Holiday Affair (1949)

Robert Mitchum: Steve Mason

Photos 

Quotes 

• Steve Mason : Carl isn't the real threat to me. Maybe I'm not to him. This isn't two fellows and a girl, you know. This is two fellows, a girl and her husband. I can't fight a shadow - I tried - competition's too tough. You were even going to play it safe and settle for someone you didn't love so you wouldn't be unfaithful to your husband.

  Connie Ennis : Oh, you're always so wrong about me. I have a wonderful memory of a husband and a marriage. You're trying to take it away from me.

  Steve Mason : Nobody wants to do that. I know. I'm sure Carl doesn't. All anybody wants is for you to live in the present and not be afraid of the future. You know, maybe it could happen again if you quit pretending that something that's dead is still alive.

  Connie Ennis : Oh, alright, if it will make you any happier, you're a fortune teller. You're absolutely right about me all the time. I want everything just the way it is - Mrs. Status Quo. Just me and Timmy - no changes.

  Steve Mason : And I want a girl that'll drop everything and run to me, no matter what the score is.

• Carl Davis : Looks as though we might have a white Christmas.

  Steve Mason : That's right. Never seems like Christmas unless it IS white.

  Carl Davis : That's right. Still we don't seem to get the big snows we used to when we were kids.

  Steve Mason : That's right. Just comes down slush now.

  Carl Davis : That's right. Probably got something to do with the atomic bomb.

  Steve Mason : Hey, that's right!

  Carl Davis : Last year, it rained.

  Steve Mason : That's right, I remember.

  Carl Davis : They need rain in California.

  Steve Mason : Is that so?

  Carl Davis : I read it in the papers.

  Steve Mason : I'm from California.

  Carl Davis : Is that so?

  Steve Mason : Never rains.

  Carl Davis : Is that so? I was in California one June.

  Steve Mason : Is that so?

  Carl Davis : Rained all the time.

  Steve Mason : Must have been about ten years ago.

  Carl Davis : That's right.

  Steve Mason : Very unusual.

  Carl Davis : Is that so?

• Steve Mason : You see, if you aim higher than your mark, then you've got a better chance of hitting the mark.

• Connie Ennis : But he shouldn't feel that he'll always get everything he wants.

  Steve Mason : Well, not always, no, but every now and then, so that he'll know that these things can happen.

• Carl Davis : Believe it or not, it only looked like I was trying to send you to the chair.

  [electric chair] 

  Steve Mason : Oh, I didn't think you were, for a minute or two.

• Steve Mason : Why don't you quit trying to hang on to something you've lost.

• Landlady : It's the last room at the end of the hall.

  Connie Ennis : Oh, thank you.

  Landlady : And leave the door open.

  Steve Mason : [Connie rings door bell]  Come in.

  [Connie opens door and enters] 

  Steve Mason : Well, you found the place. You know, very few people come here to eat anymore. Too much atmosphere. We've been thinking of closing down the joint to redecorate.

  [Closes door] 

  Connie Ennis : Uh, the landlady said to keep the door open.

  Steve Mason : Let's worry her, huh?

  [Closes Murphy bed closet] 

  Steve Mason : But let's not worry you.

• Steve Mason : Look - do me a favor. There are 56 other departments in this store. Don't come back to this one, okay?

• Steve Mason : [Telling Connie that he was supposed to report her as a comparison shopper]  Hazard of the profession. If you're gonna be a spy, you gotta expect the firing squad.

• Steve Mason : [to Connie Ennis]  Still engaged in commercial espionage, I see.

• Steve Mason : Little floor walkers have big ears.

• Steve Mason : [On returning the train set]  It was for your little boy?

  Connie Ennis : What's so strange about that?

  Steve Mason : What's your boys name? Macy? Sachs? Gimbles? Wanamaker's, or Fisher and Lewis? Honey I tagged you yesterday and when you came back today I knew I was right. Didn't ask a lot of questions about the train. Didn't even ask about the price but had the exact amount all ready, including the tax. Didn't want me to send it. Didn't want Christmas wrappings. It didn't take the greatest brain in the world to spell out 'comparison shopper'.

  Connie Ennis : What are you going to do.

  Steve Mason : I press a little button. The store detective rushes up and takes your picture. We send a picture to every store department and that ends your activities in this store.

  Connie Ennis : And I get fired.

  Steve Mason : If you're gonna be a spy, you gotta expect a firing squad.