Clark: [Clark and Eddie are carrying the chair outside after the cat was electrocuted] You smell something?
Eddie: Fried pussycat.
Uncle Lewis: [Everyone goes outside to look at the 'Christmas Star"] That's not the friggin' Christmas Star, Gris... Its the light at the sewerage treatment plant.
Clark: [Realizing that there is gas in the storm sewer, and Uncle Lewis is lighting a cigar] Sewer gas!... NO DON'T LIGHT THAT!
[There is an explosion, and Uncle Lewis is thrown clear]
Ellen: I have this terrible suspicion that Catherine and Eddy don't have presents for their kids. Rocky said something about Eddie telling him that Santa Claus wasn't coming this year.
Clark: Yeah, Ruby Sue said something like that last night. How can they have nothing for their children?
Ellen: Well, he's been out of work for close
to seven years.
Clark: In seven years, he couldn't find a job?
Ellen: Catherine says he's been holding out for a management position.
Audrey: [Peeling a carrot] Would it be indecent to ask the grandparents to stay at a hotel?
Ellen: Audrey!
Audrey: Well can we at least forbid them to answer the phone? Alexander called this morning and grandpa Clark told him... I couldn't come to the phone 'cause I was going to the bathroom.
Ellen: We're all
making sacrifices, Audrey.
Audrey: Everybody? Do you sleep with your brother? Do you know how sick and twisted that is, mom?
Ellen: [Grabs a box of matches off the fridge] Well, I'm sleeping with your father. Don't be so dramatic.
Audrey: I have nightmares about what he does in his bed alone when I'm not lying right next to
him.
Ellen: Well, I don't know what to say, except it's Christmas and we're all in misery.
[Lights up a cigarette to smoke and Frances calls out from the next room]
Frances: Ellen, are you smoking again?
[Ellen puts out the cigarette]
Ellen: No!
[Grabs a cabbage and chops it in half]
[the Griswolds are unaware that Clark is trapped in the attic]
Ellen: Daddy, is Clark coming?
Art: How would I know?
Ellen: Is he in the house?
Art: If he isn't farting around with his lights, he must be inside.
Ellen: I'm sure he wants to come shopping and have lunch with us.
[walks back to the house, but Art pulls her back to the car]
Art: He's got another car; he can drive. I have to eat - so I can take my back pill!
Audrey: Would it be indecent to ask the grandparents to stay at a hotel?
Clark: [Just veered into the left lane and got stuck under a log truck] We're alright! Thank God we're alright!
Ellen: Clark, we're stuck under a truck!
Clark: Do you honestly think I don't know that?
Rusty Griswold: Come on you guys, don't fight!
Clark: Oh for Christ's sake, I didn't
do this on purpose!
Ellen: [Praying] Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name, and forgive my husband, he knows not what he does.
Clark: [Before swerving out] Amen!