The Spanish Prisoner (1998) - Quotes

The Timelessness of Deception

Taglines: It's the oldest con in the book.

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Questioning Trust in Others

Taglines: Can you really trust anyone?

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A Request for Assistance and Its Denial

Susan Ricci: [being arrested] Can you help me? You're the Boy Scout. Can I be your good deed for today? Can't you help me, Joe?

Joe Ross: I'm afraid you're gonna have to spend some time in your room.

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Enjoyment in Conflict

Joe Ross: You don't have to do this.

Jimmy Dell: I enjoy doing it, actually. But I appreciate your concern.

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A Humorous Take on American Aspirations

Jimmy Dell: Do the American thing.

Joe Ross: What's that?

Jimmy Dell: Marry a rich widow.

Joe Ross: We used to say, a nymphomaniac who owns a liquor store.

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The Consequences of Moral Indebtedness

Jimmy Dell: I think you'll find that if what you've done for them is as valuable as you say it is, if they are indebted to you morally but not legally, my experience is they will give you nothing, and they will begin to act cruelly toward you.

Joe Ross: Why?

Jimmy Dell: To suppress their guilt.

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The Process and Market Control Discussion

George Lang: The Process. And by means of the Process, to control the global market.

Businessman 1: And this Process is complete?

George Lang: It's near completion.

Businessman 1: Near completion.

George Lang: Very near. This team which Mr. Ross — the Team. The Team. And I think, if I may, uh, Mr. Klein, it would not be amiss to state that both the work and the inspiration for the process was —

Mr. Klein: Thank you, George. I know you'll understand when I say that's neither here nor there. These gentlemen have come down to hear the good news.

Joe Ross: The good news is control of the market.

Joe Ross: Obviously, we don't want to get too specific, for security reasons. So, my task today is to tell you those things which I can in laymen's language. I think I can break it down sufficiently to give you a pretty firm idea of —

Mr. Klein: The Process, yes.

Businessman 2: How long can we hold on to it before the competition steals it?

Mr. Klein: Well, we defend it. Of course. Tooth and nail. This is a proprietary process.

Joe Ross: [He hesitates and looks at George.] Without the data, without our actual data, without the formula, the Japanese, or anyone else, for that matter, would have nothing. Should you give us the go-ahead, their actual —

George Lang: The legal issues are these. We have both the de facto and the de jure copyright of that process. It was developed by —

Joe Ross: Even if they should engage in piracy, their search and development time —

George Lang: — their catch-up time —

Joe Ross: — would put them back — George?

George Lang: Three?

Joe Ross: Three to five years.

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The Oldest Con in the World

Mr. Klein: If we all do our jobs, we will each be rewarded according to our just desserts.

FBI Team Leader: [[w:Spanish Prisoner|oldest confidence game] It's an interesting setup, Mr. Ross. It is the ] on the books. The Spanish Prisoner. Fellow says him and his sister, wealthy refugees, left a fortune in the home country. He got out, girl and the money stuck in Spain. Here is her most beautiful portrait. And he needs money to get her and the fortune out. Man who supplies the money gets the fortune and the girl. Oldest con in the world.

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Identity and Perception in Relationships

Susan Ricci: You never know who anybody is, except me. I am who I am.

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Perception Versus Reality in Human Nature

Susan Ricci: Who in this world is what they seem to be? Who?

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Caution Against Ventures Demanding New Attire

George Lang: Beware of all enterprises which require new clothes.

Business Trips and Their Indifference

George Lang: Nobody going on a business trip would have been missed if he never arrived.

The Thief and the Mind's Deception

George Lang: I put a thief in my mouth to steal my brain.

The Human Dream of Wealth

George Lang: We must never forget that we are human, and as humans we dream, and when we dream we dream of money.

The Burden of Unnecessary Worry

George Lang: Worry is like interest paid in advance on a debt that never comes due.

Perceptions of Good and Bad People

Jimmy Dell: Good people, bad people, they generally look like what they are.

Cautious Approach to Business Relationships

Jimmy Dell: Always do business as if the person you're doing business with is trying to screw you, because he probably is. And if he's not, you can be pleasantly surprised.

Jimmy Dell's View on Problem Solving

Jimmy Dell: I'm a problem solver, with a heart of gold.

The Illusion of Wealth and Equality

Jimmy Dell: You now have a Swiss bank account if anybody asks. Crédit Nationale Du Génève code name PADDY'. Lavish awkward gesture. All of fifteen Swiss Francs in it, but if you ever want to impress anybody, they can find out you have a Swiss account. But, Swiss law prohibits the bank from revealing the balance. Thus are all men made equal.