The Last of Us (2013 Video Game)
Merle Dandridge: Marlene
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Quotes
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Marlene : [as Joel wakes up from being knocked out by a soldier after Ellie nearly drowned] Welcome to the Fireflies. Sorry about the...
[gestures to her head]
Marlene : They didn't know who you were.
Joel : [worried] And Ellie?
Marlene : She's alright. They brought her back.
[Joel lays back down, visibly relieved]
Marlene : You came all this way. How'd you do it?
Joel : [sighs] It was her. She fought like hell to get here. Maybe it was meant to be.
Marlene : I lost most of my crew crossing the country. I pretty much lost everything. And then you show up, and somehow we find you just in time to save her. Maybe it was meant to be.
Joel : Take me to her.
Marlene : You don't have to worry about her anymore. We'll take care of...
Joel : I worry. Just... let me see her, please.
Marlene : You can't. She's being prepped for surgery.
Joel : The hell you mean, surgery?
Marlene : The doctors tell me the cordyceps, the growth inside her, has somehow mutated. It's why she's immune. Once they remove it, they'll be able to reverse-engineer a vaccine. A vaccine!
Joel : But it grows all over the brain.
Marlene : [smiles sadly] It does.
Joel : [realization dawns on Joel's face, then muted fury] Find someone else.
Marlene : There is no one else!
Joel : Listen, you are gonna show me where she-
[Marlene's bodyguard knocks Joel to the floor]
Marlene : Stop. I get it. But whatever it is you think you're going through right now, it is nothing to what I have been through. I knew her since she was born. I promised her mother I would look after her.
Joel : Then why are you letting this happen?
Marlene : Because this isn't about me! Or even her! There is no other choice here!
Joel : [scoffs, glaring daggers] Yeah. You keep telling yourself that bullshit.
Marlene : [regards him quietly for a moment] ... March him outta here. He tries anything, shoot him. Don't waste this gift, Joel.
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Marlene : [her gun trained on Joel, who is escaping the hospital with an unconscious Ellie] You can't save her. Even if you get her out of here, then what? How long before she's torn to pieces by a pack of clickers? That is if she hasn't been raped and murdered first.
Joel : That ain't for you to decide.
Marlene : It's what she'd want.
[Joel pauses, looking conflicted]
Marlene : And you know it. Look...
[cautiously raises her arms]
Marlene : You can still do the right thing here. She won't feel anything.
[Cut to Joel driving away from the hospital, his face hard. After a moment Ellie is heard stirring awake in the back seat]
Ellie : What the hell am I wearing?
Joel : Just take it easy. Drugs are still wearing off.
Ellie : What happened?
Joel : ...We found the Fireflies.
[cut to Marlene slowly approaching Joel to take Ellie from his arms, then back to the car]
Joel : Turns out there's a whole lot more like you, Ellie. People that are immune. It's dozens, actually. Ain't done a damn bit o' good, neither.
[cut back to the parking garage. Joel's eyes harden as Marlene approaches. He shoots her]
Joel : They've actually st... They've stopped looking for a cure.
Joel : [Ellie closes her eyes, deeply disappointed] I'm taking us home.
[Ellie turns her back to him and says nothing]
Joel : I'm sorry.
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Marlene : You hand her off, come back, the weapons are yours. Double what Robert sold me.
Tess : Speaking of which, where are they?
Marlene : Back at our camp.
Tess : We're not smuggling shit until I see them.
Marlene : [wearily] You'll follow me, you can verify the weapons, I can get patched up.
[gestures to Ellie]
Marlene : But she's not crossing into that part of town. I want Joel to watch over her.
[Joel and Ellie protest at the same time]
Joel : Whoa, whoa, I don't think that's the best idea.
Ellie : Bullshit, I'm not going with him!
Marlene : Ellie!
Ellie : How do you know them?
Marlene : I was close with his brother Tommy. He said if I was ever in a jam, I could rely on him.
Joel : Was that before or after he left your little militia group?
Marlene : He left you, too. He was a good man.
Tess : Look, just... take her to the North Tunnel and wait for me there.
Joel : Jesus Christ...
Tess : She's just cargo, Joel.
Ellie : Marlene...
Marlene : No more talking. You'll be fine. Now go with him.
