Spangler: Francis, I'm not an idiot. Don't you think that I know Richie is a moron? Hell, he is a cancer. He is a cancer to be eradicated. If Richie's attitude spread to the other cadets, there's no telling what it would do to Marlin.
Francis: What do you mean? You're treating him like a god.
Spangler: And that makes the other cadets furious, doesn't it? It makes them want to hurt him... to hurt your little friend?
Francis: Wait a minute. You're turning us against him. You want us to get rid of Richie ourselves.
Spangler: Bravo, Cadet. You see, every threat to Marlin must be treated differently. You, Francis, had to be beaten down, like a dog. Richie is being killed with kindness... or at least pummeled into unconsciousness.