Matchstick Men Quotes
A phobic con artist and his protégé are on the verge of pulling off a lucrative swindle when the former's teenage daughter arrives unexpectedly.
Roy: Excuse me, hi! -
Pharmacist #2: I'll be right with your Sir.
Roy: [runs to other counter] Hi, I need a refill of this. No I don't have a prescription!
Pharmacist #1: Sir, please wait your turn.
Roy: I know, I know. B-but this; is an emergency.
Man in Line: Hey buddy, ever heard a line?
Roy: Hey have you ever been dragged to the sidewalk and beaten till you PISSED... BLOOD!
Pharmacist #2: I'll be right with your Sir.
Roy: [runs to other counter] Hi, I need a refill of this. No I don't have a prescription!
Pharmacist #1: Sir, please wait your turn.
Roy: I know, I know. B-but this; is an emergency.
Man in Line: Hey buddy, ever heard a line?
Roy: Hey have you ever been dragged to the sidewalk and beaten till you PISSED... BLOOD!
Frank Mercer: [narration from Frank's letter to Roy] Dear Roy, You're probably pretty upset. I don't blame you. You taught me most of what I know, so I suppose I owe you better than this. But you always told me if I ever got a shot at a big score, I should take it. And that's what I did. Sorry about the sap on the head, by the way, and for everything else. You always said guys like us can't afford to have regrets about what we do. That's gonna be a little harder for me, but I'll manage. If it makes any difference, you're the best I ever saw. I'd never find a better partner, and now I won't have to. I love you, man. Frank. P.S. Enjoy the gift.
[chuckles]
[chuckles]
Roy: Look, Doc, I spent last Tuesday watching fibers on my carpet. And the whole time I was watching my carpet, I was worrying that I, I might vomit. And the whole time, I was thinking, "I'm a grown man. I should know what goes on my head." And the more I thought about it... the more I realized that I should just blow my brains out and end it all. But then I thought, well, if I thought more about blowing my brains out... I start worrying about what that was going to do to my goddamn carpet. Okay, so, ah-he, that was a GOOD day, Doc. And, and I just want you to give me some pills and let me get on with my life.
Angela: Bullshit!
Roy: No bullshit. And watch your mouth at the table.
Angela: [Angela laughs] You're a con man?
Roy: Con artist. Flim flam man, matchstick man, loser. Whatever. Take your pick.
Angela: And that guy Frank?
Roy: He's my partner. My protege...
Angela: Teach me something...
Roy: You're funny.
Angela: Teach me something! A con.
Roy: I'm not teaching you anything...
Angela: Why not?
Roy: Because you're far too bright and innocent and beautiful and I'm not going to screw that up like everything else!
Angela: You really think that?
[pause]
Angela: That I'm beautiful?
Roy: No.
Angela: Well, then why won't you? Because crime doesn't pay?
Roy: No, it does. It does! Just not very well.
Angela: Well, you seem to be doing alright by it!
Roy: I'm not. Believe me. It's no fun doing what I do. A lot of times it's stealing from people who don't deserve it. Old people. Fat people. Lonely.
[pause]
Roy: A lot of times I feel sick about it.
Angela: Well, then why do you do it?
Roy: No bullshit. And watch your mouth at the table.
Angela: [Angela laughs] You're a con man?
Roy: Con artist. Flim flam man, matchstick man, loser. Whatever. Take your pick.
Angela: And that guy Frank?
Roy: He's my partner. My protege...
Angela: Teach me something...
Roy: You're funny.
Angela: Teach me something! A con.
Roy: I'm not teaching you anything...
Angela: Why not?
Roy: Because you're far too bright and innocent and beautiful and I'm not going to screw that up like everything else!
Angela: You really think that?
[pause]
Angela: That I'm beautiful?
Roy: No.
Angela: Well, then why won't you? Because crime doesn't pay?
Roy: No, it does. It does! Just not very well.
Angela: Well, you seem to be doing alright by it!
Roy: I'm not. Believe me. It's no fun doing what I do. A lot of times it's stealing from people who don't deserve it. Old people. Fat people. Lonely.
[pause]
Roy: A lot of times I feel sick about it.
Angela: Well, then why do you do it?
[asking how badly his life is affected by the agoraphobia]
Dr. Klein: And your personal relationships?
Roy: [laughing] What personal relationships?
Dr. Klein: When was the last time you were in one?
[pause]
Dr. Klein: You know... a relationship?
Roy: With a woman? A long time ago.
Dr. Klein: Five years? Ten years?
[pause]
Roy: Keep going, man...
Dr. Klein: And your personal relationships?
Roy: [laughing] What personal relationships?
Dr. Klein: When was the last time you were in one?
[pause]
Dr. Klein: You know... a relationship?
Roy: With a woman? A long time ago.
Dr. Klein: Five years? Ten years?
[pause]
Roy: Keep going, man...
