Jim Kurring Sometimes people need a little help. Sometimes people need to be forgiven. And sometimes they need to go to jail.
Played by John C. Reilly 
Magnolia (1999) · 46 quotes
Magnolia (1999) · 46 quotes
2nd most-quoted character in Magnolia (1999): in 9 of its 46 quotes
A line from Jim Kurring...whatever you wanna tell me, whatever you think might scare me, won't... and I will listen... I will be a good listener to you if that's what you want... and you know, you know... I won't judge you... I can do that sometimes, I know, but I won't... I can... listen to you and you shouldn't be scared of scaring me off or anything that you might think I'll think or on and on and just say it and I'll listen to you...
More lines from Jim Kurring
6 quotes Jim Kurring Jim Kurring Let me tell you something, this is not an easy job. I get a call on the radio, dispatch, it's bad news. And it stinks. But this is my job and I love it. Because I want to do well - in this life and in this world, I want to do well. And I want to help people. And I might get twenty bad calls a day. But one time I can help someone and make a save - correct a wrong or right a situation - then I'm a happy cop. And as we move through this life we should try and do good. Do good... And if we can do that, and not hurt anyone else, well... then...
Jim Kurring [After losing his gun]
Oh, Lord, why is this happening to me? God, please help me figure this out. I'm lost out here! I don't understand why it's happening. God, please, God! Whatever it is I did, I'm going to fix it. I'm going to do the right thing. Please, help me find the gun!
Jim Kurring I lost my gun today when I left you and I'm the laughingstock of a lot of people. I wanted to tell you. I wanted you to know and it's on my mind. And it makes me look like a fool. And I feel like a fool. And you asked that we should say things - that we should say what we're thinking and not lie about things. Well, I can tell you that, this, that I lost my gun today - and I am not a good cop. And I'm looked down at. And I know that. And I'm scared that once you find that out you may not like me.
Jim Kurring I can't let this go. I can't let you go. Now, you... you listen to me now. You're a good person. You're a good and beautiful person and I won't let you walk out on me. And I won't let you say those things - those things about how stupid you are and this and that. I won't stand for that. You want to be with me... then you be with me. You see?
Jim Kurring A lot of people think this is just a job that you go to... take a lunch hour, the job's over, something like that. But it's a 24 hour deal... no two ways about it... and what most people don't see is just how hard it is to do the right thing. People think if I make a judgment call that it's a judgment on them. But that's not what I do, and that's not what should be done. I have to take everything and play it as it lays. Sometimes people need a little help. Sometimes people need to be forgiven. And sometimes they need to go to jail. And that's a very tricky thing on my part... making that call. The law is the law, and heck if I'm gonna break it. But if you can forgive someone... well, that's the tough part. What can we forgive? Tough part of the job. Tough part of walking down the street.
Scenes with Jim Kurring
2 scenes Jim Kurring Now, some neighbors claimed they heard screaming and a loud crash.
Marcie I don't even know no loud crash.
Marcie [officer Kurring has just handcuffed Marcie to a couch]
This is bullshit. This is ****in' bullshit.
Jim Kurring I want you to stay right there, Marcie.
Marcie This is bullshit mother****er. Mother-goddamn-****er it's bullshit and you know it!
Marcie [officer Kurring moves down the hall to investigate a disturbance]
Don't go down my hallway! Don't go down my mother****in' hallway! This is bullshit mother****er! Don't go in my god damn bedroom!
Jim Kurring This is the LAPD. If there's someone back here...
Marcie What I tell you? What I tell you? Ain't nobody in there! Where the **** you goin' mother****? Don't go in my mother****in' bedroom and stay outta my mother****in' closet!
Jim Kurring [officer Kurring enters her bedroom]
This is the LAPD. If there's someone in this closet, come out right now, or you will be shot.
Jim Kurring [Marcie begins dragging the couch towards the bedroom]
Marcie! Do not drag that couch any further!
Marcie There's nobody in my mother**** closet, mother****er! This don't make no sense! This don't make no goddamn sense! Why can't you goddamn talk to me? This is bullshit mother****er!
Jim Kurring [officer Kurring opens the closet and finds a dead body]
Whoa! What the hell is this, Marcie?
Marcie That ain't mine!
