# Origin of "nuke it from orbit. It's the only way to be sure." **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 9, 2006, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-nuke-it-from-orbit-its-the-only-way-to-be-sure/363737 "2006-07-09T15:02:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2006, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-nuke-it-from-orbit-its-the-only-way-to-be-sure/363737/21 "2006-07-10T14:47:56Z")
[QUOTE=Malacandra] And after making such a sound judgement call, Ripley later pisses off the Alien Queen by frying her entire clutch of eggs, whereupon Queenie comes after her looking for evens with consequences that prove catastrophic (if you accept Alien[sup]3[/sup] as canon 😉 ) – all for nothing because the colony’s fusion plant was going to blow anyway. Normally Ripley kicks ass, but on this occasion you have to admit shefucks up. [/QUOTE] Yeah, but that makes for one of MY favorite lines in the movie: “Get away from her, you BITCH!” I love that movie. I would have liked it better if it was more sci-fi and less horror towards the end, but I still love that movie. And I would have liked it more if I had never seen that piece of horrible drivel that is Aliens 3 where Newt and Hicks, whom you’ve grown to love so much, are killed off in the first five minutes of the film. :mad: :mad: Before anyone goes there, I loved Aliens 4, too., Just not Wynona. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2006, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-nuke-it-from-orbit-its-the-only-way-to-be-sure/363737/22 "2006-07-10T14:56:58Z")
[QUOTE=D\_Odds] Actually, the best line ever, which I silently quote almost daily, occurred earlier. Sgt. Apone: Any questions? Cpl. Hudson: **Yeah, how do I get out of this chicken shit outfit.** If only I were brave enough to say that to my boss every time he asks that question. [/QUOTE] Correction: Lt. Gorman: Are there any questions? Hudson? Cpl. Hudson: **How do I get out of this chicken shit outfit.** Need to make my answers factual 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![lupine73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@lupine73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lupine73)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2006, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-nuke-it-from-orbit-its-the-only-way-to-be-sure/363737/23 "2006-07-10T14:58:07Z")
Interesting, the dialog in that quoted script some posts back is actually more verbose than what was in the actual movie. They eliminated some entire lines and changed others. For the better, I think. As for Bill Paxton moments, who can forget, while on the drop-ship
 “We’re on the express elevator to hell! Goin’ down!” ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2006, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-nuke-it-from-orbit-its-the-only-way-to-be-sure/363737/24 "2006-07-10T15:08:45Z")
[QUOTE=Anaamika] “Get away from her, you BITCH!” [/QUOTE] Ooo, Aliens quotes: “Hey Vasquez did anyone ever mistake you for a man?” “No, You?” “Where d’you want it” (We just saw Ripley 's mad forklift skills, (ahem, skilz)) “What’re we supposed to use? Harsh language?” “I may be synthetic, but I’m not stupid.” “You’re _dogmeat_ pal. No offence.” ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2006, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-nuke-it-from-orbit-its-the-only-way-to-be-sure/363737/25 "2006-07-10T15:38:17Z")
Okay, Hudson has a ton of great lines, but my favorite was his most understated. “Yeah, but it’s a _dry_ heat” (This said when the steam is as thick as pea soup and stuff is dripping everywhere) ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2006, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-nuke-it-from-orbit-its-the-only-way-to-be-sure/363737/26 "2006-07-10T15:45:48Z")
I must correct you: Hudson: Hey, Vasquez, have you ever been mistaken for a man? Hudson: No, have you? ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2006, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-nuke-it-from-orbit-its-the-only-way-to-be-sure/363737/27 "2006-07-10T15:57:35Z")
_ **Vasquez:** _ No, have you? 🙂 I thought it was a bit wrong. I’m reminded of the gag about some American(?) remarking on Hamlet that: “It’s just a lot of quotes strung together”. In the pipe. . . ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2006, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-nuke-it-from-orbit-its-the-only-way-to-be-sure/363737/28 "2006-07-10T16:29:40Z")
[QUOTE=Small Clanger] “You’re _dogmeat_ pal. No offence.” [/QUOTE] That’s not actually a single quote. It’s more like: Burke: [Hicks] can’t make that kind of decision, he’s just a grunt. [to Hicks] No offense. Hicks: None taken. [into microphone] Ferro, you copy? We’ll need immediate evac
 And later
 Hudson: I say we grease this ratfuck son-of-a-bitch right now. Ripley: Y’know, Burke, I don’t know which species is worse. You don’t see _them_ fucking each over for a goddamn percentage. Hudson: You’re dogmeat, pal. Hicks: Okay, we waste him. [grabs Burke] No offense. That’s not nearly exact, but I got the gist of it. I think Newt is in close competition with Hudson for the best dialog: “It won’t make any difference.” “It’ll be dark soon and they mostly come at night, mostly.” “Casey doesn’t get bad dreams because she’s just a piece of plastic.” ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2006, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-nuke-it-from-orbit-its-the-only-way-to-be-sure/363737/29 "2006-07-10T16:40:10Z")
[QUOTE=Bryan Ekers] Hudson: You’re dogmeat, pal. Hicks: Okay, we waste him. No offense. That’s not nearly exact, but I got the gist of it. [/QUOTE] It’s a lot closer than I got. Looks like a lot of us have watched this film a bit too often. ---
