Death Takes a Holiday (1971 TV Movie)

Monte Markham: David Smith

Photos 

Quotes 

• David Smith : I came here to solve what for me has been a riddle for as long as there's been life. I had to understand why people cling so tenaciously to living... why they're so afraid of what I can bring them. I want to know what is there that makes men and women fight so desperately to remain in a world so unhappy, so filled with hate and now so polluted with real poisons.

• David Smith : [Peggy has tried to throw herself off the cliff]  Peggy! What were you trying to do?

  Peggy Chapman : You know what I was trying to do.

  David Smith : Why? Why would you want to?

  Peggy Chapman : [she touches his face]  I thought you'd look different... but you don't.

  David Smith : He told you?

  Peggy Chapman : Yes.

  David Smith : And now?

  Peggy Chapman : I don't know... I was so frightened at first, so many things bouncing around in my head and then... absolute stillness inside. There were no more questions I had to ask.

  David Smith : But you still haven't told me why! Why this?

  Peggy Chapman : Because I wanted to leave with you.

• David Smith : [to Judge Chapman]  You won't believe me, will you? I'm not a judge, I'm not God, I'm not even an executioner.

• David Smith : [to John]  You're a very courageous man. I mean, taking upon yourself the responsibility for altering the course of another person's life.

• David Smith : [Judge Chapman has realized who David really is]  You know, don't you?

  Judge Earl Chapman : I know I'd seen you before... but I couldn't quite remember. Each time... each time I had a stroke, it was you waiting. Every time I thought the pain was so bad that it was all over, you were there, weren't you? Standing off a way.

  [he chuckles] 

  Judge Earl Chapman : Waiting... but you were always so dim, so... so vague.

• John Cummings : I think you're a phony... a very clever gold-digging phony, Mr. Smith. I intend to prove that to Peggy and to Judge Chapman.

  David Smith : You'd be well advised to leave well enough alone.

  John Cummings : But thing's aren't well enough, are they? There's something wrong about you. I want you out of here, off this island.

  David Smith : I'm afraid your wants are the least of my concerns right now.

  John Cummings : I'll tell you something, Smith... if I have to beat the truth out of you, I'll do it!

  David Smith : Take my advice, Mr. Cummings... don't get involved in matters far beyond your control... and far beyond your possible understanding.

• [last lines] 

  David Smith : Peggy, if I don't stay I'll have to take you, and I can't! I love you, Peggy! I can't take all those years of living from you, not when you make them count for so much!

  Peggy Chapman : David, I've waited for you all my life! Do you know what I'm saying? All my life!

  [They embrace] 

  Peggy Chapman : If I go with you, can we be together as we are right now?

  David Smith : Yes.

  Peggy Chapman : For ever?

  David Smith : More.

  Peggy Chapman : Then I want to go with you. Now.

  David Smith : Peggy, I can't promise you that it will be either more or less than you may have imagined.

  Peggy Chapman : I know.

  David Smith : You won't regret it?

  Peggy Chapman : No... not with you.

  David Smith : But you're so young! You've had so few years.

  Peggy Chapman : Most people live 'til they're eighty and never know the fulfillment I've known. David... it's Christmas morning. I want to open the next package.

• Judge Earl Chapman : [He has realized]  3:45 on Friday... when all death stopped everywhere! When Peggy-...

  David Smith : Drowned. When Peggy accidentally drowned.

  Judge Earl Chapman : [grabs hold of David's arm]  No! Not Peggy! Please!

  David Smith : It's done. It happened. 3:45 Friday her body washed up on the beach.

  Judge Earl Chapman : But you let her live!

  David Smith : I extended her time a little.

  Judge Earl Chapman : [pause, then]  How long?

  David Smith : Tomorrow. When the weekend is over, I'll take her with me.

• Judge Earl Chapman : Was falling in love with my daughter part of your study?

  David Smith : [long pause, then]  No... that wasn't planned.

• David Smith : [Judge Chapman has realized who David really is]  You know, don't you?

  Judge Earl Chapman : I knew I'd seen you before... but I couldn't quite remember. Each time... each time I had a stroke, it was you waiting. Every time I thought the pain was so bad that it was all over, you were there, weren't you? Standing off a way.

  [he chuckles] 

  Judge Earl Chapman : Waiting... but you were always so dim, so... so vague.

• David Smith : [Peggy has asked him to tell her about himself]  In my earliest recollected incarnation, I was the poet Euripedes. That was about 480 B.C. My next trip in was as John the Baptist.

  [Peggy laughs] 

  David Smith : Not too happy a choice, as it turned out. And then somewhere around 810 I served a hitch in Charlemagne's army. Yes, I was a general, I think... at least I had a very fancy uniform.

  Peggy Chapman : Wonderful! Because at this rate, we'll be here all night.

  David Smith : Wait 'til I get to the fifteenth century. That was easily my best century.