The Falcon and the Snowman (1985)

Timothy Hutton: Christopher Boyce

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Quotes 

• [explaining why he didn't express his unhappiness with the CIA in a more acceptable manner] 

  Christopher Boyce : It wouldn't have made a difference. I freely chose my response to this absurd world. If given the opportunity, I would have been more vigorous.

• [on the Russians] 

  Christopher Boyce : They're just as paranoid and dangerous as we are. I don't know why I ever thought any differently.

• Christopher Boyce : I know a few things about predatory behavior. And what was once a legitimate intelligence gathering agency is now being misused to prey on weaker governments.

• [to his politically conservative father, while watching the Watergate hearings] 

  Christopher Boyce : Can't you admit that just once, I was right about something?

• [explaining how he met fellow traitor Daulton Lee] 

  Christopher Boyce : We were altar boys together.

• Larry Rogers : The Black World is a code name for a family of covert surveillance satellites - conceived by the Defense Department, manufactured and maintained by RTX, and used primarily by a company you may have heard of - in Langley, Virginia.

  Christopher Boyce : Central Intelligence.

• Christopher Boyce : I think somebody might've made a mistake. Is this the black vault?

  Laurie : No, but you're getting warm.

• Daulton Lee : How much are they paying you or is that a big secret?

  Christopher Boyce : Uh, 140 a week, before taxes.

  Daulton Lee : Do you know what I'm offering you? Do you know what I make?

  Christopher Boyce : Ten times that.

  Daulton Lee : Easy. It's about to double. I'm this far away from a truly amazing connection.

• Gene : Why didn't you tell me your old man was FBI?

  Christopher Boyce : Well, cause he isn't any more.

  Gene : Once FBI, always FBI.

• Mr. Charlie Boyce : My golly! Will you look at this! Where did you get this? You can't buy these in the United States. Where'd you get it son?

  Christopher Boyce : Peking!

  Mr. Charlie Boyce : Huh? Oh, come on!

• Christopher Boyce : Every day I get these misrouted cables - the CIA's secret mail. Details of covert action that have *nothing* to do with national security. Manipulations of foreign press, political parties, whole economies. I mean, it's incredible. I had no idea the extent of the lie, the level of deception.

• Christopher Boyce : People see what they want to see. It's unbelievable.

• Christopher Boyce : You're a drug dealer, Daulton! How can you tell me what's right and wrong?

• Alex : Christopher, we're not unalike, you and I. I, too, have had my doubts. I know what it does to a person. I know what you're feeling.

  Christopher Boyce : What are you talking about? I'm not a professional like you. This isn't a career for me. It was impulsive. I never expected it to go on as long as it has. I'm not like you. You have no idea what I'm feeling. You want a mole in the CIA, you find somebody else.

• Christopher Boyce : I've never been an agent for the KGB. I work for no one but myself. I belong to no political organisations other than the Democratic Party.

• Christopher Boyce : You know, you're not what I expected.

  Alex : And you're not black.

• F.B.I. Interrogator : You understand by turning over US secrets to the Soviet Union you're putting every man, woman, and child in this country in jeopardy.

  Christopher Boyce : They're already in jeopardy.

• F.B.I. Interrogator : Who did you receive your instructions from?

  Christopher Boyce : My conscience.

• Christopher Boyce : I appreciate fear. The chance to face it. There's nothing more exhilarating than confronting your fears.