Howard Payne "It was the watch that lead him to me, wasn't it?"
Played by Dennis Hopper 
Speed (1994) · 71 quotes
Speed (1994) · 71 quotes
2nd most-quoted character in Speed (1994): in 21 of its 71 quotes
Most scenes with: Jack Traven (7)
"Don't try to grow a brain."
More lines from Howard Payne
10 quotes Howard Payne Howard Payne "We got all the balls in the world right here man."
Howard Payne "Way to go, Jack."
Howard Payne "... because I'm smarter than you."
Howard Payne "No, Jack... Poor people are crazy. Rich people are eccentric."
Howard Payne "I don't suppose anyone is going to give me two million dollars for you?"
Howard Payne " Don't F@%$ with Daddy."
Howard Payne "Do you think if you pick up all the busdriver's teeth, they'll give you another prize? I've got your attention now, Jack, don't I?"
Howard Payne A bomb is made to explode. That's its meaning. Its purpose. Your life is empty because you spend it trying to stop the bomb from becoming. And for who? For what? Do you know what a bomb is, Jack, that doesn't explode? It is a cheap gold watch, buddy.
Howard Payne [hearing Jack on the subway car roof]
Hey, Jack! Is that you? He's so persistent, he always thinks he gets his man. Wouldn't be able to interest you in a bribe, would I? I've got, uh, plenty to go around! [he opens the money bag, only for a rigged purple dye pack to burst in his face, ruining the money] My money! YOU BASTARD! [shooting at Jack through the train roof] HOW DOES THAT FEEL?! YOU LIKE THAT, HUH?! YOU LIKE IT, YOU BASTARD?! MY MONEY! [he runs out of bullets] Shit! You! I'm coming for you, Jack! [runs for the subway door, screaming in rage]
Scenes with Howard Payne
10 scenes
Security Guard
Hey, this area's restricted.
Payne Oh, hi. Yeah, I know. They called me down here, some of this wiring got screwed up.
Security Guard
Nobody called it down to me. I'm going to have to see a work order.
Payne Yeah. Just a second. [Payne reaches into his bag and holds up a piece of paper] There you are. [Payne pulls out a concealed knife and stabs the guard in the ear, killing him] Nothing personal.
Payne [Payne is holding Harry hostage in the parking garage at gunpoint with explosives strapped to his chest.]
End of the line. This day has been real disappointing, I don't mind saying.
Why, 'cause you didn't get to kill everyone?
Payne There will come a time, boy, when you'll wish you'd never met me.
Mister, I'm already there.
Payne [on the phone, after blowing up an empty commuter bus, killing the bus driver Bob]
What do you think, Jack? You think you pick up all the bus driver's teeth, they'll give you another medal?
Jesus...
Payne You think I wouldn't have been prepared? Two years I spent setting up that elevator job, two years I invested myself in it. You couldn't understand the kind of commitment that I have. You ruined a man's life's work and you think you can walk away? You got blinders on to the world! But I got your attention now, didn't I, Jack?
Why didn't you just come after me?
Payne No, this is about me! This is about my money. This is about money due me! Which I will collect! $3.7 million! It's my nest egg, Jack. At my age, you have to think ahead.
Payne [cuts him off]
Pop quiz, hotshot. There's a bomb on a bus. Once the bus goes 50 miles an hour, the bomb is armed. If it drops below 50, it blows up. What do you do? What do you do?
I'd want to know what bus it was.
Payne You think I'm gonna to tell you that?
Yes.
Payne [chuckles]
Aha, very good. There are rules, Jack, and I want you to get this right: No one goes off the bus. You try to take any passengers off the bus, I will detonate it. I want my money by 11AM.
Payne Focus, Jack! Your concern is the bus. And don't try to call. The radio's down. Now, the number of the bus is 2525, it's running downtown from Venice. It's at the corner of Ocean Park & Main.
[Jack takes off for his car as sirens from approaching fire engines can be heard]
Payne I think we have an understanding. But it looks on TV like you're trying to take those passengers off the bus.
Look, you gotta let me have one.
Payne Now, we went over the rules.
As an act of faith. We have an injured man here. The driver's been shot.
Payne Jack, now tell me you haven't been shooting the passengers. I thought it was customary for a police officer to, you know, shoot the bad guys. Huh?
This man has no time.
Payne No one gets off!
It'll grease the wheels with the money men if you show a little charity. There's still gonna be plenty of us to kill.
Payne Okay, son. You can try any unload the driver. You tell that wildcat behind the wheel not to slow down, though. Or he won't even get a chance to bleed to death. And Jack? Don't slip.
Payne Very, very exciting, Jack. Some close calls, huh? But you've done all right for yourself.
What do you want?
Payne I want money, Jack. I wish, uh, that I had some loftier purpose but, um, I'm afraid in the end it's just the money, Jack. I would like, uh, large non-sequential bills, in two clear plastic bags, unmarked. Can you remember all that?
