John Haven Quotes in Station West (1948)
John Haven Quotes:
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John Haven: [to barman] Whiskey... like you pour it for yourself.
Girl: Don't you know it's no fun to drink alone?
John Haven: Not until after the first one.
-- John Haven -
John Haven: [gesturing at the piano player] Doesn't he ever stop playing?
Bartender: Sam? It don't bother him, he's deaf.
-- John Haven -
Second Lt. Stellman: You a stranger here?
[Haven turns to him, then turns back to the bar and downs his whiskey]
John Haven: [to bartender] What kind of whiskey was that?
Bartender: On the bottle it says rye, but the way you take it I don't see what difference it makes.
John Haven: I'll have another rye.
Second Lt. Stellman: You didn't answer my question.
John Haven: I'm a stranger everywhere.
Second Lt. Stellman: You got a job?
John Haven: Listen, soldier, I know that one too. 'Got a job, stranger? No? Why don't you join the army? Three meals a day, a place to sleep, nice warm uniform.'
Second Lt. Stellman: It has a little more than that.
John Haven: Yeah, it has one thing more. That I could never take. It's got second lieutenants.
Second Lt. Stellman: You want to make this a personal matter? Alright.
John Haven: I don't make it anything, soldier. You tried to sell me something, I didn't buy it. Why don't you beat it?
Second Lt. Stellman: If I weren't in uniform I might teach you a few manners.
John Haven: If you could teach me anything you wouldn't be in a uniform.
-- John Haven -
Bartender: You couldn't be looking for trouble, could you?
John Haven: I could, but I'm not.
Bartender: Well that's fine. Because this is one of the best places west of the Atlantic Ocean to find it.
John Haven: That was my first impression.
Bartender: That lieutenant's a nice young boy.
John Haven: I don't doubt it. But his mouth is too big... like your ears.
-- John Haven -
[Haven walks up to the table where Charlie and Prince are seated]
John Haven: [to Prince, whom he previously encountered at the dice table] You know, you look much better at this table.
Charlene - aka 'Charlie': And you must like to pick fights.
John Haven: Only with second lieutenants.
Charlene - aka 'Charlie': We like second lieutenants here. You see, here everybody fights except the army.
John Haven: I wouldn't know.
Charlene - aka 'Charlie': So, anyone who doesn't like the army...
John Haven: I know what you mean. But I'm afraid I'll have to come back. You see, I like the way you sing.
-- John Haven -
[Haven goes back to the saloon. Charlie is singing, but stops when she sees him enter, and sits down at a nearby table. Haven approaches the table]
John Haven: Every time I come in here you stop singing. Why is that?
Charlene - aka 'Charlie': You don't have to come in.
John Haven: Look, I didn't come back to start a fight or break the bank.
Charlene - aka 'Charlie': Why did you come back?
John Haven: [sitting down] If you'll invite me to sit down, I might find out.
Charlene - aka 'Charlie': It might be better if you found another table... and another girl.
John Haven: Oh no it wouldn't. I looked.
[They both look over to Mick and Prince, who are standing a few paces away nervously exchanging glances]
John Haven: [not yet aware that the woman he's talking to is Charlie] Would that be Charlie?
Charlene - aka 'Charlie': No.
John Haven: His eyes follow you around like a couple of flies.
Charlene - aka 'Charlie': They follow me around to see that strangers don't annoy me.
John Haven: Only strangers?
Charlene - aka 'Charlie': No-one else would be so foolish.
John Haven: [to waiter] Waiter, bring me a bottle of wine, will you?
[to Charlie]
John Haven: First you're beautiful, then I like the way you sing, and now you're a woman of mystery. I don't want to be a stranger, so I'll have to be foolish.
Charlene - aka 'Charlie': You like to take chances, don't you?
John Haven: If I feel lucky.
Charlene - aka 'Charlie': I advise you to try the dice table.
John Haven: I'd rather get lucky here.
Charlene - aka 'Charlie': [shrugs] Every man has the right to his own funeral.
[Charlie gets Prince's attention. He approaches the table]
John Haven: [noting Prince's approach] I could be your cousin from Waxahachie. I could be cousin John, a missionary on his way to China.
-- John Haven -
[Prince joins Haven and Charlie at the table]
John Haven: So Charlie probably runs the town, huh?
Prince: Why do you care?
John Haven: I've gotta spend some time here, I'd just like to know who winds the clock.
[Haven throws his chips onto the table in front of Prince. Mick notices this, and walks over]
Charlene - aka 'Charlie': [sarcastically] It's been a nice conversation. I'd hate to have it end.
Mick: Who's this?
Charlene - aka 'Charlie': Mick, this is cousin John.
John Haven: From Waxahachie.
Charlene - aka 'Charlie': Cousin John's a missionary on his way to China.
Mick: What's keeping him?
Prince: Think he's wondering if he couldn't do more good here.
[Mick tries to remove the bottle of win, but Haven stops him]
Mick: You ain't too friendly, are ya?
John Haven: I like to pick my friends.
Prince: You oughtta learn not to pick 'em so easy, like you do your cousins.
John Haven: [gesturing at Charlie] Ask her.
Charlene - aka 'Charlie': I never saw him before in my life.
[Haven and Mick are still wrestling over the bottle. Haven suddenly throws a glass of wine in Mick's face, and punches him. Haven is then held by various bystanders. Mick wipes his face and squares up to Haven]
Mick: You're too little to make that big a mistake.
John Haven: You gonna correct me, or just bleed at the mouth?
Mick: [to the men holding Haven] Bring him outside.
-- John Haven
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