Quotes

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Passenger: [to Travis] You see the woman in the window? Do you see the woman in the window?...I want you to see that woman, because that's my wife. But that's not my apartment. That's not my apartment. You know who lives there? Huh? I mean, you wouldn't know who lives there - I'm just saying, "But you know who lives there?" Huh? A nigger lives there. How do ya like that? And I'm gonna, I'm gonna kill her. There's nothing else. I'm gonna kill her. What do you think of that? Hmm? I said 'What do you think of that?' Don't answer. You don't have to answer everything. I'm gonna kill her. I'm gonna kill her with a .44 Magnum pistol. I have a .44 Magnum pistol. I'm gonna kill her with that gun. Did you ever see what a .44 Magnum pistol can do to a woman's face? I mean it'll fucking destroy it. Just blow her right apart. That's what it can do to her face. Now, did you ever see what it can do to a woman's pussy? That you should see. You should see what a .44 Magnum's gonna do to a woman's pussy

Dialogue

Travis: I can't sleep nights. Personnel Officer: There's porno theaters for that. Travis: I know. I tried that. Personnel Officer: So whaddaya do now? Travis: I ride around nights mostly. Subways, buses. Figure you know, I'm gonna do that, I might as well get paid for it. Personnel Officer: Wanna work uptown nights - South Bronx, Harlem? Travis: I'll work any time, anywhere. Personnel Officer: Will ya work Jewish holidays? Travis: Any time, anywhere. Personnel Officer: All right. Let me see your chauffeur's license. How's your driving record? Travis: It's clean, real clean - like my conscience...

Dialogue

Tom: Now look, you have to emphasize the mandatory welfare program. That's the issue that should be pushed. Betsy: First push the man, then the issue. Senator Palantine is a dynamic man, an intelligent, interesting, fresh, fascinating... Tom: Forgot sexy. Betsy: ...man. I did not forget sexy. Tom: Listen to what you're saying. You sound like you're selling mouthwash. Betsy: We are selling mouthwash. Tom: Are we authorized to do that?

Dialogue

Betsy: And why do you feel that you have to volunteer to me? Travis: [smiling slightly] Because I think that you are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. Betsy: [pause] Thanks. But what do you think of Palantine? ...Charles Palantine, the man you're volunteering to help elect President. Travis: Well, I'm sure he'd make a good President. I don't know exactly what his policies are, but I'm sure he'd make a good one. Betsy: Do you want to canvass? Travis: Yeah, I'll canvass.

Dialogue

Travis: I'll tell you why. I think you're a lonely person. I drive by this place a lot and I see you here. I see a lot of people around you. And I see all these phones and all this stuff on your desk. It means nothing. Then when I came inside and I met you, I saw in your eyes and I saw the way you carried yourself that you're not a happy person. And I think you need something. And if you want to call it a friend, you can call it a friend. Betsy: Are you gonna be my friend? Travis: Yeah. What do ya say? It's a little hard standing here and asking...Five minutes, that's all, just outside. Right around here. I'm there to protect ya. [He quickly flexes both arms, causing her to laugh] Come on, just take a little break. Betsy: I have a break at four o'clock and if you're here... Travis: Four o'clock today? Betsy: Yes. Travis: I'll be here. Betsy: I'm sure you will. Travis: All right, four p.m. Betsy: Right. Travis: Outside in front? Betsy: Yeah. Travis: OK. Oh my name is Travis. [He extends

Dialogue

Concession Girl: Can I help you? Travis: Yeah, what's your name? My name's Travis. Concession Girl: That's nice, what can do for you? Travis: I'd like to know what your name is, what's your name? Concession Girl: Give me a break. Travis: You can tell me what your name is, I'm not going to do anything. Concession Girl: Do you want me to call the manager. Travis: You don't have to call the manager, I mean I'm just asking... Concession Girl: Troy! Travis: Alright, okay, I'm just, okay. Can I have Chuckles? Do you have any jujus? They last longer, I'd like to get some jujus. Concession Girl: What you see is what we got. Travis: I'll take these. Coca-Cola? Concession Girl: We don't have Coca-Cola, Royal Crown Cola is all we got. $1.85.

Dialogue

Travis: I know what you mean. I've got the same problems. I gotta get organized. Oh little things, like my apartment, my possessions. I should get one of those signs that says "One of these days I'm gonna get organizized." Betsy: You mean "organized"? Travis: Organiziezed. Organiziezed - it's a joke. O-R-G-A-N-E-Z-I-E-Z-D. Betsy: Oh, you mean 'Organizized'. Like those little signs they have in offices that say "Thimk".

