In practice we, in the world, must do business with each other.

Films have degenerated to their original operation as carnival amusement - they offer not drama but thrills.

The main question in drama, the way I was taught, is always, 'What does the protagonist want?' That's what drama is. It comes down to that. It's not about theme, it's not about ideas, it's not about setting, but what the protagonist wants.

The terror and beauty of the dream come from the connection of previously unrelated mundanities of life.

I used to think I'd like to be a fireman - in fact, I still would - and the only drawback I could see was coming back to the firehouse, after a day of fighting fires, and still having to put in an eight-hour day writing.

Almost all movie scripts contain material that cannot be filmed.

I was fortunate enough to have a rambling youth.