Joker (I) (2019)

Joaquin Phoenix: Arthur Fleck

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Quotes 

• Arthur Fleck : [written in notebook]  The worst part of having a mental illness is people expect you to behave as if you don't.

• Arthur Fleck : You don't listen, do you? I don't think you ever really hear me. You just ask the same questions every week. "How's your job?" "Are you having any negative thoughts?" All I have are negative thoughts.

• Arthur Fleck : I used to think that my life was a tragedy, but now I realize, it's a fucking comedy.

• Arthur Fleck : For my whole life, I didn't know if I even really existed. But I do, and people are starting to notice.

• Arthur Fleck : Murray, one small thing?

  Murray Franklin : Yeah?

  Arthur Fleck : When you bring me out, can you introduce me as Joker?

• Arthur Fleck : Is it just me, or is it getting crazier out there?

• Cop : The whole city's on fire 'cause of what you did.

  Arthur Fleck : I know. Isn't it beautiful?

• Murray Franklin : I'm waiting for the punchline.

  Arthur Fleck : There is no punchline.

• [last lines] 

  Arkham Psychiatrist : What's so funny?

  Arthur Fleck : I'm just thinking of a joke.

  Arkham Psychiatrist : Do you want to tell it to me?

  Arthur Fleck : You wouldn't get it.

• Arthur Fleck : How 'bout another joke, Murray?

  Murray Franklin : No, I think we've had enough of your jokes.

  Arthur Fleck : What do you get...

  Murray Franklin : I don't think so.

  Arthur Fleck : ...when you cross...

  Murray Franklin : I think we're done here now, thank you.

  Arthur Fleck : ...a mentally ill loner with a society that abandons him and treats him like trash?

  Murray Franklin : Call the police, Gene, call the police.

  Arthur Fleck : I'll tell you what you get! You get what you fuckin' deserve!

  [Joker shoots Murray in the head, killing him instantly] 

• Arthur Fleck : I killed those guys because they were awful. Everybody is awful these days. It's enough to make anyone crazy.

• Arthur Fleck : [in Arthur's notebook]  I just hope my death makes more cents than my life.

• Arthur Fleck : I haven't been happy one minute of my entire fucking life.

• Arthur Fleck : Ugh, why is everybody so upset about these guys? If it was me dying on the sidewalk you'd walk right over me! I pass you everyday and you don't notice me! But these guys? Well because Thomas Wayne would cry about them on TV?

• Arthur Fleck : I've been the man of the house for as long as I can remember. I take good care of my mother.

  Murray Franklin : All that sacrifice, she must love you very much.

  Arthur Fleck : She does. She always tells me to smile and put on a happy face. She says I was put here to spread joy and laughter.

• Arthur Fleck : Have you seen what it's like out there, Murray? Do you ever actually leave the studio? Everybody just yells and screams at each other. Nobody's civil anymore. Nobody thinks what it's like to be the other guy. You think men like Thomas Wayne ever think what it's like to be someone like me? To be somebody but themselves? They don't. They think that we'll just sit there and take it, like good little boys! That we won't werewolf and go wild!

• Arthur Fleck : I know it seems strange, I don't mean to make you uncomfortable. I don't know why everyone is so rude; I don't know why you are. I don't want anything from you. Maybe a little bit of warmth, maybe a hug, dad? How about just a little bit of fucking decency!

• Arthur Fleck : You're awful, Murray.

  Murray Franklin : Me? I'm awful? How am I awful?

  Arthur Fleck : Playing my video. Inviting me on the show. You just wanted to make fun of me. You're just like the rest of them!

• Arthur Fleck : Comedy is subjective, Murray, isn't that what they say? All of you, the system that knows so much: you decide what's right or wrong the same way you decide what's funny or not.

• Arthur Fleck : I've got nothing left to lose. Nothing can hurt me anymore. My life is nothing but comedy.

• Arthur Fleck : Knock knock.

  Murray Franklin : Who's there?

  Arthur Fleck : It's the police, ma'am! Your son's been hit by a drunk driver. He's dead!

• Arthur Fleck : [from trailer]  She always tells me to smile, and put on a happy face.

• Sophie Dumond : Were you following me today?

  Arthur Fleck : Yeah.

  Sophie Dumond : I thought that was you. I was hoping you'd come in and rob the place.

  Arthur Fleck : I have a gun. I could come by tomorrow?

  Sophie Dumond : You're so funny, Arthur.

• Arthur Fleck : I had a bad day.

• Arthur Fleck : [In Arthur's Jokebook]  I just hope my death make more cents than my life.

• Arthur Fleck : I don't want you worrying about money, mom. Or me. Everybody's telling me that my stand-up's ready for the big clubs.

