The General's Daughter Quotes
When the daughter of a well-known and well-respected base commander is murdered, an undercover detective is summoned to look into the matter and finds a slew of cover-ups at West Point.
Colonel Robert Moore: Do you think I'm involved in this?
Warrant Officer Paul Brenner, C.I.D.: One way or another, yes.
Colonel Robert Moore: Then wouldn't it behoove me to retain the services of an attorney? I know a good one.
Warrant Officer Paul Brenner, C.I.D.: Two problems there. First the obvious: there are no good ones. Second, you're not a civilian, Colonel, you're in the army. You have no rights to an attorney. You have no right to remain silent. And if you don't cooperate I may have to put you in jail and that would make me feel really bad.
Warrant Officer Paul Brenner, C.I.D.: One way or another, yes.
Colonel Robert Moore: Then wouldn't it behoove me to retain the services of an attorney? I know a good one.
Warrant Officer Paul Brenner, C.I.D.: Two problems there. First the obvious: there are no good ones. Second, you're not a civilian, Colonel, you're in the army. You have no rights to an attorney. You have no right to remain silent. And if you don't cooperate I may have to put you in jail and that would make me feel really bad.
Warrant Officer Paul Brenner: You killed her.
Lt. Gen. Joseph Campbell: What did you say?
Warrant Officer Paul Brenner: Seven years ago in that hospital room, when you told her to just forget about it, you killed her.
Lt. Gen. Joseph Campbell: Kent killed her.
Warrant Officer Paul Brenner: No. Kent just put her out of her misery.
Lt. Gen. Joseph Campbell: What did you say?
Warrant Officer Paul Brenner: Seven years ago in that hospital room, when you told her to just forget about it, you killed her.
Lt. Gen. Joseph Campbell: Kent killed her.
Warrant Officer Paul Brenner: No. Kent just put her out of her misery.
Brenner: You don't understand, Colonel Fowler. This is my investigation, and it's still open.
Col. George Fowler: [fuming] Who the hell do you think you are? It's over. You better start thinking about your career, you understand me?
Brenner: [angry] And you'd better start thinking about yours! You are running one lunatic base here! You want to mess with me, Colonel? Let's start gouging away!
Col. George Fowler: You've been warned.
[walks off]
Col. George Fowler: [fuming] Who the hell do you think you are? It's over. You better start thinking about your career, you understand me?
Brenner: [angry] And you'd better start thinking about yours! You are running one lunatic base here! You want to mess with me, Colonel? Let's start gouging away!
Col. George Fowler: You've been warned.
[walks off]
Col. George Fowler: [to Brenner] You couldn't expect the man to deal with his own child. She was screaming such vituperations at him.
Brenner: Of course not.
Col. George Fowler: So he called me, and he asked me to deal with it. And I went. And I found her dead.
Brenner: You found her dead?
Col. George Fowler: [low] Of course. But you will never get me to testify against the general.
Lt. Gen. Joseph Campbell: [alarmed] What?
Col. George Fowler: I've been by Joe Campbell's side too many times. Looked death in the face with him too many times. I will not back down now.
Lt. Gen. Joseph Campbell: What in God's name are you talking about?
Col. George Fowler: It wasn't like she didn't give him reason.
Lt. Gen. Joseph Campbell: George, for Christ's sake!
Col. George Fowler: And then, when we realized... she was
[shudders]
Col. George Fowler: fucking everybody... from Bill Kent to Jake Elby, it was too late for official action.
Lt. Gen. Joseph Campbell: Colonel Fowler!
Col. George Fowler: We would have had to ask for all their resignations, then resign ourselves.
Brenner: Of course not.
Col. George Fowler: So he called me, and he asked me to deal with it. And I went. And I found her dead.
Brenner: You found her dead?
Col. George Fowler: [low] Of course. But you will never get me to testify against the general.
Lt. Gen. Joseph Campbell: [alarmed] What?
Col. George Fowler: I've been by Joe Campbell's side too many times. Looked death in the face with him too many times. I will not back down now.
Lt. Gen. Joseph Campbell: What in God's name are you talking about?
