My Family (TV Series)
Ben Wants to Be a Millionaire (2001)
Zoë Wanamaker: Susan Harper
Quotes
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Susan Harper : This operation - what exactly is it for?
Ambyr Banks : I'm having a mole removed from my bottom.
Susan Harper : Oh, dear. I hope it's not serious.
Andy Banks : I'm afraid it is. It ruins the perfect curve of her peachy buttocks.
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Janey Harper : What are you doing?
Susan Harper : Learning Russian. I've got a tour group coming in from Moscow next week.
Janey Harper : Oh, that's great, mum! How do you say 'Will you buy me Prada shoes?' in Russian?
Susan Harper : [Looks through phrasebook] Let me see... Ah! Here it is - 'nyet!'
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Janey Harper : Since you're eating out, can we get a takeaway?
Susan Harper : No. I'm making borscht. It's a delicious Russian soup made with beetroot and sour cream.
Janey Harper : Are you sure borscht isn't the sound you make after you've eaten it?
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Ben : You'll never guess what happened to me today.
Susan Harper : Your old friend Andy called round, his wife's going in for surgery and we're having dinner with them tonight at La Garage.
Ben : Ah. I see my new über-assistant has been phoning in. God! She's so efficient, she's killing me!
Susan Harper : Well, I think she's quite marvellous.
Ben : I think she's quite fired.
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Ben : Susan, I... I'd rather eat borscht than go out with Andy Banks.
Susan Harper : I thought he was your friend. He's on our Christmas card list.
Ben : So's the paper boy, but I've never eaten with him.
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Susan Harper : It's not often I get to meet one of your friends.
Janey Harper : That's because he hasn't got any.
Ben : I have lots of friends, actually. Just none I like.
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Janey Harper : When is the last time I asked you for anything?
Susan Harper : This morning at breakfast. You wanted an egg white omelette and a car.
Janey Harper : And did I get either? Nyet! Come on, mum! If you asked me for something, I'd gladly get it.
Susan Harper : Fine. Help me get dinner ready.
Janey Harper : And then I get the shoes?
Susan Harper : Then you get to eat!
Janey Harper : What? After we eat, I get the shoes?
Susan Harper : Janey, I'm too tired for this.
Janey Harper : Good. Give in!
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Janey Harper : So, this, er, so-called friend. How did you meet - the No-Friends Club?
Ben : The No-Friends Club? Ooh! No, at school, actually. I stopped a group of kids from beating him up.
Susan Harper : My hero.
Ben : Actually, I rushed in to beat him myself, but I missed. Hit someone else by mistake, the gang dispersed, he thanked me so much I just went along with it, really.
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Susan Harper : Well, we're not backing out of this. His wife's ill and he needs your support.
Ben : Susan, I don't see why I have to be miserable too.
Susan Harper : Because being miserable together is what friendship is all about.
Ben : Funny - I thought that's what marriage was.
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Susan Harper : I think learning a new language helps to improve oneself.
Ambyr Banks : Oh, I'm a big believer in self-improvement. Take my breasts, for instance.
Ben : Where? W-what?
Ambyr Banks : Implants. I got them last year.
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Andy Banks : [about Ambyr's breast implants] I mean, take those babies - 100% grade-A silicone! What do you think?
Ben : I think they're... for... do they come separately or as a set?
Ambyr Banks : A set. They were an anniversary present!
Susan Harper : How romantic. All I got was a sandwich maker.
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Susan Harper : Oh, just admit it! You'd rather be married to a 23-year-old with the perfect body!
Ben : Oh, don't be ridiculous! I don't want a perfect body, I want you.
Susan Harper : [Gives Ben a stern look]
Ben : That sounded much better in my head before it came out of my mouth!
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Susan Harper : What a miserable pair.
Ben : Oh, come on! Your breasts are fine!
Susan Harper : I was talking about Andy and Ambyr. But thanks for your vote of ambivalence!
