Once Upon a Time in America 1983 - Movie Quotes

Noodles [to Deborah] There were two things I couldn't get out of my mind. One was Dominic, the way he said, "I slipped," just before he died. The other was you. How you used to read me your Song of Songs, remember? "How beautiful are your feet / In sandals, O prince's daughter." I used to read the Bible every night. Every night I used to think about you. "Your navel is a bowl / Well-rounded with no lack of wine / Your belly, a heap of wheat / Surrounded with lilies / Your breasts / Clusters of grapes / Your breath, sweet-scented as apples." Nobody's gonna love you the way I loved you. There were times I couldn't stand it any more. I used to think of you. I'd think, "Deborah lives. She's out there. She exists." And that would get me through it all. You know how important that was to me?

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

[last words]

Dominic [shot by Bugsy] Noodles... I slip... ped.

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

[last lines]

Secretary Bailey [checking his pocket watch] It's 10:25. And I've got nothing left to lose. When you've been betrayed by a friend, you hit back. Do it.

[Noodles is still and silent for a long time]

Noodles You see, Mr Secretary... I have a story also, a little simpler than yours. Many years ago, I had a friend, a dear friend. I turned him in to save his life, but he was killed. But he wanted it that way. It was a great friendship. But it went bad for him, and it went bad for me too. Good night, Mr Bailey.

[He looks at the man in front of him for the last time]

Noodles I hope the investigation turns out to be nothing. It'd be a shame to see a lifetime of work go to waste.

[He leaves, with Max looking after him with remorse and sorrow]

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Young Deborah [to Noodles, reading the Torah] "My beloved is white and ruddy. His skin is as the most fine gold. His cheeks are as a bed of spices." Even though he hasn't washed since last December. "His eyes are as the eyes of doves. His body is as bright ivory. His legs are as pillars of marble." In pants so dirty they stand by themselves. "He is altogether lovable." But he'll always be a two-bit punk... so he'll never be my beloved. What a shame.

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Deborah Gelly Age can wither me, Noodles. We're both getting old. All that we have left now are our memories. If you go to that party on Saturday night, you won't have those anymore. Tear up that invitation.

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Noodles How's your sister?

Fat Moe I ain't seen her for years. She's a big star now.

Noodles We should have known, huh? You can always tell the winners at the starting gate. You can always tell the winners, and you can tell the losers.

[looks at Moe]

Noodles Who would've put a penny on you?

Fat Moe I'd have put everything I ever had on you.

Noodles Yeah, and you would've lost.

Fat Moe Well, you're beat. Good night.

Noodles Good night, Moe. Thanks.

Fat Moe What have you been doing all these years?

Noodles I've been going to bed early.

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Deborah Gelly There's an exit back this way. Noodles, go through it. Keep walking. Don't turn around. Please, Noodles, I'm begging you, please.

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Noodles It's true I have killed people, Mr. Bailey. Sometimes to defend myself, sometimes for money. And many people used to come to us. Business partners, rivals, lovers. Some of the jobs we took, and some we didn't. Yours is one we would never touch, Mr Bailey.

Max Is this your idea of revenge?

Noodles No. It's just the way I see things.

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

[Deborah cleans up the bar while the rest of the family is out. Noodles walks in]

Young Deborah What are you doing?

Young Noodles Give me a drink.

Young Deborah We're closed. Nice people don't drink on Pesach, they go to the synagogue.

Young Noodles So what are YOU doing here?

Young Deborah Somebody's got to keep an eye on the place. There are a lot of thieves out there. One could get into your house.

Young Noodles Especially if you leave the door open.

Young Deborah You can pray here too. Here or in the synagogue, to God it's the same difference. Come over here and sit down...

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Max You'll be carrying the stink of the streets with you for the rest of your life!

Noodles I like the stink of the streets. It makes me feel good. And I like the smell of it, it opens up my lungs. And it gives me a hard-on.

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Deborah Gelly You dancing?

Noodles You asking?

Deborah Gelly I'm asking.

Noodles I'm dancing.

[they dance]

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

[after Joe is executed]

Max You okay?

Noodles How come you didn't tell me?

Max Being inside can change you. I'd already made the deal with Frankie to get rid of Joe. With a man like Frankie Minaldi you don't say yes, and then no. I could not take the chance that you'd change your mind. You understand.

Noodles You're right. I would have said no.

Max Frankie is as big as they come. He's got the Combination in his hand.

Noodles If we're not careful, he'll have us in his hand.

Max You don't get nowhere alone.

Noodles I thought you didn't like bosses. It sounded like a good idea then. It still is.

Max Let's just think about it, Noodles. They're gonna ask us to come in with them. There's a lot in it for us...

Noodles Today they asked us to get rid of Joe, tomorrow they ask me to get rid of you. Is that okay with you? 'Cause it's not okay with me!

Max All right! let's just forget about it...

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

[In 1968, Noodles meets a familiar figure in heavy make-up...]

