Amelia Reardon quotes from True Detective

Amelia Reardon

What is love? One name for it is knowledge.

Amelia Reardon

I'll take the hard truth over a nice lie any day.

Amelia Reardon

What if there's another story? What if something went unbroken? All this life, all this loss - what if it's really one long story that kept going and going until it healed itself? Wouldn't that be a story worth telling? Wouldn't that be a story worth hearing?

Amelia Reardon

The boys couldn't stop telling me stuff. I was pretty tremendous. I think I have a future at this. [sees him reading her book] You're reading it! Finally.

Wayne Hays

Yeah, I read it. Kept seeing my name. [pause] Are you drunk?

Amelia Reardon

No! I had a drink at dinner. This detective took me out to eat.

Wayne Hays

Ah. Terrific.

Amelia Reardon

I got a lot of info from him. Listen, her fingerprints were found just in the cosmetics aisle. Looks like she was probably a customer. They have the prior week's surveillance footage. I think they're going to let me look at it.

Wayne Hays

[angry but controlled] I didn't get any of the shit you wanted at Wal-Mart.

Amelia Reardon

[confused] OK... did something happen? Are the kids alright?

Wayne Hays

The kids are fine.

Wayne Hays

I'm fine. But one thing? One favor? [throws the book across the room] Do not come bouncing in here, half in the bag, all giddy about this shit, alright? Can you do that? Can you summon the mental resolve to shut up about this shit with me?

Amelia Reardon

If you feel this way, you don't have to talk to me like that. You can just tell me.

Wayne Hays

You've been told. Now, why don't you check on your kids, since you haven't seen them all day. They're supposed to be in bed.

Amelia Reardon

Fuck off! I'm with them five times the amount you are for a job that treats you like shit!

Wayne Hays

I don't really feel like trading curses. I said my piece.

Amelia Reardon

I'm not gonna stop, Wayne. [leaves]

Wayne Hays

How much do I have to lose?

Amelia Reardon

Everything. Same as everyone else.

Wayne Hays

Do not talk talk shit in my face and walk away!

Amelia Reardon

I don't wanna be around you right now.

Wayne Hays

You want me to leave you alone, then stop talkin' shit! Because when you talk shit about me, I'm required to defend myself.

Amelia Reardon

How can you defend yourself? You can't defend yourself because you don't know what's wrong.

Wayne Hays

Does the wife in your scenario play any part in the conflict? Any role in the last 10 years?

Amelia Reardon

Let go of me!

Wayne Hays

Stop talkin' shit about me!

Amelia Reardon

Or what?

Wayne Hays

[pause] Or I'm gonna start crying.

Amelia Reardon

[disdainful] That's a first.

Wayne Hays

Think we can't understand each other, we're never gonna! [turns to leave]

Amelia Reardon

Oh, great, Wayne. Walk away. Surprise, surprise.

Wayne Hays

What do you want me to do, huh? You want to yell some more? You want me to hit you, you want me to fuck you? Just give me my orders, major!

Amelia Reardon

I wanna finish this!

Wayne Hays

All on your schedule, I guess! Be happy when you say, fight when you say, talk when you say, fuck every so often.

Amelia Reardon

[pause] How about right now?

Wayne Hays

What?

Amelia Reardon

[removing her panties] How about right now?

Wayne Hays

[confused but turned on] You got some major cognitive dissonance.

Wayne Hays

I found the spot they played in the woods. They were meeting somebody, the kids, out there. Somebody gave them toys. It's where the boy died.

Amelia Reardon

The way Will's body was... how he saved the toys... It's almost as if there was an element of affection in it, don't you think?

Wayne Hays

People who hurt kids think of themselves as having an affection for the children... even up to the "fuck 'em and murder 'em" part.

Amelia Reardon

You ever think of moving to town?

Why would I do that? Somebody's got to stay. Somebody's got to remember.

Amelia Reardon

Have you ever read In Cold Blood?

Wayne Hays

Is that Batman or the Silver Surfer?

Wayne Hays

They'll tank the case again, same as '80. I oughta quit.

Amelia Reardon

I thought you should quit for 10 years.

Wayne Hays

Why?

Amelia Reardon

Why? Why wouldn't I want you to quit? I don't think you realize this Wayne: You could have been good at just about anything. But what you think you are made you stuck.

Wayne Hays

I done pulled my head outta my ass in regards to you. Maybe you didn't mean it all the way, maybe it just happened, but you was workin' me. Always askin' questions, always talkin' about the case...

Amelia Reardon

That's not what I did. You know that's not what I did.

Wayne Hays

No I don't! But I just about decided that you don't really know what you're up to most of the time, do you? Bein' a good-lookin' woman like you are, I mean, people don't really expedct you to take responsibility. You're just like a pretty bird, flyin' around and shittin' on people's heads. Well, I don't need one of them! I was doin' real good without no head-shittin' birds around here!