Arthur Shelby quotes from Peaky Blinders

Arthur

You think we can take on the Chinese and Billy Kimber. Billy's got a bloody army--

Thomas

I think, Arthur. That's what I do. I think. So that you don't have to.

Arthur

I've been a fucking idiot. I haven't appreciated nothing, John.

Are you fucking repenting or something?

Arthur

Drawing. I used to be good at drawing.

Arthur, please. For God's sake, I don't need this-

Arthur

I should've listened more in class.

What fucking class? You were never there.

Arthur

I used to draw horses.

Arthur-

Arthur

Stallions. Great, big ones.

Arthur.

Arthur

They looked real-

Not stallions, not now.

My name's Hayden Stagg. I hear there's some men here from Birmingham looking for me. I was in the banana warehouse playing football with the boys. [Throws his football, which is shot by Isiah]. I'm guessing you gentleman aren't here to kick footballs.

Arthur Shelby

No. We're here about other business. We like to call it 'Black Star Business.'

'Black Star' a pub, is it?

Arthur Shelby

'Black Star'- Yeah, 'Black Star's' a pub. Last pub you'll ever fucking drink in.

Peaky Blinders take you to the 'Black Star', and all your troubles are done.

Arthur Shelby

But the pub you drink in, Mr. Stagg is called 'The Dolphin', right? Every night, you're in there. Not to drink. You're there divvying up the day's takings, ain't ya? And there's a woman there. She sings out "Opium for Sale." [Guns are drawn on the dock workers].

Sit down, boys. The rules says the king puts his head on a block and the game is up.

Arthur Shelby

Your'e stealing from the Shelby Company Limited. You're stealing from the Peaky Blinders, man. Therefore, punishment is a visit to the 'Black Star' pub. Hmm? But out of kindness, of my heart, your sentence has been commuted. Praise the fucking Lord! And our lovely Ada, eh? Instead...Instead, Mr Hayden Stagg, it's just a beating for you.

Well, before I take this beating. Arthur Shelby is it, yeah? You know comrade, beneath your sleeves lies the truth. The marks on your arm. Yeah. The stories about you come up the canal. You know, where once you walked fine alone, now you need a stick.

Let's just fucking do it, Arthur.

Arthur Shelby

You know, for me, it was the morphine they gave us in France. I got a taste for it Arthur. 1924 before I realized the fucking war was over. There's a warehouse full of it just across the yard there. Where the boys play football. And they steal it. Just roll around laughing. And it floats in the air. But I'm strong, comrade.

Arthur, let's just fucking do it.

Arthur Shelby

Liar.

It's me that's due a beating. But it's me who feels sorry for you, Mr Shelby, because you take your beating every hour of every day. Your own blood betrays you because it demands dilution. Sometimes you want to cut a doorway in your arm so your blood can escape and leave you to blessed peace. Yeah.

Arthur Shelby

Fuck you man.

I was once where you are now, Arthur. If you're going to do it, do it. But look at me as a man you can be. You've tried Jesus, yeah? Yeah he looked you up and down and he shook his head. Your loved ones. Your wife. Your kids. Jesus and your wife and your kids can't help you. Only you, Arthur Shelby. Only you. Don't count the days. Futile. You get to a hundred and then you wake up and its fucking one again. No, don't build mountains, walk like it's a flat plain. Easy step, by easy step. [Isiah punches him]

Arthur just give me the fucking word and I'll fucking do it!

He's your stick, Arthur. Give him the order.

Arthur, I'm not gonna ask you fucking twice!

Arthur Shelby

Isiah, leave him alone.

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.

Arthur Shelby

Her name was Elizabeth Gray. She was my Aunt Polly. My Aunt Polly.

Vengeance is for the Lord--. (Arthur shoots her).

Arthur Shelby

Not in Small Heath, it ain't. Rest in peace, Pol.