Hit men kill an unresisting victim, and investigator Reardon uncovers his past involvement with beautiful, deadly Kitty Collins.

George: What'll it be, gentlemen?
Max: I don't know. Whatta you want to eat, Al?
Al: I don't know what I want to eat.
Max: I'll have the roast pork tenderloin with apple sauce and mashed potatoes.
George: That's not ready yet.
Max: Then what's it on the card for?
George: Well, that's on the dinner. You can have that at six o'clock. That clock is ten minutes fast. The dinner isn't ready yet.
Max: Never mind the clock. What have you got to eat?
George: Well, I can give you any kind of sandwiches: bacon and eggs, liver and bacon, ham and eggs, steak...
Al: I'll have the chicken croquettes with the cream sauce and the green peas and the mashed potatoes.
George: That's on the dinner too.
Al: [with nasty edge to his voice] Everything we want's on the dinner. That's the way want's on the dinner - that's the way you work it, huh?
George: I can give you ham and eggs, bacon and eggs...
Al: I'll take ham and eggs.
Max: Give me bacon and eggs.
George: [through the service window into the kitchen] One ham and, bacon and.
Sam: [loudly] Comin' up!
Al: You got anything to drink?
George: I can give you soda, beer, ginger ale...
Al: I said, 'You got anything to drink?'
George: [intimidated] No.
Al: This is a hot town. Whatta ya call it?
George: Brentwood.
Al: Did you ever hear of Brentwood?
Max: [Max shakes his head, no]
Al: Whatta ya do here nights?
Max: [sarcastically] They eat the dinner. They all come here and eat the big dinner.
George: [showing fear] That's right.
Al: [condescendingly] You're a pretty bright boy, aren't you?
George: [intimidated] Sure.
Max: [contemptiously] Well you're NOT!
Max: [to Al] Is he Al?
Al: He's dumb!
[last lines]
[after Reardon has wrapped up the investigation, Kenyon congratulates him]
R.S. Kenyon: Owing to your splendid efforts the basic rate of The Atlantic Casualty Company - as of 1947 - will probably drop one-tenth of a cent.
[he shakes Reardon's hand]
R.S. Kenyon: Congratulations, Mr. Reardon.
Jim Reardon: I'd rather have a night's sleep.
R.S. Kenyon: Why don't you take a good rest. I must say you've earned it.
[Reardon starts to leave]
R.S. Kenyon: This is Friday... don't come in 'til Monday.
Jim Reardon: Thanks.
Jail ward doctor: [speaking about the fatally wounded Blinky] Beats me. I don't know what keeps him going.
Jim Reardon: Will he be able to talk anymore?
Jail ward doctor: He's dead now - except he's breathing!
Reardon: Good morning, Stella.
Stella: Good morning, dream boy.
Jim Reardon: How well did you know the Swede?
Charleston: Me? Mister, I guess me and the Swede were about as close as two guys can get. For nearly two years we weren't more than eight and a half feet apart. That's how big the cell was.
Jim Reardon: She took a powder. The dough went with her.
Big Jim Colfax: [to Dum Dum] You can leave anytime you want, friend.
'Blinky' Franklin: [acting as peacemaker] Come on! Easy does it, fellas! Easy does it!
'Dum-Dum' Clarke: I don't like to be asked to come up here and then told I can go. Who do you think you're pushin' around?
Big Jim Colfax: A minute ago we were talkin' about reputations. Well, you've got quite a reputation yourself - you're supposed to be a troublemaker.
Big Jim Colfax: [deliberately taking the cigarette out of his mouth] Okay. Make some.
Reardon: When was the last time you saw him?
Charleston: Mister, did you say 'when?'
Reardon: Yes.
Charleston: Mister, when it comes to dates, 1492 is the only one I can remember.
Lt. Sam Lubinsky: Don't ask a dying man to lie his soul into Hell.
Jim Reardon: How much time has he got?
Lieutenant Sam Lubinsky: He's behind schedule now.
Big Jim Colfax: If there's one thing in this world I hate, it's a double-crossing dame.
'Swede' Andersen: Why did you ever go back to him, Kitty?
Kitty Collins: Maybe because I hate him. I'm poison, Swede, to myself and everybody around me! I'd be afraid to go with anyone I love for the harm I do to them! I don't care harming him!