Mayor The City of San Francisco does not pay criminals not to commit crimes. Instead, we pay a police department.
Played by John Vernon 
Dirty Harry (1971) · 38 quotes
Dirty Harry (1971) · 38 quotes
3rd most-quoted character in Dirty Harry (1971): in 5 of its 38 quotes
Most scenes with: Harry Callahan (2), Chief (2)
Scenes with Mayor
5 scenes Mayor Mayor All right, let's have it.
Have what?
Mayor Your report. What have you been doing?
Oh, well for the past three quarters of an hour, I have been sitting on my ass in your outer office, waiting on you.
Bressler
Dammit all, Harry, that's the Mayor you're talking to!...
Mayor Won't you sit down Inspector Callahan?....There's a madman loose, I've asked you what's being done, fair enough?
We've got a dozen men checking identification files, checking on all known extortionists, roof top prowlers, rifle nuts, peepers..
Bressler
Mr. Mayor - we've arranged for rooftop surveillance and helicopter patrols especially around the Catholic churches and schools and in the black area.
Ballistics is checking on the slug. We're pretty sure it's a 30 ott 6, 7 lands and grooves, righthand twist...
Bressler
Sir - we're running a computer check on everybody in the files whose birthday falls between October 23rd and November the 21st.
Mayor Why?
Natives of Scorpio.
Mayor Thank you Inspector. Have any of you mentioned this note to anyone? How about you? (looking at Callahan)
Nobody.
Mayor Your wife, sweetheart,...press?
Nobody.
Mayor All right. Give the message to the Chronicle. We'll agree to pay, but we'll tell him we need time to get the money together.
Wait a minute. Do I get this rght? You're gonna play this creep's game?
Mayor It'll get us more breathing space.
It also might get somebody killed. Why don't you let me meet with the son-of-a-bitch?
No, none of that. You'd end up with a real blood-bath.
Mayor I agree with the Chief. We'll do it this way, all right?
Bressler
Thank you Mr. Mayor. Come on Callahan, let's go.
Mayor (calls out)
Callahan.
Sir?
Mayor I don't want any more trouble like you had last year in the Fillmore District. Understand? That's my policy.
Yeah, well, when an adult male is chasing a female with intent to commit rape, I shoot the bastard, that's my policy.
Mayor Intent? How did you establish that?
When a naked man is chasing a woman through an alley with a butcher knife and a hard-on, I figure he isn't out collecting for the Red Cross.
Mayor [after Callahan has left]
I think he's got a point.
Mayor (on phone)
The jet must be fueled and ready to go in a half an hour. Skeleton crew, they must be volunteers. Tell them the man is dangerous. Well, here, I'll read you this note which was delivered at 8 O'clock this morning: "To the City of San Francisco. You have double-crossed me for the last time. I'm warning you to have my $200,000 and a jet airplane ready and waiting. I will call Mayor's office at 1 O'clock and tell you about the hostages who I will be happy to kill if you don't do exactly what I say, Scorpio" (pauses) Well, you better have somebody standing by - it could be a false alarm but don't count on it.
It's very simple. I've got the kids and you start screwing around, the kids start dying. Is the plane ready?
Mayor The jet is being fueled and ready to go at the airport. The money will be there by the time you get there.
All right, now listen and listen very carefully. I'm going to be driving along nice and easy, just me and a busload of kids. I'm going to turn off on the Sir Francis Drake Blvd. on my way to the Santa Rosa Airport. I don't want to see any police cars, helicopters, whatever. Now if you got the guts to play this game by the rules, the kids will have a nice little plane ride.
Mayor Well, where are you going?
I'll tell the pilot when I get on the plane. No alerts, nothin'.
Mayor I guarantee you you will not be molested in any way. I give you my word of honor on it.
Callahan? - you willing to take the money to him?
When are you people gonna stop messing around with this guy. He's gotta be stopped now.
Mayor He's got a busload of kids and I can't take that chance. I gave my word of honor on it, and he will not be molested - and that's a direct order, Callahan!
Well, you can just get yourself another delivery boy.
