Unexpected Encounters (1995) - full transcript
The Earth is ready to colonize planet Ark as the initial tests showed there are no higher forms of life on it. Several ships are already on the planet preparing bases for the colonists. Androids working outside one of the ships start acting strange. Stanislaw, the communication officer, starts hearing voices of a crying baby and a call for help by a woman. In an old wreckage of a spaceship out in the mountains the crew find corpses of two people that had been dead for years. It turns out it's a ship from Earth that disappeared years ago. Soon they have an alien visitor on the ship - a boy that looks remarkably human. The colonization plans are canceled as the planet is now deemed occupied. All other ships leave the planet except for one that stays behind to establish contact. They realize the boy is a human son of the couple from the crashed ship nourished and raised by the alien civilization. But is he more alien than human? The boy learns to converse in human language in just few hours and avoids answering questions. The crew intends to use him to establish contact with the native civilization but things don't go quite the way they expect it.
Unexpected Encounters
In the near future, explorers will
discovered the desolate planet "Archa."
And determined that it could be
made suitable for colonization.
You know, I have a strange feeling.
You feel lonely here, am I right?
You have to stick it out.
Yes, of course.
- I must. Captain.
- Yes
It looks so much like Earth --
problem is it isn't.
Makes you feel cheated;
but you have to get used to it.
Am I right, Majka?
Well, if this is supposed to be
a second home for mankind....
Are you ready?
We can take off.
Try to maintain contact with us.
Return at 18:00 local time.
Don't hang out outside
too much. Stay inside.
Easier on your nerves.
What's going on?
All is well.
Do you have new orders?
Follow the program.
Tom, what is going on?
We are following the program.
Do you have new orders?
You've over-exerted yourself, old man.
I'll have to service you soon.
Twelve of our ships have been on
the planet Archa for three days.
Three million inhabitants of
Earth are anxiously...
awaiting their departure
to a new homeland.
Twelve expeditions are working hard
to prepare basic conditions...
for the arrival of the first people.
Which is why we have as our
guest in our studio, Dr. Klause.
- Hello.
- Hello.
Tom, why have you again
stopped working?
All is well.
We are following the program.
This is Archa -- South.
Hi, Vadim.
I'm having problems with the robots,
they're behaving strangely.
It's almost like a mutiny.
Have you checked the program?
Yeah, twice.
Hmm, that's odd.
Are you going to
contact the base?
I would prefer not to.
I don't want to be seen having
problems on my first day.
You should go through
the program again.
What else -- anything
new in the North?
Nothing new here.
The lizards died up here.
Not a single animal survived.
It's too hot here.
Do you go swimming?
Sometimes.
It feels so desolate
and empty here.
It's like a huge bathtub.
Understand?
Like an ocean without a single
living creature in it.
So that means it's exactly
the same where you are.
I'll call you later.
Hi, Stas, how are you?
What?
I heard you have some problems?
Oh no, only a fly's buzzing here.
A fly?
What would a fly be doing there?
Excuse me. I'm busy.
No more going AWOL.
I'll fix you up. Make a
suitable person out of you.
Alex!
Where are you?
Alex, it hurts!
What happened?
Somebody's here!
Somebody's here!
They're dragging us!
They're dragging us!
Tom, what kind of stones are those?
Why did you bring them here?
Where'd you get them?
We found something:
remnants of some object.
There's an entrance there.
The radiation is within limits.
Going in.
Oh!
Why didn't you respond to
our radio calls, Stanislav?
What happened?
We found a crashed spaceship.
Here?
Ours?
Yes, from Earth.
- Are there bodies?
- Two.
Who are they?
We don't know yet.
It's an older ship.
It crashed many years ago.
I've never liked this planet.
I don't think it's appropriate to
send a message to Earth yet.
The planet is neither dangerous
nor biologically active,
it isn't necessary
to inform base yet.
I wouldn't be so sure.
I have to find out what kind
of spaceship it was.
But Jakob, don't you
understand that on Earth...
they'll convene a committee?
And we'll be working under an
audience of curious loafers.
How will you like it when a group
of nosey people arrives here?
You don't want spies and
onlookers to come here?
Exactly right.
Is that the only reason?
The main thing is to have
a completed report,
and deal with the remains somehow.
- Please dispatch this immediately.
- Ok.
Two bodies were found in a
spaceship of the old Pelican type.
It was one man and one woman.
A detailed report...
-- the woman!
Tell me, Stanislav. When you're alone,
do you leave the ship to go anywhere?
I mean to the swamps,...
To the lake?
To the volcanoes?
No, I have more than enough to do.
Okay. And the robots.
Do they go anywhere?
- The robots? Not too far.
- Not too far?
No.
Well. Don't misunderstood me...
I don't want to meddle,
but I have some doubts.
I think that you could
help me with them.
Have you noticed anything...
strange here?
Hmm, anything happening here...
That I should know about?
Stanislav?
No.
I saw these strange branches
yesterday, on the landing area.
Show me.
Oh, you noticed them as well?
This is odd:
some are broken.
And they seem to be fresh breaks.
It's hard to believe she'd live
with fractures like this.
She even tried to leave the ship.
Almost made it to the exit.
The pilot died right after the crash.
He managed to destroy all the data.
But why did he do that?
You'd only do that if the planet
was inhabited by sentient beings.
Whether they were human or not.
But there's nobody here, is there?
Jakob, logic says their ship couldn't
have collided with a meteorite.
You're not a pilot, are you?
The Pelican's automatic system
should have easily avoided...
any collision with a meteorite.
It must've struck something
completely unpredictable.
Okay.
So that's our working hypothesis.
Let's move on to the next point.
I suggest the following wording :
The death of the ship's crew occurred...
after an unsuccessful attempt to land;
the position of the corpses indicates
that the man died before the woman
but he managed to delete the records.
The woman lived for a little while longer,
she tried to leave the spaceship...
but she died by the exit.
-- with bones so broken she couldn't
have moved without assistance.
She simply couldn't crawl out.
But she did!
Listen, Jakob,
No one can say what a human being
is capable in extreme situations.
Especially a woman.
Okay, but why did the pilot
delete all board records?
He must've had a serious reason;
something that terrified him.
It was an accident.
No, I don't think so.
Kam is hiding something.
That's why he pretends
everything's so clear to him.
In fact, nothing is clear.
In fact, it's very strange.
- What's strange?
- Everything, this entire barren world.
That ship didn't end up here by accident.
Nor did we.
Nor did we find it by accident.
Anyway, we will not
accomplish anything here.
Nothing.
There was life here once.
Then suddenly it wasn't.
Everything's soaked with ancient death.
Understand?
The smell of death.
Even worse -- the smell of past life.
No, people will never get
used to this planet.
They'll find no happiness here.
But there are excellent parameters
for life here...
The environment, atmosphere...
Parameters, they're good,
But can you see this as
a new home for mankind?
No, this is no new home,
this is an old castle...
haunted by ghosts.
Jakob, if I had your beard...
I would definitely have a
different view of the world.
At least 10 or 15 years must
have passed since the crash.
Look at the erosion.
No, people will never get
used to this planet.
They'll find no happiness here.
At least 10 or 15 years must
have passed since the crash.
Look at the erosion.
Yes?
Ah, it' s you.
Were you outside?
And what about you?
How was your walk?
