How we cite our quotes: All quotations are from Jaws.
Quote #1
BRODY: You live here?
CASSIDY: Nah, Hartford. I go to Trinity. My folks live in Greenwich.
BRODY: Your folks were born here, right?
CASSIDY: Yeah, I'm an islander. They moved off when my Dad retired. You an islander?
BRODY: No, New York State.
The screenwriters introduce the islander/outsider thing early in the script. Being an islander means being born there; living there doesn't count. Even being Chief of Police doesn't count. You can move away and still be an islander.
Quote #2
CITIZEN: Hey Chief, Chief, Chief! I was trying to find ya Chief, there's a damn truck with New Hampshire plates on it smack in front of my store!
Here's another illustration of the islander/outsider conflict. Would the guy have been as bothered if the truck had Massachusetts plates? Ask anyone who lives in a resort community like this, and they'll tell you it's a dilemma. They can't survive economically without the tourists, but they don't like the traffic, litter, noise, lack of parking, and other inconveniences that tourists bring along with their money. Can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em. Plus, the tourists probably have way more money than the islanders who are waiting on their tables and cleaning their hotel rooms. Another reason why they're suspicious and resentful of them.
Quote #3
VAUGHN: We're really a little anxious that you're, uh, you're rushing into something serious here. It's your first summer y'know.
Mayor Vaughn could hardly say it any more clearly: Don't rock the boat, buddy. You don't know what you're talking about. He's right that Brody probably doesn't yet appreciate how tourism is the lifeblood of the island. Vaughn uses this argument a lot—that Brody's an outsider, that he doesn't get it. The pressure Chief Brody feels to give the town leaders what they want will be a constant struggle until the final act of the film.