Le collectionneur des cerveaux (1976) - full transcript

The Collector of Brains

based on "Thinking Robots"
by George Langelaan

a film by
Michel Subiela

I knew you wouldn't hold it
against a loyal admirer.

I just had to seize the opportunity to
finally be able to tell you in person

how much I respect you,
even admire you.

When did you hear me play, sir?

This summer I attended every concert
you gave on the French Riviera.

Oh, really?

Luck and coincidence have
made it possible for me

to always be in the same place
at the same time as you.



Your piano playing enchanted
me from the beginning.

It's so light, so delicate,
so weightless.

I'd almost say it's not of this world.

I wonder if that's actually
a compliment.

There is no greater
compliment, my lady.

One can forget everything, throw off the
ballast of emotions and weaknesses,

to be only completely music.

Would you mind telling me why you only
paid me this compliment today, sir?

When I arrived here in
the city this morning,

the first thing I saw was a poster

announcing your concert.

I believe in signs, after all.

But I would never have dared
to approach you

unless there was a deeper reason.



Yes, there is a reason.

I have a passion, my lady.

I create automatons.

They are instruments with which I
express myself and communicate.

Just as you do with your music.

And I've always had one thing in mind:

the creation of an automatic pianist.

And when I first heard you
play, I knew immediately:

This is it. He should be like you.

I mean, he should play like you.

- You embarrass me. It's too much.
- Oh, no.

You can't say that.

If you helped me,

it would give me great pleasure.

Your proposal seems
a little odd to me.

No, that's not the right
expression. I mean...

Surprising.

- Yes, you know.
- You're absolutely right.

Take your time. Think it over.

Here you go. My card.

May I hope, my lady?

Thank you.

COUNT OF SAINT GERMAIN
Creator of automatons

Last night at the municipal theatre:
Piano Recital by Penny Vanderwood

At the "Concorde" Circle:
2001, or The Chess Odyssey

Yesterday, in front of a large and
attentive audience,

the chess championship started at
the circle of the brewery "Concorde".

During the whole week, the best
specialists of our city will oppose

the infallible and mysterious automaton,
presented by the Count of Saint Germain.

- Yes, lady? - I read that you host
the chess championship.

Yes, right. In the clubhouse.
Wait, I'll take you there.

Thank you.

Hello, is this the British Embassy?

May I speak to Mr. Lewis
Armeight, please?

I was glad to hear from you.

I was really glad, even if
I was startled at first.

I know what you mean.

I would never have made the
first move and called you.

I didn't want to talk
about it, and yet...

It was better that way.

Or completely wrong.

I always had Robert in mind.
Something like guilt, you know?

I didn't want to meet you
until his image...

How can I put it?

Until it was erased from my heart.

What nonsense.

He will always be with us.

Each of us by ourselves might
stop thinking about him,

but when we're together...

Lewis, when the three of us wanted
to go on holiday to Italy,

you didn't come along because
of a supposedly urgent job.

Did you know at the time that he was
going to ask me to marry him?

He told me about it.

One night, in a taxi, after
we took you home.

That was the week we decided
not to go to Paris in our own car.

We talked about the chess
championship in Buenos Aires.

I told him he was excellently prepared.

He laughed. And then, suddenly,

while he was still laughing,
he confessed to me,

"Lewis, I still have something
to do before I leave Paris."

"I have to tell Penny I love her."

"I'll tell her once we get to Sorrento."

"I think it's a nice idea."

He told me.

But you couldn't possibly know what
my answer would be, Lewis.

I've been waiting for it
every day for a month.

Every day I asked myself:

"How did she answer him?
Are the stars in his favor?"

He was more than just a friend.

I was very fond of Robert.

And yet, during the month
you were in Sorrento,

I hoped each day you
wouldn't return his love.

But, Lewis, I found myself
in an impossible situation.

My only possible salvation
was to say yes to Robert.

I understand you.

Robert gave you fun and joy.
You laughed together.

You liked that he was completely crazy.

That's why you chose him over me.

Robert's death was the worst thing that
could have happened to both of us.

