Thief (1981)
James Caan: Frank
Photos
Quotes
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Frank : I have run out of time. I have lost it all. So I can't work fast enough to catch up. I can't run fast enough to catch up. And the only thing that catches me up is doing my magic act.
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Frank : You are making big profits from my work, my risk, my sweat. But that is okay, because I elected to make that deal. But now, the deal is over. I want my end, and I am out.
Leo : Why don't you join a labor union?
Frank : I am wearing it.
Mitch : Frank, don't.
Attaglia : Do it slick.
Frank : My money in 24 hours, or you will wear your ass for a hat.
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Frank : I am the last guy in the world that you wanna fuck with.
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Frank : You talking to me or somebody else walk in this room?
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Frank : Look, in what I do there are sometimes pressures. What the hell do you think that I do? Come on. Come on, every morning I walk in for five months, say hi - what the hell do you think that I do?
Jessie : You sell little fucking cars, that's what you do.
Frank : I wear $150 slacks, I wear silk shirts, I wear $800 suits, I wear a gold watch, I wear a perfect, D-flawless three carat ring. I change cars like other guys change their fucking shoes. I'm a thief. I've been in prison, all right?
Jessie : So what, I don't care.
Frank : So what?
Jessie : Don't tell me.
Frank : So what? I never even told my wife that...
Jessie : I don't care.
Frank : Who is now gone. Did I ever come on to you?
Jessie : No.
Frank : Well you see.
Jessie : See? See what?
Frank : See, I - I am a straight arrow. I am a true blue kind of a guy. I've been cool. I am now unmarried. So let's cut the mini-moves and the bullshit, and get on with this big romance.
Jessie : ...What? I don't believe it. Do you think that I've been waiting for you to come along? What is this shit.
Frank : You think I'm kidding, I can tell. This is strictly on the up and up.
Jessie : Jesus Christ.
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Frank : Did it ever occur to you, to try to work for a living? Take down your own scores?
Unnamed Detective : OK, fuck this guy.
Urrizi : I'll tell you something, I'm gonna be on your ass so much, you're gonna get careless. And on that day I'm gonna be in that place.
Frank : And that, is the last place that you wanna be. 'Cause no matter what happens, I will never, ever take a pinch from a greasy motherfucker like you.
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Frank : You're marking time is what you are. You're backing off. You're hiding out. You're waiting for a bus that you hope never comes because you dont wanna get on it anyway because you don't wanna go anywhere. Ok?
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Mrs. Knowles : I see on your application here - by the way, you misspelled mail, it's M-A-L-E, the other's what we put in post boxes - I see you put under employer: 1959 to 1976, Joliet State Penitentiary.
Frank : Yes.
Mrs. Knowles : You worked for the state, I take it?
Frank : After a fashion.
Mrs. Knowles : And what did you do at the prison?
Frank : Desks. I, uh, I spot-welded desks, and then I got promoted to shoes.
Mrs. Knowles : You were in charge of the shop?
Frank : Lady, I was a convict, I was doing time.
Mrs. Knowles : You were what?
Jessie : Frank, let's go.
Mrs. Knowles : Umm, you have to understand, we have more applicants than children...
Frank : Then why do you still have kids here? As a kid I would not be falling all over myself to stay in one of these places. We will relieve you of some of the burden.
Mrs. Knowles : But the point is, we establish criteria for parenting, and an ex-convict compared to other desirables...
Frank : Great, so we'll take a kid that's not so desirable. You got a black kid? We'll take a black kid. You got a chink kid?
Mrs. Knowles : You don't seem to understand...
Frank : Nobody likes older kids. You got an eight-year old black chink kid, we'll take him.
Jessie : Frank...
Frank : Wait.
[removes ring from finger]
Frank : If it's a matter of, uh, y'know, here.
Mrs. Knowles : What is that?
Frank : What is that? That is D-flawless, three-point-two karats, emerald cut.
Mrs. Knowles : This is not a marketplace.
Frank : Right. Y'know, you're not smart enough to take this anymore than you are to, to, recognize good parents.
Mrs. Knowles : Get out of my office.
Frank : You did not ask about us. You didn't ask what kind of people we are. There is a child waiting, and you are denying us him, and him us. Who the hell are you?
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Frank : I got some A-B-C type information for you, lady. I was state-raised, and this is a dead place. A child in eight-by-four green walls, after awhile you tell the walls 'my life is yours.' What, didja grow up in the suburbs?
Mrs. Knowles : Yes.
Frank : Right! Right!
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Frank : What are you doing in your life that is so terrific?
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Frank : Look, you wanna pinch me then pinch me... I'll be out in 5 minutes. If not, GET THA FUCK OFF MY CAR!
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Frank : Your criteria are so far up your ass, they can't see daylight! This is bullshit!
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Frank : [discovers the coffee creamer at the diner has gone bad] Can we get some new cream here?
Hojo Waitress : What's wrong with it?
Frank : What's wrong with it? It's cottage cheese.
