Daily Dialogue — March 19, 2013

Policeman 1: Would you fill this bag please, sir?

Withnail shakes his head

Policeman 1: Are you refusing to fill this bag?
Withnail: I most certainly am.
Policeman 1: I’m placing you under arrest.
Withnail: Don’t be ridiculous, I haven’t done anything. Listen, my cousin’s a QC.
Policeman 2: [yells VERY loudly] Get in the back of the van!

— Withnail & I (1987), written by Bruce Robinson

The Daily Dialogue theme for the week is arrest, suggested by Teddy Pasternak. Today’s suggestion by Mark Walker.

Trivia: Originally written by Bruce Robinson as a novel. Its conclusion is quite different from the film’s: after his soliloquy in the rain at the park, Withnail returns to the flat he shared with Marwood, loads the rifle he took from Monty’s country home, pours some wine (also taken from Monty) down its barrel, then puts the muzzle to his lips and drinks. He then pulls the trigger on the gun, killing himself.

Dialogue On Dialogue: Commentary from Mark: “A classic British film that is very quotable and the first thing that came into my head when the word arrest came up.

As well as being a very amusing scene in a very amusing film, it is signalling the final break down in the relationship between Withnail and I as I finally wins an acting part and Withnail is still jobless. Withnail is chaos to I’s calm.

It also pays off on some set-up earlier with Danny’s contraption to help drink drivers avoid conviction by employing a bottle of pure urine strapped to the inside of his thigh — a sign of the lengths Withnail will go to.

And the arrest itself, is suddenly thrown at us by the enthusiastic young policeman who has had enough, much like I.

I guess it isn’t to everyone’s taste, but it’s a film that was very popular when I was a student and one that was watched over and over again on a Friday night after a trip to the pub…and it was also one of the favourites of a good friend of mine, who took his own life a year ago this week….so I’m also posting this as a tribute to Jim and the memories of watching this together so many times.”

Mark, so sorry about the death of your friend. A Withnail & I toast to Jim. Godspeed, mate.

Comment Archive