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A man must struggle to travel home for Thanksgiving with an obnoxious slob of a shower curtain ring salesman as his only companion.
Car Rental Agent: [cheerfully] Welcome to Marathon, may I help you? Neal: Yes. Car Rental Agent: How may I help you? Neal: You can start by wiping that fucking dumb-ass smile off your rosey, fucking, cheeks! And you can give me a fucking automobile: a fucking Datsun, a fucking Toyota, a fucking Mustang, a fucking Buick! Four fucking wheels and a seat! Car Rental Agent: I really don't care for the way you're speaking to me. Neal: And I really don't care for the way your company left me in the middle of fucking nowhere with fucking keys to a fucking car that isn't fucking there. And I really didn't care to fucking walk, down a fucking highway, and across a fucking runway to get back here to have you smile in my fucking face. I want a fucking car RIGHT FUCKING NOW! Car Rental Agent: May I see your rental agreement? Neal: I threw it away. Car Rental Agent: Oh boy. Neal: Oh boy, what? Car Rental Agent: You're fucked!
Del: You wanna hurt me? Go right ahead if it makes you feel any better. I'm an easy target. Yeah, you're right, I talk too much. I also listen too much. I could be a cold-hearted cynic like you... but I don't like to hurt people's feelings. Well, you think what you want about me; I'm not changing. I like... I like me. My wife likes me. My customers like me. 'Cause I'm the real article. What you see is what you get.
[waking up after sharing the same bed on the motel] Neal: Del... Why did you kiss my ear? Del: Why are you holding my hand? Neal: [frowns] Where's your other hand? Del: Between two pillows... Neal: Those aren't pillows! [they both leap out of bed, screaming and shaking their hands in disgust]
Neal: You know everything is not an anecdote. You have to discriminate. You choose things that are funny or mildly amusing or interesting. You're a miracle! Your stories have NONE of that. They're not even amusing ACCIDENTALLY! "Honey, I'd like you to meet Del Griffith, he's got some amusing anecodotes for you. Oh and here's a gun so you can blow your brains out. You'll thank me for it." I could tolerate any insurance seminar. For days I could sit there and listen to them go on and on with a big smile on my face. They'd say, "How can you stand it?" I'd say, "'Cause I've been with Del Griffith. I can take ANYTHING." You know what they'd say? They'd say, "I know what you mean. The shower curtain ring guy. Woah." It's like going on a date with a Chatty Cathy doll. I expect you have a little string on your chest, you know, that I pull out and have to snap back. Except I wouldn't pull it out and snap it back - you would. Agh! Agh! Agh! Agh! And by the way, you know, when you're telling these little stories? Here's a good idea - have a POINT. It makes it SO much more interesting for the listener!
Del: You play with your balls a lot. Neal: I do NOT play with my balls. Del: Larry Bird doesn't do as much ball-handling in one night as you do in an hour! Neal: Are you trying to start a fight? Del: No. I'm simply stating a fact. That's all. You fidget with your nuts a lot. Neal: You know what'd make me happy? Del: Another couple of balls, and an extra set of fingers?
[another driver is trying to alert them that they're driving on the wrong side of the highway] Neal: He says we're going the wrong way... Del: Oh, he's drunk. How would he know where we're going?
Neal: [Comes back to Chicago rail station to find Del sitting alone] Del, what are you doing here? You said you were going home, what are you doing here? Del: I uh... I don't have a home. Marie's been dead for eight years.
State Trooper: What the hell are you driving here? Del: We had a small fire last night, but we caught it in the nick of time. State Trooper: Do you have any idea how fast you were going? Del: Funny enough, I was just talking to my friend about that. Our speedometer has melted and as a result it's very hard to see with any degree of accuracy exactly how fast we were going.
[at breakfast Neal finds his wallet empty and gives Del a mean look] Del: What? Neal: You know goddamn well what! Del: I'm sorry I don't Neal: I had over 700 dollars in here. Del: I didn't touch your dough Neal. I'm a lot of things but I'm not a thief. Neal: Well you went into my stuff last night right? Del: I didn't take your money! and I don't care for the accusation. Neal: Well I had over 700 dollars in here and you went into my wallet for pizza. Just maybe when you went into my stuff you had to... Del: [Places his wallet on the table] Count it! Neal: Oh like you keep it in there if you stole it. Del: There's 263 dollars in there. If there's a dollar more then you can call me a thief. Just count it. Neal: [finds Del's wallet empty as wel] Empty. Del: WHAT? [Looks thru his wallet] Del: We were robbed! Neal: [Sarcastically] Do you think so?
