- [Vic suspects his wife of infidelity]
- Vic Fontanee: Maria...
- Maria: Yes, Vic.
- Vic Fontanee: When did you start to smoke.
- Mike Hammer: [narrating] When I start looking for somebody, I always operate on the theory that sometimes the shortest distance between two points is the telephone line.
- Maria: Oh, I guess I know what you think of me, Mike. I made some mistakes.
- Mike Hammer: Mistakes? Is that what you call 'em?
- Maria: Yes, that's what I call them! I made them all before I met Vic. I've changed!
- Mike Hammer: Everybody changes, Maria. The difference is most people change for the better.
- [discussing Helen's ex-husband]
- Helen Torrey: What's he done now?
- Mike Hammer: Then you do know him.
- Helen Torrey: I was married to him - off and on - for about eight years.
- Mike Hammer: Well well well.
- [Helen offers Mike a cigarette]
- Mike Hammer: No thanks. Well, do you know where I can find him?
- Helen Torrey: Sure - under the nearest rock!
- Mike Hammer: [narrating] I'd been lucky. Torrey's toad-sticker had bounced off a rib. It had plowed up a furrow of skin, but it hadn't made any holes that needed vulcanizing.
- [Mike answers his phone]
- Maria: Hello, Mike?
- Mike Hammer: [to Vic] Speak of the devil, it's his kid sister.
- [last lines]
- [Maria calls after Vic, who has just slammed the door behind him]
- Mike Hammer: You're wasting your time, Maria. Vic was never able to see you; now he can't even hear you.