Notes on a Hollywood ending
in memory of
Stanley Kubrick,
chessplayer and film director,
who died on this date in 1999
Assassin Joubert (Max von Sydow) is talking with intelligence agency target Turner (Robert Redford), sought by CIA deputy director Higgins (Cliff Robertson) in “Three Days of the Condor“–
Joubert: Can I drop you?
Turner: [Sigh] I’d like to go back to New York.
Joubert: You have not much future there. It will happen this way. You may be walking. Maybe the first sunny day of the spring. And a car will slow beside you, and a door will open, and someone you know, maybe even trust, will get out of the car. And he will smile, a becoming smile. But he will leave open the door of the car and offer to give you a lift.
Turner: You seem to understand it all so well. What would you suggest?
Joubert: Personally, I prefer Europe.
Turner: Europe?
Joubert: Yes. Well, the fact is, what I do is not a bad occupation. Someone is always willing to pay.
Turner: I would find it… tiring.
Joubert: Oh, no– it’s quite restful. It’s… almost peaceful. No need to believe in either side, or any side. There is no cause. There’s only yourself. The belief is in your own precision.
Turner: I was born in the United States, Joubert. I miss it when I’m away too long.
Joubert: A pity.
Turner: I don’t think so. Is it any trouble to drop me at the Union Station?
Joubert: Oh, no. It would be my pleasure.
[Joubert pauses, then holds out a gun to Turner]
Joubert: For that day.
EXT. WEST 43RD ST. — DAY
Carolers:
Remember Christ our Savior
Was born on Christmas Day
To save us all
from Satan’s power
When we are gone astray.
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy,
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy!
Turner: Higgins!
Carolers:
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy,
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy!
Higgins: Why’d you call so late? We were worried about you.
Turner: Likewise. The car for me?
Higgins: It’s all right. It’s safe. You’ll have a few hours of debriefiing.
Turner: Hey, Higgins?
Higgins: Yeah?
Turner: Let’s say, for the purposes of argument, I had a .45 in one of my pockets and I wanted you to walk with me. You’d do it, right?
Higgins: Which way?
Turner: West. And slowly.
TRACKING TURNER AND HIGGINS
The sound of singing grows louder.
(Dialogue reconstructed from Script-o-rama, Wikiquote, and the more detailed script (pdf) at AwesomeFilm.com.)