NewsRadio (TV Series)

Big Day (1995)

Stephen Root: Jimmy James

Quotes 

• Dave : You know, the $400 bonus is fine.

  Jimmy : I'm glad you like it.

  Dave : But the big bonus and the shaft, I prefer not to do those. They just foster an atmosphere of resentment and paranoia in the office.

  [Mr. James gives Dave a sly grin] 

  Dave : Oh, I see.

• Jimmy : I'd like to give everyone a bonus of $400.

  Dave : $400. OK - that shouldn't be too hard.

  Jimmy : Except for one person who gets a bonus of $3,000.

  Dave : Three thousand?

  Jimmy : Yeah - three fat louies. Or as I call it, "The Big Bonus". It's a great motivator, Dave.

  Dave : Yeah - you're very generous, sir.

  Jimmy : Yeah, thanks. I'd also like to give one person a bonus of $0.

  Jimmy : Zero?

  Jimmy : Yeah, zero dollars. Or as I call it, "The Shaft".

• Bill : Joe, who's the black undercover dick who's a sex machine with all the chicks?

  Joe : Why, I believe that would be Shaft, Bill.

  Bill : Mmm-hmm. And who's the cat who won't cop out when there is danger all about?

  Joe : Once again Bill, you are referring to Shaft. You know, they say that Shaft is one bad mutha...

  Matthew : Just shut up, you guys.

  Jimmy : What're you guys doing?

  Bill : Were just talking about Shaft.

  Jimmy : I can dig it.

• Jimmy : Exactly - big day. You stoked?

  Dave : Uh... yeah; yeah, I suppose so, sir. And - and you?

  Jimmy : Me? I'm miserable, Dave. Yeah, figuring out the annual bonuses is - is pure hell.

  Dave : Oh? Why?

  Jimmy : Well, you gotta take a living, breathing human being and put a dollar value on his head. It's a... it's the devil's work, Dave. It's bad hoodoo.

  Dave : Yeah, it sounds like it.

  Jimmy : Yeah - used to be the hardest part of my job.

  Dave : Oh? What changed it?

  Jimmy : I made it the hardest part of *your* job.

  Dave : When did that happen?

  Jimmy : Just now.

  Dave : Ah. Well, thank you, sir.