Col. George Fowler: It wasn't like she didn't give him reason.
Lt. Gen. Joseph Campbell: George, for Christ's sake!
Col. George Fowler: And then, when we realized... she was
[shudders]
Col. George Fowler: fucking everybody... from Bill Kent to Jake Elby, it was too late for official action.
Lt. Gen. Joseph Campbell: Colonel Fowler!
Col. George Fowler: We would have had to ask for all their resignations, then resign ourselves.
Brenner: Here you are, sir?
[pulls out folded piece of paper]
Lt. Gen. Joseph Campbell: What is that?
Brenner: The names of the perpetrators by associate agent Sunhill, found with a minimum of trouble. Apple pie, sir.
Lt. Gen. Joseph Campbell: That's just brilliant.
Brenner: Each man will be looking at twenty years, sir.
Col. George Fowler: I think you'd better go now.
Brenner: Fine. We'll just deal with the phone call issue tomorrow, if you prefer... perhaps before your flight.
Lt. Gen. Joseph Campbell: What phone call issue?
Brenner: I have excellent reason to believe that Moore phoned you at 0300 hours the night of the murder.
Lt. Gen. Joseph Campbell: And why in the world would he have done that?
Brenner: Well, if I'm right sir, I think the whole recreation of the rape was Elisabeth's idea. God knows why she did it, perhaps because you were going into politics maybe she thought this was her last chance. But I think she got Moore to put her in exactly the same position the rapist did seven years ago. This time you weren't in Germany, and if I'm right, she would have wanted you to see firsthand what you tried to have covered up.
Col. George Fowler: THAT NEVER HAPPENED!
Brenner: [producing mini tape recorder] A gift from Moore's lawyer.
[pulls out folded piece of paper]
Lt. Gen. Joseph Campbell: What is that?
Brenner: The names of the perpetrators by associate agent Sunhill, found with a minimum of trouble. Apple pie, sir.
Lt. Gen. Joseph Campbell: That's just brilliant.
Brenner: Each man will be looking at twenty years, sir.
Col. George Fowler: I think you'd better go now.
Brenner: Fine. We'll just deal with the phone call issue tomorrow, if you prefer... perhaps before your flight.
Lt. Gen. Joseph Campbell: What phone call issue?
Brenner: I have excellent reason to believe that Moore phoned you at 0300 hours the night of the murder.
Lt. Gen. Joseph Campbell: And why in the world would he have done that?
Brenner: Well, if I'm right sir, I think the whole recreation of the rape was Elisabeth's idea. God knows why she did it, perhaps because you were going into politics maybe she thought this was her last chance. But I think she got Moore to put her in exactly the same position the rapist did seven years ago. This time you weren't in Germany, and if I'm right, she would have wanted you to see firsthand what you tried to have covered up.
Col. George Fowler: THAT NEVER HAPPENED!
Brenner: [producing mini tape recorder] A gift from Moore's lawyer.
Brenner: [Brenner is discussing Elisabeth's medical records that were left in his car anonymously] Now did he instruct you to give me the medical records?
Capt. Goodson: Well, not in so many words... but I think I knew his wishes. You know, anything that might help Elisabeth. I'm sure you know how much he loved her.
Brenner: Not as much as he loved you.
Capt. Goodson: [smiling] What do you mean?
Brenner: I don't know. It's just something about the surprise way you came in that night, the extra care he had in making dinner.
Capt. Goodson: What do you plan on doing about it?
Brenner: Not a thing... other than to tell you I'm sorry about Moore and to ask you for your help. Here... sit down.
[both take a seat on a park bench]
Capt. Goodson: What exactly do you need to know?
Brenner: I want to know about the recreation of the original rape.
Capt. Goodson: I suppose that's what it was.
Brenner: Was it Moore's idea to do this, to kind of cleanse her of her past?
Capt. Goodson: Oh no... Jesus, no. She thought it up. He couldn't talk her out of it.
Brenner: So he felt so bad that he killed himself?
