The Racket (1928)

Thomas Meighan: Captain James McQuigg

Photos 

Quotes 

• [first lines] 

  [McQuigg ducks into a doorway when one of Scari's henchmen shoots at but purposely misses him. Scarsi emerges from behind the door] 

  Nick Scarsi : Hello, Mac.

  Police Captain James McQuigg : Hello, Nick.

  Nick Scarsi : Take a tip, Mac... change your racket.

  Police Captain James McQuigg : I like my racket... and I haven't shot yet.

• [last lines] 

  Detective : What now, Captain?

  Police Captain James McQuigg : [exhausted]  I'd like a little sleep... but by the time I get through with the coroner and the rest of the public servants... it'll be time to go to Mass.

• Detective : Scarsi's sending a load of beer through Eighth and Grand.

  Police Captain James McQuigg : There'll be hell popping!... That's below Spike Corcoran's dead-line.

• Police Captain James McQuigg : [to Nick]  Chick won't be here tonight.

  [Chick arrives] 

  Police Captain James McQuigg : All right, Nick... That's a horse on me.

• Police Captain James McQuigg : [Arresting Nick]  This time - it's a horse on you.

  Nick Scarsi : Maybe.

• Police Captain James McQuigg : This is the last murder you'll ever get away with in my district! I'm going to drive you out!

  Nick Scarsi : I've given you lots of chances - but you're just a dumb harp. So *you're* going out!

• Pratt : Captain, you've got to talk - we need a story.

  Police Captain James McQuigg : Start another anti-smoking campaign.

• Patrolman Johnson : We can't get this bird's name.

  Police Captain James McQuigg : Bring him in - he'll talk.

  Patrolman Johnson : Come on, Francis!

• Patrolman Johnson : That's the dame he walked... She saw the accident.

  Police Captain James McQuigg : How did it happen?

  Helen Hayes : Sorry, Policeman, but I'm tongue-tied.

  Police Captain James McQuigg : Put her downstairs with the other ladies... She'll talk!

• Pratt : No wonder Nick says women are poison to him.

  Police Captain James McQuigg : This one may be dynamite!

• Police Captain James McQuigg : Left flat! - - And you thought Joe was going to marry you. And you're afraid to talk. Yellow - for fear of a couple of bragging punks!

  Helen Hayes : You're a liar!

• Police Captain James McQuigg : You stay in. You're a witness against Scarsi... If you're out tonight, you'll be on a slab by morning.

  Patrolman Johnson : It looks like I'm yellow, hiding in here!

• Police Captain James McQuigg : Did you fan him?

  Detective : If he had a rod, he threw it away.

• Nick Scarsi : I sent my driver in here to see that Hayes girl... Did he do something wrong?

  Police Captain James McQuigg : I thought he was in the pen for some bank job.

  Nick Scarsi : He must've got paroled.

  Police Captain James McQuigg : Yeh... A lot do, since they equipped that penitentiary with revolving doors.

• Nick Scarsi : Are you trying to frame *me*?

  Police Captain James McQuigg : In purple satin, under glass.

• Helen Hayes : So you're Scarsi, the Awful - - afraid of women, but death on kids! Nobody ought to be afraid of you... Not when you had to slug this baby!

  Nick Scarsi : What'd he get in my way for?

  Helen Hayes : There's your confession!

  Police Captain James McQuigg : All of which proves that women are still poison to you.

• Helen Hayes : So it's dog eat dog to the last ditch, eh, Captain?

  Police Captain James McQuigg : You can't teach an old dog new tricks.

  Helen Hayes : You and me both, Policeman.