Se7en Quotations

Se7en is a 1995 film about two cops, one new and one about to retire, who are chasing a serial killer using the seven deadly sins as inspiration for his murders.

Directed by David Fincher and written by Andrew Kevin Walker.

Seven deadly sins. Seven ways to die. Taglines

David Mills

Fucking Dante … goddamn poetry-writing faggot! Piece of shit, fucker!

Come on, he's insane. Look, right now he's probably dancing around in his grandma's panties, yeah, rubbing himself in peanut butter.

I don't think you're quitting because you believe these things you say. I don't. I think you want to believe them because you're quitting. And you want me to agree with you, and you want me to say, "Yeah, yeah, yeah. You're right. It's all fucked up. It's a fucking mess. We should all go live in a fucking log cabin." But I won't. I don't agree with you. I do not. I can't.

[To John Doe] You're no messiah. You're a movie of the week. You're a fucking T-shirt, at best.

He's fucking with us! [Bends over a desk] See this? This is us.

[To John Doe] I've been trying to figure something in my head, and maybe you can help me out, yeah? When a person is insane, as you clearly are, do you know that you're insane? Maybe you're just sitting around, reading Guns and Ammo, masturbating in your own feces. Do you just stop and go, "Wow! It is amazing how fucking crazy I really am!"? Yeah, do you guys do that?

What's in the box?

William Somerset

[In mock appreciation] It's impressive to see a man feeding off his emotions.

This isn't going to have a happy ending.

If we catch John Doe and he turns out to be the Devil – I mean, if he's Satan himself – that might live up to our expectations. But he's not the Devil. He's just a man.

But you got to be a … a hero. You want to be a champion. Well, let me tell you, people don't want a champion. They want to eat cheeseburgers, play the lotto and watch television.

[At the library] Gentlemen, gentlemen. I'll never understand. All these books. A world of knowledge at your fingertips. And what do you do? Play poker all night.

If John Doe's head splits open and a UFO should fly out, I want you to have expected it.

[Realizing what's inside the package] California, tell your people to stay away. Stay away now, don't … don't come in here. Whatever you hear, stay away! John Doe has the upper hand! John Doe has the upper hand!

[Last lines] Ernest Hemingway once wrote, "The world is a fine place and worth fighting for." I agree with the second part.

John Doe

[From one of John Doe's journals] On the subway today, a man came up to me to start a conversation. He made small talk, a lonely man talking about the weather and other things. I tried to be pleasant and accommodating, but my head hurt from his banality. I almost didn't notice it had happened, but I suddenly threw up all over him. He was not pleased, and I couldn't stop laughing.

[From one of John Doe's journals] What sick ridiculous puppets we are / and what gross little stage we dance on / What fun we have dancing and fucking / Not a care in the world / Not knowing that we are nothing / We are not what was intended.

[To Mills] Detective … detective … detective! You're looking for me.

Wanting people to listen, you can't just tap them on the shoulder anymore. You have to hit them with a sledgehammer, and then you'll notice you've got their strict attention.

It seems that envy is my sin.

Become vengeance, David. Become wrath.

[On killing] I've gone … and done it again.

[Pretending to be a photographer] I got your picture, man! I got your picture!

Others

Dr. Beardsley: He's experienced about as much pain and suffering as anyone I've encountered, give or take, and he still has Hell to look forward to.

California: Somebody call somebody.

Mark Swarr: My client says there are two more bodies … two more victims, hidden away. He will take Detectives Mills and Somerset to these bodies, but only Detectives Mills and Somerset. Only at six o'clock today.

Police Captain (answering phone that interrupted his conversation): This is not even my desk! [Hangs up]

Dialogue

David Mills (picks up the phone): Hello?

John Doe: I admire you. I don't know how you found me, but imagine my surprise. I respect you law enforcement agents more every day.

David Mills: Well, I appreciate that, John. I tell you …

John Doe: No, no, you listen, all right? I'll be re-adjusting my schedule in light of today's little … setback. I just had to call and express my admiration. Sorry I had to hurt … one of you, but I really didn't have a choice, did I?

David Mills: Hm.

John Doe: You will accept my apology, won't you? I feel like saying more, but I don't want to ruin the surprise. [Hangs up]

David Mills: Hey, loser.

Tracy Mills: Hi, idiot.

David Mills: Do you like what you do for a living? These things you see?

Man in Massage Parlour Booth: No, I don't. But that's life.

William Somerset (to Tracy): Anyone who spends a significant amount of time with me finds me disagreeable. Just ask your husband.

David Mills: Very true. Very, very true.

William Somerset: This guy's methodical, exacting, and worst of all, patient.

David Mills: He's a nut-bag! Just because the fucker's got a library card doesn't make him Yoda!

