(Duncan and Simmons meet after having been introduced at the dedication ceremony)
Where were you all day?
I wasn't aware the leash was that tight.
When I get the time I'll be asking you a few questions, and I expect some straight answers!
Doug Roberts
Paul Newman · 15 quotes
James Duncan
William Holden · 10 quotes
Chief O' Hallorhan
Steve McQueen · 5 quotes
Roger Simmons
Richard Chamberlain · 5 quotes
Most scenes together: Doug Roberts & James Duncan (4), Doug Roberts & Chief O' Hallorhan (4), James Duncan & Roger Simmons (3)
The Towering Inferno quotes
Page 1 of 3(Opening lines - Duncan and Roberts board an elevator from the roof to the 65th floor)
So, how was it?
Good.
You're gonna go ahead, huh?
Full steam.
Anything I can do to change your mind?
Nope, no way.
You know there's an old saying that, uh, 'No matter how hot it gets up there during the day, there's -'
'-not a damn thing to do in the night', right?
That's right. Now just what the hell are you gonna do at night in the middle of nowhere?
Sleep like a winner.
Doug, you're a city boy with a low threshold for boredom. You'll be back in two weeks. (The elevator arrives on the 65th floor) Can you come in the office for a minute?
I got people waiting upstairs.
Well what I wanted to tell you is that Senator Parker's flying in for the dedication tonight. And he's almost guaranteed the Urban Renewal contract. Now do you know what that means? Skyscrapers like this all over the country! You design 'em, I'll build 'em.
(Boarding an elevator for the 79th floor)
Jim I think you suffer from an edifice complex.
You'll never leave.
Right after the party. Come on downstairs and watch me burn my black tie.
It's out of control. And it's coming your way. You've got about 15 minutes. Now they wanna try something. They wanna blow those water tanks 2 floors above you - they think it might kill the fire.
How are they gonna get the explosives up here?
Oh they'll find some dumb son of a bitch to bring 'em up.
Hang on, I'll tell 'em. (Roberts goes to tell the remaining guests) They wanna try to put out the fire by blowing up the water tanks above us. It's gonna mean a lot of water and steel and concrete but if they don't try it...we're all gonna burn. The fire's out of control below us. They think we got maybe 15 minutes. This way, some of us might survive. We've got no options. (the fire breaks into the Promenade Room, the guests panic and make a run for the Breeches Buoy. Simmons gets there first, and fights his way on, and a fight breaks out among the men to get him off. An explosion destroys the ropes sending Simmons, Senator Parker and several others to their deaths)
Yeah?
Doug Roberts (returning to the phone) Well, we just lost the Breeches Buoy, there was a panic up here. It's under control now.
Ok, now I'm going to try and set down on the roof, I'm gonna need you up there.
Well I know how where to place the charges, but I don't know how.
Chief O' Halloran
I know how.
Ok. See you up there.
(on the phone to security)
Hello, this is 81, we've had an accident up here, a man's been burned, get an ambulance! Yes, right away!
Security Chief Harry Jernigan (as he and another man drag the badly injured Will Giddings to safety)
Roberts, call Duncan in the tower! They got a lot of people there!
(Roberts phones the Promenade Room)
Yeah Doug, we were getting worried about you. Susan's here, Senator Parker, the Mayor and his wife. Everybody wants to know why the world's greatest architect isn't here.
Never mind about that. Will Giddings has been pretty badly burned.
Look, I've already got an ambulance coming but you better think about getting those people upstairs down on the ground floor. (pause as Duncan asks why) What for? WE'VE GOT A FIRE HERE! (pause as Duncan asks the severity of the fire) Well, I think it's under control but....
Well then, uh, why the urgency?
Urgency?! Hey Dunc if that fire was caused by fluky wiring in the building we could get fires breaking out everywhere!
Doug, I think you're overreacting. Now I feel sorry for Will Giddings but he'll be taken care of. (Duncan covers the speaker on the phone) But I am not going to concern myself with a fire in a storage room on 81 because it can't possibly affect us up here. Not in this building! Now have someone call me when the fire department arrives. In the meantime, get in your dinner jacket and come on up here and join the party. Now come on! (Duncan hangs up)
I mean-(Roberts angrily hangs up)
Can I talk at all?
Susan Franklin No. It's my lunch hour.
Well I'm not a cheeseburger, you know.
Susan Franklin You're better - all protein, no bread. All I need to go with you is about eight glasses of water.
All I need to go with you is in that suitcase over there.
Susan Franklin What's in that suitcase over there?
I got about $140 worth of vulgar underwear for ya.
Susan Franklin First things first. (Susan opens a door to a private room)
That's nice.
Susan Franklin Years from now when they talk about this and they will, remember to tell them that it was my idea.
Yeah, right.
