Burke Quotes in Aliens (1986)

Private Hudson: [after the drop ship crash] Well, that's great. That's just fuckin' great, man! Now what the fuck are we supposed to do? We're in some real pretty shit now, man!

Corporal Hicks: [grabs him by the shirt] Are you finished?

Newt: I guess we're not gonna be leaving now, right?

Ripley: I'm sorry, Newt.

Newt: You don't have to be sorry. It wasn't your fault.

Private Hudson: That's it, man. Game over, man. Game over! What the fuck are we gonna do now? What are we gonna do?

Burke: Maybe we can build a fire, sing a couple of songs, huh? Why don't we try that?

Newt: We'd better get back 'cause it'll be dark soon and they mostly come at night. Mostly.

Burke: [about the facehuggers] Look, those two specimens are worth millions to the bio-weapons division. Now, if you're smart, we can both come out of it as heroes and we'll be set up for life.

Ripley: You're crazy Burke, you know that? You really think that you can get a dangerous organism like that past ICC quarantine?

Burke: How can they impound it if they don't know about it?

Ripley: Oh, they *will* know about it, Burke, from me. Just like they'll know that you were responsible for the deaths of 158 colonists here.

Burke: Wait a second...

Ripley: You sent them to that ship.

Burke: You're wrong.

Ripley: I just checked the colony log. Dated 0-6-1-2-7-9, signed Burke, Carter J. You sent them out there and you didn't even warn them. Why didn't you warn them, Burke?

Burke: Okay, look. What if that ship didn't even exist, huh? Did you ever think about that? I didn't know! So now, if I went in and made a major security issue out of it, everybody steps in. Administration steps in, and there are no exclusive rights for anybody; nobody wins. So I made a decision and it was... wrong. It was a bad call, Ripley. It was a bad call.

Ripley: Bad call?

[Ripley grabs Burke by his vest and shoves him against a wall]

Ripley: These people are *dead*, Burke! Don't you have any idea what you have done here? Well, I'm gonna make sure they nail you right to the wall for this! You're not gonna sleaze your way out of this one! Right to the wall!

[Ripley lets go of Burke]

Burke: Ripley...! You know, I... I expected more from you. I thought you'd be smarter than this.

Ripley: I'm happy to disappoint you.

[Ripley leaves]

Lieutenant Gorman: [referring to the knife game] I thought you never missed, Bishop.

[Ripley looks up to see a white milky substance leaking from between Bishop's thumb and index fingers]

Ripley: [to Burke in an accusatory tone] You never said anything about an android being on board! Why not?

Burke: Pff, it never... never occurred to me. It's just common practice. We always have a synthetic on board.

Bishop: I prefer the term "Artificial Person" myself.

Private Hudson: [puts his rifle against Burke's head] I say we grease this rat-fuck son-of-a-bitch right now.

Corporal Hicks: It just doesn't make any goddamn sense.

Ripley: He figured that he could get an alien back through quarantine, if one of us was... impregnated... whatever you call it, and then frozen for the trip home. Nobody would know about the embryos we were carrying... me and Newt.

Corporal Hicks: Wait a minute, now... we'd all know.

Ripley: Yes. The only way he could do it is if he sabotaged certain freezers on the way home... namely, yours. Then he could jettison the bodies and make up any story he liked.

Private Hudson: Fuck. He's dead. You're dog-meat, pal!

Burke: This is so nuts. I mean, listen - listen to what you're saying. It's paranoid delusion. How - It's really sad. It's pathetic.

Ripley: You know, Burke, I don't know which species is worse. You don't see them fucking each other over for a goddamn percentage.

Corporal Hicks: All right, we waste him. No offense.

Ripley: No. He's gotta go back.

Bishop: [puzzled by Ripley's reaction towards him] Is there a problem?

Burke: I'm sorry. I don't know why I didn't even... Ripley's last trip out, the syn- the artificial person malfunctioned.

Ripley: "Malfunctioned"?

Burke: There were problems and a-a few deaths were involved.

Bishop: I'm shocked. Was it an older model?

Burke: Yeah, the Hyperdine System's 120-A2.

Bishop: Well, that explains it then. The A2s always were a bit twitchy. That could never happen now with our behavioral inhibitors. It is impossible for me to harm or by omission of action, allow to be harmed, a human being.

Private Vasquez: [after barely surviving the alien surprise attack] All right. We got seven canisters of CM-20. I say we roll them in there and nerve gas the whole fuckin' nest.

Corporal Hicks: It's worth the try, but we don't know if that's gonna affect them.

Private Hudson: Look let's just bug out and call it even, okay? What are we even talking about this for?

Ripley: I say we take off and nuke the entire site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.

Private Hudson: Fuckin' A!

Burke: Hold on, hold on just a second. This installation has a substantial dollar value attached to it.

