Wall Street Quotes
A young and impatient stockbroker is willing to do anything to get to the top, including trading on illegal inside information taken through a ruthless and greedy corporate raider who takes the youth under his wing.
Gordon Gekko: The richest one percent of this country owns half our country's wealth, five trillion dollars. One third of that comes from hard work, two thirds comes from inheritance, interest on interest accumulating to widows and idiot sons and what I do, stock and real estate speculation. It's bullshit. You got ninety percent of the American public out there with little or no net worth. I create nothing. I own. We make the rules, pal. The news, war, peace, famine, upheaval, the price per paper clip. We pick that rabbit out of the hat while everybody sits out there wondering how the hell we did it. Now you're not naive enough to think we're living in a democracy, are you buddy? It's the free market. And you're a part of it. You've got that killer instinct. Stick around pal, I've still got a lot to teach you.
Gordon Gekko: [at the Teldar Paper stockholder's meeting] Well, I appreciate the opportunity you're giving me Mr. Cromwell as the single largest shareholder in Teldar Paper, to speak. Well, ladies and gentlemen we're not here to indulge in fantasy but in political and economic reality. America, America has become a second-rate power. Its trade deficit and its fiscal deficit are at nightmare proportions. Now, in the days of the free market when our country was a top industrial power, there was accountability to the stockholder. The Carnegies, the Mellons, the men that built this great industrial empire, made sure of it because it was their money at stake. Today, management has no stake in the company! All together, these men sitting up here own less than three percent of the company. And where does Mr. Cromwell put his million-dollar salary? Not in Teldar stock; he owns less than one percent. You own the company. That's right, you, the stockholder. And you are all being royally screwed over by these, these bureaucrats, with their luncheons, their hunting and fishing trips, their corporate jets and golden parachutes.
Cromwell: This is an outrage! You're out of line Gekko!
Gordon Gekko: Teldar Paper, Mr. Cromwell, Teldar Paper has 33 different vice presidents each earning over 200 thousand dollars a year. Now, I have spent the last two months analyzing what all these guys do, and I still can't figure it out. One thing I do know is that our paper company lost 110 million dollars last year, and I'll bet that half of that was spent in all the paperwork going back and forth between all these vice presidents. The new law of evolution in corporate America seems to be survival of the unfittest. Well, in my book you either do it right or you get eliminated. In the last seven deals that I've been involved with, there were 2.5 million stockholders who have made a pretax profit of 12 billion dollars. Thank you. I am not a destroyer of companies. I am a liberator of them! The point is, ladies and gentleman, that greed, for lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right, greed works. Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Greed, in all of its forms; greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge has marked the upward surge of mankind. And greed, you mark my words, will not only save Teldar Paper, but that other malfunctioning corporation called the USA. Thank you very much.
Cromwell: This is an outrage! You're out of line Gekko!
Gordon Gekko: Teldar Paper, Mr. Cromwell, Teldar Paper has 33 different vice presidents each earning over 200 thousand dollars a year. Now, I have spent the last two months analyzing what all these guys do, and I still can't figure it out. One thing I do know is that our paper company lost 110 million dollars last year, and I'll bet that half of that was spent in all the paperwork going back and forth between all these vice presidents. The new law of evolution in corporate America seems to be survival of the unfittest. Well, in my book you either do it right or you get eliminated. In the last seven deals that I've been involved with, there were 2.5 million stockholders who have made a pretax profit of 12 billion dollars. Thank you. I am not a destroyer of companies. I am a liberator of them! The point is, ladies and gentleman, that greed, for lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right, greed works. Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Greed, in all of its forms; greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge has marked the upward surge of mankind. And greed, you mark my words, will not only save Teldar Paper, but that other malfunctioning corporation called the USA. Thank you very much.
[Blue Star has gone from 24 to 16 1/2 in a very short time]
Gordon Gekko: Fox, where the hell are you? I am losing MILLIONS! You got me into this airline and you sure as hell better get me out or the only job you'll ever have on the Street is SWEEPING IT! You hear me, Fox?