• Arthur Fleck : Do I look like the kind of clown that can start a movement?

• Arthur Fleck : When I was a little boy and told people I was going to be a comedian, everyone laughed at me. Well, no one's laughing now.

• Arthur Fleck : Gary?

  Gary : Yeah?

  Arthur Fleck : You were the only one who was ever nice to me.

  Arthur Fleck : [he kisses him on the head]  Get out.

• Arthur Fleck : I just don't want to feel so bad anymore.

• Murray Franklin : Do I understand that you did this to start a movement? To become a symbol?

  Arthur Fleck : Oh come on, Murray. Do I look like the kind of clown that could start a movement? I killed those guys because they were awful. Everybody is awful these days. It's enough to make everyone crazy.

  Murray Franklin : Okay, so that's it? You're crazy, that's your defence for killing three young men?

  Arthur Fleck : No. They couldn't carry a tune to save their lives.

• Arthur Fleck : [after killing Murray]  Good night. And always remember... That's li...

• Arthur Fleck : [from trailer]  I don't want you worrying about money, mom, or me.

• Murray Franklin : What's with the face? I mean, are you part of the protest?

  Arthur Fleck : No. No, I don't believe any of that. I don't believe in anything.

• Arthur Fleck : You know, I do stand-up comedy. You should maybe come see a show sometime.

  Sophie Dumond : I could do that.

• Arthur Fleck : Can I ask you a question?

  Carl (Arkham Clerk) : Sure?

  Arthur Fleck : How does someone wind up in here? Have they all, all the people committed crimes?

  Carl (Arkham Clerk) : Yeah, some have. You know, some are just crazy, pose a danger to themselves and others. Some just got nowhere else to go, don't know what to do, you know?

  Arthur Fleck : Yeah, I hear you, brother. Sometimes I don't know what to do. The last time I ended up taking it out on some people. I thought it was going to bother me, but it really hasn't.

  [Carl looks at him seriously] 

  Carl (Arkham Clerk) : What's that?

  Arthur Fleck : I fucked up. I've done some bad shit. And I've been thinking real hard about it. It's so hard just to try and be happy all the time.

  Carl (Arkham Clerk) : Hey, listen, man, I'm just the administrator assistant. A clerk. You know, all I do is file paperwork. I don't know what to tell you. But you should see somebody.

  [Pulls out Penny's psychiatric file] 

  Carl (Arkham Clerk) : all right. Here it is. Fleck. Penny Fleck. Let's see.

  [Reads from file] 

  Carl (Arkham Clerk) : diagnosed by Dr. Benjamin Stoner. Patient suffers from delusional psychosis, and narcissistic personality disorder. Was found guilty of endangerment welfare of her own child

  [Karl hesitates and looks at Arthur] 

  Arthur Fleck : What?

  Carl (Arkham Clerk) : You said she's your mother?

  [Arthur smiles and nods] 

  Carl (Arkham Clerk) : Uh, I'm sorry. They said I can't release these records. You know, this is not a public forum. Sorry, I get in trouble. look, if you want to bring your mom here to sign, that'll be much easier, but I can't let this go without a signature. Okay? I'm sorry.

  [Arthur suddenly grabs the file and tries to take it off Carl] 

  Carl (Arkham Clerk) : No, man! Let go man! Give it back!

• Arthur Fleck : You're just like the rest of 'em!

  Murray Franklin : You don't know the first thing about me, pal. Look at what happened because of you did. What it led to. There are riots out there, two policemen are in critical condition - you're laughing, you're laughing. Someone was killed today because of what you did.

  Arthur Fleck : I know!

• Thomas Wayne : [as Arthur is laughing at him]  You think this is funny?

  Arthur Fleck : Dad, it's me! Come on!

  [Mr. Wayne punches Arthur in the face] 

• Arthur Fleck : My mom died. I'm celebrating.

• Arthur Fleck : I feel like I know you... I've been watching you forever.

• Murray Franklin : Look what happened because of what you did, what it led to! There are riots out there! Two policemen are in critical condition...

  [Joker starts to chuckle] 

  Murray Franklin : ...You're laughing. You're laughing. Someone was killed today because of what you did.

  Arthur Fleck : [guffaws]  I know.

• Arthur Fleck : I heard this song on the radio the other day, and the guy was singing that his name was Carnival.

  Social Worker : Arthur...

  Arthur Fleck : Which is crazy, because that's my clown name. At work, until a little while ago, it was like nobody ever saw me. Even I didn't know if I really existed.

  Social Worker : Arthur, I have some bad news for you.

