- Lt. Cable: [Cable has been told that Nellie is in love with Emile] That's hard to believe, sir; they tell me he's a middle-aged man.
- Capt. George Brackett: [fuming] Cable, it is a common mistake for boys of your age and athletic ability to underestimate men who have reached their maturity. Young women frequently find older men attractive, strange as it may seem. I myself am over fifty. I am a bachelor. And Cable, I do not, by any means, consider myself th-r-rough.
- [to Harbison, who is trying not to laugh]
- Capt. George Brackett: What's the matter, Bill?
- Cmdr. Bill Harbison: Nothing - -evidently!
- [He bursts out laughing]
- Bloody Mary: [giving a shrunken head to Lt. Cable] You like I give you, free!
- Luther Billis: Free? You never gave me anything free!
- Bloody Mary: You no sexy like lieu-tellen.
- Bloody Mary: [the ancient Mary is looking him up and down] Lieu-tellen, you sexy man.
- Lt. Cable: Thanks... You're looking pretty... er, fit yourself.
- Lt. Cable: He's kept a few secrets from her, hasn't he?
- Capt. George Brackett: Well, you don't spring a couple of Polynesian kids on a woman right off the bat.
- Lt. Buzz Adams: You gotta do something to break the monotony out here, Lieutenant. You know, if this war ever really gets started ...
- Lt. Cable: [as if he knew something that Buzz Adams does not] It'll get started.
- Lt. Buzz Adams: [taken by surprise] Sure - sure, it'll get started.
- Cmdr. Bill Harbison: Miss Forbush, what Capt. Brackett wants to know - did you discuss politics?
- Nellie: No sir.
- Capt. George Brackett: [Looking at Harbison] Would you have discussed politics, commander?
- Nellie: You know what I mean, Emile?
- Emile de Becque: Yes. We're both knuckleheads - cockeyed optimists.
- Luther Billis: That darn Bali Hai. Why does it have to be off-limits? You can get everything over there... shrunken heads, bracelets.
- Cmdr. Bill Harbison: I'm afraid we aren't going to get much out of her. She's obviously in love with him.
- Lt. Cable: Oh, that's hard to believe, sir. They tell me he's a middle-aged man.
- Emile de Becque: What makes her talk like that - you and she? I do not believe it is born in you! I do not believe it!
- Lt. Cable: It's not born in you - it happens after you're born!
- Sailor / Seabee: Hey, Billis, ya got a hole in your boat!