A Bronx Tale Quotes
A father becomes worried when a local gangster befriends his son in the Bronx in the 1960s.
Calogero 'C' Anello: [as C walks out of Sonny's funeral] Sonny and my father always said that when I get older I would understand. Well, I finally did. I learned something from these two men. I learned to give love and get love unconditionally. You just have to accept people for what they are, and I learned the greatest gift of all. The saddest thing in life is wasted talent, and the choices that you make will shape your life forever. But you can ask anybody from my neighborhood, and they'll just tell you this is just another Bronx tale.
Sonny: Alright, listen to me. You pull up right where she lives, right? Before you get outta the car, you lock both doors. Then, get outta the car, you walk over to her. You bring her over to the car. Dig out the key, put it in the lock and open the door for her. Then you let her get in. Then you close the door. Then you walk around the back of the car and look through the rear window. If she doesn't reach over and lift up that button so that you can get in: dump her.
Calogero 'C' Anello: Just like that?
Sonny: Listen to me, kid. If she doesn't reach over and lift up that button so that you can get in, that means she's a selfish broad and all you're seeing is the tip of the iceberg. You dump her and you dump her fast.
Calogero 'C' Anello: Just like that?
Sonny: Listen to me, kid. If she doesn't reach over and lift up that button so that you can get in, that means she's a selfish broad and all you're seeing is the tip of the iceberg. You dump her and you dump her fast.
[after Sonny just allows unwanted bikers to drink in his bar]
Satan's Messengers: You got some brews down here. Nice cold ones. Get us some nice cold brews, come on. Two over here, huh? One more here, one more.
[Sonny takes Calogero outside and talks to him]
Satan's Messengers: Alright, brothers. If I may. A toast to our host.
[They all salute]
Satan's Messengers: [as they shake their drinks and spray them all over the bar] In the name of the father, the son and the holy ghost!
[Sonny gets angered by this and confronts them again]
Tony Toupee: Look at all the shit all over me.
[the bikers curse at him]
Sonny: Hey!
Satan's Messengers: Oh, you again.
Sonny: That wasn't very nice. Now youse gotta leave.
Satan's Messengers: I'll tell you when the fuck we leave alright. Get the fuck away from me.
Satan's Messengers: [the bikers laugh at Sonny as he walks to the door] Go watch the bikes eh!
[Sonny locks the front door. All the bikers look and curse at him]
Sonny: Now youse can't leave.
Calogero 'C' Anello: [narrating] "I will never forget the look on their faces. All eight of them. Their faces dropped. All their courage and strength was drained right from their bodies. They had reputation for breaking up bars, but they knew that instant, they'd made a fatal mistake. This time they walked into the wrong bar."
[a fight ensues between the bikers and Sonny's gang]
Satan's Messengers: You got some brews down here. Nice cold ones. Get us some nice cold brews, come on. Two over here, huh? One more here, one more.
[Sonny takes Calogero outside and talks to him]
Satan's Messengers: Alright, brothers. If I may. A toast to our host.
[They all salute]
Satan's Messengers: [as they shake their drinks and spray them all over the bar] In the name of the father, the son and the holy ghost!
[Sonny gets angered by this and confronts them again]
Tony Toupee: Look at all the shit all over me.
[the bikers curse at him]
Sonny: Hey!
Satan's Messengers: Oh, you again.
Sonny: That wasn't very nice. Now youse gotta leave.
Satan's Messengers: I'll tell you when the fuck we leave alright. Get the fuck away from me.
Satan's Messengers: [the bikers laugh at Sonny as he walks to the door] Go watch the bikes eh!
[Sonny locks the front door. All the bikers look and curse at him]
Sonny: Now youse can't leave.
Calogero 'C' Anello: [narrating] "I will never forget the look on their faces. All eight of them. Their faces dropped. All their courage and strength was drained right from their bodies. They had reputation for breaking up bars, but they knew that instant, they'd made a fatal mistake. This time they walked into the wrong bar."
[a fight ensues between the bikers and Sonny's gang]
Sonny: Mickey Mantle? Is that what you're upset about? Mickey Mantle makes $100,000 a year. How much does your father make? You don't know? Well, see if your father can't pay the rent go ask Mickey Mantle and see what he tells you. Mickey Mantle don't care about you, so why should you care about him? Nobody cares.
Sonny: First of all, I respect you, Lorenzo, you're a stand-up guy and we're from the same neighbourhood, but don't ever talk to me like that again. I tell yor kid to go to school, to go to college...
Lorenzo: You don't understand: it's not what you say, it's what he sees, the clothes, the cars, the money, it's everything. He tried to throw away his baseball cards because he said Mickey Mantle will never pay the rent.
Sonny: [laughs] He said that to you? I don't believe this kid.
[They all laugh]
Lorenzo: That's not funny. Not when your kid has a bigger bank account than you.
Sonny: I offered you a job, you said "No" to me.
