The Last Castle Quotes
A court-martialed general rallies together 1200 inmates to rise against the corrupt system that put him away.
[first lines]
Irwin: Take a look at a castle. Any castle. Now break down the key elements that make it a castle. They haven't changed in a thousand years. 1: Location. A site on high ground that commands the territory as far as the eye can see. 2: Protection. Big walls, walls strong enough to withstand a frontal attack. 3: A garrison. Men who are trained and willing to kill. 4: A flag. You tell your men you are soldiers and that's your flag. You tell them nobody takes our flag. And you raise that flag so it flies high where everyone can see it. Now you've got yourself a castle. The only difference between this castle and all the rest is that they were built to keep people out. This castle is built to keep people in.
Irwin: Take a look at a castle. Any castle. Now break down the key elements that make it a castle. They haven't changed in a thousand years. 1: Location. A site on high ground that commands the territory as far as the eye can see. 2: Protection. Big walls, walls strong enough to withstand a frontal attack. 3: A garrison. Men who are trained and willing to kill. 4: A flag. You tell your men you are soldiers and that's your flag. You tell them nobody takes our flag. And you raise that flag so it flies high where everyone can see it. Now you've got yourself a castle. The only difference between this castle and all the rest is that they were built to keep people out. This castle is built to keep people in.
Irwin: [Winter is trying to compromise with Irwin] No. Not OK. It's too late, Colonel.
Winter: It's too late for what?
Irwin: For your offer. The men don't want to salute. They don't want to use rank. They don't want better food, they don't want more TV. They just want your resignation. So do I.
Winter: My resignation?
Irwin: You're a disgrace, Colonel. A disgrace to the uniform. You should not be allowed to retain your command.
Winter: Well, then, I guess I'd better go pack.
Irwin: I think you should.
Winter: Tell me, Mr. Irwin, what's to stop me from just placing you in the HOLE, for say six months?
Irwin: Nothing. If that's the way you want to win.
Winter: It's too late for what?
Irwin: For your offer. The men don't want to salute. They don't want to use rank. They don't want better food, they don't want more TV. They just want your resignation. So do I.
Winter: My resignation?
Irwin: You're a disgrace, Colonel. A disgrace to the uniform. You should not be allowed to retain your command.
Winter: Well, then, I guess I'd better go pack.
Irwin: I think you should.
Winter: Tell me, Mr. Irwin, what's to stop me from just placing you in the HOLE, for say six months?
Irwin: Nothing. If that's the way you want to win.
Irwin: We can no long wear the uniform of the soldier. We forfeited that right and that includes me. I disobeyed an executive order, I violated my duty as a commanding officer. And eight men paid a catastrophic price. It's a mistake not easy to live with. So here I am just like you, a convicted criminal. Only difference between you and me is, I know I'm guilty.
[the prisoners laugh]
Irwin: So we're packed away here as prisoners. And one thing is certain, our captor have the power. They can humiliate us, they can beat us, they can lock us away in a dark hole for days on end. But there's one thing they cannot do. They cannot take away from us, who we *are*. And we are soldiers! And it is the one thing, the ONE thing that gives us a chance in here. And that nobody can take away!
[the prisoners laugh]
Irwin: So we're packed away here as prisoners. And one thing is certain, our captor have the power. They can humiliate us, they can beat us, they can lock us away in a dark hole for days on end. But there's one thing they cannot do. They cannot take away from us, who we *are*. And we are soldiers! And it is the one thing, the ONE thing that gives us a chance in here. And that nobody can take away!
Yates: I thought there was one thing that you should know, when they take the castle the are going to hang the flag upside down.
Winter: Upside down?
Yates: It's the international sign of distress.
Winter: Yes I know what it means. Where exactly do the plan to get a flag?
Yates: They already have one... Yours.
Winter: My Flag?...
[goes to his flag box, sees that the flag is gone]
Winter: Peretz who was in here yesterday?
Yates: I took it you murdering fuck!
Winter: I thought you were smarter than that.
Yates: Ya I know you did.