I have a pile of work to do.
Your hair is wet.
You showered?
You didn't go outside with Jakob?
No.
No?
Really?
Jakob. We need to talk.
Okay, After breakfast, okay?
... I don't think the Commander
is in a good mood...
... I did remember he tends
to have irregular moods...
He's here.
He's here.
Stop it!
Let him go!
What are the orders?
Come back!
When the ghost appeared
to me one night...
I told myself I was fit for
a mental institution.
I went through my own hell, too.
I knew something was happening here.
The first night, I was reading,
and all of sudden,
I heard strange sounds.
And then in the following days
we made other discoveries...
completely irrational ones.
For example,
how did our fish get out on
the ground, so far from the lake?
Those pulled branches
in the landing area,
and the strange stones?
And your depressed moods, Stanislav,
and why you were wearing headphones,
all confirmed a theory that there are
unidentified beings on the planet;
beings that are able to make sounds;
able to enter our spaceship.
Beings with anatomy
very similar to people.
And what else?
The safety shield opens for them;
it reacts to human beings only,
and won't let any other creature through.
And what about the voices you heard?
Sounds of a woman weeping?
Yes, it's strange.
It seems they witnessed
the crash of the spaceship...
and that they
witnessed the dying woman's agaony....
and even recorded it ...
in some strange way.
They run around without pants,
but have technology?
Come on, do you have a
better explanation?
So much for the relocation of mankind.
We have to stop all work immediately.
This planet is taken, we have
to look for another one.
I agree that relocation
here is out of question.
But we cannot leave.
A great opportunity has presented itself.
An opportunity to establish contact.
Their visit, imitation of our voices,
all this can be considered...
as their attempt to communicate with us.
If we prove that they are thinking beings,
the base will order us to leave immediately.
And instead of us,
a contact committee will arrive.
That won't be necessary,
because a member of the contact
committee is already here.
Jakob, As regulations dictate.
I am taking command.
So, my friends...
stop all work immediately...
No one leaves the ship...
Demobilize the robots
engage all security systems.
We aren't going anywhere,
we are going to...
attempt contact ourselves.
We confirm your area as a
zone of possible contact.
Dr. Kam is now in command.
All other ships are ordered
to leave immediately.
How is all this possible?
The explorers before us
did thorough research,
how come they found nothing?
Where do they live, and
how do they live, really?
They may be hiding in the craters or,
for all I know,...
in underground caves.
You see, I don't share your certainty
that our presence will
make everybody happy,
every civilization.
Why has man sought contact
for over two hundred years?
What's in it for us?
Well, that is quite clear -
knowledge, discernment.
But why not focus this
discernment on ourselves?
We mostly care about ourselves.
We just want to see
ourselves from the outside,
through the eyes of complete strangers.
We're trying to find out who we are.
Because if we try from the outside,
we can only fail.
It's like trying to lift
ourselves by our hair.
- No, that's okay, I'll stand.
- What do you think about this?
I don't know who first discovered water,
but it definitely wasn't the fish.
That's right.
The Pelican spaceship that you found,
registration number ADL 27,
was launched on January '30
to explore Zone C.
The ship reported itself for the last time...
May 6, '34 from the Shadow area.
The crew: Alexander Senc, Marie Luisa
Senc; and since April 21, '33...
a passenger named Robert Senc.
Well, then...
He's no Native.
He's a man.
Do you understand?
He's their son.
Robert Senc, ladies and
gentlemen, is their son.
Come to terms with it,
we can't waste any time now.
Oh, so they had a child together.
I wondered where they
picked up a passenger,
one with the same last name.
But how could he survive?
This is unbelievable, how could
a one year-old child survive?
Okay, so one more time.
Senc destroyed all on-board records.
That means he saw somebody.
Somebody must be here.
Yes, that's why the boy survived!
They saved him!
But if this is so,
this means the boy is human...
and not human at the same time!
Something of a cosmic Mowgli.
Do you know that I knew them?
They were odd people,
they lived like hermits.
I've never been in favor of
freelance cosmic exploration.
People wandering around in space,
it can be dangerous.
Scientific benefits are negligible.
Alex and Mary...
found nothing in the universe,
nothing at all except for death.
But they were happy.
Why do you think so?
Because otherwise they
would have returned.
Does it make sense to seek anything
other than happiness?
He who is truly happy...
would no longer be seeking.
- I see him!
- Where?
He's coming to the ship, from the lake.
Please display the area in detail.
I can't see him.
So this is the fruit of their love.
Why aren't you saying anything, Jakob?
Jakob, why aren't you saying anything,
do you hear me?
- Yes, I do.
- What happened?
He spoke - he spoke to us!
If I had your beard, Jakob,
I would definitely have a
different attitude to life.
What's going on, Jakob?
Nothing unusual, Evzen,
a misunderstanding.
The subject imitates our voices.
Welcome.
You have an hour with him.
Yes, this is my voice.
I.
I.
They are human in the
highest sense of the word
because they saved the
life of a human child.
And they are geniuses,
because they brought him up
in such a way that he
resembles a human being.
And even though they have no
concept of hands or feet.
- Stas, look!
- What is it?
Distance of 14 kilometers,
height of 600 meters.
Go to your station.
Don't do anything on your own.
They are watching
both us and the boy.
They want to make sure
we won't harm him.
It doesn't look like they
will attack first.
Again. Go and check it out.
Yes, the antennas are strange.
I got the chills.
It's strange, but nothing can
surprise me any more.
I'll tell you two important facts:
Robby has learned to speak fluently
and he understands
practically everything.
Earlier when he spoke he couldn't
understand what he was saying.
He learned to speak in four hours?
Right.
And second, Robby believes
he's alone on the planet.
What do you mean, alone?
Well, he simply believes...
that there is nobody else
on this planet except for him.
And the best for last...
he's coming for an official visit tomorrow.
Okay, my friends,
I repeat: no emotions.
We have to be friendly,
but completely calm.
I believe a woman's presence is
inadvisable for the first meeting.
Majka, I am afraid you must leave.
So, everything is clear then.
Phenomenal.
What is it?
Monitors.
Yes, everything is in motion
while there's nothing there.
Images.
This is food.
Is food visible?
Food is eaten?
Is this food?
It is not like food. A mystery!
- It is not like what?
- Food.
Go ahead, have some.
Ah, I understand now -- it is your food.
Look how it is done.
No! That isn't allowed,
that will be bad.
Give it a try, come on.
Okay, I guess not, you're right.
What are we going to do?
Cricket by the fireplace.
You better tell me again...
When you plan on leaving?
When we have learned
everything about you.
Then we will leave, if you want us to.
You know everything about me,
absolutely everything.
You know how I came to be.
But I don't know how you
lived here before my arrival.
Okay, you can ask me questions,
but ask quickly.
Why'd you hide for such a long time?
Little Red Riding Hood.
There were people here
before you. It made me sick.
I didn't want them to see me,
but knew they'd come again.
Four people is a lot. One is too.
But better than four.
Little Red Riding Hood.
That's how it was.
How'd you know we were people
and that people would come again?
I thought about it.
Maybe somebody told you?
Who? Stones, sun, bushes?
I am alone here.
Nobody talks to me...
and I'll feel good when people leave.
People will not harm anyone.
People want everybody to be well.
