V.I.N.CENT Quotes in The Black Hole (1979)

Captain Dan Holland: The controls aren't responding.

V.I.N.CENT: Captain, the ship has been programmed!

Captain Dan Holland: [resigned] To Reinhardt's course!

Lieutenant Charles Pizer: [shocked] You mean we're going into the black hole?

Captain Dan Holland: [confirmed] Yup.

Kate McCrae: Let's pray he was a genius!

Lieutenant Charles Pizer: We'd be better off without you and Maximilian trying to knock heads.

V.I.N.CENT: I can handle that thing.

Lieutenant Charles Pizer: Well, far be it from you to admit there isn't anything you can't handle.

V.I.N.CENT: There are three basic types, Mr. Pizer: the Wills, the Won'ts, and the Can'ts. The Wills accomplish everything, the Won'ts oppose everything, and the Can'ts won't try anything.

Captain Dan Holland: Well, do us all a favor, V.I.N.CENT, and try to be a Can't, especially where that monster is concerned. We need you, not another corkscrew.

V.I.N.CENT: To quote Cicero: rashness is the characteristic of youth, prudence that of mellowed age, and discretion the better part of valor.

Lieutenant Charles Pizer: V.I.N.CENT, were you programmed to bug me?

V.I.N.CENT: No, sir, to educate you.

V.I.N.CENT: A wolf remains a wolf, even if it has not eaten your sheep.

Lieutenant Charles Pizer: You know what they say, Vincent, all work and no play...

V.I.N.CENT: All sunshine makes a desert, so the Arabs say.

V.I.N.CENT: We have to go!

B.O.B.: Nope, I can't make it! My main circuits are gone, my anti-grav-systems blown, and both backup systems are failing.

V.I.N.CENT: You *can* make it!

B.O.B.: It's no use, V.I.N.CENT! My useful days are finished! But part of me goes with ya. You'll never be obsolete.

[starts to shut down]

B.O.B.: Carry on the tradition. We're the best...

[shuts down and falls back]

V.I.N.CENT: [V.I.N.CENT's eyes slowly look down at his comrade in arms, then turns towards the probe ship, turning his head backwards to look at B.O.B. once more as he leaves]

V.I.N.CENT: [the little robot enters the Parts Storage warehouse on the Cygnus. Old B.O.B. floats in one of the corners and comes out upon V.I.N.CENT's entry]

B.O.B.: My name's B.O.B., Bio-Sanitation Batallion. I couldn't talk freely before, but I have a whole lot to tell ya. If Maximilian knew you were here, it would be the end for the both of us.

V.I.N.CENT: Can you permanently re-arm my lasers?

B.O.B.: Yeah, I can. V.I.N.CENT, you and your friends are in grave danger. Reinhardt only turned the lights on to prevent any damage to the Cygnus. This is a death ship.

V.I.N.CENT, B.O.B.: [the two robots float in the hospital, to observe drones being programmed. Two rotating turntables are seen, with cavity cut-outs in the shape of humanoid forms on each turntable, which rotate under a 5-point triangular beam and focus on the cranial area of each cutout]

B.O.B.: These poor creatures are what's left of the crew. Kept alive by means I don't pretend to understand.

V.I.N.CENT: Humans?

B.O.B.: They're more robot than human. Let's get out of here before we're discovered.

V.I.N.CENT: [the hospital door opens to reveal two armed sentry droids] Too late! Watch it!

[a firefight ensues. V.I.N.CENT and B.O.B. manage to destroy both droids]

V.I.N.CENT: Think there are any more?

B.O.B.: All clear. Let's get rid of the evidence.

V.I.N.CENT: [the two robots put the remains of the sentry droids behind the control console table] How long before they'll start searching for these two?

B.O.B.: It depends on their duty schedule. It could be anytime.

V.I.N.CENT: Then we'll have to move fast.

[Outside the Palimino's docking area, B.O.B. and V.I.N.CENT brief Charlie, Captain Holland and Harry about the real story regarding the Cygnus]

B.O.B.: The officer the men trusted most was Frank McCrae.

Lieutenant Charles Pizer: Kate's father.

B.O.B.: They turned to him when Dr. Reinhardt ignored the orders to return home. He tried to take control of the Cygnus. Reinhardt called it mutiny and killed Mr. McCrae.

Captain Dan Holland: What became of the crew?

B.O.B.: They were captured by the sentry robots and are still on board.

Harry Booth: What?

Lieutenant Charles Pizer: Where?

B.O.B.: In the command tower, and the power center.

V.I.N.CENT: *Robots*, Mr. Pizer. *Humanoid* robots!

B.O.B.: The most valuable thing in the universe, intelligent life, means nothing to Dr. Reinhardt. Without their wills, the crew became things he could command.

Captain Dan Holland: That explains the funeral.

Lieutenant Charles Pizer: Right!

Captain Dan Holland: [looks to Harry] And the limping robot you spotted.

