Clarence Oddbody How am I doing, Joseph? Thanks. No, I didn't have a drink!
Played by Henry Travers 
It's a Wonderful Life (1946) · 69 quotes
It's a Wonderful Life (1946) · 69 quotes
Tied for 2nd most-quoted character in It's a Wonderful Life (1946): in 16 of its 69 quotes
Most scenes with: George Bailey (10)
"Dear George, remember no man is a failure who has friends. Thanks for the wings, Love Clarence."
More lines from Clarence Oddbody
4 quotes Clarence Oddbody Clarence Oddbody Strange, isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?
Clarence Oddbody There must be some easier way for me to get my wings.
Clarence Oddbody See George, you really had a wonderful life. Don't you see what a mistake it would be to just throw it all away?
Scenes with Clarence Oddbody
11 scenes Clarence What did you stop it for?
Joseph I want you to take a good look at that face.
Clarence Who is it?
Joseph George Bailey.
Clarence I didn't have time to get some stylish underwear. My wife gave me this on my last birthday. I passed away in it. Oh, Tom Sawyer's drying out, too. You should read the new book Mark Twain's writing now.
Tollkeeper
How'd you happen to fall in?
Clarence I didn't fall in. I jumped in to save George.
You what? To save me?
Clarence Well, I did, didn't I? You didn't go through with it, did you?
Go through with what?
Clarence Suicide.
Tollkeeper
It's against the law to commit suicide around here.
Clarence Yeah, it's against the law where I come from, too.
Tollkeeper
Where do you come from?
Clarence Heaven. '[to George] I had to act quickly; that's why I jumped in. I knew if I were drowning you'd try to save me. And you see, you did, and that's how I saved you.
Well, you look about like the kind of angel I'd get. Sort of a fallen angel, aren't you? What happened to your wings?
Clarence I haven't won my wings yet. That's why I'm an angel Second Class.
I don't know whether I like very much being seen around with an angel without any wings.
Clarence Oh, I've got to earn them, and you'll help me, won't you?
Sure, sure.
Clarence So you still think killing yourself would make everyone feel happier, eh?
Oh, I don't know. I guess you're right. I suppose it would have been better if I'd never been born at all.
Clarence What did you say?
I said "I'd wish I'd never been born!"
Clarence Oh, you mustn't say things like that. You...wait a minute. Wait a minute. That's an idea. [glances up toward Heaven] What do you think? Yeah, that'll do it. All right. [to George] You've got your wish. You've never been born. [snow stops falling and a strong gust of wind blows open the door] You don't have to make all that fuss about it.
What did you say?
Clarence You've never been born. You don't exist. You haven't a care in the world. No worries –– no obligations –– no eight thousand dollars to get –– no Potter looking for you with the Sheriff.
Say something else in that ear.
Clarence Sure. You can hear out of it.
Well, that's the doggonedest thing... I haven't heard anything out of that ear since I was a kid. Must have been that jump in the cold water.
Clarence Your lip's stopped bleeding, too, George.
What do you know about that... What's happened? It's stopped snowing out, hasn't it? What's happened here? Come on, soon as these clothes of ours are dry...
Clarence Our clothes are dry.
What do you know about that? Stove's hotter than I thought. Now, come on, get your clothes on, and we'll stroll up to my car and get... Oh, I'm sorry. I'll stroll. You fly.
Clarence I can't fly. I haven't got any wings.
You haven't got your wings. Yeah, that's right.
Oh, say... Hey... where's my car?
Man
I beg your pardon?
My car, my car. I'm the fellow that owns the car that ran into your tree.
Man
What tree?
What do you mean, what tree? This tree. Here, I ran into it. Cut a big gash in the side of it here.
Man
[after examining the tree and finding no damage]
You must mean two other trees. You had me worried. One of the oldest trees in Pottersville.
Pottersville? Why, you mean Bedford Falls.
Man
I mean Pottersville. Don't you think I know where I live? What's the matter with you?
[The man leaves]
Oh, I don't know. Either I'm off my nut, or he is... [to Clarence] or you are!
Clarence [laughs]
It isn't me!
Well, maybe I left the car up at Martini's. Well, come on, Gabriel.
Clarence Clarence!
Oh, hello, Nick. Hey, where's Martini?
Nick You want a martini?
No, no, Martini. Your boss. Where is he?
Nick Look, I'm the boss. You want a drink or don't you?
Okay...all right. Double bourbon, quick, huh?
Nick Okay. [to Clarence] What's yours?
Clarence I was just thinking...It's been so long since I...
Nick Look, mister, I'm standing here waiting for you to make up your mind.
Clarence That's a good man. I was just thinking of a flaming rum punch. No, it's not cold enough for that. Not nearly cold enough...Wait a minute...wait a minute...Mulled wine, heavy on the cinnamon and light on the cloves. Off with you, me lad, and be lively!
Nick Hey, look mister, we serve hard drinks in here for men who want to get drunk fast. And we don't need any characters around to give the joint atmosphere. Is that clear? Or do I have to slip you my left for a convincer?
Clarence [to George]
What's he talking about?
Nick –– Nick, just give him the same as mine. He's okay.
Nick Okay.
What's the matter with him? I never saw Nick act like that before.
Clarence You'll see a lot of strange things from now on.
Clarence [The cash register bell rings]
Oh...oh. Somebody's just made it.
Made what?
Clarence Every time you hear a bell ring, it means that some angel's just got his wings.
Look, I think maybe you better not mention getting your wings around here.
Clarence Why? Don't they believe in angels?
A...Yeah, but...you know...
Clarence Then why should they be surprised when they see one?
Clarence Two hundred and ninety-three...next May.
Nick That does it! Out you two pixies go, through the door or out the window!
Look, who are you?
Clarence I told you, George. I'm your guardian angel.
Yeah, yeah, I know. You told me that. What else are you? What...are you a hypnotist?
Clarence No, of course not.
Well, then, why am I seeing all these strange things?
Clarence Don't you understand, George? It's because you were not born.
Then if I wasn't born, who am I?
Clarence You're nobody. You have no identity.
What do you mean, no identity? My name's George Bailey.
Clarence There is no George Bailey. You have no papers, no cards, no driver's license, no 4-F card, no insurance policy...They're not there, either.
What?
Clarence Zuzu's petals. You've been given a great gift, George. A chance to see what the world would be like without you.
Clarence Your brother, Harry Bailey, broke through the ice and was drowned at the age of nine.
That's a lie! Harry Bailey went to war! He got the Congressional Medal of Honor! He saved the lives of every man on that transport.
Clarence Every man on that transport died! Harry wasn't there to save them, because you weren't there to save Harry. You see, George, you really had a wonderful life. Don't you see what a mistake it would be to throw it away?
Well, you look about the kind of angel I'd get. Sort of a fallen angel, aren't you? What happened to your wings?
Clarence I haven't won my wings, yet. That's why I'm called an Angel Second Class. I have to earn them. And you'll help me will you?
Sure, sure. How?
Clarence By letting me help you.
I know one way you can help me. You don't happen to have 8,000 bucks on you?
Clarence No, we don't use money in Heaven.
Well, it comes in real handy down here, bud!
