Det. Lt. Mark McPherson When a dame gets killed, she doesn't worry about how she looks.
Played by Dana Andrews 
Laura (1944) · 61 quotes
Laura (1944) · 61 quotes
3rd most-quoted character in Laura (1944): in 23 of its 61 quotes
Most scenes with: Laura Hunt (15), Waldo Lydecker (11), Shelby Carpenter (2)
For a charming, intelligent girl, you certainly surrounded yourself with a remarkable collection of dopes.
More lines from Det. Lt. Mark McPherson
7 quotes Det. Lt. Mark McPherson Det. Lt. Mark McPherson [to Laura]
If anything should happen to you this time, I wouldn't like it.
Det. Lt. Mark McPherson Dames are always pulling a switch on you.
Det. Lt. Mark McPherson [to Shelby]
You took that poor girl in Miss Hunt's apartment. You knew all along it was she who was murdered. Didn't you know Laura Hunt would come back any day and spill the whole thing? Or did you plan to kill her too and hide the body someplace and cover up your first crime?...You took a bottle of Black Pony to her house Friday night...Where's the key to her apartment?
Det. Lt. Mark McPherson [on the phone]
Don't worry. I told you I'd bring in the killer today. Yeah, I was just gonna make the arrest when you called. No, I can't tell you now. I'm not alone. You'll see when I come in.
Det. Lt. Mark McPherson [to Laura]
I was 99% certain about you. But I had to get rid of that 1% doubt...I'd reached the point where I needed official surroundings.
Det. Lt. Mark McPherson [to Laura]
The doorbell rang and Diane Redfern went to the door in your negligee. She opened the door. The room was dark. Waldo saw a girl standing there and he assumed it was you. He figured that if he couldn't have you himself, he was gonna make sure that nobody else did, so he let her have it with both barrels right in the face. She fell here. Waldo heard Shelby running from the next room so he hid in the stairway outside. Shelby was scared so he ran out as fast as he could. Then Waldo came back and placed the gun in that clock.
Scenes with Det. Lt. Mark McPherson
15 scenes McPherson Nice little place you have here, Lydecker.
It's lavish, but I call it home.
Yesterday morning after Laura's body was found, I was questioned by Sergeants McAvity and Shultz. And I stated: [He reads from his typed statement] 'On Friday night, Laura had a dinner engagement with me, after which she was ostensibly going out of town. She phoned and cancelled our engagement at exactly seven o'clock. After that...
McPherson ...you ate a lonely dinner, then got into the tub to read.' Why did you write it down? Afraid you'd forget it?
I am the most widely mis-quoted man in America. When my friends do it, I resent it. From Sergeants McAvity and Shultz, I should find it intolerable. Hand me that washcloth please, Mr. __ , Mr. __ ?
McPherson McPherson.
The Siege of Babylon, Long Island. The gangster with a machine gun killed three policemen. I told the story over the air. Wrote a column about it. Are you the one with the leg full of lead? The man who walked right in and got him.
McPherson You have a pretty good memory, Mr. Lydecker.
I always liked that detective with a silver shinbone.
McPherson Thanks. I hope you won't have any reason to change your mind about me.
McPherson You said Harrington was rubbed out with a shotgun loaded with buckshot, the way Laura Hunt was murdered, the night before last.
Did I?
McPherson Yeah. But he was really killed with a sash weight.
How ordinary. My version was obviously superior. I never bother with details, you know.
McPherson I do.
McPherson Were you in love with Laura Hunt, Mr. Lydecker? Was she in love with you?
Laura considered me the wisest, the wittiest, the most interesting man she'd ever met. And I was in complete accord with her on that point. She thought me also the kindest, the gentlest, the most sympathetic man in the world.
McPherson Did you agree with her there, too?
McPherson, you won't understand this. But I tried to become the kindest, the gentlest, the most sympathetic man in the world.
McPherson Have any luck?
Let me put it this way. I should be sincerely sorry to see my neighbors' children devoured by wolves. Shall we go?
McPherson Did you approve of Miss Hunt's coming marriage to Mr. Carpenter?
Why? Shouldn't I approve?
McPherson I don't know. What is your relationship with Mr. Carpenter?
What do you mean?
McPherson What I mean is he's been a frequent guest in your home. Is he an acquaintance, friend? Are you in love with him?
This is beginning to assume fabulous aspects.
Oh, shut up, Waldo! What are you driving at?
McPherson The truth, Mrs. Treadwell. Are you in love with him?
Why no. I'm - I'm very fond of Mr. Carpenter, of course. Everybody is.
I'm not. I'll be hanged if I am.
Oh, don't be so annoying, Waldo.
McPherson Did you give Mr. Carpenter money?
What do you mean?
McPherson A couple of checks went through your account endorsed by him...
Shelby's a very obliging fellow.
