Escape from L.A. (1996) - Quotes

Taglines: Snake is Back.

President: What's it to be, Plissken? Us or them?

Snake: Shut down the Third World; they lose, you win. Shut down America; you lose, they win. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

President: So what are you going to do?

Snake: [Types "666" on the remote] Disappear.

Brazen: [looks at Sword of Damocles system display; to the President] He's entered the world code...no target code. Sir, that'll shut down the entire planet.

Snake: I told you, you'd better hope I didn't make it back.

Malloy: [takes one step closer and pleads] You push that button, everything we've accomplished for the past 500 years will be finished. Our technology, our way of life, our entire history. We'll have to start all over again. For God's sakes, don't do it, Snake!

Snake: [pushes the button; the Sword of Damocles EMP satellites fire off, disabling all electrical systems - including Utopia's electric chair just before she is to be executed] The name's Plissken.

Utopia: [as the light fades out] He did it! He shut down the Earth!

Snake: Welcome to the human race.

Brazen: [[w:Hologram|hologram] He's not even here, he's a ]!

Snake: Catches on quick, doesn't she?

Malloy: She didn't know that she had that remote unit in her pocket, now, did she? I was wondering what kind of lame switch you'd try to pull this time, Plissken. You know, you're becoming very predictable.

Snake: Yeah I guess so. You got a smoke?

Malloy: The United States is a non-smoking nation. No smoking, no drinking, no drugs, no women, unless, of course, you're married. No guns, no foul language, no red meat.

Snake: Land of the free...

Snake: Let's say I come back and I have your black box. Who'll give me the antidote to the virus?

Malloy: A medical team will be standing by.

Snake: Neither one of you will be there?

Malloy: No.

Snake: [fires at Brazen and Malloy, with no effect] Good!

Malloy: Ha! Figured you might try that, hotshot. That's why the first clip is loaded with blanks. Bye-bye, Snake. Good luck!

POTUS: Would you explain to this foot soldier why he's going to do what we tell him to do?

Snake: What's he talking about?

Malloy: The Plutoxin Seven virus.

Brazen: Genetically engineered. One-hundred percent pure death.

Malloy: It starts with a slight headache, then turns into a fever that gets worse. After a short time, you crash. You bleed out like a stuck pig. Not a pretty sight.

Snake: I get it. You figure that you inject that shit into me, and under the threat of death, I'll do whatever you say... just like in New York.

Malloy: You got it... Snake!

Snake: One question: which one of you assholes gets to die trying to stick me?

Malloy: You don't understand. It's already in you.

Brazen: Catches on quick, doesn't he?

Cuervo Jones: [addressing the crowd at the LA Olympic Auditorium; cheers as Snake is forced into a basketball court; to Snake; [Escape from New York|escaped from New York; more cheers; explains the basketball rules to Snake] I promised you tonight was gonna be special. I also promised you one last great spectacle of death in this historic arena. Now you will see that death. I give you, the death of SNAKE PLISSKEN!!! Some people think you're already dead, Snake. Some say you never will be. Cause you may have survived Cleveland. You may have ]. But this is LA, vato. And you're about to find out that this fucking city can kill anybody! Game time!! Basketball. Two hoops, full court. Ten-second shot clock. Miss a shot, you get shot. Shot clock buzzer goes off before you shoot, you get shot. Two points for a basket, no three-point bullshit. All you gotta do is make ten points. That's it... By the way, nobody's ever walked off that court alive. Nobody.

Snake Plissken: [facing four gunmen at once; picks up a tin can; throws can up, draws, kills all four before it lands] I'm gonna give you assholes a chance. What do you say we play a little Bangkok rules? Nobody draws until this hits the ground. You ready? Draw.

Snake Plissken: Call me Snake.

Narrator: In the late 20th century, hostile forces inside the United States grow strong. The city of Los Angeles is ravaged by crime and immorality. To protect and defend its citizens, the United States Police Force is formed. A presidential candidate predicts a millennium earthquake will destroy LA in divine retribution. An earthquake measuring 9.6 on the Richter scale hits at 12:59 p.m., August 23rd in the year 2000. After the devastation, the Constitution is amended, and the newly-elected President accepts a lifetime term of office. The country's capital is relocated from Washington, D.C. to the President's hometown of Lynchburg, Virginia. Los Angeles Island is declared no longer part of the United States and becomes the deportation point for all people found undesirable or unfit to live in the new "moral" America. The United States Police Force, like an army, is encamped along the shoreline, making any escape from LA impossible. From the south-eastern hills of Orange County to the north-western shore of Malibu, the Great Wall excludes LA from the mainland. The President's first act as permanent commander-in-chief is Directive 17: once an American loses his or her citizenship, they are deported to this island of the damned and they never come back.