Manny's message to the Kid

from the film Runaway Train


by Mark McIlroy, (about employment)

03.05.2026




Kid:

When I get out of here I want to be like you Manny.


Manny:

No, when you get out of here you're going to get a job. A job that a convict could get, like scraping dishes.

And when the rich man comes along and says 'Look, you missed a bit' you're going to say 'sorry, sorry' and work even harder.

And you're going to hold on to that job like it's Gold, because it IS gold.

And you're going to hold all that pain inside you.

And if you can do that you will be President of Chase Manhattan, president of international corporations.


Kid:

Can you do that Manny?


Manny:

I wish I could kid. I wish I could.



[From memory. Close to word-for-word].