- Prison Warden: Your generation grew up, married, raised families, went to war. But nothing happened to you, Bill. You just got older.
- Cathy Higgins: You worked a whole day just to dance a minute at Dream Land?
- Bill Clark: It was worth it.
- Cathy Higgins: Quick on the trigger, aren't you?
- Bill Clark: [angrily] What do you mean by that?
- Cathy Higgins: [smiling] Simmer down, you'll live longer.
- Cathy Higgins: I came to New York from up state. I was gonna be a dancer. I was a brunette. Started on my toes and wound up on my heels.
- Prison Warden: [about prison] Nobody'll ever put me in a stinking cage again.
- Prison Warden: That's up to you son. It's not going to be easy. The average person outside won't accept you, Bill. Won't hire you. Won't trust you. You won't even have a vote.
- Bill Clark: [looking at the clock] You're talking on my time, warden. It's 8 am.
- Prison Warden: And for your own good. Good luck.
- Girl at Dance Joint: [dancing with a customer] You need a little practice, honey.
- Bill Clark: Yeah.
- Girl at Dance Joint: [amorously] A few private lessons will fix that.
- [Bill squeezes her]
- Girl at Dance Joint: Ooh, not so tight, honey.
- Bill Clark: [she letting go of him as the music stops] That's it?
- Girl at Dance Joint: What do you expect for a dime?
- Cathy Higgins: [Bill clumsily dances with Cay] You can't dance. What did you come up here for?
- Bill Clark: To meet somebody.
- Cathy Higgins: [releasing his clutch] I don't give private lessons.
- Bill Clark: My name is Clark. Bill Clark.
- Cathy Higgins: [holding up a drink] Nice to meet you, mister. Here's mud in your eye.
- Bill Clark: [holds her hand] You... you know you got me all wrong.
- Cathy Higgins: Let's not make a big thing out of it.
- Bill Clark: I just wanted to meet somebody.
- Cathy Higgins: [playing up to him] So you like me, huh?
- Bill Clark: I'd like to know you better.
- Cathy Higgins: One way is to spread a little joy around. Joy. Little presents.
- Bill Clark: [still not understanding what she means] What kind of presents?
- Cathy Higgins: That's up to you and how much you like me.
- Prison Warden: A lot of things have changed out there.
- Bill Clark: A lot of us have changed in here too.
- Prison Warden: You came in here when you were 13 years old. That means you've been here...
- Bill Clark: 18 years, 3 months and 6 days.
- Bill Clark: What time do you get through here?
- Cathy Higgins: There's a house rule against dating customers.
- Bill Clark: Do you always stick to the rules?
- Cathy Higgins: Yes, my own.
- Bill Clark: [in asking if she'd show him around the city] I've never been here before.
- Cathy Higgins: [cynically] You can get a sightseeing tour for a buck.