Northern Exposure (TV Series)

The Body in Question (1991)

Rob Morrow: Dr. Joel Fleischman

Photos 

Quotes 

• Maggie O'Connell : I thought cryogenics could preserve a body for centuries, Fleischman!

  Dr. Joel Fleischman : See, once again, a little PBS proves a dangerous thing.

• Dr. Joel Fleischman : Yeah, I hate to say this, but I think Maurice may be right. Now, Pierre has yielded a new truth to the world, and however ludicrous and personally unsettling and regardless of its impact, I think we have an obligation to tell that truth.

  Maggie O'Connell : Why?

  Dr. Joel Fleischman : Because the truth belongs to everyone. What would've happened if Newton had decided to keep the law of gravity to himself? The truth initiates events whose impact we can't foresee. It's our responsibility to just tell it and get out of the way.

  Maurice J. Minnifield : There you go, ladies and gentlemen. That's the opinion of a New York doctor. A *Jewish* New York doctor.

• Dr. Joel Fleischman : [watching a family at the Seder during Passover]  Wait, wait! Don't drink that. That's for Elijah. Where's your cup?

  Elijah : This is my cup.

  Dr. Joel Fleischman : Oh, wait a minute...

  Elijah : They can't see me, Joel. Only you.

  Dr. Joel Fleischman : You are Elijah? If you're Elijah, where's the whole robes and the long beard?

  Elijah : You don't like my suit?

  Dr. Joel Fleischman : No, I-I-The suit's fine. I just-I didn't expect...

  Elijah : Come on, Joel. You didn't expect anything. You fill this cup every year. You open the door. But you certainly don't expect Elijah to come waltzing in. It flies in the face of reason.

  Dr. Joel Fleischman : What are you doing here?

  Elijah : I came to see you.

  Dr. Joel Fleischman : Me? Why?

  Elijah : Why not you? The question is, what are you going to do about it? You want to help prepare the way for the Messiah? Maybe you'd rather turn me into an amusement park, Joel. Sell autographed cups. "Elijah's back. Fleischman's got him." It's your call, Yo'el. Make your decision. The clock is ticking.

• Chris Stevens : Joel, I think that you're confusing the truth with facts.

  Dr. Joel Fleischman : No, the facts change, Chris. The truth is constant.

  Chris Stevens : Oh, on the contrary, my friend: The truth changes.

  Dr. Joel Fleischman : Oh, yeah? Give me an example.

  Chris Stevens : The truth about Custer. Hero or villain? Civilizer or agent of genocide? The truth slips and turns. The facts remain the same.

  Dr. Joel Fleischman : Yeah? What about light? Particle or wave? I mean, it exhibits qualities of both. When the truth is finally known, the facts will be made to accommodate the truth.

  Ruth-Anne : [to Ed]  Now they're getting into paradox. Dicey stuff.

• Chris Stevens : Well, Joel, let's distinguish paradox from contradiction. Can something be more than one thing at the same time? Father, Son and Holy Ghost? We digress. I offer the poet's vision of the ancient urn: Truth is beauty, beauty truth.

  Dr. Joel Fleischman : We can serve and volley semantics all night, Chris. The point is, if...

  Maurice J. Minnifield : Gentlemen. Gentlemen, that's quite enough. Let's, uh, get on with the business at hand, shall we?