The Green Pastures (1936)

Oscar Polk: Gabriel

Quotes 

• Gabriel : Gangway. Gangway, for the Lawd God, Jehovah!

• De Lawd : [Sitting at desk, looking at piece of paper]  What's this here about the moon?

  Gabriel : Oh. The moon people say it's beginning to melt a little on account 'cause the sun's so hot.

  De Lawd : Well, it's goin' around accordin' to schedule, ain't it?

  Gabriel : Yes, Lawd.

  De Lawd : There ain't nothin' the matter with that moon. The trouble of it is, too many angels go flyin' over there on Saturday night. They get to beatin' their wings while they dance, and that makes the heat. Tell 'em from now on, dancin' around the moon is sinnin'. They got to stop it, and that'll cool off the moon.

• De Lawd : The poor little Earth. Bless my soul, I almost forgot about that. Must be three or four hundred years since I've been down there. I wasn't any too pleased with that job.

  Gabriel : [laughs]  You know you don't make no mistakes, Lawd.

  De Lawd : So they tell me. But I find I can be displeased, though - and I was displeased with the mankind I last seen.

• Gabriel : They certainly can breed fast.

  De Lawd : They displeases me greatly. Look at 'em there. Squirmin' and fightin' and bearin' false witness. Why did I ever make 'em?

• Gabriel : How about cleanin' up the whole mess of 'em and startin' all over again with some new kind of animal?

  De Lawd : And admit that I'm licked?

• De Lawd : Wait a minute. Was you goin' by the big pit?

  Gabriel : I could go.

  De Lawd : Lean over the brink and tell old Satan he's just a plain fool if he thinks he can beat anybody as big as me.

  Gabriel : Yes, sah, Lawd. Then I'll spit right in his eye.