Barbarians at the Gate (1993 TV Movie)

Jonathan Pryce: Henry Kravis

Quotes 

• F. Ross Johnson : Well, that LBO stuff is way over my head. I just can't follow it, Henry.

  Henry Kravis : You don't have to. Bankers and lawyers work it all out.

  F. Ross Johnson : All I want from bankers is a new calendar every year and all I care about lawyers is they're back in their coffins before the sun comes up.

• Henry Kravis : He got the art of the double cross down real fast.

• Henry Kravis : It's not the company. It's the credibility. My credibility. I can't just sit on the bench and let other people play the game. Not my game. Not with their rules.

• Henry Kravis : We pay off the debt in buying the company with cash from it's ongoing operation and by selling off pieces of the business.

  F. Ross Johnson : That's french for firing people isn't it, Henry.

  Henry Kravis : As few as possible of course.

  F. Ross Johnson : [pause]  A few dozen, ten thousand?

  Henry Kravis : [longer pause then softly]  As I said as few as possible.

  F. Ross Johnson : [pause]  I couldn't do that. I couldn't live with the fallout.

  Henry Kravis : I'd take care of that.

  F. Ross Johnson : Ya, I don't shave your face in my mirror every morning. All that aside I've never been a big fan of debt.

  Henry Kravis : Debt can be an asset. Debt tightens a company.

  F. Ross Johnson : It does wonders for the sphincter too.

• George Roberts : [ominous music]  Our move. What do you think?

  Henry Kravis : Napalm.

• Henry Kravis : Second place is no better than third.