The Best Willard E. Pugh Quotes

Mayor: How are we supposed to raise that kind of money with things the way they are?
The: You aren't.
Mayor: What the hell is he talking about?
The: We don't expect you to pay.
Holzgang: Let me refer you to our contract. "In the event of default, OCP shall have the uncontested right of foreclosure on all city assets."
Poulos: [reading contract for himself, then to the Mayor] You SIGNED this.
Mayor: So you're saying we miss one payment and you can foreclose.
The: We can and we will. We're taking Detroit private.

The: [Mayor Kuzack enters the room] My friends, welcome to our city as it should be, and as it will be in the hands of responsible private enterprise.
The: [applause] And a special welcome to mayor Kuzack and the outgoing administration.
Mayor: Oh, we're not going anywhere.
The: [murmurs] Your Honor.
Mayor: You'll have to tear down a lot of people's houses before you can make that thing and take away their homes.
The: We're going to raise towers of glass and steel. Every citizen will have a living unit. Safe, secure and clean. Now please, take your seat.
Mayor: Won't be much room for neighborhoods, huh? Not like the kind that we all grew up in.
The: These days, neighborhoods just seem to be the sort of places where bad things happen. Don't be nostalgic.
Mayor: What about democracy? Nobody elected you.
The: Anyone can buy OCP's stock and own a piece of our city. What could be more democratic than that?
Mayor: Well, let me tell you: there are a lot of people in this town who can't afford to buy your stock, and they're not gonna let you get away with this!
The: You haven't been following the polls. Sit down.

Harpo: Who this, Pa? Who this?
Albert: The woman that shoulda been yo' mammy.

Hob: Why do people do crimes?
Mayor: Why? Drugs. People do drugs.
Hob: Because they want drugs. The kind that cost too much. Nuke - gives high quality at a cheap price. If you get off our backs, we're gonna make it cheaper.
Angie: And safer.
Hob: We don't go shoving our shit down anybody's throat. And we don't advertise it like they do with cigarettes or booze.
Angie: So leave us alone - and anybody who wants it gets it.
Hob: So no more crimes. You get to be the mayor who cleaned up Detroit.
Mayor: He's got a point. Don't you think he's got a point?
Poulos: Yeah, he's got a point.

Mayor: So you deliberately undermined our credit.
Holzgang: That was the easy part.
Mayor: And engineered the police strike. Do you want Detroit to-to... to tear itself apart so you can raid it like you would any other corporation? Do you know how many people are dying out there? You're murderers.
Holzgang: I'd advise you to say nothing further. It might be... actionable.
Mayor: It's bullshit! BULLSHIT, YA SENILE OLD BASTARD!
Poulos: All right, calm down.
Mayor: It's bullshit!
Poulos: I think we better get out of here.
Mayor: I'm okay!
Poulos: Calm down. I-I think we'd better leave.
Mayor: I'm calm.
Poulos: Calm down.
[Kuzack and Poulous head towards the door]
Mayor: I'm okay. I'm okay.
Poulos: All right. Good.
Mayor: I'm in control. Everything is fine. It's okay. I'm fine.
Mayor: [stops and turns around] One last thing, gentlemen: we will sue your asses.
The: Give it your best shot.
Mayor: FUCK YOU, YA OLD SENILE BASTARD! This is bullshit! Fuck you! This is bullshit!

Squeak: Harpo! Who dis woman?
Harpo: Now come now, you know who this is.
Squeak: She best'a leave you alone.
Sophia: Fine with me.
Harpo: [to Sophia] You ain't got to go nowhere. Dis here my juke-joint.
Squeak: [to Harpo] You said dis here our juke-joint!
Harpo: Listen woman, can't a man dance with his wife if he wants to?
Squeak: Not if she a heifer!
[to Sophia]
Squeak: And not if he my man! You just a big ol heifer. Ha Ha Ha.
Sophia: [to Squeak] Like I said, fine with me!