The Third Man

Martins: I guess nobody knew Harry like he did, like I did. Calloway: How long ago? Martins: Back in school. I was never so lonesome in my life till he showed up. Calloway: When did you see him last? Martins: September, '39. Calloway: When the business started? Martins: Mmm, hmm. Calloway: See much of him before that? Martins: Once in a while. Best friend I ever had. Calloway: That sounds like a cheap novelette. Martins: I write cheap novelettes.

The Third Man, CC BY-SA 4.0

Martins: It’s a shame. Calloway: What? Martins: Him dying like that. Calloway: Best thing that ever happened to him. Martins: What are you trying to say? Calloway: He was about the worst racketeer that ever made a dirty living in this city. Martins: Policeman, huh? Calloway: Come on, have another drink. Martins: No, I never did like policemen. I have to call them sheriffs. Ever seen one? Pin it on a dead man. Some petty racket with gasoline or something. Just like a cop. You’re a real cop, I suppose. Calloway: It wasn’t petrol. Martins: So it wasn’t petrol. So it was tyres or saccharin or… Why don’t you catch a few murderers for a change? Calloway: Well, you could say that murder was part of his racket.

The Third Man, CC BY-SA 4.0

Crabbin: I know a very good dentist. Martins: I don’t need a dentist. Somebody hit me, that’s all. Crabbin: Goodness. We must report that to the police. Were they trying to rob you? Martins: Oh, just a soldier. I was trying to punch his major in the eye. Crabbin: No. A major? Were you really? Martins: Heard of Harry Lime? Crabbin: Well, I’ve heard of him, of course, but I didn’t exactly know him. Martins: I was going to stay with him, but he died Thursday. Crabbin: Goodness, that’s awkward. Martins: That what you say to people after death? “Goodness, that’s awkward”?

The Third Man, CC BY-SA 4.0

Martins: You were in love with him, weren't you? Anna: I don't know. How can you know a thing like that afterwards? I don't know anything more except I want to be dead too.

The Third Man, CC BY-SA 4.0

Martins: Could he have been conscious?...Was he still alive? Porter: Alive? He couldn't have been alive. Not with his head in the way it was. Martins: I was told that he did not die at once. Porter: He was quite dead. Martins: But this sounds crazy. If he was killed at once, how could he have talked about me and this lady here after he was dead? Why didn't you say all this at the inquest? Porter: It's better not to be mixed up in things like this. Martins: Things like what? Porter: [He shrugs] I was not the only one who did not give evidence. Martins: Who else? Porter: Three men helped to carry your friend to the statue. Martins: Kurtz, the Rumanian, and - Porter: There was a third man. He didn't give evidence. Martins: You don't mean the doctor? Porter: No, no, no. He came later, after they carried him to the Josef statue. Martins: What did this man look like? Porter: I didn't see his face. He didn't look up. He was quite ordinary. He might have been just anybody. Martins: Just anybod

The Third Man, CC BY-SA 4.0

Martins: I suppose it wouldn't interest you to know that Harry Lime was murdered? You're too busy. You haven't even bothered to get the complete evidence...And there was a third man there. I suppose that doesn't sound peculiar to you. Calloway: I'm not interested in whether a racketeer like Lime was killed by his friends or by an accident. The only important thing is that he's dead. Go home Martins, like a sensible chap. You don't know what you're mixing in, get the next plane. Martins: As soon as I get to the bottom of this, I'll get the next plane. Calloway: Death's at the bottom of everything, Martins. Leave death to the professionals. Martins: Mind if I use that line in my next Western?

The Third Man, CC BY-SA 4.0