The Usual Suspects is a 1995 film about a boat that has been destroyed, leaving criminals dead, and the key to this mystery lies with the only survivor and his twisted, convoluted story beginning with five career crooks in a seemingly random police lineup.

Directed by Bryan Singer. Written by Christopher McQuarrie.

Five Criminals. One Line Up. No Coincidence

Roger "Verbal" Kint

[edit]

What the cops never figured out, and what I know now, was that these men would never break, never lie down, never bend over for anybody. Anybody.
Back when I was picking beans in Guatemala, we used to make fresh coffee, right off the trees I mean. That was good. This is shit, but hey, I'm in a police station...
The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist.
- Rephrasing of the phrase "the finest trick of the devil is to persuade you that he does not exist" by Charles Baudelaire.
To a cop, the explanation is never that complicated. It's always simple. There's no mystery to the street, no arch criminal behind it all. If you got a dead body and you think his brother did it, you're gonna find out you're right.
What about it, Agent Kujan? If I told you the Loch Ness Monster blew up that boat, what would you say?
Keaton always said, "I don't believe in God, but I'm afraid of him." Well, I believe in God...and the only thing that scares me is Keyser Söze.
And like that... poof... he's gone.
How do you shoot the Devil in the back? What if you miss?

Dave Kujan

[edit]

First day on the job, you know what I learned? How to spot a murderer.
Convince me, and tell me every last detail.
I'm smarter than you, and I'm going to find out what I want to know, and I'm going to get it from you whether you like it or not.
You get NO immunity from me, you piece of shit! Every criminal I've put in prison, every cop that owes me a favor, every creep and scumbag that walks the streets for a living will know the name of Verbal Kint. Now you talk to me, or that precious immunity they seem so fit to grant you won't be worth the paper the contract put out on your life is printed on!
A rumor's not a rumor that doesn't die.

Michael McManus

[edit]

I'm the guy that's gonna get you. I just wanted you to know that.
[counting off the men he is about to shoot] One, two, three, four, five... Oswald was a fag.
Old McDonald had a farm, ee-eye-ee-eye-oh/And on that farm he shot some guys... Bada bing, bada bing bang boom.

Kobayashi

[edit]

One cannot be betrayed if one has no people.
Get your rest, gentlemen. The boat will be ready for you on Friday. If I see you or any of your friends before then, Miss Finneran will find herself the victim of a most gruesome violation before she dies. As will your father, Mr. Hockney. And your Uncle Randall in Arizona, Mr. Kint. I might only castrate Mr. McManus's nephew, David. Do I make myself clear?

Dialogue

[edit]

Keyser Söze: How you doin', Keaton?

Keaton: I can't feel my legs... Keyser.

Verbal: [voiceover] It didn't make sense that I'd be there. I mean, these guys were hardcore hijackers. But, there I was. [suspects walk inside the police lineup] At that point, I wasn't scared. I knew I hadn't done anything they could do me for. Besides, it was fun. I got to make like I was notorious. [the lineup lights turn on]

Cop: All right, you all know the drill: When your number is called, step forward and repeat the phrase you've been given, understand? Number one, step forward.

Hockney: [sighs; deadpan] Hand me the keys, you fucking cocksucker.

Cop: Number two, step forward.

McManus: GIMME THE FUCKIN' KEYS, YOU COCKSUCKER MOTHERFUCKER!! AAAAAARGH!!

Cop: Knock it off, get back. Number three, step forward.

[Fenster snickers, as does the group; McManus slaps Fenster, who slaps McManus in retaliation]

Fenster: Hand me the keys, you cocksucker.

Cop: In English, please?

Fenster: Excuse me?

Cop: In English.

Fenster: Hand me the fucking keys, you cocksucker. What the fuck?

Cop: Number four, step forward.

Verbal: [voiceover] It was bullshit. The whole rap was a setup.

Keaton: Hand me the keys, you fucking cocksucker.

Verbal: [voiceover] It was all the cops' fault. You don't put guys like that into a room together.

Cop: Number five, step forward.

Verbal: [voiceover] Who knows what can happen?

Verbal: Hand me the keys, you fucking cocksucker.

Cop: McManus told us a different story altogether.

Fenster: Oh, is that the one about the hooker with dysentery?

