Escape from L.A. (1996)

Cliff Robertson: President

Photos 

Quotes 

• President : What's it going to be, Plissken? Them or us?

  Snake Plissken : I shut down the third world, you win they lose. I shut down America, they win, you lose. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

• Snake Plissken : [bored tone of voice]  Who are you?

  President : I'm your President.

  Snake Plissken : [unimpressed]  Understand you got some domestic problems...

• President : All right, I've heard enough. Would you explain to this foot soldier why he's going to do what we tell him to do.

  Snake Plissken : What's he talking about?

  Malloy : The Plutoxin Seven virus.

  Brazen : Genetically engineered. 100% pure death.

  Malloy : It starts with a slight headache, then turns into a fever that gets worse. After a short time, you crash. You bleed out like a stuck pig. Not a pretty sight.

  Snake Plissken : I get it. You figure that you inject that shit into me, and under the threat of death, I'll do whatever you say... just like in New York.

  Malloy : You got it... Snake!

  Snake Plissken : One question: which one of you assholes gets to die trying to stick me?

  Malloy : You don't understand. It's already in you.

  [Snake looks down at his hand, where it was scratched earlier] 

  Brazen : Catches on quick, doesn't he?

• President : Man is too dumb to survive L.A.

  Malloy : We're holograms, Plissken.

• [first lines] 

  Female Narrator : In the late 20th century, hostile forces inside the United States grow strong. The city of Los Angeles is ravaged by crime and immorality. To protect and defend its citizens, the United States Police Force is formed. A presidential candidate predicts a millennium earthquake will destroy L.A. in divine retribution.

  President : Like the mighty fist of God, Armageddon will descend upon the city of Los Angeles - the city of sin, the city of Gomorrah, the city of Sodom - and waters will rise and separate this sinful, sinful city from our country.

  Female Narrator : The earthquake measuring 9.6 on the Richter scale hits at 12:59 P.M. August 23rd in the year 2000. After the devastation, the Constitution is amended, and the newly elected president accepts a lifetime term of office. The country's capitol is moved from Washington, D.C., to the president's hometown of Lynchburg, Virginia. Los Angeles Island is declared no longer part of the United States and becomes the deportation point for all people found undesirable or unfit to live in the new, moral America. The United States Police Force, like an army, is encamped among the shorelines, making any escape from L.A. impossible. From the southeastern hills of Orange County to the northwestern shore of Malibu, the great wall excludes L.A. from the mainland. The president's first act as permanent Commander in Chief is Directive 17: once an American loses his or her citizenship, they are deported to this island of the damned, and they never come back.

• President : If you go to Los Angeles, and come back with that black box and put it in my hand, you'll be given a full pardon for every moral crime you've committed in the United States.

  Snake Plissken : Sounds familiar.

• President : [final scene, talking to Plissken's hologram]  What's it going to be, Plissken? Them or us?

  Snake Plissken : I shut down the third world, you win they lose. I shut down America, they win, you lose. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

  President : So what are you going to do?

  Snake Plissken : Disappear.

  Brazen : [Plissken types 6-6-6 into the satellite control]  He's entered the world code. No target code. Sir, that will shut down the entire planet.

  Snake Plissken : I told you you'd better hope I didn't make it back.

  Malloy : You push that button, 500 years' worth of work will be finished. Our technology, our way of life, our entire history. We'll have to start all over again. For God's sakes, don't do it, Snake!

  Snake Plissken : The name's Plissken.

  Utopia : [Plissken activates the satellites, shutting down all power, which saves Utopia from being executed in the electric chair]  He did it! He shut down the Earth!

  Snake Plissken : [Lights a cigarette and blows out the match used to light it]  Welcome to the human race.

• President : Let's face it, he's dead.

  Brazen : I agree.

  Cmdr. Malloy : Plissken has been dead so many times, I can't count 'em all. But, he never stays down.

• President : I now render - this final solution.

• President : For he so loved his country, he gave his only seditious child.

• President : Prepare to broadcast. Worldwide. Worldwide!

• Brazen : Mr. President, Commander Malloy, we are receiving reports from Miami. An armada of warships have just departed Cuba. ETA to Florida coast in 45 minutes.

  Malloy : Starting the invasion.

  President : Gotta go to my quarters. Got to pray!

  [exits] 

  Malloy : [to Brazen]  Go with him. Make sure he doesn't do anything crazy.

• Snake Plissken : Get this crap outta me.

  President : I guess we gotta deal.

• President : I hope it was worth it. For now you are going to die.

  Snake Plissken : Everybody does.

  President : Kill him.