- Doc Riedenschneider: That copper, he recognized me.
- Cobby: How'd you know he was a copper?
- Doc Riedenschneider: I can smell one a block off.
- Cobby: Oh, don't worry about Ditrich. He's on my payroll. Practically a partner. Me and him, we're like that.
- [Cobby holds up his index and middle finger]
- Doc Riedenschneider: Experience has taught me never to trust a policeman. Just when you think one's all right, he turns legit.
- Police Commissioner Hardy: People are being cheated, robbed, murdered, raped. And that goes on 24 hours a day, every day in the year. And that's not exceptional, that's usual. It's the same in every city in the modern world. But suppose we had no police force, good or bad. Suppose we had... just silence. Nobody to listen, nobody to answer. The battle's finished. The jungle wins. The predatory beasts take over.
- May Emmerich: Oh, Lon, when I think of all those awful people you come in contact with - downright criminals - I get scared.
- Alonzo D. Emmerich: Oh, there's nothing so different about them. After all, crime is only... a left-handed form of human endeavor.
- Dix Handley: Don't bone me!
- Cobby: Now, look, I'm not boning you.
- Dix Handley: Did I ever welsh?
- Cobby: Nobody said you did.
- Dix Handley: You just boned me!
- Doc Riedenschneider: Let's not stop. Wait till we get out of town, when we can do everything at once. Have a little meal, beer, a cigar. Go in comfort.
- Frank Schurz, taxi driver: I can see you're a man who likes his pleasures.
- Doc Riedenschneider: Well, Franz, what else is there in life, I ask you?
- Dr. Swanson: Well, he won't get very far, that's for sure. He hasn't got enough blood left in him to keep a chicken alive.
- Angela Phinlay: What's the big idea standing there staring at me, Uncle Lon?
- Alonzo D. Emmerich: Don't call me "Uncle Lon."
- Angela Phinlay: I thought you liked it.
- Alonzo D. Emmerich: Maybe I did... I don't any more.
- Angela Phinlay: I had the market send over some salt mackerel for you. I know how you love it for breakfast.
- Alonzo D. Emmerich: [Looks at her approvingly] Some sweet kid.
- Police Commissioner Hardy: I am here to arrest you, Emmerich.
- Alonzo D. Emmerich: May I ask what for?
- Police Commissioner Hardy: Complicty... in robbery and in murder
- Alonzo D. Emmerich: If I were you, Hardy, I'd think up a few more charges. You might be able to make one of them stand up if you get an imbecile jury... and the right judge.
- Police Commissioner Hardy: In some ways, he's the most dangerous of them all. A hardened killer. A hooligan. A man without human feeling or human mercy.
- Cobby: [Telephone rings twice; Cobby answers] Yeah, hello, hello. Yeah, this is Cobby. What?
- Cobby: [Cobby gets off the telephone in to talk to Dix and Doc] It's Gus. Dragnet's out and they're combing the district.
- Cobby: [Cobby holds out telephone] He wants to talk to you. You, Dix.
- Dix Handley: [Dix takes telephone from Cobby; Cobby leaves] Gus, Dix.
- Gus Minissi: [the scene switches from Cobby's hideout to a telephone booth where Gus is; Gus talks to Dix] Yeah, now, listen careful, pal. The cops are knocking over all the joints along the boulevard. There's mobs of them, meat wagons and all. Now, look, I already called the guy, Eddie Donato. Donato's got a grocery down by the river. 116 Front Street, you got that?
- Dix Handley: [Dix's voice is heard through the telephone] Yeah.
- Gus Minissi: Okay.
- Dix Handley: [a police car rolls into the scene outside of the telephone booth] Thanks, Gus. Say, how's Louie?
- Gus Minissi: Louie's not so good. He got a slug in his belly, all right. Doc's doing all he can. Uh, here they are now, the happiness boys.
- Gus Minissi: [a policeman bangs on the telephone booth and motions Gus to get out of the booth so that he can use it. Gus chuckles, turns and waves to him] Hello. How are you, yeah?
- Gus Minissi: [Gus turns back to talk to Dix] Looks like I'm in...
- Gus Minissi: [Policeman bangs on the booth again] ... for a working over. Look, go down to Eddie's by way of the...
- Gus Minissi: [Policeman bangs on booth for the third time] ... old car barn.
- Gus Minissi: [Gus turns and waves to the policeman; turns back to talk to Dix] Yeah, it's deserted at night. Once you get beyond that...
- Gus Minissi: [Policeman bangs on booth for the fourth time] ... you're okay. The cops never bother Eddie's neighborhood. So long, Dix. Blow now...
