The Irishman (2019)

Joe Pesci: Russell Bufalino

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Quotes 

• Russell Bufalino : If they can whack a President, they can whack a president of a union. You know it and I know it.

• Russell Bufalino : [to Hoffa]  You might be demonstrating a failure to show appreciation.

• Russell Bufalino : [on Hoffa]  He likes to talk, don't he?

• Russell Bufalino : He likes to talk, don't he?

  Frank Sheeran : I felt like I was talking to General Patton.

• Frank Sheeran : [narrating]  Russell had a piece of everything. He had this store in Pittston called Penn Drape & Curtains. And he ran everything out of there. Who knew what it all was? I mean, I'm sure the man had partners. They always have partners. Nobody keeps all the money. But everybody listened to Russ. That I can tell you. You wanted to bribe a judge, you asked Russell. You didn't know how much to bribe him, Russell was gonna tell you. You wanna promote one of your guys, Russ would tell you you could or you could not. You wanna make somebody disappear, you gotta get Russell's permission. You know, no two ways about it. And when you did something for Russ, you did it yourself. Like Russ used to say...

  Russell Bufalino : [cuts to Russell, explaining straight to the camera]  When I ask somebody to take care of something for me, I expect them to take care of it themselves. I don't need two roads coming back to me.

• Russell Bufalino : Listen, Frank. Things have gotten out of hand with our friend again. And some people are having serious problems with him. And it's at a point where you're gonna have to talk to him and tell him: It's what it is.

  Frank Sheeran : What it is.

  Russell Bufalino : Yeah it's what they want. It's where it's gotten. You're close to him. Maybe he'll listen to you.

  Frank Sheeran : You know, I talk to him. He's a tough guy to talk to, you know that.

  Russell Bufalino : He has no choice. He has no choice. He's in the higher ups.

  Frank Sheeran : Well he's in the higher ups too.

  Russell Bufalino : Not like this. Come on Frank, you know.

  Russell Bufalino : [leans in]  If they can whack a president, they can whack the president of a union. You know it and I know it.

  Frank Sheeran : [sighs]  You know I talk to this guy. I talk to him and talk to him. But he's gotta listen now. He's... a fuckin' knucklehead.

• Russell Bufalino : You don't need money, do you?

  Jimmy Hoffa : It's not about money.

  Russell Bufalino : Well if it's not about money, then I'm really having trouble understanding. Because I don't know what all the talk is about.

  Jimmy Hoffa : It's my union. Is that hard to understand?

  Russell Bufalino : That's right, it's your union. It'll always be your union. But you can step down and still run it.

  Jimmy Hoffa : No, you don't step down. What you mean step down, Rus? You don't step down from your union. You step down to go to your grave.

  Russell Bufalino : Well, I still think... I can't help but think, I'm sorry but... is there another reason or something?

  Jimmy Hoffa : This is my union! What do you mean another reason? This is my union. Alright, let's start with that. Let's try to understand.

  Russell Bufalino : OK, listen. Some people, not me but, some people... they're a little concerned. Some people, not me. They think that you might...

  Jimmy Hoffa : I might?

  Russell Bufalino : They think that you might be showing a failure to show appreciation.

  Jimmy Hoffa : I'm not showing appreciation?

  Russell Bufalino : According to, you know, some people... .

  Jimmy Hoffa : I went to school for five fucking years.

  Russell Bufalino : Yes, you did.

  Jimmy Hoffa : Five fucking years! I didn't name one fucking name.

  Russell Bufalino : You did the right thing.

  Jimmy Hoffa : Sat there every day with that whining cocksucker, from New Jersey, talking about his woes, his problems. And all I wanted to do was finish my ice cream in peace. This cocksucker shows up at a meeting fifteen minutes late. Wearing fucking shorts! Who wears shorts to a meeting?

  Russell Bufalino : Nobody.

  Jimmy Hoffa : Nobody. How am I not showing appreciation?

  Russell Bufalino : It's not me. According to some people...

  Jimmy Hoffa : No I know it's not you! Some people think I'm not showing appreciation. Well, fuck them.

  Russell Bufalino : I'm trying to help you, Jimmy.

  Jimmy Hoffa : I know you are. But nobody threatens Hoffa.