Frank Castle "God, I hate this job." (While climbing out of a body bag.)
Played by Thomas Jane 
The Punisher (2004) · 70 quotes
The Punisher (2004) · 70 quotes
Most-quoted character in The Punisher (2004): in 25 of its 70 quotes
Most scenes with: Joan (4), Dave (2), Bumpo (2)
"I leave this as a declaration of intent so no one will be confused. Number one: Sic vis pacem, para bellum. Latin. The boot-camp sergeant made us recite it like a prayer. Sic vis pacem, para bellum. If you want peace, prepare for war." (Voice-over.)
More lines from Frank Castle
9 quotes Frank Castle Frank Castle "Good business, murder? Did Saint pay you for each one, or does he get a group-rate discount?"
Frank Castle "You shouldn't play with knives."
Frank Castle "God's gonna sit this one out."
Frank Castle "Number two: Frank Castle is dead. He died with his family. Number three: In certain extreme situations, the law is inadequate. In order to shame its inadequacy it is necessary to act outside the law-to pursue...natural justice. This is not vengeance. Revenge is not a valid motive, it's an emotional response. No, not vengeance. Punishment." (Voice-over.)
Frank Castle "You look like a strong kid. You must work out. Ever try isometrics? This antipersonnel mine weighs eight pounds. Not much, but try holding it with an outstretched arm. Hell of a workout."
Frank Castle "I made you kill your best friend. I made you kill your wife. And now I've killed you."
Frank Castle "Those who do evil to others-the killers, the rapists, psychos, sadists-you will come to know me well. Frank Castle is dead. Call me...the Punisher." (Voice-over.)
Frank Castle (v.o., from trailer)
They murdered my family. They thought they murdered me. My actions are not vengeance. No, not vengeance. Punishment.
Scenes with Frank Castle
15 scenes
Agent Weeks To Frank Castle–the finest soldier, the finest undercover op, the finest man I've ever known. What will I do without you?
Frank Castle Get a girlfriend.
Candelaria Vaya con Dios, Castle. Go with God.
Frank Castle God's gonna sit this one out.
Stay away from me, Castle! I got friends, you know.
Frank Castle Let's talk about your friends.
Make your own friends, buddy. I'm not saying nothin'. I talk to you, they'll kill me.
Castle If you don't help me, I'll kill you now, Mick.
The Saints tell me nothing!
Castle Nothing? They pay your rent...your legal bills. You should know something.
What's the torch for?
Castle Two thousand degrees, Mick. Enough to turn steel into butter. It won't hurt at first. It's, uh, too hot, you see? The flame sears the nerve endings shut, killing them. Then you'll go into shock...and all you'll feel is...cold. Isn't science fun, Micky?
Detective
(Castle shows up at a press conference at police headquarters.)
Castle? Where have you been?
Castle It's been five months since my family was killed. I don't see one man in jail.
Chief Morris Obviously, you're upset–
Castle Upset? Is that the word? I used to get upset when I had a flat tire. I used to get upset when a plane was delayed. I used to get upset when the Yankees won the Series. So if that's what "upset" means, then how do I feel now? If you know the word, tell me, because I don't.
I, uh, I've lived in seven cities in seven years, and in each one I've managed to find the one guy who'll treat me the worst. But I'm trying to fix that. You're Castle.
Castle Used to be.
We saw you on T.V.
Castle I don't have one.
I'm Joan. Dave's the one with all the, uh, the metal? And Bumpo's the one that...well, you can probably figure out which one Bumpo is. We're really sorry.
Castle About what?
About your family.
Castle Did you know them?
No.
Castle I'm over it.
(Through the door, Joan sees a whiskey bottle on the table in Castle's otherwise bare apartment.)
Don't let your memories kill you.
Castle They won't kill me.
Castle Do I know you?
I know you. You're that boy in the newspaper - came back from the dead.
Castle I didn't catch your name.
(Harry Heck holds up a guitar case with his name engraved on it.)
You like that song? I wrote that for you. I'm gonna sing it at your funeral.
