Jeremiah Valeska quotes from Gotham

Jeremiah Valeska

Jerome is dead. Long live me.

Jeremiah Valeska

[to Bruce] If I can't have you as a brother bonded by love, then we'll just have to be bonded by hatred.

Jeremiah Valeska

I wanna be the star of the show!

Jerome Valeska

I've been waiting for this moment for 15 years, ever since you ran away in the middle of the night like a coward.

Jeremiah Valeska

You're insane.

Jerome Valeska

Yeah.

Jeremiah Valeska

And I tried telling mom, but she didn't want to listen to me. You blame me for everything that's gone wrong in your life. But the truth is, Jerome, you were born bad.

Jerome Valeska

"Born bad", huh? So that's why you made her think I tried to kill you.

Jeremiah Valeska

Look, we both...

Jerome Valeska

What was it, again? I put a blade to your throat. No, no, no. I tried to light you on fire.

Jeremiah Valeska

[Out loud] We both know you wanted to.

Jerome Valeska

Yeah, that was a funny story, wasn't it?

Jeremiah Valeska

[Quietly, nervous] Okay, maybe it didn't happen exactly that way. But I didn't have a choice, and I was right. [Quietly, tearfully] You killed our mother.

Jerome Valeska

She did deserve it, though. [Chuckles] After that whore hid you away, she gave up on me, [Getting angrier] poisoned by your stories. You turned everyone I ever loved against me! My own flesh and blood! [Calmly] I guess it's like what they say: We all can go insane with just one bad day. [puts a gun to Jeremiah's head] I guess with you it's just one bad spray. [Laughs] You'll see.

Jeremiah Valeska

[Quietly, annoyed] What are you gonna do to me, Jerome?

Jerome Valeska

C'mon! I'm gonna kill ya! Of course! But first, I'm gonna drive ya mad..... And don't worry, you won't be alone. All of Gotham will join ya, too!

Jeremiah Valeska

I watch the news. I know why you're here, Mr. Gordon, and you must be out of your mind if you think I'm gonna be led like a lamb to slaughter.

Jim Gordon

I understand your concern, but your brother doesn't bluff. If we ignore his demands, there's no telling what he might do.

Lucius Fox

We can block his remote's signal with this.

Jim Gordon

Thanks. If you and Bruce can get within a few feet of him, it will disable his remote; he'll be a sitting duck. Our snipers can take it from there-

Jeremiah Valeska

For God's sakes, Gordon, you have to know what he wants! To... murder us both on live television!

Bruce Wayne

Mr. Valeska, I'm Bruce Wayne. [offers his hand] It's a pleasure to meet you.

Jeremiah Valeska

[shakes his hand]... Likewise. I... wish the circumstances were better.

Bruce Wayne

May I ask what you're working on?

Jeremiah Valeska

Um, yeah. It's a compact electrical engine; it generates power.

Bruce Wayne

Fascinating. How much power?

Jeremiah Valeska

Just two could light up every building south of Westward Bridge.

Bruce Wayne

You have a brilliant mind. And we all hope we can soon be rid of your brother, so that you can carry on your work free from fear. I understand if you choose not to help us today, but I trust that Captain Gordon and Mr. Fox will see that no harm comes to me. But, even if it does...maybe, by facing Jerome...I can show the people of Gotham that standing up to terror is the only way to take its power away.

Bruce Wayne

Jeremiah, the gas worked! Think about it: you want to carry out Jerome's crazy plans sanely? What could be madder than that?!

Jeremiah Valeska

"Madder?" Let's see. [consults Jerome's diary] Ah, here for example. Jerome wanted to "slather you in honey and have you eaten alive by corpse beetles." Now, that's mad. Me, if I want to kill you, I'll just do it. [aims his pistol at Bruce] I'll shoot you in the head, simply... and sanely.

Bruce Wayne

[Trying to reason with him] Jeremiah...

Jeremiah Valeska

But I don't want to kill you. [lowers his pistol, the Cult of Jerome boos]

Come on!

Jeremiah Valeska

Are you gonna listen, or are you gonna behave like children? See, I don't want to kill you, because I want to show you how much I've changed things. How much we've changed things. 'Cause I could not have done any of this without your help.

Bruce Wayne

[Sternly] My help?!

Harvey Bullock

What the Hell?!

Jeremiah Valeska

You might not recognize Jerome's followers, as I've given them something of a makeover. But I assure you, they're as loyal to me as they ever were to him. More so, as I accomplished something my brother never could: killing James Gordon.

Jeremiah! Jeremiah!

Harvey Bullock

You're a LIAR!

Jeremiah Valeska

Not...so... fast. [pulls out a detonator] I have bombs planted around this city, just like the one that... killed James Gordon.