That's why they must leave,
so all will be well.
Phenomenal.
I've always wanted to know why
there is long hair on the cheeks.
I don't know, my boy,
how to answer this.
It's nice, I like it,
what do you think?
Pretty bells.
Why on the cheeks
and not on the nose?
It wouldn't look very nice on noses
and it'd be in the way.
It must be in the way
going through buses.
It must get hung up.
You know, I don't walk
through bushes very often.
Don't walk through bushes,
it will hurt you.
Nutcracker. Cricket by the fireplace.
And you?
What about me?
I came to you at night once.
I wanted to talk.
Mystery. You didn't talk.
I have a question: it is big and it
digs in the earth. What is it?
The robots.
The robots. Are they alive, too?
No, they are machines.
We made them and they obey us.
Phenomenal.
Could I control them as well?
You already have, when you
kept jumping in front of them.
the bigger one (his name is Tom) kept
stopping and asking you questions.
Phenomenal! That is a phenomenal game!
Why do you wrap yourself up?
- What?
- Clothing.
What for?
So that we aren't cold.
So that we look nice.
And you don't look nice without clothes?
Well, it depends.
- Do all people wear clothes?
- Yes, all.
But there are many people. How many?
You know what? Come here. Wait.
Give me your hand.
That's one, and now the other.
There are fifteen billion people.
Fifteen billion and all wear clothes?
Nutcracker.
What does it mean, Nutcracker?
I don't know, it is just a word,
it is pleasant to pronounce it.
Little Red Riding Hood. Nutcracker.
Where do you know them from?
I remember them. Two big, kind people.
Much bigger than you.
Little Red Riding Hood. Nutcracker.
Cricket by the fireplace.
Mary, the Cricket is hungry!
Robby! Robby!
And you remember it all?
Sure. Don't you remember everything?
No.
That must be because you
think differently than I do.
But explain to me now what is up there.
Stars, you said yesterday.
What are they, stars?
Why does water fall from above?
Why can an eye see?
There are so many questions,
and so few answers.
Answer quickly,
I am beginning to feel sick.
- So?
- What do you mean, so?
What do you think?
Don't you feel sorry for him?
No, why?
It makes me sick how Kam is treating him.
He doesn't care about him at all!
But Kam needs to establish contact.
And it won't be possible without Robby.
Emotions are useless in this case;
he doesn't feel any love towards us either.
You know, I imagined the entire
contact business quite differently.
More cordial.
When in fact, it's quite sad,
like the intimacy of two people.
What's sad about it?
A contact is the middle
point of two cultures;
you don't have to mourn
because of it, hmm?
You're boring and stiff.
All you do is write programs.
You only see the human part of him.
What's human about him?
Only the source material.
Even the fact that he speaks
so well is not human.
He isn't human, and everything human
is only to his disadvantage now.
No!
No!
No!
Look, Robby is coming back.
Evzen, Robby is coming near the ship.
Excellent. Jakob, Majka,
go to the lounge.
Stanislav, stay at the monitors.
Come on, go take a closer look,
you pain. Come on.
Mama. Mama.
Why am I so interested in everything?
Why do I keep asking new questions?
The answer comes sometimes.
That is a joy.
Sometimes, too many answers.
I have to choose, that is not a joy.
Sometimes, there are no answers.
That's a mystery.
I'll answer your questions only when
I have learned everything about you.
Well, ask your questions then.
Learn quickly. I'll tell you everything.
There was a spaceship. It was bigger
than yours, but changed since then.
There were big, yes, and human.
I was comfortable with them.
Nutcracker, you have wet yourself again.
Mary,
If my calculations were correct.
We're approaching a planet.
I am going to get Robby!
Mary, don't be afraid. Automation is
working, I can maneuver. I can land.
Alex! Where are you? Alex, it hurts!
What happened?
Robby, don't be afraid, my darling.
There is somebody here!
Somebody is dragging us!
That's how it happened. It took
a long time. I got tired of crying.
I fell asleep and when I woke up,
I was cold and hungry.
I wanted food and warmth so
strongly that my wish came true.
And did they feed you and warm you up?
What I wanted happened. Since then
everything that I wanted happened.
Until the first spaceship with people landed.
And where do you live?
Where is your house?
There, deep in the ground.
Is it nice inside?
Awesome. Joy. Nutcracker.
It is the best in my house.
At least, it used to be,
before people came.
Do you sleep there, too?
Yes, I do everything there.
I eat there, I sleep there, I think there.
And now, have you learned
everything about me?
No. You see, we lack common words.
You must have your own words.
Words? No. Words only for people.
I just had an idea.
Invite me to your house,
I'll look around and learn quickly.
Maybe I'll learn everything.
I thought about it, but I cannot.
When I want, I can do everything;
but as far as humans are concerned,
I can't do anything.
Humans, they are a problem.
I understand. How about if I bring you
with me, would you like me to go?
Where?
Well, to my place, on Earth.
But.... that is very far.
Yes, it's very far.
No, I cannot go far.
I cannot go far and
I definitely cannot be too far away.
I learned this today, in the lake.
It was very frightening,
but I knew I couldn't leave.
It felt almost like hunger,
but it was much worse.
No, I cannot come with you.
What are they for, these twigs of yours?
Mama.
Twigs. Faces. Hands. Body.
Those are things to think about.
There are many things like that,
but there are no words for them.
The things are where I live down there.
Okay then. I see that you
enjoy asking questions.
So ask me questions and I'll answer.
Why does a stone fall?
What is hot water?
Why are there ten fingers, but when
I want to count, one finger is enough?
There are many questions
but I'll not ask any more
because I am feeling sick.
You cannot come to me
and I cannot come to you.
We lack common words.
That means that you cannot
learn everything about me.
And that means that you cannot leave.
Please do think about what I should do.
And if you cannot think yourself,
let your robots do the thinking.
Because I feel worse today
than I felt yesterday;
and yesterday I felt worse than
the day before yesterday.
Evzen, I would like to point out
that the green light did not come
on during the entire conversation.
His reaction to your questions
was acutely negative.
Yes, I noticed it myself.
We aren't communicating
only with the boy.
We're communicating with his
saviors at the same time.
Obviously, the Natives have
formed between themselves
and the boy's nervous system...
some kind of a firm telepathic connection.
What else explains his ability to
answer your questions?
That his needs are being met?
What explains his strong
attachment to this place?
I have to keep thinking about it.
We can't take the boy to Earth with us.
It'd be the end of him.
Robby's happy here,
he doesn't know what suffering is.
It'd be cruel and dangerous
to make a human out of him.
Understand?
So, friends,
we managed to discover a strange,
completely unknown type of civilization ,
one that is capable of creating
material phenomena,
but doesn't want to
make itself known.
This civilization modified the
physiology of a human child.
It enhanced his brain capacity
immeasurably.
If such enhancement
of the human brain is possible,
do you understand what it
would mean for mankind?
Who are the Natives, actually?
I assume that they are...
huge...
super-organisms.
Since he was little, the boy thought
them part of the environment.
However, a number of
questions presents itself;
Why did they save the boy?
Why did they bring him up?
Where do they know people from?
They obviously know them well.
Why'd they allow the boy to be so human;
and why, in spite of everything,
refuse contact with humans?
They want to have nothing
to do with us.
They probably understand
us better than we think.
