31 quotes
Tension Over Search in The Departed Scene
Frank Costello
I'm going to have my associate search you.
Billy Costigan
No, no one's fucking searching me. Searching me for what?
Frank Costello
Contra-fucking-band. Take your shoes off.
Mr. French
Shoes.
Frank Costello
I knew your father.
[to Costigan]
Billy Costigan
Yeah? You know he's dead?
Frank Costello
Oh, sorry. How'd he go?
Billy Costigan
He didn't complain.
Frank Costello
Yeah, that was his problem.
Billy Costigan
Who said he had a problem?
Frank Costello
I just said he had a fucking problem. There's a man who could have been anything.
Billy Costigan
Are you trying to say he was nothing?
Frank Costello
I'm saying he worked at the airport.
Mr. French
He's clean.
Frank Costello
Arm.
Billy Costigan
Arm? What fuckin arm?
Mr. French
Show me your arm. Flip it. mmhmmm, mmhmmm...
[French pulls Costigan to a pool table]
Frank Costello
It makes me curious to see you in this neighborhood.
Mr. French
He's clean.
[removing the cast]
Frank Costello
And if I can slander my own environment, it makes me sad. This, uh, regression. Plus, I don't know if it's beyond some fucking cop prick like Queenan to pull you out of the Staties and send you gift-wrapped to me. I just can't know. I wonder what they do in that particular department, anyway.
Frank Costello
Are you still a cop?
[yelling]
Billy Costigan
No!
[in severe pain]
Frank Costello
Swear on your mother's grave. You're still not a cop?
[yelling]
Billy Costigan
I'm not a fucking cop!
[painfully]
Frank Costello
Are you going to stop doing coke deals with your jerk-off fucking cousin?
[yelling]
Billy Costigan
Yes, yes, yes!
[weakly]
Frank Costello
All right, all right. It's okay. You'll be be all right. Get your hand taken care of.
[patting his back]
Frank Costello
I'm sorry, but it was necessary. As for our problem with Providence - let's not cry over some spilled guineas.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Frank Costello's Harsh Instructions on Disposing Bodies
Frank Costello
The cops are saying he's a cop. So I won't look for the cop. Are you soft, Fitzy? When I tell you to dump a body in the marsh, you dump him in the marsh. Not where some guy from John Hancock goes every Thursday TO GET A FUCKING BLOWJOB! DON'T LAUGH! THIS AIN'T REALITY TV!!!
[Fitzy laughs, Frank hits him with his hat]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Betrayal and Revelations in Law Enforcement
Frank Costello
How the fuck did this happen?
Colin Sullivan
You're an FBI informant? Are you fucking kidding me?
Frank Costello
Grow up! Of course I talked to the FBI.
[coughs blood; laughing]
Colin Sullivan
Do they know who I am?
Frank Costello
I-I never gave up anybody who wasn't going down anyway. Nobody knows nothin'.
Colin Sullivan
Frank...Frank...Frank. Do they know about me?
Frank Costello
I know about you, Colin. You know I'd never give you up. You're like a--
Colin Sullivan
What, like a son? To you? Is that what this is about? All that murderin and fuckin', and no sons?
Colin Sullivan
FUCKING RAT PRICK!
[shooting]
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Choices and Consequences in Life's Path
Frank Costello
When you decide to be something, you can be it. That's what they don't tell you in the church. When I was your age they would say we can become cops, or criminals. Today, what I'm saying to you is this: when you're facing a loaded gun, what's the difference?
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Trust in an Immaculate Record
Captain Ellerby
Most people wouldn't trust anybody with an immaculate record. I do. I got an immaculate record.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Establishing Boundaries in a Dangerous Situation
Mr. French
Do you know me?
Billy Costigan
No. No.
Mr. French
Well, I'm the guy who tells you there's guys you can hit and guys you can't. Now, that's not quite a guy you can't hit, but he's almost a guy you can't hit. So I'm gonna make a fuckin ruling on this right now: you don't fucking hit him. You understand?
Billy Costigan
Yeah, excellent. Fine, fine. Fine.
Mr. French
I fucking know you. I know your family. You make one more drug deal with that idiot, fucking cop-magnet of a cousin and I'll forget your grandmother was so nice to me. I'll cut your fucking nuts off. You understand that?
Billy Costigan
Yeah. Yeah, I do.
