Memorable Quotes from Norbert Weisser
3 quotesIntroducing Characters in a Foreign Setting
Billy Hayes
I'm Billy Hayes.
Jimmy
I'm Jimmy. Jimmy Booth. I'm an American just like you. This other guy here is Erich... something. I can't pronouce his last name. He's Swedish or something.
Erich
Just Erich.
Jimmy
Yeah... well, what do you think of this place, Billy?
Billy Hayes
Looks like some cheap rundown hotel.
[looks around the prison hall and courtyard]
Jimmy
Yeah, thought you'd say that. Everyone says that this place looks like a cheap hotel.
Billy Hayes
Peacocks. Why peacocks?
[sees peacocks along the fence of the prison]
Jimmy
The Turks use em instead of dogs to patrol the fence because they shriek like hell when they're approached or disturbed. Plus, they don't get rabies.
Billy Hayes
Who are the kids?
Jimmy
Kids? They're not kids. They're local street urchins the Turks lock up here in a separate wing for the juveniles. Boys as young as nine or ten years old. They're thieves, drug dealers, muggers, con artists, pickpockets, rapists, murderers... you name it, they do it. Don't trust any of them!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Consequences of Theft in Turkish Prisons
Billy Hayes
What's Jimmy's story? Why is he in here? Hash?
Erich
No. He was caught stealing from a mosque. That is also a heavy crime here in Turkey.
Billy Hayes
What did he steal?
Erich
Two candle sticks.
Billy Hayes
That's all?
Erich
That's all.
Billy Hayes
Why? Why would he do that?
Erich
Who knows? He's always been a wild child. He's got more balls then brains. Did you know that he was in here for a year-and-a-half before he told his parents what happened to him?
Billy Hayes
What about you? What are you in for?
Erich
Hashish. 90% of the foreigners here are in for hashish or drug related charges from smuggling to possession. My advice is you get yourself a very good lawyer and try to argue down the charge you face. If they make it possession, the sentence is lighter.
Billy Hayes
What were you convicted of?
Erich
Smuggling hash with the intent to sell.
Billy Hayes
What sentence did you receive?
Erich
12 years. I've been here for just over four years.
Billy Hayes
How much did you have on you?
Erich
100 grams.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Conversation About Arrest at the Airport
Jimmy
So... Billy, what are you in for? Hash?
Billy Hayes
Yeah.
Jimmy
Where'd they get you?
Billy Hayes
The airport... trying to get home.
Jimmy
You go through customs?
Billy Hayes
Yeah, I was busted right at the plane.
Jimmy
Aw, man that's heavy. That's very heavy.
Erich
It's bad if they get you for smuggling, but if they make it possession, the sentence is lighter. The best thing for you to do, Billy, is try to make bail. If you make bail, you're free. You can easily get yourself a fake passport on the black market, or get yourself across the border into Greece.
Jimmy
Dream on, Erich. They'll never grant bail to foreigners whom may be a flight risk.
Erich
But if you argue in court about you being innocent...
Jimmy
This ain't the good ol USA! This is Turkey, man! It's a fuckin accident here if you're innocent! There ain't nobody here that is innocent!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.