Traffic (2000) quotes

Director
Steven Soderbergh.

Cast
Michael Douglas.
Benicio Del Toro.
Catherine Zeta-Jones.

A conservative judge is appointed by the President to spearhead America’s escalating war against drugs, only to discover that his teenage daughter is a crack addict. Two DEA agents protect an informant. A jailed drug baron’s wife attempts to carry on the family business.

What’s Washington like?
– Caroline Wakefield
What’s Washington like? Well its like Calcutta, surrounded by beggars. The only difference is the beggars in Washington wear fifteen hundred dollar suits and they don’t say please or thank you.
– Robert Wakefield

If there is a war on drugs, then many of our family members are the enemy. And I don’t know how you wage war on your own family.
– Robert Wakefield

You ever try the patch, man?
– Montel Gordon
The what?
– Ray Castro
Oh man, that shit doesn’t work, bro.
– Ray Castro
It worked for my cousin.
– Montel Gordon
No shit?
– Ray Castro
Yeah. Well he had to wear about 6 at a time, but it worked, though.
– Montel Gordon
So how is he now?
– Ray Castro
Oh he’s dead.
– Montel Gordon
He’s dead?
– Ray Castro
It wasn’t because of the patch, man.
– Montel Gordon
So what did he die from?
– Ray Castro
His wife shot him.
– Montel Gordon

You like baseball? We need lights for the parks, so kids can play at night. So they can play baseball. So they don’t become burros para los malones. Everybody likes baseball. Everybody likes parks.
– Javier Rodriguez

Why are hurricanes named after women?
– Ray Castro
I don’t know.
– Montel Gordon
Because when they arrive, they’re wet and wild, and when they leave they take your house and your car.
– Ray Castro

Look, we need to take down either of these cartels: either Juarez or Tijuana. Not because they’re a symbol but… hell, they are a symbol! But because we need to send a message! When Carlos Ayala hires Michael Addler as his legal defense, I send Ben Williams down to San Diego as a prosecutor, why? Because it’s a symbol. It’s a symbol that we are sending the best! It’s a message that we’re going after their top guys.
– Robert Wakefield

I lost my virginity with a sophomore in high school.
– Montel Gordon
That’s cool.
– Ray Castro
Yeah, sweet.
– Montel Gordon
Did he treat you good?
– Ray Castro

You guys remind me of Japanese soldiers on deserted islands who still think world war two is still going on. The fact is that your government surrendered this war a long fucking time ago.
– Eduardo Ruiz
You know, I don’t think this attitude is gonna help him in front of the judge. Eduardo, there is just one thing wrong with this math. You’re in here.
– Montel Gordon

On the good days, I feel like I get it, like it all makes sense. I can stay in the moment, I don’t have to control everything in the future, and I believe everything is gonna work out fine. On the bad days I just want to grab the phone and start dialing numbers. I want to pull my hair and run through the streets screaming. But thanks to the people I’ve met in these rooms, like Margaret and Jim and Sarah, I’m pretty sure I’m gonna make it through today.
– Caroline Wakefield

What are your policies towards treatment of addiction?
– Robert Wakefield
Treatment of addiction? Addicts treat themselves. They overdose and then there’s one less to worry about.
– General Salazar

Is this like freebasing?
– Caroline Wakefield
Not like. It is.
– Seth Abrahams

I don’t think she’s in on it, man.
– Montel Gordon
Come on, I have dram about this, I have actual dreams about this, about busting the top people, the rich people, WHITE people!
– Ray Castro
I know, I know, but I don’t think she’s in on it, man.
– Montel Gordon

My name is Robert. And my wife, Barbara and I are here to support our daughter Caroline. And we’re here to listen.
– Robert Wakefield

Well you’ve done a fine job, General. The Office of National Drug Control Policy is in better shape than when you found it.
– Robert Wakefield
I’m not sure I made the slightest difference. I tried. I really did.
– General Ralph Landry

Hey sugarfoot! How do you like your new place?
– Ray Castro
You got to be kidding me. This is not what my lawyers negotiated.
– Eduardo Ruiz
Fuck your lawyers. You aren’t getting any cappuccino or Biscotti either. You don’t like it, call 1-800-CRIMINAL.
– Montel Gordon

It’s all about the money.
– Javier Rodriguez

I’m on the board of my son’s school, I have fundraisers for adult literacy at my own home. I think I have a right to know if my husband is a legitimate business man.
– Helena Ayala
Of course he is.
– Arnie Metzger

Open the god damn door!
– Robert Wakefield
One minute.
– Caroline Wakefield