The Mandalorian (TV Series)

Chapter 19: The Convert (2023)

Omid Abtahi: Dr. Penn Pershing

Photos 

Quotes 

• Lab Tech : Good morning, L52. Everything okay?

  Dr. Penn Pershing : Yes, thank you. But this, uh, equipment I'm archiving, it's all coded to be destroyed.

  Lab Tech : [looking over his shoulder]  Looks like it.

  Dr. Penn Pershing : But it's all still perfectly good.

  Lab Tech : It's Imperial technology.

  Dr. Penn Pershing : Yes, but they can still be put to good use. If I can have access to the equipment, I'd be happy to demonstrate how...

  Lab Tech : Can I be honest with you? We are really behind here. Not only do we have the Imperial disposal yards to inventory, but we're still decommissioning the Alliance fleet. I'm sure you understand.

  Dr. Penn Pershing : I just think I could be helpful if I could...

  Lab Tech : It would require authorization from the department. You could submit a C-1023 request, but I've never seen someone from the Amnesty Program make one of those. I'd have to check if that's even possible.

  Dr. Penn Pershing : It's fine. Forget I asked.

  Lab Tech : I'm sorry, L52. I know it's not easy, but I assure you this is truly helping the New Republic.

• Parole Droid : Do you still find your current housing situation comfortable?

  Dr. Penn Pershing : Yes.

  Parole Droid : Are you able to maintain a consistent schedule?

  Dr. Penn Pershing : Yes.

  Parole Droid : Are you experiencing any undue stress due to work or personal matters?

  Dr. Penn Pershing : No.

  Parole Droid : Have you experienced any feelings of anger or resentment towards your coworkers?

  Dr. Penn Pershing : No.

  Parole Droid : Have you experienced any feelings of anger or resentment towards the New Republic government or its representatives?

  Dr. Penn Pershing : No.

  Parole Droid : Thank you for continuing...

  Dr. Penn Pershing : Can I ask a question?

  Parole Droid : Proceed.

  Dr. Penn Pershing : If I were to pursue my own research, recreationally, would that be allowed?

  Parole Droid : According to your file, your previous research involved cloning and genetic engineering. That class of research is expressly prohibited by the Coruscant Accords, Section 13, subparagraph seven. My apologies. Do you have further questions?

  Dr. Penn Pershing : I guess not.

  Parole Droid : Thank you for continuing to be an important part of the Amnesty Program. Have a nice day.

• Elia Kane : Is everything you need here?

  Dr. Penn Pershing : This is perfect. I'll only take what I need.

  Elia Kane : It's all going to the scrap heap.

  Dr. Penn Pershing : I remember the first time I was in a place like this, I couldn't believe I'd made it. My mother was a doctor in the town where I grew up. I would spend days in her office dreaming of a lab like this. But to actually be in one...

  Elia Kane : You always knew what you wanted to do.

  Dr. Penn Pershing : As far back as I can remember. What about you? What did you wanna be when you grew up?

  Elia Kane : I didn't really have a chance to think about it.

• Dr. Penn Pershing : I appreciate you letting me speak here tonight. The Amnesty Program saved my life. There are many of us who had no choice in working for the Empire, but now the New Republic has given us a second chance. So thank you. I believe that pursuit of knowledge is the most noble thing someone can do. Sadly, my research was twisted into something cruel and inhumane, at the behest of a desperate individual intent on using cloning technology to secure more power for himself. But despite the shameful work of my past, I now hope to help the New Republic in whatever way I can. Though that work is now behind me, and I regret what I did, I assure you that my original intentions were good. When I was young, I lost my mother, the person who I admired most. Her... her heart gave out. Had simple organ cloning been available on my homeworld, her death would have been easily preventable. It was then that I vowed to make it my life's work to help others avoid such needless loss. Thanks to the groundbreaking work of the Kaminoans, we know that cloning can duplicate an individual from a single genetic strand. What my work explored was the hopes of combining multiple strands to create replicas that incorporated the best genetic attributes of both donors.

