The Principal (1987)

Louis Gossett Jr.: Jake Phillips

Photos 

Quotes 

• Rick Latimer : I'll be here tomorrow.

  Jake Phillips : I'll be here too.

  Rick Latimer : We are very stupid men.

  Jake Phillips : Yeah, I know. But what can you do?

• Jake Phillips : ["Screwdriver" Phillips barges into the office of a napping "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi" Latimer]  You're ever-vigilant, I see.

  Rick Latimer : Where I come from, we knock.

  Jake Phillips : Where *I* come from, we pick locks. With your permission, I'll replace your old rusty one with a new deadbolt. The kind only .357 Magnums can open up.

  Rick Latimer : Thanks, Jake. That's real encouraging. I feel much better now.

  Jake Phillips : Do you mind if I ask you a question I ask all imported principals?

  [without waiting for an answer] 

  Jake Phillips : What is a fine, white-bread boy like you doing in a place like this?

  Rick Latimer : Keeping my warm ass planted in this chair.

  Jake Phillips : [indicates the "Classified Ads" which Latimer has been going through]  'Til something better comes along, right? I don't know why I thought it should've been any different.

• Rick Latimer : [awaiting Victor Duncan]  We'll give him another minute. And then we'll go home.

  Jake Phillips : [after only a few seconds]  Okay, time's up.

• Rick Latimer : [dealing with a couple of troublemakers in his new office, both of whom keep insulting - and trying to injure - each other in front of him]  Like I said, we got all day.

  Robert Darcy : [enters nervously]  I was hoping to speak to you before this...

  Rick Latimer : This wonderful welcoming party? Why don't we start my first day off with some expulsion papers for Mr. Shit and Mr. Fuck here? And call the police.

  [to Jake Phillips who has just popped in] 

  Rick Latimer : Hi. Rick Latimer. I'm the new principal.

  Jake Phillips : No kidding.

  [moves on] 

  Robert Darcy : [to Latimer]  Did you get a look at the neighborhood coming into this place? Brandel High isn't exactly the highest priority for the police around here.

  Rick Latimer : These guys are trying to cut each other's nuts off!

  Robert Darcy : The cops would only ask why you stopped them! As far as expulsion goes, most of the students here have already been expelled from someplace else!