We have to do everything
to gain the boy's trust.
And more, he has to
feel that he needs us.
He must become dependent
on us to a certain degree.
Because he our only bridge to them.
But.... can we impose ourselves
on them in this manner?
Majka, Stanislav, now it's your turn,
you must come up with something
that would capture the boy's interest.
I don't like the plan. We must not
humanize the boy and tame him.
What gives us the right to do so?
Excuse me, the right?
What are you talking about?
Science gives us the right.
And above all, it's my decision.
Any other questions?
Robby!
Robert!
Robby!
Robby....
Oh gosh, you're as hot as an iron!
Did he come up with anything?
He keeps thinking.
It's a hard question.
- Mama.
- Yes, Little Bell?
Say it one more time.
Yes, Little Bell.
Phenomenal. Nutcracker.
- I waited for you, Robby.
- Why did you wait for me?
What do you mean, why.....
we miss you.
We aren't ourselves without you,
we aren't happy, do you understand?
- Are you unwell without me?
- Yes.
Phenomenal. You are unwell without me
and I am unwell with you.
A mystery.
But why a mystery? Now that we
found each other, we can play together.
You like to play, but you
always used to play alone.
And why do you wrap your feet?
Because we would hurt them otherwise.
Hurt? And why do mine not hurt?
Because you got used to it.
So why don't you get used to it, too?
Is it hard to get used to something?
Well, it depends.
It's hard to get used to pain,
to suffering.
It frightens people.
See, people are afraid of pain.
It's hard to get used to it,
yet they cause it to others. To me.
But we don't want to cause you pain.
I know, I know. You don't want to.
But people don't understand that
they are reason for pain.
What else can people do?
What do they do?
How can I explain what people do?
People sleep, take rest;
people work, too.
Phenomenal! Phenomenal!
I'm afraid Robby will think that all
mankind is interested in cybernetics.
So much to do, and yet you came here.
Majka, please talk to me now.
For many years,
humanity has been looking
for another planet
to turn it into a new Earth.
We need it very badly. We have a bad
environment, there are too many of us...
Couldn't you make it sound
a little more interesting?
You won't find a more grateful
listener anywhere on the Earth.
So you see, It's a big deal for us,
but because your planet
is already occupied,
we will not move any people here.
You know what, Robby?
Let's go and play.
You'll see people can be fun.
So what's your status, Evzen?
Let's speak frankly, professor.
I want to use the boy
for the needs of Earth.
That's why I am trying to
awaken the human in him.
Yes, but the boy's entire
subconscious...
is saturated with the Natives'
attitude towards us.
And they don't want us here.
His subconscious belongs to them,
but his conscience will belong to us.
I need a couple of more days,
I'll use a method to...
convince the boy that both
cultures are equal partners,
and that he, as a mediator, can
benefit from both sides of his life.
We have to take risks.
We...
are obliged to take risks.
I understand...
But... There will be no
contact with the Natives.
It's time to withdraw.
Why do you want to give
up so quickly, professor?
Because we're convinced that it
is a xenophobic civilization.
That's why it closed itself off.
It seems only secluded.
Why would they save the boy then,
why would they bring him up?
If it is an ancient civilization,
then saving the boy
could have been instinctive only,
and not a gesture towards contact.
The Native civilization is non-communicative.
And what's more, contact
with us could harm it.
It could cause serious damage, Evzen.
This is not conjecture.
No, no. These are facts.
We sent an expedition to explore
the space around the arch.
They found it two hours ago --
an satellite system and remnants
of an old defense system.
Do you understand?
Senc was shot down!
Shot down?
Alexander destroyed his data when
he realized that he was attacked.
How come we weren't attacked then?
I don't know.
Who knows what happened
on this planet in the past?
Who did the old defense
system belong to,
and why did the civilization isolate
itself and sterilize everything?
That was lovely, I never knew
it could be so lovely.
Are you tired?
Oh, that's nothing, I'm fine now.
Why do you get tired?
I never get tired, why is that? Why?
There is still a lot
I don't know about you.
It's speculated that you
aren't completely human.
Then, what is it..... a complete human?
It is past time to drop everything
and leave. Immediately.
Your lives are in danger, Evzen.
And the boy's life as well.
Listen, Robby, could I....
could I stay with you here?
On your planet.
Well, what do you think?
Would you like me to stay
here with you? Me and Majka.
Robby?
Would you?
Yes, I would like that. Will we play?
Yes, we will.
Robby, what's wrong?
It doesn't help, joy doesn't help.
I was so sick but I
feel even worse now.
I'll split in half,
I want to split in half,
but I am afraid to.
But Robby,
you aren't quite used to people yet.
We have to see each other more often.
No, I'll not come.
But why?
We will be great together.
Even better than that!
We'll play chess,
it's an awesome game.
Robby!
- Well?
- Okay, I'll come.
Majka, did you lose your camera?
I didn't lose it.
Little Bell....
This is unbelievable.
Majka, that was an excellent idea;
it's a great opportunity,
though it may provoke them.
I never would have had the guts myself.
He may have fallen down.
Turn the infra-red on.
What have you done?
Why did you do it?
You're being hysterical!
I'm taking you off
the entire program!
You're forbidden to leave the ship
or enter the area!
Get out!
You stay here!
Send the video records to Earth Base.
Enjoy them...
Only a few images remain.
That's odd.... almost like
human silhouettes.
Are they not only reflections, or...
It's too far away.
We have to get closer.
We'll have to start all over again.
That's it - he won't come any more.
Is that all you can tell me?
And what do you want?
Repentance? Tears?
Why did you do it?
Because it was cruel, inhuman!
Because I couldn't stand to
watch Robby's suffering...
and see this entire glorious
contact of ours turn into a tragedy.
You are forgetting one thing --
that Robby started to like you.
That's exactly the terrible thing...
that shouldn't have
happened in the first place!
Only for a minute did I believe that
it would be possible. Me and Robby.
Nothing is possible.
It's nothing but a cruel joke.
There is only The Mission.
And we are merely pieces
on Kam's chessboard.
You're just like him.
Letting the boy get attached to you
while you care nothing for him.
Nothing. Neither him nor me.
You understand nothing!
Nothing!
What I care about most
now is Robby himself.
Robby and his fate!
And is that all?
That's all!
And do you have anything to say to me?
Well, if that is all then,
you can go.
Leave.
Leave.
Evzen.
I am the captain of the ship.
I'm responsible for people's
lives and for the ship.
And what is most important,
a Third civilization showed up among us.
Robby.
Robby!
And I must be responsible for him, too.
I am sending a message to Earth
Base that the expedition is over.
We have exceeded all permissible limits,
we have to leave.
Stas, keep watch the entire night.
This is terrible.
Don't you understand the boy
is a unique opportunity for us?
Absolutely, and utterly unique?
Such an opportunity will never
be repeated. Understand? Never.
And it will be you that will
bear responsibility for that.
All of you.
Stas.
I need just one more day,
a single day more.
We have to reprogram your Tom
into an exploratory version...
and send him down into the caves.
I need your help.
- You can't be serious?
- Why not?
Because Robby could die.
We almost killed
him today already.
What can we do?
There are always some victims.
Otherwise there would be
no progress for mankind.
Do you hear me?
Do something!!!
No!!
No more!
Robby!
