Ben McKenzie: James Gordon

Mad City: Better to Reign in Hell

James Gordon

[Harvey Bullock asks Jim Gordon what happens when there's no more Indian Hill escapees to arrest]
Harvey Bullock: How many escapees you brought in now? Hmm? Six? Five grand a pop? That's not too bad. What happens when there aren't any more?
James Gordon: I don't think Gotham's running out of monsters anytime soon.

[Jim Gordon tells Harvey Bullock that saving Gotham's not his job anymore]
Harvey Bullock: You are a cop in everything but name.
James Gordon: Yeah, except I don't have to listen to Barnes. I get to go home when I want, get drunk when I want. And at the end of the day, I sleep. 'Cause saving Gotham's not my job anymore.
Harvey Bullock: Jim, I love you like a brother, but you've got to stop blaming the job for what happened between you and Lee. And do you really think I don't get drunk when I want?
[Bullock takes a drink out of his flask]

[first lines]
Pharmacist: [a Ridgeback monster invades a closed pharmacy store] Hello? We're closed. If you leave now, I won't call the cops.
James Gordon: [the snarling monster throws the pharmacist out the front window as Jim Gordon stands outside] Hey. Any chance you want to come quietly?

[Jim Gordon and Harvey Bullock listen to Mayor Aubrey James' speech to the media]
Harvey Bullock: Hear that? You should be lauded.
James Gordon: [Gordon smiles] I'll settle for the cash.

[Harvey Bullock tries to ask Jim Gordon to come back to the GCPD]
Harvey Bullock: Look, whatever happened when you went to see Lee, and you know I don't like to pry...
James Gordon: [Gordon smiles] Sure you don't.
Harvey Bullock: That's because you won't tell me anything. The whole point is man's not supposed to be alone. You have a family here.
James Gordon: Can't do it, Harv.

[Valerie Vale introduces herself to Jim Gordon]
Valerie Vale: I'm Valerie Vale. Reporter for The Gazette.
James Gordon: I know who you are.
Valerie Vale: And you're James Gordon. Son of a respected Gotham D.A. Former war hero. Former white knight cop. Now bounty hunter. You know, someone should do a story on you.

[Valerie Vale questions Jim Gordon about Indian Hill while sitting at the bar]
Valerie Vale: You were there that night, at Indian Hill.
James Gordon: I got nothing to say.
Valerie Vale: What about the fact that besides Hugo Strange and his assistant, no one else has been arrested? Or that despite everything pointing to Wayne Enterprises, there seems to be zero investigation.
James Gordon: [Gordon smiles] You're new to Gotham, aren't you?
Valerie Vale: Okay, this is where you tell me things work differently here? I'm not from Gotham, but my dad's a cop. My brothers are cops. And things work the same everywhere.
James Gordon: I was going to say it's hard to find a quiet bar in the city. I like coming here. Please don't make me find another.

[Valerie Vale asks Jim Gordon if the Penguin is telling the truth about Fish Mooney being alive]
Valerie Vale: Now, do you think Cobblepot's right? That Fish Mooney's organizing the escapees?
James Gordon: Penguin is a liar and a murderer.
Valerie Vale: Hmm... but...
James Gordon: But based on the escapees, and knowing Fish... I hope not.
Valerie Vale: Well... he's offering a million dollars to whoever brings her in.
Valerie Vale: [Valerie leaves Jim at the bar] You're welcome.

[Valerie Vale tells Jim Gordon that she knows where Fish Mooney is]
Valerie Vale: I know where she's gonna be next.
James Gordon: Why are you telling me?
Valerie Vale: You see, I need something from the cops. They're not gonna tell me, but Bullock still trusts you.
James Gordon: And you want me to lie to him.
Valerie Vale: A million dollars covers a lot of sins. And obviously, I get to come along. Aw. Don't tell me you have a conscience.
James Gordon: [Gordon downs his drink] Yeah, all right.

[Jim Gordon breaks his deal with Valerie Vale and handcuffs her to the car door]
Valerie Vale: What the hell are you doing?
James Gordon: You're 100 yards from a police station. I'll be back in an hour or two.
Valerie Vale: We had a deal.
James Gordon: If there's a story, I'll make sure you get it.
Valerie Vale: Oh, you're a son of a bitch.
James Gordon: Also, you could scream, but then you'd have to tell the cops everything. And you'd lose the story entirely.