Batou quotes from Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex

Batou

He’s got guts, burning out his own memories like that. He did it, even though he knew it might cause brain damage.

Batou

Hell, this is my own life. How I decide to waste it is my own damn business.

Batou

Borma, I’m almost at your location!

Don’t run out into traffic, okay?

Batou

I'll look before crossing, Mom. [he runs into traffic and is almost hit by Pazu and Borma’s car]

Batou

But Major! What if the robot geishas demand a pay raise?

Knock it off.

Togusa, meet up with the Chief at Kenbishi. Find out what caused the tank to go haywire. Batou and I will herd the runaway tank with the six Tachikomas.

Batou

Gee, you get all the action…

Don’t come crying to me if that tank blows you to hell.

Batou

I know we don’t stand a chance against it, but being totally ignored like this ticks me off.

Care to head around in front of it, then?

Batou

I’m kidding.

Batou

Son of a bitch. He hated his parents that much?

No. It was just for a split second, but I felt something when I burned out Kago’s brain. “Well, Mom? What do you think of me in my steel body?” It was a strange sensation. It wasn’t pride… Or vengeance.

Batou

Forget about it. It was just a hallucination.

I hope so. There’s no way we’ll ever know for sure now.

Batou

Hey, we don't even know its capabilities and we're going in with Tachikomas.

Motoko

[chuckles] Don't be too quick to underestimate them.

That's right!

You tell 'em, Major!

Bring it on!

Batou

You get all the fun jobs, don't ya?

Don't come crying to me if you get blown away.

Batou

You ok?

I'm fine!

Motoko

Wait there for assistance.

Sure thing...since I can't move.

So, will we be sent back to lab too?

Batou

Wha...? Who's been telling you that?

Well, it's just that the way the Major's been looking at us lately is kinda scary.

Batou

Oh, is that all? The major's always scary, remember? I think you guys are doing a fine job.

You really think so?

Batou

What, you're still worried about that?

Yeah... It just seems like the Major is angry about what we've acquired recently.

Batou

"Acquired"? Acquired what?

Well, it's ... Individuality.

Batou

Individuality?

Yeah! And you know that "existence of God" thing that I had trouble understanding before? I think I am starting to understand it now. Maybe, just maybe, it's a concept that's similar to a zero in mathematics. In other words, it's a symbol that denies the absence of meaning, the meaning that's necessitated by the delineation of one system from another. In analog, that's God. In digital, it's zero. what do you think? Also, our basic construction is digital, right? So for the time being, no matter how much data we accumulate, we'll never have a Ghost. But analog-based people like you, Batou-san, no matter how many digital components you add through cyberization or prosthetics, your Ghost will never be damaged. Plus, you can even die 'cause you've got a Ghost. You're so lucky. Tell me, what's it feel like to have a Ghost?

Batou

How's it feel...? No, I take back what I said earlier. You're pretty messed up, all right.

Finally done putting up a fight? Damn... I killed him!

Batou

What's wrong? I forgot, I look dead to you don't I? Well, don't believe it.

Uh??!

Batou

I'm sorry, but I had to hack your eyes pal.

Batou

By the way, I have something that almost didn't make it here. [Batou pulls out a wrist watch]

I knew it.

Batou

No matter how many prosthetic bodies you've went through this was the one thing that was always ticking away, keeping the same time as you. Nowadays thats far to fleeting, people entrust their memories to external devices because they want to set down solid physical proof that can distinguish them as unique individuals. That watch is all you have though, isn't it? Your only external mnemonic device that identifies the person you've been up to this minute.

Those are pretty serious words, where'd you get them from I'd like to know. A watch and weight training gear, both of us have clung to useless scraps of memory, haven't we?

Batou

You son of a bitch; who the hell do you think we are?

The real question you should ask is, who do you think you are? An elite special unit of the handpicked chosen few? If your little group had been confronted by an angry mob of refugees and they had come at you with those smuggled weapons, you know you couldn't have stopped them! Try to rein in your ego and be thankful you got to play the role of decoy under my direction.

Hey, Are you getting this? What did he say? Get him on camera!

Batou

What the hell?!

Swords! They're swinging swords and— [horrified yell] Their heads! They just chopped off each other's heads! Each of them, they—they killed each other! What a unbelievable sight! [grunts] THESE MEN WHO APPEARED ON THE ROOF AND MURDERED ONE ANOTHER WITH SWORDS!