Thomas Shelby quotes from Peaky Blinders

Grace

[Thomas asks her to sing] Happy or sad?

Thomas

[after a moment thinking] Sad.

Grace

Okay. But I warn you, it'll break your heart.

Thomas

Already broken.

Grace

Want tea?

Thomas

Tea? No.

Grace

I have rum.

Thomas

Actually, tea it is.

Grace

You want to impress me?

Thomas

Yes. And do you have a biscuit?

Grace

No. They attract mice.

Thomas

People look different at home.

Grace

In what way?

Thomas

Off guard.

Grace

Should I be on my guard?

Thomas

No, I'm a man who drinks tea.

Grace

Are you okay?

Thomas

I don't hear the shovels against the wall.

Grace

What shovels?

Thomas

Will you help me?

Grace

Help you with what?

Thomas

With everything. The whole fucking thing. Fucking life, business. I found you. And you found me. We'll help each other.

Will you go looking for her?

Thomas

She's in the past... and the past is not my concern. And the future is not my concern either.

What is your concern, Tommy.

Thomas

The one minute. The solider's minute. In a battle that's all you get. One minute of everything, at once. And anything before is nothing. Everything after, nothing. Nothin in comparison in that one minute.

Didn't you get enough minutes over there?

Thomas

Seem's not, doesn't it?

There will be others.

Thomas

To the others. [they cheer] All of them.

Imagine riding away, Thomas. Living the real life, you know? Your Gypsy half is the stronger. You just want to ride away. France is a new place for us, they say. Lot of metal lying around still. Guns and trucks and spent shells and things. Then you go south. Saintes-Maries, where the Black Madonna is. My brothers go sometimes for the fair. It's like a home for us. They still let you get lost there.

Thomas

I've been to France, Esme. So has John. Now get your coat and go with your husband. [takes her face in his hand] If you ever talk about getting lost again, I'll cut you... from this family.

[looks around] What family?

What are you doing, Tommy?

Shoveling shit, Curly. Just like you.

Why are you doing that?

To remind myself of what I’d be if I wasn’t who I am.

Thomas Shelby

Today... this is my fucking wedding day.

Yeah. And you said there'd be no bloody uniforms.

Thomas

Nevertheless. Nevertheless, John. Despite the bad blood, I'll have none of it on my carpet. Now, for Grace's sake, nothing will go wrong. Those bastards out there and our family. And if you fuckers do anything to embarrass her, your kin, your cousins, your horses, your fucking kids... IF YOU DO ANYTHING TO-

Tom.

Thomas

WHAT!?

What about snow?

Yeah, their women are sport, I'd say that.

Thomas

No, no, no. [points to Isiah] No cocaine. No cocaine. [points to John] No sport. No telling fortunes. No racing. [grabs Finn's jaw and slaps him] No fucking sucking petrol out of their fucking cars. And you, Charlie, stop spinning yarns about me, eh?

I'm just trying to sell you to them, Tom.

Thomas

But the main thing is, you bunch of fuckers, despite the provocation from the cavalry, no fighting. Oi! No fighting. No fucking fighting. No fighting. NO FUCKING FIGHTING! Good.

I heard you had trouble. It's good of you to see me.

Thomas Shelby

You just came from Paris, eh?

You know Paris?

Thomas Shelby

I left Paris in a cattle truck. And they said you were French.

Well, I came here from Paris. That does not mean I'm French. Guess where I'm from?

Thomas Shelby

Well, in that cattle truck, in Paris... There were American soldiers who played cards. They sound like you.

Yeah. Did you win?

Thomas Shelby

You didn't come on a train. Your suit is pressed, your shoes are clean. Where you'd get your suits made?

I've a tailor, in New York City. Look. Funacci, Italian. He's my uncle. Makes suits in a basement in Madge street. He is my uncle, so every stitch, stitched with blood. I heard you dressed well, Mr. Shelby, but now I see, not so well as me.

Thomas Shelby

You know, I have uncles as well. But they're not the sort of men who would, who would work in a basement with a needle and thread, Mr. Changretta.

I am surprised how easy it was to get into a room with you.

Thomas Shelby

[Draws his gun] And now?

