Eolomea (1972) - full transcript

Luna 3, where are you?

Can you see me? Right here.

Here I am.

The cosmos never again.

Earth Central calling Margot.

Attention all transmission stations.

Earth Central calling Margot.

This is Luna 3.

I'll connect you to Margot.

Margot calling Earth Central.

Earth Central. Go ahead.

Urgent report.

Spaceship T-S 68 and crew of 3

have not returned to base Margot.

Awaiting orders.

Griva reporting. Over and out.

Quiet please.

- Could you put out your cigarette?

- Of course I can.

I suggested convening the council

because this situation exceeds

any usual incident.

The first report came

three days ago.

A T-S 22 disappeared

on its return flight to base Margot.

Now we've had six such messages.

Six spaceships in three days.

More than an unfortunate coincidence.

- Someone must be held responsible.

- Quite right, young man.

- I fail to see the humour in it.

- Don't start heckling.

Strange that it only involves

ships from the same base.

Strange that our colleague

drags us here to tell us something

we could have read

in the newspapers.

I expected more detailed

information from Ms. Scholl.

At least a working hypothesis.

- I don't have one.

- But I do.

I suspect our spaceships

have collided with antibodies

that happened to enter

into our solar system.

A simple case of annihilation.

Please record in the minutes that

the council isn't responsible.

Is that what concerns you

Prof. Tal? Whether it's our fault?

People may have lost their lives.

That is exactly what I mean.

Jackie Bernstein is right.

Someone must be held responsible.

Margot calling Earth Central.

Urgent report. Spaceship T-S 340

transporting crew of 16 scientists

has not returned to base Margot.

TV and radio contact suddenly

ceased at 12:00 Greenwich time.

Griva reporting. Over and out.

Seven accidents in a row.

Unbelievable.

Unbelievable that you're having

meetings while people are dying.

You're not a council member but

we welcome your opinion.

Order Margot to send out

rescue squads immediately.

We've commanded just the opposite.

We have forbidden that anyone

leave until the causes are known.

These are the locations where all

radio contact with ships ceased.

There are now 7 ships with

60 people aboard who haven't

Margot calling Earth Central.

- Transporter stopped transmission.

- I'm afraid that's the eighth.

Connection lost at 12:10,

quadrant 62.15 after K.

Griva reporting. Over and out.

You just said 7 ships

and a total of 60 people.

Yes. And now there are eight.

May I say something?

Everything has a simple explanation

and it has nothing to do

with mysticism.

- I suggested it was annihilation.

- If you're serious, Prof. Tal,

then I'm disappointed in you.

Speculation like that is mysticism.

And I suppose you have a better

hypothesis? I'm listening.

I already said, I don't have one.

But it doesn't make yours

more convincing.

Quit the guesswork. We're here

to prevent further accidents.

Only the entire council can decree

a prohibition of space flights.

I support this proposal.

I don't. This proposal

is complete nonsense.

A flight ban would cripple

the stations, isolate the bases.

It would paralyse entire programmes.

A flagrant violation

of the statute.

Human lives, Prof. Tal.

Not statues.

Who agrees with Prof. Maria Scholl

to ban all space flight

until further notice?

I'm against it.

Please record my opinion

in the minutes.

Bases Luna One and Three.

Venus Bradburyville.

Mars Gagarino.

Calling all personnel.

Am I disturbing the peaceful flow

of your thoughts?

I thought I'd enjoy the view

with you.

Even today the sight

of the heavens still thrill me.

Strange that things

can still thrill you.

You're right. It's more difficult

and happens less often.

After being an interplanetary

navigator

You don't care what happens

to the people flying today.

Don't care?

- Did I say something that hideous?

- You said something else entirely.

The fact that you don't care

is obvious.

Well, years add up

and the sclerosis gets worse.

It's a case of a scholar

becoming a bureaucrat.

-I didn't say that.

- You're virtuous to think that way.

But you're not entirely correct.

My head still works.

- Want to bet with calculations?

Because you're afraid.

You know I'm superior to you.

I didn't believe one word

you said today.

- And it seems you don't either.

- The antibodies hypothesis?

That was an amusing idea,

wasn't it?

Eight explosions.

It stimulates the imagination.

