Quotes

Others

Mr. Rothstein, you people never will understand the way it works out here. You're all just our guests, but you act like you're at home. Let me tell you something, partner: you ain't home, but that's where we're gonna send you if it harelips the Governor. Thank you for your time.

Others

Paige Novodor: Good evening, everyone. I'm Paige Novodor. What should've been a routine licensing hearing turned into bedlam yesterday when the flamboyant Tangiers Casino executive, Sam "Ace" Rothstein, accused the state's top gaming officials of corruption and hypocrisy. In a wild and unprecedented outburst that followed his gaming license denial, Rothstein followed several stunned commissioners into the hallway, where he continued his harangue until his own lawyers and friends urged him to leave. Sam Rothstein: [on tape] I have a past, you have a past, and my past is no worse than yours. But you think you have the right to pass judgment! Paige Novodor: Long suspected of running the Tangiers without a gaming license, yesterday's hearing was to determine whether someone with Rothstein's checkered personal history was qualified to officially hold a top gaming post.

Others

[Narrating, when asked by Remo if Nicky's having an affair with Ginger] What could I say? I knew if I gave the wrong answer — I mean, Nicky, Ginger, Ace — all of 'em could wind up getting killed. Because there's one thing about these old-timers: they don't like any fucking around with the other guys' wives. It's bad for business. So I lied. Even though I knew that by lying to Gaggi, I could wind up getting killed too.

Dialogue

Ace Rothstein: [narrating] Before I ever ran a casino or got myself blown up, Ace Rothstein was a hell of a handicapper, I can tell you that. I was so good that when I bet, I can change the odds for every bookmaker in the country. I'm serious. I had it down so cold that I was given paradise on earth. I was given one of the biggest casinos in Las Vegas to run: the Tangiers, by the only kind of guys that can get you that kind of money. Sixty-two million seven hundred thousand dollars. I don't know all the details. Nicky Santoro: [narrating] Matter of fact, nobody knew all the details. But it should have been perfect. I mean he had me, Nicky Santoro, his best friend, watching his ass. And he had Ginger, the woman he loved, on his arm. But in the end, we fucked it all up. It should have been so sweet, too. But it turned out to be the last time that street guys like us were ever given anything that fuckin' valuable again.

Dialogue

Nicky Santoro: [voiceover] Ace saw Vegas one way. Nicky: You call this guy and tell him I'm comin'? Frank: Of course. Nicky Santoro: [voiceover] But I saw it another. I saw it as untouched. I mean, they had bookies, pimps and drug dealers I could shake down. Who the fuck were they gonna run to? So, I started getting everybody in line. Best of all, for the first time in my life, I figured out a way not to lose. Ace Rothstein: [voiceover] Yeah, he had a foolproof scheme, all right. It wasn't very scientific, but it worked. When he won, he collected. When he lost, he told the bookies to go fuck themselves. What were they gonna do, muscle Nicky? Nicky was the muscle. Nicky: Tony. Tony: [surprised] Nicky! Nicky: How you doin'? Tony: How you doin'? Nicky: All right, yeah. You got that thing for me? Tony: What thing? Oh, Nicky, I thought you was layin'. Nicky: I was layin'? No, no, I'm takin' it. I was takin' it. Tony: You sure? Nicky: I'm positive. Tony: Well, I'm a little confused here. Nic

Dialogue

Ace Rothstein: [to Billy] I don't give a shit who he's connected to. Tell him to take his fucking feet off the table. What does he think this is, a goddamn sawdust joint? Billy Sherbert: [to cowboy] Sir, would you mind taking your feet off the table and put your shoes on, please? Cowboy: Yeah, I would mind. I'm having a bad night. Billy: [to Ace] Fucking asshole won't budge. Ace: Call security. [to cowboy] How are you? Cowboy: Good. How are you? Ace: Good. Want to do me a favor? You want to take your feet off the table and put your shoes back on? Cowboy: Fuck you! Ace: [to security officers] I want you to exit this guy off the premises, and I want you to exit him off his feet and use his head to open the fucking door. Security Officer #1: [to cowboy] Sir, you're gonna have to leave. You mind coming with us outside? Cowboy: Bullshit. I ain't going anywhere. Security Officer #1: [ejecting him as instructed] Bullshit, you're outta here! Cowboy: Fuck you! Fuck you! You know who you're fuck

Dialogue

Ace Rothstein: I just want to run a square joint. That's it. I just want my license. I want everything nice and quiet. That's it. Nicky Santoro: You mean, quiet like this? [holds up a magazine] "I'm the boss." That's quiet? Ace: That's all taken out of context. I have no control over that. Ronnie and Billy were right there. They'll tell you exactly what happened. Nicky: Well, back home they don't know about fucking control. That looks bad. Ace: Looks bad? I'm going to tell you what looks bad. Every time you're on television, I get mentioned. That looks bad. That looks bad! Nicky: What the fuck happened to you? Will you tell me? Ace: What happened to me? What happened to you? You lost your control. Nicky: I lost control? Look at you! You're fucking walking around like John Barrymore! A fucking pink robe and a fucking cigarette holder? I lost control?

