Jerry Lundegaard I'm, uh, Jerry Lundegaard.
Played by William H. Macy 
Fargo (1996) · 67 quotes
Fargo (1996) · 67 quotes
Most-quoted character in Fargo (1996): in 21 of its 67 quotes
Most scenes with: Stan Grossman (4), Carl Showalter (3), Wade Gustafson (3)
Well...he never done this before. My boss said I can take $100 off of that Truecoat!
More lines from Jerry Lundegaard
6 quotes Jerry Lundegaard Jerry Lundegaard See these are personal matters.
Jerry Lundegaard [Practices calling Wade]
Yah, Wade, It's Jerry, I... Yah, Wade, it's, I, it's Jerry... I don't know what to do it's Jean. I don't know what to do it's my wife. I don't know what to do it's Jean. Wade, it's Jerry, I... Wade, it's Jerry! We gotta talk! Oh, geez, it's terrible... [calls the number] Yah, Wade Gustafson, please.
Jerry Lundegaard Yah. Okay. Real good then.
Jerry Lundegaard I answered the darn - I'm cooperating here!
Jerry Lundegaard Let's watch that language there
Scenes with Jerry Lundegaard
14 scenes Jerry I'm, uh, Jerry Lundegaard.
You're Jerry Lundegaard?
Jerry Yah, Shep Proudfoot said--
Shep said you'd be here at 7:30. What gives, man?
Jerry Shep said 8:30.
We been sitting here an hour. He's peed three times already.
Jerry I'm terribly sorry. Shep told me 8:30. It was a mix-up, I guess.
You got the car?
Jerry Yeah, you bet. It's in the lot there. Brand-new burnt umber Ciera.
Yeah, okay. Well, sit down then. I'm Carl Showalter and this is my associate Gaear Grimsrud.
Jerry Yeah, how ya doin'? So, we all set on this thing, then?
Sure, Jerry, we're all set. Why wouldn't we be?
Jerry Yeah, no, I'm sure you are. Shep vouched for you and all. I got every confidence in you fellas. So I guess that's it, then. Here are the keys--
No, that's not it, Jerry.
Jerry Huh?
The new vehicle, plus forty thousand dollars.
Jerry Yeah, but the deal was, the car first, see, then the forty thousand, like as if it was the ransom. I thought Shep told ya--
Shep didn't tell us much, Jerry.
Jerry Well, okay--
Except that you were gonna be here at 7:30.
Jerry Yeah, well, that was a mix-up, then.
Yeah, you already said that.
Jerry Yeah. But it's not a whole pay-in-advance deal. I give you a brand-new vehicle in advance and--
I'm not gonna debate you, Jerry.
Jerry Okay.
I'm not gonna sit here and debate. I will say this though: what Shep told us didn't make a whole lot of sense.
Jerry Oh, no, it's real sound. It's all worked out.
You want your own wife kidnapped?
Jerry Yeah.
You--my point is, you pay the ransom what eighty thousand bucks? I mean, you give us half the ransom, forty thousand, you keep half. It's like robbing Peter to play Paul, it doesn't make any sense.
Jerry Okay, see, it's not me payin' the ransom. The thing is, my wife, she's wealthy. Her dad, he's real well off. Now, I'm in a bit of trouble--
What kind of trouble are you in, Jerry?
Jerry Well, that's, that's, I'm not go into, into--see, I just need money. Now, her dad's real wealthy--
So why don't you just ask him for the money?
Or your **** wife, you know.
Or your **** wife, Jerry.
Jerry Well, it's all just part of this--They don't know I need it, see. Okay, so there's that. And even if they did, I wouldn't get it. So there's that on top, then. See, these're personal matters.
Personal matters?
Jerry Yeah. Personal matters that needn't, uh--
Okay, Jerry. You're tasking us to perform this mission, but you, you won't, uh, you won't. Aw, **** it, let's take a look at that Ciera.
Jerry Wade, have ya had a chance to think about, uh, that deal I was talkin' about, those forty acres there on Wayzata?
You told me about it.
Jerry Yeah, you said you'd have a think about it. I understand it's a lot of money--
A heck of a lot. What'd you say you were gonna put there?
Jerry A lot. It's a limited--
I know it's a lot.
Jerry I mean a parking lot.
Yeah, well, seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars is a lot.
Jerry Yeah, well, it's a chunk, but--
I used to own a lot myself way back in the late '50's. It's a lotta money.
Jerry Yeah, well--
I thought you were gonna show it to Stan Grossman. He passes on this stuff before it gets kicked up to me.
Jerry Well, you know Stan'll say no dice. That's why you pay him. I'm askin' you here, Wade. This could work out real good for me and Jean and Scotty.
