BBC TV sitcom, 1975-9. Written by John Cleese and Connie Booth .
- Guest: "I asked for a room with a view!"
Basil: [looks through window] "This is the view as far as I can remember it...yes, yes, this is it."
Guest: "I expect to see something more interesting than that."
Basil: "That is Torquay, madam."
Guest: "It is not good enough!"
Basil: "Well, may I ask what you were hoping to see out of a Torquay bedroom window? The Sydney Opera House, perhaps? The Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Herds of wildebeeste sweeping majestically across the plains?"
Guest: "When I ask for a room with a view I expect to be able to see the sea."
Basil: "You can see the sea, it's over there between the land and the sky."
Guest: "I'd need a telescope to see that!"
Basil: "Then may I suggest that you move to a hotel closer to the sea." [muttering] "Or preferably in it."
- "Sorry about that. He's from Barcelona." - Basil's usual way of attempting to place the blame for anything and everything on the Spanish porter Manuel
- "Don't mention the war! I mentioned it once but I think I got away with it alright, so it's all forgotten now and let's hear no more about it. So that's two eggs mayonnaise, a prawn Goebbels, a Hermann Goering and four Colditz salads..."
- One of the visiting Germans is consoling a woman, who is crying from Basil's war-related charades
Basil: "What's wrong with her?" German: "Will you stop talking about the war!" Basil: "ME?!? You started it!" German: "We did not start it!" Basil: "Yes you did, you invaded Poland!"
- Mrs.Richards (Guest) [to Manuel (porter)]: "Now, I've reserved a very quiet room, with a bath and a sea view. I specifically asked for a sea view in my written confirmation, so please be sure I have it."
Manuel: "Qué?"
Mrs.Richards: "...What?"
Manuel: "...Qué?"
Mrs.Richards: "K?"
Manuel: "Sí."
Mrs.Richards: "C?" [Manuel nods] "KC?" [Manuel looks puzzled] "KC? What are you trying to say?"
Manuel: "No, no... Qué - what?"
Mrs.Richards: "K - what?"
Manuel: "Sí! Qué - what!"
Mrs.Richards: "C.K. Watt?"
Manuel: "Yes."
Mrs.Richards: "Who is C.K. Watt?"
Manuel: "Qué?"
Mrs.Richards: "Is it the manager, Mr. Watt?"
Manuel: "Oh, manager!"
Mrs.Richards: "He is."
Manuel: "Ah... Mr.Fawlty!"
Mrs.Richards: "What?"
Manuel: "Fawlty."
Mrs.Richards: "What are you talking about, you silly little man!" [turns to Polly (maid)] "What is going on here? I ask him for my room, and he tells me the manager's a Mr.Watt and he's aged forty."
Manuel: "No, no. Fawlty."
Mrs.Richards: "Faulty? What's wrong with him?"
