The Shining (1980)

Barry Nelson: Ullman

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Quotes 

• Stuart Ullman : I don't suppose they told you anything in Denver about the tragedy we had in the Winter of 1970.

  Jack Torrance : I don't believe they did.

  Stuart Ullman : My predecessor in this job left a man named Charles Grady as the Winter caretaker. And he came up here with his wife and two little girls, I think were eight and ten. And he had a good employment record, good references, and from what I've been told he seemed like a completely normal individual. But at some point during the winter, he must have suffered some kind of a complete mental breakdown. He ran amuck and killed his family with an axe. Stacked them neatly in one of the rooms in the West wing and then he, he put both barrels of a shot gun in his mouth.

• Jack Torrance : Well, that is quite a story.

  Stuart Ullman : Yeah it is. It's still hard for me to believe it happened here. It did, and I think you can appreciate why I wanted to tell you about it.

  Jack Torrance : I certainly can and I also understand why your people in Denver left it for you to tell me.

  Stuart Ullman : Well obviously some people can be put off by staying alone in a place where something like that actually happened.

  Jack Torrance : Well you can rest assured, Mr. Ullman, that's not going to happen with me. And as far as my wife is concerned, I'm sure she'll be absolutely fascinated when l tell her. She's a confirmed ghost story and horror film addict.

• Stuart Ullman : The police thought that it was what the old-timers used to call cabin fever. A kind of claustrophobic reaction which can occur when people are shut in together over long periods of time.

• Stuart Ullman : When the place was built in 1907, there was very little interest in winter sports. And this site was chosen for its seclusion and scenic beauty.

  Jack Torrance : [laughs]  Well, it's certainly got plenty of that.

  Stuart Ullman : ...The winters can be fantastically cruel. And the basic idea is to cope with the very costly damage and depreciation which can occur. And this consists mainly of running the boiler, heating different parts of the hotel on a daily, rotating basis, repair damage as it occurs, and doing repairs so that the elements can't get a foothold.

  Jack Torrance : Well, that sounds fine to me.

  Stuart Ullman : Physically, it's not a very demanding job. The only thing that can get a bit trying up here during the winter is, uh, a tremendous sense of isolation.

  Jack Torrance : Well, that just happens to be exactly what I'm looking for. I'm outlining a new writing project and, uh, five months of peace is just what I want.

  Stuart Ullman : That's very good Jack, because, uh, for some people, solitude and isolation can, of itself become a problem.

  Jack Torrance : Not for me.

  Stuart Ullman : How about your wife and son? How do you think they'll take to it?

  Jack Torrance : They'll love it.

• Wendy Torrance : This is probably the most gorgeous hotel I've ever seen.

  Stuart Ullman : Well, this old place has had an illustrious past. In its heyday, it was one of the stopping places for the jet set - even before anybody knew what a jet set was. We had four Presidents who stayed here. Lots of movie stars.

  Wendy Torrance : Royalty?

  Stuart Ullman : All the best people.

• Wendy Torrance : When was the Overlook built?

  Stuart Ullman : Construction started in 1907. It was finished in 1909. This site is supposed to be located on an Indian burial ground.

• Wendy Torrance : lt's amazing, how much activity is going on today.

  Stuart Ullman : Yes, well, the guests and some of the staff left yesterday, but the last day's always very hectic. Everybody wants to be on their way as early as possible. By 5 o'clock tonight, you'll never know anybody was ever here.

  Wendy Torrance : Just like a ghost ship, huh?