- Gus Minissi: [Policeman bangs booth for the fifth and final time] ... eh?
- Gus Minissi: [Gus turns and waves to the policeman; He hangs up and makes his way out of the telephone booth] All right, all right, all right.
- Gus Minissi: Smart cat. Never does a lick of work, stays out all night, sleeps all day.
- Truck Driver: What's a big, dirty cat doing at an eatin' joint? I run over one every time I get a chance. People feedin' cats and some kids haven't got enough to eat.
- Gus Minissi: You gonna buy that magazine?
- Truck Driver: Why should I? I seen all the dames in it already. Wanna make somethin' of it?
- Gus Minissi: You're a little off your beat, ain't you, buster?
- Truck Driver: How do you mean, Humpty Dumpty?
- Gus Minissi: I mean, you don't belong around here. You're just passing through, only not fast enough! If I ever see you running over a cat, I'll kick your teeth out.
- Det. Andrews: She confirmed what Emmerich said, that he was with her from 11:30 till 3.
- Police Commissioner Hardy: How did she impress you?
- Det. Andrews: Very much! She's some babe.
- Police Commissioner Hardy: That's not what I mean!
- Police Commissioner Hardy: He left prison yesterday at 12 noon, took a train for this city, time of arrival, 3:17. All you had to do was stay with him for 24 hours. If he didn't register, lock him up. What happens? He loses you five blocks from the depot, and a dangerous criminal is at large in this city.
- Lt. Ditrich: Two men on that detail ought to get medals for dumbness.
- Police Commissioner Hardy: They were assigned by you. You should get one too.
- Louis Ciavelli: Frankly, I don't like the guy, but I never saw a hooligan I did like. They're like left-handed pitchers. They all have a screw loose somewhere.
- Doc Riedenschneider: Ever been in Mexico City, Dix?
- Dix Handley: Nope.
- Doc Riedenschneider: It's 8000 feet up. The air is very pure. Many first-class clubs, restaurants, a horse track and girls. Beautiful young girls. How would you like to go there, all expenses paid?
- Dix Handley: Sorry, Doc, not interested. I'm heading home.
- Doc Riedenschneider: Listen, Dix. You can always go home. And when you do, it's nothing. Believe me. I've done it. Nothing.
- Alonzo D. Emmerich: So, since I'm gonna' be busy with a lot of cases, I thought you might like to take a trip.
- Angela Phinlay: Where to?
- Alonzo D. Emmerich: Oh, I don't know, the coast, Florida - anywhere you like.
- Angela Phinlay: Could I, uncle Lon? Anywhere? No foolin'?
- Alonzo D. Emmerich: Yes, I think a change of scenery might be good for you.
- Angela Phinlay: Wait. You wait right here. I've got the most terrific idea!
- Alonzo D. Emmerich: [runs and grabs a magazine, shows it to him] Oh, Cuba... that's not a bad idea.
- Angela Phinlay: Imagine me on this beach here in my green bathing suit. Yipe! I almost bought a white one the other day but it wasn't quite extreme enough. I mean, don't get me wrong, if I really went in for the *extreme* extreme, I woulda' bought a French one. Run for your lives, girls, the fleet's in. Oh, uncle Lon, am I excited. Yipe!
- Gus Minissi: Look, Dix, take my advice and knock off for a while. The happiness boys are on a rampage. Headquarters has given them the push.
- Taxi Driver: I wouldn't go parading around this neighborhood with a suitcase. Some of these young punks might clip you just to get a clean shirt.
- Doc Riedenschneider: Finally, sad to say, we need a hooligan. Most of these fellas are drug addicts. They're a no-good lot. Violence is all they know, but they are, unfortunately, necessary.
- Doc Riedenschneider: After this job, it's Mexico for me. I'll live like a king. Mexican girls are very pretty! I'll have nothing to do all day long but chase them in the sunshine.
- Alonzo D. Emmerich: What if I told you I've got a plan worked out to get it all? I'd tell them that I could fence the stuff myself, you see, promise them cash on delivery. Then when the time comes, I simply wouldn't have the cash, you understand? I'd tell them it'd take a few more days to raise it. I'm certain I could get them to leave the stuff with me while they're waiting.
- Bob Brannom: Go on.
- Alonzo D. Emmerich: Then I'd disappear. I'd take a plane to another country, to another life. The gold and platinum I could melt up and sell as bullion. And the rocks, sell them one a time. Be no hurry, it'd last a lifetime.
- Bob Brannom: How wrong can a guy be? Here I was worrying about your nerves, and you were dreaming up a double cross like this.
- Det. Andrews: [knocking repeatedly on Angela's door] Okay, miss. It's a shame to bust this door in, but here goes.
