The Sting (1973)
Robert Earl Jones: Luther Coleman
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Quotes
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Johnny Hooker : Luther! Good God, we're millionaires!
Luther : Jesus! Did you know he was that loaded?
Johnny Hooker : Hell no. I just cut into him. I woulda settled for pawning one of them shoes.
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Luther : You're late. Where have you been?
Johnny Hooker : I had a couple of appointments.
Luther : How much did you lose?
Johnny Hooker : [winces] All of it.
Luther : In one goddamn night? What are you spraying money around like that for? You could've been nailed.
Johnny Hooker : Ah, I checked the place first. There were no dicks in there.
Luther : But you're a con man! And you blew it like a pimp! I didn't teach you to be no pimp.
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Luther : [asking for help to make a payment drop] You won't have no trouble. There's $5,000 there. And here's 100 bucks for you.
Mottola : Okay, old man. I'll make your drop for you. And don't worry, you can trust me.
Johnny Hooker : [starting to leave, Mottola puts the envelope in the inner pocket of his jacket] Hey. Hey! If those goons decide to search you, you ain't gonna get far carrying it there.
Luther : What'll we do?
Johnny Hooker : You got a bag or something? How about a handkerchief?
Luther : [holding one out] Here's a handkerchief!
Johnny Hooker : Here. Give it to me. Give me the money.
Luther : Just hurry, will you?
Johnny Hooker : [putting the money in the handkerchief] You got any more? Better give it all to me if you want to keep it.
Luther : [Mottola hands over his own money he has to deliver] They think I've been holding out on them. My wife got sick, and I had to pay the bill. I wasn't holding out on 'em.
Johnny Hooker : [folding the handkerchief up, he sticks it down the front of his pants] Stuff it down your pants here. Like that. Got it?
Mottola : Uh-huh. Yeah.
Luther : Hurry, will you?
Johnny Hooker : [handing the handkerchief back] Ain't a tough guy in the world that's gonna frisk you there.
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Johnny Hooker : Are you nuts, carrying a wad around like that in a neighborhood like this? No wonder you got hit.
Luther : Thanks, I'm obliged to you. But I got to get going.
Johnny Hooker : [he tries to stand up] You ain't goin' nowhere on this leg. Let me see.
Luther : I gotta... got to run some slots down in West Bend for a mob here. I got a little behind in the payoffs. So they figure I been holding out on them. They gave me until 4:00 to come up with the cash. If they don't get it, I'm dead.
Johnny Hooker : It don't look good, Gramps. It's almost 4:00 now.
Luther : I'll give you and your friend 100 bucks to deliver it for me.
Johnny Hooker : I don't know. That mug that hit you is mad enough at me already. What if he's waiting around a corner waiting with some friends?
Luther : He won't know you're carrying it. Come on. You've got to help me out.
Johnny Hooker : Hey, I'm sorry, pal. I'm gonna maybe help you get fixed up, get to a doctor, but I ain't about to walk into no knife for you.
Luther : How about you? All you got to do is put it in the door slot. I'll give you the whole 100.
Johnny Hooker : Hey, what makes you think you can trust him? He didn't do shit.
Mottola : Hey, butt out, chicken liver. I gave him back the wallet, didn't I?
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Luther : I got an old friend in Chicago named Henry Gondorff. I want you to look him up. There ain't a better inside man alive. He'll teach you all you got to know.
Johnny Hooker : To hell with that. I want to work with you, Luther.
Luther : I'm out, Johnny.
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Johnny Hooker : What the hell's eating you? I've blown money before.
Luther : No class grifter would've done it, that's all.
Johnny Hooker : You think my play is bad?
Luther : I think you're the best. I wouldn't be getting out otherwise.
Johnny Hooker : What the hell are you talking about?
Luther : I'm getting too old for this racket. You hang on too long and you start embarrassing yourself.
Johnny Hooker : We just took off today on the biggest score we've ever had.
Luther : It's nothing compared to what you could be makin' on the big con.
Johnny Hooker : But you played the big con. You told me yourself it was some dumb game for mama's boys and flakes.
Luther : [with a chuckle] Hell, I never played no big con. I hung around and picked up a few things. Ain't no rich boys gonna trust a hungry nigger enough to be conned. But I tell you, I've been looking for this one all my life, Johnny. Now I have a chance to step out when I'm ahead.
Johnny Hooker : Come on! What would you do with yourself?
Luther : Oh, I have a brother down in K.C., runs a freigh outlet. I can go halfsies with him. It ain't too exciting, but it's mostly legal.