Maj. Rebecca Childs Quotes in The Core (2003)

Col. Robert Iverson: Being a leader isn't about ability. It's about responsibility.

Maj. Rebecca Childs: Got it, sir.

Col. Robert Iverson: No you don't, Beck. I mean, you're not just responsible for the good ones. You've got to be responsible for the bad ones. You've got to be ready to make the shitty call.

Maj. Rebecca Childs: What makes you think I'm not?

Col. Robert Iverson: Because you're so damn good. You haven't hit anything you couldn't beat. I mean, hell, you were the one who figured out how to save the space shuttle. You made me, you made the rest of NASA just look like an ass. It's just you're used to winning... and you're not really a leader until you've lost.

Dr. Josh Keyes: Did you reset the overrides?

Maj. Rebecca Childs: I never pushed them

Dr. Josh Keyes: You let him die.

Maj. Rebecca Childs: Actually, you really want to know? I killed him twice. First when I hit the diamond and then when I didn't hit the override. You want me to feel any worse about that than I already do? That's not possible...

Dr. Josh Keyes: Why are you being so smug about that?

Maj. Rebecca Childs: Could you have made the decision?

Dr. Josh Keyes: Yes.

Maj. Rebecca Childs: Could you?

Dr. Josh Keyes: Yes I could've. If you would have hit that switch I could've got him outta there. I was yelling for you!

[holds up Serge's notebook with a picture of his family]

Dr. Josh Keyes: Take it and look at it! I was two inches from him. I was two inches and I told you to put up the door and you didn't! I was screaming for you! Why didn't you do it?

Maj. Rebecca Childs: Because I had to make that decision. Fate or God...

Dr. Josh Keyes: No! You - damn it, you leave God out of this!

Maj. Rebecca Childs: Serge died so we could complete our job.

Dr. Josh Keyes: [sarcastically] Oh, that's right, the job of saving the world

Maj. Rebecca Childs: Not the whole world Josh! Just three of them.

Maj. Rebecca Childs: So, you're really a college professor? You're not from the CIA, the NSA or any of those three letter places?

Dr. Josh Keyes: No, I am a boring college professor. Wrong place, wrong place.

Maj. Rebecca Childs: That was the bravest thing I've ever seen.

Dr. Josh Keyes: Well, I just... I just... Listen, the lack of oxygen kept me from weeping like a little girl, as is my custom in dangerous situations.

Maj. Rebecca Childs: Guys? We're dodging diamonds the size of Cape Cod, so bear with me. Not exactly nimble here.

Dr. Josh Keyes: Diamonds? I want some.

Dr. Ed 'Braz' Brazzelton: Can I help?

Talma Stickley: Endeavour, guidance is bad. You are now one-two-niner miles off-course.

Maj. Rebecca Childs: Uh, roger, Huston. We kind of noticed. Is that...?

Talma Stickley: Los Angeles. That is confirmed.

Dr. Josh Keyes: You're an astronaut and you can tie a Windsor.

Maj. Rebecca Childs: Mm-hmmm.

Dr. Josh Keyes: Is there anything you can't do?

Maj. Rebecca Childs: [smiles] Not that I'm aware of.

Dr. Josh Keyes: I find that incredibly intimidating.

Maj. Rebecca Childs: Yep. Most people do.

Dr. Josh Keyes: Then they brought me in when the pacemakers quit and boom, you know, I'm Apocalypse Boy.

Maj. Rebecca Childs: Apocalypse Boy?

Dr. Josh Keyes: Yeah, I'm having T-shirts made

Maj. Rebecca Childs: Well, hats sell better.

Maj. Rebecca Childs: You know what makes me really, really angry? Bob, Serge, Braz, Zimsky. No one's every going to know what they did or why they died.

Dr. Josh Keyes: Unless, it all got out somehow.

Maj. Rebecca Childs: That's unthinkable.

[they smile]

[space shuttle Endeavor is way off course]

Maj. Rebecca Childs: I show possible touchdown at 335 North 118 West.

Talma Stickley: Endeavor, that is confirmed. Turn right, heading 175. Expect visual contact with Los Angeles River in five seconds.

Dr. Josh Keyes: I told you pulsing the ultrasonics would work.

Maj. Rebecca Childs: Do you ever get tired of being right?

Dr. Josh Keyes: Yes. So what's next for you?

Maj. Rebecca Childs: A shower. Then back to NASA, I guess. You?

Dr. Josh Keyes: Deep-dish pepperoni pizza, green peppers, onions, extra mushrooms - then a shower and then back to the classroom.

Maj. Rebecca Childs: NASA could use a few good men, you know.

Dr. Josh Keyes: Yeah. Unfortunately, so could my freshmen geophysics students.