Jean and Scotty'll never have to worry.
Customer
We sat here right in this room and went over this and over this!
Jerry Yeah, but that TruCoat--
Customer
I sat right here and said I didn't want no TruCoat!
Jerry Yeah, but I'm sayin', that TruCoat, you don't get it and you get oxidization problems. It'll cost you a heck of lot more'n five hundred--
Customer
You're sittin' here, you're talkin' in circles! You're talkin' like we didn't go over this already!
Jerry Yeah, but this TruCoat--
Customer
We had us a deal here for nine-teen-five. You sat there and darned if you didn't tell me you'd get this car, these options, without the sealant, for nine-teen-five!
Jerry All right, I'm not sayin' I didn't--
Customer
You called me twenty minutes ago and said you had it! Ready to make delivery, ya says! Come on down and get it! And here ya are and you're wastin' my time and you're wastin' my wife's time and I'm payin' nineteen-five for this vehicle here!
Jerry All right. I'll talk to my boss. See, they install that TruCoat at the factory, there's nothin' we can do, but I'll talk to my boss.
Customer
[Jerry leaves the room] [to his wife]
These guys here--these guys! It's always the same! It's always more!
Jerry [Other room]
You goin' to the Gophers on Sunday?
Salesman
Oh you betcha.
Jerry You wouldn't happen to have an extra ticket?
Salesman
You kiddin'!
Jerry [Jerry returns to his office]
Well, he never done this before. But seeing as it's special circumstances and all, he says I can knock a hundred dollars off that Trucoat.
Customer
One hundred--You lied to me, Mr Lundegaard. You're a bald-faced liar. A **** liar.
Customer's Wife Bucky, please.
Customer
Where's my god damn check book? Let's get this over with.
Reilly Deifenbach
Mr. Lundegaard, this is Reilly Deifenbach calling from GMAC. How are you this morning?
Jerry Yeah, real good. How you doin'?
Reilly Deifenbach
Pretty good, Mr. Lundegaard. You're damned hard to get on the phone.
Jerry Yeah, it's pretty darned busy here, but that's the way we like it.
Reilly Deifenbach
That's for sure. Now, I just need, on these last, these financing documents you sent us, I can't read the serial numbers of the vehicles on here, so I--
Jerry But I already got the, it's okay, the loans are in place, I already got the, the what, the--
Reilly Deifenbach
Yeah, the three hundred and twenty thousand, you got the money last month.
Jerry Yeah, so we're all set.
Reilly Deifenbach
Yeah, but the vehicles you were borrowing on, I just can't read the serial numbers on your application. Maybe if you could just read them to me--
Jerry But the deal's already done, I already got the money.
Reilly Deifenbach
Yeah, but we have an audit here, I just have to know that these vehicles you're financing with this money, that they really exist.
Jerry Yeah, well, they exist all right.
Reilly Deifenbach
I'm sure they do, but I can't read their serial numbers here. So if you could read me--
Jerry Well, but see, I don't have them in front of me. Why don't I just fax you over a copy--
Reilly Deifenbach
No. Fax is no good, that's what I have and I can't read the darn thing.
Jerry Yeah, okay, I'll have my girl send you over a copy, then.
Reilly Deifenbach
Okay, because if I can't correlate this note with the specific vehicles, then I gotta call back that money.
Jerry Yeah, how much money was that?
Reilly Deifenbach
Three hundred and twenty thousand. See, I gotta correlate that money with the cars it's being lent on.
Jerry Yeah, no problem, I'll just fax that over to ya, then.
Reilly Deifenbach
No, no, fax is--
Jerry I mean send it over. I'll shoot it right over to ya.
Reilly Deifenbach
Okay.
Jerry Okay, real good, then.
Jerry How ya doin' there, Stan? How are ya, Wade?
Good to see ya again, Jerr'. If these numbers are right, this looks pretty sweet.
Jerry Oh, those numbers are right, all right. Believe me.
This is do-able.
Congratulations, Jerry.
Jerry Yeah, thanks, Stan, it's a pretty--
What kind of finder's fee were you looking for?
Jerry Huh?
The financials are pretty thorough, so the only thing we don't know is your fee.
Jerry My fee? Wade, what the heck are you talkin' about?
Stan and I are okay.
Jerry Yeah.
We're good to loan in.
Jerry Yeah.
But we never talked about your fee for bringin' it to us.
Jerry No, but, Wade, see, I was bringin' you this deal for you to loan me the money to put in. It's my deal here, see?
Jerry, we thought you were bringin' us an investment.
Jerry Yeah, right.
You're sayin'... What're you sayin'?
