The Ghost and the Darkness (1996)

Val Kilmer: Col. John Henry Patterson

Photos 

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Quotes 

• [Samuel hands John a letter from his wife] 

  Samuel : You like her?

  John Patterson : Very much.

  Samuel : I don't like any of mine.

• John Patterson : Have you ever failed?

  Charles Remington : Only at life.

• [after they discover the Lion's Den filled with skeletons, and are terrified] 

  Charles Remington : Lions don't do this. Lions... never had a lair like this. They're doing it for the pleasure.

  John Patterson : They'll know we've been here.

• John Patterson : You don't enjoy killing, do you?

  [Remington ignores the question by taking a swig from his flask] 

  Hawthorne : Then why do it?

  Charles Remington : Because I've got a gift.

• John Patterson : Darling... you know how God invented liquor so the Irish wouldn't rule the world. Well, I think he may have invented being stubborn so we can be the best at something.

• John Patterson : What better job in all the world than build a bridge? Bring land over water. Bring worlds together.

• John Patterson : I will sort this out. I will kill the lion, and I will build he bridge.

  Abdullah : Of course you will.

  [as he walks away] 

  Abdullah : You're white, you can do anything.

• John Patterson : The females of the species are larger. All the animals here are like that. they have to be to survive.

• John Patterson : Well then you go too, you lack the courage to lead. Go! Tell all your men to go. But I will kill the lions and I will build the bridge. And you? You must go home and tell the wives of the men who died here that you fled with the others because you could not master your fear.

• Charles Remington : [melancholy]  My life was shaped because someone invented gunpowder, and that's what took me around the world. But the memory that I wanted, that was the family that I lost.

  John Patterson : You know Charles, you're a rather cheerful fellow when you get to know you.

  [all start laughing] 

• Nigel : Patterson the lion killer. I do wish I had been here for the hunt.

  John Patterson : No, you don't.

• Samuel : Mzee! John! Where do you think you're going?

  John Patterson : [John cocks his rifle]  I'm going to sort it out.

  [He fires a shot] 

  John Patterson : I'm going...

  [He fires again] 

  John Patterson : to sort it out.

  [He shoots into the air, again, walks onto the bridge, and continues firing] 

• John Beaumont : I've made you with this assignment, don't make me break you.

  John Patterson : You won't have the opportunity. Any other words of encouragement?

• John Patterson : Of course, he kept moving! What did you want to do, sit down and pose for you? Now, this worked; He came in, hit the wire. He couldn't have been more than fifteen feet away FROM THE THREE OF YOU, AND YOU COULDN'T EVEN WOUND IT! Should have given you rocks, not rifles...!