-I don't understand you.

- No matter. That happens.

I don't want to disrupt your work.

Please forgive me, if I offended

you at the council meeting.

I'm not sure if I should

tell you this, but

your daughter was among those

who didn't return to Margot.

I know.

We'll do everything possible

to try to save her.

You're a good person.

What's the matter? Why are you

looking at me like that?

How did you know

that your daughter

I received the list of names

only moments ago.

I didn't know. I just assumed.

See you later. Come by for coffee.

Dan, where are you?

I'm so alone.

I have holes in my socks.

The last pair.

My toes are freezing.

But among the useful articles

on this charming asteroid

we have a special patch,

such as this glue called Util.

What else could I want?

Everything is perfectly organised.

But there's just one wrinkle.

One idiot writes how to use it,

and another moron

stuffs the boxes.

Here we have

a tube of carpenter's glue.

And office glue

I guess it's for gluing

our sandwiches together.

- Are you listening?

- Did you say something?

Not a word.

I've finished the calculations.

If the parameters are correct

he will be here in twelve moons.

In 12 moons your boy will be here.

And I'll be down there, at home.

Then I'm quitting this rotten job.

I swear it. I hate this job.

I've heard that old story.

The Galapagos Islands and

the girl, Maria. Tell it again.

The story is old,

about five hundred years.

About Johnny Kosar and his guitar.

I'm not 18 anymore.

At my age, most folks have

a nice set-up on good old Earth.

A wife, loads of children.

And perhaps one's own helicopter.

What do I have?

A delivery van in the third ring.

I'm a cosmic baggage handler.

But I'm through with all that.

Forever.

The letter of resignation is in my

pocket. And then, andiamo a casa.

And never will I return to you

What's going on?

I'm afraid I've got bad news.

It says here,

your boy is just as trapped

on Margot as I am trapped here.

They're announcing a compulsory

moratorium on flying until

until further notice.

Damn. There has been a disaster

somewhere around here.

It shouldn't last too long.

I'm leaving.

They don't know me yet.

These are the last ones,

Professor.

Kyber proposed 8000

possible trajectories.

That's quite a few isn't it?

- Did you find the personnel files?

- They wouldn't give them to me.

So I took them.

It's our secret.

Now you can go home and sleep

if you'd like.

That will be great.

Earth Central. Personnel office.

Personnel file 25 A 400, Tal.

Oli Sigmundevitch, Director,

theory of trans-galactic links,

Professor, member of scientific

council, born in Novosibirsk

It's wonderful here.

I wish I were young, then I'd do

somersaults down the mountain.

Do it.

Unfortunately I'm grown up

and a little tired too.

I noticed.

Where is your search for the

missing rockets leading you?

To you.

Strange. Why to me?

When we were kids our favourite

game was hot and cold.

Would you like to play?

You'll enjoy it.

We could give it a try.

Be honest.

The hunt for the missing rockets

has led me to you, right?

Sure, okay. Let's say, warm.

A few details reveal that you know

more than you said at the council.

Warmer.

As a young navigator, you and Kun,

the pilot, proposed a project

that was rejected by the UN's

scientific council at the time.

The Eolomea Project.

- Hot.

- The coffee?

The coffee too, blast it.

Tell me about Eolomea.

I'm proud of you.

- You took two of my classes?

- Three.

You failed me

in theoretical navigation.

I don't remember

but I'm certain I was right.

I knew you'd find out

about my trick.

- Just not so quickly.

- A bad conscience betrays itself.

You knew about your daughter

before I got the list.

That's impressive.

Please tell me about Eolomea.

Childish whims, nothing more.

You promised to be honest.

Oh, right. I almost forgot.

How did it all begin?

At the end of the 19th century

English astronomers discovered

a strange light in the

constellation Cygnus.

The phenomena occurred again

in 1905, 1929 and 1953.

Every 24 years.

After Gagarin's space-flight

Soviet astronomers hypothesised

that it cannot be a naturally

occurring source of light.

They thought it was a laser beam

of extreme intensity

probing our solar system for contact.

It was only a hypothesis,

nothing more.

Supposedly Orpheus was born here.

Very beautiful.

Pierre Brodsky is mentioned

in your personnel file.

