Road to Perdition (2002)

Tom Hanks: Michael Sullivan

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Quotes 

• Michael Sullivan, Jr. : So when do I get my share of the money?

  Michael Sullivan : Well... how much do you want?

  Michael Sullivan, Jr. : Two hundred dollars.

  Michael Sullivan : Okay. Deal.

  [Michael Jr. stops eating and thinks for awhile] 

  Michael Sullivan, Jr. : Could I have had more?

  Michael Sullivan : You'll never know.

• Michael Sullivan : He murdered Annie and Peter!

  John Rooney : There are only murderers in this room! Michael! Open your eyes! This is the life we chose, the life we lead. And there is only one guarantee: none of us will see heaven.

  Michael Sullivan : Michael could.

  John Rooney : Then do everything that you can to see that that happens.

• Michael Sullivan, Jr. : I couldn't do it.

  Michael Sullivan : I know.

• Michael Sullivan, Jr. : Did you like Peter more than me?

  Michael Sullivan : No. I loved you both the same.

  Michael Sullivan, Jr. : You were always... different with me.

  Michael Sullivan : Was I?

  [Sullivan thinks for a while] 

  Michael Sullivan : Well, I suppose it was because Peter was just... such a sweet little boy, you know? And you... you were more like me. And I... didn't want you to be.

• Michael Sullivan : If I'm not back in half an hour, you go see Reverend Lynch at First Methodist and you tell him what's happened. Do NOT go to Father Callaway.

• Mr. McDougal : Well this is a pleasant surprise. I wasn't expecting another deposit until the end of the month.

  Michael Sullivan : Actually, I'm making a withdrawal.

  [Pulls his gun] 

  Michael Sullivan : And I want dirty money only, everything you're holding for Capone that's off the books. Open the safe.

  Mr. McDougal : You're insane. You know they'll find out who you are.

  Michael Sullivan : The name's Sullivan. You want me to spell it?

• [Sullivan has a gun to Kelly's head] 

  Jack Kelly : Think, Mike. Don't be stupid. I'm just the messenger.

  Michael Sullivan : [lowers his gun]  Then give Mr. Rooney a message for me.

  Jack Kelly : What is it?

  [Sullivan shoots him] 

• [after seeing his father kill someone] 

  Michael Sullivan, Jr. : Does Mama know?

  Michael Sullivan : Your mother knows I love Mr. Rooney. When we had nothing, he gave us a home... a life... and we owe him.

• Michael Sullivan : I'd like to work for you.

  Frank Nitti : [Chuckles]  Well... that's very interesting.

  Michael Sullivan : And in return, I'd like you to turn a blind eye to... what I have to do.

  Frank Nitti : And what is that?

  Michael Sullivan : Kill the man who murdered my family.

• [When he learns it's Mike Sullivan, the bouncer gets scared] 

  Michael Sullivan : You gonna frisk me?

  Frank the Bouncer : Should I?

  Michael Sullivan : It's a good idea.

• [Sullivan is teaching his son how to drive] 

  Michael Sullivan : Look out for the tractor, Mike. Michael... look out for the tractor. You're coming up now. Watch out for the tractor. Watch out for the tractor! Watch out for the tractor!

  [Sullivan, Jr. swerves to avoid the tractor in the nick of time] 

  Michael Sullivan, Jr. : We made it!

  Michael Sullivan : [sarcastically]  Oh, yeah, yeah. We made it.

• Michael Sullivan, Jr. : What are you going to do?

  Michael Sullivan : Just one last thing, and then it's done.

• [a knock at the door] 

  Alexander Rance : It's open. Top marks for speed, no marks for cookery.

  [holding plate with egg] 

  Alexander Rance : What, may I ask, do you call this?

  Michael Sullivan : Put it down.

  Alexander Rance : Mr. Sullivan!

  Michael Sullivan : Mr. Rance.

  Alexander Rance : How did you find me?

  Michael Sullivan : This is the best hotel in the area and you are so very... particular.

  Alexander Rance : Yes, indeed, Mr. Sullivan.

• Michael Sullivan : So what does the clutch do?

  Michael Sullivan, Jr. : It clutches

• Alexander Rance : What do you think you're going to accomplish by interfering with our business, Mr. Sullivan?

  Michael Sullivan : This has nothing to do with your business.

  Alexander Rance : It's all business. That's what you fail to grasp. And in business, you must have something to trade. And you, Mr. Sullivan, have nothing to trade. Especially not for anyone as valuable as Connor Rooney.

• Frank Nitti : [Michael Sr. is requesting a sanctioned reprisal against Conner Rooney]  All these years you've been living under the protection of people who care about you, and those same people are protecting you now, including me. So, if you go ahead with this, if you open that door, you're walking through it alone, and all that loyalty, and all that trust will no longer exist for you. And Mike, you won't make it. Not on your own, and not with a little boy.

  Michael Sullivan : You're protecting him already?

  Frank Nitti : We're protecting our interests, Mike.

• Michael Sullivan : [to Junior]  Michael, it's a wake. So I don't want to see those dice.

• Michael Sullivan : I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry... I'm sorry.

• [Maguire has pulled out a camera] 

  Michael Sullivan : Is that, uh... your profession or... your pleasure?

  Maguire : Both, I guess. To be paid to do what you love... ain't that the dream?

• [after Maguire tells Sullivan about his profession] 

  Maguire : You ever seen one?

  Michael Sullivan : Yeah.

  Maguire : Sorry for you. Terrible thing... but it sure makes you feel alive, don't it?

  Michael Sullivan : I'll drink to that.

• Mr. McDougal : You really trust me not to say anything?

