- Dr. Marian Lazarus: You know, if you're the kind of guy you're supposed to be, you wouldn't stick around. That's why they sent you here.
- Marshal William T. O'Niel: Maybe they made a mistake.
- Dr. Marian Lazarus: I was afraid you'd say something like that. You really think you're making a difference?
- [O'Neil is silent]
- Dr. Marian Lazarus: Then why, for god's sake?
- Marshal William T. O'Niel: Because... maybe they *are* right. They send me here to this pile of shit because they think I belong here. I want to find out if... well, if they're right. There's a whole machine that works because everybody does what they're supposed to. And I found out... I was supposed to be something I didn't like. That's what's in the program. That's my rotten little part, in the rotten machine... I don't like it. So I'm... going to find out if they're right.
- Dr. Marian Lazarus: You know, you haven't your medical all-star here. Company doctors are like ship's doctors. Most are one shuttle flight ahead of a malpractice suit.
- Rudd: You're supposed to protect us. You're the police - it's *your* job! Where are your men?
- Marshal William T. O'Niel: My men? My men are shit.
- Dr. Marian Lazarus: 28 in the last six months.
- Marshal William T. O'Niel: I wonder how many in the six months before that.
- Dr. Marian Lazarus: 24 - I've got initiative.
- Marshal William T. O'Niel: Well, good for you.
- Dr. Marian Lazarus: You want to know how many in the six months before that? Two.
- Marshal William T. O'Niel: Are you sure?
- Dr. Marian Lazarus: I'm unpleasant; I'm not stupid. Of course I'm sure - I can count!
- Sheppard: If you're looking for money, you're smarter than you look. If you're not, you're a lot dumber.
- Marshal William T. O'Niel: ...Then I'm probably a lot dumber.
- Sheppard: That could be very dangerous.
- Marshal William T. O'Niel: Hey, Sheppard - guess what I just found in a meat locker.
- Sheppard: You know, I have a feeling that you'll tell me, even if I don't guess.
- Marshal William T. O'Niel: Two hundred and fifty pounds of hamburger named Yario that works for you. I also found your shipment of PDE. So I threw the hamburger in the jail, and the PDE in the toilet. Or was it the other way around? I can't remember now.
- Dr. Marian Lazarus: [aghast] Polydichloric euthimal! Those stupid bastards are taking polydichloric euthimal! It's an amphetamine. Strongest thing you ever saw. Makes you feel wonderful - you do fourteen hours of work in six hours, that kind of nonsense. Especially manual labor. It makes you work like a horse. The army tested it a few years ago. It made everybody work, alright - then it made them psychotic. It takes a while - ten, maybe eleven months... and then it fries your brain.
- Sergeant Montone: Nelson, we're talking about nuclear detonators. You just don't "lose" them, and then "find" them. You lose your comb and then find it, not detonators. Now, I want to know where they were found, and who found them. You get my drift?
- Sheppard: Did you really destroy the entire shipment?
- Marshal William T. O'Niel: Yes.
- Sheppard: You do have a flair for the dramatic.
- Sheppard: You know, I've misjudged you. You're not stupid - you're crazy. You think you caused more than an inconvenience? Is that what you think? Why don't you go home and polish your badge? You're dealin' with grown-ups here! You're out of your league.
- Marshal William T. O'Niel: Whoever sent you that shipment's gonna be mad that you lost it. Grown-ups have no sense of humor.
- Dr. Marian Lazarus: Your wife is one stupid lady. You wanna go get drunk?
- Marshal William T. O'Niel: ...Yes...
- Dr. Marian Lazarus: At least you have *some* sense left.
- Sheppard: Let me tell you what you're dealing with here. I run a franchise. The company hires me to dig as much ore as possible out of this hellhole. There's a guy like me on every mining operation, all over the system. My hookers are clean; some of 'em are good-looking. My booze isn't watered. The workers are happy. When the workers are happy, they dig more ore - they get paid more bonus money. When they dig more ore, the company's happy! When the company's happy, I'm happy!
- Marshal William T. O'Niel: Sounds wonderful.
- Sheppard: Nothing here is wonderful. It works - that's enough.
- Sergeant Montone: Now, don't go getting your nose all out of joint.
- Marshal William T. O'Niel: What the hell was that all about?
- Sergeant Montone: Oh, it's just his way - a little ceremony for the good folks, that's all.
- Marshal William T. O'Niel: I don't like his way.
- Sergeant Montone: Well, don't mess with him.
- Marshal William T. O'Niel: He's an asshole.
- Sergeant Montone: He's a very powerful asshole - don't mess with him.
- Marshal William T. O'Niel: Lazarus? This is O'Niel. I'll see you in hospital, right away.
- Dr. Marian Lazarus: [barely awake, looking at clock] You know what time it is?
- Marshal William T. O'Niel: Yes.
- Dr. Marian Lazarus: You'd better be dying.
- Bellows: [voice] This is Bellows. You've got the men you want, and it wasn't easy. My people are very unhappy with you. This could cause trouble for us on all the other mining operations. If the company got wind of what's going on, they'd clamp down like a vice. They can't afford to lose their franchise! That could put my people out of business - and my people like being *in* business.
- Sheppard: Tell them not to worry. How good are the men?
- Bellows: [voice] The best. They've already left on the shuttle arriving Sunday.
- Sheppard: They have their own weapons?
- Bellows: [voice] Yes.
- Sheppard: The target is O'Niel - the marshal here.
