Daily Dialogue — March 18, 2020

Travis Bickle: You’re a young girl, you should be at home. You should be dressed up, going out with boys, going to school, you know, that kind of stuff.
Iris: God, are you square.
Travis Bickle: Hey, I’m not square, you’re the one that’s square. You’re full of shit, man. What are you talking about? You walk out with those fucking creeps and lowlifes and degenerates out on the street, and sell your little pussy for nothing, man? For some lowlife pimp? I’m square? You’re the one that’s square.

— Taxi Driver (1975), written by Paul Schrader

The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Diner.

Trivia: The clash between Martin Scorsese, the MPAA and the executives at Columbia Pictures over the violent content of this film has gone into legend. One of the biggest rumors is that, when facing an X-rating from the MPAA and having to edit the film, Scorsese stayed up all night drinking with a loaded gun in his hand, preparing to shoot the executive at Columbia Pictures the next day. After an entire night of persuasion from his friends, Scorsese decided to mute the colors in the violent climax, and subsequently got his R-rating. There are many variations on this legend, one saying that Scorsese was planning to take his own life; another says that he brought the gun to Columbia Pictures and threatened the executive until the executive relented.

Dialogue on Dialogue: The dual relationships Travis has with two females — Iris and Betsy — is a fascinating study of the story’s Protagonist. Here in this scene, we see Travis attempting to talk some sense into a young Iris.