David Mills: Yeah, a landlord's dream: a paralyzed tenant with no tongue.

William Somerset: Who pays the rent on time.

William Somerset: I just don't think I can continue to live in a place that embraces and nurtures apathy as if it was virtue.

David Mills: You're no different. You're no better.

William Somerset: I didn't say I was different or better. I'm not. Hell, I sympathize; I sympathize completely. Apathy is the solution. I mean, it's easier to lose yourself in drugs than it is to cope with life. It's easier to steal what you want than it is to earn it. It's easier to beat a child than it is to raise it. Hell, love costs: it takes effort and work.

John Doe: It's more comfortable for you to label me as insane.

David Mills: It's very comfortable.

David Mills: Wait, I thought all you did was kill innocent people.

John Doe: (outraged) Innocent? Is that supposed to be funny? (his voice rising in anger) An obese man, a disgusting man who could barely stand up, a man who if you saw him on the street, you'd point him out to your friends so that they could join you in mocking him, a man, who if you saw him while you were eating, you wouldn't be able to finish your meal. After him, I picked the lawyer, and I know you both must have been secretly thanking me for that one. This is a man who dedicated his life to making money by lying with every breath that he could muster to keeping murderers and rapists on the streets!

David Mills: Murderers?

John Doe: A woman …

David Mills: Murderers, John, like yourself?

John Doe: A woman, so ugly on the inside she couldn't bear to go on living if she couldn't be beautiful on the outside. A drug dealer, a drug-dealing pederast, actually! And let's not forget the disease-spreading whore! Only in a world this shitty could you even try to say these were innocent people and keep a straight face. But that's the point: we see a deadly sin on every street corner, in every home, and we tolerate it. We tolerate it because it's common, it's trivial. We tolerate it morning, noon, and night. Well, not anymore. I'm setting the example. What I've done is going to be puzzled over and studied and followed … forever.

John Doe: Realize, detective, the only reason that I'm here right now is that I wanted to be.

David Mills: No, no, we would have got you eventually.

John Doe: Oh, really? So, what were you doing? Biding your time? Toying with me? Allowing five innocent people to die until you felt like springing your trap? Tell me, what was the indisputable evidence you were going to use on me right before I walked up to you and put my hands in the air?

David Mills: I seem to remember us knocking on your door.

John Doe: Oh, that's right. And I seem to remember breaking your face.

[William Somerset looks at an object in the road]

David Mills: What do you got?

William Somerset: Dead dog.

John Doe: I didn't do that.

John Doe: She begged for her life.

William Somerset: Shut up …

John Doe: She begged for her life and …

William Somerset: Shut up!

John Doe: She begged for her life and the life of the baby inside her.

William Somerset: Shut up! [Punches him]

John Doe: Oh … [smiles] he didn't know.

John Doe: Don't ask me to pity those people. I don't mourn them any more than I do the thousands that died at Sodom and Gomorrah.

William Somerset: Is that to say, John, that what you were doing was God's good work?

John Doe: The Lord works in mysterious ways.

Police Captain (to Mills): What do you think?

David Mills: I'm in.

Mark Swarr: It has to be both of you.

William Somerset: If he were to claim insanity, this conversation is admissible. The fact that he's blackmailing us with his plea …

Mark Swarr: And my client reminds you, two more are dead. The press would have a field day if they found out the police didn't seem too concerned about finding them, giving them a proper burial.

William Somerset: If there really are two more dead.

David Mills: Why us?

Mark Swarr: He says he admires you.

David Mills: How is it working for a scumbag like this? You proud of yourself?

Police Captain: Ease back, Mills.

Mark Swarr: I'm required by law to serve my clients to the best of my ability, and to serve their best interests.

William Somerset: We'll just talk to him.

David Mills: Uh-huh. Yeah. "Excuse me, sir. Are you, by any chance, a serial killer?" Okay.

William Somerset: You do the talking. Put that silver tongue of yours to work.

David Mills: Have you been talking to my wife?

Taglines

Seven deadly sins. Seven ways to die.

Long is the way, and hard, that out of hell leads up to light.

Gluttony · Greed · Sloth · Envy · Wrath · Pride · Lust

Let he who is without sin try to survive

Ernest Hemingway once wrote, "The world is a fine place and worth fighting for." I agree with the second part.

Cast

Brad Pitt – Detective David Mills
Morgan Freeman – Detective Lt. William Somerset
Gwyneth Paltrow – Tracy Mills
Kevin Spacey – John Doe
R. Lee Ermey – Police Captain
John C. McGinley – California
Richard Portnow – Dr. Beardsley
Richard Schiff – Mark Swarr (John Doe's Lawyer)

Quoternity