16 quotes
The Complexity of a Liar's Kiss
Gabrielle/Lilly Carver
Kiss me, Mike. I want you to kiss me. Kiss me. The liar's kiss that says I love you. It means something else. You're good at giving such kisses. Kiss me.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Desire for urgency in a tense moment
Taglines
I don't care what you do to me, Mike - just do it fast!
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Explosive Thrills and Passionate Kisses
Taglines
Blood red kisses! White hot thrills! Mickey Spillane's latest H-bomb!
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Unraveling Threads of Connection and Danger
Lily
What do you want?
[pointing a gun at Hammer]
Hammer
I was with Christina the night she was killed. They tried to kill me, too. If you'd like, I'll show you the scars.
Lily
How'd you find me?
Hammer
I picked up the thread. Anybody could do it...
Lily
Christina was my friend.
Hammer
The bird in the cage. What happened to it?
Lily
It was a nice bird. Used to eat out of my hand.
[She lowers the gun]
Hammer
You let it die. Why'd you let it die?
Lily
It reminded me of her every time it sang. She was a good kid. She was lots of fun. We worked together - a couple of jobs till she got sick. That's when I noticed that she started to change. You get on a merry-go-round. You think you can get off any old time. But then it starts going too fast. She was scared. She was more and more scared. She was afraid to go out. She'd go to the movies once in a while or out for groceries but never very far. And then the police came around. They asked questions, lots of questions. Then they took her away. After all, I had a feeling someone was watching the place. Then those men came.
Hammer
What did they want?
Lily
I didn't stick around to find out.
Hammer
Why was Christina so afraid? It's all right, you can trust me.
[Lily shrugs]
Lily
I don't know.
Hammer
You want to get even for what happened to Christina, don't ya? I'll see what I can do.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Self-Interest in Uncertain Situations
Mike Hammer
What’s in it for me?
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Self-Reflection on Personal Flaws
Mike Hammer
Alright, you convinced me - I’m a real stinker.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Threat of Violence and Betrayal
Mike Hammer
I should have thrown you off that cliff back there. I might still do it.
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Unraveling a Dangerous Mystery
Hammer
We're gonna steer away from these penny-ante divorce cases for a while. I've got a line on something better. That girl I picked up was mixed up in something big.
Velda
And a cut of something big could be something big.
Hammer
I want you to find out all you can about her.
Velda
First, you find a little thread, the little thread leads you to a string, and the string leads you to a rope, and from the rope you hang by the neck. What kind of a girl was she, this friend of yours, Christina?
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The Search for Meaning and Memory
Dr. Soberin
Lie still. Why torment yourself? Who would you see? Someone you do not know, a stranger. What is it we are seeking? Diamonds, rubies, gold? Perhaps narcotics? How civilized this earth used to be. But as the world becomes more primitive, its treasures become more fabulous. Perhaps sentiment will succeed where greed failed. You will die, Mr. Hammer. But your friend, you can save her. Yes you can. The young lady you picked up on the highway. She wrote you a letter. In it were two words: Remember Me. She asks you to remember. What is it you must remember? And while you sleep, your subconscious will provide the answer. And you will cry out what it is that you must remember. Pleasant dreams, Mr. Hammer.
[to Hammer; he injects Hammer with a hypodermic needle full of sodium pentothal]
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Curiosity and the Fear of Discovery
Dr. Soberin
There is something sad and melancholy about trips. I always hate to go away. But one has to find some new place or it would be impossible to be sad and melancholy again. Curiosity killed a cat and it certainly would have you if you'd followed your impulse to open it. You did very well to call me when you did.
[Lily tries to break open the box]
Lily
Yes, I know. But what's in it?
Dr. Soberin
You have been misnamed, Gabrielle. You should have been called ]. She had a curiosity about a box and opened it and let loose all the evil in the world.
[[w:Pandora|Pandora]
Lily
Never mind about the evil. What's in it?
Dr. Soberin
Did you ever hear of ]?
[[w:Lot's wife|Lot's wife]
Lily
No.
Dr. Soberin
No. Well, she was told not to look back. But she disobeyed and she was changed into a pillar of salt.
Lily
Well, I just want to know what it is.
Dr. Soberin
Would you believe me if I told you? Would you be satisfied?
Lily
Maybe.
Dr. Soberin
The head of the ]. That's what's in the box. And whoever looks on her will be changed, not into stone, but into brimstone and ashes. Well, of course, you wouldn't believe me. You'd have to see for yourself, wouldn't you?
[[w:Medusa|Medusa]
Lily
Where are we going?
Dr. Soberin
Where I am going, it is not possible for you to go. I had no illusion about deceiving you. You have the feline perceptions that all women have...
Lily
Whatever is in that box - it must be very precious. So many people have died for it.
Dr. Soberin
Yes, it is very precious.
