White Heat (1949) · 19 quotes
Most-quoted character in White Heat (1949): in 13 of its 19 quotes
Most scenes with: Verna (4), Ma Jarrett (3)
Made it, Ma! Top of the world!
Arthur "Cody" Jarrett You know something, Verna, if I turn my back for long enough for Big Ed to put a hole in it, there'd be a hole in it. [he laughs] Big Ed ... great big Ed. Y'know why they call 'im that? 'Cause his ideas are big. One day he's gonna get a really big one ... about me. And it'll be his last.
Arthur "Cody" Jarrett You're just lonesome, lonesome, like me...Verna? All I ever had was Ma...I was, uh, I was just walkin' around out there talkin' to mine...well, my old lady never had anything, always on the run, always on the move - some life. First there was my old man, died kickin' and screamin' in a nuthouse. Then my brother. And after that, it was takin' care of me. Always tryin' to put me on top. Top of the world, she used to say. And then, times when I was losin' my grip, there she'd be right behind me, pushin' me back up again. And now...That was a good feelin' out there, talkin' to her, just me and Ma. Good feelin'. Liked it. Maybe I am nuts.
Arthur "Cody" Jarrett Note: ranked #18 in the American Film Institute's list of the top 100 movie quotations in American cinema.
Arthur "Cody" Jarrett Come out with your hands up, the man says! How do you like THAT,MA? Here's my answer, you dirty......
It's these mountains, Cody. It's not good for ya. Cold all the time. Can't breathe air. Let's get out, Son.
Cody I'm all right now.
Is it going?
Cody Yeah.
Are you sure?
Cody Yeah....it's like having a red hot buzz-saw inside my head.
No, not yet, Son. Don't let 'em see you like that. Might give some of 'em ideas.
Cody You're always thinkin' about your Cody, aren't ya?
That's right. [She rises and pours him a drink of whiskey] Top of the world, Son.
Cody Don't know what I'd do without ya, Ma. [He downs the drink]
Better?
Cody Oh yeah.
Now go on out. Show 'em you're all right.
Why don't ya keep it all?...Why don't ya? We could travel, buy things. That's what money's for. I'd look good in a mink coat, honey.
Cody You'd look good in a shower curtain.
Cody The T-men have tied him in with us on the tunnel job...I dunno how they did it. Somebody must have tipped 'em.
There's always somebody tipped 'em. Never the cops are smart.
Cody We have enough food in the house for a week. What did she have to go out for?
You like strawberries, don't ya? Well, she just had to get some for her boy.
[Cody kicks her chair out from under her]
Cody You're staying put. I'm the only one goin' anyplace.
Where, Cody?
Cody To give myself up.
What are you talking about? You haven't a chance. Four dead - it'll be the gas chamber for sure.
Cody You don't think I'm dumb enough to give myself up to the T-men, do ya?
What's the difference? You walk into the cops and they turn ya over.
Cody I pulled that Springfield heist - not Scratch Morton. I'm goin' up to Illinois and take a state rap. I'll get two years at the most...I couldn't be in both places at once, could I? Little thing I cooked up before we pulled the tunnel job.
You're the smartest there is, Cody.
Sure it's smart, but what about me? What do I do for the next two years?
Same as ya did before he married you.
Cody You better not, baby. I'll be back.
I'll be waiting for you, honey. You can trust me.
I'm the one to tell ya. It's Big Ed and Verna. They run out. It's my fault, Cody. I let you down. I said I'd take care of things. But I let you down. I saw it comin'. I didn't think he'd have the guts.
Cody Forget it, Ma, forget it. It was in the cards for Big Ed to make his try.
Don't you care?
Cody Sure. What's mine is mine. I ain't gonna have it make me sick. I'll take care of 'em when I get out.
That's what I told myself. And I'll help ya Cody, like always. You'll be out soon, back on top of the world.
Parker You got me wrong, Cody. I got nothin' against you. It was Big Ed. He told me to do it. You wouldn't kill me in cold blood, would ya?
Cody No, I'll let ya warm up a little.
Cody, my radio won't work.
Cody Whuddya want for it, unemployment insurance?
Can't I go down to San Berdoo and get it fixed?
Cody: Nobody leaves here unless I say so. Now you... [terrified, she flinches and recoils as he gestures toward her face] - whatsa matter, baby? I'm not gonna hurt ya. [He kisses her] Go and read your comic books. Good girl.
Creel Hey Cody, that guy's a copper.
Cody What?
Creel He's a T-man. I know him. His name is Fallon.
Cody Are you sure?
Creel Yeah. He pinched me four years ago.
Cody A copper! A copper! How d'ya like that, boys? A copper. And his name is Fallon. [He begins to laugh hysterically] And we went for it. I went for it. Treated him like a kid brother. And I was gonna split fifty-fifty with a copper. Maybe they're waitin' to pin a medal on him.
Solid gold. Come on, get up, get your hands up.
Cody Yeah, that's it. A nice gold medal for the copper. Only maybe he's gonna get it sooner than he thinks.
