31 quotes
A Cautious Approach to Unexpected Encounters
Ruth Lang
If we meet any terrorists, I'll text you.
[''To bodyguard'']
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Ineffable Nature of Relationships
The Ghost
Forty thousand years of human language, and there's no word to describe our relationship. It was doomed.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Unexpected Outburst from Adam Lang
Adam Lang
You cheeky fuck!
[''To Rycart on television'']
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Questioning Assumptions in Danger
The Ghost
Who are you expecting to bomb you, ]?
[''At Rhinehart publishing house security check''; [w:Random House|Random House]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Confronting Unfamiliar Fear
Ruth Lang
I'm scared. I've never been scared in my life before, but I am now.
[''Burying face in between The Ghost's face and shoulder'']
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Investigation of a Recent Incident
Police officer
This one looks nasty. Yeah, it's just happened just now. Yeah, if you could.
[''Speaking to mobile link after The Ghost has been deliberately [[w:vehicle-ramming attack|vehicle rammed]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Impertinent Questions and Personal Reflection
Paul Emmett
A less equable man than I might start to find your questions impertinent.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Reassurance Amid Uncertainty
The Ghost
It's all right. Everything'll be all right.
[''Consoling Ruth'']
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Limits of Immortality in Writing
Robert Rycart
He can't drown two ghost writers, for god sake. You're not kittens!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Memoirs of an Ex-Prime Minister's Wife
Ruth Lang
Perhaps I'll write my own memoirs. Ex-Prime Minister's Wife Tells All.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Bad Idea Amidst Wet Hair
The Ghost
Your hair's all wet, you're drenched. Let me get you a towel. Bad idea.
[''Goes to bathroom and whispers in mirror'']
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Love as a Motivator in Politics
The Ghost
Use it? I think we should open the whole book like this. "I went into politics out of love, not love for a party or an ideology, but out of love for a woman.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Call for Accountability in Security Measures
Adam Lang
Spare me the bleeding-heart bullshit! Do you know what I'd do if I was in power again? I'd have two queues at airports: one for flights where we'd done no background checks, infringed on no one's civil bloody liberties, used no intelligence gained by torture. And on the other flight we'd do everything we possibly could to make it perfectly safe. And then we'd see which plane the Rycarts of this world would put their bloody kids on! And you can put that in the book!
[''On his head-of-state jet to The Ghost'']
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Words Misplaced in Their Arrangement
The Ghost
Well all the words are there, they're just in the wrong order.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Assessing Risks in a High-Stakes Assignment
The Ghost
Roy. ] and ] Who're you expecting to bomb you, ]?
[''Sees Roy at metal detectors at Rhinehart Inc. entrance''; ''Getting [[w:Metal detector|wanded; [w:Frisking|frisked; [w:Random House|Random House]
Roy Quigley
We're publishing Lang's memoirs. That's enough to make us a target, apparently.
The Ghost
Thank you. How many have you seen?
[''Gets his effects back''; ''In elevator'']
Roy Quigley
Five. You're the last. I must be honest. I don't think you're the right man for this assignment.
The Ghost
Then it's a good job it's not your decision, Roy.
Roy Quigley
John Maddox, chief executive of Rhinehart, New York.
The Ghost
Sir.
[''Shakes hand'']
Roy Quigley
Sidney Kroll, Mr. Lang's Washington attorney.
The Ghost
Mr. Kroll.
[''Shakes hand'']
Roy Quigley
And Nick Ricardelli I believe you know.
The Ghost
All right, Rick.
[''Rick puts hand on The Ghost's back and guides him to couch'']
John Maddox
All right, I gather from Rick you're aware of the situation? Perhaps you can enlighten us and tell us what exactly you're gonna bring to this project.
The Ghost
Nothing. No, I'm not gonna pretend to be someone I'm not. You have my CV.
Roy Quigley
His last effort was the autobiography of a magician, I Came, I Sawed, I Conquered.
Rick Ricardelli
Yeah, and it went straight to number one, so...
The Ghost
After you turned it down, Roy. Look, I don't read political memoirs. Who does? And I gather you've spent $10 million on this book. How much of that are you gonna see back? Two? Three? It's bad news for your shareholders. And it's worse news for your client, Mr. Kroll. Adam Lang, he wants a place in history, not in the remainder tables.