Ripley: They can *bill* me.

Burke: Okay, I know this is an emotional moment for all of us, okay? I know that. But let's not make snap judgments, please. This is clearly... clearly an important species we're dealing with and I don't think that you or I, or *anybody*, has the right to arbitrarily exterminate them.

Ripley: [laughs feebly] Wrong.

Private Vasquez: Yeah. Watch us.

Private Hudson: Hey, maybe you haven't been keeping up on current events, but we just got our asses kicked, pal!

Burke: Look. I'm not blind to what's going on, but I cannot authorize that kind of action. I'm sorry.

Ripley: Well, I believe that Corporal Hicks... has authority here.

Burke: Corporal Hicks has...

Ripley: This operation is under military jurisdiction and Hicks is next in chain of command. Am I right, Corporal?

Corporal Hicks: Yeah... yeah, that's right.

Burke: Yeah... Look, Ripley, this is a multi-million dollar installation, okay? He can't make that kind of decision. He's just a grunt! Uh, no offense.

Corporal Hicks: [coldly] None taken.

Corporal Hicks: [into headset] Ferro, do you copy?

Corporal Ferro: [on comms] Standing by.

Corporal Hicks: Prepare for dust-off. We're gonna need immediate evac.

Corporal Ferro: [on comms] Roger. On our way.

Corporal Hicks: I say we take off, nuke the site from orbit.

[looks to Ripley]

Corporal Hicks: It's the only way to be sure.

[Ripley smiles]

[Burke greets Ripley at the hospital after she has been rescued from hypersleep]

Burke: I'm Burke. Carter Burke. I work for the company. But don't let that fool you, I'm really an okay guy. I'm glad to see you're feeling a little better. They, uh, they tell me that all the weakness and disorientation should pass soon. It's just natural side effects of such an unusually long hypersleep, or something like that.

Ripley: What do you mean? How long was I out there?

Burke: [stunned] Has no one discussed this with you yet?

Ripley: No. But, I mean, I don't... recognize this place.

Burke: [visibly uncomfortable] No, I know. Uh, okay, it's just that, uh, this might be a shock to you. It's long...

Ripley: *How* long? Please.

Burke: [after a pause] Fifty-seven years.

Ripley: [stunned disbelief] What?

Burke: That's the thing. You were out there for fifty-seven years. What happened was, you had drifted right through the core systems, and it's really just blind luck that a deep salvage team found you when they did. It's one in a thousand, really. I think you're damn lucky to be alive, kiddo. You could be floating out there forever.

Ripley: Lieutenant, what do those pulse rifles fire?

Lieutenant Gorman: 10 millimeter explosive tip caseless. Standard light armor piercing rounds. Why?

Ripley: Well, look where your team is. They're right under the primary heat exchangers.

Lieutenant Gorman: So?

Ripley: So, if they fire their weapons in there, won't they rupture the cooling system?

Burke: [interjecting] Ho, ho, ho. Yeah, she's absolutely right.

Lieutenant Gorman: So? So what?

Burke: Look, this whole station is basically a big fusion reactor, right? So you're talkin' about a thermonuclear explosion and adiós, muchachos.

Lieutenant Gorman: Oh, great. Wonderful. Shit!

Ripley: Just tell me one thing, Burke. You're going out there to destroy them, right? Not to study. Not to bring back. But to wipe them out.

Burke: That's the plan. You have my word on it.

Ripley: All right, I'm in.

Burke: Busy little creatures, huh?

Ripley: Do you have any news about my daughter ?

Burke: Well we did come up with some informations. Why don't we sit down. I was hoping to wait until after the inquest... Amanda Ripley-McClaren - married name, I guess - aged 66. And that was the time of her death. Which was two years ago. I'm really sorry.

Ripley: Amy...

Burke: Um... She was cremated and interred at Westlake Repository, Little Chute, Wisconsin. No children. I checked.

Ripley: I'd promised her... that I'll be home for her birthday, Her 11th birthday.

Ripley: I don't believe this. You guys throw me at the wolves, and now you want me to go back out there? Forget it. It's not my problem.

Burke: Can I finish ?

Ripley: No. There's no way.

Lieutenant Gorman: Ripley, you wouldn't be going in with the troops. I can guarantee your safety.

Burke: These colonials marines are very though hombres. They're packing state of the art firepower. There's nothing they can't handle. Lieutenant, am I right ?

Lieutenant Gorman: That's true. We've been trained to deal with situations like this.

Med Tech: How are we today ?

Ripley: Terrible

Med Tech: Well, better than yesterday at least

Ripley: Where am I ?

Med Tech: You're Safe. You're at Gateway Station, been here a couple of days. You were pretty groggy at first, but now you're OK. Looks like you've got a visitor.