So, you've pilfered

my personnel file.

You're not playing fairly.

Taking your file was no game,

it's about human lives.

And now?

Now you're going to tell me

about Pierre Brodsky.

He calculated the planet's

revolutions at Ararat observatory.

- The presumed planet.

- Correct.

He theorized its mass,

duration of orbit around its sun,

and numerous other factors.

He concluded the planet was a

symmetrical equivalent of Earth.

Without poles or tropics.

Young Brodsky was a dreamer.

He called the planet

Eternal Spring or Eolomea.

He preserved the spelling of it by

using light signals in Morse code.

E-O-LO-MEA.

For a while the planet

was a sensation.

It provided plenty of material

for dreamers and journalists.

But quickly the line between myth

and science became blurred.

- Is it all scientific fact?

- Strictly speaking, no.

In spite of it, Pilot and I

proposed to send two people

in a rocket to Eolomea.

We calculated the most detailed

optimal trajectories.

And of course,

we both volunteered.

We were prepared

for this endeavour.

The scientific council found

the idea over-inflated.

They refused us everything

with the reasoning that

given our tiny, slow rockets

the whole thing was silly.

Later came Luna 2 and 3

and the bases in

the first and second rings.

It just wasn't the right time

to decipher the legends.

And you believe the time has come?

Don't try to trick me

with your questions.

We are playing hot and cold.

You have to reveal

the hidden object.

No, professor.

Eight hidden objects.

Eight tiny ships, the T-S model.

I don't understand one thing.

Lost ships will get you to Eolomea

as well as a bicycle to the moon.

Cold. Very cold.

Did that wake you?

If you snore like that again

I'll get even with your tin heap.

Do that and I'll knock out

all your teeth.

The only thing from Earth

I still have.

A good, old alarm clock or a nice souvenir.

It's something very important.

It's seven o'clock in the morning.

Don't talk nonsense.

It could just as easily be

11:00 or 3:15.

When this heap was built

it didn't occur to anyone

that it would fly 3 km per minute.

And 3000 per second.

Now a stupid alarm clock

thinks it's 7:00.

There it is 7:00 a.m.

and everyone is going to work.

And the birds in the trees

are chirping with joy.

And the old seal yearns

for the mainland.

Go to hell.

I'm already there, ol' Beelzebub.

I can't sleep.

I'm going for a walk.

A lovely place for walks.

I have an idea. Let's pay

Pierre a Christmas visit.

And the flight ban?

No one will notice

way out here in the sticks.

If we get caught, we'll say

we had to bring him oxygen.

Am I not a genius?

Not quite. You know Pierre has

a three month supply.

Sure, but they don't know.

How are you, old lion?

Dan, do you think the flight ban

will last long?

None has ever lasted

more than 1000 years.

What could have happened?

What are you up to?

Nothing.

I'm playing with the tortoise.

- You're lying.

- I'm lying.

- Shall I say what you're up to?

- Not necessary. I know.

Explain to me how your friends

manage to stow bottles in the pod.

That's the last secret of our era

and it should remain that way.

Watch out. They'll get you.

Three disciplinary actions

should be enough for you.

People need a change of pace.

These things make life interesting:

Breaking the rules

and idiots who send

carpenter's glue to mend socks.

It's almost as cosy as home.

I'm going to check

the transmitter.

When do you think

he'll be able to come?

- Who?

- The boy.

I don't know.

Then I'll return to Earth with him.

It's high time I leave this rock.

Imagine, he has never

been to Earth.

I want to be the first one

who shows him around.

He has never seen rivers

or forests.

Daniel? What are you doing?

Dan, can you hear me?

Yes, I hear you.

I asked you,

what are you doing?

- Nothing. Checking the emitter.

- You're lying again.

You're looking at the sun.

Is that against the rules, too?

Why are you so cynical?

Imagine, Pilot.

Orbiting around this star

is a tiny ball.

With islands on it.

- Galapagos and so.

- Very funny.

Do you believe the fairy-tale

that this tiny ball has six

continents and 12 billion people?

The same kind as you and I.

And that a woman lives there,

a blonde professor.

Do you still believe in it, Pilot?

Yes, I believe in it.

What's the matter?

Dan, can you hear me?