Roy Quigley
Oh, please!
The Ghost
It's because I know nothing about politics that I'll ask the questions that get right to the heart of who Adam Lang is. And that is what sells autobiographies. Heart.
Rick Ricardelli
Wow! That's nicely done.
Roy Quigley
What utter balls!
John Maddox
You think so?
Roy Quigley
John, of course. Adam Lang's a world historical figure. His autobiography is gonna be a world-publishing event.
John Maddox
Yeah, well, I got warehouses filled with world-publishing events waiting to be pulped.
Roy Quigley
Sid?
Sidney Kroll
Adam is obviously still very upset by what happened to Mike McAra. He was irreplaceable. Irreplaceable, and yet he has to be replaced. Adam can certainly appreciate the benefits of trying someone different. In the end, it's about chemistry. Do you work out, maybe?
The Ghost
Not really.
Sidney Kroll
That's a pity. Adam likes to work out.
Roy Quigley
Actually, I know a good writer on ] who uses a gym.
[[w:The Guardian|the Guardian]
Rick Ricardelli
Okay, maybe we could just run over the publishing schedule, yeah?
John Maddox
We need to wrap this up in a month.
The Ghost
A month?
John Maddox
Yes.
The Ghost
You want the book in a month?
Sidney Kroll
We already have a first draft.
John Maddox
Yeah, well, it needs a lot of work. That's why I like your résumé here. You're fast, and you deliver.
Rick Ricardelli
You name it, he ghosts it.
John Maddox
And you're a Brit. The ghost should be a Brit. To get the jolly old tone right, right?
[''Mimics English accent''; ''Rick chuckles'']
Sidney Kroll
Do you have any family commitments?
The Ghost
No, I have no family. Why?
Sidney Kroll
Adam is locked into a US lecture tour, also a fundraising program for the Adam Lang Foundation.
Rick Ricardelli
It's a month in the States. That's okay.
The Ghost
Couldn't I bring the manuscript back here to work on?
Sidney Kroll
I'm afraid not. It's in a secure environment in Marty Rhinehart's own house. Only a few people are allowed to handle it.
Roy Quigley
Sounds more like a bomb than a book. I will need to see it myself at some point. I am supposed to be editing it. Yeah, in theory.
John Maddox
Actually, we need to talk about that. How soon can you get over there?
The Ghost
As soon as you want.
Rick Ricardelli
He'll fly tonight.
The Ghost
Rick.
Rick Ricardelli
It's okay.
John Maddox
Okay, you're in.
[''After silence with Sidney giving an informal eye flash'']
The Ghost
Oh!
[''Gets up'']
John Maddox
Congratulations.
[''Shakes The Ghost's hand and pats him on shoulder'']
The Ghost
Thank you. Thanks.
John Maddox
Rick.
[''Off camera'']
The Ghost
Thank you.
[''To Sidney'']
Sidney Kroll
Actually, I have something here you might want to look at.
[''Holds up bag'']
The Ghost
Is that... Is that...
Sidney Kroll
No, no, no, this isn't Adam's book. No, it's another client of mine. Yeah, perhaps you can let me know what you think.
The Ghost
Sure.
Sidney Kroll
Okay, if you're gonna get that evening flight, we'd better talk contracts with Rick here. Wanna show our friend to the door? Would you?! Roy?!
[''To dazed Roy''; ''Raises voice''; ''Roy comes to'']
Rick Ricardelli
Call you in an hour, buddy.
John Maddox
Hey! Remember... Heart.
[''To The Ghost at door''; ''Pats chest saying in English accent'']
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Ego as a Barrier to Understanding
Paul Emmett
Oh yes, the wall of ego. We all have one, our equivalent of the dentist's fish tank.
[''About his wall of framed photos'']
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Navigating the Unseen Dangers Ahead
Paul Emmett
I doubt it very much. The gate will open automatically. Be sure to make a right at the bottom of the drive. If you turn left, the road will take you deeper into the woods and you may never be seen again.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Unexpected Love on a Rainy Sunday
Adam Lang
Turned me on, indeed. Let's see, I was 23, something like that, ]. And I remember it was a Sunday afternoon, it was raining. I was still in bed. And someone starts knocking at the door. And, you know, I'd been out the night before and had a few drinks and what have you. So, I get the pillow and I put it over my head, and it starts up again. Knock, knock, knock, knock! And I get up, I'm swearing, I go to the door and there's this girl. She's soaking wet, but she just launches into this speech about the local elections. And that's it. I'm in love.
