- William Shrike: ...I enjoy seeing youth betray their promises. It lights up all the numbers on my pinball machine.
- Adam White, nee Lassiter: Well, uh...
- Fay Doyle: Well, say something nice to me.
- [he remains quiet]
- Fay Doyle: Goodbye kiss, maybe?
- [he remains still]
- Fay Doyle: You're not a very appreciative fellow. Love 'em and leave 'em, is that it?
- Adam White, nee Lassiter: Mrs. Doyle, I didn't call you...
- Fay Doyle: All right, what did you call me up for? Who are you kidding? Listen, you wanted a sad story, you heard a sad story! You also wanted some action!
- Adam White, nee Lassiter: You're right.
- Fay Doyle: You're damn right I'm right!
- William Shrike: [Of White] He's a fake. A scribbling punk trying to play the part of Goody Two-Shoes. He'll steal my fillings when I lie dead on the street.
- Florence Shrike: Then why keep him?
- William Shrike: Because I enjoy seeing youth betray their promises. It lights up all the numbers on my pinball machine.
- Adam White, nee Lassiter: Mr. Shrike, I think you're guilty of a sin, giant-sized: you're cynical. What kind of a world would it be if everyone were created in your image?
- William Shrike: Save your slop for the slobs.
- William Shrike: [to White] Well, it's not the farm or the South Seas. How about art: be an artist or a writer? When you're cold, warm yourself before the flaming tints of the masters, Michelangelo, Titian, Raphael. When you're hungry, nourish yourself on spiritual food dished out by Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms. Tell society to keep its call girls and pressed duck and oranges. You're at home in your garret with hi-fi sound, and Shakespeare's plays in one volume.
- Adam White, nee Lassiter: A ginger ale, please... on the rocks.
- Florence Shrike: Did you ever try Cinzano? It isn't strong, but it's enough to relax you.
- Adam White, nee Lassiter: It's embarrasing - I think I'm allegic to alcohol. Every so often, I do try to drink, but it makes me sick. As a matter a fact, it *always* makes me sick. I don't know, God must have had a very careless worker on the assembly line when I came through.
- Ned Gates: Hey, White! I wanted your job. I didn't get it. I'm trying to finish a column. So shut up!
- Frank Goldsmith: He's a hater, like Shrike.
- Adam White, nee Lassiter: Gates, I'm sorry you lost out, but I didn't want this particular job.
- Ned Gates: I would have tried to make this column mature. Tell these people to stop whining. They've got to cope with life.
- Adam White, nee Lassiter: What if you can't?
- William Shrike: He showed up for work this morning, in case you were wondering.
- Florence Shrike: I wasn't. He didn't have any choice.