Dialogue

Travis: [about Tom] I would say he has quite a few problems. His energy seems to go in the wrong places. When I walked in and I saw you two sitting there, I could just tell by the way you were both relating that there was no connection whatsoever. And I felt when I walked in that there was something between us. There was an impulse that we were both following. So that gave me the right to come in and talk to you. Otherwise I never would have felt that I had the right to talk to you or say anything to you. I never would have had the courage to talk to you. And with him I felt there was nothing and I could sense it. When I walked in, I knew I was right. Did you feel that way? Betsy: I wouldn't be here if I didn't. Travis: ...That fellow you work with. I don't like him. Not that I don't like him, I just think he's silly. I don't think he respects you. Betsy: I don't believe I've ever met anyone quite like you.

Dialogue

Betsy: You know what you remind me of? Travis: What? Betsy: That song by Kris Kristofferson. [She's referring to the song Pilgrim Chapter 33] Travis: Who's that? Betsy: A songwriter. "He's a prophet...he's a prophet and a pusher, partly truth, partly fiction. A walking contradiction." Travis: You sayin' that about me? Betsy: Who else would I be talkin' about? Travis: I'm no pusher. I never have pushed. Betsy: No, no. Just the part about the contradictions. You are that.

Dialogue

Travis: I'm one of your biggest supporters, you know. I tell everybody that comes in this taxi that they have to vote for you. Palantine: Why thank you - [Pleased, he glances to check Travis' picture, identification and license posted in the rear seat] - Travis. Travis: I'm sure you're gonna win sir. Everybody I know is gonna vote for ya. You know in fact, I was gonna put one of your stickers in my taxi but you know, the company said it was against their policy. But they don't know anything, you know. They're a bunch of jerks. Palantine: Let me tell you something. I have learned more about America from riding in taxi cabs than in all the limos in the country...Can I ask you something, Travis? Travis: Sure. Palantine: What is the one thing about this country that bugs you the most? Travis: Well, I don't know. I don't follow political issues that closely, sir. I don't know. Palantine: Oh but there must be something. Travis: Well. [He thinks] Whatever it is, you should clean up this city

Dialogue

Betsy: You've got to be kidding. Travis: What? Betsy: This is a dirty movie. Travis: No, no, this is, this is a movie that, uh, a lot of couples come to, all kinds of couples go here. Betsy: Are you sure about that? Travis: Sure. I've seen 'em all the time.

Dialogue

Travis: Where are you going? Betsy: Have to leave now. Travis: Why? Betsy: I don't know why I came in here. I don't like these movies. Travis: Well, I mean, I, you know, I didn't know that you, you would feel that way about this movie. I don't know much about movies, but if I... Betsy: Are these the only kind of movies you go to? Travis: Well, yeah, I mean I come - this is not so bad. Betsy: Taking me to a place like this is about as exciting to me as saying: 'Let's fuck.' Travis: Uh. There are other places I can take you. There are plenty of other movies I can take you to. I don't know much about them but I could take you to other places...

Dialogue

Travis: Why won't you talk to me? Why don't you answer my calls when I call? You think I don't know you're here. Tom: Let's not have any trouble. Travis: You think I don't know. You think I don't know. Tom: Would you please leave? Travis: Get your hands off. [to Betsy] You're in a hell, and you're gonna die in hell like the rest of 'em! You're like the rest of 'em.

Dialogue

Wizard: Then I picked up these two fags, you know. They're goin' downtown. They're wearing these rhinestone t-shirts. And they start arguin'. They start yellin'. The other says: "You bitch."...I say: "Look, I don't care what you do in the privacy of your own home behind closed doors - this is an American free country, we got a pursuit of happiness thing, you're consenting, you're adult. BUT, you know, uh, you know, in my fucking cab, don't go bustin' heads, you know what I mean? God love you, do what you want." Dough Boy: Tell 'em to go to California, 'cause out in California when two fags split up, one's got to pay the other one alimony. Wizard: Not bad. Ah, they're way ahead out there, you know in California. So I had to tell 'em to get out of the fuckin' cab.

