A Shock to the System (1990)

Peter Riegert: Robert Benham

Photos 

Quotes 

• Robert Benham : This isn't exactly comfortable for me, I know you wanted this job. I suppose if we were rival princes, I could just have you killed. It would save a lot of politics.

  Graham Marshall : It's not that easy to kill someone and get away with it.

• Graham Marshall : [shouting]  Why don't you bring Henry Park in here, huh? Why don't you bring Melanie in to make sure the phone gets answered? Hell, we could bring in the whole goddamn New York Knicks, just to make sure your trash hits the basket! How's that?

  Robert Benham : If I thought I needed an assistant to do my job...

  Graham Marshall : Meaning what? That I don't do *my* job? Then why don't you have me removed, Bobby Boy?

  Robert Benham : Because you're too senior in the company to be fired for anything less than gross insubordination.

  Graham Marshall : So you've decided to have me removed piece by piece. A privilege here, a responsibility there - never enough to fight over, just a subtle drain of power, right?

  [Menacing] 

  Graham Marshall : Well, let me tell you something, Bobster. You don't know the first fucking thing about power. I have more power in this hand than *all* you fucking know!

• Robert Benham : As spokesman for some of the younger turks, I'm supposed to invite you to lunch, in celebration of your approaching greatness.

  Graham Marshall : Oh Christ, today?

  Robert Benham : Come on, executive bonding! Raucous, unfunny jokes. And we'll kiss your ass in the hopes you'll mistake it for affection.

  Graham Marshall : How degrading for you. I'll be there. What time?

  Robert Benham : Twelve thirty. Bring your ass!

• Robert Benham : [At Graham's lunch]  We're putting the boat in this weekend...

  Graham Marshall : Oh, and we forgot ours! Didn't we?

  Robert Benham : Tara's coming out to the house.

  Graham Marshall : Tara! What kind of a name is that?

  Executive #2 : Her last name is "Rah-Boom-Dee-Ay!"

  Graham Marshall : [as everyone sings the "Gone with the Wind" theme]  The man is dating a plantation!

• Robert Benham : Gentlemen, gentlemen... you don't understand! We are the young, the proud! We shouldn't be ashamed of success! We should say, "Yes, I *have* a boat. I *have* a country home. I *have* a girlfriend named 'Tara'!" Say it with me, brothers.

  Executive #3 : I do have a Mercedes.

  Executive #2 : I have a condo with a pool.

  Executive #1 : I have a personal sports trainer.

  Graham Marshall : I have a wife, a mortgage, and two dogs.

• Robert Benham : [introducing the girl beside him]  This is Tara. Not the plantation.