Daily Dialogue — December 15, 2010

Jake Gittes: How much are you worth?
Noah Cross: I have no idea. How much do you want?
Jake Gittes: I just wanna know what you’re worth. More than 10 million?
Noah Cross: Oh my, yes!
Jake Gittes: Why are you doing it? How much better can you eat? What could you buy that you can’t already afford?
Noah Cross: The future, Mr. Gittes! The future. Now, where’s the girl? I want the only daughter I’ve got left. As you found out, Evelyn was lost to me a long time ago.
Jake Gittes: Who do you blame for that? Her?
Noah Cross: I don’t blame myself. You see, Mr. Gittes, most people never have to face the fact that at the right time and the right place, they’re capable of ANYTHING.

 — Jake Gittes (Jack Nicholson), Noah Cross (John Huston), Chinatown (1974), written by Robert Towne

The Daily Dialogue theme for the week is Protagonist-Nemesis showdowns, suggested by Jonathan. Chinatown was suggested by Steve Axelrod. 

Trivia: The original script was over 300 pages.

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