You're sayin' that we put in all the money and you collect when it pays off?
Jerry No, no. I--I 'd, pay you back the principal, and interest. Heck, I'd go one over prime?
We're not a bank, Jerry.
What the heck, Jerry, if I wanted bank interest on seven hundred fifty thousand I'd go to Midwest Federal. Talk to Bill Diehl.
He's at Norstar.
He's at--
Jerry No, see, I don't need a finder's fee, I need a finder's fee's, what, ten percent, heck that's not gonna do it for me. I need the principal!
Jerry, we're not just going to give you seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
What the heck were you thinkin'? Heck, if I'm only gettin' bank interest, I'd look for complete security. Heck, FDIC. I don't see nothin' like that here.
Jerry Yeah, but I--Okay, I would, I'd guarantee ya your money back.
I'm not talkin' about your damn word, Jerry. Geez, what the heck are you--?
We're not a bank, Jerry.
Well, look, I don't want to cut you out of the loop, but this here's a good deal. I assume, if you're not interested, you won't mind if we move on it independently.
Jerry They said no cops--they were darned clear on that.
We gotta protect Jean. These--we're not holding any cards here, Wade. They got 'em all, so they call the shots.
Jerry You're darned tootin'!
Okay. We'll get the money together. Don't worry about it, Jerry. Now, d'you want anyone at home, with you, until they call?
Jerry No, I--they don't want--they're just supposed to be dealin' with me, they were real clear. Ya know, they said no one listenin' in, they'll be watchin', ya know. Maybe it's all bull, but like you said, Stan, they're callin' the shots.
Okay. And Scotty, is he gonna be all right?
Jerry Yeah. Geez. Scotty. I'll go talk to him.
Jerry [Jerry answers the phone]
Jerry Lundegaard.
All right, Jerry, you got this phone to yourself?
Jerry Well, yeah.
Know who this is?
Jerry Well, yeah, I got an idea. How's that Ciera workin' out for ya?
Circumstances have changed, Jerry.
Jerry Well, what do ya mean?
Things have changed. Circumstances, Jerry. Beyond the, uh, acts of God, force majeure--
Jerry What the--how's Jean?
Who's Jean?
Jerry My wife! What the--how's--
Oh, Jean's okay, but there's three people up in Brainerd who aren't so okay, I'll tell ya that.
Jerry What the heck are you talkin' about? Let's just finish up this deal here--
Blood has been shed, Jerry.
Jerry What the heck ya mean?
Three people. In Brainerd.
Jerry Oh, geez.
That's right and we need more money.
Jerry The heck do ya mean? What a you fellas get yourself mixed up in?
We need more--
Jerry This was s'posed to be a no-rough-stuff-type deal--
Don't ever interrupt me Jerry, just shut the **** up!
Jerry Well, I'm sorry, but I just--I--
Look, I'm not gonna debate you, Jerry. The price is now the whole amount. We want the entire eighty thousand.
Jerry Oh, for Christ sakes here--
Blood has been shed. We've incurred risks, Jerry. I'm coming into town tomorrow. Have the money ready.
Jerry Now we had a deal. A deal's a deal.
Is it, Jerry? Why don't you ask those three poor souls in Brainerd if a deal's a deal. Go ahead, ask them!
Jerry The heck do ya mean?
Damn it! I wanna be a part of this thing!
Jerry No, Wade! They were real clear! They said they'd call tomorrow with instructions and it's gonna be delivered by me alone!
It's my money, I'll deliver it--what do they care?
Wade's got a point there. I'll handle the call if you want, Jerry.
Jerry No, no. See--they, no, see, they only deal with me. Ya feel this, this nervousness on the phone there, they're very-- these guys are dangerous.
All the more reason! I don't want you--with all due respect, Jerry, I don't want you mucking this up.
Jerry The heck ya mean?
They want my money, they can deal with me. Otherwise I'm goin' to a professional. There's a million dollars here!
Jerry No, see--
Look, Jerry, you're not sellin' me a damn car! It's my show here. That's that.
It's the way we prefer to handle it, Jerry.
Mr. Lundegaard?
Jerry Huh? Yeah?
I wonder if I could take just a minute of your time here--
Jerry What--What is it all about?
Huh? Do you mind if I sit down? I'm carrying quite a load here. You're the owner here, Mr. Lundegaard?
Jerry Naw, I--Executive Sales Manager.
Well, you can help me. My name's Marge Gunderson--
Jerry My father-in-law, he's the owner.
Okay. Well, I'm a police officer from up Brainerd investigating some malfeasance and I was just wondering if you've had any new vehicles stolen off the lot in the past couple of weeks? Specifically a tan Cutlass Ciera?
