The Matrix (1999)

Joe Pantoliano: Cypher

Photos 

Quotes 

• Cypher : You know, I know this steak doesn't exist. I know that when I put it in my mouth, the Matrix is telling my brain that it is juicy and delicious. After nine years, you know what I realize?

  [Takes a bite of steak] 

  Cypher : Ignorance is bliss.

• Cypher : I know what you're thinking, 'cause right now I'm thinking the same thing. Actually, I've been thinking it ever since I got here: Why oh why didn't I take the BLUE pill?

• [Neo sees a black cat walk by them, and then a similar black cat walk by them just like the first one] 

  Neo : Whoa. Déjà vu.

  [Everyone freezes right in their tracks] 

  Trinity : What did you just say?

  Neo : Nothing. Just had a little déjà vu.

  Trinity : What did you see?

  Cypher : What happened?

  Neo : A black cat went past us, and then another that looked just like it.

  Trinity : How much like it? Was it the same cat?

  Neo : It might have been. I'm not sure.

  Morpheus : Switch! Apoc!

  Neo : What is it?

  Trinity : A déjà vu is usually a glitch in the Matrix. It happens when they change something.

• Morpheus : The pill you took is part of a trace program. It's designed to disrupt your input/output carrier signal so we can pinpoint your location.

  Neo : What does that mean?

  Cypher : It means fasten your seat belt Dorothy, 'cause Kansas is going bye-bye.

• Cypher : You know... for a long time, I thought I was in love with you. I used to dream about you. You're a beautiful woman, Trinity. Too bad things had to turn out this way.

  Trinity : You killed them.

  Apoc : What?

  Switch : Oh God.

  Cypher : I'm tired, Trinity. I'm tired of this world. I'm tired of fighting, tired of this ship, being cold and eating the same goddamn groop every day. But most of all, I'm tired of that jag-off and all of his bullshit.

  Cypher : [to Morpheus]  Surprise, asshole! I bet you never saw this coming, did you? God, I wish I could be there when they break you. I wish I could walk in just when it happens. So that right then, you'd know it was me.

  Trinity : You gave them Morpheus.

  Cypher : He lied to us, Trinity. He tricked us! If you had told us the truth, we'd have told you to shove that red pill right up your ass!

  Trinity : That's not true, Cypher, he set us free.

  Cypher : [looking up inside the Nebuchadnezzar]  Free. You call *this* free? All I do is what he tells me to do. If I have to choose between that and the Matrix. I choose the Matrix!

• Cypher : [coughs after sampling an alcoholic drink]  Good shit, huh? Dozer makes it. It's good for two things, degreasing engines and killing brain cells.

• Cypher : All I do is what he tells me to do. If I had to choose between that and the Matrix, I'd choose the Matrix.

  Trinity : The Matrix isn't real.

  Cypher : I disagree, Trinity. I think that the Matrix can be more real than this world. All I do is pull a plug here, but there... you have to watch Apoc die.

• [first lines] 

  [phone rings] 

  Cypher : Yeah.

  Trinity : Is everything in place?

  Cypher : You weren't supposed to relieve me.

  Trinity : I know, but I felt like taking a shift.

  Cypher : You like him, don't you? You like watching him.

  Trinity : Don't be ridiculous.

  Cypher : We're gonna kill him. You understand that?

  Trinity : Morpheus believes he is the one.

  Cypher : Do you?

  Trinity : It doesn't matter what I believe.

  Cypher : You don't, do you?

  Trinity : Did you hear that?

  Cypher : Hear what?

  Trinity : Are you sure this line is clean?

  Cypher : Yeah, of course I'm sure.

  Trinity : I better go.

• Cypher : Look into his eyes. Those big pretty eyes and tell me... Yes or no?

  [looks at Neo, tears slightly visible in her eyes] 

  Trinity : Yes.

  Cypher : No! I don't believe it!

  Tank : Believe it or not, you piece of shit, you're still gonna burn!

• Cypher : I'm tired, Trinity. Tired of this war, tired of fighting... I'm tired of the ship, being cold, eating the same goddamn goop everyday...

• Cypher : No. I don't believe it.

  Tank : Believe it or not, you piece of shit, you're still gonna burn.

• [Neo tries a drink made by Dozer and winces] 

  Cypher : Good shit, huh? It's good for two things: degreasing engines and killing brain cells.

• Cypher : All I see now is blonde, brunette, redhead.

• [Cypher has betrayed the crew and is pulling their plugs one by one] 

  Cypher : By the way, if you have something terribly important to say to Switch, I'd suggest you say it now.

  Trinity : Oh no, please don't...

  Switch : Not like this. Not like this.

  [Cypher pulls her plug, and her in-Matrix body falls dead] 

  Cypher : Too late.

  Trinity : God damn you Cypher!

  Cypher : Don't hate me Trinity... I'm just the messenger.

• Cypher : The image translators work for the construct program - but there's way too much information to decode the Matrix.

• Cypher : Neo. You scared the b'Jesus out of me.

• [talking to the unconscious Morpheus] 

  Cypher : If you'd told us the truth, we would've told you to shove that red pill right up your ass.

• Cypher : [Is about to try to unplug Neo]  If Morpheus was right, then there's no way I can pull this plug. I mean if Neo is the One, then there would have to be some kind of miracle to stop me. Right? I mean how can he be the One if he's dead?

• Cypher : Jesus. What a mind-job.