Jim Gordon quotes from Gotham

Sofia Falcone

Do you ever think about walking away from it all?

Jim Gordon

Gotham? Sometimes. But I can't.

Sofia Falcone

Why not?

Jim Gordon

It's in my blood. My father spent his entire life fighting for the city. He never took the easy way out. Neither can I.

Jim Gordon

You say this knife is important to your country. Please explain.

There is an ancient story amongst my people of a man who could not die. In his time, he committed terrible acts, raised a great kingdom, and then vanished.

Jim Gordon

What happened to him?

If the legend is to be believed, he walked away from his throne, vowing that one day he would return and complete his destiny. But that would require a particular knife.

Jim Gordon

This knife.

A story, as I said. But to my people, very meaningful. I hope that satisfies your curiosity.

Jim Gordon

Some. But you see, Minister, my chief concern is that there's a boy, the grandson of the curator. He's being hunted. Now, perhaps that's because of the knife. Or, perhaps, the killer thinks he saw something.

Did he?

Jim Gordon

No.

Well, then, he's safe.

Jim Gordon

Yes, but, you see, I would have to know that for certain before I would do anything that might effect the case... such as release the knife.

[cold] May I see the knife, Detective? It would so put my mind at ease.

Jim Gordon

Harper, if Mr. Pennyworth tries to leave, arrest him.

Alfred Pennyworth

On what charge?

Jim Gordon

She'll think of something.

Bruce Wayne

Are you going to arrest me?

Jim Gordon

For what?

Bruce Wayne

...For murder.

Jim Gordon

I don't know what I just saw in there... but as far as I'm concerned, Ra's al Ghul's men broke into Blackgate and he escaped.

Bruce Wayne

... I betrayed myself, and my parents' memory. I took a life. I did exactly what Ra's said I would.

Jim Gordon

Just because you know you're capable of doing something, doesn't mean it has to happen again. Bruce, you and I have known each other a long time... since the night your parents were murdered. Now, you may not feel like you're that kid anymore, but I know that you are. One who believes in doing good, in fighting for what's right... who will do anything, to keep the people he loves safe. [claps Bruce on the shoulder] Nothing that happened today, changes that.

Jim Gordon

Hey.

Harvey Bullock

Hey.

Jim Gordon

You gave me quite the scare, back there. How you feeling?

Harvey Bullock

...I've had better days.

Jim Gordon

The doc says you're gonna be OK.

Harvey Bullock

Well, that shows what he knows. Pyg? [Gordon shakes his head] Son of a bitch. He could've killed me, but he cut me just deep enough to make you choose: go after him, or save my worthless hide.

Jim Gordon

It wasn't a choice.

Harvey Bullock

Either way, I owe you.

Jim Gordon

So pay it back, now. Tell me the truth: how long you been taking money from Penguin? [Harvey looks away] You knew Metzke was the bag-man; you knew Nakajima was dirty. Then Pyg... says all this stuff, about you deserving to be killed. [coldly] I don't know why I didn't see it before; maybe I didn't want to. I just need to know, how long. We talkin' years?

Harvey Bullock

[tearfully] No. Just since this license crap started. The commissioner ordered us to comply. Then, Metzke started showing up with these envelopes, stuffed with cash. I didn't do nothing I wouldn'ta done anyway. [Gordon nods, looks away] You gotta understand, Jim, the bills I got...the debts I got-

Jim Gordon

It stops. It stops, right now. [leaves]

Oswald Cobblepot

So, the insane serial killer who hates cops warned you to save your life... because, why, now?

Jim Gordon

Because I'm against dirty cops!

Oswald Cobblepot

Oh, except all the times you are one.

Jim Gordon

I'm gonna find you.

Oh, I hope you do. Because I want to thank you in the flesh, flesh, flesh. What you said about the rot in Gotham, high to low - so concisely phrased - well, it gave me an idea. The next step in my plot. It's a saga. It's an epic. It's a spectacle. And you're my muse, Jimmy Gordon. I'll see you soon.

Jim Gordon

Those cops were waiting for you.

Harvey Bullock

Yeah. To spit in my face.

Jim Gordon

If that's what they wanted to do. You owed it to them to be there. To stand in front of them. Look each one in the eye. If you'd have done that, maybe you could have gotten their respect.

Harvey Bullock

I don't deserve their respect. Jim, I shot Officer Patel. What the hell was I supposed to do? Stand in front of her and hand her the bullet that I shot her with, that came from my gun?

Jim Gordon

That's the job. Take responsibility for what happens to your cops. That's the job.

Harvey Bullock

So now you're telling me what the job is?

Jim Gordon

Yeah.

Harvey Bullock

Well, today, Jim... I just couldn't do the job. So I sent you. Because I knew you could.

