Lucky Number Slevin Quotes
A case of mistaken identity lands Slevin into the middle of a war being plotted by two of the city's most rival crime bosses: The Rabbi and The Boss. Slevin is under constant surveillance by relentless Detective Brikowski as well as the infamous assassin Goodkat and finds himself having to hatch his own ingenious plot to get them before they get him.
Slevin: Listen, I've been hearing that a lot lately...
The Rabbi: [interrupting] My father used to say: "The first time someone calls you a horse you punch him on the nose, the second time someone calls you a horse you call him a jerk but the third time someone calls you a horse, well then perhaps it's time to go shopping for a saddle."
The Rabbi: [interrupting] My father used to say: "The first time someone calls you a horse you punch him on the nose, the second time someone calls you a horse you call him a jerk but the third time someone calls you a horse, well then perhaps it's time to go shopping for a saddle."
The Rabbi: The unlucky are nothing more than a frame of reference for the lucky. You are unlucky, so I may know that I am not. Unfortunately the lucky never realizes they are lucky until it's too late. Take yourself for instance; yesterday you were better off than you are off today but it took today for you to realize it. But today has arrived and it's too late. You see? People are never happy with what they have. They want what they had, or what someone else has.
Slevin: I'm sorry, who are you?
The Boss: I'm The Boss.
Slevin: I thought he was The Boss.
The Boss: Why? Do we look alike? So, Mr Fisher, you were gonna tell me something?
Slevin: I don't know, you brought me here.
The Boss: Yes I did. Back when you thought I was him.
Slevin: I didn't think you were him, I thought he was you. And I was trying to tell him - you that they picked up the wrong guy.
The Boss: The wrong guy for what?
Slevin: Whatever it is you wanna see me about.
The Boss: Do you know what I wanna see you about?
Slevin: No.
The Boss: Then how do you know I got the wrong guy?
Slevin: Because I'm not...
The Boss: Maybe I want to give you $96,000. In that case do I still have the wrong guy?
Slevin: Do you wanna give me $96,000?
The Boss: No, do you wanna give me $96,000?
Slevin: No, should I?
The Boss: I don't know, should you?
Slevin: I don't know, should I?
The Boss: [pause] Long story short.
Slevin: I think we're well past that point.
The Boss: I bet it was that mouth that got you that nose.
Slevin: Okay, I'm under the impression that you're under the impression that I owe you $96,000...?
The Boss: No, you owe Slim Hopkins $96,000. You owe Slim, Slim owes me. You owe me.
The Boss: I'm The Boss.
Slevin: I thought he was The Boss.
The Boss: Why? Do we look alike? So, Mr Fisher, you were gonna tell me something?
Slevin: I don't know, you brought me here.
The Boss: Yes I did. Back when you thought I was him.
Slevin: I didn't think you were him, I thought he was you. And I was trying to tell him - you that they picked up the wrong guy.
The Boss: The wrong guy for what?
Slevin: Whatever it is you wanna see me about.
The Boss: Do you know what I wanna see you about?
Slevin: No.
The Boss: Then how do you know I got the wrong guy?
Slevin: Because I'm not...
The Boss: Maybe I want to give you $96,000. In that case do I still have the wrong guy?
Slevin: Do you wanna give me $96,000?
The Boss: No, do you wanna give me $96,000?
Slevin: No, should I?
The Boss: I don't know, should you?
Slevin: I don't know, should I?
The Boss: [pause] Long story short.
Slevin: I think we're well past that point.
The Boss: I bet it was that mouth that got you that nose.
Slevin: Okay, I'm under the impression that you're under the impression that I owe you $96,000...?
The Boss: No, you owe Slim Hopkins $96,000. You owe Slim, Slim owes me. You owe me.
Elvis: [Sloe grabs Slevin by the throat and moves him into the living room] The Boss wants to see you.
Slevin: Who?
Sloe: The Boss.
Slevin: Who's the Boss?
Sloe: The guy we work for.
Slevin: [Sloe let's go of Slevin's throat] Jesus!
