Fawlty Towers (TV Series)

Basil the Rat (1979)

Ballard Berkeley: Major Gowen

Photos 

Quotes 

• Major Gowen : But they spread disease, Fawlty! He was sitting there, on that table! Eating the nuts, if you please!

  Basil Fawlty : [to himself]  He's really gone this time...

  Major Gowen : [measuring the length with his hands]  It was like that, about that size.

  Major Gowen : [widening the length]  That, with a tail.

  Basil Fawlty : [confused]  I'm sorry? What did you say it was?

  Major Gowen : Vermin. A dirty rat!

• [the Major is in the bar with a rifle, stalking a rat. Basil is behind him, unaware of what the Major is doing] 

  Basil Fawlty : Do you need any help, Major?

  Major Gowen : Don't move!

  [Points the rifle at Basil] 

  Major Gowen : ...Vermin.

  [Basil mishears and rolls eyes] 

  Basil Fawlty : We haven't got any this week, Major.

  Major Gowen : Hm?

  Basil Fawlty : No Germans staying this week, Major.

• [Major Gowen is carrying a gun to shoot vermin, but Basil misheard and thinks that he wants to shoot Germans] 

  Basil Fawlty : Not legal actually, anymore, murder.

  Major Gowen : But they're animals, Fawlty!

  Basil Fawlty : Oh, yes, yes. Still, forgive and forget, eh?

  Major Gowen : Forgive 'em?

  Basil Fawlty : Well, pretend we do.