- Detective James McLeod: I built my whole life on hating my father. All the time he was inside me, laughing.
- Lieutenant Monaghan: Can't you say "Yes, sir" without makin' it sound like an insult?
- Detective James McLeod: Yes, sir.
- Lieutenant Monaghan: You're gettin' too superior, McLeod, a one-man army against crime. What's eatin' you?
- Detective James McLeod: I hate criminals. I don't believe in coddling them.
- Detective James McLeod: At an autopsy the other day I watched the medical examiner saw off the top of a man's skull, take out the brain and hold it in his hand.
- [holds out his hand]
- Detective James McLeod: Like that.
- Mary McLeod: Why are you telling me this?
- Detective James McLeod: Because I'd give my soul to take out my brain, hold it under the faucet and wash away the dirty pictures you put there tonight.
- Mary McLeod: Dirty pictures?
- Detective James McLeod: Yes!
- Mary McLeod: Oh, I see. I see. Yes, that would be fine... if we could. But when you wash away what I may have put there, you'll find you've a rotten spot in your brain, Jim. And it's growing. I know, I've watched it.
- Detective James McLeod: I wanna put him in the electric chair where he belongs, and pull the switch myself.
- Detective James McLeod: Detective James McLeod. In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost; Oh my God, I am heartfully sorry for having offended Thee. And I detest all of my sins because I dread the loss of Heaven and the pains of Hell.
- Det. Lou Brody: Detective Lou Brody. But most of all, for having offended Thee my Lord Who art all good and deserving of my love, that I firmly resolve with the help of Thy grace to confess my sins, to do penance and to amend my life. Amen.
- Detective James McLeod: I ought to fall on you like the sword of God.
- Karl Schneider: That sword has two edges. You could cut your own throat.
- Detective James McLeod: I'm going to give you a piece of advice, Karl. When they let you free again, get out of New York. You butcher one more patient and law or no law, I'll find you. I'll put a bullet in the back of your head, and I'll drop your body in the East River. And I'll go home and I'll sleep sweetly.
- Karl Schneider: You don't frighten me. Now I'll give you some advice. I have plenty on you, too. I know why you're so vindictive.
- Detective James McLeod: Why?
- Karl Schneider: Just watch your step. Because I happen to have friends, downtown, with pull.
- Detective James McLeod: Have you?
- Karl Schneider: Lots of pull.
- Detective James McLeod: Well, what do you know? Aren't you the big shot? Pull. Have you got any friends with push, like that?
- [Shoves him and begins slapping him]
- Detective James McLeod: [leaving the office] Mind if I shave?
- Lieutenant Monaghan: Gotta have the last word, don't ya?
- Detective James McLeod: Where's your boy?
- [Asking about Karl Schneider]
- Lieutenant Monaghan: He's ready to surrender himself on the warrant you had issued.
- Detective James McLeod: Fine. Bring him in.
- Endicott Sims: Before I do, I have here some photographs. Now these were taken only an hour ago.
- Lieutenant Monaghan: Nudes. Ugly, isn't he?
- Endicott Sims: He's no Mr. America.
- Lieutenant Monaghan: No, that he's not.
- Endicott Sims: Now you'll observe there are no bruises or lacerations of any kind. This is the way I'm delivering my client to you, and this is the way I want him back.
- Detective James McLeod: I should think that any change whatsoever would be an improvement.