Waco (TV Mini Series)

Of Milk and Men (2018)

Michael Shannon: Gary Noesner

Photos 

Quotes 

• Gary Noesner : Hey, there. I'm Gary. What's your name?

  Leona Wendell : Leona.

  Gary Noesner : Leona? Such a pretty name. Hey, why don't we call your mom and tell her you're okay?

  Leona Wendell : We can't call her.

  Gary Noesner : Why not?

  Leona Wendell : Because you killed her.

• Mitch Decker : Negotiations failed, Noesner. They reneged on their deal. Let me handle this. I can have the building cleared by lunch.

  Gary Noesner : Look, this isn't the first time in the history of negotiations that someone reneged on a deal, okay? Our primary objective has to be getting those kids out safely. Clearing the building comes second.

  Mitch Decker : But they're screwing with us. Now's the time to apply more pressure.

  Gary Noesner : No, no, no. Let's not mistake getting even for getting what we want. Trickle, flow, gush. That's my next strategy. If I can get a few people to trickle out, more will follow as it starts to flow, and once Koresh sees enough people leave, he won't be the last in line. It would undermine his authority. He'll lead the rest of them out himself, and the whole thing will be over. I just need a little time.

  Tony Prince : Okay. But, uh... a little show of force might help get their attention.

• Steve Schneider : You promised to stay off our land.

  Gary Noesner : Well, David made a promise, too. He gave us his word, after his message was played, he'd come out. He didn't come out. He... he broke his promise. Could you put him on the phone?

  Steve Schneider : No. He doesn't want to talk to you right now.

  Gary Noesner : Look, Steve, my bosses are frustrated. They don't understand why you didn't come out.

  Steve Schneider : Look, I'm embarrassed about that, on a personal level. We were gonna come out, but... God told David that we needed to wait.

  Gary Noesner : God told him?

  Steve Schneider : Yeah, just like you guys follow a higher authority, we do, too.

  Gary Noesner : Okay. So now what?

  Steve Schneider : So, now, we wait for a sign from God to tell us to come out.

• Steve Schneider : I know this all probably sounds funny to ya. But... what if there is a higher power than you or I, Gary? And that higher power, He speaks to David? If there is a God in this universe, and you've got the laws of man and the laws of God, and that God that has led David his entire life says to him "Wait." I mean, what is he supposed to do?

  Gary Noesner : Well, I have to be honest with you, Steve. I don't know how my bosses are gonna respond when I tell them we're waiting for a sign from God. You know, what I could really use is a sign of good faith. If David could send some of the people out.

  Steve Schneider : What, do you think we're hostages here? No one is a hostage here, Gary. Everyone is free to come and go as they please.

  Gary Noesner : Then why isn't anyone coming out?

  Steve Schneider : Because right now, everyone feels safer in here than they do out there with you. And because once you get into this building, you're gonna be able to mess with the evidence in any way that you want. And you can make up any story that you want, but if this building stands, and the reporters and the press get to see the evidence, then it is going to clearly show what happened here, what these men - what your men - came in here to do.

  [gathering the strength to stand up, David takes the receiver] 

  David Koresh : You want us to come out?

  Gary Noesner : David, listen. You've gotta...

  David Koresh : Then why are you bringing these tanks in here? Do you know what that tells me? That this is war. Why are you sending all these people in here, guns a-blazing? For war, Gary. And now these tanks? And these guys surrounding us? You say you want us to come out, but it sure doesn't look like that to us.

• Gary Noesner : "Personal level. On a personal level." What'd we just learn from this conversation?

  Walter Graves : That they'll do whatever this Koresh guy tells 'em.

  Gary Noesner : No, we already knew that. But Steve said that he was embarrassed about that "on a personal level." He's separating himself from Koresh. Saying he doesn't agree.

  Walter Graves : Huh.

• Gary Noesner : What can you tell me about this Steve Schneider?

  Walter Graves : Uh, well, he was a professor of theology at the Unversity of Hawaii.

  Gary Noesner : Uh-huh.

  Walter Graves : He's originally from Wisconsin. He and his wife joined the group six years ago. He's their star recruiter. The group has nearly doubled since he joined.

  Gary Noesner : Really?

  Walter Graves : Our informant says that he's the glue that keeps this place together. And get this. His wife, Judy, recently had a baby with Koresh.

  Gary Noesner : [whistles]  That can't be good for the relationship.

  Walter Graves : Yeah.

  Gary Noesner : [a thought strikes him]  If Steve brought most of these people in, I would guess he feels responsible for their well-being. Right? Let's focus all our attention on him. If we can break Steve away, this whole thing ends.

