Columbo (TV Series)

Columbo Goes to College (1990)

James Sutorius: Prof. D.E. Rusk

Quotes 

• Prof. D.E. Rusk : [Cooper and Justin knock on his office door]  Come in.

  [Justin and Cooper enter his office] 

  Prof. D.E. Rusk : Close the door.

  [Justin closes the door] 

  Prof. D.E. Rusk : You blew it, boys.

  Justin Rowe : Excuse me?

  Prof. D.E. Rusk : Don't toy with me, Justin. Not you, of all people. I know about the test. That you took the test. Stole the test.

  Cooper Redman : What?

  Prof. D.E. Rusk : Not a word! You hear me? Not one more word! The two of you are an absolute disgrace. All the privilege, all the potential, all the smarts, and what do you do with it? You waste it, squander it, drag it under your feet. You know, you guys don't deserve what you have. You probably never did. And you don't have any respect for anyone! Let me tell you something else. I don't trust myself to make a proper decision right now as to what action I'm going to take, but I'll tell you this much. When I'm ready to make a decision, it'll either be to flunk the two of you, or go to the dean and ask him to throw you out of this university! You got it?

• Prof. D.E. Rusk : [knock on door]  Come in.

  [Justin enters] 

  Prof. D.E. Rusk : What is it, Justin?

  Justin Rowe : [inventing a ruse to get Professor Rusk out of class]  I spoke to my father about what happened. What we did.

  Prof. D.E. Rusk : I'm listening.

  Justin Rowe : Well, he was not happy. And, uh, he said a lot of things. We both did. There were certain threats and certain promises. Anyway, he'd like to speak with you.

  Prof. D.E. Rusk : Have him call.

  Justin Rowe : No, sir, he would like to meet you in person... tonight.

  Prof. D.E. Rusk : Tonight?

  Justin Rowe : Yeah, he's got to go to Washington in a few hours. But he's gonna be having dinner over at the Cafe Burato at 8:00 just across the campus. He's gonna be by himself. And he'd like to meet with you.

  Prof. D.E. Rusk : We've got a guest tonight. You know that. Now, I can't walk out in the middle of class.

  Justin Rowe : But you could be back before the class was over, Professor. Look, I hope you don't think my father is trying to throw his weight around here. But in consideration for all the things that he's done for this university, he's hoping that you'll agree to meet with him.

  Prof. D.E. Rusk : I'll, uh, I'll think about it, Justin.

  Justin Rowe : That's all I can ask. Thank you. Professor?

  Prof. D.E. Rusk : Hmm?

  Justin Rowe : I am sorry.