Inspector Frank Butterman There's a reason we tolerate a few of the younglings at the pub.
Played by Jim Broadbent 
Hot Fuzz (2007) · 111 quotes
Hot Fuzz (2007) · 111 quotes
4th most-quoted character in Hot Fuzz (2007): in 9 of its 111 quotes
Most scenes with: Nicholas Angel (7), Sergeant Tony Fisher (3), Danny Butterman (2)
Scenes with Inspector Frank Butterman
9 scenes Inspector Frank Butterman Inspector Frank Butterman [trying to convince the Sandford Police to arrest Angel]
You aren't seriously going to believe this man, are you? HE ISN'T EVEN FROM ROUND HERE!!!
Inspector Frank Butterman Your predecessor assumed rural policing was easy. Ended up having a nervous breakdown, and Sergeant Popwell was an exceptional officer. Truly exceptional. But he had one thing you haven't got.
What's that, sir?
Inspector Frank Butterman [jovially]
A GREAT BIG BUSHY BEARD!
Frank Butterman [after Nicholas has been shown around the police station]
Well, that's just about everything. Unless there's anything you're unclear about?
Yes, sir, why is everyone eating chocolate cake?
Frank Butterman The Black Forest gatteux is on Danny as punishment for his little indiscretion.
Sir, I don't think driving under the influence can be called 'a little indiscretion.'
Frank Butterman No, the gatteux is for misplacing his helment last week. Last night's incident will require something rather more serious.
Good.
Frank Butterman Do you like ice cream?
I'm sorry sir, I don't follow.
Frank Butterman Let's just say we won't be short of Chunky Monkey for the next month!
Dad!
Frank Butterman Now, since it's your first day and it's half past eleven, I'd say that's lunch.
[after arresting Peter Cocker for shoplifting, he takes him back to the station]
Impressive Collar. Shame Mr. Skinner doesn't wanna press charges.
What do you mean, he doesn't wanna press charges?
[suddenly appears and starts offering the cookies that Peter stole to the police staff]
I'm simply suggesting that young Peter be given a second chance, before he becomes just another crime statistic. I'm sure he's going to learn a valuable lesson.
Stealing biscuits is... wrong?
And yet we respond by not taking a single punitive measure?
[chuckles childishly whilst scoffing a cookie]
It's like the biscuits, isn't it? [chuckles]
Mr. Skinner--
Frank Butterman Is everything all right?
Well sir, Mr. Skinner feels that it would be better not to prosecute an individual who has committed a blatant offence.
Frank Butterman [whilst eating dessert]
Leave this with me. I'll make sure everyone gets their just desserts.
Music Cue
Oh no!
What, just like Tim Messenger?
Yes!
George Merchant?
Yes!
Eve Draper?
Yes!
Martin Blower?
No, actually.
DS Andy Wainwright and DC Andy Cartwright
Really?
'Course he **** was! [Danny puts money in the swear box] Thank you Danny!
Murder, murder, murder. Change the ****in' record! [DS Wainwright puts money in the swear box] Thank you Andy.
Come on Sergeant, you've gotta accept that it was just another nasty accident.
What are you suggesting?! That Leslie Tiller tripped and fell on her own shears?
Seargent Tony Fisher
Ben Fletcher fell on his pitchfork the other week.
Yeah, accidents happen all the time. What makes you think it was MURDER?
BECAUSE I WAS THERE!!!
There's a point. Why were you there?
I was buying... Constable Butterman a Japanese peace lily for his birthday.
What absolute 'orseshit!
I chased a suspect from the scene! Innocent people don't run!
Seargent Tony Fisher
Maybe it was our ol' friend the Cactus Theif?
Oh yeah, he was a prickly customer, weren't he? Ha ha!
AM I GOING COMPLETELY MAD?!
Seeing how you're such a big fan of murder!
WHAT THE F--
Frank Butterman Sergeant Angel?
YES! [calms down] Sir?
How can this be for the greater good?
NWA Members
[chanting]
The greater good.
SHUT IT! These people died for no reason! No reason whatsoever!