• Gary Noesner : I just got off the phone. They're sending four people out. Two of 'em kids.

  Tony Prince : That's a start.

  Mitch Decker : Four people seems hardly cause for celebration.

  Gary Noesner : Well, they're starting to trickle out. The strategy's working. Now, you think you can help me coordinate bringing 'em out?

  Mitch Decker : Yeah, sure.

• Balenda Thibodeau : Excuse me. My son is in Mout Carmel, and I need to talk to him.

  Gary Noesner : How did you get past the barricade?

  Balenda Thibodeau : Listen, I am not altogether sure how he got mixed up in all this mess, but I know if I could talk to him, if I could just speak to him, that I could get him to come out.

  Gary Noesner : I'm sorry, I can't let you do that.

  Balenda Thibodeau : Why not?

  Gary Noesner : Because I don't wanna give him or anyone in there the chance to tie up loose ends.

  Balenda Thibodeau : You think that they're gonna kill themselves?

  Gary Noesner : Doesn't matter what I think. But I'm not gonna give them a chance to say goodbye either way.

• Gary Noesner : Hello. Who's this?

  Cyrus : Cyrus.

  Gary Noesner : David's son.

  Cyrus : Yeah.

  Gary Noesner : Well, hello, Cyrus. Can you put your dad on the phone?

  Cyrus : Are you gonna kill me?

  Gary Noesner : No. No one's going to kill you.

• Gary Noesner : Oh, hey, Steve. I just wanted to give you a quick call and let you now that everybody arrived safe.

  Steve Schneider : Good. Well, I hope that shows you what we're about. We wanna see this resolved peacefully.

  Gary Noesner : Of course. I can tell you're the voice of reason in there. I bet people count on you to make sure they're taken care of.

  Steve Schneider : I'm not sure that's true.

  Gary Noesner : Well, from what I hear, you're the reason the group's grown like it has.

  Steve Schneider : The reason that the group has grown is because of David's teaching, not because of anything I'm doing.

  Gary Noesner : I think you're being modest.

• Gary Noesner : Knowing everything you know now... are you happy you brought all those people in there?

  Steve Schneider : I'm not sure what you're driving at, Gary.

  Gary Noesner : Well, do you think David has everyone's best interest in mind?

  Steve Schneider : Yeah. I do.

  Gary Noesner : Because, forgive me for saying this, but, uh, I can't help but notice a trend that when God comes to talk to modern-day prophets, it seems one thing He always tells them to do is have sex with lots of young women.

  Steve Schneider : Well, that's a pretty cynical view of what we're doing here. I'm not sure I appreciate your tone with that one.

  Gary Noesner : Then explain it to me.

  Steve Schneider : I'm not stupid. I know you're trying to create dissent between me and David.

  Gary Noesner : You're right, I am. 'Cause you know what I think? I think David's dying, and I think he doesn't mind bringing all of you with him.

• Steve Schneider : You know, Gary, where you've got this all wrong, the thing that you're missing... is this is real. I do believe that David is the Lamb of God. Not because of any trick he's pulled, but because of what I have seen with my own two eyes.

  Gary Noesner : But he's lost his way, Steve. I think you can see it.

  Steve Schneider : For years, David has been prophesying exactly what is happening here. From the way you came in to the tanks, the soldiers, everything. I can't figure out another explanation that makes any sense. For a minor weapons violation? All this? You think he's lost his way? Everything David has prophesied has come true.

• Walter Graves : What's going on?

  Gary Noesner : What goes through people's heads, you know? I mean, these HRT guys, what makes grown men act like that? They're mooning kids, for God's sake.

  Walter Graves : They're just built that way. The sad thing is, the Davidians can't tell us apart from them.

  Gary Noesner : [getting an idea]  I need you to get me a video camera.

• Gary Noesner : Hello. I'm Gary Noesner. The notorious. And, uh...

  [holding up a picture of his family] 

  Gary Noesner : ...this is my family. Yeah, that's my wife, Carol, there, and my kids, Kelly, Katy, and Rusty, and I love 'em. I'm sure you love your kids the same way. And there is literally nothing I wouldn't do to keep my children safe. I'm sure we share that feeling. Now, any way you look at it, this is a bad situation, but I wanna make sure that your kids remain safe through it all. So, please... please work with me. Help me keep your kids safe.

• Walter Graves : [watching "The Lawnmower Man"]  I can't believe Koresh likes this.

  Gary Noesner : Jesus.

