- Elwood P. Dowd: Years ago my mother used to say to me, she'd say, "In this world, Elwood, you must be" - she always called me Elwood - "In this world, Elwood, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant." Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. You may quote me.
- Elwood P. Dowd: Well, I've wrestled with reality for 35 years, Doctor, and I'm happy to state I finally won out over it.
- Elwood P. Dowd: Harvey and I sit in the bars... have a drink or two... play the juke box. And soon the faces of all the other people they turn toward mine and they smile. And they're saying, "We don't know your name, mister, but you're a very nice fella." Harvey and I warm ourselves in all these golden moments. We've entered as strangers - soon we have friends. And they come over... and they sit with us... and they drink with us... and they talk to us. They tell about the big terrible things they've done and the big wonderful things they'll do. Their hopes, and their regrets, and their loves, and their hates. All very large, because nobody ever brings anything small into a bar. And then I introduce them to Harvey... and he's bigger and grander than anything they offer me. And when they leave, they leave impressed. The same people seldom come back; but that's envy, my dear. There's a little bit of envy in the best of us.
- Wilson: [reading from an encyclopedia] "P O O K A - Pooka - from old Celtic mythology - a fairy spirit in animal form - always very large. The pooka appears here and there - now and then - to this one and that one - a benign but mischievous creature - very fond of rumpots, crackpots, and how are you, Mr. Wilson?" "How are you, Mr. Wilson?" Who in the encyclopedia wants to know?
- Elwood P. Dowd: I'd just put Ed Hickey into a taxi. Ed had been mixing his rye with his gin, and I just felt that he needed conveying. Well, anyway, I was walking down along the street and I heard this voice saying, "Good evening, Mr. Dowd." Well, I turned around and here was this big six-foot rabbit leaning up against a lamp-post. Well, I thought nothing of that because when you've lived in a town as long as I've lived in this one, you get used to the fact that everybody knows your name. And naturally I went over to chat with him. And he said to me... he said, "Ed Hickey was a little spiffed this evening, or could I be mistaken?" Well, of course, he was not mistaken. I think the world and all of Ed, but he was spiffed. Well, we talked like that for awhile and then I said to him, I said, "You have the advantage on me. You know my name and I don't know yours." And, and right back at me he said, "What name do you like?" Well, I didn't even have to think twice about that. Harvey's always been my favorite name. So I said to him, I said, "Harvey." And, uh, this is the interesting thing about the whole thing: He said, "What a coincidence. My name happens to be Harvey."
- Wilson: Who's Harvey?
- Miss Kelly: A white rabbit, six feet tall.
- Wilson: Six feet?
- Elwood P. Dowd: Six feet three and a half inches. Now let's stick to the facts.
- Dr. Sanderson: I think that your sister's condition stems from trauma.
- Elwood P. Dowd: From what?
- Dr. Sanderson: Uh, trauma. Spelled t-r-a-u-m-a. It means shock. There's nothing unusual about it. There's the "birth trauma" - the shock of being born...
- Elwood P. Dowd: That's the one we never get over.
- Elwood P. Dowd: Years ago, my mother used to say to me, she'd say "In this world, Elwood, you can be oh so so smart, or oh so pleasant." Well, for years I was smart... I recommend pleasant. You may quote me.
- The Taxi Driver: ...I've been driving this route for 15 years. I've brought 'em out here to get that stuff, and I've drove 'em home after they had it. It changes them... On the way out here, they sit back and enjoy the ride. They talk to me; sometimes we stop and watch the sunsets, and look at the birds flyin'. Sometimes we stop and watch the birds when there ain't no birds. And look at the sunsets when its raining. We have a swell time. And I always get a big tip. But afterwards, oh oh...
- Veta Louise Simmons: "Afterwards, oh oh"? What do you mean, "afterwards, oh oh"?
- The Taxi Driver: They crab, crab, crab. They yell at me. Watch the lights. Watch the brakes, Watch the intersections. They scream at me to hurry. They got no faith in me, or my buggy. Yet, it's the same cab, the same driver. and we're going back over the very same road. It's no fun. And no tips... After this he'll be a perfectly normal human being. And you know what stinkers they are! I'm glad I met you.
- Elwood P. Dowd: You see, science has overcome time and space. Well, Harvey has overcome not only time and space, but any objections.
- Dr. Chumley: Fly specks, fly specks! I've been spending my life among fly specks while miracles have been leaning on lampposts at 18th and Fairfax!
- Dr. Chumley: This sister of yours is at the bottom of a conspiracy against you. She's trying to persuade me to lock you up. Today, she had commitment papers drawn up. She has your power of attorney and the key to your safety box, and she brought you here!