Dialogue

Headline: ROTHSTEIN OUT OF GAMING Remo Gaggi: What is he going to do now? Remo: What in the world was he thinking, ranting and raving on like that? He knows all those guys he yelled at are friends of ours. Andy: Maybe he could run things with a different job title. Would not be the best, but hey, what can we do? Remo: So long as he is quiet; let him hide out in his office, call himself a janitor, I do not give a shit! But...whatever job he takes, make sure it is something quiet! Trudy: Ladies and gentlemen, the Tangiers Casino proudly presents the all-new Sam Rothstein show, Aces High!

Dialogue

Ace Rothstein: First of all, what they did was totally unconstitutional. We're on the list to be heard before the Supreme Court of the United States-- Andy Stone: [interrupting] These guys don't give a fuck about the Supreme Court! They want you to walk away. Ace: Walk away? Andy, you can't be serious. How can I walk away? Don't you see what's at stake? Andy: The old man said "maybe your friend should give in". When the old man says "maybe," that's like a papal bull. Not only should you quit, you should run.

Dialogue

Nicky Santoro: Where the fuck do you get off talking to people about me behind my back, going over my head? Ace Rothstein: What people? Nicky: What people, d'ja think I wasn't gonna find out? Ace: I don't even know what you're talking about Nick... Nicky: No?! You said I'm bringing heat on you?! I gotta listen to people because of your fuckin' shit?! You're orderin' me out?! You better get your own fuckin' army pal! Ace: I didn't do anything, I mean, I didn't order you or anybody. I only told Andy Stone that you had a lot of heat on you and that was a problem. Nicky: You want me to get out of my own fuckin' town?! Ace: Yeah I said l-let the bullshit blow over for a while, so I can run the casino. Anything goes wrong with the casino it's my ass. It's not yours, it's my ass! Nicky: Oh I don't know whether you know this or not, but you only have your fuckin' casino because I made that possible! I'm what counts out here, not your fuckin' country clubs or your fuckin' TV shows! And what the

Dialogue

Nicky Santoro: I told you this was fucking dangerous. Remember I said, "Ginger, this is a dangerous situation, be very careful," you fucking yes me to death. Ginger: If it's so fucking dangerous, then why don't you kill him? Nicky: I'm not gonna kill him. Shut the fuck up, you don't know what you're talking about. Ginger: Well then, have him killed, and get it over with. Nicky: Hey, don't be such a fucking smart-ass, will ya?! And I known the fucking guy 35 years! I'm just gonna fucking whack him for you?

Dialogue

Nicky Santoro: [voiceover] Now for the best, and I couldn't believe this shit. Piscano's expense reports took the cake. FBI Agent 1: [looking through Piscano's expense reports and books] Oh, this is good. Bingo. Nicky: [voiceover] He might as well have given them a fuckin' blueprint. Everybody's names, addresses, dates, everything. FBI Agent 1: Look at this! Thank you so much, Mr. Piscano. How considerate of you. We appreciate it. Artie Piscano: [weakly] Those are my — those are my mother's books. FBI Agent 2: [begins handcuffing Piscano] You're under arrest. Nicky: [voiceover] What a fuckin' balloonhead.

Dialogue

Nicky Santoro: [voiceover] When the bosses were arrested, some of 'em were so old that they needed doctors at their arraignment. But when it looked like they could get twenty-five years to life just for skimming a casino, sick or no fuckin' sick, you knew people were gonna get clipped. So, the day of the arraignment, they had this meeting right in the back of the courthouse. See, when something like this happens, you know how things are gonna work out; It's always better with no witnesses. So what about Andy? Vinny Forlano: He won't talk. Stone's a good kid, stand-up guy just like his own man. That's the way I see it. Vincent Borelli: I agree. He's solid. He's a fuckin' Marine. Americo Capello: He's okay. He always was. Remo, what do you think? Remo Gaggi: [pause] Look...why take a chance? At least, that's the way I feel about it.