The Big Heat Quotes
Tough cop Dave Bannion takes on a politically powerful crime syndicate.
Lt. Ted Wilks: It was bad judgment to bother a cop's widow about the love life of her husband.
Dave Bannion: Good or bad, it was my judgment.
Lt. Ted Wilks: You're missing the point. I'm the one that gets the pressure calls from upstairs. I'm the one that has to explain. You don't keep an office like this very long stepping on a lot of corns.
Dave Bannion: You want me to go upstairs and explain?
Lt. Ted Wilks: Not you. You're a corn stepper by instinct.
Dave Bannion: Good or bad, it was my judgment.
Lt. Ted Wilks: You're missing the point. I'm the one that gets the pressure calls from upstairs. I'm the one that has to explain. You don't keep an office like this very long stepping on a lot of corns.
Dave Bannion: You want me to go upstairs and explain?
Lt. Ted Wilks: Not you. You're a corn stepper by instinct.
Debby Marsh: [Has just thrown scalding coffee in Vince's face] It'll burn for a long time, Vince. It doesn't look bad now. But in the morning your face will be like mine.
Debby Marsh: [Sticks her face up close to Vince's, then dramatically rips the bandages from her scarred face] Look at it. It isn't pretty, is it? You'll walk through the side streets and alleys so that people won't stare at you. But you're lucky. It won't be for long.
Debby Marsh: [Sticks her face up close to Vince's, then dramatically rips the bandages from her scarred face] Look at it. It isn't pretty, is it? You'll walk through the side streets and alleys so that people won't stare at you. But you're lucky. It won't be for long.
Dave Bannion: It doesn't matter to you that Slim might have been mixed up in a murder?
Mr. Atkins: Sure it matters, but what can I do about it? I don't know anything.
Dave Bannion: You're a liar.
Mr. Atkins: You can't insult me, mister. I said I don't know anything about it, and that's how it stands.
Dave Bannion: You know, I've been meetin' your kind every day for ten years... scared rabbits that never see anything. You wouldn't stick out your big, fat neck for anybody, would you?
Mr. Atkins: That's the truth, but it's my big, fat neck. So now, if you're through talkin', I'll get back to work.
Dave Bannion: I ought to...
[Bannion makes a threatening move toward him]
Mr. Atkins: That won't change my story. Cops get paid to take risks - I'm not. You see, I've got a wife and kids too.
Mr. Atkins: Sure it matters, but what can I do about it? I don't know anything.
Dave Bannion: You're a liar.
Mr. Atkins: You can't insult me, mister. I said I don't know anything about it, and that's how it stands.
Dave Bannion: You know, I've been meetin' your kind every day for ten years... scared rabbits that never see anything. You wouldn't stick out your big, fat neck for anybody, would you?
Mr. Atkins: That's the truth, but it's my big, fat neck. So now, if you're through talkin', I'll get back to work.
Dave Bannion: I ought to...
[Bannion makes a threatening move toward him]
Mr. Atkins: That won't change my story. Cops get paid to take risks - I'm not. You see, I've got a wife and kids too.
Lt. Ted Wilks: You have any doubts Duncan killed himself?
Dave Bannion: No, none at all, but I just got back from the county morgue.
Lt. Ted Wilks: You mean that barfly? I read the teletype about your identification.
Dave Bannion: Lucy Chapman used to be Duncan's girlfriend.
Lt. Ted Wilks: And the army's and navy's.
Dave Bannion: No, none at all, but I just got back from the county morgue.
Lt. Ted Wilks: You mean that barfly? I read the teletype about your identification.
Dave Bannion: Lucy Chapman used to be Duncan's girlfriend.
Lt. Ted Wilks: And the army's and navy's.
Dave Bannion: [about Lucy Chapman] Where'd she live?
Tierney: If I ask for an address, they lie. It's not worth the bother. They're floaters. Not much more than a suitcase full of nothin' between them and the gutter.
Dave Bannion: Hey, you know somethin'? You ought to be doin' radio commercials - how to talk a lot and say nothin'.
Tierney: If I ask for an address, they lie. It's not worth the bother. They're floaters. Not much more than a suitcase full of nothin' between them and the gutter.
Dave Bannion: Hey, you know somethin'? You ought to be doin' radio commercials - how to talk a lot and say nothin'.
Dave Bannion: Do you mind if I walk around your yard? Talk to your men?
Mr. Atkins: I have to mind. When it comes to my bread and butter, I stay careful.
Dave Bannion: It doesn't matter to you that Slim might have been mixed up in a murder, hmm?
Mr. Atkins: Sure it matters. But what can I do about it? I don't know anything.
Dave Bannion: You're a liar.
Mr. Atkins: You can't insult me, mister. I said I don't know anything, and that's how it stands.
Dave Bannion: You know, I've been meeting your kind every day now for ten years. Scared rabbits who never see a thing. You wouldn't stick out your big fat neck for anybody, would you?
Mr. Atkins: That's the truth. But it's my big fat neck. So now if you're through talking, I'll get back to work.
Dave Bannion: [Approaches Mr. Atkins threateningly] I oughta'...
Mr. Atkins: That won't change my story. Cops are paid to take risks. I'm not. You see, I've got a wife and kids, too.
[Bannion glares at him and walks away]
Mr. Atkins: I have to mind. When it comes to my bread and butter, I stay careful.
Dave Bannion: It doesn't matter to you that Slim might have been mixed up in a murder, hmm?
Mr. Atkins: Sure it matters. But what can I do about it? I don't know anything.
Dave Bannion: You're a liar.
Mr. Atkins: You can't insult me, mister. I said I don't know anything, and that's how it stands.
Dave Bannion: You know, I've been meeting your kind every day now for ten years. Scared rabbits who never see a thing. You wouldn't stick out your big fat neck for anybody, would you?
Mr. Atkins: That's the truth. But it's my big fat neck. So now if you're through talking, I'll get back to work.
Dave Bannion: [Approaches Mr. Atkins threateningly] I oughta'...
Mr. Atkins: That won't change my story. Cops are paid to take risks. I'm not. You see, I've got a wife and kids, too.
[Bannion glares at him and walks away]