- Bellows: [voice] Jesus - you better not mess this up.
- Sheppard: I won't.
- Bellows: [voice] It's your party.
- Sheppard: Yes, it is.
- Bellows: [voice] How much help will he have?
- Sheppard: None.
- Bellows: [voice] You sure?
- Sheppard: Yes, I'm sure. No one here will stick their neck out for anyone. Once the word is spread these guys are pros, there'll be no trouble. I've got someone on the inside that will spread the word. Don't worry. He's a dead man.
- Bellows: [voice] Sheppard, I've gotta tell you - if this doesn't work out, the next guys who come for someone will be coming for you.
- Sheppard: No sweat. I'll call you when it's over.
- [communications link disconnects]
- [last lines]
- Dr. Marian Lazarus: I was on my way to drinking myself into a stupor, and I thought I'd drop in and say goodbye.
- Marshal William T. O'Niel: ...You were a good friend. Thank you.
- Dr. Marian Lazarus: I should thank you. There hasn't been so much excitement in this heap for some time.
- Marshal William T. O'Niel: ...Well, I have to go now.
- Dr. Marian Lazarus: So do I. It's gonna hit the fan around here, and I want to watch it happen... You did good.
- Marshal William T. O'Niel: So did you.
- Dr. Marian Lazarus: Damn right.
- [she leaves; he sits at the keyboard and types a transmission]
- Marshal William T. O'Niel: [typing] Message to O'Niel, Carol G. From O'Niel, W.T. Arriving in time for flight. Keep ticket warm. Job done. Kiss Paul for me. Looking forward to sleeping with you for a year. O'Niel, W.T. End transmission
- Paul O'Niel: Mommy let me stay up late because this is when the call came through. I miss you.
- Marshal William T. O'Niel: I miss you, too.
- Paul O'Niel: Mommy says as soon as you get done, you're going to come home with us.
- Marshal William T. O'Niel: As soon as I get done.
- Paul O'Niel: What's it like on Earth?
- Marshal William T. O'Niel: Oh, it's beautiful. You're going to see many wonderful things. And you'll have many friends to play with.
- Paul O'Niel: Mommy says that on the flight, they put you to sleep for more than a year.
- Marshal William T. O'Niel: That's true.
- Paul O'Niel: Will it hurt?
- Marshal William T. O'Niel: Not a bit. You'll just wake up... be home.
- Paul O'Niel: I'm going to sleep through my birthday!
- Marshal William T. O'Niel: Next birthday, I'll get you two presents.
- Paul O'Niel: Can't you come home with us?
- Marshal William T. O'Niel: Not right now.
- Paul O'Niel: Soon?
- Marshal William T. O'Niel: Soon.
- Paul O'Niel: I love you, Daddy.
- Marshal William T. O'Niel: I love you too, Paul. You take care of Mommy.
- Paul O'Niel: I will. See you, Daddy.
- Marshal William T. O'Niel: Did you do autopsies?
- Dr. Marian Lazarus: No.
- Marshal William T. O'Niel: Why not?
- Dr. Marian Lazarus: In the first place, the company wanted the bodies shipped out quickly. In the second place, when a person exposes himself to zero-pressure atmosphere, there isn't a whole lot left to inspect. In the third place, you're becoming a nuisance.
- Marshal William T. O'Niel: [blocking her path] Yes, I know. I would like a report of all of these incidents that have happened during the past six months. I'd like it really soon. Or I might just kick your nasty ass all over this room. That's a marshal joke.
- Marshal William T. O'Niel: How deep are you in?
- Sergeant Montone: ...Not too deep... I'm paid to look the other way.
- Marshal William T. O'Niel: ...I get it. You don't do anything bad; you just don't do anything good, right?
- Dr. Marian Lazarus: Almost everybody here doesn't have both oars in the water as far as I'm concerned. Why people "suddenly" start to lose their marbles in greater numbers is not so mystifying. I don't know why more of them didn't do it sooner.
- Lazarus: [watching O'Niel play racquetball] That's pretty good - playing by yourself, and losing. I'd join you in this dumb game, if I could play sitting down... Yes, I'm well - thank you. Pretty busy. Seems there's some kind of "flu" going around. You be surprised, the number of workers who are gonna be sick this Sunday. It's your actual epidemic.
- Marshal William T. O'Niel: Are you gonna be sick this Sunday?
- Lazarus: [sighs] If you're looking for sterling character, you're in the wrong place.
- Marshal William T. O'Niel: [firing two warning shots over a suspect's head after a chase and fight] Think it over.
- Sergeant Montone: The second time I did a tour, I got back and my wife had skipped off with some guy who was a computer programmer. I have two daughters... They call the programmer Daddy. My wife said she was happy. I said, "Happy? The guy looks so boring." She said, "He may not be Mr. Excitement, except he was home all the time." Well, you can't argue with that.
- Marshal William T. O'Niel: Are you Dr. Lazarus?
- Dr. Marian Lazarus: Yes. Take two aspirin, and call me in the morning. That's a doctor joke.
- Officer Slater: Some cupcake - name, uh, Cane - decided he didn't need an environment suit. They're still spongin' him off the elevator walls.
- Dr. Marian Lazarus: This blood is from a dead person.
- Marshal William T. O'Niel: Very good.
- Dr. Marian Lazarus: No alcohol. He ate dinner. Protein, carbohydrates... more carbohydrates. He didn't eat his vegetables.