Pierre from Planet Orange.

- Do you read me?

- Yes, I read you.

How are you?

Dan, are you still singing?

I don't feel like singing.

I waited for you to come up.

- How are things with you?

- As usual.

Have you heard about

the accidents on Margot?

I was on duty when they announced

the names of those missing.

Do you know who was among them?

The boy.

Pilot's boy.

I was just going to call you two.

No, you better not, Pierre.

The old man was sleeping.

He doesn't know yet.

- It's better that way.

- You're right.

We are coming to visit you

tomorrow. We will launch early.

- And keep quiet about Margot.

- All right.

Say hello to him for me.

Take care.

- Over and out.

- See you tomorrow. Over and out.

Listen Dan, I don't like to talk

about myself.

But now it cannot be avoided.

Maybe you won't understand

but I am at the end of my rope.

These are my final orbits.

I thought I was finished after my

wife died in the Venus disaster.

It was not your fault, Pilot.

No one in the world could have

foreseen that cataclysm.

What is guilt and innocence?

The important thing is that I,

the expedition leader, survived.

Just me and

the children's transport.

My son was there. Sima.

He was born on Margot.

I have not seen him for years.

That's why I cannot imagine

what he looks like.

- Are you even listening to me?

- Yes, I'm listening.

And since then

I have been waiting here.

Waiting for Sima to graduate.

And then I wanted to return

with him to Earth.

But you know how things are.

Maybe it was nothing but

a strange dream.

But it was the only one I had.

That's why you shouldn't have

lied to me.

Forgive me, Pilot.

I thought it would be

better for you.

Lies are never better than truth.

The display is working again.

- Are you still angry?

- No. What for?

Yesterday you forewarned Pierre

and now I'm forewarning you.

He is seriously ill.

Yes, I know.

I heard. There is talk

about some virus on Margot.

They talk about

all kinds of nonsense on Margot.

Nobody knows what it is.

Hopeless?

I'm afraid so.

I brought his blood samples

to the base. No outcome.

The institute for cosmic diseases

fitted a hermetically sealed box.

But he didn't want to

get inside it.

I tried to convince him

to do nothing.

He is afraid of spreading

an unknown disease.

I don't think I could handle that.

Don't smother him in pity.

That would make him feel worse.

I understand.

This entire cosmic adventure

is demented.

What has it done for us?

A few dead asteroids that

shock us out of boredom?

A few extraterrestrial colonies

falling over with joy when

they discover some stupid galaxy

over 100 million light years away?

What for?

And for what price?

No one asks for

the price of knowledge.

- And the sacrificed people?

- They weren't sacrificed.

They volunteered.

Thankfully, without asking you.

You think everyone can act upon

his own free will.

See, that is why I have

ended my cosmic career.

Done. Have a nice life,

you stars.

Knock it off. I've had to listen

to it for over a year.

Really?

Excuse me. Could you tell me

what my room number is?

Please forgive me.

Your name please?

Daniel Lagny.

Number seven.

You have a telegram.

May I ask you something?

These puzzling signals from space:

is there any truth to it?

Mars is preparing to attack Earth.

I am so sorry.

I'm a complete idiot.

That's true.

But don't take it to heart.

It's alright.

Why are you laughing?

You look like you

just fell from the moon.

I did.

From Luna 3, two days ago.

I quit.

Man has the brain, but

the administration has control.

My resignation was denied.

So I am finally taking

a real holiday.

Hide out on the Galapagos.

But nowadays they would find you

if you hid at the south pole.

On top of that

I'm tired as a dog.

Maybe you should get some sleep.

Oh, that's nice of you.

I'm actually very nice.

You don't need to try

to convince me.

Sorry about the glass.

You may change on the first floor.

- I didn't order anything.

- Room 7 ordered it, Professor.

- I thought you would be asleep.

- Don't feel like it.

It'd be stupid to sleep during

my few hours on Earth, with you.

The boys from Luna 3

would not approve.

Do you know what Luna 3 is?

Maybe a way to conquer

a romantic woman's heart?

It works on

cold-hearted women, too.

And these women forget their

duties and fall into your arms?

Well, not right away.

It takes about half an hour.

It's 3:00 now,

so around 3:30?

