Quotes for
Dr. Christian Szell (Character)
from Marathon Man (1976)

Marathon Man (1976)

Christian Szell: Is it safe?... Is it safe?
Babe: You're talking to me?
Christian Szell: Is it safe?
Babe: Is what safe?
Christian Szell: Is it safe?
Babe: I don't know what you mean. I can't tell you something's safe or not, unless I know specifically what you're talking about.
Christian Szell: Is it safe?
Babe: Tell me what the "it" refers to.
Christian Szell: Is it safe?
Babe: Yes, it's safe, it's very safe, it's so safe you wouldn't believe it.
Christian Szell: Is it safe?
Babe: No. It's not safe, it's... very dangerous, be careful.

Christian Szell: Well, what are you going to do now, shoot me?
Babe: No, I don't think so.
Christian Szell: [referring to the diamonds] Then you're going to take these from me? If I could say a word about that...
Babe: No, you can keep them. You can keep as many as you can swallow.

Christian Szell: You're weak. Your father was weak in his way. Your brother in his and now you in yours.

Christian Szell: Thus far I find you rather detestable, may I say that without hurting your feelings?

Christian Szell: I envy you your school days. Enjoy them fully. It's the last time in your life no one expects anything of you.

Janeway: I don't think he knows anything. And I think he knows too much.
Christian Szell: You can afford to think what you wish. I can't.

[Szell prepares to torture Babe a second time]
Christian Szell: Oh, don't worry. I'm not going into that cavity. That nerve's already dying. A live, freshly-cut nerve is infinitely more sensitive. So I'll just drill into a healthy tooth until I reach the pulp. That is unless, of course, you can tell me that it's safe.

Christian Szell: I was in a state of hysteria, you know.
[referring to the open suitcase filled with diamonds]
Christian Szell: Don't you want to take a closer look than that?
Babe: No!
Christian Szell: You see, uh, in a sense, one becomes more emotional with age. First, after a lifetime of being taken by friends and enemies alike, and then just when you think you have your possessions sure, your health begins to go.
[laughs]
Christian Szell: Of course, that's the ultimate theft!

[Christian begins to torture Babe by using a dental probe and a mouth mirror to check for cavities]
Babe: [the probe hits a cavity] Ow.
Christian Szell: That hurt?
Babe: Uh-huh.
Christian Szell: I know. Such thing it would. You should take better care of your teeth. You have a...
Christian Szell: [hits the cavity again] quite a cavity here. Is it safe?
Babe: Look, I told you I can't...
Babe: [Christian stabs the probe into the nerve; screaming in pain] AAH!AAAH! Aah!
[Babe's painful screams and moans continues]
Karl: You thinks he knows?
Erhard: Of course he knows! He being very stubborn.
[Christian then opens a small bottle of oil of cloves, in which he applies it in Babe's badly aggrivated cavity to kill the pain]
Christian Szell: Is it not remarkable? Simple oil of cloves, and how amazing the results. Life can be that simple:
Christian Szell: [holds up the oil] Relief...
Christian Szell: [and the probe tool] Discomfort.
Christian Szell: Now which of these I next apply? That decision is in your hands. So... take your time... and tell me... is it safe?

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