Once Upon a Time in America Quotes

Noodles : We gotta reorganize, Max. And I got a couple of good ideas...
Max : Me too.
Eve : If I had a million bucks, I'd take it easy.
Max : We'll take it easy when we got twenty... fifty!
Noodles : Where're you gonna get THAT?
Max : Right here... [ draws a diagram in the sand ]
Noodles : What's that?
Max : It's a dream. A dream I've been dreaming all my life. I swear to God, you and me together, we can make it come true!
Noodles : What is it?
Max : The Federal Reserve Bank. It's the biggest step we can take, Noodles!
Noodles : You're really crazy.
Max : Don't you ever say that to me! Don't ever say that to me again!

Movie: Once Upon a Time in America
Sgt. P. Halloran : Sergeant Halloran. Hello. Who's speaking? Can I help you? Hello.
Noodles : I got a good tip for you...

Movie: Once Upon a Time in America
Noodles : I always thought you might have helped yourself to that million bucks. But now I know. Yeah, you're on your ass worse than ever.
Fat Moe : But I thought it was you who...
Noodles : No, you thought wrong. The suitcase was empty.
Fat Moe : Then who took it?
Noodles : That's what I've been asking myself for 35 years.

Movie: Once Upon a Time in America
Officer 'Fartface' Whitey : Okay, boys, we're even...
Young Noodles : The hell we are!
Young Max : You'll be collecting your pension before we're even!

Movie: Once Upon a Time in America
Max : Holy shit! Noodles! Noodles! Come here, come here. Look, the blond by the piano... [ points at Carol ]
Noodles : Who's that?
Max : Who is that? You and this broad were practically engaged at one point!

Movie: Once Upon a Time in America
[ a romantic moment between Noodles and Deborah is interrupted ]
Young Deborah : Somebody's there!
Young Noodles : There ain't nobody. It's Max.
Young Deborah : So that's who it was...
Young Max : Noodles!
Young Deborah : [ smiling maliciously ] Go on, run. Your mother's calling you.
Young Max : Noodles!
Young Noodles : Just gonna go see what he wants... [ leaves ]

Movie: Once Upon a Time in America
Young Peggy : [ to Noodles ] Bring me a charlotte russe, and then you can do anything you like... [ cut to Patsy buying a charlotte russe for Peggy ]
Young Patsy : That one. With the cream.
Young 'Fat' Moe : The five-cent one?
Young Patsy : Yeah. For the two-penny one she only gives you a hand job, I can do that myself.

Movie: Once Upon a Time in America
[ In 1931, Max picks up a just-released Noodles in a hearse ]
Max : We got a rush job. Here. Come here, look at this. Come here. [ gestures to the back of the hearse ]
Max : Sudden death. Fucking tragedy, huh? 26 years old.
Noodles : 26? What a shame!
Max : Great stiff. She died of an overdose.
Girl in Coffin : [ sitting up ] And I'm ready for another!
Max : [ pushes Noodles into the hearse ] Pump the life into her! You didn't turn pansy in there, did you?... There you go! [ Max starts the hearse and looks at some people surprised at the noises coming from the hearse ]
Max : Turning over in the grave, they do it every time...! [ the hearse parks in front of Fat Moe's diner at night ]
Girl in Coffin : [ exhausted ] Don't worry. A pansy he ain't.
Noodles : Thanks.

Movie: Once Upon a Time in America
Peggy : Come on, let's see if you can guess who it is...
Noodles : Charlotte russe, with a little too much whipped cream... Peggy.
Peggy : Hey, you watch it, now! And my prices, they've gone up. I work in a high-class joint now, and I get paid by the pound.
Patrick 'Patsy' Goldberg : My Peggy, she's worth every penny of it too, my red-hot mama!

Movie: Once Upon a Time in America
[ changing his baby son's diaper ]
Police Chief Aiello : Hey, hey, let Papa change you. Come on, everything will be swell. Come on, come on, come on... [ removes the diaper ]
Police Chief Aiello : What the fuck is this? What is this? Huh? What's that? LOOK! [ the baby's a girl, and just as obviously not his child ]

Movie: Once Upon a Time in America
Police Chief Aiello : Find my son, or I'll burn down this building!

