The Lady from Shanghai (1947)

Orson Welles: Michael O'Hara

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Quotes 

• Michael O'Hara : Maybe I'll live so long that I'll forget her. Maybe I'll die trying.

• Michael O'Hara : Personally, I don't like a girlfriend to have a husband. If she'll fool a husband, I figure she'll fool me.

• Michael O'Hara : Everybody is somebody's fool.

• Michael O'Hara : Once, off the hump of Brazil, I saw the ocean so darkened with blood it was black, and the sun fainting away over the lip of the sky. We'd put in at Fortaleza, and a few of us had lines out for a bit o' idle fishin'. It was me had the first strike. A shark, it was. Then there was another, and another shark again... 'till all about, the sea was made of sharks, and more sharks, still, and no water at all. My shark had torn himself from the hook, and the scent, or maybe the stain, it was, and him bleeding his life away drove the rest of them mad. Then the beasts to to eatin' each other. In their frenzy, they ate at themselves. You could feel the lust of murder like a wind stinging your eyes, and you could smell the death, reeking up out of the sea. I never saw anything worse... until this little picnic tonight. And you know, there wasn't one of them sharks in the whole crazy pack that survived.

• [first lines] 

  Michael O'Hara : When I start out to make a fool of myself, there's very little can stop me. If I'd known where it would end, I'd never let anything start... if I'd been in my right mind, that is. But once I'd seen her, once I'd seen her, I was not in my right mind for quite some time.

• George Grisby : What's your guess, Michael? You think the world's coming to an end?

  Michael O'Hara : Well, there was a start to the world sometime, so I guess there'll be a stop.

  George Grisby : It's coming, you know. Oh, yeah. It's got to come. First the big cities. Then, maybe even this. It's just *got* to come.

  Michael O'Hara : I'd prefer to be somewhere else, if it does.

• Michael O'Hara : Well, Mr. Bannister's picnic party was most typical of him. A lot of trouble and a great deal of money went into it, but it was no more a picnic than Bannister was a man.

• Michael O'Hara : [to Grisby and the Bannisters]  Is this what you folks do for amusement in the evening - sit around toasting marshmallows and call each other names? If you're so anxious for me to join the game, I'll be glad to. I have a few names I'd like to be calling you myself.

• Michael O'Hara : [voiceover]  This is I, thinking myself a very gay dog, indeed. But, here was a beautiful girl, all by herself, and me with plenty of time, nothin' to do but get myself into trouble. Some people can smell danger. Not me.

• Arthur Bannister, Criminal Lawyer : So money doesn't interest you, are you independently wealthy?

  Michael O'Hara : I'm independent.

  Arthur Bannister, Criminal Lawyer : Of money?

• George Grisby : Mr. Bannister tells me you once killed a man. You are Michael, aren't you?

  Michael O'Hara : That's right.

  George Grisby : I'm very interested in murders. Forgive me if I seem inquisitive, but where'd it happen?

  Michael O'Hara : At Murcia.

  George Grisby : How'd you do it? No, let me guess... You did it with your hands, didn't you? Does it ever bother you when you think about it? What did he do to you?

  Michael O'Hara : Nothing.

  George Grisby : You just killed him for the fun of it, eh?

  Michael O'Hara : He was a Franco spy. There was a war on at the time.

  George Grisby : Then it wasn't murder, I suppose. Tell me, would you do it again? Would you mind killing another man?

  Michael O'Hara : I'd kill another Franco spy.

  George Grisby : I was on a pro-Franco committee during the Spanish War. Would you kill me if I gave you the chance? I may give you the chance.

• Mrs. Elsa 'Rosalie' Bannister : I don't know how to shoot.

  Michael O'Hara : It's easy. You just pull the trigger.

• Michael O'Hara : The only way to stay out of trouble is to grow old, so I guess I'll concentrate on that.

• Michael O'Hara : New York is not as big a city as it pretends to be.

• Michael O'Hara : That's how I found her and from that moment I did not use my head, except to think about her.

• George Grisby : How'd you like 5,000 dollars?

  Michael O'Hara : What?

  George Grisby : That's what I said. 5,000 dollars, fella.

  Michael O'Hara : What do I have to do for it?

  George Grisby : I'll fill in the details later. Meanwhile, think it over, Michael. 5,000 dollars. It's yours. All you have to do is kill somebody.

  Michael O'Hara : Who, Mr. Grisby? I'm particular who I murder.

  George Grisby : Good boy!

  Michael O'Hara : You know, I wouldn't like to kill just anybody. Is it someone I know?

  George Grisby : Oh, yeah. But you'll never guess.

  Michael O'Hara : I give up.

  George Grisby : It's me. I'm perfectly sober, Michael. I'm willing to pay 5,000 if the job is well done. This is a straightforward business proposition. I want you to kill me. So long, fella!

• Mrs. Elsa 'Rosalie' Bannister : I was taught to think about love in Chinese.

  Michael O'Hara : The way a Frenchman thinks about laughter in French?

  Mrs. Elsa 'Rosalie' Bannister : The Chinese say, it is difficult for love to last long; therefore, one who loves passionately is cured of love - in the end.

  Michael O'Hara : Well, that's a hard way of thinkin'.

  Mrs. Elsa 'Rosalie' Bannister : There's more to the proverb. Human nature is eternal; therefore, one who follows his nature, keeps his original nature - in the end.

• Michael O'Hara : Do all rich women play games like this?

• Michael O'Hara : I never make up my mind about anything at all, until it's over and done with.

