- Thomas Banacek: There's an old Polish proverb that says, "The chicken that clucks the loudest is the one most likely to go to the steamfitters picnic."
- Thomas Banacek: No one would waste five million dollars worth of horse flesh - even at current meat prices.
- Katherine Wells: [to Howard] As long as I have known you, you have never been able to face an unpleasant fact!
- Sally James: Oh, I don't know. He's faced *you* every day.
- Thomas Banacek: [to Sally James] There's an old Polish proverb that says, "Only someone with nothing to be sorry about smiles back at the rear of an elephant."
- Sally James: [laughs] I bet you make those up to fit every occasion, don't you?
- Thomas Banacek: Me? Tamper with the wisdom of my people?
- Sally James: My goodness. I thought perfumed letters went out with the Coolidge administration.
- Thomas Banacek: Maybe the stationary smelled bad.
- John Hargroves: I want *this* man. Banacek. I want *him* to find my horse.
- Henry DeWitt: Why Banacek, Mr. Hargroves?
- John Hargroves: Because I heard he was the best.
- Henry DeWitt: Well, he is good, of course...
- John Hargroves: But you'd have to pay him 10% of the insured value. That's, uh, half a million bucks, and your people work on straight salery.
- Henry DeWitt: I want you to understand something, Mr. Hargroves: I am in charge of the recovery division of this company. We will make every effort to find your horse, but we will do it in our own way.
- John Hargroves: Okay, Mr. DeWitt, that's just... fine. It was nice meeting you. Oh, uh, before I go, what's the biggest insurance company in this city?
- Henry DeWitt: I think you'll find we are.
- John Hargroves: No, I think you'll find you *were*. I'm transferring my business someplace else. That should make you the second biggest.
- Henry DeWitt: Is that some kind of fancy... blackmail, Mr. Hargroves?
- John Hargroves: Not fancy, Mr. DeWitt. It's plain extortion. Now, I own four freighters, three aerospace companies, a supermarket chain, and a great portion of southern California. I carry all my insurance with you. That entitles me to some leverage.
- Henry DeWitt: And we have stockholders to whom *we* are accountable, Mr. Hargroves!
- John Hargroves: Well, I hope they'll be very happy at the next general meeting when they see how much money you lost to your competitor.
- [long pause]
- Henry DeWitt: I don't even know if Banacek is in town!
- [buzz]
- Henry DeWitt: Excuse me.
- Henry DeWitt: [over the intercom] I said I wasn't to be disturbed!
- Secretary: Mr. Banacek is here. Says he has an appointment.
- Owen Summers: Well, there goes one tough little package.
- Thomas Banacek: Maybe all she needs is someone to unwrap her.
- [Katherine asks why Banacek won't consider traveling with her]
- Thomas Banacek: Well, to start with, as you said, we're not in England, Miss Wells.
- Katherine Wells: W-what does that mean?
- Thomas Banacek: Well, you've been looking at me as if you *were* at a bloodstock sale.
- Katherine Wells: [smiling] Have I? Well... men aren't that different from horses, are they? Well, uh, some are docile, and-and some are rogues, and... some are sprinters, and some are long distance runners... What kind are you, Banacek?
- Thomas Banacek: I don't know. I've never played this game before.
- Katherine Wells: Well, the breeding always shows. I would say you have a lot of stamina, and I would also say that, uh, you could go the full distance.
- Thomas Banacek: [amused] Would you like to look at my withers?
- Katherine Wells: [amused] No, that isn't necessary. I'm an excellent judge.
- Thomas Banacek: Of horses, perhaps. Not of men.
- Thomas Banacek: Well, I'll tell you something. There's one area where your analogy between men and horses is accurate - at least as far as I'm concerned.
- Katherine Wells: What's that?
- Thomas Banacek: The stallion usually chooses the mare, not the other way 'round.