22 quotes
A Choice Between Trust and Danger
Joubert
Can I drop you?
Turner
I'd like to go back to New York.
Joubert
You have not much future there. It will happen this way. You may be walking. Maybe the first sunny day of the spring. And a car will slow beside you, and a door will open, and someone you know, maybe even trust, will get out of the car. And he will smile, a becoming smile. But he will leave open the door of the car and offer to give you a lift.
Turner
You seem to understand it all so well. What would you suggest?
Joubert
Personally, I prefer Europe.
Turner
Europe?
Joubert
Yes. Well, the fact is, what I do is not a bad occupation. Someone is always willing to pay.
Turner
I would find it… tiring.
Joubert
Oh, no — it's quite restful. It's… almost peaceful. No need to believe in either side, or any side. There is no cause. There's only yourself. The belief is in your own precision.
Turner
I was born in the United States, Joubert. I miss it when I'm away too long.
Joubert
A pity.
Turner
I don't think so. Is it any trouble to drop me at the Union Station?
Joubert
Oh, no. It would be my pleasure. For that day.
[pauses, then holds out a gun to Turner]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Late Night Conversation About Safety
Higgins
Turner. Why'd you call so late? We were worried about you.
Turner
Likewise. The car for me?
Higgins
It's all right. It's safe. You'll have a few hours of debriefing.
Turner
Hey, Higgins? Let's say, for the purposes of argument, I had a .45 in one of my pockets, and I wanted you to take a walk with me, you'd do it, right?
Higgins
Which way?
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Concerns About Safety and Departure
Turner
Listen, I'll be going in the morning.
Kathy
Where? Was it all right?
Turner
All right?
Kathy
Outside-- Was it safe? Wherever you went.
Turner
Oh. I'm not sure.
Kathy
Oh, God. I wish I knew more. About you, yesterday, today…
Turner
I don't remember yesterday. Today it rained.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The CIA's Dangerous Knowledge of Condor
Taglines
The CIA knows him as Condor. What he knows about them has just made him a very endangered species.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Confrontation Over Unknown Consequences
Kathy
What did you do to those people?
Turner
What people? I don't know who they are. I file a report. A guy in Washington reads it. He's supposed to-- He's my section chief. He comes to New York to shoot me.
Kathy
Did you know him?
Turner
No.
Kathy
Did you know the mailman?
Turner
No, but the guy in Washington did.
Kathy
You won't know the next one.
Turner
I'm not waiting for the next one.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Questioning Qualifications and Capabilities
Wabash
The question was, Mr. Higgins, is he qualified with a handgun?
[after the botched attempt to come in from the field]
Higgins
No handgun, sir. M-1 rifle and carbine. Evidently, it was sheer luck. Or else--
Atwood
Or else what, Mr. Higgins?
Higgins
This Condor isn't the man his file says he is.
Atwood
Where did he learn evasive moves?
Higgins
He reads.
Atwood
What the hell does that mean?
Higgins
It means, sir, that he reads everything.
Atwood
But I don't understand.
Wabash
Yes. Very good. Has operations got anything?
Atwood
Absolutely nothing, sir.
Wabash
Extraordinary.
Atwood
It was very well executed.
Wabash
Which requires planning, communications, tracks. I'm not asking for footprints, but a blade of grass, a broken twig-- Something disturbed.
Atwood
Yes, sir. Wicks seems to be all we've got.
Wabash
Where do we have him?
Higgins
We don't. They rushed him to Guvenor Emergency before we got word.
Atwood
Maybe we should leak the name of the hospital, make Condor make his move.
Wabash
Of course, Len, don't expect too many mistakes from this man. He does seem rather more interesting than just another of our reader/researchers. For example, has he gone into business for himself? Was he turned around? Does someone operate him? Homosexual? Broke? Vulnerable? Could he be a soldier of fortune? Did he arrange the hit? Is that why he's still in flight? Still, he... may be an innocent. But then, why didn't he come in gently with Mr. Wicks?
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Nature of Obligations and Consequences
Atwood
That includes Condor, of course.
Joubert
Yes. I owe you Condor.
Atwood
Otherwise...
Joubert
Otherwise does not exist.
Atwood
Will Condor take long?
Joubert
Do you want an estimate?
Atwood
There is a time factor.
