Wendy Byrde quotes from Ozark

Wendy Byrde

[about their latest cash influx] Skip wrapping it. Just get it out of sight.

Marty Byrde

No, I can't just stack bills in a wall and call it a day. There's rot, and there's termites, there's rats. First year I did this, Bruce lost 300K in two days to squirrels.

Marty Byrde

[dancing and scheming] So where do we live?

Wendy Byrde

Look who's getting ahead of himself.

Marty Byrde

How about Luxembourg?

Wendy Byrde

That's the best you've got? Luxembourg?

Marty Byrde

How about Santorini?

Wendy Byrde

No.

Marty Byrde

No? Some white sand beaches?

Wendy Byrde

Mnh-mnh. Tourists. Steep inclines. Donkeys.

Tell me. How does a casino equate to a more simple family life?

Wendy Byrde

Oh. What we do for a living has absolutely no bearing on how we parent. And I refute anybody who says Christian values and capitalism can't coexist.

There was a French writer, long time ago - I can't remember his name. Well, I can't remember anybody's name. Anyway, he was old, for those days, and very sick, lungs and ticker all going, and he was stuck in bed. Now, this guy's a loner all his life. But he tells the lady taking care of him that he wants to see his friends, say goodbye. So she sends out word, and all his friends come to his little hovel, gather around his deathbed, telling stories. And you know what happens?

Wendy Byrde

What happens?

He doesn't die.

And then after a couple days, the friends, well, they leave. They have lives. And then he dies. Sad, but sweet. Because, when you think you're gonna die yesterday, today is sweet. So, hang in, Wendy. Lose your shit tomorrow. Today's no day to fall apart.

Marty Byrde

You know, I used to think that we were, uh, different than them. You know, these people that we work for. And, um...

Wendy Byrde

Hey. We are different from them. You saved my life. Mason would've killed me otherwise. And you are the one who has always said, "People make choices."

Marty Byrde

Mason's wife didn't have a choice. Our kids, they didn't have a choice.

Wendy Byrde

Where have you been? It's late. We've been worried.

Charlotte Byrde

I have something I wanna talk to you about.

Wendy Byrde

What is it?

Charlotte Byrde

I wanna get emancipated.

Wendy Byrde

What are you talking about?

Marty Byrde

What?

Charlotte Byrde

Do you remember Jordan Parks from back home? He did it. He had his own apartment when he was a senior.

Wendy Byrde

That kid's parents are drug addicts. There's a difference there.

Marty Byrde

This is silly. You'd have to pay for rent, food, clothes.

Charlotte Byrde

I'll get a job.

Wendy Byrde

Where? McDonald's? You think minimum wage would pay for all that?

Marty Byrde

Charlotte, I know things have been crazy, but we gotta stay together.

Charlotte Byrde

Why?

Marty Byrde

We're a family.

Charlotte Byrde

What does that even mean? I don't wanna hurt you. I love you, but I can't be a part of this anymore. Everyone lies about everything. It's gone too far. You can fight me on this, or you can help me. I've made up my mind. I want out.

Jonah Byrde

What's going on?

Wendy Byrde

Your sister is upset.

Jonah Byrde

Upset?

Wendy Byrde

Okay, more than upset. She doesn't wanna be a member of this family anymore.

Jonah Byrde

What are you talking about?

Charlotte Byrde

I'm emancipating.

Marty Byrde

You are not emancipating.

Jonah Byrde

I don't... I don't understand.

Charlotte Byrde

It just means I'll be in charge of my own decisions.

Marty Byrde

We are so close to working out what I admit is a terrible situation. But right now, you are being really fucking selfish.

Wendy Byrde

That's not helpful.

Marty Byrde

[scoffs] Well... We're gonna get through this, okay?

Charlotte Byrde

Oh, is that a cliché or a platitude?

Wendy Byrde

Mmm. I'm trying to see your side here.

Charlotte Byrde

You're scared. You both are. You know I'm right. You're scared, and you should be.

Marty Byrde

So, you understand how this works, right?

Wendy Byrde

That's what you're saying? That's part of the threat?

