Birth of the Beatles (1979)

Brian Jameson: Brian Epstein

Quotes 

• Brian Epstein : What do you mean, "Pete's Out"? And "Ringo's In"? I like Pete! He's very popular. Girls sleep out in his garden, it's good for the whole group!

  Paul McCartney : Pete's not a Beatle.

  John Lennon : He's too conventional. Anyway, Ringo's a professional.

  Brian Epstein : This doesn't make sense! I mean, you could have gotten rid of Pete after the trip to Hamburg!

  John Lennon : Pete hasn't grown like the rest of us.

  Brian Epstein : Don't upset the apple cart. Everything's finally going well. The record company heard his drumming. They liked it!

  John Lennon : You're not listening, Eppie. He's a drag. He don't spark. I'm sick of him just sitting there.

  Brian Epstein : You're sick of the girls liking him and saying, "Pete Best and the Beatles"?

  John Lennon : Maybe, Dr. Sigmund Eppie. Maybe.

  Brian Epstein : How are we going to tell him?

  John Lennon : We're not. You are.

  Brian Epstein : Me? You want me to tell him?

  John Lennon : Well, you're the manager.

• Brian Epstein : I thought you'd know what being on top would be like. What is it, John?

  John Lennon : It doesn't seem like a game anymore, Eppie. It seems crazy.

  Brian Epstein : What does?

  John Lennon : All them people, screaming and running after us. I don't know what they want. I mean, does that seem normal to you? The way they're behaving? Half the world thinks we're a bloody joke and the rest of them think we're God! What do you think we are, Brian?

  Brian Epstein : I think you're John Lennon... playing the Pied Piper of leading people into the Mersey River.

  John Lennon : God, I've been awful to you.

  Brian Epstein : But never boring.

  John Lennon : Well, what have got lined up for us next, Brian?

  Brian Epstein : It's time to go to America, John.

  John Lennon : Well, that would be a big mistake. No British pop artist has ever made it big over there.

  Brian Epstein : Well, you'll be the first, then.

  John Lennon : Well, I've got to do something or I'll go mad. We're getting like addicts. We need bigger and bigger fixes to keep going! But I'm not sure about America.

  Brian Epstein : I am. And trust me, John... I'll never lead you into the Mersey. John, I want you to remember something. No single one of you is The Beatles. Each one of you is a part. Paul is the heart of the group, George is the soul, you're the mind.

  John Lennon : And Ringo?

  Brian Epstein : He's the flesh and blood.

  John Lennon : A real traveling medical show, aren't we?

  Brian Epstein : If any one of you stops doing his part, the rest will die. There will be no more Beatles. You're all dependent on one another.

• Brian Epstein : This may come as a surprise. It surprises even me, but I'd like to be your manager. I'm organized, very methodical, but I'm also human. No doubt I'll make mistakes, but you're an incredible group. I'm sure I can help you. What you need is an English record contract. Through my contacts, that could be arranged. What are you earning now?

  Pete Best : Seventy-five pounds a week.

  George Harrison : Each.

  Brian Epstein : No, no, you're making fifteen pounds a night, if and when you play. But I can do better. Naturally, I'd only take commissions on my bookings, which would be twenty-five percent per gross.

  Paul McCartney : Why not twenty?

  Brian Epstein : Well, I assume there'll be considerable costs before I see any profit. But I understand you don't have photographs. Well, besides publicity, there's...

  Pete Best : We need a van.

  Brian Epstein : That's four or five hundred pounds. And there'll be changes. Not in your music. In the sense of... professionalism to get you on the radio, the telly. Well, if this is all agreeable... we'll have contracts properly drawn.

  John Lennon : We're not too crazy about changes. What kind do you have in mind?

  Brian Epstein : Your appearance needs work.

  John Lennon : You'll be wanting us to dress like you?

  Brian Epstein : There'll just be some tidying up here and there, smoothing out the rough edges.

  John Lennon : Well, I'm ashamed about rough edges, Mr. Epstein.

  Brian Epstein : I'm not saying you should be ashamed. These changes are not to remake you, just to bring out what I see as your potential.

  Paul McCartney : And just what experience exactly do you have in this line? I mean, how many groups are you directing at the moment?

  Brian Epstein : None.

  Paul McCartney : None?

  John Lennon : So we'll be your guinea pigs? A new toy to play with and then toss away when you're tired of us?

  Brian Epstein : That's not the way I work. Look, you need me. You'll be going nowhere now. Non-conformity is fine, but unless you adapt, you'll never get anywhere.

  John Lennon : But we don't want to go anywhere. It's only people like you who have to go somewhere. We're happy, go-lucky, shiftless working-class lads. That's why we play the Negro music without a care in the world. Tell me, do you have a car?

  Brian Epstein : Yes.

  John Lennon : What kind?

  Brian Epstein : A Ford... Zodiac.

  John Lennon : Well now, in that case... you need our help. I'll sign with you, Eppie, 'cause I think we can help you.

• Brian Epstein : Boys, George Martin, producer.

  George Martin : Afternoon. Now, if there's anything you don't like, just let me know.

  George Harrison : Well, for a start, I don't like your tie.

  George Martin : Pity. I just bought it yesterday. Well, we'll do two singles; to start with, "Love Me Do", and for the follow-up, you can try "How Do You Do It?".

  John Lennon : Sorry Sir, from now on we only do our own material.

  George Martin : Which one are you?

  John Lennon : Private John Lennon, Sir.

  George Martin : Well Lennon, are you trying to teach me my business?

  John Lennon : No sir, I'm trying to teach you our business.

  Brian Epstein : John, this song could be a Number-One hit.

  Paul McCartney : You've just signed a new group, Eppie, called 'Gerry and the Pacemakers'. Why don't you give it to them, I'm sure they could do the hit.

  George Martin : Well Lennon, what would you do for the follow-up?

  John Lennon : I worked up something as simple as possible. It's called "Please Please Me".

  George Martin : And you reckon that'll be Number-One?

  John Lennon : It's strictly for the Hit Parade. Everything we do is going to be Number-One.

  George Martin : Well then, let's get to work, so not to deprive the world of those incredible sounds for one moment longer.

  John Lennon : That's just what I was saying, sir. A chip?

  George Martin : Uh, no, not for me, thank you.

  Paul McCartney : Well if he doesn't want it, I'll have it.

  John Lennon : It's the one with the grease on it.