Bud Fox: You once told me, don't get emotional about stock. Don't! The bid is 16 1/2 and going down. As your broker, I advise you to take it.
Gordon Gekko: Yeah. Well you TAKE IT!
[shouts]
Gordon Gekko: *Right in the ass you fucking scumbag cocksucker!*
Bud Fox: It's two minutes to closing, Gordon. What do you want to do? Decide.
Gordon Gekko: [calms down] Dump it.
Gordon Gekko: Fox, where the hell are you? I am losing MILLIONS! You got me into this airline and you sure as hell better get me out or the only job you'll ever have on the Street is SWEEPING IT! You hear me, Fox?
Bud Fox: You once told me, don't get emotional about stock. Don't! The bid is 16 1/2 and going down. As your broker, I advise you to take it.
Gordon Gekko: Yeah. Well you TAKE IT!
[shouts]
Gordon Gekko: *Right in the ass you fucking scumbag cocksucker!*
Bud Fox: It's two minutes to closing, Gordon. What do you want to do? Decide.
Gordon Gekko: [calms down] Dump it.
Gordon Gekko: [meeting alone together in Central Park] Hiya, Buddy.
Bud Fox: [nods as the both walk up to face one another] Gordon.
Gordon Gekko: [with a smirk on his face] Sand bagged me on Bluestar huh? I guess you think you taught the teacher a lesson that the tail can wag the dog huh? Well let me clue you in, pal. The ice is melting right underneath your feet.
[punches Bud and grabs him by the coattails]
Gordon Gekko: Did you think you could've gotten this far this fast with anyone else, huh? That you'd be out there dicking someone like Darien? No. You'd still be cold calling widows and dentists tryin' to sell 'em 20 shares of some dog shit stock. I took you in.
[hits him again]
Gordon Gekko: A NOBODY!
[and again]
Gordon Gekko: I opened the doors for you! Showed you how the system works! The value of information! How to *get it*! Fulham oil! Brant resources! Geodynamics! And this is how you fucking pay me back you COCKROACH?
[hits him once again and Bud falls to the ground]
Gordon Gekko: I GAVE you Darien. I GAVE you your manhood. I gave you EVERYTHING!
[calms down, then takes out his handkerchief and throws it to Bud to clean off the blood]
Gordon Gekko: You could've been one of the great ones Buddy. I looked at you and saw myself. Why?
Bud Fox: [getting up] I don't know. I guess I realized that I'm just Bud Fox.
[firmly]
Bud Fox: As much as I wanted to be Gordon Gekko, I'll *always* be Bud Fox.
[tosses back the handkerchief and walks away]
Bud Fox: [nods as the both walk up to face one another] Gordon.
Gordon Gekko: [with a smirk on his face] Sand bagged me on Bluestar huh? I guess you think you taught the teacher a lesson that the tail can wag the dog huh? Well let me clue you in, pal. The ice is melting right underneath your feet.
[punches Bud and grabs him by the coattails]
Gordon Gekko: Did you think you could've gotten this far this fast with anyone else, huh? That you'd be out there dicking someone like Darien? No. You'd still be cold calling widows and dentists tryin' to sell 'em 20 shares of some dog shit stock. I took you in.
[hits him again]
Gordon Gekko: A NOBODY!
[and again]
Gordon Gekko: I opened the doors for you! Showed you how the system works! The value of information! How to *get it*! Fulham oil! Brant resources! Geodynamics! And this is how you fucking pay me back you COCKROACH?
[hits him once again and Bud falls to the ground]
Gordon Gekko: I GAVE you Darien. I GAVE you your manhood. I gave you EVERYTHING!
[calms down, then takes out his handkerchief and throws it to Bud to clean off the blood]
Gordon Gekko: You could've been one of the great ones Buddy. I looked at you and saw myself. Why?
Bud Fox: [getting up] I don't know. I guess I realized that I'm just Bud Fox.
[firmly]
Bud Fox: As much as I wanted to be Gordon Gekko, I'll *always* be Bud Fox.
