Frances Sternhagen credited as playing...
Dr. Marian Lazarus
- 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.
- 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!
- 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.
- 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.
- [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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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: Are you Dr. Lazarus?
- Dr. Marian Lazarus: Yes. Take two aspirin, and call me in the morning. That's a doctor joke.
- 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.