Noodles Hello, Deborah.

[For a long time, Deborah is silent and still]

Noodles Aren't you gonna say anything?

Deborah Gelly What is someone supposed to say after... after more than thirty years?

Noodles Well, how about "How're you doing? You look good." Or, "I was hoping I'd never see you again."

Deborah Gelly I never thought I would. There's a difference.

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Noodles Why'd you ask me to come here, Mr. Bailey?

Secretary Bailey That invitation doesn't mean a goddamn thing, and you know it. All that counts is what was in that suitcase: the money and the contract.

Noodles It didn't say who the contract was on, though.

Secretary Bailey Haven't you figured that out yet?

Noodles You, Mr. Bailey? I haven't had a gun in my hand for many, many years. My eyes aren't too good, even with my glasses. My hands shake. And I wouldn't want to miss, Mr Bailey.

Secretary Bailey Cut the bullshit, Noodles, I'm already a dead man! At least give me the chance to settle the debt that I owe to you! I'll never make it before the investigating committee...

[indicates the people at his party]

Secretary Bailey They're scared I'll implicate the whole bunch of 'em, they gotta get rid of me. Today is as good a day as any. You do it, Noodles. You're the only person I can accept it from. You see, I found out where you were. I brought you back here for this, to even the score between you and me.

[points to a side door]

Secretary Bailey You can get out through there. It leads right down to the street. Nobody will see you.

Noodles I don't know what you're talking about. You don't owe me a thing.

Secretary Bailey Your eyes were too full of tears to see it wasn't me burned up on that street. It was somebody else. You were too shocked to realize that the cops were in on it too. That was a Syndicate operation, Noodles.

Noodles You're crazy...

Secretary Bailey You said that to me once before, a long time ago. But my mind was never as clear as it was at that moment. I took away your whole life from you. I've been living in your place. I took everything. I took your money, I took your girl. All I left for you was 35 years of grief over having killed me. Now why don't you shoot?

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

[In 1932, Noodles takes Deborah out to dinner]

Deborah Gelly Been waiting long?

Noodles All my life.

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Young Patsy Hey, stop by for you later!

Young Noodles Yeah, but knock here on the john first! My old man's praying, and my old lady's crying, and the light's turned off. What the hell should I go home for? At least in here I can read...

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Frankie Minaldi Hey, Joe, tell these guys the story about the pussy being insured. What is it? Tell these guys how you stumbled on this whole thing. Tell them the story. Come on. Pussy insurance, the insurance pussies. Tell them that story.

Joe Minaldi Life is stranger than shit, that's all. It's a pisser. No big story. I got this insurance agent, this Jew kid named David. He conned me into every policy in the world. Every policy, name it, dogs, house, wife, life, anything. I'm drinking with the boys one night. He comes in with his wife, a brunette with a nice ass who works for a jeweller. And he's still on the hustle, this guy. So I wink at the guys, I say, "Look... the most serious policy, you don't have me covered for." He goes, "What's that, Joe?" "Cock insurance. You make me a policy that when it don't work, I get a payment. I'll write out a check now." He thinks, and he says, "I don't know if the actuality gauges govern this... but we can make a policy. But you gotta guarantee you're in good health now." I says, "Look, leave her with me. Come back and see if it stands up. If it stands up, you know I'm in good health." The jerk leaves her. I screw her. Not only that, she likes it. And she tells me when her boss, the jeweller is shipping stones to Holland, where he keeps his stash - in a drawer in the safe - everything! Can't ask for more, right? Except, one better. I never paid the first premium on the new cock policy.

Max [laughing] Cock insurance...

Joe Minaldi Life is funnier than shit. But... be easy with the girl. I mean that. Be easy with the girl.

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Young Noodles You'll put up, and you'll shut up! You hear nothing, and you see nothing! Just like you did for Bugsy!

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Deborah Gelly Noodles... you're the only person that I have ever...

Noodles Ever what?

Noodles Go ahead, ever what?

Deborah Gelly ...that I ever cared about. But you'd lock me up and throw away the key, wouldn't you?

Noodles Yeah. Yeah, I guess so.

Deborah Gelly Yeah... and the thing is, I probably wouldn't even mind.

Noodles So?

Deborah Gelly So... I got to get to where I'm going.

Noodles And where's that?

Deborah Gelly To the top.

Noodles Now you sound just like Maxie. You's both alike, that's why you hate each other.

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

[In 1931, Max picks up a just-released Noodles in a hearse]

Max We got a rush job. Here. Come here, look at this. Come here.

[gestures to the back of the hearse]

Max Sudden death. Fucking tragedy, huh? 26 years old.

Noodles 26? What a shame!

Max Great stiff. She died of an overdose.

Girl in Coffin [sitting up] And I'm ready for another!

Max [pushes Noodles into the hearse] Pump the life into her! You didn't turn pansy in there, did you?... There you go!