Joubert
Always with you people. Condor is an amateur. He's lost, unpredictable, perhaps even sentimental. He could fool a professional. Not deliberately, but precisely because he is lost, doesn't know what to do. Unlike Wicks, who has always been entirely predictable. The man Condor killed in the alley...
[pause; pause]
Atwood
Some friend of his.
Joubert
Close friend?
Atwood
I suppose. Why?
Joubert
It interests me. What was his name?
Atwood
I don't know. He was nobody.
Joubert
Right.
[in French, as they pass other people]
Atwood
What about Wicks?
[in French]
Joubert
You want the firm to question him? They will, you know.
Atwood
We don't want that.
Joubert
Cost you nothing. I was careless with Condor. Wicks will be done for nothing.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Plan Requires Trust and Support
Turner
I've got a plan. I don't know if it'll work or not, but I'll need your help.
Kathy
Have I ever denied you anything?
Turner
Hey.
Kathy
Well, when things quiet down...you're really a very sweet man to be with. You had bad dreams. Talked in your sleep.
Turner
What did I say?
Kathy
Who's Janice? Well, was she a volunteer or a draftee like me?
[no answer]
Turner
She was...a friend. She's dead.
Kathy
Do I have permission to take a shower?
Turner
You don't have to help, you know.
Kathy
No, I'll help. You can always depend on the old spyfucker.
Turner
O.K.
[hurt]
Kathy
I'm sorry.
Turner
No.
Kathy
No, I didn't mean--I didn't mean to say that. I'm really sorry. I'd like to help you.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Trust and Suspicion in Relationships
Kathy
Do you trust him?
[about Higgins]
Turner
Trust.
[shakes his head]
Kathy
Does he trust you?
Turner
He's in the suspicion business. He can't trust anybody.
Kathy
But they all are. How could anybody sneak in and fool them?
Turner
Maybe nobody did.
Kathy
Then--
Turner
Maybe there's another CIA...inside the CIA.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Identity and Intrigue Unfold in Conversation
Atwood
What is this? What’s going on?
[after discovering Turner in his home]
Turner
Who are you? Who are you?
[points a gun at him]
Atwood
What are you doing here?
Turner
I’m Condor. Sit down. What do you do for a living?
Atwood
Don't be ridiculous.
Turner
What do you do...exactly?
Atwood
Deputy Director of Operations.
Turner
What section?
Atwood
Middle East.
Turner
What are you working on? What are you doing? What's the secret worth murdering everybody at the A.L.H.S. house?
Atwood
There's no secret.
Turner
Wicks showed you my report.
Atwood
What report? Yes.
[Turner slams his chair]
Turner
It was your network I turned up. Doing what? Doing what? What does Operations care about a bunch of goddamn books? A book in Dutch. A book out of Venezuela. Mystery stories in Arabic.
Atwood
Wait!
Turner
What the hell is so important about... Oil fields. Oil. That's it, isn't it? This whole damn thing was about oil! Wasn't it? Wasn't it?
[He stops as he sees the connection]
Atwood
Yes, it was.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Confronting Fear in a Dangerous Reality
Kathy
I'm scared!
Turner
So am I!
Kathy
Why? You've got the gun!
Turner
Yes! Yeah, and it's not enough. Listen. I work for the CIA. I'm not a spy. I just read books. We read everything that's published in the world, and we-- we feed the plots-- dirty tricks, codes into a computer, and the computer checks against actual CIA plans and operations. I look for leaks, new ideas. We read adventures and novels and journals. I-- I can-Who'd invent a job like that? I-- Listen! People are trying to kill me!
Kathy
Who?
Turner
I don't know, but there's a reason. There is a reason! And I just need some safe, quiet time to pull things together.
Kathy
Here.
Turner
Here.
Kathy
That's only fair.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Confrontation Over Boundaries and Authority
Kathy
You're not entitled to personal questions! That gun gives you the right to rough me up; it doesn't give you the right to ask me...
Turner
Wh- wh- Rough you up? Have I roughed you up?
Kathy
Yes! What are you doing in my house?
Turner
Have I? Have I?
Kathy
Going through all my stuff? Force...
Turner
Have I raped you?
Kathy
The night is young.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Betrayal and Predictability in Suspenseful Dialogue
Joubert
This move was predictable.
Turner
What? What?
Joubert
Did you touch anything besides the chair?
Turner
You’re working for the Company again.
Joubert
The desk? The lamp?
