Each night when I return the cab to the garage, I have to clean the cu — Taxi Driver

"May 10. Thank God for the rain which has helped wash away the garbage and trash off the sidewalks. Im working long hours now, six in the afternoon to six in the morning. Sometimes even eight in the morning, six days a week. Sometimes seven days a week. Its a long hustle but it keeps me real busy. I can take in three, three fifty a week. Sometimes even more when I do it off the meter. All the animals come out at night - whores, skunk pussies, buggers, queens, fairies, dopers, junkies, sick, venal. Someday a real rain will come and wash all this scum off the streets. I go all over. I take people to the Bronx, Brooklyn, I take em to Harlem. I dont care. Dont make no difference to me. It does to some. Some wont even take spooks. Dont make no difference to me."

"I realize now how much shes just like the others - cold and distant, and many people are like that. Women for sure. Theyre like a union."

"[talking on the phone to Betsy] Hello Betsy. Hi, its Travis. How ya doin? Listen, uh, Im, Im sorry about the, the other night. I didnt know that was the way you felt about it. Well, I-I didnt know that was the way you felt. I-I-I would have taken ya somewhere else. Uh, are you feeling better or oh you maybe had a virus or somethin, a 24-hour virus you know. It happens. Yeah, umm, you uh, youre workin hard. Yeah. Uh, would you like to have, uh, some dinner, uh with me in the next, you know, few days or somethin? Well, how about just a cup of coffee? Ill come by the, uh, headquarters or somethin, we could, uh... Oh, OK, OK. Did you get my flowers in the...? You didnt get them? I sent some flowers, uh...Yeah, well, OK, OK. Can I call you again? Uh, tomorrow or the next day? OK. No, Im gonna...OK. Yeah, sure, OK. So long."

"[in an anniversary card to his parents] Dear Father and Mother: July is the month I remember which brings not only your wedding anniversary but also Fathers Day and Mothers birthday. Im sorry I cant remember the exact dates, but I hope this card will take care of them all. Im sorry again I cannot send you my address like I promised to last year. But the sensitive nature of my work for the government demands utmost secrecy. I know you will understand. I am healthy and well and making lots of money. I have been going with a girl for several months and I know you would be proud if you could see her. Her name is Betsy but I can tell you no more than that...I hope this card finds you all well as it does me. I hope no one has died. Dont worry about me. One day, theyll be a knock on the door and itll be me. Love, Travis."

"On every street in every city in this country theres a nobody who dreams of being a somebody. Hes a lonely forgotten man desperate to prove that hes alive."

"[looking in the mirror] Yeah. Huh? [draws] Huh? Huh? Faster than you, you fuckin son of a...I saw you comin, you fuck. Shit-heel. [reholsters] Im standin here. You make the move. You make the move. Its your move. Huh? [draws gun from concealed forearm holster] Dont try it, you fuck. [reholsters] You talkin to me? You talkin to me? You talkin to me? [turns around to look behind him] Well, then who the Hell else are you talking- You talking to me? Well, Im the only one here. Who the fuck do you think youre talking to? Oh yeah? Huh? kay. [whips out his gun again] Huh? (Listen you fuckers, you screwheads. Here is a man who would not take it anymore. Who would not let- Listen you fuckers, you screwheads. Here is a man who would not take it anymore. A man who stood up against the scum, the cunts, the dogs, the filth, the shit. Here is someone who stood up. Here is...) [draws his gun] Youre dead."