Robby!
Robby, Cricket...
Please forgive us, boy.
I would like to tell you something.
I know you're here.
We're leaving, Robby.
Just like you wanted us to.
But I...
I'll never forget you.
I am leaving Tom here for you,
he has a built-in monitor...
and if you turn it on,
and if you want to,
I'll show up on it.
Please do it for me.
And then,
we can see each other again
whenever you want.
We can play together again.
Please do that for me.
Hi, Stas.
Am I calling too soon?
I still cannot tell when is too soon
and when is too late.
Are you rested now?
No, not really.
It takes you too long to get rested.
Can we talk?
Yes, of course we can.
What's new with you?
Is everything okay?
Are you happy at the base?
I am.
How much longer will you be there?
However long you want me to.
I am here only for you;
I am happy to be close to you.
Awesome.
You are happy and
I am happy, too. Cricket.
Stas, listen, you do look tired,
I am worried about you.
You need to sleep.
You are worried about me?
Yes, go and take a rest.
Over now.
Hi, Stas. Did you get any sleep?
No.
Do you know what I would like now?
I would like us to be able to play together.
Hmmm, that wouldn't be bad,
I would like that too.
Cricket.
Do you know what?
Do you know what we will do?
We will talk, okay?
Okay. We will talk.
Stas! I have a question.
When was it found that people
think with their heads?
In the near future, explorers will
discovered the desolate planet "Archa."
And determined that it could be
made suitable for colonization.
You know, I have a strange feeling.
You feel lonely here, am I right?
You have to stick it out.
Yes, of course.
- I must. Captain.
- Yes
It looks so much like Earth --
problem is it isn't.
Makes you feel cheated;
but you have to get used to it.
Am I right, Majka?
Well, if this is supposed to be
a second home for mankind....
Are you ready?
We can take off.
Try to maintain contact with us.
Return at 18:00 local time.
Don't hang out outside
too much. Stay inside.
Easier on your nerves.
What's going on?
All is well.
Do you have new orders?
Follow the program.
Tom, what is going on?
We are following the program.
Do you have new orders?
You've over-exerted yourself, old man.
I'll have to service you soon.
Twelve of our ships have been on
the planet Archa for three days.
Three million inhabitants of
Earth are anxiously...
awaiting their departure
to a new homeland.
Twelve expeditions are working hard
to prepare basic conditions...
for the arrival of the first people.
Which is why we have as our
guest in our studio, Dr. Klause.
- Hello.
- Hello.
Tom, why have you again
stopped working?
All is well.
We are following the program.
This is Archa -- South.
Hi, Vadim.
I'm having problems with the robots,
they're behaving strangely.
It's almost like a mutiny.
Have you checked the program?
Yeah, twice.
Hmm, that's odd.
Are you going to
contact the base?
I would prefer not to.
I don't want to be seen having
problems on my first day.
You should go through
the program again.
What else -- anything
new in the North?
Nothing new here.
The lizards died up here.
Not a single animal survived.
It's too hot here.
Do you go swimming?
Sometimes.
It feels so desolate
and empty here.
It's like a huge bathtub.
Understand?
Like an ocean without a single
living creature in it.
So that means it's exactly
the same where you are.
I'll call you later.
Hi, Stas, how are you?
What?
I heard you have some problems?
Oh no, only a fly's buzzing here.
A fly?
What would a fly be doing there?
Excuse me. I'm busy.
No more going AWOL.
I'll fix you up. Make a
suitable person out of you.
Alex!
Where are you?
Alex, it hurts!
What happened?
Somebody's here!
Somebody's here!
They're dragging us!
They're dragging us!
Tom, what kind of stones are those?
Why did you bring them here?
Where'd you get them?
We found something:
remnants of some object.
There's an entrance there.
The radiation is within limits.
Going in.
Oh!
Why didn't you respond to
our radio calls, Stanislav?
What happened?
We found a crashed spaceship.
Here?
Ours?
Yes, from Earth.
- Are there bodies?
- Two.
Who are they?
We don't know yet.
It's an older ship.
It crashed many years ago.
I've never liked this planet.
I don't think it's appropriate to
send a message to Earth yet.
The planet is neither dangerous
nor biologically active,
it isn't necessary
to inform base yet.
I wouldn't be so sure.
I have to find out what kind
of spaceship it was.
But Jakob, don't you
understand that on Earth...
they'll convene a committee?
And we'll be working under an
audience of curious loafers.
How will you like it when a group
of nosey people arrives here?
You don't want spies and
onlookers to come here?
Exactly right.
Is that the only reason?
The main thing is to have
a completed report,
and deal with the remains somehow.
- Please dispatch this immediately.
- Ok.
Two bodies were found in a
spaceship of the old Pelican type.
It was one man and one woman.
A detailed report...
-- the woman!
Tell me, Stanislav. When you're alone,
do you leave the ship to go anywhere?
I mean to the swamps,...
To the lake?
To the volcanoes?
No, I have more than enough to do.
Okay. And the robots.
Do they go anywhere?
- The robots? Not too far.
- Not too far?
No.
Well. Don't misunderstood me...
I don't want to meddle,
but I have some doubts.
I think that you could
help me with them.
Have you noticed anything...
strange here?
Hmm, anything happening here...
That I should know about?
Stanislav?
No.
I saw these strange branches
yesterday, on the landing area.
Show me.
Oh, you noticed them as well?
This is odd:
some are broken.
And they seem to be fresh breaks.
It's hard to believe she'd live
with fractures like this.
She even tried to leave the ship.
Almost made it to the exit.
The pilot died right after the crash.
He managed to destroy all the data.
But why did he do that?
You'd only do that if the planet
was inhabited by sentient beings.
Whether they were human or not.
But there's nobody here, is there?
Jakob, logic says their ship couldn't
have collided with a meteorite.
You're not a pilot, are you?
The Pelican's automatic system
should have easily avoided...
any collision with a meteorite.
It must've struck something
completely unpredictable.
Okay.
So that's our working hypothesis.
Let's move on to the next point.
I suggest the following wording :
The death of the ship's crew occurred...
after an unsuccessful attempt to land;
the position of the corpses indicates
that the man died before the woman
but he managed to delete the records.
The woman lived for a little while longer,
she tried to leave the spaceship...
but she died by the exit.
-- with bones so broken she couldn't
have moved without assistance.
She simply couldn't crawl out.
But she did!
Listen, Jakob,
No one can say what a human being
is capable in extreme situations.
Especially a woman.
Okay, but why did the pilot
delete all board records?
He must've had a serious reason;
something that terrified him.
It was an accident.
No, I don't think so.
Kam is hiding something.
That's why he pretends
everything's so clear to him.
In fact, nothing is clear.
In fact, it's very strange.
- What's strange?
- Everything, this entire barren world.
That ship didn't end up here by accident.
Nor did we.
Nor did we find it by accident.
Anyway, we will not
accomplish anything here.
Nothing.
There was life here once.
Then suddenly it wasn't.
Everything's soaked with ancient death.
Understand?
The smell of death.
Even worse -- the smell of past life.
No, people will never get
used to this planet.
They'll find no happiness here.
But there are excellent parameters
for life here...
The environment, atmosphere...
Parameters, they're good,
But can you see this as
a new home for mankind?
No, this is no new home,
this is an old castle...
haunted by ghosts.