Lily
I want half.
Dr. Soberin
I agree with you. You should have at least half. You deserve it, for all the creature comforts you've given me. But unfortunately, the object in this box cannot be divided.
Lily
[She points a gun at him[;; Then I'll take it all...if you don't mind.
Dr. Soberin
Listen to me, as if I were Cerberus barking with all his heads at the gates of Hell, I will tell you where to take it. But don't, don't open the box.
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Unexpected Encounters and Unusual Conversations
Hammer
How do you do, ma'am?
Friday
How do I do? Cra-zy.
[They kiss]
Hammer
Don't be afraid. I won't bite.
Friday
You don't taste like anybody I know. That's all right. In fact, it's wonderful. Come on, Crazy. Seconds?
Hammer
OK.
[They kiss again]
Friday
You sure we haven't met before?
Hammer
Never.
Friday
Who are you?
Hammer
Who am I? Who are you?
Friday
I'm Friday. I'd have been named Tuesday if I'd been born on Tuesday. I'm Carl's sister, half-sister. Same mother, different father. You know, you're not like the others - Carl's friends, I mean.
Hammer
Maybe that's because I'm not his friend.
Friday
Oh, wonderful. Then you can be my friend, all my nothing-to-do-with-Carl.
Friday
Will you be my friend?
Hammer
What do I have to do?
Friday
I want to be a close friend. Ask me something.
Hammer
And no matter what it is, the answer's yes', isn't it?
Friday
Maybe.
Hammer
Let's see how good you are at spelling. Can you spell the word no'?
Friday
N - O spells no.
Hammer
That's a good girl. Now you practice saying that. Because one of the best ways to be friendly is to know when to say no.
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Symbols of Love and Anger
Christina
You're angry with me, aren't you? Sorry I nearly wrecked your pretty little car. I was just thinking how much you can tell about a person from such simple things. Your car, for instance.
Hammer
Now, what kind of a message does it send ya?
Christina
You have only one real lasting love.
Hammer
Now who could that be?
Christina
You. You're one of those self-indulgent males who thinks about nothing but his clothes, his car, himself. Bet you do push-ups every morning just to keep your belly hard.
Hammer
You against good health or somethin'?
Christina
I could tolerate flabby muscles in a man who may be more friendly. You're the kind of a person who never gives in a relationship - who only takes. Ah, woman, the incomplete sex. And what does she need to complete her? Why, man, of course. A wonderful man.
Hammer
All right, all right, let it go. That bus stop will be comin up pretty soon and I don't even know your name.
Christina
You forget. I'm a loony from the laughing house. All loonies are dangerous. Ever read poetry? No, of course you wouldn't. ] wrote love sonnets. I was named after her.
[[Christina Rossetti]
Hammer
Christina?
Christina
Yes, Mike. I got your name from the registration certificate, Mr. Hammer. Get me to that bus stop and forget you ever saw me. If we don't make that bus stop...
Hammer
We will.
[confidently]
Christina
...if we don't, Remember me.
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Misinterpretation of Consent in Relationships
Mike Hammer
I'll make a quick guess: You were out with a guy who thought “no” was a three-letter word.
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Unexpected Trouble Brings Characters Together
Velda
I'm always glad when you're in trouble because then you always come to me. What is it, Mike?
Hammer
Nick's dead...The jack slipped and the car came down on him.
Velda
Is that what really happened?
Hammer
He was doing a couple of jobs for me.
Velda
And he got it? Mike, all your friends are gonna get it one of these days. What is it you're after, Mike?
Hammer
Something Nicholas Raymondo had and the girl knew about. Something very valuable.
Velda
Is it worth Nick's life or, or Christina's or Raymondo's or Kawolsky's or mine?
Hammer
Or Lily Carver's, Christina's roommate? She's up in my apartment. They tried to get her last night.
Velda
They? A wonderful word. And who are they? They're the nameless ones who kill people for the great whatzit. Does it exist? Who cares? Everyone everywhere is so involved in the fruitless search for what? Why don't you turn her over to Pat? It's his job to protect her, if she needs protection. Or to question her if that's what's needed. Why are you always tryin to make a noise like a cop?
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Contempt for Law and Its Consequences
Murphy
You could do it a lot better, is that it?
Hammer
An ordinary little girl gets killed and it rings bells all the way to Washington. There's gotta be a pitch....I picked up a girl. If she hadn't gotten in my way, I wouldn't have stopped. She must be connected with somethin big.
Murphy
Too many people like you have contempt for anything that has to do with the law. You'd like to take it into your own hands. But when you do that, you might as well be living in a jungle. Mike, why don't you tell us what you know? Then step aside like a nice fella and let us do our job.
Hammer
What's in it for me?
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Unmet Expectations in Relationships
Hammer
You're never around when I need ya.
Velda
You never need me when I'm around.
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