• Dr. Penn Pershing : There are more of us here than I expected.

  Amnesty Officer M34 : Yeah, that surprised me at first, too. It's not how the Empire would have handled it.

  Dr. Penn Pershing : No. No, it is not.

  Elia Kane : Have you taken in the sights on Coruscant, Doctor?

  Dr. Penn Pershing : No. I-I haven't had the time.

  Elia Kane : I'd be happy to show you around when you do.

• Amnesty Officer G27 : [discussing the differences between the New Republic and the Empire]  Uniforms did fit better.

  Amnesty Officer M34 : I do miss the lights of hyperspace.

  Amnesty Officer G27 : What do you miss, L52?

  Dr. Penn Pershing : Miss?

  Amnesty Officer G27 : From before.

  Dr. Penn Pershing : No. I'm glad that the Empire is...

  Amnesty Officer G27 : No, not like that. Of course, good riddance. I mean more like the everyday stuff. Like the food. Nothing?

  Dr. Penn Pershing : Um... I guess maybe those, uh, yellow travel biscuits from the ration packs?

  [the group laughs] 

  Amnesty Officer G27 : Wow.

  Amnesty Officer G27 : Ah, that brings back memories.

  Amnesty Officer M34 : I don't think you can get those on the Core Worlds.

  Elia Kane : Uh, no, you can't. Gotta say, though, I liked the red ones.

  Amnesty Officer M40 : You're crazy. Travel biscuits?

  Elia Kane : What's wrong with them?

  Amnesty Officer M40 : I'm just saying, if I never see another ration pack in my life, I'll die happy.

  Elia Kane : All right. Well...

  Amnesty Officer G27 : I'll drink to that.

  Amnesty Officer M34 : If I want something dry, I'll just listen to your jokes.

• Dr. Penn Pershing : [breaking into a decommissioned Star Destroyer]  You sure we're alone?

  Elia Kane : Yep. Ships are all inoperable. No need to guard 'em.

• Lab Tech : Good morning, L52. Happy Benduday. Another set for archival.

  Dr. Penn Pershing : Good morning.

  Lab Tech : Oh, I saw your talk last night. Really interesting stuff.

  Dr. Penn Pershing : Oh. Thank you.

  Lab Tech : Yeah, I had no idea you were so experienced. Wonder why they have you down here?

  Dr. Penn Pershing : I'm happy to do whatever is asked of me.

• Aristocrat 1 : It must be wonderful now that you work with a government that appreciates your contribution, no?

  Dr. Penn Pershing : Of course. I'm very lucky.

  Aristocrat 2 : And we're lucky to have you, Dr. Pershing.

  Aristocrat 3 : How are you finding the city? Comfortable, I hope?

  Dr. Penn Pershing : Yes. Though anything would be comfortable compared with the Outer Rim.

  Aristocrat 2 : The Outer Rim, I can't imagine. You know, I was almost drafted. Imagine me, serving.

  Aristocrat 4 : Oh, darling, that was the Empire.

  Aristocrat 2 : Oh, my apologies. Empire, Rebels, New Republic, I can't keep track. That's why I should just keep my mouth shut.

• Dr. Penn Pershing : What we were talking about the other day. My research. I've been thinking about it. I know it's important, and in the hands of the New Republic, it can actually be used for good. I just need to prove it.

  Elia Kane : Sounds like you wanna continue it.

  Dr. Penn Pershing : But... I mean, how?

  Elia Kane : What do you need?

  Dr. Penn Pershing : Well, not much to get started. Um, some supplies, a mobile lab station. It's a silly idea, I know it is, but I really believe that...

  Elia Kane : Stop. You wanna help the New Republic, they just can't see it yet. We can get you a mobile lab station. But it would require going outside our designated perimeter.

  Dr. Penn Pershing : No. I can't... I can't do that. If they found out, we'd both be sent back to the Re-Integration Institute.

