The Last Starfighter (1984)

Robert Preston: Centauri

Photos 

Quotes 

• Centauri : [voice in video game]  Greetings, Starfighter. You have been recruited by the Star League to defend the frontier against Xur and the Ko-Dan armada.

• Centauri : Alex! Alex! You're walking away from history. History! Did Chris Columbus say he wanted to stay home? No! What if the Wright Brothers thought that only birds should fly? And did Geloca think the Yulus were too ugly to save?

  Alex Rogan : Who's Geloca?

  Centauri : [hesitates]  Never mind.

  Alex Rogan : Listen, Centauri, I'm not any of those guys. I'm a kid from a trailer park.

  Centauri : If that's what you think, then that's all you'll ever be!

• Centauri : [gravely injured]  Does he have my money, Alex?

  Grig : I have a fortune for you, Centauri.

  Alex Rogan : It's here, it's all here. Piles and piles of it. All for you.

  Centauri : [smiles weakly]  Ah. At last.

  [coughs] 

  Centauri : Alex, I want you to know that it was for the greatest good that I brought you back. Of course... it never hurts to be rich.

  [succumbs to his injuries] 

• Centauri : The amusing thing about this, it's all a big mistake. *That* particular Starfighter game was supposed to be delivered to Vegas, not some flea-speck trailer park in the middle of tumbleweeds and tarantulas. So it must be fate, destiny, blind chance, luck even, that brings us together. And as the poet said, "the rest is history".

  Alex Rogan : Where are you going? Where are you taking me?

  Centauri : I told you, I want to save it for a surprise. Hey, are you the kind of kid who reads the last page of a mystery first? Who pesters the magician to tell you his tricks? Who sneaks downstairs to peek at his Christmas presents? Noooo, of course you're not.

  [singsong voice] 

  Centauri : That's why I'm not gonna tell you!

  Alex Rogan : Oh, God.

  Centauri : Besides, I just love surprises, don't you?

• Alex Rogan : Centauri! I thought you were dead.

  Centauri : Me, die? And miss all the excitement? Ha-ha, no. I was merely dormant while my body repaired itself. Ah well, enough with the details. Suffice it to say, you're on Rylos, my boy. Stop thinking human, that's lesson number one. Lesson number two...

  [leans in] 

  Centauri : You've got a good thing going here. Keep smiling, don't blow it. Lesson number three: Always trust Centauri...

• Grig : This may come as a bit of a shock to you, but he doesn't want to be a Starfighter.

  Centauri : [turns to Alex]  Doesn't want to be a... Are you a coward? Are you crazy?

  Alex Rogan : You didn't tell me about any of this!

  Rylan Bursar : Return the money, Centauri.

  Centauri : Return the money? Are you delirious? Do you know how long it took to invent the games? To merchandise them? To get them in the stores by Christmas?

  Grig : It must be terribly embarrassing for you, and I do sympathize. However...

  Centauri : But I saw him fight! He could be the greatest Starfighter ever!

  Alex Rogan : That was just a game, Centauri.

  Centauri : A game? You may have thought it was a game, but it was also a test. Aha! A test! Sent out across the universe to find those with the gift to be Starfighters. And here you are, my boy. Here you are!

  Alex Rogan : Right, here I am, about to be killed!

  Centauri : Killed!

  [laughs dismissively] 

  Centauri : You don't seriously think it's dangerous, do you? Don't be silly! Trust me!

• Centauri : [driving the Starcar back to Earth, muttering to himself]  Little brat. I invent the game, find the kid, drag him up there, and he doesn't wanna be a Starfighter. I give up!

• Alex Rogan : Store's closed, mister.

  Centauri : I'm not here for cigarettes or bubble gum, my boy. Can you tell me the name of the person who broke the record on that game over there, and where I might find him?

  Alex Rogan : Alex Rogan, and you're looking at him.

  Centauri : Alex Rogan. Ha ha ha!

  Alex Rogan : Who are you?

  Centauri : Centauri's the name. I invented Starfighter, which is why I'm here.

  Alex Rogan : It is?

  Centauri : It is. We have to talk about a matter of utmost importance. Step into my office.

  [gestures toward the back seat of his car] 

  Centauri : Step into my office.

• Rylan Bursar : [disgustedly]  Rrrr... E sanchay!

  Centauri : E sanchay? Onee mat swella! Preeta! Preeta!

  Alex Rogan : Centauri, what's going on here?

  Centauri : He's just saying how delighted he is that you're here, and if there's anything he can do make your stay more enjoyable, just give him a ring.

  Alex Rogan : My stay! What are you talking about? Where are we?

  Centauri : Welcome to Rylos, my boy!

  Alex Rogan : Rylos! Wait a min-... you mean, you mean... like the game?

  Centauri : Oh, he's quick! He's quick! He's very quick! He's speechless! So long, Alex! Have fun! May the luck of the Seven Pillars of Gulu be with you at all times!

  [muttering] 

  Centauri : Oh, someday these cheapskates will thank Centauri, trust me.

• Centauri : I must congratulate you on your virtuoso performance, my boy. Centauri is impressed. I've seen 'em come, and I've seen 'em go, but you're the best, my boy. Dazzling! Light years ahead of the competition! Centauri's got a little proposition for you. Are ya interested?

• Centauri : Get a good look, Alex, because you can bet your asteroids you'll be seeing more of them soon.

  [indicates the dead Zando-Zan sent to hunt down Alex] 

  Alex Rogan : What is it?

  Centauri : This is a Zando-Zan. An interstellar hit-beast. Courtesy of Xur.

  Alex Rogan : Xur? Why's he after me?

  Centauri : Somehow he found out you're a Starfighter.

  Beta : You see, Alex? Now you've gotta go back; because if you stay here, you're dog meat.

  Centauri : Trust Centauri on this, my boy. Within two hours, the population of this neighborhood will increase by ten Zando-Zans... all with just one thought on their microscopic little minds: KILL ALEX ROGAN.

• Xur : [appears through video transmission as a giant, floating head]  Yes, Father, your mighty Frontier grows weaker by the moment.

  Enduran : Do not call me "Father". You are no longer my son. You are an outcast! Why have you returned?

  Xur : I have returned for the good of all Rylans.

  Enduran : An armada of Ko-Dan warships behind you?

  Xur : There are some Rylans who would welcome me, Father.

  Enduran : Star League justice put down your Xur-ian cult. Your followers are few and scattered.

  Xur : [angrily]  Star League! A refuge for weak worlds not worthy to be our equals!

  Enduran : That is for the Rylans to decide, and not for a dangerous and evil child such as yourself.

  Xur : [smirks]  And yet, it is this child who caught your master spy.

  [video screen turns on to broadcast the torture and death of the master spy] 

  Xur : Hear me, Rylans! When the green moon of Galan is eclipsed, the Ko-Dan armada will invade. And not even your mighty Starfighters will be able to save you.

  Enduran : We shall see, Xur. We shall see!

  [Xur's floating head dissipates; Centauri turns to a shaken Alex] 

  Centauri : [laughs nervously]  You still want to go? And miss all the excitement?