The Beast of War (1988)

Jason Patric: Konstantin Koverchenko

Photos 

Quotes 

• Samad : It is called "Pashtunwali". It's the code of honor.

  Koverchenko : Pashtunwali?

  Samad : Three obligations. First, "Melmastia", hospitality. Second, "Badal", revenge. Third, "Nanawateh", the obligation to give sanctuary to all those who ask.

  Koverchenko : To all?

  Samad : All.

  Koverchenko : Even the enemy?

  Samad : All.

  Koverchenko : What if I kill your brother and you came for Badal, revenge? And I ask for Nanawateh?

  Samad : Then I would be obligated to feed, clothe and protect you.

  Koverchenko : That's incredibly civilized.

• Koverchenko : Well, sir, the roadwheel's cracked. Kaminski drank our brakes. We're low on petrol. The battery's low. We're losing oil. If the engine heats up it's gonna seize. The terrain, obviously against us. We have no rations. The Mujas behind us don't seem to run on rations, petrol, or anything we know of. And they have an RPG. Their aim is getting better. Sir.

• Koverchenko : Why did that rebel we ran over laugh at me?

  Samad : He wasn't laughing at you, he was happy. Such men believe if they die in a holy war they will go to paradise.

  Koverchenko : Is that what you believe?

  Samad : After university, I don't know what I believe.

• Koverchenko : [to Daskal]  Sorry, sir. Not much of a war. No Stalingrad. How is it that we're the Nazis this time? How is it? I tried to be a good soldier. But you can't be a good soldier in a rotten war, sir. Now I want you to live to see them win. Go.

  [shouts] 

  Koverchenko : I said go!

• [agreeing to help the Mujahadeen] 

  Koverchenko : Yeah, I'll kaboom tank.

• Daskal : I read your dossier, Mr. Intellectual. What would you say your record says about you?

  Koverchenko : That I think for myself.

  Daskal : You think for yourself. When I was eight years old, defending Stalingrad, I didn't *think for myself*. When the Motherland asked for our lives, we GAVE. My father didn't think of himself, he GAVE. My mother didn't think of herself, she GAVE. My brother didn't think of himself, he GAVE! My comrades tied a rope around my waist and lowered me on top of Nazi tanks. I'd stuff Molotovs under turret and cannon, and they pulled me up again. Eight years old! They called me Tank Boy. I took a lot of Nazi tanks. A lot. And over the years I've learned to smell a traitor.

• Koverchenko : You're a good soldier Anton. You can be counted on when they ask you to shoot your mother.

• [Koverchenko and Daskal are in the tank removing a dud shell from the cannon breech] 

  Daskal : Just tell me one thing; why do you stick up for the Afghan?

  Koverchenko : Because he's doing the best he can, sir.

  Daskal : That's what worries me.

  [he then opens the cannon breech as the dud shell falls out into Koverchenko's arms] 

• Daskal : [drinks from Kaminski's canteen and spits it out]  Brake fluid?

  Koverchenko : No wonder they don't work.

• Kaminski : You better watch your ass, Koverchenko. You know, sometimes Afghan snipers pick off tank drivers.

  Koverchenko : Sometimes tank drivers pick 'em off first, Kaminski.

• Daskal : This time your insubordination is going get you a court martial!

  Koverchenko : So will killing your own men, sir!