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Behind Enemy Lines Quotes

"His only weapon is his will to survive."

PG-13 2001 · 1h 46m
65
Audience
65
Audience
12 quotes
Survival Mission: Evade and Endure
Taglines Mission: to evade and survive.
A Fighter Pilot's Frustration with Routine
Admiral Reigart Are you gonna fly commercial jets? Troll the friendly skies in a bus? You've had an interesting career, Lieutenant. I remember when you came on board. Smart as a whip, tons of potential.
Chris Burnett Thank you, sir.
Reigart And then, on September 23rd, you received a non-punitive letter of caution for disorderly behavior at the China Fleet Club in Hong Kong. Another letter a month later for something involving Chinese New Year at Pattaya Beach in Thailand. One can only imagine what that was. Just out of curiosity, Lieutenant, what happened to you?
Burnett Sir, I signed up to be a fighter pilot. I didn't wanna be a cop. I certainly didn't wanna be a cop walkin the beat in a neighborhood no one cares about. That and the routine on the ship kinda wore me out.
Reigart The routine?
Burnett The routine.
Reigart What you don't know from experience is that the routine, the systems checks, the drills, the maintaining of discipline, that's what you do to prepare for war.
Burnett We're not at war, sir.
Reigart Yes, we are. Unless we're parked in ], you're at war every time you step on this boat. You understand that?
[[w:Naval Base San Diego|San Diego Bay]
Burnett No, sir, I do not understand. If we're at war, why don't we act like it? Cos as far as I can tell, we go out, we fly around and we come back. Maybe we're pretending we're in the middle of the fight, but we're not fighting, we're watching.
Reigart You should be glad you're not in a fight, Lieutenant. Because with your attitude, you wouldn't last long.
Burnett Sir, with all due respect, I've given the Navy seven good years. I think I've served my country.
Reigart You wouldn't know the FIRST thing about serving your country!!! You have two weeks remaining on this tour. You will serve them in a manner befitting a naval officer. I'll keep your letter in my pocket. At the end of those two weeks, you be on your way. You're dismissed, mister.
[shuffles papers and stashes them away. looks back at Burnett]
Lines Not to Cross in War
Taglines In War There Are Some Lines You Should Never Cross.
Duty Over Command
O'Malley You will lose your command for this.
Admiral Reigart So be it! I'm not gonna let that kid die out there while we sit around on this ship!
Mission Risks and Responsibilities Clarified
Admiral Reigart Gentlemen, I want to make one thing clear before we leave - I intend to put you in harm's way. Any man who doesn't wish to join this mission, step away right now. All right, then, lets go get our boy back.
[addressing Marines he will lead in his own rescue mission for Burnett; the men are silent]
Confronting the Nature of Conflict
Rodway Don't you forget what you are doing.
Burnett What are we doing here? Are you kidding me? Well, I am eating Jello, and he is wiping his hands.
Rodway You don't get to pick a fight. It comes to you.
Burnett Yeah, I get it. But at least give me a fight that I can understand.
Survival Driven by Unyielding Determination
Taglines His only weapon is his will to survive.
Conflict Between Duty and Consequences
Admiral Reigart Our man is down behind enemy lines, now what the fuck is the problem?
Admiral Piquet Do you have any idea how much damage this incident may cause to the peace process??!?
Admiral Reigart All I know, Admiral, is that the American people want their pilot back.
Admiral Piquet Exactly! Americans, all you care about is your own damn pilots! What happens when the fighting starts again? Will America recommit its forces to stop a major war? No, you don't have any control over that little detail, do you? You might have helped save your man today, Reigart, and I emphasize might', but you risk the lives of thousands tomorrow.
Preparation for Crossing Boundaries
Taglines Prepare to cross the line.
Frustration with Mission Assignment in Flight
Burnett Son of a bitch! Did you see this? He puts us on a holiday mission, god damn it!
Stackhouse Yeah, but look at the bright side, at least we get to fly, right?
Burnett Yeah, during the one good meal of the year, it's almost as if he doesn't like us.
Stackhouse No, no. You! Not me. You!
A Call to Action in Adversity
Admiral Reigart Burnett!! Zero-six, you’re a combat naval aviator, start acting like one. You've been shot down. Life is tough. I am very sorry. You pull yourself together. You do whatever it takes. Create some angles between you and your pursuers. Use your training, use your head. Evade and survive, and we will bring you home. Do you understand? We will bring you home.
[on the radio; Pauses due to no names over the airwaves]
Determined to Uncover the Truth
Babic It's not safe here. We keep moving.
Burnett No, you go. They killed my pilot because we took pictures of the graves, and I know where they are. And I am gonna get them, so he didn't die for no reason. Don't follow me, it's safer here.