Papillon (1973)

Steve McQueen: Henri 'Papillon' Charriere

Photos 

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Quotes 

• Papillon : Hey you bastards, I'm still here.

• [Papillon is contemplating a daring leap from a cliff to escape] 

  Dega : [the plan]  It seems so desperate. You think it will work?

  Papillon : Does it matter?

• Judge in Dream : I accuse YOU... of a WASTED LIFE!

  Papillon : Guilty... guilty... guilty...

• Papillon : We're really something, aren't we? The only animals that shove things up their ass for survival.

• Toussaint : How did you know I have dry leprosy, that it isn't contagious?

  Papillon : I didn't.

• Doctor : [Briefly examining Dega in a prefunctory manner]  You're fine. NEXT!

  Dega : [Walking away]  Must be better than I feel.

  Doctor : [Briefly examining Papillon]  You're in wonderful shape.

  Papillon : How do you fail an examination like this?

  Doctor : NEXT!

• Maturette : I'll do what you ask, on one condition: You keep your money and you take me with you.

  Papillon : No.

  Maturette : I'm the only one who can get you out of here.

  Papillon : You're...

  Maturette : I know. I'm a queer, a fairy, a poof, huh? But there's one thing you forgot. You may have been framed, as you say you were... but I wasn't. Between the two of us... I'm the one who's killed a man, not you.

  Papillon : Okay.

• Papillon : [to Dega]  Me they can kill... You they own!

• Dega : Remember what the chicken said to the weasel?

  Papillon : If he was a healthy weasel, the chicken didn't get a chance to say anything.

• Toussaint : We do a lot of smuggling here. We raid the mainland. We steal boats. When an outsider comes in we generally kill him, as a security measure.

  Papillon : That makes sense.

  Toussaint : Well... a man of Christian understanding.

• Papillon : If your wife was here and you were in Paris with all of that money how much would you pay to get her back?

  Dega : Everything I have.

  Papillon : And how much would she pay to get you back?

• Dega : Well, it now seems quite possible that until we get to a decent jail with bribeable guards, I may stand in some need of... rather close physical protection.

  Papillon : That depends on how long you want to live.

  Dega : For a long time.

  Papillon : Then you got a problem.

  Dega : Well, I presume that you have some, uh, goals, some particular need that outrates all the others. I mean, if so... may I aslk what it is?

  Papillon : Money!

  Dega : For what?

  Papillon : Escape.

  Dega : Very good. You keep me alive until we land in Guiana, and I'll underwrite any escape you care to arrange.

  Papillon : Escape for me, not for us!

  Dega : Oh, of course. I, I, I...

  [laughs] 

  Dega : . I have no intention, uh, of even attempting to escape - ever!

  Papillon : Done!

• Dega : [as Papillon is going to jump from the cliff to escape]  You'll be killed. You know that?

  Papillon : Maybe.

  Dega : Please don't do it.

• Papillon : If I could find a way to get off this island, would you like to come with me?

  Dega : Oh, yes. Of course.

• Papillon : Funny, you and me ending up here. We're the only ones left. Do you ever wonder about it?

  Dega : No.

  Papillon : I do.

• Papillon : It was the wrong wave. They come in a series of seven. The seventh wave is big enough to take us both out beyond the point of return.

• Dega : I got no money. They took it all.

  Papillon : Forget about that. You can't buy your way out of here.

  Dega : Then how?

  Papillon : I don't know yet.

  Dega : Then - then we don't have to discuss it. Tell me, do you like tomatoes? I have some extra seeds. You might like to start your own garden.