[Max starts the hearse and looks at some people surprised at the noises coming from the hearse]

Max Turning over in the grave, they do it every time...!

[the hearse parks in front of Fat Moe's diner at night]

Girl in Coffin [exhausted] Don't worry. A pansy he ain't.

Noodles Thanks.

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Joe Minaldi [inspecting diamonds through a loupe] Any trouble?

Patrick 'Patsy' Goldberg No trouble. Kid stuff.

[Pulls out a gun and shoots Joe in the eye through the loupe]

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Noodles What does Bailey want from me?

Deborah Gelly You came to ask me that?

Noodles Why'd he send me an invitation?

Deborah Gelly I don't know! I don't know! I don't know! Why should I know about your invitations? What do you want? Why did you come here? I know nothing! I know nothing!

Noodles Now you're a lousy actress...

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Noodles I always thought you might have helped yourself to that million bucks. But now I know. Yeah, you're on your ass worse than ever.

Fat Moe But I thought it was you who...

Noodles No, you thought wrong. The suitcase was empty.

Fat Moe Then who took it?

Noodles That's what I've been asking myself for 35 years.

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

[Noodles gives Moe a letter to read]

Fat Moe Who's Robert Williams?

Noodles I am.

Fat Moe [reading] "We wish to inform you that following the sale of the Beth Israel Cemetery..." The synagogue sent these out if you wanted to relocate your loved ones. I got the same letter on account of my father.

Noodles Only the synagogue didn't send that. I got that last week, and the rabbi told me he sent those out about eight months ago.

Fat Moe Yeah, that's right. That's about when I got mine. So... what else did the rabbi say?

Noodles He said I was lucky. The bodies of... Philip Stein, Maximilian Bercovicz, Patrick Goldberg... were already spoken for. And they were up in a very fancy cemetery in Riverdale.

Fat Moe What's this all mean?

Noodles It means, "Noodles, though you've been hiding in the asshole of the world, we found you. We know where you are." It means, "Get ready."

Fat Moe For what?

Noodles That's the one thing it didn't say.

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Frankie Minaldi [introducing the gang to Joe] Here they are, "The Four Horsemen Of The Apocalypse"! Did you happen to see that movie, Joe? It's a good movie.

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

[after switching Aiello's baby boy]

Max So?

Noodles We got a deal.

Max To a very smooth talker.

[the gang cheers]

Noodles Where's that switch list?

Patrick 'Patsy' Goldberg The switch list?

Noodles Yeah.

Patrick 'Patsy' Goldberg I can't find it.

Max What?

Patrick 'Patsy' Goldberg I can't find it!

Noodles What'd you do with it?

Patrick 'Patsy' Goldberg I think I dumped it.

Max What a yutz!

Noodles Oh, Pat...

Patrick 'Patsy' Goldberg Wait a minute, listen... Listen, Noodles. Noodles, wait, I remember... the boys' numbers was odd... even! And the girls' was odd!

Philip 'Cockeye' Stein [sardonic] You took good stock.

Noodles Hey, let's give him an even number. Eight... let's pick an eight.

Patrick 'Patsy' Goldberg Eight... yeah, it's a good number.

Philip 'Cockeye' Stein Wait, what about the other pischers?

Max We're better than fate. Some we give the good life, others we give it up the ass.

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Young Max From here on, we establish the shared funds of the gang. They belong to all of us together, and to none of us alone. And we solemnly swear to put in 50 per cent of everything we make. Agreed?

Young Noodles Young Noodles, Young Cockeye, Young Patsy, Dominic: Agreed.

Dominic I wanna take another peek!

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

[Noodles is spying on Deborah as she dances]

Young Deborah Fats, you better spray the toilet! I saw a cockroach in there!

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

[about Max's Reserve Bank job]

Carol What chance is there that a crazy thing like this might succeed?

Noodles Don't ask me, ask Max.

Carol You know as well as I do that this is suicide, pure and simple, for everyone.

Noodles Yeah, well, don't tell me, tell him. You got your own methods.

Carol I tried. He doesn't want to screw anymore. All he thinks about is this job: tear gas, hostages... Now he's gonna do this, and he's gonna do it with or without you!

Carol Noodles, we've never liked each other. We put up with each other for Max. So why don't we get together once... and do something for him. And after that, we can go back to being enemies.

Carol You know... if you were all in jail first... there wouldn't be any bank job.

Carol I got the idea from your friend Max.

Noodles What do you mean?

Carol He laughs at you. He makes fun of you. He says Eve has got you by the balls. Every time you walk past this place, you shit in your pants. You'd do anything for the cops to pick you up, so you wouldn't have to do this. Well then, do it. Do it! Put him in jail. Put him in jail. Not long, just long enough so he can get the idea out of his mind. If you can't stand being away from him, put yourself there too. Better off than being dead. You know what to do. And if you don't, I will.

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Dominic Bugsy's coming! Run!