  Walter Graves : I don't get this movie.

  Gary Noesner : Mm. I can't say it makes my top ten list, either.

• Steve Schneider : Hey, Gary, it's Steve. Um, we just wanted to say thanks for sending the videotape. We understand what you're trying to do, and we really appreciate you making that effort.

  Gary Noesner : I just wanted you to know that there's some people out here who care about what happens to you, that's all.

  Steve Schneider : Yeah. Um... I do... I do have one, uh, small problem, and I could really use your help.

  Gary Noesner : What kind of problem?

  Steve Schneider : So... I guess because of the stress of all this, the mothers who are nursing have... have stopped lactating. So... we need milk. For the babies. Could you send some in?

  Gary Noesner : Let me talk to my bosses.

  Steve Schneider : Okay. Thanks, Gary.

  Gary Noesner : You bet.

• Tony Prince : No. I'm not throwing them a picnic on national TV. They want milk, they can come out and get it.

  Gary Noesner : Look. Usually, the people I negotiate with are backed into a corner. They need something. And that's what gives me leverage. But these people, they just want us to go away. The only way I've been able to motivate them is with goodwill. But now, their babies need milk, and we can give it to them. This is something we can build on. We can use this.

• Gary Noesner : So, Steve, I talked to my bosses, and they're gonna give you the milk.

  Steve Schneider : Aw, Gary. Thank you. I really appreciate that.

  Gary Noesner : But there's one condition. You're gonna have to send some kids out.

  Steve Schneider : Wait. Um... let me just make sure I'm... I'm hearing you correctly. Um, you want us to trade our kids for the milk?

  Gary Noesner : I wouldn't really put it like that. I'm just saying that...

  Steve Schneider : Look, I don't wanna point out the obvious, but if we send out our kids, then we won't need the milk, will we?

• David Koresh : How much milk we talking here, Gary?

  Gary Noesner : David...

  David Koresh : Two quarts per kid? Three? I mean, some kids gotta be worth more than others. Cyrus, my son, he's eight, but can fix any car engine you put in front of him. That's gotta be worth, what, at least three quarts and a milkshake.

  [scoffs] 

  David Koresh : You people.

  Steve Schneider : [David hangs up]  You shouldn't have done that. You know we have to work with them.

  David Koresh : Yeah, well... good lucky with that, Steve.

• Gary Noesner : You get bacon on yours?

  Walter Graves : Yeah.

  Gary Noesner : Oh. I shoulda gotten bacon on mine. You know, that's how we stopped the Clarksville prison riot.

  Walter Graves : With bacon?

  Gary Noesner : Oh, yeah. It was after day eight, and we took a bunch of bacon and threw it on some coals. The prisoners smelled it and were instantly overcome with hunger. And I told them if they came out, they could eat as much as they want. Never underestimate what a hungry man will do for bacon.

  Walter Graves : Hmm. Shame the Davidians don't eat pork.

  Gary Noesner : It is.

• Gary Noesner : Steve! What's going on? Tactial says someone exited the compound.

  Steve Schneider : [dropping the phone]  Shit!

  [hurrying to a window, he sees Thibodeau burying Perry's body] 

  Steve Schneider : [returning to the phone]  It's Thibodeau. He's unarmed! He's just trying to bury a body. Please don't shoot him!

  Gary Noesner : Okay. Hang on, Steve.

  [taking off his headset] 

  Gary Noesner : Where's Decker?

  Walter Graves : I don't know.

• Gary Noesner : Tell your man to stand down!

  Mitch Decker : This is a tactical decision. It's not your call, Gary.

  Gary Noesner : No, no. He's just trying to bury a body.

  Mitch Decker : And I'm telling you, you don't know what he's burying. That could be a bomb for all we know.

  Gary Noesner : Damn it, I'm telling you the kid's unarmed.

  Mitch Decker : And I'm telling you you don't know that, Gary. Now, I can't have people strolling outside, walking around, looking at our positions on things.

• Gary Noesner : The kid is trying to bury one of his dead, Mitch. They let the ATF take their wounded. Show 'em the same respect.

  Mitch Decker : They lost my respect when they started killing federal agents, Gary.

  Gary Noesner : All right. All right, all right. You want another Ruby Ridge on your hands?

  Mitch Decker : Yeah!

  Gary Noesner : Go ahead, shoot that boy. But just remember, the ATF's not gonna be around to take the blame this time!

  Mitch Decker : I don't give a shit!

• Steve Schneider : Pawns, Gary? We're using our kids as pawns? Is that what you think?