[tosses back the handkerchief and walks away]
Carl Fox: He's using you, kid. He's got your prick in his back pocket, but you're too blind to see it.
Bud Fox: No. What I see is a jealous old machinist who can't stand the fact that his son has become more successful than he has!
Carl Fox: What you see is a guy who never measured a man's success by the size of his WALLET!
Bud Fox: That's because you never had the GUTS to go out into the world and stake your own claim!
[Long Pause]
Carl Fox: Boy, if that's the way you feel, I must have done a really lousy job as a father.
Bud Fox: No. What I see is a jealous old machinist who can't stand the fact that his son has become more successful than he has!
Carl Fox: What you see is a guy who never measured a man's success by the size of his WALLET!
Bud Fox: That's because you never had the GUTS to go out into the world and stake your own claim!
[Long Pause]
Carl Fox: Boy, if that's the way you feel, I must have done a really lousy job as a father.
Marv: [Bud has been ignoring him] What the hell is the matter with you? Things are so bad out there even the lifers are complaining, but not you. No. You're pulling in big money. So what's the score huh...
Bud Fox: Hey LOOK! I am SICK and TIRED of playing wet nurse to you all the time! Will you do your own homework, Marv?
Marv: [leaves] What an asshole!
Bud Fox: Hey LOOK! I am SICK and TIRED of playing wet nurse to you all the time! Will you do your own homework, Marv?
Marv: [leaves] What an asshole!
Carl Fox: "There came into Egypt a Pharaoh who did not know."
Gordon Gekko: I beg your pardon, is that a proverb?
Carl Fox: No, a prophecy. The rich have been doing it to the poor since the beginning of time. The only difference between the Pyramids and the Empire State Building is the Egyptians didn't allow unions. I know what this guy is all about, greed. He don't give a damn about Bluestar or the unions. He's in and out for the buck and he don't take prisoners.
Gordon Gekko: I beg your pardon, is that a proverb?
Carl Fox: No, a prophecy. The rich have been doing it to the poor since the beginning of time. The only difference between the Pyramids and the Empire State Building is the Egyptians didn't allow unions. I know what this guy is all about, greed. He don't give a damn about Bluestar or the unions. He's in and out for the buck and he don't take prisoners.
[BlueStar stock has gone from 19 to 22 7/8 very quickly]
Marv: Whew! Stock's going to Pluto, man.
Bud Fox: Start unloading!
Marv: What? SELL?
Bud Fox: Dump it! Dump it all! Where's Lou?
Marv: He's over there.
[Marv gets on the phone]
Marv: Ken, this is Marvin at Jackson-Steinem. We've gotta DUMP this baby! Yeah, you've got to take the money and RUN on BST! Yeah, we're pulling out now.
Marv: Whew! Stock's going to Pluto, man.
Bud Fox: Start unloading!
Marv: What? SELL?
Bud Fox: Dump it! Dump it all! Where's Lou?
Marv: He's over there.
[Marv gets on the phone]
Marv: Ken, this is Marvin at Jackson-Steinem. We've gotta DUMP this baby! Yeah, you've got to take the money and RUN on BST! Yeah, we're pulling out now.
Darien Taylor: I don't want him to ever know, you understand?
Gordon Gekko: Mum's the word.
[after a pause]
Gordon Gekko: You and I are the same, Darien. We are smart enough not to buy in to the oldest myth running; love. A fiction created by people to keep them from jumping out of windows.
[laughs]
Darien Taylor: You know sometimes I miss you, Gordon; you're really twisted.
Gordon Gekko: Mum's the word.
[after a pause]
Gordon Gekko: You and I are the same, Darien. We are smart enough not to buy in to the oldest myth running; love. A fiction created by people to keep them from jumping out of windows.
[laughs]
Darien Taylor: You know sometimes I miss you, Gordon; you're really twisted.
Bud Fox: Hi, Marv.
Marv: [sarcastically] Oh, hi. Say, why don't YOU get the hell out of MY office!
