- Dr. David Caulder: How long have we got?
- Dr. Helen Smith: Two hours, five minutes.
- Dr. Michel Lebrun: Tom is right, David; you must face it.
- Dr. David Caulder: I can't. It's as simple as that: I can't!
- Dr. Michel Lebrun: Even though he's told you he's trapped inside the ship?
- Dr. David Caulder: The latches won't open from Tom's side, they might from the satellite's.
- Dr. Michel Lebrun: Well, a rescuer would need to open them. As well as docking against the pitching satellite, helping Tom out and backing away, all in the space of one hour. It's a physical impossibility!
- Dr. David Caulder: [Angrily] How do you know that? Nobody's tried!
- Dr. Michel Lebrun: And when thry do try - and fail - and another life and another ship has been sacrificed...
- Dr. David Caulder: What are you really worried about, Michel? Tom's life or balancing the books?