32 quotes
Confronting Humiliation and Responsibility
Meurice
Look. Personally I don't give a shit. I know Marty's a hard-on but you gotta do something. I don't know; give the money back, say you're sorry, or get the fuck out of here, or something...It's very humiliating, preaching about this shit...I'm not laughing at this, Ray Bob, so you know it's no fucking joke.
[to Ray]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Unraveling the Mystery of the Situation
Meurice
Something pretty fucking weird is going on. Put your coat on and I'll drop you at home. But don't talk to either of em until I do. And don't worry. Believe me. These things always have a logical explanation. Usually.
[to Abby]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Consequences of Bad News Assumptions
Marty
You know in Greece they cut off the head of the messenger who brought bad news.
Visser
Now that don't make much sense.
Marty
No. It just made them feel better.
Visser
Well first off, Julian, I don't know what the story is in Greece but in this state we got very definite laws about that. Second place I ain't a messenger, I'm a private investigator. And third place--and most important--it ain't such bad news. I mean you thought he was a colored. You're always assumin the worst.
[laughs; He laughs]
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Unwelcome Visits and Dark Humor
Visser
Anything else?
Marty
Yeah, don't come by here any more. If I need you again I know which rock to turn over.
Visser
That's good... "which rock to turn over"... that's very good...Well, gimme a call whenever you wanna cut off my head...I can crawl around without it.
[laughs]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Character Traits Revealed Through Conversation
Abby
He's real careful. Fact is, he's anal.
[about Marty]
Ray
Huh?
Abby
Yeah, he told me once himself. He said to me... "In here, Abby. In here... I'm anal.
[taps herself on the forehead]
Ray
Well I'll be damned.
Abby
I couldn't believe it either. Me on the other hand, I got lots of personality. Marty always said I had too much. Course he was never big on personality. He sent me to a psychiatrist to see if he could calm me down some.
Ray
Yeah? What happened?
Abby
Psychiatrist said I was the healthiest person he'd ever met, so Marty fired him.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Trust and Motivation in Criminal Intentions
Visser
I'm supposed to do a murder--two murders--and just trust you not to go simple on me and do something stupid. I mean real stupid. Now why should I trust you?
Marty
For the money.
Visser
The money. Yeah. That's a right smart bit of money.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Conversation About Marty's Absence
Ray
Is Marty here?
Meurice
Not here tonight. Wasn't here last night. He's especially not back in his office.
Ray
Thanks, Meurice.
Meurice
For what?
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Unexpected Conversations at the Bar
Meurice
Howdy stranger.
Ray
Meurice. Sorry I didn't show last night.
Meurice
Wasn't too busy. You missed a good one, though. This white guy walks in about one o'clock, asks if we have a discount for alcoholics... I tell him to get lost, but Marty's sitting here listening and I can tell he's thinking that maybe it ain't such a bad idea.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Discussion About Legislative Sessions
Abby
Looks like the state legislature is out of session.
[in a strip joint]
Meurice
I thought this is where they met.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Test of True Love
Loren Visser
You know a friend of mine broke his hand a while back. Put in a cast. Very next day he takes a fall, protects his bad hand, falls on his good one, breaks that too. So now he's got two busted flippers and I say to him "Creighton, I hope your wife loves you. Cause for the next five weeks you cannot wipe your own goddamn ass." That's the test, ain't it? Test of true love.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Questioning Intentions in a Deal
Visser
I know a place you can get that framed.
[about a photo of Ray and Abby]
Marty
What did you take these for?
Visser
What do you mean? Just doin my job.
Marty
You called me, I knew they were there, so what do I need these for?
Visser
Well, I don't know... Call it a fringe benefit.
Marty
How long did you watch her?
Visser
Most of the night...They'd just rest a few minutes and then get started again. Quite something.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Unexpected Conversations in a Strip Joint
Teenager
Hey mister, how'd you break your pussyfinger?
[to Marty]
Strip joint DJ
And remember, gentlemen, we're always here, two to two, A.M. to P.M., three hundred and sixty-four days and Christmas, God willing and the creek don't rise.
Ray
You left your weapon behind.
[to Abby]
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Desire for escape from a troubled relationship
Ray
Why d'you wanna leave all this?
Abby
You kidding? I don't wanna leave all this, I just wanna leave Marty.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Questioning Character Perceptions and Identity
Debra
Nice guy.
[after Marty leaves]
Meurice
Not really. What'd you say your last name was?
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Conversation About Relationships and Plans
Marty
So how long have you know Meurice?
Debra
About ten years.
Marty
So what're you doing tonight?
Debra
Going out with Meurice.
Marty
Tell him you have a headache.
Debra
It'll pass.
Marty
We don't seem to be communicating--
Debra
You want to hustle me. I don't want to be hustled. It's as simple as that. Now that I've communicated, why don't you leave?
Marty
I own the place.
Debra
Christ, I'm getting bored.
Marty
I'm not surprised, the company you've been keeping the last ten years.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Finality of Death
Marty
Dead, huh?
[looking at a photo of Ray and Abby]
Visser
So it would seem.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Tension Between Colleagues Over Job Status
Ray
Am I fired? You wanna hit me? What?
Marty
I don't particularly want to talk to you.
