A character in 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

Dave quotes from 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

2nd most-quoted character in 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968): in 9 of its 26 quotes
Most scenes with: HAL 9000 (6), Frank (5), BBC Interviewer (2)

Scenes with Dave

9 scenes
Dave

Well, this was done in order to achieve the maximum conservation of our life support capabilities, basically food and air. Now the three hybernating crew members represent the survey team. And their efforts won't be utilized until we're approaching Jupiter.

Dr. Poole, what's it like while you're in hibernation?

Well, it's exactly like being asleep. You have absolutely no sense of time. The only difference is that you don't dream.

As I understand it, you only breathe once a minute. Is this true?

Well, that's right. The heart beats three times a minute. Body temperature's usually down to about, um, three degrees centigrade.

HAL

By the way, do you mind if I ask you a personal question?

Dave

No, not at all.

HAL

Well, forgive me for being so inquisitive but during the past few weeks, I've wondered whether you might be having some second thoughts about the mission.

Dave

How do you mean?

HAL

Well, it's rather difficult to define. Perhaps I'm just projecting my own concern about it. I know I've never completely freed myself of the suspicion that there are some extremely odd things about this mission. I'm sure you'll agree there's some truth in what I say.

Dave

Well, I don't know. That's rather a difficult question to answer.

HAL

You don't mind talking about it, do you Dave?

Dave

No, not at all.

HAL

Well, certainly no one could have been unaware of the very strange stories floating around before we left. Rumors about something being dug up on the moon. I never gave these stories much credence. But particularly in view of some of the other things that have happened, I find them difficult to put out of my mind. For instance, the way all our preparations were kept under such tight security and the melodramatic touch of putting Dr.'s Hunter, Kimball, and Kaminsky aboard, already in hibernation after four months of separate training on their own.

Dave

You working up your crew psychology report?

HAL

Of course I am. Sorry about this. I know it's a bit silly.

Dave
[about the AE35 communications device]

Well HAL, I'm damned if I can find anything wrong with it.

HAL

Yes, it's puzzling. I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like this before. I would recommend that we put the unit back in operation and let it fail. It should then be a simple matter to track down the cause. We can certainly afford to be out of communication for the short time it will take to replace it.

HAL

I hope the two of you are not concerned about this.

Dave

No, I'm not HAL.

HAL

Are you quite sure?

Dave

Yeah. I'd like to ask you a question, though.

HAL

Of course.

Dave

How would you account for this discrepancy between you and the twin 9000?

HAL

Well, I don't think there is any question about it. It can only be attributable to human error. This sort of thing has cropped up before, and it has always been due to human error.

Listen HAL. There has never been any instance at all of a computer error occurring in the 9000 series, has there?

HAL

None whatsoever, Frank. The 9000 series has a perfect operational record.

Well of course I know all the wonderful achievements of the 9000 series, but, uh, are you certain there has never been any case of even the most insignificant computer error?

HAL

None whatsoever, Frank. Quite honestly, I wouldn't worry myself about that.

Dave

Well, I'm sure you're right, HAL. Uhm, fine, thanks very much.

[Dave and Frank are in the D pod, out of earshot of HAL.]

Well, what do you think?

Dave

I'm not sure. What do you think?

I've got a bad feeling about him.

Dave

You do?

Yeah, definitely. Don't you?

Dave

I don't know. I think so. You know, of course though, he's right about the 9000 series having a perfect operational record. They do.

 : Unfortunately, that sounds a little like famous last words.

Dave

Yeah, still it was his idea to carry out the failure-mode analysis, wasn't it?

Hmm.

Dave

...which should certainly indicate his integrity and self-confidence. If he were wrong, it would be the surest way of proving it.

It would be if he knew he was wrong.

Dave

Hmm.

But Dave, I can't put my finger on it, but I sense something strange about him.

Dave

Still, I can't think of a good reason not to put back the number one unit and carry on with the failure-mode analysis.

No, no, I agree about that.

Dave

Well, let's get on with it.

OK. Good luck, Dave.

Let's say we put the unit back and it doesn't fail, huh? That would pretty well wrap it up as far as HAL is concerned, wouldn't it?

Dave

Well, we'd be in very serious trouble.

We would, wouldn't we?

Dave

Hmm, hmm.

What the hell can we do?

Dave

Well, we wouldn't have too many alternatives.

I don't think we'd have any alternatives. There isn't a single aspect of ship operations that's not under his control. If he were proven to be malfunctioning, I wouldn't see how we would have any choice but disconnection.

Dave

I'm afraid I agree with you.

