The Remains of the Day (1993)

Anthony Hopkins: Stevens

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Quotes 

• Stevens : In my philosophy, Mr. Benn, a man cannot call himself well-contented until he has done all he can to be of service to his employer. Of course, this assumes that one's employer is a superior person, not only in rank, or wealth, but in moral stature.

• Miss Kenton : [teasing]  Why won't you show me your book?

  Stevens : This is my private time. You're invading it.

  Miss Kenton : Oh, is that so?

  Stevens : Yes.

  Miss Kenton : I'm invading your private time, am I?

  Stevens : Yes.

• Stevens : You know what I am doing, Miss Kenton? I am placing my thoughts elsewhere while you chatter away.

• Stevens : I was too busy serving to listen to the speeches.

• Miss Kenton : Look at it! Is that or is it not the wrong Chinaman?

  Stevens : Miss Kenton, I'm very busy. I am surprised that you have nothing better to do than stand around all day...

  Miss Kenton : Mr. Stevens, look at that Chinaman and tell me the truth!

  Stevens : Miss Kenton, I would ask you to keep your voice down. What would the other servants think to hear us shouting at the top of our voices about... Chinamen?

  Miss Kenton : And I would ask you, Mr. Stevens, to turn around and look at the Chinaman.

• Stevens : I'm sorry sir, but I am unable to be of assistance in this matter.

• [after telling Stevens she intends to accept Benn's marriage proposal] 

  Miss Kenton : Mister Stevens! Am I to take it that after all the years I have been in this house you have nothing else to say to me?

  Stevens : You have my warmest congratulations.

• James Stevens : If two members of staff have to fall in love and decide to get married, there's nothing one can say. But what I do find a major irritation are those persons who are simply going from post to post looking for romance.

• Miss Kenton : I am a coward. I'm frightened of leaving and that's the truth. All I see out in the world is loneliness and it frightens me. That's all my high principals are worth, Mr. Stevens. I'm ashamed of myself.

  Stevens : Miss Kenton, you mean a great deal to this house. You're extremely important to this house. Miss Kenton.

  Miss Kenton : Am I?

• Miss Kenton : People always cheer when they turn the lights on in the evening. Every time.

  Stevens : I wonder why?

  Miss Kenton : They do say, that for a great many people the evening's the best part of the day. The part they most look forward to.

• Miss Kenton : [about a new housemaid]  You don't like having pretty girls on the staff, I've noticed.

  [teasing] 

  Miss Kenton : Might it be that our Mr Stevens fears distraction? Can it be that our Mr Stevens is flesh and blood after all and doesn't trust himself?

  Stevens : [with the faintest trace of a smile]  You know what I'm doing, Miss Kenton? I'm placing my thoughts elsewhere as you chatter away.

  Miss Kenton : ...then why is that guilty smile still on your face?

  Stevens : Oh it's not a guilty smile. I'm simply amused by the sheer nonsense you sometimes talk.

  Miss Kenton : It *is* a guilty smile. You can hardly bear to look at her. That's why you didn't want to take her on, she's too pretty.

  Stevens : Well, you must be right Miss Kenton, you always are.

• Stevens : I regard this room as my private place of work and I - I prefer to keep distractions to a minimum.

  Miss Kenton : Would you call flowers a distraction, then, Mr. Stevens?

  Stevens : I appreciate your kindness, Miss Kenton, but I prefer to keep things as they are.

• [last lines] 

  Stevens : Well done.

• Stevens : Each one of you has his own particular duty - or her duty. Polished brass, brilliant silver, mahogany shining like a mirror. That is the welcome we will show these foreign visitors - and let them know that they're in England where order and tradition still prevail.

• Lord Darlington : Stevens, I realize this is a somewhat irregular thing to ask you to do.

  Stevens : I should very glad to be of any assistance, my Lord.

  Lord Darlington : Sorry to bring up a thing like this; but, I just can't see how on earth to make it go away. You are familiar, I take it, with the facts of life?

  Stevens : My Lord?

  Lord Darlington : The facts of life, Stevens. Birds. Bees. You are familiar, aren't you?

  Stevens : I'm afraid I don't quite follow you, sir.

  Lord Darlington : Well, let me put my cards on the table, Stevens. I'm so frightfully busy with this conference. Of course, you're very busy too! But, someone has to tell him. In a way, it would be easier for you. Less awkward. I - I find the task rather daunting, I'm afraid. In might not get around to it before Reginalds wedding day. Of course, this goes far beyond the call of duty, Stevens.

  Stevens : I - I shall do my best, my Lord.

  Lord Darlington : I'd be grateful if you even tried, Stevens. It'd be an awful lot off my mind. Look here, there's no need to make a song and dance of it. Just convey the basic facts and be done with it.

• Miss Kenton : There are times when I think what a terrible mistake I've made with my life.

  Stevens : Yes. I'm sure we all have these thoughts, from time to time.

• Lord Darlington : We have some refugee girls on the staff at the moment, I believe.

  Stevens : We do, my Lord. Two housemaids. Elsa and Irma.

  Lord Darlington : You'll have to let them go, I'm afraid.

  Stevens : Let them go, my Lord?

  Lord Darlington : Its regrettable, Stevens; but, we have no choice. You've got to see the whole thing in context. I have the well being of my guests to consider.

  Stevens : My Lord, may I say, they work extremely well. They're intelligent, polite, and very clean.

  Lord Darlington : I'm sorry, Stevens; but, I've looked into the this matter very carefully. There are larger issues at stake. I'm sorry; but, there it is. They're Jews.

• Miss Kenton : You're saying that Elsa and Irma are being dismissed because they're Jewish?

  Stevens : His Lordship has made his decision. There is nothing for you and I to discuss.

  Miss Kenton : You realize if those girls have no work, they could be sent back to Germany.

  Stevens : It is out of our hands.

  Miss Kenton : I'm telling you, Mr. Stevens, if you dismiss my girls tomorrow, it will be *wrong*. A sin! As any sin ever was one.

  Stevens : Miss Kenton, there are many things you and I don't understand in this world of today; whereas, his Lordship, understands fully and has studied the larger issues at stake concerning, say, the nature of the Jewry.

• Miss Kenton : Are you shy about your book?

  Stevens : No.

  Miss Kenton : What is it? Is it racy?

  Stevens : Racy?

  Miss Kenton : Are you reading a racy book?

  Stevens : Do you think racy books are to be found on his Lordship's shelves?

  Miss Kenton : How do I know?

• Stevens : Quite recently, you were kind enough to suggest that I go on a little holiday. That I take a trip around the country.

  Lewis : Absolutely. Certainly. Take a break. See the world. When did you last see the world, Stevens, tell me?

  Stevens : Well, in the past, the world always used to come to this house, in a manner of speaking, if I may say so, sir.

  Lewis : You may say so.

• Lewis : Burned again?

  Stevens : Yes, I'm sorry sir. The rule of the kitchen here has always been that the cook cooks the cook's breakfast while her assistant toast's the toast.

  Lewis : Well, why don't we just get her a popup toaster?

  Stevens : Mr Lewis, we need not a new gadget, but, a revised staff plan, sir.

• Stevens : A great butler must be possessed of dignity...

  Father : In keeping with his position.

• Stevens : I'd be lost without her - - A first rate housekeeper is essential in a house like this where great affairs are decided, between these walls.

• Stevens : To listen to the gentlemen's conversations, would distract me from my work.

• Stevens : Miss Kenton. I really must ask you, please, not to disturb the few moments I have to myself.

• Stevens : Do you know what I'm doing, Miss Kenton? I'm putting my thoughts elsewhere while you chatter on.