And now? And now you should know that during the trouble you had earlier on your factory floor, I sent an accomplice into your office in overalls. He found your gun. And unloaded it. [Takes out the bullets]

[Places the bullets on the table with each name]. Arthur Shelby, Polly Gray, Michael Gray, John Shelby, [flicks bullet] spent. Ada Thorne. And finally, Tommy Shelby. None of you will survive. Your level of security is pitiful and we are an organization of a different dimension. I could've killed you when you walked through the door. But you see, I want you to be last. I want you to be alive after your entire family is dead, 'cause my mother says, that is what will hurt you the most. You people have traditions of honor, as do we. Instead of sending you a black hand I could have you killed in the night. You don't know why? But I want you to know why, and I wanna suggest to you that we fight this vendetta with honor.

Thomas Shelby

No civilians, no children.

No police.

Thomas Shelby

Welcome to Birmingham, Mr. Changretta

Grazie

It starts when you stop. When you rest. Could be nerves. The War. Might be the alcohol. Blue devils, they call that.

Thomas Shelby

Yeah, well yeah, yeah. It's the fucking booze. It's the booze, the booze got hold and the booze got in me bones.

Lizzie wants to see you.

Thomas Shelby

No.

Tom she's showing.

Thomas Shelby

I don't want to see Lizzie, Pol.

Shit, maybe it's in us? Cause were Shelbys. It's in our gypsy blood. We live somewhere between life and death. Waiting to move on, and in the end, we accept it. We shake hands with devils, and we walk past them.

Arthur asked, whose side I was on. [Tommy sits down] There will be a war, and one of you will die. But which one, I cannot tell.

Thomas Shelby

Hmm. He's gonna do it anyway.

Yeah.

Thomas Shelby

You should know. If Aberama takes his side, I will kill him.

And what about me?

Thomas Shelby

[pause] I'll do what I have to do, Pol.

Kill, and kill.

Thomas Shelby

The only way to make people listen.

[approaches his desk] Soon, you will have a stage to stand on. Millions of people will listen to you. And you will run the country, like you run this family.

Thomas Shelby

It appears to be what people want.

But not me. Not anymore. [drops a letter on the desk] My resignation. [leaves]

Thomas Shelby

Remember The January, Arthur? The family boat?

Arthur Shelby

Yeah.

Thomas Shelby

A whole family living on something the size of ten of these fucking barrels.

Arthur Shelby

Hmm.

Thomas Shelby

Remember that night at Tile Cross? Sixteen of us sleeping on the boat. The coppers come. We all swim like rats. Except for Arthur. Arthur holds them off with a boat hook, all on his own. And I remember. I climbed back up on the lock and I looked back, and I saw you waving that fucking boat hook in the coppers' faces...

Arthur Shelby

[Laughs]

Thomas Shelby

On your own. That's when I realized, when I had on you on the ground, all those years ago, it's cause you let me win.

Arthur Shelby

[Laughs]

Thomas Shelby

You wanted me to win. You've wanted me to win ever since.

Arthur Shelby

What chance do I have if you... start doing that again [motioning to the wine]? Eh?

Thomas Shelby

You'll stop. You'll stop because the family needs you to. It's like that long tunnel on the Dudley stretch. Remember Dudley Canal, line number one, 3,172 yards of fucking pitch blackness? And rats swimming.

Arthur Shelby

Yeah

Thomas Shelby

And then we come round the corner and there'd be a shaft of light, and then we'd know. And then, you and me, we'd both know it was nearly done. That's where we are now Arthur. Just a few more yards to go. And then you will change your ways. And I'll change the fucking world.

Arthur Shelby

I know. I know. I stole your keys. Tuberculoma. In your brain.

Thomas Shelby

Yeah. But I still have time to do what I need to do.

Arthur Shelby

Fuck you, Tommy.

Thomas Shelby

I don't need anyone to know, Arthur.

Arthur Shelby

No, you don't, do ya? You don't need anything, do ya?

Thomas Shelby

No, I don't need anything. I don't need anything. How long have we been dead for, eh? You and me. How long? At least now I'll have a certificate. Whatever it is, I'll get the drinks in and I'll wait for you.

Arthur Shelby

Fuck's sake.

Thomas Shelby

Yeah. All them bullets that missed. It's funny Arthur. It's funny is what it is. So don't you fucking weep.

Arthur Shelby

Weep.

Thomas Shelby

When everyone is taken care of financially I'll take myself away. On my own. I don't want anyone... Anyone who may or may not love me... to have to see me crawl or grow insane and helpless. That would be a cruelty to me and to them. By the time people know the truth, I will be gone.

