Brother Mouzone quotes from The Wire

Brother Mouzone

[to Cheese, after shooting him] Pellets in plastic. Rat shot. What you need to be concerned about is what's seated in the chamber now: a copper-jacketed, hollow point 120-grain hot street load of my own creation. So you need to think for just a moment and ask yourself: what do I have to do before this man raise up his gun again?

Brother Mouzone

[to Avon, leading Avon to give up Stringer] What got you here is your word and your reputation. With that alone, you've still got an open line to New York. Without it, you're done.

Brother Mouzone

Lamar, where's my Harper's?

Say wha'?

Brother Mouzone

Harper's. The new issue.

You didn't say that one. You said The New Republic, and Atlantic, and a new somethin' else.

Brother Mouzone

I did not forget to tell you Harper's. Every week I tell you the same shit, and every week you forget half of what I say.

Avon

You look healthy.

Brother Mouzone

For a man who was gutshot. You reached out to a third party, who engaged me in the purpose of holding your towers. That third person's word was your word, as he represented you.

Avon

That's right.

Brother Mouzone

And I ran those east Baltimore gentlemen off. I held up my end of the agreement... at least, for as long as I as physically able.

Avon

You did.

Brother Mouzone

Your man then set up a meet at Butchie's bar. Your man told Omar Little that I was responsible for the torture of a young boy who was close to Mr. Little's heart. Your man, in effect, sought to have me hit.

Avon

Omar told you that and you believe that motherfucker?

Brother Mouzone

He doesn't strike me as a man who tells stories - even at the point of dying.

Avon

[muttering] Shit... Proposition Joe, package-

Brother Mouzone

The inner workings of your organization don't concern me.

Avon

If there's a way- I mean, if my man... if he made a mistake here, then I'm willing to pay the cost.

Avon

How can we fix it? You want money?

Brother Mouzone

Money?

Avon

Yeah. This is business.

Brother Mouzone

Business is where you are now, but what got you here is your word and your reputation. With that alone, you've still got an open line to New York. Without it? You're done.