Ripley: Jonesy. Come here! Hey, come here. How are you, you stupid cat? How are you ? Were have you been ?

Burke: I guess you two have met, huh . I'm Burke. Carter Burke. I work for the company. But don't let that fool you. I'm really an OK guy. I'm glad to see that you're feeling a little bit better. They told me that all the weakness and desorientation should pass soon. It's just natural side effects of such an unusally long hypersleep, or something like that...

Ripley: What'd you mean, How long was I out there ?

Burke: Has no one discussed this with you yet ?

Ripley: No. But, I mean, I don't recognise this place.

Burke: No, I know. Uh... OK. It's just that, uh, this might be a shock to you. It's longer...

Ripley: How Long ? Please.

Burke: 57 years.

Ripley: What?

Burke: That's the thing. You're out there for 57 years. What happened is. You had drifted right through the core system, and It's really just blind luck that a deep-salvage team found you when they did. It was one in a thousand, really. I think you're damn lucky to be alive, kiddo. You could be floating out there forever.

Burke: [to Ray] You stabbed me with a potato peeler!

[Chris has been captured by Jay's men; he lays on a table. Booth produces a craft knife]

Burke: What are you doing?

Booth: Special forces, special treatment!

Burke: This guy knows Hamilton!

Burke, Booth: [Booth grunts as he starts to cut into Chris' mid-section; Chris screams and struggles]

Booth: [to Burke] Hold him!

[Chris' screams continue]

Kimberly Corman: Look, please... if you know of anything that could help us, what harm could it do?

William Bludworth: Only new life can defeat Death.

Burke: What the hell does that mean?

William Bludworth: Some people say there's a balance to everything. For every life there's a death, for every death, there is a life. But the introduction of life that was not meant to be, that can invalidate the list, force Death to start anew. You have to follow the signs... Kimberly.

Kimberly Corman: How do you know my name?

Burke: Listen, I know you've gone over all this with Detective Suby, but would you mind telling me what happened?

Kimberly Corman: It was like I was there. I knew something bad was going to happen, even before it did. I just felt wrong, just like...

Burke: Just like what?

Kimberly Corman: Look, I know this sounds crazy but... you guys all heard about Flight 180, right? The kid who got off the plane? Well, it happened a year ago, today. My premonition was just like his.

Kimberly Corman: We have to tell Isabella to stay away from a lake so she can stay alive long enough to have her baby.

Burke: That won't be an easy conversation to have.

Kimberly Corman: [seeing the dead body of Evan at the crematorium] Oh my God.

Burke: That's Evan Lewis.

[in an elevator; on the phone]

Nora: Hello?

Burke: Nora!

Nora: Who is this?

Burke: Nora? Can you hear me?

Nora: O-Officer Burke? I can't hear you! What?

Eugene: What? What's he saying?

Burke: Nora, a man with hooks is gonna kill you.

Burke: That's the night I scraped up Billy Hitchcock.

Clear Rivers: Kimbery...

Burke: What did you see? what are we looking for?

Kimberly Corman: It's not here! this one was different. It was like the van crashing into the lake. I was in a hospital, there was screaming and a nurse was trying to choke me... I couldn't see her but I could see her name tag, it was right in my face... Kalargian. I think a nurse named Kalarjian is going to try and kill Isabella

Burke: [after his cup spills on his lap] Son of a... bitch!

Burke: Rory!

Quentin Turnbull: Magnificent, isn't it?

Burke: It's bigger than a breadbox, that's for sure.

Quentin Turnbull: Do you know who Eli Whitney was?

Burke: I'm a very undereducated man, Mr. Turnbull. Are we talking about Whitney Sr. or Jr.?

Quentin Turnbull: [smiles] Senior. After he invented the cotton gin and started the Industrial Revolution, he went to work for the U.S. military, and pioneered the use of interchangeable parts, firearms, and explosive ordnance, and fairly well singlehandedly invented modern warfare. So, as an exercise they asked him to design a "superweapon." A nation-killer. And this is what he envisaged, but they never built it, because once they realized its potential, they could not conceive of willingly turning such devastation on their fellow man. But I can. And one week from today... the United States will know hell.

Burke: Cheers!

Quentin Turnbull: Explain it to me again, Burke.

Burke: There is no explanation. I gave the bastard two barrels in the chest. By all rights he should be as dead as Billy here.

Quentin Turnbull: Well, Jonah Hex doesn't know how to die. He'll have to be educated.

Burke: I have no problem educating the man.

Burke: You look like a right freak, you know that? Tell me, what's it like to go through life with a face like that?

Jonah Hex: Let me show you!

[punches him]

Burke: Jonah bloody Hex! I'd know that half-baked piehole anywhere!

Burke: I'm gonna hand Turnbull your balls in a snuffbox!

Burke: Lovely little orange balls.