Capt. Goodson: Look, you and I both know that's not how this happened. And that's where they screwed up, whoever did this. Because they didn't know about Bob and me. Bob could no sooner have killed himself than I could pull a chicken out of my ear. But these nefarious types, they don't get that... you know, they don't understand that... affairs of the heart. Way beyond them.
Capt. Goodson: Well, not in so many words... but I think I knew his wishes. You know, anything that might help Elisabeth. I'm sure you know how much he loved her.
Brenner: Not as much as he loved you.
Capt. Goodson: [smiling] What do you mean?
Brenner: I don't know. It's just something about the surprise way you came in that night, the extra care he had in making dinner.
Capt. Goodson: What do you plan on doing about it?
Brenner: Not a thing... other than to tell you I'm sorry about Moore and to ask you for your help. Here... sit down.
[both take a seat on a park bench]
Capt. Goodson: What exactly do you need to know?
Brenner: I want to know about the recreation of the original rape.
Capt. Goodson: I suppose that's what it was.
Brenner: Was it Moore's idea to do this, to kind of cleanse her of her past?
Capt. Goodson: Oh no... Jesus, no. She thought it up. He couldn't talk her out of it.
Brenner: So he felt so bad that he killed himself?
Capt. Goodson: Look, you and I both know that's not how this happened. And that's where they screwed up, whoever did this. Because they didn't know about Bob and me. Bob could no sooner have killed himself than I could pull a chicken out of my ear. But these nefarious types, they don't get that... you know, they don't understand that... affairs of the heart. Way beyond them.
Kent: What do you have?
Brenner: Just a preliminary list of suspects.
Kent: Who?
Brenner: Everyone.
Kent: Looks like you have to narrow it down.
Brenner: Where were you when she was killed?
Kent: I was in the tower when I got the call. No witnesses, though. You?
Brenner: I was too busy killing someone else. I didn't have time to kill two people.
Brenner: Just a preliminary list of suspects.
Kent: Who?
Brenner: Everyone.
Kent: Looks like you have to narrow it down.
Brenner: Where were you when she was killed?
Kent: I was in the tower when I got the call. No witnesses, though. You?
Brenner: I was too busy killing someone else. I didn't have time to kill two people.
Capt. Elisabeth Campbell: [General Campbell has reached the mount site where his daughter is naked and staked down] Here's the answer to your damn ultimatum!
Lt. Gen. Joseph Campbell: Jesus Christ!
Capt. Elisabeth Campbell: Do you see what they did to me? Do you see? Don't turn away, you coward! Come closer! Get a better look! See what they put me through!
Lt. Gen. Joseph Campbell: [anguished] What the fuck do you hope to accomplish?
Capt. Elisabeth Campbell: There's a rope around my neck. You can strangle me if you want to, or you can just cover it up like you did before.
Lt. Gen. Joseph Campbell: Have you gone completely out of your mind?
Capt. Elisabeth Campbell: It happened. It happened! I want to hear you say it happened!
Lt. Gen. Joseph Campbell: [callously] I don't give a damn what happened to you seven years ago!
Capt. Elisabeth Campbell: Whatever hurts you makes me stronger. That which does not destroy me makes me stronger!
Lt. Gen. Joseph Campbell: You can't hurt me anymore. We're even.
Capt. Elisabeth Campbell: That's fine with me. You never helped me!
[voice wavering as her father turns his back on her and walks away]
Capt. Elisabeth Campbell: Daddy, please don't go. Come back... please. Please don't... Daddy.
[General Campell gets in his car and leaves]
Lt. Gen. Joseph Campbell: Jesus Christ!
Capt. Elisabeth Campbell: Do you see what they did to me? Do you see? Don't turn away, you coward! Come closer! Get a better look! See what they put me through!
Lt. Gen. Joseph Campbell: [anguished] What the fuck do you hope to accomplish?
Capt. Elisabeth Campbell: There's a rope around my neck. You can strangle me if you want to, or you can just cover it up like you did before.
Lt. Gen. Joseph Campbell: Have you gone completely out of your mind?
Capt. Elisabeth Campbell: It happened. It happened! I want to hear you say it happened!
