William Powell credited as playing...
Godfrey
- Godfrey: Prosperity is just around the corner.
- Mike Flaherty: Yeah, it's been there a long time. I wish I knew which corner.
- Godfrey: That's most of your stock. I knew it had been dumped on the market, so I sold short.
- Angelica Bullock: I don't understand. You sold short. You mean gentlemen's underwear?
- Cornelia Bullock: You can't go on like this forever. You really like me and you're afraid to admit it, aren't you?
- Godfrey: You want me to tell you what I REALLY think of you?
- Cornelia Bullock: Please do.
- Godfrey: As Smith or as a butler?
- Cornelia Bullock: Choose your own weapon.
- Godfrey: You won't hold it against me?
- Cornelia Bullock: It's your day off.
- Godfrey: Very well. You belong to that unfortunate category that I would call the "Park Avenue brat." A spoiled child who's grown up in ease and luxury, who's always had her own way, and whose misdirected energies are so childish that they hardly deserve the comment, even of a butler on his off Thursday.
- Cornelia Bullock: [hurt and angry] Thank you for a very lovely portrait.
- Irene: Godfrey's gonna be our butler.
- Angelica Bullock: He's gonna be who's butler?
- Irene: He's gonna work for us.
- Angelica Bullock: Oh, that's ridiculous. You don't know anything about him. He hasn't any recommendations...
- Irene: Well, the last one had recommendations and stole all the silver.
- Angelica Bullock: Well, that was merely a coincidence.
- Godfrey: People who take in stray cats say they make the best pets, madam.
- Angelica Bullock: I don't see what cats have got to do with butlers.
- Godfrey: Hasn't anyone ever told you about certain proprieties?
- Irene: You use such lovely big words. I like big words. What does it mean?
- Godfrey: Well, I'll try to simplify it. Hasn't your mother or anyone ever explained to you that some things are proper and some things are not?
- Irene: No she hasn't. She rambles on quite a bit, but then she never has anything to say.
- Godfrey: Tommy, there's a very peculiar mental process called thinking - you wouldn't know much about that - but when I was living here I did a lot of it.
- Godfrey: But you want me to remain, don't you?
- Irene: Oh, of course!
- Godfrey: And I want to justify your faith in me by being a very good butler, and filling the void created by your late, lamented Pomeranian.
- Irene: Oh, I've forgotten all about him. He had fleas, anyway. Besides, you're different. You use big words, and you're much cuter.
- Godfrey: Do you mind telling me just what a scavenger hunt is?
- Irene: Well, a scavenger hunt is exactly like a treasure hunt, except in a treasure hunt you try to find something you want, and in a scavenger hunt you try to find something that nobody wants.
- Godfrey: Hmm, like a forgotten man?
- Irene: That's right, and the one who wins gets a prize, only there really isn't a prize. It's just the honor of winning, because all the money goes to charity, that is, if there is any money left over, but there never is.
- Godfrey: Well, that clears the whole matter up beautifully.
- Angelica Bullock: My ancestors came over on the boat. Oh, not the Mayflower, but the boat after that. What did your ancestors come over on, Godfrey?
- Godfrey: As far as I know, they've always been here.
- Angelica Bullock: They weren't Indians, I hope.
- Godfrey: One can never be sure of one's ancestors.
- Angelica Bullock: You know, you have rather high cheek bones...
- Irene: [visiting Godfrey's restaurant built on top of the old dump] Oh my, how you've fixed this place up, Godfrey! It's much nicer than when I was here before!
- Godfrey: Oh, you've noticed that, huh?
- Irene: Are the forgotten men having a party?
- Godfrey: It's their annual reunion.
- Irene: I saw the mayor out there. Is he one of them, too?
- Godfrey: He's the guest of honor.
- Irene: Oh, it's a lovely view - the view of the bridge. Is it always there?
- Godfrey: Most always.
- Irene: Oh, you have a kitchen! I'm gonna like this place very much.
- Godfrey: Why can't you let me alone?
- Irene: Because you're my responsibility and someone has to take care of you.
- Godfrey: I can take care of myself.
- Irene: You can't look me in the eye and say that. You love me and you know it. You know, there's no sense in struggling against a thing when it's got you. It's got you and that's all there is to it - it's got you!