Magnolia (1999)

John C. Reilly: Officer Jim Kurring

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Quotes 

• [last lines] 

  Jim Kurring : [to Claudia]  I can't let this go. I can't let you go. Now, you... you listen to me now. You're a good person. You're a good and beautiful person and I won't let you walk out on me. And I won't let you say those things - those things about how stupid you are and this and that. I won't stand for that. You want to be with me... then you be with me. You see?

  [Claudia smiles] 

• Jim Kurring : A lot of people think this is just a job that you go to. Take a lunch hour... job's over. Something like that. But it's a 24-hour deal. No two ways about it. And what most people don't see... is just how hard it is to do the right thing. People think if I make a judgment call... that's a judgment on them, but that is not what I do. And that's not what should be done. I have to take everything... and play it as it lays. Sometimes people need a little help. Sometimes people need to be forgiven. And sometimes they need to go to jail. And that is a very tricky thing on my part... making that call. I mean, the law is the law. And heck if I'm gonna break it. You can forgive someone. Well, that's the tough part. What can we forgive? Tough part of the job. Tough part of walking down the street.

• [singing along to Aimee Mann's "Wise Up"] 

  Claudia Wilson Gator : It's not / What you thought / When you first began it / You got / What you want / Now you can hardly stand it though / By now you know / It's not going to stop

  Jim Kurring : It's not going to stop / It's not going to stop / 'Til you wise up

  Jimmy Gator : You're sure / There's a cure / And you have finally found it

  Quiz Kid Donnie Smith : You think / One drink / Will shrink you 'til you're underground / And living down / But it's not going to stop

  Phil Parma : It's not going to stop

  Earl Partridge : It's not going to stop / 'Til you wise up

  Linda Partridge : Prepare a list for what you need / Before you sign away the deed / 'Cause it's not going to stop

  Frank T.J. Mackey : It's not going to stop / It's not going to stop / 'Til you wise up / No, it's not going to stop / 'Til you wise up / No, it's not going to stop

  Stanley Spector : So just... give up

• Claudia Wilson Gator : I'm really nervous that you're gonna hate me soon. You're gonna find stuff out about me and you're gonna hate me.

  Jim Kurring : No. Like what? What do you mean?

  Claudia Wilson Gator : You have so much - so many good things. And you seem so together. You're a police officer and you seem so straight and put together - without any problems.

  Jim Kurring : I lost my gun today.

  Claudia Wilson Gator : What?

  Jim Kurring : I lost my gun today when I left you and I'm the laughingstock of a lot of people. I wanted to tell you. I wanted you to know and it's on my mind. And it makes me look like a fool. And I feel like a fool. And you asked that we should say things - that we should say what we're thinking and not lie about things. Well, I can tell you that, this, that I lost my gun today - and I am not a good cop. And I'm looked down at. And I know that. And I'm scared that once you find that out you may not like me.

  Claudia Wilson Gator : Jim. That, that was so...

  Jim Kurring : I'm sorry.

  Claudia Wilson Gator : - great. What you just said.

• Jim Kurring : Sometimes people need a little help. Sometimes people need to be forgiven. And sometimes they need to go to jail.

• Claudia Wilson Gator : You don't know how fucking stupid I am.

  Jim Kurring : It's okay.

  Claudia Wilson Gator : You don't know how *crazy* I am.

  Jim Kurring : It's okay.

  Claudia Wilson Gator : I got troubles, okay?

  Jim Kurring : I'll take everything at face value. I'll be a good listener.

  Claudia Wilson Gator : I started this didn't I, didn't I - fuck.

  Jim Kurring : Whatever it is, just say it, you'll see.

  Claudia Wilson Gator : ...You wanna kiss me, Jim?

  Jim Kurring : Yes, I do.

• [Officer Kurring has just handcuffed Marcie to a couch] 

  Marcie : This is bullshit. This is fuckin' bullshit.

  Jim Kurring : I want you to stay right there, Marcie.

  Marcie : This is bullshit motherfucker. Mother-goddamn-fucker it's bullshit and you know it!

  [Officer Kurring moves down the hall to investigate a disturbance] 

  Marcie : Don't go down my hallway! Don't go down my motherfuckin' hallway! This is bullshit motherfucker! Don't go in my god damn bedroom!

  Jim Kurring : This is the LAPD. If there's someone back here...

  Marcie : What I tell you? What I tell you? Ain't nobody in there! Where the fuck you goin' motherfuck? Don't go in my motherfuckin' bedroom and stay outta my motherfuckin' closet!

  [Officer Kurring enters her bedroom] 

  Jim Kurring : This is the LAPD. If there's someone in this closet, come out right now, or you will be shot.

  [Marcie begins dragging the couch towards the bedroom] 

  Jim Kurring : Marcie! Do not drag that couch any further!

  Marcie : There's nobody in my motherfucking closet, motherfucker! This don't make no sense! This don't make no goddamn sense! Why can't you goddamn talk to me? This is bullshit motherfucker!

  [Officer Kurring opens the closet and finds a dead body] 

  Jim Kurring : Whoa! What the hell is this, Marcie?

  Marcie : That ain't mine!

• Jim Kurring : The law is the law, and heck if I'm gonna break it. But if you can forgive someone... Well, that's the tough part. What can we forgive?

• Jim Kurring : Let me tell you something, this is not an easy job. I get a call on the radio, dispatch, it's bad news. And it stinks. But this is my job and I love it. Because I want to do well - in this life and in this world, I want to do well. And I want to help people. And I might get twenty bad calls a day. But one time I can help someone and make a save - correct a wrong or right a situation - then I'm a happy cop. And as we move through this life we should try and do good. Do good... And if we can do that, and not hurt anyone else, well... then...

• Jim Kurring : Oh, Lord, why is this happening to me? God, please help me figure this out. I'm lost out here! I don't understand why it's happening. God, please, God!

  [sirens] 

  Jim Kurring : Whatever it is I did, I'm going to fix it. I'm going to do the right thing. Please, help me find the gun! I...

  [points his flashlight at the camera as the sirens get louder] 

• [Claudia kisses Jim] 

  Claudia Wilson Gator : I wanted to do that.

  Jim Kurring : Well...

  Claudia Wilson Gator : That felt good to do - to do what I wanted to do.

• Jim Kurring : Now, some neighbors claimed they heard screaming and a loud crash.

  Marcie : I don't even know no loud crash.

• Jim Kurring : ...whatever you wanna tell me, whatever you think might scare me, won't... and I will listen... I will be a good listener to you if that's what you want... and you know, you know... I won't judge you... I can do that sometimes, I know, but I won't... I can... listen to you and you shouldn't be scared of scaring me off or anything that you might think I'll think or on and on and just say it and I'll listen to you...

• Jim Kurring : Now calm yourself down.

  Marcie : [shouts]  I am calm!

  Jim Kurring : No you are not calm. You're screaming at me. Do you understand? I got a call for disturbance, and I'm going to checking it out. That is what I'm going to do. Are you alone in here?

  Marcie : I ain't got to answer none of your questions.

  Jim Kurring : No, you don't, but I'm going to ask you one more time. Are you alone in here?

  Marcie : What does it look like?

  Jim Kurring : There's no one else in here?

  Marcie : You in here.

  Jim Kurring : That's true, but is there anyone else besides me and you in this house?

  Marcie : No, I said that already.

  Jim Kurring : Are you lying to me?

  Marcie : I live by myself.

  Jim Kurring : That might be true, but the question I'm asking you, ma'am: is there anyone else in this house right now?

  Marcie : No.