Lorenzo: That's right, and I say "No" now. Just leave my son alone, please.
Sonny: Hey!
[Stands up]
Sonny: Don't you see how I treat that kid? I treat him like he's my son.
Lorenzo: He ain't your son, he's MY son.
Sonny: He's what?
Lorenzo: He's MY son!
Sonny: Hey, get the fuck outta here!
Lorenzo: [Shoved by the gangsters towards the door] I'm not afraid of you.
Sonny: You should be.
Lorenzo: I know who you are, Sonny, I know what you're capable of, and I would never step out of line, you can ask anyone in the neighbourhood who knows me. But this time, you're wrong. You don't fool with a man's family. This is my son, not yours.
Sonny: What are you gonna do, fight me?
Lorenzo: You stay away from my son!
Sonny: Get outta here before I give you a fucking slap!
Lorenzo: You just stay away from my son!
Sonny: Go ahead!
Lorenzo: I don't care who you are! You stay away from my son!
[the gangsters force him out of the bar]
Lorenzo: You don't understand: it's not what you say, it's what he sees, the clothes, the cars, the money, it's everything. He tried to throw away his baseball cards because he said Mickey Mantle will never pay the rent.
Sonny: [laughs] He said that to you? I don't believe this kid.
[They all laugh]
Lorenzo: That's not funny. Not when your kid has a bigger bank account than you.
Sonny: I offered you a job, you said "No" to me.
Lorenzo: That's right, and I say "No" now. Just leave my son alone, please.
Sonny: Hey!
[Stands up]
Sonny: Don't you see how I treat that kid? I treat him like he's my son.
Lorenzo: He ain't your son, he's MY son.
Sonny: He's what?
Lorenzo: He's MY son!
Sonny: Hey, get the fuck outta here!
Lorenzo: [Shoved by the gangsters towards the door] I'm not afraid of you.
Sonny: You should be.
Lorenzo: I know who you are, Sonny, I know what you're capable of, and I would never step out of line, you can ask anyone in the neighbourhood who knows me. But this time, you're wrong. You don't fool with a man's family. This is my son, not yours.
Sonny: What are you gonna do, fight me?
Lorenzo: You stay away from my son!
Sonny: Get outta here before I give you a fucking slap!
Lorenzo: You just stay away from my son!
Sonny: Go ahead!
Lorenzo: I don't care who you are! You stay away from my son!
[the gangsters force him out of the bar]
Sonny: You gotta do what your heart tells you to do. Let me tell you somethin' right now. You're only allowed three great women in your lifetime. They come along like the great fighters, every ten years. Rocky Marciano. Sugar Ray Robinson. Joe Louis. Sometimes you get 'em all at once. Me? I had my three when I was 16. That happens. What are you gonna do? That's the way it goes, you know? Tell you right now. See this girl? Maybe this girl, she put wind in your sails. Maybe she's your first great one.
[a biker gang called The Satan's Messengers enters Sonny's bar wearing their biker clothes]
Jimmy Whispers: Fellas, youse are not dressed properly. Youse gonna have to leave.
Satan's Messengers: Properly? What's wrong with the way we're dressed?
Sonny: Jimmy! What's up?
Jimmy Whispers: These gentleman ain't dressed right, and I asked them to leave.
Sonny: [confronting them] Is there a problem here?
Satan's Messengers: Nah, the problem is your man here says we're not properly dressed. Like our money ain't green. We just want a couple of beers.
Sonny: A few beers, that's it?
Satan's Messengers: That's it. We'll be on our way. We ain't looking for trouble.
Sonny: Spoken like a gentleman. Give em the beers. Go ahead.
Satan's Messengers: Thanks, appreciate it.
[Sonny whispers to Jimmy to go in the back room and prepare the guys]
Jimmy Whispers: Fellas, youse are not dressed properly. Youse gonna have to leave.
Satan's Messengers: Properly? What's wrong with the way we're dressed?
Sonny: Jimmy! What's up?
Jimmy Whispers: These gentleman ain't dressed right, and I asked them to leave.
Sonny: [confronting them] Is there a problem here?
Satan's Messengers: Nah, the problem is your man here says we're not properly dressed. Like our money ain't green. We just want a couple of beers.
Sonny: A few beers, that's it?
Satan's Messengers: That's it. We'll be on our way. We ain't looking for trouble.
Sonny: Spoken like a gentleman. Give em the beers. Go ahead.
Satan's Messengers: Thanks, appreciate it.
[Sonny whispers to Jimmy to go in the back room and prepare the guys]
Lorenzo: [about C] The other night he tried to throw away his baseball cards because he said Mickey Mantle would never pay our rent.
Sonny: [laughs] He said that to you? I can't believe that kid.
[They all start laughing]
Lorenzo: That's not funny. Not when your kid has a bigger bank account than you do.
Sonny: [laughs] He said that to you? I can't believe that kid.
