Sometimes in April (2005 TV Movie)

Debra Winger: Prudence Bushnell

Quotes 

• 'Hutsi' Journalist : These rebels, are they Tutu or Hutsi?

  Prudence Bushnell : [Frustrated at his ignorance]  Hutu and Tutsi!

  'Hutsi' Journalist : Which ones are the good guys?

• Prudence Bushnell : [Appalled at the outcome]  Well, I guess that's it.

  Lionel Quaid : Prudence, our mission was not to intervene while the system functioned perfectly. A few years down the road, the President will ask for forgiveness and make the promise of "never again", but in terms of national interest we did everything right.

  Prudence Bushnell : [Exasperated]  We were loyal to a policy that allowed hundreds of thousands of people to be killed! As far as moral imperative, we did not do the right thing.

  Lionel Quaid : We're bureaucrats, not the political leadership.

  Prudence Bushnell : [Hesitates]  Is it because they're Africans?

  Lionel Quaid : Let's not do that, Pru. It was Rwandans killing Rwandans.

• Bushnell's Superior : [At Bushnell's office, immediately after the genocide begins]  I'm telling you, we don't want another Mogadishu. We don't want our boys dragged naked in the streets. The public won't have it, the Pentagon won't have it, the president won't have it...!

  Prudence Bushnell : [Urgent]  Sir, we're only 48 hours into this and we already have reports of over 10,000 women and children already killed! And they're not just killing Tutsis, they're targeting moderate Hutus.

  Bushnell's Superior : Prudence, what is our vital interest in Rwanda?

  Prudence Bushnell : If there's a crisis, it could destabilize the entire region.

  [to coworker] 

  Prudence Bushnell : May I...?

  Bushnell's Superior : [Muttering]  I appreciate the human tragedy.

  Prudence Bushnell : [Pointing to a paragraph in a C.I.A. report]  Here! If the killing in Rwanda starts, the best case scenario estimates 20,000 dead; the worst case scenario could exceed 500,000. That's the January 25th, 1994, C.I.A. report. That's just nine weeks ago, Sir.

  Bushnell's Superior : [Annoyed]  I don't want to talk about any C.I.A. report again.

• Prudence Bushnell : [In the middle of a strained telephone conversation]  No, you do not need a cease-fire to stop this hate-radio broadcast! Monsieur Bagasora, if you do not stop the killing there will be consequences.

  Colonel Bagosora : Really? You will send the marines? We have no oil here, no dams, we have nothing you need in Rwanda; why would you come?

  Prudence Bushnell : If you do not stop the killings, I promise you that you will be held personally responsible.

  Colonel Bagosora : I will see what we can do.

  [Slams the telephone receiver down in disdain]