Waco (TV Mini Series)

Of Milk and Men (2018)

Paul Sparks: Steve Schneider

Photos 

Quotes 

• Steve Schneider : I'm thinking you should go.

  Judy Schneider : Well, is David going?

  Steve Schneider : No.

  Judy Schneider : Then I'm not going.

  Steve Schneider : Look at your finger. If that infection spreads, you... I mean, you could lose your hand.

  Judy Schneider : I know.

  Steve Schneider : You could lose your life.

  Judy Schneider : It hurts so bad, I can't sleep.

• Judy Schneider : Cut it off.

  Steve Schneider : What?

  Judy Schneider : I'm gonna lose it anyway, Steve. Cut it off.

  Steve Schneider : No! Has everyone around here lost their minds? Nobody's cutting your finger off! And I'm sending you outside to get medical attention.

  Judy Schneider : No, you're not!

  Steve Schneider : Yes, I am.

  Judy Schneider : No, you are not!

• Steve Schneider : Rachel? This is how I'd like to ration out the food and water. Can you take care of that?

  Rachel Koresh : No one's gonna be happy with this.

  Steve Schneider : Well, if they don't like it, they're welcome to leave.

• Wayne Martin : How many guns you think they're pointing at us right now?

  Steve Schneider : I bet a lot.

• David Koresh : [watching news reports of the siege]  They're making us look like monsters. Calling us child abusers.

  Steve Schneider : Everyone's in the chapel wondering why we're not going out. I need you to talk to 'em.

• 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.

• David Thibodeau : I was wondering if you could talk to the FBI about Perry. See if they'll let us bury his body outside.

  Steve Schneider : I asked you to bury him in the storm shelter.

  David Thibodeau : I know. It's just... Michele.

  Steve Schneider : Mm-hmm.

  David Thibodeau : I know it would mean a lot to her if we could bury him by the myrtle tree outside.

  Steve Schneider : It's impossible. It's not gonna happen.

  David Thibodeau : Could you just ask? Please?

  Steve Schneider : I can try.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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 : 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.

• Tony Prince : A few days ago, the FBI learned that the Branch Davidians ran out of milk. And they are no longer able to feed their children.

  Steve Schneider : [watching on TV]  Nice of them to tell the truth for once.

• 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.

• Steve Schneider : Dave, I'd like you to send out... Judy and Mayanah.

  David Koresh : No. I can't do that.

  Steve Schneider : [quietly]  Okay.

  [standing to leave, he stops in the doorway] 

  Steve Schneider : You know, I've never asked you for anything. In all the years I've known you, everything I have done has been for you. Please, David. I'm asking you this one thing. And I'll talk to Judy. She can just tell them that... that Mayanah is my daughter.

  David Koresh : But, Steve... she's not your daughter. She's mine.

• 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.