Death Journey (1976)

Art Maier: District Att'y Virgil Riley

Quotes 

• Assistant D.A. Jonas : Crowder? That bum? That ex-cop?

  District Att'y Virgil Riley : Jonas, just because his methods are unorthodox, that didn't make him a bad cop.

  Assistant D.A. Jonas : Wherever he goes there's always trouble and a few dead bodies left behind. Shoot first and and ask questions later. He's like a page out of the Old West.

  District Att'y Virgil Riley : You're right. But you've just described the one man who can get Finley here alive - Jesse Crowder.

• District Att'y Virgil Riley : [he and Jonas enter his office to annoyingly see the two detectives casually sitting at Riley's desk and pouring coffee]  Are you comfortable, fellas?

  Detective Johnson : Well, we figured you wouldn't mind.

  [starts to drink his coffee] 

  District Att'y Virgil Riley : [angrily]  You drink that and I'm gonna throw your ass out that window, and watch you bounce.

  Detective White : Hey, what is this, huh? It wasn't out fault they got hit.

  Assistant D.A. Jonas : Where were you when it happened?

  Detective Johnson : Me? I was at a nearby gas station taking a leak.

  Detective White : Yeah, working long hours is a tiring business. I went out to get a cup of coffee to stay awake.

  District Att'y Virgil Riley : Who do you assholes think you're talking to, some deaf-and-dumb nitwit? I'm gonna have you both cited for negligence of duty and possible bribery. Maybe a few years in the slammer, with your friend Rosewald, you'll have time enough to drink your coffee, take a piss, and get your heads out of your asses.

• District Att'y Virgil Riley : [answers the telephone]  Hello, Finley. This is the district attorney Virgil Riley.

  Finley : Listen, Mr. District Attorney, I heard about your other two witnesses and I don't plan to join them, so let's just forget the whole thing, okay?

  District Att'y Virgil Riley : Look, you can't do that, even if you wanted to. Finley, as long as you're alive, and Rosewald is free, you're a threat to him, or have you forgotten that you were his accountant?

  Finley : Okay, what's your plan?

  District Att'y Virgil Riley : Simple. After the trial, I'll arrange a new life for you and your family in another country.

  Finley : Yeah, what's my guarantee I'll get to the trial alive?

  District Att'y Virgil Riley : My personal guarantee. I'm having someone escort you from L.A.. He'll be in touch with you. His name is Crowder.

  Finley : Okay, I'll do it.

  [hangs up telephone] 

  Finley : And God help me.

• Stern, the mouthpiece : [to the judge at a meeting]  I find this request highly irregular. The DA's motion of extension is preposterous AND he wants us to permit him a new witness, because of the unfortunate accidents that happened to his other witnesses. I pretest. This parade of new witnesses could go on forever.

  District Att'y Virgil Riley : Your honor, these unfortunate accidents, that this learned counselor is referring to, are hardly accidental. One witness are blown to pieces by a bomb in a car. Another witness was shot to death. Now, it's clearly obvious to me, at least, Mr. Rosewald is directly responsible for this. And these people, victims of his ruthlessness and his willingness to do anything to defy the law.

  Stern, the mouthpiece : [outraged]  I must protest this inference that my client had anything to do with these accidents!

  Assistant D.A. Jonas : [also outraged]  Accidents? Guns don't go off by themselves!

  Judge : Gentlemen, please! Even though we're not in a court, would you please govern yourselves accordingly? It is the duty of the court to clearly see both sides of the case are clearly presented before it. I therefore grant a 48-hour extension. To allow you time to bring your witness in from Los Angeles. Mind you, there will be no more postponements.

• District Att'y Virgil Riley : [Jonas and Riley are walking to the courthouse]  Two of our prime witnesses against Jack Rosewald are dead. Now, that leaves us with one.

  Assistant D.A. Jonas : Yeah, the most important one. We can still get a conviction on his testimony alone, IF we can keep him alive.

  District Att'y Virgil Riley : All right, I'm aware of that possibility.

  [sighs] 

  District Att'y Virgil Riley : Do you really think we can depend on him, after what happened to the other witnesses?

  Assistant D.A. Jonas : I don't see why not. When he was set up, Rosewald refused to take care of his family. Now, that was an insult, an act of disrespect. He'll testify.

  District Att'y Virgil Riley : [sighs]  I hope you're right. Jonas, it's important we get this postponement. We've been trying to nail Rosewald's ass to the wall for the past two years.