The Expanse quotes

You know what I just can't figure out? We make it all this way, so far out into the darkness. Why couldn't we have brought more light?

Joe Miller

[after almost suffocating Vargas] Air is good, don't you think? Air is nice. Keep those filters clean, asshole.

Jim Holden

Hey, what's the deal with you and Naomi? You two an item or something?

Amos Burton

An item?

Jim Holden

Hey, it's none of my business, but -

Amos Burton

You must think I'm pretty stupid, don't you? I mean, you're right. I can take a core apart and put it back together with my eyes closed. But ask me whether or not I should rip your helmet off and kick you off this bucket, and I couldn't give you a reason why I should or shouldn't. Except Naomi wouldn't like it.

You were a problem in the Navy. Eight years ago. Aboard the UNN Zheng Fei. You assaulted a superior officer.

Jim Holden

Not technically, he ducked my punch. I broke my hand on a bulkhead.

You were dishonorably discharged.

Jim Holden

He ordered me to fire on a Belter ship.

It was a smuggler -

Jim Holden

Who was smuggling people!

You had no way of knowing that at the time.

Jim Holden

But I was right! Earth and Mars have been stepping on the necks of the Belters out here for over 100 years and I didn't want to be the boot.

So you decided to switch sides.

Jim Holden

I stopped playing.

Anderson Dawes

Give the Martians their water! Milowda na animals. You have every right to be angry. You should be angry. But if we act like animals, we only justify their belief that we are. Gif im fo imalowda xitim. Treat them the way they should treat us.

Anderson Dawes

How much are they paying you to find her? I'm not judging, I'm just curious to know what your rate is, in case I need you to suit up for a different side.

Joe Miller

What side would that be?

Anderson Dawes

An Earth Corp may pay your salary, but you were born here. Lived your whole life on Ceres. I think that under that ridiculous hat there's a Belter yearning to find his way home.

Joe Miller

Patron saint of lost causes. I'm all choked up.

Anderson Dawes

Have I answered all your questions, Detective?

Joe Miller

You haven't answered any of my questions. You took a young, naive, rich girl - with daddy issues -

Anderson Dawes

- stop -

Joe Miller

- and got inside her head -

Anderson Dawes

Stop. Now I'm getting choked up.

You know what I love most about Mars? They still dream. We gave up. They're an entire culture dedicated to a common goal, working together as one to turn a lifeless rock into a garden. We had a garden and we paved it.

Chrisjen Avasarala

They couldn't do any of that without the knowledge of centuries from Earth. Earth must come first.

I have no choice about that now. My diplomatic credentials have been revoked. I've been banned from Mars for life. Apparently I'm an alarmist who caused the MCRN to expose classified stealth technology hubs. Craig called the realtor about selling our house this morning.

Chrisjen Avasarala

We may have stopped a war. For a while, anyway. If you like, we can drink it now.

I was looking forward to drinking our wine, watching the sunset over the Mariner Valley. Do you remember You were very young, a couple of us played cards at your house?

Chrisjen Avasarala

I remember I didn't like to be excluded.

Well, you always lurked on the side, quiet, obedient but watching. Finally one night, you demanded to play, and, well, we'd had a few and You were I don't know... [holds up hand] However old that is. We let you in. You didn't take any hands, but you clearly understood the fundamentals. When the deal came to you, you called your game.

Chrisjen Avasarala

Tennessee Three Finger Hold 'Em.

Your father took it very seriously. He asked you how to play. You said, "We each get five cards." You dealt them out, then you pointed to the far end of the yard and you said, - now - "Whoever gets to the tree first, wins." You dropped your cards and were halfway there before anyone else realized what was happening. I've never seen your father more proud. See, here's the thing. I was terrified for you, I didn't know why. And now I do. You will do anything to win. Just like your father. That's what got him killed. I won't play with you, ever again.

Can I ask you a question? Do you miss Earth?

Holden

If I did, I'd go back.

My great uncle emigrated from Earth. He missed it terribly. He used to tell me stories when I was a little boy about these... endless blue skies, free air everywhere, open water all the way to the horizon. He told me that someday we would make Mars just like that. When you spend your whole life living under a dome, even the idea of an ocean seems impossible to imagine. I could never understand your people. Why, when the universe has bestowed so much upon you, you seem to care so little for it?

Holden

Wrecking things is what Earthers do best. Martians too, by the look of your ship.

We are nothing like you. The only thing Earthers care about is government handouts. Free food, free water, free drugs so you can forget the aimless lives you lead. You're short-sighted, selfish... and it will destroy you. Earth is over, Mr. Holden. My only hope is that we can bring Mars to life before you destroy that, too.

Naomi

I fix ships, not people!

Amos

So as far as we know, nobody made it off the Donnie.

Alex

Correct

Amos

And no one knows that we are alive.

Alex

That's right.

Amos

Then who just sent us a message?

Holden

Think about it: we're the only survivors of the Canterbury and the Donnager. We look like terrorists. No one's gonna believe our story - I wouldn't believe us...

Holden

What's up?

Alex

Hey, huh. I just hooked into a feed from Ganymede and... uh, when you sent that message to Fred Johnson, you didn't give him our names or anything, did you?

Holden

No, of course not...

Alex

Well partner, it's gonna be kinda hard for you to stay anonymous now [Stepping aside, revealing the feed from Ganymede with the sign "Remember the Cant" and a stencil of Holden on it]

Amos

[To Holden] Let me know if you want your face to look a little different...

Holden

[To Naomi] You've done this before

Naomi

Yeah, about once a week...

Holden

You're doing great.

Naomi

Transponders are designed not to be tampered with. Civilian models fuse themselves into lumps of molten graphite if they get messed with. We could be a supernova a few seconds from now...

Holden

Well, we won't have to worry about Tycho, would we?

Naomi

We need to give the ship a new name to complete the override.

Alex

Screamin' firehawk

Holden

[Derisive] Yeah, let's advertise we're a gunship...

Alex

Flyin' Alamo

Holden

No!

Naomi

Give me something, please...

Holden

Rocinante!

Alex

Huh?

Holden

It's spanish for...

Amos

...workhorse - I like it. I know a lady named Rocinante, she was good to me.

Naomi

Whatever - punch it...

Jim Holden

I'm just the messenger, I have half a platoon of pissed-off Martian marines who are just itching for some payback.

Huh. That's a corvette-class Martian frigate that typically crews thirty. I only see two of you. That tells me that you're trying hard to hide your numbers. Tactically, if there were more, as a show of force you would've brought them out. I'm guessing there are two to four people left on your ship. And I'm confident that there's no Martian Navy on board. If they were, they'd be out here speaking with me now. You walked off that ship, because you're in charge. At least you think you are. If I wanted to hurt you, I would have broadcast your transponder and your position to the entire system. Coming here was your only option. But it was also your best option. Now, you want to continue to play games, or shall we talk about how to help each other?

Joe Miller

You took an innocent kid and you forced her to do your dirty work.

Anderson Dawes

No! She came to me. Asked me to help her. She knew what she was doing. She was willing to make a sacrifice for us. It's more than you.

Joe Miller

She trusted you, she put herself in your hands 'cause she couldn't see the blood on 'em. Just like your sister. Isn't that right? Wasn't she like 15 when you let her die out on the Belt? Sure. It's part of the legend you like to leave out.