[''Dictating to The Ghost''; [w:University of Cambridge|a couple of years out of Cambridge]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Doubts Surrounding the Project's Integrity
Roy Quigley
There's something not quite right about this project.
[''To The Ghost out in street trying to flag down taxi'']
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Threats from Peace Protesters
The Ghost
Some peace protesters are trying to kill me!
[''On phone to agent'']
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Heritage and Pride in Scottish Identity
The Ghost
Langs are Scottish folk originally and proud of it. Our name is a derivation of long', the Old English word for tall, and it is from North of the border that my forefathers hail." Fu...ck.
[''Reading the first words of Adam Lang's manuscript'']
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Advice on Rest During Travel
Rick Ricardelli
Get some sleep on the plane. You're sounding weird. "A tethered goat." I'll call you next week.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Political Craze and Voter Apathy
The Ghost
But you realize I know nothing about politics?
[''At a restaurant'']
Rick Ricardelli
You voted for him, didn't you?
The Ghost
Adam Lang? Of course I did.
Rick Ricardelli
Everyone voted for him. He wasn't a politician, he was a craze.
The Ghost
Well, there you go.
Rick Ricardelli
Look, it's a new ghostwriter he needs, not another goddamn politico. He was paid $10 million for these memoirs, but rumor has it the manuscript's a crock of shit. Rhinehart's lending him his house at the ocean so they can fix it, and the pressure must have gotten to McAra. Pathologist said his blood was, like, three parts booze.
The Ghost
You mean he drowned by accident?
Rick Ricardelli
Accident, suicide, who cares? It was the book that killed him.
The Ghost
Well, that's encouraging. Who is this McAra? Should I have heard of him?
[''Rick dryly chuckles'']
Rick Ricardelli
Yeah. He was some kind of aide to Lang when he was Prime Minister, so don't admit that you haven't. He was with him for years.
The Ghost
I don't know, Rick.
Rick Ricardelli
This is a great opportunity for you. Plus the money is good. Kids won't starve.
The Ghost
I don't have any kids.
Rick Ricardelli
I do.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Concerns Over Political Entanglements and Communication
Ruth Lang
He was having dinner with the Vice President. That bloody Bly woman wouldn't even give him the phone. Oh, God. Oh, dear God. What's he got himself mixed up in?
[''Starts to sob'']
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Hopeful Concern About Inhalation
Paul Emmett
Let's hope he didn't inhale.
[''Reacting to an old picture of Lang, taken in his college days with a marijuana joint'']
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Importance of Heart in Life
John Maddox
Hey! Remember... Heart.
[''To The Ghost''; ''Pats chest saying in English accent'']
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Questioning Political Decisions and Interests
Robert Rycart
Okay, a quiz for you. Name one decision Lang made in 10 years as Prime Minister which wasn't in the interests of the USA. Well, come on, it's not a trick question. ], ], ], ], ]. ]. McAra was right. This explains everything.
[''To The Ghost''; [w:2003 invasion of Iraq|Iraq; [w:Middle Eastern studies|Middle East policy; [w:Strategic Defense Initiative|Star Wars defense; [w:Nuclear weapons of the United States|buying American nuclear missiles; [w:Allegations of CIA assistance to Osama bin Laden|support of terrorist rendition; [w:Corporatocracy#Corporate_influence_on_politics_in_the_United_States|The sacking of any minister Washington didn't like, including yours truly]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Feeling of Uncertainty and Displacement
Ruth Lang
I feel like ] ].
[[w:Marie Louise, Duchess of Parma|the wife of Napoleon; [w:Saint Helena|on St. Helena]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Versatility of a Ghostwriter
Rick Ricardelli
You name it, he ghosts it.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Importance of Authenticity in Writing
John Maddox
And you're a Brit. The ghost should be a Brit. To get the jolly old tone right, right?
[''Mimics English accent'']
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Reflections on Morning After Modesty
Ruth Lang
The modesty of the morning after?
[''To The Ghost getting out of bed'']
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.