's an occupational hazard.

  Elliot Mantle : Same goes for Beverly.

• Claire Niveau : That was my secretary Birchall. He's defiantly gay, and you managed to gross him out completely.

• Elliot Mantle : [feigning surprise]  This is some feisty lady you've found, Beverly!

  Claire Niveau : Let's be frank, okay, Elliot? Let's ease up on the bullshit for one moment. You can be honest with me. After all, I am laying both of you, aren't I?

• Claire Niveau : [to Beverly]  Sweet little act you have: you soften them up with all that smarmy concern, and along comes Dracula here and polishes them off!

• Claire Niveau : I feel like such a fool. actually. I must be the only woman in town who doesn't know about the *fabulous* Mantle twins.

  Beverly Mantle : [nervously]  What are you drinking?

  Claire Niveau : Nothing. I want to be very sober right at this moment, I want to be very clear. There really isn't any telling you apart, is there? Absolutely identical in every respect.

  Elliot Mantle : [casually]  I'm actually a couple of millimeters taller.

  Claire Niveau : I bet if someone knew you both -- how shall I put it? -- knew you both *really* well could tell the difference, couldn't they? Without measuring your height! I mean...

  Elliot Mantle : [intrigued]  What do you mean?

  Claire Niveau : Well, Beverly's the sweet one and you're the shit. Am I right?

• Claire Niveau : You absolute shit! Explain what? Explain what! Listen, I've been around a bit, you know, and I thought I'd seen some creepy things go on in the movie business, but I really have to say this is the most disgusting thing that's ever happened to me.

  Elliot Mantle : [condescendingly]  I doubt that.

  Claire Niveau : What is it with you, chum? You can't get it up unless your brother's watching?

  Elliot Mantle : I told you this was a bad idea. Really stupid! I'm leaving.

  Claire Niveau : [storming out of restaurant]  Don't bother!

• Claire Niveau : You resent me tremendously, don't you?

  Elliot Mantle : You contribute a confusing element to the Mantle brothers' saga, possibly a destructive one. Not personal, I think you're terrific.

  Claire Niveau : But I just don't have a role in the Mantle brothers' saga.

  Elliot Mantle : [seductively]  I suppose, if you like us both in the same way, might make things easier. It has been known to happen.

  Claire Niveau : I'm sorry, but I can't.

• Elliot Mantle : [staring in a mirror]  Am I really that different from Beverly?

  Claire Niveau : You really are.