Orson Welles credited as playing...
Michael O'Hara
- Michael O'Hara: Personally, I don't like a girlfriend to have a husband. If she'll fool a husband, I figure she'll fool me.
- Michael O'Hara: Once, off the hump of Brazil, I saw the ocean so darkened with blood it was black, and the sun fainting away over the lip of the sky. We'd put in at Fortaleza, and a few of us had lines out for a bit o' idle fishin'. It was me had the first strike. A shark, it was. Then there was another, and another shark again... 'till all about, the sea was made of sharks, and more sharks, still, and no water at all. My shark had torn himself from the hook, and the scent, or maybe the stain, it was, and him bleeding his life away drove the rest of them mad. Then the beasts to to eatin' each other. In their frenzy, they ate at themselves. You could feel the lust of murder like a wind stinging your eyes, and you could smell the death, reeking up out of the sea. I never saw anything worse... until this little picnic tonight. And you know, there wasn't one of them sharks in the whole crazy pack that survived.
- [first lines]
- Michael O'Hara: When I start out to make a fool of myself, there's very little can stop me. If I'd known where it would end, I'd never let anything start... if I'd been in my right mind, that is. But once I'd seen her, once I'd seen her, I was not in my right mind for quite some time.
- George Grisby: What's your guess, Michael? You think the world's coming to an end?
- Michael O'Hara: Well, there was a start to the world sometime, so I guess there'll be a stop.
- George Grisby: It's coming, you know. Oh, yeah. It's got to come. First the big cities. Then, maybe even this. It's just *got* to come.
- Michael O'Hara: I'd prefer to be somewhere else, if it does.
- Michael O'Hara: Well, Mr. Bannister's picnic party was most typical of him. A lot of trouble and a great deal of money went into it, but it was no more a picnic than Bannister was a man.
- Michael O'Hara: [to Grisby and the Bannisters] Is this what you folks do for amusement in the evening - sit around toasting marshmallows and call each other names? If you're so anxious for me to join the game, I'll be glad to. I have a few names I'd like to be calling you myself.
- Michael O'Hara: [voiceover] This is I, thinking myself a very gay dog, indeed. But, here was a beautiful girl, all by herself, and me with plenty of time, nothin' to do but get myself into trouble. Some people can smell danger. Not me.
- Arthur Bannister, Criminal Lawyer: So money doesn't interest you, are you independently wealthy?
- Michael O'Hara: I'm independent.
- Arthur Bannister, Criminal Lawyer: Of money?
- George Grisby: Mr. Bannister tells me you once killed a man. You are Michael, aren't you?
- Michael O'Hara: That's right.
- George Grisby: I'm very interested in murders. Forgive me if I seem inquisitive, but where'd it happen?
- Michael O'Hara: At Murcia.
- George Grisby: How'd you do it? No, let me guess... You did it with your hands, didn't you? Does it ever bother you when you think about it? What did he do to you?
- Michael O'Hara: Nothing.
- George Grisby: You just killed him for the fun of it, eh?
- Michael O'Hara: He was a Franco spy. There was a war on at the time.
- George Grisby: Then it wasn't murder, I suppose. Tell me, would you do it again? Would you mind killing another man?
- Michael O'Hara: I'd kill another Franco spy.
- George Grisby: I was on a pro-Franco committee during the Spanish War. Would you kill me if I gave you the chance? I may give you the chance.
- Mrs. Elsa 'Rosalie' Bannister: I don't know how to shoot.
- Michael O'Hara: It's easy. You just pull the trigger.
- Michael O'Hara: The only way to stay out of trouble is to grow old, so I guess I'll concentrate on that.
- Michael O'Hara: That's how I found her and from that moment I did not use my head, except to think about her.
- George Grisby: How'd you like 5,000 dollars?
- Michael O'Hara: What?
- George Grisby: That's what I said. 5,000 dollars, fella.
- Michael O'Hara: What do I have to do for it?
- George Grisby: I'll fill in the details later. Meanwhile, think it over, Michael. 5,000 dollars. It's yours. All you have to do is kill somebody.
- Michael O'Hara: Who, Mr. Grisby? I'm particular who I murder.
- George Grisby: Good boy!
- Michael O'Hara: You know, I wouldn't like to kill just anybody. Is it someone I know?
- George Grisby: Oh, yeah. But you'll never guess.
- Michael O'Hara: I give up.
- George Grisby: It's me. I'm perfectly sober, Michael. I'm willing to pay 5,000 if the job is well done. This is a straightforward business proposition. I want you to kill me. So long, fella!
- Mrs. Elsa 'Rosalie' Bannister: I was taught to think about love in Chinese.
- Michael O'Hara: The way a Frenchman thinks about laughter in French?
- Mrs. Elsa 'Rosalie' Bannister: The Chinese say, it is difficult for love to last long; therefore, one who loves passionately is cured of love - in the end.
- Michael O'Hara: Well, that's a hard way of thinkin'.
- Mrs. Elsa 'Rosalie' Bannister: There's more to the proverb. Human nature is eternal; therefore, one who follows his nature, keeps his original nature - in the end.
- Arthur Bannister: Do you drink?
- Michael O'Hara: I beg your pardon?
- Arthur Bannister: I asked you if you drink.
- Michael O'Hara: Whatever's set in front of me. Doesn't have to be wholesome, just so as long as it's strong.
- Arthur Bannister: Do you drink habitually?
- Michael O'Hara: May I ask, mister, if you're extending an invitation?