It's absurd, but we avoided
each other afterwards.

But Robert is not dead, Lewis.

He isn't dead?

Excuse me.

- I'd like a tea with lemon.
- Yes, the same for me, please.

- What are you trying to say?
- I know that Robert is alive.

Where did you come up with that, Penny?

Does that mean you have proof?

We both saw the coffin being
carried from the plane.

We were both at the Avrainville cemetery
when he was buried in the family crypt.

Yes, we were there. I haven't
forgotten that, Lewis.

No, I have no proof.

But we could get some.

That's why I asked you to come here.

Hello, Penny. It's Lewis.

Well, I've been there.
I've opened the coffin.

And what? Was he in the coffin?

No, he wasn't in there.

Now, pay close attention, please.

I take the knight with the white bishop.
Since the pawn is on the king's line,

I move the rook from f8 to c8.

This is an exact reconstruction of
a positional game that we know

from the Russian grandmaster Petrosian.
Excuse me.

- Do you have a moment, Vladieu?
- Yes, president.

Mr. Lewis Armeight. He is a school
friend of our late Robert Tournon.

I've seen you two together a few times.

Tournon and Vladieu were our
two best chess players.

But I must say that both
had a different style.

Mr. Armeight wants to write an
article about our late friend.

It's for the Cambridge College
newspaper. That's where we first met.

Please come with me, sir.

Robert was there to improve
his English before he began

to study political science.

- Please sit down.
- Thank you.

But he has spent most of his time

tarnishing the self-confidence
of other chess players.

Because some of our fellow students

believed that they could not be beaten.

Unfortunately, I have to admit that
I'm not a good player myself.

I'd be very grateful if you could
tell me something about his style.

- His speciality.
- I'd love to. But it's not so easy.

Perhaps it would be best if we
showed Mr. Armeight the film.

Which film?

The film that was shot three years ago
at the chess championship in Biarritz.

Of course. An excellent idea.
Come with me.

This is typical of Robert. That was
his strength and his weakness.

Well, he never declined
a King's Gambit,

which of course is very dangerous.

That's why he lost more games
than he should have.

But he needed the thrill.

He practically played
without a safety net.

First he sacrificed a pawn in order
to be able to attack faster.

The resulting variations lead
to a dynamic game.

To win such a game, you
need nerves of steel.

Tell me, does every player have

such characteristic features, such
a personal style, that you could,

for example, blindly say which
opponent you're dealing with,

even without seeing him?

- This is probably an absurd hypothesis.
- No, not at all.

But it wouldn't be too easy.

Of course, you can say
of a particular move

that it could be from
Alekhine, for example.

But that's not the entire
game, Mr. Armeight.

A player may have copied a
few moves from another player.

And yet someone like Tal
has a personal style.

And sooner or later you would
certainly recognize him by that.

Let's put it this way: everyone
has their preferences.

One player prefers open games,
another defensive games.

Tournon was one of
the last great players

who didn't mind if the queen
was taken away from him.

He was terribly tempted to
play with that risk.

This is all really very interesting.

I thank you, and I apologize
for the trouble I've caused you.

It is something of a consolation to be
able to speak of Robert Tournon.

For us it is even a duty.

I wanted to ask you about something else

that has to do with the same topic.

Robert often talked about how
fascinating he found the idea

of constructing chess playing robots.

It certainly is a fascinating topic,
although it's quite controversial.

Not anymore, right?

Much progress has been
made in this area.

If this continues, the robots will
soon beat the chess masters.

- It's not quite like that yet, is it?
- Not yet.

But there's already a computer
world champion,

that means a programmed world champion.

It already plays about as well
as a fourth-grade player,

which is remarkable.

Have you heard of that
Count of Saint Germain?

He claims to have constructed a robot
that could take on any champion.

The Count of Saint Germain?
Oh, dear.

One thing you have to give all these
charlatans: they have a lot of courage.

Do you think it is completely
impossible for him

to construct a robot with
such capabilities?

Think about it pragmatically.

It would require enormous technical
and financial resources.

