The Day of the Jackal (1973)

Derek Jacobi: Caron

Quotes 

• [Caron calls London, Assistant Commisioner Mallinson at 3:58 in the morning] 

  Mallinson : I don't wish to sound rude, Inspector, but wouldn't it be better if this sort of routine inquiry could be conducted through the proper channels, preferably when we're all awake?

  Caron : Yes, I'm sorry Mr. Mallinson, but it is very urgent. Commissioner Lebel didn't wish to make a formal request; he was rather hoping that you'd cooperate with us unofficially.

  Mallinson : All right, I'll take the Commissioner's call at... 08:30, you say? Fine. Good night.

  [hangs up] 

  Mallinson : What's left of it...

  Mallinson's Wife : Who was that, dear?

  Mallinson : The Old Boy Network.

• Caron : You know, sir, what they'll do to you if you don't catch this man in time...

  Lebel : I've been given a job to do, so we'll just have to do it.

  Caron : But no crime has been committed yet, so where are we supposed to start looking for the criminal?

  Lebel : We start by recognizing that, after De Gaulle, we are the two most powerful people in France.

• [Lebel arranges calls from Holland, Belgium, Italy, West Germany, South Africa, the United States and Britain] 

  Caron : Sir, how do you know that the Jackal comes from any of these seven countries?

  Lebel : I don't. But he must be on file somewhere.

• Caron : [on phone]  Yes, Washington, I know it's seven o'clock there, it's midnight here!