  Arthur Fleck : You don't listen, do you? I don't think you ever really listened to me. You just ask the same questions every week. "How's your job? Are you having any negative thoughts?" All I have are negative thoughts. But you don't listen. Anyway, I said, for my whole life, I didn't know if I even really existed. But I do, and people are starting to notice.

  Social Worker : They cut our funding. They're closing down our offices next week. The city's cut funding across the board, social services is part of that. This is the last time we'll be meeting.

  Arthur Fleck : Okay.

  Social Worker : They don't give a shit about people like you, Arthur. And they really don't give a shit about people like me either.

  Arthur Fleck : [pause]  What am I supposed to do about my medication now? Who do I talk to?

  Social Worker : I'm sorry, Arthur.

• Murray Franklin : Well, let me get this straight, you think that killing those guys is funny?

  Arthur Fleck : I do. And I'm tired of pretending it's not.

• Penny Fleck : [referring to Thomas Wayne]  He's an extraordinary man, Happy. A very powerful man. We were in love. He said it was best that we not be together because of appearances. And I couldn't tell anyone because, well, I signed some papers. And besides, you can imagine what people would say about Thomas and me, what they'd say about you.

  Arthur Fleck : What would they say, Mom?

• [last lines] 

  Arkham Psychiatrist : What's so funny?

  Arthur Fleck : Just thinking of a joke.

  [Arthur continues laughing as the last scene cuts to Bruce standing in from of his dead parents in the alley before cutting back to the interrogation room] 

  Arkham Psychiatrist : Do you want to tell it to me?

  Arthur Fleck : You wouldn't get it.

• Detective Garrity : Mr. Fleck. Sorry to bother you. I'm Detective Garrity. This is my partner, Detective Burke. We have a few questions for you, but you weren't home. So we spoke with your mother.

  Arthur Fleck : Oh. What did you say to her? Did you do this?

  Detective Garrity : What? No.

  Detective Burke : No, no, no. We just asked her some questions. She got hysterical. Hyperventilating, collapsed...

  Arthur Fleck : Yeah, but the doctor said she had a stroke.

  Detective Garrity : We're sorry to hear about that. But like I said, I still have some questions for you. They're about the subway killings that happened last week. You've heard about them right?

  Arthur Fleck : Yeah. It's horrible.

  Detective Garrity : Right.

  Detective Garrity : So we spoke with your boss, over at Ha-Ha's. He said you were fired for bringing a gun into the children's hospital. Is that true, Mr. Fleck?

  Arthur Fleck : It's a prop. It's part of my act. I'm a party clown.

  Detective Burke : All right, so why were you fired?

  Arthur Fleck : They said I wasn't funny enough. Can you imagine that? Now if you don't mind, I have to go take care of my mother.

  Detective Burke : Your boss also gave us one of your cards. This condition of yours, The laughing, is it real, or some sort of clown thing?

  Arthur Fleck : A clown thing?

  Detective Garrity : Yeah. I mean, part of your act?

  Arthur Fleck : What do you think?

  [Arthur turns and starts walking towards the hospital doors, but walks into the glass door] 

  Detective Garrity : It's exit only.

• Thomas Wayne : Can I help you, pal?

  Arthur Fleck : I don't know what to say.

  Thomas Wayne : Do you want an autograph, or something?

  Arthur Fleck : No. My name is Arthur. Penny Fleck is my mother.

  Thomas Wayne : Jesus. You're the guy that came to my house yesterday.

  Arthur Fleck : Yes. I'm sorry, I just showed up. But my mother told me everything, and I had to talk to you.

  Thomas Wayne : Look, pal, I'm not your father. What's wrong with you.

  Arthur Fleck : Because I think you are.

  Thomas Wayne : Well, that's impossible. Because you were adopted, and I never slept with your mother. What do you want from me? Money?

  Arthur Fleck : No, I don't. I wasn't adopted.

  Thomas Wayne : Jesus, she never told you?

  Arthur Fleck : What?

  Thomas Wayne : Your mother adopted you while she was working for us.

  Arthur Fleck : That's not true. Why are you saying that?

  Thomas Wayne : But she was arrested and committed to Arkham State Hospital when you were just a little boy.

  Arthur Fleck : Why are you saying this? I don't need you to tell me lies! I know it seems strange! I don't mean to make you uncomfortable! I don't know why! Dad, I just want a little bit of fucking decency! What is it with you people? You say that stuff about my mother!

  Thomas Wayne : She's crazy.

  Arthur Fleck : She's...

  [Starts laughing uncontrollably] 

  Thomas Wayne : You think this is funny? Is this a joke to you?

  Arthur Fleck : [still laughing]  Dad, its me! Come on!

  Thomas Wayne : [punches Arthur in the face]  Touch my son again, I'll fucking kill you.

