Professor Bertram Potts Quotes in Ball of Fire (1941)

Professor Bertram Potts: What're you gonna do?

Sugarpuss O'Shea: I'm going to show you what yum-yum is. Here's yum.

[kisses him]

Sugarpuss O'Shea: Here's the other yum.

[kisses him again]

Sugarpuss O'Shea: And here's yum-yum.

[gives a long kiss that knocks him backwards onto a chair]

Sugarpuss O'Shea: For instance, do you know what this means - "I'll get you on the Ameche"?

Professor Bertram Potts: No.

Sugarpuss O'Shea: 'Course you don't. An Ameche is the telephone, on account of he invented it.

Professor Bertram Potts: Oh, no, he didn't.

Sugarpuss O'Shea: Like, you know, in the movies.

Professor Bertram Potts: Well, I see what you mean. Very interesting. Make no mistake, I shall regret the absence of your keen mind; unfortunately, it is inseparable from an extremely disturbing body.

Sugarpuss O'Shea: Richard ill. Who's Richard ill?

Professor Bertram Potts: Richard the Third.

Professor Bertram Potts: That man talked a living language; I embalmed some dead phrases.

Sugarpuss O'Shea: You, uh, you don't think we could sort of begin the beguine right now?

Professor Bertram Potts: Well, it's, uh, nearly one o'clock, Miss O'Shea.

Sugarpuss O'Shea: Oh, foo, professor. And let's get ourselves a couple drinks, light the fire maybe, and you can start working on me right away.

Professor Bertram Potts: Well, I wouldn't think of imposing on you at this hour.

Sugarpuss O'Shea: Listen, I figured on working all night.

Professor Bertram Potts: Before we attempt to get back to work, I'd like to say a few words. You've been very kind and very tactful. If I may say so, over-tactful. The entire ride home in the car you avoided a certain subject to make empty conversation. Now let's have it out. I made an ass of myself and I know it.

Prof. Jerome: Oh, well, we all have, Potts.

Professor Bertram Potts: Yes, but I was the lead donkey.

Professor Bertram Potts: Sugarpuss, uh, before you go, would you... would you, eh, yum me just once more?

Professor Bertram Potts: We're working under pressure. After nine years of effort, we are, as the race track enthusiast might say, in the home stretch. Three more years and our encyclopedia will be finished. Let's not bog down in the middle of the letter S.

Professor Bertram Potts: I've just finished my article on slang. Twenty-three pages compiled from a dozen reference books, eight hundred examples.

Prof. Robinson: Well?

Professor Bertram Potts: Everything from the idiotic combination of "absotively" to the pajorative use of "zigzag." I traced the evolution of "hunky-dory," tracked down "skidoo" from "skedaddle." Eight-hundred examples and I may as well throw it in the wastebasket. Three weeks work...

Prof. Robinson: You're hysterical.

Professor Bertram Potts: Outmoded... based on reference books twenty years old. Take "smooch," take "dish," take, uh...

Prof. Oddly: "Hoi toi toi?"

Professor Bertram Potts: "Hoi toi toi." Not one of them included.

Sugarpuss O'Shea: [mistaking Bertram for a police dick come to take her downtown] Hey, how many of you are on this job?

Professor Bertram Potts: Uh, the entire project? Eight.

Sugarpuss O'Shea: Oh. The other seven waiting outside?

Professor Bertram Potts: Oh, no. They're at home sound asleep, I imagine.

Sugarpuss O'Shea: Asleep?

Professor Bertram Potts: Yes, they go to bed at nine every night.

Sugarpuss O'Shea: You mean to tell me with crime what it is in New Yor... Say, are you a bull or aren't you?

Professor Bertram Potts: Well, if "bull" is a slang word for professor, then I'm a bull.

Sugarpuss O'Shea: A professor?

Professor Bertram Potts: Of English.

Professor Bertram Potts: She wouldn't say yes? What... Why, you very ugly young man, you know, to me, at this moment you look perfectly delightful.

Professor Bertram Potts: Is that coming from next door?

Miss Bragg: It's coming from this door.