Frank Pembleton quotes from Homicide: Life on the Street

It's time for the mongrels of the world to stop taking advantage of the hard work and good faith most Americans have. You have a cancer, you cut it out. Because make no mistake about it gentlemen, these people are a cancer and they will drag us down with them. You sleep easier at night because of me, and you don't even know it.

Pembleton

Let me tell you what's gonna happen. Because you are mine now. I'm gonna put you on display. You and I are gonna be on TV, radio, for months and months and months. So others can see how much they like you and what you stand for, even if they don't know it yet. You will not make me a martyr because I'm an African American. You will be my martyr.

Haven't you any appreciation for what I've done? Even on an intellectual level? Because let me tell you something, my serious friend, the power of the vote is a romantic anachronism.

Pembleton

No, my friend. You are.

How's Rausch?

Pembleton

Doc checked him and he's fine. And in his cell where he's gonna stay.

You're that confident that you'll win?

Pembleton

I'm sure of it. I bribed the judge. I told her Bayliss would have sex with her for a favorable ruling.

You two-timing pig.

Bayliss

Well, she was naked underneath those black robes.

Lewis

Hey, look. It's Mr. Sunshine!

Pembleton

Oh, no, no, no. I'm tired of being the only one around here who gives a damn. You're looking at the new Frank Pembleton. Budding Republican and practicing selfish bastard. Savior of no one but himself. Shot of Gold Natty Bo. This is the new me!

Russert

One day you're gonna run for office and rue those words.

Bayliss

You always do this to me, nobody else, just me. Just your partner.

Pembleton

You ordered...a meatball hero?

Bayliss

Grilled cheese.

Pembleton

Oh, that's it.

Bayliss

That's what? What's wrong with a grilled cheese sandwich?

Pembleton

It's so... you know... white boy.

Bayliss

White boy?

Pembleton

Yeah, it's such a non-statement. White bread, American cheese, you know?

Bayliss

This isn't about the sandwich Frank, this is about you and me.

Pembleton

No, it's the sandwich.

Bayliss

You know, you're starting to display passive-aggressive tendencies. You're trying to tell me something by not bringing me lunch.

Pembleton

No. It's the sandwich.

Bayliss

Gimme my money back. I want my money back.

Pembleton

You have to wait for change.

Pembleton

Where's your mustache?

Brodie

Oh, I'm trying a new look right now.

Pembleton

Well, stop trying.

Pembleton

It was a grilled cheese. Get a grip.

Bayliss

It wasn't the sandwich, partner.

Bayliss

Those guys are like a family. I have never, ever felt that in Homicide. We may be the best, the elite, but we are not a family.

Pembleton

Yes we are. But we're like a real family. Opinionated, argumentative, holding grudges, challenging each other. We push each other to be better than we are. That kind of thing doesn't happen at barbecues or ball games. It happens on the job where it's supposed to. Putting down a murder. The work itself is the most important thing. What we do is important. We speak for those who can no longer speak for themselves and you're not gonna ever find anything like that anywhere, not in LA, or patrolling the grounds at Disneyland.

Bayliss

Frank, I work with you, not for you.

Pembleton

Excuse me?

Bayliss

You never say please, you never say thank you.

Pembleton

Please don't be an idiot. Thank you.

Giardello

You've been yelling a lot lately. At the drop of a hat, you start screaming.

Pembleton

Why would I yell if someone dropped their hat?

Bayliss

This isn't about me, Frank. It's about Adena. It's about avenging Adena Watson's murder.

Pembleton

No. It's about you. It's always been about you. Do you think I don't know you?

Pembleton

Why are you wearing that carnation?

Bayliss

I have been wearing this for 2 days and you're just asking about it now?

Pembleton

I've had other things on my mind. So what's it for?

Bayliss

To hide the smell... To hide the smell of death.

Pembleton

To hide the smell of death?

Bayliss

Yeah, you got a problem with that?

Pembleton

No, no problem.

Munch

I got a call. Special guest at the Waterfront tonight. Wanna guess? The Big Man's coming back. Gonna need a lot of extra light beer tonight. . .

Bayliss

Oh, yeah!

Munch

Cuz you know who's coming back?

Pembleton

The Big Man!!

Pembleton

Imagine Scheiner in a swimsuit.

I heard that.

Bayliss

You'll always be a beautiful swimmer to me, Dr. Scheiner.

Bayliss

Well, well, well, Kellerman. Up until now, you've had a who-dun-it here, a dunker there, but now, now it looks like you're finally gonna pop the big-time detective cherry.

Pembleton

My advice to you is that you work this case alone so that if you put this case down, it doesn't look like we helped bail you out or something.