Cop: I can put you in Queens on the night of the hijacking.

Hockney: Really? I live in Queens! Did you put that together yourself, Einstein? Got a team of monkeys working around the clock on this?

Cop: You know what happens if you do another turn in the joint?

Hockney: Uh... I fuck your father in the shower and then have a snack? Are you going to charge me, dickhead?

[after being strip-searched]

Fenster: I had a finger up my asshole tonight.

Hockney: Is it Friday already?

Keaton: His name is Verbal. Verbal Kint.

McManus: Verbal?

Keaton: Yeah.

Verbal: Roger, really. People say I talk too much.

Hockney: Yeah, I was just about to tell you to shut up.

Verbal: Can I have some coffee?

Dave Kujan: In a little while.

Verbal: I'm really thirsty. I used to get dehydrated as a kid. One time it got so bad my piss came out like snot. I'm not kidding, it was all thick and gooey...

Jeff Rabin: I'll get you your fuckin' coffee!

Dave Kujan: You know a dealer named Ruby Deemer, Verbal?

Verbal: You know a religious guy named John Paul?

Smuggler: Will this get me to Staten Island?

[Hands over an envelope full of cash.]

Rizzi: You kidding? This'll get you to Cape Cod!

Strausz: Do you know who I am? Do you people know who the fuck I am?

[Hockney takes his badge]

Hockney: We do now, jerk-off!

Keaton: A friend of mine in New York tells me you knew Spook Hollis.

Redfoot: The way I hear it, you did time with ol' Spook. Good man, wasn't he? I used to run dope for him. Too bad he got shivved.

Keaton: Yeah. [pause] I shivved him. Better you hear it from me now than from somebody else later.

Redfoot: Yeah, well, I appreciate that. Just out of curiousity, was it business or personal?

Keaton: A bit of both.

Verbal: Where's your head, Agent Kujan? Where do you think the pressure's coming from? Keyser Söze - or whatever you want to call him - he knows where I am right now! He's got the front burner under your ass to let me go so he can scoop me up 10 minutes later! Immunity was just a deal with you assholes. I got a whole new problem once I post bail.

Dave Kujan: So why play into his hands? We can protect you.

Verbal: Oh, gee, thanks, Dave. Bang-up job so far. Extortion, coercion. You'll pardon me if I ask you to kiss my pucker. The same fuckers that rounded us up and sank us into this mess are gonna bail me out? Fuck you. You think you can catch Keyser Söze? You think a guy like that comes this close to getting caught and sticks his head out? If he comes up for anything, it will be to get rid of me. After that...my guess is you'll never hear from him again.

[Kobayashi has killed Fenster]

McManus: Now it's payback!

Keaton: It's not payback! It's precaution. You want payback? You wanna run? I don't care! I'm not doing this for Fenster, I'm not doing it for you... I'm doing it for me. I'm gonna finish this thing. This Kobayashi bastard is not gonna stand on me!

Kujan: You had a gun, then why didn't you help him? He was your friend!

Verbal: Because I was afraid, okay? I was afraid.

Kujan: Afraid of what?

Verbal: It was Keyser Söze, Agent Kujan! The Devil himself! How do you shoot the Devil in the back? [pause, holds up his crippled hand] What if you miss?

[Kujan has just theorized that Keaton is Keyser Söze]

Kujan: It was his idea to rob the taxi service back in New York, wasn't it? C'mon, tell me the truth.

Verbal: [sobbing] It was all Keaton! We followed him from the beginning! I didn't know! I saw him die! I believe he's dead, oh Christ!

Kujan: You're not safe on your own.

Verbal: Do...do you really think he was...

Kujan: Keyser Söze? I don't know, Verbal. Keyser Söze's a shield, or, like you said, a spook story. But I know Keaton, and someone is out there pulling strings for you. Stay here and let us protect you.

Verbal: No way. I'm not bait. I post today.

Kujan: You posted 20 minutes ago. Captain Leo wants you out of here ASAP, unless you turn state's.

Verbal: I'll take my chances, thank you.

Kujan: If someone wants to get you, they're gonna get you out there. Turn state's evidence. You may never see trial.

Verbal: Maybe so. But I'm not a rat, Agent Kujan. [turns to leave, and then takes one last look at Kujan] Fuckin' cops!