Turner
Jesus, they took you back.
Joubert
Just for this. For Atwood.
Turner
How…he’s with the Company. Why?
Joubert
I don't interest myself in "why". I think more often in terms of "when", sometimes "where"; always "how much." I suspect he was about to become an embarrassment. As you are.
Turner
So you're not finished.
Joubert
Pardon? Oh, no. I have no arrangement with the Company concerning you. They didn't know you'd be here. I knew you'd be here.
Turner
But didn’t you send the mailman?
Joubert
That was a business arrangement with Mr. Atwood, but… you see?
[indicating Atwood’s body]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Betrayal and Suspicion in the Workplace
Turner
Somebody or something is rotten in the company.
Higgins
You never complained till yesterday.
Turner
You didn't start killing my friends till yesterday.
Higgins
Who's she?
[about Kathy]
Turner
Who hit the Lit Society?
Higgins
We had a big meeting about that. Your name came up.
Turner
Five Continents Imports. Ring a bell?
Higgins
Where'd you get that?
Turner
The mailman.
Higgins
Mailman?
Turner
The one you sent. With the uniform, pouch, automatic gun.
Higgins
We never use mailmen.
Turner
Are you also familiar with a tall gentleman, 6 4", blonde hair, strong like a farmer, not American, has an accent. Country. Towards Germany, maybe Alsace-Lorraine.
Higgins
I want to see that report, Turner.
Turner
No, no.. Higgins. C'mon! ..Do you know him?
Higgins
Professionally, yes.
Turner
Professionally, he kills people.
Higgins
Yes. Yes.
Turner
He works for the company?
Higgins
He did once. He's a contract agent.
Turner
Contract agent.
Higgins
Freelance. Where did you see him?
Turner
Uh-uh.
Higgins
It would help if I knew.
Turner
Who would it help? Who'd hire him now?
Higgins
Anybody.
Turner
Terrific answer.
Higgins
I wouldn't accept it, either.
Turner
What's his name?
Higgins
When I knew him, Joubert.
Turner
Come on, Higgins. Who'd hire him? You don't look up Joubert in the yellow pages.
Higgins
That's right. It'd have to be somebody in the community.
Turner
Community?
Higgins
Intelligence field.
Turner
Community! Jesus, you guys are kind to yourselves. Community.
Higgins
I want to see that report, Turner.
Turner
That report was sent to headquarters and disappeared.
Higgins
Who read it?
Turner
You mean besides Wicks? You tell me. I pick up traces of what I think's an intelligence network the company doesn't know about, and I report it. Now, why is that going to make anybody mad, Higgins? Unless it was the company's network and you didn't want it blown, not even to your own guys. Unless somebody is lying. Come on. Why is everybody so shy?
Higgins
I'm not shy. I don't know. That's what worries me. I don't know.
Turner
Ask Wicks.
Higgins
Wicks died. Someone yanked him off the life support system at Guvenor Hospital.
Turner
Get me in, Higgins.
Higgins
What good would that do if you're right, and they are inside? What good would it do to bring you in?
Turner
What am I supposed to do?
Higgins
I'm sorry.
Turner
You're sorry? You're sorry. Oh, I get it. I get it. You expect me to draw fire, like one of those penny arcade bears that parades back and forth waiting for somebody, somebody very good just to take another shot, and you're just gonna hang around and pick him up before he does it? Or just after?
Higgins
I'll try and find out what's going on; I'm gonna cross-check all those names...
Turner
Nice talking to you, Higgins.
Higgins
Now wait a minute.
Turner
Have a nice day.
Higgins
Where will I find you?
Turner
I'll find you.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Appreciating In-Between Seasons in Photography
Turner
You're funny. You take pictures of empty streets and trees with no leaves on them.
Kathy
It's winter.
Turner
Not quite winter. They look like November. Not autumn, not winter. In-between. I like them.
Kathy
Thanks.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Exploring Identity Through Personal Photography
Kathy
Sometimes, I— I take a picture that… isn't like me, but I took it, so it is like me. It has to be. I put those pictures away.
Turner
I'd like to see those pictures.
Kathy
We don't know each other that that well.
Turner
Do you know anybody that well?
Kathy
I don't think I want to know you very well. I don't think you're gonna live much longer.
Turner
Well, I may… surprise you. Anyway, you're not telling the truth.
Kathy
What do you mean?
