Night People (1954)

Gregory Peck: Col. Steve Van Dyke

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Quotes 

• Col. Steve Van Dyke : [alone together in a hospital room]  Well?

  Frederick S. Hobart : I want to know what you're up to Steve.

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : Why?

  Frederick S. Hobart : I don't care what you think of that government over there, you can't make any kind of a crooked deal with it.

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : Who's dealin' with any government?

  Frederick S. Hobart : Aren't you?

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : Now look Freddy, we asked them over there about Corporal Leatherby, didn't we?

  Frederick S. Hobart : Yes.

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : So what did they say?

  Frederick S. Hobart : That they'd never heard of him, of course.

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : So alright, how could I be makin' a deal with a government that never heard of him?

  Frederick S. Hobart : You know very well that that's only their way of doing things.

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : Not in my book. If a big, friendly power like the Russians tells they never heard of Corporal Leatherby, that's good enough for me. Now will you run along n' let me get on with this job?

  Frederick S. Hobart : Then whom are you dealing with?

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : Now look Freddy, for Pete's sake, don't you think the Russians like a little private enterprise as well as anybody else? As far as I'm concerned, I'm dealin' with a small group of progressive businessmen over there - what I think you Americans call a mob. Now is there anything wrong with that?

  [a knock at the door disrupts their conversation] 

• Ricky Cates : [as Steve walks into the room while she faces backwards with her skirt hiked up]  They don't match.

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : [subtly referring to her legs]  They do to me.

  Ricky Cates : The stockings I mean.

• Col. Steve Van Dyke : [alone together in a hospital room]  If a big, friendly power like the Russians tells me they never heard of Corporal Learherby, that's good enough for me. Now will you run along and let me get on with this job?

  Frederick S. Hobart : Then whom are you dealing with?

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : Now look Freddy, for Pete's sake, don't you think the Russians like a little piece of private enterprise as well as anybody else? As far as I'm concerned, I'm dealin' with a small group of progressive businessmen over there - what I think you Americans call a mob. Now is there anything wrong with that?

  [a knock at the door disrupts their conversation] 

• Col. Steve Van Dyke : [to Sergeant McColloch]  You're right, this deal's gettin' trickier n'-a basket full-a eels.

• Charles Leatherby : [referring to the hostage swap situation]  What would you say if I told you I'd changed my mind about this whole business?

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : What whole business?

  Charles Leatherby : I feel we ought to let Johnny take his chances over there. I just can't send this woman back to what you say she's going back to.

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : Are you sure you really know what you're sayin'?

  Charles Leatherby : I do.

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : And what about his mother?

  Charles Leatherby : I'm sure that I speak for her too.

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : If you live to be a hundred Mr. Leatherby, you'll never do or say anything more becoming to you than that. But the truth is, your wishes have nothing to do with the matter - they never have had. These are decisions that have to be made by a soldier.

• Col. Steve Van Dyke : [Meeting Mr. Leatherby for the first time as he continues tying his shoes and getting dressed in his office]  Mr. Charles Leatherby?

  Charles Leatherby : Yes, that's right.

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : Somebody send for you?

  Charles Leatherby : Nope.

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : Then what're ya doin' here?

  Charles Leatherby : You know very well what I'm doing here Colonel Van Dyke.

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : Oh yeah, I remember now. You're the guy that came over here to tell me how to do my job.

  Charles Leatherby : No, that's not it at all.

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : You're a big wheel in the axel grease business, so naturally you're a big wheel anyplace else you want to poke your nose into.

  Charles Leatherby : Colonel, if you'll be kind enough to let me explain my position here...

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : Also you're a personal friend of Senator-a McDinglehoffer and you've got a letter to the commanding general. You're gonna get a little *action* around here; sitr 'em up a bit, get 'em off their big fat behinds! Isn't that it?

  Charles Leatherby : Look...

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : Why don't you stay home where you belong!

  Charles Leatherby : Because I've got a boy in trouble over here and I'm gonna get him out of it. You understand that?

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : How?... How ya gonna get him out of it?

  Charles Leatherby : I have every right in the world to be here colonel: I'm a citizen and a tax payer, a very big tax payer as a matter of fact.

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : That's not what I asked you. You said you're gonna get your boy outta this trouble n' I wanna know how. I'm very interested in that.

  Charles Leatherby : I warn you Van Dyke, you've got no right to talk to me like this.

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : Alright them I'll change the question: how do you think you're gonna help him by comin' over here n' makin' a bloody nuisance of yourself?... Anything that burns me, is an amateur trying to tell a pro how to do his job.

  Charles Leatherby : I have no intention of telling you or anybody else over here how to do their job.

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : Oh-ho no, you're gonna do it *for* me; you're gonna *buy* the boy out of it - I heard all about that. In front of a dozen people you tackle one of my men and try to take the matter out of my hands. You're gonna do it for yourself, cash-and-carry, send 'em some dough - dough fixes everything. Don't you know I could have you thrown in the jug for that? Trying to make a personal deal with a foreign government?

  Charles Leatherby : That wasn't the idea at all.

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : It just so happens that this is not a cash-and-carry business Mr. Leatherby. You're not dealing with the AMP now. These are cannibals Mr. Leatherby: head-hunting, blood-thirsty cannibals who are out to eat us up.

  [upon finally getting through to Mr. Leatherby] 

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : ... Would you care for a drink?

  Charles Leatherby : Yeah, sure would.

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : Have a chair.

• Col. Steve Van Dyke : [just before leaving the hospital to pursue a lead with the hostage situation]  You stay here Leatherby, I'll be right back.

  Charles Leatherby : Colonel...

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : Yeah?

  Charles Leatherby : I think I'll go back to my hotel.

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : Oh you do?

  Charles Leatherby : Well I'm not needed here, so I'll go back to my room and wait there.

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : Choked up huh?

  Charles Leatherby : That's not it at all.

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : What's the idea of buggin' out?

  Charles Leatherby : Well I'm not needed here so I thought I'd...

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : You want your boy back don't you?

  Charles Leatherby : You know I do.

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : Then you're not goin' anywhere. You're gonna stay right here where you can see what it takes to get him back. Is that asking too much?

  Charles Leatherby : No, of course not. But I just thought I might as well.

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : Yeah I know, you were only thinkin' it was ok for us to play it dirty, but you don't even want to have to *look* at it. Well you shoulda thought of that before you left Toledo. Look Mr. Leatherby, I want you here when I get back, you understand?

  [adamantly points] 

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : Right here, where you can see where all of those big fat taxes of yours go for.

  [he briskly leaves] 

  Maj. R.A. Foster, MD : I used to think that guy was a little crazy, but I've changed my mind about that: he's *big* crazy.

• Charles Leatherby : Well I hated to break in on you, but my son has somethin' he wanted to say to you.

  Cpl. John J. Leatherby : With the Colonel's permission.

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : Ok. Can you keep it short?

  Cpl. John J. Leatherby : Well, all I wanted to say sir was... well my father told me what all ya did for us and, well it meant a lot to all the men. It meant a lot to all...

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : [pats him on the arm]  I think that just about covers it Corporal, you don't have to spread yourself. While we're about it, I think I ought to tell you that your old man pulled one last night too: a little decision, right from here

  [taps on his heart] 

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : It was really big-league stuff. But you'll have to take my word for it, because neither of us is ever gonna mention it again. That right?

  Charles Leatherby : You're in charge Colonel.

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : Oh really? Well, that's finally clear, maybe I'll keep my nose outta the axelgrease business.

  [they all say goodbye and part ways]