Perrache Quotes in The Tall Blond Man with One Black Shoe (1972)

Bernard Milan: [he's dying from a gunshot in Perrin's apartment; Perrache slowly opens the door and enters] Perrache?

[Perache comes over to him and bends over him]

Bernard Milan: The tall blond... with the black shoe... who is he?

[Perraxche straightens up and looks about him at Poucet's dead body and the unconscious Maurice; Milan looks at him pleadingly]

Perrache: [pause, then] A fool's trap, sir.

[Milan, realizing the truth, dies with a smile]

Perrache: [reporting to Colonel Toulouse] There are three victims, sir... two of Milan's men and Chaperon.

Le colonel Louis Marie Alphonse Toulouse: [looks up sharply] I beg your pardon?

Perrache: Yes, sir, I'm afraid there was shooting. But you needn't worry... the Tall Blond is quite safe.

Le colonel Louis Marie Alphonse Toulouse: [pause, then slowly leans back in his chair] I thought I told you to call off Poucet and... Chaperon.

Perrache: [pretending surprise] Oh, really? Well, I guess I misunderstood. I told them to tighten up their surveillance.

Le colonel Louis Marie Alphonse Toulouse: [coldly] You *did* misunderstand me, I fear.

Perrache: I'm sorry, sir.

[Toulouse leans forward and stares hard at him]

Perrache: I've always obeyed orders. I presumed that you'd want to protect the innocent.

Le colonel Louis Marie Alphonse Toulouse: [slowly leans back] Unfortunately, it's no use, Perrache. Things have gone too far; it's Milan's turn to come on stage. On one hand we have Milan with his guilty conscience and on the other the Tall Blond with One Black Shoe. This affair will have to end in a shooting match... just like all good Westerns.

[last lines]

Le colonel Louis Marie Alphonse Toulouse: [watching footage of Perrin and Christine leaving for Rio at Orly Airport] When he comes back from Rio...

Perrache: Yes, sir?

Le colonel Louis Marie Alphonse Toulouse: And he *will* come back eventually... I want you to contact him. After all, he handles himself pretty well.

Perrache: There was another fellow at Orly... a black fellow in a green overcoat. I prferred a tall blond man with one black shoe to a black fellow in a green overcoat.

Le colonel Louis Marie Alphonse Toulouse: [looks at Perrache, then] Listen, my friend, we're not being paid to philosophize. Wait until you've retired.

Perrache: [to Colonel Toulouse, referring to Milan] You should remind him that he's not in the Service just to spend his time trying to find ways to steal your job.

Le colonel Louis Marie Alphonse Toulouse: [talking about Perrache's choice at Orly] But why a violinist?

Perrache: You told me to choose anyone at all.

Le colonel Louis Marie Alphonse Toulouse: Yes, but why a violinist?

Perrache: Because he had one black shoe.

[Toulouse looks at him]

Perrache: [referring to the possibility of Perrin's getting killed] It wouldn't bother you at all to send an innocent lamb to slaughter?

Le colonel Louis Marie Alphonse Toulouse: And you? The Tall Blond Man with One Black Shoe was *your* choice. Is your conscience bothering you now?

Perrache: [pause, then] No, sir.

Perrache: [to Toulouse, referring to Milan] What a character! Carload of heroin, mikes in statues... he's really out for your blood.

Perrache: [reporting to Toulouse about Perrin's meeting with Christine] They're making love at her place, 85 Rue des Vignes.

Le colonel Louis Marie Alphonse Toulouse: You see, he has some compensations after all, your unfortunate protege.