The Running Man Movie Quotes
Ben Richards
[Over monitor]
Hey Ben? Ben, I gotta hand it to ya, pal. You got the whole network here in an uproar. Why, they're shipping bicarb to the justice department in crates! So that's why this little call is just between you and I, it's not going out on the air. Listen very carefully, Ben. How would you like a three year contract, guaranteed, a cadre credit line, and a beachfront condo? Sound impossible? Ben, it's a standard deal for a network stalker. And I know real talent when I see it, Ben, and I'd just hate to see you get canceled tonight when you could go the distance. Say the word, Ben. You could be the one doing the stalking. Whaddaya think?
[Richards yanks the monitor off its mooring]
Ben Richards
You cold-blooded bastard! I'll tell you what I think of it! I *live* to see you eat that contract! But I hope you leave enough room for my fist, because I'm going to ram it into your stomach and break your goddamn spine!
[Smashes monitor on the floor]
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Damon Killian
There are still two crack stalkers out there. Dynamo and Fireball. Who do you think will make the next kill?
Elderly Lady
Oh, boy. That's a tough one.
Damon Killian
Come on. You can do it. Who do you think?
Elderly Lady
Okay, I think the next kill will be made by... Ben Richards.
[crowd murmurs in surprise]
Damon Killian
Hold it, hold it, Agnes, Richards is a runner. You gotta pick a stalker.
Elderly Lady
I can pick anyone I choose. And I choose... Ben Richards. That boy's one mean motherfucker.
[crowd laughs; cut to the betting pool outside]
Man
Two hundred dollars on Richards! Come on, two hundred on Richards! Two hundred on Richards!
[the bookies look at each other for a moment, then take the bet and add Richards' name to the board at 100-1 odds]
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Ben Richards
Killian, here is Subzero! Now, plain zero!
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Amber Mendez
Me and my big mouth. We should have taken the trip to Hawaii.
Ben Richards
I had the shirt for it, but you fucked it up.
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[Sven enters]
Damon Killian
[laughs]
Sven, do you wanna talk to Mr. Richards?
[long pause]
Damon Killian
Well?
Sven
I've got to score some steroids.
[Sven leaves]
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Amber Mendez
I'm warning you, I get sick. Air sick, car sick. I'm gonna throw up all over you.
Richards
Go ahead. Won't show on this shirt.
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[after Richards cuts Buzzsaw in half with a chain saw]
Amber Mendez
What happened to Buzzsaw?
Ben Richards
Ah, he had to split.
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Damon Killian
You look pissed, Ben. Believe me, you got every right to be. But hey, will you just let me explain. This is television, that's all it is. It's nothing to do with people, it's to do with the ratings. For fifty years, we've told them what to eat, what to drink, what to wear... for Christ's sake, Ben, don't you understand? Americans love television. They wean their kids on it. Listen. They love game shows, they love wrestling, they love sports and violence. So what do we do? We give 'em *what they want*! We're number one, Ben, that's all that counts, believe me. I've been in the business thirty years.
Ben Richards
Well, I haven't been in show business as long as you have, Killian. But I'm a quick learner. So I'm going to give the audience what *I* think they want.
[Ben shoves Killian into the rocket sled and the restraints automatically lock in place]
Damon Killian
You bastard. Drop dead!
Ben Richards
I don't do requests.
[Ben launches the rocket sled into the game zone tunnel; it crashes into a billboard with Killian on it, exploding and killing him]
Ben Richards
Well that hit the spot!
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Ben Richards
Uplink, underground! Uplink, underground! If you guys don't shut up, I'm gonna uplink your ass, and you'll be underground!
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Damon Killian
You bastard! Drop dead!
Ben Richards
I don't do requests.
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Damon Killian
Hi, cutie pie. You know one of us is in deep trouble. You know who I am?
Ben Richards
I've seen you before. You're the asshole on TV.
Damon Killian
That's funny. I was going to say the same thing about you.
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Amber Mendez
[seeing Fireball enter the game]
Jesus Christ!
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Dynamo
Thought it was pretty funny out there in the zone. What's the matter now, bitch? Why aren't you laughing?
Amber Mendez
Because there's nothing funny about a dickless moron with a battery up his ass.
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Mic
Mr. Spock, you have the conn.
Underground Tech
Who's Mr. Spock?
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Agent
[Richards is signing a contract given to him by the agent]
Here, here! Use my back, victim.
Ben Richards
[Richards signs the contract on the agent's back and then stabs him with the pen, yelling out a painful scream]
Don't forget to send me a copy.
Agent
[Runs screaming in pain while trying to get the pen out of his back]
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Ben Richards
I told Killian I'd be back. I wouldn't want to be a liar.
