Robert Earl Jones: Luther Coleman

The Sting

Luther Coleman

Johnny Hooker: Luther! Good God, we're millionaires!
Luther: Jesus! Did you know he was that loaded?
Johnny Hooker: Hell no. I just cut into him. I woulda settled for pawning one of them shoes.

Luther: You're late. Where have you been?
Johnny Hooker: I had a couple of appointments.
Luther: How much did you lose?
Johnny Hooker: [winces] All of it.
Luther: In one goddamn night? What are you spraying money around like that for? You could've been nailed.
Johnny Hooker: Ah, I checked the place first. There were no dicks in there.
Luther: But you're a con man! And you blew it like a pimp! I didn't teach you to be no pimp.

Johnny Hooker: Are you nuts, carrying a wad around like that in a neighborhood like this? No wonder you got hit.
Luther: Thanks, I'm obliged to you. But I got to get going.
Johnny Hooker: [he tries to stand up] You ain't goin' nowhere on this leg. Let me see.
Luther: I gotta... got to run some slots down in West Bend for a mob here. I got a little behind in the payoffs. So they figure I been holding out on them. They gave me until 4:00 to come up with the cash. If they don't get it, I'm dead.
Johnny Hooker: It don't look good, Gramps. It's almost 4:00 now.
Luther: I'll give you and your friend 100 bucks to deliver it for me.
Johnny Hooker: I don't know. That mug that hit you is mad enough at me already. What if he's waiting around a corner waiting with some friends?
Luther: He won't know you're carrying it. Come on. You've got to help me out.
Johnny Hooker: Hey, I'm sorry, pal. I'm gonna maybe help you get fixed up, get to a doctor, but I ain't about to walk into no knife for you.
Luther: How about you? All you got to do is put it in the door slot. I'll give you the whole 100.
Johnny Hooker: Hey, what makes you think you can trust him? He didn't do shit.
Mottola: Hey, butt out, chicken liver. I gave him back the wallet, didn't I?

Luther: [asking for help to make a payment drop] You won't have no trouble. There's $5,000 there. And here's 100 bucks for you.
Mottola: Okay, old man. I'll make your drop for you. And don't worry, you can trust me.
Johnny Hooker: [starting to leave, Mottola puts the envelope in the inner pocket of his jacket] Hey. Hey! If those goons decide to search you, you ain't gonna get far carrying it there.
Luther: What'll we do?
Johnny Hooker: You got a bag or something? How about a handkerchief?
Luther: [holding one out] Here's a handkerchief!
Johnny Hooker: Here. Give it to me. Give me the money.
Luther: Just hurry, will you?
Johnny Hooker: [putting the money in the handkerchief] You got any more? Better give it all to me if you want to keep it.
Luther: [Mottola hands over his own money he has to deliver] They think I've been holding out on them. My wife got sick, and I had to pay the bill. I wasn't holding out on 'em.
Johnny Hooker: [folding the handkerchief up, he sticks it down the front of his pants] Stuff it down your pants here. Like that. Got it?
Mottola: Uh-huh. Yeah.
Luther: Hurry, will you?
Johnny Hooker: [handing the handkerchief back] Ain't a tough guy in the world that's gonna frisk you there.

Luther: I got an old friend in Chicago named Henry Gondorff. I want you to look him up. There ain't a better inside man alive. He'll teach you all you got to know.
Johnny Hooker: To hell with that. I want to work with you, Luther.
Luther: I'm out, Johnny.

Johnny Hooker: What the hell's eating you? I've blown money before.
Luther: No class grifter would've done it, that's all.
Johnny Hooker: You think my play is bad?
Luther: I think you're the best. I wouldn't be getting out otherwise.
Johnny Hooker: What the hell are you talking about?
Luther: I'm getting too old for this racket. You hang on too long and you start embarrassing yourself.
Johnny Hooker: We just took off today on the biggest score we've ever had.
Luther: It's nothing compared to what you could be makin' on the big con.
Johnny Hooker: But you played the big con. You told me yourself it was some dumb game for mama's boys and flakes.
Luther: [with a chuckle] Hell, I never played no big con. I hung around and picked up a few things. Ain't no rich boys gonna trust a hungry nigger enough to be conned. But I tell you, I've been looking for this one all my life, Johnny. Now I have a chance to step out when I'm ahead.
Johnny Hooker: Come on! What would you do with yourself?
Luther: Oh, I have a brother down in K.C., runs a freigh outlet. I can go halfsies with him. It ain't too exciting, but it's mostly legal.