Jim Gordon

It's not good enough. Not today. They needed you there.

Harvey Bullock

Well... Ain't nothing I can do about it, now.

Jim Gordon

[stands up, takes the form out of his pocket] You got a pen?

Harvey Bullock

For what?

Jim Gordon

Harvey Bullock, you are relieved of duty. As of this moment, I'm assuming the captaincy of Gotham Central.

Harvey Bullock

Well, well. Look who finally got what he always wanted. But what I'm wondering is... What did you have to do to get it?

Jim Gordon

All I did was my job. Same as you.

Harvey Bullock

[stands up, throws the form down on the desk and walks out] Nothing in Gotham is free, Captain Gordon. [pauses at the door] You just better hope you can pay up when your bill's due. And it'll come due.

Sofia Falcone

We're the same, Jim. I saw it the moment we met. We both want power. You want to deny it, so it's easier to send me away.

Jim Gordon

Detective Harper, please take Miss Falcone to the train station and escort her back home.

Sofia Falcone

Please don't do this...

Jim Gordon

Better get going. You'll miss your train.

Sofia Falcone

How many cops died under the Pax Penguina? Not one. It was you who couldn't stomach it. It was you who came to the Falcones for help. There is a direct line from your decision to a dozen police officers who have been brutally murdered.

Jim Gordon

You're insane. Why not just kill me?

Sofia Falcone

Because, Jim, I need you at the head of the GCPD. I need...

Jim Gordon

Someone you can control. You've been planning this since the day we met. This isn't about Gotham. This is revenge for me killing Mario.

Sofia Falcone

You wanna arrest me? Arrest me. But I'll talk. The cops that died, the friend that you betrayed, will all have been for nothing. The GCPD will crumble. Penguin or someone worse will take over, and you will lose Gotham forever. Or, take on this city as your own. Keep the GCPD, let them think you're a hero. But live knowing who you are, knowing what you've done - that is my revenge.

Barbara Kean

You know, I am so proud that I have a great relationship with all my exes.

Jim Gordon

Leave me off that list.

Leslie Thompkins

Are you here to arrest someone? Me?

Jim Gordon

I'm here because someone wants you dead. The assassin's still on the loose, as is the person who hired him. You're not safe.

Leslie Thompkins

It's Gotham. Is anyone ever safe?

Jim Gordon

It's like that tweaker we found last week.

Lucius Fox

[nods] The toxin entered the bloodstream through the cuts on the neck. If it is the same as the last victim, the toxin creates vines that feed off the victim's body, while also attacking the hippocampus like some...plant-based psychedelics.

Jim Gordon

So, it kills you and makes you hallucinate. Any witnesses?

Lucius Fox

The family's saying it was two women, redhead and a brunette. The redhead used some kind of hypnosis on them, and the brunette wore a leather whip.

Jim Gordon

[frowns] Selina Kyle? Murder's not really her thing.

Lucius Fox

The family says the redhead killed Rolland; she left with his briefcase.

Jim Gordon

Well, if his briefcase is missing, maybe this is related to his work at Wayne BioTech?

Lucius Fox

Doubtful. He oversaw standard projects; pharmaceuticals, pesticides...

Jim Gordon

...What?

Lucius Fox

[shakes his head] Nothing.

Jim Gordon

I'll track down Selina.

Bruce Wayne

[answering machine] This is Bruce, leave a message.

Lucius Fox

Bruce, I know we haven't talked in a while, but someone just killed Rolland Charles. We may have a problem.

Jim Gordon

We should go to the precinct.

Harvey Bullock

Hey, I'm not hiding like some freaking coward, alright? Four people are dead, because she wanted me!

Jim Gordon

Okay, then we'll work on it together. You can wear the badge.

Harvey Bullock

Get this straight, Jim! I ain't working for you now, or ever. I've got more contacts in the Narrows than any of you. I'm gonna find her alone... once I find my pants.

Harvey Bullock

Hey.

Jim Gordon

... Hey.

Harvey Bullock

Surprised you're alive?

Jim Gordon

Yeah... how?

Harvey Bullock

How do you think? Lee. She kept you alive 'til the medics got there. Even one-handed, she's a damn good doctor.

Jim Gordon

Sofia?

Harvey Bullock

In a coma. Amazing she's not dead.

Jim Gordon

... Harvey, when I get outta here, I'm gonna confess. My connection to Sofia, my role with the Pyg, all of it. I gotta come clean.

Harvey Bullock

No.

Jim Gordon

What do you mean?

Harvey Bullock

Who would benefit from that? You. You get to be the martyr, feel better about yourself. The GCPD loses its hero. No. You wanna pay your debt? You live with it. Just like I do.

Jim Gordon

...So, Sofia wins, after all.

Harvey Bullock

It's what the city needs.