Rico Bandello quotes from Little Caesar (1931)

Rico Bandello

Little Caesar has never been found. According to the statement of Thomas Flaherty of the homicide squad, Little Caesar, the once-swaggering braggart of the underworld, wilted in the face of real danger and showed the world his cowardice. [he growls] Flaherty stated further that Little Caesar has contradicted his oft-repeated boast that he could dish it out and take it too. [he snarls again] When a real crisis arose, Rico couldn't take it. Flaherty ended his interview by remarking: 'Me-te-or-ic was Rico's rise from the gutter. It was in-ev-i-ta-ble that he should return there.' [calls Sgt. Flaherty] This is Rico speaking. Rico! R-I-C-O! Rico! Little Caesar, that's who! Listen, you crummy, flat-footed copper, I'll show you whether I've lost my nerve and my brains!

Rico Bandello

Aaahhhh....all I need is a napkin over my arm!

Rico Bandello

"Underworld pays respects to Diamond Pete Montana."

Joe Massara

Ah, what's that gotta do with the price of eggs?

Rico Bandello

Plenty. Diamond Pete Montana. He doesn't have to waste his time on cheap gas stations. He's somebody. He's in the big town, doing things in a big way. And look at us, just a couple of nobodies, nothin'.

Joe Massara

Is that what you want, Rico? A party like that for you? "Caesar Enrico Bandello. Honored by his friends."

Rico Bandello

I could do all the things that fella does, and more, only I never got my chance. Why, what's there to be afraid of? And when I get in a tight spot, I shoot my way out of it. Why sure. Shoot first and argue afterwards. You know, this game ain't for guys that's soft!

Joe Massara

Yeah, there's money in the big town, all right. And the women. Good times, something doing all the time. Exciting things, you know. The clothes I could wear. And then I'd quit, Rico. I'd go back to dancing, like I used to before I met you. I don't know. I ain't made for this sort of thing. Dancing. That's what I wanna do.

Rico Bandello

Dancing? Women? And where do they get you? I don't want no dancing. I'm figuring on making other people dance. Oh, I ain't forgetting about the money. Money's okay, but it ain't everything. Be somebody. Look hard at guys and know they'll do anything you tell them. Have your own way or nothing. Be somebody.

Joe Massara

You'll get there, Rico.

Rico Bandello

Yeah.

Joe Massara

You'll show them.

Rico Bandello

You know, this was our last stand in this burg. We're pulling out.

Joe Massara

Where are we going?

Rico Bandello

East. [gestures to the newspaper] Where things break big.

Rico Bandello

Now, listen, Sam, Joe's all right. He's the best front man in the world. Why, he can go to a swell hotel and order a suite, a suite, and it's all right. Without Joe, we can't pull the job, and you know it.

Sam Vettori

What's that paper?

Rico Bandello

It's this layout I've been figuring out with Scabby.

Sam Vettori

What, this nightclub job?

Rico Bandello

Yeah.

Sam Vettori

Well, let me see it. And until I say different, nobody's gonna plan for this mob but me. You get me?

Joe Massara

Say, what's the big idea of the rush anyway?

Rico Bandello

It's a little job we need you for. A little job at the Bronze Peacock.

Joe Massara

What do you mean? Are you trying to kid me or something? How can I take the chance? They're all my friends, they all know me.

Rico Bandello

That's why, they'll never suspect you. Now, don't stall, Joe.

Joe Massara

I ain't stalling. You gotta get me out of this, Rico. You gotta. I don't want to...Well, don't you see, I'm working steady now, and...Can't a guy ever say he's through?

Rico Bandello

You're gonna be in on this, and you'll like it.

Sam Vettori

Well, everything come off all right? Tell me.

Rico Bandello

Everything was all right. Only I had to take care of a guy.

Sam Vettori

Who was it?

Rico Bandello

McClure.

Sam Vettori

McClure. You shot McClure. A million guys in this town, and you had to pick the crime commissioner. What did I tell you, Rico? Didn't I say to make it clean? Didn't I say no gunplay?

Rico Bandello

Think I'm going to let a guy pull a gat on me? Any more of these cracks, and this is my last job.

Sam Vettori

The head of the crime commission. The Big Boy can't do us no good this trip. They'll get us dead sure now.

Rico Bandello

What am I gonna do?

Sam Vettori

Why don't you go and give yourself up?

Rico Bandello

You're slipping, Sam.

Sam Vettori

And Tony, what about him? Where is he?

Rico Bandello

Getting rid of the car. Tony got nervous. He's like a big baby.

Sam Vettori

What a fine pickle we're in. You and that rod of yours.

Rico Bandello

I've taken orders from you too long.

Sam Vettori

You'll keep on taking orders too or you'll get out of here so fast...

