The Outer Limits (TV Series)

Final Exam (1998)

Brett Cullen: Dr. James Martin

Photos 

Quotes 

• Dr. James Martin : The only difference between shrinks and patients is that we have a certificate that says we're sane.

• Seth Todtman : Do you know how the first thought of an atomic bomb came into the world?

  Dr. James Martin : No

  Seth Todtman : It was, um, 1939, a group of graduate students working with Robert Oppenheimer sketched a design on their classroom blackboard, not long after that, another junior guy was thinking about this little research report from Paris while he was riding along in his commuter train in Berlin. You see, the french guys had noticed that when they split certain atoms, they got an extra release of neutrons, and there, amid the screech of steel wheels against steel rails, the light flickering across his face, that guy realized that you could not only base a bomb on that sort of chain reaction, but you could also breed your own Uranium to do it. Do you, uh, do you know what I'm saying ?

  Dr. James Martin : That all those people weren't necessarily special, and that it wasn't even based on their own experiments.

  Seth Todtman : Exactly. You see, when a science is ready, people can't help making the discovery, the world is going to end very soon, Doctor Martin.The concepts are so simple, even a child can make a cold fusion bomb.

• Dr. James Martin : When a child is traumatized, they still have choices,some grow up and fight back, they become protectors and try to save other people from the same pain that they've been through, you meet them as social activists, teachers...

  Seth Todtman : And badly dressed therapists? Are you a loner, Martin? Don't have a wife to pick out your clothes for you? Not that I mean to criticize. Some of the very best people at this school said I dressed like a geek, you know, the textbooks claim that humor at a time like this usually means you're screaming inside, I thought the lack of it meant that I was stupid or a madman. What about your next type of victim?

  Dr. James Martin : Well, they're the type who identify with the abusers, and they become pain-givers themselves which is inherently illogical, because that's just another form of surrender to the abusers,it's saying you can't beat them, so you're joining them.

• Seth Todtman : What if i do feel fear? What if i wished i never saw how to build that thing? What difference does it make? It's built, and someone else will build another one very soon.

  Dr. James Martin : We can control the materials needed to build it, we can steer the path of education away from the discovery,

  Seth Todtman : The materials are everywhere, when science is ready to make a discovery, nothing can stop it, almost simultaneously the ideas will occur to lots of people.

  General : Don't let him turn, step up the power,

  Dr. James Martin : Maybe, maybe not, but hope is as intrinsic to the human condition as our thirst for life, i want you to live,I don't care if that's logical, let's put the genie back in the bottle, they'll forget about the deaths today if you make that deal, and the very effort of trying will help cure your fears, come on, admit to yourself what you're feeling

  Seth Todtman : I, uh... Maybe i do feel fear,

• General : What do we have?

  Hal Kaplan : No life-threatening radioactivity from the blast site, though we're getting some readings.

  General : Are you in touch with this kid ?

  Chief Davis : We opened a direct line, but he won't talk to us. Here's the list of the people he wants brought in.

  General : This is Dr. Martin, our team negotiator.

  Dr. James Martin : Has he said anything aside from giving you this list?

  Chief Davis : He says he's invented a cold fusion bomb. Whatever the hell that is ?

  Hal Kaplan : That's a good one. I'll tell you what this kid did. He's built an ordinary explosive device, contaminated it with radioactive waste to fake a nuclear blast.

  Chief Davis : That mean you won't be assuming jurisdiction?

  General : Oh, no... We'll still consider this a nuclear incident. You pull your men back and caution them about spreading wild stories. Panic could do more harm to this city than that lunatic. We all know what we're up against, okay?

  Chief Davis : You bet.

  Dr. James Martin : Well... Let's see what he's got to say.

• Dr. James Martin : Sharon, look, I owe you an apology.

  Federal Operator #1 : Sir, this is an alpha call. Please state your identity.

  Dr. James Martin : What? Oh, uh... Martin, James Martin, PH.D .

  Federal Operator #1 : Sir, my authentication code is Bravo-Zulu-221. What is your counter authentication code?

  Dr. James Martin : Uh, yeah, Delta-Tango-983.

  Federal Operator #1 : Sir, this is an alert from the Office of Intelligence, Department of Energy. The Secretary has declared a Nuclear Emergency Search-Team Mobilization.

  Dr. James Martin : On a Friday Morning?

  Federal Operator #1 : This is not a drill. I repeat, this is not a drill. Transportation your location, E.T.A., two minutes.

  Dr. James Martin : What?

• Dr. James Martin : You're going to get more hostages for him?

  General : Are you speaking as my negotiator or a do-good therapist?

  Dr. James Martin : It will only inflate his ego and terrorize them needlessly.

  General : Needlessly? Do you comprehend our options here? He may have a 50-megaton device. What is the only assured method of disabling something like that?

  Dr. James Martin : Incinerate it before it activates. You do that is by using a tactical nuclear weapon which will kill everyone within several hundred yards, Including us.

  General : Not you. You can call from anywhere. But some of us must stay.

• Seth Todtman : I mean, Haven't you ever wondered why there isn't any intelligent life In the universe?

  Dr. James Martin : Excuse me?

  Seth Todtman : Oh, come on, Martin, all those years listening to the stars and not a peep, No I Love Lucy with two-headed green guys playing both Lucy and Ricky? No radio signals at all, you know why?

  Dr. James Martin : No, I don't

  Seth Todtman : Because they get to this point, where you and I are today, and they discover the energy weapon that any child can build, and then they destroy themselves.

  Dr. James Martin : I can't accept that, I don't believe you can either.

  Seth Todtman : Before this day's over, you will