And even if that man had all these
means at his disposal,

he would rather build real
computers instead of toys.

Chess tournament

Fine.

I think it would be better if you wait
here. You might be recognized.

Penny?

Tell me what you think.

I think Robert is an automaton.

Do you seriously believe that
Robert gave himself up

for the morbid masquerade
of this charlatan?

Why a charlatan?

Do you know who the
Count of Saint Germain was?

A swindler who lived
in the 18th century.

He claimed that he had found
the philosopher's stone.

He claimed that he had discovered

the elixir of life and had known
Jesus Christ personally.

Okay, Penny.

I'll try to find out the truth.

Cheating with mechanical chess players

has a long tradition,

and has of course discredited them.

But the genius of human invention

and the power of the mind

have grown over time.

What seemed impossible
for us yesterday

is suddenly possible today.

Yes.

It's true. In earlier days they used to
hide people inside the bodies of robots.

That's what the great
writer Edgar Allan Poe

found out about Kempelen's
automatic chess player.

No. No.

There is no human being
hidden inside my robot.

I'm going to ask two volunteers from
the audience to come down here

and see the truth for themselves.

You will see it with your own
eyes, ladies and gentlemen.

I'll allow you to look inside the
robot's body for the entire time.

It would be impossible, ladies
and gentlemen, to hide

a gymnastic man inside, no matter how
small he may be. Not even a midget.

The inside of the body doesn't allow it.
It's impossible to get in there.

There's not a corner in it
one can hide in.

If you please, sir? Come
closer and look inside.

The mechanism is of course
highly delicate.

To prove to you that you're not
victims of an optical illusion,

I would now like to
ask one of the gentlemen

to take this stick,

and to poke it very carefully

wherever it is necessary.

Your conclusion, sir?

I think it's actually a machine.

But what a machine!

Sir...

Remember that you must strictly
follow the rules of the game.

When you touch a chess
piece, you must move it.

Any piece that has been placed
is considered played.

Gentlemen, go ahead.

That was a mistake. That something
like this would happen to him.

He said it made him extremely
nervous to play against a robot.

There's nobody in the offices, sir.
They've all gone home.

- Are you sure nobody is here?
- No, nobody.

Thanks, madam.
Sorry to disturb you.

You're welcome. Good evening.

Thanks.

Here, keep the change.

I want to ask you about
the chess-playing robot.

- I don't know more than you do.
- Maybe you do.

Does the Count of Saint Germain have
anyone with him when he comes here?

No, he always comes alone in his car.

We get his robot out, and when he wants
to leave, we put it back inside.

So nobody in particular arrives
before him and leaves after him?

No, and trust me, I always
keep my eyes open.

- Are you having the same thought as me?
- Which one is that?

A transmitter.

Someone could control the
robot from backstage.

With a transmitter like for model
planes. Only more perfect.

That's right. I was thinking
something like that.

You know what the boss said about it?

You don't need a transmitter for that,
you need long distance waves.

- He's got a point there.
- Thank you.

And?

It's confusing.

I have the same strange
feeling as you, Penny.

But there's nobody in
that robot, believe me.

Then I thought maybe a player
was hiding somewhere.

He could observe the game and control

the robot
with a transmitter like a model plane.

I checked every floor of the building.

Nothing.

Nothing.

But maybe Robert or his accomplice
were not even in the building.

Maybe he was far away.

But how could he have followed
the course of the game?

I think it's not just a little strange
that a robot plays like a human.

I agree.

When Saint Germain leaves,
we'll follow him.

If he picks up an accomplice,
we'll know more.

But we still won't have an explanation.

- Good night, Pierre.
- Bye! See you tomorrow.

See you. Bye!

Robert!

Go after him alone.

It's not mine. It's not mine.
It's not mine.

It's not mine.

Calm down. This is
none of my business.

No, I need it urgently.
I need it.

What you need is rehab.

You aren't with

the police?

No, I'm not a policeman.

But then, who was the
woman who recognized me?

She mistook you for someone else.

She didn't recognize you.