Mr. French
What are you drinking?
Billy Costigan
Cranberry juice.
Mr. French
What is it, your period? Get him a cranberry juice.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Concerns About Empty Cars in The Departed
Captain Ellerby
Please tell me those cars aren't empty. I mean, Jesus fucking Christ, please tell me that those Chinamen's cars AREN'T EMPTY!!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Artistry and Ambition in The Departed
Frank Costello
Have a seat, Bill. Do you know ]?
[[John Lennon]
Billy Costigan
Yeah, sure, he was the president before ].
[[Abraham Lincoln|Lincoln]
Frank Costello
Lennon said, "I'm an artist. You give me a fucking tuba, I'll get you something out of it.
Billy Costigan
I tell you Mr. Costello, I'd like to squeeze some fucking money out of it.
Frank Costello
Smart mouth. Too bad. If you'll indulge me–
[Picks up a bag with a disembodied hand in it]
Frank Costello
Now what?
Gwen
Choir practice.
Frank Costello
Choir practice. The point I'm making with John Lennon is: a man could look at anything and make something out of it. For instance, I look at you and I think, "What could I use you for?
[Mutters; Pulls the hand out of the bag, then takes the ring of its finger]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Making Your Own Way in Life
Frank Costello
Amen. The Church wants you in your place. Kneel, stand, kneel, stand. If you go for that sort of thing, I don't know what to do for you. A man makes his own way. No one gives it to you. You have to take it. ]
[[w:Non Serviam|Non Serviam]
Colin Sullivan
].
[[James Joyce]
Frank Costello
Smart, Colin.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Limits of Loyalty and Deception
Taglines
Lies. Betrayal. Sacrifice. How far will you take it?
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Frustration and Anger in a Heated Moment
Captain Ellerby
YOU FUCKED THIS WHOLE THING UP!!!! WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO, YOU COCKSUCKER?!?!?! LET GO OF ME!!!! I'M GONNA RIP YOUR ARM OFF AND SHOVE IT UP YOUR FUCKING ASS, YOU HEAR ME?!?!?!
[after punching a computer technician]
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Questioning Motives in Uncertain Times
Ellerby
Yeah, but cui bono? Who benefits?
Colin Sullivan
Cui gives a shit? It's got a fuckin bow on it.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Class and Identity in American Society
Dignam
Tell me, what's a lace-curtain mofo like you doing in the staties?
Costigan
Well, families are always rising or falling in America, am I right?
Queenan
Who said that?
Costigan
].
[[Nathaniel Hawthorne|Hawthorne]
Dignam
What's the matter, smart-ass, you don't know any fucking ]?
[[Shakespeare]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Illusion of Control in Communication
Frank Costello
Now, whenever you make a call, ask for Mikey. MIKEY! Heh...you ask for a Mikey, because there is no Mikey.
[Gives Billy a cellphone]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Confrontation Over Trust and Betrayal
Billy Costigan
You're 70 fucking years old. One of these guys is going to pop you. As for running drugs, what the fuck? You don't need the pain in the ass, and they're going to catch you. And you don't need the money.
Frank Costello
I haven't "needed the money" since I took Archie's milk money in the third grade. Tell you the truth, I don't need pussy any more either...but I like it. Point I'm making here is, Bill, I got this rat. This...gnawing, cheese-eating fucking rat...And it brings up questions. You know, say, Bill, like you're the new guy...Girlfriend...Why didn't you stay in the bar that night I got your numbers? Social security numbers. Everybody's fucking numbers.
Billy Costigan
Is - is there something you wanna go ahead and ask me? Cause I'll go ahead give you the fucking answer, all right? Frank, look at me. Look at me. I'm not the fucking rat, okay? I'm not the fucking rat!
Frank Costello
Start with, you agree there is a rat.
Billy Costigan
You said there is one all right? I base most of what I do on the idea that you're pretty fucking good at what you do!
Frank Costello
Sure, sure, all that aside...but you, William, what would you do?
Billy Costigan
Frank, how many of these guys have been with you long enough to be disgruntled, huh? Think about it. You don't pay much, you know. It's almost a fuckin feudal enterprise. The question is, and this is the only question, who thinks that they can do what you do better than you?
Frank Costello
The only one that can do what I do is me. Lot of people had to die for me to be me. You wanna be me?
