Hulu's dramatic series The Dropout tells the true story of Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes and how her idea to diagnose patients with a single drop of blood doesn't pan out. The miniseries has some particularly dramatic and unforgettable quotes as Elizabeth is always defending her product and her company and the other characters start to realize the truth of what's going on.
Whether Elizabeth says something that becomes a tagline of sorts, or a key character gives Elizabeth smart advice, there are many lines in The Dropout that help tell this shocking and emotional true story.
Elizabeth Tries Speaking In A Lower Voice
"This is an inspiring step forward."
Elizabeth is an intelligent character on The Dropout and she's determined to become a famous, successful person from the very beginning of the series. Viewers knew that Elizabeth would begin talking in a voice that is much lower than her own as Elizabeth Holmes is known for her distinct way of speaking. In one scene, Elizabeth says this quote, trying on her new voice and this motto on for size.
Whether Elizabeth is giving interviews or trying to defend herself after everyone finds out about her product not working, Elizabeth always appears to be confident, but viewers can tell that she's nervous throughout the entire series.
Phyllis Gardner Shuts Elizabeth's Idea Down
"You had an idea. It's not gonna work. So you just... you keep learning."
In the season 1 opener "I'm In A Hurry," Elizabeth meets with Phyllis Gardner with an idea. It's one of the most unforgettable scenes from the entire miniseries as Phyllis is the first person to realize that Elizabeth doesn't have a feasible idea and that she needs to study more before she's ready to create a product and found a company.
This quote is so memorable because Elizabeth doesn't listen to Phyllis and feels that Phyllis is wrong. When Phyllis talks about how science is all about trying and then trying again, Elizabeth quotes Yoda "Do or do not, there is no try," a line that she will put on the wall of her office. Viewers can see the problems starting here.
Phyllis Gives Elizabeth Good Advice
"You don't get to skip any steps... So no, as a woman, I can't help you right now."
When Phyllis shoots Elizabeth's idea down, Elizabeth appeals to her "as a woman" and suggests that Phyllis should her and believe in her because they're the same. Phyllis is strong and tough and with her response, she tells Elizabeth that it's going to take a lot to become a successful inventor.
The Dropout often has Elizabeth telling people that she's an inspiring young female entrepreneur, but Phyllis cuts through this image and tells Elizabeth that she will have to work hard and fight for credit every step of the way. Phyllis also warns Elizabeth that if she makes a mistake, she will be in trouble, which is some smart and haunting foreshadowing.
Ian Meets Sunny For The First Time
"My name is Ian Gibbons... Do I know you?"
Like other miniseries based on true events, The Dropout doesn't ignore the sad and tough moments of the real story, including Elizabeth's head of chemistry, Ian Gibbons. Ian starts to realize that something is wrong at Theranos when no one will give him the information that he needs. When he meets Sunny Balwani, Ian introduces himself, confused about why no one told him who Sunny was.
This quote makes such a big impact because Ian has a difficult time at Theranos and as he's slowly shut out and even fired, then rehired only to be told to sit at a desk with nothing to do all day, Ian suffers so much.
Elizabeth Appeals To Her Board
"I'm just a girl who had a dream to change the world."
In the episode "Green Juice," Elizabeth is in big trouble with her board , who want her to leave because she keeps asking for more time and more money. This is one of the first signs that Elizabeth isn't sure what she's doing and that she doesn't have a working product.
Before Elizabeth tells the board that Sunny will come on and invest $20 million in the company, Elizabeth says this quote and pretends to cry. She wants to appeal to them emotionally and make them think that she's scared and upset when she's really trying to figure out how to save the company.
Ana Asks Elizabeth A Crucial Question
"Did you do trials on terminal cancer patients with a prototype that didn't work?"
The Nashville trial is one of the most problematic things that Elizabeth does in The Dropout, as she agrees to let people who have cancer be part of it while knowing that there is no way that the device can really test a drop of blood.
Ana worked at Theranos as the chief design architect for a brief period of time, and when she asks Elizabeth this question, Ana is really asking something bigger: is Elizabeth knowingly causing people real harm in the name of ambition?
Tyler Tells Erica That She Needs To Cover Up Her Computer Camera
"Here. Put it on your camera on your computer. So they can't watch you."
The cast of The Dropout is talented and really digs into the roles, with the actors who play Erika Cheung and Tyler Schultz, Camryn Mi-young Kim and Dylan Minnette, standing out.
Erika meets Tyler in the episode "Iron Sisters" and they bond as they realize that something is seriously wrong at Theranos. When Tyler tells Erika that she should cover up her computer camera, she realizes that there are too many dark secrets and begins her journey to being the whistleblower.
John Carreyrou Learns About The CMS Report
"I just fell in love with federal bureaucracy and I don't care who knows it."
Reporter John Carreyrou plays a crucial rule in the miniseries, and he's often frustrated while working on his piece, as his editor wants him to wait until he has enough sources. In the finale episode "Lizzy," Erica has reported Theranos to CMS, and after an inspection, Theranos gets shut down and Elizabeth can't run a company for two years.
John is excited that he can finally write a legitimate piece about the problems at Theranos, and he tells his colleagues that he loves federal bureaucracy. This is a funny moment in an otherwise serious situation and John makes a good point that a "slow and boring" agency is what brings the company down.
Elizabeth Accuses Sunny
"Do you think that we did something wrong? Or did you do something that I didn't know about?"
The Dropout characters each stand out in their own way, and it's compelling seeing how Sunny and Elizabeth's relationship plays out from the time that she meets him in Beijing to when the company is shut down.
When Elizabeth asks Sunny this question, Sunny and viewers realize that Elizabeth doesn't recognize that she messed up and that she has hurt people. Throughout all 8 episodes, Elizabeth maintains that she is in the right. When Elizabeth asks Sunny if he has made a mistake, it suggests that the trouble might be just starting.
Sunny Realizes His Relationship Is Over
"There's nothing inside you. I invented you inside my head. For 12 years, I've been inventing you — I made you up."
Elizabeth and Sunny essentially break up in the finale "Lizzy," with Elizabeth moving out and Sunny telling her that he doesn't think that he ever knew her at all.
When Sunny says that he created Elizabeth and made her into the person that he wanted her to be, this is an interesting and memorable quote, suggesting that this has been an unhealthy relationship.