CW4 Brenner quotes from The General's Daughter (1999)

There you go. Genuine and made in the U.S.A. All you gotta do is give me and Dalbert $100,000 each and you'll see them guns come Sunday.

You'll get your money. Same time I get the guns.

Now, you listen to me, funny boy. How do I know you ain't one o'them- them Army cops?

Hey, I'm a freedom fighter.

Well! Check it out, Dalbert! We got ourselves Che-****-Guevera there. Woop-dee-doo, a freedom fighter! Well, where's your kooky red hat, boy? Ain't been a freedom fighter worth a damn ain't got him a kooky red hat.

You listen to me, stupid.

Dalbert, I think it's one o' them Freudian-

Hey, Dalbert, Dalbert!

What?

Wanna hear a joke?

No!

How many freedom fighters does it take to screw in a lightbulb?

I don't know!

Hey, come on, man. Relax, huh?

Well, you don't sound like no criminal investigator to me.

No!

No?

No!

Well, you're all right, pal! I'm sorry about that, but we get a little jumpy around here before an exchange. So we'll see you Sunday, then!

I'll be there.

Yeah, you be there! [After the man leaves, he turns to Dalbert] Aw, unclench your ass-cheeks, Dalbert! The scary part is over!

First, I want you to know that you have my full cooperation, and the cooperation of everyone on this base.

Thank you, sir.

You understand the time element?

The time element? No, sir.

COL Fowler

After thirty-six hours the FBI will send in a task force to investigate. But we'd prefer to keep this an Army matter. The General can keep a lid on it through tomorrow.

Once the FBI moves in, the media will be all over this base. And my daughter's... Captain Campbell's death... they'll turn it into a goddamn circus.

We'll do everything we can, sir.

I'm sure you will. Look, let me be blunt. You're going to have to decide on this one, Paul- are you a soldier, or a policeman?

I'm a soldier, sir.

I'm counting on it.

Sir, I met your daughter.

Really? When was that?

Well, it was just a coincidence, but she helped me change a tire.

That she could do. She could do almost anything. Her mother was the same way. Fix a tire. Bake a hell of a key lime pie. Speak five languages. Extraordinary woman. Two extraordinary women... goddamn waste.

Again, our deepest sympathies, sir. And if there's anything else we can do for you at this time...

Just... just find the son of a bitch.

COL Fowler

Mr. Brenner; I understand that you have special arrest powers.

Yes, sir.

COL Fowler

But I'm going to ask that before you arrest anyone, you notify me.

Why is that, sir?

COL Fowler

We don't like our personnel being arrested by outside people, without our knowing about it. There are three ways of doing things: the right way, the wrong way, and the Army way. See that in doing it your way, Mr. Brenner, you don't forget about the Army way.

Did you work together on a daily basis?

Absolutely.

Did you, uh, play together?

What a truly excellent question. You see, here at Psy Ops, that's one of the things that we teach. Threatening quietly. Think of the echoes inherent in those four simple words: "Did you play together?" Did you go out with her? Did you **** her? Did you love her? If you did, did you love her so much that you murdered her?

I meant did you play golf, or tennis, or checkers, or something.

No, you didn't.

No, I didn't.

So now we both know we're smart guys. Do you think I'm involved in this?

One way or another, yes, I do.

Then wouldn't it behoove me to retain the services of an attorney? I know a good one.

Two problems there. First, the obvious: there are no good ones. Second, you're not a civilian, Colonel. You're in the Army. You have no right to an attorney, you have no right to remain silent. And if you don't cooperate I may have to put you in jail, and that would make me feel bad.

You see what you're doing here?

Looking for answers?

Of course, that. But how? How? You're trying to make me like you. And you know what? It's working; I do. But you see what I'm doing now? I'm trying to make you like me, too.

Is Colonel Fowler coming?

No, he's taking some much-needed R&R. He's a good man, George. A good man and a good soldier. Sometimes the lines get a little blurred, but when push comes to shove, he'll do what needs to be done.

And what is that, sir?

Why, say Moore called him, of course. And that I was never out there. He'll do that for me, even if it means his career. Like a good soldier. Nothing is gained by my involvement. A letter of commendation will be inserted into your file, in recognition of your exemplary work on this case. Remember when you asked you if you were a cop or a soldier?

Yes, sir.

Well, you're a soldier, Paul. And a damn fine one. [Salutes Brenner and starts to walk away.]

General Campbell! You're wrong, sir. I'm a rotten soldier.

Oh? And why is that?

You really don't get it, do you? The only mind that Elisabeth wanted to **** with was yours. And you still don't get it.

I've done nothing wrong.

You killed her.

What did you say?

Seven years ago in that hospital room, when you told her to just forget about it, you killed her.

Kent killed her.

No. He just put her out of her misery. I once asked Moore what was worse than rape. Now I know; betrayal.

I loved Elisabeth. But there were larger issues to consider.

You traded her trust for your career. You made a deal, didn't you? You kept silent and they gave you another star.

You watch your mouth, Brenner.

I'm gonna say that in my report. That you went out there, talked to her, and left her there to die.

You don't have the balls.

Oh, you're wrong, sir. Because that's just about all I have left.

You do that, and you can kiss your career goodbye.

I'm gonna have you court-martialed, General! Under Article 32 for conspiracy to conceal a crime!

When this all started I told you we would find the son of a bitch, sir. I never expected that the son of a bitch would be you.

Out of gas?

Yeah. That's why I'm looking at a flat tire with a pair of pliers in my hand instead of a lug wrench... [trails off as he turns around, seeing Campbell is an officer]

Uh-oh, she's a captain.

Uh-oh, she's a captain.

This looks like the work of ten chimpanzees.

Well, you just missed the other nine. They got bored and went for a beer.

Well, I have a lug wrench. Can I try?

If you don't, I'll drag you over.

Get the spare.

Yes, ma'am. [watches Campbell change the tire, visibly impressed] Golly-dang. If you like piña coladas and getting caught in the rain, I might just have to marry you, Captain.

You'll have to take this in. Just a temp tire. Spare won't be good for more than 30 miles or so.

If a fella got courageous and wanted to send you - a thank you notion or a basket of fruit, where might one find you?

Psy Ops.

How's that?

Psychological Operations. I teach there.

What do you teach?

Mostly we **** with people's minds.