Quotes

Dialogue

Allene Hughes: Q-u-a-r-a-n-t-i-n-e. Young Howard Hughes: Quarantine. Q-u-a-r-a-n-t-i-n-e. Quarantine.

Dialogue

Frank: You may be directing this movie, Howard. But what you're asking- we can't do it! Howard: Don't tell me I can't do it; don't tell me it can't be done! Frank: The gyro forces are too much here. You send these planes into simultaneous barrel rolls they won't make it! Howard: It's the goddamn climax of the picture Frank, all right, you make it work! Look, decrease the vertical trajectory if you have to, a Le Rhône rotary won't stall at 60 degrees- I've done it! Advisor: Howard, we need to cut that sequence down, we don't have enough cameras. Howard: No, no we're not cuttin' anything! I'll get those extra cameras, set up for rehearsal's in five! Noah Dietrich: Mr. Hughes, I'm Noah Dietrich. Your office said I'd find you here. Howard: Dietrich. You're a man on the come! I read your resume and talked to your references. You know what I'm lookin' for?! Noah: Well as I understand it you're looking for a second-in-command at Hughes Tools; someone to oversee the financial aspects of the bu

Dialogue

Odie: Hey, you want the good news or the bad news? Howard: Bad news, always. Odie: Alright, we've installed the 450 radial, but the struts won't take the vibrations. [Gives Howard a magnifier to look at the strut] The minute we fire her up, the struts start cracking at the attach points. Howard: Well, what's the good news? Odie: There isn't any. Howard: Goddamn it, Odie, if the 450's too big, we just gotta figure something else out. Odie: Well, we've done everything. We've rebuilt her from top to toe. Now, if we drain the fuel tank for a couple of runs, she might make 180 MPH. Howard: I want minimum 200, alright? Odie: Yeah, well I want a date with Theda Bara, but that ain't gonna happen either. Howard: Ah, don't be so sure...Well, if the struts won't sustain the engine, then maybe we get rid of the struts. Odie: No, then the top wing falls off. Howard: ...Then let it. Odie: What? Howard: Who-who says we need a top wing? Who says we need anything? Odie: [Realizes what Howard's thinking

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Howard: I've been to Chatsworth, Santa Cruz, Encino, San Diego, Riverside, Van Nuys, and Bakersfield. It has been eight months! Where are my goddamn clouds, huh? Professor Fitz: [shouting in frustration] They move, Mr. Hughes! Clouds move — that's what they do! They move!

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Professor Fitz: Mr. Hughes! Mr. Hughes! Oakland! There are clouds in Oakland! Howard: You're serious this time? Professor Fitz: Yes! Goddammit, yes. I can promise you, clouds in Oakland. Howard: Alright, alright. Don't get jittery on me. [Turns to his crew] OAKLAND! WE'RE GOING TO OAKLAND!

Dialogue

Katharine Hepburn: Well, if you're deaf, you must own up to it. Get a hearing aid, or see my father. He's an urologist, but it's all tied up inside the body, don't you find? Howard: Mmm. Katharine: Me, I keep healthy. I take seven showers a day to keep clean, also because I'm so vulgarly referred to as "outdoors-y." Well, I'm not "outdoors-y," I'm athletic. I sweat! There it is, now we both know the sordid truth: I sweat, and you're deaf. Aren't we a fine pair of misfits?

Dialogue

Howard: I feel like a little adventure. Katharine: Do your worst, Mr. Hughes!

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Katharine: Howard's building a new aeroplane. Ms. Hepburn: Luddie built a birdhouse once!