Lt. Gen. Joseph Campbell: [callously] I don't give a damn what happened to you seven years ago!
Capt. Elisabeth Campbell: Whatever hurts you makes me stronger. That which does not destroy me makes me stronger!
Lt. Gen. Joseph Campbell: You can't hurt me anymore. We're even.
Capt. Elisabeth Campbell: That's fine with me. You never helped me!
[voice wavering as her father turns his back on her and walks away]
Capt. Elisabeth Campbell: Daddy, please don't go. Come back... please. Please don't... Daddy.
[General Campell gets in his car and leaves]
Brenner: What happened sophomore year at the Point?
[Moore hesitates]
Brenner: Murder or accessory to murder. Either way you get burned. Nobody's going to bail you out.
Moore: It was awful. It was awful.
Brenner: Go ahead. What, she violated a code, she cheated, she lied? What?
Moore: Worse.
Brenner: Drugs.
Moore: Worse.
Brenner: Rape.
[Moore gets up and slowly moves from the back of his cell to the front, directly facing Brenner]
Moore: Worse.
Brenner: What's worse than rape?
Moore: When you find that out... then you'll know everything, won't you?
[Moore hesitates]
Brenner: Murder or accessory to murder. Either way you get burned. Nobody's going to bail you out.
Moore: It was awful. It was awful.
Brenner: Go ahead. What, she violated a code, she cheated, she lied? What?
Moore: Worse.
Brenner: Drugs.
Moore: Worse.
Brenner: Rape.
[Moore gets up and slowly moves from the back of his cell to the front, directly facing Brenner]
Moore: Worse.
Brenner: What's worse than rape?
Moore: When you find that out... then you'll know everything, won't you?
Colonel Robert Moore: When did... the event transpire?
Warrant Officer Paul Brenner: Zero four hundred, we think.
Colonel Robert Moore: Hmm. See that? My quick segue back to the case.
Warrant Officer Paul Brenner: Subtle as a chainsaw. And where were you?
Colonel Robert Moore: Snug in bed.
Warrant Officer Paul Brenner: Witnesses? A wife, girlfriend, roommate, hooker?
Colonel Robert Moore: I'm divorced. I'm between girlfriends, I live alone and I do not use hookers. I actually have... absolutely no alibi whatsoever. Does that make me a killer?
Warrant Officer Paul Brenner: No. Makes you lonely and unpopular.
Warrant Officer Paul Brenner: Zero four hundred, we think.
Colonel Robert Moore: Hmm. See that? My quick segue back to the case.
Warrant Officer Paul Brenner: Subtle as a chainsaw. And where were you?
Colonel Robert Moore: Snug in bed.
Warrant Officer Paul Brenner: Witnesses? A wife, girlfriend, roommate, hooker?
Colonel Robert Moore: I'm divorced. I'm between girlfriends, I live alone and I do not use hookers. I actually have... absolutely no alibi whatsoever. Does that make me a killer?
Warrant Officer Paul Brenner: No. Makes you lonely and unpopular.
Lt. Gen. Joseph Campbell: I want justice for my daughter.
Gen. Sonnenberg: I would give anything for this never to have happened. But it did... and I'm trying to tell you the reality of the situation. We'll never find them, so we'll never know who did it. But we do know this: a coed academy is a good call; a necessary call. Better one unreported and unvindicated rape than to shake the foundations of West Point. To cast suspicion on a thousand soldiers who did not gang-rape a woman that night. All you have to do is convince your daughter that she, the academy, the Army, and a corps of equality would be best served if she just forgot the whole thing. These are the times we live in, Joe.
Gen. Sonnenberg: I would give anything for this never to have happened. But it did... and I'm trying to tell you the reality of the situation. We'll never find them, so we'll never know who did it. But we do know this: a coed academy is a good call; a necessary call. Better one unreported and unvindicated rape than to shake the foundations of West Point. To cast suspicion on a thousand soldiers who did not gang-rape a woman that night. All you have to do is convince your daughter that she, the academy, the Army, and a corps of equality would be best served if she just forgot the whole thing. These are the times we live in, Joe.
