- DSU Rose Teller: You want to know the real tragedy about marriage?
- DCI John Luther: No, thanks.
- DSU Rose Teller: Women always think men will change, but they don't. Men think women won't change, but they do.
- DCI John Luther: Where'd you get that from, a fortune cookie?
- Mark North: No, seriously, this is what I think you should do. You should make a list of the reasons why you married him. And then make another list of the reasons why you left him. And then see if the two lists don't overlap.
- DCI John Luther: Well, I've never had an affair before. So, I don't know what to do. Is it still called an affair if I'm sleeping with my wife behind her lover's back?
- DS Justin Ripley: [enters to see Luther surrounded by a ring of photos on the floor] What's all this?
- DCI John Luther: Decoupage, a cut-up technique. Take a bit of text, cut it up, randomize it, make new text. See new patterns...
- DS Justin Ripley: Where'd you learn this?
- DCI John Luther: David Bowie. It's how he wrote his lyrics.
- DS Justin Ripley: You a fan?
- DCI John Luther: Don't I look like a fan?
- DS Justin Ripley: What, of songs about like aliens and that?
- DCI John Luther: No, there's a bit more to him than aliens. I'll make you a tape.
- DS Justin Ripley: A... a what? Sorry?
- Mark North: [to Alice] Whatever it is you're here to tell me, I don't want to hear it, alright. So do us a favour, get yourself an exorcist.
- [first lines]
- DCI John Luther: [abruptly waking up to the sound of his mobile ringing] What?
- [answers it]
- DCI John Luther: Ian.
- Graham Shand: Look after her for me, mate, won't you, eh? Make sure she has a good time.
- Dennis Keaton: Will do mate, yeah.
- Graham Shand: [into Dennis's ear] Sorry we were running a bit late tonight, mate. But, uh, I had to give her one for her birthday. You know how she likes it, you know, good and hard and long. Tell you the truth, I'm surprised she can walk.
- Alice Morgan: Police arrested two kids yesterday. One was drinking battery acid, the other was eating fireworks. They charged one and let the other one off.
- [laughs]
- Alice Morgan: Tommy Cooper. Boom, boom!
- DCI John Luther: It was Basil Brush that said, Boom boom.
- Alice Morgan: Oops.
- Linda Shand: What's wrong?
- Dennis Keaton: Just that you said he was impotent.
- Linda Shand: He is. Uh, I mean, he was, it's... I don't know, it's come back. The last few weeks, it's come back. I hate it. Do we have to talk about this? When I'm here, can't I just be here?
- Dennis Keaton: He knows, don't he? About me and you? He absolutely knows.
- DS Justin Ripley: Textbook. After the first kill, he goes into the depressive phase, can't believe what he's done. Until the urge builds again, becomes uncontrollable. Cooling off periods get shorter and shorter, but not this quickly, so what's driving the escalation?
- DCI John Luther: Do you have any sexual fantasies?
- DS Justin Ripley: What? Yeah, not that I'm going to tell you about.
- [last lines]
- DCI John Luther: [leaving a voicemail] Zo. Um, look, I know it's late. I, uh... I've just called you 100 times. I know it's difficult. I just want to hear your voice.
- Linda Shand: [to Graham] Look at you. You sad little prick.
- DCI Ian Reed: Put the hammer down, Graham.
- DSU Rose Teller: You don't think this approach is a bit merciless?
- DCI John Luther: No. Graham knows we're onto him, alright? And he'll try and kill as many as he can before we catch him. And if I have to terrify his wife to stop that happening, I can live with that.
- DSU Rose Teller: Thus spake John Luther, gentleman of the parish.