Billy Costigan
I probably could be you, yeah. Yeah, I know that much. But I don't wanna be you, Frank. I don't wanna be you.
Frank Costello
]...sort of thing.
[[w:Henry_IV,_Part_2#Pop_culture|Heavy lies the crown]
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Family Loyalty and Betrayal in The Departed
Frank Costello
You know, if your father were alive, and he saw you here sitting with me, let's say he would have a word with me about this. In fact, he'd kill seven guys just to cut my throat, and he could do it. Which is maybe something you don't know about William Costigan, Sr.
Billy Costigan
So he never? I mean, never?
Frank Costello
No. He kept his own counsel. He never wanted money. You can't do anything with a man like that. Your Uncle Jackie, he also would kill my entire fucking family if he saw me here with you. And I think about this.
Billy Costigan
So what the fuck are we talking about here?
[confused]
Frank Costello
Did you ever think about going back to school?
Billy Costigan
School? All due respect Mr. Costello, school is out.
[laughs]
Frank Costello
Maybe someday you'll wake the fuck up.
[annoyed]
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Welcome to the Special Investigation Unit
Queenan
Congratulations on passing the detective's exam, and welcome to the Special Investigation Unit.
Dignam
Whoop-da-fucking-do.
Queenan
We won't be working together, that is, directly. You'll be working for Captain Ellerby, but I like to watch everybody.
Queenan
You're a worker. You rise fast.
Staff Sergeant Dignam
Like a 12-year-old's dick.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Trust and Betrayal in The Departed
Frank Costello
I got this rat, this gnawing, cheese eating fuckin rat and it brings up questions... You know, see, Bill, like you're the new guy. Girlfriend... Why don't you stay in the bar that night I got your numbers. Social Security numbers. Everybody's fuckin numbers.
Billy Costigan
Is there something that you just wanna go ahead and ask me? Cause I'll give you the fuckin answer, all right? Frank, look at me. Look at me. I'm not the fuckin rat. Okay? I'm not the fuckin rat.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Moment of Acknowledgment in The Departed
Colin Sullivan
Okay…
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Seeking Truth in Uncomfortable Conversations
Madolyn
What do you expect coming in here?
Billy Costigan
I have to come here.
Madolyn
I know you have to come here, but now that you're here, what do you want?
Billy Costigan
You want the truth? Valium.
Madolyn
You know if you lied, you would have an easier time getting what you wanted.
Billy Costigan
What does that say about what you do for a living?
Madolyn
I just think we should have a few more meetings before we even talk about prescriptions.
Billy Costigan
Look...look, I'm having panic attacks, alright? The other night I thought I was having a fucking heart attack. I puked in a trash barrel on the way over here. I haven't slept for fucking weeks.
Madolyn
Is that true?
Billy Costigan
Yeah, that's true. Alright? I said it was fucking true. I want some fucking pills and you're gonna what? You're gonna close my file? Is that what you're going to do?
Madolyn
No, I didn't close your file. I--
Billy Costigan
I thought I was supposed to tell the truth here, if only fucking here!
Madolyn
You are! You are!
Billy Costigan
Christ. I mean, a guy comes in here against every, every instinct of privacy and self-reliance he has and what do you do? What do you do, huh? You send him off on the street to score smack, is that what you do? You're fucking ridiculous!
Billy Costigan
Two pills? Great. Why don't you just give me a bottle of scotch and a handgun to blow my fucking head off! Are we done here with this psychiatry bullshit?
[picking up the pills]
Madolyn
You know what? You can leave!
Billy Costigan
What the fuck did I just put myself through? I'm fucking out of here. And what if that was a legitimate threat? Think about it, fucking hotshot!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Understanding the Nature of Their Work
Queenan
Do you know what we do here? in my section?
Billy Costigan
Sir, yes, sir. I have an idea...
Dignam
Whoa, whoa, whoa. Let's say you have no idea and leave it at that, okay? No idea. Zip. None. If you had an idea of what we do, we would not be good at what we do, now would we? We would be cunts. Are you calling us cunts?
Queenan
Staff Sergeant Dignam has a style of his own. I'm afraid we all have to get used to it.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Undercover Operations and Workplace Tensions
Ellerby
Staff Sergeant Dignam is our liaison to the the undercover department, his undercover work is extensive. He's here to give us his report. Sergeant Dignam.