Rico Bandello

Maybe it won't be me that gets out.

Sam Vettori

No? Well, maybe the boys have got something to say about that. What about it? [No one moves or speaks up] So, that's it, huh?

Rico Bandello

Yeah, that's it, all right. You can dish it out, but you're getting so you can't take it no more. You're through. Well?

Sam Vettori

Well, the split's okay with me, Rico.

Rico Bandello

How about you boys? No hard feelings, Sam? We gotta stick together. [to the gang] There's a rope around my neck right now, and they only hang you once. If anybody turns yellow and squeals, my gun's gonna speak its piece.

Rico Bandello

What does that bull want in here? I'll show him where he gets off... [To Flaherty] Who invited you here?

Sgt. Flaherty

You're getting up in the world, aren't you, Rico?

Rico Bandello

The downstairs is open to anybody, even cops, but the upstairs is private.

Sgt. Flaherty

Thanks, but I like to keep my eye on you, Rico. You see, I'm your friend. I like to see a young fellow getting up in the world. That's all. So long.

Sgt. Flaherty

So somebody finally put one in you.

Rico Bandello

Yeah, but they just grazed me, though.

Sgt. Flaherty

The old man will be glad to hear it. He takes such an interest in you.

Rico Bandello

Are you telling me the cops couldn't get me no other way, so they hired a couple of gunmen?

Sgt. Flaherty

If I wasn't on the force, I'd have done the job cheap.

Rico Bandello

Did you ever stop to think what you'd look like with a lily in your hand?

Sgt. Flaherty

No, I never did. I've been in this game a good many years, and I put the cuffs on a lot of mugs. Some day, you and I are gonna take a ride, Rico. And when we do, I'll have the cuffs on you too.

Rico Bandello

No buzzard like you would ever put any cuffs on Rico.

Sgt. Flaherty

I'm gonna get that swell-headed mug if it's the last thing I ever do.

Rico Bandello

Yeah, dancing's all right for a sideline. It gives you a swell front. But it ain't my idea of a man's game.

Joe Massara

What's the difference Rico, as long as I ain't kickin', why should you kick?

Rico Bandello

Who's kicking? Why should a young guy like you be wasting his time? And I kinda took pride in ya, Joe. Brought you into the gang, pushed you ahead, but now you're gettin' to be a sissy.

Rico Bandello

We started off together, didn't we? Well, we gotta keep going along together. Who else have I got to give a hang about? I need ya, Joe. I got the biggest chance of my life. The Big Boy just handed me the whole North Side, but it's too much for one man to handle alone. I need somebody, somebody to work in with me, a guy like you. Somebody I can trust.

Joe Massara

It can't be me, Rico. I've quit.

Rico Bandello

You didn't quit. Nobody ever quit me. You're still in my gang. Do you get that? (grabbing his lapel) I don't care how many fancy skirts you got hangin' on to you. That Jane of yours can go hang. It's her that's made a softie out of you.

Joe Massara

You lay off Olga...

Rico Bandello

I ain't layin' off of her. I'm after her. One of us is gonna lose and it ain't gonna be me. There's ways of stoppin' that dame.

Joe Massara

You're crazy! Leave her out of this.

Rico Bandello

Aw, she's through. She's out of the way, that's what she is.

Joe Massara

You're lying. You wouldn't dare.

Rico Bandello

I wouldn't, wouldn't I? I'll show ya.

Joe Massara

I love her. We're in love with one another. Doesn't that mean nothin' to ya?

Rico Bandello

Nothin'. Less than nothin'. Love! Soft stuff! When she's got you, you ain't no good for anything. We ain't out of this yet. Now we don't want no softies spilling things.

Joe Massara

I ain't gonna spill anything if that's what you're scared of.

Rico Bandello

You go back to that dame and it's suicide. Suicide for both of ya.

Sgt. Flaherty

You'd better give up, Rico. You haven't got a chance.

Rico Bandello

You want me, you'll have to come and get me.

Sgt. Flaherty

You'd better be a nice boy, Enrico, and come out.

Rico Bandello

You heard me. If you want me, you'll have to come and get me.

Sgt. Flaherty

I'll be with you in a minute...[Flaherty aims a large machine-gun at the billboard] This is your last chance, Rico. Are you coming out or do you want to be carried out?

Sgt. Flaherty

Well, Rico, it looks like you and I are going to take that little ride together.

Rico Bandello

No, no, we ain't. I told you, little buzzard like you will never put any cuffs on me.

Sgt. Flaherty

You should have come out when I told you to, Rico.

Rico Bandello

Mother of Mercy! Is this the end of Rico?
Note: Bolded line is ranked #73 in AFI's 100 Years...100 Movie Quotes