13 quotes
Interrogation Tactics and Moral Dilemmas
Podovsky
I see you are no stranger to pain. Perhaps you have been among my Vietnamese comrades before, hm? No answer. Do you wish to give your name? Now, what possible harm can that cause? Pride is a poor substitute for intelligence. What you must understand is that we have to interrogate you. To Sergeant Yushin here, you are a piece of meat. A laboratory experiment. But to me, you are a comrade, similar to myself, just opposed by an act of fate. I know you are trying to facilitate the release of war criminals held by this republic. I can appreciate this. But this incident, your capture is... embarrassing. We must have explanation. First of all, I wish you to radio your headquarters and say that you have been captured and condemned for espionage activities, and that no such criminal aggression should be attempted in the future or they will meet with the same fate as yours.
Rambo
Fuck you.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Underestimating Rambo's capabilities leads to failure
Taglines
They sent him on a mission and set him up to fail, but they made one fatal mistake. They forgot who they were dealing with: Rambo.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Question of Victory
John Rambo
Sir, do we get to win this time?
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Consequences of Orders in Military Operations
Murdock
Rambo, I didn't make the orders, I take them, just like you. I swear to God, I didn't know it was supposed to happen like this. It was just supposed to be another assignment!
[Rambo takes his knife out of his scabbard]
Rambo
Mission... accomplished. You know there's more men out there, you know where they are... Find em, or I'll find you.
[Rambo drives his combat knife into the desk right next to Murdock's head]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Brief Reunion Between Old Friends
Colonel Sam Trautman
How've you been, Johnny?
John Rambo
Good.
[nods]
Trautman
That's all... Thanks.
[to the prison guard]
Trautman
John, I'm sorry you were sent to such a hellhole.
[takes off his sunglasses]
Rambo
I've seen worse.
Trautman
You have... haven't you...?
Rambo
Yeah.
Trautman
John, I told you I'd help you when I could... you interested?
Trautman
You can't...possibly want to stay in prison for another five years?
[continuing, taken aback]
Rambo
... In here at least I know where I stand.
[beat]
Trautman
Just... hear me out first. A covert operation is being geared up in the Far East. Your name was selected as one of the top three able to accomplish the mission.
Rambo
Mission?
Trautman
Recon for P.O.W.'s in Nam.
Rambo
...Why now?...Why me?
[beat]
Trautman
The prison camp you escaped from in 71 is the target area. No one knows that terrain better than you. The risk factor is very high. You'll be temporarily reinstated in the forces. And if the operation is successful, there may be a Congressional pardon... You interested?
Rambo
...Yes.
[thinks for a moment before he turns to Trautman and nods]
Trautman
Good...good... I'll get the necessary clearances. The next time we'll meet, it'll be in Thailand with Special OP's designate who will honch the operation.
Rambo
Yes, sir.
[nods]
Trautman
All clear?
Rambo
Yes.
[nods]
Trautman
John, I want you to know I did what I could to keep you out of these walls.
[referring to the prison facility]
Rambo
Good...
Trautman
Yeah...
[starts to leave]
Rambo
Sir... Do we get to win this time?
Trautman
This time it's up to you.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Rescue Mission Initiated by Rambo
Rambo
Murdock.
Trautman
He's here.
Murdock
Rambo, this is Murdock, we're glad you're alive. Where the hell are you? Give us your position and we'll come to pick you up!
Rambo
Murdock... I'm coming to get you!
[clenches the communicator microphone, seething with rage]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Rambo: A Combat Veteran Without Fear
Colonel Trautman
Pressure? Let me just say that Rambo is the best combat vet I've ever seen. A pure fighting machine with only a desire - to win a war that someone else lost. And if winning means he has to die - he'll die. No fear, no regrets. And one more thing, what you choose to call hell, he calls home.
[miffed at Murdock's doubts about Rambo]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Trust and Loyalty in Conflict
Trautman
Good luck son.
