Lt. James Gordon Quotes in The Dark Knight (2008)

[last lines]

James Gordon Jr.: Batman? Batman! Why's he running dad?

Lt. James Gordon: Because we have to chase him.

Cop: Okay we're going in! Go, go! Move!

James Gordon Jr.: He didn't do anything wrong.

Lt. James Gordon: Because he's the hero Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now. So we'll hunt him. Because he can take it. Because he's not our hero. He's a silent guardian. A watchful protector. A Dark Knight.

Lt. James Gordon: [in the interrogation room] Harvey Dent never made it home.

The Joker: Of course not.

Lt. James Gordon: What have you done with him?

The Joker: Me? I was right here.

[holds up his arms in handcuffs]

The Joker: Who did you leave him with? Your people? Assuming, of course, they are still *your* people, and not Maroni's. Does it depress you, commissioner? To know just how alone you really are? Does it make you feel responsible for Harvey Dent's current predicament?

Lt. James Gordon: Where is he?

The Joker: What's the time?

Lt. James Gordon: What difference does that make?

The Joker: Well, depending on the time, he may in one spot, or several.

Lt. James Gordon: If we're gonna play games...

[takes off Joker's handcuffs]

Lt. James Gordon: I'm gonna need a cup of coffee.

The Joker: Ah, the good cop, bad cop routine?

Lt. James Gordon: Not exactly.

James Gordon Jr.: Did Batman save you, Daddy?

Lt. James Gordon: Actually, this time I saved him.

The Joker: Don't talk like one of them, you're not! Even if you'd like to be. To them, you're just a freak, like me. They need you right now. But when they don't, they'll cast you out, like a leper. See, their morals, their code... it's a bad joke. Dropped at the first sign of trouble. They're only as good as the world allows them to be. I'll show you, when the chips are down, these... these civilized people? They'll eat each other. See, I'm not a monster, I'm just ahead of the curve.

Batman: [grabs Joker] Where's Dent?

The Joker: You have all these rules and you think they'll save you!

Lt. James Gordon: [as Batman slams Joker into the wall] He's in control.

Batman: I have one rule.

The Joker: Oh, then that's the rule you'll have to break to know the truth.

Batman: [getting impatient] Which is?

The Joker: The only sensible way to live in this world is without rules.

[mimicking Batman's voice]

The Joker: And tonight you're gonna break your one rule.

Batman: I'm considering it.

The Joker: Oh, there's only minutes left, so you're gonna have to play my little game if you wanna save one of them.

Batman: [softly, fearful] Them?

The Joker: You know for awhile there, I thought you really were Dent. The way you threw yourself after her.

[Joker laughs, Batman throws Joker on table, barricades door]

The Joker: Look at you go! Does Harvey know about you and his little bunny?

Batman: [slams Joker into mirror] Where are they?

The Joker: Killing is making a choice.

Batman: [punches Joker] Where are they?

The Joker: Choose between one life or the other. Your friend, the district attorney, or his blushing bride-to-be...

[punches Joker]

The Joker: [laughs] You have nothing, nothing to threaten me with! Nothing to do with all your strength!

[grabs Joker]

The Joker: Don't worry, I'm gonna tell you where they are. Both of them. And that's the point. You'll have to choose. He's at 250 52ND Street and she's on Avenue X, at Cicero.

[last lines in the back of a factory]

James Gordon Jr.: Why's he running, Dad?

Lt. James Gordon: Because we have to chase him.

James Gordon Jr.: He didn't do anything wrong.

Lt. James Gordon: Because he's the hero Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now. So we'll hunt him. Because he can take it. Because he's not our hero. He's a silent guardian, a watchful protector. A dark knight.

Lt. James Gordon: [after Bruce saves Reese by blocking a truck with his car] It's mister Wayne, isn't it? That was a very brave thing you did!

Bruce Wayne: Trying to catch the light?

Lt. James Gordon: You weren't protecting the van?

Bruce Wayne: Why, who's in it?

[Reese steps out, sees Bruce, who nods slightly]

Bruce Wayne: Do you think I should go to the hospital?

Lt. James Gordon: You don't watch a whole lot of news, do you, Mr. Wayne?