Jeremiah! Jeremiah!

Jeremiah Valeska

All you need to know, is if I hit this detonator, Gotham's blown back to the Stone Age.

Harvey Bullock

And if I pull this trigger, your brains are blown through the back of your skull!

Jeremiah Valeska

Dead-man's switch. [walks toward Harvey] You're familiar. Another little something I took from my brother, except mine's a bit more advanced. You shoot me, my thumb loosens, and then...boom. Boom. Boom. Boom. No, you will do what I say.

Harvey Bullock

You're more sick than your brother.

Jeremiah Valeska

[chuckles] Don't compare me to that short-sighted psychopath. He just wanted to destroy things. Me, I'm a builder. I'm gonna create a new Gotham in my image. But... every artist needs a blank canvass, so... all of this has to go. I detonate the explosives in six hours; I want this city empty when I do.

Harvey Bullock

You need us to evacuate Gotham in six hours? That's impossible!

Jeremiah Valeska

Then everyone who dies screaming, who watches their loved ones crushed before them will have you to thank, Detective Bullock. Look, nobody has to die... well, except for these people. [he pulls out another detonator] I know seeing is believing, and I do want you to believe me, so...

Harvey Bullock

Oh, my God! [to his officers] Get officers on the scene, NOW! GO!!

Jeremiah Valeska

[removes his sunglasses, sternly] Six hours, Detective. [walks away] The clock is ticking!

Jeremiah Valeska

$50,000,000? That's what you want?

Oswald Cobblepot

...It's a nice, round number.

Jeremiah Valeska

I don't quite have that on me, right now.

Oswald Cobblepot

You gave the mayor six hours to evacuate Gotham. An impossible task. Let him buy another hour. He will save thousands of lives... $50,000,000 will seem cheap.

Jeremiah Valeska

I see. I play the villain, you get away Scot-free and rich. [Penguin shrugs and nods] I get you the money, you give me back my core relay.

Barbara Kean

That is usually how a handoff works, yeah.

Jeremiah Valeska

... You drive a hard bargain, but I'll see what I can do.

Barbara Kean

Just like that? After knowing your brother, I expected something more...

Jeremiah Valeska

Insane? Oh, I'm nothing if not sane. And reasonable. Two things my brother never valued; that's why I'll be successful where he failed. Well, that and being... vastly more intelligent. Now, to see about your money. [dials his phone] This is Jeremiah Valeska. I'd like to speak to the mayor, I have additional demands. Yes, really. $50,000,000, unmarked bills. I'll tell you the location...

Tabitha Galavan

We're not just gonna hand this thing over and let him destroy Gotham, are we?

Oswald Cobblepot

Of course not! Once we get the money, we kill Jeremiah and his people, give the core relay to the police, split the $50,000,000 and are hailed as the heroes of Gotham!

Tabitha Galavan

... And we cure Butch.

Oswald Cobblepot

[nodding impatiently] And that! Certainly.

Jeremiah Valeska

Would you believe it? They put me on hold. [sets down his phone] Well, there's always Plan #2.

Barbara Kean

GET DOWN!

Oswald Cobblepot

WAIT!

Oswald Cobblepot

Are you OUT OF YOUR MIND?!

Jeremiah Valeska

[Offended] Why do you keep insisting I'm insane?! What's insane about having a backup plan, something Jongleur never knew about? And just so you know, this building is within the blast radius, and because of your interference, I'm gonna detonate the bombs as soon as I'm far enough away to observe the destruction in peace.

Barbara Kean

[Alarmed] No, you promised the city six hours!

Jeremiah Valeska

[Irritated] And whose fault is it that I changed my mind? [to one of his followers] Tell our men to re-wire the bombs to work in direct sequence. And, the rest of you... kill these idiots.

Jeremiah Valeska

[recording] Hello, Bruce.

Bruce Wayne

Jeremiah?!

Jeremiah Valeska

I imagine you're wondering, "Why is Jeremiah doing this?" My brother once said that all it takes is one bad to reduce the sanest man alive to lunacy. [Bruce sees images of Alfred being tortured] Jerome gave what I thought was the worst day of my life, but it was only after losing everything was I able to face what was inside of me. And I believe I've seen something very special inside of you, as well.

Bruce Wayne

Alfred...

Jeremiah Valeska

But, to free it, you'll have to lose everything and everyone you hold dear. [Bruce sees an image of Scarecrow mixing chemicals] I instructed Scarecrow to mix up something exceptional.

Bruce Wayne

NO!!

Jeremiah Valeska

Your butler is going to show you the path ahead. Now, watch closely.

Alfred Pennyworth

Right! Well, I'm gonna take a very long, and very hot, shower. And then I'm gonna make us a legendary fry-up. Will you be joining us, Miss Kyle?

