A feud develops between two air traffic controllers: one cocky and determined while the other is restrained and laidback, which inevitably affects their lives.

Russell Bell: If you ever want to sleep at night, don't marry a beautiful girl.
Know-It-All Schoolboy: [In response to his teacher's request that the class say "metaphor"] That wasn't a metaphor. That was a simile. "Laying pipe" is a metaphor.
Nick Falzone: [finds Connie crying in the living room] What is it?
Connie Falzone: Sit down, Nick. I've been explaining to the kids what it means that daddy... won't be around anymore.
Nick Falzone: [drops bouquet] Hey... hey, hey Connie. Wait a minute, Connie... Connie, do you even want to hear my side of this?
Connie Falzone: What's your side of my father dying...?
Leo Morton: Ed, can you take that Delta?
Ed Clabes: No, I can't take the Delta, my airspace is finite.
Barry Plotkin: Uh-oh, Ed's going down the drain.
Ed Clabes: I am NOT going down the drain.
Barry Plotkin: Oh yes you are. It happens every time you use the term "finite."
Mary Bell: Are there people who find you charming?
Nick Falzone: Well they pretend, 'cause I try real hard.
Nick Falzone: To hold on to sanity too tight is insane.
Mary Bell: Mr. Falzone, what's the fewest number of words you can use to get out that door?
Nick Falzone: [to Russell Bell] I'm personally going to see to it that you go down in flames!
Airplane Pilot: What?
Nick Falzone: Negative, United. That was not to you. Not to you!
Tina Leary: Hangin' left today, Ed?
[Listening to Nick ramble on about their affair]
Mary Bell: I am way too sober for this.
Russell Bell: I used to bowl, when I was an alcoholic.
Russell Bell: Thought is the enemy.
Nick Falzone: I know. I've been thinking too much. I had that thought actually.
Ed Clabes: [When the girls sit down at the table with the controllers at the diner] I'm married.
Nick Falzone: [the controllers all laugh] And you were just about to throw yourself at him, weren't you?
Nick Falzone: Oh, you really think the pilot is controlling this plane? That would really scare me.
Nick Falzone: [to Russell Bell] I called your house and Mary said you'd be out here.
Nick Falzone: She sounds good
Nick Falzone: Oh, she wanted I give you this message, "See, I told you Colorado wasn't far enough".
Nick Falzone: [Nick finds Mary crying in the supermarket] Anything I can do?
Mary Bell: No, fine.
Supermarket Clerk: [to Mary] Is this man bothering you?
Supermarket Clerk: [to Nick] What did you say to her?
Nick Falzone: Hey! Hey, go away. Go battle evil on aisle twelve!
[Jet flies low over Ed's house]
Ed Clabes: Dammit! I left a *note*, to use alternate climbouts today. Who's on departure?
Tina Leary: Uh, I dunno it's probably Harrison?
Ed Clabes: Harrison, that asshole! I'll make sure every seven forty-seven leaving New York tomorrow night blows shingles off his roof!
Tina Leary: Well, at least it drowns out Falzone.
Mary Bell: [after she has gone to bed with Nick] I'm so sorry...
Nick Falzone: Why?
Mary Bell: I wasn't talking to you.
Nick Falzone: Who were you talking to?
Mary Bell: God, I guess!