**Author:** ![JCorre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3da27b/32.png) [@JCorre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JCorre)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2006, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-nuke-it-from-orbit-its-the-only-way-to-be-sure/363737/30 "2006-07-10T17:08:58Z")
[QUOTE=Small Clanger] _ **Vasquez:** _ No, have you? 🙂 
 In the pipe. . . [/QUOTE] 5x5 Ferro was HOT. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2006, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-nuke-it-from-orbit-its-the-only-way-to-be-sure/363737/31 "2006-07-10T17:15:03Z")
[QUOTE=lupine73] As for Bill Paxton moments, who can forget, while on the drop-ship
 “We’re on the express elevator to hell! Goin’ down!” [/QUOTE] It’s not _Aliens_, but actually my favorite lines from Paxton are from another James Cameron-directed movie, _True Lies_, where he plays a used car salesman pretending to be a spy in order to seduce lonely wives, one of which ends up being the wife of globetrotting uberspy Harry Tasker (Arnold Schwartzenegger). While being interrogated by Tasker and his sidekick being held over the edge of a dam: > [@](#): > > I’m not a spy! I’m nothing! I’m naval lint! I have to lie to women to get laid, and even then I don’t score much
I got a little dick, it’s pathetic. It’s actually pretty shocking to see the guy in a serious role (one of my favorites is the noir-ish _A Simple Plan_) where he doesn’t act like a complete ass. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2006, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-nuke-it-from-orbit-its-the-only-way-to-be-sure/363737/32 "2006-07-10T17:33:52Z")
Hicks: I’d like to introduce you to a personal friend of mine. It’s the M-41A pulse rifle, with over and under pump action grenade launcher. [holds it out to Ripley] Feel the weight. * * * Ripley: Punch it, Bishop! * * * Gorman: Alright, people, now listen up. I want this thing to go smooth, and by the numbers. I want TCS and tactical database assimilation by 0830. Ordinance loading, weapons strip and drop ship prep detail in seven hours. Now lets move, people, move! Apone: Allright ladies, you heard the man and you know the drill! Assholes and elbows. Hudson, come here. Come here! ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2006, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-nuke-it-from-orbit-its-the-only-way-to-be-sure/363737/33 "2006-07-10T17:49:10Z")
**Wierzbowski** , the forgotten one. > [@](#): > > HUDSON > Is this going to be a stand-up fight, Sir, on another bug-hunt? > > GORMAN > All we know is that there’s still no contact with the colony and that a xenomorph may be involved. > > **WIERZBOWSKI** > A what? > > HICKS (to Wierzbowski; low) > It’s a bug-hunt. or > [@](#): > > **WIERZBOWSKI** > She don’t like the cornbread either. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2006, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-nuke-it-from-orbit-its-the-only-way-to-be-sure/363737/34 "2006-07-10T17:58:38Z")
[QUOTE=JCorre] 5x5 Ferro was HOT. [/QUOTE] I’m female and I agree she was. My DM in one of our futuristic campaigns used a sort of version of her. Hicks was damn hot, too. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2006, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-nuke-it-from-orbit-its-the-only-way-to-be-sure/363737/35 "2006-07-10T18:00:55Z")
Is this the record for the number of posts to a GQ thread wherein the OP was answered in Post #2? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2006, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-nuke-it-from-orbit-its-the-only-way-to-be-sure/363737/36 "2006-07-10T18:15:24Z")
[QUOTE=CookingWithGas] Is this the record for the number of posts to a GQ thread wherein the OP was answered in Post #2? 😃 [/QUOTE] Probably not, but I bet we’re edging close to the record number of posts in a GQ thread before the mods move it to the CafĂ©. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2006, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-nuke-it-from-orbit-its-the-only-way-to-be-sure/363737/37 "2006-07-10T20:19:03Z")
I forgot to mention, the scene where Ripley takes over the vehicle and goes to get them is probably one of my favorites. The music even is cool. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2006, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-nuke-it-from-orbit-its-the-only-way-to-be-sure/363737/38 "2006-07-10T20:19:30Z")
To continue the hijack, Paxton’s best line ever was 'It’s done out of love" as Chet in Wierd Science. ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2006, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-nuke-it-from-orbit-its-the-only-way-to-be-sure/363737/39 "2006-07-10T21:02:41Z")
[QUOTE=LSLGuy] So, where’s it from? If it is from a SF book or movie, how good (or bad) was the story? [/QUOTE] ID4 and _Mars Attacks!_ ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2006, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-nuke-it-from-orbit-its-the-only-way-to-be-sure/363737/40 "2006-07-10T21:25:01Z")
[QUOTE=Anaamika] I forgot to mention, the scene where Ripley takes over the vehicle and goes to get them is probably one of my favorites. [/QUOTE] Mine, too. I distinctly remember, when seeing this scene in the theater way back when, audibly telling Ripley to “Squash those fuckers! That’s the way! Kill 'em!”, when she ran over some of the bugs with the vehicle. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-nuke-it-from-orbit-its-the-only-way-to-be-sure/363737.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-nuke-it-from-orbit-its-the-only-way-to-be-sure/363737.md?page=3)