Waco (TV Mini Series)

The Strangers Across the Street (2018)

Michael Shannon: Gary Noesner

Photos 

Quotes 

• Peter Hardwick : Hey, Gary. Catch the game last night?

  Gary Noesner : Nah, I couldn't. But I did catch wind of Mitch Dixon's windfall. Ten million more for HRT, huh?

  Peter Hardwick : Yeah.

  Gary Noesner : You think that's a good idea?

  Peter Hardwick : The world isn't getting any more peaceful. I don't want my men being outgunned.

  Gary Noesner : Well, if you put more guns in people's hands, they're gonna use 'em.

  Peter Hardwick : What does that mean?

  Gary Noesner : There's a paradox to power. The more force you bring to a situation, the more likely you are to meet resistance. If we could spend some of those resouces training agents to negotiate, I guarantee that you would invest a lot less in body bags.

  Peter Hardwick : We can't talk our way out of every situation. This is a good thing, Gary. A show of force helps bring people to the negotiating table.

• Gary Noesner : This is a confidential conversation, right?

  OPR Agent : Can be. What's going on?

  Gary Noesner : I just... I saw something go down that I didn't think was right. And...

  OPR Agent : What's that?

  Gary Noesner : Ruby Ridge.

  OPR Agent : Yeah, heard that wasn't as clean as they made it sound.

  Gary Noesner : No, it wasn't. An innocent woman was killed. It's not sitting well with me, and, you know, things happen. I've been involved when things happen, and... I'm not looking to burn someone, but when they're rewarded for blatant misconduct, I... So, what's this gonna look like if I decide to file a complaint against one of my peers?

  OPR Agent : I'm not gonna lie to you, Gary. People who file these complaints do not win any popularity contests, but if you do decide to move on this... fill out these forms.

• Carol Noesner : You're home late.

  Gary Noesner : Yeah, I had some drinks after work.

  Carol Noesner : Are you okay?

  Gary Noesner : I'm fine.

  Carol Noesner : Yeah, you don't seem fine, Gary.

  Gary Noesner : He was right.

  Carol Noesner : Who was right?

  Gary Noesner : Mitch. He's right. I'm no better than him.

  Carol Noesner : What are you talking about?

  Gary Noesner : Sperryville. There was a guy; he had his ex-wife and his kid at gunpoint. I must've talked to this man for thirteen hours. And then I tricked him into stepping outside so we could kill him. And we killed him. We shot him right in the neck. He looked so confused to be dying. And the worst part is... I didn't feel anything. Nothing at all.

• Mitch Decker : Mind if I bend your ear for a minute?

  Gary Noesner : Sure. What's going on?

  Mitch Decker : A friend came to see me. Word is you're thinking of filing a complaint. Look, Gary, I don't know what your problem is with me, but I don't have a problem with you, and I don't want one.

  Gary Noesner : When I negotiate, I always try to see five steps ahead, you know? But you have a tendency to react to what's going on in the moment. Sometimes you don't see the big picture.

  Mitch Decker : Say what you want to say, Noesner.

  Gary Noesner : I see the direction the Bureau's heading in, and I don't like it. You know as well as I do the more firepower you get, the less chance I get to solve things peacefully.

  Mitch Decker : You really see yourself as some kind of Boy Scout, don't you? But you're digging in the same filth as the rest of us. Your hands are no cleaner than mine. Remember Sperryville? I do. Take a look at the big picture here. Look five steps ahead of what happens if you decide to come after me now.