Most-quoted role: Mayor Larry Vaughn in Jaws (1975), 8 quotes
Movies Mayor Larry Vaughn I'm pleased and happy to repeat the news that we have in fact caught and killed a large predator that supposedly injured some bathers. But as you can see, it's a beautiful day, the beaches are opened, and people are having a wonderful time. Amity, as you know, means friendship.
Mayor Larry Vaughn I don't think you appreciate the gut reaction people have to these things...Martin, It's all psychological. You yell 'Barracuda,' everybody says 'Huh? What?' You yell 'Shark,' we've got a panic on our hands on the Fourth of July.
Mayor Larry Vaughn Look fellas, let's be reasonable, huh? This is not the time or the place to perform some kind of a half-assed autopsy on a fish. And I am not going to stand here and see that thing cut open and see that little Kintner boy spill out all over the dock.
Mr. Robinson Do you ummm... do you want to tell my why you did it
Mr. Robinson!
Mr. Robinson Do you have a special grudge against me? Do you feel a particularly strong resentment? Is there something I've said that's caused this contempt, or is it just things I stand for that you despise?
Mr. Robinson Who's that guy? What's he doing? I'll take care of him.
Mrs. Robinson He's too late.
Mr. Robinson All right, now listen to this. I don't know whether I can prosecute, but I think I can. I think I can get you behind bars if you ever look at my daughter again. Now, I've seen Elaine, and I've made damn sure you can't get to her. Stay away from me, Ben! I don't want to mince words with you. As far as Elaine is concerned, you're to get her out of your filthy mind right now! Is that perfectly clear to you? And that's all, Ben. You'll pardon me if I don't shake hands with you. I think you are filth. I think you are scum. You are a degenerate!
Mayor Vaughn Brody is riding his tower.
Len Peterson Oh, shit!
What are you talking about? Look at this. That's a shark. Look at the outline. Look at the mouth, the eyes.
Len Peterson Is that what it is? Sorry, I just don't see it.
Mrs. Taft Neither do I. It's nothing.
Mayor Vaughn Martin, it could be anything.
Wait a minute. Are you people telling me I don't know what a shark looks like?
Len Peterson Brody, this is nothing. Seaweed, mud, something in the lens.
Lens, my ass!
Len Peterson You're damn right it's your ass!
Mayor Vaughn Now be reasonable, please.
Reasonable, what, with him?
Len Peterson Goddamn it, will you listen to the man? Will you just listen to him? "Be reasonable." Look, Brody, you started a panic on a public beach. You shot up the damn place. God knows who you could've injured. What if somebody decides to sue us? Did you ever stop to think about that? It could ruin us.
You don't have to worry about being sued or being ruined. If this turns out to be what I think it is, because there won't be anybody here.
Mayor Vaughn Now, Martin, let's not--
Let's not what, Larry? What?
Len Peterson Oh, Jesus, Larry, come on. Let's just forget it. He won't listen. It's obvious the man has made up his mind.
You bet your life I've made up my mind. But I'm telling you and I'm telling everybody at this table that that's a shark. And I know what a shark looks like, because I've seen one up close. And you better do something about this one, because I don't intend to go through that hell again!
Mayor Vaughn Martin, could you wait here for a minute?
Mayor Vaughn Please, just have a seat... While we look at the picture and make up our own minds.
Mayor Vaughn Thank you. Gentlemen, please. [Harry Wiseman, Mr. Posner, and Mrs. Taft pick up their notes and adjourn to the mayor's office. Len Peterson scowls at Brody again for a few seconds before getting up and going into the mayor's office as well; Mayor Vaughn follows him inside and closes the door.]
Mayor Vaughn I'm showing summer rentals. I think we have a hell of a good season going for us.
That's swell, Larry, but I have to talk to you alone.
Mayor Vaughn We're alone.
Mayor Vaughn Are you serious?
You bet I'm serious. I've got a half-eaten whale on the beach. I've got two persons missing. This whale has got a bite out of it about this big.
Mayor Vaughn Martin, no one has seen a shark. Be realistic.
I think the selectmen should know about it. I know it's just a feeling, but you've got to understand. [they enter the office] Larry, for Christ sakes, I not only have this attack, but I've got, I've got two water-skiers--
Mayor Vaughn A tragedy, but a boating accident. No fin, no shark. Nothing but a boating accident.
But they're both still missing.
Mayor Vaughn We have a lot of deaths in these waters that never turn up. Are they all shark victims?
Maybe they are.
Mayor Vaughn Oh, bullshit.
Bullshit? Is it bullshit, I got a whale on the beach with a bite in it this big?
Mayor Vaughn What am I, an ass? When you called me, I called Elkins and her bosses. Nothing she saw is proof of anything.
So that means we're not gonna do anything, huh?
Mayor Vaughn Martin, don't press it this time. Well, I've... got to get back to work.
Okay. Okay, Larry, but you just remember this conversation. You just remember it! [leaves the office]