Marty Byrde

So, you're really gonna get a lawyer who's gonna ask questions? Who's gonna file papers in court stating exactly why you wanna be emancipated? So, I'm just wondering... I'm wondering, what are you gonna say that's gonna keep us from all being arrested? Or killed? Jonah, pass the pancakes.

Marty Byrde

Since when is it prudent to try to off your partners before a deal is even finalized? I must have missed that issue of the Harvard Business Review.

Helen Pierce

I told you, the cartel is gonna do what the cartel is gonna do.

Marty Byrde

Right.

Helen Pierce

Your job was to find a way to make this deal without the Snells.

Marty Byrde

I was in the middle of trying to figure out if that's even possible.

Helen Pierce

I did not say it was done. The Snells poisoned my client's product. My client couldn't allow such brazen disrespect without a proportional response.

Wendy Byrde

We completely understand your client's need for respect.

Marty Byrde

Are you fucking kidding me?

Wendy Byrde

Marty...

Marty Byrde

I mean, your client's little ego trip just completely fucked us. It fucked the casino, and he pissed away $50 million.

Helen Pierce

It wasn't my decision. I wasn't even informed of it.

Wendy Byrde

How do we salvage this?

Helen Pierce

Find a way to immediately cut the Snells out of this deal.

Marty Byrde

We're not salvaging shit.

Helen Pierce

It's the first law of power, Marty. Those who can, shit on others. Those who can't, clean it up.

Marty Byrde

I'm not playing your fucking games anymore.

Helen Pierce

You don't have an option.

Marty Byrde

Neither do you. And neither does your client, if he wants to keep his $50 million. You think I'm the only one over a fucking barrel?

Helen Pierce

Clean up your own shit.

Wendy Byrde

He'll do it.

Helen Pierce

I'm not sure you appreciate the historical significance of what it is you're about to pull off. Medellín, Sinaloa, Juárez, every one of them tried to create something like this. Every one of them failed. A legitimate, self-sustaining operation like a casino. This is why crime organizes. Have you given any thought to the next five years?

Marty Byrde

Uh, I'd love to talk about the operational account.

Helen Pierce

Because you're pillars of the community now. You've established a foothold in the gaming industry. You could expand, completely legitimately. Honoring your obligations to my client, obviously.

Wendy Byrde

I am so sorry, but I have to get him home. I mean, it's just been a long time since we've been tied to a nap schedule.

Helen Pierce

It's funny how you forget there was ever a time before they could tell you to go fuck yourself. [chuckles] But not you. No. You wouldn't call up and talk about your father's girlfriend, would you? No.

Marty Byrde

The operational account.

Helen Pierce

What about it?

Marty Byrde

It's not up and running.

Helen Pierce

Once the contracts are signed.

Marty Byrde

That's in two days. I could be working now.

Helen Pierce

Well, is there some kind of rush I'm not aware of?

Marty Byrde

Just trying to be efficient.

Helen Pierce

Well, call us superstitious. On a long road trip, you're most likely to get into an accident a mile from your home.

Darlene Snell

I thought you should know... Jacob passed away this morning.

Wendy Byrde

What? Oh, Darlene. Oh. I'm so sorry.

Darlene Snell

His dying wish was to stop the casino. I intend to honor that.

Wendy Byrde

I don't understand. Jacob was always committed to making the casino work.

Darlene Snell

He had an epiphany.

Wendy Byrde

He passed this morning?

Darlene Snell

That's right.

Wendy Byrde

And you came right here? May I ask how he died?

Darlene Snell

His heart. It failed him.

Wendy Byrde

Just to be clear... Jacob understood that this casino is happening. There's no way for you to win.

Darlene Snell

Did the Viet Cong have to win?

Wendy Byrde

I'm sorry?

Darlene Snell

The gooks. They didn't have to win. They just had to not lose. It's my land.

Darlene Snell

The cartel's already tried to kill you once.

Darlene Snell

Is that a threat?

Wendy Byrde

Just a fact.

