Luke Cage quotes from Luke Cage

Luke Cage

Dumb men like little girls. Me? I ponder a woman.

Luke

I ain't guilty. But I ain't innocent either.

Luke

You're absolutely right. I'm not gonna touch him. Not the way I should. Since I can't touch the king, I'm gonna take his queen, his knights... his rooks... I'm knocking all his pieces off the board.

Luke

My father's a preacher. He used to say, one way or the other I would regret the life that I led. He used to say "The Spirit of the Lord is on me because I have been anointed to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners, and recovery of sight for the blind to release the oppressed."

Luke

[eulogizing Pop] I asked Pop once why he didn't want people to curse in his shop and why we had to wear these ugly smocks. He said: these kids need to see a man go to work, every day, and be in the presence of men in uniform putting in work. I didn't want to walk in late, but I was trying to do what Pop always did, help those in need and protect them from the forces that would do them harm. At first, it was selfish, because my name was attached to it. Then it got bigger. If we try to protect only ourselves, without looking out for those people closest to us, then we lose. Pop never forgot his people. Where some people saw hard rock kids, he saw precious jewels. He reminded me that diamonds are formed by pressure, covered in dirt, but when you polish them, they shine. Pop saw the shine in everyone that walked in his barbershop, he cut their hair, he listened to their problems, and he made them feel better about the world, themselves. We have to strive on a daily basis to do the same for each other, and sometimes that's gonna mean standing up to a bully, especially if he calls himself a friend. I don't believe in Harlem. I believe in the people who make Harlem what it is.

Cottonmouth

What's your name again?

Luke

Luke.

Cottonmouth

Luke. Mmm, old school. Biblical. I'm all about the old school. You know that eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth kind of thing. Fire and brimstone. See back then do someone wrong, wasn't no beggin' and pleadin'. Just took care of it. Handled your business.

What about turning the other cheek?

Cottonmouth

Mmm. Jesus saves. I don't.

Cottonmouth

Me and Henry didn't see eye to eye. But I always had his back. He wouldn't want any drama. Especially here.

Luke

What Pop would have wanted is for you not to pay for his arrangements with bloody guilt money. We set a parley. I thought your word was bond.

Cottonmouth

It is. A former associate of mine was feelin' himself. He's not feelin' much of anything right now.

Luke

Doesn't matter. Pop's death is still on you.

Cottonmouth

Step off. Before you get hurt.

Luke

Why? I'm just getting started.

Cottonmouth

[laughs] Good to know. How's the job search coming? Dishwasher.

Well, you're a hell of a fighter, Lucas. You learn that in the military or during your police training? Hmm? How'd you like to live like a king using them fists of yours? We got some bad boys who's pretty good with their hands. And they making money in here. Good-ass money. I want you to get in on this. Believe it or not, it'll benefit both of us. And I get a little extra coin. And you... If you survive get to be your own man. Untouched, extra rations, maybe a conjugal or two, hmm? It's a good offer, convict.

Luke

Slavery was always a good offer to a master.

Luke

[to Dan] Hey, what was Mike Tyson like?

[chuckles] I know you're sick of telling that story. He whooped Mitch Green fine, didn't he?

Mike Tyson is a real nice guy.

Luke

But he hit like a beast.

Bobby

Yeah, well there was beauty in that beast. You can't control what people say. Just be the best man that you can be. And always make sure they spell your name right.

Luke

Where'd she get the gun?

Yo, I plead the eighth.

Luke

You mean the fifth.

Yeah, that shit. I plead the fifth.

Cottonmouth

There he is. Dishwasher Lazarus. You want your old job back? It costs to be a savior. Ask Jesus.

Luke

You started all this. This is me finishing it.

Cottonmouth

You want Harlem, it's expensive.

Luke

I don't want Harlem. I just want you to stop messing with it.

Cottonmouth

It's my home. You don't know a damn thing about it.

Claire Temple

Luke?

Luke

Yes.

Claire

Oh, you probably don't remember me, do you? Your girlfriend had me take care of you when you were brought into the hospital. [Luke and Bobby have blank stares] In Hell's Kitchen?

Luke

[look of recognition] Hey. [pause] Hey.

Bobby

[extends hand to Claire] Bobby. Bobby Fish.

Claire

[shakes Bobby's hand] I'm sorry. Claire. Very nice to meet you.

Bobby

Claire, you... you are far too beautiful to ever apologize for anything. You remember that.

Claire

Swiss cheese shirt, car bounces off of you, punching through steel and concrete. Just another day, right?

Luke

You're safe and your mum's van is insured. That's all that matters to me.

Claire

After all that, you can't say you're not special.

Luke

I'm still not sure what I am.

Claire

You know exactly who you are, and what you need to do.

Luke

[chuckles] Pop used to say the same thing you're saying to me. I did right by him. Cottonmouth's in jail, and I'm done.

Claire

You're moving on?

Luke

I think so. It's time.

Claire

There's things with your powers you haven't even tested. So many good things that you could still do. Maybe I could help.

Luke

You have ideas?

Claire

Yeah!

Luke

Why don't we start by getting some coffee first?

Claire

I'm not sleeping with you.

Luke

Whoa! Did I say anything about that? Why can't coffee just be coffee?

Claire

Okay, you didn't even touch your coffee this morning, you drank the orange juice. You don't drink coffee.

Luke

I guess you guys haven't heard about me, have you?

Take him out!

Luke

…I'm about sick of always having to buy new clothes.

Claire

What did your father say when he saw you?

Luke

Nothing. He doesn't know I'm alive. He wouldn't want to see me anyway. I'm his… shame. The last thing my father wanted to do was raise a black criminal. He did everything in his power to give me the kind of life so that wouldn't happen. And yet, I still went to jail.

Claire

That wasn't your fault.

Luke

He didn't see it that way. I tried to explain. I made calls. I sent letters, and he returned every last one of them.

Claire

Then why let your father's last memory of you be as a criminal? A dead criminal? I think he'd be very proud to know who you are now. [pause] Anyway, thank you.

Luke

For what?

Claire

I can't imagine there are that many people who know the saga of Luke Cage. It means a lot that you trust me.

Luke

I didn't come to Harlem to be a hero, Claire. I came because I needed time to figure shit out.

Claire

So did I.

Luke

You're right. I can't keep running. But I want you to know what you're getting into. If Cottonmouth talks, or if anybody connects the dots that Luke Cage is Carl Lucas… I go back to Seagate.

Claire

You knew the risks and you did it anyway. That's what makes you a hero.

Luke

Maybe I should get a mask after all.

Claire

No. Too much in Harlem happens in the shadows. People fear what they can't see. And that's what makes you different. They see you. It makes them trust you.