Who's Minding the Store? (1963)

Ray Walston: Mr. Quimby

Photos 

Quotes 

• Mr. Quimby : So, you agree to start your great climb to success, your climb to the very top?

  Norman Phiffier : I'm ready to climb!

  Mr. Quimby : By starting at the very bottom?

  Norman Phiffier : Right down below the depths of the bottom, deep, lowest place where I am, I'll start.

• Mr. Quimby : Quimby here.

  Mrs. Phoebe Tuttle : You're out of breath, Quimby.

  Mr. Quimby : Yes, I, ah

  [clears throat] 

  Mr. Quimby : working late, long day.

  Mrs. Phoebe Tuttle : Don't put me on, Quimby. You've had at least three scotches and you're winded from chasing your pretty secretary. But don't worry, Quimby, I'll ok her next raise.

  Mr. Quimby : I've always considered you, not only my boss, but a dandy friend, Mrs. Tuttle.

• Mr. Quimby : How do you suppose I got to be the general manager of this great store? How?

  Norman Phiffier : How? How?

  Mr. Quimby : I'll tell you! I'll tell you!

  Norman Phiffier : Go ahead! Go ahead!

  Mr. Quimby : I will! I will!

• Shirley Lott : Your wife is on the phone.

  Mr. Quimby : Hang up!

  Shirley Lott : Yes, sir.

• Mr. Quimby : Forgive me for saying this, but this boy has character, and I know what character is! I remember when I had it!

• Mr. Quimby : That baboon of a boy has just about wrecked the good name of Tuttle.

  Mrs. Phoebe Tuttle : I thought you said he had character.

  Mr. Quimby : But there's no place in business for a man of character. His sincerity could ruin the world!

  Mrs. Phoebe Tuttle : Naturally, that's why we, the insincere, must be in charge.

• Mr. Quimby : And you, too, will do good work, but first you must get the FEEL of this great store.

  Norman Phiffier : Oh, I'll have no trouble with that. I have very sensitive fingertips.

• Mr. Quimby : By some chance, Mr. Phiffier, could you be stealing a TV set?

  Norman Phiffier : Me, stealing, Mr. Quimby? Oh, I'd never steal anything.

  Mr. Quimby : If I recollect correctly, Mr. Phiffier, you're supposed to be working in the mattress department today.

  Norman Phiffier : Oh, yeah, I AM working in the mattress department today.

  Mr. Quimby : Then what are you doing here?

  Norman Phiffier : Oh, well, I was just really trying to, uh, satisfy a charge customer, you see, sir. Uh, buh, a lady that wanted to see, on a mattress there, just, uh, just how good the TV set was, so I borrowed two ladders, and I put a surfboard on top of two ladders that I borrowed from the Hawaiian hooky hula department. I just wanted to satisfy a charge customer so I could be the greatest salesman just like you - you, who are my idol, Mr. Quimby. If I ever turn out to be as good as you, I shall really live and breathe the air of kings. Oh, if I could ever be like you, oh boy, there'd never be Death of a Salesman with me. I'd live on, if I ever... Mmm.