- Managing Editor Ellis Wheeler: This community is in bad shape indeed, when gangsters can perpetrate murder in broad daylight and get away with it. But there's one power in this town with sufficient courage to do what is right. And that power is The Press. The Press is going to break up the criminal gangs that infest this city and drive them out. The Press is going to expose every corrupt official preying on the community. The Press cannot be bought, intimidated or silenced. It's going to be war; a crusade, if you like. A crusade to destroy gang rule. From now on, you are more than reporters, you're crusaders and you're going to bear down on the underworld with all the power of The Press. We're going to make a fight of it. You can get your assignments from the City Editor.
- Managing Editor Ellis Wheeler: We have over 300 applications on our waiting list: college men, old timers, youngsters, girls, oh, all types.
- City Editor Frank Carter: Did the chief talk salary with you?
- Breckenridge 'Breck' Lee: Well, no, sir.
- City Editor Frank Carter: Well, then you'll get 39 a week to start, 4 dollars of that's for car fare.
- Charlie 'Breezy' Russell: I'm Charlie Russell and this is Miss Marcia Collins, queen of the sob sisters and the best lookin' gal in the newspaper business. Say, you're lucky to land a desk next to her.
- Breckenridge 'Breck' Lee: Yeah, that's what I thought.
- Marcia Collins: Pay no attention to Breezy and sometimes he goes away.
- Charlie 'Breezy' Russell: Well, keep your mind on your work here and remember - I saw her first.
- Breckenridge 'Breck' Lee: Say, you're a great big help to me.
- Marcia Collins: Oh, sure - just a camp fire girl is all.
- Breckenridge 'Breck' Lee: [Joking] Say, if you don't let us in, we'll expose you! No matter who it hurts. Even if it strikes at the very roots of our government.
- Marcia Collins: Oh, well, if that's the case, maybe you better come right in.
- Breckenridge 'Breck' Lee: Gee, you're sweet. Seems to me like I'm always thanking you for something.
- Marcia Collins: Oh, be yourself!
- Breckenridge 'Breck' Lee: I'd like to talk to you about something.
- City Editor Frank Carter: Well, let's have it.
- Breckenridge 'Breck' Lee: Well, sir, you see, I got a bill from the hospital and I was wondering if the Paper couldn't help me out on it. 'Cause I'm a little short.
- City Editor Frank Carter: What? Take care of your bills? What do you mean?
- City Editor Frank Carter: Say, you give me a pain in the eye! Quit your stalling and go to work! I haven't time to argue with you.
- Breckenridge 'Breck' Lee: Marcia, what's the matter? What's happened to you?
- Marcia Collins: What's happened to you?
- Breckenridge 'Breck' Lee: Nobody takes care of you in this town. You've got to watch out for yourself. I found that out.
- Breckenridge 'Breck' Lee: This town is no place for softies! If I don't fight back, I might as well go back down South and sit under a chinquapin tree and forget I ever tried to get anywhere in the big city.
- Breckenridge 'Breck' Lee: Didn't some old guy once say, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do"?
- Marcia Collins: This isn't Rome.
- Breckenridge 'Breck' Lee: You're right. Rome was a quaker village in comparison to this place.
- Marcia Collins: Breck, it's a one-way street - and you'll get what they all get.
- Breckenridge 'Breck' Lee: I'm takin' my chances.
- Charlie 'Breezy' Russell: Tell me, why don't I get anywhere with you? Come on, be a good egg, give a fella the low down. Am I such a banana?
- Charlie 'Breezy' Russell: Say, Marcia, if I pulled up my socks and made a noble effort, turned out to be a bouncing little ball of fire and pulled a big story and got a raise, could you go for me?
- Charlie 'Breezy' Russell: Get a load of this! Number One is opening up a City of Vice. He's bought up a whole township: nightclubs, saloons, casinos, beer flats. Boy, what a layout! A regular little kingdom of crime!
- City Editor Frank Carter: Where's this place supposed to be?
- Charlie 'Breezy' Russell: Over on the west end. A place called Waverly. And what a place! Talk about your Monte Carlos.
- Breckenridge 'Breck' Lee: Oh, darling, please - please don't send me away. Let me stay here with you.
- Breckenridge 'Breck' Lee: [on the phone] What's that? The finger's on me? Say, listen, listen to me you rat! You don't dare kill a reporter!