• Arthur Fleck : [from filmed stand-up performance]  It's funny, when I was a little boy and told people I wanted to be a comedian, everyone laughed at me.

  [spreads arms open wide] 

  Arthur Fleck : Well, no one's laughing now!

  Murray Franklin : [onstage at his talk show]  You can say that again, pal!

• Arthur Fleck : I'm da jokah, baby!

• Gary : [Arthur is packing up his locker at the clown company]  I heard what happened? Sorry, mate.

  Randall : Yeah, it doesn't seem fair, getting fired like that.

  Haha's Clown : Did you really bring a gun to a children's hospital, Arty? What the fuck would you do that for?

  Haha's Clown : Is that part of your new act, Arthur? The dancing didn't do the trick, you were just going to shoot yourself?

  [the other clown employees start to laugh] 

  Arthur Fleck : Why don't you ask Randall about it? It was his gun.

  Randall : What?

  Arthur Fleck : I still owe you for that, don't I?

  Randall : What the fuck are you talking about? Stop talking out of your as, Art.

  Arthur Fleck : [Arthur honks the clown horn, tosses it aside, and walks off, but returns]  Arthur Fleck: Oh, no. I forgot to punch out.

  [he punches the timestamp machine, laughs as it breaks and leaves] 

• Arthur Fleck : [Arthur's on the phone to Vaughn, after the gun that Randall had given for protection falls out of his pocket while he was entertaining at a children's hospital]  Wait, please, I love this job.

  Hoyt Vaughn : Arthur, I need to why you brought a gun into a kids hospital?

  Arthur Fleck : Its a prop, for my act now.

  Hoyt Vaughn : That's bullshit! It's bullshit! What kind of clown carries a fucking gun? Besides, Randall told me, you tried to fire a thirty-eight over him last week.

  Arthur Fleck : Randall told you that?

  Hoyt Vaughn : You're a fuck-up, Arthur, and a liar. You're fired!

  [he hangs up] 

• Penny Fleck : [referring to Thomas Wayne]  He'd make a great mayor. Everybody says so.

  Arthur Fleck : Oh, yeah? Everybody, who? Who do you talk to?

  Penny Fleck : Everybody on the news. He's the only one who can save the city. He owes it to us.

• Arthur Fleck : [Arthur goes to Wayne Manor where he sees young Bruce and does a clown rooting form before talking to him through the gates]  Hi. What's your name?

  Bruce Wayne : I'm Bruce.

  Arthur Fleck : Bruce. I'm Arthur.

  [He sticks his hands through the gate, puts his fingers on Bruce's face lifting the corners of his mouth as if to make him smile] 

  Alfred Pennyworth : Bruce! Bruce! Get away from that man.

  Arthur Fleck : It's okay. I'm a good guy.

  Alfred Pennyworth : How do you do? Who are you?

  Arthur Fleck : I'm here to see Mr. Wayne.

  Alfred Pennyworth : Well, you shouldn't be speaking to his son

  [Giving back the fake flowers Arthur gave Bruce] 

  Alfred Pennyworth : Why did you give him these flowers?

  Arthur Fleck : No, they're not real. It's magic. I was just trying to make Bruce smile.

  Alfred Pennyworth : Well, it's not funny, is it? Do I need to call the police?

  Arthur Fleck : No, please. My mother's name is Penny. Penny Fleck. She used to work here years ago. Can you please tell Mr. Wayne I need to see him?

  Alfred Pennyworth : You are her son?

  Arthur Fleck : Yeah. Did you know her? I know about the two of them. She told me everything.

  Alfred Pennyworth : There's nothing to know. There is no "them." Your mother was delusional. She was a sick woman.

  Arthur Fleck : Don't say that.

  Alfred Pennyworth : Just go. Before you make a fool of yourself.

  Arthur Fleck : Thomas Wayne is my father.

  Alfred Pennyworth : [Alfred starts laughing, causing Arthur in anger to put his hand through the gates around Alfred's neck and starts to choke him]  Let go of me! Let go! Let go of me!

  [Arthur looks at Bruce watching with fear, he turns and runs off] 

• Arthur Fleck : What do you get when you cross a mentally ill loner with a society that abandons him and treats him like trash? You get what you fucking deserve!

• Arthur Fleck : --is it just me, or is it getting crazier out there?

  Arkham Psychiatrist : It's certainly tense. People are upset, they're struggling, looking for work. The garbage strike seems like it's been going on forever. These are tough times. How about you? How's the job? Still, enjoying it?

  Arthur Fleck : Yeah, I mean, it's different each day, so I really like that. I don't think I could ever work in an office. Behind a desk. No offence.