Dustin Hoffman credited as playing...
David Sumner
- Amy Sumner: David, give Niles to them. That's what they want. They just want him. Give them Niles, David!
- David Sumner: They'll beat him to death.
- Amy Sumner: I don't care! Get him out!
- David Sumner: You really don't care, do you?
- Amy Sumner: No, I don't.
- David Sumner: No. I care. This is where I live. This is me. I will not allow violence against this house.
- Reverend Barney Hood: Radiation. That's an unfortunate dispensation.
- David Sumner: Surely is. Yes, indeed.
- Reverend Barney Hood: As long as it's not another bomb.
- [beat]
- Reverend Barney Hood: You're a scientist - can you deny the responsibility?
- David Sumner: Can you?
- [beat]
- David Sumner: After all, there's never been a kingdom given to so much bloodshed as that of Christ.
- Reverend Barney Hood: [beat] That's Montesquieu, isn't it?
- David Sumner: Oh, really?
- Louise Hood: Who's he?
- Reverend Barney Hood: Somebody well worth reading.
- David Sumner: Okay, you've had your fun. I'll give you one more chance, and if you don't clear out now, there'll be real trouble. I mean it.
- David Sumner: You act like you're fourteen years old.
- Amy Sumner: I am fourteen years old.
- David Sumner: Wanna try for twelve?
- [Amy obliges by chewing gum open-mouthed like a carefree little girl]
- David Sumner: How about eight? I freak out for eight-year-olds.
- Amy Sumner: [still seething after discovery of her murdered cat] Scutt... or Cawsey.
- David Sumner: I've locked all the doors and windows downstairs. Let's keep them locked from now on. All right?
- Amy Sumner: [angrily] Great!
- [David calmly prepares for bed]
- Amy Sumner: Did you hear me?
- David Sumner: Hmm?
- Amy Sumner: *Scutt or Cawsey.*
- David Sumner: Why?
- Amy Sumner: To prove to you they could get into your bedroom!
- David Sumner: [stares at her a long time] I don't believe that.
- [shakes his head]
- Amy Sumner: [as she gets up from chair, tearfully:] Well, who else is around all the time?
- [climbs under covers]
- David Sumner: The doors werent locked. I mean, it could have been anybody passing.
- Amy Sumner: "Anybody passing"? David, a complete stranger comes into our house, decides to strangle our cat and hang her in the wardrobe! Somebody passing?
- [David remains uncertain]
- Amy Sumner: Cawsey... or Scutt?
- Amy Sumner: You're a coward.
- David Sumner: [puts down his cigarette] No, I'm not.
- Amy Sumner: Entire coward. Put plain and simple.
- David Sumner: No, I'm not.
- Amy Sumner: [through tears] I don't blame you for hiding in your study.
- [through sobs:]
- Amy Sumner: But... I don't want to hide there with you.
- [sniffles]
- Amy Sumner: I... *I can't anymore!*
- David Sumner: I'm firing Venner and Scutt tomorrow.
- Amy Sumner: Hooray for you, Tiger. What for?
- David Sumner: Because they stuck it to me on the moor today.
- Amy Sumner: They also serve who sit at home and wait.
- Amy Sumner: You're a coward.
- David Sumner: No, I'm not.
- Amy Sumner: And I'm a coward, plain and simple.