[Jerry looks at her] '
Mr. Lundegaard?
Jerry Brainerd?
Yeah. Yeah. Home a Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox.
Jerry Babe the Blue Ox. [laughs]
Yeah, ya know we've got the big statue there. So you haven't had any vehicles go missing, then?
Jerry Nope. No, ma'am.
Okey-dokey, thanks a bunch. I'll let you get back to your paperwork, then.
Jerry [answers the phone]
Yeah?
All right, Jerry, I'm through **** around. You got the **** money?
Jerry Yeah, I got the money, but, uh--
Don't you **** but me, Jerry. I want you with this money on the Dayton-Radisson parking ramp, top level, thirty minutes, and we'll wrap this up.
Jerry Yeah, okay, but, uh--
You're there in thirty minutes or I find you, Jerry, and I shoot you, and I shoot your **** wife, and I shoot all your little **** children, and I shoot 'em all in the back of their little **** heads. Got it?
Jerry Okay, now you stay away from Scotty now.
Got it?!
Jerry Okay. Real good then.
Mr. Lundegaard? Sorry to bother you again. Can I come in?
Jerry Yah, no, I'm kinda--I'm kinda busy here.
I understand. I'll keep it real short, then. I'm on my way out of town, but I was just--Do you mind if I sit down? I'm carrying a bit of a load here.
Jerry No, I--
Yah, it's this vehicle I asked you about yesterday. I was just wondering--
Jerry Yah, like I told ya, we haven't had any vehicles go missing.
Okay, are you sure, cause, I mean, how do you know? Because, see, the crime I'm investigating, the perpetrators were driving a car with dealer plates. And they called someone who works here, so it'd be quite a coincidence if they weren't, ya know, 'connected'.
Jerry Yah, I see.
So how do you--have you done any kind of inventory recently?
Jerry The car's not from our lot, ma'am.
But do you know that for sure without--
Jerry Well, I would know. I'm the Executive Sales Manager!
Yah, but--
Jerry We run a pretty tight ship here.
I understand. Do you do a count, or what kind of a routine do you have here?
Jerry Ma'am, I answered your question!
Jerry Ma'am, I answered your question. I answered the darned--I'm cooperatin' here! And, I--
Sir, you have no call to get snippy with me, I'm just doing my job here.
Jerry I'm... I'm not arguing here! I'm cooperating. So there's no need to--we're doin' all we can here.
Sir, could I talk to Mr. Gustafson?
Jerry Well, heck, if you wanna--if you wanna play games here! I'm workin' with ya on this thing, but I--Okay, I'll do a damned lot count!
Sir? Right now?
Jerry [Jerry puts on his coat and hat]
Yeah, right now, you're darned tootin'! If it's so damned imporant to ya!
Well, I'm sorry sir.
Jerry Ah, what the Christ!
[Jerry leaves, then is seen driving away]
Oh for Pete's sake, he's fleeing the interview! He's fleeing the interview!
Jerry Say, Shep, how ya doin' there? Say, uh, ya know those two fellas ya put me in touch with up there in Fargo?
Put you in touch with Grimsrud.
Jerry Yah, well, he had a buddy there. He, um...
I didn't vouch for him.
Jerry Well, that's okay.
I vouch for Grimsrud. Who's his buddy?
Jerry Uh, Carl somethin'?
Never heard of him. Don't vouch for him.
Jerry Well, that's okay, he's a buddy of the guy ya vouched for, so I'm not worryin'. I just, I was wondering, see, I gotta get in touch with 'em for. See this deal I've been working on, I might not need it anymore, sumpn's happenin', see.
Call 'em up.
Jerry Yah, well, see, I did that, and I haven't been able to get 'em, so I thought you maybe'd know an alternate number or what have you.
Nope.
Jerry [optimistic]
Okay! Well, real good, then.
Jerry How ya doin' there, Scotty?
Scotty [crying]
Dad... What're they doing? What do ya think they're doin' with Mom?
Jerry It's okay, Scotty. They're not gonna want to hurt her any. These men... they just want money.
Scotty What if... What if sumpn goes wrong, Dad?
Jerry No, no, nothin's goin' wrong here. Grandad and I, we're- we're makin' sure this gets handled right.
Scotty I really think we should call the cops, ya know.
Jerry No. No one can know about this thing. We gotta play ball with these guys. You ask Stan Grossman, he'll tell ya the same thing!
Scotty Yeah, but Dad--
Jerry We're gonna get Mom back for ya, but we gotta play ball. Ya know, that's the deal. So if Lorraine calls, or Sylvia, you just say that Mom's down in Florida with Pearl and Marty. That's the best we can do here.
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