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[after Richards strangles Subzero with barbed wire]
Harold Weiss
Sure glad we took care of Subzero!
Ben Richards
Yeah, he was a real pain in the neck!
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Damon Killian
Huh? I... I know a stalker died! Well, it had to happen sooner or later!
[pause]
Damon Killian
Look, it is a contact sport, right? Yes, but you see, you guys at Justice. You cannot have it both ways. You want ratings. You want people in front of the television instead of picket lines. Well, you're not gonna get that with re-runs of Gilligan's Island.
[pause]
Damon Killian
Gilligan's Island.
[hums the theme song]
Damon Killian
Yeah. Yeah, the one with the boat.
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[after killing Damon Killian]
Ben Richards
Well, that hit the spot.
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Damon Killian
Get him out of here! What's the matter, steroids make you deaf? Get him out of here, now!
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Ben Richards
I'm not into politics. I'm into survival.
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Agent
Mr. Richards, I'm your court-appointed theatrical agent.
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[the resistance airs the raw footage of the Bakersfield massacre, proving Richards' innocence]
Damon Killian
Ladies and gentlemen! Ladies and gentlemen! If you'll please bear with us, we're experiencing technical difficulties!
Elderly Lady
Bullshit!
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Amber Mendez
[finding the decayed bodies of three dead men, she reads their name tags]
Whitman... Price...
Fireball
Hadad.
Amber Mendez
They're... Running Men. Last season's winners!
Fireball
No. Last season's losers.
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William Laughlin
[his last words]
Don't let us down. I don't want to be the only asshole in heaven, Ben.
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Amber Mendez
They think I'm your girlfriend.
Ben Richards
I can straighten that out. See that camera up there? I'll strangle you in front of the whole audience.
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Ben Richards
Now I'm gonna untie you, and then you're gonna get dressed, and then you're gonna come with me.
Amber Mendez
Oh yeah? Why should I?
Ben Richards
Because I'm gonna say "please"...
[Arnold tears up the bench Amber is tied to from the floor it was bolted to]
Amber Mendez
Well, why didn't you say so?
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Damon Killian
Brenda, if that asshole is mopping the floor tomorrow, you'll be mopping it for the rest of the week. Let's go!
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Tony
The Justice Department's calling every ten minutes.
Damon Killian
Just give them an evasive answer. Tell them to go fuck themselves. You got my coffee?
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Damon Killian
And that's why I'd like you to volunteer to appear on tomorrow night's episode of The Running Man.
Damon Killian
[chuckles]
You're a brilliant conversationalist, Ben. A trifle limited, but brilliant.
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[last lines]
Phil Hiton
*The Running Man* has been brought to you by: Breakaway Paramilitary Uniforms, Ortopure Procreation Pill, and Cadre Cola; it hits the spot! Promotional considerations paid for by: Kelton Flame Throwers, Wainwright Electrical Launchers, and Hammond & Gage Chainsaws. Damon Killian's wardrobe by Chez Antoinne: 19th-Century craftsmanship for the 21st-Century man. Cadre Trooper and studio-guard side arms provided by Colchester: the pistol of patriots. Remember: Tickets for the ICS studio tour are always available for Class-A citizens in good standing. If you'd like to be a contestant on THE RUNNING MAN, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to: ICS Talent Hunt, care of your local affiliate, and then go out and do something really despicable! I'm Phil Hilton! Good night, and take care!
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[Ben had just killed Subzero]
Damon Killian
[sadly]
Ladies and Gentlemen, this is... just horrible. Words can't express what we're all feeling at this very moment. A great champion has fallen. We'll be back right after these important messages.
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Captain Freedom
[on the TV commercial]
Are you ready for pain? Are you ready for suffering? lf the answer is yes, then you're ready for Captain Freedom's Workout.
Phil Hiton
Yes, it's America's own Captain Freedom, 10-time national champion, the greatest stalker to ever play the game. All right, now, all you runners, ready, get set, go!
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Ben Richards
[to a trapped Dynamo]
No. I won't kill a helpless human being. Not even sadistic scum... like you.
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Fireball
[Richards rips his fuel line]
My gas line! My gas line! Go to commercial! Go to Commercial!
Fireball
[Fireball screams and then explodes]
Ben Richards
What a hothead.
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Buzzsaw
Richards, I love this saw. This saw's part of me and I'm going to make it part of you.
Ben Richards
[after a brief struggle Richards successfully positions the saw between Buzzsaw's legs]
That's alright. Keep it!
