Rick Ricardelli quotes from The Ghost Writer (2010)

Rick Ricardelli

Get some sleep on the plane. You're sounding weird. "A tethered goat." I'll call you next week.

The Ghost

But you realize I know nothing about politics?

Rick Ricardelli

You voted for him, didn't you?

The Ghost

Adam Lang? Of course I did.

Rick Ricardelli

Everyone voted for him. He wasn't a politician, he was a craze.

The Ghost

Well, there you go.

Rick Ricardelli

Look, it's a new ghostwriter he needs, not another goddamn politico. He was paid $10 million for these memoirs, but rumor has it the manuscript's a crock of shit. Rhinehart's lending him his house at the ocean so they can fix it, and the pressure must have gotten to McAra. Pathologist said his blood was, like, three parts booze.

The Ghost

You mean he drowned by accident?

Rick Ricardelli

Accident, suicide, who cares? It was the book that killed him.

The Ghost

Well, that's encouraging. [Rick dryly chuckles] Who is this McAra? Should I have heard of him?

Rick Ricardelli

Yeah. He was some kind of aide to Lang when he was Prime Minister, so don't admit that you haven't. He was with him for years.

The Ghost

I don't know, Rick.

Rick Ricardelli

This is a great opportunity for you. Plus the money is good. Kids won't starve.

The Ghost

I don't have any kids.

Rick Ricardelli

I do.

The Ghost

Roy. [Getting wanded and frisked]] Who're you expecting to bomb you, Random House?

We're publishing Lang's memoirs. That's enough to make us a target, apparently.

The Ghost

Thank you. [In elevator] How many have you seen?

Five. You're the last. I must be honest. I don't think you're the right man for this assignment.

The Ghost

Then it's a good job it's not your decision, Roy.

John Maddox, chief executive of Rhinehart, New York.

The Ghost

Sir.

Sidney Kroll, Mr. Lang's Washington attorney.

The Ghost

Mr. Kroll.

And Nick Ricardelli I believe you know.

The Ghost

All right, Rick.

John Maddox

All right, I gather from Rick you're aware of the situation? Perhaps you can enlighten us and tell us what exactly you're gonna bring to this project.

The Ghost

Nothing. No, I'm not gonna pretend to be someone I'm not. You have my CV.

His last effort was the autobiography of a magician, I Came, I Sawed, I Conquered.

Rick Ricardelli

Yeah, and it went straight to number one, so...

The Ghost

After you turned it down, Roy. Look, I don't read political memoirs. Who does? And I gather you've spent $10 million on this book. How much of that are you gonna see back? Two? Three? It's bad news for your shareholders. And it's worse news for your client, Mr. Kroll. Adam Lang, he wants a place in history, not in the remainder tables.

Oh, please!

The Ghost

It's because I know nothing about politics that I'll ask the questions that get right to the heart of who Adam Lang is. And that is what sells autobiographies. Heart.

Rick Ricardelli

Wow! That's nicely done.

What utter balls!

John Maddox

You think so?

John, of course. Adam Lang's a world historical figure. His autobiography is gonna be a world-publishing event.

John Maddox

Yeah, well, I got warehouses filled with world-publishing events waiting to be pulped.

Sid?

Adam is obviously still very upset by what happened to Mike McAra. He was irreplaceable. Irreplaceable, and yet he has to be replaced. Adam can certainly appreciate the benefits of trying someone different. In the end, it's about chemistry. Do you work out, maybe?

The Ghost

Not really.

That's a pity. Adam likes to work out.

Actually, I know a good writer on the Guardian who uses a gym.

Rick Ricardelli

Okay, maybe we could just run over the publishing schedule, yeah?

John Maddox

We need to wrap this up in a month.

The Ghost

A month?

John Maddox

Yes.

The Ghost

You want the book in a month?

We already have a first draft.

John Maddox

Yeah, well, it needs a lot of work. That's why I like your résumé here. You're fast, and you deliver.

Rick Ricardelli

You name it, he ghosts it.

John Maddox

And you're a Brit. The ghost should be a Brit. [Mimics English accent] To get the jolly old tone right, right? [Rick chuckles]

Do you have any family commitments?

The Ghost

No, I have no family. Why?

Adam is locked into a US lecture tour, also a fundraising program for the Adam Lang Foundation.

Rick Ricardelli

It's a month in the States. That's okay.

The Ghost

Couldn't I bring the manuscript back here to work on?

I'm afraid not. It's in a secure environment in Marty Rhinehart's own house. Only a few people are allowed to handle it.

Sounds more like a bomb than a book. I will need to see it myself at some point. I am supposed to be editing it. Yeah, in theory.

