Brief Encounter Quotes

Brief Encounter is a television show that was first aired in 1970 . Brief Encounter ended its run in 1970.

It features Noël Coward; Anthony Havelock-Allan; Ronald Neame as producer, Sergei Rachmaninoff in charge of musical score, and Robert Krasker as head of cinematography.

Brief Encounter is recorded in English and originally aired in United Kingdom. Each episode of Brief Encounter is 86 minutes long. Brief Encounter is distributed by Eagle-Lion Distributors.

The cast includes: Cyril Raymond as Fred Jesson, Celia Johnson as Laura Jesson, Trevor Howard as Dr. Alec Harvey, Joyce Carey as Myrtle Bagot, Stanley Holloway as Albert Godby, and Everley Gregg as Dolly Messiter.

Brief Encounter Quotes

Celia Johnson as Laura Jesson

• (Celia Johnson) "I felt suddenly quite wildly happy."

• (Celia Johnson) "I imagined him holding me in his arms. I imagined being with him in all sorts of glamorous circumstances. It was one of those absurd fantasies, just like one has when one is a girl being wooed and married by the idea of ones dreams."

• (Celia Johnson) "We were very gay during lunch and talked about quite ordinary things."

• (Celia Johnson) "I starred out of that railway carriage window into the dark and watched the deem trees and the telegraph posts slipping by. And through them I saw Alec and me. Alec and me, perhaps a little younger than we are now, but just as much in love and we have nothing in the way. I saw us in Paris, in a box at the opera. The orchestra was tuning up. Then we were in Venice, drifting along the Grand Canal in a gondola with the sound of mandolins coming to us over the water. I saw us traveling far away together. All the places I've always longed to go. I saw us leaning on the rail of a ship, looking at the sea and stars. Standing on a tropical beach, in the moonlight, with the palm trees sighing above us. Then the palm trees changed into those pallided willows by the canal, just before the level crossing. And all the silly dreams disappeared. And I got out at Ketchworth and gave up my ticket and walked home as usual. Quite soberly and without wings. Without any wings at all."

• (Celia Johnson) "It seems an eternity since that train went out of the station, taking him away, into the darkness. I was happy then."

• (Celia Johnson) "That week was misery. I went through it in a sort of trance. How odd of you not to have noticed that you were living with a stranger in the house."

• (Celia Johnson) "How can I possibly say that? "Don't hurry, I'm perfectly happy." If only it were true. Not I suppose that anybody's perfectly happy, really. But, just to be ordinarily contented. To be at peace."

• (Celia Johnson) "I walked for a long while. Finally, I found myself at the war memorial. You know, it's right at the other side of town. It'd stopped raining all together and I felt stiflingly hot. So, I sat down on one of the seats. There was nobody about and I lit a cigarette. I know how you disapprove of women smoking in the street. I do too, really, but; I wanted to calm my nerves and I thought it might help."

• (Celia Johnson) "We had such fun. I felt gay and happy and sort of released."

• (Celia Johnson) "I had no premonitions. But, I suppose I should have had. It all seemed so natural and so innocent."

• (Celia Johnson) "It's awfully easy to lie when you know that you're trusted implicitly. So very easy, and so very degrading."

• (Celia Johnson) "How can you be so silly?"

• (Celia Johnson) "This can't last. This misery can't last. I must remember that and try to control myself. Nothing lasts really. Neither happiness nor despair. Not even life lasts very long. There'll come a time in the future when I shan't mind about this anymore, when I can look back and say quite peacefully and cheerfully how silly I was. No, no, I don't want that time to come ever. I want to remember every minute, always, always to the end of my days."

• (Celia Johnson) "Its been so very nice. I've enjoyed my afternoon enormously."
• (Trevor Howard) "I'm so glad. So have I. I apologize for boring you with long medical words."
• (Celia Johnson) "I full dull and stupid not to be able to understand more."
• (Trevor Howard) "Shall I see you again?"