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

[as Deborah dances to a record of "Amapola", she catches Noodles spying on her in the bathroom]

Young Deborah Get down off of there, roach! That record's just like Ex-Lax - every time I put it on, you have to go to the bathroom!

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Noodles Well, at least you recognized me. That's something.

Deborah Gelly [sardonic] Actresses have good memories.

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Carol [looking at Noodles] Why don't we make it a threesome, huh?

Max Can't you see he's got other plans for tonight?

Carol Well, bring her along! We'll make it a foursome!

Noodles I'm not that kind of guy. Besides, I'm afraid if I give you a good crack in the mouth, you'd probably like it...

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Secretary Bailey Sit down, Noodles. Make yourself comfortable. I'm glad you accepted my invitation.

Noodles Well, I was curious. So many important people in one place...

Secretary Bailey Yes. Well, the rats usually desert a sinking ship. But in my case, they appear to be flocking on board.

Noodles Yeah, well, I read about your troubles in the newspapers. But a man in your position, with all your power and all your privileges, has to assume a certain amount of responsibility... a certain amount of risk.

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Carol Hit me!

Noodles What, are you crazy?

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Sgt. P. Halloran Sergeant Halloran. Hello. Who's speaking? Can I help you? Hello.

Noodles I got a good tip for you...

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Officer 'Fartface' Whitey Okay, boys, we're even...

Young Noodles The hell we are!

Young Max You'll be collecting your pension before we're even!

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Max Holy shit! Noodles! Noodles! Come here, come here. Look, the blond by the piano...

[points at Carol]

Noodles Who's that?

Max Who is that? You and this broad were practically engaged at one point!

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

[Chief Aiello's son is missing and he gets a call almost immediately]

Police Chief Aiello My son, where is he?

Noodles Where do you think? He's in the maternity ward. He never left. He got restless, so he wanted to change his bed. The other kids got the same idea, so they wanted to change their beds. You got thirty, forty screaming babies jumping from one bed to another, switching tags. So now we do have a real problem.

Police Chief Aiello Piece of shit, whoever you are! What the fuck? I want my son!

Noodles Luckily, we were there to see that everything was under control. If you want, we can put everything back. Except you gotta meet us halfway.

Police Chief Aiello Tell me!

Noodles Why do you give a fuck who wins the strike?

Police Chief Aiello That's got nothing to do with me!... What did I do?

Noodles First of all, you let the scabs in. Second, you've got the cops in there protecting them.

Police Chief Aiello I'm a cop!

Noodles All right, shut the fuck up! Now listen very carefully: call off your dogs and let the strikers work it out with the bosses.

Police Chief Aiello I want my son!

Noodles Do that, and we'll give you the kid's number. If you don't, look for your kid yourself. So what's it gonna be?

Police Chief Aiello Okay. I'll call my men off today.

Noodles Attaboy. You know, for a rotten bastard son of a bitch... you're not as stupid as I thought. We'll be in touch.

Police Chief Aiello When will you call?

Noodles Don't worry, don't worry, we'll be in touch with you. Bye.

[hangs up]

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

[Patsy meets Peggy]

Young Peggy What do you want?

Young Patsy Me?

Young Peggy Mama said you were looking for me.

Young Patsy No, the guys told me that...

[pause]

Young Patsy What?

Young Patsy I'll come back some other time...

[leaves post-haste]

Young Patsy Noodles! Noodles! Noodles! Noodles!

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

[watching a TV news broadcast about the Bailey Scandal in 1968]

Fat Moe Take the money and run, Noodles. What's keeping you here?

Noodles Curious...

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Noodles Let's go for a swim...

[accelerates the car down the pier]

Max All right, what are you doing?

Philip 'Cockeye' Stein Hey, Noodles... Don't fuck around, Noodles!

Max Noodles, what are you doing?

Patrick 'Patsy' Goldberg HEY! You crazy?

[Noodles drives the car off the pier into the water]

Max SHIT! ASSHOLE! I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU DID THIS!

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Noodles To keep from going crazy, you have to cut yourself off from the outside world, just not think about it. Yet there were years that went by. It seemed like... no time at all, because you're not doing anything.

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

[first lines]

[In 1933, three goons question a young woman about Noodles]

Beefy Where is he? Where's he hiding?

Eve I don't know... I've been looking for him since yesterday.

[second goon slaps her harshly; she falls onto the bed]

Beefy I'm gonna ask you for the last time: where is he?

Eve I don't know... what are you gonna do to him?

[second goon shoots her dead]

Beefy [to third goon] Stay here in case that rat shows up.

One of Beefy's Thugs Okay.

[turns off room light as others leave]

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

[Prohibition is repealed]

Noodles Hey, Maxie. Max! How much money we got put away?

Max Why?

Noodles Because we're unemployed.

Max About a million bucks.

Carol Oh, yeah? Where'd you put it?

Max In my underwear.

Carol I'd have found it there...

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

[Noodles meets Fat Moe after raping his sister Deborah]

Noodles You got any coffee around?

