Laura Roslin quotes from Battlestar Galactica (2003)

Roslin

It is crazy perhaps, but that doesn't mean it isn't true.

Roslin

This government survived the Cylon attack, it will survive William Adama.

Roslin

[interrupting Baltar] The less this man says, the better this will go.

Roslin

I don't really care if you have to spend the night on your knees praying, or just on your knees. I want a name. I want to know who's responsible for these lies.

Roslin

[bitterly] Earth.

Roslin

It's perfect. We traded one nuked civilization for another.

Roslin

Women and men of the fleet. This is your president. We have come to a crossroads in our long and painful journey. Of all the decisions that I have had to make since assuming the presidency, none was more frightening or more difficult than agreeing to this alliance with the Cylons. But we have come to a crossroads in our long and painful journey. Cylons and humans have been at war for generations; we know nothing else. And we have been locked in a struggle that has seen both sides suffer unspeakable loss. But with our supplies running low and our options limited, our former enemies may represent our last, perhaps our only hope. To those in the fleet and in Galactica who would reject this alliance, I am asking you. No, I am begging you to reconsider and place your trust back in those who have brought you this far, and to reject those traitors who would use your fear of the Cylons to destroy Colonial civilization a...

President Laura Roslin

The lesson learned here is not to ask follow-up questions, but simply to say "Thank you, Captain Apollo, for saving our collective asses!"

Roslin

You have committed me to holding elections within the year.

Madam President, with respect. You are serving out the remainder of President Adar's term. When that term is up, in seven months, the law says, there is an election. I only committed you to obeying the law.

Adama

You sound like some kind of lawyer.

Roslin

This is unacceptable.

I swore an oath. To defend the articles. The articles say there is an election in seven months. Now, if you are telling me we are throwing out the law, then I am not a captain, you are not a commander, and you are not the president. And I don't owe either of you a damned explanation for anything.

Roslin

He's your son.

Adama

He's your advisor.

Roslin

I want to believe you. I want to believe that I haven't made such a profound error in judgment in trusting you, in asking your advice. But here's where we are, Doctor. If anyone can be a Cylon, and it's hard to tell us apart then we o­nly have o­ne thing left to trust. Our instincts, our feelings. And the moment they told me it was your face in the photo I knew I believed it. I believe you were involved in the attack... somehow. I feel it.

Baltar

You'll forgive me, Madam President, if I don't wish to be executed based solely o­n your gut feeling.

Roslin

May the gods have mercy o­n your soul.

Adama

Madame President, we are the proud owners of the universe's first bona fide Cylon detector.

Roslin

Well, that is great news. So... when do we begin?

Adama

Doctor Baltar would like to start widespread testing as soon as possible, but there are some serious limitations, because he can only do one person at a time and verification takes hours.

Roslin

So, who's going to go first?

Adama

[thinking for a second] The test... right. I think people in sensitive positions should go first.

Roslin

I completely agree. How about you?

Adama

Excuse me?

Roslin

If you're a Cylon, I'd like to know.

Adama

If I'm a Cylon, you're really screwed. [Adama and Roslin both start laughing.]

Roslin

Seriously, I do think you should go first. Show everyone in the fleet that they can trust the people at the top.

Adama

Well then, maybe YOU should go first. [silence] All right... I'll go first.

Adama

Politics. As exciting as war. Definitely as dangerous.

Roslin

Though in war, you can only get killed once. In politics it can happen over and over.

Adama

You're still standing.

Roslin

So are you.

Adama

And I can dance! (They start dancing together.)

I don't believe you.

Roslin

You're a genius, are you not?

Baltar

Well quite frankly, I don't give a flying frak whether you believe me or not! Because I've had it. I am-I am tired of being pushed and prodded around like I'm some kind of toy. I'm not your plaything!

[together] Plaything?

Baltar

I don't work for you. And quite frankly, I don't have to sit anymore and take this kind of abuse from either of you! [Roslin and Billy look confused.] You either- either in here, either in there! Wherever it is, I don't need to take it.

Adama

[to Tigh] Bear witness, put on your headset. [to Roslin on the phone] Madam President, moments ago, Lt. Thrace took the Cylon Raider on an unscheduled and unauthorized jump.

Roslin

Yes.

Adama

Do you have any knowledge of this incident?

Roslin

Let's save some time here, Commander the question you really want to ask me is whether or not I asked Lt. Thrace to take the Raider to Caprica. And the answer to your question is yes.

Adama

You and I talked about this.

Roslin

Yes, we had.

Adama

We both decided it was a military decision.

Roslin

My responsibility as President is, first and foremost, to protect and preserve this fleet and its future. In the end, that outweighs any other consideration. It has to.

Adama

By taking the Raider, you've placed our people on the surface of Kobol in direct danger.

Roslin

I'm very aware of the danger our men and women are in on Kobol. I am also deeply aware of the danger this civilization will be in if I ignore the pursuit of this arrow.

Adama

I'm going to have to ask you for your resignation, Madam President.

Roslin

No.

Adama

Then I'm terminating your presidency, as of this moment.

Roslin

Commander Adama, I will exercise the authority of this office until I am unable to do so, so if you want to stage a coup you're gonna have to come over here and arrest me.

Adama

I don't want any blood shed.

Roslin

Of course you don't, neither do I. Neither does the press. They're here, by the way.

Adama

[mutters to Tigh] The press...

Roslin

They're recording every minute.

Colonel Saul Tigh

Madam President, no one needs to get hurt here.

President Laura Roslin

Then why don't you get off my ship, Colonel?

Tigh

I am placing you under arrest.

No... no, we're not doing this.

Tigh

I'm in command here, Captain!

Colonel, this is wrong.

Tigh

You're relieved. Fall back! Madam President, I-

Men, lay down your weapons!

Tigh

Have you lost your frakkin' mind?

Colonel, tell these marines to fall back!

Tigh

This is mutiny. You know that.

I do and you can tell my father that I'm listening to my instincts. My instincts tell me that we cannot sacrifice democracy just because the president makes a bad decision.

Roslin

(to her security) Put your guns down.

Madam... Madam President, stand back.

Roslin

Put your gun down, Captain. I will not have bloodshed, neither your men nor my people, on the Colonial One. Put your gun down. All of you. Please, put your gun down.

Roslin

Let's go.