Jakob, if I had your beard...
I would definitely have a
different view of the world.
At least 10 or 15 years must
have passed since the crash.
Look at the erosion.
No, people will never get
used to this planet.
They'll find no happiness here.
At least 10 or 15 years must
have passed since the crash.
Look at the erosion.
Yes?
Ah, it' s you.
Were you outside?
And what about you?
How was your walk?
I have a pile of work to do.
Your hair is wet.
You showered?
You didn't go outside with Jakob?
No.
No?
Really?
Jakob. We need to talk.
Okay, After breakfast, okay?
... I don't think the Commander
is in a good mood...
... I did remember he tends
to have irregular moods...
He's here.
He's here.
Stop it!
Let him go!
What are the orders?
Come back!
When the ghost appeared
to me one night...
I told myself I was fit for
a mental institution.
I went through my own hell, too.
I knew something was happening here.
The first night, I was reading,
and all of sudden,
I heard strange sounds.
And then in the following days
we made other discoveries...
completely irrational ones.
For example,
how did our fish get out on
the ground, so far from the lake?
Those pulled branches
in the landing area,
and the strange stones?
And your depressed moods, Stanislav,
and why you were wearing headphones,
all confirmed a theory that there are
unidentified beings on the planet;
beings that are able to make sounds;
able to enter our spaceship.
Beings with anatomy
very similar to people.
And what else?
The safety shield opens for them;
it reacts to human beings only,
and won't let any other creature through.
And what about the voices you heard?
Sounds of a woman weeping?
Yes, it's strange.
It seems they witnessed
the crash of the spaceship...
and that they
witnessed the dying woman's agaony....
and even recorded it ...
in some strange way.
They run around without pants,
but have technology?
Come on, do you have a
better explanation?
So much for the relocation of mankind.
We have to stop all work immediately.
This planet is taken, we have
to look for another one.
I agree that relocation
here is out of question.
But we cannot leave.
A great opportunity has presented itself.
An opportunity to establish contact.
Their visit, imitation of our voices,
all this can be considered...
as their attempt to communicate with us.
If we prove that they are thinking beings,
the base will order us to leave immediately.
And instead of us,
a contact committee will arrive.
That won't be necessary,
because a member of the contact
committee is already here.
Jakob, As regulations dictate.
I am taking command.
So, my friends...
stop all work immediately...
No one leaves the ship...
Demobilize the robots
engage all security systems.
We aren't going anywhere,
we are going to...
attempt contact ourselves.
We confirm your area as a
zone of possible contact.
Dr. Kam is now in command.
All other ships are ordered
to leave immediately.
How is all this possible?
The explorers before us
did thorough research,
how come they found nothing?
Where do they live, and
how do they live, really?
They may be hiding in the craters or,
for all I know,...
in underground caves.
You see, I don't share your certainty
that our presence will
make everybody happy,
every civilization.
Why has man sought contact
for over two hundred years?
What's in it for us?
Well, that is quite clear -
knowledge, discernment.
But why not focus this
discernment on ourselves?
We mostly care about ourselves.
We just want to see
ourselves from the outside,
through the eyes of complete strangers.
We're trying to find out who we are.
Because if we try from the outside,
we can only fail.
It's like trying to lift
ourselves by our hair.
- No, that's okay, I'll stand.
- What do you think about this?
I don't know who first discovered water,
but it definitely wasn't the fish.
That's right.
The Pelican spaceship that you found,
registration number ADL 27,
was launched on January '30
to explore Zone C.
The ship reported itself for the last time...
May 6, '34 from the Shadow area.
The crew: Alexander Senc, Marie Luisa
Senc; and since April 21, '33...
a passenger named Robert Senc.
Well, then...
He's no Native.
He's a man.
Do you understand?
He's their son.
Robert Senc, ladies and
gentlemen, is their son.
Come to terms with it,
we can't waste any time now.
Oh, so they had a child together.
I wondered where they
picked up a passenger,
one with the same last name.
But how could he survive?
This is unbelievable, how could
a one year-old child survive?
Okay, so one more time.
Senc destroyed all on-board records.
That means he saw somebody.
Somebody must be here.
Yes, that's why the boy survived!
They saved him!
But if this is so,
this means the boy is human...
and not human at the same time!
Something of a cosmic Mowgli.
Do you know that I knew them?
They were odd people,
they lived like hermits.
I've never been in favor of
freelance cosmic exploration.
People wandering around in space,
it can be dangerous.
Scientific benefits are negligible.
Alex and Mary...
found nothing in the universe,
nothing at all except for death.
But they were happy.
Why do you think so?
Because otherwise they
would have returned.
Does it make sense to seek anything
other than happiness?
He who is truly happy...
would no longer be seeking.
- I see him!
- Where?
He's coming to the ship, from the lake.
Please display the area in detail.
I can't see him.
So this is the fruit of their love.
Why aren't you saying anything, Jakob?
Jakob, why aren't you saying anything,
do you hear me?
- Yes, I do.
- What happened?
He spoke - he spoke to us!
If I had your beard, Jakob,
I would definitely have a
different attitude to life.
What's going on, Jakob?
Nothing unusual, Evzen,
a misunderstanding.
The subject imitates our voices.
Welcome.
You have an hour with him.
Yes, this is my voice.
I.
I.
They are human in the
highest sense of the word
because they saved the
life of a human child.
And they are geniuses,
because they brought him up
in such a way that he
resembles a human being.
And even though they have no
concept of hands or feet.
- Stas, look!
- What is it?
Distance of 14 kilometers,
height of 600 meters.
Go to your station.
Don't do anything on your own.
They are watching
both us and the boy.
They want to make sure
we won't harm him.
It doesn't look like they
will attack first.
Again. Go and check it out.
Yes, the antennas are strange.
I got the chills.
It's strange, but nothing can
surprise me any more.
I'll tell you two important facts:
Robby has learned to speak fluently
and he understands
practically everything.
Earlier when he spoke he couldn't
understand what he was saying.
He learned to speak in four hours?
Right.
And second, Robby believes
he's alone on the planet.
What do you mean, alone?
Well, he simply believes...
that there is nobody else
on this planet except for him.
And the best for last...
he's coming for an official visit tomorrow.
Okay, my friends,
I repeat: no emotions.
We have to be friendly,
but completely calm.
I believe a woman's presence is
inadvisable for the first meeting.
Majka, I am afraid you must leave.
So, everything is clear then.
Phenomenal.
What is it?
Monitors.
Yes, everything is in motion
while there's nothing there.
Images.
This is food.
Is food visible?
Food is eaten?
Is this food?
It is not like food. A mystery!
- It is not like what?
- Food.
Go ahead, have some.
Ah, I understand now -- it is your food.
Look how it is done.
No! That isn't allowed,
that will be bad.
Give it a try, come on.
Okay, I guess not, you're right.
What are we going to do?
Cricket by the fireplace.
You better tell me again...
When you plan on leaving?
When we have learned
everything about you.
Then we will leave, if you want us to.
You know everything about me,
absolutely everything.
You know how I came to be.
But I don't know how you
lived here before my arrival.
Okay, you can ask me questions,
but ask quickly.
Why'd you hide for such a long time?
Little Red Riding Hood.
There were people here
before you. It made me sick.
