Midnight Express (1978)

Norbert Weisser: Erich

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Quotes 

• Billy Hayes : What's Jimmy's story? Why is he in here? Hash?

  Erich : No. He was caught stealing from a mosque. That is also a heavy crime here in Turkey.

  Billy Hayes : What did he steal?

  Erich : Two candle sticks.

  Billy Hayes : That's all?

  Erich : That's all.

  Billy Hayes : Why? Why would he do that?

  Erich : Who knows? He's always been a wild child. He's got more balls then brains. Did you know that he was in here for a year-and-a-half before he told his parents what happened to him?

  Billy Hayes : What about you? What are you in for?

  Erich : Hashish. 90% of the foreigners here are in for hashish or drug related charges from smuggling to posession. My advice is you get yourself a very good lawyer and try to argue down the charge you face. If they make it posession, the sentance is lighter.

  Billy Hayes : What were you convicted of?

  Erich : Smuggling hash with the intent to sell.

  Billy Hayes : What sentence did you receive?

  Erich : 12 years. I've been here for just over four years.

  Billy Hayes : How much did you have on you?

  Erich : 100 grams.

• Jimmy : What you in for? Hash?

  Billy Hayes : Yeah.

  Jimmy : Where?

  Billy Hayes : The airport - trying to get home.

  Jimmy : That's heavy.

  Billy Hayes : You think so?

  Jimmy : Yeah, I think so. This ain't the good ole USA. This is Turkey, man. It's a fuckin' accident here if you're innocent. They ain't nobody here who's innocent.

  Erich : Don't pay too much attention. Anything is possible in Turkey. He's talkin' about if they hit you for smuggling. It can be bad. But, if they make it possession. It's easier. You might even get bail.

  Jimmy : Bail?

  Erich : And if you make bail, you're free. You can get yourself a fake passport or sneak across the border to Greece.

  Jimmy : Yeah, sure. Keep dreamin'. See where that gets you.

• Billy Hayes , Erich : Prison, monastery, cloister, cave. Prison, monastery, cloister, cave. Prison, monastery, cloister, cave. Prison, monastery, cloister, cave.

  Billy Hayes : Prison.

• Billy Hayes : It looks like a cheap hotel.

  Jimmy : Only the room service is lousy. I'm Jimmy Booth. This is Erich - something Swedish, I don't know.

  Erich : Just Erich.

  Jimmy : He cleaned you up.

  Billy Hayes : Thanks. I'm Billy Hayes. At least, I used to be.