Elvis: Come here and sit your punk ass down.
Slevin: [He attempts getting up but is kept down by Sloe] I'm not the guy you're looking for. I don't live here.
Sloe: Yeah, well you look like the guy who lives here.
Slevin: Then you don't know what the guy who lives here looks like.
Elvis: What he means to say is that you look like you live here.
Sloe: Yeah, that's what I mean to say.
Slevin: Who?
Sloe: The Boss.
Slevin: Who's the Boss?
Sloe: The guy we work for.
Slevin: [Sloe let's go of Slevin's throat] Jesus!
Elvis: Come here and sit your punk ass down.
Slevin: [He attempts getting up but is kept down by Sloe] I'm not the guy you're looking for. I don't live here.
Sloe: Yeah, well you look like the guy who lives here.
Slevin: Then you don't know what the guy who lives here looks like.
Elvis: What he means to say is that you look like you live here.
Sloe: Yeah, that's what I mean to say.
Mr. Goodkat: The reason I'm in town, in case you're wondering, is because of a Kansas City Shuffle.
Nick: What's a Kansas City Shuffle?
Mr. Goodkat: A Kansas City Shuffle is when everybody looks right, you go left.
Nick: Never heard of it.
Mr. Goodkat: It's not something people hear about. Falls on deaf ears mostly. This particular one has been over twenty years in the making.
Nick: Twenty years, huh?
Mr. Goodkat: No small matter. Requires a lot of planning. Involves a lot of people. People connected only by the slightest of events. Like whispers in the night, in that place that never forgets, even when those people do. It starts with a horse.
Nick: What's a Kansas City Shuffle?
Mr. Goodkat: A Kansas City Shuffle is when everybody looks right, you go left.
Nick: Never heard of it.
Mr. Goodkat: It's not something people hear about. Falls on deaf ears mostly. This particular one has been over twenty years in the making.
Nick: Twenty years, huh?
Mr. Goodkat: No small matter. Requires a lot of planning. Involves a lot of people. People connected only by the slightest of events. Like whispers in the night, in that place that never forgets, even when those people do. It starts with a horse.
Slevin: How do you justify being a rabbi... and a gangster?
The Rabbi: I don't. I'm a bad man who doesn't waste time wondering what could've been when I am what could've been and what could not have been. I live on both sides of the fence. My grass is always green. Consider, Mr. Fisher... there are two men sitting here before you, and one of them you should be very afraid of. Where's my money?
The Rabbi: I don't. I'm a bad man who doesn't waste time wondering what could've been when I am what could've been and what could not have been. I live on both sides of the fence. My grass is always green. Consider, Mr. Fisher... there are two men sitting here before you, and one of them you should be very afraid of. Where's my money?
Slevin: This isn't the first time this has happened, you know.
Lindsey: You mean this isn't the first time a crime lord asked you to kill the gay son of a rival gangster to pay off a debt that belongs to a friend whose place you're staying in as a result of losing your job, your apartment, and finding your girlfriend in bed with another guy?
Slevin: No, this is the first time THAT happened, but Nick has been painting me into corners since we were kids.
Lindsey: You mean this isn't the first time a crime lord asked you to kill the gay son of a rival gangster to pay off a debt that belongs to a friend whose place you're staying in as a result of losing your job, your apartment, and finding your girlfriend in bed with another guy?
Slevin: No, this is the first time THAT happened, but Nick has been painting me into corners since we were kids.
The Boss: [shows Slevin the body of Slim in his freezer] Hey, Slim? Do you know this cat? Slim?
[turns to Slevin]
The Boss: No use. Ever since somebody shot him, old Slim went deaf.
Slevin: What happened to make Slim go deaf?
The Boss: Why?
Slevin: Well, because I owe you $96,000, and I might have a slight problem coming up with the money.
The Boss: Oh, okay. Well, why don't we just make it an even 90?
Slevin: I... may have exaggerated the slightness.
[turns to Slevin]
The Boss: No use. Ever since somebody shot him, old Slim went deaf.
Slevin: What happened to make Slim go deaf?
