Monk: It’s the High Priest of Bebop talking.

Nellie: (Laughing) Oh, God!

Monk: The one and only Thelonious Monk. The greatest pianist in the world.

Nellie: Who’d you say you were?

Monk: The High Priest of Bebop.

Nellie: And?

Monk: The one and only great musician.

Nellie: And?

Monk: The greatest musician who ever lived.

Nellie: And?

Monk: Huh? How much other shit you want me to be?

Nellie: I don’t know, darling, anything you want to be.

Private recording, circa 1961