- Inspector Ferris: Don't you eat anything but dog food?
- Eleanor Johnson: He's not particular, and I'm lazy, so we eat out.
- Eleanor Johnson: [concerned about her husband's heart condition, which she knew nothing about] Is his heart really that bad, doctor?
- Dr. Hohler: Frank's condition isn't any worse than tons of men that strain their hearts running in track meets in the misguided belief that they were building up their bodies.
- Eleanor Johnson: [in the dark shadows of a roller coaster on the deserted beach at night] I don't like this place.
- Dan Legget: It's a good spot. I used to come here with my girl when I was a kid. It's more frightening than romantic. It's the way love is when you're young... life is when you're older.
- Inspector Ferris: [figuring on using the Johnson's dog, Rembrandt, to help locate Frank at the amusement park] We're going to the beach. Come on, Rembrandt. What my eyes missed, your nose will smell.
- Dr. Hohler: For the past year your husband has had hypertension that complicates matters.
- Eleanor Johnson: Hypertension? What causes that?
- Dr. Hohler: Well, I'm not sure. My guess is overwork, unhappiness, anxiety. But you know more about it than I do.
- Eleanor Johnson: Why should I?
- Dr. Hohler: But naturally, you must know about his troubles. I'm only his doctor,
- Eleanor Johnson: Oh, yes, I'm that bitter, selfish, vicious wife. The cause of his unhappiness. The cause of his failure. Is that what he told you? Is that what he tells everyone?
- Dr. Hohler: Frank didn't discuss his private life with me, nor do I care to hear it from you. I shall explain his condition to you, and that's all.
- Blonde: [drunk and sitting on a bar stool] Say, why don't you wear a hat?
- Eleanor Johnson: I look funny in a hat.
- Blonde: You know... you're right.
- Inspector Ferris: [after interviewing Eleanor for the first time] No wonder the world's full of bachelors.
- Dan Legget: Where's your husband, Mrs. Johnson?
- Eleanor Johnson: I don't know.
- Dan Legget: Did he see the killer?
- Eleanor Johnson: I don't know.
- Dan Legget: Shall we dance?
- Eleanor Johnson: Why don't you drop dead?
- Detective Shaw: Every man between the ages of 35 and 40 who is out tonight is wearing a trenchcoat and a snap-brim felt - all of them five foot eleven, weighing a hundred and seventy, and all of 'em scared to answer questions.
- Eleanor Johnson: The domestic situtation in this town must be terrible.
- Eleanor Johnson: Why don't you get lost?
- Dan Legget: Now then, how 'bout the story?
- Eleanor Johnson: You'll get the story from my husband when he's safe and sound in jail.
- Dan Legget: Why did you come here, Mrs. Johnson? Or shouldn't I ask?
- Eleanor Johnson: Because I like it here.
- Dan Legget: You didn't by any chance come here to meet, say, your husband, did you? Or is that a far-fetched supposition? Supposition? I'd better stop using those four-syllable words: I won't be working for 'The Graphic' anymore
- [referring to the tabloid newspaper he says he writes for]
- Dan Legget: .
- Dan Legget: Oh, um, I've got a deal for you. You find your husband with my help, give me an exclusive for 24 hours, and I get my paper to pay you for it.
- Eleanor Johnson: Trying to buy me so soon?
- Dan Legget: First, I'm gonna to try to buy you. And if I can't, I'm gonna try to win you.
- Eleanor Johnson: Isn't that the reverse of the usual procedure?
- Dan Legget: I'm a perverse fellow. On second thought, Mrs. J., I find you very attractive. I may try and win you right off.
- Eleanor Johnson: No thanks. I'd rather be bought.
- Dan Legget: Tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk, very mercenary. All to the good, though. I like mercenary women.
- Dan Legget: Why don't you be nice to me, Mrs. J.? Who knows? I might even be able to help you. I'm not a bad guy when you get to know me. A little obnoxious, perhaps, but pleasant.