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Howard: Alright, what do you got for me? Jack Frye: The thing is, TWA needs a new plane. A modern plane. Howard: Oh, yeah? What kinda plane? Jack Frye: Okay, the DC-3 has 21 daytime seats and 14 overnight berths. Howard: Something bigger. Jack Frye: Try 50 seats, with a ceiling of 12,000 feet. Howard: No. No, 20,000. Think about it, Jack. What does 20,000 ft give you? Jack Frye: Less turbulence. Howard: Right, because it's above the weather. Jack, we want to fly above the weather. Only 1% of the American population has ever set foot on a commercial airliner. Why? 'Cause they're scared to death, Jack, and they should be. I mean, 7,000 ft. is as bumpy as shit, you know that. We build a plane that flies above the weather, we could get every man, woman, and child in this country to feel safe up there. An airplane with the ability to fly in the substratosphere. Across the country. Across the world. Now, that is the future.

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Odie: Howard! Howard! Howard: How'd we do? Odie: [Breathless] ...352 on the last run! [Gives a chuckle of relief. Howard smiles] Howard: She'll go faster.

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Jack Frye: So you want me to bribe senators? Howard: I don't want them bribed, Jack. I want it done legally. I want them bought.

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Katharine: I've been famous - for better or worse - for a long time now... I wonder if you know what that really means. Howard: I got my fair share of press on Hell's Angels. I'm used to it. Katharine: Are you? Howard, we're not like everyone else. Too many acute angles. Too many eccentricities. We have to be very careful not to let people in, or they'll make us into freaks. Howard: Kate, they can't get in here. We're safe. Katharine: They can always get in. When my brother killed himself, there were photographers at the funeral. There's no decency to it. Howard: [suddenly distraught] Sometimes... I get these feelings, Katie. I get these ideas, these umm... crazy ideas about (clears throat)... things that may not... um (clears throat)... things that may not really be there. Katharine: [concerned] Uh-huh... Howard: Sometimes I truly fear that I am... losing my mind. And if I did, it... It would be like flying blind. Katherine: You taught me to fly, remember? I'll take the wheel.

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Glenn Odekirk: Howard, you really think they're gonna let you put out a whole movie just about tits? Howard Hughes: [beat] Sure. Who doesn't like tits?

Dialogue

Howard: [clearing his throat, looking at a cleaner] Ode? Ode: Hm? Howard: That man sweeping up over there, does he work for me? I mean, have you seen him before? Ode: His name's Nick, something like that. Howard: Why's he looking at me? Ode: I dunno. Howard: Fire him, and make sure they use damp brooms from now on. Respiratory diseases are expensive and I don't want a bunch of damned lawsuits. Ode: Okay, but can we at least proceed with the instrument panel we discussed? The tool shops are ready to go... Howard: No, I want to see the blueprints again. Ode: Look Howard, the deadline is now completely unrealistic. At this rate, the war's gonna be over by the time she's done. Now, I need you here to help consult on vital decisions and you're off, dealing with movies. You got a thousand goddamned workers waiting for you to make a decision here... Howard: HEY, Ode! Take it easy. Alright? I understand you're under a lot of pressure, but it's gonna do me no good if you crack up on me like tha

Dialogue

Doctor: [after detailing Howard's terrible injuries in the plane crash] He's getting blood transfusions now, but, uh... Noah: Whose blood? Doctor: I'm sorry? Noah: Whose blood? Doctor: From our stock. Noah: Oh, he's not gonna like that. Doctor: Mr. Dietrich... I doubt he's ever going to like or dislike anything again. I'm terribly sorry.

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Howard: You want to go to war with me? Sen. Ralph Owen Brewster: It's not me, Howard. It's the United States Government. We just beat Germany and Japan. Who the hell are you?

Dialogue

If that shit-ass thinks he owns the entire goddamn world, he's got another thing comin'! Oh, the hell with Mexico, Jack! No one airline should have a monopoly on flyin' the Atlantic! For Christ's sake, it just isn't fair! Look, he owns Pan-Am. He owns Congress, he owns the Civil Aeronautics Board, but he does not own the sky! We are in a street-fight with that sonuvabitch now and I'm not gonna lose; I been fightin' high-hat, Ivy League pricks like him my whole goddamn life!

