Criminal Minds (TV Series)

Minimal Loss (2008)

Thomas Gibson: Aaron Hotchner

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Quotes 

• Aaron Hotchner : I know I can't go in there.

  David Rossi : [nods]  I'm going.

  Aaron Hotchner : If something happens to Prentiss or Reid, I... I don't know...

  David Rossi : You're not alone.

• Aaron Hotchner : Dave, they've left the choice of negotiators up to me.

  David Rossi : I taught most of the hostage negotiation unit. You want a recommendation?

  Aaron Hotchner : I'm making you the lead negotiator.

  David Rossi : Me?

  Aaron Hotchner : Why go to the students when I have the teacher?

  David Rossi : Because the teacher is emotionally involved. So is the agent in command.

  Aaron Hotchner : I know I am. This is a unique situation. We have two agents who could affect the outcome on the inside.

  David Rossi : True, but I can't be objective; I know them too well!

  Aaron Hotchner : This outcome depends as much on our ability to predict the moves of Prentiss and Reid as Cyrus. That's why you're the best man for the job!

  David Rossi : Assuming that Reid and Prentiss are still in a condition to make moves!

  Aaron Hotchner : I know how bad this is; that's why I want you doing the talking.

  David Rossi : All right.

• Aaron Hotchner : Get off my crime scene!

• David Rossi : What do we know about the sect?

  Penelope Garcia : Liberty Ranch was founded in 1980 by Libertarian Leo Kane. He created it as a self-sustaining commune.

  Derek Morgan : Libertarians believe that everyone has the right to do what they want as long as they aren't infringing on the rights of others.

  David Rossi : But Libertarians aren't religious. Clearly this sect abandoned Libertarian principles.

  Aaron Hotchner : Benjamin Cyrus, the current leader, introduced religion eight years ago when Kane left.

• Aaron Hotchner : Hey, Dan. You know Dave Rossi.

  Dan Torre : Sure.

  David Rossi : We've been here before, haven't we?

  Dan Torre : Waco. Ruby Ridge. Freemen standoff. Let's hope someone listens to you guys this time.

  David Rossi : Oh, they did more than listen. They put us in charge.

• Dan Torre : I've sent the state police packing. They started this mess. Lost a man in the process. Hope that's okay.

  Aaron Hotchner : If you hadn't, we would have.

  Dan Torre : Good. County sheriffs have had no run-ins with the sect, so we're using them as support. We've had no contact with them so far. They've got power; solar. We can shoot out the panels if you think...

  David Rossi : No, no. That's an escalation.

  Dan Torre : Okay. But that means they have access to the news.

  Aaron Hotchner : I'll get JJ to talk to the press.

• David Rossi : We call this the minimal loss scenario. Every person we get out is a life saved. We won't save them all. All of us have to be prepared to accept that situation.

  Derek Morgan : Cults are structured like pyramids. You got the leader at the top. Diehard believers beneath. The biggest group, the base, followers.

  [drawing a triangle to illustrate, he circles "followers"] 

  Derek Morgan : Women and children. These are the people we can save.

  Aaron Hotchner : The "trickle, flow, gush" strategy is designed to get base followers out. First one or two, then three or four, then as many as we can as fast as we can. And if at any point it starts to go bad, we go in.

  David Rossi : The leaders are charismatic sociopaths who target those most susceptible to their seduction. They have the ability to see what each person needs, and then become that thing. We have to undermine their perception that we're an invading army laying siege to their home.

  Dan Torre : We'll lose the fatigues. Rancher's clothes work for you? Like we did at the Freemen standoff?

  David Rossi : Perfect. Anything we can do to de-militarize situation.

• Dan Torre : How familiar are Agents Prentiss and Reid with our playbook?

  Aaron Hotchner : The BAU wrote the CIRG handbook. They'll know that we're trying to get ears in there at all times.

  Dan Torre : Good. Let's hope they can get these people talking.

  Aaron Hotchner : They will.

• Benjamin Cyrus : Mothers... fathers... children, though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we fear no evil, for thou art with us.

  David Rossi : [listening through the bugs]  This doesn't fit. I looked him in the eye. He was calm, lucid.

  Aaron Hotchner : They're committing mass suicide.

  David Rossi : We don't know that for sure.

  Derek Morgan : Rossi, he just said it.

  Dan Torre : We're ready to go.

  David Rossi : If we go in there, people are gonna die.

  Aaron Hotchner : People are already dying.

• David Rossi : Jim Jones pulled the same stunt! They did a test run just like this years before they did the real thing.

  Aaron Hotchner : [to Torre]  Prepare your men to go in.

  Benjamin Cyrus : Be still. There was no poison.

  Aaron Hotchner : Dan.

  Benjamin Cyrus : Instead, a test of faith. Because your adversary, the devil, waltzes about as a roaring lion, choosing whom he may devour. Watch each other for signs of weakness. You are your brother's keeper.

  Aaron Hotchner : Tell 'em to stand down.

  Dan Torre : Yes, sir.

  [to Rossi] 

  Dan Torre : Nice call.

• Attorney General : I'm the Attorney General of this state. I demand to know why I wasn't told that the FBI was sending undercover agents into the Septarian ranch.

  Aaron Hotchner : The only thing that you're in a position to demand is a lawyer.

  Attorney General : Who the hell are you?

  Aaron Hotchner : I'm Aaron Hotchner, Unit Chief. I'm the guy who's gonna tell the Attorney General of the United States whether to charge you with obstructing a federal investigation or negligent homicide.

  Attorney General : You can't talk to me like that.