Matthew Modine: James Riley

Sicario: Day of the Soldado

James Riley

Matt Graver: Just to be clear, you wanna see this thing through, I'm gonna have to get... dirty.
James Riley: Dirty is exactly why you're here.

James Riley: [asking Matt to define terrorism] The current definition is "Any individual or group that uses violence to achieve a political goal." The administration believes that the drug cartels now fit that definition.
Dale Hammonds: Next week, the president's adding drug cartels to the list of terrorist organizations.
James Riley: You can understand how that will expand our ability to combat them.
Dale Hammonds: The cartel territories are fairly stable at the moment, but as we learned in Iraq, striking your enemy is a whole hell of a lot easier if they're fighting each other.
Matt Graver: I'll do whatever you need. Just point the way.
Gen. Arno McCullough: Do you have any thoughts?
Matt Graver: I mean, I wouldn't take out a cartel leader. Turn one cartel into 50. Besides, killing kings doesn't start wars, it ends them.
Gen. Arno McCullough: That's our concern.
Matt Graver: Mm-hmm. You have a location on Reyes?
Dale Hammonds: No, but the family's under surveillance.
Matt Graver: Is he in contact with 'em?
Dale Hammonds: Not to our knowledge, but we assume yes.
Matt Graver: Any kids?
Dale Hammonds: Two.
Matt Graver: Mm-hmm. What's the age of the youngest?
Dale Hammonds: 16.
Matt Graver: 16? Yeah, if you wanna start a war... kidnap a prince. King will start it for you.
James Riley: You did this sort of thing in the Middle East.
Matt Graver: Hmm.
James Riley: You think those tactics will work here?
Matt Graver: If you want it to, sir.

James Riley: Why didn't you hold her someplace in Mexico?
Steve Forsing: We don't have the infrastructure for that, sir. Mission security would be almost impossible.
James Riley: Was this your mission?
Steve Forsing: No, sir.
James Riley: Then why are you answering? Mr. Graver?
Matt Graver: We don't have the infrastructure for that, sir. Mission security would be almost impossible.
James Riley: And this girl was witness to all aspects of the mission, correct?
Matt Graver: No, she was shielded from the kidnapping.
James Riley: What about the 25 Mexican police officers that were killed, on foreign soil, all of which she witnessed?
Matt Graver: The ones who attacked us? Yes, sir.
James Riley: Where is she?
Matt Graver: I have a source bringing her to the border.
James Riley: Do we have an exact location? That question is for you, Mr. Forsing.
Steve Forsing: We don't know her whereabouts, sir, but he has a beacon; he'll activate it as soon as he gets close to the border.
James Riley: If they can make it to the border. Which is a chance we cannot take. Cynthia.
Cynthia Foards: Yes, sir?
James Riley: You handle it from here.
Cynthia Foards: [he ends the call] We can't risk her falling into the wrong hands. When the beacon's activated, your team takes them. You understand? Clean the scene. When I say clean, gentlemen, I mean spotless. Your operative included.