What else do you do?

I could imagine that

you're a secretary.

Something like that.

And you?

Captain in trans-planetary

transportation.

I was. Simple past tense.

The first past tense,

you understand.

Cosmonaut.

Wanderer among the stars.

Romantic. Masculine.

Why did you quit?

Because I'm sick and tired of it.

Because I want to sit here

and have the sun shine on me.

At least until 3:30.

Is that so difficult

to understand?

It's difficult to do.

Daniel Lagny.

The singing Dan.

The sleeping Dan.

This is Pilot from K-R 217.

- Come in.

I heard you.

Bad reception.

I can't see.

I think he is saying

'department' or 'damn it.'

Give green signals.

Move toward the light signals.

Pierre, do you read me?

Pierre, come to the lens.

My face isn't for polite company.

Don't make a big deal about it.

Come on.

Doesn't it look like

the measles?

Yes, could be.

What's new on Earth?

Quit pretending.

I heard about the missing ships.

Better anyway.

I can't stand half truths.

But don't worry.

You will see your boy again.

How do you know that?

When space swallows someone

it doesn't give him back.

You know, that just depends.

Did you bring a blood sample?

It doesn't matter anymore.

No more doctor & patient games.

They are deceiving me by saying

they are close to a breakthrough.

I deceive them

by pretending to believe it.

Now it's over. I caught one.

What did you catch?

- A shadow.

- Are you insane?

I have been watching them

for a long time.

How shall I describe them?

They look like wet spots

on the rocks.

But when you get closer

they crawl into the crevices.

- They are living shadows.

- That sounds nonsensical.

No, they are really

living wet spots.

As alive as you and I.

Just a few days ago

I watched one of them.

I saw it close up.

Do you know what's very strange?

They are covered in black spots.

Exactly like these I have here.

But it's all right,

we have agreed to get along.

They won't bother me

and I won't bother them.

Everything is fine.

I observe and take notes.

Please take this container.

Someone will come by soon

and pick it up.

- Give him my greetings.

- What's in it?

- Don't worry. It's only paper.

- Who should I give it to?

You ask too many questions.

Someone will pick it up.

Is this for me?

Cognac for New Year's Eve.

It comes in handy sometimes.

Now get going.

This fog is uncomfortable.

Are you my friend?

Word of honour.

- You are my friend.

- Word of honour.

Do you even know who I am?

You know nothing.

When I was a pilot and led

the first caravans

you were still in diapers.

I wasn't the old Kun then.

I was the great Kun.

They called me the Cosmic Pilot.

Just like that. That was me.

So have a drink.

Back then there were two of us.

Oli Tal and me.

We brought over the first

research groups.

He and I.

To Luna 1, to Luna 2,

To both of the Mars poles.

My God, those were the days.

We had men. Those were real men.

And now?

A bunch of weaklings.

You too. That's right, you too.

A bunch of weaklings. Me too.

Want some?

You understand nothing.

You're a blockhead.

But I like you anyway.

Do you like me too?

Who else, darling?

It's obvious they keep me here

out of pity.

Stop the nonsense. You always

do this when you're drunk.

Yes, I'm drunk.

But I mean what I say.

Dan, it's time.

The flares. Are you mad?

Cheers, Maria.

Cheers, Dan.

- You're sure the data is correct?

- It's not a joke.

Remember the hoax

by the Ararat boys?

Two years ago an unidentified

object approached Earth.

Not this time. The object's mass

is the same as an A-4 ship.

It is all very peculiar,

given the flight ban.

- You must enforce it.

- They are complying with the ban.

In the areas we can control

from Earth.

Then it is a ghost.

Attention. Coordinates.

Pulkovo orbit to second relay.

[Pulkovo is connected].

- It has been pulling away.

- It doesn't answer on any frequency?

Not even the computer

is emitting mandatory signals.

- It is one of the missing ships.

- Of course, what else.

Then it is certain

that the crew is dead.

Where is Oli Tal?

- Don't know. He didn't come tonight.

- Get Prof. Tal right away.

What do you suggest we do?

Find this ghost ship.

Then we will know about the others.

- No, we have to think twice.

[-Telegram from Prof. Tal].

[If you need him

the address is Eolomea].

