"So if I’m not black enough, and if I’m not white enough, and if I’m not man enough, then tell me Tony, what am I?!"
Don says this after he and Tony get in a big argument. Tony suggests that Don is isolated from other people, particularly from people of his own race, and this infuriates Don. Don feels caught in between identities—he is black, but his specialty is playing music for white people who do not give him much respect even though he is more talented and gifted than they are. Additionally, Don feels like he is not man enough, a reference to the fact that he is gay and does not display traditionally masculine qualities. In this moment, Don confesses to Tony the ways that he feels marginalized in the world, and it marks a unique moment of vulnerability for him.
"I'm not just hiring a chauffeur. I need someone who can handle trouble. What experience do you have?"
When Don first meets Tony, he makes sure to let him know that he is not simply looking for someone to drive him around, but also someone that can act as his bodyguard and can protect him from danger on the road. He needs Tony to know that it is not a simple job, but a more complicated one, as it will involve ensuring his safety in places where racism is still a huge problem.
"Anyone can sound like Beethoven. But your music, what you do, only you can do that."
In this moment, Tony expresses his admiration for Don, and particularly for Don's musicianship. He sees that Don is not just a great pianist, but that he has a special quality, a talent as an artist, that cannot simply be rehearsed, that it is unique to him. This is a significant moment because it marks an instance in which Tony expresses admiration for his companion, and in which he softens his tough guy temperament.
"How does he smile and shake their hands like that?"
Tony says this to Oleg about Don, marveling at the fact that, even though Don faces so many obstacles and so much racism, he still greets bigots with respect and a smile, which seems to Tony completely unfathomable, given the indignities Don has to endure.
"You never win with violence. You only win when you maintain your dignity."
When Tony is in jail, Don says this to him, teaching him the lesson that violence is never the answer. In contrast to Tony, Don believes that the key to moving forward and thriving is by keeping cool and not succumbing to violence or unbridled anger.
"You people love the fried chicken."
On the trip, Tony is surprised to hear that Don has never had fried chicken before, and does not believe him at first. He says this line, saying "you people" to stand in for black people, and suggesting that Don should love fried chicken because of this.
"Promise me you're going to write me a letter."
In exchange for letting her husband go on the road for two months, Dolores requests that Tony write her a letter. While she is relieved that he finally has a job, she wants to know that he will make an effort in their relationship, and makes him promise to be in touch.
"Okay, here’s the deal. I got no problem being on a road with you, but I ain’t no butler. I ain’t ironing no shirts, and I’m not polishing nobody’s shoes. You need somebody to get you from point A to point B? You need someone to make sure there’s no problems along the way, and believe me, you in the Deep South, there’s going to be problems. So if you want me, it’s a buck and a quarter a week. Or go hire the little Chink that just pranced out of here, see how far you get."
After Don poses the chauffeur job to Tony, Tony delivers this monologue, clarifying that he is not okay with acting as a subordinate to a black man. Tony reveals his racism in this section, and makes it clear to Don that he is somewhat uncomfortable being submissive to a wealthier black man.
"We will be attending many events before and after the concerts, interacting with some of the wealthiest and most highly educated people in the country. It is my feeling that your diction, however charming it may be in the tri-state area, could use some finessing."
Early in the journey, Don tells Tony that his voice and word choice could use some work, that the way he speaks is not refined enough for the places they will be going. Don, an effete and intellectual artiste, is somewhat condescending to the salt-of-the-earth Italian man accompanying him on his journey.
Don: Buon natale. Thank you for sharing your husband with me.
Dolores: Thank you for helping him with the letters.
At the end of the film, Don stops in at Tony's apartment while Dolores is throwing a Christmas party. He greets her in Italian and thanks her for sacrificing her husband to the job of being Don's chauffeur, and she recognizes Don for helping Tony make his letters nicer. They share a moment of mutual recognition.