Fat Moe Yes.

Noodles Thanks.

[stirs coffee for 60 seconds]

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

[Noodles meets a young man, the spitting image of Max]

Deborah Gelly This is Secretary Bailey's son. His name is David, just like yours.

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Deborah Gelly I'm leaving tomorrow to go to Hollywood. I wanted to see you tonight to tell you.

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

[In 1931, Max greets Noodles, who has just gotten out after 10 years in prison]

Max Can I take that for you, sir? Your limousine is waiting.

[takes Noodles' bag]

Noodles Maxie...

Max You're looking good.

Noodles You're looking a little better.

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Noodles I'm not interested in friends from those places, and I don't trust politicians!

Max You're still acting like a street schmuck! You know, if we'd listened to you, we'd still be rolling out drunks for a living!

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Young Peggy [to Noodles] Bring me a charlotte russe, and then you can do anything you like...

[cut to Patsy buying a charlotte russe for Peggy]

Young Patsy That one. With the cream.

Young 'Fat' Moe The five-cent one?

Young Patsy Yeah. For the two-penny one she only gives you a hand job, I can do that myself.

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Police Chief Aiello I'm the chief of police, not the chief of the people.

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Bugsy [Bugsy and his gang have beaten Noodles and Max] You don't work for me, you don't work for no-one!

Young Max I don't like bosses.

Bugsy You'd be better off you stayed in the Bronx.

Young Max Woulda been better for *you*, too!

[Bugsy spits on him, and he and his gang walk off]

Young Max I'm gonna kill him one of these days...

Young Noodles Yeah? Meanwhile, it looks like he killed US!

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Patrick 'Patsy' Goldberg Hey, Noodles, get a load of this... Hey, scotch heating!

Philip 'Cockeye' Stein Yeah, a buck a cup.

Noodles A buck a cup?

Max Yeah!

Noodles How much's it cost us?

Max Costing us? A dime, including overhead!

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Fat Moe When did you get back?

Noodles Today.

Fat Moe Why?

Noodles They got in touch with me.

Fat Moe Who?

Noodles I thought you might know.

Fat Moe Me? I don't know nothin' 'bout nobody no more.

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Deborah Gelly Why do you want to see me?

Noodles Two reasons. I wanted to see if you did the right thing, turning me down to be an actress.

Deborah Gelly Well?

Noodles You did. You're terrific.

[Disregarding the wrinkles on Deborah's face, Noodles gazes at a theatre poster of "Anthony and Cleopatra," which Deborah had just acted in]

Noodles "Age cannot wither her..." It's like the play was written for you.

Deborah Gelly What was the other reason?

Noodles The other reason is... to decide whether I should go to a party tomorrow night.

[Deborah is slightly amused by this answer]

Deborah Gelly A party?

Noodles Yeah, on Long Island. A Secretary Bailey.

[Deborah gives a slight but unmistakeable start]

Deborah Gelly Do you know Secretary Bailey?

Noodles No, but I was invited anyway.

Deborah Gelly If you don't know each other, why were you invited?

Noodles I don't know. I thought you might know why.

Deborah Gelly Me? Why me?

[Noodles gets up and walks over to Deborah]

Noodles Because you know him.

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Noodles Who is Secretary Bailey?

Deborah Gelly Secretary Bailey is a rich businessman. He came to the United States as an immigrant and made a lot of money in San Francisco and L.A., where he's lived for 30 years.

Noodles I know all that, it's all in the papers. What else is there?

Deborah Gelly He married a very wealthy woman, they had a child. She died when the child was born. A few years ago he went into politics, moved here.

Noodles That's history, I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about now.

Deborah Gelly Right now he's in trouble.

Noodles Just say you've been living with him all these years. And that you're his lover.

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

[In 1968, Noodles notices a picture]

Noodles What is this?

Carol Opening night. Fifteen years ago.

Noodles [pointing at a familiar person in the picture] Who's this?

Carol Patron saint of the place. Some actress.

Noodles Do you know her?

Carol No.

[the woman is unquestionably and without a doubt Deborah]

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Patrick 'Patsy' Goldberg You know what? You know, I wish I was switched when I was a kid.

Noodles What makes you think you weren't?

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

[Noodles finds Fat Moe tied up]

Fat Moe Noodles. Noodles. Noodles. Untie me!

Noodles Stay that way. No, stay. I want them to know I did it.

Fat Moe Where you going?

Noodles I'm gonna go get Eve.

Fat Moe Don't.

Noodles Why?

Fat Moe They... they already been there.

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

[a romantic moment between Noodles and Deborah is interrupted]

Young Deborah Somebody's there!

Young Noodles There ain't nobody. It's Max.

Young Deborah So that's who it was...

Young Max Noodles!

Young Deborah [smiling maliciously] Go on, run. Your mother's calling you.

Young Max Noodles!

Young Noodles Just gonna go see what he wants...