Neal: [riding in back of pickup truck in freezing cold] What do you think the temperature is? Del: One.
Del: When I'm dead and buried, all I'll leave behind are some shower curtain rings that didn't fall down. Some legacy, huh? Neal: At the very least, the absolute minimum, you'll have a woman you love to grow old with. You love her, don't you? Del: Love... is not a big enough word. It's not a big enough word for how I feel about my wife. Del, Neal: [raises drink] To the wives!
Cab Dispatcher: Where are you going? Neal: Chicago. Cab Dispatcher: Chicago? Neal: Yeah, Chicago. Cab Dispatcher: You know you're in St. Louis? Neal: Yes I do. Cab Dispatcher: Why don't you try the airlines? It's faster and you get a free meal. Neal: If I wanted a joke, I'd follow you into the john and watch you take a leak. Now are you gonna help me or are you gonna stand there like a slab of meat with mittens? [the cab dispatcher punches him in the face]
Neal: What's the flight situation? Del: Simple. There's no way on earth we're going to get out of here tonight. We'd have more luck playing pickup sticks with our butt-cheeks than we will getting a flight out of here before daybreak. Neal: I guess we'll find out soon enough. Del: Yeah, but by the time the airline cancels this flight, which they will sooner or later, you'd have more of a chance to find a three-legged ballerina than you would a hotel room. Neal: Are you saying I could be *stuck* in Wichita? Del: I'm saying you *are* stuck in Wichita.
Del: If they told you wolverines would make good house pets, would you believe them?
Neal: Let me close this conversation by saying that you are one unique individual. Del: Unique... what's that, Latin for "asshole"?
Neal: Eh, look, I don't want to be rude, but I'm not much of a conversationalist, and I really want to finish this article, a friend of mine wrote it, so... Del: Don't let me stand in your way, please don't let me stand in your way. The last thing I want to be remembered as is an annoying blabbermouth... You know, nothing grinds my gears worse than some chowderhead that doesn't know when to keep his big trap shut... If you catch me running off with my mouth, just give me a poke on the chubbs...
[last lines] Neal: Honey, I'd like you to meet a friend of mine. Susan Page: Hello, Mr. Griffith. Del: Hello, Mrs. Page.
Del: How do you turn this thing off? [lightbulb breaks] Del: Ouch!
Del: I know you don't I? I'm usually very good with names but I'll be damned if I haven't forgotten yours. Neal: You stole my cab. Del: I never stole anything in my life. Neal: I hailed a cab on park avenue this afternoon and before I could get in it. You stole it. Del: You're the guy who tried to get my cab. I knew I knew you! You scared the bejesus out of me. Come to think of it it was easy to get a cab during rush hour. Neal: Forget it. Del: I can't forget it. I am sorry. I had no idea it was your cab. Let me make it up to you. How about a nice hot dog and a beer. Neal: No thanks. Del: Just a hot dog then. Neal: I'm kinda picky about what I eat. Del: Some coffee? Neal: No. Del: Milk? Neal: No. [becoming more annoyed] Del: Soda? Neal: No. [annoyance rising] Del: Tea? Neal: No Del: LifeSavers? Neal: No. Del: Slurpee? Neal: Sir - please. Del: Just let me know. I'm here. [smiles, shaking his finger at Neal] Del: I knew I knew ya!
[Neal and Del are watching their car burning and laughing] Neal: How could you rent the thing without a credit card anyway? I mean you could but how could you? Del: Oh I gave this gal behind the counter a set of shower curtain rings. [laughs] Neal: You can't rent a car with shower curtain rings Del. Del: [Stops laughing] Well... your diner's club card wound up in my wallet and I just... Neal: You STOLE it! Del: Not exactly. Neal: You stole it! I knew you stole it. You stole the card and then you rented a car and you burned it up! I knew you stole it. Del: No I didn't! I found it in my wallet! I thought maybe you put it there. Neal: WHY WOULD I PUT IT THERE? Del: Kindness. Neal: KINDNESS! KINDNESS! You stole it! He stole it! Del: No I didn't. I was going to send you the card back. With whatever the rental car charge was. Plus interest. But you didn't give me your address. You just ditched me! I had no cards. I had no money. I had nothing! Neal: [Grabs Del] Give it back! Del: I can't! Neal: Why not? Del: Because! Neal: Because why? Del: Because when we stopped to gas up. I put the card in your wallet. [Neal's wallet is in the glove compartment in the now burning car] Del: You're not mad at me are you? Neal: [Punches Del in the stomach and trips over his trunk]
Del: You're in a pretty lousy mood, huh? Neal: To say the least. Del: You ever travel by bus before? [Neal shakes his head] Del: Hmm. Your mood's probably not going to improve much.
