Jimmy McNulty quotes from The Wire

McNulty

This is just us talking right? Just you, me, my partner and... what did you say your name was?

Bodie

I didn't say shit.

McNulty

Just you, me, my partner and Mr. Shit here.

McNulty

[after Sydnor comes out in disguise] Where's ya' mic?

Down at my dick man. I figured they ain't gonna go down there anyway right?

Carver

I don't know Sydnor, the way you twirlin' around, it might be the first place they look.

Pearlman

[after having sex] You're an asshole McNulty.

McNulty

What the fuck did I do?

Daniels

Motherfucker, why didn't you call in sick?

McNulty

I'm not sick.

Daniels

Yeah, you are. Write me up a 95 on why you are physically unable to participate in today's activities.

McNulty

You want me to lie so you can save face?

Daniels

Go on. "I can't jump off with the rest of my unit because my tummy hurts."

Pearlman

Let me understand. You're married and a date is a room at the Best Western with the blinds closed. Now you're single, and a date is you coming over unannounced to learn the legal requisites for a pager intercept.

McNulty

Pretty much.

McNulty

I'm not going.

Daniels

You're insubordinate?

McNulty

I'm not jumping out on something I believe's going to harm the case. You want to write me up on that, you can.

Daniels

You think I want this? I got the Deputy Ops on my ass for this shit! Now I got you showing me up in front of the whole damn detail!

McNulty

I don't mean to show anyone up.

Daniels

Get your vest on.

McNulty

No. I've got police work to do.

Daniels

Motherfucker, if you felt this way, why didn't you call in sick?

McNulty

I'm not sick.

Daniels

Yeah, you are. Write me up a 95 on why you are physically unable to participate in today's activities.

McNulty

You want me to lie so you can save face?

Daniels

Go on. "I can't jump off with the rest of my unit because my tummy hurts."

McNulty

I'm late for soccer practice.

Bubbles

Suck what?

McNulty

How long you been in the pawn shop unit?

Freamon

Thirteen years and four months.

McNulty

Thirteen years?

Freamon

And four months.

McNulty

I gotta ask you, what exactly does a police officer assigned to the pawn shop unit do?

Freamon

You intake reports from registered pawn shops on all items valued over $50. Then you make an index card for that item. Then you file that index card. If someone wants to find out if something stolen has been pawned, we look to see if we have an index card. If we do, we do. If we don't, we don't.

McNulty

You did that for thirteen years?

Freamon

And four months.

McNulty

Why'd you ask out of homicide?

Freamon

Wasn't no ask about it.

McNulty

You got the boot?

Freamon

Uh-huh.

McNulty

What'd you do to piss 'em off?

Freamon

Police work.

McNulty

I think I need to buy you a drink.

Freamon

Just one?

McNulty

So what did you do?

Freamon

What do you think I did? I charged him with receivin', then had his ass testify.

McNulty

Well, you coulda made the case without him. Just on the prints and the statement.

Freamon

Probably. Yep.

McNulty

Why didn't you?

Freamon

Why? [he gives McNulty a knowing look] Why are you fuckin' up yourself chasin' Avon Barksdale?

Freamon

A week after the trial ends, the major comes to me and asks me where I wanna go. I told him, I don't care, I like to be outside, you know? Gimme a goddamn foot post, I'll still make my money, you know? Send my ass up to Edmondson Avenue, I don't give a shit.

McNulty

You went to a foot post?

Freamon

No, major come back and asked me where I don't wanna go. And he asked like he wanna make sure I land okay. So, I tell him, I don't want no fuckin' paper-shufflin'. No office shit. Send my black ass outside and let me police somewhere.

McNulty

[laughs] Pawn shop unit.

Freamon

Mm-hmm. They got me good, huh?

McNulty

So why'd they let you out of the box? Why now?

Freamon

I guess they just forgot about me.

McNulty

[laughs] Shit, Lester. You're back from the dead. You rolled away the stone. Bunk Moreland says you're natural police. One of the few.

Freamon

[sighs] Yeah, I've had my moments. Detective... when they ask you where you wanna go - and they are gonna ask you where you wanna go - do yourself a favor. Keep your mouth shut.

McNulty

[on their way to see Major Rawls] What the fuck can I tell him?

Landsman

Whatever the man wants to hear, Jimmy. Whatever he wants to hear.

Daniels

The murder warrant's on hold. The deputy gave us another month. Also, whoever that was you brought in here today gave himself up as an eyewitness in the Gant murder.

McNulty

Who, Omar?

Daniels

And Greggs said to tell you she'd write it up in the morning.

McNulty

Lieutenant - thanks.

Freamon

It cost you?

McNulty

You know why I respect you so much, Bunk?

Bunk

Mm-mmm.

McNulty

It's not 'cause you're good police, 'cause, y'know, fuck that, right?

Bunk

Mm. Fuck that, yeah.

McNulty

It's not 'cause when I came to homicide, you taught me all kinds of cool shit about . . . well, whatever.

Bunk

Mm. Whatever.

McNulty

It's 'cause when it came time for you to fuck me . . . you were very gentle.

Bunk

You damn right.

McNulty

See, 'cause you could have hauled me out of the garage and just bent me over the hood of a radio car, and . . . no, you were, you were very gentle.

Bunk

I knew it was your first time. I wanted to make that shit special.

McNulty

It was, man. It fucking was.

McNulty

Lester, are we still cops?

Freamon

Technically, I suppose so.

McNulty

OK, I was just checking.

McNulty

Hey, what the fuck? Let me guess, the Deputy? How's he got onto this so quick?

Daniels

I told him.

McNulty

You told him? Why would you be fucking telling him?

Daniels

He's the Deputy for Operations, and I just jacked up an aide to a state senator. How do I not tell him?

McNulty

Yeah, Lieutenant, if you've noticed, there hasn't been a complaint so far from the senator. And you know why? Because what the fuck is his driver doing coming out of the high-rises carrying that kind of money?

Daniels

That's what I told the Deputy.

McNulty

Yeah, and what did he say? We should mind our own business? Fucking give the man back his money and go the fuck away?

Daniels

Pretty much. Except he said a few things for my benefit, too. Like how I had shit all over him. Like how he was shutting us down at the end of this week.

McNulty

The fuck he is.

Daniels

We're done. I go past Friday, and I'm buried. He told me that.

McNulty

He's gonna bury you? For what? You're doing your fucking job.

Daniels

You think the job is going to save me? You think it's going to save you? Chain of command, Detective. That's all I got from the Deputy today.

McNulty

Chain of command? Well, did you tell your major about the senator's driver? Did you tell the Colonel? No? Then where's your fucking chain of command?! What's the shift lieutenant doing going up the back stairs to the Deputy Ops?!

Daniels

What are you saying?

McNulty

Nothing.

Daniels

Goddamn right.

McNulty

Why, he got something on you? You say you got the Deputy's ear. What the fuck's he got on you?

Daniels

Only rank, Detective.

McNulty, I hold you in contempt.

McNulty

Who doesn't?