Bud Fox: I know I've been a bit of a schmuck lately and I just want to apologize.
Marv: You've been a *real* schmuck lately. So go thou and sin no more.
Bud Fox: Let me make it up to you.
[types on computer]
Bud Fox: Bluestar. Put *all* your clients in it.
Marv: [pause] Ok, Buddy Buddy. We are back in business on Bluestar.
Marv: [sarcastically] Oh, hi. Say, why don't YOU get the hell out of MY office!
Bud Fox: I know I've been a bit of a schmuck lately and I just want to apologize.
Marv: You've been a *real* schmuck lately. So go thou and sin no more.
Bud Fox: Let me make it up to you.
[types on computer]
Bud Fox: Bluestar. Put *all* your clients in it.
Marv: [pause] Ok, Buddy Buddy. We are back in business on Bluestar.
[In the last scene, The Foxes are driving down FDR Drive towards the U.S. Court House downtown]
Carl Fox: You told the truth and gave the money back. All things considered in this cockamamie world, you're shooting par.
Mrs. Fox: You helped saved the airline, and the airline people are gonna remember you for it.
Carl Fox: That's right. If I were you, I'd think about the job at Bluestar that Wildman offered you.
Bud Fox: Dad, I'm going to jail and you know it.
Carl Fox: Yeah, well, maybe that's the price, son. It's gonna be hard on you, that's for sure. But maybe in some kind of screwed-up way, it's the best thing that could've happened to you. You stop going for the easy buck and produce something with your life. Create instead of living off the buying and selling of others.
[drops Bud off at the Supreme Court House]
Carl Fox: We'll park the car and catch up with you.
Bud Fox: All right.
Carl Fox: You told the truth and gave the money back. All things considered in this cockamamie world, you're shooting par.
Mrs. Fox: You helped saved the airline, and the airline people are gonna remember you for it.
Carl Fox: That's right. If I were you, I'd think about the job at Bluestar that Wildman offered you.
Bud Fox: Dad, I'm going to jail and you know it.
Carl Fox: Yeah, well, maybe that's the price, son. It's gonna be hard on you, that's for sure. But maybe in some kind of screwed-up way, it's the best thing that could've happened to you. You stop going for the easy buck and produce something with your life. Create instead of living off the buying and selling of others.
[drops Bud off at the Supreme Court House]
Carl Fox: We'll park the car and catch up with you.
Bud Fox: All right.
[Bud arrives at his to see Lynch, agents from the SEC and USPS, an lawyer from the U.S. Attorney's Office, and and an NYPD uniformed officer ready to arrest him]
Bud Fox: [shocked] I guess you're not here to open an I.R.A.
Postal Inspector: Mr. Fox, I'm Henry Patterson with the Postal Inspection Service. This is Mr. Ebanhopper from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Evan Morrissey from the Securities and Exchange Enforcement Office.
SEC Man: You're under arrest, Mr. Fox, for conspiracy to commit Securities fraud and for violating the Insider Trader's Sanction Act.
Lynch: [furious] The minute I've laid eyes on you, I knew you were no good.
U.S. Attorney: [as the cop places the handcuffs on Bud, he is read the Miranda warning] You have the right to remain silent and refuse to answer questions. Do you understand? Anything you do say may be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to consult an attorney before speaking to the police and to have an attorney present during any questioning now or in the future.
[Bud, now fired and disgraced from Jackson-Steinem, is led away from the office in tears amongst onlookers]
Bud Fox: [sobs to Carolyn] So long, Carolyn.
Bud Fox: [shocked] I guess you're not here to open an I.R.A.
Postal Inspector: Mr. Fox, I'm Henry Patterson with the Postal Inspection Service. This is Mr. Ebanhopper from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Evan Morrissey from the Securities and Exchange Enforcement Office.
SEC Man: You're under arrest, Mr. Fox, for conspiracy to commit Securities fraud and for violating the Insider Trader's Sanction Act.
Lynch: [furious] The minute I've laid eyes on you, I knew you were no good.