McPherson For some time also, you've been withdrawing various amounts in cash, sometimes fifteen hundred, sometimes seventeen hundred at a clip.
Yes. I needed that money.
McPherson The day you took out fifteen hundred dollars, Mr. Carpenter deposited thirteen hundred fifty. When you withdrew seventeen hundred, he deposited fifteen hundred fifty.
Maybe they were shooting craps?
Oh, must I be insulted like this! Shelby needed some money and I lent it to him. That's all. Well, after all, it is my money. I suppose I can do as I please with it.
Have you ever been in love?
McPherson A doll in Washington Heights once got a fox fur out of me.
Did you ever know a woman who wasn't a doll or a dame?
McPherson Yeah, one. But she kept walking me past furniture windows to look at the parlor suites.
Would you mind turning that off?
McPherson Why? Don't you like it?
It was one of Laura's favorite. Not exactly classical but sweet.
Will you please stop dawdling with that infernal puzzle? It's getting on my nerves.
McPherson I know, but it keeps me calm.
There are two or three things in here belong to me. This vase, for instance. And that, uh, clock of course, and antique fire screen. I only lent them to Laura, you know.
Oh really, Waldo.
Yes, really. This vase is the gem of my collection. I intend to have it back. And the clock and the screen too.
They aren't yours. You gave them to Laura. I won't permit it.
Does an alleged fiance have any voice in this matter? I'll take the vase with me now and send someone to collect the other things this very day.
McPherson Nothing's leaving here except you, Lydecker.
Haven't you any sense of privacy?
McPherson Murder victims have no claim to privacy.
Have detectives who buy portraits of murder victims a claim to privacy?...McPherson, did it ever strike you that you're acting very strangely? It's a wonder you don't come here like a suitor with roses and a box of candy - drugstore candy, of course. Have you ever dreamed of Laura as your wife, by your side at the Policeman's Ball or in the bleachers? Or listening to the heroic story of how you got a silver shinbone from a gun battle with a gangster? ...I see you have.
McPherson Why don't you go home? I'm busy.
What are you doing here?
McPherson You're alive.
If you don't get out at once, I'm going to call the police.
McPherson You are Laura Hunt, aren't you? Aren't you?
I'm going to call the police.
McPherson I am the police.
McPherson Did you know or did you suspect that he [Carpenter] was going to bring her here Friday night, Miss Hunt?
How could I? I don't know that he brought her here, and neither do you. You merely assume it.
McPherson What other assumption is possible? Do you love this fellow Carpenter so much you risk your own safety to protect him?
My own safety? You suspect me?
McPherson I suspect nobody and everybody. I'm merely trying to get at the truth.
I see you have been trying to get at the truth. You've read things I never meant anyone else to look at.
McPherson Strictly routine. I'm sorry, really.
Well, McPherson, what does Laura's resurrection do to you?
McPherson Too bad Diane Redfern can't be resurrected.
Don't worry, darling. Let them accuse you. We'll fight them. I have every weapon. Money, connections, prestige, and my column. Every day, millions will read about you and rally to your defense.
McPherson You talk as if you wanted to see her tried for murder.
Yes, rather than let you blacken her name with suspicions and rumors. Try to prove her guilty. Get on the witness stand with your poor shreds of evidence. I'll expose your cheap methods you used on her.
McPherson Let's have it.
What difference does it make what I say? You've made up your mind I'm guilty.
McPherson Are you?
Don't tell me you have any doubts?...No, I didn't kill Diane Redfern or anyone else.
McPherson Then why, why did you tell me the radio at your country place was broken.
Because it was broken.
McPherson Not when I tried it.
Just as I was leaving the village, I asked the local handyman to fix it.
McPherson How did he get in?
I always leave a key under the flowerpot on the porch.
McPherson The main thing I want to know is why you pulled that switch on me about Carpenter. You told me last night you decided not to marry him.
Yes, I guess I did.
McPherson But today, it was on again. Why?
Well, I-I changed my mind.
McPherson What are you trying to hide? Don't you realize you're involved in a murder? You've got yourself in a jam that's not gonna be easy to get out of unless you're on the level with me. This is no time for secrets. Now, did you really decide to call it off? Or did you just tell me that because you knew I wanted to hear it. What went on between you and Carpenter when you saw him last night? Did he persuade you to make up? Or did you agree to pretend you had? Was that it?
Well, we, that is, both of us ---
McPherson He convinced you that if you broke the engagement now, people would think you believed he was guilty.
Yes. But now I know it was only because he thought I was.
McPherson Did you believe he was guilty?
No, I'm sure he isn't. But he'd gotten himself into an awfully suspicious position. And he's the sort of man that people are always ready to believe the worst about.
McPherson Are you in love with him?
I don't see how I ever could have been.
McPherson Come on, we're going home.
