Betrayal (1983)
Ben Kingsley: Robert
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Quotes
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Robert : [after his wife tells him that she's been having an affair with his best friend] Where does it take place? Must be a bit awkward. I mean we've got two kids, he's got two kids not to mention a wife.
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Robert : Anyway, there was a letter there for you. They asked me if you were any relation. And I said, 'Yes.' So, they asked me if I wanted to take it. I mean, they gave it to me. But I said, 'No,' I would leave it. Did you get it?
Emma : Yes.
Robert : I suppose you popped in when you were out shopping yesterday evening?
Emma : That's right.
Robert : Oh, well, I'm glad you got it. To be honest, I was amazed that they suggested I take it. It could never happen in England. But these Italians, so free and easy. I mean, just because my name is Downs and your name is Downs, it doesn't mean that we're the Mr. and Mrs. Downs that they, in their laughing Mediterranean way, assume we are. We could be, and in fact are vastly more likely to be, total strangers. So, let's say, I, whom they laughingly assume to be your husband, had taken the letter, having declared myself to be your husband, but in truth being a total stranger, and opened it, and read it, out of nothing more than idle curiosity, and then thrown it in a canal, you would never have received it. And would have been deprived of your legal right to open your own mail, and all this because of Venetian je m'en foutisme. I've a good mind to write to the Doge of Venice about it. That's what stopped me taking it, by the way, and bringing it to you. The thought that I could very easily be a total stranger. What they, of course, did not know, and had no way of knowing, was that I am your husband.
Emma : Pretty inefficient bunch.
Robert : Only in a laughing Mediterranean way.
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Jerry : I'd like a Scotch on the rocks.
Robert : Scotch? You don't usually drink Scotch at lunchtime.
Jerry : I've had a bug actually.
Robert : Oh.
Jerry : And the only thing to get rid of this bug was Scotch at lunchtime as well as at night. So, I'm still drinking Scotch at lunchtime in case it comes back.
Robert : Like an apple a day.
Jerry : Precisely.
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Robert : Jerry wanted us to publish it.
Emma : Oh, really?
Robert : Well, naturally. Anyway, I turned it down.
Emma : Why?
Robert : Oh. Not much more to say on that subject, really, is there?
Emma : What do you consider the subject to be?
Robert : Betrayal.
Emma : No, it isn't.
Robert : Isn't it? Well, what is it then?
Emma : I haven't finished it yet. I'll let you know.
Robert : Well, do let me know. Of course, I could be thinking of the wrong book.
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Robert : They say boy babies cry more than girl babies.
Jerry : Do they?
Robert : You didn't find that to be the case?
Jerry : Uh... yes, I think we did. Did you?
Robert : Yes. What do you make of it? Why do you think that is?
Jerry : I suppose boys are more anxious.
Robert : Boy babies?
Jerry : Yes.
Robert : What the hell are they anxious about... at their age, do you think?
Jerry : Well... facing the world... I suppose. Leaving the womb, all that.
Robert : But what about girl babies? They leave the womb too.
Jerry : That's true. It's also true they don't make such a fuss about it.
Robert : That's true.
Jerry : Why do you think that is?
Robert : I have no answer.
Jerry : Do you think it might have something to do with the difference between the sexes?
Robert : Good God, you're right. That must be it.
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Jerry : I was having tea with Casey.
Emma : Where?
Jerry : Around the corner.
Emma : I thought he lived in Hampstead or somewhere.
Robert : You're out of date.
Emma : Am I?
Jerry : He's left Susannah. He's living alone round the corner.
Emma : Oh.
Robert : Writing a novel about a man who leaves his wife and three children, and goes to live alone on the other side of London to write a novel about a man who leaves his wife and three children.
Emma : I hope it's better than the last one.
Robert : The last one? Ah, the last one. Wasn't that the one about the man who lived in a big house in Hampstead with his wife and three children, and is writing a novel... about them?
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Robert : Emma read that novel of that chum of yours, what's his name?
Jerry : I don't know. What?
Robert : Spinks.
Jerry : Oh, Spinks. Yes. The one you didn't like.
Robert : The one I wouldn't publish.
Jerry : I remember. Did Emma like it?
Robert : She seemed to be madly in love with it.
Jerry : Good.
Robert : You like it yourself, do you?
Jerry : I do.
Robert : And it's very successful?
Jerry : It is.
Robert : Tell me, do you think that makes me a publisher of unique critical judgment or a foolish publisher?
Jerry : A foolish publisher.
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Robert : [after Emma has revealed her affair with Jerry] I've always liked Jerry. To be honest, I've always liked him rather more than I've liked you. Maybe I should have had an affair with him myself.
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Robert : I'm a very foolish publisher.
Jerry : No, you're not. What are you talking about? You're a good pub... What are you talking about?
Robert : I'm a bad publisher because I hate books. Or to be more precise, prose. Or to be even more precise, modern prose. I mean, modern novels, first novels, and second novels. All that promise and sensibility, it falls upon me to judge, to put the firm's money on, and then to push for the third novel, see it done. See the dust jacket done. See the dinner for the national literary editors done. See the signing in Hatchards done. See the lucky author cook himself to death. All in the name of literature. You know what you and Emma have in common? You love literature. I mean, you love modern prose literature. I mean, you love the new novel by the new Casey or Spinks. It gives you both a thrill.
Jerry : You must be pissed.
Robert : Really? You mean you don't think it gives Emma a thrill?
Jerry : How do I know? She's your wife.
Robert : Yes... yes. You're quite right. I shouldn't have to consult you. I shouldn't have to consult anyone.
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Robert : [asking Emma about a book she is reading] You think it's good, do you?
Emma : Yes, I do. I'm enjoying it.
Robert : Jerry thinks it's good too. You should have lunch with us one day and chat about it.
Emma : Is that absolutely necessary? It's not as good as all that.
Robert : Do you mean it's not good enough for you to have lunch with Jerry and me and chat about it?
Emma : What the hell are you talking about?
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Emma : [after Jerry and Robert have talked about playing squash together] Can I watch?
Robert : What?
Emma : Why can't I watch, and then take you both to lunch?
Robert : Well, to be brutally honest, we wouldn't actually want a woman around, would we, Jerry? I mean, a game of squash isn't simply a game of squash. It's rather more than that. You see, first, there's the game. And then there's the shower. And then there's the pint. And then there's lunch. After all, you've been at it. You've had your battle. What you want is your pint and your lunch. You really don't want a woman buying you lunch. You don't actually want a woman within a mile of the place, any of the places really. You don't want her in the squash court, you don't want her in the shower... or the pub, or the restaurant. You see, at lunch, you want to talk about squash, or cricket, or books, or even women with your friend, and be able to warm to your theme without fear of improper interruption. That's what it's all about.