You mean she mistook me
for another Robert?

Yes, for someone else named Robert.

Stand up! Come on!

I talked to him all night.

I've been trying to understand
why he wrecks himself.

And I wanted to convince him
that it wasn't too late.

- And did you accomplish it?
- I think he rather helped me, Penny.

Our detective game suddenly

seemed ridiculous and silly.

There are more important things
than chasing ghosts.

Are you giving up, Lewis?

Have you found out anything new?

No.

I followed the car to the edge of town.

On the main road I overtook him,
I waited at the gas station

and then followed him again.

Great, Penny.

It's like you've done nothing
else your whole life.

And then suddenly he made a turn.

He must have noticed
someone following him.

I stayed behind him, but with a distance
so that he could not recognize me.

We drove about 100
kilometres like that.

Then he suddenly turned left
and disappeared in a driveway.

I drove on and turned around
after 100 meters.

When I drove past the driveway again,
the gate was closed.

I didn't see anybody. Only through the
branches of the trees in the park

did I see lights that were
switched on and off.

- Was it a castle?
- Not really.

It looked more like one of those
upper middle-class residential palaces

built in the past century.
A bit dilapidated.

But 100 kilometres is much too far.

No one can control a robot
over such a distance.

I just can't imagine it.

Let's not worry about it anymore, Penny.

The Count of Saint Germain is
apparently a great magician.

I don't understand any of it.

Probably I will also never
understand how one can

conjure half a dozen
doves from a silk scarf.

And is it also just a trick that
Robert's corpse disappeared?

Yes.

It's also a trick.

But of a different kind.

There's not the slightest connection.

In that case we'll have to
contact the police.

Are you asking me to inform the police
that I, Lewis Armeight,

promising member of
Her Majesty's Diplomatic Corps,

desecrated a grave in a small
French village at night?

Just because the talented
pianist Penny Vanderwood

has beautiful eyes and a little
too much imagination.

No, you're right. We're not
going to the police.

We would create a tremendous scandal,

which would not help us at all.

No one would take us seriously,
especially not the police.

So what do you think?

I probably shouldn't tell
you about this, Penny.

But I'm going to do it anyway.

If only to give you some peace of mind.

As far as that's even possible, Penny.

Robert's disappearance didn't surprise
me as much as you might have thought.

A talented chess player like him
naturally travels a lot.

But, and I have known this
for some years,

he has not only been on the road so much
because of the championships.

There were other, secret missions,
more or less official assignments.

You get what I mean?

Yes, I think so.

These are assignments where one can
die under certain circumstances.

Yes, or one wants to be presumed dead

so one can continue under
a different name.

Robert had so much trust in
me that he would surely

have given me a sign
if he were still alive.

Thanks for the breakfast.

Thank you for being so patient with me
and for taking so many risks.

Goodbye, Penny.

When will we meet again?

When you feel it's right.

When you really want it, call me.

Bye.

Lewis!

And you no longer suspect anything?

No, nothing.

COUNT OF SAINT GERMAIN
Creator of automatons

Oh, I kept you waiting.

I apologize a thousand times.

But I wanted to get a special
bottle from the cellar.

Pardon me, my lady.

You do me such a great honor.

Actually, I expected a robot to
follow you as a servant.

Oh, no, no.

Oh, my lady.

I'm your loyal servant.

I've longed for this day.

I knew you'd come here.

Really?

I knew it. I was sure of it.

This has nothing to do with vanity.

You can't imagine how moved I was

when you walked through the door

a few days ago,

into that hideous back room
of the brewery.

It was the day of your concert.

You saw me?

Even if I hadn't seen you, I would
have known you were there.

Please take a seat.

I suddenly got

what you would call stage fright.

And then

I heard your scream.

- I was terribly uncomfortable.
- Oh, no.

No, no.

I want to thank you for that scream.

It finally gave me hope again.

I said to myself: Here is the proof.

I'm also capable of arousing feelings.

I must confess that I was disturbed by
the robot's human resemblance.

Miss Vanderwood,

I'm overjoyed

at what you're saying.

