The Grifters (1990)

John Cusack: Roy Dillon

Photos 

Quotes 

• 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!

• 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!

• 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.

• 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 : [Myra is hurt and confused]  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.

• 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!

• 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!

  [Myra is disgusted] 

  Myra Langtry : 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-

  [Roy slaps her so hard that she falls to the floor] 

• Myra Langtry : What do you sell, anyway?

  Roy Dillon : Self-confidence.

  Myra Langtry : God knows you have it to spare.

• Lilly Dillon : Well, sure, Roy. You want me to drive up - ? Okay, fine, come on down. It won't be a home-cooked meal, you know.

  Roy Dillon : Well, that's good news.

• Myra Langtry : I'm Roy's friend.

  Lilly Dillon : Yes. I imagine you're lots of people's friend.

  Myra Langtry : [taking a good look at LILLY]  Oh, of course, now that I see you in the light, you're plenty old enough to be Roy's mother.

  Lilly Dillon : Aren't we all?

  Roy Dillon : Play nice. Don't fight.

• Roy Dillon : I guess I owe you my life, Lilly.

  Lilly Dillon : You always did, Roy.

• Roy Dillon : Well, who's a boy gonna talk to if not his mother?

• 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.

• Roy Dillon : What happened to Cole?

  Myra Langtry : [long pause]  He retired.

  Roy Dillon : Retired. Where?

  Myra Langtry : ...Upstate.

  Roy Dillon : Upstate where?

  Myra Langtry : Atascadero.

  Roy Dillon : That's where they keep the criminally insane isn't it?

  Myra Langtry : He retired and that's it.

• [last lines] 

  Lilly Dillon : Roy, will you or won't you? What can I do to get it? Is there nothing I can do?

  Roy Dillon : Lilly - Jesus, what are you doing?

  Lilly Dillon : Nothing at all. Nothing at all.

  [Lilly swings briefcase. Roy bleeds] 

  Lilly Dillon : [sobbing]  No, no, no, no, no, no!

• Simms : Good afternoon, Mr. Dillon.

  Roy Dillon : Hi, Simms. What can I do for you?

  Simms : You have a visitor, Mr. Dillon. A very attractive young lady. She says she's your mother.