Fargo (1996)
Frances McDormand: Marge Gunderson
Photos
Quotes
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Marge Gunderson : [to Gaear] So, that was Mrs. Lundegaard on the floor in there. And I guess that was your accomplice in the wood chipper. And those three people in Brainerd. And for what? For a little bit of money? There's more to life than a little money, you know. Don'tcha know that? And here ya are, and it's a beautiful day. Well. I just don't understand it.
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Marge Gunderson : Say, Lou, didya hear the one about the guy who couldn't afford personalized plates, so he went and changed his name to J3L2404?
Lou : Yah, that's a good one.
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Marge Gunderson : I'm not sure I agree with you a hundred percent on your police work, there, Lou.
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Marge Gunderson : Oh, for Pete's sake! For Pete's sake, he's fleeing the interview. He's fleeing the interview!
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Marge Gunderson : Okay, I want you to tell me what these fellas looked like.
Hooker No. 1 : Well, the little guy was kinda funny-lookin'.
Marge Gunderson : In what way?
Hooker No. 1 : I dunno, just funny-lookin'.
Marge Gunderson : Can you be any more specific?
Hooker No. 1 : I couldn't really say. He wasn't circumcised.
Marge Gunderson : [amused by this unhelpful detail] Was he funny lookin' apart from that?
Hooker No. 1 : Yah.
Marge Gunderson : So, you were havin' sex with the little fellow, then.
Hooker No. 1 : Uh huh.
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Norm Gunderson : They announced it.
Marge Gunderson : They announced it?
Norm Gunderson : Yeah.
Marge Gunderson : So?
Norm Gunderson : Three-cent stamp.
Marge Gunderson : Your mallard?
Norm Gunderson : Yeah.
Marge Gunderson : Oh, that's terrific.
Norm Gunderson : It's just a three-cent stamp.
Marge Gunderson : It's terrific.
Norm Gunderson : Hautman's blue-winged teal got the 29-cent. People don't much use the three-cent.
Marge Gunderson : Oh, for Pete's sake. Of course they do. Whenever they raise the postage, people need the little stamps.
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[Marge bends over next to the overturned car, as if she's looking at something on the ground]
Lou : You alright there, Margie?
Marge Gunderson : Oh, I just think I'm gonna barf...
Marge Gunderson : [standing up again after a moment] ... Well, that passed. Now I'm hungry again.
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[last lines]
Norm Gunderson : [rubbing Margie's pregnant stomach] Two more months.
Marge Gunderson : [smiling] Two more months.
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Norm Gunderson : I love you, Margie.
Marge Gunderson : I love you, Norm.
[she leaves, closing the door; after getting in the car briefly, she comes back in the door]
Marge Gunderson : Hon?
Norm Gunderson : Yah?
Marge Gunderson : Prowler needs a jump.
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Marge Gunderson : Ah, hon, ya got Arby's all over me.
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Marge Gunderson : Mind if I sit down? I'm carrying quite a load here.
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Marge Gunderson : You betcha!
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Jerry Lundegaard : I told ya. We haven't had any vehicles go missing.
Marge Gunderson : [cheerful tone] Okay! But are ya sure? 'Cause I mean, how do you know? Do you do a count, or what kind of a routine do you have here?
Jerry Lundegaard : [growing uncomfortable with the questioning] Ma'am, I answered your question!
Marge Gunderson : [long pause] I'm sorry, sir?
Jerry Lundegaard : Ma'am, I answered your question! I answered the darned... I'm cooperatin' here!
Marge Gunderson : [serious tone] Sir, you have no call to get snippy with me. I'm just doing my job here.
Jerry Lundegaard : I'm... I'm not arguing here! I'm cooperating. So there's no need to... we're doin' all we can here.
Marge Gunderson : Sir, could I talk to Mr. Gustafson?
[Jerry gives her a glassy-eyed look, knowing full well that Gustafson is dead]
Marge Gunderson : Mr. Lundegaard?
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Jerry Lundegaard : Well, heck! If you wanna... If you wanna play games here, I'm working with ya on this thing here, but... Okay!
[slams table as he stands up]
Jerry Lundegaard : I'll do a damn lot count!
Marge Gunderson : Sir, right now?
Jerry Lundegaard : Yeah! Right now. You're darn tootin'! If it's so damned important to ya!
Marge Gunderson : Well, I'm sorry, sir.
Jerry Lundegaard : Ah, what the Christ!
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Marge Gunderson : Well, I'm sorry, sir!
Jerry Lundegaard : [storming off to do a lot count] Aw, what the Chris'!
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Mike Yanagita : [moves to Marge's side of the table and puts arms around her] Do you mind if I sit over here?
Marge Gunderson : No. Why don't you sit over there? I'd prefer that.
Mike Yanagita : Huh? Uh... ok.
[moves back to other side of table]
Mike Yanagita : Sorry.
Marge Gunderson : Oh, no, no. Just so I can see you. I don't have to turn my neck.
