I Want More Life …

by

You have to love the Internet. Ken’s recent posts (here and here) mention radical life extension as something almost within reach. Maybe. But it reminded me of that epic scene in Blade Runner, where Roy Batty confronts Tyrell. Mere seconds later, a Google search of the words “Blade Runner” and “script”, and voila, there it is!

TYRELL: What’s the problem?
BATTY: Death.

THE REST OF THE SCENE

TYRELL
I’m surprised you didn’t come to
me sooner.

BATTY
It’s not an easy thing to meet
your maker.

TYRELL
And what can he do for you?

BATTY
Can the maker repair what he makes?

TYRELL
Would you like to be modified?

BATTY
Had in mind something a little more
radical.

TYRELL
What’s the problem?

BATTY
Death.

TYRELL
I’m afraid that’s a little out of
my…

Batty cuts in with a whisper.

BATTY
I want more life, fucker.

TYRELL
Come here.

Batty walks forward.

TYRELL
Sit down.

Batty does.

TYRELL
The facts of life. I’ll be blunt.
To make an alteration in the
evolvement of an organic life
system, at least by men, makers
or not, is fatal. A coding sequence
can’t be revised once it’s
established.

BATTY
Why?

TYRELL
Because by the second day of
incubation any cells that have
undergone reversion mutation give
rise to revertant colonies — like
rats leaving a sinking ship. The
ship sinks.

BATTY
What about E.M.S. recombination?

TYRELL
We’ve already tried it — ethyl
methane sulfonate is an alkylating
agent and a potent mutagen — it
creates a virus so lethal the
subject was destroyed before we
left the table.

Batty nods grimly.

BATTY
Then a repressor protein that blocks
the operating cells.

TYRELL
Wouldn’t obstruct replication, but
it does give rise to an error in
replication, so that the newly
formed DNA strand carries a
mutation and you’re got a virus
again… but all this is academic
— you are made as good as we could
make you.

BATTY
But not to last.

TYRELL
Put it this way. Rolls Royces are
made to last — as least they were.
But I’m afraid you’re a Ferrari.
A high strung racing car — built
to win, not to last.

Batty smiles bitterly.

Update: this is a pretty cool BR site.

  1. I’ve always liked the version that ended up on film. Small differences, but I love these lines:Batty: But not to last.

    Tyrell: The light that burns twice as bright burns half as long. And you have burned so very very brightly, Roy. Look at you. You’re the prodigal son. You’re quite a prize!

    Batty: I’ve done questionable things.

    Tyrell: Also extraordinary things. Revel in your time.
    Joe Turkel did a fantastic job portraying Eldon Tyrell. I don’t know a single thing he did elsewhere. The script went through so many revisions, it’s anyone’s guess as to the “best” version. In case you do not have the LaserDisc or DVD handy, here is a nice link to a pdf of the scene, complete with screenshots.

  2. Thanks, Andy. Agreed Tyrell was excellent. The whole cast was good, even Daryl Hannah, whom I detest. She was up to this role. So many great scenes, such great dialogue.
    Off the seat of my pants:
    “Those aren’t your memories. They’re Tyrell’s niece’s.”
    “Wake up. Time to die.”
    “Your eyes, I built your eyes”
    “I’ll tell you about my mother!”
    “how does it feel to live in fear? that’s what it means to be a slave!”
    Some of those must be a little off. I need to watch it again. It’s been years and years.

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