- Mike Hammer: So some character with a long memory and a short conscience wants in, huh? What do you want me to do about it?
- Pop Barton: If I do pay off, I want all sales to be final.
- Mike Hammer: Oh c'mon, Pop, you know better than that. A shake is like getting olives out of a bottle - after the first one - boom! - they come easy.
- Pop Barton: Sharon Tildon, Mike. She and Hal are my partners.
- [eyeing the lovely brunette]
- Mike Hammer: Nice work if you can get it.
- Mike Hammer: [narrating] The roustabout named Barney interested me for a very simple reason: when he got excited, he talked without moving his lips.
- Pop Barton: I think it would be better for everyone if we just paid off.
- Mike Hammer: Pop, all you be doing is buying a monkey on your back. You'd be surprised how big it gets and how heavy it grows.
- Mike Hammer: They say the show must go on. No one ever gave me a good reason why it should, but it does.