[leaves]

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Young Noodles Who're YOU calling a cockroach?

Young Deborah So what are you? You're filthy! You make me sick! You crawl up toilet walls just like a roach! So what are you?

[Noodles grabs Deborah]

Young Deborah Let go!

Young Noodles I make you sick, huh? Then how come you showed me your tush?

Young Deborah To a roach! Go look at yourself, David Aaronson!

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Patrick 'Patsy' Goldberg Let's talk to her...

[the gang chats up Carol]

Patrick 'Patsy' Goldberg So you left Detroit, huh?

Peggy Her and her husband just come in on weekends.

Philip 'Cockeye' Stein Yeah. Beats the seashore.

Peggy She takes on guys while her hubby watches through the peephole.

Philip 'Cockeye' Stein Beats the hell out of the movies!

Patrick 'Patsy' Goldberg I wonder what that jerk is up to in his cubbyhole?

Noodles He must be wondering "Where is his fucking wife?"

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

[at a restaurant]

Noodles You wanted a place by the ocean. I had it opened. It was closed for the season. All these tables are for two people. Pick whatever one you want.

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Max While you were on vacation, we were working overtime. The union paid off. That's your share.

Philip 'Cockeye' Stein Yeah. Even that geek, you know, Jimmy "Clean Hands," he respects us. I shed a little blood for the cause.

Fat Moe [handing newspapers to Noodles] Here, it's all in the papers. Morning Telegraph, they didn't like it, it says, "Underworld joins strikers in brutal battle." But the Post, they liked it: "Ends justify means in decisive gangland encounter." And they kvetched about the Atlantic City job.

Philip 'Cockeye' Stein Newspaper guys never know what the fuck they want.

Noodles Well, you could have looked for me.

Max We did. Cockeye found you at the Chink's, so doped up you didn't even recognize him.

Philip 'Cockeye' Stein There you were. You called me "Deborah."

Noodles Go fuck yourself! Mind your own business!

Max We do our business TOGETHER, and broads do NOT get in the way... and you know it!

Noodles Yeah?

Max Yeah!

Noodles [indicating Carol] What's SHE doing here? It ain't Saturday. She should be screwing in Detroit.

Carol Well, she's screwing HERE now - and ONLY with Max!

Noodles Oh, yeah? With her husband peeping through?

Carol No, I left him.

Noodles You live with her and you tell ME not to mess with broads...

Max You forget one thing.

Noodles What?

Max I don't give a fuck about her!

Carol Max...

Max Shut up! Shut up!

Noodles Hey, Maxie, tell me something. What'll you spend your honeymoon on, a cathouse?

Max Shut the fuck up! Shut up! Just shut up! You want me to dump her? You want me to kick her fucking ass out of here? Want me to kick her ass out or what? You want me to kick...? Get the fuck out! Get the fuck out! Get out! Gonna tell me I don't have a way with women?

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Sharkey You boys got yourself a real martyr for a friend. Make it work for you.

Patrick 'Patsy' Goldberg Yeah, but what are we going to do with a martyr?

Sharkey Times change. Prohibition won't last much longer. Take it from me, a lot of you will be out of work.

Max Go on, Mr. Sharkey. We're interested.

Sharkey You ever think of setting yourselves up in business? All those trucks used to haul liquor, soon be selling them for nothing. I'm talking about hundreds of vehicles controlled by a national organization. And supported by a powerful union headed by Jimmy. Whatever you ask, there's no way he can turn you down.

Philip 'Cockeye' Stein You gotta be kidding, Sharkey! Jimmy "Clean Hands" in business with US?

Sharkey They won't be clean for long, with the hands he'll shake. Everything in good time.

Noodles We're not interested.

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

[changing his baby son's diaper]

Police Chief Aiello Hey, hey, let Papa change you. Come on, everything will be swell. Come on, come on, come on...

[removes the diaper]

Police Chief Aiello What the fuck is this? What is this? Huh? What's that? LOOK!

[the baby's a girl, and just as obviously not his child]

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Max You know, I've been watching you all night, and you've been drinking like a fish. Trying to get your courage up? We're only bringing in a shipment of booze, it's got so you're even scared to do that. Maybe you just better stay home tonight, with Eve.

Noodles Hey, Maxie, everywhere you go, I go too. Remember that.

Max Maybe Sharkey was right. Maybe I ought to just dump you.

Noodles You're really crazy.

Max Never say that. Don't say it!

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

[in 1968, Noodles meets Fat Moe]

Noodles I brought back the key to your clock.

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

[in 1931, Noodles meets Deborah]

Deborah Gelly Aren't you going to say hello?

Noodles Hello.

[Moe cues a band to play the "Amapola" tune]

Noodles Your brother's a real friend. He's a romantic. Max tell you I was getting out today?

Deborah Gelly Max? No.

Noodles You remembered yourself?

Deborah Gelly No, Moe, it's always Moe.

Noodles Yeah. You weren't counting the days?

