Being There (1979)
Peter Sellers: Chance
Photos
Quotes
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Chance the Gardener : I like to watch.
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President "Bobby" : Mr. Gardner, do you agree with Ben, or do you think that we can stimulate growth through temporary incentives?
[Long pause]
Chance the Gardener : As long as the roots are not severed, all is well. And all will be well in the garden.
President "Bobby" : In the garden.
Chance the Gardener : Yes. In the garden, growth has it seasons. First comes spring and summer, but then we have fall and winter. And then we get spring and summer again.
President "Bobby" : Spring and summer.
Chance the Gardener : Yes.
President "Bobby" : Then fall and winter.
Chance the Gardener : Yes.
Benjamin Rand : I think what our insightful young friend is saying is that we welcome the inevitable seasons of nature, but we're upset by the seasons of our economy.
Chance the Gardener : Yes! There will be growth in the spring!
Benjamin Rand : Hmm!
Chance the Gardener : Hmm!
President "Bobby" : Hm. Well, Mr. Gardner, I must admit that is one of the most refreshing and optimistic statements I've heard in a very, very long time.
[Benjamin Rand applauds]
President "Bobby" : I admire your good, solid sense. That's precisely what we lack on Capitol Hill.
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Dennis Watson : You know, I've never met anyone like you in Washington before.
Chance the Gardener : Yes, I've been here all my life.
Dennis Watson : Really? And uh, where have you been all MY life?
[laughs]
Dennis Watson : Ah, tell me, Mr. Gardner... have you ever had sex with a man?
Chance the Gardener : No... I don't think so.
Dennis Watson : We could go upstairs right now.
Chance the Gardener : Is there a TV upstairs? I like to watch.
Dennis Watson : You like to uh, watch?
Chance the Gardener : Yes.
Dennis Watson : You wait right here. I'll go get Warren!
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Morton Hull : Do you realize that more people will be watching you tonight, than all those who have seen theater plays in the last forty years?
Chance the Gardener : Why?
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Doctor Allenby : This won't hurt a bit.
[Sticks Chance with a needle]
Chance the Gardener : It did hurt.
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[upon walking out of an elevator]
Chance the Gardener : That was a very small room.
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[Riding in a car for the first time]
Chance the Gardener : This is just like television, only you can see much further.
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Abraz : Bullshit. Who sent you here, boy? Did that chickenshit asshole Raphael send you, boy?
Chance the Gardener : No. Mr. Thomas Franklin told me I must leave the old man's house. He's dead, you know.
Abraz : Dead, my ass. You tell that asshole, if he got somethin' to tell me, to get his ass down here himself! You got that, boy?
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Ron Steigler : Mr. Gardner, uh, my editors and I have been wondering if you would consider writing a book for us, something about your um, political philosophy, what do you say?
Chance the Gardener : I can't write.
Ron Steigler : Heh, heh, of course not, who can nowadays? Listen, I have trouble writing a postcard to my children. Look uhh, we can give you a six figure advance, I'll provide you with the very best ghost-writer, proof-readers...
Chance the Gardener : I can't read.
Ron Steigler : Of course you can't! No one has the time! We, we glance at things, we watch television...
Chance the Gardener : I like to watch TV.
Ron Steigler : Oh, oh, oh sure you do. No one reads!
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[first lines]
Chance the Gardener : Good morning, Louise.
Louise : He's dead, Chance. The old man's dead.
Chance the Gardener : I see.
[Chance goes back to watching TV]
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Chance the Gardener : All I've got left is that room upstairs.
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Chance the Gardener : [Outtake] And then he told me to get my white ass out of there, or he'd cut it.
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Chance the Gardener : I have no Claim. I don't even know what one looks like.
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Chance the Gardener : Excuse me, I'm very hungry. Could you please give me some food?
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Chance the Gardener : [Rand has died] Yes, I've seen it before.
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Chance the Gardener : [Lifts his hat like the Coachman from TV]