Michael Gallagher quotes from Absence of Malice (1981)

View Quote Megan Carter: I'm a reporter! What did you expect? Don't try to make me feel guilty.
Michael Gallagher: You think I had something to do with Diaz?
Megan Carter: It's a distinct possibility. Why are they picking on you?
Michael Gallagher: Where did that story come from? "Knowledgeable sources", you said. Now who is that? Somebody's trying to get to me. Somebody with no face and no name. You're the gofer. You listen to them, you write what they say - and then you help them hide. You say you've got a right to do that. And I got no right to know who they are.
Megan Carter: I'm sorry, Gallagher. I can't help you.

View Quote Michael Gallagher: Why aren't you married?
Megan Carter: How do you know I'm not?
Michael Gallagher: I don't see a ring.
Megan Carter: Haven't you heard of women's lib?
Michael Gallagher: Most of them are ugly.
Megan Carter: Is that supposed to be a compliment?

View Quote Megan Carter: Michael?
Michael Gallagher: You don't wanna come in here. I'm warning you.
Megan Carter: Michael, if I could just talk to you...
Michael Gallagher: Shut up! I don't want to hear it, I don't want to hear any of it! What the hell are you doing here? Details? Is that what you want? They found her naked in a tub. She didn't even want to make a mess! No water, just naked. Are you interested? You interested?
Megan Carter: Yes.
Michael Gallagher: She picked up a newspaper, for Christ's sake! And there it is, for everybody to see! She must have felt like ... [rips open her shirt] - just raped!
Megan Carter: Stop! Michael!
Michael Gallagher: She must have...
Megan Carter: Stop!
Michael Gallagher: You know something? When you kill yourself, it's a homicide, so they do an autopsy. They'll get a knife. They start here. They're gonna split her open. Up here they use shears. Shears, for Christ's sake! Oh, goddamn you!

View Quote Megan Carter: I am free every night this week but Friday.
Michael Gallagher: How about Friday?
Megan Carter: Okay!

View Quote Megan Carter: Would you tell me the truth, Michael? I'd just please like to know the truth.
Michael Gallagher: Tell you or the whole world?
Megan Carter: The truth is the truth.
Michael Gallagher: No. You wanna know the truth? Ask me as a person, I'll tell you. Ask me as a reporter, I got no comment.
Megan Carter: That's not fair.
Michael Gallagher: Not fair to whom? Wait a minute! You don't write the truth. You write what people say. What you overhear, you eavesdrop. You don't come across truth that easy. Maybe it's just what you think, what you feel. I don't need your goddamn newspaper to decide what they're gonna do with me. Or who I am.
Megan Carter: Then you tell me: Who are you?
Michael Gallagher: You mean you're not sure yet?
Megan Carter: No.
Michael Gallagher: Well... I guess you'll just have to decide for yourself. Who I am and what you are.

View Quote James A. Wells: Mr Gallagher...I seem to want to ask if you set all this up. If I do, you ain't gonna tell me, are you? No. You're a smart man, Mr. Gallagher. I'm pretty smart myself. Don't get too smart.
Michael Gallagher: Everybody in this room is smart, and everybody was just doing their job, and Teresa Perrone is dead. Who do I see about that?
James A. Wells: Ain't nobody to see. I wish there was. You're excused now, sir.

View Quote Megan Carter: Well, you got us all, didn't you Michael?
Michael Gallagher: [shaking his head] You got yourselves.