What are you telling me for?
Payne Because I want you to help me to get it before it gets too late. I hate negotiators, Jack. They talk to you like they're you're best friend, and they don't even know you. Why are they messing with me, huh? Do they think I'm doing this for fun?
Aren't you?
Payne Oh, that's unfair, Jack. You don't know how I feel about this. You don't even know me.
I know you want a shitload of money you didn't earn.
Payne Oh, I earned it. I spent my life earning it. I got a medal too, Jack. A medal and a pink slip and a "sorry about your hand".
You have to let me off.
Payne Oh, no! That's not good.
You want me to help you? I need to talk to these people face-to-face. They think you're bullshit.
Payne They don't think that.
Look, you want the money, I don't want anyone else to die. Let me get on the ground. Just me. That's not against the rules.
Payne All right, I want you back real fast.
Fine.
Payne Jack, nothing tricky now. You know that I'm on top of you. Do not attempt to grow a brain!
Harry! Tell me good news, man.
Payne Oh, I'm sorry, Jack. He didn't make it.
You ****!
Payne It was the watch that led him to me, wasn't it? Huh? It seemed a little hammy to me to build a bomb out of my precious retirement gift, but, you know, I figured a sign that said "Howard Payne" would be pushing it.
I'm gonna rip your **** spine out, I swear to God.
Payne You're gonna do exactly as you're told! Jack, we both know he was the brains of your particular operation. You can't beat me, you're gonna pay me every dollar. Otherwise, you, the wildcat, and every innocent person on that bus, are gonna end up just like your friend. You paying attention? Jack, you listening to me? Jack? Jack!
Yeah...
Payne Good. Now you tell them that the drop point is Pershing Square. There's a garbage can on the northeast corner. You drop the bags and leave. I don't show until all your people are gone. It's gettin' on to 11AM, Jack, and I think it's gonna be a very pretty day! [Payne laughs maniacally and hangs up]
News Anchor
[on TV]
We are following the progress of what is turning out to be a harrowing and amazing story as a city bus, rigged to explode if it slows down, races around literally in circles at the Los Angeles Airport. The two dead are a female passenger and the driver of another bus, both blown up by the bomber. The other people in jeopardy are, of course the passengers held hostage at the whim of a madman.
Payne "The whim of a madman"! [laughs] I like that.
Payne [Payne is holding Annie hostage in the subway wearing an explosive vest while he holds a pressure release detonator]
Be prepared! It's the Boy Scout marching song. What are you gonna do, Jack? I don't think you can shoot her.
Let her go.
Payne No, I don't think I'm gonna do that. [to Annie] Fill it. Now. [Annie starts emptying Payne's ransom money into a duffel bag] Well, I think Harry would be very disappointed feeling that we're right back to where we started, huh?
Let her go. You don't need her. You have the money. Take it and walk. Come on. Just take it and walk. You don't need her. [yelling] COME ON, JUST TAKE YOUR GODDAMN MONEY AND WALK!
Payne Stay right there! Stay right there. I'll do it. I'll do it. I'll let go. Oh, yeah. You still don't get it, do you, Jack, huh? The beauty of it. A bomb is made to explode. That's its meaning. Its purpose. Your life is empty because you spend it trying to stop the bomb from becoming. And for who? For what? Do you know what a bomb is, Jack, that doesn't explode? It is a cheap gold watch, buddy.
You're crazy! You're **** crazy!
Payne Oh, no. Poor people are crazy, Jack. I'm eccentric. [to Annie] Get the money. Let's go. Come on! Let's go! Move it! Move it! [to Jack] You stay! Move it! Move it! [shoves Annie towards a service door] In the door! In that door, now! Bye, Jack— Punk! [shuts the door]
Payne [While in the subway car, after Payne has gunned down the train driver]
Hey. Hey, buckaroo. It's not 'cause you're a woman, all right? Hey, it's all right. Looks like we're all alone.
Look, you won, okay? You beat Jack. You beat everybody. Just throw me off the train. I don't care, okay?
Payne [holds up detonator]
Okay. This stick, huh, works on a remote. When you explode, that's where they'll come, but that's not where I'll be. I have a different plan. Mess like that, they don't even count body parts. Gives me more time. It's not gonna hurt, Annie.
Payne [Payne and Jack are fighting on the roof of the subway car, with Payne gaining the upper hand as he pins Jack down on his back]
What do, Jack, huh? What do you do? You're so smart, right, Jack? Piece of shit! I'm the guy with a plan, 'cause I'm smarter than you! I'm smarter than you!
[Jack sees an overhead signal light approaching and forces Payne into its path. Payne looks up and screams before the light decapitates him, and Jack grabs the detonator as his body falls off the train]
Yeah? Well, I'm taller.
