Blonde Venus (1932)

Rita La Roy: Taxi Belle Hooper

Photos 

Quotes 

• Taxi Belle Hooper : So you're the Blonde Venus. Don't tell me you thought of that label all by yourself.

  Helen Faraday, aka Helen Jones : No. Mister O'Connor told me it would help me in my work.

  Taxi Belle Hooper : He would. He didn't have to think up any name for me when I helped put this dump on the map. My name's Taxi Belle Hooper. Taxi for short.

  Helen Faraday, aka Helen Jones : Do you charge for the first mile?

  Taxi Belle Hooper : Say, you trying' to ride me? Don't get the wrong idea. They call me Taxi because I won't ride in nothin' else. Safety first, that's my motto. Good drinking partners always make bad drivers... Do I charge for the first mile.

• Nick Townsend : I've got a million questions to ask you.

  Taxi Belle Hooper : Better not ask them, Nick. I'd rather not talk about the past.

  Nick Townsend : Well, let's talk about the present. Are you happy? Are you in love with anybody?

  Taxi Belle Hooper : I'm not in love with anybody, and I'm completely happy. Funny, isn't it?

  Nick Townsend : No, it's tragic to me. Wish I were necessary to your happiness. I guess I never did mean much to you.

  Taxi Belle Hooper : Maybe you did. Anyway, nothing means much to me now. It's better this way. No chains at all. I haven't a care in the world.

  Nick Townsend : Aw, you're lying. Where's Johnny?

  Taxi Belle Hooper : Home, I suppose, with his father.

  Nick Townsend : Say, I know you better than that. All this is fake. You care more about Johnny than anything else on earth.

  Taxi Belle Hooper : What if I did?

  Nick Townsend : I'm going back to the States day after tomorrow. Come with me and look up Johnny and break that crust of ice around your heart.

  Taxi Belle Hooper : What's the use of talking about the impossible? I'm not allowed to go near him.

  Nick Townsend : Are you divorced?

  Taxi Belle Hooper : No.

  Nick Townsend : Well, chuck all this and come back to America with me. Come on, Helen, give me a break too. My life isn't complete without you. Soon as we land, I'll manage it so you can see Johnny.

  Taxi Belle Hooper : Let's forget all that. I don't want to see Johnny again. What for? I'd go to pieces.

• Dan O'Connor : Why were you late again? Run out of gas?

  Taxi Belle Hooper : Don't crab, I couldn't help it.

• Taxi Belle Hooper : This bracelet is a present from Nick Townsend. You've heard of him. The politician, loads of jack. Runs this end of town.

• Taxi Belle Hooper : I wish he'd ask me for some other favors, if you know what I mean.

• Edward 'Ned' Faraday : Do you know where she is?

  Taxi Belle Hooper : No, I don't know. But you ask a guy named Nick Townsend maybe he...

  Dan O'Connor : Shut up, if you know what's good for ya. Don't mind her. She's cracked! I wish I could help you locate your dame, brother; but I don't know a thing. In this business, they come and they go.