Deborah Gelly Of course I was. 4344, 4343... I lost track at 3000.

Noodles That wasn't my choice.

Deborah Gelly Yes, it was. It still is.

Noodles Did you come here to welcome me back at least?I

Deborah Gelly I still live here. I was on my way out, Moe said I should say hello.

Noodles I hope Moe didn't have to bend your arm or anything.

Deborah Gelly No. Welcome back, Noodles.

Max [calling] Hey, Noodles!

Noodles You dancing?

Deborah Gelly Every night at the Palace Theatre. I've made some progress since I used to dance here among the brooms and the empties. You can come spy on me if you like... if you have time.

Noodles Every night.

Max Noodles.

Deborah Gelly Go on, Noodles, your mother's calling you.It's good to see you again, Noodles.

[leaves]

Noodles My pleasure.

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

[Max shows Noodles his latest purchase]

Noodles What is it?

Max It's a throne. It was a gift to a pope. It cost me about 800 bucks.

Carol It's from the 17th century.

Noodles What are you going to do with it?

Max I'm sitting on it.

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Deborah Gelly Where were you?

Noodles I was out of town.

Deborah Gelly Have you been back long?

Noodles A couple of days.

Deborah Gelly Are you staying?

Noodles [sits down] That depends...

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Max Ladies and gents, I drink to the demise of Fat Moe's speakeasy. Who the hell wants to drink here legally anyway, am I right? Okay, come on, Moe, set them up! Go on, get in there!

[raises a toast]

Max Here's mud in your eye! Boys, let's drink to our last shipment! There's more onboard tonight than just booze... it's ten years of our lives, ten years that were really worth living!

Patrick 'Patsy' Goldberg Yeah!

Max Noodles... Noodles! L 'Chaim!

Noodles [quietly] L 'Chaim.

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

[Before Max's grand robbery]

Noodles I'm gonna be gone for a while.

Eve I'll be waiting at the hotel. I like it when you come home late and wake me up.

Noodles I'm not gonna be home tonight. I'm not gonna be home tomorrow either.

Eve I thought these things only take a couple of hours...

[Elsewhere, the gang is making a toast to the end of Prohibition]

Eve How long will I have to wait?

Noodles A year and a half, more or less. Six months off for good behaviour.

Eve What are you gonna do?

Noodles Don't ask.

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

[about Deborah]

Young Noodles She don't leave me alone, I'm gonna give her what she's asking for...

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Police Chief Aiello Find my son, or I'll burn down this building!

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

[Deborah orders her maid Margo to leave her alone with Noodles]

Noodles She called you Miss... you never got married?

Deborah Gelly No.

Noodles Do you live alone?

Deborah Gelly No.

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Young Peggy [being groped by Noodles] You better stop squeezing me, or I'm gonna poop in my pants!

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

[Noodles is raping Carol]

Max We're going, you coming?

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

[Peggy introduces the gang to Carol]

Peggy You know these guys?

Carol [looking at their faces] No, I don't think so. No. No, I'd remember a bunch of good-lookers like these.

[the gang ties bandanas around their faces]

Carol Oh... well, how could I forget? There was... there was only one of you I got to know personally, though.

Max Which one? Let's see how good a memory you've got for faces.

[They unbotton their flies, and a delighted Carol takes a long look at the four men in front of her]

Carol [to Max] You!

Max No, him.

[gestures to Max]

Noodles We've been hanging out so long we're starting to look alike.

Max Hanging out...

Carol Charmed. You can call me Carol. We've already met. Pleasure.

Max The pleasure... is all mine.

[kisses Carol]

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Carol Max made fools of us, Noodles! He wanted to die! Did you know his old man died in the nuthouse? Max didn't want to end up the same way, so he put the idea in our heads to tip off the cops. And when they stopped the truck, Max started shooting first... just to get himself killed!

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

James Conway O'Donnell Who are you? Who's paying you?

Philip 'Cockeye' Stein I think this is gonna piss you off, Mac. I think it's those dirty politician friends of yours.

James Conway O'Donnell Yeah? Well, you crawl back and tell 'em we don't want you in with us. Our fight's got nothing to do with liquor and prostitution and dope.

Max Well, you'd better get used to the idea, pal. This country is still growing up. Certain diseases it's better to have when you're still young.

James Conway O'Donnell You boys ain't a mild case of the measles. You're the plague.

[points at Crowning]

James Conway O'Donnell And bastards like HIM are immune. That's the difference between us and them!

[Noodles puts Jimmy's coat on him, making him flinch]

Noodles Take it easy! The difference is, they're always gonna win. And you're gonna keep gettin' it up the ass.

Crowning Sooner than you think.

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Sharkey [O'Donnell has been shot in the leg by Crowning's henchmen] Don't worry, Jimmy. With one leg a little shy, you're gonna take giant steps.

James Conway O'Donnell Yeah... always one step behind you, eh Sharkey?

