Blood Simple (1984)

M. Emmet Walsh: Private Detective

Photos 

Quotes 

• [first lines] 

  Private Detective Visser : [narrating]  The world is full o' complainers. An' the fact is, nothin' comes with a guarantee. Now I don't care if you're the pope of Rome, President of the United States or Man of the Year; somethin' can all go wrong. Now go on ahead, y'know, complain, tell your problems to your neighbor, ask for help, 'n watch him fly. Now, in Russia, they got it mapped out so that everyone pulls for everyone else... that's the theory, anyway. But what I know about is Texas, an' down here... you're on your own.

• Marty : I got a job for you.

  Private Detective Visser : Uh, well, if the pay's right, and it's legal, I'll do it.

  Marty : It's not strictly legal.

  Private Detective Visser : [Thinks for a second]  Well, if the pay's right, I'll do it.

• [last lines] 

  Abby : [after shooting Visser]  I'm not afraid o' you, Marty.

  Private Detective Visser : [laughing hysterically]  Well, ma'am, if I see him, I'll sure give him the message.

• Private Detective Visser : Gimme a call whenever you wanna cut off my head. I can always crawl around without it.

• Private Detective Visser : You know, you know, a friend of mine a while back broke his hand and put it in a cast. Very next day, he falls, protects his bad hand, and he breaks his good one. So he breaks it too, you know. So, now he's got two busted flippers. So, I says to him: "Creighton," I says. "I hope your wife really loves you, because for the next five weeks, you can't even wipe your own god damn ass."

  [laughs] 

  Private Detective Visser : That's the test, ain't it? Test of true love.

• [Visser has just given Marty some bad news] 

  Marty : You know... in Greece, they would cut off the head of the messenger that brought the bad news.

  Private Detective Visser : Now that don't make much sense.

  Marty : No. It made them feel better.

  Private Detective Visser : Well first off, Julian, I don't know what the story is in Greece but in this state we got very definite laws about that. Second place I ain't a messenger, I'm a private investigator. And third place - and most important - it ain't such bad news. I mean you thought he was a colored. You're always assumin' the worst.

• [Marty gives Visser his money] 

  Marty : Count it, and go.

  Private Detective Visser : Naw, I trust you.

  [Visser shoots Marty] 

• Marty : [after Visser agrees to kill Abby and Ray for $10,000]  I'll take care of the money, you just make sure those bodies aren't found...

  [starts to turn away, then turns back] 

  Marty : ... there's a big incinerator in back of my place.

  Private Detective Visser : [after Marty walks away]  Jeeee-sus, you are disgustin'.

• Private Detective Visser : [to Marty]  Who looks stupid now?

• Private Detective Visser : Stick your finger up the wrong person's ass?

• Private Detective Visser : She saw me rollin' a cigarette and thought it was marijuana. Thought I was a swinger, I guess.

• Marty : I'll give you 10,000 dollars.

  Private Detective Visser : Now I... do a murder. Two murders. Trust you not to go simple on me and do something stupid. I mean, really stupid. Now, why should I trust you?

  Marty : For the money.

  Private Detective Visser : For money. Yeah, that's a right smart of money. In Russia, they make only 50 cent a day.

• Private Detective Visser : [about a photo of Ray and Abby]  I know a place you can get that framed.

  Marty : What did you take these for?

  Private Detective Visser : What do you mean? Just doin' my job.

  Marty : You called me, I knew they were there, so what do I need these for?

  Private Detective Visser : Well, I don't know... Call it a fringe benefit.

  Marty : How long did you watch her?

  Private Detective Visser : Most of the night... They'd just rest a few minutes and then get started again. Quite something.

• Marty : [looking at a doctored photo of Ray and Abby]  Dead?

  Private Detective Visser : So it would seem.

• Marty : What'd you do with the bodies?

  Private Detective Visser : It's taken care of. The less you know about it, the better.

• Private Detective Visser : How did you cover the money?

  Marty : It's been taken care of. And the less you know about it, the better.