Bridge of Spies (2015)

Mark Rylance: Rudolf Abel

Photos 

Quotes 

• James Donovan : I have a mandate to serve you. Nobody else does. Quite frankly, everybody else has an interest in sending you to the electric chair.

  Rudolf Abel : All right...

  James Donovan : You don't seem alarmed.

  Rudolf Abel : Would it help?

• Rudolf Abel : Well, the boss isn't always right. But, he's always the boss.

• Rudolf Abel : Standing there like that you reminded me of the man that used to come to our house when I was young. My father used to say: "watch this man'. So I did. Every time he came. And never once did he do anything remarkable.

  James Donovan : And I remind you of him?

  Rudolf Abel : This one time, I was at the age of your son, our house was overrun by partisan border guards. Dozens of them. My father was beaten, my mother was beaten, and this man, my father's friend, he was beaten. And I watched this man. Every time they hit him, he stood back up again. So they hit him harder. Still he got back to his feet. I think because of this they stopped the beating. They let him live. "Stoit i muzhik," I remember them saying... "stoit i muzhik." Which sort of means like uh, 'standing man'. Standing man...

• [repeated line] 

  Rudolf Abel : [about not appearing concerned]  Would it help?

• James Donovan : The death sentence is not a foregone conclusion. Don't worry.

  Rudolf Abel : I'm not afraid to die, Mr. Donovan. Although, it wouldn't be my first choice.

• James Donovan : You have been charged with three counts and nineteen overt acts. Conspiracy to transmit United States defence and atomic secrets to the Soviet Union, conspiracy to gather secrets, and failing to register as a foreign agent.

  Rudolf Abel : Do many foreign agents register?

• Rudolf Abel : Shostakovich is a great artist.

• Rudolf Abel : There may be a glitch. I was a young man when I left. Who will they find to identify me?

  James Donovan : I hope it's not your East German family. I don't think they could identify each other.

• Rudolf Abel : What's the next move when you don't know what the game is?

• Rudolf Abel : [to FBI agents finding him in his underwear]  Visitors... Do you mind if I fetch my teeth?

• Rudolf Abel : You've never asked me if the charges were true. If I am indeed a spy.

  James Donovan : This is how we do it. The case against you matters. Making them prove it matters. The fiction is: Whether you did it or not doesn't matter. The state has to prove it, that you're a spy.

• James Donovan : Were you beaten?

  Rudolf Abel : No. I was talked to. Offers were made.

• Rudolf Abel : [waiting at the prisoner exchange]  I sent you a gift, Jim. It's a... it's a painting. I hope it has some meaning to you.

  James Donovan : I'm sorry, I didn't think to get you a gift.

  Rudolf Abel : This is your gift.

• James Donovan : What do you think will happen when you get home?

  Rudolf Abel : I think... I'll have a vodka.

  James Donovan : [chuckling]  Yeah. Yeah. But, Rudolf, is there not the possibility...

  Rudolf Abel : That my people are going to shoot me?

  James Donovan : Yes. You're not worried?

  Rudolf Abel : Would it help? To answer your question, my friend, I acted honorably. I think they know that. But sometimes people think wrong. People are people. Let's see how they greet me.

  James Donovan : What can I look for?

  Rudolf Abel : If I'm embraced or just shown the back seat.

• Rudolf Abel : [Switches off radio playing Shostakovich and takes off glasses]  Jim, you should be careful. Careful.

• Rudolf Abel : Dear Jim. How are you?

  James Donovan : Happy to see you.

  Rudolf Abel : Have you arranged all this for me?

  James Donovan : Well, let's see what this is before I... I take credit for it.