A scene from A Night at the Opera 1935
Driftwood

Could he sail tomorrow?

Fiorello

You pay him enough money, he could sail yesterday. How much you pay him?

Driftwood

Well, I don't know... [muttering to himself] Let's see, a thousand dollars a night... I'm entitled to a small profit... How about ten dollars a night?

Fiorello

Ten? Ten dolla— ha ha ha ha ha! I'll take it...

Driftwood

All right, but remember, I get 10% for negotiating the deal.

Fiorello

Yes, and I get 10% for being the manager. How much does that leave him?

Driftwood

That leaves him— uh, $8.00.

Fiorello

Eight dollars, huh? Well, he sends a five dollars home to his mother...

Driftwood

Well, that leaves him $3.00.

Fiorello

Can he live in New York on $3.00?

Driftwood

Like a prince. Of course he won't be able to eat, but he can live like a prince. However, out of that $3.00, you know, he'll have to pay an income tax...

Fiorello

Ah, there's income tax...

Driftwood

...there's a federal tax, and a state tax, and a city tax, and a street tax, and a sewer tax.

Fiorello

How much does this come to?

Driftwood

Well, I figure if he doesn't sing too often, he can break even.

Fiorello

All right, we take it.

In this scene

More from A Night at the Opera

A Night at the Opera (1935) poster
A Night at the Opera 1935 · 27 quotes · 6 characters All A Night at the Opera quotes →
All A Night at the Opera quotes →