Del: [speaking to self while sitting in the car while it snows] Well Marie, once again my dear, you where as right as rain. I am, with out a doubt, the biggest pain in the butt that ever came down the pike. I meet someone whose company I really enjoy, and what do I do? I go overboard. I smother the poor soul. I cause him more trouble than he has a right to. God, I got a big mouth. When am I ever gonna wake up? I wish you were here with me right now. But... I guess that's not gonna happen. Not now, anyway.
Del: Was that seat hot or what? I feel like a Whopper. Turn me over, I'm done on this side. I'm afraid to look at my ass. There'll be griddle marks.
Hotel Clerk: Do you have seventeen dollars and a good watch? Del: No I don't. I have uh... two dollars... and a Casio. Hotel Clerk: I'm going to have to say goodnight, so...
Del: Six bucks and my right nut says we're not landing in Chicago.
Del: You could've killed me slugging me in the gut like that. That's how Houdini died, you know.
Owen: Her first baby came out sideways, she didn't scream or nothin.
Owen: I'm to drive you to Wichita to catch a train? Del: Yeah, we'd appreciate it. Owen: Train don't run out of Wichita... unlessin' you're a hog or a cattle. [Clears his throat] Owen: People train runs out of Stubbville.
Screaming Driver, Screaming Driver's Wife: You're going the wrong way! You're going to kill somebody!
Neal: As much fun as I've had on this little journey, I'm sure one day I'll look back on it and laugh. Del: [giggles] Are you sure? Neal: [starts chuckling] Oh God. I'm laughing already.
Susan Page: You shared a motel room with a complete stranger? Are you crazy? Neal: Not yet. But I'm getting there.
Del: You know I had a feeling that when we parted ways. We would somehow wind up back together again. I've never seen a guy get picked up by his testicles before. Lucky thing for you that cop passed by when he did. Otherwise, you'd be lifting up your schnutz to tie you shoes. I'm sorry. That's terrible. Do you have any idea how glad I am I didn't kill you? Neal: [high voice] Do you have any idea how glad I'd be if you had? Del: Oh, come on, pal, you don't mean that. Remember what I said about going with the flow? Neal: How am I supposed to go with the flow when the rental car agency leaves me in a 100 acre parking lot with keys to a car that isn't there then I have to hike back 3 miles to find out they don't have any more cars? Del: I got a car, no sweat at all. Neal: Well Del, you're a charmed man. Del: Nope. Neal: Oh, I know. You just go with the flow. Del: Like a twig on the shoulders of a mighty stream.
Del: How about your bun? Neal: No, no it's too hard. Del: Sure? Del: [Del tries to get the old man's attention] Sir? Excuse me. Would you like a bun? Man on plane: [the man misunderstands Del] Oh it's fun. Flights fun. Del: [Del laughs] No no no, would you like the bun? Man on plane: Uh what's that? Del: I'm offering you a bun. Man on plane: Speak up! Del: Do you want the bun? Man on plane: No, I just got started! Neal: [Neal becomes frustrated and cuts in] He said do you want the bun. Man on plane: Oh yes, thank-you. [the man takes the bun] Del: There you go. How about another salad? [the man hands over his salad dish] Del: No no no, takes this salad he doesn't want any, he's not hungry. Some salad dressing. Man on plane: I'll have the brownie. Del: The brownie? Sure. Neal: No no no, I'd like that. Del: You want the brownie? He won't give you the brownie, he's got a sweet tooth. [Del whispers to Neal] Del: Isn't he a nice fella? [Just as Neal is about to eat his brownie, a woman in the seat in front of him pulls her hair back, covering his brownie] Del: I guess you're not going to want your brownie now? Neal: No. Del: No. Mind? [Del digs into the woman's hair, taking out the brownie. He offers some to the old man] Del: Would you like half? Man on plane: Oh would you? Del: Certainly. [Del gives the old man the brownie] Del: There you go, the big side.
Bus Lover: [to Neal] Why don't you take a picture? It'll last longer. Del: [to Neal] Ha Ha Ha! You got busted!
Del: You know you nearly killed me, slugging me in the gut when I wasn't ready! That'ss how Houdini died, you know!
