- Darius Tanz: [Voice over] Human beings. We have limits. Or we think we do. Just when it seems we've gone as far as we can go... we go further. Innovation is not about "why," it's about "why not?"
- Dr. Malcolm Croft: This is how science gets done, Mr. Cole. It's sweat and patience, and more sweat.
- Dr. Malcolm Croft: Because Darius Tanz is not a scientist, he's a celebrity. And he's convinced you and the rest of the world, with his charm and bravado, that he knows the way. Delusional optimism is not gonna get this thing built.
- Darius Tanz: ...I'm interested in people, why they do what they do. And people like us, when we hit a wall, we see three options: go around it, climb over it or tunnel under. And if that doesn't work, we blow the damn thing up.
- Grace Barrows: I know that we have to give great minds the time to come up with a solution that doesn't compromise our moral fabric.
- Claire Rayburn: Are you familiar with Greek mythology?
- Grace Barrows: I dabbled in college.
- Claire Rayburn: Then you may remember the story of Scylla and Charybdis.
- Grace Barrows: Two mythical monsters. Is this a test?
- Claire Rayburn: Odysseus had to steer his ship through a narrow strait and confront Scylla or Charybdis. Scylla would snatch six people from his ship.
- Grace Barrows: Charybdis was a whirlpool that could destroy them all or they might all make it through.
- Claire Rayburn: Odysseus made the choice to sacrifice six sailors rather than risk the whole ship. Sometimes there are no good choices, Grace. But the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.
- Grace Barrows: So, we should just destroy others to preserve our way of life? Decide who lives or dies. I can't understand how you can be so cavalier.
- Claire Rayburn: You think I'm cavalier? You think I want to be facing this reality? Telling the President of the United States that our best option is to destroy a few countries in order to save our own?
- Dr. Malcolm Croft: Oh, I had long given up on this. Too bad it only took the end of the world for us to crack it.
- Liam Cole: I'd say that's perfect timing.