• (Celia Johnson) "Fred, dear Fred. There's so much that I want to say to you. You're the only one in the world with enough wisdom and gentleness to understand. If only it was somebody else's story and not mine. As it is, you're the only one in the world that I can never tell. Never never. Because even if I waited until we were old, old people and told you then, you'd be bound to look back over the years and be hurt. And my dear, I don't want you to be hurt. You see, we're a happily married couple and let's never forget that. This is my home. You're my husband. And my children are upstairs in bed. I'm a happily married woman; or I was, rather, until a few weeks ago. This is my whole world, and it's enough, or rather, it was until a few weeks ago. But, oh, Fred, I've been so foolish. I've fallen in love. I'm an ordinary woman. I didn't think such violent things could happen to ordinary people."

• (Celia Johnson) "You're both very naughty. You should have been asleep hours ago."

• (Celia Johnson) "I see."
• (Trevor Howard) "I'm afraid you don't."
• (Celia Johnson) "Ha-ha. I was trying to be intelligent."

• (Celia Johnson) "Do you know, I believe we should all behave quite differently if we lived in a warm, sunny climate all the time. We shouldn't be so withdrawn and shy and difficult."

• (Celia Johnson) "I went into the high street and found a tobacconist and telephoned you. Do you remember?"

Trevor Howard as Dr. Alec Harvey

• (Trevor Howard) "Could you really say goodbye? Never see me again?"
• (Celia Johnson) "Yes, if you'd help me."
• (Trevor Howard) "I love you, Laura. I shall love you always until the end of my life. I can't look at you now cause I know something. I know that this is the beginning of the end. Not the end of my loving you but the end of our being together. But not quite yet, darling. Please. Not quite yet."
• (Celia Johnson) "Very well. Not quite yet."

• (Trevor Howard) "Would you mind, very much, if I came to the pictures with you?"
• (Celia Johnson) "Well, eh --"
• (Trevor Howard) "I could sit downstairs and you could sit upstairs."
• (Celia Johnson) "Upstairs is too expensive."

• (Trevor Howard) "I do love you, so very much. I love you with all my heart and soul."
• (Celia Johnson) "I want to die. If only I could die --"
• (Trevor Howard) "If you'd die, you'd forget me. I want to be remembered."

• (Trevor Howard) "I'm just saying you're not complicated."
• (Celia Johnson) "I suppose it's a good thing to be uncomplicated, but it does sound a little dull."
• (Trevor Howard) "You could never be dull."

• (Trevor Howard) "Forgive me?"
• (Celia Johnson) "Forgive you for what?"
• (Trevor Howard) "For everything. For meeting you, in the first place. For taking the piece of grit out of your eye. For loving you. For bringing you so much misery."
• (Celia Johnson) "I'll forgive you if you'll forgive me."

• (Stephen Lynn, Alec's 'Friend') "I'm surprised at this farcical streak in your nature, Alec. Such carryings on are quite unnecessary. After all, we've been friends for years and I am the most broad-minded of men."
• (Trevor Howard) "I'm really very sorry, Stephen. I'm sure that the whole situation must seem inexplicably vulgar to you. Actually, it isn't in the least."

• (Trevor Howard) "There should be a Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Musical Instruments."

• (Trevor Howard) "I love you. I love your wide eyes, the way you smile, your shyness, and the way you laugh at my jokes."
• (Celia Johnson) "Please don't."
• (Trevor Howard) "I love you. I love you. You love me too. It's no use pretending it hasn't happened cause it has."
• (Celia Johnson) "Yes it has. I don't want to pretend anything either to you or to anyone else. But from now on, I shall have to. That's what's wrong. Don't you see? That's what spoils everything. That's why we must stop, here and now, talking like this. We're neither of us free to love each other. There's too much in the way. There's still time, if we control ourselves and behave like sensible human beings. There's still time."

Stanley Holloway as Albert Godby

• (Stanley Holloway) "Hop it, both of you."
• (Bill, First Soldier) "We've got a right to stay here as long as we like."
• (Stanley Holloway) "You 'eard what I said. Hop it."
• (Johnnie, Second Soldier) "Now, look here, what is this? A free country or a bloomin' Sunday school?"
• (Stanley Holloway) "I checked you once at the gate. Your train's due in one minute, number two platform. Hop it."

Joyce Carey as Myrtle Bagot

• (Joyce Carey) "I'm sorry, my license does not permit me to serve alcohol out of hours, that's final. You wouldn't want to get me in trouble, would you?"
• (Bill, First Soldier) "Just give us that chance, lady. That's all we ask. Just give us the chance."