Turner
You'd rather be with somebody who's not going to live much longer, at least somebody who would be on his way.
Kathy
I'm not--
Turner
You take pictures. Beautiful pictures, but of empty streets and trees with no leaves--November. Why haven't you asked me to untie your hands?
Kathy
H-How much do you want...
Turner
I just...want to stop it. For a few hours. For the rest of the night. And then I'll go.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Observations on Trust and Perception
Kathy
You… you have a lot of very fine qualities. But…
Turner
What fine qualities?
Kathy
You have good eyes. Not kind, but… they don't lie, and they don't look away much, and they don't miss anything. I could use eyes like that.
Turner
But you're overdue in Vermont. Is he a tough guy?
[pauses]
Kathy
He's pretty tough.
Turner
What will he do?
Kathy
Understand, probably.
Turner
Boy. That is tough.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Questioning Satisfaction in a Complex Environment
Dr. Lappe
We have people to service these machines.
Turner
These things are really pretty simple — they just look complicated.
Dr. Lappe
Mr. Turner, I wonder if you're… entirely happy here.
Turner
Within obvious limits, yes sir.
Dr. Lappe
Obvious limits?
Turner
It bothers me that I can't tell people what I do.
Dr. Lappe
Why is it taking you so long to accept that?
Turner
Well, I actually trust a few people. That's a problem.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Questioning Plans for Middle East Invasion
Turner
Do we have plans to invade the Middle East?
Higgins
Are you crazy?
Turner
Am I?
Higgins
Look, Turner…
Turner
Do we have plans?
Higgins
No. Absolutely not. We have games. That's all. We play games. That’s all. We play games. What if? How many men? What would it take? Is there a cheaper way to destabilize a regime? That's what we're paid to do.
Turner
Walk on. Go on. So Atwood just took the games too seriously. He was really going to do it, wasn't he?
Higgins
A renegade operation. Atwood knew 54/12 would never authorize it. There was no way, not with the heat on the company.
Turner
What if there hadn't been any heat? Suppose I hadn't stumbled on their plan? Suppose nobody had?
Higgins
Different ballgame. Fact is, there was nothing wrong with the plan. Oh, the plan was all right, the plan would've worked.
Turner
Boy, what is it with you people? You think not getting caught in a lie is the same thing as telling the truth?
Higgins
No. It's simple economics. Today it's oil, right? In ten or fifteen years, food. Plutonium. And maybe even sooner. Now, what do you think the people are gonna want us to do then?
Turner
Ask them.
Higgins
Not now — then! Ask em when they're running out. Ask em when there's no heat in their homes and they're cold. Ask em when their engines stop. Ask em when people who have never known hunger start going hungry. You wanna know something? They won't want us to ask em. They'll just want us to get it for em!
Turner
Boy, have you found a home. There were seven people killed, Higgins.
Higgins
The company didn't order it.
Turner
Atwood did. Atwood did. And who the hell is Atwood? He's you. He's all you guys. Seven people killed, and you play fucking games!
Higgins
Right. And the other side does too. That's why we can't let you stay outside.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Betrayal and Survival in Seventy-Two Hours
Taglines
His code name is Condor. In the next seventy-two hours, everyone he trusts will target him for death.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Longing for Clarity in Conflict
Higgins
You served with Col. Donovan in the OSS, didn't you, sir?
Wabash
I sailed the Adriatic with a movie star at the helm. It doesn't seem like much of a war now, but it was. I go even further back than that. Ten years after ], as we used to call it. Before we knew enough to number them.
[[World War I|The Great War]
Higgins
You miss that kind of action, sir?
Wabash
No, I miss that kind of clarity.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Confrontation About Hidden Knowledge and Betrayal
Turner
Well, go on home, Higgins. Go on. They've got it.
Higgins
What?
Turner
You know where we are. Just look around. They've got it. That's where they ship from. They've got all of it.
Higgins
What? What did you do?
Turner
I told them a story. You play games; I told em a story.
Higgins
Oh, you… you poor, dumb son of a bitch. You've done more damage than you know.
Turner
I hope so.
Higgins
You're about to be a very lonely man. It didn't have to end this way.
Turner
Of course it did.
[walks away]
Higgins
Hey Turner! How do you know they'll print it? You can take a walk… but how far if they don't print it?
Turner
They'll print it.
Higgins
How do you know?
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.