Ray
Well... if you're not gonna fire me I might as well quit.
Marty
Fine. Suit yourself...Having a good time?
Ray
I don't like this kind of talk.
Marty
Then what'd you come here for?
Ray
You owe me for two weeks.
Marty
Nope. She's an expensive piece of ass...You get a refund though, if you tell me who else she's been sluicing.
Ray
I want that money. If you wanna tell me something, fine--
Marty
What're you, a fucking marriage counselor?
Marty
What're you smiling at--I'm a funny guy, right, I'm an asshole? No, no, that's not what's funny. What's funny is her. What's funny is that I had you two followed because, if it isn't you, she's been sleeping with someone else...What's really going to be funny is when she gives you that innocent look and says, "What're you talking about, Ray, I haven't done anything funny." ...But the funniest thing to me right now is that you think she came back here for you--that's what's funny...Come on this property again and I'll be forced to shoot you...Fair notice.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Tension in a Complicated Relationship
Abby
He gave me a little pearl-handled .38 for out first anniversary.
Ray
Uh-huh.
Abby
Figured I'd better leave before I used it on him. I don't know how you can stand him.
Ray
Well, I'm only an employee, I ain't married to him.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Confrontation Over Trust and Money
Meurice
Marty...I thought you were dead. Going home?
Marty
No. I think I'll stay right here in hell.
Meurice
Kind of a bleak point of view there, isn't it Marty?
Marty
Meurice...I don't want that asshole near my money. I don't even want him in the bar.
Meurice
We get a lot of assholes in here, Marty.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Caution in a Dangerous World
Julian Marty
Lover-boy oughta lock his door. Lotta nuts out there.
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Communication and Silence in Relationships
Abby
I said, "Marty, how come you're anal and I gotta go to the psychiatrist?
Ray
What'd he say?
Abby
Nothing. He's like you, he doesn't say much.
Ray
Thanks.
Abby
Except when he doesn't say things, they're usually nasty.
Ray
Mm-hmm.
Abby
When you don't, they're usually nice.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Importance of Caution in Conversations
Visser
Something I got to ask you, Marty. I've been very very careful. Have you been very very careful?
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Embracing Nature for a Change
Julian Marty
Let's do it outside, in nature.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Self-Reliance in a Flawed World
Loren Visser
The world is full of complainers. But the fact is, nothing comes with a guarantee. I don't care if you're the Pope of Rome, President of the United States, or even Man of the Year—something can always go wrong. And go ahead, complain, tell your problems to your neighbor, ask for help—watch him fly. Now in Russia, they got it mapped out so that everyone pulls for everyone else—that's the theory, anyway. But what I know about is Texas...And down here... you're on your own.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Questioning Perceptions of Intelligence
Loren Visser
Who looks stupid now?
[to Marty]
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Consequences of Misplaced Actions
Loren Visser
Stick your finger up the wrong person's ass?
[to Marty]
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Disgusting Behavior Described by Loren Visser
Loren Visser
Sweet Jesus, you are disgusting.
[to himself, about Marty]
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Uncertainty in Relationships and Personal Feelings
Abby
I don't know. Sometimes I think there's something wrong with him. Like maybe he's sick? Mentally?...Or is it maybe me, do you think?
Ray
Listen, I ain't a marriage counselor. I don't know what goes on, I don't wanna know... But I like you. I always liked you...
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Uncertainty in a Mysterious Conversation
Ray
Hello.
[answering phone]
Marty
Having a good time?
Ray
What? Who is this?
Marty
I don't know, who's this? You still there?
[pause]
Ray
Yeah, I'm still here.
Abby
Ray?
Ray
Yeah.
Abby
What was that?
Ray
Your husband.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Negotiating Morality and Compensation
Marty
Got a job for you.
Visser
Well, if the pay's right and it's legal I'll do it.
Marty
It's not strictly legal.
Visser
If the pay's right I'll do it.
Marty
It's, uh... it's in reference to that gentleman and my wife. The more I think about it the more irritated I get.
Visser
Yeah? Well how irritated are you?
Visser
Gee, I'm sorry to hear that. Can you tell me what you want me to do or is it a secret?
[laughs]
Marty
Listen, I'm not--this isn't a joke here.
Visser
You want me to kill em.
Marty
I didn't say that. Well?
[pause]
Visser
Well what?
Marty
What do you think?
Visser
You're an idiot.
Marty
So, uh... this wouldn't interest you.
Visser
I didn't say that. All I said was you're an idiot. Hell, you been thinking about it so much it's driving you simple.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Dog's Madness in Blood Simple
Meurice
Even the fucking dog's gone crazy.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Toast to Sophisticated Tastes
Marty
What were you drinking, Debra?
Debra
Remy.
Marty
You've got a very sophisticated palate.
Debra
Thanks.
Marty
Give Debra here another drink, and give me the usual.
Debra
What's a palate?
[she smiles]
Marty
Listen, I got tickets for the Oilers and the Rams next week in the Astrodome. Ever sat on the fifty yard line?
Debra
I don't follow baseball.
Marty
You won't have to. I'll explain what a palate is.
[laughs]
Debra
You won't have to. I just wanted to see if you knew.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.