[Richards begins slicing him through the crotch]
Ben Richards
[Buzzsaw screams in agonizing pain as people are watching with shock]
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[Amber is being introduced to the audience as a special guest 'runner']
Phil Hiton
... Later, she cheated on college exams, had sexual relationships with two, sometimes three different men in a year. And then she met Mad Dog Ben Richards. Her confederate... Her LOVER!
Amber Mendez
That was a lie!
Damon Killian
Dear, dear, dear. Let's reunite these little lovebirds! GO!
[audience cheers; Amber is sent down into the game zone]
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[Ben Richards finds a mortally-wounded Laughlin]
William Laughlin
I'm going somewhere, but not with you. Buzzsaw took care of my traveling arrangements.
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Damon Killian
We have one hell of a show for you tonight. Phil, please, if you will, introduce tonight's guest runner...
Damon Killian
[to Mrs. Agnes McArdle and the audience] ... and watch that screen.
[an CGI falsified version of the actual events of the Bakersfield massacre is shown; the police heilcopter is flying over the city]
Phil Hiton
Our star runner tonight needs no introduction. He's Ben Richards, the brutal slayer of 60 men, women, and children in the Bakersfield massacre.
Ben Richards
Food riot in progress. Approximately 1,500 civilians. Moving in.
Dispatcher
[to Richards] Yankee-nine-niner, the crowd is unarmed. Repeat, unarmed. Abort attack. Acknowledge, Yankee-Nine-Niner.
Ben Richards
[to dispatch] The hell with you.
Dispatcher
Lieutenant Sanders, take command. Detain Richards and return to base.
[Ben attacks Sanders and the crew; Thousands of shanty residents, the audience, and the guests in the locker room, including Captain Freedom, are watching the shocking events infolding]
Dispatcher
Acknowledge, Yankee-Nine-Niner! Acknowledge! Return to base! Those are innocent, unarmed people down there! Cease fire! CEASE FIRE!
[Ben starts shooting at the crowd with an automatic machine gun and laying waste to the entire city using rocket launchers; The audience and the residents watch in sheer horror]
Damon Killian
Well, we all know the aftermath: Grieving parents, orphaned children, and a nation shocked to its very core. Here he is, ready to pay the price for our home audience. In person, the Butcher of Bakersfield!
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[Damon Killian is talking to the operator on the telephone]
Damon Killian
Hello, this is Killian. Give me the Justice Department, Entertainment Division. No, no, hold that, Operator? Get me the President's agent.
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Damon Killian
Who loves you and who do you love?
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Damon Killian
I want a kiss, now, a big kiss, but remember... no tongues.
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Damon Killian
[after the introduction of Dynamo]
Oh, thank you. You're beautiful. Well, it's been an exciting show so far, right? We've had shocks. We've had surprises. And we thought, why not one more surprise?
[Killian laughs]
Damon Killian
Will you please help me welcome our mystery contestant: Miss Amber Mendez!
[Amber is dragged onstage by Sven and his other two guards; audience applauds]
Amber Mendez
Let me go!
Damon Killian
Amber. Amber! Now I understand that you're single, Amber, and that you live on the West Side. And not surprisingly, she's flaunted the law and traditional morality all of her life.
Amber Mendez
Go ahead. Tell some lies about me now.
Damon Killian
We don't lie. Phil, tell us all about her.
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Amy
[seeing Richards walk by under guard]
Wow. You're lucky he didn't kill you, too. Or rape you then kill you. Or kill you then *rape* you. I mean, a guy like that? What would stop him?
Amber Mendez
[seriously considering the question]
Yeah. What would?
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Stevie
Don't touch that dial!
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Harold Weiss
We can jam the network once we find the uplink to the satellite. Then we'll broadcast the truth.
Ben Richards
Truth? Hasn't been very popular lately.
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Ben Richards
You can't live with them, and you can't live without them.
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Dynamo
Come to me, my love.
[electrocutes Weiss]
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Ben Richards
Food riot in progress. Approximately 1800 civilians, no weapons are evident.
Dispatcher
Proceed with plan Alpha. Eliminate anything moving.
Ben Richards
I said the crowd is unarmed! There are a lot of women and children down there, all they want is food, for god's sake!
Dispatcher
As you were, Richards. Proceed with plan alpha. All rioters must be eliminated.
Ben Richards
The hell with you! I will not fire on helpless people! Abort mission, we return back to base.
Dispatcher
Lieutenant Saunders, do you copy?
Lieutenant Saunders
Yes sir.
Dispatcher
Detain Richards and proceed as ordered.
[Saunders pulls a gun, they fight, Richards is knocked out]
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Mic
What is it?
Amber Mendez
It's the original video from the Bakersfield massacre, before they edited for broadcasting.
Ben Richards
Where did you hide that?
