- Natascha: But you have a cabin.
- Chauncey Carson: Oh, so that's the... the proposition.
- Natascha: Yes.
- Chauncey Carson: Uh, how about a little something on account?
- Natascha: I"m accustomed to credit.
- Chauncey Carson: Not in China. They give dames away with cigarette coupons over here.
- Natascha: Very well. Place your own value on me.
- Busby: That milk is for those kids. You can't have a drop! Captain Carson told me to guard that goat.
- Johnson: Bahh! We've got no obligation to those brats! The natives have the right idea: throw them in the river!
- Busby: Oh! I have a strangely vicious idea to cut you into pieces and use you as bait, if I knew how to fish.
- Gabby Woman: Oh, dear, oh, ohh, Doctor, I'm in terrible pain!
- Dr. Pransnitz: Hmm, where?
- Gabby Woman: [rubs her stomach] Here. What could it be, Doctor?
- Dr. Pransnitz: Hunger. And that's good for you!
- Gabby Woman: Oh, I'm so relieved. I was afraid it was something else. And it would've been all Busby's fault.
- Busby: I did nothing.
- Gabby Woman: Yes, you did.
- Busby: What?
- Gabby Woman: Doctor, he gave me some chewing gum, and I was so hungry I swallowed it.
- Busby: Keep away from sailors. They chew tobacco.
- Chauncey Carson: Natascha... my first name is... is Chauncey.
- Natascha: Chauncey!
- Chauncey Carson: Shhh. Not so loud.
- Natascha: Chauncey... I like it.
- Chauncey Carson: You know, there oughta' be a law against parents naming children.
- Natascha: There's a spy in here.
- Chauncey Carson: You don't tell me. A beautiful blonde spy?
- Natascha: Do you think I would betray you? All of you white men and women, for those filthy...
- Chauncey Carson: Of course you would. Why not?
- Natascha: Will you be serious.
- Chauncey Carson: Oh, not right here in the courtyard. But, I can be in Room 8, in about, eh, 15 minutes? I'd like to uncover this spy.
- [Natasha slaps Carson, then rushes away]
- Chauncey Carson: Strike one.
- Johnson: I'd never suspect you ever worked for anyone! You leave everything to me! Telephone calls! Mates! Paddle wheels! Repairs! Coolies! Who owns this steamer anyhow?
- Chauncey Carson: [tipsily] You do - as long as I keep beating Voronsky off.
- Johnson: Well, get on the job! Get us out of here!
- Chauncey Carson: You want me to hold the coolies' hands while they work?
- Johnson: Well, that's what you're best at- holding hands and liquor glasses! Answer that phone! Start things moving!
- Chauncey Carson: Is it possible that your wife was ever in love with you?
- [Chauncey strolls off, leaving Johnson exasperated]
- Gabby Woman: When I think of those Thanksgiving dinners my Aunt Clara used to have. That was back in Omaha. Uh, did you know that Omaha was the granary of the United States? Oh, what corn-fed cattle. And what turkeys.
- Gabby Woman: I understand there's no American Consul here.
- Busby: No.
- Gabby Woman: Haven't you any influence?
- Busby: Oh, no, ma'am. I'm a civil engineer. But they changed the government, so I had to go to work.
- Gabby Woman: Oh. Oh. Oh, how can you be so calm?
- Hortense O'Dare: Well, I'm just as scared as you are, only I'm not bragging about it.
- Natascha: You know, it's hard to tell whether you are a little boy or a bully.
- Chauncey Carson: Little boys don't drink as much as I do.
- Natascha: You needn't be ashamed of being kind.
- Chauncey Carson: Not when I have so many other things to be ashamed of.
- Chauncey Carson: There's that telephone again. That's the old blowfish that owns all these river scows.
- Chauncey Carson: Confidentially, the lady in Room 8, what does she look like?
- Chinese Proprietor's Daughter: Oh, beautiful.
- Chauncey Carson: Well, why didn't you tell me that before?
- Chinese Proprietor's Daughter: She is dangerous.
- Chauncey Carson: Well, what lady isn't?
- Chauncey Carson: Can you shoot?
- Busby: Well, I've hunted quail, but I wouldn't like to - kill anybody.
- Gabby Woman: Oh, why did my niece ever tell me to go around the world? Why did I ever come to China?
- Chauncey Carson: As you might as well know, we're in a tough spot.
- Gabby Woman: And I'm all out of aspirin, ohhh...
- Busby: You're like a picture, on a magazine cover.
- Hortense O'Dare: Nope, you're wrong. I'm wearing too many clothes.
- Natascha: Perhaps if you drank less, you would think more of it.
- Chauncey Carson: Oh, you're taking care of my morals, huh?
- Natascha: Maybe. You know you've got a hard job ahead of you. You should keep your head clear.
- Chauncey Carson: Sister, if I was cockeyed, I could still see through you.
- Natascha: All right. Let's forget about me then. Remember the others.
- [turns over Carson's glass of liquor and exits]
- Chauncey Carson: Strike two.
- Gabby Woman: I've been starving for three days. I know I'm going to die.
- Natascha: Have you never starved before?
- Gabby Woman: Gracious, no. Have you?
- Natascha: It's a valuable experience. It changes one's perspective.
- Natascha: There's only a few hours left for both of us. Why should we throw them away?
- Chauncey Carson: I told you there wasn't going to be any steamboat.
- Natascha: I'm not bargaining for a passage now.
- [grabs his arm]
- Natascha: Chauncey?
- Chauncey Carson: Strike three.
- [pours another drink]
- Chauncey Carson: Just a mariner's dream.
- Natascha: Dream. It would be wonderful if we never had to wake up.
- Chauncey Carson: It's an idea. Pleasant dreams.
- Natascha: A long one.