Prison for Children (1987 TV Movie)

John Ritter: David Royce

Quotes 

• David Royce : [to two state officials in his office]  You know how many boys in this place have never been convicted of a serious crime? They don't belong here!

• David Royce : [handing John's file to Angela]  Take a look at this.

  Angela Brannon : [taking file, reading]  John Parsons?

  David Royce : [nods]  Try to create a good situation for him. Let's push him to his potential, as unpopular as that might be here. They're stonewalling me up at the capital, and I have to deal with that insanity. I'm counting on you. This kid came in here intact, let's keep him intact!

• David Royce : [last lines, voiceover]  That night, several years ago, we committed a felony. It was never discovered, but it was a felony. They escaped and they survived, with new identities, new names, new futures. In my experience, neglect was the disease, and crime was where it had to lead. I was always hoping people would demand a change... there's been some progress, but we need more. Lord knows everyday how many kids don't belong there. How many kids we're losing.

• Tyrone : [in Royce's office after the glue-sniffing incident is discovered]  Glue?

  David Royce : Get off it, Tyrone. We just shipped two boys from your cottage to the state hospital! And the doctor says one of them could be a basket case for the rest of his life! Now you tell me where it's coming from!

  Tyrone : What do you mean?

  David Royce : [losing his patience]  What I mean is that at 4 foot 6, you've already taken over a cottage. Your teacher tells me you spend less than an hour a day in class, the rest of the time in the discipline room. Now your social worker thinks you're the most abused, fragile and sensitive child since Oliver Twist! And what I mean is that you're playing this place for all the sweet milk you can get. Now do you know what I mean?

  Tyrone : I don't know their names, Mr. Royce! I just know some of the guys got these girlie magazines!

  David Royce : I don't want to hear your rap about the magazines! I'm concerned with the glue.

  Tyrone : There ain't been a boy brought to my cottage since I took over! How come you think that happened?

  [voice breaking] 

  Tyrone : How you think we protect ourselves against the big guys? You run this place, so tell me!

• David Royce : [on the phone in his office]  Does the governor know that I'm trying to call?

  [pause] 

  David Royce : I see.

  [pause] 

  David Royce : No, that's all. Thank you very much.

  [slams down receiver] 

  David Royce : Well, he's leaving it up to the Director of Institutions, Frank Bernard.

  Angela Brannon : You're the superintendent here. How can he send those boys out of here over your objections?

  David Royce : Bernard would have had me fired months ago, but the governor was against it. That Bernard, he's been trying to stick it to me for a long time. He thinks he's got it.

  Angela Brannon : They love all the talk of reform.

  David Royce : Yeah, but it doesn't pay the groceries. This does! We're an industry, Angela! We support this town! We buy their food, we hire the unemployed, you try and fire someone, their state senator comes in here screaming.

  Angela Brannon : All to keep the beds full.

  David Royce : You got it.

  [beat] 

  David Royce : I gave a speech... a dinner speech. I told them what was going on here, about the damage we were doing. They were shocked. Some of them even started to cry. Oh, I got a standing ovation, they thought I was wonderful. And when I told them what they could do to help, write letters, raise money for special homes for these kids, they looked at me with blank expressions. They were glad there were people like me! People who cared, they said, and they left. They don't want to change anything... they just want to feel good about themselves.

  Angela Brannon : [looks out the window]  You know, sometimes I think I can see the eastern face of the Rockies.

  [Royce looks puzzled] 

  Angela Brannon : My brother Sam and I still have a ranch on the western slopes. He's kind of a mean and stingy guy, but when his wife was alive, they really ran the ranch well. Now, cattle roam all over the country, but he needs hands, just to mend fences and bring in the cattle.

  David Royce : [interested]  How many?

  Angela Brannon : [with some hesitation]  Two... maybe three.