U.S. Attorney: [as the cop places the handcuffs on Bud, he is read the Miranda warning] You have the right to remain silent and refuse to answer questions. Do you understand? Anything you do say may be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to consult an attorney before speaking to the police and to have an attorney present during any questioning now or in the future.
[Bud, now fired and disgraced from Jackson-Steinem, is led away from the office in tears amongst onlookers]
Bud Fox: [sobs to Carolyn] So long, Carolyn.
[Early in the morning, Bud's phone rings]
Bud Fox: [answers the phone] Yeah.
Gordon Gekko: Money never sleeps, pal. Just made 800,000 in Hong Kong gold. It's been wired to you. Play with it. You've done good, but you gotta keep doing good. I've showed you how the game works. Now School's out.
Bud Fox: Mr, Gekko, I'm there for you 110%.
Gordon Gekko: No, no, no, no. You don't understand. I wanna be surprised. Astonish me, pal. New info. I don't care were or how you get it, just get it. My wife tells me you made a move on Darien. Well, here some inside info for you: That euro-flash G.Q.-type she's going out with has got big bucks, but he's putting her feet to sleep. Exit Visas are imminent, so I don't want you losing your place in line.
[take a look at the sunrise]
Gordon Gekko: Ah, Jesus. I wish you could see this. Light's coming up. I've never seen a painting that captures the beauty of the ocean at a moment like this. I'm gonna make you rich, Bud Fox. Yeah. Rich enough, you can afford a girl like Darien. This is your wake-up call, pal. Go to work.
Bud Fox: [answers the phone] Yeah.
Gordon Gekko: Money never sleeps, pal. Just made 800,000 in Hong Kong gold. It's been wired to you. Play with it. You've done good, but you gotta keep doing good. I've showed you how the game works. Now School's out.
Bud Fox: Mr, Gekko, I'm there for you 110%.
Gordon Gekko: No, no, no, no. You don't understand. I wanna be surprised. Astonish me, pal. New info. I don't care were or how you get it, just get it. My wife tells me you made a move on Darien. Well, here some inside info for you: That euro-flash G.Q.-type she's going out with has got big bucks, but he's putting her feet to sleep. Exit Visas are imminent, so I don't want you losing your place in line.
[take a look at the sunrise]
Gordon Gekko: Ah, Jesus. I wish you could see this. Light's coming up. I've never seen a painting that captures the beauty of the ocean at a moment like this. I'm gonna make you rich, Bud Fox. Yeah. Rich enough, you can afford a girl like Darien. This is your wake-up call, pal. Go to work.
[Lynch is firing Dan]
Dan: We go way back, Harry. You know, I-I've put a lot of money into this firm over the years, and I've brought in a lot of businesses.
Lynch: You've taken enough out, too. You know that. You should have something put aside, for chrissake.
Dan: Well, I don't. With the divorces and everything, I haven't had a chance. And the kids...
Lynch: The bridges are burned.
[Bud walks by Lynch's office]
Dan: When you fire me, I'm finished, Harry, finished on the street.
Lynch: How do think I feel about this?
Dan: How do you think I feel? I've got a lot of responsibilities.
Bud Fox: [to Marv] What's goin' on?
Marv: Lynch is giving him the boot. He's not pulling his quota. We're all just one trade away from humility, Bud.
Dan: We go way back, Harry. You know, I-I've put a lot of money into this firm over the years, and I've brought in a lot of businesses.
Lynch: You've taken enough out, too. You know that. You should have something put aside, for chrissake.
Dan: Well, I don't. With the divorces and everything, I haven't had a chance. And the kids...
Lynch: The bridges are burned.
[Bud walks by Lynch's office]
Dan: When you fire me, I'm finished, Harry, finished on the street.
Lynch: How do think I feel about this?
Dan: How do you think I feel? I've got a lot of responsibilities.
Bud Fox: [to Marv] What's goin' on?
Marv: Lynch is giving him the boot. He's not pulling his quota. We're all just one trade away from humility, Bud.
