Watch the Birdie (1950)

Arlene Dahl: Lucia Corlane

Photos 

Quotes 

• Rusty Cammeron : [awakes, sees Lucia]  My camera, where's my camera?

  Lucia Corlane : Oh, I'm sorry, but I'm afraid we lost that.

  Rusty Cammeron : Oh no, why, you should have saved the camera and let me drown. That thing cost $1,200.

  Lucia Corlane : Oh I'm sorry, it's all my fault.

  Rusty Cammeron : All my life, I've been doing things I couldn't afford, but it's the first time I ever got any pleasure out of it.

• Lucia Corlane : Hello, Mr. Cammeron.

  Rusty Cammeron : Gee, it's good to see you, when I'm not all wet - I mean, when you're drier than I'm wetter. Say, I'd like for you to meet my pop.

  Lucia Corlane : Oh, I'd love to.

  Rusty Cammeron : You would?

  Lucia Corlane : Yes.

• Lucia Corlane : Your father's a darling.

  Rusty Cammeron : I'm his only son. You look so wonderful it's silly to ask, how are you?

  Lucia Corlane : I'm very well; I'm also a customer.

  Rusty Cammeron : Oh, well I'm rather disappointed.

  Lucia Corlane : You mean you don't want to sell anything?

  Rusty Cammeron : Well, no. When I look at you, I don't think of business; that is, well, if I had a store, I would give you anything and - Well, I do have a store and - Here.

  [goes behind the counter and takes a camera down from the shelf] 

  Rusty Cammeron : Take that as a souvenir, I was going to throw it away anyhow.

  Lucia Corlane : Thank you, but I couldn't. I would like to buy a gift for a friend, say something around $200.

  Rusty Cammeron : Well, this camera with the carrying case and some film will run around $200.

  Lucia Corlane : Fine, I'll take them.

  Rusty Cammeron : Mm-hm, pardon me.

  [Rusty turns his head, sneezes] 

  Lucia Corlane : What are you taking for that cold?

  Rusty Cammeron : Make me an offer - I mean nothing, it's nothing at all. It's slight.

  Lucia Corlane : Well, as soon as you've finished wrapping this, I'm taking you right down to my doctor.

  Rusty Cammeron : Well, I'd rather not. You see, he might cure me, and then I'd never see you again. Why don't we go to my doctor, he's not too good, heh.

  Lucia Corlane : Bundle up, and I'll drive you right down.

  Rusty Cammeron : I'll wrap this for you.

• Rusty Cammeron : [reading an article on Lucia Corlane, who will be attending a groundbreaking ceremony]  No wonder you're the head of a construction company, you're a walking example of good construction.

  Lucia Corlane : Hello.

  Rusty Cammeron : [Rusty puts the newspaper down]  Gee, Miss Corlane.

  Lucia Corlane : I'm glad you're in, because we have some business to discuss.

  Rusty Cammeron : Business?

  Lucia Corlane : Of course. Aren't you a photographer?

  Rusty Cammeron : Photograph you, Miss Corlane? I have nothing else to do the rest of my life.

  Lucia Corlane : That's very flattering, but what I had in mind was a real estate project, Lucky Vista.

  Rusty Cammeron : I know, here! If all bosses looked like you, labor and management could really get together.

  Lucia Corlane : What I need is a pictorial record of the construction as it progresses. I just might want to prove that everything is being done right.

  Rusty Cammeron : You don't expect any trouble, do you?

  Lucia Corlane : I can't take any chances. You see, my father started this project just before he died, it was his life's dream.

  Rusty Cammeron : Well, I know you'll do it.

  Lucia Corlane : I have to, for my own sake, too. Every penny I inherited is in Lucky Vista. If anything happened to it, the money Dad left me, my home, everything - I'd lose it quicker than you lost that $1,200 camera.

  Rusty Cammeron : Well, don't you worry, nothing's going to happen. Say, why don't we discuss this business at lunch? I'm an awful good cook.

  Lucia Corlane : All right, we'll call it a businessman's lunch.

  Rusty Cammeron : Good, right this way, Miss Corlane.

• Rusty Cammeron : [Rusty and Lucia enter the clinic]  Uh, you're going to wait for me, aren't you?

  Lucia Corlane : I told you, I have to get back to the office.

  Rusty Cammeron : Oh... well... supposing I have an attack on the way home?

  Lucia Corlane : You just thought of that, didn't you?

  Rusty Cammeron : Mm-hmm.

  Lucia Corlane : Now remember, do exactly as the doctor tells you.

  Rusty Cammeron : I'll do everything I'm told.

  Lucia Corlane : [Rusty opens the door for Lucia, who is about to leave]  Bye.

  Rusty Cammeron : Bye.

• 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.

