- Harry Caul: [from dream sequence] He'll kill you if he gets a chance. I'm not afraid of death. I am afraid of murder.
- [last lines]
- Martin Stett: [on the phone] We know that you know, Mr. Caul. For your own sake, don't get involved any further. We'll be listening to you.
- [plays back recording of Harry playing saxophone]
- [about a bum on a park bench]
- Ann: Every time I see one of those old guys, I always think the same thing.
- Mark: What do you think?
- Ann: I always think that he was once somebody's baby boy. Really, I do. I think he was once somebody's baby boy, and he had a mother and a father who loved him, and now there he is, half dead on a park bench, and where are his mother or his father, all his uncles now?
- Harry Caul: [upset, walking over to Martin seated] What are you doing here?
- Martin Stett: Take it easy I'm just a messenger. I brought you a drink.
- Harry Caul: I don't want your drink. Why are you following me?
- Martin Stett: I'm not following you. I'm looking for you, big difference.
- Harry Caul: Would you - if you were a girl who'd waited for someone...
- Meredith: You can trust me.
- Harry Caul: Well you never really knew when he was going to come to see you. You just lived in a room alone, and you knew nothing about him. And if you loved him, you were patient with him, and even though he didn't dare ever tell you anything about himself personally, even though he may have loved you, would you...
- Meredith: Would I what?
- Harry Caul: Would you go back to him?
- Meredith: Well, how would I know? How would I know that he loved me?
- Harry Caul: You'd have no way of knowing.
- Meredith: Forget it, Harry. It's only a trick.
- Harry Caul: What?
- Meredith: A job. You're not supposed to feel anything about it. You're just supposed to do it. That's all. Relax, honey.
- [first lines]
- Passerby: Well, I want to go over to my place and start, you know, getting it on...
- Ann: Oh, that's terrible.
- Mark: Yeah. Do you ever, uh... ballet?
- Ann: Be thankful. Do you have a quarter for them?
- Mark: Yes, I do.
- Ann: [gives it to street band]
- Ann: What about me?
- Mark: You'll see.
- Ann: A lot of fun you are. You're supposed to tease me, give hints, make me guess, you know.
- Stan: It wouldn't hurt if you filled me in a little bit once in a while. Did you ever think of that?
- Harry Caul: It has nothing to do with me, and even less to do with you.
- Stan: It's curiosity! Did you ever hear of that? It's just goddamn human nature.
- Harry Caul: Listen, if there's one sure-fire rule that I have learned in this business is that I don't know anything about human nature. I don't know anything about curiosity. That's not part of what I do.
- Amy: Harry, I was so happy when you came over tonight. When I heard you open up the door, my toes were dancing under the covers. But I don't think I'm going to wait for you anymore.
- Amy: A woman can always tell. You have a certain way of opening up the door. You know, first the key goes in real quiet, and then the door comes open real fast, just like you think you're gonna catch me at something. Sometimes I even think you're listening to me when I'm talking on the telephone.
- Harry Caul: What are you talking about?
- Amy: I don't know. I just feel it. Really, I do.
- Bernie Moran: You know something, Harry? Twelve years ago, I recorded every telephone call made by the presidential nominee of a major political party. I don't want to say which party. But everywhere he went, that's where I was. Coast to coast, I was listening, Harry. I'm not saying I elected the President of the United States, but you can draw your own conclusions, Harry.
- Stan: Who's interested in these two anyway?
- Harry Caul: I don't know for sure.
- Stan: The Justice Department?
- Harry Caul: No.
- Stan: I figure it must be the Infernal Revenue. Their tapes always put me to sleep.
- Harry Caul: Since when are you here to be entertained?
- Meredith: When I was a little baby, I used to love to bang my head up against the wall. No, really. I did. Sometimes I still feel like doing it 'cause it's comforting.
- Amy: Where do you live? I mean, why can't I call you over there?
- Harry Caul: 'Cause I don't have a telephone.
- Amy: Do you live alone?
- Harry Caul: Why are you asking me all these questions?
- Amy: Because it's your birthday.
- Harry Caul: I don't want people asking me a lot of questions.
- Amy: I want to know you.
- Harry Caul: Yes, I live alone. I don't feel like answering any more questions.
- Bernie Moran: That's very nice, Harry. What did you use?
- Harry Caul: Three-stage directional microphones with MOSFET amplifier of my own design.
- Stan: What have we here? Okay, come on, you little babies, now, wet your lips there. Give me some tongue. Just give me a little tongue there. Come on. Come on, just a little tongue outside. A nice, wet French kiss now. Come on, a nice wet one there.
- Paul: Say, how about that pastry in the yellow? She come with us?
- Bernie Moran: Come on. Forget it. She's a part-time nun.
- Bernie Moran: I know you heard this a thousand times, Harry, but let me say it again. Here's to Harry, the best, bar none. I'll drink to that.
- Harry Caul: The best what?
- Bernie Moran: The best bugger on the West Coast.
- Amy: Does something special happen between us on your birthday?
- Harry Caul: Like what?
- Amy: Something personal.
- Harry Caul: What?
- Amy: Like telling me about yourself, your secrets.
- Harry Caul: I don't have any secrets.
- Amy: I'm your secret.
- Bernie Moran: You know, I was rereading Dear Abby the other night, and there was this article, a letter from a fella called "Lonely and Anonymous." I think it was Harry.
- Paul: Hey, Harry! Did you hear the one about the broad who busted Vegas? She wore a see-through blouse.
- Bernie Moran: It must've been an expensive show. Who was so interested?
- Man at Party: Yeah, was it us?
- Meredith: Who's us?
- Man at Party: Federal government.
- Stan: Sometimes it's nice to know what they're talking about.
- Harry Caul: I don't care what they're talking about. All I want is a nice, fat recording.
- Bernie Moran: Ladies and gentlemen. Ladies and gentlemen. Ladies and gentlemen, what we have here is the Moran S-15 harmonica tap. This electronic marvel can be installed in a matter of two minutes. Notice here it has its own nickel cadmium power source, so it cannot be detected on the line. Once installed, it can be phoned from any telephone in the world, Singapore, Karachi, even Moscow. I say Moscow 'cause you look a little Russian there, sir, with the beard. You just dial the target's phone number, pause before the last digit, blow the harmonica tone into the phone, press the last digit. The phone will not ring in the target's house. Instead, the receiver will be turned into an actual room microphone, thus enabling surveillance to take place.
- Harry Caul: I'm getting fed up.
- Stan: About what?
- Harry Caul: About your asking me questions all day long.
- Meredith: I used to live in New York. Yes. First, I worked as a receptionist, and then I got promoted to secretary. And then I was promoted to gal Friday, and special assistant to the boss, and then I married him.
- Meredith: I wish that you'd feel that you could talk to me and that we could be friends. I mean, aside from all of this junk.
- Bernie Moran: Know what these things cost, Harry? This cost 1,500 beans. Come on. On the house, from me to you.
- Harry Caul: How did you get this phone number?
- Martin Stett: We prepare a full dossier on everyone who comes in contact with the Director. You know that means we've been watching you.
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