The Sting Quotes
In Chicago in September 1936, a young con man seeking revenge for his murdered partner teams up with a master of the big con to win a fortune from a criminal banker.
[Figuring out which con to pull on Lonnegan]
J.J. Singleton: I dunno know what to do with this guy, Henry. He's an Irishman who doesn't drink, doesn't smoke, and doesn't chase dames. He's a grand knight in the Knights of Columbus, and he only goes out to play faro. Sometimes plays 15 or 20 hours at a time, just him against the house.
Henry Gondorff: Roulette? Craps?
J.J. Singleton: He won't touch 'em. The croupier at Gilman's says he never plays anything he can't win.
Henry Gondorff: Sports?
J.J. Singleton: Likes to be seen with fighters sometimes, but he doesn't go to the fights or bet on 'em.
Henry Gondorff: Jesus. Does he do anything where he's not alone?
J.J. Singleton: Just poker. And he cheats. Pretty good at it, too.
J.J. Singleton: I dunno know what to do with this guy, Henry. He's an Irishman who doesn't drink, doesn't smoke, and doesn't chase dames. He's a grand knight in the Knights of Columbus, and he only goes out to play faro. Sometimes plays 15 or 20 hours at a time, just him against the house.
Henry Gondorff: Roulette? Craps?
J.J. Singleton: He won't touch 'em. The croupier at Gilman's says he never plays anything he can't win.
Henry Gondorff: Sports?
J.J. Singleton: Likes to be seen with fighters sometimes, but he doesn't go to the fights or bet on 'em.
Henry Gondorff: Jesus. Does he do anything where he's not alone?
J.J. Singleton: Just poker. And he cheats. Pretty good at it, too.
Henry Gondorff: What's your problem?
Doyle Lonnegan: I'm putting half a million dollars on Lucky Dan to win, third race at Riverside Park.
Henry Gondorff: Can't lay that off in time. A bet like that could break us.
[Hooker stares at him incredulously]
Doyle Lonnegan: Not only are you a cheat, you're a gutless cheat as well.
Henry Gondorff: What are the odds?
Eddie Niles: Four to one.
Henry Gondorff: Take all of it!
Doyle Lonnegan: I'm putting half a million dollars on Lucky Dan to win, third race at Riverside Park.
Henry Gondorff: Can't lay that off in time. A bet like that could break us.
[Hooker stares at him incredulously]
Doyle Lonnegan: Not only are you a cheat, you're a gutless cheat as well.
Henry Gondorff: What are the odds?
Eddie Niles: Four to one.
Henry Gondorff: Take all of it!
Johnny Hooker: Listen, Gondorff! Am I gonna learn the big con or not?
Henry Gondorff: What's your hurry?
Johnny Hooker: I want to play for Lonnegan.
Henry Gondorff: You know anything about the guy?
Johnny Hooker: Yeah! He croaked Luther! Anything else I gotta know?
Johnny Hooker: [after he calms down] All right. He runs a numbers racket on the south side. He owns a packing house. A few banks.
Henry Gondorff: Yeah, and half the politicians in New York and Chicago. Not a fix in this world is gonna cool him out if he blows on you.
Johnny Hooker: I'll get him anyway.
Henry Gondorff: Why?
Johnny Hooker: 'Cause I don't know enough about killin' to kill him.
Henry Gondorff: You can't do it alone, you know. It takes a mob of guys like you and enough money to make them look good.
Johnny Hooker: I know plenty of guys.
Henry Gondorff: It's not like playing winos in the street. You can't outrun Lonnegan.
Johnny Hooker: I never played for no winos.
Henry Gondorff: You gotta keep his con even after you take his money. He can't know you took him.
Johnny Hooker: You're scared of him.
Henry Gondorff: Right down to my socks, buster! You're talkin' about a guy who'd kill a grifter over a chunk of money that wouldn't support him for two days!
Henry Gondorff: What's your hurry?
Johnny Hooker: I want to play for Lonnegan.
Henry Gondorff: You know anything about the guy?
Johnny Hooker: Yeah! He croaked Luther! Anything else I gotta know?
Johnny Hooker: [after he calms down] All right. He runs a numbers racket on the south side. He owns a packing house. A few banks.
Henry Gondorff: Yeah, and half the politicians in New York and Chicago. Not a fix in this world is gonna cool him out if he blows on you.
Johnny Hooker: I'll get him anyway.
Henry Gondorff: Why?
Johnny Hooker: 'Cause I don't know enough about killin' to kill him.
Henry Gondorff: You can't do it alone, you know. It takes a mob of guys like you and enough money to make them look good.
Johnny Hooker: I know plenty of guys.
Henry Gondorff: It's not like playing winos in the street. You can't outrun Lonnegan.
Johnny Hooker: I never played for no winos.
Henry Gondorff: You gotta keep his con even after you take his money. He can't know you took him.
Johnny Hooker: You're scared of him.
Henry Gondorff: Right down to my socks, buster! You're talkin' about a guy who'd kill a grifter over a chunk of money that wouldn't support him for two days!
Doyle Lonnegan: You see that fella in the red sweather over there? His name's Donnie McCoy. Works a few of the protection rackets for Cunnaro when he's waiting for something better to happen. Donnie and I have known each other since we were six. Take a good look at that face, Floyd. Because if he ever finds out I can be beat by one lousy grifter, I'll have to kill him and every other hood who wants to muscle in on my Chicago operation.
Billie: Who told you this guy was in here?
Lieutenant William Snyder: Nobody. I just know what kind of woman he likes. Going to check all the joy houses till I find him.
Billie: Oh, well maybe I could help you, if you tell me his name.
Lieutenant William Snyder: I doubt it. Which way are the rooms?
Billie: Right through there. But I wouldn't go in there if I were you.
Lieutenant William Snyder: What you are going to do, call the cops?
Billie: I don't have to. You'd be busting in on the Chief of Police just up the hall.
Lieutenant William Snyder: Nobody. I just know what kind of woman he likes. Going to check all the joy houses till I find him.
Billie: Oh, well maybe I could help you, if you tell me his name.
Lieutenant William Snyder: I doubt it. Which way are the rooms?
Billie: Right through there. But I wouldn't go in there if I were you.
Lieutenant William Snyder: What you are going to do, call the cops?
Billie: I don't have to. You'd be busting in on the Chief of Police just up the hall.
