Kiefer Sutherland: The Confessor

Quotes 

• Eddie : So you really think he's working with the feds?

  The Confessor : I don't know.

  Eddie : I mean, well, what if he is? I mean, if he really is, like, what then?

  The Confessor : Why do you keep asking questions you know the answers to?

  Eddie : I'm just thinkin' this thing through, you know, because, you know, if he really is, it could get nasty.

  The Confessor : I thought you said you've done this before.

  Eddie : I have done this before. A lot of times. Ain't nothing on me, man, I'm just saying, you know, just thinking. What the fuck are you looking at me for?

  The Confessor : [spotting their target]  There they are. Let's go.

• Priest : You come in here, tell me that you killed people, and that you're going to kill again, and expect me to sit down and have a philosophical conversation with you?

  The Confessor : I told you, Father, I want you to explain to me why men can't control the darkness in their hearts.

  Priest : They can, if they choose to. This thing that you're going to do tonight, don't. Choose not to.

  The Confessor : It's not that simple.

  Priest : Then why are you here? There must be a reason. Do you expect me to stop you?

  The Confessor : I expect you to try.

• Priest : How does someone become like you?

  The Confessor : You really wanna know?

  Priest : Well, I'm willing to listen if you'll do the same.

  The Confessor : Hmm. Fair enough.

  Priest : Go on.

  The Confessor : I'm sure you're expecting me to tell you that I came from a broken home, that I had a crappy childhood, how I was in and out of trouble with the police from a very early age.

  Priest : If you want to tell me about it.

  The Confessor : I don't.

  Priest : But there must have been a moment. There must have been a decisive moment when you realized that you were different.

  The Confessor : I was working with a crew, nothing heavy, just boosting trucks, mainly. Some strongarm stuff, debt collecting. Smacked a guy around a little if he was late with a payment, that sort of thing.

  Priest : What changed?

  The Confessor : The man I worked for asked me to take care of something.

  Priest : And by "something", he meant...

  The Confessor : He meant what you think he meant.

• Arty : You know who the fuck I am?

  The Confessor : Yeah. A man who's just a few breaths away from the end of his life.

• Priest : You killed a man.

  The Confessor : I've killed many men. It's who I am, it's what I do. In fact, I'm supposed to kill someone tonight.

  Priest : No, I won't hear any more of this.

  The Confessor : Please, Father, do you really think the world is gonna miss another useless human being?

  Priest : We were told about confessions like this in seminary, and I've heard about them from other priests, but I've never experienced one myself. Now, I won't do this.

  The Confessor : Sit down.

  [drawing his gun] 

  The Confessor : I said sit down. Now! When I walked in, there were two women praying in the front of the church. You step outside of this confessional, and I will walk out there and I will kill them both.

  Priest : You wouldn't.

  The Confessor : I wouldn't? You've known me less than three minutes and you already profess to know what I would or wouldn't do? Have you not listened to a single thing that I have said? I believe a demonstration is in order.

  Priest : Please don't, for God's sake.

  The Confessor : No, Father, this is for your sake.

• Priest : How can I help you?

  The Confessor : I would like you to explain to me, if God's will is all-powerful, why does he allow men to do the things they do?

  Priest : Because he gave us free will.

  The Confessor : Sort of convenient, don't you think? Kind of gets him off the hook for everything.

  Priest : Each and every one of us is free to choose our own path in life.

  The Confessor : Are we? Where's our path laid out for us by the cruelty of others and the suffering we endure while God looks the other way?

  Priest : It's easy to blame God for our actions. It relieves us of our personal responsibility. Every moment that we live, we have been offered choices. What we do with those choices is our decision and our decision alone.

  The Confessor : So let me see if I've got this right. God gives us free will, so we can do as we choose, yet he expects us to live by his laws. If we fail him, all we have to do is repent before we die and all is forgiven. Is that correct?

  Priest : Contrition must be a sincere act made by someone whose heart is open to God. You can't just say you're sorry for the murders you've committed and expect to be forgiven. You have to mean it, from your heart and from your soul. You have to remember that in God's eyes, you have committed the most grievous of sins.

  The Confessor : Oh, please, Father. God has a much bigger hit list than me. More people have died in the name of God than for any other reason on Earth.

• Priest : [the Confessor is threatening to kill two parishioners]  I would very much like to hear what you have to say.

  The Confessor : Would you?

  Priest : Yes. Yes, I would.

  The Confessor : You sure you're not just saying that, Father, because of the situation?

  Priest : No, no. No, I really would like to hear.

  Daughter in Church : [turning around]  Oh, hello, Father.

  Priest : Hello.

  [to the Confessor] 

  Priest : Would you please come back to the confessional so that we can continue our conversation?

  The Confessor : Lesson learned?

  Priest : Lesson learned.

  The Confessor : Good.