Murder by Contract (1958)

Vince Edwards: Claude

Quotes 

• Mr. Moon : I'm a retired real estate broker. I don't do anything anymore but sit in my room, look at television, and smoke cigars.

  Claude : I'd still like to work for you.

  Mr. Moon : Doing what?

  Claude : I want to be a contractor.

  Mr. Moon : Have you done it before?

  Claude : No, sir.

  Mr. Moon : You can only make a mistake once in this job.

  Claude : Well, I'm different.

  Mr. Moon : What do you mean you're different?

  Claude : I don't make mistakes.

  Mr. Moon : Then how come you're out of a job?

• George : I'm George. This is Marc.

  Claude : Pleased to meet you, boys. Now that we've said hello, let's see how fast we can say goodbye.

• Claude : The only type killing that's safe is when a stranger kills a stranger. No motive. Nothing to link the victim to the executioner. Now why would a stranger kill a stranger? Because somebody's willing to pay. It's business. Same as any other business. You murder the competition. Instead of price-cutting, throat-cutting. Same thing. There are a lot of people around that would like to see lots of other people die a fast death... only they can't see to it themselves. They got conscience, religion, families. They're afraid of punishment here or hereafter. Me...

  [laughs] 

  Claude : I can't be bothered with any of that nonsense, I look at it like a good business. The risk is high but so is the profit.

• Claude : [to Harry with contempt]  Why are you miserable? Cause you haven't got any dough? And why haven't you got any dough? Because you're too scared to go out and get it yourself. You want it to come to you. Well, nothing comes to you, Harry. Nothing except one thing... death. Death comes to you... comes to everybody. Only everybody thinks they'll live forever.

  [laughs] 

  Claude : There's a laugh. They think they'll live forever. The way i see it, Harry, everybody lives off everybody else.

• Claude : [to George]  The human female is descended from the monkey, and monkeys are about the most curious animal in the world. If anything goes on, it just can't stand it not to know about it. Same thing with a woman.

• Claude : [to George, after an impromptu dip in the Pacific upon arrival in Los Angeles]  Now be a good boy and dry my back!