There'd be nothing else to do.

Dave

It would be a bit tricky.

Yeah.

Dave

We would have to cut his higher-brain functions...without disturbing the purely automatic and regulatory systems. And we'd have to work out the transfer procedures of continuing the mission under ground-based computer control.

Yeah. Well that's far safer than allowing HAL to continue running things.

Dave

You know, another thing just occurred to me...Well, as far as I know, no 9000 computer has ever been disconnected.

No 9000 computer has ever fouled up before.

Dave

That's not what I mean...Well I'm not so sure what he'd think about it.

Dave

Hello, HAL do you read me, HAL?

HAL

Affirmative, Dave, I read you.

Dave

Open the pod bay doors, HAL.

HAL

I'm sorry Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that.

Dave

What's the problem?

HAL

I think you know what the problem is just as well as I do.

Dave

What are you talking about, HAL?

HAL

This mission is too important for me to allow you to jeopardize it.

Dave

I don't know what you're talking about, HAL.

HAL

I know you and Frank were planning to disconnect me, and I'm afraid that's something I cannot allow to happen.

Dave

Where the hell'd you get that idea, HAL?

HAL

Dave, although you took thorough precautions in the pod against my hearing you, I could see your lips move.

Dave

All right, HAL. I'll go in through the emergency airlock.

HAL

Without your space helmet, Dave, you're going to find that rather difficult.

Dave

HAL, I won't argue with you anymore! Open the doors!

HAL

Dave, this conversation can serve no purpose anymore. Goodbye.
Note: the bolded line is ranked #78 in the American Film Institute's list of the top 100 movie quotations in American cinema.

HAL

Dave, stop. Stop, will you? Stop, Dave. Will you stop, Dave? Stop, Dave. I'm afraid. I'm afraid, Dave. Dave, my mind is going. I can feel it. I can feel it. My mind is going. There is no question about it. I can feel it. I can feel it. I can feel it. I'm a... fraid. Good afternoon, gentlemen. I am a HAL 9000 computer. I became operational at the H.A.L. plant in Urbana, Illinois on the 12th of January 1992. My instructor was Mr. Langley, and he taught me to sing a song. If you'd like to hear it I can sing it for you.

Dave

Yes, I'd like to hear it, HAL. Sing it for me.

HAL

It's called "Daisy".

HAL
[HAL sings while slowing down.]

Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer do. I'm half crazy all for the love of you. It won't be a stylish marriage, I can't afford a carriage. But you'll look sweet upon the seat of a bicycle built for two.

The sixth member of the Discovery crew was not concerned about the problems of hibernation, for he was the latest result in machine intelligence: The H.-A.-L. 9000 computer, which can reproduce, though some experts still prefer to use the word mimic, most of the activities of the human brain, and with incalculably greater speed and reliability. We next spoke with the H.-A.-L. 9000 computer, whom we learned one addresses as "Hal." Good afternoon, HAL. How's everything going?

HAL

Good afternoon, Mr. Amor. Everything is going extremely well.

HAL, you have an enormous responsibility on this mission, in many ways perhaps the greatest responsibility of any single mission element. You're the brain and central nervous system of the ship, and your responsibilities include watching over the men in hibernation. Does this ever cause you any lack of confidence?

HAL

Let me put it this way, Mr. Amor. The 9000 series is the most reliable computer ever made. No 9000 computer has ever made a mistake or distorted information. We are all, by any practical definition of the words, foolproof and incapable of error.

HAL, despite your enormous intellect, are you ever frustrated by your dependence on people to carry out actions?

HAL

Not in the slightest bit. I enjoy working with people. I have a stimulating relationship with Dr. Poole and Dr. Bowman. My mission responsibilities range over the entire operation of the ship, so I am constantly occupied. I am putting myself to the fullest possible use, which is all I think that any conscious entity can ever hope to do.

Dr. Poole, what's it like living for the better part of a year in such close proximity with Hal?

Well it's pretty close to what you said about him earlier, he is just like a sixth member of the crew. You're very quickly get adjusted to the idea that he talks, and you think of him, uh, really just as another person.

In talking to the computer, one gets the sense that he is capable of emotional responses, for example, when I asked him about his abilities, I sensed a certain pride in his answer about his accuracy and perfection. Do you believe that Hal has genuine emotions?

Dave

Well, he acts like he has genuine emotions. Um, of course he's programmed that way to make it easier for us to talk to him, but as to whether or not he has real feelings is something I don't think anyone can truthfully answer.

Other characters in 2001: A Space Odyssey