- Elwood P. Dowd: My sister did all that in one afternoon. That Veta certainly is a whirlwind, isn't she?
- Elwood P. Dowd: Oh, you can't miss him Mrs. Chumley. He's a Pooka.
- Mrs. Hazel Chumley: A Pooka? Is that something new?
- Elwood P. Dowd: No. No, as I understand it that's something very old.
- Dr. Sanderson: Think carefully, Dowd. Didn't you know somebody, sometime, someplace by the name of Harvey? Didn't you ever know anybody by that name?
- Elwood P. Dowd: No, no, not one, Doctor. Maybe that's why I always had such hopes for it.
- Veta Louise Simmons: I took a course in art last winter. I learnt the difference between a fine oil painting, and a mechanical thing, like a photograph. The photograph shows only the reality. The painting shows not only the reality, but the dream behind it. It's our dreams, doctor, that carry us on. They separate us from the beasts. I wouldn't want to go on living if I thought it was all just eating, and sleeping, and taking my clothes off, I mean putting them on...
- Elwood P. Dowd: Ahhh, Miss Kelly. Miss Kelly, do you know, when you wear my flower you make it beautiful.
- Elwood P. Dowd: Wouldn't that get a little monotonous, just Akron, cold beer and 'poor, poor thing' for two weeks?
- [Elwood bumps into an old friend he hasn't seen for some time]
- Elwood P. Dowd: You've been away.
- Mr. Miggles: For 90 days. Been doin' a job for the state. Makin' license plates.
- Elwood P. Dowd: Oh, is that so? Interesting work?
- Mr. Miggles: I can take it or leave it alone.
- Elwood P. Dowd: Oh, I see.
- Mr. Miggles: I did a job for 'em last year too. Helpin' 'em build a road.
- Mrs. Ethel Chauvenet: Does Elwood see anybody these days?
- Veta Louise Simmons: Oh, yes, Aunt Ethel, Elwood sees *somebody*.
- Elwood P. Dowd: [talking about Harvey] Did I tell you he could stop clocks?
- Dr. Chumley: To what purpose.
- Elwood P. Dowd: Well, you've heard the expression; 'his face would stop a clock'.
- Dr. Chumley: Mm-hmm.
- Elwood P. Dowd: Well, Harvey can look at your clock... and stop it. And you can go anywhere you like, with anyone you like, and stay as long as you like, and when you get back... not one minute will have ticked by.
- Veta Louise Simmons: Oh, Myrtle, don't be didactic. It's not becoming in a young girl. Besides, men loathe it.
- Wilson: Hello, sweetheart. Well, well. Those for me?
- Veta Louise Simmons: [Picking flowers] For you? I should say not. They're for my brother, Elwood. He's devoted to ranunculur.
- Wilson: Sure. Well, wouldn't you like to come inside and pick some off the wallpaper.
- Veta Louise Simmons: Well - no thank you, these will do nicely. Good day.
- Wilson: I'll tell you something, Myrt.
- Myrtle Mae Simmons: Yeah?
- Wilson: You know, you not only got a nice build, but you got something else, too.
- Myrtle Mae Simmons: Really? What?
- Wilson: You got the screwiest uncle that ever stuck his puss inside our nuthouse.
- Elwood P. Dowd: "A diviner grace has never brightened this enchanting face." It's Ovid's fifth elegy. Ovid's always been my favorite poet. My dear, you'll never look lovelier.
- The Taxi Driver: Not after this. He's going to come out of there a perfectly normal human being, and you know what stinkers they are.
- Veta Louise Simmons: As I was going down to the taxi cab to get Elwood's things, this awful man stepped out. He was a white slaver, I know he was. He was wearing one of those white suits, that's how they advertise.
- Dr. Chumley: I'm Dr. Chumley. You're Mrs. Simmons, of course.
- Veta Louise Simmons: Yes, well, I'm glad to know you, Dr. Chumley. Would you mind asking Judge Gaffney to come back here?
- Dr. Chumley: Why, certainly, certainly.
- Veta Louise Simmons: I want to tell him to sue you for $100,000. I don't think $50,000 is enough.
- Dr. Sanderson: It sounds funny, but I'll miss this place. I guess I'll miss a lot of things around here.
- Miss Kelly: You will?
- Dr. Sanderson: You won't laugh?
- Miss Kelly: Of course not.
- Dr. Sanderson: You know how it is working around people day after day. You sort of get attached to them.
- Miss Kelly: I know, Lyman.
- Dr. Sanderson: It may be ridiculous, but I'm gonna miss every one of the psychos, and the neuros, and the schizos in the place.
