Jake Gittes: Hello, Claude. Where'd you get the midget?
[first lines]
Jake Gittes: All right, Curly. Enough's enough. You can't eat the Venetian blinds. I just had them installed on Wednesday.
Jake Gittes: There's no point in getting tough with me. I'm just...
Evelyn Mulwray: I don't get tough with anyone, Mr. Gittes. My lawyer does.
Noah Cross: Well, Mr. Gittes, you don't look too much the worse for wear, I must say! Now where's the girl?
Jake Gittes: I've got her.
Noah Cross: Is she all right?
Jake Gittes: She's fine.
Noah Cross: Well, where is she?
Jake Gittes: With her mother.
[Lunch is served; it's fish]
Noah Cross: I hope you don't mind. I believe they should be served with the head.
Jake Gittes: Fine... long as you don't serve the chicken that way.
Jake Gittes: Have you ever heard the expression "Let sleeping dogs lie"? Sometimes you're better off not knowing.
[Evelyn Mulwray and Gittes in her bathroom]
Jake Gittes: There's something black in the green part of your eye.
Evelyn Mulwray: Oh, that. It's a... it's a flaw in the iris.
Jake Gittes: Flaw?
Evelyn Mulwray: Yes, it's a sort of birthmark.
Jake Gittes: May I speak frankly, Mrs. Mulwray.
Evelyn Mulwray: You may if you can, Mr. Gittes.
Noah Cross: Either you bring the water to L.A. or you bring L.A. to the water.
Jake Gittes: Let me explain something to you, Walsh. This business requires a certain amount of finesse.
Lt. Escobar: [pointing to a graffito on the wall] Isn't that your phone number?
Jake Gittes: Is it? I forget. I don't call myself that often.
Jake Gittes: Evelyn, put that gun away. Let the police handle this.
Evelyn Mulwray: He owns the police!
Noah Cross: You've got a nasty reputation, Mr. Gittes. I like that.
Jake Gittes: He's rich! Do you understand? He thinks he can get away with anything.
Jake Gittes: How do you like them apples?
