Roger Simmons Quotes in The Towering Inferno (1974)

Roger Simmons: [He tears up his breeches buoy ticket and indicates some of the men directly behind him] The women are gone. WE are going next.

James Duncan: [Punches him hard in the stomach; to the other men] You've all got numbers, and you're going to take your turn. And if it's any consolation, I'm going to be the last one out of here, along with my son-in-law!

James Duncan: Did you change any of Doug's electrical specifications?

Roger Simmons: I most certainly did.

James Duncan: For God's sake, why?

Roger Simmons: The reason should be obvious, especially to you.

James Duncan: We've got a fire, and if it was caused by anything you did I'm going to hang you out to dry... and then I'm going to hang you!

[Chief O'Hallorhan has just found out the fire is heading towards the elevator shaft]

Chief O'Hallorhan: You'd better call Duncan, tell him to stop those people in the car room from using that express elevator, or somebody's going to get killed.

[Roberts picks up the phone to comply]

Chief O'Hallorhan: [addressing a colleague] OK, Kappy... ring in a third alarm. I want some rescue squads here and I also want choppers. We're going to need them if we're going to get those people. - All right, come on, firemen. I'll be on 81.

Doug Roberts: [on the phone to Duncan as injured firemen are brought into the office to get medical help] The fire's moving towards the main shaft. Use the scenic elevator - don't overload.

James Duncan: OK, Doug.

[Duncan hangs up the phone and turns to do so but is confronted by Roger Simmons]

Roger Simmons: I don't like the way you talked to me.

James Duncan: You drunk?

Roger Simmons: Not yet.

James Duncan: Well then, get out of my way!

Roger Simmons: You didn't talk like this two years ago, did you? Running over budget and out of money? Did you ask me then how I could shave two million dollars off our electrical costs?

James Duncan: [making his way to the elevators] Shut up and help me with these people!

Roger Simmons: And let me ask you, my dear father-in-law! Am I the only subcontractor you encouraged to cut corners?

James Duncan: [addressing people in the crowd] Excuse me.

Roger Simmons: Where did you save the other $4 million in Doug's original budget?

[Duncan reaches the front of the crowd and pushes past Simmons]

James Duncan: [Addressing the crowd at the elevators, and lying to save his own life:] Please, please. Ladies and gentlemen, I'm sorry. You'll have to move back into the Promenade Room, and we'll be taking you down by the scenic elevator. Now, these express elevators can be activated by fire, and with the probability of short circuits, the cars might stop on the floor where the fire is. So please, we'll use the scenic elevator. It's over here.

[Suddenly an elevator door opens behind Duncan, and several people surge past him into it. Duncan tries to stop them but is unable to, and the door closes behind him and the elevator starts down. Duncan hits the button to try to stop the elevator but it does not return]

[Returning after his failed attempt to escape down the stairs]

Roger Simmons: Pretty ridiculous spectacle. There's no way down.

Roger Simmons: [Returning after his failed attempt to escape down the stairs] Pretty ridiculous spectacle. There's no way down.

Patty Duncan Simmons: Oh, thank God you're all right! Oh Roger, what are we going to do?

Roger Simmons: [Takes vodka bottle and glass] I know what I'm going to do. Get quietly drunk.

Patty Duncan Simmons: If you're responsible for all this, I know how you must be feeling.

Roger Simmons: You don't even know the meaning of the word!

Patty Duncan Simmons: Responsible?

Roger Simmons: Feeling! Oh you know a lot about responsibility, it's a family trait! The Duncans are big on responsibility, at least on the surface!

Patty Duncan Simmons: That's not fair! I don't think it's wrong to feel a sense of duty!

Roger Simmons: [scoffs] When you turn a phrase, lift an eyebrow the exact same way, I see and I hear your father! The two of you, one! Like a great big tree and a baby tree in the shade where the acorn fell.

Patty Duncan Simmons: Roger, I came over to you right now, because I-I thought you might need me!

Roger Simmons: What I need most right now, is this.

[Grabs vodka and glass and walks away]