The Principal (1987)

Jim Belushi: Rick Latimer

Photos 

Quotes 

• Rick Latimer : [to a student]  Linda, I want you wearing a bra to class. It's not going to change your grade.

• Police Officer : [processing Latimer for attacking Kim's divorce attorney]  Occupation?

  Rick Latimer : [sarcastic grin]  School teacher!

• Rick Latimer : I'll be here tomorrow.

  Jake Phillips : I'll be here too.

  Rick Latimer : We are very stupid men.

  Jake Phillips : Yeah, I know. But what can you do?

• [Latimer has the upper-hand in a scuffle with Duncan] 

  Victor Duncan : Please! No more!

  Rick Latimer : You got that right!

  [Latimer throws Duncan out of the school via a double-door] 

  Rick Latimer : [shouts]  No more!

• Rick Latimer : [in the teachers' lounge, which is full even though classes are supposed to be in session]  I want a full-school assembly during sixth period, TODAY.

  1st Teacher : Are you MAD? Do you know what could happen?

  2nd Teacher : Why are you doing this?

  Rick Latimer : I like the attention.

• Victor Duncan : This school here is MY school. And I make the rules.

  Rick Latimer : Not anymore.

• Jake Phillips : ["Screwdriver" Phillips barges into the office of a napping "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi" Latimer]  You're ever-vigilant, I see.

  Rick Latimer : Where I come from, we knock.

  Jake Phillips : Where *I* come from, we pick locks. With your permission, I'll replace your old rusty one with a new deadbolt. The kind only .357 Magnums can open up.

  Rick Latimer : Thanks, Jake. That's real encouraging. I feel much better now.

  Jake Phillips : Do you mind if I ask you a question I ask all imported principals?

  [without waiting for an answer] 

  Jake Phillips : What is a fine, white-bread boy like you doing in a place like this?

  Rick Latimer : Keeping my warm ass planted in this chair.

  Jake Phillips : [indicates the "Classified Ads" which Latimer has been going through]  'Til something better comes along, right? I don't know why I thought it should've been any different.

• Victor Duncan : If you're trying to reach me, I'll just cut your hand off.

  Rick Latimer : I've got another one.

• Victor Duncan : Why don't you do yourself a favor and go back to your white-bread, suburban, cesspool land while you still have a chance?

  Rick Latimer : I can't.

• Rick Latimer : [awaiting Victor Duncan]  We'll give him another minute. And then we'll go home.

  Jake Phillips : [after only a few seconds]  Okay, time's up.

• [addressing teachers] 

  Rick Latimer : Lighten up! Have some courage! Brave it through a little bit! Look stonefaced! Knives only hurt if they go through you. Urine only smells if you don't clean it up. Come on!

• Rick Latimer : [dealing with a couple of troublemakers in his new office, both of whom keep insulting - and trying to injure - each other in front of him]  Like I said, we got all day.

  Robert Darcy : [enters nervously]  I was hoping to speak to you before this...

  Rick Latimer : This wonderful welcoming party? Why don't we start my first day off with some expulsion papers for Mr. Shit and Mr. Fuck here? And call the police.

  [to Jake Phillips who has just popped in] 

  Rick Latimer : Hi. Rick Latimer. I'm the new principal.

  Jake Phillips : No kidding.

  [moves on] 

  Robert Darcy : [to Latimer]  Did you get a look at the neighborhood coming into this place? Brandel High isn't exactly the highest priority for the police around here.

  Rick Latimer : These guys are trying to cut each other's nuts off!

  Robert Darcy : The cops would only ask why you stopped them! As far as expulsion goes, most of the students here have already been expelled from someplace else!

• Rick Latimer : [in his office]  Okay, what's your name?

  White Zac : Just call me White Zac. My real last name's O'Something-Or-Other. Too long to say.

  Rick Latimer : Sweet. Well, Mr. O'Something-Or-Other, can you tell me what class *this* is for?

  [holds up a switchblade taken from Zac] 

  White Zac : Any class Victor Duncan tries to kill me in.

• Kimberly Latimer : A minute is all it takes for you to do insurmountable amounts of damage, Rick. I've put up with all the frat-brat, Peter-Pan bullshit I can take!

  Rick Latimer : That's your therapist talking, not you.

  Kimberly Latimer : At least SOMEBODY was talking! YOU weren't! *I* tried to make things work, Rick. *I* didn't run out and get plastered every time we had a problem. I didn't quit on us, *you* did! You let it go, the way you let EVERYTHING go! Three jobs you blew! Then your father got you in at Willoughby College, and you blew that too!

  Rick Latimer : That's not *all* my fault! *You* had to show up in that bar with that guy!

  Kimberly Latimer : Rick, grow up.

  Rick Latimer : I'm trying. I'm running a high school now. I'm in charge of it. I'm the principal.

  Kimberly Latimer : I heard. At *Brandel.* That doesn't count as a school.

  Rick Latimer : Now, what is THAT supposed to mean?

  [she drives off without answering]