Quotes

Other

Just you wait, it won't be long, The man in black will soon be here, With his cleaver's blade so true, He'll make mincemeat out of you!

Other

Pickpocket with Seven Watches: There are more police on the street tonight than whores. Tillie: Don't do that!

Other

[singing] Just you wait a little while, the nasty man in black will come. With his little chopper, he will chop you up!

Other

Beggar: Stop snoring! You'll wake the lice. Tillie: BLEH!!

Dialogue

Pregnant Woman: I'm always telling those kids to stop singing that terrible murderer's song… and they do nothing but sing it at the top of their voices all day… As if we hadn't heard enough of that killer. Mrs. Beckmann: Oh, leave them alone. As long as they're singing, at least we know they're still there.

Dialogue

Bartender: You're ruining my business, Sarge. These raids every night. No one can get a moment's peace! They're human beings, too. Police Sergeant: You think we stay up all night just for the hell of it? Bartender: No. But you're drivin' away my clientele and you won't find the guy you're lookin' for here anyway! If you know how angry they are at the guy who's causing these raids every night. Especially the hookers. Sure, they solicit. Business is business. But believe me, in every one of them beats a mother's heart! I know a lot of tough guys who get all teary eyed just seein' the little ones at play. If they ever get their hands on that monster, they'll make toothpicks out of him!

Dialogue

Schränker: An outsider is ruining our business and our reputation. Measures taken by the police and the daily raids to catch this child murderer are hampering our activities to an almost unbearable degree. We can no longer tolerate the fact that we're not safe now in any hotel, bar, cafe or even private home from the clutches of the police. Criminal Syndicate Member: Very true. Schränker: This state of affairs must end. Things must return to normal or we'll go under. Our coffers will soon be depleted. If we can't get funds to support the wives of these members who currently enjoy room and board at state expense, I don't know where we'll find the money to carry out our plans. Our reputation is suffering as well. The police seek the murderer in our fold. Gentlemen, when I run head on into an officer from the squad, he knows the potential risks, and so do I. If either dies in the line of duty, fine. Occupational hazard. But we must draw a firm line between ourselves and this man they're l

Dialogue

Hans Beckert: And who are you? Elderly Lawyer: I have the dubious honor of being your defense counsel. But I am afraid it won't be much use to you.

Dialogue

Hans Beckert: [horrified] But… but… do you want to kill me then? Murder me, just like that? Schränker: We just want to render you harmless. That's what we want. But you'll only be harmless when you're dead.

Dialogue

Hans Beckert: I demand to be handed over to the jurisdiction of the common law! Criminal 1: Quite a performance! That's not bad, that, ha, ha, ha! Schränker: That would suit you, wouldn't it? Conman: [sarcastically] Anything else you'd like? Schränker: So that you can invoke paragraph fifty-one… Criminal 2: That's it. Schränker: And spend the rest of your life in an institution at the state's expense ... And then you'd escape… or else there'd be a pardon and there you are, free as air, with a pass, protected by the law because of mental illness. Off again chasing little girls. No, no. Very dry. We're not going to let that happen.

Dialogue

Hans Beckert: I can't help what I do! I can't help it, I can't… Criminal: The old story! We never can help it in court! Hans Beckert: What do you know about it? Who are you anyway? Who are you? Criminals? Are you proud of yourselves? Proud of breaking safes or cheating at cards? Things you could just as well keep your fingers off. You wouldn't need to do all that if you'd learn a proper trade, or if you'd work. If you weren't a bunch of lazy bastards. But I… I can't help myself! I have no control over this, this evil thing inside of me, the fire, the voices, the torment! Schränker: Do you mean to say that you have to murder? Hans Beckert: It's there all the time, driving me out to wander the streets, following me, silently, but I can feel it there. It's me, pursuing myself! I want to escape, to escape from myself! But it's impossible. I can't escape, I have to obey it. I have to run, run… endless streets. I want to escape, to get away! And I'm pursued by ghosts. Ghosts of mothers and o

Dialogue

Judge: [last lines, about to pronounce Beckert's sentence] In the name of the people... Mrs. Beckmann: This will not bring our children back. One has to... keep closer watch... over the children. All of you!