Dialogue

Travis: Well, I know you and I ain't talked too much, you know, but I figured you've been around a lot so you could... Wizard: Shoot. That's why they call me the Wizard. Travis: I got, it's just that I got a, I got a... Wizard: Things uh, things got ya down? Travis: Yeah. Wizard: Yeah, it happens to the best of us. Travis: Yeah, I got me a real down, real...I just wanna go out and, and you know like really, really, really do somethin'. Wizard: The taxi life you mean? Travis: Yeah, well. Naw, I don't know. I just wanna go out. I really, you know, I really wanna, I got some bad ideas in my head, I just... Wizard: Look, look at it this way, you know uh, a man, a man takes a job, you know, and that job, I mean like that, and that it becomes what he is. You know like uh, you do a thing and that's what you are. Like I've been a, I've been a cabbie for seventeen years, ten years at night and I still don't own my own cab. You know why? 'Cause I don't want to. I must be what I, what I want. You

Dialogue

Andy: There you go - a supreme high re-sale weapon. Look at that. Look at that. That's a beauty. I could sell those guns to some jungle bunny in Harlem for five hundred bucks. But I just deal high-quality goods to the right people. How about that? This might be a little too big for practical purposes in which case for you, I'd recommend .38 snub nose. Look at this. Look at it. That's a beautiful little gun. It's nickel-plated, snub nose, otherwise the same as the service revolver. That'll stop anything that moves. The Magnum - they use that in Africa for killin' elephants. That .38 - it's a fine gun. Some of these guns are like toys. That .38 - you go out and hammer nails with it all day, come back and it will cut dead center on target every time. It's got a really nice action to it and a heck of a whallop. You interested in a automatic? It's a Colt .25 Automatic. It's a nice little gun. It's a beautiful little gun. It holds six shots in the clip, one shot in the chamber, if you're dum

Dialogue

Travis: Hey, you're a Secret Service man aren't ya? Huh? Agent: Just waiting for the Senator. Travis: You're waiting for the Senator? Oh! That's a very good answer. Shit! I'm waitin' for the sun to shine. Yeah. No, the reason I, I asked if you were a Secret Service man, I won't say anything, because I ...I saw some suspicious looking people over there. [Travis points away] Yeah, they were over there, right over there. They were just here, uh. They were very, very, uh... Agent: ...suspicious... Travis: Yeah. Is it hard to get to be in the Secret Service? Agent: Why? Travis: Well, I was just curious, because I think I'd be good at it. Very observant. I was in the Marine Corps you know, I'm good with crowds. I'm noticin' the little pin there. [Looking at the agent's lapel] That's like a signal isn't it? Agent: Sort of. Travis: A signal. A secret signal for the Secret Service. Hey, what kind of guns do you guys carry? .38s, .45s, .357 Magnums, somethin' bigger maybe? Agent: Look, uh, if yo

Dialogue

Sport: Officer, I swear I'm clean. I'm just waitin' here for a friend. You gonna bust me for nothin' man? Travis: I'm not a cop. Sport: So why are you askin' me for action? Travis: [gesturing at Iris] Because she sent me over. Sport: I suppose that ain't a .38 you got in your sock. Travis: A .38? No. I'm clean man. Sport: [noticing Travis' Western boots] Shit. You're a real cowboy? That's nice, man. That's all right. Fifteen dollars, fifteen minutes, twenty-five dollars, half an hour. Travis: Shit. Sport: A cowboy, huh? I once had a horse, on Coney Island. She got hit by a car. Well, take it or leave it. If you want to save yourself some money, don't fuck her. Cause you'll be back here every night for some more. Man, she's twelve and a half years old. You ain't never had no pussy like that. You can do anything you want with her. You can cum on her, fuck her in the mouth, fuck her in the ass, cum on her face, man. She get your cock so hard she'll make it explode. But no rough stuff, all

Dialogue

Sport: Catch you later, copper. Travis: What'd you say? Sport: See you later, copper. Travis: I'm no cop, man. Sport: Well if you are, it's entrapment already. Travis: I'm hip. Sport: [laughs] Buddy, you don't look hip. Travis: [stares] Sport: Go ahead, have yourself a good time. Travis: [continues to stare] Sport: You're a funny guy. But looks aren't everything. Go ahead man, have a good time.