  Michael Sullivan : Always trust a bank manager.

• Michael Sullivan : I don't have any business with you, Mr. Kelly.

  Jack Kelly : But I have business with you, Mike.

  Michael Sullivan : Go ahead.

  [Kelly sets a briefcase on the table] 

  Michael Sullivan : What is that?

  Jack Kelly : $25,000. Mr. Rooney wants you to know there's more if you need it. You have friends in Ireland, Mike. Why don't you take Peter and leave?

  Michael Sullivan : I can't take Peter. He's dead. So, where's Connor?

  Jack Kelly : He's in hiding.

  Michael Sullivan : Where?

  Jack Kelly : You know I can't tell you that, Mike.

  [Mike raises his gun] 

  Jack Kelly : You think sticking a gun to my head is gonna make any difference to me? If I tell you, I'm a dead man anyway. We both are.

• Nitti's Henchman : It's nice to see you. We heard what happened. How you holding up?

  Michael Sullivan : I need to talk to Mr. Nitti.

  Nitti's Henchman : He's awful busy.

  Michael Sullivan : I can wait.

• Annie Sullivan : [seeing John Rooney at the house]  What's he doing here?

  Michael Sullivan : Michael was hiding in the car when I went out last night.

  Annie Sullivan : Oh, Jesus, Mike.

  Michael Sullivan : I've spoken to him. It won't happen again.

• John Rooney : How is Michael? Is he okay?

  Michael Sullivan : I've spoken to him. He understands.

  John Rooney : That's tough, seeing that for the first time. Well, you turned out. You can't protect him forever. If it wasn't this, it'd be something else.

• Michael Sullivan : When I say "get down", you get down. You don't ask questions. When I say we're stopping to eat, you stay with me. You listen to me from now on! Or you start taking care of yourself.

  Michael Sullivan, Jr. : I can take care of myself fine! You never wanted me along anyway. You think it's my fault this happened!

  Michael Sullivan : Stop it, Michael. It was not your fault! None of this is your fault!

  Michael Sullivan, Jr. : Just take me to Aunt Sarah's.

  Michael Sullivan : I can't take you there. Not now.

  Michael Sullivan, Jr. : Why?

  Michael Sullivan : He knows that's where we're going.

  Michael Sullivan, Jr. : So what are you gonna do?

  Michael Sullivan : Something I can't do alone. You have to listen to me now, okay? Or else both of us are dead. I can make Capone give up Connor. Now, there's one thing Chicago loves more than anything and that's their money. They've got it in banks all over the state. We're gonna have to find it and take it. Are you gonna help me?

  Michael Sullivan, Jr. : Yes.

  Michael Sullivan : Then I have to teach you something.

• Finn McGovern : You tell your father my brother never stole from him. I've checked the books. He never sold no booze to no one. Every single barrel is accounted for. Anyway, if he stole it, where's the money?

  Connor Rooney : The fuck should I know? Did you check his mattress?

  Finn McGovern : Or maybe you should check yours.

  Connor Rooney : Look, there is something immoral here. Don't you think so, Mike? My beloved father throws your undeserving little brother the wake of his life and-and this, this is your "thank you"? What a hideous world this is.

  Finn McGovern : You think you're so smart? You think we don't know? I mean, you've been spending so much time in Chicago...

  [Connor takes out a pistol and shoots Finn in the head, and a machine gun battle ensues] 

  Michael Sullivan : What was that?

  Connor Rooney : We're out of here.

  Michael Sullivan : Jesus Christ, Connor, what the hell are you thinking?

  Connor Rooney : [noticing an obscured figure nearby]  What's that?

• Michael Sullivan : [robbing Capone's money from a bank]  That's for you. Call it a handling charge. Tell Chicago I took it, but if read about this in the papers, if I read about the savings of some innocent farmers being wiped out by a heartless bank robber, I won't be happy. Good afternoon.

• Michael Sullivan, Jr. : Where are we going?

  Michael Sullivan : To Chicago. There's a man there who runs things. I've done some work for him. We have to find out where he stands. Try to get some sleep.

• Michael Sullivan : [to Michael, Jr. after Annie and Peter are killed]  This house is not our home anymore. It's just an empty building.

• Michael Sullivan : [realizing Michael, Jr. witnessed a murder]  Oh, Jesus. Michael! Are you hurt?

  [Michael shakes his head] 

  Michael Sullivan : You saw everything?

  [Michael nods] 

  Michael Sullivan : Oh, Jesus. You are not to speak of this to anyone. You understand? Not to anyone!

  Connor Rooney : [approaching]  Who's this? It's one of yours?

  Michael Sullivan : He must have been hiding in the car.

  Connor Rooney : Well, can he keep a secret?

  Michael Sullivan : He's my son.

• Michael Sullivan : Peter, I can't come to your concert tonight. I'm working.

  Peter Sullivan : Working at what?

  Annie Sullivan : Putting food on your plate, young man.

• Michael Sullivan : All right, you stay here. You stay out of sight.

  Michael Sullivan, Jr. : Don't go, Pa. Don't go.

  Michael Sullivan : Michael...

  Michael Sullivan, Jr. : Don't go!

  Michael Sullivan : Tomorrow, when they find out we're gone, they're gonna come after us. I have to protect you now.

• Michael Sullivan : You remember your Aunt Sarah? Your mom's sister? She lives in Perdition. She'll take you in.

  Michael Sullivan, Jr. : Where is it?

  Michael Sullivan : Right by the lake. We went there once, all of us, when you were four, maybe five. It's beautiful. You remember?

  Michael Sullivan, Jr. : The place with the dog.

• Michael Sullivan : Sarah? It's me Mike. We're here...