Capt. M.L. Gallagher Quotes in Fade to Black (1980)

Capt. M.L. Gallagher: [angry tone] Moriarty, what the hell are you trying to pull behind my back? We questioned all those CFF employees very carefully. Normal police procedure. Now, who the hell gave you the authority to go behind my back and test them?

Jerry Moriarty: I cooked up this questionnaire to flush out a suspect.

Capt. M.L. Gallagher: Flush? That's exactly the right word I'm feeling about your actions! You don't run this police station! I do! For your information, this revolver we found in the back alley where that Richie kid was gunned down is the only real fucking piece of evidence we have!

Jerry Moriarty: I don't agree.

Officer Anne Oshenbull: Captain Gallagher, Moriarty really has something here.

Jerry Moriarty: Of those employees, three of them that took the test stand out as suspects. Eric Binford, Maria Valdez, and Herman...

Capt. M.L. Gallagher: [rudely cutting him off] Maria Valdez? That spic broad who works in the shipping department is a killer? That's terrific, thank you Sherlock!

Jerry Moriarty: Also, the newspapers think there is a link between the Dracula killing last week and this cowboy killer last night.

Capt. M.L. Gallagher: One of the victims was a stock boy in an advertising firm and the other was a hooker. Where's the connection?

Jerry Moriarty: I don't know yet. It's obviously that we need find this killer to stop...

Capt. M.L. Gallagher: [rudely interrupting again] We? What do you mean "we"? You're not a cop! When did you join the police force? I brought you in as a shrink to interview delinquents, not form your own investigation!

Jerry Moriarty: I'm just trying to help out.

Capt. M.L. Gallagher: I don't need your help, or any of your psycho babble tests to help me find a killer! Just in case you didn't notice, you Irish cretin, nobody is asking for your help! So, just knock it off and leave the case to the cops!

Jerry Moriarty: Captain, give me a chance. I know I'm onto something. I know the human mind, especially the sick ones.

Capt. M.L. Gallagher: Fuck the sick minds and fuck yours! Stay out of my way, and stay out of police business!

[Gallagher exits; Moriarty shakes his head with disbelief]

Jerry Moriarty: [quiet voice] What an asshole!