Mildred Atkinson:
Before I started to go to work at Paul's, I used to think that actors made up their own lines.
Dixon Steele:
When they get to be big stars, they usually do.
Sylvia Nicolai:
Well, he's exciting because he isn't quite normal.
Brub Nicolai:
Maybe us cops could use some of that brand of abnormality. I learned more about this case in five minutes from him than I did from all of our photographs, tire prints and investigations.
Dixon Steele:
Nobody can call me the things he did.
Laurel Gray:
A blind, knuckle-headed squirrel. That's REAL bad.
Dixon Steele:
There's no sacrifice too great for a chance at immortality.
Dixon Steele:
I was born when she kissed me. I died when she left me. I lived a few weeks while she loved me.
[
last lines]
Laurel Gray:
[
tearfully] I lived a few weeks while you loved me. Goodbye, Dix.
Frances Randolph:
Remember how I used to read to you?
Dixon Steele:
Uh huh. Since then, I've learned to read by myself.
Dixon Steele:
Go ahead and get some sleep and we'll have dinner together tonight.
Laurel Gray:
We'll have dinner tonight. But not together.
Dixon Steele:
It was his story against mine, but of course, I told my story better.
Mel Lippmann:
What does it matter what I think? I'm the guy who tried to talk Selznick out of doing "Gone with the Wind"!
Actress in Convertible:
Dix Steele ! How are you? Don't you remember me?
Dixon Steele:
Sorry, can't say that I do.
Actress in Convertible:
You wrote the last picture I did... at Columbia
Dixon Steele:
Oh, I make it a point to never see pictures I write.
[
referring to the book Dixon is supposed to adapt into a screenplay]
Mildred Atkinson:
Oh I think it'll make a dreamy picture, Mr. Steele. What I call an epic.
Dixon Steele:
And what do you call an epic?
Mildred Atkinson:
Well, you know - a picture that's REAL long and has lots of things going on.
Capt. Lochner:
Why didn't you call for a cab? Isn't that what a gentleman usually does under the circumstances?
Dixon Steele:
Oh I didn't say I was a gentleman. I said I was tired.
Mildred Atkinson:
It must be WONDERFUL to be a writer!
Dixon Steele:
[
sarcastically] Oh, thrilling!
Capt. Lochner:
[
Dixon has replied with sarcasm to Lochner's questions] You're told that the girl you were with last night was found in Benedict Canyon, murdered. Dumped from a moving car. What's your reaction? Shock? Horror? Sympathy? No - just petulance at being questioned. A couple of feeble jokes. You puzzle me, Mr. Steele.
Dixon Steele:
Well, I grant you, the jokes could've been better, but I don't see why the rest should worry you - that is, unless you plan to arrest me on lack of emotion.
Dixon Steele:
[
noting the geography of their apartments] You know, Ms. Gray, you're one up on me - you can see into my apartment but I can't see into yours.
Laurel Gray:
I promise you, I won't take advantage of it.
Dixon Steele:
[
wryly] I would, if it were the other way around.
Capt. Lochner:
Considering that you've never met Mr. Steele, you pay quite a bit of attention to him.
Laurel Gray:
Hmm-hmm. I have at that.
Capt. Lochner:
Do you usually give such attention to your neighbors?
Laurel Gray:
No.
Capt. Lochner:
Were you interested in Mr. Steele because he's a celebrity?
Laurel Gray:
No, not at all. I noticed him because he looked interesting - I like his face.
Brub Nicolai:
You know, I got married.
Dixon Steele:
Why?
Brub Nicolai:
Oh, I don't know. I guess she had a couple of bucks to spare.
Dixon Steele:
[
to Laurel] I've been looking for someone a long time... I didn't know her name or where she lived - I'd never seen her before. A girl was killed, and because of that, I found what I was looking for. Now I know your name, where you live, and how you look.
Laurel Gray:
[
on a scene in Dix's script] I love the love scene - it's very good.
Dixon Steele:
Well that's because they're not always telling each other how much in love they are. A good love scene should be about something else besides love. For instance, this one. Me fixing grapefruit. You sitting over there, dopey, half-asleep. Anyone looking at us could tell we're in love.
Dixon Steele:
Anything you want to make you happy?
Laurel Gray:
[
whispers into his ear] I wouldn't want anyone but you.
Dixon Steele:
You know, you're out of your mind - how can anyone like a face like this? Look at it...
[
leans in for a kiss]
Laurel Gray:
I said I liked it - I didn't say I wanted to kiss it.
Dixon Steele:
You annoy me!
Laurel Gray:
If I do, it isn't intentional.
Capt. Lochner:
I didn't expect you to give me more information... but certain facts contradict your original statement.
Laurel Gray:
[
flatly] I wish you'd say what you mean.
Capt. Lochner:
Yes, let's do that. On the night of the Atkinson murder, you looked at Dixon Steele and said you didn't know him.
Laurel Gray:
I didn't.
Capt. Lochner:
Since then, you and he have been inseparable.
Laurel Gray:
He's writing a script. I'm doing the typing.
Capt. Lochner:
Do you receive a salary for this?
Laurel Gray:
No. I'm doing it for love.
Capt. Lochner:
[
surprised] Are you in love with Mr. Steele?
Laurel Gray:
For the record, I am in love with Mr. Steele.
Capt. Lochner:
Are you going to be married?
Laurel Gray:
[
pause] If we do, I'll send you an invitation - after all, it was you who first introduced us to each other.
Dixon Steele:
Oh, I love a picnic. Acres and acres of sand and all of it in your food.
Laurel Gray:
Stop griping. Just lie still and inhale.
Dixon Steele:
What, sand?
Laurel Gray:
No, air - and don't let it go to your head.
Laurel Gray:
[
to Capt. Lochner] Yesterday, this would've meant so much to us. Now it doesn't matter... it doesn't matter at all.
Dixon Steele:
You know, when you first walked into the police station, I said to myself, "There she is - the one that's different. She's not coy or cute or corny. She's a good guy - I'm glad she's on my side. She speaks her mind and she knows what she wants."
Laurel Gray:
Thank you, sir. But let me add: I also know what I don't want - and I don't want to be rushed.
Dixon Steele:
A man wants to apologize to you...
Frances Randolph:
Do you look down on all women or just the ones you know?
Dixon Steele:
I was pretty nice to you.
Frances Randolph:
No, not to me. But you were pretty nice.
Martha, Masseuse:
Remember, angel, in the beginning was the land. Motion pictures came later.
Laurel Gray:
I love Dix. It upsets me terribly that you suspect him, even for second.
Capt. Lochner:
Not for a second, for the last three weeks. He's our most logical suspect.
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