Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
Spoken by a dirty cop, it is half toast, half threat: be glad you're breathing, and pay up. Bernstein is smiling the whole time, which is what makes it chilling. Fans quote it as black-humoured gratitude on an ordinary Monday, a line from a film famous for shouting that gets its menace from a friendly tone.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for ScarfaceShow the scene
In Scarface (1983), Mel Bernstein is a corrupt Miami police detective on crime boss Frank Lopez's payroll. Tony Montana has gone into business for himself, and Bernstein sits him down over a drink to explain what protection costs: he writes the monthly figure on a napkin, boasts about his eight killers with badges, then asks for a holiday for his wife in London, first-class tickets on Tony's tab. He leaves Tony with this cheerful line. Later, after the botched hit on Tony, Tony shoots Bernstein dead.
Sources (3)
- Wikiquote: Scarface (1983 film)Section: Mel Bernstein; final confrontation in DialogueReference checked
- Wikipedia: Scarface (1983 film)Plot summaryReference checked
- Wikiquote: Scarface (1983 film)Mel BernsteinReference checked
Context reviewed