[They all start laughing]
Lorenzo: That's not funny. Not when your kid has a bigger bank account than you do.
[a few blacks cross the road on bicycles]
Slick: What the fuck, man? What the fuck? These fuckin' spooks just came out of nowhere!
Calogero 'C' Anello: Why don't you just leave em alone?
Slick: What the fuck is it with you and these niggers lately?
Calogero 'C' Anello: They ain't bothering nobody.
Slick: They're FUCKIN' bothering me!
Calogero 'C' Anello: They ain't bothering me.
Slick: What the fuck, man? What the fuck? These fuckin' spooks just came out of nowhere!
Calogero 'C' Anello: Why don't you just leave em alone?
Slick: What the fuck is it with you and these niggers lately?
Calogero 'C' Anello: They ain't bothering nobody.
Slick: They're FUCKIN' bothering me!
Calogero 'C' Anello: They ain't bothering me.
Calogero 'C' Anello: Mommy! Mommy! Look what I got! Some peaches... for... free.
[he sees his parents about to confront him]
Lorenzo: [showing C the wad of cash] What's this?
Calogero 'C' Anello: What's what, Dad?
Lorenzo: Where'd you get this? Your mother found it behind your drawer.
Calogero 'C' Anello: It's my savings, Dad.
Lorenzo: 600 dollars you've been saving? What'd you do, become a brain surgeon overnight, son?
Rosina Anello: Tell your father where you got the money!
Calogero 'C' Anello: I worked for it.
Lorenzo: Doin' what?
Calogero 'C' Anello: Things.
Lorenzo: Things? Whadaya mean 'things'? What things?
Calogero 'C' Anello: Things. Y'know, things.
Lorenzo: Don't lie to me. Just tell the truth and I won't get upset.
Calogero 'C' Anello: Promise?
Lorenzo: I'm your father. Would I say it if I didn't mean it?
Calogero 'C' Anello: I worked the crap games and the guys gave me tips.
Rosina Anello: Crap games?
Lorenzo: Crap games? What crap games?
[C looks down]
Lorenzo: What crap games? What tips?
[still no answer]
Lorenzo: WHAT CRAP GAMES?
Calogero 'C' Anello: I thought you weren't gonna get upset, Dad.
Lorenzo: I lied! Now tell me everything!
Calogero 'C' Anello: I told you. I worked for Sonny and the guys gave me tips.
Lorenzo: I knew it!
Rosina Anello: Didn't we tell ya a thousand times not to go near that bar?
[he sees his parents about to confront him]
Lorenzo: [showing C the wad of cash] What's this?
Calogero 'C' Anello: What's what, Dad?
Lorenzo: Where'd you get this? Your mother found it behind your drawer.
Calogero 'C' Anello: It's my savings, Dad.
Lorenzo: 600 dollars you've been saving? What'd you do, become a brain surgeon overnight, son?
Rosina Anello: Tell your father where you got the money!
Calogero 'C' Anello: I worked for it.
Lorenzo: Doin' what?
Calogero 'C' Anello: Things.
Lorenzo: Things? Whadaya mean 'things'? What things?
Calogero 'C' Anello: Things. Y'know, things.
Lorenzo: Don't lie to me. Just tell the truth and I won't get upset.
Calogero 'C' Anello: Promise?
Lorenzo: I'm your father. Would I say it if I didn't mean it?
Calogero 'C' Anello: I worked the crap games and the guys gave me tips.
Rosina Anello: Crap games?
Lorenzo: Crap games? What crap games?
[C looks down]
Lorenzo: What crap games? What tips?
[still no answer]
Lorenzo: WHAT CRAP GAMES?
Calogero 'C' Anello: I thought you weren't gonna get upset, Dad.
Lorenzo: I lied! Now tell me everything!
Calogero 'C' Anello: I told you. I worked for Sonny and the guys gave me tips.
Lorenzo: I knew it!
Rosina Anello: Didn't we tell ya a thousand times not to go near that bar?
Lorenzo: [Coming to Calogero's defense against the angry gangsters] Calogero! Calogero!
[to Sonny]
Lorenzo: What happened to my son?
Sonny: Drive your bus and get the fuck out of here!
Lorenzo: I'll get my fucking bus!
[Tries to hit Sonny, but the gangsters grab him]
Lorenzo: You put your hands on me, I'll stick you in the fucking ground!
[the gangsters punch Lorenzo in the stomach and knock him down]
Sonny: Next time find out what's going on before you open your mouth.
[to Sonny]
Lorenzo: What happened to my son?
Sonny: Drive your bus and get the fuck out of here!
Lorenzo: I'll get my fucking bus!
[Tries to hit Sonny, but the gangsters grab him]
Lorenzo: You put your hands on me, I'll stick you in the fucking ground!
[the gangsters punch Lorenzo in the stomach and knock him down]
Sonny: Next time find out what's going on before you open your mouth.
