Backdraft (1991)

Donald Sutherland: Ronald Bartel

Photos 

Quotes 

• Ronald : I sent away for a copy of that Life magazine with your picture on the cover. It's a collectible.

  Firefighter Brian McCaffrey : Who's doing this, Ronald?

  Ronald : Wrong question. Who isn't? It's not a spark because there's not enough damage. He wouldn't have had any fun. It's not an insurance scam because there isn't any profit.

  Firefighter Brian McCaffrey : Do you know who's doing this?

  Ronald : Yes.

  Firefighter Brian McCaffrey : Then tell me.

  Ronald : You want to know who?

  [Shows front cover of magazine] 

  Ronald : I want to know if this kid really wanted to be just like his dad. Did he?

  [Ronald is about to return to his cell] 

  Ronald : Okay, I'm out of here.

  Firefighter Brian McCaffrey : Alright. I wanted to be him. I wanted to be him more than anything.

  Ronald : And you loved him?

  Firefighter Brian McCaffrey : Yeah.

  Ronald : And you watched him dance with the animal. You saw your dad burn.

  Firefighter Brian McCaffrey : Hey, fuck you Ronald! Who the hell's doing this, huh?

  Ronald : Did it look at you? Did the fire look at you? It did. Whoa. Wow. Our worlds aren't that far apart after all, are they? So, whoever is doing this knows the animal well, doesn't he? He knows him real well, but he won't let him loose. He won't let him have any fun, so he does not love him. Now who doesn't love fire and is around trychtichlorate all day long?

  Firefighter Brian McCaffrey : [realizes who it might be]  Oh my God!

  Ronald : [laughs]  See... that wasn't such a long trip after all.

• Donald 'Shadow' Rimgale : [at Ronald's parole hearing]  What about the world, Ronald? What would you like to do to the whole world?

  Ronald Bartel : Burn it all.

  [laughs] 

  Donald 'Shadow' Rimgale : See you next year, Ronald.

• Ronald Bartel : The funny thing about firemen is... Night and day they are always firemen.