Rambo
You remember when Murdock said he was with 2nd Battalion, ] at Kon Tum in 66?
[[w:3rd Marine Regiment (United States)|3rd Marines]
Trautman
Yeah.
Rambo
The 2nd Battalion was at Kud Sank. You're the only one I trust.
[gets aboard plane]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Selflessness in the Face of Valor
Col. Trautman
John, where are you going?
Rambo
I don't know.
Trautman
You'll get a second Medal of Honor for this.
Rambo
You should give it to them. They deserve it more.
[looks over at rescued POWs, one of whom salutes him]
Trautman
You can't keep running John, you're free now. Go back with us.
Rambo
Back to what? My friends died here. Part of me died here.
Trautman
The war, everything that happened here may have been wrong, but dammit, don't hate your country for it!
Rambo
Hate? I'd die for it.
[stops and looks at him]
Trautman
Then what is it you want?
Rambo
I want... what they want, and every other guy who came over here, and spilt his guts and gave everything he had wants... for our country to love us...as much as we love it. That's what I want.
[beat; looks and points to the rescued POWs]
Trautman
...How will you live, John?
Rambo
Day by day.
[leaves him]
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Understanding the Concept of Being Expendable
Rambo
To survive a war, you gotta become war.
Co-Bao
That why they pick you? Because you like to fight?
Rambo
Nah... I'm expendable.
Co
Expendable... What mean expendable?
Rambo
It's like... someone... invites you to a party, and you don't show up; doesn't really matter. What is this?
[points to Co's necklace]
Co-Bao
It bring me good luck. What bring you luck?
Rambo
I guess this.
[holds up his combat knife; Co stares at it in shock and surprise]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Defining Home in Unconventional Terms
Taglines
What most people call hell, he calls home.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Confrontation Over War and Responsibility
Trautman
What are you doing? Do you know what the hell you've done!?!
Murdock
Don't act so innocent, Colonel. You had your suspicions, and if you suspected then you're sort of an accessory aren't ya?
Trautman
Don't ever count me with you and your scum! It was a lie wasn't it? Just like the whole damn war, it was a lie!
Murdock
What are you talking about?
Trautman
That camp... was supposed to be empty. Rambo goes in, a decorated vet, he finds no POWs, the Congress buys it - case closed! And if he happens to get caught, nobody knows he's alive except you and your computers... and you can reprogram that can't you?
Murdock
Who the hell do you think you're talking to, Trautman?
Trautman
A stinkin bureaucrat who's tryin to cover his ass!
Murdock
No, not just mine Trautman. We're talkin about a nation here! Besides, it was your hero's fault. Now if your warrior had gone in and done what the hell he was supposed to do, we'd be out of this clean and simple. He was just supposed to take pictures!
Trautman
And if those pictures showed something they would have been... lost... wouldn't they?
Murdock
Oh Trautman, I still don't think you understand what this is all about.
Trautman
The same as it always is! Money! In 72 we were supposed to pay the Cong four-and-a-half billion in war reparations. We reneged, they kept the POWs... and you're doing the same thing all over again.
Murdock
And what the hell would you do, Trautman? Pay blackmail money to ransom our own men and finance the war effort against our allies!?! What if some burn-out POW shows up on the six o-clock news? What do you want to do... start the war all over again? You wanna bomb Hanoi? You want everybody screaming for armed invasion? Do you honestly think somebody's gonna get up on the floor of the United States Senate, and ask for billions of dollars for a couple of forgotten ghosts!?!
Trautman
Men, Goddamn it! Men... who fought for their country!
Murdock
That's enough! Trautman, I'm gonna forget this conversation ever took place.
Trautman
You bastard!
Murdock
And if I were you... I'd never make the mistake of bringing this subject up again.
Trautman
Oh, you're the one who's making the mistake.
Murdock
Yeah? What mistake?
Trautman
Rambo.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Unstoppable Force Against All Odds
Taglines
No man, no law, no war can stop him.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.