Movie: Once Upon a Time in America
Max : You know, I've been watching you all night, and you've been drinking like a fish. Trying to get your courage up? We're only bringing in a shipment of booze, it's got so you're even scared to do that. Maybe you just better stay home tonight, with Eve.
Noodles : Hey, Maxie, everywhere you go, I go too. Remember that.
Max : Maybe Sharkey was right. Maybe I ought to just dump you.
Noodles : You're really crazy.
Max : Never say that. Don't say it!

Movie: Once Upon a Time in America
[ Chief Aiello's son is missing and he gets a call almost immediately ]
Police Chief Aiello : My son, where is he?
Noodles : Where do you think? He's in the maternity ward. He never left. He got restless, so he wanted to change his bed. The other kids got the same idea, so they wanted to change their beds. You got thirty, forty screaming babies jumping from one bed to another, switching tags. So now we do have a real problem.
Police Chief Aiello : Piece of shit, whoever you are! What the fuck? I want my son!
Noodles : Luckily, we were there to see that everything was under control. If you want, we can put everything back. Except you gotta meet us halfway.
Police Chief Aiello : Tell me!
Noodles : Why do you give a fuck who wins the strike?
Police Chief Aiello : That's got nothing to do with me!... What did I do?
Noodles : First of all, you let the scabs in. Second, you've got the cops in there protecting them.
Police Chief Aiello : I'm a cop!
Noodles : All right, shut the fuck up! Now listen very carefully: call off your dogs and let the strikers work it out with the bosses.
Police Chief Aiello : I want my son!
Noodles : Do that, and we'll give you the kid's number. If you don't, look for your kid yourself. So what's it gonna be?
Police Chief Aiello : Okay. I'll call my men off today.
Noodles : Attaboy. You know, for a rotten bastard son of a bitch... you're not as stupid as I thought. We'll be in touch.
Police Chief Aiello : When will you call?
Noodles : Don't worry, don't worry, we'll be in touch with you. Bye. [ hangs up ]

Movie: Once Upon a Time in America
[ after switching Aiello's baby boy ]
Max : So?
Noodles : We got a deal.
Max : To a very smooth talker. [ the gang cheers ]
Noodles : Where's that switch list?
Patrick 'Patsy' Goldberg : The switch list?
Noodles : Yeah.
Patrick 'Patsy' Goldberg : I can't find it.
Max : What?
Patrick 'Patsy' Goldberg : I can't find it!
Noodles : What'd you do with it?
Patrick 'Patsy' Goldberg : I think I dumped it.
Max : What a yutz!
Noodles : Oh, Pat...
Patrick 'Patsy' Goldberg : Wait a minute, listen... Listen, Noodles. Noodles, wait, I remember... the boys' numbers was odd... even! And the girls' was odd!
Philip 'Cockeye' Stein : [ sardonic ] You took good stock.
Noodles : Hey, let's give him an even number. Eight... let's pick an eight.
Patrick 'Patsy' Goldberg : Eight... yeah, it's a good number.
Philip 'Cockeye' Stein : Wait, what about the other pischers?
Max : We're better than fate. Some we give the good life, others we give it up the ass.

Movie: Once Upon a Time in America
[ in 1968, Noodles meets Fat Moe ]
Noodles : I brought back the key to your clock.

Movie: Once Upon a Time in America
[ Noodles gives Moe a letter to read ]
Fat Moe : Who's Robert Williams?
Noodles : I am.
Fat Moe : [ reading ] "We wish to inform you that following the sale of the Beth Israel Cemetery..." The synagogue sent these out if you wanted to relocate your loved ones. I got the same letter on account of my father.
Noodles : Only the synagogue didn't send that. I got that last week, and the rabbi told me he sent those out about eight months ago.
Fat Moe : Yeah, that's right. That's about when I got mine. So... what else did the rabbi say?
Noodles : He said I was lucky. The bodies of... Philip Stein, Maximilian Bercovicz, Patrick Goldberg... were already spoken for. And they were up in a very fancy cemetery in Riverdale.
Fat Moe : What's this all mean?
Noodles : It means, "Noodles, though you've been hiding in the asshole of the world, we found you. We know where you are." It means, "Get ready."
Fat Moe : For what?
Noodles : That's the one thing it didn't say.

