Most-quoted character in The Penguin: in 46 of its 88 quotes Most scenes with: Vic Aguilar (12), Sofia Falcone (8), Francis (5)
Scenes with Oz 31
AAlberto
I dunno, man. You think I could be as good as him? Get his kinda respect?
Oz
Your father? Sure, boss. If you want. But there are different kinds of power. When I was a kid, there was a gangster, real old-school type. Rex Calabrese. He was a big deal, at least in my neighborhood. He helped people. If someone in your family was sick, he'd find you a doctor. Short on rent, front you the cash. Knew everyone's names, too. I dunno how he kept 'em all in his head, but he saw you on the street, he'd call out to you, ask how you were. Felt like he meant it, too. When I'm fourteen or something, he has a heart attack and dies, still holding his cigar. In my neighborhood, they threw a parade in his honor. A friggin parade. I mean, it wasn't fancy, but it was the gesture. The show of love, of what he meant. Can you imagine? To be remembered like that? Revered?
AAlberto
What is this? You want me to be like some small-time asshole?
Oz
Nah, that ain't what...
AAlberto
For what? Would that make it easier for you to take what's mine? Or is this you? What you want?
Oz
No.
AAlberto
Holy shit, it is! This is your dream. It's so sweet, too! And so pathetic. You really think people would make a float of your dumb face and march it down the street chanting your goddamn name? "Oh, oh, Oswald Cobb! Remember him? What a guy!" What a little bitch.
Jesus, Vic, relax! We just put the Maronis back on the map. If Sal's got a problem with that, then... fuck him. I don't need him. I don't need any of 'em. From here on out, there's no more playing it safe. Drops are yesterday's game. I'm gonna get whatever the hell's in that shipment, I'm gonna run this goddamn city, and I want you in on it.
Fuckin' desperate. You are scrambling for whatever dignity you have left, and you're hoping I will save you. Not gonna happen. I don't owe you a fuckin' thing.
We didn't have a service for my brothers. My Ma said she didn't wanna deal with the pity. Well, my Ma, she, uh... She didn't get out of bed, y'know, for weeks. Maybe a month. I tried all kinds of shit to get her up and going, but... Y'know, nothing took. Then, one night, out of the blue, she came to me, she was all dolled up. She goes, "Oswald, we're going out," she says. I was fuckin' thrilled. She took me to a jazz club on the east side. Monroe's. Yeah, it was the first time I ever heard live music. Whoa! And we danced all night.
It's what we did. How we celebrated 'em, you know? Jack and Benny. They would've fuckin' loved it, too. Anyway, after that, y'know, she started getting out of bed, she went back to work, she took care of me...
I'd like to think it was me, but I don't know. She died a few years back. I never asked. Shit like this, the pain of it, you gotta be careful. 'Cause it'll eat you alive if you let it. It's a hell of a lot more fun to dance.
[after forcing Vic to lay down with Ermad and Castillo's bodies] How does it feel, Vic, huh? Nah- hey, hey, don't close your eyes, look at them, remember, this is what happens when you choke, you understand!? That's a one-way street, Vic! You know how close I got to get popped tonight!? 'Cause you fucked up!? Then I gotta plant the blade and the jewels, a lotta work for me, Vic! A lotta work!
You know what? Fuck apologizing. You wanna survive? You gotta adapt. You gotta respond to the environment of the situation! You gotta think on your feet! You gotta be quick! Otherwise, this is what happens! Whatever Carmine threw at me, I delivered on, every goddamn time! You get what I'm saying?
We were gonna run the family together. But 'Berto was taken from me. And I refuse to let these old fuckin' men to push me aside again like I'm nothing, so I'm gonna take from them now. And I'm gonna force them to their knees. This should be fun. What do you say, Oz? You in?
I gave you clothes, money, a place to crash. You got all the opportunity in the world right fuckin' here, for chrissake! But this? This is all you feel? You could've left whenever you wanted. But you chose to stay. How 'bout you ask yourself why?
You wanna know what's shameful, Vic? Working your whole goddamn life, having nothing to show for it. You still think there's... good, bad? Right and wrong? There ain't. There's just this. Survival. Security, pleasure. They don't give out awards for dying in the projects.
Fuck me?! FUCK THE GODDAMN WORLD! They don't give a shit about you, or your family! You think you're nothing. You are nothing 'til the day you die. I thought you were smart, but that's the life you want. Guess what, Vic? Good news! You already got it. So go, get the fuck out of here. You don't deserve this.
And I'm not the Hangman! You see the way people look at me, right? I know you do. And what was it all for, hm? For what? So you could what? Become a capo? You're not even a made man... [throws her cigarette out]
Oz
Yeah, you're right. I ain't. I still made out like a goddamn bandit, and you know what? It was worth it. You asked, that's my fucking answer. I got the club, a Drops operation to run, my own thing. [almost sobbing] A guy like me, gettin' all that? That don't mean nothing to you, maybe, but it does to me. Meant I could have a better life. So yeah, yeah. I don't regret what I got.
Yeah, wow, but I'm sorry! I'm fuckin' sorry for everything that's happened to you. Jesus, you meant something to me. Still do. And I fucked it up. And that, I ain't never gonna live down.
Well, he ran my neighborhood when I was a kid. Had this, uh, gold Cadillac, white leather seats. It was beautiful. When it rolled down your street, I mean... Felt like your block was blessed. Rex's ride, it wasn't just a car, it was a fuckin' chariot. Made a kid with a bum leg felt like even he could be king. The end of an era.
The Penguin · 88 quotes
Oz