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Ben : [about Andy] You know, at school, he was the pathetic loser. There was me: good looking; bright.
Susan Harper : Well, you've both changed.
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Ben : Well, what about me? I've worked hard, played by the rules and what have I got?
Susan Harper : A nice home, three lively children...
Ben : Oh, go on! Rub it in!
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Susan Harper : You may be interested to know that Nick has decided to sell his body parts.
Ben : Good! We'll get him out of the house bit by bit!
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Janey Harper : Maxine's parents bought her a pair! I suppose they love her more than you love me!
Susan Harper : Janey, some people shower their children with gifts while others shower their children with affection.
Janey Harper : Oh, and where does that leave me?
Susan Harper : Without Prada shoes!
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Susan Harper : Do you think Andy's happy?
Ben : If he were any happier, he'd be in an asylum.
Susan Harper : So why does he keep sending Ambyr in for repairs? By the time she's my age, she'll have so many facelifts she'll have a beard!
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Susan Harper : [after spotting Ben checking out Ambyr] See anything you like... on the menu?
Ben : Er... I was just admiring... looking at the, erm... oak-roasted sea bass.
Susan Harper : Yes, I know which dish you were checking out!
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Andy Banks : You know, I always wanted to be a dentist. I ended up a multimillionaire!
Ben : Tough break.
Andy Banks : No, I mean, you're out there doing something! Me, I just sit around the pool all day watching my money make money!
Susan Harper : Ooh, look, Ben - hard cheese!
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Ben : Oh, come on! I can't believe you're angry!
Susan Harper : What makes you think I'm angry?
Janey Harper : Oh. Children are home early.
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Ben : When you're at the top of your profession - as I am - I mean, my patients tend to treat me as a god. So I have in my hands the power of life and death.
Susan Harper : Over their teeth!
Ambyr Banks : I imagine you have some wonderful stories.
Susan Harper : Yes, his spit cup runneth over!
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Susan Harper : I can't believe you touched her breasts!
Ben : You told me to!
Susan Harper : God, you are dense!
Ben : Or is it that I can't read your mind?
Susan Harper : Same thing!
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Ben : Bloody Andy Banks! God! Why did he end up with the Ferrari and the millions?
Susan Harper : And the swimsuit model?
[Ben nods with a smirk]
Susan Harper : I heard that nod!
-
[Susan turns on her Russian language tape while going to sleep]
Ben : What are you doing?
Susan Harper : They say you can learn while you sleep.
Ben : I can't. I'd like to sleep when I sleep.
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Nick Harper : Hey. How does this sound? 'For sale: one kidney, mint condition, extra-large capacity, runs like a dream, one careful lady owner... '
Michael Harper : Lady?
Nick Harper : It's all about marketing, Michael!
Susan Harper : What are you doing?
Nick Harper : I'm gonna sell my kidney on eBay.
Susan Harper : Well, that's nice, dear.
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Susan Harper : I wonder if we should do something about Nick.
Ben : I am. I'm ignoring him.
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Susan Harper : Where are you going to get £2,000 from?
Ben : I was thinking Nick's college fund.
Nick Harper : I've got a college fund?
Susan Harper : Ben, you can't touch the college fund! That's for the world cruise!
Nick Harper : What about me?
Susan Harper : [pause] You get seasick.
Nick Harper : I was counting on that money!
Ben : You didn't know about it!
Nick Harper : No, but I always knew something would turn up!
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Janey Harper : Who's Andy?
Ben : Andy's my best friend.
Janey Harper : Oh. Your imaginary friend? How is he? Same as ever?
Ben : Oh, yes! But now, he's got millions of pounds!
Susan Harper : And the penis of a 20-year-old!
Nick Harper : Cool! How much did he pay for it?
-
Ben : Yes, dear?
Susan Harper : Ben, how much did you invest?
Ben : Er, £3,000?
Susan Harper : You idiot!
Ben : I know! I know it's a lot!