[during a conference briefing about Costello and his crew]
Dignam
OK. My people are out there. They're like fuckin Indians. You're not gonna see em you're not gonna hear about em except from me or Captain Queenan. You will not ever know the identity of undercover people. Unfortunately, this shithole has more fuckin leaks than the Iraqi Navy.
Ellerby
Fuck yourself.
Dignam
I'm tired from fuckin your wife.
Ellerby
How's your mother?
Dignam
Good, she's tired from fuckin my father. Good. Today, girls, what I have for you is microprocessors. Somebody as you may already know stole 20 microprocessors from the Mass Processor Company out on Route 128. These are the kind of processors they put into computers that can put a cruise missile up the ass of a camel from a couple hundred miles away. Now get this, we get a guy working for the company two months; walks right out the front door with a box of processors on Tuesday, has a ticket booked for Florida on Wednesday, but on Thursday, he gets found in a dumpster. You know where that dirtball started his life? Southie projects.
Colin Sullivan
What was his name? The departed?
Dignam
Miles Kenefick. Got a job to forge U-Mass transcript. U-Mass Boston, which just happens to be-
Frank Lazio
South Boston?
[interrupting]
Dignam
Well, you're a fuckin genius, huh! Who forged your transcript, dickhead?
Colin Sullivan
Hey this guy, his old man runs the Hibernian Liquor Mart. Kenefick's.
Ellerby
We're not here to solve the case of the missing scumbag, we're here to nail Costello.
Dignam
Alright look. We got a guy who says he hears Costello's moving the processors to China. We set up a whole fuckin job in Pop Kenefick. You do not want to miss it if Costello takes a dump.
Ellerby
We'd miss a lot less if you made your informants available to us at the cost of the Bureau.
[Dignam scoffs]
Frank Lazio
We're not asking for too many details. Do you have anyone in with Costello presently?
Dignam
Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe fuck yourself. My theory on Feds is they're like mushrooms. Feed em shit and keep em in the dark. You girls have a good day.
Ellerby
Normally he's a very, uh, nice guy.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Creating One's Own Environment
Frank Costello
I don't want to be a product of my environment. I want my environment to be a product of me. Years ago we had the church. That was only a way of saying - we had each other. The Knights of Columbus were real head-breakers; true guineas. They took over their piece of the city. Twenty years after an Irishman couldn't get a fucking job, we had ]. ] That's what the niggers don't realize. If I got one thing against the black chappies, it's this - no one gives it to you. You have to take it.
[[w:John F. Kennedy|the presidency; [w:Assassination of John F. Kennedy|May he rest in peace.]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Confrontation Between Two Characters
Billy Costigan
FREEZE!
Colin Sullivan
Hey, whoa!
Billy Costigan
Put your fucking hands up!
Colin Sullivan
Put the fucking gun down! Put the gun down. I came to talk sense into you.
Billy Costigan
HANDS!
Colin Sullivan
All right. Just act professional. I can get your money.
Billy Costigan
What'd you say?
Colin Sullivan
I can get you your money.
[Costigan strikes him with his gun and cuffs him]
Billy Costigan
You didn't come here to talk. You came here to get arrested.
Colin Sullivan
You have fucking tapes of what? Costello was my informant! I was a rat? FUCK YOU! Prove it! He was working for me. He was MY INFORMANT!
Billy Costigan
Shut your fucking mouth. Come on, get up!
Colin Sullivan
What is this, a citizen's arrest? Blow me. All right, only one of us is a cop here, Bill! You understand? No one knows who you fucking are!
Billy Costigan
Would you shut the fuck up?!
Colin Sullivan
I'm a sergeant in the Massachusetts State Police! Who the fuck are you? I ERASED YOU!
Billy Costigan
You erased me, huh?
[slamming him against the wall]
Colin Sullivan
Yeah, go ahead. Shoot a cop, Einstein. Watch what happens.
Billy Costigan
Well, what happens is the bullet will go RIGHT THROUGH YOUR FUCKING HEAD!
Colin Sullivan
Watch what happens!
Billy Costigan
Why? So you can get the parade, huh? The bag pipes and bullshit? FUCK YOU! FUCK YOU! I'M FUCKING ARRESTING YOU!
Colin Sullivan
That's the stupidest thing you could do.