John Maddox

Actually, we need to talk about that. How soon can you get over there?

The Ghost

As soon as you want.

Rick Ricardelli

He'll fly tonight.

The Ghost

Rick.

Rick Ricardelli

It's okay.

John Maddox

Okay, you're in.

The Ghost

Oh!

John Maddox

Congratulations.

The Ghost

Thank you. Thanks.

John Maddox

Rick.

The Ghost

Thank you.

Actually, I have something here you might want to look at.

The Ghost

Is that... Is that...

No, no, no, this isn't Adam's book. No, it's another client of mine. Yeah, perhaps you can let me know what you think.

The Ghost

Sure.

Okay, if you're gonna get that evening flight, we'd better talk contracts with Rick here. [To dazed Roy] Wanna show our friend to the door? [Raises voice] Would you?! Roy?! [Roy comes to]

Rick Ricardelli

Call you in an hour, buddy.

John Maddox

Hey! Remember... [Pats chest saying in English accent] Heart.

The Ghost

Yeah?

Rick Ricardelli

Congratulations!

The Ghost

On what?

Rick Ricardelli

On having me as your agent.

The Ghost

Yeah, I can hardly believe my luck.

Rick Ricardelli

Are you packed?

The Ghost

I just got mugged.

Rick Ricardelli

Shit! Are you okay?

The Ghost

Yeah, all they took was the manuscript that Sidney Kroll gave me.

Rick Ricardelli

What? Why?

The Ghost

I don't know. You tell me.

Rick Ricardelli

Are you hurt?

The Ghost

No, I'm fine. I think they must have followed me from Rhinehart's.

Rick Ricardelli

Why would they do that?

The Ghost

Well, maybe they thought I had Lang's book. I knew this whole thing was a bad idea.

Rick Ricardelli

You're still okay to fly tonight, right?

The Ghost

For God's sake, Rick, I'm in shock.

Rick Ricardelli

Well, here's another shock for you. For one month's work on a manuscript that's already written, Rhinehart Inc. Is willing to pay you $250,000, plus expenses. Window seat or aisle?

Islam has issued a statement claiming responsibility. We hope to bring you more on that later in the bulletin. Meanwhile, former British Prime Minister Adam Lang is back in the news tonight. According to leaked documents, Mr. Lang authorized the illegal use of British special forces to seize four suspected Al-Qaeda terrorists in Pakistan and then hand them over for interrogation by the CIA. The men, Nasir Ashraf, Marwat Sayed, Salim Khan and Faruk Ahmed, all British citizens, were seized in the Pakistani city of Peshawar five years ago. All four were allegedly transferred out of the country to a secret location and tortured. Mr. Ashraf is reported to have died under interrogation. Such an operation would have been illegal under...

Rick Ricardelli

Yeah?

The Ghost

Where are you?

Rick Ricardelli

Heathrow, like you. Waiting for my flight to New York.

The Ghost

Can you see the news?

Rick Ricardelli

The Lang story? Yeah, I'm watching it now.

The Ghost

What have you gotten me into?

Rick Ricardelli

I got you into a quarter of a million bucks, pal, that's what I got you into. They're calling my flight. I gotta go.

The Ghost

Listen, I just realized Sidney Kroll could have given me that manuscript deliberately so it would look like I was carrying Lang's book.

Rick Ricardelli

Why the hell would he do that?

The Ghost

I don't know. To use me as a tethered goat?

Rick Ricardelli

Get some sleep on the plane. You're sounding weird. "A tethered goat." I'll call you next week.

...and long-term psychological trauma. In other words, torture.

Like a fallen soldier, Adam Lang went home today, home to a shocked and grieving nation. Not just his family, but friends and political opponents joined in tribute.

A great colleague and a true patriot. We had our disagreements, but we always stayed friends. My heart goes out to Ruth and the family. [Knock on door] And I would like to say Adam will be... [The Ghost turns off TV]

The Ghost

Who is it? [Opens door]

Rick

Congratulations!

The Ghost

On what now?

Rick

Still having me as your agent. [Pokes The Ghost's face with his passport]

The Ghost

Hmm?

Rick

They don't need you anymore. You're free to go. [Pulls open drapes and The Ghost sits on bed] You ready to get back to work?

The Ghost

I don't think I can, Rick. I'm sorry. Not after all this.

Rick

Don't be a jerk. This is a hot book now. It's Adam Lang's voice from the grave. The guy, he's a hero.

The Ghost

I just want to go home.

Rick

You can. Go. Go home. And finish the book from London.

The Ghost

I don't know, Rick.