Selina Kyle

[smirks] ...I got no plans.

Alfred Pennyworth

Excellent. [to Bruce] You all right, mate? [Bruce nods] Ok, then.

Bruce Wayne

...Thank you again. [he sits next to Selina, she props her feet across his lap] I don't know what would've happened, if you weren't there.

Selina Kyle

...You're welcome. [pause] Why do you think he's so obsessed with you?

Bruce Wayne

Jeremiah said, all it takes is one bad day to drive a person insane. I wonder if my parents' dying, made me a little insane. Maybe he sensed that. Maybe he wanted to bring it out.

Selina Kyle

[smiles] Well, you proved him wrong.

Jeremiah Valeska

[Nonchalant] To be fair...[Bruce and Selina jump up as he enters with a gun]... the day's not over yet.

Alfred Pennyworth

You know, I don't know why I brought him here. Shoulda killed him when I had the chance.

Jim Gordon

You did the right thing, Alfred.

Alfred Pennyworth

You say that. You didn't see what he did to Selina. Right, I'd better get to the hospital.

Jim Gordon

I'll stop by when I can. [Alfred leaves as Harvey comes in]

Harvey Bullock

Alfred. [to Jim] Couldn'ta put a cap in that psycho, done the world a favor?

Jim Gordon

Where are we?

Harvey Bullock

Bomb squads hit the last site on the map. After they disarm the bomb, they're gonna put it in the warehouse along with all the others. Also, the mayor called. He wants to lift the evacuation order.

Jim Gordon

No. Tell him we're not doing anything until we have all the bombs locked away. [Harvey nods]

Jeremiah Valeska

Pardon me, Jim?

Jim Gordon

[to his officers] Don't you all have work to do? [they move away from Jeremiah's cell] What is it?

Jeremiah Valeska

I'd like to press charges against Bruce Wayne's butler. I mean, just look at my face.

Jim Gordon

[sarcastically] I think you look great.

Jeremiah Valeska

And, I'd like to speak to Bruce again. We couldn't really talk before, what with his girlfriend bleeding out all over him.

Jim Gordon

...You tried to prove you're better than your brother. But I'm still here. The city's still here. You're a failure, Jeremiah. Enjoy Arkham. Your brother did. [turns to Harvey] Put him in the box, get him ready for transport.

Jeremiah Valeska

Bring me Bruce Wayne, and I'll tell you where the other bombs are.

Jim Gordon

... We have all your bombs.

Jeremiah Valeska

The maze bombs, yes. I mean... the other ones. [pause] Jim... as an engineer, you expect systems to fail, so you build in redundancies. [stands] And I am a very good engineer.

Jim Gordon

You're bluffing.

Jeremiah Valeska

Am I? How many lives are you willing to bet? [steps closer to the bars] You're right, you know; I did fail. I didn't yet understand the vision I was servicing, but... I do now. My eyes are open, as will yours be. [smiles, turns away] When you realize I'm not bluffing, bring me Bruce Wayne. And I'd like a coffee. Black, two sugars.

Bruce Wayne

It's true. How did you two-

Find each other? I like to think it was you, Bruce. You brought us together. I trust everything went smoothly?

Jeremiah Valeska

Like clockwork. Did your men retrieve my bombs?

They are en route to their positions as we speak. [leads Bruce forward to the window] From here, we can take in the full majesty of Gotham's destruction.

Bruce Wayne

...You're both insane.

I know it's difficult to fathom, Bruce. But Jeremiah and I are doing this for your benefit.

Bruce Wayne

How is destroying Gotham supposed to help me?

Because I had a vision, that out of this crucible of blood and fire, will rise the Dark Knight that your city needs. That I need.

Jeremiah Valeska

To be honest, Bruce: Prophecies, visions? Not really my cup of tea. But our friend revealed something to me: that my twin obsessions, rebuilding Gotham and rebuilding you, are one and the same. You're the brother I never had... the one Jerome never could be. [puts his hand on Bruce's shoulder] We will create a legacy, in this city. Gotham falls... we rise. Together.

Bruce Wayne

Jeremiah, this ends tonight!

Jeremiah Valeska

No. No, Bruce. Now it begins.

Jeremiah Valeska

Do you feel it, Bruce? The connection between us? You do, don't you! Bruce, tell me you feel it.

Bruce Wayne

You mean nothing to me.

Jeremiah Valeska

Why don't you understand? You need me! I'm the answer to your life's question! Without me, you're just a joke... without a punchline!

Jeremiah Valeska

Oh, Ecco, my sweet Ecco... There will never be another one like you.

Ecco

[overjoyed] Really?

Jeremiah Valeska

But then, I suppose there are other fish in the sea.