Billy Costigan
SHUT THE FUCK UP! I could give a fuck if the charges don't stick. I'm still fucking arresting you.
[punching Sullivan with his gun with each word]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Perceptions of Marriage in Professional Advancement
Captain Ellerby
Marriage is an important part of getting ahead. It lets people know you're not a homo. A married guy seems more stable. People see the ring, they think at least somebody can stand the son of a bitch. Ladies see the ring, they know immediately that you must have some cash, and your cock must work.
[to Colin Sullivan]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Contrasting Backgrounds and Identity in Law Enforcement
Dignam
Your fuckin family's dug into the Southie projects like ticks. Three-decker men at best. You, however, grew up on the North Shore, huh? Well, la-di-fuckin'-da. You were kind of a double kid, I bet, right? Huh? One kid with your old man, one kid with your mother. You're upper-middle class during the weeks, then you're droppin your "R"s and you're hangin in the big, bad Southie projects with your daddy, the fuckin donkey on the weekends. I got that right? Yup. You have different accents? You did, didn't you? You little fuckin snake. You were like different people.
[Costigan does not answer]
Billy Costigan
You a psychiatrist?
Dignam
Well, if I was I'd ask you why you're a Statie making 30 grand a year. And I think if I was Sigmund fuckin Freud I wouldn't get an answer. So tell me, what's a lace-curtain motherfucker like you doing in the Staties?
Billy Costigan
Well, "Families are always rising and falling in America", am I right?
Queenan
Who said that?
Billy Costigan
].
[[Nathaniel Hawthorne|Hawthorne]
Dignam
Pfft! What's the matter, smart ass? Don't know any fuckin ]?
[[Shakespeare]
Queenan
We have a question: Do you want to be a cop, or do you want to appear to be a cop? It's an honest question. A lot of guys just want to appear to be cops. Gun, badge, pretend they're on TV.
Dignam
Yeah, a lot of people just wanna slam a nigger's head through a plate-glass window.
Billy Costigan
I'm all set without your own personal job application. Alright, Sergeant?
Dignam
What the fuck did you say to me, trainee?
Billy Costigan
With all due respect, sir, what do you want from me?
[to Queenan]
Dignam
Hey asshole, he can't help you! I know what you are, okay? I know what you are and I know what you are not. I'm the best friend you have on the face of this earth, and I'm gonna help you understand something, you punk. YOU'RE NO FUCKIN COP!
Queenan
He's right. We deal in deception here. What we do not deal with is self-deception. Five years from now, you can be anything else in the world, but you will never be a Massachusetts State Trooper.
Billy Costigan
You sure of that?
Queenan
I'm sure.
Dignam
Guaran-fucking-teed. You got a 1400 on your SATs, kid. You're an astronaut, not a Statie.
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Confrontation Between Dignam and Surveillance Guy
Dignam
This is incredible. Who put the fucking cameras in this place?
Surveillance Guy
Who the fuck are you?
Dignam
I'm the guy who does his job. You must be the other guy.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Acceptance of Personal Limitations
Colin Sullivan
If we're not gonna make it, it's gotta be you that gets out, cause I'm not capable. I'm fucking Irish, I'll deal with something being wrong for the rest of my life.
[to Madolyn]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Cost of Survival in a Dangerous Game
Frank Costello
One of us had to die. With me, it tends to be the other guy.
[to Colin]
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Life's Impermanence and Living in the Moment
Frank Costello
Who let this IRA motherfucker in my bar? Only kidding. How's your mother?
[the man looks startled; laughs]
Man in Costello's Bar
Oh... I'm afraid she's on her way out.
Frank Costello
We all are. Act accordingly.
[walks away; smiles and he straightens tie]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Trust and Reliability in Uncertain Times
Frank Costello
Do you trust him?
[Discussing Billy with Mr. French]
Mr. French
Well, these days, who's reliable?
Frank Costello
His uncle Jackie was. I don't know...you just can't trust a guy who acts like he's got nothing to lose.
Mr. French
I'm reliable.
Frank Costello
Arnie, you're one in a million.
Mr. French
Ten. Ten million.
Frank Costello
What about your wife, Arnie?
Mr. French
I thought she was reliable.
Frank Costello
She wasn't!
[Starts laughing]
Mr. French
...Well, she got reliable.
[Scene cuts to French strangling his wife]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.