Cheyenne: You know, Jill, you remind me of my mother. She was the biggest whore in Alameda and the finest woman that ever lived. Whoever my father was, for an hour or for a month - he must have been a happy man.


--Jason Robards (as Cheyenne) in Once Upon a Time in the West

Henry Drummond: Let's play cards.


--Jason Robards (as Henry Drummond) in A Big Hand for the Little Lady

Henry Drummond: My daughter, Celie, was getting married.
Jesse Buford: Celie?
Henry Drummond: That's right! When Tropp come for me, she was in the middle of getting married. And they're holding up the "love, honor and obey" part until I get back.
Dennis Wilcox: You mean you walked out in the middle of the wedding?
Henry Drummond: I did! I ain't been late for the (poker) game in sixteen years and I ain't about to start now... wedding or no wedding.


--Jason Robards (as Henry Drummond) in A Big Hand for the Little Lady

Henry Drummond: What'd you do, sleep in that dress?


--Jason Robards (as Henry Drummond) in A Big Hand for the Little Lady

Murray Burns: [answers phone] Hello, is this someone with good news or money? No? Goodbye!
[hangs up]


--Jason Robards (as Murray) in A Thousand Clowns

Murray Burns: [Leans out his apartment window] This is your neighbor speaking. I'm sure I speak for all of us when I say that something must be done about your garbage cans in the alley here.
[raises voice]
Murray Burns: It is definitely second-rate garbage. Now, by next week I want to see a better class of garbage, more empty champagne bottles and caviar cans! I'm sure you're all behind me on this. So let's snap it up and get on the ball!


--Jason Robards (as Murray) in A Thousand Clowns

Murray Burns: [Takes off his hat] Sandy, I... I'm sorry. I'm very sorry.
[Sandra doesn't respond]
Murray Burns: Well, damn it, lady, that was a beautiful apology. I mean, you gotta love a guy who can apologize so nice. I rehearsed for over an hour. Aw, Sandy, that's the most you should expect from life, a really good apology for all the things you won't get.


--Jason Robards (as Murray) in A Thousand Clowns

Murray Burns: Better go to your room.
Nick: This is a one-room apartment.
Murray Burns: OK, then go to your alcove.


--Jason Robards (as Murray) in A Thousand Clowns

Murray Burns: Five months ago I was on the subway on my way to work, was sitting on the express same as every morning looking out the window watching the local stops go by in the dark with an empty head and my arms folded, not feeling great, not feeling rotten, just not feeling. And for a minute I couldn't remember, I didn't know, unless I really concentrated, whether it was a Tuesday or a Thursday or a... for a minute it could have been any day, Arn.
[Stands up]
Murray Burns: I gotta know what day it is. I gotta know what's the name of the game and what the rules are without anyone else telling me. You gotta own your own days and name 'em, each one of 'em, every one of 'em, or else the years go right by and none of them belong to you. And that ain't just for weekends, kiddo.


--Jason Robards (as Murray) in A Thousand Clowns

Murray Burns: I just want him to stay with me until I can be sure he won't turn into Norman Nothing. I want to be sure he'll know when he's chickening out on himself. I want him to get to know exactly the special thing he is or else he won't notice it when it starts to go. I want him to stay awake and know who the phonies are, I want him to know how to holler and put up an argument, I want a little guts to show before I can let him go. I want to be sure he sees all the wild possibilities. I want him to know it's worth all the trouble just to give the world a little goosing when you get the chance. And I want him to know the subtle, sneaky, important reason why he was born a human being and not a chair.


--Jason Robards (as Murray) in A Thousand Clowns