My Favorite Wife (1940)

Randolph Scott: Stephen Burkett

Photos 

Quotes 

• Judge Walter Bryson : Who are you?

  Stephen Burkett : Well, your honor...

  Nick Arden : Oh, he was on the island with her. He's not important to this case.

  Judge Walter Bryson : I'll decide what's important to the case. What island?

  Nick Arden : The island where my wife stayed for seven years, your honor.

  Judge Walter Bryson : They were on an island together for seven years?

  Nick Arden : Yes, your honor.

  Judge Walter Bryson : Not alone?

  Nick Arden : Yes.

  Judge Walter Bryson : Hmm. Same island?

  Nick Arden : Yes.

  Judge Walter Bryson : Is that in the brief?

  Nick Arden : No, your honor!

  Judge Walter Bryson : Oh, that should be in the brief. That's the most interesting part of the case.

• Stephen Burkett : [re-entering the courtroom and playing along with Ellen's verbal ploy to make Nick jealous and come back to her]  Well Ellen, see ya at the boat - 9:00.

  Judge Walter Bryson : [from the Bench]  What boat?

  Stephen Burkett : You see Your Honor, we're not interested in manmade laws. But there's a law of the jungle: when a man finds his mate, he doesn't have to

  [looks condescendingly at Nick] 

  Stephen Burkett : think it out.

  [pretendingly romantically to Ellen] 

  Stephen Burkett : Goodbye Eve, until tomorrow.

  Ellen Wagstaff Arden aka Eve : Goodbye Adam.

  Stephen Burkett : Just a moment.

  Stephen Burkett : And it's alright with me if you bring the kiddies.

  [leaves the courtroom] 

  Judge Walter Bryson : [appalled at the strangeness of it all]  Kiddies? Well in all my experience on the Bench I have ne-...

  [continues finishing the case] 

• Judge Walter Bryson : [referring to Mr. Mulligan in the Mulligan vs. Mulligan-Benson case that Nick is using as a parallel example to his own situation]  Well don't stand there gawking, what did he do?

  Nick Arden : He died suddenly of cirrhosis of the liver.

  Ellen Wagstaff Arden aka Eve : A-and they never did find out whether he slept with his beard under the covers or over the covers.

  Judge Walter Bryson : Now that'll cost you $25.

  Ellen Wagstaff Arden aka Eve : Just for a nice old joke?

  Judge Walter Bryson : You heard me - $25.

  Ellen Wagstaff Arden aka Eve : [in a proudly funny manner]  Oh you can't do that Your Honor, I'm legally dead. You think it's nice to take money from a corpse?

  Judge Walter Bryson : Now that'll cost you $25 more. That's 50 you owe me.

  [to the court clerk] 

  Judge Walter Bryson : You keeping track of this?

  Court Clerk Beside Judge Bryson : Mm, uh yes.

  Judge Walter Bryson : See that you do.

  Nick Arden : But she is legally dead Your Honor. You declared her legally dead yourself in this very courtroom; your decision is on file.

  Judge Walter Bryson : Did I do that?

  Court Clerk Beside Judge Bryson : Yes, yes you did Your Honor.

  Judge Walter Bryson : I did? Well I'm going to declare her legally alive, then she can pay me that $50. Will someone swear she's a live woman?

  Stephen Burkett : [happily]  I'll say she is Your Honor.

• Stephen Burkett : ...So, just make up your mind old man.

  Nick Arden : [agitated]  I'll make up my mind. I'll...

  Stephen Burkett : You're not allowed to have two wives ya know.

  Nick Arden : I know, I know. Don't rush me.