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Ava Gardner: You listened to my phone calls? Howard: No! No! No! Honey, I would never do that! I'd never do that! I... I just read the transcripts, that's all.

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Juan Trippe: Okay, Howard I'm sitting. I've brought along our accountings. Now, Pan-Am is trading at 13 and five-eighths. TWA at four and a quarter. Now, if you take-- Howard: Ah, come on! Come on, come on, come on, come on! We both know I'm not gonna sell TWA! Besides that, you couldn't afford her anyway! Our domestic routes alone are worth more than twice Pan-Am! Juan Trippe: Well, considering our stock is trading at three times yours, I find that a... dubious claim, Howard. Howard: [frustrated] What I-- [sighs, clears throat] What I mean is, you have no domestic routes, all right? I mean, you get TWA, you... you span the globe. Now, I'm not gonna sell and you know I'm not gonna sell. [taps the door] Here's the point: Owen Brewster works for you! Juan Trippe: Howard, I didn't elect Senator Brewster. We can thank the voters of Maine for that. Howard: Now... if I appear at his hearings, Juan. It could get nasty. [coughs] Real nasty for all of us! Juan Trippe: Well, I think considerably

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Howard: Does that look clean to you? Ava Gardner: Nothing's ever clean, Howard. But we all do our best, right?

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Howard: Will you marry me? Ava Gardner: [smiles] You're too crazy for me.

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Howard: I'll put this very simply. On February 12th, at the Mayflower Hotel, did you or did you not tell me that if I were to sell TWA to Pan Am that this entire investigation would be called off? Sen. Ralph Owen Brewster: No, I did not, and I have asked you repeatedly to submit your questions in writing. Howard: How long have you known Juan Trippe, Senator? Sen. Ralph Owen Brewster: I've known Mr. Trippe for some time now, and that's not the question here. Howard: Is it not true that Juan Trippe donated $20,000 to your last campaign? I mean, he spoke to me as if you worked for him! Sen. Ralph Owen Brewster: I have a personal friendship with Mr. Trippe, but-- Howard: Is it not true you accept free tickets from Pan Am, so you can circle the globe in support of your C.A.B. bill? Sen. Ralph Owen Brewster: No, no, it is not true. Howard: Well, who wrote that bill, Senator? Sen. Ralph Owen Brewster: No, we're asking questions-- Howard: Who actually wrote the C.A.B. bill? The actual words in

Dialogue

Sen. Ralph Owen Brewster: Mr. Hughes, did you receive $43 million to manufacture one hundred XF-11 spy planes for the United States Air Force? Howard: I did. Sen. Ralph Owen Brewster: How many functional planes did you deliver to the United States Air Force. Howard: None. Sen. Ralph Owen Brewster: Would you lean a little closer to the microphone, sir? Howard: [Leans in, annoyed] None! Sen. Ralph Owen Brewster: Did you receive $13 million to manufacture a prototype of a flying boat known as the Hercules? Howard: I did. Sen. Ralph Owen Brewster: And did you deliver that plane? Howard: I did not. Sen. Ralph Owen Brewster: So, by your admission in this chamber, Mr. Hughes, you have received $56 million from the United States government...for planes you never delivered? Howard: That is correct. Sen. Ralph Owen Brewster: [Barely containing his delight] Well, excuse me for asking, Mr. Hughes, but where did all that money go? Howard: Well, it went into the planes, Mr. Senator, and a lot more.

Dialogue

Juan Trippe: [to an employee] Switch it off. Pan-Am Employee: The hearings aren't over yet. Juan Trippe: The hearings are over. The airline bill will be defeated in the Senate. TWA will begin flights over New York to Paris, leaving over Moscow to Japan, to Hawaii, to Los Angeles... to New York. Fuck!

Dialogue

Howard: Do you know those men? Do they work for me? Noah: Everybody works for you, Howard.