Waco (TV Mini Series)

Visions and Omens (2018)

Michael Shannon: Gary Noesner

Quotes 

• Gary Noesner : You got a minute?

  Peter Hardwick : Sure. What's on your mind?

  Gary Noesner : The, uh... Ruby Ridge report? I have some concerns.

  Peter Hardwick : Mm-hmm?

  Gary Noesner : It says that Mitch "acted appropriately".

  Peter Hardwick : Well, in all fairness, he wasn't trying to kill Vicky Weaver.

  Gary Noesner : No, but he did break the rules of engagement in the field. He should be facing an investigation, not getting a pat on the back.

  Peter Hardwick : This mess belongs to the ATF. Look, the boys upstairs are worried that if we reprimand Mitch, then we're admitting fault.

  Gary Noesner : But we are at fault. He issued a "kill on sight" command and a woman was killed. Look, my dad used to say "You don't earn trust by telling people how good you did. You earn it by saying the hard stuff." Now, our greatest asset as an agency is that people believe in us. But if we lose that trust, we might not ever get it back.

• Gary Noesner : Hello, Mr. Weaver. My name's Gary Noesner. I'm head of negotiations for the FBI. Now, I know you've been shot. And I know your son is dead, and there is nothing I could ever say to make that right. But the question is where do we go from here? I guess if I were you, I'd be thinking "How do I make these people pay for what they've done?". If you want to strike back in the place that'll hurt them the most, you come out peacefully. Take your day in court, you tell the world what really happened up here at Ruby Ridge. You see, dead men don't get a trial. You die, you give everyone a free pass. And Vicky, I'm sure you're angry about losing Sammy, too. But you have a husband and three daughters who still need...

  Randy Weaver : You killed Vicky!

  Gary Noesner : What'd you say, Randy?

  Randy Weaver : You shot her! You killed my wife!

• Mitch Decker : Couldn't get him to engage?

  Gary Noesner : Your guy killed his wife.

  Mitch Decker : What?

  Gary Noesner : Your sniper. He missed Weaver and shot his wife. Doesn't help our cause much.

• Mitch Decker : We can't afford to drag this out much longer, Gary. We're in a compromised position here.

  Gary Noesner : I'm aware of the position we're in, Mitch. But sometimes the best strategy is just wait regardless of the circumstance.

  Mitch Decker : That's your plan? Just wait?

  Bo Gritz : [getting out of an SUV and fighting off an FBI agent]  Get your hands off me, boy.

  Gary Noesner : Nope.

  Bo Gritz : Where the hell's Noesner?

  Gary Noesner : That's my plan.

• Bo Gritz : Why'd you bring me up here? I don't even know Randy Weaver.

  Gary Noesner : Well, when I can't get a man to trust me, I try to find someone he will trust. I was thinking that might be you. You're a fellow Green Beret, similar opinions about the government. I mean, you're a hero to the radical right. You may not know him, but he sure as hell knows you.

  Bo Gritz : Uh-uh. Nope. I ain't helping the god damn FBI with none of this nonsense.

  Gary Noesner : Now, you know how you move a man? Fear. You figure out what someone's scared of, you can get him to do pretty much anything. Now, these hotheads down here, you know what they're scared of? They're scared that Vicky and Sammy Weaver are dead and if that ever goes to court, it's gonna be a problem for 'em. And poor Randy Weaver's scared if he comes out of his cabin, someone's gonna shoot him. Now, I'm scared that if I can't get you to talk them out, these boys are gonna go in there anyway and more people will get hurt. And I don't know, but I imagine you're scared that your friends will see you help the feds and turn on you. But what you should really be scared of is if those kids die, and you know you could've done something to stop it. Mm. How's that gonna feel?

• FBI Trainee : [during a negotiation simulation]  What happened?

  Gary Noesner : What happened? Killed himself. And his kids. Hmm. Contain. Open communication to de-esclate tension. Stall for time, lower expectations, lower the pulse. But the real key is to listen. I mean, you gotta think if someone's talking to an FBI negotiator, they're having the worst day of their lives. And your voice, it might be the only keeping them alive. So remember, how you say something is as important as what you say. That's all for today.

• Peter Hardwick : How's the new batch of trainees?

  Gary Noesner : None of them is as instantly brilliant as I was.

  Peter Hardwick : God held us all. Got your go bag with you?

  Gary Noesner : Always. Where you sending me?

  Peter Hardwick : [handing him a folder]  Ruby Ridge. Idaho. Read up. It's a quagmire. Mitch Decker and HRT are on their way. I need you on a plane as soon as possible.

• Mitch Decker : What if we brought the APCs from the north side to insert the gas into the cabin? Would that at least push him out?

  Gary Noesner : A little premature for an assault, isn't it?

  Mitch Decker : He's dug in, Gary. He ain't coming out.

  Gary Noesner : Guys, can you give us a minute?

  [the other agents leave] 

  Gary Noesner : Thanks. Mitch, I know he's dug in. But his son's already dead, and there's three more kids in there. Now, do you really want to engage in close combat with more children?

  Mitch Decker : What do you propose we do?

  Gary Noesner : Give me a chance. Let me talk to him. It's what I'm here for, isn't it?

• Gary Noesner : [Mitch gets on the elevator with a bottle of wine in hand]  Birthday?

  Mitch Decker : No. Justice Department just upped my budget another 10 million bucks.

  Gary Noesner : [dryly sarcastic]  Congratulations.

  Mitch Decker : Thanks.

• Carol Noesner : You coming to bed soon?

  Gary Noesner : In a bit.

  Carol Noesner : What's wrong?

  Gary Noesner : Nothing.

  Carol Noesner : What's going on? Talk to me.

  Gary Noesner : I wanted to be an FBI agent since I was twelve years old, you know? I saw J. Edgar Hoover on "The Micky Mouse Club" and I was hooked. I couldn't imagine a better thing to be. But what if, after all these years, I've been believing we're better than we actually are?

  Carol Noesner : Where's this coming from? What happened?

  Gary Noesner : They gave $10 million to HRT.

  Carol Noesner : And you want them to give more money to your department?

  Gary Noesner : No. The balance of power is shifting. We're militarizing. We're changing... into something I didn't sign up for.

  Carol Noesner : Well, then, if you're that concerned, you just need to talk to Hardwick. You two are friendly.

  Gary Noesner : I did. It fell on deaf ears.

  Carol Noesner : Well, then talk louder.