The Grifters poster

The Grifters Quotes

"Seduction. Betrayal. Murder. Who’s conning who?"

R 1990 · 1h 50m
65
Audience
65
Audience
12 quotes
Desires for Partnership and Past Regrets
Roy Dillon Maybe I like it where I am.
Myra Langtry Well, maybe I don't! I had ten good years with Cole, and I want them back! I gotta have a partner! I looked and I looked and believe me, brother, I kissed a lot of fucking frogs, and you're my prince!
A Son's Conflicted Relationship with His Mother
Roy Dillon Well, who's a boy gonna talk to if not his mother?
A Complex Debt Between Mother and Son
Roy Dillon I guess I owe you my life, Lilly.
Lilly Dillon You always did, Roy.
Struggling with Honesty and Trust
Lilly Dillon I was hoping we could play it straight with one another.
Roy Dillon I guess not.
Lilly Dillon I guess you won't be getting a straight job, either.
Roy Dillon Not this week.
Lilly Dillon Not ever.
Roy Dillon It's up to me. I'm strictly short con. It's nothing but small time stuff. I can walk away from it anytime I want.
Lilly Dillon Where have I heard that before?
Roy Dillon Yeah, but I'm in control.
Lilly Dillon Sure. You're only 25 years old, already you can lay down four grand without even turning a hair. Grift's like anything else, Roy. You don't stand still. You either go up or down. Usually down, sooner or later.
Roy Dillon Well, I'll let it be a surprise, then.
A Plea for Reciprocity and Recognition
Lilly Dillon I gave you your life twice. I'm asking you to give me mine once.
Struggles of Identity in a Criminal World
Lilly Dillon You're working some angle, and don't tell me you're not because I wrote the book!
Roy Dillon What about you? You still handling playback money for the mob?
Lilly Dillon That's me. That's who I am. You were never cut out for the rackets, Roy.
Roy Dillon How come?
Lilly Dillon You aren't tough enough.
Roy Dillon Not as tough as you, huh?
Lilly Dillon Get off the grift, Roy.
Roy Dillon Why?
Lilly Dillon You haven't got the stomach for it.
Urgent Plea in a Crisis Situation
Doctor Miss Dillon, I'm sorry about our little disagreement on the phone. And I'm really sorry about your son. Well, it's hard to believe that such a strapping young man is your son.
Lilly Dillon Never mind that, just take care of him.
Doctor He's had, he's had an internal hemorrhage. He's bleeding to death.
Lilly Dillon Well, make it stop!
Doctor His blood pressure's under a hundred. I don't think he's going to make it to the hospital.
Lilly Dillon You know who I work for.
Doctor There's just so much I can do.
Lilly Dillon My son is going to be all right. If not, I'll have you killed.
Family Ties and Hidden Truths
Myra Langtry My God, it's your mother. It's Lilly.
Roy Dillon What?
Myra Langtry Sure it is. That's why you act so funny around each other.
Roy Dillon What's that?
Myra Langtry Oh, don't act so god-damned innocent! You and your own mother? Ugh! You like to go back where you been, huh?
Roy Dillon Watch your mouth.
Myra Langtry Yeah, I'm wise to you! I should have seen it before, you rotten son of a bitch. How is it, huh? How do you like it-
Negotiating the Big Con Strategy
Roy Dillon You talk the lingo. What's your pitch?
Myra Langtry The long end, big con.
Roy Dillon Nobody does that single-o.
Myra Langtry I was teamed ten years with the best in the business, Cole Langley.
Roy Dillon I've heard the name.
Myra Langtry It was beautiful! And getting better all the time.
Roy Dillon Is that right?
Myra Langtry It is, Roy. It's where you should be. What do you bring in, $300, $400 a week? We used money like that for tips!
Friendship and Age Perception Among Characters
Myra Langtry I'm Roy's friend.
Lilly Dillon Yes. I imagine you're lots of people's friend.
Myra Langtry Oh, of course, now that I see you in the light, you're plenty old enough to be Roy's mother.
[taking a good look at Lilly]
Lilly Dillon Aren't we all?
Roy Dillon Play nice. Don't fight.
Disagreement Over Teaming Up
Roy Dillon Do I get any say in this?
Myra Langtry No! Because...
Roy Dillon That's what I say. What I say is no. We don't do partners.
Myra Langtry What is it? What's goin on? Why don't you wanna team up?
Roy Dillon The best reason I can think of is that you scare the hell out of me. I have seen women like you before, baby. You're double-tough and you are sharp as a razor, and you get what you want or else; but you don't make it work forever. Sooner or later the lightning hits, and I'm not gonna be around when it hits you.
The Complexity of Taking Time Off
Roy Dillon It's great to get away, isn't it? Take some time off. Next week, I'll be back to work.
Myra Langtry You already went back to work.
Roy Dillon What?
Myra Langtry I watched you, working the tat on those sailor boys.
Roy Dillon Working the what?
Myra Langtry Oh, come on, Roy, the tat. What you do for a living.
Roy Dillon I'm a salesman.
Myra Langtry You're on the grift, same as me.
Roy Dillon Myra, I'm not following you.
Myra Langtry Roy, you're a short-con operator... and a good one, I think. Don't talk to me like I'm another square!