18 quotes
Strength and Vulnerability in Confrontation
James Dalton
Give me the biggest guy in the world; you smash his knee and he'll drop like stone.
Confrontation During a Break at Work
Dalton
Steve, You're history…
Steve
But I'm on my break..
Dalton
Stay on it.
Bar Atmosphere Amidst Conflict
Dalton
Sorry, we're closed.
Ketchum
Then what are all these people doing here?
Dalton
Drinking and having a good time.
Ketchum
That's why we're here.
Dalton
You're too stupid to have a good time.
The Life of a Top Bouncer
Taglines
Dalton's the best bouncer in the business. His nights are filled with fast action, hot music and beautiful women. It's a dirty job, but somebody's got to do it.
A Loner's Life of Fighting and Loving
Taglines
Dalton lives like a loner, fights like a professional. And loves like there's no tomorrow.
Financial Agreement with Church Considerations
Emmett
It ain't the money ya understand, but if I don't charge ya somethin the Presbyterians around here are likely to pray for my ruination. How does a hundred dollars a month strike ya?
Dalton
Fine.
Emmett
Can ya afford that much?
Dalton
If it keeps you in the good graces of the church.
Emmett
Ain't it peculiar how money seems to do that very thing?
Conflict Between Wealth and Community Values
Wesley
My grandfather.
[sees Dalton looking at a man's picture]
Dalton
Looks like an important man.
Wesley
He was an asshole. But you, you're a smart boy, aren't you, Dalton? You're just not too realistic. Christ, I'm just like you. I came up the hard way, from the streets of Chicago. You know, when I came to this town after Korea there was nothing. I brought the mall here. I got the 7-Eleven. I got the Fotomat here. Christ, JC Penney is coming here because of me. You ask anybody, they'll tell you.
Dalton
You've gotten rich off of the people in this town.
Wesley
You bet your ass I have. And I'm gonna get richer. I believe we all have a purpose on this earth. A destiny. I have a faith in that destiny. It tells me to gather unto me what is mine. But, Christ, you get paid for beating people up. Tell me you don't love it. Of course you do. You wouldn't be human if you didn't.
[laughs]
Moral Integrity Over Financial Incentives
Wesley
Dalton, I have a cousin in Memphis. Tells me you killed a man down there. Tells me you said it was self-defense at the trial. But you and I know that isn't so, don't we?
Wesley
Relax. Relax. Tell me, if I owned a bar and I wanted to clean it up, how much would it take to get you to come work for me?
Dalton
There's no amount of money.
Philosophy and Faith in Conversation
Doc
Your file says you've got a degree from NYU. What in?
Dalton
Philosophy.
Doc
Any particular discipline?
Dalton
No. Not really. Man's search for faith. That sort of shit.
Doc
Come up with any answers?
Dalton
Not too many.
Doc
How's a guy like you end up a bouncer?
Dalton
Just lucky I guess.
Establishing Rules for a Safer Bar Environment
Dalton
People who really want to have a good time won't come to a slaughterhouse, and we've got entirely too many troublemakers here... too many uhh, 40 year old adolescents, felons, power drinkers, and trustees of modern chemistry. It's going to change.
Hank
Yeah, that sure sounds good, but a lot of the guys who come in here we can't handle one-on-one. Even two-on-one.
Dalton
Don't worry about it; all you have to do is follow 3 simple rules: One, never underestimate your opponent..expect the unexpected; Two, take it outside, never start anything inside the bar unless it's absolutely necessary; and Three...be nice.
Hank
Come on!
[Incredulously]
Dalton
If somebody gets in your face and calls you a cocksucker, I want you to be nice
Hank
Ok.
[With resignation]
Dalton
Ask him to walk, but be nice. If he won't walk, walk him, but be nice. If you can't walk him, one of the others will help you and you will both be nice. I want you to remember that it's a job, it's nothing personal.
Steve
Uh-huh, being called a cocksucker isn't personal?
Dalton
No, it's two nouns combined to elicit a prescribed response.
Steve
What if somebody calls my Mama a whore?
Dalton
Is she?
Dalton
I want you to be nice... until it's time... to not be nice.
Bouncer
Well, uh, how are we supposed to know when that is?
Dalton
You won't. I'll let you know. You are the bouncers, I am the cooler. All you have to do is watch my back and each others... and take out the trash!
Comment on Intelligence and Appearance
Wade Garrett
That gal's got entirely too many brains to have an ass like that.
[admiring Doc]
Confrontation in the Trophy Room
Brad Wesley
I see you found my trophy room Dalton. The only thing that's missing... is your ass!
Firing the Bartender Over Dishonesty
Carrie Ann
What did you do there last night?
Dalton
What do you mean?
Carrie Ann
You fired the bartender, Pat.
Dalton
He was skimming.
Carrie Ann
You should not have done that, Dalton.
Dalton
Yeah, why's that?
Carrie Ann
You just shouldn't have, that's all. Here you go. Breakfast.
[hands him food]
Dalton
Oh, thank you.
Carrie Ann
Oh, my god…
[chuckling]
Dalton
What is the joke?
Carrie Ann
Well, there's no joke. I just think I'm looking at a dead man, though.
Dalton
It seems everywhere I go, I hear that same joke.
Carrie Ann
Yeah, well, something tells me you bring it on yourself.
A Conversation About Time and Change
Red
How long are you gonna be in town?
Dalton
Not very long.
Red
That's what I said 25 years ago.
Dalton
Really? What happened?
Red
I got married to an ugly woman. Don't ever do that. It just takes the energy right out of you. She left me, though. Found somebody even uglier than she was. That's life. Who can explain it?
Humor in Unusual Situations
Wade
You havin trouble?
[on the phone]
Dalton
Oh, you know — nothing I'm not used to. But it's amazing what you can get used to, huh?
Wade
Yeah, tell me about it. This place has a sign hangin over the urinal that says, "Don't eat the big white mint".
A Request for Apology Among Friends
Wesley
Did I explain it wrong? Is that it?
[after seeing Pat with a broken nose]
O'Connor
No, boss, you didn't.
Wesley
Pat's got a weak constitution. You boys know that. That's why he's working as a bartender. He's my only sister's son. And if he doesn't have me, who's he got? And if I'm not there, you're there. I should've let you go, Jimmy. Well, one of you boys owes me an apology. Now I leave it up to you to decide which one of you wants to say "I'm sorry.
[to Jimmy; to Tinker and O'Connor]
Tinker
I'm sorry, boss.
[takes off his hat]
O'Connor
I'm sorry, boss.
Wesley
I believe you, Tinker. But you, O'Connor, somehow I don't believe you. Now you better try it again. cause if there's one thing I can't stand, it's a man who's untruthful.
[walks over to O'Connor]
O'Connor
I'm sorry, boss.
Wesley
If there's one thing that disgusts me, it's a man who can't admit when he's wrong.
O'Connor
I swear to God, boss, I'm sorry.
Wesley
You disgust me, O'Connor. You wanna know why you disgust me?
O'Connor
No, why, boss?
Wesley
Cause you're a bleeder. You bleed too much. You are a messy bleeder. You're weak. You got no endurance for PAIN. Aw, come on, get up. Hey, you'll be fine. Come on. Well, help him up! You're gonna be fine. And you know why? Because I like you. Get this piece-of-shit coward out of here.
[punches him; kicks him in the groin; karate chops him and knocks him down; to his men; Wesley's men stand him up; punches and knocks him out]