• (Joyce Carey) "Albert Godby, how dare you."
• (Stanley Holloway) "I couldn't resist it."
• (Joyce Carey) "Oh, well, trouble you for keeping your hands to yourself."
• (Stanley Holloway) "Oh, you blushing; oh, you look wonderful when you're angry -- just like an avenging angel."
• (Joyce Carey) "I'll give you avenging angel --. Coming in here taking liberties."
• (Stanley Holloway) "I thought last Monday, you said you wouldn't object to a friendly little slap."
• (Joyce Carey) "Never mind about last Monday -- I'm on duty now. And I should think to what would happen if Mr. Saunders should be looking through the window."
• (Stanley Holloway) "Well, if Mr. Saunders happens to be looking through the window its about time he saw something worth looking at."
• (Joyce Carey) "You ought to be ashamed of yourself."
• (Stanley Holloway) "Oh, it's high spirit -- don't be mad at me."
• (Joyce Carey) ""High spirit"; indeed. Take your tea and be quiet."
• (Stanley Holloway) "It's all your fault really."
• (Joyce Carey) "I don't know to what your referring."
• (Stanley Holloway) "-- I was thinking about tonight?"
• (Joyce Carey) "If you don't learn to behave yourself; there won't be a tonight. Or any other night either."
• (Stanley Holloway) "Give us a kiss."
• (Joyce Carey) "I'll do no such thing, the lady might see us."
• (Stanley Holloway) "Come on a quick one across the counter."
• (Joyce Carey) "Albert, stop it."
• (Stanley Holloway) "Come on."
• (Joyce Carey) "Let go of me, this minute Albert."
• (Joyce Carey) "-- now look at me bamberys all over the floor."
• (Bill, First Soldier) "Just in time; or born in the vestry."
• (Joyce Carey) "You shut your mouth; and help Mr. Godby pick up 'em cakes. Come along now. What are you standing there gaping at?"

• (Joyce Carey) "Beryl, ask Mr. Godby to come here for a moment, will you?"
• (Beryl Walters, Tea Room Assistant) "Yes, Mrs. Bagot."
• (Bill, First Soldier) "And who's he waiting to come?"
• (Joyce Carey) "You'll soon see. Coming here, cheeking me."
• (Johnnie, Second Soldier) "Come on, here, mother, be a pal."
• (Joyce Carey) "I'll give you mother. You saucy upstart."
• (Bill, First Soldier) "Who you callin' an upstart?"
• (Joyce Carey) "You. And I'll trouble you get out of here double quick. Disturbing the customers and making a nuisance of yourselves."
• (Johnnie, Second Soldier) "Hey, where's the fire? Where's the fire?"

Cyril Raymond as Fred Jesson

• (Cyril Raymond) "You're a poetry addict. See if you can help me over this. It's Keats. 'When I behold, upon the night's starr'd face / Huge cloudy symbols of a high _______.' Something that's seven letters."
• (Celia Johnson) "Romance, I think. I'm almost sure it is. 'Huge cloudy symbols of a high romance.' It will be in the Oxford Book of English Verse."
• (Cyril Raymond) "No, it's right I'm sure. It fits in with 'delirium' and 'Baluchistan."

• (Cyril Raymond) "You've been a long way away."
• (Celia Johnson) "Yes."
• (Cyril Raymond) "Thank you for coming back to me."

• (Cyril Raymond) "Thank you for coming back to me."

• (Cyril Raymond) "Whatever your dream was, it wasn't a very happy one, was it?"

• (Cyril Raymond) "Come and sit by the fire in the library and relax. You may help me with the Times crossword."
• (Celia Johnson) "You have the most peculiar ideas of relation."

Everley Gregg as Dolly Messiter

• (Everley Gregg) "My dear, what a nice looking man. Who on earth is he? Really, you're quite a dark horse. I shall telephone Fred in the morning and make mischief."

• (Everley Gregg) "Have you any brandy?"
• (Joyce Carey) "I'm afraid it's out of hours."
• (Everley Gregg) "Oh surely, if somebody's feeling ill?"
• (Celia Johnson) "I'm alright, really."
• (Everley Gregg) "Just a sip of brandy will buck you up."
• (Everley Gregg) "Please."
• (Joyce Carey) "Very well."
• (Everley Gregg) "How much?"
• (Joyce Carey) "Ten pence, please."

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