Rattle of a Simple Man (1964)

Diane Cilento: Cyrenne

Photos 

Quotes 

• [Percy is interested in the life of a prostitute] 

  Percy Winthram : Do you have *normal* meals?

  Cyrenne : [sarcastically]  No, they give us special food. Extra vitamins, Technicolor pills.

• [Percy is telling Cyrenne about his lack of success with women] 

  Percy Winthram : Everything goes fine until near the end. Then it's always the same: that same long agonising walk back to their gate. Truly agonising - believe me. Talk about a dumb-bell: it's got blood compared to me. I worry about this goodnight kissing all the way to the gate.

  Cyrenne : Well, can't it wait until the *next* night?

  Percy Winthram : I'm afraid not. I don't get a return match. Minf you, I've done plenty of ordinary kissing - at parties and... well, just at parties, I suppose. But when I get to that gate and she says "Thanks for a nice evening" or some such phrase. And I know she's expecting... she's expecting me to get romantic. Well everything goes to pot.

  Cyrenne : Can't you let yourself go, for once?

  Percy Winthram : [hesitantly]  I did, for once. And the girl laughed and she said...

  [Percy is too ashamed to continue] 

  Cyrenne : She said what?

  Percy Winthram : "You'd better stick to training boy scouts, Percy". Aye, you guessed right - I *am* a scout-master. Oh, life's a mess.