The Color of Money Quotes
Fast Eddie Felson teaches a cocky but immensely talented protégé the ropes of pool hustling, which in turn inspires him to make an unlikely comeback.
Opening Voiceover: Nine-ball is rotation pool, the balls are pocketed in numbered order. The only ball that means anything, that wins it, is the 9. Now, the player can shoot eight trick shots in a row, blow the 9, and lose. On the other hand, the player can get the 9 in on the break, if the balls spread right, and win. Which is to say, that luck plays a part in nine-ball. But for some players, luck itself is an art.
Eddie Felson: You're some piece of work... You're also a natural character.
Vincent Lauria: [to Carmen] You see? I been tellin' her that. I got natural character.
Eddie Felson: That's not what I said, kid. I said you *are* a natural character; you're an incredible flake.
[Vincent's smile fades; Eddie continues]
Eddie Felson: But that's a *gift*. Some guys spend half their lives trying to invent something like that. You walk into a pool room with that go-go-go, the guys'll be *killing* each other, trying to get to you. You got that... But I'll tell you something, kiddo. You couldn't find Big Time if you had a road map.
Vincent Lauria: [to Carmen] You see? I been tellin' her that. I got natural character.
Eddie Felson: That's not what I said, kid. I said you *are* a natural character; you're an incredible flake.
[Vincent's smile fades; Eddie continues]
Eddie Felson: But that's a *gift*. Some guys spend half their lives trying to invent something like that. You walk into a pool room with that go-go-go, the guys'll be *killing* each other, trying to get to you. You got that... But I'll tell you something, kiddo. You couldn't find Big Time if you had a road map.
Eddie Felson: How much did you take off Moselle? I heard a hundred...
Vincent Lauria: One Fifty!
Eddie Felson: [sarcastically] A hundred and fifty?
Vincent Lauria: That's right, a hundred and fifty.
Vincent Lauria: You walk into a shoe store with a hundred and fifty bucks, you come out with one shoe! We were working on five thousand!
Vincent Lauria: One Fifty!
Eddie Felson: [sarcastically] A hundred and fifty?
Vincent Lauria: That's right, a hundred and fifty.
Vincent Lauria: You walk into a shoe store with a hundred and fifty bucks, you come out with one shoe! We were working on five thousand!
Eddie Felson: This ain't pool. This is for bangers. Straight pool is pool. This is like hand-ball, or cribbage, or something. Straight pool, you gotta be a real surgeon to get 'em, you know? It's all finesse. Now, every thing is nine-ball, 'cause it's fast, good for T.V., good for a lot of break shots... Oh, well. What the hell. Checkers sells more than chess.
Eddie Felson: Did you ever hear of a hustle called Two Brothers and a Stranger?
Vincent Lauria: Yeah, uh, that's the guy in the Bible with the many colored coats, right?
[grins widely; Eddie and Carmen look disgusted]
Vincent Lauria: Hey, what's wrong with you guys? It's a joke, okay?
Eddie Felson: Did I get through to you last night, kiddo? 'Cause if I didn't, I'll run it by you another way. If you'd have kicked ass in any other place but Chalkie's, Atlantic City would be dead for us. The Guys Never Leave The Street. Otherwise, it'd be all around.
Vincent Lauria: Yeah, uh, that's the guy in the Bible with the many colored coats, right?
[grins widely; Eddie and Carmen look disgusted]
Vincent Lauria: Hey, what's wrong with you guys? It's a joke, okay?
Eddie Felson: Did I get through to you last night, kiddo? 'Cause if I didn't, I'll run it by you another way. If you'd have kicked ass in any other place but Chalkie's, Atlantic City would be dead for us. The Guys Never Leave The Street. Otherwise, it'd be all around.
Eddie Felson: Where's the Balabushka?
Carmen: Vincent took it.
Eddie Felson: You said he was out.
Carmen: He was in and out.
Eddie Felson: He took the cue stick?
Carmen: Yes.
Eddie Felson: And you let him?
Carmen: Well, so what?
Eddie Felson: Shit.
Carmen: Oh, man, I'm sorry.
Eddie Felson: Jesus. Goddamn. Child care!
Carmen: Vincent took it.
Eddie Felson: You said he was out.
Carmen: He was in and out.
Eddie Felson: He took the cue stick?
Carmen: Yes.
Eddie Felson: And you let him?
Carmen: Well, so what?
Eddie Felson: Shit.
Carmen: Oh, man, I'm sorry.
Eddie Felson: Jesus. Goddamn. Child care!
Vincent Lauria: [Eddie has just run the table] Pretty damn good.
Eddie Felson: Not bad for a blind man. Rack 'em.
Vincent Lauria: Yes sir, boss. Rack 'em up for Mr. Fast Eddie!
Eddie Felson: I haven't played serious pool since before you were born, and right off the bat, I'm layin' 'em to waste! Watch this. Nine on the break...
Eddie Felson: Not bad for a blind man. Rack 'em.
Vincent Lauria: Yes sir, boss. Rack 'em up for Mr. Fast Eddie!
Eddie Felson: I haven't played serious pool since before you were born, and right off the bat, I'm layin' 'em to waste! Watch this. Nine on the break...
[last lines]
Vincent Lauria: Hey Eddie, what are you going to do when I kick your ass?
Eddie Felson: Pick myself up and let you kick me again.
Vincent Lauria: Oh yeah?
Eddie Felson: Yeah.
[pause]
Eddie Felson: Just don't put the money in the bank, kid. Because if I don't whip you now, I'm gonna whip you next month in Dallas.
Carmen: You mean Houston - there's nothing coming up in Dallas.
Eddie Felson: Houston, Dallas... And if not then, then the month after that, in New Orleans.
Vincent Lauria: Oh yeah? What makes you so sure?
Eddie Felson: [stares at Vincent for a second, then gets ready to break] Hey - I'm back.
[Eddie breaks]
Vincent Lauria: Hey Eddie, what are you going to do when I kick your ass?
Eddie Felson: Pick myself up and let you kick me again.
Vincent Lauria: Oh yeah?
Eddie Felson: Yeah.
[pause]
Eddie Felson: Just don't put the money in the bank, kid. Because if I don't whip you now, I'm gonna whip you next month in Dallas.
Carmen: You mean Houston - there's nothing coming up in Dallas.
Eddie Felson: Houston, Dallas... And if not then, then the month after that, in New Orleans.
Vincent Lauria: Oh yeah? What makes you so sure?
Eddie Felson: [stares at Vincent for a second, then gets ready to break] Hey - I'm back.
[Eddie breaks]
