Somebody in this camp ain't what he appears to be. Right now that may be one or two of us. By spring, it could be all of us.
Played by Keith David 
The Thing (1982) · 37 quotes
The Thing (1982) · 37 quotes
Tied for 2nd most-quoted character in The Thing (1982): in 9 of its 37 quotes
Most scenes with: MacReady (8), Blair (2), Garry (2)
Scenes with Childs
9 scenes Childs If I were an imitation, a perfect imitation, how could you tell if it was really me?
Childs Okay now, Mac, run this by me again. Thousands of years ago this rocket ship crashes, right...? And the...
Look, I'm just guessing...
Childs Well, go on.
... So it crashes, and this guy, whoever he is, gets thrown out, or walks out, and ends up freezing.
Childs I just can't believe this voodoo bullshit. You believe this voodoo bullshit, Blair?
[rambling]
Happens all the time, man. They're falling out of the skies like flies. Government knows all about it... Chariots of the Gods, man... They practically own South America. I mean they taught the Incas everything they knew.
Childs So, MacReady, come on now. These Norwegian dudes come by... find him and dig him up...
Yeah, they dig him up and cart him back. He gets thawed out, wakes up and scares the shit out of them. And they get into one hell of a brawl...
Childs Now how's this mother****er wake up after thousands of years in the ice, huh?
[annoyed]
I don't know how. Because he's different than we are. Because he's a space guy. What do you want from me, anyway. Go ask Blair.
Childs You buy any of this, Blair?
It was here... got to that dog... It was here in this camp...
So...? So what? It's over with.
Bennings
[Blair turns to them. A pause.] [edgy]
Well, isn't it?
Childs You're gonna have to sleep sometime, MacReady.
I'm a real light sleeper, Childs.
Childs So you're the only one who made it.
Not the only one.
Childs Did you kill it?
Where were you Childs?
Childs I thought I saw Blair... went out after him... got lost in the storm. The fire's got the temperature way up all over camp. Won't last long though.
Neither will we.
Childs Maybe we should try and fix the radio... try and get some help.
Maybe we shouldn't.
Childs Then we'll never make it.
Maybe we shouldn't make it.
Childs If you're worried about me...
If we got any surprises for each other... I dont think were in much shape to do anything about it.
Childs Well... what do we do?
I don't know. Thousands of years ago it crashes, and this thing... gets thrown out, or crawls out, and it ends up freezing in the ice.
Childs I just cannot believe any of this voodoo bullshit.
Childs, happens all the time, man. They're falling out of the skies like flies. Government knows all about it, right, Mac?
Childs You believe any of this voodoo bullshit, Blair?
Childs, Childs... Chariots of the Gods, man. They practically own South America. I mean, they taught the Incas everything they know.
So, come on now, MacReady, Norwegians get ahold of this... and they dig it up out of the ice.
Yes, Garry, they dig it up, they cart it back, it gets thawed out, wakes up - probably not the best of moods - I don't know, I wasn't there!
Nauls
[skates in with ripped long johns]
Which one of you disrespectful men been tossing his dirty drawers in the kitchen trash can, huh? From now, I want my kitchen clean, all right? Germ free!
Childs So how's this mother****er wake up after thousands of years in the ice?
Bennings
And how can it look like a dog?
I don't know how. 'Cause it's different than us, see? 'Cause it's from outer space. What do you want from me? Ask him! [motions to Blair]
Childs You buy any of this Blair?
All right, we gotta find him. Nauls, why don’t you come with me and we'll go outside. Palmer, you and Windows check the inside.
I ain't going with Windows. I ain't going with him, I'll go with Childs--
Windows
Hey, **** YOU, Palmer!
I ain't going with you!
Childs Who says I want you going with me?!
ALL RIGHT, CUT THE BULLSHIT! Windows, you come with us. Norris, you stay here. Any of them move, you fry them. You hear anything, anything at all, you cut loose on the sirens. We all meet here in 20 minutes regardless. And everybody watch who you're with, real close.
[throwing a fit in the radio room]
Nobody gets in and out of here! NOBODY! You guys think I'M crazy! Well, that's fine! Most of ya don't know what's goin' on around here, but I'm damn well sure SOME of you do!
Christ!
Childs He got most of the chopper and the tractor. And he's killed the rest of the dogs.
[as Garry advances with his gun]
Garry, wait a minute, wait a minute. Now, Childs, go around to the map room door. Talk to him.
Childs Yeah.
[still smashing up the radio room with an axe while yelling]
D'ya think that thing wanted to be an animal?! No dogs make it a thousand miles through the cold! No, you don't understand! That thing wanted to be US! If a cell gets out, it could imitate everything on the FACE OF THE EARTH! AND NOTHING CAN STOP IT!
Childs [appearing in the map room doorway]
Okay, Blair. Come on, man, you don't wanna hurt anybody.
Other characters in The Thing
More Keith David characters
Dr. Facilier (The Shadow Man)
Frank Armitage
Abu 'Imam' al-Walid
Abu "Imam" al-Walid
Leon
CIA Director