Outland (1981)

Frances Sternhagen: Dr. Marian Lazarus

Photos 

Quotes 

• 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.

• 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.

• 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 : Such a smart piece of equipment, and a wreck like me trying to run it.

• 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.

• Dr. Marian Lazarus : Don't misconstrue this. I'm not displaying character - just temporary insanity.

• 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.