Batman: in the interrogation roomWhere is Dent?

The Joker: You have all these rules and you think they'll save you.

Lt. James Gordon: [Batman slams the Joker against a wall] He's in control.

Batman: I have one rule.

The Joker: Oh, then that's the rule you'll have to break to know the truth.

Batman: Which is?

The Joker: The only sensible way to live in this world is without rules.

[mimicking Batman's voice]

The Joker: And tonight you're gonna break your one rule!

Batman: I'm considering it.

The Joker: Oh, there's only minutes left, so you're gonna have to play my little game if you want to save one of them.

Batman: [softly, fearful] Them?

The Joker: You know for a while there, I thought you really were Dent. The way you threw yourself after her!

Harvey Dent: [on TV] I don't know about Mr. Lau's travel arrangements, but I'm sure glad he's here.

The Chechen: I put word out. We hire the clown.

[looks at the others]

The Chechen: He was right. We have to fix real problems: Batman.

[They don't see Gordon enter]

Lt. James Gordon: Ah our boy looks good on the tube.

Salvatore Maroni: You sure you want to embarrass me in front of my friends, Lieutenant?

Lt. James Gordon: Don't worry. They're coming too.

[Other cops enter and arrest the mobsters in the restaurant. Cuts to various locations in Gotham City, as the police do a massive round up of the mobsters in town. We see Stephens loading one thug into a police car, underneath an 'L' line, saying]

Detective Stephens: Have a nice trip. See you next fall.

[cuts to a courtroom, where Judge Surillo is reading the massive charges]

Judge Surrillo: 747 counts of extortion, 849 counts of racketeering, 246 counts of fraud, 87 counts of conspiracy to murder...

[as she flips through the documents, she finds a Joker playing card]

Judge Surrillo: ... 527 counts of obstruction of justice. How do the defendants plead?

[a massive army of defense lawyers start jostling and yelling all at once. The stenographer looks up, confused]

Judge Surrillo: Order! Order in the court!

[cut to the Mayor's office, where the Mayor is berating Harvey for his actions. Gordon and Commissioner Loeb are also present]

Mayor Anthony Garcia: 549 criminals at once. How did you convince Surillo to hear this farce?

Harvey Dent: She shares my enthusiasm for justice. After all, she is a judge.

Mayor Anthony Garcia: Well even if you're able to blow enough smoke to get convictions out of Surillo, you're going to set a new record at appeals for quickest kick in the ass.

Harvey Dent: It won't matter. The head guys make bail, sure... but the mid-level guys, they can't, and they can't afford to be off the streets long enough for trial and appeal. They'll cut deals that include *some* jail time. Think of all you could do with 18 months of clean streets.

[the Mayor waves Gordon and Commissioner Loeb out]

Mayor Anthony Garcia: The public likes you, Dent. That's the *only* reason this might fly. But that means it's on you. They're all coming after you now. Not just the mob: politicians, journalists, cops. Anyone whose wallet's about to get lighter. Are you up to it?

[Dent smiles]

Mayor Anthony Garcia: You better be. They get anything back on you, those criminals will be back on the streets...

[he walks over to the window and looks out]

Mayor Anthony Garcia: Followed swiftly by you and me.

[a dead Batman wanna-be in Joker makeup, with the sides of his mouth sliced into a grin, bangs into the window, causing the mayor to jump. Police lower the dead body, which is hanging from a noose, and they find a Joker card that says "WILL THE REAL BATMAN PLEASE STAND UP?"]

Lt. James Gordon: [to Harvey Dent] Everyone knows you're Gotham's White Knight.

Harvey Dent: [in his hospital room] Remember that name you all had for me when I was at Internal Affairs? What was it, Gordon?

Lt. James Gordon: Harvey, I...

Harvey Dent: Say it.

Two-Face: Say it!

Lt. James Gordon: Two-Face. Harvey Two-Face.

[Dent turns his head, showing Gordon the mutilated side of his face]

Harvey Dent: Why should I hide who I am?

Batman: [about Lau] If I get him to you, can you get him to talk?

Harvey Dent: I'll get him to sing.