Turnbull's Gang - Billy: They don't look like much.

Burke: Maybe. But they'll turn the world to dust all the same. Take 'em, boys. But be careful. Wouldn't want to drop them.

[after the Alpha Betas' treachery is revealed at the pep rally]

Dean Ulich: You know, Coach. I'm going to let the Lambdas live over at the Alpha Beta house while you and your boys rebuild theirs!

Burke: Where the hell are *we* gonna live?

Ogre: Yeah. What about *us*?

Dean Ulich: You're *jocks*! Go live in the gym!

Burke: Well, let's get those nerds!

Stan Gable: [screams] Nerds!

Ogre: [screams] Nerds!

Stan Gable: What are we *waiting* for?

[the angry Alpha Betas storm out of the locker room towards the Tri-Lams house]

Burke: Listen, I just want to make a deal here. Can we make a deal?

Ronna: Who the hell are you? Monty Hall?

Zack: [after being asked by Burke to sell Confederated Products] Uhh, wait. Wait. You want us to sell Amway?

Burke: It's Confederated Products. It's a different company, it's a different quality of product.

Burke: This is the high life, Sheldon. You gotta get used to this. Pretty soon you're gonna be pissin' on hundred dollar bills just to see the look on Franklin's face!

Sheldon: I don't think I could ever do that. I have much too much respect for what that man accomplished.

Burke: It's all about the dough, Shel. Once you get the money, you get the power. Once you get the power, you can have Smoochy walk out there with a dildo strapped to his head if you want.

Sheldon: [long pause] I don't think I've thought of that idea specifically, but I? I do see where you're going with this.

Burke: [re-negotiating Sheldon's contract] Allow me to untangle this web of shit. I don't care if his last job was jugging apples for a hut full of pygmies on the outskirts of the congo! This man fits the bill, and you need him! And that's why the rhino's going to get exactly what he deserves.

Burke: If you rat on the Parade of Hope, you'll be lucky to find your toenails. These guys are the roughest of all the charities.

Burke: Sheldon, I know you got a fetish for ethics.

Lasagna: I hear you can take anything on four wheels, man, and fly it away to heaven.

Burke: Well don't believe everything you hear.

Lasagna: I thought bustin' cars was your thing.

Burke: Well a car ain't nothing but a series of locks. Older the lock, easier it is. And this place... is old.

Burke: Let me tell you something. I was making it a real point to mind my own business. Maybe you oughta try that for a while. Start right now. You give me back my ball, I'll give you yours.

Burke: [from trailer] There's a mark on your hand. It says "rebirth".

Burke: You're here about the girl, The girl in the well

Burke: Funerals are important rituals. They're not only recognition that a person has died; they're recognition that a person has lived.

Burke: I happen to know a thing or two about people. You get approached a lot. Probably have since the day you strapped on your first training bra. But you're smart, and you're creative, and you're caring and big... But, how come the guys only see the package it comes in, sure... you're flattered. But ultimately, ultimately it's tiresome because it has nothing to do with you. You were born that way, you can't take credit for it. Your insides though, that's yours. That's what you want someone to truly see. Even a stranger. Ergo... you fake a handicap. Rather than to have a conversation with a fellow human being. You prefer sign language? Fine.

[shows middle finger]

Burke: During your travels, it's important to always keep one thing in mind: when one thing ends, something else begins.

Burke: [first lines, in voice-over] Chapter one. Sometimes, despite your best efforts otherwise, life will give you lemons. When that happens, you've got two choices, friend: you can wear a sour face or make lemonade.

Burke: [to a crime scene corpse] Happy fucking Valentine's Day.

Officer Hinch: [looking at a candy box with a human heart inside] Think I waited too long to retire.

Burke: You and me both, Hinch. Who did this?

Officer Hinch: Harry Warden.

Burke: Harry Warden's in a coma.

Officer Hinch: Guess he woke up.

Burke: I just saved your ass, Hanniger. For the second time. But don't you worry, kiddo. There won't be a third.

Tom Hanniger: Good.

Deputy Ferris: You wanna take point?

Burke: [after long pause] I'm retired.

Burke's Friend: I say, rather a swine that fellow McEwen.

Burke: God made him.

Burke's Friend: What I don't understand is why these black fellows in here, don't take offense of what he's saying?

Burke: They're not black fellows. That chap that just went out, Kalita, he's a black boy. Those others in there are all half-caste. You see, they're allowed in the bar, but they have to drink by themselves.

Burke's Friend: That bounder lays on his white supremacy a bit thick. I say, is it because he's touched with the tar brush himself?

Burke: You've guessed his dark secret. But, as long as he owns the whole of Benga island and holds paper on half the planters here, no one is likely to mention his - mother.

Burke's Friend: Quite, so.

Burke: Quite.