The Boss: Why?
Slevin: Well, because I owe you $96,000, and I might have a slight problem coming up with the money.
The Boss: Oh, okay. Well, why don't we just make it an even 90?
Slevin: I... may have exaggerated the slightness.
The Rabbi: You're unlucky and nothing more than a frame of reference for the lucky Mr. Fisher. You're unlucky, so that I may know that I am not. Unfortunately, the lucky never realised they are lucky until its too late. Take yourself for instance, yesterday you were better off than you are today but it took today for you to realise it. But, today has arrived and it's too late. You see?
Brikowski: Who are you?
Slevin: Philosophically speaking?
Brikowski: Name.
Slevin: Rank, serial number?
Dumbrowski: You should really play ball kid.
Slevin: Really? You think I'm tall enough?
Brikowski: [hits Slevin in stomach]
Brikowski: What is your name?
Slevin: [gasping for breath] Oh yeah, now I remember, Slevin Kelevra.
Slevin: Philosophically speaking?
Brikowski: Name.
Slevin: Rank, serial number?
Dumbrowski: You should really play ball kid.
Slevin: Really? You think I'm tall enough?
Brikowski: [hits Slevin in stomach]
Brikowski: What is your name?
Slevin: [gasping for breath] Oh yeah, now I remember, Slevin Kelevra.
Mr. Goodkat: [his first lines] There was a time.
Nick: [groggily looks at his watch] 4:35.
Mr. Goodkat: You misunderstood. I wasn't asking for the time, I was just saying... there was a time.
Nick: There was a time?
Mr. Goodkat: Mmm-hmm. Take Brown Sugar back there, for example. She's pretty fuckin' foxy, right?
[indicates old lady asleep in next row of seats]
Nick: [incredulous] She's 70.
Mr. Goodkat: If she's a day. But there was a time.
Nick: [groggily looks at his watch] 4:35.
Mr. Goodkat: You misunderstood. I wasn't asking for the time, I was just saying... there was a time.
Nick: There was a time?
Mr. Goodkat: Mmm-hmm. Take Brown Sugar back there, for example. She's pretty fuckin' foxy, right?
[indicates old lady asleep in next row of seats]
Nick: [incredulous] She's 70.
Mr. Goodkat: If she's a day. But there was a time.
Slevin: [from an alternate scene on the DVD] God! This - this smarts. Remember when people used to say that - smarts? Why don't people use that word anymore? I mean, people use the word "pain" way too loosely. There are so many types of pain. I mean, a smart is a sharp, sharp pain. An ache is a dull pain.
Elvis: Hey man, do you ever shut the fuck up?
Slevin: Oh yeah, man, I can be real quiet. One time I didn't talk for three days. People kept coming up to me askin' me, 'Slevin, why aren't you saying anything?' I wouldn't even answer them. I just didn't have anything to say, you know? I can be real quiet. Real quiet.
Elvis: Hey man, do you ever shut the fuck up?
Slevin: Oh yeah, man, I can be real quiet. One time I didn't talk for three days. People kept coming up to me askin' me, 'Slevin, why aren't you saying anything?' I wouldn't even answer them. I just didn't have anything to say, you know? I can be real quiet. Real quiet.
Elvis: Yo, man, I ain't askin' nobody nothin'! Nick, Slevin, Clark Kent, whatever the fuck your name is. The Virgin Mary herself could com waltzin' up in here with her fine ass, titties hangin' out and everything, and if she tells me your name is Jesus Christ, I still gotta take you to see the Boss. You know why?
Slevin Kelevra: No.
Elvis: Orders. Now you do know what orders is right?
Slevin Kelevra: I think I know... -...
Elvis: Orders is orders.
Slevin Kelevra: So, I guess no one ever taught you not to use the word your defining in the definition.
Elvis: [smirks, punches Slevin] Say something else! I will break your motherfucking nose! I ain't playing with you!
Slevin Kelevra: My nose is already broken.
[scene cuts, with audio of Slevin being punched again, to Slevin's nose broken again]
Slevin Kelevra: No.