Inspector Frank Butterman I wouldn't say that. [Nicholas turns and is shocked] Hello Nicholas. I was like you once. I believed in the immutable word of the law. That is until the night Mrs. Butterman was taken from me. You see, no one loved Sandford more than her. She was head of the Women's Institute, chair of the Floral Committee. When they started the Village of the Year Contest, she worked around the clock. I'd never seen such dedication. But on the eve of the adjudicator's arrival, some travelers moved into Calahoo Park, and before you could say gypsy scum we were knee deep in dog muck, thieving kids and crusty jugglers.
NWA Members
[chanting]
Crusty jugglers.
Inspector Frank Butterman We lost the title, and Irene lost her mind. She drove her Datsun Cherry into Sandford Gorge... and from that moment on, I swore that I would do her proud and whatever the cost, we would make Sandford great again.
Sir, this doesn't make any sense.
Inspector Frank Butterman The adjudicators arrive tomorrow. We had to get everything ready.
Inspector Frank Butterman This is the Best Village, Nicholas. You've seen the people. They're happy. Contented.
They're living in a dream world!
Inspector Frank Butterman Sergeant Popwell thought much the same as you. I'm disappointed you can't see the bigger picture.
Well I'm happy to disappoint you, sir! You're going to have to come with me, you are all going to have to come with me.
Inspector Frank Butterman No Nicholas, I'm afraid it is you who is going to have to come with us...
Now, quick announcement before we begin. Janet Barker has decided to call her boys Roger and Martin. And the christening will be a week on Saturday and we're all invited. Tom.
Tom Weaver
Thanks, Joyce. Now, you'll all be delighted to hear that the tenacious Sergeant Angel has been taken care of. Joyce will discover the Sergeant lying on the wet floor of his bathroom, having slipped and tragically broken his neck. So, with the dispatch of the Sergeant, we will now be able to concentrate on the eradication of our hoodie infestation.
Quite right.
Tom Weaver
After which, nothing will stand in our way.
Oh, I beg to differ, Mister Weaver.
Tom Weaver
Well, well, well, I see, we have visitors.
Sergeant Nicholas Angel. Sandford Police Service.
My, he is tenacious isn't he?
[revealing himself to the NWA]
I'm arresting you under suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder.
Tom Weaver
Oh come, come Sergeant!
You should be ashamed! Calling yourself "a community that cares"!
Oh, but we do care Nicholas!
It's all about the greater good!
NWA Members
[echoing in agreement]
The greater good...
How can this be for the greater good?
NWA Members
[echoing]
The greater good...
You see, much as I enjoyed your wild theories, Sergeant, the truth is far less complex. Blower's fate was simply the result of his being... an appalling actor.
NWA Members
[echoing]
Appalling...
You murdered him for that?
Well, he murdered Bill Shakespeare.
What? ...Oh.
James Reaper
The dramatic society is an important feather in our cap.
We couldn't let Blower jeopardize that. Not when we had two semi-professionals waiting in the wings.
Let's not forget that Greg was an extra in Straw Dogs and Sherry portrayed a cadaver in Prime Suspect.
Yes, I know!
Annette Roper
Martin Blower was less concerned with the reputation of the village than he was with his sordid affair with Eve Draper!
And so Eve deserved to die too?
Well, she did have a very annoying laugh.
NWA Members
[echoing]
Annoying...
And George Merchant?
He had an awful house.
NWA Members
[echoing]
Awful...
Roy Porter
We begged him in vain to make his residence more in keeping with the village's rustic aesthetic.
And what about Tim Messenger? What was his crime?
Tim Messenger's tenure as editor of the "Sandford Citizen" has been unbearable!
James Reaper
Our once great paper had become riddled with tabloid journalism, not to mention persistent errors!
Roy Porter
He listed her age as 55!
Mary Porter
When actually I'm 53!
What about Leslie Tiller, one of your own? Her horticultural expertise helped put Sandford on the map!
Oh, she was ever so good.
Cousin Leslie was a terrible shame...but it seems she was set on moving away.
Tom Weaver
We couldn't have her sharing her green fingers with anyone else...
Not least those heathens at Buford Abbey!
If we can't have her, no one can.
How can this be for the greater good?