That is the greatest compliment
an artist can receive.

And now you've come here to help me
create something even better.

How can I ever thank you
enough for that?

Tell me exactly what you
expect me to do.

Nothing. Or rather,

almost nothing.

First I would like to ask you,
but only if you want to,

to take a seat at this grand piano.

And tell me if you like it. If not,
we'll have another one brought in.

Oh, no. It's wonderful.

Well then, if it's all right with you,

we can start right now.

- Should I play anything in particular?
- Oh, no.

Play whatever you want.
Whatever you like best.

Whatever comes into your head.
As if you were alone.

You see, I'm not interested in recording
you on tape, at least not yet.

I will explain it to you.
What I want is

for you to sit here and
play whatever you like.

I'll be watching you.

And I'll listen to you.

I'll walk around you

like a painter or sculptor
walks around his model.

Wonderful.

You'll inspire me.
You'll be my muse.

Now begin!

Play!

I think I need to spar
with you again, Diego.

You're finally showing your face again.

Looks like you've been
straying, flyweight.

On behalf of the Queen.
And how about Argentina?

- And how about the British Pound?
- Miserable.

But my Queen is well.

- Mine too. Are you going to change?
- No, you change.

I have a favor to ask of you.

Do you remember Robert Tournon?

Of course.

I saw to it personally that his
body was shipped to France.

I had made arrangements with the
French Embassy in Buenos Aires.

Have you heard any news
about how he died?

No.

I certainly don't know any
more than you do.

Say, he won a prize at the chess
championship, didn't he?

He then rented a car to drive
around the country.

It happened on the way
back to Buenos Aires.

His car skidded and caught fire.

He burned to death in the car.

And who actually identified his body?

Someone from the French embassy.

I don't know if, given
the state he was in,

you could even speak of identification.

However, there was apparently enough
evidence to conclude that it was him.

Are you doubting it?

No, his fiancée thinks he's still alive.

Since this obsession is
poisoning her life,

I've been trying to convince her
that it's utter nonsense.

I'm not quite sure I accomplished it.

You would only have to
mess up five or six ministries

and the entire diplomatic corps,

to help you convince her.

I just need one precise information.

Was a certain Count of Saint Germain in
Buenos Aires at the same time as Robert?

If so, did he fly back to
France soon after?

I can easily find out,

as long as he didn't fly
under a false name.

I'll give you a detailed
description of him.

Okay.

But what is the connection
between the two men?

If you have dinner with me this evening,
I can explain it all to you.

I'm ready, sir.

Oh, Miss Vanderwood.

Imagine all the great
people of the world

being freed overnight from their fears,

anxiety and misery

to be able to create in peace.

To create. To create.

That's what I want to do.

You mean like the gods do?

Oh, no

No, that would be blasphemy.

But like demigods.

The spirit is filled with knowledge

of the misery of man about
which we we cry.

But the body is free.

It's free.

Is it this dream that drives you to
perfect your robots more and more?

What?

What did you just say?

Oh, yes, Penny.

Oh, yes, Penny. That's how it is.

Penny. Penny.

You're just wonderful.

Why didn't I think of that?

Now I'm a little cold.
It's pretty chilly.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Come with me.

Let's go back inside.

Yes, see you soon.

I didn't expect you this soon.

- But you've always been efficient.
- Good morning, Lewis.

Good morning. Take a seat.

I found it out.

Frédéric Count of Saint Germain flew
from New York to Buenos Aires on 2 July

and returned to Paris on 27 July.
He was staying at the Hilton.

So was Robert Tournon,
in case you didn't know.

Yes, I knew that.

A little too many coincidences
at once, don't you think?

I agree.

Now you need to execute your plan
as quickly as possible, Lewis.

- I hope it works.
- Hopefully. - Clémentine.

Clémentine.

Hello, sir. Please come in.

I apologize for showing up
unannounced like this.

Not at all. I was expecting you.

Mr. Armeight?

Lewis Armeight, First Secretary of the
British Embassy in Paris.

How do you do, Mr. Armeight?

