"The Departed" Quotes Trivia Quiz

Answer: "Well these days, who's reliable?"

This quote was said by Costello's assistant, Mr. French, when they were wondering whether they could trust Costigan. This was said because Costello remarked that it was difficult to find a devoted assistant, to which Mr. French responded that he was "one in ten million." This decision to trust Costigan ultimately led to his downfall. All of the other quotes were part of Costello's monologue in the very beginning of the movie, when he described his life and philosophy of being in the Irish mafia.

Answer: Dignam

Dignam (Mark Wahlberg) said this to a camera techie during surveillance of the Chinese microprocessors deal in an old warehouse. Dignam tended to abrasively blame and insult other characters throughout the movie. After the camera guy sarcastically asked Dignam who he was after one of his insults, he responded with this quote, which was also in regard to the camera guy not putting enough cameras in the warehouse and blowing the operation.

Answer: Ellerby

Captain Ellerby (Alec Baldwin) delivered this quote when he assigned Sullivan to find the mole inside the police department. Ellerby made this remark because he knew that others in the agency might not approve of Sullivan, due to his "immaculate record".

However, Sullivan's career reminded Ellerby of his own career, and the captain decided to give him that assignment. This was ironic since Sullivan had to look for himself, the mole, as he fooled Captain Ellerby and the rest of the police department.

Answer: Barrigan

Sullivan had been promoted, and was talking to Barrigan (James Badge Dale) about his lower-level job. Barrigan and Sullivan were classmates at the police academy and exchanged banter like this in the early part of the movie. Sullivan made this comment to make fun of the way that his subordinates were forced to dress (similar to German soldiers), not knowing that Barrigan was also acting under the orders of Costello.

Answer: Costello

Costello said this when talking generally about his philosophy as a mob boss and how he became involved in organized crime. Throughout the movie, Costello openly displayed his ruthlessness and inhumanity with quotes like these, and Nicholson delivered them to perfection.

Answer: Costigan

Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) yelled this to Captain Queenan (Martin Sheen) when he began to feel the pressure of infiltrating Costello's crime syndicate. Costigan started to think that Costello knew he was the rat, and feared that he would be killed by the mob boss.

Answer: Madolyn

She said this during her first psychiatry session with Costigan when he told her that all he wanted from the meeting was Valium. She was involved with both "rats" Costigan and Sullivan, and her tendency for deception was shown with those relationships and in this quote.

Answer: Mr. French

Mr. French explained this to "newcomer" Costigan when he got into a bar fight with one of Costello's associates. Costigan was then introduced to Costello and began his undercover work in his crime ring. Mr. French was Costello's right-hand man, and this quote showed how they ran their organized crime business.

Answer: Sullivan

Sullivan said this to Costello while Costigan watched them from the back of the theater. Costigan had not seen "the rat" but had followed him, only to lose him in the street. Sullivan may have been having doubts about following his father-figure's orders, and he displayed his need to finish the operation by himself in this quote.

Answer: "I am killing you."

After Sullivan said, "Just kill me" in the elevator in their final scene together, Costigan replied with this quote, meaning that he was actually destoying Sullivan's life. This response showed that Costigan wanted to bring down the man that he had been trying to find, and who was ultimately responsible for his death only seconds later.

This occurred right before Costigan is unexpectedly shot in the head by Barrigan, who had also infiltrated the Boston police department and was trying to help Sullivan, who ironically killed Barrigan when he turned his back.