  Gary Noesner : No, it's not.

  Steve Schneider : THEN WHY ARE THEY SAYING THAT ON TV?

  Gary Noesner : I don't know.

  Steve Schneider : Your boss said they have made attempts to deliver milk. Now, when did that happen? Because we've been here the entire time, and I don't recall anyone knocking on our door!

  Gary Noesner : Steve, look. I wanna get you that milk. That's the God's honest truth. But you're gonna have to let out some of the kids in return.

  Steve Schneider : I'm sorry, Gary. That's not gonna happen.

• Gary Noesner : Sheriff Harwell?

  Sheriff Harwell : Yeah?

  Gary Noesner : I'm Gary Noesner, head negotiatior, FBI.

  Sheriff Harwell : Mm. Can I help you?

  Gary Noesner : You mind?

  [Harwell gives a noncommital grunt] 

  Gary Noesner : [sitting down]  Well... when I can't get a guy to trust me, I try and find someone he will trust. And David Koresh trusts you.

  Sheriff Harwell : Mm.

  Gary Noesner : I could really use your help.

• Mitch Decker : Look, I just don't think we should make it so easy on 'em.

  Gary Noesner : Jesus. You think we made it easy on 'em? They agreed to send their kids out, for Christ's sake. Right now, the only card we have to play is creating goodwill.

  Mitch Decker : No, it's not. That's *your* only card, Gary.

  Mitch Decker : Look, the people they're sending out won't talk. And we have no idea what's going on in there, what they're planning to do.

  Tony Prince : All right. What's your point, Noesner?

  Gary Noesner : If we send the milk in and bug it somehow... we'll have ears inside. That'll help me with negotiations, and Mitch tactically.

  Tony Prince : [sharing a look with Mitch]  Do it.

• Gary Noesner : Steve, hi. Wayne, Gary Noesner.

  Wayne Martin : [shaking hands]  Hey.

  Gary Noesner : Hi.

  Steve Schneider : Yeah, I've seen your video.

  Gary Noesner : But I'm sure I'm much better-looking in person, right?

  Steve Schneider : Well, let's just say that you got a pretty good face for radio.

• Gary Noesner : You need to know your people are in a lot more danger than you think. And in my experience, the longer these situations go on, the more erratic people's behavior gets.

  Steve Schneider : Yeah, we're seeing that on our side, too.

• Gary Noesner : Can I ask you something, Steve?

  Steve Schneider : Yeah.

  Gary Noesner : Whose child in Mayanah?

  Steve Schneider : [dodging the question]  We've all made a lot of sacrifices to be here.

  Gary Noesner : She's David's child, isn't she?

• Gary Noesner : How is she, Judy? I heard she was shot.

  Steve Schneider : She's fine.

  Gary Noesner : She's fine? She has a bullet in her, and her baby needs milk, but she's fine? She's still in there. Why is that?

  Steve Schneider : Because we made a decision together.

  Gary Noesner : No. No, I think David was the one who made that decision, not you. I think if it were up to you, Judy would be in that vehicle right now with Mayanah. Am I wrong? Now, look, Steve the thing you gotta realize is that you do have the power to make your own decisions. Decisions for you, for Judy, for Mayanah, for everyone in there who is waiting for someone to find the courage to lead them out.

  Steve Schneider : You know, it's funny... I can't tell you how many times I wanted to leave this place. And all the fire ants and the dust storms... and David. Oh, you're right. David's horrible. Self-centered, rude. I wish that God would have chosen any other person on the Earth to speak through instead of him. But you know what? Despite everything you're saying, no one's explained to me what we did to deserve all this. You know, you have the power to end this, too.

  Gary Noesner : How's that?

  Steve Schneider : You could just leave. We weren't bothering anybody.

• David Koresh : A lot of beliefs people have may seem abnormal or strange to other people, but that doesn't mean it's not right, though. God speaks to me. I have a message to present. And you may not believe that. If you don't believe that, then believe this, irrespective of God speaking to me.

  [he gestures off camera, and Cyrus comes to sit down next to him] 

  David Koresh : See this here? This is my family. May not be like your family. But you come pointing guns in the direction of my wives and my kids? Damn it, I will meet you at the door any time. I'm sorry some of you guys got shot. But, hey... God'll have to sort that out, won't He?

  Mitch Decker : [Gary stops the tape]  You still think you can reason with this guy?

  Gary Noesner : [Prince ejects the tape]  What are you gonna do with that?

  Tony Prince : Can't let this get out. Makes him look too normal.