Contact (1997)

John Hurt: S.R. Hadden

Photos 

Quotes 

• S.R. Hadden : [over video feed from Mir space station]  I wanna show you something.

  [shows satellite feed to Ellie] 

  S.R. Hadden : Hokkaido Island.

  Ellie Arroway : The systems integration site.

  S.R. Hadden : Look closer.

  [zooms satellite feed to reveal second machine] 

  S.R. Hadden : First rule in government spending: why build one when you can have two at twice the price? Only, this one can be kept secret. Controlled by Americans, built by the Japanese subcontractors. Who, also, happen to be, recently acquired, wholly-owned subsidiaries...

  Ellie Arroway : [speaks with Hadden]  ... of Hadden industries.

  S.R. Hadden : They still want an American to go, Doctor. Wanna take a ride?

• S.R. Hadden : [to Arroway in the tone of Hannibal Lecter]  Clever girl.

• S.R. Hadden : The powers that be have been very busy lately, falling over each other to position themselves for the game of the millennium. Maybe I can help deal you back in.

  Ellie Arroway : I didn't realize that I was out.

  S.R. Hadden : Well, maybe not out... but certainly being handed your hat.

• S.R. Hadden : Dr. Arroway, I presume.

  Ellie Arroway : Mr. Hadden.

  S.R. Hadden : I've had my eye on you a long time, Doctor. I consider you one of my most valuable long-term investments. And when it comes to my investments, I always do my homework. Eleanor Ann Arroway, born 25th August, 1964, De Pere, Wisconsin. Mother, Joanna, died from complications during childbirth. Early testing indicated high predisposition towards science and mathematics. Father, Theodore, advised to provide enrichment activities in these areas, .did so conscientiously until his death from myocardial infarction, November 10, 1974. You graduated from high school in 1979, almost two full years early. Awarded full scholarship, M.I.T, graduated magna cum laude. Doctoral work, Cal Tech where you worked on the lanthanide-doped ruby maser, dramatically increasing the sensitivity of radio telescopes. Subsequently offered a teaching position at Harvard University which you turned down to pursue SETI work at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico. Changes in NSF policy gave rise to certain funding problems, at which point you came to my attention.