Zardoz (1974)
Sara Kestelman: May
Photos
Quotes
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[Zed stands before a giant screen swarming with microscopic infusoria]
May : Look at it. It's you.
[Zed looks behind him, but May does not see him do so]
May : Your genetic structure, your life chart. Look.
[Obligingly, Zed does so again]
May : You are a mutant, second, maybe third generation - therefore genetically stable. Enlarged brain, total recall. Your potential is... Your breeding potential!
Zed : Breeding?
May : Frayn!
[May spins around to confront Zed]
May : How did you get into the Vortex? What is your purpose?
Zed : I'm just an Exterminator. I know nothing.
May : You must know that you're mentally and physically vastly superior to me, or to anyone else here. You could be anything, could *do* anything. You must be destroyed.
Zed : Why?
May : Because you could destroy us!
Zed : As *you* destroyed the rest of life? Can you un-know what you know now about me?
May : For the sake of science, I will keep this knowledge from the others, for the time being. But you must follow me, obey me, be circumspect, make no disruption, quietly do whatever work is given you. I will watch over you.
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May : Friend, I cannot sanction this violence and destruction.
Friend : It's too late, May. There's no going back.
May : Don't destroy the Vortex! Let us renew it. A better breed could prosper here. Given time...
Friend : Time? Wasn't eternity enough?
Zed : [enters suddenly; May wheels to face him] This place is against life. It must die.
[Zed gently grasps May's pistol hand and raises it so that the weapon points right between his eyes]
May : I have my followers. Inseminate us all, and we'll teach you all we know, give you all we have. Perhaps you can break the Tabernacle. Or be broken.
[Friend advances to place his hand on the others', in a triple pact]
Friend : An end to eternity.
May : A higher form.
Zed : Revenge.
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[Zed confronts May in the weaving-house; she is partially hidden beneath a diaphanous patterned sheet]
Zed : May? I want your help!
May : You want to destroy us... the Tabernacle.
Zed : I want the truth.
May : You must give the truth, if you wish to receive it.
Zed : I'm ready.
[She flings the sheet up to enfold him beneath it with her]
May : It'll burn you!
Zed : Then burn me.
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Consuella : We have to shut ourselves off. We have to.
May : This is the first direct, visual contact with the outlands in years; as opposed to, data since Arthur was delegated to control them. It is *proper* that we investigate.
Consuella : It's better not to know. These images will pollute us. Quench it. Quell it.
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May : Selective breeding, do you think? What has Arthur been doing out there all these years?
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George Saden : I have studied our social, emotional substructures for 140 years. These thoughts are constructive criticisms. Pyramidical. I am innocent of psychic violence. As you examine my face and eyes, you will see that this is true.
May : He's lying.
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May : You murdered your own God, by accident. Or was it an accident?
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May : We will touch-teach you - and you will give us your seed.