Boardwalk Empire quotes

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?

Gillian Darmody

Childhood doesn't last. Nothing lasts.

Gillian Darmody

You can make yourself live with anything.

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.

Valentin Narcisse

Who are you?

The one asking questions.

You seem to be a clever fellow. Who do you think gets to decide what the truth is?

Valentin Narcisse

Truth is what those in power wish it to be.

During the course of investigating the seditious activities of Marcus Garvey, James M. Tolliver, Special Agent with the Bureau of Investigation, was murdered in Atlantic City, New Jersey by an unidentified colored male. Dr. Valentin Narcisse assisted the Bureau in apprehending the suspect. He further agreed, during a private conversation with Director Hoover, to provide ongoing, secret intelligence regarding Mr. Garvey, with particular concern to his radical agenda and his ties to foreign powers.

Valentin Narcisse

And why would he do that?

To demonstrate his commitment to the values of his adopted land.

Valentin Narcisse

Brother Garvey is a hero, dedicated to liberation of a great people.

But you are not. You are just a peddler and a pimp sitting in a jail cell.

Valentin Narcisse

I am a businessman and a follower of Christ.

You agree to cooperate, you can go on pretending to be anything you want. You don't, and I will make sure you never see daylight in America again.

Valentin Narcisse

[to himself] Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof...

I cannot hear you.

Valentin Narcisse

I said yes.

Yes, what?

Valentin Narcisse

Yes... sir.

[to young Nucky] It took your mother three days to birth you. I was out in the water. I didn't know if I was a father or a widower. I come home, she's in bed with her hair down, her beautiful hair. A boy in her arms. My boy. [He strokes Nucky's hair, and then hits him in the face] You're the son of a fisherman. And what are you trying to catch?

Lucky Luciano

[in Italian] To us, and only us. Now and forever.

Nucky Thompson

Year in, year out - different dogs, same fucking bone.

The universe loves nothing so much as to change things which are, and make new things like them.

Lucky Luciano

[to Narcisse] You got the policy game, the dope, the clubs...

And you got all those whores.

Valentin Narcisse

What I have belongs to me.

Lucky Luciano

People are losing things all over. Some guy, he's a millionaire, next thing you know he's sellin' Chiclets in the street.

[rubbing his throat] Or worse.

Valentin Narcisse

[bemused] Chiclets...

Lucky Luciano

Hanging on to what you have, that sounds like a good idea. That's what Mr. Maranzano would like to help you with. [pause] And that's what we have to say.

Valentin Narcisse

I thank you both for your concern, and I am sorry you came all this way for nothing.

Lucky Luciano

[smiles] What I love about the city: everything's so close.

Does your daughter know what you are?

Chalky White

She know what I was.

Al Capone

You think I'm stupid?

Nelson Van Alden

No successful man is stupid.

Al Capone

Are you successful?

Nelson Van Alden

Not really.

Al Capone

Why's that?

Nelson Van Alden

I get the feeling that my boss doesn't like me.

Nelson Van Alden

I've worked for you for seven years. I set up Dean O'Banion. I make my number every week. Maybe I'm a federal agent, maybe I'm a bigamist, maybe I'm a murderer on the run. Believe what you want, there's no way I can stop you. But that's not what matters now.

Al Capone

It's not?

Nelson Van Alden

[indicating Luciano] What matters is that this man comes in from out of town and starts telling Capone what to do about Capone's business in Capone's house? You ask me, that's pretty goddamn disrespectful.

Al Capone

[to Luciano] You can rule by fear, or you can rule by love. Remember that, if you're ever in charge. Get him a drink.

You've got a pair.

Nelson Van Alden

What did I say?

You don't remember?

Nelson Van Alden

I need a men's room.

You gonna be sick?

Nelson Van Alden

I may have soiled myself,

Al Capone

[to Nucky] We got a problem. His name is Charlie.

Eli Thompson

Look, I don't know about you, but my life is a fuckin' shipwreck!

Nelson Van Alden

Well, land ho!