Movie: Once Upon a Time in America
Fat Moe : [ winding up a clock ] What do you think?
Noodles : I think the answer's here. That's why I came back.

Movie: Once Upon a Time in America
Young Patsy : Hey, stop by for you later!
Young Noodles : Yeah, but knock here on the john first! My old man's praying, and my old lady's crying, and the light's turned off. What the hell should I go home for? At least in here I can read...

Movie: Once Upon a Time in America
[ Patsy meets Peggy ]
Young Peggy : What do you want?
Young Patsy : Me?
Young Peggy : Mama said you were looking for me.
Young Patsy : No, the guys told me that... [ pause ]
Young Patsy : What?
Young Patsy : I'll come back some other time... [ leaves post-haste ]
Young Patsy : Noodles! Noodles! Noodles! Noodles!

Movie: Once Upon a Time in America
[ Deborah cleans up the bar while the rest of the family is out. Noodles walks in ]
Young Deborah : What are you doing?
Young Noodles : Give me a drink.
Young Deborah : We're closed. Nice people don't drink on Pesach, they go to the synagogue.
Young Noodles : So what are YOU doing here?
Young Deborah : Somebody's got to keep an eye on the place. There are a lot of thieves out there. One could get into your house.
Young Noodles : Especially if you leave the door open.
Young Deborah : You can pray here too. Here or in the synagogue, to God it's the same difference. Come over here and sit down...

Movie: Once Upon a Time in America
Young Max : From here on, we establish the shared funds of the gang. They belong to all of us together, and to none of us alone. And we solemnly swear to put in 50 per cent of everything we make. Agreed?
Young Noodles, Young Cockeye, Young Patsy, Dominic : Agreed.
Dominic : I wanna take another peek!

Movie: Once Upon a Time in America
[ in 1931, Noodles meets Deborah ]
Deborah Gelly : Aren't you going to say hello?
Noodles : Hello. [ Moe cues a band to play the "Amapola" tune ]
Noodles : Your brother's a real friend. He's a romantic. Max tell you I was getting out today?
Deborah Gelly : Max? No.
Noodles : You remembered yourself?
Deborah Gelly : No, Moe, it's always Moe.
Noodles : Yeah. You weren't counting the days?
Deborah Gelly : Of course I was. 4344, 4343... I lost track at 3000.
Noodles : That wasn't my choice. Yes, it was. It still is. Did you come here to welcome me back at least?
Deborah Gelly : I still live here. I was on my way out, Moe said I should say hello.
Noodles : I hope Moe didn't have to bend your arm or anything.
Deborah Gelly : No. Welcome back, Noodles.
Max : [ calling ] Hey, Noodles!
Noodles : You dancing?
Deborah Gelly : Every night at the Palace Theatre. I've made some progress since I danced here among the brooms and the empties. You can come spy on me if you like... if you have time.
Noodles : Every night.
Max : Noodles!
Deborah Gelly : Go on, Noodles, your mother's calling you.
Deborah Gelly : It's good to see you again, Noodles. [ leaves ]
Noodles : my pleasure...

