23 quotes
Concerns About a Risky Plan
Gillooly
I'm getting a real bad feeling about these guys over there, maybe we should just pull out…Who are these guys?
Smith
We are professionals…
Eckardt
Here's the new plan: you're going to go to Detroit on a bus…Yeah, a bus, live with it.
Gillooly
They're out of money and they're on a bus, oh that's great, Shawn.
Smith
You tell Gillooly that if he doesn't come up with the rest of my money, I'm going to break his legs.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Dark Fairy Tale of Ambition and Betrayal
Screenplay Writer
How do I write this? Sometimes I think that this could be a fairy tale. Not the "happily ever after" type that we tell each other to make ourselves feel better, but one of those strange dark tales where monsters eat little children. And it would begin the usual way: Once upon a time there were two little girls...and, oh, they loved to skate. But there came a day when joy and love were not enough.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Mediation Challenges Amidst Conflicting Interests
Shawn Eckardt
I've got two operatives feuding, which means I'm caught in the middle, so now everything's riding on my mediation skills. It's reminiscent of something I was up against in Eastern Europe a couple years back; which was actually a more precarious situation cause you're dealing with foreign governments and who wants the responsibility of a Cold War? Not me.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Inequity of Achievement and Opportunity
1960s Activist witness
Anymore, it's like achievement is downright undemocratic because, hey, all men are created equally likely to be in the right place at the right time.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Fairy Tales Can End Unhappily
Screenplay Writer
Tonya the Bad"...one Tokyo promoter tried to get her to wrestle on the Japanese circuit for millions of dollars, as "Tonya the Terrible". See, some fairy tales don't have a happy ending.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Network Executive Discusses May Sweeps Strategy
NBC Network Executive
Yeah, fine – but for May sweeps.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Humor in Danger: A Complex Reflection
FBI Agent witness
In a way it was funny, but it was also pathetic and it was dangerous.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Media's Role in Victimization of Individuals
Screenplay Writer
They're victims of those the media serve, they're victims of us.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Commercialization of Tonya and Nancy's Story
Screenplay Writer
Tonya and Nancy...we imprisoned them both in images that we use to sell soup, and newspapers, and Olympic Games, and TV movies.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Controversy Drives Ratings and Advertising Revenue
Newspaper Editor witness
The bigger the controversy, the bigger the ratings – and yes, our circulation too. The bigger the ratings, the more the ] could ask for next time around, and the more the ] could charge their advertisers.
[[w:International Olympic Committee|Olympic Committee; [w:Television network|networks]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Control Agent Dynamics in Tense Conversations
Smith
I am Shane's control agent. No one talks to him but me, and you know that, Shawn.
Eckardt
Control agent? What, is he paranoid? Why can't I talk to him?
Gillooly
I want to talk to Derrick.
Eckardt
Jeff, you're putting me in the middle, here.
Gillooly
Shawn, I want receipts, I want proof…
Eckardt
This is a minor problem, I've handled situations like this before.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
America's Obsession with Olympic Aspirations
Screenplay Writer
What I kept wondering was why was America so obsessed? And if all the rumours and all the speculation was true, how could it come to pass that one young woman could be so desperate for an Olympic medal that she would try to maim the competition?
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Corruption of Sports Ethics for Profit
Newspaper Editor witness
Whenever the financial stakes are so enormous – and in sports these days, they usually are – ethics, fair play, sportsmanship; forget it. The only Olympic ideal is money. Aw hell, we're all whores.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Witness Reflects on Self-Parody
NBC Network Executive witness
At the risk of self-parody, stop me if I sound like ], the facts are these:
[[w:Network (1976 film)|''Network'' (1976)]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Judges' Perspectives on Athletes' Performance
Skating Judge witness
We the judges meet the athletes at receptions, of course we observe the practice sessions. In reality, it's almost like a teacher who forms an opinion about a student outside of class, and grades them accordingly.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The High Stakes of Competition Today
Former Skater witness
In my day, you competed for God and country. But now their entire lives are at stake, their financial futures, the future of their families, they've sacrificed so much. Winning means everything – only one person can win.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Harding Discusses Relationship with Nancy Kerrigan
Ted Raynor, the FBI Agent
Miss Harding, do you know Nancy Kerrigan?
Harding
Sure, for about five or six years. We've toured together, we've been on the World Team and the Olympic Team. We're competitors and friends.
Raynor
Do you have contact with her, other than the competitions and the tours?
Harding
Well, sometimes I call her if I have to get an autograph. Like there was this picture of me and Nancy and Kristi that my Fan Club wanted me to get an autograph for. But I don't have her home phone, so when I needed to contact her, I had to call the rink where she trains.
Raynor
Do you know the name of the rink?
Harding
I didn't, I got it from the Figure Skating Association, just before Christmas. I called and left her a message asking her to call me back, but I never heard from her.
Raynor
Did Jeff ever call the rink?
Harding
No, he wouldn't do that. It's my business...
Raynor
Miss Harding, between Christmas and New Years, did you have any contact with Shawn Eckardt?
Harding
No.
Raynor
Do you remember any trips to his home during this time?
Harding
No.
Other FBI Agent
Do you remember taking Jeff to Shawn's and leaving him there?
Harding
No, that never occurred because I always go with Jeff.
Raynor
That second day that you were back in Portland from Detroit, that would make it Tuesday the 11th. Did you go to Shawn Eckardt's house at that time?
Harding
No, he was at school that night.
Raynor
So you didn't go to his house?
Harding
No, I told you.
Other FBI Agent
Or maybe drive by?
Harding
No, positively not.
Raynor
Miss Harding, I'm going to ask you one more time. Between approximately 9:30 and 10pm on the night of Tuesday January 11th, were you anywhere in the vicinity of Shawn Eckardt's house?
Harding
No, I was home.
Raynor
Miss Harding, do you understand the meaning of conspiracy?
Harding
No.
Raynor
Do you want to explain that to your client?...What about hindering prosecution?...Miss Harding, if you lie to law enforcement authorities about some knowledge you have of some crime that's been committed, that's hindering prosecution. Do you understand that?
[to Harding's attorney]
Harding
Yes.
Raynor
You've lied to me, Miss Harding. And now I'm going to tell you just how you've lied to me...
Harding
I just want to say that I'm sorry...I'm telling on someone I really care about.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Weight of Public Expectation
Screenplay Writer
Imagine how it would feel to know that 100 million people want you to fall. Imagine how it would feel knowing that, if you fall, you would fail 100 million people.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Reality of Winning and Fair Play
Retired Running Back witness
Fair play is for the leisure class. The only ones who get paid are the winners. Kids ask me, I tell them the truth, I tell them: "Take the money and run." Before you get hurt, or get old.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Questioning the Consequences of Crime
1960s Activist witness
Who says crime doesn't pay?
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Fleeting Nature of Athletic Fame
Sports Agent witness
Now the public's very fickle and athletes, even when they've won the gold medal, have a very short shelf-life. A great skating performance is a thing of the moment and when a window of opportunity opens, you've got to be ready.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
FBI Agent Observes Unconventional Methods of Payment
FBI Agent witness
Sure they used cash, but then they'd call their home phones, and they'd register in hotels under their own names.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Character and Plot in Storytelling
Screenplay Writer
Character, some say, is ]. And plot is what we do, not what's happened to us or how we've suffered, but what we do.
[[w:Plot (narrative)|plot]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.