13 quotes
Questioning Justice and Morality in Prisons
Henry Brubaker
That's murder they're talking about in there. And if they condone it, how are you gonna turn around and tell these guys why they're locked up?
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Warden: Most Wanted Man in Prison
Taglines
The most wanted man in Wakefield prison is the warden!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Discussion on Food and Nutrition Choices
Brubaker
You're not eating?
Coombes
I don't eat that shit you eat.
Brubaker
Do you know anything about nutrition?
Coombes
I know about hungry.
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Identifying a Prison Inmate's Background
Brubaker
Tower number 3 - who'm I looking at? He's looking at me.
Coombes
Up there, you got Douglass Mizell.
Brubaker
Who the hell is Doug Mizell?
Coombes
He's a forger. Three times grand theft.
Brubaker
I want a rundown on everybody that's got tower duty. I-
Coombes
I do believe that's Purcell's job, sir.
Brubaker
I want only murderers up there; one-time impulse killers.
Coombes
Well, aren't you taking kind of a chance doing that? Aren't you? I mean, uh...
Brubaker
No, it's the habituals you can't trust. Murderers - most of em - already have it out of their system. Guys like you, right?
Coombes
There's nobody around here like me.
[laughs]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Proposal for a Safer Roof Design
Brubaker
Why don't we build them a roof that won't cave in on their heads?
Rauch
That's enough.
Brubaker
An insured roof, this time.
Glenn Elwood
What do you mean?
Brubaker
The collapsed roof isn't covered at all - that's what I mean. But we DO have coverage for thrashing machines, balers, swathers, a tractor...
Rauch
Sounds pretty sensible to me to have the things insured. I approved those policies personally.
Brubaker
You did more than that: your company sold us the policies. The only trouble with it is: we don't have any of that equipment on our farm. It doesn't exist.
Rauch
What you HAVE got Mr. Brubaker is a piss-poor attitude.
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From Vagrancy to a New Opportunity
Bullen
I got picked up for vagrancy - a misdemeanor. Next morning, the toilet's broke clean off the damn wall. There's six men in the cell, and they stick me with destruction of city property over $50. Felony number three.
Brubaker
Habitual. That judge gives you life for a toilet.
Bullen
Yeah, or give me the toilet for life. Same difference. Anyhow; here I am shoveling shit for dead men.
Brubaker
Instead, how'd you like to be a trustee, and run my motorpool?
Bullen
Mr. Brubaker, I've been studying you since you first come in. And it's come clear to me that you are one weird fucking individual. I ain't got you figgered out yet - whether you're a good thing or a bad one.
Brubaker
Does that mean you'll run my motorpool?
Bullen
Wear them khakis? Get me a guitar? Be the warden's new boy?
[whistles]
Brubaker
No, you're smarter than that.
Bullen
The whole world's fucked up, Mr. Brubaker. Ain't no use.
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Tension Between Authority and Defiance
Brubaker
Mess with me now; you're gonna regret it later.
Coombes
We don't work this thing out fast, mister, you're not gonna be around later.
Brubaker
Do you want ID?
Coombes
Listen, man. All I have to do is raise my right hand and that tower guard's gonna blow you out.
Brubaker
...or you can continue walking with me, like the smart escort I figure you to be.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Involvement is Key to System Reform
Lillian Gray
You can't reform the system if you're not in it
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Questioning Motives in a Difficult Situation
Coombes
What you gon do about Abraham?
Brubaker
I've got Purcell filling out forms in triplicate, and I'm going to get him released just as soon as I-
Coombes
Now why do you wanna go and do that?
Brubaker
Do what?
Coombes
Look, why don't you just leave him be. I mean, all he knows is this place.
Brubaker
You - You knew that he had been in here as long as he'd been in here.
Coombes
Just leave him alone. He's not- He's not botherin nobody here.
Brubaker
Hey... You can't hide in prison forever, Coombes.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Confrontation Between Warden and Inmate
Brubaker
Hey. Can we talk?
Walter
Who the fuck are you? I want the man!
Brubaker
I am. I am the man. I'm the new warden here. My name's Henry Brubaker.
Walter
Man, don't be fucking with my head. New warden my ass!
[throws Bullen and advances on Brubaker]
Brubaker
It's true - I swear it.
Walter
Then how come you look like a scumbag?
Brubaker
Cause I'm fooling those guys out there.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Racial Division in a Correctional Facility
Rauch
Sanitation detail. You too, Bullen!
Coombes
Now, wait a minute. This man's hurt.
Rauch
You just deal with the colored - I'll take care of the white folks. Sides, I don't think Bullen's got much more'n refried shit for brains this morning.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
One Man vs. An Unjust System
Taglines
One man against a cruel system.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Critique of Manipulative Leadership
Richard Dickie Coombes
I don't get men like you, you're dangerous men. You start wars and then let other people fight them for you. You come in and say do this, do that, think like this, become this kind of person', you put a sign in somebody's hand and say follow me, I have all the answers', but all you do is get people killed!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.