Rev. George Bradford Quotes in The Walls Came Tumbling Down (1946)

Gilbert Archer: Is this where you hold your Wednesday night prayer meetings?

Matthew Stoker: Oh no, Mr. Archer. On Wednesday nights, I preach at the mission.

Gilbert Archer: That I'd like to see. Good evening, Mrs. Stoker.

Mrs. Stoker: It's so nice of you to call, Mr. Archer.

Gilbert Archer: Well, Mr. Bradford. Now isn't this comfy?

Rev. George Bradford: You don't seem very surprised to find me here, Archer.

Gilbert Archer: Surprised? Mr. Bradford, I already had you pegged as a member of the unholy family.

Rev. George Bradford: Really? Since when?

Gilbert Archer: Since earlier this evening when we met at the hotel.

Matthew Stoker: Mr. Archer is a little late in putting two and two together, but he's a man of keen perception. And now, Mr. Archer, the Bible if you please.

Gilbert Archer: According to our deal, Mr. Helms was to confirm this transaction in person.

Rev. George Bradford: I assure you we're all most anxiously waiting for Mr. Helms. Rausch went to fetch him, and he should be here presently.

Gilbert Archer: Rausch?

[He notes that Stoker is carrying a gun]

Gilbert Archer: I wouldn't dream of quibbling.

Matthew Stoker: Bradford, come over here!

Rev. George Bradford: The page that contains the code has been torn out.

Gilbert Archer: Oh, that page! Now isn't that careless of me?

Rev. George Bradford: What have you done with it?

Gilbert Archer: I completely forgot to tell you about it. I left it in the safe at my hotel.

Matthew Stoker: What was on that page?

Rev. George Bradford: Stoker!

Gilbert Archer: Now we mustn't lose our heads, must we, Bradford? Because if anything happens to me, you'll lose your last chance at finding that painting.

Rev. George Bradford: Very shrewdly put, Mr. Archer. As soon as Rausch brings Helms here, you're going with us to your apartment. There you're going to give us the missing page.

Gilbert Archer: I'll make you a proposition. You want that missing page. I want information.

Mrs. Stoker: Information, Mr. Archer?

Gilbert Archer: Let me put it this way. I have a few theories I'd like to have you confirm.

Matthew Stoker: Mr. Archer, you've always found me a very reasonable man.

Gilbert Archer: You've been reasonable, Holy Joe, but not very bright. You thought I was in this for the money, but from the first I only wanted to find out one thing: Who murdered Father Walsh. You did, you and that trained ape of yours.

Mrs. Stoker: Isn't that interesting?

Gilbert Archer: You didn't intend to kill Father Walsh, but when you put Rausch to work on him, he got too rough.

Matthew Stoker: Brilliant, Mr. Archer!

Gilbert Archer: And then you hanged his dead body from a beam and made it appear that a priest of God had taken his own life. You, Bradford, you called me to your office to make sure that my apartment would be unoccupied. While you were searching it, Catherine Walsh arrived with the first Bible, and you killed Catherine Walsh. Those are the theories I wanted to verify. Well, let's go.

Rev. George Bradford: Not yet. We're waiting for Mr. Helms to confirm the transaction.

Gilbert Archer: I'm willing to forego that now.

Matthew Stoker: No, no. We wouldn't have you do that, Mr. Archer. We'll wait. You were so insistent upon seeing him.

Rev. George Bradford: [Rausch walks in] You brought everything, Rausch?

[He nods]

Rev. George Bradford: Good work. I'm glad you got here all right.

Gilbert Archer: Mr. Helms got here all right too, didn't he - in the trunk.

Matthew Stoker: You know that too, Mr. Archer?

Gilbert Archer: Yeah, I know that. You came back to Helms' apartment to get rid of the trunk, but you found me there when you arrived. I found the trunk ready to be shipped, yet two of his suits were still hanging in his closet. Obviously there wasn't room for them. I still wasn't sure, but when you were so eager to have Helms' belongings taken to your home, I was convinced his body was in the trunk.

Rev. George Bradford: Right. The trunk is here now, and tonight it'll be at the bottom of the East River. Maybe you'll be there too, Archer.

Matthew Stoker: But first, Mr. Archer, we're going to your apartment, and you're going to tell the desk clerk to get that missing page out of the safe. After we've conducted our business, you may find that trunk a bit cramped, but you won't mind the inconvenience - then.

[the police come in]

Gilbert Archer: I completely forgot to tell you. The police were following the trunk.