My Favorite Wife (1940)
Randolph Scott: Stephen Burkett
Photos
Quotes
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Judge Walter Bryson : Who are you?
Stephen Burkett : Well, your honor...
Nick Arden : Oh, he was on the island with her. He's not important to this case.
Judge Walter Bryson : I'll decide what's important to the case. What island?
Nick Arden : The island where my wife stayed for seven years, your honor.
Judge Walter Bryson : They were on an island together for seven years?
Nick Arden : Yes, your honor.
Judge Walter Bryson : Not alone?
Nick Arden : Yes.
Judge Walter Bryson : Hmm. Same island?
Nick Arden : Yes.
Judge Walter Bryson : Is that in the brief?
Nick Arden : No, your honor!
Judge Walter Bryson : Oh, that should be in the brief. That's the most interesting part of the case.
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Stephen Burkett : [re-entering the courtroom and playing along with Ellen's verbal ploy to make Nick jealous and come back to her] Well Ellen, see ya at the boat - 9:00.
Judge Walter Bryson : [from the Bench] What boat?
Stephen Burkett : You see Your Honor, we're not interested in manmade laws. But there's a law of the jungle: when a man finds his mate, he doesn't have to
[looks condescendingly at Nick]
Stephen Burkett : think it out.
[pretendingly romantically to Ellen]
Stephen Burkett : Goodbye Eve, until tomorrow.
Ellen Wagstaff Arden aka Eve : Goodbye Adam.
Stephen Burkett : Just a moment.
Stephen Burkett : And it's alright with me if you bring the kiddies.
[leaves the courtroom]
Judge Walter Bryson : [appalled at the strangeness of it all] Kiddies? Well in all my experience on the Bench I have ne-...
[continues finishing the case]
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Judge Walter Bryson : [referring to Mr. Mulligan in the Mulligan vs. Mulligan-Benson case that Nick is using as a parallel example to his own situation] Well don't stand there gawking, what did he do?
Nick Arden : He died suddenly of cirrhosis of the liver.
Ellen Wagstaff Arden aka Eve : A-and they never did find out whether he slept with his beard under the covers or over the covers.
Judge Walter Bryson : Now that'll cost you $25.
Ellen Wagstaff Arden aka Eve : Just for a nice old joke?
Judge Walter Bryson : You heard me - $25.
Ellen Wagstaff Arden aka Eve : [in a proudly funny manner] Oh you can't do that Your Honor, I'm legally dead. You think it's nice to take money from a corpse?
Judge Walter Bryson : Now that'll cost you $25 more. That's 50 you owe me.
[to the court clerk]
Judge Walter Bryson : You keeping track of this?
Court Clerk Beside Judge Bryson : Mm, uh yes.
Judge Walter Bryson : See that you do.
Nick Arden : But she is legally dead Your Honor. You declared her legally dead yourself in this very courtroom; your decision is on file.
Judge Walter Bryson : Did I do that?
Court Clerk Beside Judge Bryson : Yes, yes you did Your Honor.
Judge Walter Bryson : I did? Well I'm going to declare her legally alive, then she can pay me that $50. Will someone swear she's a live woman?
Stephen Burkett : [happily] I'll say she is Your Honor.
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Stephen Burkett : ...So, just make up your mind old man.
Nick Arden : [agitated] I'll make up my mind. I'll...
Stephen Burkett : You're not allowed to have two wives ya know.
Nick Arden : I know, I know. Don't rush me.