2nd most-quoted character in Chinatown (1974): in 7 of its 27 quotes
Most scenes with: Jake Gittes (7)
I've never hired you to do anything, certainly not to spy on my husband. I see you like publicity, Mr. Gittes. Well, you're going to get it.
Now wait a minute, Mrs. Mulwray. I think there's been some misunderstanding here. There's no point in getting tough with me. I'm just trying--
I don't get tough with anyone, Mr. Gittes. My lawyer does.
I'm not in business to be loved, but I am in business. And believe me, Mrs. Mulwray, whoever set your husband up set me up. LA's a small town, people talk. I'm just trying to make a living. I don't want to become a local joke.
Mr. Gittes. You talked me into it. I'll drop the lawsuit.
What?
I said I'll drop the lawsuit. So let's just drop the whole thing.
I don't want to drop it. I'd better talk to your husband about this.
Why? What on earth for? Hollis seems to think you're an innocent man.
Well, I've been accused of a lot of things before, Mrs. Mulwray, but never that. Look. Somebody's gone to a lot of trouble here and lawsuit or no lawsuit, I intend to find out. I'm not supposed to be the one who's caught with his pants down. So unless it's a problem, I'd like to talk to your husband.
Why should it be a problem?
May I speak frankly, Mrs. Mulwray?
Only if you can, Mr. Gittes.
Well, that little girlfriend. She was pretty in a cheap sort of a way, of course. She's disappeared. Maybe they disappeared together.
Suppose they did. How does that affect you?
It's nothing personal, Mrs. Mulwray.
It's very personal. It couldn't be more personal. Is this a business or an obsession with you?
Tell me, Mr. Gittes: Does this often happen to you?
What's that?
Well, I'm judging only on the basis of one afternoon and an evening, but, uh, if this is how you go about your work, I'd say you'd be lucky to, uh, get through a whole day.
Actually, this hasn't happened to me for a long time.
When was the last time?
Why?
It's an innocent question.
In Chinatown.
What were you doing there?
Working for the District Attorney.
Doing what?
As little as possible.
The District Attorney gives his men advice like that?
They do in Chinatown.
Something else besides the death of your husband was bothering you. You were upset, but not that upset.
Mr. Gittes. Don't tell me how I feel.
Sorry. Look. You sue me. Your husband dies. You drop the lawsuit like a hot potato all of it quicker than the wind from a duck's ass. Excuse me, uh. Then you ask me to lie to the police.
It wasn't much of a lie.
If your husband was killed, it was. This could look like you paid me off to withhold evidence.
But he wasn't killed.
Mrs. Mulwray. I think you're hiding something.
Well, I suppose I am. Actually, I knew about the affair.
How did you find out?
My husband.
He told you? [She nods yes] And you weren't the least bit upset?
I was grateful.
Mrs. Mulwray, you'll have to explain that.
Why?
Look. I do matrimonial work. It's my m?tier. When a wife tells me that she's happy that her husband is cheating on her, it runs contrary to my experience.
Unless what?
She was cheating on him. Were you?
I dislike the word cheat.
Did you have affairs?
Mr. Gittes.
Did he know about it?
Well, I wouldn't run home and tell him every time I went to bed with someone, if that's what you mean. Is there anything else you want to know about me?
Where were you when your husband died?
I can't tell you.
You mean you don't know where you were?
I mean I can't tell you.
You were seeing someone too. For very long?
I don't see anyone for very long, Mr. Gittes. It's difficult for me. Now, I think you know all you need know about me. I didn't want publicity. I didn't want to go into any of this then or now. Is that all?
Oh, by the way, uh, what does this C stand for?
Cr...Cross.
That's your maiden name?
Yes. Why?
No reason.
You must have had a reason to ask me that.
No. I'm just a snoop.
...
OK, go home, but in case you're interested, your husband was murdered. Somebody's been dumping thousands of tons of water from the city's reservoirs and we're supposed to be in the middle of a drought. He found out about it and he was killed. There's a waterlogged drunk in the morgue, involuntary manslaughter if anybody wants to take the trouble - which they don't. It seems like half the city is trying to cover it all up, which is fine by me. But Mrs. Mulwray, I goddamned near lost my nose. And I like it. I like breathing through it. And I still think that you're hiding something.
A memorial service was held at the Mar Vista Inn today for Jasper Lamar Crabb. He passed away two weeks ago.
Why is that unusual?
He passed away two weeks ago and one week ago he bought the land. That's unusual.
There's no time to be shocked by the truth. The coroner's report proves that he had salt water in his lungs when he was killed. Just take my word for it, all right? Now, I want to know how it happened, and I want to know why, and I want to know before Escobar gets here because I don't want to lose my license...I want to make it easy for ya. You were jealous. You had a fight. He fell. He hit his head. It was an accident but his girl is a witness. So you had to shut her up. You don't have the guts to harm her, but you got the money to keep her mouth shut. Who is she? And don't give me that crap about your sister because you don't have a sister.
I'll tell you. I'll tell you the truth.
Good. What's her name?
Katherine.
Katherine who?
She's my daughter.
I said I want the truth.
She's my sister.
She's my daughter.
My sister, my daughter.
I said I want the truth!
She's my sister and my daughter!...My father and I - understand? Or is it too tough for you?
He raped you?
Evelyn, put that gun away. Let the police handle this.
He owns the police!