(Castle has joined his neighbors for dinner in Joan's apartment.)
I know it's not Thanksgiving, but, um, I'd like us all to say what we're thankful for. I'll start. Um...I'm thankful to be alive this year. And to have a job, and to be sober.
Yeah - I'm thankful for my mom...getting out of jail. You now, it's, it's cool. And this girl gave me her number...which is also cool.
Thanks for leftovers-I'm full. Thanks for Diet Pepsi. And thanks for good neighbors.
Castle (There is a long, awkward silence while everyone stares at Castle.)
Thanks for dinner.
. . .
I know what it's like. I know what it's like to try and make your memories go away. You can make new memories. Good ones. Good memories can save your life.
Castle I'm not what you're looking for.
(Joan and Frank Castle ride elevator to ground floor, where Bumpo tends to the mangled Dave.)
Look what they did to him...
They tried to make me talk. I gave 'em nothing.
Castle You don't know me. You don't owe me anything. I've brought you nothing but trouble. Why are you ready to die for me?
Because...you're one of us. You're family.
Say you kill them all; what then? What makes you any different from them?
Castle They have something to lose.
Frank Castle Howard Saint. HOWARD SAINT! (Saint stops, turns to face him.) You took everything from me.
You killed my son!
Castle (In the building behind Castle, John Saint's scream is followed by an explosion.)
Both of them.
Frank Castle You're right. Good memories can save your life. When Dave gets out of the hospital, check the cupboard. I left something — for all of you.
You're leaving?
Castle I have work to do. Read your newspaper every day. You'll understand.
Which section?
Castle Obituaries.
Stay away from me, Castle! I got friends, you know.
Frank Castle Let's talk about your friends.
Make your own friends, buddy. I'm not saying nothin'. I talk to you, they'll kill me.
Frank Castle If you don't help me, I'll kill you now, Mick.
The Saints tell me nothing!
Frank Castle Nothing? They pay your rent... your legal bills. You should know something.
Frank Castle Two thousand degrees, Mick. Enough to turn steel into butter. It won't hurt at first. It's, uh, too hot, you see? The flame sears the nerve endings shut, killing them. Then you'll go into shock... and all you'll feel is... cold. Isn't science fun, Micky?
I-I don't know shit!
Frank Castle You'll smell burning meat, and then...then, it'll hurt.
I SWEAR, I'M TELLING THE TRUTH!!!
Frank Castle [Frank goes behind the tied-up Mickey and uses the blow-torch on a steak and rubs Micky's back with a popsicle, and Micky flips out, thinking he's torching his back]
Smell that, Mick? I'm burning off some of your fat.
I'LL TELL YOU ANYTHING! Anything, anything you wanna know.
Frank Castle That's a good boy.
Okay, any involvement in Howard Saint's business involves two Cubans: the Toro brothers. They control all the prostitution and gambling, up and down the gulf coast. Tons of cash. They give their dirty money to Howard Saint, who transports it in cigarette boats to his banks in Grand Haven; washes it, and wires it back clean as a whistle.
[Frank jabs him in the back]
FU--! FOR THE LOVE OF GO-! [Castle sticks a popsicle in his mouth and lowers him]
You are not a nice person. So, what's up, you gonna string up Howard Saint and blowtorch him?
Frank Castle I like that idea. But I have something better. And guess what? You're gonna help me. Unless you wanna stay Howard Saint's lackey for the rest of your life.
I hate the Saints. All of them.
Frank Castle Tell me about them. What do they do; where, when.
Howard Saint's a man of strict habits. He has first tee time five days a week at Tampa Springs. Never fails. He likes money, he likes power. But the thing this guy covets most, the wife, Livia. What happened to your family, Howard did that for her. She's just like him, and she's just as predictable. Every Thursday, she works out, gets her nails done and goes to the movies. Howard knows every move this broad makes. Any man who looks at her wrong, he ends up in Tampa Bay. Let's not forget Johnny boy, the son you didn't kill. What a putz. Last, but not least, Quentin Glass. Been with Howard 20 years-- the family consigliere, lawyer, CPA and a sadist. Who knows what's going on with this guy.
