Marty

Mrs. Pilletti (serving dinner): So, what are you gonna do tonight Marty?
Marty: I don't know, Ma. I'm all knocked out. I may just hang around the house.
Mrs. Pilletti: Why don't you go to the Stardust Ballroom?
Marty: What?
Mrs. Pilletti: I say, why don't you go to the Stardust Ballroom? It's loaded with tomatoes.
Marty: It's loaded with what?
Mrs. Pilletti: Tomatoes.
Marty: (laughs) Who told you about the Stardust Ballroom, Ma?
Mrs. Pilletti: Tommy. [Tommy is Marty's married cousin.] He say it was a very nice place.
Marty: Oh, Thomas. Ma, it's just a big dance hall, that's all it is. I been there a hundred times. Loaded with tomatoes - boy, you're funny, Ma.
Mrs. Pilletti: Marty, I don't want you to hang around the house tonight. I want you to go take a shave and go dance.
Marty: (pleading) Ma, when you gonna give up? You got a bachelor on your hands. I ain't never gonna get married.
Mrs. Pilletti: You're gonna get married.
Marty: Ma, sooner or later, there comes a point in a man's life when he's gotta face some facts. And one fact I gotta face is that, whatever it is that women like, I ain't got it. I chased after enough girls in my life. I-I went to enough dances. I got hurt enough. I don't wanna get hurt no more. I just called up a girl this afternoon, and I got a real brush-off, boy! I figured I was past the point of being hurt, but that hurt. Some stupid woman who I didn't even want to call up. She gave me the brush. No, Ma, I don't wanna go to Stardust Ballroom because all that ever happened to me there was girls made me feel like I was a-a-a bug. I got feelings, you know. I-I had enough pain. No thanks, Ma!
Mrs. Pilletti: Marty -
Marty: No. I'm gonna stay home tonight and watch The Hit Parade.
Mrs. Pilletti: (said with regret) You're gonna die without a son.
Marty: So I'll die without a son.
Mrs. Pilletti: Marty, put on the blue suit, huh?
Marty: Blue suit, gray suit, I'm just a fat, little man. A fat ugly man.
Mrs. Pilletti: You not ugly.
Marty: I'm ugly, I'm ugly, I'm ugly!
Mrs. Pilletti: Marty -
Marty: (He rises, agitated) Ma, leave me alone. Ma, whaddaya want from me? Whaddaya want from me? I'm miserable enough as it is.

Whew! I don't know what it is about Marty
The poignant, simple character study of a lonely, unmarried, lovelorn middle-aged, 34 year old son who works as a Bronx butcher and still lives with his love-smothering mother. By film's end, he and another homely 29 year old Brooklyn schoolteacher and female wallflower are liberated - both are triumphant over their respective limitations.
Every time I see this film I get all choked up. Ernest Borgnine is so incredibly touching in his portrayal of the lonely, dutiful Marty Pilletti. He rips my heart out every time. I can feel his pain and embarrassment. His forlorn and longing.
He's just a kind-hearted guy.

Watch this movie, but don't forget the Kleenex!