Will Giddings is dead. He died 20 minutes ago. Oh boy. Oh, I wonder how many more will be dead by tomorrow. I thought we were building something, where people could work and live and be SAFE! If you had to cut costs, why didn't you cut floors instead of corners?
Now listen, any decisions that were made, for the use of alternate building materials, were made because I as a builder have a right to make those decisions. If I remain within the building code and goddammit I did!
Building code, Jesus. Building code, c'mon now Dunc I mean that's a standard cop-out when you're in trouble. I was crawling around up there. I mean duct holes weren't fire-stopped! Corridors without fire doors in them, sprinklers won't work, and an electrical system that's good for what? I mean it's good for starting fires! Phew, boy where was I when all this was going on? Because I'm just as guilty as you and that goddamn son-in-law of yours! What do they call it when you kill people?
Harlee Claiborne I promised myself if I every saw you again I'd make a full confession-
Lisolette Mueller No, but thank you.
Harlee Claiborne But, you don't know anything about me.
Lisolette Mueller But I do. You're penniless. You have no villa in the south of France. No antiques coming, no paintings. But Harlee, I don't care.
Harlee Claiborne I'm a cheap tin horn. A two-bit con-man.
Lisolette Mueller Not cheap. Maybe unsuccessful. But don't you see your heart isn't it? How can you cheat people effectively if you don't really enjoy cheating?
Harlee Claiborne I brought you up here tonight to see you a thousand shares of Greater Anaheim Power & Light!
Lisolette Mueller Is it a good investment?
Harlee Claiborne There is no Greater Anaheim Power & Light! Only the certificate I had printed. I must say I think you would've admired the artwork...beautiful engraving.
Lisolette Mueller I'd like to see it.
Harlee Claiborne It's in my jacket. I-I took the jacket off - it was "needed elsewhere". You see what I mean? I can't even deliver a phony stock certificate. Did you hear what I said?
Lisolette Mueller Every word.
Harlee Claiborne Well then tell me you're shocked, or at least disappointed.
Lisolette Mueller But I'm not.
Harlee Claiborne You must be!
Lisolette Mueller Harlee, I'm not.
Patty - you and Susan stay right here where I can find you. Now don't leave this table. (Pointing to Roger) You I wanna talk to. (Duncan & Simmons walk away from the table) Did you change any of Doug's electrical specifications?
I most certainly did.
For God's sakes why?
The reason should be obvious - especially to you!
We've got a fire. And if it was caused by anything you did I'm going to hang you out to dry, and then I'm going to hang you!
You drunk?
Not yet.
Well then get out of my way!
You didn't talk like this 2 years ago, did you? Running over budget and out of money. Did you ask me then how I could shave $2 million dollars off our electrical costs?
Shut up and help me with these people!
And let me ask you my dear father-in-law: am I the only subcontractor you encouraged to cut corners? Where did you save the other $4 million in Doug's original budget?!
You looking for me, Chief?
If you're Duncan, yeah.
I am. Everything under control?
We gotta move all these people outta here.
Oh now just how bad is it?
It's a fire, mister. And all fires are bad.
Well, uh, I don't believe you're familiar with the many modern safety systems we have designed into this building. We've got 'em all.
All right. It's your building, but it's our fire. Now let's get these people the hell out of here.
Now I don't think you're listening, Chief. There's no way for a fire on 81 to reach up here, not in this building!
Okay. I'll do it.
Hold it, hold it. The mayor's out there. Do you want me to pull rank on you?
When there's a fire, I outrank everybody here. Now one thing we don't want is a panic. Now I could tell them, but you oughta do it. Just make a nice cool announcement to all your guests and tell them the party's being moved down below the fire floor. Right now.
The women are gone. We are going next. (Simmons tears up a bunch of breeches buoy tickets)
(punches Simmons in his stomach)
You've all got numbers, and you're going to take your turn! And if it's any consolation, I'm going to be the last one out of here, along with my son-in-law!
Hi Doug. Honey.
Patty Duncan Simmons
Hello.
What are you drinking these days?
Nothing right now.
Well, welcome back from the wilderness. To what do we owe the pleasure?
Callahan was testing a backup generator. There was a power surge and a systems failure.
How can that be?
Well it can't be, theoretically. Unless you've been screwing around with the electrical specifications.
That's being rather blunt, isn't it?
You betcha.
Well then you'll understand my being equally blunt. What the hell business is it of yours anyway?
Well I'm just wondering what kind of kickbacks were involved.
I don't have to take crap from you.
Now listen. We had an electrical flare-up in the main utility room. It looked to me like some of that wiring wasn't exactly what I asked for.
Every piece of wire I put in that building is strictly up to code, inspected and approved.
The code's not enough for that building. And you know it. That's why I asked for installations that were way, way above standard!
