Station West (1948)
Dick Powell: Haven
Photos
Quotes
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Bartender : You couldn't be looking for trouble, could you?
John Haven : I could, but I'm not.
Bartender : Well that's fine. Because this is one of the best places west of the Atlantic Ocean to find it.
John Haven : That was my first impression.
Bartender : That lieutenant's a nice young boy.
John Haven : I don't doubt it. But his mouth is too big... like your ears.
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Charlene - aka 'Charlie' : Did you ever tell a woman you loved her?
John Haven : All of them!
Charlene - aka 'Charlie' : How'd you get away?
John Haven : Uhhh... .I was always in the doorway when I said it.
Charlene - aka 'Charlie' : Never said it to me.
John Haven : Let's get over to the doorway!
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John Haven : [to barman] Whiskey... like you pour it for yourself.
Girl : Don't you know it's no fun to drink alone?
John Haven : Not until after the first one.
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John Haven : [gesturing at the piano player] Doesn't he ever stop playing?
Bartender : Sam? It don't bother him, he's deaf.
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Second Lt. Stellman : You a stranger here?
[Haven turns to him, then turns back to the bar and downs his whiskey]
John Haven : [to bartender] What kind of whiskey was that?
Bartender : On the bottle it says rye, but the way you take it I don't see what difference it makes.
John Haven : I'll have another rye.
Second Lt. Stellman : You didn't answer my question.
John Haven : I'm a stranger everywhere.
Second Lt. Stellman : You got a job?
John Haven : Listen, soldier, I know that one too. 'Got a job, stranger? No? Why don't you join the army? Three meals a day, a place to sleep, nice warm uniform.'
Second Lt. Stellman : It has a little more than that.
John Haven : Yeah, it has one thing more. That I could never take. It's got second lieutenants.
Second Lt. Stellman : You want to make this a personal matter? Alright.
John Haven : I don't make it anything, soldier. You tried to sell me something, I didn't buy it. Why don't you beat it?
Second Lt. Stellman : If I weren't in uniform I might teach you a few manners.
John Haven : If you could teach me anything you wouldn't be in a uniform.
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[Haven walks up to the table where Charlie and Prince are seated]
John Haven : [to Prince, whom he previously encountered at the dice table] You know, you look much better at this table.
Charlene - aka 'Charlie' : And you must like to pick fights.
John Haven : Only with second lieutenants.
Charlene - aka 'Charlie' : We like second lieutenants here. You see, here everybody fights except the army.
John Haven : I wouldn't know.
Charlene - aka 'Charlie' : So, anyone who doesn't like the army...
John Haven : I know what you mean. But I'm afraid I'll have to come back. You see, I like the way you sing.
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[Haven goes back to the saloon. Charlie is singing, but stops when she sees him enter, and sits down at a nearby table. Haven approaches the table]
John Haven : Every time I come in here you stop singing. Why is that?
Charlene - aka 'Charlie' : You don't have to come in.
John Haven : Look, I didn't come back to start a fight or break the bank.
Charlene - aka 'Charlie' : Why did you come back?
John Haven : [sitting down] If you'll invite me to sit down, I might find out.
Charlene - aka 'Charlie' : It might be better if you found another table... and another girl.
John Haven : Oh no it wouldn't. I looked.
[They both look over to Mick and Prince, who are standing a few paces away nervously exchanging glances]
John Haven : [not yet aware that the woman he's talking to is Charlie] Would that be Charlie?
Charlene - aka 'Charlie' : No.
John Haven : His eyes follow you around like a couple of flies.
Charlene - aka 'Charlie' : They follow me around to see that strangers don't annoy me.
John Haven : Only strangers?
Charlene - aka 'Charlie' : No-one else would be so foolish.
John Haven : [to waiter] Waiter, bring me a bottle of wine, will you?
[to Charlie]
John Haven : First you're beautiful, then I like the way you sing, and now you're a woman of mystery. I don't want to be a stranger, so I'll have to be foolish.
Charlene - aka 'Charlie' : You like to take chances, don't you?
John Haven : If I feel lucky.
Charlene - aka 'Charlie' : I advise you to try the dice table.
John Haven : I'd rather get lucky here.
Charlene - aka 'Charlie' : [shrugs] Every man has the right to his own funeral.
[Charlie gets Prince's attention. He approaches the table]
John Haven : [noting Prince's approach] I could be your cousin from Waxahachie. I could be cousin John, a missionary on his way to China.
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[Prince joins Haven and Charlie at the table]
John Haven : So Charlie probably runs the town, huh?
Prince : Why do you care?
John Haven : I've gotta spend some time here, I'd just like to know who winds the clock.
[Haven throws his chips onto the table in front of Prince. Mick notices this, and walks over]
Charlene - aka 'Charlie' : [sarcastically] It's been a nice conversation. I'd hate to have it end.
Mick : Who's this?
Charlene - aka 'Charlie' : Mick, this is cousin John.
John Haven : From Waxahachie.
Charlene - aka 'Charlie' : Cousin John's a missionary on his way to China.
Mick : What's keeping him?
Prince : Think he's wondering if he couldn't do more good here.
[Mick tries to remove the bottle of win, but Haven stops him]
Mick : You ain't too friendly, are ya?
John Haven : I like to pick my friends.
Prince : You oughtta learn not to pick 'em so easy, like you do your cousins.
John Haven : [gesturing at Charlie] Ask her.
Charlene - aka 'Charlie' : I never saw him before in my life.
[Haven and Mick are still wrestling over the bottle. Haven suddenly throws a glass of wine in Mick's face, and punches him. Haven is then held by various bystanders. Mick wipes his face and squares up to Haven]
Mick : You're too little to make that big a mistake.
John Haven : You gonna correct me, or just bleed at the mouth?
Mick : [to the men holding Haven] Bring him outside.
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John Haven : Every time I see you, you look different, but you always look beautiful. Why is that?
Charlene - aka 'Charlie' : I always have someone to lie to me.
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John Haven : How 'bout a handout?
Cook : [Hands Haven a plate] Help yourself.
John Haven : Mm, looks pretty good.
Cook : Oughta be. Used to cook for 600 men a day.
John Haven : Where was that?
Cook : Leavenworth.
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John Haven : One thing, Mark. You might get out of town.
Mark Bristow : Oh, there's not a chance in a thousand.
John Haven : There's one in a million, it's the only one you have.
[hands Mark a shot of liquor, which Mark drinks]
Mark Bristow : Yeah, I, I might get away with it. I could try it.
John Haven : Well, if you do, go straight to your horse. Don't stop for anything.
Mark Bristow : I, I have some important papers in my office.
John Haven : You haven't got anything important left, except your life, and very little time to keep it.
Mark Bristow : Yeah.
John Haven : Get on that horse and ride him till he dies. And then run until you have to crawl, and you might be lucky.
Mark Bristow : Yeah. Yeah.
[gets up and leaves the room]
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Charlene - aka 'Charlie' : If you still have the gold, and I think you do, we might make it yet. You see, I believe every man has his price.
John Haven : Some men don't believe that.
Charlene - aka 'Charlie' : But every woman knows it.
John Haven : Only there wouldn't be any women on my jury.