J

J.A. Preston Quotes

Actor

Memorable Quotes from J.A. Preston

5 quotes
A Few Good Men
Colonel's Frustration with Trial Questions
Kaffee You think this funny?
Col. Jessup No, it isn't. It's tragic.
[face falls to a look of disgust]
Kaffee Do you have an answer to the question, Colonel?
Col. Jessup Absolutely. My answer is I don't have the first damn clue. Maybe he was an early riser and liked to pack in the morning. And maybe he didn't have any friends. I'm an educated man, but I'm afraid I can't speak intelligently about the travel habits of William Santiago. What I do know is that he was set to leave the base at 0600. Now, are these really the questions I was called here to answer? Phone calls and foot lockers? Please tell me that you have something more, Lieutenant. These two Marines are on trial for their lives. Please tell me their lawyer hasn't pinned their hopes to a phone bill.
Col. Jessup Do you have any more questions for me, Counselor?
Judge Randolph Lt. Kaffee? Lieutenant, do you have anything further for this witness?
[pause]
Col. Jessup Thanks, Danny. I love Washington.
Kaffee Excuse me. I didn't dismiss you.
Col. Jessup I beg your pardon?
Kaffee I'm not through with my examination. Sit down.
Col. Jessup Colonel.
Kaffee What's that?
Col. Jessup I would appreciate it if he would address me as "Colonel" or "sir." I believe I've earned it.
Judge Randolph Defense counsel will address the witness as "Colonel" or "sir.
Col. Jessup I don't know what the hell kind of unit you're running here.
[to Judge]
Judge Randolph And the witness will address this court as "Judge" or "your Honor." I'm quite certain I've earned it. Take your seat, Colonel.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins
The Eleventh Commandment and Its Implications
Conn MacCleary You're going to be the Eleventh Commandment: Thou shalt not get away with it.
[to Remo]
Conn MacCleary Remember, in out, like a duck mating.
[to Remo]
Gen. Scott Watson So listen to this, George. Lyman four-putts. Four-putts, mind you. I thought he'd have a stroke. And I'd have claimed it if he had.
Harold Smith Guard, protect and cherish your land, for there is no afterlife for a place that started out as Heaven. Charles M. Russell, Montana, 1926.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Few Good Men
Clarity in Military Orders and Accountability
Kaffee A moment ago, you said that you ordered Lt. Kendrick to tell his men that Santiago wasn't to be touched.
Jessup That's right.
Kaffee And Lt. Kendrick was clear on what you wanted?
Jessup Crystal.
Kaffee Any chance Lt. Kendrick ignored the order?
Jessup Ignored the order?
Kaffee Any chance he forgot about it?
Jessup No.
Kaffee Any chance Lt. Kendrick left your office and said, "the old man is wrong"?
Jessup No.
Kaffee When Lt. Kendrick spoke to the platoon and ordered them not to touch Santiago, any chance they ignored him?
Jessup You ever served in an infantry unit, son?
Kaffee No, sir.
Jessup Ever served in a forward area?
Kaffee No, sir.
Jessup Ever put your life in another man's hands and asked him to put his life in yours?
Kaffee No, sir.
Jessup We follow orders, son. We follow orders or people die. It's that simple. Are we clear?
Kaffee Yes, sir.
Jessup Are we clear?
Kaffee Crystal. Colonel, I just have one more question before I put Airman O'Malley and Airman Rodriguez on the stand. If you gave an order that Santiago wasn't to be touched, and your orders are always followed, then why would Santiago be in danger? Why would it be necessary to transfer him off the base?
Jessup Santiago was a substandard Marine. He was being transferred...
Kaffee That's not what you said. You said he was being transferred, because he was in grave danger.
Jessup That's correct.
Kaffee You said he was in danger. I said "grave danger"? You said...
Jessup I recall what I said.
Kaffee I could have the court reporter read back to you...
Jessup I know what I said! I don't have to have it read back to me, like I'm...
Kaffee Then why the two orders? Colonel?
Jessup Sometimes men take matters into their own hands.
[hesitates]
Kaffee No, sir. You made it clear just a moment ago that your men never take matters into their own hands. Your men follow orders or people die. So Santiago shouldn't have been in any danger at all, should he have, Colonel?
Jessup You snotty little bastard.
Ross Your Honor, I'd like to ask for a recess.
Kaffee I'd like an answer to the question, Judge.
Judge Randolph The court will wait for an answer.
Kaffee If Lieutenant Kendrick gave an order that Santiago wasn't to be touched, then why did he have to be transferred? Colonel? Lieutenant Kendrick ordered the Code Red, didn't he? Because that's what you told Lieutenant Kendrick to do!
Ross Object!
Kaffee And when it went bad, you cut these guys loose!
Ross Your Honor--
Kaffee You had Markinson sign a phony transfer order, and you doctored the log book!
Ross DAMN IT, KAFFEE!
Kaffee You coerced the doctor!
Judge Randolph Consider yourself in contempt!
Kaffee Now I'm asking you! Colonel Jessup, did you order the Code Red?!
Judge Randolph You don't have to answer that question!
Jessup I'll answer the question. You want answers?
Kaffee I think I'm entitled to it!
Jessup You want answers?!
Kaffee I WANT THE TRUTH!
Jessup You can't handle the truth! Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lieutenant Weinberg? I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago and you curse the Marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know: that Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives! You don't want the truth, because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall. You need me on that wall. We use words like "honor", "code", "loyalty". We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punchline! I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then QUESTIONS the manner in which I provide it! I would rather you just said "thank you", and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon, and stand a post. Either way, I don't give a DAMN what you think you are entitled to!
Kaffee Did you order the Code Red?
Jessup I did the job that—
Kaffee DID YOU ORDER THE CODE RED?!
Jessup YOU'RE GODDAMN RIGHT I DID!!!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins
The Challenges of a Dangerous Life
Conn MacCleary All I can promise you is terror for breakfast, pressure for lunch, and aggravation for sleep. Your vacations will be two minutes when you're not looking over your shoulder, and if you live to draw a pension, it'll be a miracle.
Remo Williams Are there any disadvantages?
Conn MacCleary Hell, I'm lucky I've lasted this long.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Few Good Men
Colonel's Defiance in Courtroom Confrontation
Col. Jessup What the hell is this? Colonel, what's going on? I did my job, I'd do it again! I'm gonna get on a plane and go on back to my base.
[Judge dismisses the jury; stands up defiantly]
Judge Randolph You're not going anywhere, Colonel. MPs, guard the Colonel!
Marine MP Yes, sir.
Judge Randolph Captain Ross?
Col. Jessup What the hell is this?
Capt. Ross Colonel Jessup, you have the right to remain silent. Any statement you make...
Col. Jessup I'm being charged with a crime? Is that what this is? I'm being charged with a crime? This is funny. That's what this is. This is... I'm gonna rip the eyes out of your head and piss into your dead skull! You fucked with the wrong marine!
[while Ross continues reading his rights; turns to Kaffee and lunges at him while MPs hold him back]
Capt. Ross Colonel Jessup, do you understand these rights as I have just read them to you?
Col. Jessup You fuckin people. You have no idea how to defend a nation. All you did was weaken a country today, Kaffee. That's all you did. You put people's lives in danger. Sweet dreams, son.
Kaffee Don't call me "son". I'm a lawyer, and an officer in the United States Navy. And you're under arrest, you son of a bitch. The witness is excused.
[as Jessup picks up his military cap, he was eventually escorted away by the military police]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.