Thief (1981)

Marge Kotlisky: Mrs. Knowles

Photos 

Quotes 

• Mrs. Knowles : I see on your application here - by the way, you misspelled mail, it's M-A-L-E, the other's what we put in post boxes - I see you put under employer: 1959 to 1976, Joliet State Penitentiary.

  Frank : Yes.

  Mrs. Knowles : You worked for the state, I take it?

  Frank : After a fashion.

  Mrs. Knowles : And what did you do at the prison?

  Frank : Desks. I, uh, I spot-welded desks, and then I got promoted to shoes.

  Mrs. Knowles : You were in charge of the shop?

  Frank : Lady, I was a convict, I was doing time.

  Mrs. Knowles : You were what?

  Jessie : Frank, let's go.

  Mrs. Knowles : Umm, you have to understand, we have more applicants than children...

  Frank : Then why do you still have kids here? As a kid I would not be falling all over myself to stay in one of these places. We will relieve you of some of the burden.

  Mrs. Knowles : But the point is, we establish criteria for parenting, and an ex-convict compared to other desirables...

  Frank : Great, so we'll take a kid that's not so desirable. You got a black kid? We'll take a black kid. You got a chink kid?

  Mrs. Knowles : You don't seem to understand...

  Frank : Nobody likes older kids. You got an eight-year old black chink kid, we'll take him.

  Jessie : Frank...

  Frank : Wait.

  [removes ring from finger] 

  Frank : If it's a matter of, uh, y'know, here.

  Mrs. Knowles : What is that?

  Frank : What is that? That is D-flawless, three-point-two karats, emerald cut.

  Mrs. Knowles : This is not a marketplace.

  Frank : Right. Y'know, you're not smart enough to take this anymore than you are to, to, recognize good parents.

  Mrs. Knowles : Get out of my office.

  Frank : You did not ask about us. You didn't ask what kind of people we are. There is a child waiting, and you are denying us him, and him us. Who the hell are you?

• Frank : I got some A-B-C type information for you, lady. I was state-raised, and this is a dead place. A child in eight-by-four green walls, after awhile you tell the walls 'my life is yours.' What, didja grow up in the suburbs?

  Mrs. Knowles : Yes.

  Frank : Right! Right!