Darlene Snell

There might be one solution to honor Jacob's memory. Is that Mason Young's baby in the car? It is, isn't it? Social Services told me you were looking after him until they found a suitable home. Now, you help me adopt him, and I'll stand aside.

Wendy Byrde

You are not fucking touching that baby.

Darlene Snell

I delivered that child.

Wendy Byrde

You need to go.

Darlene Snell

He's not your kin. He's not worth the cost you'll pay.

Wendy Byrde

We're not running.

Marty Byrde

What do you mean?

Wendy Byrde

We're not leaving the Ozarks. It's not safe to go.

Marty Byrde

Wendy, it's not safe to stay.

Wendy Byrde

You're not acting out of logic. You're acting out of emotion. And I know I've asked you to be more emotional. I've begged. So, I love you for it, but I am not getting on that plane and neither are the kids.

Marty Byrde

Okay, you're just scared. Don't worry about it. I've got everything under control.

Wendy Byrde

No, you don't.

Marty Byrde

Yes, I do.

Wendy Byrde

Unh-unh. You're running away from Mason's death. You're trying to kidnap Charlotte so she can't leave the family. And you were right all along. We can't make emotional decisions based on other people's choices. So we just have to wake up and make the right choices And right now, that means staying put.

Marty Byrde

You're telling me this now? Here?

Wendy Byrde

I didn't have time to argue. [clears throat] Call the coroner's office.

Marty Byrde

This is not sustainable.

Wendy Byrde

What, and running is? Hiring surrogates? Changing identities? What if this is the Gold Coast?

Marty Byrde

It's not.

Wendy Byrde

Hmm. We only know what it's been. What about what it could be? I mean, you've said so yourself, once the casino is up and running, it's like clockwork. You could go back to just working the numbers. The kids are in school. We have roots. We've sacrificed too fucking much in order to run. We will get that baby away from Darlene. Don't worry.

Marty Byrde

And what about the Kansas City mob? Wendy, I played a game of fucking chicken with them because I knew we were running.

Wendy Byrde

We're not alone here. We have partners who are very grateful for what we've done. Always better to be the person holding the gun than the one running from the gunman.

Wendy Byrde

Well, let's, let's cut right to it, shall we Fred? What is it going to take, to put us over the top, and host your convention?

REO Speedwagon.

Wendy Byrde

REO Speedwagon...

Yeah. If you're the kinda place that can get the Wagon, you're gonna have yourself a whole lot'a dentists.

Wendy Byrde

So, listen...I know how concerned you are about security. And...I just want you to know I've been thinking a lot about it, too. About safety... and our future.

Marty Byrde

Okay.

Wendy Byrde

I've been reading about the cartel war. Navarro's lost 61 men in the last five weeks alone.

Marty Byrde

Hmm. What's that got to do with us?

Wendy Byrde

There's a saying in politics. "Never let a good crisis go to waste."

Marty Byrde

And?

Wendy Byrde

And...Helen's coming into town. I know, you're expecting the worst, but let's...let's preempt that. Pitch her on the idea of expansion.

Marty Byrde

What does that mean?

Wendy Byrde

Hotels. Casinos, but we keep the daily operations legitimate. We sell the idea to Navarro as a safety net. We put his share in a trust...for his kids. Untouchable. That way, if the cartel war goes south, then he has a whole new revenue stream. Completely legal. Well? What do you think?

Marty Byrde

Well, I just...I think that's batshit crazy.

Wendy Byrde

It's not.

Marty Byrde

No?

Wendy Byrde

No. It's not. And actually, it was Helen's idea. She talked to us about expansion. There is a...hotel and casino on the Kansas border in St. Joe's. Its infrastructure is old. It's getting killed by a casino across the river. And all it needs is an influx of cash to upgrade, and they would crush their competition, but their margins are too low. It's a win-win.

Marty Byrde

No.

Wendy Byrde

Just like that?

Marty Byrde

Just like that.

Wendy Byrde

Jesus. [scoffs] Of course.

Marty Byrde

I'm trying to keep us safe, Wendy.

Wendy Byrde

Yeah, well, so am I.