- Elwood P. Dowd: Goodbye, Mr. Wilson.
- Wilson: Goodbye.
- Elwood P. Dowd: My regards to you and anybody else you happen to run into.
- Elwood P. Dowd: So far, I haven't been able to think of any place I'd rather be. I always have a wonderful time - wherever I am, whomever I'm with. I'm having a fine time, right here.
- Dr. Chumley: I know where I'd go.
- Elwood P. Dowd: Where?
- Dr. Chumley: I'd go to Akron.
- Elwood P. Dowd: Akron? Oh, yes.
- Dr. Chumley: There's a cottage camp just outside of Akron and a grove of maple trees. Green, cool, beautiful.
- Elwood P. Dowd: That's my favorite tree.
- Dr. Chumley: And I'd go there with a pretty woman.
- Elwood P. Dowd: Oh!
- Dr. Chumley: A strange woman. A quiet woman.
- Elwood P. Dowd: Oh, under a tree?
- Dr. Chumley: I wouldn't even want to know her name. Where I would be just "Mr. Smith." And I would send out for cold beer.
- Elwood P. Dowd: No whiskey, huh?
- Dr. Chumley: No. Then I would tell her things. Things that I've never told to anyone. Things that are locked deep in here. And as I talk to her, I would want her to hold out a soft white hand and say, "Poor thing. Poor, poor thing."
- Elwood P. Dowd: Here, let me give you one of my cards. Now if you should ever want to call me, call me at this number. Don't call me at that one, that's the old one.
- Mrs. Ethel Chauvenet: Is, is that Mrs. Frank Cummings? Doesn't she look ghastly, I thought she was dead. I must get a closer look.
- Veta Louise Simmons: Judge Gaffney, is that all those doctors do in places like that - think about sex?
- Judge Gaffney: I don't know.
- Veta Louise Simmons: Because if it is they ought to be ashamed of themselves. It's all in their heads anyway. Why don't they get out and take long walks in the fresh air?
- Myrtle Mae Simmons: Oh, mother, people get run over by trucks every day. Why can't something like that happen to Uncle Elwood?
- Miss Kelly: Well what shall I say to Mr. Dowd? What do I do? He'll probably be so furious he'll refuse to come down here.
- Dr. Sanderson: Look, Miss Kelly. He's probably fit to be tied, but he's a man, isn't he?
- Miss Kelly: I guess so. His name's *Mister*!
- Dr. Sanderson: Well, then, go into your old routine. You know, the eyes, the swish, the works. I'm immune to it, but I've seen it work on some people, some of the patients out here. Now, you get him down here, Kelly, if you have to do a striptease!
- Myrtle Mae Simmons: Mother, why did grandmother leave all of her property to Uncle Elwood?
- Veta Louise Simmons: I suppose it was because she died in his arms. People are sentimental about things like that.
- Miss Kelly: I was wondering if you would come downstairs with me, please, to Dr. Sanderson's office? There's something he'd like to explain to you.
- Elwood P. Dowd: I'd be glad to, Miss Kelly, but there's another very charming girl in here a minute ago and she asked me to wait. She said something about a bath. I-I-I don't like to disappoint her. She seemed to have her heart set on.
- Dr. Sanderson: You know, people are people no matter were you go.
- Elwood P. Dowd: That is very often the case.
- Elwood P. Dowd: Well, I think this calls for a celebration! Why don't we all go down to Charlie's Place and have a drink?
- Veta Louise Simmons: You're not going anywhere, Elwood. You're staying right here.
- Myrtle Mae Simmons: Yes, Uncle Elwood.
- Judge Gaffney: Stay here, son.
- Elwood P. Dowd: I plan to leave, you want me to stay. Oh, an element of conflict in any discussion is a very good thing. It shows everybody is taking part and nobody is left out. I like that.
- Myrtle Mae Simmons: Oh, mother, why can't we live like other people.
- Veta Louise Simmons: Myrtle Mae, do I have to keep reminding you? Your Uncle Elwood is not living with us, we're living with him.
- Myrtle Mae Simmons: Living with him and his pal!
- Veta Louise Simmons: You promised.
- Myrtle Mae Simmons: His pal Harvey!
- Veta Louise Simmons: You said that name! You promised you wouldn't say that name and you said it.
- Myrtle Mae Simmons: Who'd want me?
- Veta Louise Simmons: Oh, Mrytle, dear, you're sweet! And you have so much to offer. I don't care what anyone says, there's something sweet about every young girl. And a man takes that sweetness and look what he does with it. Oh, show some poise dear!
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