Arthur Shelby

What about Lizzie?

Thomas Shelby

I have some papers I need you to sign on behalf of the company.

Arthur Shelby

Told Lizzie?

Thomas Shelby

I'm working with the housing minister. I will be allocating contracts, construction contracts, worth ten million pounds.

Arthur Shelby

You haven't told Lizzie?

Thomas Shelby

Some of the contracts I'll be allocating are with companies in which we have an interest--

Arthur Shelby

Fuck you and your contracts.

Thomas Shelby

So the Shelby Company Limited will continue to earn money. But mostly, Arthur, I'm doing it because it's a good thing. Building houses.

Arthur Shelby

Oh.

Thomas Shelby

Yeah, for ordinary working people.

Arthur Shelby

Yeah. Good for you. Fucking--

Thomas Shelby

In the interest of a fairer future. Before that, I will be going to Canada to collect payment for the shipment. Five million pounds!

Arthur Shelby

Oh five fucking million?

Thomas Shelby

Which I will share among the Shelby family. And that will be my legacy. Instead of me, there will be money. Because for most of the people who are close to me, that is what I am! Fucking money. That is my agency.

Arthur Shelby

Is that all you think you are, eh? Hmm? Stand up. You heard me. Stand up. On your feet. On your fucking feet.

Thomas Shelby

Arthur!

Arthur Shelby

On your feet, soldier. On your feet. Stand the fuck up! Come here!

Thomas Shelby

Arthur! No! Enough! You hear me? Enough! Enough! Now you know. You tell no one else until I'm gone.

Arthur Shelby

Until you're gone, yeah?

Thomas Shelby

When the time comes, I'll call ya. I'll tell you where. It will be a wagon.

Arthur Shelby

Fuck your wagon.

Thomas Shelby

You light the flame. You bring Charlie and curly and no one else. Get drunk. Rake the ashes for silver and gold.

Arthur Shelby

Fuck you! And your fucking plans! That time I did let you fucking win. John. Fuck you, John. Fucking both of ya.

Thomas Shelby

Arthur. Arthur. Come here. Come here. Come here. Come here. Let me see your eyes.

Arthur Shelby

I'm clean, man. The dragons fucking gone. Thanks to you. Fucking thanks to you.

Apologies for the initial misunderstanding.

Thomas Shelby

My brother dealt with it. [Hands Stagg money]. For the care you took.

Even though I succumbed to temptation?

Thomas Shelby

Part of the reason my brother is back dealing with it, is down to you. You spoke to him.

As a comrade.

Thomas Shelby

The beating is still owed to you.

Do you still do that kind of work yourself, Thomas Shelby, MP.

Thomas Shelby

Mr. Stagg, you see, I could use men like you. I have friends, that are in need of guns. Soon there will be a shipment of Thompson submachine guns, coming here from Boston. I need you to unload and store those weapons. There will also be ammunition, like this. [Hands Stagg a bullet with his name on it]. You have a good look. And I need you to take better care of the guns and ammunition than you did of the powder. You understand? Previously, all of my import and export went through Belfast docks. Now we're dealing with Boston, I am considering shifting my supply line to Liverpool. You'll be a very rich man. Don't you ever say thank you?

[Picks up the bullet]. Thank you.

Is that why you do it, Mr. Shelby? Is that why keep all this going? To help people say thank you? You could close all this down. You could leave the sport behind. You could live like an ordinary, mortal man. On your gravestone. "An ordinary, mortal man." But instead, you still go around collecting "please" and "thank you" and "sorry" and "forgive me, Mr. Shelby." That what it's all for?

Thomas Shelby

Want to know? Want to know why I've carried on... all these years. It's so I can do this [aims gun and cocks it at Stagg]. And then, do this [uncocks gun and lowers it]. Feel it?

I feel it.

Thomas Shelby

Junk doesn't even come close. [sighs]. Soon, Mr. Stagg, when my last bit of business is done, I will indeed be an ordinary mortal man. You have a good day.

Thomas Shelby

You know, the thing is Mosley, you're right. You're right, she doesn't deserve me. She doesn't deserve what I am. She doesn't deserve what I will become.

What will you become?

Thomas Shelby

Truth is, I belong here at this table, with fuckers like you. She doesn't. For all I try to hide it... [scoffs] I'm just one of you. Could there be a sadder ending, eh? [Drinks whiskey]