Quotes for
Russell 'Stringer' Bell (Character)
from "The Wire" (2002)

"The Wire: Hot Shots (#2.3)" (2003)

Russell 'Stringer' Bell: While back, I took a stroll through the pit. I saw that kid we got running things down there, uh, Poot. Now, he got the cell phone I gave him for the business, right there on his hip. But, the nigga got another cell phone that only rang when the pussy called. Now, if this no-count nigga got two cell phones, how the fuck you gonna sell any more of them motherfuckers? That's market saturation.

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"The Wire: Reformation (#3.10)" (2004)

Russell 'Stringer' Bell: You know, Avon, you gotta think about what we got in this game for, man. Huh? Was it the rep? Was it so our names could ring out on some fucking ghetto streetcorner, man? Naw, man. There's games beyond the fucking game.

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"The Wire: The Target (#1.1)" (2002)

Det. Barlow: Think I give a fuck? I'll be chalkin' you off someday.
Russell 'Stringer' Bell: You have a nice day.

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"The Wire: Hard Cases (#2.4)" (2003)

Russell 'Stringer' Bell: Yo, Rock.
Sean 'Shamrock' McGinty: Huh?
Russell 'Stringer' Bell: Be subtle with it, man.
[pauses]
Russell 'Stringer' Bell: You know what subtle means?
Sean 'Shamrock' McGinty: Laid back and shit.

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"The Wire: Dead Soldiers (#3.3)" (2004)

Stringer Bell: That's good. That's like a 40-degree day. Ain't nobody got nothing to say about a 40-degree day. Fifty. Bring a smile to your face. Sixty, shit, niggas is damn near barbecuing on that motherfucker. Go down to 20, niggas get their bitch on. Get their blood complaining. But forty? Nobody give a fuck about 40. Nobody remember 40, and y'all niggas is giving me way too many 40-degree days! What the fuck?
Sapper: [a few minutes later when Stringer is done talking] We on that shit like a Forty Degree Day!

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"The Wire: Homecoming (#3.6)" (2004)

Russell 'Stringer' Bell: Twenty-five gets me the permits?
State Sen. R. Clayton 'Clay' Davis: Mm-mmm. Twenty gets you the permits. Five is for me for bribing these downtown motherfuckers. I mean, I'm the one got to risk walking up to these thieving bitches with cash in hand, right? I'm telling you, String, the people running the city nowadays, they make the last bunch look sanctified. I mean, this some shameful shit.

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"The Wire: Straight and True (#3.5)" (2004)

Russell 'Stringer' Bell: Motherfucker, what is that?
Sean 'Shamrock' McGinty: Robert Rules say we gotta have minutes for a meeting, right? These the minutes.
Russell 'Stringer' Bell: Nigger, is you taking notes on a criminal fucking conspiracy?

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"The Wire: Middle Ground (#3.11)" (2004)

[Omar and Brother Mouzone have Stringer cornered, their guns turned on him]
Stringer Bell: I ain't strapped. I ain't involved, yo. I ain't involved in none of that gangster bullshit.
[both gunmen are silent, Stringer is breathing hard from running]
Stringer Bell: What y'all niggers want, man? Huh? Money?
[however, he just gets more silence]
Stringer Bell: IS THAT IT? Cause if it is, I can be a better friend to y'all alive.
Omar: You still don't get it, do you? This ain't about your money, bro. Your boy gave you up. That's right. And we ain't had to torture his ass neither!
[Stringer is silent, realizing that Omar now knows he had his lover Brandon tortured and killed. He then looks to Brother Mouzone, and with him there - realizes he now knows he tried to have him killed, and that both men have come for retribution]
Stringer Bell: [regrettably] Doesn't seem like I could do anything to change y'all minds.
[long silence]
Stringer Bell: Well, get on with it, motherfu...
[Omar and Mouzone shoot him to death]

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