- Officer Jim Reed: [in getting conflicting accounts from three different eyewitnesses about the arsonist] All we have to do is find a suspect who's either five foot eight or six foot tall, and... skinny and stocky who wears, uh, light and dark pants and three different color shirts at the same time.
- [Malloy and Reed have their heads out a fifth story window trying to talk a jumper on the ledge into the building]
- Officer Jim Reed: Hi.
- Carl Shumley: [nervously] Why did they send for you?
- Officer Pete Malloy: [calmly] Take it easy, Mister. Don't get excited.
- Carl Shumley: [excitedly] Don't get excited? Why shouldn't I get excited? What else would you expect me to be?
- Officer Jim Reed: Wait just a minute now. Please wait.
- Carl Shumley: Wait? Do you think I have any other choice?
- Officer Jim Reed: Everybody's got a choice.
- Officer Pete Malloy: He's right, Mister. Don't do anything foolish. Just relax. There's always a way out.
- Carl Shumley: Well, why don't you help me?
- Officer Jim Reed: We'll be glad to help you, Mister, any way we can.
- Carl Shumley: [more excitedly] Well, why don't you stop talkin' and do something. Do you think I want to be out here? I'm cold.
- Officer Jim Reed: Then why don't you come on inside?
- Carl Shumley: [on the verge of tears] There's a hook in that building, and my belt is stuck in it. I can't move. I'm afraid to move.