• Lucia Corlane : Good evening, Rusty.

  Rusty Cammeron : Oh, good evening. Say, it was nice of Mr. Farns to arrange to show the picture.

  Lucia Corlane : You seem nervous.

  Rusty Cammeron : Well, I'm in a lot of trouble.

  Lucia Corlane : What kind of trouble?

  Rusty Cammeron : Well, when a fella calls on his girl - that is, a girl - for the first time, well, he knows 8:00 is the right time to get there. Well, here's his trouble: should the guy show up exactly at 8:00 to prove to the girl that he's reliable and steady, or should he show up maybe at 8:30 and show her that he's uh, more carefree and nonchalant?

  Lucia Corlane : What time is it now, Rusty?

  Rusty Cammeron : Half past 7:00.

  Lucia Corlane : Shall we go in?

  [Rusty and Lucia enter the parlor] 

• Rusty Cammeron : Here's the film.

  [hands the box of chocolates to the projectionist by mistake] 

  Movie Projectionist : Okay, thanks.

  Rusty Cammeron : Oh Miss Corlane -

  [hands the film to the projectionist and takes the box of chocolates to Miss Corlane] 

  Rusty Cammeron : Oh, pardon me. Miss Corlane, I happen to have a box of candy for you.

  Lucia Corlane : Oh, thank you very much.

  [Rusty stumbles over the ottoman] 

  Lucia Corlane , Miss Lucky Vista : Oh!

  Miss Lucky Vista : Is he all right?

  Lucia Corlane : Are you hurt?

  Rusty Cammeron : No, I'm okay; that's a silly place to put furniture, I'm sorry.

• Miss Lucky Vista : [Miss Lucky Vista runs into Mr. Shanway's arms]  Oh, why Mr. Shanway, why I had no idea you were so strong.

  Mr. Hugh Shanway : I wouldn't be surprised if you weren't the prettiest girl I ever saw.

  Miss Lucky Vista : You shouldn't say that, you're a married man.

  Mr. Hugh Shanway : Let's forget about the old battle-ax.

  Mrs. Shanway : Ohh! Ohh!

  Lucia Corlane : Please turn it off.

  [the film ends and the lights go on] 

  Mrs. Shanway : Hugh Shanway, you worm! You viper!

  Mr. Hugh Shanway : But honey, it...

  Mrs. Shanway : "Old battle-ax", huh? You know very well I'm only 29!

  Mr. Hugh Shanway : Honey, use some sense, that film's all mixed up. You know you didn't talk like a turkey to those people.

  Mrs. Shanway : You didn't talk like a married man to that skin tomato!

  Mr. Hugh Shanway : Oh honey, that dialogue was from another scene.

  Mrs. Shanway : And as for you trying to steal my husband, I ought to have you arrested for petty larceny!

  Miss Lucky Vista : Well what is she -

  [Mrs. Shanway pushes Miss Lucky Vista down into a chair and leaves] 

  Miss Lucky Vista : I don't know why she's so jealous of me, I'm not jealous of her!

• Rusty Cammeron : [while driving a straddle carrier truck]  Look, I make up my mind in a hurry, you're never gonna leave me. We'll get married as soon as we get out of this mess. Do you understand?

  Lucia Corlane : Of course I do, anything you say, Clark - I- I mean Rusty.

  Rusty Cammeron : Well then, slide over here and give me a kiss!

  [Lucia puts her arm on Rusty's shoulder] 

  Rusty Cammeron : Gee, Grandpa and Clark Gable would be mighty proud of me.

• [last lines] 

  Lucia Corlane : [Rusty and Lucia park the straddle carrier next to the police station]  Officers, don't let these two men get away!

  Policeman : Okay, miss!

  Lucia Corlane : [Rusty and Lucia climb in through the police station window]  Oh officer, I want those two men arrested; they're guilty, and we've got the film to prove it.

  Police Captain : Now wait a minute, young lady.

  Rusty Cammeron : If I hadn't have straightened out that soundtrack, we'd never known what happened.

  Police Captain : What soundtrack are you talking about?

  [the film fades out to the closing credits] 

• Rusty Cammeron : Pop, this is Miss Lucia Corlane.

  Lucia Corlane : How do you do?

  Pop Cammeron : I want to thank you for saving my boy's life.

  Lucia Corlane : Oh, it wasn't that serious; besides, I felt responsible.

  Pop Cammeron : Rusty tried to tell me how lovely you were, but unfortunately, he's not a poet.

  Lucia Corlane : Thank you, Mr. Cammeron, you're very sweet.

  Pop Cammeron : You must visit our store more often; I never realized how attractive it was until I saw you standing there. Well, goodbye for now, Miss Corlane.

  Lucia Corlane : Goodbye.