The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas Quotes
Set during World War II, a story seen through the innocent eyes of Bruno, the eight-year-old son of the commandant at a concentration camp, whose forbidden friendship with a Jewish boy on the other side of the camp fence has startling and unexpected consequences.
Shmuel: I wish you'd remembered the chocolate.
Bruno: Yes, I'm sorry. I know! Perhaps you can come and have supper with us sometime.
Shmuel: I can't, can I? Because of this.
[points the electric fence]
Bruno: But that's to stop the animals getting out, isn't it?
Shmuel: Animals? No, it's to stop people getting out.
Bruno: Are you not allowed out? Why? What have you done?
Shmuel: I'm a Jew.
Bruno: Yes, I'm sorry. I know! Perhaps you can come and have supper with us sometime.
Shmuel: I can't, can I? Because of this.
[points the electric fence]
Bruno: But that's to stop the animals getting out, isn't it?
Shmuel: Animals? No, it's to stop people getting out.
Bruno: Are you not allowed out? Why? What have you done?
Shmuel: I'm a Jew.
Lieutenant Kotler: How dare you talk to people in the house? How dare you! Are you eating? Have you been stealing food?
[shouts]
Lieutenant Kotler: Answer me!
Shmuel: No, sir. He gave it to me. He's my friend.
Lieutenant Kotler: What?
[to Bruno]
Lieutenant Kotler: Little man, do you know this Jew?
[shouts]
Lieutenant Kotler: Do you know this Jew?
Bruno: No, I just walked in, and he was helping himself. I've never seen him before in my life.
Lieutenant Kotler: You, finish cleaning the glasses. When I come back, we'll have a little chat about what happens to rats who steal.
[shouts]
Lieutenant Kotler: Answer me!
Shmuel: No, sir. He gave it to me. He's my friend.
Lieutenant Kotler: What?
[to Bruno]
Lieutenant Kotler: Little man, do you know this Jew?
[shouts]
Lieutenant Kotler: Do you know this Jew?
Bruno: No, I just walked in, and he was helping himself. I've never seen him before in my life.
Lieutenant Kotler: You, finish cleaning the glasses. When I come back, we'll have a little chat about what happens to rats who steal.
[first lines]
Mother: Hello, sweetheart.
Bruno: Mum, what's going on?
Mother: We're celebrating.
Bruno: Celebrating?
Mother: Mm, your father's been given a promotion.
Gretel: That means a better job.
Bruno: I know what promotion is.
Mother: So we're having a little party to celebrate.
Bruno: He's still going to be a soldier though, isn't he?
Mother: Yes, my lamb. Just a more important one, now. I have some even more exciting news, but I think dad wanted to tell you about that himself.
Mother: Hello, sweetheart.
Bruno: Mum, what's going on?
Mother: We're celebrating.
Bruno: Celebrating?
Mother: Mm, your father's been given a promotion.
Gretel: That means a better job.
Bruno: I know what promotion is.
Mother: So we're having a little party to celebrate.
Bruno: He's still going to be a soldier though, isn't he?
Mother: Yes, my lamb. Just a more important one, now. I have some even more exciting news, but I think dad wanted to tell you about that himself.
Bruno: [Pavel is nursing Bruno] Where's my mum?
Pavel - Jewish servant: She's out.
Bruno: When will she back?
Pavel - Jewish servant: Soon I expect, but don't worry.
Bruno: Will I have I have to go to hospital?
Pavel - Jewish servant: No, it's only a small cut.
[Bruno moans in pain]
Pavel - Jewish servant: Oh come on it's not that bad. There all better.
Bruno: What's your name?
Pavel - Jewish servant: Pavel. Now you better sit still for a couple of minutes before you start walking on that again.
Bruno: It could be worse than it looks.
Pavel - Jewish servant: It isn't.
Bruno: How would you know? You're not a doctor!
Pavel - Jewish servant: Yes I am.
Pavel - Jewish servant: No you're not. You peel potatoes.