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

[Max interrupts Noodles passionately kissing Deborah]

Young Noodles Were you in there?

Young Max You're one lousy kisser. I seen you go in there after that ball-buster.

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

[in 1931, Noodles meets Fat Moe]

Noodles Fat Moe, you look terrific. Look like you lost an ounce or two.

Fat Moe You think I'm gonna lose hemorrhoids!

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Noodles We gotta reorganize, Max. And I got a couple of good ideas...

Max Me too.

Eve If I had a million bucks, I'd take it easy.

Max We'll take it easy when we got twenty... fifty!

Noodles Where're you gonna get THAT?

Max Right here...

[draws a diagram in the sand]

Noodles What's that?

Max It's a dream. A dream I've been dreaming all my life. I swear to God, you and me together, we can make it come true!

Noodles What is it?

Max The Federal Reserve Bank. It's the biggest step we can take, Noodles!

Noodles You're really crazy.

Max Don't you ever say that to me! Don't ever say that to me again!

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Fat Moe [winding up a clock] What do you think?

Noodles I think the answer's here. That's why I came back.

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Beefy [beating up Moe] Who you protecting, you dumb asshole? A stoolie who rats on his own friends? They were your friends too!

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

[Noodles runs into Moe as he is carrying a pile of full plates - crash!]

Young Noodles Sorry, Fats!

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Chicken Joe [as he and another thug are torturing Jimmy O'Donnell] I don't give a *shit* about you and your Socialist workers!

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Bercovicz & Co. hearse Why go on living when we can bury you for $49.50?

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Patrick 'Patsy' Goldberg [Patsy and Max have Crowning at gunpoint and are trying to get Chicken Joe and Willie the Ape to release O'Donnell] Just swapping prisoners.

Philip 'Cockeye' Stein Fair trade, huh, chickenhead?

[Chicken Joe turns and sees Cockeye and Noodles standing to his right]

Philip 'Cockeye' Stein Union boy over here, for Mister Boss Man.

Chicken Joe Well, look who's here - Fat Moe's boneyard boys!

Max Which reminds me... how's that cancer in your gut comin' along, Chicken Joe?

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Noodles You've been around. Where'd you learn them "parlez-vous francais" dishes? Who's teaching you that stuff?

Deborah Gelly You mean a sugar daddy, who tries to teach me how to act? I read books. I want to know everything. Doesn't it make sense to have plans?

Noodles Yeah, it does. What about me? Am I in any of these plans?

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Peggy Come on, let's see if you can guess who it is...

Noodles Charlotte russe, with a little too much whipped cream... Peggy.

Peggy Hey, you watch it, now! And my prices, they've gone up. I work in a high-class joint now, and I get paid by the pound.

Patrick 'Patsy' Goldberg My Peggy, she's worth every penny of it too, my red-hot mama!

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

[regarding the mausoleum that has been built for Noodles' friends and credited to him]

Noodles I've never seen a tomb like this...

The Cemetery Directress We like to call them "havens". We find it's more... comforting.

Noodles [reading an engravement] "Erected to their everlasting memory by their friend and brother, David Aaronson "Noodles", 1967". This was just built?

The Cemetery Directress Yes. You know Mister Aaronson, Mister...? Sorry.

Noodles Mister Williams.

The Cemetery Directress Mister Williams. Well, interest like yours is a compliment to our architects, Mr. Williams. After you.

[they leave the "haven"]

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Officer 'Fartface' Whitey What the hell are you kids doin' here? Huh?

Young Patsy What are we kids doing here?

Young Noodles We're getting up the ass.

[Patsy grins]

Young Cockeye Yeah, getting screwed. Is there a law against it?

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Officer 'Fartface' Whitey You boys caught me with my pants down that time.

Young Cockeye No, we caught you with your schmuck up the tuchus of a minor.

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Max Hey, you want a little pick-me-up?

Girl in Coffin Oh, no, thanks. I've had mine.

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Young Noodles Let me see yours.

Young Peggy Looksies, no feelsies.

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Police Chief Aiello [fondling his wife's breasts] You could feed an army with these two milk plants. We could open up a dairy.

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Joe Minaldi Frankie, I'll tell you the truth. Even a Jew can't eat this shit. I mean, the mustard doesn't even help.

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Young Peggy Will you slow down? What is your hurry? Take it easy. If you keep this up, you're gonna cum too fast. Do you see what I mean? You're so stupid. I can't believe it.

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Young Noodles You like it, don't you?

Young Peggy Not for free, I don't.

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Police Chief Aiello Did you see his dickey?

Mrs. Aiello Vincent.

Police Chief Aiello What? ...

Mrs. Aiello The girls.

Police Chief Aiello The girls! Sooner or later you have to learn that after me, the boss in the house is him. He's got balls just like his Papa.

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Noodles Who was it? The Detroit cock-squasher?

🧡

👏

🥺

🤔

🥱

Once Upon a Time in America Movie Quotes