- What is that?

[-A hotel in Majorca].

Good, connect me.

[I tried. The line is overloaded].

Then connect through New Zealand

or Patagonia.

I need Prof. Tal immediately.

Find it, you say?

Which rescue squad is on duty?

Five. And I'm flying too.

Too great a risk.

The men are fine without you.

The boys are used to

to all kinds of things.

They will get used to me.

Perhaps you should not only

be strict with female dispatchers.

It is an opportunity

to clarify the situation.

[Hotel Eolomea said

Prof. Tal was never there].

What?

First he disappears

without notifying me?

And then gives a false address?

Or a phony address.

Or a coded address.

I have no talent for criminology.

I always feel as if I will burst.

Whoever doesn't burst

the first time, won't.

There it is.

Try it again.

A-41, this is rescue squad five.

Do you read me?

Sorry boys, you have to get out.

Enjoy the weightlessness.

This is rescue squad five

calling A-41.

A-41, please come in.

Boss, they're not answering.

Go ahead, cut it.

They're not even dead.

Did you see how they took off?

The dead are alive

and the insane are normal.

Check their course.

It can't be true. They are on

a direct course to Margot.

Call Margot immediately.

Rescue squad five calling Margot.

Come in.

They don't want to respond either.

They must stop this silly joke.

I have a better one.

We cannot contact them

until they reach Margot.

But Pilot's course is nearby.

Dan is there.

His wasp is quick enough

to cut them off.

Can he do it?

You don't know him?

We once had

a stimulating conversation.

I quit and that's it.

Where do you get the idea

to take me from Luna 3?

What am I supposed to do

around asteroids in the outer ring?

What anyone would do.

Supply the station with materials.

Delivery van.

Race horse for a manure cart.

Would you like some juice?

You can't buy me

with a sip of grapefruit.

Lemon.

Here you are.

Listen Dan, someone must

take over this position.

And this someone has to be me?

That's awful stuff.

Your transfer would be temporary.

We are opening a fourth ring soon.

And I suppose

I am the horse on that track too?

No. I promise, we will relieve you

as soon as possible.

Then you will get four months

holiday.

Very funny. I'm familiar with

that holiday.

What's that?

Honey. The real thing.

- Made on the Moon?

- Bees aren't that stupid.

My mother sent it

from the countryside.

Thanks, Dan.

But don't think you can

bribe me with a pot of honey.

How about if we talk like people?

It's about time.

Orion launches tomorrow at 9 a.m.

Have a nice trip without Dan.

Here, so you won't get lonely.

I found him yesterday.

What is it?

A lion.

Prof. Scholl, I hereby submit

an official statement:

I do not feel like

obeying your order.

Captain Lagny,

I am officially reminding you:

you've had 3 disciplinary actions.

The fourth would send you back

to your mother's bees.

Wonderful.

That is exactly what I want.

Wait, my lion.

It is not my style

to violate the statues.

If I bring an animal aboard

I need a special permit.

It looks like the base

has been abandoned.

- I have to go.

- Get a grip.

What do you want, Madame?

- I don't want a trial, I want

- Him to remain dead.

If it will cost 24,000 francs

then let's go to court.

Sure, let's go to court.

It's too expensive.

I earned almost a million for you.

You haggle with my misfortune.

Fine, I'll take you

for everything you own.

- The relays have been destroyed.

- Be quiet.

It's only the air conditioner.

Poor cat. Starving with

so many mice around.

If we don't find the sectors soon,

we will meow like him.

That will be fun.

Let's get out of here.

- Tell me you're not a ghost.

- Are you wounded?

He didn't want to smash the glass

and knows it is prohibited.

Who?

I found a broken toy.

He's called 0/560.

- Dan darling, how do you feel?

- Wonderful. Couldn't be better.

For four days I have been here

like a fly in a jar.

What's going on around here?

You should know. You are the ones

who sent me chasing that ship.

Where is it now?

Somewhere out there.

Could you be more specific?

Who are they? How many?

If I knew, I would feel better.

They tried to lose me,

I tried to cut them off.

But they landed in Sector C

and locked me out.

All I could do was go to Sector B

where you also ended up.

Everything is locked down

and the relays are destroyed.