Marty Byrde

I mean, how much more fucking stress do you wanna take on?

Wendy BYrde

This would all be legitimate.

Marty Byrde

Except for the seed money from the drug lord, which, by definition, is not legitimate?

Wendy Byrde

We are pre-approved by the gaming commission. No one would question the initial investment. We have Navarro's gratitude. This would only increase it. Don't you understand? We're in.

Marty Byrde

We're alive. Big difference. You want to know what a good outcome from this cartel war would be? Navarro getting blown off the face of the Earth, and you and I being out from underneath this.

Wendy Byrde

But what if that doesn't happen? Expansion makes us a political player. It insulates us, and that keeps us safe. We could be the very legitimate, very public face of Missouri gaming. [chuckles] We'd be too big to fail.

Marty Byrde

Wendy, I did not agree to stay here to start raising red flag after red flag.

Wendy Byrde

It's the smart play.

Marty Byrde

Stop. I'm here. Take the fucking victory, okay? And do not tell me what is smart and what is not smart. You blew through that stop sign six months ago.

Wendy Byrde

Do you know what I did today? I talked to a woman about her toe ring stand. I have the time. We have the clout. I can do this. Just think-- think about the things we could build. Why should the Charles Wilkeses of the world have a stranglehold on this state? We could have the money and the influence. We could control every political lever in Missouri. We could give millions to the causes that we care about. We could run this goddamn place.

Marty Byrde

Do you even hear yourself?

Wendy Byrde

I do. Do you hear me?

Marty Byrde

Um, what's this? Did you-- You bought a new casino and a new house without talking to me?

Wendy Byrde

Those are rental properties...for Helen.

Marty Byrde

Helen's moving here?

Wendy Byrde

For the summer.

Marty Byrde

That's just fucking perfect.

Wendy Byrde

No, it's a good thing. It's a good thing. She's on our side.

Marty Byrde

Jesus Christ. Until she's not. This is exactly what I was worried about. If we'd just kept our heads down, Wendy--

Wendy Byrde

There's nothing we can do about that now.

Marty Byrde

Maybe there is. I've had time to think through some of it.

Wendy Byrde

You said yourself on the phone, we're committed.

Marty Byrde

Well, deals go bad, you know? Good plans go wrong all the time. And Navarro's a businessman, he'll understand that. As long as we don't spend a cent of his money, as long as he's whole, we can get out of this before it even begins.

Wendy Byrde

We're not getting out of this.

Marty Byrde

You're saying that because you don't want to. I want you to admit something. Admit this is all about you and has nothing to do with what is best for the family.

Wendy Byrde

This is about me making sure you don't have to launder for the rest of your life. This is about me finding our only real way out of this! So, you can either be a part of that solution, or...

Marty Byrde

Part of the problem. That sounds like her.

Wendy Byrde

So, you think this house will work?

Helen Pierce

Um, at least it's three months I don't have to deal with Gene. Ugh, he attacks and attacks and attacks. He has no idea what I've endured just to keep him alive. Not that I want him dead, obviously. I mean, I do want my kids to have a father, but do I fantasize now and then about him getting the shit kicked out of him? Losing a few of those teeth he spent a small fortune capping? [clicks tongue] You betcha. I don't mean to dwell on Gene.

Wendy Byrde

You're not.

Helen Pierce

It's just, you know, when things get so hostile so fast, you think, "How'd I manage to fuck that up so badly?" That painting has no intention. How is it that all these years, I was trying to protect my family, and actually, I was just doing the opposite?

Wendy Byrde

For all you know, things could have been much worse, and you're the reason they're not.

Helen Pierce

Maybe he sensed that I was keeping things from him and withdrew. I don't know. Maybe it is all my fault. Maybe if I'd told him everything, we'd still be together. I don't know.

Wendy Byrde

That just trades one set of problems for another. Ask our therapist. [laughs] We're very careful.

Helen Pierce

Hmm.

Wendy Byrde

Maybe that's the only way to truly make a marriage last. Make it impossible to blow up without the shock wave swallowing everyone.

Helen Pierce

Mutually assured destruction.