Percy Winthram Quotes in Rattle of a Simple Man (1964)

[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.