The Conversation (1974)

Gene Hackman: Harry Caul

Photos 

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Quotes 

• Harry Caul : [from dream sequence]  He'll kill you if he gets a chance. I'm not afraid of death. I am afraid of murder.

• Harry Caul : [upset, walking over to Martin seated]  What are you doing here?

  Martin Stett : Take it easy I'm just a messenger. I brought you a drink.

  Harry Caul : I don't want your drink. Why are you following me?

  Martin Stett : I'm not following you. I'm looking for you, big difference.

• Harry Caul : You still married?

  Meredith : Oh, I don't know. Probably.

• Harry Caul : Would you - if you were a girl who'd waited for someone...

  Meredith : You can trust me.

  Harry Caul : Well you never really knew when he was going to come to see you. You just lived in a room alone, and you knew nothing about him. And if you loved him, you were patient with him, and even though he didn't dare ever tell you anything about himself personally, even though he may have loved you, would you...

  Meredith : Would I what?

  Harry Caul : Would you go back to him?

  Meredith : Well, how would I know? How would I know that he loved me?

  Harry Caul : You'd have no way of knowing.

• Stan : It wouldn't hurt if you filled me in a little bit once in a while. Did you ever think of that?

  Harry Caul : It has nothing to do with me, and even less to do with you.

  Stan : It's curiosity! Did you ever hear of that? It's just goddamn human nature.

  Harry Caul : Listen, if there's one sure-fire rule that I have learned in this business is that I don't know anything about human nature. I don't know anything about curiosity. That's not part of what I do.

• Bernie Moran : That's very nice, Harry. What did you use?

  Harry Caul : Three-stage directional microphones with MOSFET amplifier of my own design.

• Harry Caul : I - have deliberately taken pleasure in impure thoughts,

• Harry Caul : "Oh, God." Oh, God, listen to the way she says, "Oh, God."

• Meredith : Forget it, Harry. It's only a trick.

  Harry Caul : What?

  Meredith : A job. You're not supposed to feel anything about it. You're just supposed to do it. That's all. Relax, honey.

• Amy : Where do you live? I mean, why can't I call you over there?

  Harry Caul : 'Cause I don't have a telephone.

  Amy : Do you live alone?

  Harry Caul : Why are you asking me all these questions?

  Amy : Because it's your birthday.

  Harry Caul : I don't want people asking me a lot of questions.

  Amy : I want to know you.

  Harry Caul : Yes, I live alone. I don't feel like answering any more questions.

• Harry Caul : Listen, did you hear about the fag wiretapper who could only tap to princess' phone?

  Bernie Moran : How?

  Harry Caul : Uhh.

  Bernie Moran : Made that up yourself, huh? It's pretty funny.

• Stan : Sometimes it's nice to know what they're talking about.

  Harry Caul : I don't care what they're talking about. All I want is a nice, fat recording.

• Stan : Who's interested in these two anyway?

  Harry Caul : I don't know for sure.

  Stan : The Justice Department?

  Harry Caul : No.

  Stan : I figure it must be the Infernal Revenue. Their tapes always put me to sleep.

  Harry Caul : Since when are you here to be entertained?

• Paul : She looked at me.

  Harry Caul : Yeah, yeah, I know. We heard.

  Stan : Oh, did we hear.

• Amy : A woman can always tell. You have a certain way of opening up the door. You know, first the key goes in real quiet, and then the door comes open real fast, just like you think you're gonna catch me at something. Sometimes I even think you're listening to me when I'm talking on the telephone.

  Harry Caul : What are you talking about?

  Amy : I don't know. I just feel it. Really, I do.

• Bernie Moran : I know you heard this a thousand times, Harry, but let me say it again. Here's to Harry, the best, bar none. I'll drink to that.

  Harry Caul : The best what?

  Bernie Moran : The best bugger on the West Coast.

• Harry Caul : I'm getting fed up.

  Stan : About what?

  Harry Caul : About your asking me questions all day long.

• Amy : Does something special happen between us on your birthday?

  Harry Caul : Like what?

  Amy : Something personal.

  Harry Caul : What?

  Amy : Like telling me about yourself, your secrets.

  Harry Caul : I don't have any secrets.

  Amy : I'm your secret.

• Stan : Jesus!

  Harry Caul : Don't say that.

  Stan : Well, for Christ's sake...

• Harry Caul : How did you get this phone number?

  Martin Stett : We prepare a full dossier on everyone who comes in contact with the Director. You know that means we've been watching you.