Anthony Hopkins: Stevens

The Remains of the Day

Stevens

Stevens: In my philosophy, Mr. Benn, a man cannot call himself well-contented until he has done all he can to be of service to his employer. Of course, this assumes that one's employer is a superior person, not only in rank, or wealth, but in moral stature.

Stevens: You know what I am doing, Miss Kenton? I am placing my thoughts elsewhere while you chatter away.

Miss Kenton: Look at it! Is that or is it not the wrong Chinaman?
Stevens: Miss Kenton, I'm very busy. I am surprised that you have nothing better to do than stand around all day...
Miss Kenton: Mr. Stevens, look at that Chinaman and tell me the truth!
Stevens: Miss Kenton, I would ask you to keep your voice down. What would the other servants think to hear us shouting at the top of our voices about... Chinamen?
Miss Kenton: And I would ask you, Mr. Stevens, to turn around and look at the Chinaman.

[after telling Stevens she intends to accept Benn's marriage proposal]
Miss Kenton: Mister Stevens! Am I to take it that after all the years I have been in this house you have nothing else to say to me?
Stevens: You have my warmest congratulations.

James Stevens: If two members of staff have to fall in love and decide to get married, there's nothing one can say. But what I do find a major irritation are those persons who are simply going from post to post looking for romance.

Miss Kenton: [about a new housemaid] You don't like having pretty girls on the staff, I've noticed.
[teasing]
Miss Kenton: Might it be that our Mr Stevens fears distraction? Can it be that our Mr Stevens is flesh and blood after all and doesn't trust himself?
Stevens: [with the faintest trace of a smile] You know what I'm doing, Miss Kenton? I'm placing my thoughts elsewhere as you chatter away.
Miss Kenton: ...then why is that guilty smile still on your face?
Stevens: Oh it's not a guilty smile. I'm simply amused by the sheer nonsense you sometimes talk.
Miss Kenton: It *is* a guilty smile. You can hardly bear to look at her. That's why you didn't want to take her on, she's too pretty.
Stevens: Well, you must be right Miss Kenton, you always are.

Miss Kenton: I am a coward. I'm frightened of leaving and that's the truth. All I see out in the world is loneliness and it frightens me. That's all my high principals are worth, Mr. Stevens. I'm ashamed of myself.
Stevens: Miss Kenton, you mean a great deal to this house. You're extremely important to this house. Miss Kenton.
Miss Kenton: Am I?

Miss Kenton: People always cheer when they turn the lights on in the evening. Every time.
Stevens: I wonder why?
Miss Kenton: They do say, that for a great many people the evening's the best part of the day. The part they most look forward to.

Stevens: I regard this room as my private place of work and I - I prefer to keep distractions to a minimum.
Miss Kenton: Would you call flowers a distraction, then, Mr. Stevens?
Stevens: I appreciate your kindness, Miss Kenton, but I prefer to keep things as they are.

Lord Darlington: We have some refugee girls on the staff at the moment, I believe.
Stevens: We do, my Lord. Two housemaids. Elsa and Irma.
Lord Darlington: You'll have to let them go, I'm afraid.
Stevens: Let them go, my Lord?
Lord Darlington: It's regrettable, Stevens, but we have no choice. You've got to see the whole thing in context. I have the well-being of my guests to consider.
Stevens: My Lord, may I say, they work extremely well. They're intelligent, polite, and very clean.
Lord Darlington: I'm sorry, Stevens, but I've looked into the matter very carefully. There are larger issues at stake. I'm sorry, but there it is. They're Jews.

Stevens: Each one of you has his own particular duty - or her duty. Polished brass, brilliant silver, mahogany shining like a mirror. That is the welcome we will show these foreign visitors - and let them know that they're in England where order and tradition still prevail.

Miss Kenton: You're saying that Elsa and Irma are being dismissed because they're Jewish?
Stevens: His Lordship has made his decision. There is nothing for you and I to discuss.
Miss Kenton: You realize if those girls have no work, they could be sent back to Germany.
Stevens: It is out of our hands.
Miss Kenton: I'm telling you, Mr. Stevens, if you dismiss my girls tomorrow, it will be *wrong*. A sin! As any sin ever was one.
Stevens: Miss Kenton, there are many things you and I don't understand in this world of today; whereas, his Lordship, understands fully and has studied the larger issues at stake concerning, say, the nature of the Jewry.

Lord Darlington: Stevens, I realize this is a somewhat irregular thing to ask you to do.
Stevens: I should very glad to be of any assistance, my Lord.
Lord Darlington: Sorry to bring up a thing like this; but, I just can't see how on earth to make it go away. You are familiar, I take it, with the facts of life?
Stevens: My Lord?
Lord Darlington: The facts of life, Stevens. Birds. Bees. You are familiar, aren't you?
Stevens: I'm afraid I don't quite follow you, sir.
Lord Darlington: Well, let me put my cards on the table, Stevens. I'm so frightfully busy with this conference. Of course, you're very busy too! But, someone has to tell him. In a way, it would be easier for you. Less awkward. I - I find the task rather daunting, I'm afraid. In might not get around to it before Reginalds wedding day. Of course, this goes far beyond the call of duty, Stevens.
Stevens: I - I shall do my best, my Lord.
Lord Darlington: I'd be grateful if you even tried, Stevens. It'd be an awful lot off my mind. Look here, there's no need to make a song and dance of it. Just convey the basic facts and be done with it.

Miss Kenton: There are times when I think what a terrible mistake I've made with my life.
Stevens: Yes. I'm sure we all have these thoughts, from time to time.

Stevens: Do you know what I'm doing, Miss Kenton? I'm putting my thoughts elsewhere while you chatter on.