Dialogue

Travis: Are you really twelve and a half? Iris: Listen mister, it's your time. Fifteen minutes ain't long. When that cigarette burns out, your time is up. [Iris sits on the edge of the sofa and begins undressing] Travis: How old are you? You won't tell me? What's your name? Iris: Easy. Travis: That's not any kind of name. Iris: That's easy to remember. Travis: Yeah, but what's your real name? Iris: I don't like my real name. Travis: Now what's your real name? Iris: Iris. Travis: Well, what's wrong with that? That's a nice name. Iris: Huh! That's what you think. [Iris begins to remove her top] Travis: No, don't do that. Don't do that. Don't you remember me? Remember when you got into a taxi, it was a checkered taxi. You got in and that that guy Matthew came by and he said he wanted to take you away. He pulled you away. Iris: I don't remember that. Travis: You don't remember any of that? Iris: No. Travis: Well. that's all right. I'm gonna get you out of here. Iris: So we'd better make it

Dialogue

Iris: Why do you want me to go back to my parents? I mean they hate me. Why do you think I split in the first place? There ain't nothin' there. Travis: Yeah, but you can't live like this. It's hell. Girls should live at home. Iris: Didn't you ever hear of women's lib? Travis: What do you mean 'women's lib'? You sure are a young girl. You should be at home now. You should be dressed up. You should be goin' out with boys. You should be goin' to school. You know, that kind of stuff. Iris: Oh god, are you square. Travis: Hey I'm not square. You're the one that's square. You're full of shit, man. What are you talkin' about? You walk out with those fuckin' creeps and lowlifes and degenerates out on the street and you sell your, sell your little pussy for nothin' man. For some lowlife pimp - stands in a hall. I'm, I'm square? You're the one that's square, man. I don't go screw and fuck with a bunch of killers and junkies the way you do. You call that bein' hip? What world are you from? Iris:

Dialogue

Iris: So what makes you so high and mighty. Will you tell me that? Didn't you ever try lookin' in your own eyeballs in the mirror? Travis: So what are you gonna do about Sport, that ol' bastard? Iris: When? Travis: When you leave. Iris: I don't know. I just leave him, I guess. Travis: You just gonna leave? Iris: Yeah, they got plenty of other girls. Travis: Yeah, but you just can't do that. What are you gonna do? Iris: What do you want me to do? Call the cops? Travis: What? The cops don't do nothin'. You know that. Iris: Hey look. Sport never treated me bad. I mean he didn't beat me up or anything like that once. Travis: But you can't allow him to do the same to other girls. You can't allow him to do that. He is the lowest kind of person in the world. Somebody's got to do something to him. He's the scum of the earth. He's the worst s-s-sucking scum I have ever, ever seen. You know what he told me about you? He called you names. He called you a little piece of chicken. Iris: He doesn't,

Dialogue

Iris: I don't like what I'm doin,' Sport. Sport: Oh baby, I never wanted you to like what you're doin'. If you ever liked what you're doing, you wouldn't be my woman. Iris: You never spend any time with me anymore. Sport: Why I got to attend to business baby. You miss your man, don't ya? I don't like to be away from you either. You know how I feel about you. I depend on you. I'd be lost without you. Don't you ever forget that - how much I need you. Come to me baby. Let me hold you. When I hold you close to me like this, I feel so good. I only wish every man could know what it's like to be loved by you... God, it's good so close. You know at times like this, I know I'm one lucky man. Touchin' a woman who wants me and needs me. That's the way you and I keeps it together.

Dialogue

Travis: How's everything in the pimp business? Huh? Sport: Don't I know you? Travis: No, do I know you? Sport: Get out of here. Come on, get lost. Travis: Do I know you? How's Iris? You know Iris. Sport: No, I don't know nobody named Iris. Iris. Come on. Get out of here man. Travis: You don't know anybody by the name of Iris? Sport: I don't know nobody named Iris. Travis: No? Sport: Hey - go back to your fuckin' tribe before you get hurt, huh man. Do me a favor, I don't want no trouble huh? OK? Travis: You got a gun? Sport: [He throws his lit cigarette at Travis' chest, causing sparks to fly, and then kicks him] Get the fuck out of here man! Get out of here. Travis: Suck on this. [shoots him in the belly]

Dialogue

Betsy: Hello, Travis. Travis: Hello. [Long pause as they exchange looks in the rear-view mirror] I hear Palantine got the nomination. Betsy: Yeah. It won't be long now. Seventeen days. Travis: I hope he wins. Betsy: I read about you in the papers. How are you? Travis: Oh, it was nothin' really. I got over that. Papers always blow these things up. Just a little stiffness. That's all. [The cab arrives at her destination and she steps out, speaking to him through the open, driver side window] Betsy: Travis? How much was it? Travis: So long...