Winter: Upside down?
Yates: It's the international sign of distress.
Winter: Yes I know what it means. Where exactly do the plan to get a flag?
Yates: They already have one... Yours.
Winter: My Flag?...
[goes to his flag box, sees that the flag is gone]
Winter: Peretz who was in here yesterday?
Yates: I took it you murdering fuck!
Winter: I thought you were smarter than that.
Yates: Ya I know you did.
Winter: See, I too share the burden of command. You may not think that I've ever set foot on a battlefield, but that's because you've never sat behind this desk. This desk! My men and I are vastly outnumbered. We spend every day behind enemy lines because, make no mistake about it, Mr. Irwin, they are the enemy! But then, I don't have to justify myself to YOU, do I, Mr. Irwin?
Irwin: I don't know. Do you?
Irwin: I don't know. Do you?
Cpl. Ramon Aguilar: That was a salute.
Irwin: A sa... Oh, no.
[laughs]
Irwin: I don't think so. You know where saluting comes from?
Cpl. Ramon Aguilar: No, sir.
Irwin: It comes from medieval times. Two knights would approach each other on horseback. They would raise their visors and show their faces. It's like they're saying, "This is who I am. I'm not the enemy and I'm not afraid." A salute's about respect, son. Respect for yourself, the service and the flag.
Irwin: A sa... Oh, no.
[laughs]
Irwin: I don't think so. You know where saluting comes from?
Cpl. Ramon Aguilar: No, sir.
Irwin: It comes from medieval times. Two knights would approach each other on horseback. They would raise their visors and show their faces. It's like they're saying, "This is who I am. I'm not the enemy and I'm not afraid." A salute's about respect, son. Respect for yourself, the service and the flag.
Gen. Wheeler: You know, I've been hearing some pretty disturbing things about what goes on in here, and now I'm hearing them from a man I trust and who's opinions I respect!
Winter: May I speak freely, sir?
Gen. Wheeler: Granted.
Winter: With all due respect, sir, I don't know what you've been 'hearing'. But until you've spent some time in the yard with those animals you have no idea what happens in here.
Gen. Wheeler: Point taken, Colonel. Nevertheless, if I hear of anyone else dying under your command, you are THROUGH here. Do YOU understand ME?
Winter: Yes, sir.
Winter: May I speak freely, sir?
Gen. Wheeler: Granted.
Winter: With all due respect, sir, I don't know what you've been 'hearing'. But until you've spent some time in the yard with those animals you have no idea what happens in here.
Gen. Wheeler: Point taken, Colonel. Nevertheless, if I hear of anyone else dying under your command, you are THROUGH here. Do YOU understand ME?
Winter: Yes, sir.
Gen. Wheeler: I don't think you really want to make general, do you Colonel? I mean, you'd have to give up all of these perks.
[laughs]
Gen. Wheeler: Sorry, go on.
Winter: Yesterday Mr. Irwin told me he required my resignation. Frankly I think he's started to lose the plot.
Gen. Wheeler: You saying he's delusional?
Winter: I'm saying he needs professional psychiatric help. He's sick and becoming pathetic.
Gen. Wheeler: Uh, you might want to be a little careful with your word choice. That sick, pathetic man put this star on my shoulder.
Winter: Yes, sir. I know. I also know that you sat in on his court martial.
Gen. Wheeler: And don't tall about things that are above your pay-grade. Hmm?
Winter: Yes, sir.
[laughs]
Gen. Wheeler: Sorry, go on.
Winter: Yesterday Mr. Irwin told me he required my resignation. Frankly I think he's started to lose the plot.
Gen. Wheeler: You saying he's delusional?
Winter: I'm saying he needs professional psychiatric help. He's sick and becoming pathetic.
Gen. Wheeler: Uh, you might want to be a little careful with your word choice. That sick, pathetic man put this star on my shoulder.
Winter: Yes, sir. I know. I also know that you sat in on his court martial.
Gen. Wheeler: And don't tall about things that are above your pay-grade. Hmm?
Winter: Yes, sir.
