'never despair'
can anyone get me the "never despair" retort that norman gives to sir after being rebuked about having too many freinds?...scoured the net to no avail.
axx
What do you mean? I don't understand the question
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MovieChat Forums > The Dresser (1983) Discussion > 'never despair'
It goes like this:
Norman - I had a friend!
Sir - Oh by Christ's sake! I'm sick of your friends. A motley crew they are. Pathetic! Lonely! Despairing!
Norman - That's nice isn't it!
Sir - I beg your pardon. Uncalled for! Count myself as your friend.
Norman - Never desparing!
Sir - I have apologised!
Norman - Never, never despairing! Well perhaps, sometimes at night; or at Christmas, when you can't get a job in a pantomime! But not once inside the building! Never! Pathetic maybe, but not ungrateful. Too mindful of one's lot, as the saying goes. No duke is more privy t'is beauty, he is spring and summer! Here pain is bearable. And never lonely, not here. For he today, that sheds his blood with me... Soft no doubt, sensitive, that's my nature; easily hurt - that's a virtue. I'm not here for reasons of my own either. No-one could accuse me of base motive. I got what I want! I don't need anyone to know it. Inadequate? Yes! But never NEVER, despairing.
Well I hope that helps.
Never despairing.... Despairing was what he was...
**********
Hugs...
According to my copy of the script (I love this play!) the oddest line actually is "No Duke is more privileged. Here's beauty. Here's spring and summer." Given this, Norman's speech becomes intelligible. Through the play, Norman continually refers to friends he's made through his profession and how their examples have encouraged his convictions about acting and theatre. (It's possible these friends may be imaginary.) When Sir attacks Norman's friends as pathetic, lonely creatures, filled with despair, Norman returns fire saying as long as he's at work in the theatre, he is never entirely without hope. At home in his job, no one has greater access to the stage-world he loves and when he's lost in the excitement and beauty of the performance, he's not lonely or depressed. Norman quotes St. Crispin's day speech to underscore his feeling of solidarity with the actors who strive to succeed like soldiers in battle do. He adds that he has no hidden agenda about why he's in the theatre (like Irene cozying up to Sir to get a better part) and he realizes his best efforts don't come to much but with all that, he's still not hopeless as long as he has a place in a theatrical company. It's the happiest part of his existence.
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