Luke Cage quotes from Luke Cage

Luke

Stryker? Stryker!

Diamondback

You left me to rot, Carl.

Luke

We can work this out.

Diamondback

Work what out? My life? [loads bullets into his gun] My mother destroying herself? Being away for so long? Nah, there's nothing left to work out. "I did not come to bring peace, but a sword." Ain't that what the great Reverend James Lucas used to scream at us? Preached peace and prosperity, every Sunday on the pulpit, but come Friday night on the sideline? Nothing but fire and brimstone. Guess he saved the sin for Saturday night like everybody else. And everybody else caught hell but you. All the world's a stage for the preacher's son, and I was a quarterback. And no matter how many passes I threw, he was all about running the ball. Because he wanted the game in your hands. [Luke steps out into the orchestra section, right below Diamondback, up in the balcony] Hello, Carl.

Luke

Willis.

Diamondback

I prefer "Diamondback".

Luke

Because you're a snake. Just like Cottonmouth.

Diamondback

I am a snake! I shed my skin for something better. Stronger. You left me to rot, Carl, in a gutter. But I changed that sewer into a garden.

Luke

I wasn't a good friend. I should've stood tall, but I didn't. And you paid the price.

Diamondback

I've been watching you. Harlem doesn't realize they're worshiping a false idol.

Luke

False idol?

Diamondback

You, Carl! You! You're the golden calf! But I've got commandments for your ass. I'm gonna bring the pain. Reva's death?

Luke

Keep her name out of your mouth!

Diamondback

The crimes you went to jail for? The torture you endured once you were inside? All me! I'm afraid. Well, not Reva's death. I just like saying her name just to watch you squirm.

Luke

You ruined my life!

Diamondback

I gave you wings! [voice breaking] I sent you to hell, and you come back with superpowers! [inhales deeply] Ain't that a bitch?

Diamondback

They call this bullet the Judas. You barely survived the first blast. You won't survive the second. Any last words?

Luke

Willis, I'm sorry. You don't have to do this. I loved you like a brother.

Diamondback

Nigga, I am your brother. [shoots Luke in the shoulder]

Luke

What if this is a one-way trip?

Claire

Hey, hey, you are gonna make it. You hear me? You're gonna make it just fine. We're gonna fix this. Don't even. You're not dying in my mom's car.

Claire

If you go down his throat…

We can puncture his mucus membrane.

Claire

Exactly.

I like the way you think.

Luke

I don't.

Luke

Just so we're clear…what could go wrong?

Well, your skin could peel off, like wax paper, and, uh, after about ten seconds, you'd beg me to put a bullet in your head because the pain would be so bad, but your head looks fine, so I guess the bullet would ricochet off your skull.

Luke

Sweet Christmas.

Luke

Reva lied to me.

Claire

She helped you to disappear, 'cause she was protecting you. Couldn't have all been a lie.

Luke

You don't understand. That woman, the idea of her, her smell. That was the only thing that kept me sane at Seagate. That's what's eating me up inside. I don't think I really knew her at all.

Claire

You still love her.

Luke

I love the idea of Reva, but not her specifically. Not anymore.

Bobby

That was a close shave.

Luke

Bad pun.

Bobby

What the hell did you even come back for man?

Luke

I had to. For Harlem. Take care of Diamondback before he made it bad for everyone.

Bobby

Well, forget Harlem. Forget your brother. You're on the road in a brand new car and a woman that fine? And you're bullet-proof! You'd have never seen my black ass again. I'd rob the occasional bank and never look back.

Luke

I couldn't just lay in the gutter anymore. Pop knew about my abilities, so I put them to good use. I shut down Crispus Attucks personally.

Misty

That wasn't your job.

Luke

People needed someone who didn't require a warrant or shield to get things done. Call it a vigilante or a superhero, call it what you will. But like it or not, I finally accepted that that someone had to be me.

Misty

Maybe I could've helped you.

Luke

This burden is bigger than you. Or me. People are scared but they can't be paralyzed by that fear. You have to fight for what's right every single day, bulletproof skin or not. You can't just not snitch, or turn away or take money under the table because life has turned you sour. When did people stop caring? Harlem is supposed to represent our hopes and dreams. It's the pinnacle of black art, politics, innovation. It's supposed to be a shining light to the world. It's our responsibility to push forward, so that the next generation will be further along than us. Pop said his mantra aloud twice a day. Kids in the shop were pissed, but they could never unhear it. Never backwards.

[in flashback] Always forward.

Luke

Forward...

Misty

Always. [pause] You forget I grew up around the man.

Claire

I wish I could've met him.

Misty

In a way you have.

Claire

We have a lot to talk about though.

Luke

Like... what?

Claire

Your future, your next moves.

Luke

I don't want to talk about that right now. I just want to chill. It's been a long day.

Claire

It can wait. You want to get coffee when we get out of here?

Luke

You accused me of not liking coffee. That's not true, it just depends on the blend. I hear that Cuban coffee is particularly robust.

Claire

That might be the corniest thing you've said yet. It also happens to be true.

Your strength is from God, Carl. I have no doubt in my mind about that. But with that kind of power comes its share of pain.

Luke

I know, Dad. I work really hard to pull back. [sighs] Even though sometimes I have to smack a fool to get things done.

Now, see, that right there, that guilt you carry the weight of that responsibility, it's a burden. I understand it. Believe me, I understand.

Luke

I'm dealing. It hasn't been easy since, uh... since Claire...

Claire? The young woman who visited me at the church? What happened?

Luke

[sighs] It's a long story.

Boy, when you find someone who's gonna make room for you on the door when the ship goes down, that's a rose you cultivate.

Luke

Dad, there you go again with that movie. It's been years. Let it go, man.

I can't let it go. [he and Luke are laughing] I can't let it go. See, what it is and, hell, I know this when you are stressed, you push people away. I do the same thing. I'm not a good example. But here's the thing. When you have a calling, sometimes you need to heal yourself just as much as the person who you're trying to heal. You gotta take care of yourself, or else the whole world is gonna fall apart.

Luke

How's the hand?

It's just some cuts and bruises. That little gal healed me. She worked them roots.

Luke

Roots?

Mmm-hmm.

Luke

How exactly did she do that?

"The Beautiful Lady". Nightshade. She reached into that magic bag of hers and worked them roots. I didn't ask too many questions.

Luke

It's not the first time she worked her magic. Maybe there's a science to it.

Science? Magic? God? That power flows from within. From inside. What comes out when that pressure is heaviest... that's the real magic. That's what defines being a man. That's what defines being a hero.