- And the people on the base?

- Hard to tell.

There is only that half wit

but I can't get anywhere with him.

You can try.

Don't be afraid.

You're a little slow.

Shift to second gear.

Show us what you can do.

What does a well-behaved robot

say to a lady?

All-purpose robot,

model number 0/560.

Good day.

May I kiss your hand, Madame?

You taught him that nonsense?

He is a respectable fellow,

only stupid and a filthy liar.

Number 0/560,

You serve the base, correct?

Now listen carefully.

Where are the people from Margot?

I do not know.

Why is there a lockdown

between the sectors?

I do not know.

Who destroyed the relays?

I do not know.

Who destroyed the relays?

Be honest and tell us.

I destroyed them.

- Why?

- It was an order.

Whose order?

See? I couldn't get anything more

out of him.

Have I told you what I do

to robots who lie?

You said:

Can opener.

Yes, and who will get

your electronic soul?

The dogs.

You see, your memory does work.

Why did say you don't remember who

ordered the relays be destroyed?

Come on, I will give you

a new battery.

Three o'clock local time.

Check environmental aggregates.

Try harder.

Stop, where are you going?

Listen up, Number 0/560.

Try to understand what I am saying.

You possess nothing but logic.

And they are after your tin

with emotions.

You have been programmed

to keep quiet about the truth.

Am I right?

I have a programme.

I fulfil the programme.

I kiss your hand, Madame.

Nice of you. You are a respectable

robot who does his duty.

But I must remind you

of the constitutional law.

A robot may not follow any order

that harms a human.

It cannot do that.

By lying, you follow an order.

But people are now in danger.

By not telling the truth

you're causing them harm.

Where are the people and who

ordered you to destroy the locks?

Talk.

Algorithm storm Louisville

no shared quadrant systems

That's enough. This is inhumane.

We'll only make him more insane.

He's already loopy.

The constitutional law

is his conscience.

You pose him a problem

even humans haven't yet solved.

Should an order be obeyed when it

conflicts with one's conscience?

The mechanical Hamlet.

I'll bet that noise

isn't coming from the power unit.

There are people in there.

You can't even scratch it.

It's a special alloy.

Come on.

Ready for launch?

T-S 340 ready for launch.

Ready for launch.

- Chief operator?

- Chief operator. Go ahead.

This is Sima Kun,

Commander of Operation Eolomea.

Nine spaceships with a crew of 146

ready for launch. Awaiting orders.

What should I say?

I think speeches are unnecessary.

Lots of luck on your way

through the stars.

Take care.

My God, was I dumb.

How about that.

What's wrong?

There are no lost ships.

They were all here in the hangars.

Sorry, I might be slow

but I still don't understand.

Don't worry, your boys are

healthy and happy.

What about the A-41?

They needed a guide ship.

And they needed a certain

colleague to prepare for launch.

Yes, but where to?

To Eolomea.

What?

- They're insane.

- Not at all.

If I haven't been completely fooled

a certain colleague is here.

- Did you see what he was carrying?

- A coffee pot and three cups.

If he's not completely mad

there are three people here too.

Come closer, Ms. Scholl.

Thank you. You can go.

You don't seem surprised

to see me here.

No, not really.

Pardon me, who do I have

the pleasure of meeting?

Captain Daniel Lagny

from the third ring.

Pleased to meet you.

Very pleased.

Help yourself. Please.

It has become quiet.

They left.

I saw that.

Forever.

Unlike migratory birds

that come back.

They will be gone forever.

You know what they're undertaking.

I believe so, yes. Eolomea.

I'm afraid.

Afraid.

That something may have not

been thought through.

That some random factor

has not been considered.

I know you.

Everything has been considered.

Everything within the limits of

human knowledge.

But what's beyond it?

Other limits.

They set forth to find them.

- Will you pass me a harsh sentence?

- That's trivial at the moment.

- They don't have a navigator.

- Yes they do. Pierre Brodsky.

They will pick him up from his

poisonous little planet.

I visited him.

Pierre is sick, very sick.

He will guide them as long as he can.

Everything else is on paper.

If this crumb of Eolomea

does exist

then certainly not

where you are looking.

Excuse me?

I've read the observatory annuals.

