Walter Bishop quotes from Fringe

Peter

Hello?

Astrid

Peter, hey, it's Astrid. Your father wanted me to inform you that there is fluid accumulating in Agent Loeb's lungs.

Walter

Tell him we need help quickly.

Astrid

He says we need help quickly.

Walter

[Gives Astrid syringe] Insert this into his IV. Let me talk to him.

Walter

Uh, hello, Peter, uh, this is me, your father, Walter Bishop.

Peter

Thank you, Walter. I know who you are.

Walter

Excellent, uh, we need to talk to that man Smith right away. He may be our best chance to save Agent Loeb's life.

Peter

I know that, but he's dead. He was shot. We're out of luck.

Walter

Well, does he still have his head? Is it still attached to his body?

Peter

Only you would ask that question seriously, yes, he still has a head.

Walter

Splendid, then perhaps in this case, death is simply an inconvenience.

Walter

He's been shot in the head.

Peter

Is that a problem?

Walter

Yes, that's a problem. Of course, it's a problem! A bullet in the head would normally indicate significant brain trauma.

Peter

Well, it would also indicate that he's dead, but you didn't seem to have a problem with that.

Walter

This procedure's not like removing tonsils.

Peter

I've never had a conversation with a dead guy before. Forgive me if I don't know the rules.

Walter

Green, green, green, red... like Christmas lights.

Now, how did you know that, Dr. Bishop?

Walter

I don't know. But that's what happened, isn't it?

Yes.

Peter

Think you might be able to jog your mind, Walter? Could be kinda helpful.

Walter

Christmas lights, that's all I can recall.

Peter

Hey, Walter, don't you think it's a little early in the season for the yuletide cheer?

Walter

I'm reciting Christmas carols in an attempt to jar loose some details from my subconscious to remember where I heard mention of the green and red lights, but sadly, it hasn't yet worked.

Peter

So you thought it would be more useful to work on your Christmas tree decorations?

Walter

Though I can't recall where I heard of the lights, it did give me an idea, a theory as to how the boy was taken. I was hired to design a technology, an intricate pattern of flashing lights intended to create a suggestive state of hypnosis. Theoretically, the test subjects would do whatever commanded. Bark like a dog, dance a jig, wash the car...

Peter

The U.S. government had you working on mind control?

Walter

Not the government. It was an advertising agency. They hoped to broadcast the flashing lights during commercials so the viewers would have no choice but to buy their products. Unfortunately, it merely caused nausea. Which was unfortunate because apparently people don't like to shop when they feel like they're going to throw up.

Peter

What do you want me to do?

Walter

Just... stare at the lights.

Peter

Sorry, Walter, better luck next time.

Astrid

Anyone ready for lunch? [sees Peter's sleeves are cut off] What's up Chachi?

Walter

[shakes head] You did.

Olivia

Hey, what the hell's he doing?

Astrid

He thinks it will help him remember where he's heard about the red and green lights.

Olivia

Okay.

Peter

We've got good news. We think we understand how it was that Ben was abducted. Those red and green flashing lights? They put the father into a hypnagogic state.

Olivia

And we think we might've I.D.ed the woman responsible.

Walter

I have it! Christmas, Christmas leading to Christmas carols, one of which is 'Jingle Bells' which lead naturally to 'Dashing Through the Snow', which of course, inevitably leads one to Dash.

Astrid

To dash?

Walter

Dashel Kim... the man who mentioned the lights to me. I'm sure of it.

Olivia

Where is he, Walter? Can we talk to him?

Walter

Well, I guess that would depend on whether he has succeeded in killing himself or not.

Walter

Coffee yogurt.

Astrid

The synthetic compound?

Walter

Peter. When he was 13, all he would eat was coffee yogurt. Almost drove his mother to tears.

Peter

Walter, that wasn't me, that was you.

Walter

Oh?

Peter

[on his cell phone] Hello?

Walter

If that's Agent Dunham, tell her to bring some coffee yogurt.

Peter

Can you hold on for one second?

Walter

He's right about the yogurt. In case you haven't noticed, I can be quite obsessive.

Astrid

Really?

Olivia

How long is this going to take?

Walter

Miss Dunham, what we're doing, what you have asked me to do, is pushing the boundaries of all that is real and possible. We're not roasting a turkey.

Olivia

Walter, what's the Bible for?

Walter

Well, you're taking untested psychedelics, lying in saline with an electric charge in the base of your cranium. Among other things, I thought it appropriate to pray you don't get electrocuted.

Olivia

Praise the Lord.

Walter

Amen.

Walter

Uh oh.

Olivia

What?

Walter

I just got a slight erection. Oh, fear not, it's nothing to do with your state of undress. I think I simply need to urinate.

Olivia

That's good to know.

Can I help you guys find something?

Walter

Oh, yes. We're looking for an electric saw. Preferably variable speed with an easily replaceable blade system.

What are you cutting, wood?

Walter

Human tissue. Flesh and bone. It's more sinuous than you may expect.

Peter

It's really not that dire.

Walter

Oh, actually, potentially it's far worse.

Um, I think that the saw you're looking for is around the corner, next to the routers.

Walter

Thank you.

Peter

No need to call the police.

Walter

What we perceive as solid matter is mostly empty space. Just as we may perceive that a life is full that is actually a series of empty encounters.

Peter

He's been like that all day. It's been awesome.

Charlie

Does any of this trigger anything in your mind?

Walter

Yes, but not about banks. Think back 20 years. Imagine yourself then imagining yourself now, 20 years into the future. In your wildest imagination, could you ever think you'd be here?

Charlie

Is he stoned?

Walter

When she's finished chewing her cud, remember to brush her teeth.

Astrid

I am not brushing a cow's teeth, Walter. You know I have real work to do, right?

Peter

Walter, what are you doing?

Walter

I'm dosing a caterpillar.

Peter

Dosing. As in LSD?

Walter

Well, it's a special blend.

Peter

I see. Hey, guess what just happened?

Walter

Hmm?

Peter

Finding out that my father is giving drugs to bugs, somehow just became a typical moment in my life!

Walter

Wonderful isn't it?