- Was it a joke that you were
expecting me? - Oh, no.

You were following me the other day.
Don't deny it. I recognized your car.

You wanted to find out where I live.

And this, of course, because you wanted
to come and visit me here one day.

We'll now ask the young lady to
interrupt her exercises for a moment.

But if she has to practice, I don't
want her to stop because of me.

The only thing she needs to practice is
becoming a robot, dear Mr. Armeight.

Well then, Mr. Armeight.

Since you introduced yourself
as embassy secretary,

I can assume that you did not come here

to purchase one of my robots.

Or to suggest that I should use them
commercially and mass produce them.

You're right. But let
me ask you something.

That's what I thought.

Don't worry, even as a child
I never felt the need

to take my toys apart to
find out how they work.

I like to keep my illusions.

So I'm not going to ask
you about your secret.

Rest assured, I wouldn't
have told you either.

I just want to know from you

whether your chess playing robot,
which I am interested in,

is able to play a game
when you're not present.

Theoretically, yes.

Like all my robots in this
house, it does exactly

what it was designed and
programmed to do.

You mean even if you were in Paris
at this very moment, for example.

Now, if I were to turn on your robot
and play a game against it.

Then he would defeat you
for sure, no doubt.

Because as far as I know you are not

one of the three or four best
players in the world.

No, unfortunately, I am not.

You have nothing to be
ashamed of in front of me.

I'm certainly no chess genius.

Is that true, sir?

Yes, it's true. But let's cut to
the chase, Mr. Armeight.

We're celebrating the Ambassador's
birthday next Saturday.

Every year we try to offer
something special.

- An attraction.
- You couldn't have made a better choice.

But there's a bet involved.
Hence my question earlier.

His Excellency is convinced that,
however you do it, you're the one

who plays the game yourself, not the
robot. I don't share this opinion.

So if I've understood you
correctly, you are acting as

the devil's advocate with
your questions.

Wonderful. But as I said before,
it's theoretically possible.

Theoretically. Surely you can understand

that under no circumstances am I willing

to subject my robot to
dangerous manipulation.

To clumsy curiosity, which
could damage my work.

Listen, Mr Count, I'll offer you
£1,000 if you let the robot

play against His Excellency

and stay in an adjoining
room meanwhile.

The few people present will
be known to you by name.

You have the ambassador's word
on it, as well as mine.

No one will touch your creation,
not even approach it.

It would be wrong of me to refuse
your gracious invitation.

Besides, you must know, Mr. Armeight:

I live only for my automatons,
my robots, my creations.

And this passion is certainly not cheap.

I can imagine.

- May I ask you something else?
- Go ahead.

Why do you call yourself the
Count of Saint Germain?

And not Von Kempelen, for example?

Come on, Mr. Armeight. I'm not
just calling myself that.

I'm the Count of Saint Germain.

I did it just like you suggested.
I studied again very carefully

all the important games I played
against Robert Tournon.

I don't know how to thank you

for agreeing to participate
in this little experiment.

It's fun for me, Mr. Armeight.

Just one more thing,
between you and me.

If I lose this game, please
don't tell anyone.

I'm putting the piece in place.

Now things are getting dicey for him.

I'm totally confused.

It's like a hallucination.

This robot behaves exactly like Robert.

He plays exactly like Robert.

I made the same moves as in the game
against Robert two years ago.

And he made exactly the
same counter moves.

It's eerie.

He suddenly revived

an old variation of mine from two
years ago. On the same move.

He defended himself with
one of my tricks.

I'm totally confused.

I feel as if Robert has beaten me
a second time in the same way.

How does he know?

He won't play us for fools any longer.
Bring him to the office.

Let's go. Maybe we can
figure it out together.

Gentlemen.

What are you up to?

What does this mean?

Why have you brought me here?

To ask you a question. Just one.

And you will not leave this room until
you have answered the question.

- Your behaviour is as impossible as
it is grotesque. - Be quiet.

You speak to me in a tone that I
absolutely can not approve of, sir.