Elvis: Orders. Now you do know what orders is right?
Slevin Kelevra: I think I know... -...
Elvis: Orders is orders.
Slevin Kelevra: So, I guess no one ever taught you not to use the word your defining in the definition.
Elvis: [smirks, punches Slevin] Say something else! I will break your motherfucking nose! I ain't playing with you!
Slevin Kelevra: My nose is already broken.
[scene cuts, with audio of Slevin being punched again, to Slevin's nose broken again]
Nick: [on phone] Slevin, do you know what time it is?
Slevin: Yeah, I'm at the airport. Are you sure you want me to come out?
Nick: Yeah, just think... two weeks in New York and the only Kelly you'll remember is the Kelly who gave you your first hand job on the bus on the way up to summer camp.
Slevin: Kelly Perkins. She told me that her hands were dry and that she needed...
Nick: She said that to a lot of guys. That's why we called her Jerkins Perkins. Just call me when you land, all right?
Slevin: Yeah, I'm at the airport. Are you sure you want me to come out?
Nick: Yeah, just think... two weeks in New York and the only Kelly you'll remember is the Kelly who gave you your first hand job on the bus on the way up to summer camp.
Slevin: Kelly Perkins. She told me that her hands were dry and that she needed...
Nick: She said that to a lot of guys. That's why we called her Jerkins Perkins. Just call me when you land, all right?
Slevin: But I'm not Nick.
Elvis: Yeah, well, unfortunately for you, you're not the first cat to tell me you wasn't the guy I was looking for.
Slevin: You can ask Lindsey. She lives across the hall!
Elvis: Yo, man, I ain't askin' nobody nothin'! Nick, Slevin, Clark Kent, whatever the fuck your name is. The Virgin Mary herself could com waltzin' up in here with her fine ass, titties hangin' out and everything, and if she tells me your name is Jesus Christ, I STILL gotta take you to see the Boss.
Elvis: Yeah, well, unfortunately for you, you're not the first cat to tell me you wasn't the guy I was looking for.
Slevin: You can ask Lindsey. She lives across the hall!
Elvis: Yo, man, I ain't askin' nobody nothin'! Nick, Slevin, Clark Kent, whatever the fuck your name is. The Virgin Mary herself could com waltzin' up in here with her fine ass, titties hangin' out and everything, and if she tells me your name is Jesus Christ, I STILL gotta take you to see the Boss.
Slevin: You're not as tall as I thought you'd be.
Lindsey: Well, I'm short for my height.
Slevin: That makes sense because I can usually tell how tall someone is by their knock. You have a deceptively tall knock. Congratulations.
Lindsey: So it's a good thing?
Slevin: I open the door expecting you to be up here, you're down here. That combined with a low centre of gravity - forget about it.
Lindsey: Well, I'm short for my height.
Slevin: That makes sense because I can usually tell how tall someone is by their knock. You have a deceptively tall knock. Congratulations.
Lindsey: So it's a good thing?
Slevin: I open the door expecting you to be up here, you're down here. That combined with a low centre of gravity - forget about it.
Lindsey: We are dealing with a bona fide case of mistaken identity here.
Slevin: Yeah.
Lindsey: Things like that aren't supposed to be real. It's like amnesia.
Lindsey: Not withstanding, here you are and Nick's nowhere to be found, so... I'd say you're fucked.
Slevin: Fucked.
Lindsey: Shouldn't you be a little more worried about all this?
Slevin: I have ataraxia.
Lindsey: Ataraxia?
Slevin: It's a condition characterized by freedom from worry or any other preoccupation, really.
Slevin: Yeah.
Lindsey: Things like that aren't supposed to be real. It's like amnesia.
Lindsey: Not withstanding, here you are and Nick's nowhere to be found, so... I'd say you're fucked.
Slevin: Fucked.
Lindsey: Shouldn't you be a little more worried about all this?
Slevin: I have ataraxia.
Lindsey: Ataraxia?
Slevin: It's a condition characterized by freedom from worry or any other preoccupation, really.
