James Lester quotes from Primeval

Lester

You spend your entire career planning for just about every crisis imaginable - up to and including alien invasion - then this happens. So much for thinking outside the bloody box.

Lester

I don't like anyone to whom the term "maverick" can be applied. Cutter practically owns the copyright.

Lester

[about Helen] I trust her about as far as I can throw a stegosaurus.

Lester

Is this some kind of industrial action, or did no one hear that we have a creature-sighting in a shopping mall?

Lester

[after Nick knocks out an actor] Well, I'd better go soothe your caveman. Let's hope the paleolithic was short on ambulance-chasing lawyers.

Lester

You know, my kids are really pestering me for a pet. [shrugs] If you can't find a home for him...

Lester

You'll be dealing with a highly strung and and temperamental team of rank amateurs who just happen to be brilliant at what they do. Your job's to stop them getting themselves killed...Oh, by the way, Professor Cutter won't like you, and he'll go out of his way to make your job as difficult as possible. Don't take it personally.

Lester

You are so fired.

Lester

[To Interrogator] I don't see Helen Cutter popping up anywhere, do you? No, you didn't know her, lucky you. Nasty woman. Wore a lot of khaki.

Lester

[After an escaped Dracorex is contained] You know, I could have been Ambassador to Moscow by now... maybe even Cabinet Secretary. Instead, I'm watching a dinosaur trash my office…Still, no regrets.

Lester

(on the phone to Jess) Yes, I've got an anomaly for you, Jess, one of the greatest anomalies known to the western world. Why they call them road works (opens windows and yells) WHEN THERE'S NEVER ANY WORK GOING ON! (closes window and sighs)

Lester

Oi!

Lester

Have you any idea how much that thing costs?

Lester

Still, at least the immediate crisis is over.

Nick

Some... force out there ripped the boundaries of space and time to shreds. Maybe it's happened before, in which case every single thing we thought we knew about the universe is wrong. Or, this is the first time, in which case what changed? What happens next? Believe me: it's very, very far from over.

Claudia

The police have charged Dianne Johnson.

Lester

I know.

Claudia

We have to intervene!

Lester

We're not going to do that.

Claudia

Why not?

Lester

Because I won't allow this story to become public property. At least in prison the newspapers can't get hold of her.

Claudia

So you're just going to let them lock up an innocent and traumatized girl?

Lester

Of course it's undesirable, but it would be far worse to release her to cause panic and disorder. I'll see that the charges are dropped once the immediate crisis is under control.

Claudia

That could take months!

Lester

And would you rather tell the police that an ancient sea monster is cruising our swimming pools consuming lifeguards? I know the injustice stings, but the correct decision is often painful. That's the burden of government.

Lester

Who's that idiot?

Nick

Connor Temple. He looks like a half-wit, but he has a very good brain.

Lester

We may stand on the brink of Armageddon, but at least we have an irritating student on our side. How reassuring.