Vincent Gale: Jack Valentine

Quotes 

• [Charlie is meeting with Ludwin and two executives from the Department of Homeland Security. Posh setting; sinister atmosphere] 

  Randolph Ludwin : Charlie, the President wants to bring the Bird home.

  Charlie Kramer : I don't understand. Has something happened? I thought everyone was pretty happy with the program.

  Jack Valentine : We are, Charlie. In fact, we're so pleased with the program that we'd like to extend the security that Watchbird provides to all Americans. And not just our troops.

  Randolph Ludwin : [Cheerfully]  Homeland Security wants to deploy the Watchbird on the home front.

  Charlie Kramer : [shocked, but being diplomatic]  Well, it's not as easy as it sounds. With all due respect.

  Jack Valentine : We're not talking about sea to shining sea, Charlie. We envision ten or twelve metropolitan areas. To begin with. And Seattle, of course, would be included.

  [the setting of the story is Seattle] 

  Bradley Tanner : [He hands a folder to Charlie]  It's all detailed in this brief.

  Charlie Kramer : [Charlie takes the folder and politely flips through a few pages]  Yeah. See, the thing about Watchbird is, I mean, the whole idea behind Watchbird is that it was designed for a battle-field environment.

  [the bureaucrats look at each other] 

  Jack Valentine : The war we're fighting, Charlie, the big war? It doesn't respect borders. We're fighting an enemy that thinks nothing of killing innocent civilians.

  Randolph Ludwin : Watchbird is the most effective tactical weapon in our arsenal, Charlie. We have the opportunity to bring it where the need is greatest. Right here, at home.

  Charlie Kramer : [horrified]  And in Iraq, and in Afghanistan, we equipped the Coalition troops with chips. You couldn't possibly use that strategy domestically.

  Jack Valentine : Of course.

  Bradley Tanner : No.

• Jack Valentine : [to Ludwin]  I think it's time we put someone a little more cooperative in charge of the Watchbirds' buttons.

• Randolph Ludwin : Even if we could find someone smart enough to take over, the Bird relies on Charlie. Specifically on Charlie. There's this synaptic discourse between them. His brain array is embedded in the technology. You want to reprogram Watchbird, you're gonna have to reprogram Charlie.

  Jack Valentine : [grimly]  How?