Pavel - Jewish servant: I practiced as a doctor before I came here.
Bruno: You couldn't be much good if you had to practice.
Pavel - Jewish servant: Now what are you going to be when you grow up? I know! An explorer!
Bruno: How did you know that?
Pavel - Jewish servant: She's out.
Bruno: When will she back?
Pavel - Jewish servant: Soon I expect, but don't worry.
Bruno: Will I have I have to go to hospital?
Pavel - Jewish servant: No, it's only a small cut.
[Bruno moans in pain]
Pavel - Jewish servant: Oh come on it's not that bad. There all better.
Bruno: What's your name?
Pavel - Jewish servant: Pavel. Now you better sit still for a couple of minutes before you start walking on that again.
Bruno: It could be worse than it looks.
Pavel - Jewish servant: It isn't.
Bruno: How would you know? You're not a doctor!
Pavel - Jewish servant: Yes I am.
Pavel - Jewish servant: No you're not. You peel potatoes.
Pavel - Jewish servant: I practiced as a doctor before I came here.
Bruno: You couldn't be much good if you had to practice.
Pavel - Jewish servant: Now what are you going to be when you grow up? I know! An explorer!
Bruno: How did you know that?
Grandma: I sometimes wonder if this is all down to me, making you those costumes for your little plays when you were tiny. You used to adore all that dressing up. Does it still make you feel special, Ralph dear? The uniform... and what it stands for?
Father: Mother. It's a party. Let's not spoil it.
Grandma: Ha! Me? Spoil things?
Father: [whisper] You should be careful. Airing your views so publicly could land you in trouble. You know that.
Father: Mother. It's a party. Let's not spoil it.
Grandma: Ha! Me? Spoil things?
Father: [whisper] You should be careful. Airing your views so publicly could land you in trouble. You know that.
Herr Liszt: Yes Bruno?
Bruno: I don't understand, the Jew is down to this one man?
Herr Liszt: The Jew here means the entire Jewish race. If it was just this one man I'm sure something would be done about him.
Bruno: There is such thing as a nice Jew isn't there?
Herr Liszt: [Sarcastically] I think Bruno if you ever find a nice Jew, you'd be the best explorer in the world.
Bruno: I don't understand, the Jew is down to this one man?
Herr Liszt: The Jew here means the entire Jewish race. If it was just this one man I'm sure something would be done about him.
Bruno: There is such thing as a nice Jew isn't there?
Herr Liszt: [Sarcastically] I think Bruno if you ever find a nice Jew, you'd be the best explorer in the world.
Father: [Elsa has just discovered the true nature of the camp] Elsa I was sworn to secrecy.
Mother: From your own wife?
Father: I took an oath upon my life, do you understand? Elsa you believe in this too. You want this country to be strong...
Mother: No Ralph! No not THAT! How could you?
Father: Because I am a solider! Soliders fight wars!
Mother: That isn't WAR!
Father: That is a part of it, it's a vital part of it! The Fatherland we all desire, all of us, you included cannot be achieved without work such as this!
[Elsa begins to break down]
Father: Elsa, Elsa!
Mother: Get away from me! GET AWAY FROM ME!
[Begins to cry]
Bruno: [Enters Ralph's office] Grandpa's here!
Father: We'll be through in a moment.
[to Elsa]
Father: Who told you about this?
Mother: From your own wife?
Father: I took an oath upon my life, do you understand? Elsa you believe in this too. You want this country to be strong...
Mother: No Ralph! No not THAT! How could you?
Father: Because I am a solider! Soliders fight wars!
Mother: That isn't WAR!
Father: That is a part of it, it's a vital part of it! The Fatherland we all desire, all of us, you included cannot be achieved without work such as this!
[Elsa begins to break down]
Father: Elsa, Elsa!
Mother: Get away from me! GET AWAY FROM ME!
[Begins to cry]
Bruno: [Enters Ralph's office] Grandpa's here!
Father: We'll be through in a moment.
[to Elsa]
Father: Who told you about this?