Susan Harper : Why didn't you invest more?
Ben : You told me to play it safe!
Susan Harper : I also tell you to put the loo seat down - you never listen to that!
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Susan Harper : Michael, stop playing video games. You'll be late for school.
Michael Harper : I'm not playing video ames. I'm checking the stock markets online.
Susan Harper : Oh, God! Not you too!
Michael Harper : Yeah. This Dynoblast looks pretty sound. I'm thinking of investing myself.
Susan Harper : What are you talking about?
Michael Harper : Well, with my tragically minimal allowance, I have to think of the future.
Susan Harper : Michael, this is crazy! You're too young to invest!
Michael Harper : Not in the Caymans! For all they care, I could be married!
Susan Harper : But you're not. Are you?
Michael Harper : Only for tax purposes!
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Susan Harper : Hello, my dear sweet adorable husband! How was your day?
Ben : Terrific! Turns out Dynoblast is peaking at a multiple of 24 and its EPS has tripled over the last four quarters!
Susan Harper : It beat Q2 estimates by 4p!
Ben : And its debt-to-equity ratio is... 1.9!
Susan Harper : Really?
Ben : Yep!
Susan Harper : What does that mean?
Ben : No idea!
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Susan Harper : I'm in this financial chatroom, and everybody's saying that Dynoblast is under investigation and it's time to get out.
Ben : What? Let me have a look.
[Susan shows Ben the laptop]
Ben : You're taking advice from someone called Yoda?
Susan Harper : It's not just Yoda! Everyone in the chatroom is saying to get out: Binky13, Club Foot, Stock Slut and Professor FrankenBanker!
Ben : Professor FrankenBanker? Can't you hear yourself? You are trusting a bunch of total strangers over me!
Susan Harper : Your point being?
Ben : Stay with me, Susan. OK? I'm going with my gut!
Susan Harper : You're going with your gut and I'm going with cold hard firm rumour! Let's get out when we're ahead!
Ben : Look, I've never been ahead and I like it!
Susan Harper : I'm telling you, Ben, if we don't get out now, we'll be left with nothing - except regret!
Ben : Well, won't that be the big regret cherry on the big regret icing on the big regret cake? Goodnight... Yoda!
-
Nick Harper : Looks like I'm keeping all my kidneys. Apparently, eBay frowns on selling body parts.
Susan Harper : It's probably for the best.
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Nick Harper : Could I borrow your credit card? Before you say no...
Susan Harper : No!
Nick Harper : ...it's for my new job. I wanna get some business cards made up.
Susan Harper : I'm assuming this new job does require any major surgery.
Nick Harper : Nothing like that. No, this one's much better. I get to set my own hours, I get to work from home - and talk about job satisfaction!
Susan Harper : What exactly is this new job?
Nick Harper : Sperm donor.
Susan Harper : [Hangs head in disbelief] Don't they have some sort of minimum requirement?
Nick Harper : Yeah - you have to be a man.
-
Ben : Flowers?
Susan Harper : How much did you lose?
Ben : Why do you always assume the worst? Hmm? Can't I bring you flowers?
Susan Harper : At least you didn't get me chocolates, then I'd know we'd lost everything.
[Ben hides a box of chocolates behind his back]
Ben : I haven't lost everything!
Susan Harper : How much are we talking about?
Ben : Oh... £200.
Susan Harper : Oh, thank God! We can go on that cruise!
Ben : No, that's all we've got left - £200.
Susan Harper : You may as well give me the chocolates.
Ben : Yep! Yep, yep, yep! Is that it, then? No 'I told you so'? No 'I was right and you were wrong'?
Susan Harper : Ben, money isn't everything. We love each other. We have our children and that's what counts.
Ben : Yep. And we've still got the other college funds.
Susan Harper : Ah, well... I was in the chatroom and Yoda gave me this great tip!
[Ben looks angry]
Susan Harper : Chocolates?