And I have no intention of submitting
myself to such an interrogation.

Oh, yes. You will answer.

We three have a friend who,
like all great chess players,

has his own style,
his own strategies

and tricks.

Your robot has the same style,
strategies and tricks. Why is that?

Ah, I see. So that's what
all this farce is about.

So you're all friends of Robert Tournon.

Why didn't you tell me this before?

You knew him?

How else could he have inspired me?

Every artist needs a model.

I first met Robert Tournon last year.

In Buenos Aires.

He was very interested in the robots
I demonstrated last summer.

A juggler and an acrobat.

He made a bet with me that
I would not be able to construct

an equally perfect chess playing robot.

The bet was on.

Once we got to know each other better,

he told me a lot about the art of chess.

And about his love for chess.

I really liked him very much.

My affection was deep and sincere.

I saw how he played and how
he lived, gentlemen.

I heard about his death

on the flight back to Paris.

And in that moment,

I knew I owed him something.

I had to create this work as his legacy.

I never intended to create

a chess playing robot.

But now I set out to create one.
It didn't take me that long.

- And I think I succeeded.
- But how?

But what a question, sir.

To ask how. Ask any musician
how a symphony is born.

Or how a poet writes an elegy.

Genius exists, sir.

It is nothing but the
perfection of illusion.

But let's be honest, Mr. Armeight.

What kind of ridiculous idea
is floating around in your head?

What kind of foolishness?

You're not a child anymore. But perhaps
you've been living in France too long.

You're already poisoned by
the myth of the rational.

An explanation must be
found at all costs.

The impossible or improbable
must not exist.

Mr. Count, I think I owe you an apology.

No, sir. Please.

Your excitement and confusion show me

that I've come very close to perfection.

I forgive your behavior, sir.
And I consider it a compliment.

Would you be so kind, please?

I'd be extremely embarrassed if I didn't

at least greet His Excellency,
gentlemen. He lost his bet.

And you won your bet
through me. Mr. Armeight.

It's really wonderful what
you've created.

You must present it to our circle.

We look pretty silly now, don't we?

A scotch?

Well, I guess that takes care
of any doubts. Completely.

That was the most important thing.

Now I can call Penny and
tell her the truth.

She's free, you see? You know
what that means?

She's free.

A scotch without water.

This is Penny Vanderwood.

I'm spending the weekend in
the country with my parents.

I ask that you call me there
only in urgent cases.

I have important work to do.
If you wish to leave me a message,

please speak after the beep.

I can't stand these answering machines.

She went to her parents in the
country for the weekend.

- Don't they have a phone?
- They do.

- So call them.
- At this hour?

I have a feeling I'll be drinking my
coffee in the country tomorrow.

Penny.

My dear child.

Do you like this journey to
the land of wonders?

Your happiness is payment
enough for me.

It gives men gratitude.

They thought they were so smart.

They followed the first best guess.

And they were so proud.

To have found out that
an automaton played

just like a man they once knew.

But no-one

noted the difference.

The truth.

That Robert Tournon himself
will never play again.

Penny.

And the journey continues.

From the beautiful

to the ugly.

From good to evil.

From delight to horror.

You wander around like a poet.

From paradise to hellfire.

Then your mind breaks free
and reaches the genius.

And nothing in this world

will ever again be able to stop

the power of your talent.

Oh, Lewis. That's quite a surprise.

- Hello. - It's been a while
since you've been here.

Is Penny coming with her father?

I don't know, Mrs. Vanderwood.

Oh, I thought you met my husband on the
way and were coming back with him.

Wait, didn't Penny come
here for the weekend?

No.

I thought she was spending
the weekend with you in Honfleur.

No.

I was hoping she'd be here.

But Penny told me you two were going to

visit mutual friends, just
like last weekend.

I mean, you were in Honfleur with
Penny last weekend, weren't you?

Yes, we went there.

It was probably my fault.
I must have been unclear.

I had nothing special planned
for the weekend,

so I thought we would go together
to meet our friends.

How silly of me. Now she's
waiting for me in Paris.

You came all this way for nothing.