- Dan Legget: My name's Legget. Legget of 'The Graphic'. We've got a dandy little sheet, all full of goo and gore.
- Eleanor Johnson: I'm getting pretty sick of you. Now get out of here.
- Inspector Ferris: Of course, if you want to try to find him, I won't try to stop you. But I don't think you can find him. I don't think he's running away from us. I think he's running away from you.
- Eleanor Johnson: I said get out.
- Messenger Girl: I just had a new song I wanted him to hear. Frank's the only one who listens to me sing. Oh, brother, have I got a crush on that man! Mm-mm!
- Eleanor Johnson: How are you going to find him? There'd have to be something different about him. Different, anyway, from other people.
- Inspector Ferris: There is something different about him. There's something different about everybody, and we're gonna dig until we find out what it is.
- Inspector Ferris: Who are his friends?
- Eleanor Johnson: I don't know his friends. The dog is our only mutual friend.
- Inspector Ferris: Reads books on psychology. I wonder why. Has he got a problem?
- Eleanor Johnson: I wouldn't know.
- Inspector Ferris: Maybe he's confused. Aren't we all?
- Inspector Ferris: Say, did he ever do a self-portrait?
- Eleanor Johnson: He didn't like himself that much.
- Inspector Ferris: Little more needling's all she needs. Give her plenty of rope and keep her tailed.
- Detective Shaw: She wants to get rid of him.
- Inspector Ferris: Women are curious. Even that dame will go after him.
- Eleanor Johnson: What has all this got to do with finding Frank?
- Inspector Ferris: You just answer the questions. That is, if it doesn't hurt.
- Eleanor Johnson: Why should it hurt me? It's all past and done with. If you want to snoop into the remains of our marriage, that's up to you.
- Eleanor Johnson: These sketchbooks are filled with great ideas he never got around to painting.
- Inspector Ferris: Didn't you try to get a job?
- Eleanor Johnson: Why should I? That's his responsibility, not mine.
- Inspector Ferris: What did you and your husband quarrel about tonight, Mrs. Johnson?
- Eleanor Johnson: We don't have to have a reason anymore.
- Eleanor Johnson: I thought the police were supposed to protect people, not put them in danger.
- Inspector Ferris: All it says in my book, sister, is that the good of the majority has got to be upheld.
- Eleanor Johnson: If I need you, I'll get in touch with you.
- Dan Legget: You won't have to get in touch with me, Mrs. Johnson. Just look around. I'll be there.
- Dan Legget: This place has the best waffles in town. Butter in every little square. View's always better on a full tummy.
- Inspector Ferris: I wouldn't get too cozy with that guy, if I were you. He'd crucify his grandmother for a story.
- Eleanor Johnson: I haven't found him as objectionable as you are.
- Eleanor Johnson: March 17th. That's Frank's birthday. 1947. We spent the day on the beach at Cypress Point. Then we suddenly decided we had to see the sunset from the Top of the Mark, so we drove to San Francisco. We had a car then. We had champagne cocktails and watched the sunset over the Golden Gate. After all, it was Frank's birthday and St Patrick's too. We had a beautiful dinner at Andre's, and Café Diablo at Amigos. Then we drove back to Carmel in the softest moonlight I've ever known.
- Sullivan: Ah, there's nothing like being young and in love. And daft.
- Eleanor Johnson: To boot.
- Sullivan: What?
- Eleanor Johnson: Daft, to boot.
- Dan Legget: I'm sorry I was so rude a moment ago, but it's always discouraging to hear a wife say that her husband loves her.
- Eleanor Johnson: What do you write? Comic strips?
- Sullivan: What'll you have, folks? You hungry? Specialty today, corned beef and cabbage or egg foo young.
- Dan Legget: No food. Gin on the rocks for the lady and an Old-Fashioned for me.
- Eleanor Johnson: What was I holding out for? Why didn't I learn to understand him? Why don't we give freely of ourselves when we can?