Time is Relative

In movies and on TV, characters in situations where time is at a premium frequently need to ask others for help. The following exchange often results:

Character: "How long will X (where X is the help requested) take?
Helper: "An hour"
Character: "That's no good, I need it in 10."
Helper: "[Character name], that's not possible!"
Character: "Do what you have to do, I'm counting on you." (helper nods)

The time it takes to do something might have a little wiggle room, but a lot of processes just take as long as they take; it's not personal or flexible in a crisis. Demanding it take less time won't do the trick.

Character: "How long will this dry cleaning take?"
Helper: "An hour."
Character: "That's no good, I need it in 10."
Helper: "It's dry cleaning, [character name], it takes an hour."
Character: "Damn! But I'll wait..."