Cottonmouth Stokes quotes from Luke Cage

Cottonmouth

[eulogizing Pop] Henry Hunter was my mentor. An old friend. He taught me streets the hard way. I'll remember the sound of his fists, but that's how he got his name. Pop. But he changed, he evolved. See, Harlem could do that to you. Some people saw war-zone, Pop always saw pasture, a breeding ground for art history, for greatness. From Billy Strayhorn, Teddy Riley, Big L, ASAP Rocky, all those brothers, came from right here. All because of people like Pop. I believe that whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger, and that's how we have to look at Pop's death. They never caught the shooter, but I have faith that he is right in the depths of Hell. I miss Pop. I promise you with all my might, and even though we are being attacked on all sides by foreign interlopers, strangers with arcane abilities, I promise you I'll stay true to what we have right here. 'Cause that's what Pop would've wanted.

Cottonmouth

There is honor among thieves, but you ain't no thief. Gave a speech at a church, knocked down a few doors in the projects and now you Harlem's Captain America? Nigga please. How they gonna feel about their folk hero when they find out he ain't nothing more but a goddamn hoodlum? You act like you better than me, you ain't better than me.

You like my Biggie photo? Me, too. You know what draws your eye when you look at that? The crown. Wanna know why? Huh? 'Cause everybody wants to be the king. [slaps Shameek] I slapped you like a little bitch. I'm not the kind of man to use a closed fist on a woman. Where's my money?

I, I didn't -

Cottonmouth

Uh-uh. Only thing worse than a thief is a damn liar. [smacks Shameek] Where's my - money? Hmm? You left Dante alive. He called Tone. And with his dying words, gave up you and your homeboy. We got your money. Now you're gonna tell us where Chico is so we can get the rest.

Cottonmouth

[laughing] Yeah. Thank you. Now I can hit you like a man. [throws Shameek to the floor and beats him to death]

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.

Mariah Dillard

You're wasting your gifts, my brother. This gangster life not what our ancestors fought for. Not what our people died for.

Cottonmouth

This is exactly what they died for. Self-determination, control, power.

Cottonmouth

What's wrong, Shades?

We should've waited.

Waited? [scoffs] Bump that noise! I got the call. It was me.

Cottonmouth

What happened?

Look, Turk calls me. Tells me, he saw Chic at the shop, slippin'. I came and ask you if it was important that the nigga was breathing. You seem non-committal, so I make an executive decision. [claps his hands]

Cottonmouth

[laughs] That's what you call it? An "executive decision"? [Tone nods and smiles] Okay. Mmm, so you caught him slippin' outside?

Nah, bro, I lit that shit up like a Fourth of July. It was all so Django Candieland shit for real. Lights, camera, action, baby! Somebody call Quentin! [laughs]

Shades

I suggested we wait.

[turns on Shades, annoyed] Wait? Wait for what, Shades? You ain't even down with the clique! You can't give orders. It was loud 'cause it's supposed to be! Niggas need to know you don't rob Cottonmouth!

Cottonmouth

[gets in Tone's face] MY NAME IS NOT COTTONMOUTH!!

[stammering] My--my bad. My bad.

Cottonmouth

[tensely] He's dead, right?

Shades

Chico's laid out. He's done.

[picks up Chico's backpack] It don't matter. We got the money!

Cottonmouth

You had to do it, I guess. Pops can rebuild. He won't like it but I'll donate some money anonymously. It's all gonna be okay...[He notices Tone and Shades are shifting around uneasily, and that Shades has removed his sunglasses] ...What?

Shades

[beat] ...Pops is dead.

A casualty of war. You know...shit happens.

Yo! Where's my money?

Cottonmouth

[confused] How the hell did you get up here?

I'm Turk Barrett, baby. The door ain't been built yet that can hold me back. Now where's my money?

Cottonmouth

Okay, Mr. Barrett. Tone promised to pay you for finding Chico, right?

Yeah.

Cottonmouth

[turns to Tone] That right? [Tone nods yes] Okay.

Cottonmouth

YOU CAN COLLECT YOUR MONEY FROM TONE DOWNSTAIRS, MR. BARRETT! [buttons his suit] I assume that completes our business.

…y'all Harlem niggas are off the hook. I'm going back to Hell's Kitchen where it's safe.

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.

Cottonmouth

Pop was a friend. He deserves the best.

Yeah. I see you've been busy. [He brings Cottonmouth over to another sheet covering what's left of Tone's body] What about this man right here?

Cottonmouth

Tone? I had to let him go. Nothing humbles a man like gravity. [Cottonmouth grabs some money from his coat pocket and hands it to Spurlock] Remember, same as always. This body can't exist.

[pockets the money] ...What body?

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.