Lt. James Gordon: We're going after the mob's life savings. Things will get ugly.

Harvey Dent: I knew the risks when I took this job, Lieutenant.

[turns back to Batman]

Harvey Dent: How will you get him back any...

[Batman has disappeared]

Lt. James Gordon: He does that.

Mayor: [regarding The Joker that's sitting a holding cell] What'd we got?

Lt. James Gordon: Nothing. No matches on prints, DNA, dental. Clothing is custom, no labels. Nothing in his pockets but knives and lint. No name, no other alias.

Lt. James Gordon: [in the back of a factory at 250 52nd Street] They'll hunt you.

Batman: You'll hunt me. You'll condemn me. Set the dogs on me. Because that's what needs to happen.

Two-Face: [threatening Jimmy with a gun] Tell your boy it's going to be all right, Gordon. Lie, like I lied.

Lt. James Gordon: It's going to be all right, son.

[Two-Face flips the coin; Batman tackles him and they fall; the coin lands good-side up]

Harvey Dent: Lightly irradiated bills. Fancy stuff for a city cop. Have help?

Lt. James Gordon: We liase with various agencies.

Harvey Dent: Save it, Gordon. I want to meet him.

[after visiting the scarred Dent in the hospital, Gordon emerges and sees Maroni there, leaning on a cane]

Salvatore Maroni: This craziness... it's too much.

Lt. James Gordon: You should have thought of that before you let the clown out of the box.

Lt. James Gordon: Dent is in there with them! We have to save Dent! *I* have to save Dent!

Det. Ramirez: [regarding CCTV photos of The Joker's bank heist] He can't resist showing us his face.

Lt. James Gordon: What's he hiding under that make-up?

Commissioner Gillian B. Loeb: How'd they get my DNA?

Lt. James Gordon: Someone with access to your house or office must have lifted a tissue or a... glass.

[realizing as Loeb takes a sip of whiskey]

Lt. James Gordon: Wait, WAIT!

[Loeb chokes]

Reese: They're trying to kill me!

Lt. James Gordon: Well, maybe Batman will save you.

[Gordon and the police arrive to arrest Maroni in a restaurant]

Salvatore Maroni: You sure you wanna embarrass me in front of my friends, Lieutenant?

Lt. James Gordon: Oh, don't worry. They're coming too.

Lt. James Gordon: [while walking out of the courtroom with each other] It's a shame Sal's going to walk.

Harvey Dent: Yeah, well, the good thing about the mob is they keep giving you second chances.

Lt. James Gordon: [pointing a shotgun at the Joker after the armored car chase] We got you, you son of a bitch!

Lt. James Gordon: [speaking to Harvey Dent in his office] If I didn't work with cops you investigated while you were making your name at I.A. I'd be working alone. I don't get political points for being an idealist, I have to do the best I can with what I have.

[Gordon meets his wife after he faked his death]

Lt. James Gordon: I'm sorry, I couldn't risk your safety...

[Gordon's wife slaps him and then embraces him]

Two-Face: [after seeing Gordon is actually alive] You do like to play things pretty close to the chest

Lt. James Gordon: [after capturing Joker] We got him Harvey

Lt. James Gordon: [Racing to save Rachel from her rigged building] Mount the curb!

Lt. James Gordon: The Narrows is tearing itself to pieces.

Batman: This is just the beginning. If they hit the whole city with toxin, there's nothing to stop Gotham tearing itself apart through mass panic.

Lt. James Gordon: How are they gonna do that?

Batman: They'll be using the train.

[as Batman describes what will happen, we cut to a camera view following the monorail beam]

Batman: The monorail follows the water mains to the central hub beneath Wayne Tower. If they get their machine into Wayne station, it'll cause a chain reaction that'll vaporize the entire city's water supply.

Lt. James Gordon: Covering Gotham in this poison!

Batman: I'm gonna stop them from loading that train, but I may need your help.

Lt. James Gordon: What do you need?

Batman: [holds up the remote to the Tumbler] Can you drive stick?

Loeb: [talking to Gordon on walkie-talkie] Gordon... there's nobody left to send in.

[the Tumbler jumps across the river]

Lt. James Gordon: So I'm on my own?