The Americans quotes

Philip Jennings

Maybe this is the perfect time for us just to think about living the life we've been living but just really living it. Just being us.

Chris Amador

So, were you, like, burning crosses and shit with those guys? Or like, "Heil Hitler"?

Stan Beeman

It was a little deeper than that.

The American people have elected a madman as their president. He is expanding their military forces on a massive scale. He is against nuclear arms-control agreements. He makes no secret of his desire to destroy us. Our war is not so cold anymore, Elizabeth. What happens behind enemy lines will determine the outcome of this struggle.

Chris Amador

They can cut your balls off, stuff them in your mouth, tie you to a radiator in a basement, and then call it a lateral move.

Philip Jennings

People who believe in God always make the worst targets.

Elizabeth Jennings

Viola, listen to me. You still have one more chance to save his life.

I don't believe anything you say.

Elizabeth Jennings

You see your son. He is dying in front of you. You know that's the truth. He'll make it another 24 hours. If you didn't tell anyone, and I don't think that you did, you can still put that clock back tomorrow, and this will all end.

I know the devil.

I listen to my lord. He protects me. He guides me.

Philip Jennings

There's been a misunderstanding between you and your lord.

Elizabeth Jennings

They shouldn't ask us to do impossible things.

Philip Jennings

You know, where I come from, you leave, you lose.

Stan Beeman

If that's how you want to win.

Philip Jennings

I'll win any way I can.

You know, we met at the SCLC meeting. We was putting together a group to march with Dr. King in Chicago. We just clicked. It wasn't about race or Vietnam. It was about equality. When she told me who she really was, it was like I already knew. She was recruiting me for the KGB, America's number-one enemy. And I was right there with her. Me and her against the world. We were willing to sacrifice our lives, our families. You know, whatever it took.

Philip Jennings

You don't have a family, do you, Gregory?

She just walked away, tight out from under surveillance. How big was the team?

Stan Beeman

Six men.

And she just disappeared into thin air? Is she Doug Henning?

Stan Beeman

We debriefed the surveillance guys. They said it happened at a choke point, like she knew.

Goddamn it!

Stan Beeman

She slipped away from a full FBI surveillance detail. Sounds like a Directorate "S" Operative to me.

I got to call upstairs.

Chris Amador

Look, we all thought continuing surveillance was the best move. We all agree on that.

You worried about me, Amador? You think I'm out on a limb and someone's gonna saw it off?

Chris Amador

No, sir.

That's sweet. Really, I'm touched. But if this woman thinks that slipping one surveillance team gets her home to Mother Russia, she's as soft as you are.

Stan Beeman

We have her name and her face.

And we have the resources of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. She has to be quiet to stay safe. We can make noise.

Claudia

I ran an agent in West Germany. He was a loner—one of these oddballs who never really learned to make a friend. So, I became his friend. Many years later, I was leaving and we didn't really need him anymore. I explained it all to him. And he thanked me for the chance to work together. He killed himself shortly thereafter. We didn't need him anymore, but he needed us.

Beeman, Amador, what would you make of it if I said to you, "I feel like I'm standing at the edge of a diving board over a pool with no water in it"?

Stan Beeman

You need a vacation?

Elizabeth Jennings

[to Claudia as she beats her] I'm gonna kill you, you stupid bitch! Tell whoever approved this that your face is a present from me to them! Show them your face! Show it to them!

Philip Jennings

The boy—is he real?

Only duty and honor are real, Mischa. Isn't that what we were told?