Watch the Birdie (1950)

Leon Ames: Grantland D. Farns

Quotes 

• Mr. Hugh Shanway : Naturally, Mr. Farns, the bank will want my report before granting the completion loan; I imagine that money's rather important to you.

  Grantland D. Farns : Important? Without that money, we can't finish this project. You know that as well as we do, and a bad report from you might force Miss Corlane to sell out, probably at a big sacrifice.

  Mr. Hugh Shanway : You do work for Miss Corlane, don't you?

  Grantland D. Farns : Well, Mr. Shanway, I guess I'm like every other smart man in the world: I really work for me.

  Mr. Hugh Shanway : [horn honks]  Isn't that your boss now?

  Grantland D. Farns : [car pulls up]  You finish looking around, I'll see you later, buy you a drink.

  Mr. Hugh Shanway : A drink might be a good idea.

  Grantland D. Farns : We have to drink a toast to my favorite subject: money.

• Grantland D. Farns : Now, here's an example: supposing the bank thought that some of the lumber we used was green and unseasoned.

  Mr. Hugh Shanway : Just for the sake of argument, making no promises, put that into words.

  Grantland D. Farns : Well, you can get yourself $10,000 cash by having your report show green lumber, bad concrete; anything that will delay the bank from making the final loan.

  Mr. Hugh Shanway : Ten thousand?

  Grantland D. Farns : Ten, and ten more when Miss Corlane loses the place to some friends of mine

  Mr. Hugh Shanway : I can't say you didn't put it into words.

  Grantland D. Farns : I'll put it into money anytime you say.

  Mr. Hugh Shanway : No time like this afternoon.

  [Farns and Shanway walk away from the site, unaware that a camera has just filmed their conversation] 

• Mrs. Shanway : it is my privilege to turn the first spadeful of earth of the second unit of Lucky Vista.

  [the crowd applauds as Mrs. Shanway hands the silver shovel to Miss Lucky Vista] 

  Grantland D. Farns : Lucia, why don't you sell out so I can get some sleep?

  Lucia Corlane : You better start taking sleeping tablets, because I'm going to finish this project myself.

  Mrs. Shanway : In honored memory of that estimable, that foresighted, that public spirited individual, the late lamented Cornelius Schuyler Corlane, whose lifelong dream was the completion of this project.

  [Miss Lucky Vists hands the shovel to Mrs. Shanway, who uses it to break the ground; the crowd applauds] 

  Mrs. Shanway : I hereby dedicate this ceremonial moment to Mr. Corlane's daughter, who will carry on the work: Miss Lucia Corlane!

  Lucia Corlane : Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. They told me that a girl couldn't carry on this project; that's all I needed to hear. We're having a big turkey raffle at 4:00, I hope you will all participate. Turkeys are courtesy of the Lenard-Vulty turkey ranch, oh and here they come now.