Amber Mendez
It's none of your business.
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Ben Richards
If you're not ready to act, give me a break and shut up!
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Richards
See you guys at the 10-year prison reunion.
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Opening Narration
By 2017, the world economy has collapsed. Food, natural resources and oil are in short supply. A police state, divided into Paramilitary Zones, rules with an iron hand. Television is controlled by the state and a sadistic game show called "The Running Man" has become the most popular program in history. All art, music and communications are censored. No dissent is tolerated and yet a small resistance movement has managed to survive underground. When high-tech gladiators are not enough to suppress the people's yearning for freedom... more direct methods become necessary.
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Amber Mendez
[Fireball arrives in the game zone by jetpack]
Jesus Christ!
Ben Richards
Guess again.
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Damon Killian
[Killian is explaining the rules of the game] Once inside the zone, the runners have three hours! They gotta go through all four game quads! Three hours or less and they're gonna need every second! Cause you know who's on their tail?
Audience members
The stalkers!
Damon Killian
Who?
Audience members
The stalkers!
Damon Killian
And you know what happens then!
Audience members
Anything goes!
Damon Killian
What?
Audience members
Anything goes!
Damon Killian
Right! Without further ado, it's time to start... RUNNING!
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Damon Killian
Edith Wiggins, come on down! Whoa, whoa, Edith! You look like you might have done a little stalking yourself! Now we need you to give us the name of the stalker that we send out to weed out those 3 desperate criminals. 10 seconds, please.
[cut to outside where people are betting on the show]
Bookie
Place your bets, place your bets! Who's she gonna pick? Place your bets!
Damon Killian
Time's up!
Bookie
No more bets, no more bets!
Edith Wiggins
I don't know, they're all so good!
Damon Killian
Quickly!
Edith Wiggins
Um, well, my husband and my little boy, they have their favorites but uh, I like my men big and cuddly!
Damon Killian
Yes? Who is it?
Edith Wiggins
Oh, Subzero!
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Airport announcer
All flights to Pretoria, Tutuville and Mandelaburg are on schedule.
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William Laughlin
Well, there's your ride. lt's all set.
Ben Richards
Nothing like first class.
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Ben Richards
It's showtime.
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Damon Killian
It's all part of life's rich pattern, Brenda, and you better fucking get used to it.
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Damon Killian
[gets thrown into the turbo slide by Ben and the restraints lock in place]
You bastard! Drop dead.
Ben Richards
I don't do requests.
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Damon Killian
Don't touch the hair!
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Damon Killian
They want ratings. l can get 10 points for his biceps alone.
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[first lines]
[a helicopter is flying at night]
Man
[over radio] Yankee-nine-niner, what are your coordinates?
Ben Richards
0-2-0, flight level 1-5. We're above release point Echo-Bravo-one.
Man
[over radio] Move in and check it out.
Ben Richards
Roger. Moving in.
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Amber Mendez
You are unarmed, outnumbered. Face it. You're screwed. So, why don't you just forget about all this and turn yourself in?
Ben Richards
You know, you have a very negative attitude. Now remember, I can break your neck like a chicken's.
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Amber Mendez
Hi, this is Amber. I'm not home right now. I'm out somewhere having a wonderful time with glamorous people in a fabulous place. So, when you hear the tone, control your jealousy and leave your message.
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Damon Killian
The one with the cute ass?
Brenda
This is cuter.
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Captain Freedom
This is a sport of death and honor! Code of the gladiators!
Damon Killian
Cap, will you spare me the combat Zen speech? What the hell's the matter with you? Can't you see what's going on out there? This isn't a game!
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Amber Mendez
You don't have to beat the crap out of me!
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William Laughlin
I worry about the kids. The network shuts down the schools. The kids are either in hiding or getting basic training, brainwashed by the TV.
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Mic
You're one of the cops who locked up all my friends, burned my songs. People like you took this country and turned it into a jail.
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Stevie
You guys want to buy a hot stereo?
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Ben Richards
I've seen too much? All I've seen is a bunch of low foreheads who think they can change the world with dreams and talk. It's too late for that.
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Damon Killian
Sensational. Ben, I think we might be able to help each other out. I've got the brains and you've got talent. No, you've got more. You've got talent, you've got charisma and you've got balls.
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Tony
How's this one? Case 114. Schoolteacher. Killed his wife and his mother-in-law at a faculty dinner party with a steak knife.
Damon Killian
Yeah. See I like that quality. He's the sort that the neighbors say, "Such a quiet man, but never too busy to say hello." But look at him. He weighs 120 pounds. He wouldn't last 30 seconds.
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Ben Richards
Stop trying to teach the Constitution to the street punks.
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