You young people don't talk properly
anymore, that's the problem.

You're right, Mrs. Vanderwood.

The best thing would be for
you to call Penny.

You're right. May I use your phone?

- Of course. You know where to find it.
- Yes, thank you.

This is Penny Vanderwood.

I'm spending the weekend in
the country with my parents.

I ask that you call me there
only in urgent cases.

I have important work to do.

If you wish to leave me
a message, please...

Did you reach her?

No, Penny is not at home.

I don't blame her. I'm sure
she got tired of waiting.

What one has found again,
one should not lose again.

This is Penny's latest record.

Do you like it?

The music is by a young and
promising composer.

Yes, it's really beautiful. If you'll
excuse me, I must be going.

Stay a few minutes. My husband will be
back soon. He'd be so happy to see you.

Excuse me, but I have to go to Honfleur.
Perhaps Penny has already arrived there.

Goodbye.

Please tell Penny to call me,
so I can be calmer.

Yes, that's right. So put
on your quiet shoes.

And bring a revolver.

No, I don't have one on me.

Okay, I want you to wait for
me at the intersection.

Okay, I'll drive as fast as I can.

Yes, hopefully we'll make it
before dark. Okay. Bye.

The wall's a little high here,
but over there's his dog.

Dogs don't like me.

It moves like a robot, like
it has a built-in radar.

- What now?
- I'll try to take it out.

Even if it doesn't work, we have
to get inside the house. Okay?

Okay.

What do you mean? Does he
have an alarm system?

Hopefully not on the first floor.

My name is Lewis Armeight.

Is there any connection between
you and Robert Tournon?

You're crazy, Lewis.

You want to write something?

Can you even do that?

Diego, give me a piece of
paper quickly.

He wrote one or two letters before
he reached the paper.

But which letters?

Maybe it means, "Check the basement."
What do you say?

Where's the basement? Let's go.

- It's an armored door.
- What should we do now?

Give me your revolver. You open any
window up on the ground floor, okay?

Okay.

Lewis!

Lewis! Help me! Lewis!

Lewis! Do something! Shoot!

Penny!

Penny!

Penny...

Go first!

I can't get it open, damn it.

You can rest assured, sir. She hasn't
been harmed. At least I suppose not.

- She does seem to be in pain.
- No, she's waking up from some frenzy.

- I'll take her to my infirmary.
- So it's serious after all.

No, I'll explain it to you.
She's been given drugs.

Hallucinogens.

I don't know what she was
given or what the dose was,

but there is no reason to be
alarmed. Believe me.

I just want to observe
her for a few days.

Go no further, sir.
It's forbidden to trespass.

I am Professor Molière
of the Salpêtrière Hospital.

- Is anybody hurt?
- No, nobody.

There was no one in the house.

The owner is a strange fellow.

He travels around the world and
demonstrates his robots.

He just took another trip yesterday.

- Tell me, was there a fire?
- No, luckily there wasn't.

There must have been a short
circuit at some point.

Anyway, all his automatons
burned and melted.

If the alarm siren hadn't gone off,
we wouldn't have noticed anything.

Yes, in that case it's
nothing serious.

- Thank you.
- You're welcome. - Goodbye

What's that about? What do you
want with that stuffed dog?

Take a look what's inside its head.

- Inside its head?
- Yes.

Try to open the flap at the
back of the head.

It can actually be opened.

Tell me what's inside. Tell me, please.

Well, a plastic casing with a weird
liquid in which a dog's brain floats.

It's probably a dog's brain, but it
might as well be a sheep's brain.

I'm not a veterinarian.

And what else?

Nothing else. Just a bunch of wires.

If it were a child that was
engaging in such stupidities,

one should let a good psychiatrist
examine him as soon as possible.

I agree.

You think we can find a good place
to get a drink around here?

That's a good idea. I think we
need it as much as you do.

THE COLLECTOR OF BRAINS

based on "Thinking Robots"
by George Langelaan

Hello, Lewis.

Hello, Penny.

A film adapted and directed by
Michel Subiela