- Joe Sullivan: What do you know about anything? You probably had your bread buttered on both sides since the day you were born. Safe. Safe on first, second, third, and home.
- Ann Martin: That's what you think? Just because I own a car and a tailored suit and my nails are clean, you think I've never had to fight? I got an education, sure. I suppose that means I was born with a silver spoon, doesn't it? My father was a schoolteacher. He died in the war of The Depression. Only he didn't get any medals. Or any bands. Or any bonus. He left three children. You think *you* had to fight? The only way you know how to fight is that stupid way with a gun. Well, there's another way you probably never even heard of. It's the daily fight that everyone has. To get food and an education, to land a job and keep it. And some self-respect. 'Safe'? I never asked for anything safe. All I want is... just a little decency, that's all.
- Joe Sullivan: [to Pat, about Ann] Keep your eye on "Miss Law and Order" here. She might go soprano on us.
- Joe Sullivan: [being visited in prison by Ann] Next time you come up, don't wear that perfume.
- Ann Martin: Why not?
- Joe Sullivan: It doesn't help a guy's good behavior.
- Joe Sullivan: You're wonderful, baby. I don't know what I'd do without you.
- Pat Regan: Remember to tell me later, with gestures.
- Joe Sullivan: I want to breathe. That's why I want out of this place... so I can take a deep breath again.
- Pat Regan: [as Joe is about to leave to collect money from Rick Coyle] Be careful, and come back soon.
- Joe Sullivan: Ah, you bet. You bet I will. As they say, life begins with 50 G's.
- Fantail: [trying to demonstrate his skill at building a house of playing cards] Hey, Grimmy, watch this.
- [he places another card and the house of cards collapses]
- Fantail: I can never get it more than two stories high.
- Grimshaw: Why don't you just build bungalows?
- Fantail: [glares at him] Why don't you just take that hole in your head and close it?
- Ann Martin: [holding Joe in her arms as he lies mortally wounded] Joe, darling...
- Joe Sullivan: Hey. Hey, none of that. Don't cry. I got my breath of fresh air.
- [last lines]
- Pat Regan: [in voice-over, as she watches Joe die in Ann's arms] The police picked me up and brought me here. There's my Joe, in her arms. A kind of... happiness on his face. In my heart I know that this is right for Joe. This is what he wanted.
- [camera pans over to street sign reading "Corkscrew Alley", where Joe spent his childhood, and film ends]