Catherine Tramell You're gonna make a terrific character, Nick.
3rd most-quoted character in Basic Instinct (1992): in 24 of its 39 quotes
Most scenes with: Nick Curran (19), Dr. Beth Garner (14), Gus Moran (5)
Killing isn't like smoking. You can quit.
More lines from Catherine Tramell
1 quote Catherine Tramell Scenes with Catherine Tramell
22 scenes Catherine Tramell So, how did he die?
He was murdered.
Catherine Tramell Obviously. How was he murdered?
With an ice pick.
How long were you dating him?
Catherine Tramell I wasn't dating him. I was **** him.
What are you, a pro?
Catherine Tramell No, I'm an amateur.
Let me ask you something, Miss Tramell. Are you sorry he's dead?
Catherine Tramell Yeah. I liked **** him.
What's your new book about?
Catherine Tramell A detective. He falls for the wrong woman.
What happens?
Catherine Tramell She kills him.
There's no smoking in this building, Miss Tramell.
Catherine Tramell What are you gonna do? Charge me with smoking?
You ever engaged in any sadomasochistic activity?
Catherine Tramell Exactly what did you have in mind, Mr. Corelli?
Did you kill Mr. Boz, Miss Tramell?
Catherine Tramell I'd have to be pretty stupid to write a book about killing and then kill somebody the way I described it in my book. I'd be announcing myself as the killer. I'm not stupid.
Did you ever use drugs with Mr. Boz?
Catherine Tramell Sure.
What kind of drugs?
Catherine Tramell Cocaine. Have you ever **** on cocaine, Nick?
Catherine Tramell [Catherine Tramell uncrosses her legs and it can be seen she's wearing no underwear]
It's nice.
You like playing games, don't you?
Catherine Tramell I have a degree in psychology, it goes with the turf... Games are fun.
Catherine Tramell How does it feel to kill someone?
You tell me.
Catherine Tramell I don't know, but you do.
Catherine Tramell My friends call me Catherine.
What did Manny Vasquez call you?
Catherine Tramell "Bitch," mostly. But he meant it affectionately.
Catherine Tramell Do you have any coke? I just love coke with Jack Daniels.
I have a Pepsi in the fridge.
Catherine Tramell But it's not really the same thing. Now, is it?
No, it's not.
Catherine Tramell I'm not going to confess all my secrets just because I have an orgasm. You won't learn anything I don't want you to know.
Yes, I will. Then I'll nail you.
Catherine Tramell Nah. You'll just fall in love with me.
I'm in love with you already. But I'll nail you anyway. You can put that in your book.
Catherine Tramell I finished my book.
So how does it end?
Catherine Tramell I told you. She kills him. Good-bye, Nick.
Good-bye?
Catherine Tramell Yeah. I finished my book. Didn't you hear me? Your character's dead. Good-bye. What do you want? Flowers? I'll send you an autographed copy.
What is this, some kind of joke!?
Catherine Tramell [last lines]
What do we do now, Nick?
**** like minxs, raise rug rats, live happily ever after.
Catherine Tramell I hate rug rats.
**** like minxs, forget the rug rats, and live happily ever after.
How long were you dating him?
Catherine I wasn't dating him. I was **** him.
What are you, a pro?
Catherine No, I'm an amateur.
How long were you having sex with him?
Catherine About a year and a half.
Were you with him last night?
Catherine Yes.
Did you leave the club with him?
Catherine Yes.
Did you go home with him?
Catherine No. We had a drink at the club. We left together. He went home and I came out here.
Was there anyone with you last night?
Catherine No, I wasn't in the mood last night.
Let me ask you something, Ms. Tramell? Are you sorry he's dead?
Catherine Yeah. I liked **** him. Look, I don't really feel like talking anymore.
Listen lady, we can do this downtown if you want.
Catherine So read me my rights and arrest me and then I'll go downtown. Otherwise, get the **** out of here. [A long pause] Please.
It must really be somethin' -- makin' stuff up all the time.
Catherine Yeah. It teaches you to lie.
How's that?
Catherine You make stuff up, it has to be believable. It's called suspension of disbelief.
I like that. "Suspension of Disbelief."
What's your new book about?
Catherine A detective. He falls for the wrong woman.
What happens?
Catherine She kills him.
Would you tell us the nature of your relationship with Mr. Boz?
Catherine I had sex with him for about a year and a half. I liked having sex with him. He wasn't afraid of experimenting. I like men like that. Men who give me pleasure. He gave me a lot of pleasure.
You ever engaged in any sadomasochistic activity?
Catherine [smiles]
Exactly what did you have in mind, Mr. Correli?
Did you ever tie him up?
Catherine No.
You never tied him up.
Catherine No Johnny liked to use his hands too much. I like hands and fingers.
You describe a white silk scarf in your book.
Catherine I’ve always had a fondness for white silk scarves. they're good are all occasions.
But you said you liked men to use their hands, didn't you?
Catherine No, I said I liked Johnny to use his hands. I don’t give any rules, Nick. I go with the flow.
Did you kill Mr. Boz, Miss Tramell?
Catherine I'd have to be pretty stupid to write a book about killing and then kill somebody the way I described it in my book. I'd be announcing myself as the killer. I'm not stupid.
Talcott We know you're not stupid, Ms. Tramell
Maybe that’s what you’re counting on to get you off the hook.
Writing the book gives you an alibi.
Catherine Yes it does, doesn't it? The answer's no. I didn't kill him.
How did you feel when I told you Johnny Boz had died, that day at the beach?
Catherine I felt somebody had read my book and was playing a game.
But you didn't hurt.
Catherine No.
Because you didn't love him.
Catherine That's right.
Even though you were **** him.
Catherine You still get the pleasure. Didn't you ever **** anybody else while you were married, Nick?
How did you know he was married?
Catherine Maybe I was just guessing. What difference does it make? Would you like a cigarette, Nick? [She lights a cigarette for herself]
Do you two know each other?
No.
Catherine No.
How did you meet Mr. Boz?
Catherine I wanted to write a book about the murder of a retired rock and roll star. I went down to his club. I picked him up. Then I had sex with him.
You didn't feel anything for him. You just had sex with him for your book.
Catherine In the beginning. Then I got to like what he did for me.
That's pretty cold, ain't it, lady?
Catherine I'm a writer. I use people for what I write. Let the world beware.
Beating that machine can't be easy.
Catherine If I was guilty and I wanted to beat that machine, it wouldn't be hard. It wouldn't be hard at all. You took a lie detector test after you shot those two people, didn't you?
I passed.
Catherine You see, we're both innocent, Nick. [He gives her a long, hard stare]
You seem to know an awful lot about me.
Catherine You know an awful lot about me.
I don't know anything that's not police business.
Catherine You know I don't wear any underwear, don't you, Nick?
Catherine Tell me, Nicky. Were you frightened last night?
That's the point, wasn't it? That's what made it so good.
Catherine You shouldn't play this game.
Why not? I like it.
Catherine You're in over your head.
Maybe - but this is how I'll catch my killer.
Catherine I'm not going to confess all my secrets just because I have an orgasm. You won't learn anything I don't want you to know.
Yes, I will. Then I'll nail you.
Catherine Nah. You'll just fall in love with me.
I'm in love with you already. But I'll nail you anyway. You can put that in your book.
Catherine What are you researching?
A new ending to your book.
Catherine Oh really? What's the twist?
Well, the detective falls for the wrong girl, but he doesn't die.
Catherine So what happens to them?
They **** like minks, raise rugrats, and live happily ever after.
Catherine It won't sell.
Why not?
Catherine Somebody has to die.
Why?
Catherine Somebody always does.