I didn't want them to see me,
but knew they'd come again.
Four people is a lot. One is too.
But better than four.
Little Red Riding Hood.
That's how it was.
How'd you know we were people
and that people would come again?
I thought about it.
Maybe somebody told you?
Who? Stones, sun, bushes?
I am alone here.
Nobody talks to me...
and I'll feel good when people leave.
People will not harm anyone.
People want everybody to be well.
That's why they must leave,
so all will be well.
Phenomenal.
I've always wanted to know why
there is long hair on the cheeks.
I don't know, my boy,
how to answer this.
It's nice, I like it,
what do you think?
Pretty bells.
Why on the cheeks
and not on the nose?
It wouldn't look very nice on noses
and it'd be in the way.
It must be in the way
going through buses.
It must get hung up.
You know, I don't walk
through bushes very often.
Don't walk through bushes,
it will hurt you.
Nutcracker. Cricket by the fireplace.
And you?
What about me?
I came to you at night once.
I wanted to talk.
Mystery. You didn't talk.
I have a question: it is big and it
digs in the earth. What is it?
The robots.
The robots. Are they alive, too?
No, they are machines.
We made them and they obey us.
Phenomenal.
Could I control them as well?
You already have, when you
kept jumping in front of them.
the bigger one (his name is Tom) kept
stopping and asking you questions.
Phenomenal! That is a phenomenal game!
Why do you wrap yourself up?
- What?
- Clothing.
What for?
So that we aren't cold.
So that we look nice.
And you don't look nice without clothes?
Well, it depends.
- Do all people wear clothes?
- Yes, all.
But there are many people. How many?
You know what? Come here. Wait.
Give me your hand.
That's one, and now the other.
There are fifteen billion people.
Fifteen billion and all wear clothes?
Nutcracker.
What does it mean, Nutcracker?
I don't know, it is just a word,
it is pleasant to pronounce it.
Little Red Riding Hood. Nutcracker.
Where do you know them from?
I remember them. Two big, kind people.
Much bigger than you.
Little Red Riding Hood. Nutcracker.
Cricket by the fireplace.
Mary, the Cricket is hungry!
Robby! Robby!
And you remember it all?
Sure. Don't you remember everything?
No.
That must be because you
think differently than I do.
But explain to me now what is up there.
Stars, you said yesterday.
What are they, stars?
Why does water fall from above?
Why can an eye see?
There are so many questions,
and so few answers.
Answer quickly,
I am beginning to feel sick.
- So?
- What do you mean, so?
What do you think?
Don't you feel sorry for him?
No, why?
It makes me sick how Kam is treating him.
He doesn't care about him at all!
But Kam needs to establish contact.
And it won't be possible without Robby.
Emotions are useless in this case;
he doesn't feel any love towards us either.
You know, I imagined the entire
contact business quite differently.
More cordial.
When in fact, it's quite sad,
like the intimacy of two people.
What's sad about it?
A contact is the middle
point of two cultures;
you don't have to mourn
because of it, hmm?
You're boring and stiff.
All you do is write programs.
You only see the human part of him.
What's human about him?
Only the source material.
Even the fact that he speaks
so well is not human.
He isn't human, and everything human
is only to his disadvantage now.
No!
No!
No!
Look, Robby is coming back.
Evzen, Robby is coming near the ship.
Excellent. Jakob, Majka,
go to the lounge.
Stanislav, stay at the monitors.
Come on, go take a closer look,
you pain. Come on.
Mama. Mama.
Why am I so interested in everything?
Why do I keep asking new questions?
The answer comes sometimes.
That is a joy.
Sometimes, too many answers.
I have to choose, that is not a joy.
Sometimes, there are no answers.
That's a mystery.
I'll answer your questions only when
I have learned everything about you.
Well, ask your questions then.
Learn quickly. I'll tell you everything.
There was a spaceship. It was bigger
than yours, but changed since then.
There were big, yes, and human.
I was comfortable with them.
Nutcracker, you have wet yourself again.
Mary,
If my calculations were correct.
We're approaching a planet.
I am going to get Robby!
Mary, don't be afraid. Automation is
working, I can maneuver. I can land.
Alex! Where are you? Alex, it hurts!
What happened?
Robby, don't be afraid, my darling.
There is somebody here!
Somebody is dragging us!
That's how it happened. It took
a long time. I got tired of crying.
I fell asleep and when I woke up,
I was cold and hungry.
I wanted food and warmth so
strongly that my wish came true.
And did they feed you and warm you up?
What I wanted happened. Since then
everything that I wanted happened.
Until the first spaceship with people landed.
And where do you live?
Where is your house?
There, deep in the ground.
Is it nice inside?
Awesome. Joy. Nutcracker.
It is the best in my house.
At least, it used to be,
before people came.
Do you sleep there, too?
Yes, I do everything there.
I eat there, I sleep there, I think there.
And now, have you learned
everything about me?
No. You see, we lack common words.
You must have your own words.
Words? No. Words only for people.
I just had an idea.
Invite me to your house,
I'll look around and learn quickly.
Maybe I'll learn everything.
I thought about it, but I cannot.
When I want, I can do everything;
but as far as humans are concerned,
I can't do anything.
Humans, they are a problem.
I understand. How about if I bring you
with me, would you like me to go?
Where?
Well, to my place, on Earth.
But.... that is very far.
Yes, it's very far.
No, I cannot go far.
I cannot go far and
I definitely cannot be too far away.
I learned this today, in the lake.
It was very frightening,
but I knew I couldn't leave.
It felt almost like hunger,
but it was much worse.
No, I cannot come with you.
What are they for, these twigs of yours?
Mama.
Twigs. Faces. Hands. Body.
Those are things to think about.
There are many things like that,
but there are no words for them.
The things are where I live down there.
Okay then. I see that you
enjoy asking questions.
So ask me questions and I'll answer.
Why does a stone fall?
What is hot water?
Why are there ten fingers, but when
I want to count, one finger is enough?
There are many questions
but I'll not ask any more
because I am feeling sick.
You cannot come to me
and I cannot come to you.
We lack common words.
That means that you cannot
learn everything about me.
And that means that you cannot leave.
Please do think about what I should do.
And if you cannot think yourself,
let your robots do the thinking.
Because I feel worse today
than I felt yesterday;
and yesterday I felt worse than
the day before yesterday.
Evzen, I would like to point out
that the green light did not come
on during the entire conversation.
His reaction to your questions
was acutely negative.
Yes, I noticed it myself.
We aren't communicating
only with the boy.
We're communicating with his
saviors at the same time.
Obviously, the Natives have
formed between themselves
and the boy's nervous system...
some kind of a firm telepathic connection.
What else explains his ability to
answer your questions?
That his needs are being met?
What explains his strong
attachment to this place?
I have to keep thinking about it.
We can't take the boy to Earth with us.
It'd be the end of him.
Robby's happy here,
he doesn't know what suffering is.
It'd be cruel and dangerous
to make a human out of him.
Understand?
So, friends,
we managed to discover a strange,
completely unknown type of civilization ,
one that is capable of creating
material phenomena,
but doesn't want to
make itself known.
This civilization modified the
physiology of a human child.
It enhanced his brain capacity
immeasurably.
If such enhancement
of the human brain is possible,
do you understand what it
would mean for mankind?
Who are the Natives, actually?