Frank Castle (Castle shows up at a press conference at police headquarters.)
Hey, Jimmy.
Jimmy Weeks Jesus, Frank! Where have you been?
Frank Castle I got shot. I woke up. That's what I remember. You subpoena me, that's what I'll say. It's been five months since my family was killed. I don't see one man in jail.
Chief Morris Obviously, you're upset–
Frank Castle Upset? Is that the word? I used to get upset when I had a flat tire. I used to get upset when a plane was delayed. I used to get upset when the Yankees won the Series. So if that's what "upset" means, then how do I feel now? If you know the word, tell me, because I don't.
Chief Morris Castle, if you're not gonna cooperate, we're gonna have to...
Jimmy Weeks Wait, wait. This man's been through hell. Who's he supposed to trust right now. Let's get him to a safe house.
Frank Castle I don't want a safe house, Jimmy. I don't want Witness Protection. I don't want anything. All I wanna know is who gave me up. Don't be a stranger, Jim.
Accountant #1 You know whose money this is? You know whose building this is?
Frank Castle Howard Saint's.
Accountant #2 He's gonna **** your life up.
Frank Castle He already **** my life up.
Frank Castle (Jimmy Weeks enters his place and pours himself a drink. He walks up to the window when he turns and saw Frank pointing at him gunpoint)
How was work?
Jimmy Weeks Why's that gun pointing at me?
Frank Castle It's how I say 'hi' to everyone these days. (Jimmy pours another drink) What did happen to your Porsche, Jimmy?
Jimmy Weeks I told you, "buy American."
Frank Castle I didn't see your fishing boat outside.
Jimmy Weeks Well, you know what they say about owning boats.The two happiest days are the day you buy it and the day you sell it.
Frank Castle (Glaring at Jimmy)
They say that about TVs and Stereos? Wristwatches?
Jimmy Weeks (Snapping his fingers, nervously)
I had my money in high-tech stocks. Broker kept telling me "Don't sell. Don't sell." I'm an old soldier. I follow orders. And now I'm broke. Get off my back.
Frank Castle Okay Jimmy. I get it.
Frank Castle (Castle gets up and left his revolver on the chair. Weeks glances at it. Casle looks out the window.)
Why did you call me the other day, Jimmy? (He turns around) Why didn't you run when you saw that I was still alive?
Jimmy Weeks (Weeks points the revolver at Castle)
How long have you known?
Frank Castle You mean for certain? Enough to say, bet on? (He shook his head) Not til now.
Jimmy Weeks (A tear came out of his eye)
I'm sorry Frank.
Frank Castle Me too.
Frank Castle (Weeks shoots at Castle, but it was empty. He shoots him again, but no bullets. Castle jingles the bullets in his hand.)
I'm not a betting man, Jimmy.
Jimmy Weeks I'll tell you who did it.
Frank Castle You did it.
Jimmy Weeks Saint did it!
Frank Castle No, you did it. You called the other day 'cause you're sick, you need my help. That's what friends are for, right? Well here I am, (Holding a bullet) I'm here to help.
Jimmy Weeks (Weeks sits on his chair in defeat)
What are you gonna do?
Frank Castle I'm not gonna do anything.
Frank Castle (tosses him a bullet)
You are. (He pulls out his gun)
Jimmy Weeks Frank, I...
Frank Castle (**** his gun)
Let's say goodbye like the friends we were, huh? Not like animals.
Jimmy Weeks (Weeks inserts the bullet in the revolver and hesitates)
I can't do it.
Frank Castle You can, and you will.
Jimmy Weeks You do it.
Frank Castle (Glares again at Jimmy)
No.
(Weeks puts the revolver on his chin, but couldn't do it. He did and shot himself. Frank, satisfied, holsters his gun and takes off his watch and put it on his dead best friend's wrist. He leaves Weeks's place, without a word.)
