Forget it, Jake. It's Chinatown

[fightingdem]

Jake Gittes: I just want to know what you're worth. Over ten million?
Noah Cross: Oh my, yes.
Jake Gittes: Why are you doing it? How much better can you eat? What can you buy that you can't already afford?
Noah Cross: The future, Mr. Gitts, the future.

Los Angeles Times

"All right, I'll come clean," she said, slumping in a chaise lounge that probably cost the average income of the bottom fifth. "I work for the Republican National Committee, and we're starting to get spooked by the president's poll numbers on the economy. We figured if we don't get a little trickle-down soon, it could hurt us in 2006, not to mention '08."

I kicked myself for not seeing it sooner. "So you don't give a damn about the structural factors driving the productivity/wage gap: the declining unions, low minimum wage, the profit squeeze, slack job creation and, most of all, the way globalization is sapping the bargaining clout of the American worker, blue and white collar alike."

"Why should I?" she said, finally showing her true colors. "Any intervention would just cuff the invisible hand, doing more harm than good." She was Milton Friedman with the body of Scarlett Johansson. I had to get outta there.

The Fighting Democrat

[villager]

1. you can never go wrong referencing "Chinatown"

n/t

[Jack from Charlotte]

2. "Where'd you get the midget?" (nt)

*

[Jack from Charlotte]

3. "She's my sister. She's my daughter. She's my sister and my daughter."(nt

*

[Jack from Charlotte]

4. "My Mr. Geddes, that's a mighty nasty cut." "Only hurts when I breathe." (

*

[villager]

5. and what about things "Breaking faster than wind off a duck's ass?"

do I have that right or slightly mis-remembered?

[gratuitous]

6. C'mon Lou, make a decision

You're in charge . . .

[Mike03]

7. Best movie ever.

Jake Gittes: Well, that's all right. I take a long lunch. All day, sometimes.