Del: Six bucks and my left nut says we're not going to be landing in Chicago.
Del: The last thing I want to be remembered as is an annoying blabbermouth1
Gus: Del Griffith! How the hell are ya? Del: Well, I'm still a million bucks shy of bein' a millionaire. [Both laugh] Del: Gus, I'd like you to meet an old friend of mine. This is Neal Page from Chicago. Neal, this is Gus Mooney. Neal: Hi. Gus: Glad to meet you, Nick.
Neal: Sir?... Sir?... Sir? [runs to man] Neal: Excuse me. I know this is your cab, but I'm desperately late for a plane, and I was wondering if I could appeal to your good nature and ask you to let me have it. New York Lawyer: I don't have a good nature. Excuse me. Cabbie, come on. Neal: I'll offer you 10 dollars for it. New York Lawyer: [scoffs] Nuh! Neal: Okay, 20! I'll give you 20 dollars. New York Lawyer: I'll take 50. Neal: [Neal pauses, then begins to take money out] All right. New York Lawyer: Anyone who'd pay 50 dollars for a cab, would certainly pay 75. Neal: Not necessarily... [reluctantly agreeing] Neal: All right. $75. You're a thief! New York Lawyer: Close, I'm an attorney. Neal: Have a happy holiday. New York Lawyer: This'll help!
Del: [talking to Neal on the plane] I always order a special meal. On this airline, I go with the seafood salad. On American, I'll have their kosher plate: a little slice of salami, some roast beef, some turkey, dark rye bread, very nice. Now, if I'm flying United, I'll say I'm a youngster and they'll give me the kiddie plate. That's a hot dog, bag of potato chips, a gherkin, and a nice little bag of Oreo cookie, mmm!
Del: I haven't been home in years.
Neal: [on tequila and Doritos] What do you think? You think this is a good combination? Del: No, probably not.
Neal: Well, let me just close this conversation, saying you are a unique individual. Del: What is unique, uh...? Latin for "asshole?"
Marti Page: Mom, is Grandpa Walter going to give me noogies? Susan Page: Of course he's going to give you noogies. He loves giving you noogies. That's how he tells you he loves you. Little Neal Page: Why doesn't he give me noogies? Susan Page: Because you get Indian burns. Little Neal Page: But I prefer noogies.
Del: I guess this is probably a good time as any to tell you this. Our tickets are only good to St. Louis. St. Louis to Chi-town is booked tighter than Tom Thumb's ass.
Bus Lover: Why don't you take a picture? It'll last longer.
Del: I've never seen a guy get picked up by his testicles before. Lucky for you that cop passed by when he did, or you'd be lifting your snutz to tie your shoes.
John: [peers his head in the elevator] You'll never make the six.
Cab Dispatcher: Hey! Get your car out of here! Del: Yeah, just one sec. Cab Dispatcher: GET IT OUT OF HERE! Del: What is your problem? You insensitive asshole! Can't you see we have an injured man down here? Now I'll move my car, but I want you to help him up! Neal: No! Cab Dispatcher: [pulls gloves up] My pleasure. [grabs Neal by his testicles] Neal: Oh!
Del: [sitting outside the motel cafe after finding out they've been robbed] You know I've been thinking. What we're dealing with here is a small-time crook. He didn't take the credit cards, right? So we charge our way home. What kind of plastic do you carry? Neal: I have a Visa and a gasoline card. Oh, and I have a Neiman Marcus card in case you want to send someone a gift. What do you have? Del: Chalmer's Big and Tall men's shop. It's a seven outlet chain in the pacific northwest. Great stuff. Unfortunatly, it does us no good here.
Neal: I'd like one room for the night. Del: If you're upset, maybe we should get separate rooms. Neal: You get your own room. Hotel Clerk: Will you be paying with credit card? Neal: Yes. I have a Visa card... Diner's Club card... and a gasoline card. [he lays them out - all of them are burned] Hotel Clerk: [chuckles] These aren't... these aren't credit cards. Neal: Do you take cash? Hotel Clerk: Forty-two fifty. Neal: [lays money on the table] How about seventeen dollars... Hotel Clerk: I can't do that. Neal: Please. Have mercy. I've been wearing the same underwear since Tuesday. Del: I can vouch for that. Hotel Clerk: I don't own the place, I... [gestures towards the management office behind him] Neal: Seventeen dollars... Neal: [unstraps wristwatch] ... and a hell of a nice watch?