Nucky Thompson quotes from Boardwalk Empire

Nucky Thompson

You come to me begging, some wet behind the ears little shit...

Nucky...

Nucky Thompson

You assure me your intentions are honorable, that you and your partner have big plans for the future.

If you just let me speak...

Nucky Thompson

I let you in on the deal, things are going great. And then what do you do the second you get the chance?

Mr. Thompson...

Nucky Thompson

You stick it up my fucking ass!

We were coerced, Charlie and I! By Masseria. He found out about Tampa from his cousin.

Eli Thompson

Petrocelli.

And realized he could use it to his advantage.

Nucky Thompson

As did you and your greaseball partner.

He would've killed us if we didn't go along!

Nucky Thompson

You think I fucking won't?

I know that is a distinct possibility, sir, though I do pray to God that it won't happen. If it were up to me, sir, I'd have nothing to do with narcotics. There is plenty of money to be made in booze, which is a safer and eminently more socially acceptable...

Nucky Thompson

[slaps him across the face] You've got two fucking seconds to drop the boy scout routine, or you're going in that hole!

There's a fortune to be made in heroin. Millions and millions of dollars. Now, I don't know about you, but the way I saw it, it was the same life I was risking either way. I'm beggin' you, Mr. Thompson, please! What would you have done if you were me?

Eli Thompson

[to Willie] You go to him? Over your father?

Nucky Thompson

I'm the one who can fix it.

Eli Thompson

He was supposed to amount to somethin'!

Nucky Thompson

He's still going to.

Eli Thompson

What? A man in an empty hotel, pointing a gun at his brother?

Nucky Thompson

I did it for the family.

Eli Thompson

You don't have a family. I do. Now you're gonna take that too? Nothing will fill that hole you got inside you. Don't you know that yet?

Nucky Thompson

This is your mess, Eli. Drown in it.

Nucky Thompson

There's no sense looking back. The only thing you can do is start again. I really believe that.

Chalky White

We ain't schoolboys no more.

Nucky Thompson

We're not dead, either. That leaves a lot of road in the middle.

Nucky Thompson

Been busy today, hmm? What's your name? You must have a name.

Gillian Darmody

Nellie Bly.

Nucky Thompson

Don't cut shines with me. That's what it says on the book. I'm Nucky. That's my brother Eli. It's not as bad as you think. Just tell me your name.

Gillian Darmody

Gillian.

Nucky Thompson

That's not a name for a boy.

Gillian Darmody

I'm not a boy.

Nucky Thompson

Take it.

No, sir.

Nucky Thompson

Why not?

You just had a rough night, that's all. Besides, if you only help people to help yourself, what kind of world would it be?

Nucky Thompson

Someone I was close to just died because of me. Last thing I heard her say was, "have your coffee." She's gone... and I'm still here. What kind of world is that? [holds out the money] Come on, now. It's not helping yourself. It's helping me.

[about death] What's it like, when you see it?

Nucky Thompson

You tell yourself it's quick, but you don't know. You can't know until it's you and then you'll never tell anyone.

Lucky Luciano

What do you want?

Nucky Thompson

A meeting so we can settle this bullshit.

Lucky Luciano

I'll meet you at your funeral. We can talk there.

Eli Thompson

How come you always had to be the wise one?

Nucky Thompson

Because you needed me to be.