In the Loop (2009)

Mimi Kennedy: Karen Clark

Photos 

Quotes 

• Karen Clarke : Has a decision already been made in principle to advocate invasion?

  Linton Barwick : I would refer you to the recent comments of our colleague from the UK, mister Simon Foster, in that regard.

  Karen Clarke : Yes, I think that mister Foster would have something to say to that.

  Simon Foster : I'm certainly hearing both sides. In England we have a saying for a situation such as this, which is that it's difficult difficult lemon difficult.

• Lt. Gen. George Miller : I'm a voracious reader. I'm the Gore Vidal of the Pentagon.

  Karen Clarke : Gore's gay.

  Lt. Gen. George Miller : No, he's not!

  Karen Clarke : I beg to differ, but...

  Lt. Gen. George Miller : He's gay? 'Cause I've been saying that Gore Vidal line.

  Karen Clarke : He is gay.

  Lt. Gen. George Miller : [pause]  Guess I'd better stop saying that then.

• Lt. Gen. George Miller : My loyalty is to the kids. I am a soldier.

  Karen Clarke : You're not a soldier.

  Lt. Gen. George Miller : I've been a soldier my whole life! What do you mean I'm not a soldier? I'm a soldier! Look at the uniform - what, do you think I'm one of the fucking Village People?

  Karen Clarke : When did you shoot a guy last?

  Lt. Gen. George Miller : What, just because I haven't shot someone in fifteen years. I'm not a soldier? You know, the Army doesn't make you drag some bullet-ridden bloody corpse into the Pentagon every five years to renew your soldier's license!

• Karen Clarke : Yes, Assistant Secretary, on point six, it feels like there's already been an assumption that we're invading and don't you think that we should discuss the practical implications? I mean, this is, after all, the War Committee.

  Linton Barwick : This is the Future Planning Committee.

  Karen Clarke : Well, unofficially, it is called the War Committee.

  Linton Barwick : Well, Karen, unofficially, we can call anything whatever we want. I mean, unofficially, this is a shoe, but it's not, Karen, it is a glass of water. And this is the Future Planning Committee.

  Lt. Gen. George Miller : Well, unofficially, this appears to be bullshit.

• Lt. Gen. George Miller : So you're not resigning?

  Karen Clarke : Are you still playing the hawk?

  Simon Foster : Well, in... in a way I'm playing a much cleverer game than that... I'm a fake hawk.

  Lt. Gen. George Miller : [pause]  A what?

  Simon Foster : ...Fake hawk?

  Lt. Gen. George Miller : [pause]  You're an idiot. Or are you a... fake idiot?

• Karen Clarke : Hey, listen, the war committee. What you have to do is you've got to look for the ten dullest-named committees happening out of the executive branch. Because Linton is not going to call it "The Big Horrible War Committee". He's gonna hide it behind a name like "Diverse Strategy", something so dull you're just gonna want to self-harm.

• Karen Clarke : Linton has set up a secret war committee. I just know it. I mean, Linton is an absolute lunatic, Liza. He is dangerous. The voices in his head are now sing barbershop together.

• Karen Clarke : What's going on there, Simon?

  Simon Foster : It's... It's departmental business. It's about a wall.

  Karen Clarke : Oh, Gaza?

  Simon Foster : Uh-huh.

  Karen Clarke : I'm wondering where you were in committee, Simon. I called for back-up and you sat there like a dumb sack of shit. Only maybe worse, because, actually, on a molecular level, shit is probably fizzling with energy.

  Simon Foster : I have to say, Karen, I do have a clear strategy on this, which is I'm playing the long game.

  Karen Clarke : They've bounced us into a short game, and you just sat there like a... What do you call it in England? A wanker.

• Karen Clarke : Simon, the only thing that we can do to influence events now is to resign. That's it, okay? Sacrifice ourselves.

  Simon Foster : Like a suicide bomber?

  Lt. Gen. George Miller : No, not like a suicide bomber. A suicide bomber makes a decision.

• Lt. Gen. George Miller : You're beautiful.

  Karen Clarke : Oh, thank you. I'm sure you say that to all the girls.

  Lt. Gen. George Miller : Yes, I do... And some of the soldiers, too.

  Karen Clarke : That's why you shouldn't run for office, bimbo eruptions.

  Lt. Gen. George Miller : Come on, don't believe that shit. I'm not gonna run for office. I'm just trying to do something different.

  Karen Clarke : It's one of the reasons I like you. I know your passion about education and housing and...

  Lt. Gen. George Miller : Lingerie.

  Karen Clarke : There you go.

  Lt. Gen. George Miller : Bestiality.

  Karen Clarke : I'd forgotten about that. Are you still allergic to the dog?

  Lt. Gen. George Miller : Yes, yes, I wake up and my eyes are closed and my head is swollen and I look like a giant ball sac.

  Karen Clarke : Oh, my God. You know, they do have modern medication for that sort of thing. Beautiful ball sac, though.

  Lt. Gen. George Miller : Thank you very much.

• Karen Clarke : I was going to eat lunch in here. Can you digest? Do you want some food?

  Lt. Gen. George Miller : Oh, yes, I can digest, yes.

  Karen Clarke : Chinese OK?

  Lt. Gen. George Miller : Why don't you order me some little mammals? A little bunny and a little puppy, and a little cat, so I can twist their fucking neck off and drink their blood.

• Karen Clarke : I am gonna go into Linton's office and I'm gonna pull the little pin on that fucking grenade.

  Liza Weld : Don't do that.

  Karen Clarke : I'm fucking joking. I'm not gonna do that.