The Last Emperor (1987)

Peter O'Toole: Reginald Johnston (R.J.)

Photos 

Quotes 

• Reginald Fleming 'R.J.' Johnston : Words are important.

  Pu Yi, at 15 : Why are words important?

  Reginald Fleming 'R.J.' Johnston : If you cannot say what you mean, Your Majesty, you will never mean what you say and a gentleman should always mean what he says.

• Reginald Fleming 'R.J.' Johnston : The Emperor has been a prisoner in his own palace since the day that he was crowned, and has remained a prisoner since he abdicated. But now he's growing up, he may wonder why he's the only person in China who may not walk out of his own front door. I think the Emperor is the loneliest boy on Earth.

• Pu Yi, at 15 : Is it true, Mr. Johnston, that many people out there have had their heads cut off?

  Reginald Fleming 'R.J.' Johnston : It is true, Your Majesty. Many heads have been chopped off. It does stop them thinking.

• Pu Yi, at 15 : Who is this George Washington?

  Reginald Fleming 'R.J.' Johnston : A famous American, Your Majesty. A revolutionary general, the first American president.

  Pu Yi, at 15 : Ah, like Mr. Lenin in Russia?

  Reginald Fleming 'R.J.' Johnston : Not quite.

  Pu Yi, at 15 : Does he have a car?

  Reginald Fleming 'R.J.' Johnston : He lived a long time ago, Your Majesty.

  Pu Yi, at 15 : *I* want a car.

• Emperor Pu Yi : How should we say goodbye?

  Reginald Fleming 'R.J.' Johnston : As we said hello.

• Pu Yi, at 15 : Where are your ancestors buried?

  Reginald Fleming 'R.J.' Johnston : In Scotland, Your Majesty.

  Pu Yi, at 15 : But then, where's your skirt? In your country, men wear short skirts, do they not?

  Reginald Fleming 'R.J.' Johnston : No, Your Majesty, Scotmen do not wear skirts. They wear kilts.

• Reginald Fleming 'R.J.' Johnston : I think your mouse is trying to escape, Your Majesty.

  Pu Yi, at 15 : Please do not tell anyone about my mouse.

• Pu Yi, at 15 : Are you a gentleman?

  Reginald Fleming 'R.J.' Johnston : I would like to be a gentle man, Your Majesty. I try to be.

  Pu Yi, at 15 : I'm not a gentleman. I'm not allowed to say what I mean. They are always telling me what to say.

• Reginald Fleming 'R.J.' Johnston : It would be conveniently sad if he becomes blind. To the expense, Your Excellency. To the cost of maintaining one thousand two hundred eunuchs, three hundred and fifty ladies-in-waiting and one hundred and eighty-five cooks to buying a hundred and twenty sable furs a month and three thousand chickens a week. To the fact that eight hundred and forty guards and employees of the household department, plus one Lord Chamberlain, care only about one thing! Filling their own rice bowls!

• Reginald Fleming 'R.J.' Johnston : Your Majesty, in my country, it would be usual to begin with some kind of an examination.

  Pu Yi, at 15 : The Emperor cannot be examined.

  Reginald Fleming 'R.J.' Johnston : Well, that may have to change.

• Pu Yi, at 15 : Our official taster's a brave man. Many of my ancestors have been poisoned, you know.

  Reginald Fleming 'R.J.' Johnston : Does Your Majesty have lunch like this every day?

  Pu Yi, at 15 : Oh, yes! Every day! Like theater! I do not know why. It has always been like that.