Kazuo Ishiguro

Why? Why, Mr. Stevens, why do you always have to hide what you feel?

Mister Stevens! Am I to take it that after all the years I have been in this house you have nothing else to say to me?

People always cheer when they turn the lights on in the evening. Every time.

They do say, that for a great many people the evening's the best part of the day. The part they most look forward to.

You don't like having pretty girls on the staff, I've noticed.

Might it be that our Mr Stevens fears distraction? Can it be that our Mr Stevens is flesh and blood after all and doesn't trust himself?

…then why is that guilty smile still on your face?

It *is* a guilty smile. You can hardly bear to look at her. That's why you didn't want to take her on, she's too pretty.

I am a coward. I'm frightened of leaving and that's the truth. All I see out in the world is loneliness and it frightens me. That's all my high principals are worth, Mr. Stevens. I'm ashamed of myself.

I so often think of the good old days when I was the housekeeper at Darlington Hall. It was certainly hard work and I've certainly known butlers easier to please than our Mr. Stevens; but, I remember those years as among the happiest of my life.

I don't know what my future is. Ever since Katherine, my daughter, got married last year, my life has been empty. The years stretch before me and if only I knew how to fill them. But, I would like to be useful again.

There are times when I think what a terrible mistake I've made with my life.

What's in that book? Come on, let me see. Or, are you protecting me? Is that what you're doing? Would I be shocked? Would it ruin my character. Let me see it.

In my philosophy, Mr. Benn, a man cannot call himself well-contented until he has done all he can to be of service to his employer. Of course, this assumes that one's employer is a superior person, not only in rank, or wealth, but in moral stature.

I was too busy serving to listen to the speeches.

You know what I am doing, Miss Kenton? I am placing my thoughts elsewhere while you chatter away.

Miss Kenton, I'm very busy. I am surprised that you have nothing better to do than stand around all day...

Miss Kenton, I would ask you to keep your voice down. What would the other servants think to hear us shouting at the top of our voices about... Chinamen?

I'm sorry sir, but I am unable to be of assistance in this matter.

If two members of staff have to fall in love and decide to get married, there's nothing one can say. But what I do find a major irritation are those persons who are simply going from post to post looking for romance.

You know what I'm doing, Miss Kenton? I'm placing my thoughts elsewhere as you chatter away.

Oh it's not a guilty smile. I'm simply amused by the sheer nonsense you sometimes talk.

Well, you must be right Miss Kenton, you always are.

Miss Kenton, you mean a great deal to this house. You're extremely important to this house. Miss Kenton.

Do you know what I'm doing, Miss Kenton? I'm putting my thoughts elsewhere while you chatter on.

Quite recently, you were kind enough to suggest that I go on a little holiday. That I take a trip around the country.

Well, in the past, the world always used to come to this house, in a manner of speaking, if I may say so, sir.

Yes, I'm sorry sir. The rule of the kitchen here has always been that the cook cooks the cook's breakfast while her assistant toast's the toast.

I regard this room as my private place of work and I - I prefer to keep distractions to a minimum.

I appreciate your kindness, Miss Kenton, but I prefer to keep things as they are.

Each one of you has his own particular duty - or her duty. Polished brass, brilliant silver, mahogany shining like a mirror. That is the welcome we will show these foreign visitors - and let them know that they're in England where order and tradition still prevail.

Miss Kenton, there are many things you and I don't understand in this world of today; whereas, his Lordship, understands fully and has studied the larger issues at stake concerning, say, the nature of the Jewry.

I'd be lost without her - - A first rate housekeeper is essential in a house like this where great affairs are decided, between these walls.

To listen to the gentlemen's conversations, would distract me from my work.

Miss Kenton. I really must ask you, please, not to disturb the few moments I have to myself.

My name is Kathy H. I'm 28 years old. I've been a carer for nine years. And I'm good at my job. My patients always do better than expected, and are hardly ever classified as agitated, even if they're about to make a donation. I'm not trying to boast, but I feel a great sense of pride in what we do. Carers and donors have achieved so much. That said, we aren't machines. In the end it wears you down. I suppose that's why I now spend most of my time not looking forwards, but looking back, to The Cottages and Hailsham, and what happened to us there. Me. Tommy. And Ruth.

It had never occurred to me that our lives, which had been so closely interwoven, could unravel with such speed. If I'd known, maybe I'd have kept tighter hold of them and not let unseen tides pull us apart.

It's been two weeks since I lost him. I've been given my notice now. My first donation is in a month's time. I come here and imagine that this is the spot where everything I've lost since my childhood has washed out. I tell myself, if that were true, and I waited long enough, then a tiny figure would appear on the horizon across the field, and gradually get larger until I'd see it was Tommy. He'd wave and maybe call. I don't let the fantasy go beyond that. I can't let it. I remind myself I was lucky to have had any time with him at all. What I'm not sure about is if our lives have been so different from the lives of the people we save. We all complete. Maybe none of us really understand what we've lived through, or feel we've had enough time.