- John Sato: Somebody shot Art Malcolm and killed his bride. Unfortunate, but what does that have to do with me?
- Joe Mannix: One of your cars was identified leaving the scene.
- John Sato: My cars?
- Lt. Bob Naylor: Acme Rental. We got the license number.
- John Sato: Mr. Grant here handles my business affairs. Uh, Acme ours, Vic?
- Vic Grant: Yes, it is. Those cars at Acme are parked in an open lot, Lieutenant. We've had several cases of theft lately, which we reported. Check your files.
- John Sato: Just who was it that saw the car?
- Lt. Bob Naylor: Lieutenant Malcolm.
- John Sato: Malcolm? Everybody knows he's been on my back. He'd try to hang anything he could on me.
- [presses the button on the intercom that's on the table beside him]
- John Sato: Bernie.
- Bernie Moss: [over intercom] Yes, Mr. Sato?
- John Sato: Cigar.
- [turns back to Lt. Naylor]
- John Sato: Now, listen to me, Lieutenant, you tell Malcolm this time he struck out.
- Vic Grant: Mr. Sato can account for the entire evening.
- Joe Mannix: Okay, let's start with 9:30.
- John Sato: [pointing at Lt. Naylor] I account to him, Mannix. You don't even have any right being here.
- Lt. Bob Naylor: He's working with us on this case.
- Joe Mannix: [Bernie walks up to Sato with a box of cigars] Hello, Bernie.
- John Sato: You two know each other?
- Joe Mannix: Mr. Moss and I have met before. Dark alley one night.
- John Sato: Uh-huh. Well, Bernie's through with the rough stuff now that he's working for me. Right, Bernie?
- Bernie Moss: That's right, Mr. Sato.
- Lt. Bob Naylor: Where were you tonight?
- Bernie Moss: Right here, waiting for Mr. Sato to come home. You can check.
- Lt. Bob Naylor: Oh, I will.
- John Sato: It's all right, Bernie.
- Lt. Bob Naylor: He said you were coming home. From where?
- John Sato: Vic and I were at a dinner party at the Beverly Bedford. A hundred people will tell you we didn't leave before midnight.
- Joe Mannix: And you have no idea who could have been driving the car from Acme Rental?
- Vic Grant: How could he? I told you, the car was probably stolen.
- John Sato: Look, Lieutenant, there are a lot of clowns around who'd like to see Malcolm buried. And every one of them's got a match. Talk to them.