Three Days of the Condor Quotations

Three Days of the Condor is a 1975 film about a bookish CIA researcher who finds all his colleagues dead, and must outwit those responsible until he figures out who he can really trust.

Directed by Sydney Pollack, story and screenplay by James Grady, Lorenzo Semple Jr., and David Rayfiel, based on the novel Six Days of the Condor by James Grady.

His code name is Condor. In the next twenty-four hours everyone he trusts will try to kill him.

Dialogue

[Turner is repairing some computer equipment.]

Dr. Lappe: We have people to service these machines.

Turner: These things are really pretty simple — they just look complicated.

Dr. Lappe: Mr. Turner, I wonder if you're… entirely happy here.

Turner: Within obvious limits, yes sir.

Dr. Lappe: Obvious limits?

Turner: It bothers me that I can't tell people what I do.

Dr. Lappe: Why is it taking you so long to accept that?

Turner: Well, I actually trust a few people. That's a problem.

Kathy: I'm scared!

Turner: So am I!

Kathy: Why? You've got the gun!

Turner: Yes! Yeah, and it's not enough. Listen. I work for the CIA. I'm not a spy. I just read books. We read everything that's published in the world, and we-- we feed the plots-- dirty tricks, codes into a computer, and the computer checks against actual CIA plans and operations. I look for leaks, new ideas. We read adventures and novels and journals. I-- I can-Who'd invent a job like that? I-- Listen! People are trying to kill me!

Kathy: Who?

Turner: I don't know, but there's a reason. There is a reason! And I just need some safe, quiet time to pull things together.

Kathy: Here.

Turner: Here.

Kathy: That's only fair.

Turner: You're funny. You take pictures of empty streets and trees with no leaves on them.

Kathy: It's winter.

Turner: Not quite winter. They look like November. Not autumn, not winter. In-between. I like them.

Kathy: Thanks.

Turner: Listen, I'll be going in the morning.

Kathy: Where? Was it all right?

Turner: All right?

Kathy: Outside-- Was it safe? Wherever you went.

Turner: Oh. I'm not sure.

Kathy: Oh, God. I wish I knew more. About you, yesterday, today…

Turner: I don't remember yesterday. Today it rained.

Kathy: Sometimes, I— I take a picture that… isn't like me, but I took it, so it is like me. It has to be. I put those pictures away.

Turner: I'd like to see those pictures.

Kathy: We don't know each other that that well.

Turner: Do you know anybody that well?

Kathy: I don't think I want to know you very well. I don't think you're gonna live much longer.

Turner: Well, I may… surprise you. Anyway, you're not telling the truth.

Kathy: What do you mean?

Turner: You'd rather be with somebody who's not going to live much longer, at least somebody who would be on his way.

Kathy: I'm not--

Turner: You take pictures. Beautiful pictures, but of empty streets and trees with no leaves--November. Why haven't you asked me to untie your hands?

Kathy: H-How much doyou want...

Turner: I just...want to stop it. For a few hours. For the rest of the night. And then I'll go.

Kathy: [about Higgins] Do you trust him?

Turner: [shakes his head] Trust.

Kathy: Does he trust you?

Turner: He's in the suspicion business. He can't trust anybody.

Kathy: How could anybody fool them?

Turner: Maybe nobody did.

Kathy: Then--

Turner: Maybe there's another CIA...inside the CIA.

[Turner and Kathy say their goodbyes at a train station.]

Kathy: You… you have a lot of very fine qualities. But…

Turner: What fine qualities?

Kathy: You have good eyes. Not kind, but… they don't lie, and they don't look away much, and they don't miss anything. I could use eyes like that.

Turner: But you're overdue in Vermont. [pauses] Is he a tough guy?

Kathy: He's pretty tough.

Turner: What will he do?

Kathy: Understand, probably.

Turner: Boy. That is tough.

Turner: I'd like to go back to New York.

Joubert: You have not much future there. It will happen this way. You may be walking. Maybe the first sunny day of the spring. And a car will slow beside you, and a door will open, and someone you know, maybe even trust, will get out of the car. And he will smile, a becoming smile. But he will leave open the door of the car and offer to give you a lift.

Turner: You seem to understand it all so well. What would you suggest?

Joubert: Personally, I prefer Europe.

Turner: Europe?

Joubert: Yes. Well, the fact is, what I do is not a bad occupation. Someone is always willing to pay.

Turner: I would find it… tiring.

Joubert: Oh, no — it's quite restful. It's… almost peaceful. No need to believe in either side, or any side. There is no cause. There's only yourself. The belief is in your own precision.

Turner: I was born in the United States, Joubert. I miss it when I'm away too long.

Joubert: A pity.

Turner: I don't think so.

...

[Joubert pauses, then holds out a gun to Turner]

Joubert: For that day.

Turner: Do we have plans to invade the Middle East?

Higgins: Are you crazy?

Turner: Am I?

Higgins: Look, Turner…

Turner: Do we have plans?

Higgins: No. Absolutely not. We have games. That's all. We play games. What if? How many men? What would it take? Is there a cheaper way to destabilize a regime? That's what we're paid to do.

Turner: So Atwood just took the games too seriously. He was really going to do it, wasn't he?

Higgins: A renegade operation. Atwood knew 54/12 would never authorize it, not with the heat on the company.

Turner: What if there hadn't been any heat? Suppose I hadn't stumbled on their plan?

Higgins: Different ballgame. Fact is, there was nothing wrong with the plan. Oh, the plan was all right, the plan would've worked.

Turner: Boy, what is it with you people? You think not getting caught in a lie is the same thing as telling the truth?

Higgins: No. It's simple economics. Today it's oil, right? In ten or fifteen years, food. Plutonium. And maybe even sooner. Now, what do you think the people are gonna want us to do then?

Turner: Ask them.

Higgins: Not now — then! Ask 'em when they're running out. Ask 'em when there's no heat in their homes and they're cold. Ask 'em when their engines stop. Ask 'em when people who have never known hunger start going hungry. You wanna know something? They won't want us to ask 'em. They'll just want us to get it for 'em!

Turner: Boy, have you found a home. There were seven people killed, Higgins.

Higgins: The company didn't order it.

Turner: Atwood did. Atwood did. And who the hell is Atwood? He's you. He's all you guys. Seven people killed, and you play fucking games!

Higgins: Right. And the other side does, too. That's why we can't let you stay outside.

[Turner and Higgins stop in front of The New York Times.]

Turner: They've got all of it.

Higgins: What? What did you do?

Turner: I told them a story. I told 'em a story. You play games; I told 'em a story.

Higgins: Oh, you… you poor, dumb son of a bitch. You've done more damage than you know.

Turner: I hope so.

Higgins: You're about to be a very lonely man. It didn't have to end this way.

Turner: Of course it did.

Higgins: Hey Turner! How do you know they'll print it? You can take a walk… but how far if they don't print it?

Turner: They'll print it.

Higgins: How do you know?

Cast

Robert Redford - Joseph Turner/The Condor
Faye Dunaway - Kathy Hale
Cliff Robertson - J. Higgins
Max von Sydow - G. Joubert
John Houseman - Wabash
Addison Powell - Leonard Atwood
Walter McGinn - Sam Barber
Tina Chen - Janice Chon
Michael Kane - S.W. Wicks
Don McHenry - Dr. Ferdinand Lappe
Michael Miller - Fowler
Jess Osuna - The Major
Dino Narizzano - Harold
Helen Stenborg - Mrs. Edwina Russell
Patrick Gorman - Martin

Quoternity