- Angela Phinlay: [Angela suddenly opens the door] Haven't you bothered me enough, you big banana head? Just try breaking my door, and Mr. Emmerich will have you thrown out of the house!
- Det. Andrews: Afraid not, miss. He's got troubles enough. As a matter of fact, he's a dead duck.
- Police Commissioner Hardy: [voice heard from off-screen] Hurry up, Andrews! Bring the young lady in here.
- Angela Phinlay: Do I have to talk to him? Couldn't I just talk to you?
- Det. Andrews: Come on, baby. Get it over with. And... be smart. Tell the Commissioner the truth. That's the only thing to do. Come on.
- [leads her out the door]
- Gus Minissi: Why don't you wise up, you wise guy?
- Louis Ciavelli: You're a low-down scum. That's what you are. A low-down, dirty scum, to talk to me like that!
- Doc Riedenschneider: Take my word for it, Mr. Emmerich. This is a ripe plum ready to fall.
- Alonzo D. Emmerich: My friend, according to the boys, all takes are easy; but as a lawyer, I make lots of money getting them out of jail.
- Cobby: How can things go so wrong? How is it possible? One man killed, two others plugged. I'm out 30 grand. We got a load of rocks we can't even peddle.
- Dix Handley: Quit crying and get me some bourbon.
- Maria Ciavelli: Whenever Louis gets into trouble, you're around. You dirty cripple! You crooked-back! You have the evil eye!
- Angela Phinlay: What about my trip, Uncle Lon? Is it still on?
- Alonzo D. Emmerich: Don't worry, baby. You'll have plenty of trips.
- Dix Handley: That squarehead. He's a funny little guy. I don't get him at all.
- Doll Conovan: Maybe it's because he's a foreigner. They just don't think like us.
- Police Commissioner Hardy: Married 20 years, consorting with a woman young enough to be his granddaughter. It's disgusting! But nothing about Emmerich would surprise me. Educated man who uses brains to circumvent the law. Worst type of human being. No excuse for him.
- Alonzo D. Emmerich: Well, how do we raise the money?
- Bob Brannom: Simple. Cobby.
- Alonzo D. Emmerich: Cobby?
- Bob Brannom: Believe me, he can dig it up without half trying.
- Alonzo D. Emmerich: Yes. But what do we tell him? Why would I need money?
- Bob Brannom: Leave it to me. Cobby wants to feel big. Here's his chance: advancing money for the great Alonzo P. Emmerich. Ah, he'll do it. He'll sweat, but he'll do it.
- Alonzo D. Emmerich: Well, what about my debtors? How many of them came through?
- Bob Brannom: Not a one.
- Alonzo D. Emmerich: What's that?
- Bob Brannom: You want all the excuses? I've got some beauts.
- Cobby: I spoke to Mr. Emmerich on the phone. He's gonna meet us later tonight. He's giving a party at his house in town for a bunch of swells; but, he'll be at another address - later on. A man like Emmerich has got more than one place to hang his hat.
- Louis Ciavelli: What are you sweatin' for?
- Cobby: Money makes me sweat, that's all. It's the way I am.
- Alonzo D. Emmerich: [on the phone] I've got over $100,000 standing out on my books. Come to my office tomorrow, I'll give you a list of the people that owe me. No, no, no. Use the method called for in each particular case and don't tell me anything about it. All I want is results.
- Alonzo D. Emmerich: Cobby, here, will be glad to advance you anything you need. See that you have a place to stay. Hey, Cobby?
- Cobby: Well, you bet your life! And I got some fancy phone numbers for you too, Doc.
- Louis Ciavelli: There's only one driver, as far as I'm concerned. Gus Minissi. Ask Cobby, he knows him.
- Cobby: Gus, 100 percent.
- Doc Riedenschneider: Get hold of him.
- Cobby: He'll take the heat and won't flap his lip.
- Doc Riedenschneider: Get hold of him.
- Doc Riedenschneider: The information she gave me is that he's broke.
- Cobby: Are you crazy? I've seen him operate for 20 years. He handles only the biggest cases. He's got two houses, four cars, half a dozen servants...
- Doc Riedenschneider: And one blond.
- Cobby: Doc, whose word you gonna take? Mine or some dimwitted dame?
- Doc Riedenschneider: Yours, naturally.
- Cobby: If he's broke, I wanna be broke the same way.
- Louis Ciavelli: That busted-down wrestler, are you kidding? He's got nothing upstairs but solid knuckle.
- Alonzo D. Emmerich: I'd go easy on that liquor if I were you.
- Bob Brannom: Half-drunk, I got better wits than most people. And more nerve.
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