Movie: Once Upon a Time in America
Noodles : Why'd you ask me to come here, Mr. Bailey?
Secretary Bailey : That invitation doesn't mean a goddamn thing, and you know it. All that counts is what was in that suitcase: the money and the contract.
Noodles : It didn't say who the contract was on, though.
Secretary Bailey : Haven't you figured that out yet?
Noodles : You, Mr. Bailey? I haven't had a gun in my hand for many, many years. My eyes aren't too good, even with my glasses. My hands shake. And I wouldn't want to miss, Mr Bailey.
Secretary Bailey : Cut the bullshit, Noodles, I'm already a dead man! At least give me the chance to settle the debt that I owe to you! I'll never make it before the investigating committee... [ indicates the people at his party ]
Secretary Bailey : They're scared I'll implicate the whole bunch of 'em, they gotta get rid of me. Today is as good a day as any. You do it, Noodles. You're the only person I can accept it from. You see, I found out where you were. I brought you back here for this, to even the score between you and me. [ points to a side door ]
Secretary Bailey : You can get out through there. It leads right down to the street. Nobody will see you.
Noodles : I don't know what you're talking about. You don't owe me a thing.
Secretary Bailey : Your eyes were too full of tears to see it wasn't me burned up on that street. It was somebody else. You were too shocked to realize that the cops were in on it too. That was a Syndicate operation, Noodles.
Noodles : You're crazy...
Secretary Bailey : You said that to me once before, a long time ago. But my mind was never as clear as it was at that moment. I took away your whole life from you. I've been living in your place. I took everything. I took your money, I took your gir

Movie: Once Upon a Time in America
[ watching a TV news broadcast about the Bailey Scandal in 1968 ]
Fat Moe : Take the money and run, Noodles. What's keeping you here?
Noodles : Curious...

Movie: Once Upon a Time in America
[ In 1932, Noodles takes Deborah out to dinner ]
Deborah Gelly : Been waiting long?
Noodles : All my life.

Movie: Once Upon a Time in America
Deborah Gelly : You dancing?
Noodles : You asking?
Deborah Gelly : I'm asking.
Noodles : I'm dancing. [ they dance ]

Movie: Once Upon a Time in America
[ Max shows Noodles his latest purchase ]
Noodles : What is it?
Max : It's a throne. It was a gift to a pope. It cost me about 800 bucks.
Carol : It's from the 17th century.
Noodles : What are you going to do with it?
Max : I'm sitting on it.

Movie: Once Upon a Time in America
Max : Ladies and gents, I drink to the demise of Fat Moe's speakeasy. Who the hell wants to drink here legally anyway, am I right? Okay, come on, Moe, set them up! Go on, get in there! [ raises a toast ]
Max : Here's mud in your eye! Boys, let's drink to our last shipment! There's more onboard tonight than just booze... it's ten years of our lives, ten years that were really worth living!
Patrick 'Patsy' Goldberg : Yeah!
Max : Noodles... Noodles! L 'Chaim!
Noodles : [ quietly ] L 'Chaim.

Movie: Once Upon a Time in America
[ Before Max's grand robbery ]
Noodles : I'm gonna be gone for a while.
Eve : I'll be waiting at the hotel. I like it when you come home late and wake me up.
Noodles : I'm not gonna be home tonight. I'm not gonna be home tomorrow either.
Eve : I thought these things only take a couple of hours... [ Elsewhere, the gang is making a toast to the end of Prohibition ]
Eve : How long will I have to wait?
Noodles : A year and a half, more or less. Six months off for good behaviour.
Eve : What are you gonna do?
Noodles : Don't ask.

Movie: Once Upon a Time in America
[ Peggy introduces the gang to Carol ]
Peggy : You know these guys?
Carol : [ looking at their faces ] No, I don't think so. No. No, I'd remember a bunch of good-lookers like these. [ the gang ties bandanas around their faces ]
Carol : Oh... well, how could I forget? There was... there was only one of you I got to know personally, though.
Max : Which one? Let's see how good a memory you've got for faces. [ They unbotton their flies, and a delighted Carol takes a long look at the four men in front of her ]
Carol : [ to Max ] You!
Max : No, him. [ gestures to Max ]
Noodles : We've been hanging out so long we're starting to look alike.
Max : Hanging out...
Carol : Charmed. You can call me Carol. We've already met. Pleasure.
Max : The pleasure... is all mine. [ kisses Carol ]

Movie: Once Upon a Time in America