My friend Kun hoards them.

Pierre used a 40 inch telescope

but miscalculated coefficients.

I imagine he didn't consider

the infra-red shift

caused by Andromeda

and Supernova NGC-205.

Very unlikely, young man.

Sorry.

I spent weeks calculating but

never took the story seriously.

You are a mathematician?

Taxi driver.

Supernova 205.

Very interesting thought.

Pierre will notice his mistake.

Why did you occupy yourself

with Eolomea?

Because otherwise I would have

died of cosmic boredom.

When I'm back on Earth

I know better things to do.

Continue, Prof. Tal.

I have accounted with myself

for my conduct.

As dean of the trans-galactic

flight centre and council member

my actions will likely lead to

my dismissal from this institute.

I take comfort in the thought

that you would have done the same.

No one has been able to prove

that Eolomea even exists.

No one has disproved it either.

The boys from Margot will respond.

- In the next century.

- In 136 years and two months.

136 years. I understand even less

how you prepared for such a risk.

The reason is ancient and simple.

Fathers want their children

to succeed where they haven't.

For centuries

humans have longed to make contact

with civilizations from

outer space.

146 young scientists

have volunteered

to take the first step in reaching

this distant goal.

Could I refuse my own experience

and knowledge?

I ask you:

could I have prevented them?

I offered all my knowledge

and my heart to help them.

I have one regret.

That I am no longer young enough

to fly after them.

And that I lack the courage to do

it anyway, like Pierre Brodsky.

No, I will not allow it.

You can't stop them.

You don't know me.

I'm not giving them the container.

You'll give it up.

This venture is insane.

But when you were young

it wasn't insane.

The only difference is back then

your crates were too slow.

But they can make it this time.

You can talk. He is my son.

Every man is someone's son.

There they are.

Captain Sima Kun.

I am...

I'm your father, Sima.

- I am happy to see you, father.

- You too, Sima.

You have really become a man.

I always pictured you differently.

- Like a kid, you know?

- I'm not a child.

Do you know why I'm here?

Yes, I know.

- To return to Earth with me.

- We're going the other direction.

Give us the container.

Never.

- I'd rather destroy it.

Eolomea means everything to us.

Entering your shadow.

Interrupting transmission.

Their chances are one in a million

of finding such a civilization.

People have always found

each other regardless of chances.

So that's how you intend

to apologise for your conduct.

Absolutely.

Which institute would risk

so many young lives?

Would you have permitted

this mission?

That's why they handled it

in this way.

They took the responsibility

so you wouldn't have to.

Can we punish doctors who break

minor laws but make huge advances

for humanity and progress?

Those who tested new serums

on themselves.

They did it without asking

for permission.

Because they wouldn't

have received it.

That's all.

Ms. Scholl, have I done

something wrong again?

Pilot, try to see it their way.

Let your conscience decide.

I know, so far away from Earth,

it's difficult to decide all alone

something that will affect

all of humanity.

What happens next is

entirely up to you.

Consider it carefully.

Do you have the right?

Here's a report from Luna 3.

To all stations

in and around the third ring.

The station on Planet Orange

ceased transmission this morning.

Pierre Brodsky.

Our Pierre is dead.

Father, this is the third orbit.

Please give us the container.

Listen, Sima.

- Did you know, Brodsky is dead?

- Yes, we know.

But you need a good navigator.

We know one.

- No one else is that foolish.

- Let me speak to Dan.

We've searched every ring for you.

I'm here, there, everywhere.

We're calling on you

to take Pierre's place.

If you do it, I'll kill you.

Don't forget, someone is waiting

for you on Earth.

Too bad, Maria.

Now we can't even say goodbye.

Everything happens so fast.

I have to go away for a while.

Forever, Dan.

Don't you understand

that it is forever?

Let's just say, it's for a while.

Then it doesn't hurt so much.

Take care, Maria.

You've got it good, Sima.

You never think about that little

ball with 6 continents on it.

And a few tiny islands.

Galapagos.

The loveliest

of the entire cosmos.

Will you really miss it?

Then why did you come with us?

I couldn't do otherwise.

It's funny.

I'm off to find a new civilization

in socks full of holes.

613.

Very funny,

as your father used to say.