NWA Members
[echoing]
The greater good...
SHUT IT! These people died for no reason! No reason whatsoever!
Inspector Frank Butterman I wouldn't say that. [Nicholas turns to see Frank dressed in the Policeman's uniform from the office at the station and is horrified] Hello Nicholas. I was like you once. I believed in the immutable word of the law, that is until the night Mrs. Butterman was taken from me. You see, no one loved Sandford more than her. She was head of the Women's Institute, chair of the Floral Committee. When they started the Village of the Year Contest, she worked around the clock. I'd never seen such dedication. On the eve of the adjudicator's arrival, some travelers moved into Calahoon Park, and before you could say 'gypsy scum' we were knee deep in dog muck, thieving kids and crusty jugglers.
NWA Members
[echoing]
Crusty jugglers...
Inspector Frank Butterman We lost the title, and Irene lost her mind. She drove her Datsun Cherry into Sandford Gorge. From that moment on, I swore that I would do her proud and whatever the cost, we would make Sandford great again.
Sir, this doesn't make any sense.
Inspector Frank Butterman The adjudicators arrive tomorrow. We had to get everything ready.
Inspector Frank Butterman This is the Best Village, Nicholas. You've seen the people. They're happy. Contented.
They're living in a dream world!
Inspector Frank Butterman Sergeant Popwell thought much the same as you. I'm disappointed you can't see the bigger picture.
Well I'm happy to disappoint you, sir! And I'm afraid you're going to have to come with me. You are all going to have to come with me.
Inspector Frank Butterman No Nicholas, I'm afraid it is you who is going to have to come with us...
Mary Porter
Roy, somebody call the police!
Inspector Frank Butterman FREEZE! [the entire Sandford Police force storm into the pub] Officers, arrest this man. Danny, step away from the sergeant.
No, Dad.
Inspector Frank Butterman Danny, you will do as you're told.
I'm not taking orders from you anymore!
Inspector Frank Butterman [furious]
Officers, arrest these men!
Wait, wait! You can arrest us if you like, you can throw us in prison and go back to being blind, submissive slaves...or you can be real police officers and help us bring an end to this absurd story!
Have you ever wondered why the crime rate in Sandford is so low, and yet the accident rate is so high?
No. Yeah. What?
You've been brainwashed, Tony. Brainwashed into naivety by an old man with a murderous obsession!
Inspector Frank Butterman This is ridiculous!
No it's not, Dad. It's all very un-ridiculous, and it's only now that I'm starting to realize how un-ridiculous it all is!
Inspector Frank Butterman SILENCE, DANNY! Think of your mother.
Mum is dead, Dad. And for the first time in my life, you know, I'm glad. If she could see what you've become, I think she'd probably kill herself all over again.
Sorry, I am completely lost.
Sandford is a lie, Doris! For the last twenty years, the village has been controlled by Frank and the NWA. They've lulled everyone into thinking this is a perfect village and killed anyone who's threatened to change that. [long pause]
I reckon he's got something there now.
He says he reckons you've got something there.
I know.
Inspector Frank Butterman You're not seriously going to believe this man, are you? ARE YOU?! HE ISN'T EVEN FROM ROUND HERE!
Maybe...it's time to give it up, sir.
Inspector Frank Butterman [furious]
YOU INCOMPOTENT FLAT-FOOTS! [Frank shoots down the chandelier, using the confusion to make his escape]
Officer Walker, stay here with Saxon and hold everything down.
Fair Enough
Officers, let's go!
What about Dad?
He'll come around again. Want anything from the shop?
Other characters in Hot Fuzz
Nicholas Angel
Simon Pegg
Danny Butterman
Nick Frost
Simon Skinner
Timothy Dalton
DC Andy Cartwright
Rafe Spall
Sergeant Tony Fisher
Kevin Eldon
DS Andy Wainwright
Paddy Considine
Joyce Cooper
Billie Whitelaw
Met Sergeant
Martin Freeman
PC Doris Thatcher
Olivia Colman
Sgt. Turner
Bill Bailey
PC Bob Walker
Reverend Phillip Shooter
Dr. Robin Hatcher
Stuart Wilson