Buddy you live in a dream world. I deal in realities.
I want your wiring diagrams and copies of your work orders.
It would take weeks to get that all together and someone with a lot more clout than you to make me do it!
In my office, tomorrow, 9:00. (Roberts leaves)
Patty Duncan Simmons
They say he used to wrestle grizzly bears in Montana. Of course he was younger then, probably in better condition.
You must have enjoyed all this immensely.
Patty Duncan Simmons
No, I didn't. Actually, I'm depressed for both of us.
What did you expect me do - punch him in the nose?
Patty Duncan Simmons
Roger, if you've done anything to Dad's building, God help you!
Baby I don't need God's help, or your old man's, not anymore. So don't expect me to shake everytime Daddy barks, even if that's what you want me to do.
Patty Duncan Simmons
All I want is the man I thought I married! But I guess we're running out of reasons to stay married, aren't we?
It's getting late. We mustn't miss the party.
Senator Parker At this rate, it's going to take a couple of hours to get everyone down. So I would suggest that those of us with stout hearts and trim waistlines start using the stairs.
That's 135 floors.
Senator Parker All downhill.
(Doug and Will stride into Jim Duncan's office with the burned-out wire from the basement)
I know, I know. Callahan called me. Now just how bad is it?
Depends on how good your imagination is. (Roberts drops the burned wire on Duncan's desk) Jesus Christ. Specs called for Conduit safety covering!
How many fuse terminals did you check?
How many do I have to?
Duncan's Secretary
Mr. Bigelow's here, sir.
Ok, send him in. Now Doug, one piece of scorched wire from a burned-out circuit breaker is hardly conclusive.
Maybe not. But after that I'm worried about what other shocks we're in for!
Dan Bigelow (Dan Bigelow walks into the office)
Will, Doug, J.D., wait 'til you see this. (Bigelow opens a box containing golden scissors for the Tower's dedication but the men do not react) What happened? Somebody hang the wallpaper upside down?
We have an equipment problem.
Dan Bigelow No problem in the Tower is there?
Could be.
Oh now come on Doug. You're just guessing!
Alright I'm just guessing. But I wanna talk to that son-in-law of yours and I wanna talk to him right away.
Ok. (Talking to his secretary on the intercom) Get me Roger Simmons.
Duncan's Secretary
Yes, sir.
Will Giddings We're going to check this thing out Mr. Duncan, I guarantee you.
Sure, sure, we're all going to check it out.
Dan Bigelow (clearly confused)
I'm missing something.
We damn near had a fire.
Dan Bigelow In this building? Come on.
Will Giddings You know we haven't even finished installing the safety equipment? The party should have been put off for at least another month...
(Duncan cuts Giddings off)
Now hold it Will, hold it! Everybody's overreacting! (Intercom buzzes) Yes?
Duncan's Secretary
Mr. Simmons is out, sir.
Duncan's Secretary
They don't know, sir, but I left word for him to call.
(to his secretary)
Ok. (pauses before speaking to Doug) We'll talk to Roger tomorrow. And then we'll decide what to do, that's ok isn't it?
No, it won't wait! (Roberts and Giddings leave)
Harry Jernigan (picking up the phone)
Jernigan.
Jernigan (Jernigan learns that Lisolette Mueller is trapped on the 87th floor trying to rescue the Allbright family)
What? Dammit man, you should have sent a man up there!
Jernigan (told the security station tried to telephone Mrs. Allbright)
How do you expect her to hear a phone call? She's deaf!
Jernigan (asked if her two children can hear)
Sure the kids can hear!
Jernigan (why they didn't respond to the phone)
I don't know, maybe they were in the shower or something when you called!
Kappy (in background, speaking into his radio)
Forward Command!
Jernigan (still on the security phone)
No, you stay where you are, I'll get them down!
Lorrie There never were any firemen, were there?
Dan Bigelow I said that to make it easier for you. I switched off the phones. There's no way to call out. Nobody knows we're up here.
Lorrie Well, I always did want to die in bed.
Dan Bigelow Nobody's going to die.
Lorrie One thing - at least they'll never find out about us, will they?
Dan Bigelow (Dan soaks a towel in water, wraps it around his head and decides to make a run for help)
I used to run the 100 in 10 flat.
Lorrie Don't go.
Dan Bigelow I'll be back with the whole fire department. On your mark...
(James Duncan and Patty Duncan Simmons meet and embrace for the first time since being rescued, presumably after Patty has identified Roger Simmons' body)
I didn't want you to see him.
(Patty sobs uncontrollably and embraces her father)
You know, there's nothing any of us can do to bring back the dead but.....(pauses and gazes back up at the smoking tower)..all I can do now is pray to God, that I can stop this from ever happening again.