Harry Booth: [turns B.O.B. around to face him] Do you mean to tell me that there is actually a human *body* under that clothing?

B.O.B.: Exactly, Mr. Booth.

Captain Dan Holland: We can't just take off and leave these poor devils behind. Harry, looks like we're going to have to try your plan.

Harry Booth: What? And end up just like the rest of the crew? Why, if they couldn't pull it off, what chance do *we* have?

B.O.B.: Cap'n, the damage is irreversable. Death is their *only* release.

Harry Booth: That's right! For God's sakes, Dan! We can't take on that mechanical army!

V.I.N.CENT: Captain, I was forced to destroy two sentry robots. The others are searching *now*. If they're found...

Captain Dan Holland: Gotcha, V.I.N.CENT. Charlie, start the countdown.

Lieutenant Charles Pizer: Right!

Captain Dan Holland: V.I.N.CENT, tell Kate I want her and Alex back here on the double!

V.I.N.CENT: [the little robot turns to the camera. We see his eyballs glowing; he is communicating via ESP with Kate]

[first lines]

V.I.N.CENT: [beep] 2130; day 547. Unscheduled course correction due at 2200. Pre-correction check: rotation axis plus three degrees. Nitrous oxide pressure: 4100 rising to 5,000. Quad jet C and D on preselect. Rotor ignition sequence beginning in 3-0. Thruster line reactors on standby.

Captain Dan Holland: V.I.N.CENT, notify me with 15 to go. Alex?

Dr. Alex Durant: Yes, Dan?

Captain Dan Holland: Have you determined a difference in ETAs with and without our correction?

Dr. Alex Durant: Working on it. You know, we shouldn't be needing a correction at this time. V.I.N.CENT, run a confirmation on the last inertial fix and check it with another celestial, please.

V.I.N.CENT: [beep] I have. It is correct. But I think I've found the reason for our present variation. Mr. Pizer?

Lieutenant Charles Pizer: Yes, V.I.N.CENT?

V.I.N.CENT: [beep] Mr. Pizer, I think you should come up here.

Kate McCrae: Alex, I will not have you throw your life away for this!

Dr. Alex Durant: He can do it, Kate. I know he can.

Kate McCrae: Oh, God, Alex!

Dr. Alex Durant: There's an entirely different universe beyond that black hole. A point where time and space as we know it no longer exists. We will be the first to see it, to explore it, to experience it!

[Inside the Palomino]

Harry Booth: Damn it all, Dan! If we wait for Alex, we may be too late! Don't you see? He's hypnotized by that man!

Captain Dan Holland: V.I.N.CENT!

V.I.N.CENT: Yes, Captain?

Captain Dan Holland: Tell Kate I want her back here fast, with or without Alex. Tell her why.

[after first seeing the black hole]

Lieutenant Charles Pizer: Every time I see one of those things I expect to spot some guy dressed in red with horns and a pitchfork.

Captain Dan Holland: It's a monster, all right.

V.I.N.CENT: A rip in the very fabric of space and time.

[as Captain S.T.A.R moves toward B.O.B]

B.O.B.: Oh, Lordy, he wants a rematch!

V.I.N.CENT: As an old war hero once said, "Damn the torpedos! full speed ahead!"

B.O.B.: He also said something about going in harm's way.

Captain Dan Holland: It's only dinner.

V.I.N.CENT: Said the spider to the fly.

V.I.N.CENT: I don't mean to sound superior, but I hate the company of robots.

V.I.N.CENT: A pint can not hold a quart, Mr. Pizer. If it holds the pint. it's doing the best it can.

V.I.N.CENT: If one dances, one must pay the piper.

[S.T.A.R collapses onto the floor]

V.I.N.CENT: If there's one thing I *cannot* stand, it's a sore loser!

[Reinhardt contacts the Palamino to tell Holland that Alex and Kate have elected to remain aboard the Cygnus]

V.I.N.CENT: Captain! Dr. Durant is dead! Maximillian killed him! They're taking Dr. Kate to the Hospital!

Captain Dan Holland: [heading for the exit] V.I.N.CENT, get Old B.O.B. to show us the quickest way there!

V.I.N.CENT: Mr. Pizer?

Lieutenant Charles Pizer: Yes, V.I.N.CENT?

V.I.N.CENT: Mr. Pizer, I think you should come up here.

[the Palamino crew are climbing the pylon structure to board the probe ship. Charlie loses his grip and begins to drift out into space, towards the black hole]

Captain Dan Holland: Charlie!

Lieutenant Charles Pizer: Heeelllllllppppp!

Kate McCrae: No!

Lieutenant Charles Pizer: Heeeeeeelllllllllpppppp!

[Charlie begins to flip over as he is drawn towards the black hole's event horizon]

V.I.N.CENT: [the little robot emerges from the passage, sees Charlie floating away, and floats out into space to retrieve him. Charlie grabs V.I.N.CENT, and the two float back and board the probe ship]