[That is an awful lot for one tiny robot to take in, and it's clear Wheatley is not doing a good job of it. He has no idea how to react to people saying these kinds of things to him, simply because people don't say these kinds of things to him.
And even though the entire point of the speech is to reassure him that it doesn't matter what he's programmed for, he knows it does matter. How can it not matter? He's a danger to himself and others. He almost blew up Michigan. It's the same sort of disbelief he has with HAL. You don't say these kinds of things to the kind of machine he is. You shouldn't.]
You--I knew it, you do believe Her, you--
[And the worst part is, Topher still has it wrong, overestimating everything about him, like he's an actual person who isn't locked into one specific purpose, who can grow and change and learn, someone who's not doomed to make the same self-destructive mistakes again and again and again--mistakes like he's making now, because he can't stop lying about it.]
I told you not to--You want to know who else believed Her?
[The idea of someone knowing what he's built for and not caring, to say I've figured out what you are and it's okay I won't give up like the rest of them just doesn't compute. People don't think that way. When the one person who never gives up ever gives up on you, what does that mean for everyone else, the people who aren't pathologically tenacious?]
Chell believed Her--believes Her. [It's hard to mask the contempt in his voice, even as he turns away and leans heavily against a table.] Told her the same things She said to you. We were partners, spent all this time escaping and nearly made it, too, and then She says a few things and changes her mind right in front of me.
[For a moment it looks like he might get violent with the table, but he unclenches his fist, squeezing his eyes shut as if trying to fight back the anger, shoulders heaving as he takes a deep breath and chokes on the words, like forcing them out is somehow physically painful.
no subject
And even though the entire point of the speech is to reassure him that it doesn't matter what he's programmed for, he knows it does matter. How can it not matter? He's a danger to himself and others. He almost blew up Michigan. It's the same sort of disbelief he has with HAL. You don't say these kinds of things to the kind of machine he is. You shouldn't.]
You--I knew it, you do believe Her, you--
[And the worst part is, Topher still has it wrong, overestimating everything about him, like he's an actual person who isn't locked into one specific purpose, who can grow and change and learn, someone who's not doomed to make the same self-destructive mistakes again and again and again--mistakes like he's making now, because he can't stop lying about it.]
I told you not to--You want to know who else believed Her?
[The idea of someone knowing what he's built for and not caring, to say I've figured out what you are and it's okay I won't give up like the rest of them just doesn't compute. People don't think that way. When the one person who never gives up ever gives up on you, what does that mean for everyone else, the people who aren't pathologically tenacious?]
Chell believed Her--believes Her. [It's hard to mask the contempt in his voice, even as he turns away and leans heavily against a table.] Told her the same things She said to you. We were partners, spent all this time escaping and nearly made it, too, and then She says a few things and changes her mind right in front of me.
[For a moment it looks like he might get violent with the table, but he unclenches his fist, squeezing his eyes shut as if trying to fight back the anger, shoulders heaving as he takes a deep breath and chokes on the words, like forcing them out is somehow physically painful.
That cupcake is toast.]
Because it makes sense, doesn't it?