Robert Patrick – Scorpion – Comic Con 2014

Interview By: Lynsey Tamborello

Q) Can you tell us a little bit about your character?

A) Cabe Gallo is a federal agent. He’s looking for a hacker named Scorpion.  He finds him in Ireland and lo and behold, he’s a young boy. The more he finds out about him, he finds out he’s incredibly brilliant, realizes what an asset he would be to the United States government and he takes him away from his family and puts him to work for the greater good.

Q) Can you talk a little bit about the challenging relationship that your character has with Walter?

A) That’s a great question. When I meet Walter, he’s a little boy and I’m very curious about him. I can recognize how special he is and what an asset he would be. It is our idea to take him and bring him back to America, especially when we find out how high his IQ is. While we’re working together, I’m being very honest with what we’re trying to do, but the government uses the technology that he’s created and used it for something completely different. So, he thought it was going to help people and it ended up hurting people and he was really pissed. He basically told me to “F-off” and he doesn’t want to work with me. So, I’m trying to find redemption with him now. I end up moving from New York to LA because it’s my last ditch effort and I want to appeal to Walter, I say, “I want to work with you again.” I think my character is looking for closure. I want to make this right between me and Walter and I’m going to work real hard on it. And, hopefully, I work at it for 20 years. On CBS. Monday nights at 9pm. [laughs]

Q) What was about Scorpion that made you want to be a part of it?

A) It’s a great script. Nick Santora [Scorpion EP] calls it a “Fun-cedural.” There’s going to be some humor, you’ve got heroes, you’ve got these wonderful stories that I think will be fascinating to people. It’s a hybrid, it’s a really unique show. I think it’s right on the edge and yet my character is still sort of back in the past, has an appreciation for the way things used to be. And we don’t have to shun all of that. There’s some good common “horse sense” that’s still applicable to today’s events. But I think he’s also open and receptive enough to use these new ways of thinking and new approaches. And my character uses a lot of skills and common sense to coordinate between the military guys and the geniuses. I’m keeping the government here and trying to find some middle ground that we can work with, to keep advancing us along. Some of the stuff that Walter’s told me about, he’s been giving problems, such as where a base is in Afghanistan and he’s been tasked with figuring out where the attack is going to be and where we are vulnerable, you know hypotheticals. And that’s the kind of thinking I want, like who can think of flying planes into the World Trade Center before it happens. It’s scary times. You pick up a newspaper, if you still read it, and check out the front page. The shit that’s going on in in the real world is pretty scary. I’m comfortable with the fact that I actually know the guy that’s going to put his brain onto this.

Q) Like that scenario at the airport in the pilot? That was pretty scary.

A) It’s very scary and then two weeks after we we shot the pilot, that happened at LAX.

Q) Will your character be interacting will all of the other characters in the show?

A) Absolutely, and I have to learn to appreciate each one for what they can do. But I don’t acquiesce to any of them. I’m still “The Guy.” It’s a really fascinating character for that reason. I can’t discount them, I have to be respectful. But I get to be frustrated with them. There’s going to be a lot of things that I get to play. And I’m going to find the humor with this guy all the way through it, which is a real fun aspect for me. If you remember Ed Asner and Lou Grant on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” that’s kind of the thing. Like a “heart of gold” and a little cantankerous.

Q) And what is your favorite aspect of your character that you are looking forward to playing?

A) Well, the favorite aspect I think really is the relationship with Walter dynamic. I mean, I have kids, so I am approaching him that way. How to be respectful, while also guiding. How to be nurturing, and yet allow them to fail. You know, that whole dynamic that we have to work with. Is that a good answer?

Q) Were you still filming “From Dusk Till Dawn” when you got approach for this?

A) Thank you for that question about “From Dusk Till Dawn.” Yes, I was. It became apparent to me when I was looking at the scripts of “From Dusk Till Dawn,” in the movie I die. My character, Harvey Keitel’s character dies. So, I went to Robert [Rodriguez] and said, “Hey man, I’m gonna die, aren’t I?” And he went, “Yeah.” And I said, “Do you mind if I go do this project ‘Scorpion’ for CBS?” He said, “No.” He let me go, isn’t that great? “From Dusk Till Dawn” is a great show. I was really thrilled. I loved working with Robert. It was a great opportunity to work with him again. I hadn’t worked with him in like 15 years. I’ve grown as an artist and he’s grown as an artist. To be able to show an old friend a whole bunch of new aspects to your craft, it was great. Great experience, I love Robert!