Finian's Rainbow (1968)

Al Freeman Jr.: Howard

Quotes 

• Buzz Collins : Well, you'll like working here, Boy. I've hired all the senator's butlers for the past ten years. Hundreds of them. He's a little intolerant at times, but that's just his blood pressure. Now, let's see you serve that julep.

  [Howard serves it] 

  Buzz Collins : Oh, no. Rawkins won't like that, that's no way to serve a julep. It's too fast. Get some shuffle into it. You've seen some of the new movies like 'Birth of a Nation' and 'Gone With the Wind,' haven't you? Here, like this, George.

  Howard : Howard.

  Buzz Collins : Yeah, okay, Jackson.

  [He does a splay-legged shuffle and imitates Rochester] 

  Buzz Collins : Yo' julep suh, Massa Rawkins, suh, all frossy an' minty, yawk! Yawk! Yawk! You see, George?

  Howard : Uh... why do I have to shuffle?

  Buzz Collins : Oh, I don't have to explain that to you. It makes for kindly feelings between employer and employee. Now try it again, only not so fast this time.

  Howard : Uh... how did you do that again?

  Buzz Collins : I don't understand you Jackson. I mean, you don't walk like your supposed to, you don't talk like you're supposed to, you don't even know how to serve a julep like you're supposed to! Are you educated or something?

  Howard : Well, I'm working on my Masters.

  Buzz Collins : Working on your master's what?

  Howard : It's a college degree!

  Buzz Collins : Oh! Don't mention the word 'college' around the Senator! It upsets him. But that's beside the point, George. Do you want a job here or don't you?

  Howard : Well, yes sir I do, I... Ah needs da money.

  Buzz Collins : [cheerful]  Oh! Well, that's all the more reason for you to make good here. Then when you get your... college degree, you've got a job here for life!

• Woody Mahoney : You are looking at the mentholated tobacco plant. Here, smell. Smell the mint-julep nicotine.

  Sharon McLonergan : Mmm. That's nice. Really smells lovely.

  Howard : It's a whole new form of tobacco life. It only has one drawback.

  Sharon McLonergan : What's that?

  Howard : Well, it doesn't burn.

  Sharon McLonergan : It doesn't burn?

  Woody Mahoney : It's worse than asbestos. It actually puts fires out. But, we're working on it!