Al Giardello quotes from Homicide: Life on the Street

Giardello

Hey, in this unit, Danvers is tu familia, cappice? I want you to take every word out of his mouth seriously. I want you to investigate every single lead, Frank. And if that's a problem with you, I can give this investigation over to Bayliss and he can handle it. Now, down the line, I want to be able to look Danvers in the eye.

Pembleton

Trust me, you will.

Giardello

You and Detective Stivers.

Lewis

Gee, Detective Stivers and I were having a meeting. We were trying to figure out a way to get Luther Mahoney off the streets once and for all.

Pembleton

It doesn't look like a business meeting.

Lewis

There are business meetings and then there's -- there's business meetings.

Munch

Word to the wise, Meldrick? Nix the horizontal rumba with a fellow detective. Don't dip your wick in the company ink.

Lewis

I wasn't. [to Brodie] Why you want to film that?

Giardello

I don't know if Bayliss should be the primary on this case.

Howard

You can't take the case away from him, Gee.

Giardello

He's had a bad history with murdered children and I don't want that interfering with his ability to do his job.

Pembleton

It won't interfere.

Giardello

How do you know that?

Pembleton

I trust my partner. We'll put this case down.

Giardello

He trusts his partner? The forgiving Frank Pembleton?

Giardello

[to Frank, about Bayliss] Whatever problems you two are having, just remember one thing... 'all we are is dust in the wind.'

Pembleton

I had no idea you were a Kansas fan.

Lewis

She gonna be in my face; I'm gonna be in her face. Every step of the way.

Giardello

Meldrick, in her face is one thing; breaking it's another.

Giardello

Invite Dr. Turner in for a casual conversation and treat her with kid gloves.

Pembleton

And if she declines?

Giardello

A woman decline an invitation from you, Frank?

Falsone

You're not going to go for this Gee, are you?

Giardello

At this stage in the game, I'd take help from that woman on Profiler. How quickly can we air the story?

Giardello

My heroes.

Bayliss

Well, that's what we are, Gee.

Giardello

My drug warriors. [mock surprise] Oh my. Why, it's still red. In all this excitement, I didn't see this red name on the board here. Gaynor. Now how could I have forgotten this red name on the board?

Lewis

It done folded just like you said it would, Gee.

Giardello

Well, my words are my bond.

Lewis

Yeah. Exactly how many favors you hafta call in on this one?

Giardello

More than you'd ever want to know.

Detective Lewis.

Lewis

Captain.

You look good in uniform, Lewis.

Lewis

Why, thank you, sir.

If it was up to me, you'd be back in a squad car for that stunt you pulled.

Lewis

Yes sir.

Course, your lieutenant here, he thinks otherwise, but I've always said Al's problem's a lack of discipline. If I was running his shift, I'd be offering you a transfer.

Lewis

Respectfully speaking, sir? If you were running his shift, I'd be taking it.

Giardello

Frank.

Pembleton

[throws badge on table] I'm done.

Giardello

What?

Pembleton

Bayliss is in there because of what? A partner who can't get him through safely to the end of the shift.

Giardello

Look, this is not your fault.

Pembleton

Yeah, it's mine. And I'll carry it. I gotta carry it. Bayliss is in there because of me. And you. And Lewis, Kellerman, and Stivers. All of it. But what is it? What is it really?

Giardello

Frank.

Pembleton

It's a lie. A damn lie. Now, maybe you can live with this lie, but, me, I just walked into the box with a man I served with. A fellow detective, Kellerman. I watched him turn to dirt. You told me to do it. I did it. Now you want me to look away. Live this lie. If I had listened to you...if I had just listened, I never woulda come back to the job. Then Tim, Tim is not layin' in that bed, with all those damn tubes stickin' out of him. I know that smell. Smells like death. I couldn't listen, could I? There's no truth for me anymore, not anymore. I can't be out on the street. I'm never goin' back in that box ever again. It's done. I'm finished.

Giardello

I'm short detectives!

Bayliss

Translation, "Where are we on Cullen?"

Giardello

Very good Bayliss, you speak Shift Lieutenant.

Bayliss

Well, I've had practice.

Bayliss

I killed a suspect.

Gee

The suspect drew his weapon first?

Bayliss

Yeah.

The suspect fired first?

Bayliss

Yeah.

The suspect attempted to use deadly force and you responded. It's a clean shoot.

Bayliss

I killed a man.

Bayliss

Seven years ago, I walked in here with a filebox and a lot of idealism. I had a clear vision of justice and morality. And no matter what has happened to me, whatever's happened around me, I still have that.

Giardello

Maybe. But on this job I've seen people change, and sometimes for the worse. And those who change the most are the ones who don't admit it.

Giardello

Adena.

Crosetti

Hey hey hey.

Felton

Gee.

Giardello

Felton?

Crosetti

We've been waitin' for you.

Giardello

Crosetti?

Crosetti

Have a seat. [starts dealing cards] Okay, jack of spades for Mr. Beau Felton, a ten of diamonds for my esteemed Lieutenant, and a whole lot a' nothing for the little Italian salami-brain.

Giardello

What are we playing?

Crosetti

Five card stud.

Giardello

Who's the fourth chair for?

Felton

We don't know yet. But they'll be here sooner or later.

Giardello

Anybody I know?

Crosetti

Maybe. It's not like it's written in stone, it's not preordained or anything, Lieutenant.

Giardello

I suddenly got worried. My son, he's a cop. I thought maybe-

Crosetti

I wouldn't worry, Lieutenant. Life is short, but once you're dead, you're long time dead, if you know what I mean.

Felton

Your son?

Giardello

Michael.

Felton

He's a good kid?

Giardello

Yes.

Felton

You taught him well?

Giardello

I tried my best. I wish -

Crosetti

Gee, no regrets, huh?

Felton

You know what the best thing about this place is? All the worries and cares that you had in life? They don't matter anymore. "Rest in Peace" means what it says.

Crosetti

Lieutenant, do you want a cup of coffee?

Giardello

[with a dawning smile] Coffee. Coffee would be good. You have any espresso?

Crosetti

No espresso! Where do you think you are, Heaven? Sit!

Felton

Twenty to you, Gee.

Giardello

I'm in.

Crosetti

[continues dealing] Okay, we got one more card comin' up here [to Felton], we have another card there [to Gee]…