[last lines] Detective Tom Polhaus: [picks up the falcon] Heavy. What is it? Sam Spade: The, uh, stuff that dreams are made of. Detective Tom Polhaus: Huh?
Kasper Gutman: You're a close-mouthed man? Sam Spade: Nah, I like to talk. Kasper Gutman: Better and better. I distrust a close-mouthed man. He generally picks the wrong time to talk and says the wrong things. Talking's something you can't do judicio...
Joel Cairo: You... you bungled it. You and your stupid attempt to buy it. Kemedov found out how valuable it was, no wonder we had such an easy time stealing it. You... you imbecile. You bloated idiot. You stupid fat-head you. [cries]
Kasper Gutman: I couldn't be fonder of you if you were my own son. But, well, if you lose a son, it's possible to get another. There's only one Maltese Falcon.
Sam Spade: When you're slapped, you'll take it and like it.
Wilmer Cook: Keep on riding me and they're gonna be picking iron out of your liver. Sam Spade: The cheaper the crook, the gaudier the patter.
Sam Spade: Haven't you tried to buy my loyalty with money and nothing else? Brigid O'Shaughnessy: What else is there I can buy you with?
Sam Spade: I hope they don't hang you, precious, by that sweet neck. Yes, angel, I'm gonna send you over. The chances are you'll get off with life. That means if you're a good girl, you'll be out in 20 years. I'll be waiting for you. If they hang you...
Brigid O'Shaughnessy: I haven't lived a good life. I've been bad, worse than you could know. Sam Spade: You know, that's good, because if you actually were as innocent as you pretend to be, we'd never get anywhere.
Spade: When a man's partner is killed, he's supposed to do something about it. It doesn't make any difference what you thought of him. He was your partner and you're supposed to do something about it. And it happens we're in the detective business. W...
Spade: We didn't exactly believe your story, Miss O'Shaughnessy. We believed your 200 dollars. I mean, you paid us more than if you had been telling us the truth, and enough more to make it all right.
Brigid O'Shaughnessy: Mr. Archer was so alive yesterday, so solid and hearty... Sam Spade: Stop it. He knew what he was doing. Those are the chances we take. Brigid O'Shaughnessy: Was he married? Sam Spade: Yeah, with ten thousand insurance, no child...
[first lines] Sam Spade: Yes, sweetheart? Effie Perine: There's a girl wants to see you. Her name's Wonderly. Sam Spade: A customer? Effie Perine: I guess so. You'll want to see her anyway. She's a knockout.
Sam Spade: [to Effie] You're a good man, sister.
Kasper Gutman: Here's to plain speaking and clear understanding.
Sam Spade: [impatiently] Now, let's *talk* about the black bird. Kasper Gutman: Let's. Mr. Spade, have you any conception of how much money can be got for that black bird? Sam Spade: No. Kasper Gutman: Well, sir, if I told you... If I told you *half*...
Kasper Gutman: I distrust a man who says "when." If he's got to be careful not to drink too much, it's because he's not to be trusted when he does.
Sam Spade: You're good. You're very good.
