Clear and Present Danger (1994)

Henry Czerny: Robert Ritter

Photos 

Quotes 

• Jack Ryan : I didn't sign up for this. This is someone's bullshit political agenda. Who authorized this? Cutter?

  Ritter : Cutter couldn't tie his own shoes without permission.

  Jack Ryan : If I go down you're coming with me.

  Ritter : Wrong again. I have an *autographed get-out-of-jail-free card*! "The President of the United States authorizes Deputy Director of the CIA Robert Ritter to conduct 'Operation Reciprocity' including all necessary funding and support. This action is deemed important to the national security of the United States etcetera, etcetera, etcetera." You don't *have* one of these, do you Jack?

  [as Ryan walks away] 

  Ritter : Gray! The world is gray, Jack!

• Jack Ryan : You're going to jail, pal!

  Ritter : [seeing Ryan holding a piece of paper]  What is that? What is it you *think* you have there?

  Jack Ryan : You broke the law.

  Ritter : You are *such* a Boy Scout! You see everything in black and white!

  Jack Ryan : No, no, no! Not black and white Ritter, *right* and *wrong*!

• Ritter : [before commencing a covert action]  Let me explain it to you very simply: this is your deal, not mine, so unless I have written authorization, this thing is over before it begins, because I'm not going to be the only one left without a chair when the music stops.

• John Clark : "Reciprocity." That's a clever name for it. Revenge is a very, very, very dangerous motivation.

  Robert Ritter : Are you able to handle this operation or not? What I'm looking for here is a simple yes or no.

  John Clark : What you're looking for is a political mess.

  Robert Ritter : Yes or no?

  John Clark : Is that what they want? Because that's what this is.

  Robert Ritter : They want what every first-term administration wants - a second term.

• Ritter : Jack, computer theft is a serious crime.

  [hangs up the phone] 

  Jack Ryan : [to himself]  So are crimes against the Constitution.

• Jack Ryan : Who authorized this?

  Ritter : I'm sure they'll ask you that.

  Jack Ryan : Who authorized it?

  Ritter : I have no recollection, Senator

• Ritter : [on Cutter's computer]  They're in. Congratulation, James, you've got your own little war.

• Jack Ryan : [confronting Ritter on "Reciprocity"]  Why was I kept out if it?

  Ritter : You weren't kept out of it, you're NECK DEEP in it! You went before Congress and you got the money for it!

• Robert Ritter : Ryan... I can't believe it.

  James Cutter : Not a team player, is that what you're saying?

  Robert Ritter : Not a team player. He's a boy scout. A god damn boy scout. Believes in loyalty, cleanliness, and knot tying.

  James Cutter : So leave him out of it.

  Robert Ritter : He's the deputy director of intelligence, James. That's gonna be a little tricky, don't you think?

  James Cutter : Why? What does he need to know?

  Robert Ritter : Nothing. He needs to know nothing. He's gonna know nothing.

• Jack Ryan : 19 cartridges were recovered, as well as the, um... as the two weapons that fired them. Blood samples taken consistent with the crew. Hardin and, uh, his wife and his son and daughter. They were killed in their staterooms, apparently as they slept, dragged topside, and thrown overboard. The two men in custody surrendered after a brief attempt to outrun the Coast Guard.

  The President : What do we know about them, the men in custody?

  Jack Ryan : Uh, half a dozen arrests, uh, for drug trafficking in Bogota, Mr. President.

  The President : Drugs.

  Jack Ryan : Suspected ties to the Cali cartel, not Medellin...

  Judge Moore : [Greer gasps]  You all right, James?

  Jack Ryan : A-According to DEA.

  The President : Why?

  Robert Ritter : Nothing exotic, sir. Straight piracy and murder. It's not the first time.

  The President : [looking glaringly at Ritter]  It's the first time it was a friend of mine.

  Robert Ritter : Yes, sir.

• John Clark : I want the money in my account before I move an inch.

  Robert Ritter : You got it.

  John Clark : I'll need a COMSAT link.

  Robert Ritter : You got it.

  John Clark : An insertion team.

  Robert Ritter : You can have a brigade.

  John Clark : I don't want a friggin' brigade. I just need twelve men who understand discretionary warfare. Special Ops people, Spanish-speaking.

  Robert Ritter : Cutter will get the military.