Night People (1954)

Broderick Crawford: Charles Leatherby

Quotes 

• Charles Leatherby : [referring to the hostage swap situation]  What would you say if I told you I'd changed my mind about this whole business?

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : What whole business?

  Charles Leatherby : I feel we ought to let Johnny take his chances over there. I just can't send this woman back to what you say she's going back to.

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : Are you sure you really know what you're sayin'?

  Charles Leatherby : I do.

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : And what about his mother?

  Charles Leatherby : I'm sure that I speak for her too.

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : If you live to be a hundred Mr. Leatherby, you'll never do or say anything more becoming to you than that. But the truth is, your wishes have nothing to do with the matter - they never have had. These are decisions that have to be made by a soldier.

• Col. Steve Van Dyke : [Meeting Mr. Leatherby for the first time as he continues tying his shoes and getting dressed in his office]  Mr. Charles Leatherby?

  Charles Leatherby : Yes, that's right.

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : Somebody send for you?

  Charles Leatherby : Nope.

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : Then what're ya doin' here?

  Charles Leatherby : You know very well what I'm doing here Colonel Van Dyke.

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : Oh yeah, I remember now. You're the guy that came over here to tell me how to do my job.

  Charles Leatherby : No, that's not it at all.

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : You're a big wheel in the axel grease business, so naturally you're a big wheel anyplace else you want to poke your nose into.

  Charles Leatherby : Colonel, if you'll be kind enough to let me explain my position here...

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : Also you're a personal friend of Senator-a McDinglehoffer and you've got a letter to the commanding general. You're gonna get a little *action* around here; sitr 'em up a bit, get 'em off their big fat behinds! Isn't that it?

  Charles Leatherby : Look...

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : Why don't you stay home where you belong!

  Charles Leatherby : Because I've got a boy in trouble over here and I'm gonna get him out of it. You understand that?

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : How?... How ya gonna get him out of it?

  Charles Leatherby : I have every right in the world to be here colonel: I'm a citizen and a tax payer, a very big tax payer as a matter of fact.

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : That's not what I asked you. You said you're gonna get your boy outta this trouble n' I wanna know how. I'm very interested in that.

  Charles Leatherby : I warn you Van Dyke, you've got no right to talk to me like this.

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : Alright them I'll change the question: how do you think you're gonna help him by comin' over here n' makin' a bloody nuisance of yourself?... Anything that burns me, is an amateur trying to tell a pro how to do his job.

  Charles Leatherby : I have no intention of telling you or anybody else over here how to do their job.

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : Oh-ho no, you're gonna do it *for* me; you're gonna *buy* the boy out of it - I heard all about that. In front of a dozen people you tackle one of my men and try to take the matter out of my hands. You're gonna do it for yourself, cash-and-carry, send 'em some dough - dough fixes everything. Don't you know I could have you thrown in the jug for that? Trying to make a personal deal with a foreign government?

  Charles Leatherby : That wasn't the idea at all.

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : It just so happens that this is not a cash-and-carry business Mr. Leatherby. You're not dealing with the AMP now. These are cannibals Mr. Leatherby: head-hunting, blood-thirsty cannibals who are out to eat us up.

  [upon finally getting through to Mr. Leatherby] 

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : ... Would you care for a drink?

  Charles Leatherby : Yeah, sure would.

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : Have a chair.

• Col. Steve Van Dyke : [just before leaving the hospital to pursue a lead with the hostage situation]  You stay here Leatherby, I'll be right back.

  Charles Leatherby : Colonel...

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : Yeah?

  Charles Leatherby : I think I'll go back to my hotel.

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : Oh you do?

  Charles Leatherby : Well I'm not needed here, so I'll go back to my room and wait there.

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : Choked up huh?

  Charles Leatherby : That's not it at all.

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : What's the idea of buggin' out?

  Charles Leatherby : Well I'm not needed here so I thought I'd...

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : You want your boy back don't you?

  Charles Leatherby : You know I do.

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : Then you're not goin' anywhere. You're gonna stay right here where you can see what it takes to get him back. Is that asking too much?

  Charles Leatherby : No, of course not. But I just thought I might as well.

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : Yeah I know, you were only thinkin' it was ok for us to play it dirty, but you don't even want to have to *look* at it. Well you shoulda thought of that before you left Toledo. Look Mr. Leatherby, I want you here when I get back, you understand?

  [adamantly points] 

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : Right here, where you can see where all of those big fat taxes of yours go for.

  [he briskly leaves] 

  Maj. R.A. Foster, MD : I used to think that guy was a little crazy, but I've changed my mind about that: he's *big* crazy.

• Charles Leatherby : Well I hated to break in on you, but my son has somethin' he wanted to say to you.

  Cpl. John J. Leatherby : With the Colonel's permission.

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : Ok. Can you keep it short?

  Cpl. John J. Leatherby : Well, all I wanted to say sir was... well my father told me what all ya did for us and, well it meant a lot to all the men. It meant a lot to all...

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : [pats him on the arm]  I think that just about covers it Corporal, you don't have to spread yourself. While we're about it, I think I ought to tell you that your old man pulled one last night too: a little decision, right from here

  [taps on his heart] 

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : It was really big-league stuff. But you'll have to take my word for it, because neither of us is ever gonna mention it again. That right?

  Charles Leatherby : You're in charge Colonel.

  Col. Steve Van Dyke : Oh really? Well, that's finally clear, maybe I'll keep my nose outta the axelgrease business.

  [they all say goodbye and part ways]