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Marge Gunderson : [reporting over her police radio] There's the car! There's the car!
Lou : What car?
Marge Gunderson : My car, my car! Tan Sierra, Tan Sierra!
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Marge Gunderson : OK, so we got a trooper pulls someone over, we got a shooting, these folks drive by, there's a high-speed pursuit, ends here and then this execution-type deal.
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Marge Gunderson : So, Mike, should we get together another time?
Mike Yanagita : No!
[sobs]
Mike Yanagita : I'm sorry, I... I shouldn't have done this. I shouldn't have done this, I shouldn't have... I thought we'd have a really terrific time.
Marge Gunderson : It's OK, Mike.
Mike Yanagita : You were such a super lady... and I'm, I'm so lonely.
[sobs]
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Marge Gunderson : So, where you girls from?
Hooker No. 1 : Chaska.
Hooker #2 : Le Sueur. But I went to high school in White Bear Lake. Go bears.
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Marge Gunderson : [to Radisson hotel concierge] I'm doing really super there, thanks. I am Mrs. Gunderson. I have a reservation.
Hotel Clerk : Yep, you sure do, Mrs. Gunderson.
Marge Gunderson : [smiling] Is there a phone down here, you think?
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Marge Gunderson : Hon? Prowler needs a jump.
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Lou : How's it look, Marge?
Marge Gunderson : Well he's got his gun on his hip there and... he looks like a nice enough guy. It's a real shame.
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Hooker No. 1 : Hey, they said they were goin' to the Twin Cities.
Marge Gunderson : Oh, yah?
Hooker #2 : Yah!
Hooker No. 1 : Yah. Is that useful to ya?
Marge Gunderson : Oh, you betcha, yah.
Hooker No. 1 , Hooker #2 : Yah.
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Marge Gunderson : [on lobby phone, asking advice about a restaurant] Is it reasonable?
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Marge Gunderson : So, do you remember getting a phone call late Wednesday night?
Shep Proudfoot : [after a short pause] No.
Marge Gunderson : You do reside there at 1425 Freemont Terrace?
Shep Proudfoot : Yes.
Marge Gunderson : Anyone else residing there?
Shep Proudfoot : No.
Marge Gunderson : Well, Mr. Proudfoot, this call came in past three in the morning. It's just hard for me to believe you don't remember anyone calling. Now, I know you've had some problems; struggling with the narcotics, some other entanglements, currently on parole.
Shep Proudfoot : So?
Marge Gunderson : Well, associating with criminals, if you're the one they talked to, that right there would be a violation of your parole; would end you up back in Stillwater. I saw some rough stuff on your priors, but nothing like a homicide. I know you don't wanna be an accessory to something like that.
[after another pause]
Marge Gunderson : So... you think you might remember who those folks were who called ya?
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Marge Gunderson : [sitting up in bed, while Norm lies next to her, sleeping] Norm?
Norm Gunderson : [Norm wakes up] Yeah, Marge?
Marge Gunderson : I'm turning in now.
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Marge Gunderson : Okay. So we got a trooper pulls someone over, we got a shooting, these folks drive by, there's a high-speed pursuit, ends here, and then this execution-type deal.
Lou : Yah.
Marge Gunderson : I'd be very surprised if our suspect was from Brainerd.
Lou : Yah.
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Marge Gunderson : I'm a police officer from up Brainerd investigating some malfeasance and I was just wondering if you've had any new vehicles stolen off the lot in the past couple of weeks - specifically a tan Cutlass Ciera? Mr. Lundegaard?
Jerry Lundegaard : Brainerd?
Marge Gunderson : Yah. Yah. Home a Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox.
Jerry Lundegaard : Babe the Blue Ox.
[forced laugh]
Marge Gunderson : Yah, you know we've got the big statue there. So, you haven't had any vehicles go missin', then?
Jerry Lundegaard : No. No, ma'am.
Marge Gunderson : Okey-dokey, thanks a bunch. I'll let you get back to your paperwork, then.
[knocks on Jerry's desk]
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[repeated line]
Marge Gunderson : Oh yah!
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Officer Olson : Hiya, Norm. How ya doin', Margie? How's the fricasse?
Marge Gunderson : Pretty darn good, ya want some?
Officer Olson : No, I gotta - hey, Norm, I thought you was goin' ice fishin' up at Mille Lacs?
Norm Gunderson : Yah, after lunch.
Officer Olson : Ah.
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Marge Gunderson : [on the phone] Oh, my. Where? Yeah? Oh, geez. I'll be there in a jif.
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Marge Gunderson : Hiya, Lou. Woo! Whatcha got there?
Lou : Margie. Thought you might need a little warm-up.
[hands her a cup of coffee]
Marge Gunderson : Thanks a bunch. So what's the deal, now? Gary says triple homicide?
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Marge Gunderson : It sounds like you're doin' really super!
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Marge Gunderson : Geez. Well - geez. That's a surprise.