Ebal Violante quotes from Fargo

Ebal Violante

And this is why the family business doesn't work. Because families are crazy.

Ebal Violante

When I first come to America, I know nothing. How to dress, what to eat. I sleep in a closet with a stuck hanger in my jacket so I don't fall down. On the street, I hear this phrase. You know this phrase: American values. And I think what does it mean? Financial values, I understand. Money, what a thing is worth. Human values, this also makes sense. The things we love. Family, i bambini. But this American values, land of the free, home of the brave. This I don't know. And then I learn the history of this country. Your slavery, the smallpox in the blankets, how you stole the land from the natives. And I realize to be an American is to pretend. Capisce? You pretend to be one thing when really you are something else. And I can do that. Lie. Hide. But what I will not do is pretend we are at peace when really we are at war. Are we at war?

Doctor Senator

Not yet, but we're trying real hard.

Ebal Violante

First, we recognize things have gotten out of hand. Our two families. We recognize this and, uh, we apologize.

Loy Cannon

You apologize?

Ebal Violante

Doctor Senator-

Loy Cannon

Don't...say his name.

Ebal Violante

He was a friend of mine. His death should not have happened, but Gaetano Fadda is the son of Donatello Fadda, chosen by New York. His death is not allowed.

Loy Cannon

Not allowed?

Ebal Violante

I'm simply telling you how it is. There are people you can kill, people you can't.

Josto Fadda

Eh, well... [Ebal looks at Josto] No, I'm just saying he's more animal than people.

Ebal Violante

Hey... [in Italian] He's your bother.

Josto Fadda

Cain was Abel's brother. [in Italian] How'd that turn out?

Loy Cannon

Are you kidding? This is half our business. You want to take half our business? We had a deal, in the park. WE MADE A DEAL!

Ebal Violante

Please be calm. This is just part of the new plan. Our national plan for the nation. New York, Chicago, Kansas City, Miami, Texas, California. You too are a national outfit, yes? Mm, wait, no. You are one man in one city. What do they say? Big fish, small pond. But we are the sea. Mm, I can tell you are thinking you can just kill me the way you kill the men before. But this is a mistake because when you look at me, you don't see the man behind me and the man behind him and all the men that follow. Forever. Mmhmm? You see them now. The wave that never ends. We understand each other. Cheer up. Look at it this way: we are not taking half, we are leaving half. You work for us now. You do what we say or we kill you and find someone who will. [in Italian] End of story.