  Elia Kane : Look... I've done a lot of things I'm ashamed of. I have a lot to make up for. But if your research really is as important as you say, I'll take that risk.

• Dr. Penn Pershing : It's just, um... so many people. It's all a bit overwhelming.

  Elia Kane : A trillion permanent residents.

  Dr. Penn Pershing : Amazing. All these people working together to make something better. Makes me feel rather insignificant.

  Elia Kane : I don't know about that. Makes me feel special, knowing everything I had to overcome to get back here.

  Dr. Penn Pershing : You've been to Coruscant before?

  Elia Kane : I trained here, at the academy. Not much has changed, other than taking down the cogwheels. It did feel different, though. We thought we were doing good.

  Dr. Penn Pershing : I do think about that sometimes. All of my research going unfinished. We were close to making some incredible breakthroughs. In the right hands, our discoveries could have helped a lot of people.

  Elia Kane : So, why not continue your research here?

  Dr. Penn Pershing : I don't think it's something the New Republic would be interested in. The ethics of cloning are complicated.

  Elia Kane : But if it could help the New Republic, isn't that important enough? Following orders blindly is how we got in trouble in the first place. Sometimes you have to trust your gut. The New Republic is trying their best, but they're struggling. There are lots of capable people who wanna help.

• Dr. Penn Pershing : Where are we going?

  Elia Kane : The disposal yards. You know, the inventory you're cataloging.

  Dr. Penn Pershing : What?

  Elia Kane : Imperial ships still have mobile lab stations, right?

  Dr. Penn Pershing : They do, but they're Imperial.

  Elia Kane : Well, not anymore. Now they're just junk. Look, we slip in, grab what you need, and we're back at Amesty Housing before you know it.

  Dr. Penn Pershing : Have you done this before?

  Elia Kane : Where do you think I got the biscuits?

• Amnesty Officer M34 : Join us for a drink. Amnesty Officer M34.

  Dr. Penn Pershing : Amnesty Scientist L52.

  Amnesty Officer M34 : You're new?

  Dr. Penn Pershing : What do you mean?

  Amnesty Officer M34 : To the program. The pins, they make it hard to hide.

  Dr. Penn Pershing : [realizing he means the pin on his lapel]  Oh. Yes. I was just transferred from the Re-Integration Institute.

  Amnesty Officer M34 : Welcome to Amnesty Housing. It's paradise in comparison. This is G27, M40, G68.

  Elia Kane : Doctor.

  Amnesty Officer M34 : [seeing Pershing recognizes her]  Everything all right?

  Dr. Penn Pershing : I didn't expect to see anyone from Moff Gideon's ship here.

  Amnesty Officer M34 : Gideon? I didn't know you worked for him.

  Amnesty Officer G27 : I heard he escaped en route to the War Tribunal.

  Amnesty Officer M34 : No, that was just a cover story. I heard they hooked him up to a mind flayer.

  Elia Kane : I try not to think about him anymore. Thanks to the rehabilitation program, I can contribute to the New Republic. Just like you.

  Amnesty Officer M34 : Just like all of us. Long live the New Republic.

• Dr. Penn Pershing : What is that?

  Elia Kane : That is the peak of Umate, the highest mountain on Coruscant. They say it's the only place on the entire surface where you can see the planet itself.

  Dr. Penn Pershing : How strange.

  Elia Kane : You wanna touch it?

  Dr. Penn Pershing : Are we allowed to?

  Elia Kane : Allowed? Live a little, Doc. It's not the Empire.

  [as he reaches forward, he jumps back when a security droid flies around warning him not to touch it] 

  Dr. Penn Pershing : I'm so sorry.

  [seeing Elia laughing] 

  Dr. Penn Pershing : You knew that was gonna happen, didn't you?

  Elia Kane : I'm sorry. Let me buy you a photon fizzle. Ah, the look on your face was priceless.