Tied for 3rd most-quoted character in Midnight Express (1978): in 3 of its 17 quotes
Most scenes with: Billy Hayes (3), Jimmy (2)
Scenes with Erich
3 scenes
I'm Jimmy. Jimmy Booth. I'm an American just like you. This other guy here is Erich... something. I can't pronouce his last name. He's Swedish or something.
Erich Just Erich.
Yeah... well, what do you think of this place, Billy?
[looks around the prison hall and courtyard]
Looks like some cheap rundown hotel.
Yeah, thought you'd say that. Everyone says that this place looks like a cheap hotel.
[sees peacocks along the fence of the prison]
Peacocks. Why peacocks?
The Turks use 'em instead of dogs to patrol the fence because they shriek like hell when they're approached or disturbed. Plus, they don't get rabies.
[a little boy runs past them]
Who are the kids?
Kids? They're not kids. They're local street urchins the Turks lock up here in a separate wing for the juveniles. Boys as young as nine or ten years old. They're thieves, drug dealers, muggers, con artists, pickpockets, rapists, murderers... you name it, they do it. Don't trust any of them!
So... Billy, what are you in for? Hash?
The airport... trying to get home.
Yeah, I was busted right at the plane.
Aw, man that's heavy. That's very heavy.
Erich It's bad if they get you for smuggling, but if they make it possession, the sentence is lighter. The best thing for you to do, Billy, is try to make bail. If you make bail, you're free. You can easily get yourself a fake passport on the black market, or get yourself across the border into Greece.
Dream on, Erich. They'll never grant bail to foreigners whom may be a flight risk.
Erich But if you argue in court about you being innocent...
This ain't the good ol' USA! This is Turkey, man! It's a ****in' accident here if you're innocent! There ain't nobody here that is innocent!
What's Jimmy's story? Why is he in here? Hash?
Erich No. He was caught stealing from a mosque. That is also a heavy crime here in Turkey.
Erich Two candle sticks.
Erich That's all.
Why? Why would he do that?
Erich Who knows? He's always been a wild child. He's got more balls then brains. Did you know that he was in here for a year-and-a-half before he told his parents what happened to him?
What about you? What are you in for?
Erich Hashish. 90% of the foreigners here are in for hashish or drug related charges from smuggling to possession. My advice is you get yourself a very good lawyer and try to argue down the charge you face. If they make it possession, the sentence is lighter.
What were you convicted of?
Erich Smuggling hash with the intent to sell.
What sentence did you receive?
Erich 12 years. I've been here for just over four years.
How much did you have on you?
Erich 100 grams.
Other characters in Midnight Express