• Michael O'Hara : "One who follows his nature keeps his original nature in the end." But, haven't you heard ever of somethin' better to follow?

  Mrs. Elsa 'Rosalie' Bannister : No.

• Michael O'Hara : Like the sharks, mad with their own blood, chewin' away at their own selves.

  Mrs. Elsa 'Rosalie' Bannister : It's true. I made a lot of mistakes.

• George Grisby : Beautiful, isn't it?

  Michael O'Hara : The beach, you mean, or the tourists?

  George Grisby : Everything!

  Michael O'Hara : There's a fair face to the land, but you can't hide the hunger and guilt. It's a bright, guilty world.

• Michael O'Hara : I've always found it very... sanitary to be broke.

• Arthur Bannister : Do you drink?

  Michael O'Hara : I beg your pardon?

  Arthur Bannister : I asked you if you drink.

  Michael O'Hara : Whatever's set in front of me. Doesn't have to be wholesome, just so as long as it's strong.

  Arthur Bannister : Do you drink habitually?

  Michael O'Hara : May I ask, mister, if you're extending an invitation?

• Michael O'Hara : [voiceover]  He was exactly as helpless as a sleeping rattlesnake.

• Michael O'Hara : [voiceover]  Either me or the rest of the whole world is absolutely insane.

• Michael O'Hara : You were smart to carry a gun traveling alone in the park, but I knew you had the gun in your bag. Why throw away the bag?

  Mrs. Elsa 'Rosalie' Bannister : I meant you to find it. I don't know how to shoot.

  Michael O'Hara : It's easy, you just pull the trigger.

• Mrs. Elsa 'Rosalie' Bannister : Tell me, Michael. Is there some reason the police don't like you?

  Michael O'Hara : Well, they never put me in jail in America. You know, the nicest jails in the world are in Australia, the worst in Spain.

  Mrs. Elsa 'Rosalie' Bannister : What law did you break in Spain?

  Michael O'Hara : I killed a man.

  Mrs. Elsa 'Rosalie' Bannister : Just now, you almost killed a girl.

  Michael O'Hara : Is there a law against that?

• Michael O'Hara : Would Your Highness care to gamble?

  Mrs. Elsa 'Rosalie' Bannister : Gamble? She's done it for a living.

• Mrs. Elsa 'Rosalie' Bannister : If you're a sailor, Michael, there's a job for you. Would you like to work for me? I'd like it.

  Michael O'Hara : I'm shippin' out tomorrow.

  Mrs. Elsa 'Rosalie' Bannister : So are we! To the West Coast, by way of the canal. We're short a man on the crew. I'll make it worth your while.

• Michael O'Hara : [voiceover]  I spent the next day in the hiring hall waitin' for a ship. That way, big boob that I am, I thought I could escape her.

• Mrs. Elsa 'Rosalie' Bannister : I wasn't sure you'd come.

  Michael O'Hara : I'm not stayin'.

  Mrs. Elsa 'Rosalie' Bannister : You've *got* to stay!

• Michael O'Hara : [voiceover]  And what was I, Mike O'Hara, doin' on a luxury yacht, pleasure cruisin' in the sunny Caribbean Sea? Well, it's clear now. I was chasin' a married woman. But, that's not the way I wanted to look at it. No. To be a real prize fathead like Mike O'Hara, you've got to swallow whole all the lies you can think up to tell yourself.

• Mrs. Elsa 'Rosalie' Bannister : I haven't a cent, Michael. He wants to cut me off without a cent.

  Michael O'Hara : Does that matter so much as if he would?

  Mrs. Elsa 'Rosalie' Bannister : Oh, I told you sweet, you don't know anything about the world.

  Michael O'Hara : Well, lately I've been roundin' out my education.

• Mrs. Elsa 'Rosalie' Bannister : Oh, Michael, why did you let yourself get dragged into it?

  Michael O'Hara : Sure, because I'm a fool. A deliberate intention, a fool. That's the worst kind. Or, did you know?

  Mrs. Elsa 'Rosalie' Bannister : Yes, my beloved. My beloved fool. I know.

• Michael O'Hara : [voiceover]  Well, it's my own fault, but that's how I got into it, big boob that I am.

• Michael O'Hara : He said the world was bad. We can't run away from the badness. And you're right there. But, she said we can't fight it, we must deal with the badness. Make terms. And didn't the badness deal with you and make its own terms in the end? Surely?

  Mrs. Elsa 'Rosalie' Bannister : You can fight. But, what good is it?

• Michael O'Hara : You mean we can't win?

  Mrs. Elsa 'Rosalie' Bannister : No, we can't win. Give my love to the sunrise.

  Michael O'Hara : Well, we can't lose either. Only if we quit.

• Arthur Bannister : So money does not interest you, Michael. Are you independently wealthy?

  Michael O'Hara : I am independent.

• Mrs. Elsa 'Rosalie' Bannister : You're scared, aren't you? You're scared! I'm scared too!

  Michael O'Hara : You think you needed me to help ya. You're not that kind... If you need anything, you help yourself.

  Mrs. Elsa 'Rosalie' Bannister : I'm not what you think I am. I just try to be like that.

  Michael O'Hara : Keep on tryin'. You might make it.

  Mrs. Elsa 'Rosalie' Bannister : Oh, Michael. What are we scared of?

• Michael O'Hara : Why don't you do it yourself?

  George Grisby : Commit suicide? Me? Don't be silly. Suicide is against the law. We're not going to break the law. This is going to be murder and it's going to be legal.