I assume that they are...
huge...
super-organisms.
Since he was little, the boy thought
them part of the environment.
However, a number of
questions presents itself;
Why did they save the boy?
Why did they bring him up?
Where do they know people from?
They obviously know them well.
Why'd they allow the boy to be so human;
and why, in spite of everything,
refuse contact with humans?
They want to have nothing
to do with us.
They probably understand
us better than we think.
We have to do everything
to gain the boy's trust.
And more, he has to
feel that he needs us.
He must become dependent
on us to a certain degree.
Because he our only bridge to them.
But.... can we impose ourselves
on them in this manner?
Majka, Stanislav, now it's your turn,
you must come up with something
that would capture the boy's interest.
I don't like the plan. We must not
humanize the boy and tame him.
What gives us the right to do so?
Excuse me, the right?
What are you talking about?
Science gives us the right.
And above all, it's my decision.
Any other questions?
Robby!
Robert!
Robby!
Robby....
Oh gosh, you're as hot as an iron!
Did he come up with anything?
He keeps thinking.
It's a hard question.
- Mama.
- Yes, Little Bell?
Say it one more time.
Yes, Little Bell.
Phenomenal. Nutcracker.
- I waited for you, Robby.
- Why did you wait for me?
What do you mean, why.....
we miss you.
We aren't ourselves without you,
we aren't happy, do you understand?
- Are you unwell without me?
- Yes.
Phenomenal. You are unwell without me
and I am unwell with you.
A mystery.
But why a mystery? Now that we
found each other, we can play together.
You like to play, but you
always used to play alone.
And why do you wrap your feet?
Because we would hurt them otherwise.
Hurt? And why do mine not hurt?
Because you got used to it.
So why don't you get used to it, too?
Is it hard to get used to something?
Well, it depends.
It's hard to get used to pain,
to suffering.
It frightens people.
See, people are afraid of pain.
It's hard to get used to it,
yet they cause it to others. To me.
But we don't want to cause you pain.
I know, I know. You don't want to.
But people don't understand that
they are reason for pain.
What else can people do?
What do they do?
How can I explain what people do?
People sleep, take rest;
people work, too.
Phenomenal! Phenomenal!
I'm afraid Robby will think that all
mankind is interested in cybernetics.
So much to do, and yet you came here.
Majka, please talk to me now.
For many years,
humanity has been looking
for another planet
to turn it into a new Earth.
We need it very badly. We have a bad
environment, there are too many of us...
Couldn't you make it sound
a little more interesting?
You won't find a more grateful
listener anywhere on the Earth.
So you see, It's a big deal for us,
but because your planet
is already occupied,
we will not move any people here.
You know what, Robby?
Let's go and play.
You'll see people can be fun.
So what's your status, Evzen?
Let's speak frankly, professor.
I want to use the boy
for the needs of Earth.
That's why I am trying to
awaken the human in him.
Yes, but the boy's entire
subconscious...
is saturated with the Natives'
attitude towards us.
And they don't want us here.
His subconscious belongs to them,
but his conscience will belong to us.
I need a couple of more days,
I'll use a method to...
convince the boy that both
cultures are equal partners,
and that he, as a mediator, can
benefit from both sides of his life.
We have to take risks.
We...
are obliged to take risks.
I understand...
But... There will be no
contact with the Natives.
It's time to withdraw.
Why do you want to give
up so quickly, professor?
Because we're convinced that it
is a xenophobic civilization.
That's why it closed itself off.
It seems only secluded.
Why would they save the boy then,
why would they bring him up?
If it is an ancient civilization,
then saving the boy
could have been instinctive only,
and not a gesture towards contact.
The Native civilization is non-communicative.
And what's more, contact
with us could harm it.
It could cause serious damage, Evzen.
This is not conjecture.
No, no. These are facts.
We sent an expedition to explore
the space around the arch.
They found it two hours ago --
an satellite system and remnants
of an old defense system.
Do you understand?
Senc was shot down!
Shot down?
Alexander destroyed his data when
he realized that he was attacked.
How come we weren't attacked then?
I don't know.
Who knows what happened
on this planet in the past?
Who did the old defense
system belong to,
and why did the civilization isolate
itself and sterilize everything?
That was lovely, I never knew
it could be so lovely.
Are you tired?
Oh, that's nothing, I'm fine now.
Why do you get tired?
I never get tired, why is that? Why?
There is still a lot
I don't know about you.
It's speculated that you
aren't completely human.
Then, what is it..... a complete human?
It is past time to drop everything
and leave. Immediately.
Your lives are in danger, Evzen.
And the boy's life as well.
Listen, Robby, could I....
could I stay with you here?
On your planet.
Well, what do you think?
Would you like me to stay
here with you? Me and Majka.
Robby?
Would you?
Yes, I would like that. Will we play?
Yes, we will.
Robby, what's wrong?
It doesn't help, joy doesn't help.
I was so sick but I
feel even worse now.
I'll split in half,
I want to split in half,
but I am afraid to.
But Robby,
you aren't quite used to people yet.
We have to see each other more often.
No, I'll not come.
But why?
We will be great together.
Even better than that!
We'll play chess,
it's an awesome game.
Robby!
- Well?
- Okay, I'll come.
Majka, did you lose your camera?
I didn't lose it.
Little Bell....
This is unbelievable.
Majka, that was an excellent idea;
it's a great opportunity,
though it may provoke them.
I never would have had the guts myself.
He may have fallen down.
Turn the infra-red on.
What have you done?
Why did you do it?
You're being hysterical!
I'm taking you off
the entire program!
You're forbidden to leave the ship
or enter the area!
Get out!
You stay here!
Send the video records to Earth Base.
Enjoy them...
Only a few images remain.
That's odd.... almost like
human silhouettes.
Are they not only reflections, or...
It's too far away.
We have to get closer.
We'll have to start all over again.
That's it - he won't come any more.
Is that all you can tell me?
And what do you want?
Repentance? Tears?
Why did you do it?
Because it was cruel, inhuman!
Because I couldn't stand to
watch Robby's suffering...
and see this entire glorious
contact of ours turn into a tragedy.
You are forgetting one thing --
that Robby started to like you.
That's exactly the terrible thing...
that shouldn't have
happened in the first place!
Only for a minute did I believe that
it would be possible. Me and Robby.
Nothing is possible.
It's nothing but a cruel joke.
There is only The Mission.
And we are merely pieces
on Kam's chessboard.
You're just like him.
Letting the boy get attached to you
while you care nothing for him.
Nothing. Neither him nor me.
You understand nothing!
Nothing!
What I care about most
now is Robby himself.
Robby and his fate!
And is that all?
That's all!
And do you have anything to say to me?
Well, if that is all then,
you can go.
Leave.
Leave.
Evzen.
I am the captain of the ship.
I'm responsible for people's
lives and for the ship.
And what is most important,
a Third civilization showed up among us.
Robby.
Robby!
And I must be responsible for him, too.
I am sending a message to Earth
Base that the expedition is over.
We have exceeded all permissible limits,
we have to leave.
Stas, keep watch the entire night.
This is terrible.
Don't you understand the boy
is a unique opportunity for us?
Absolutely, and utterly unique?
Such an opportunity will never
be repeated. Understand? Never.
And it will be you that will
bear responsibility for that.
All of you.
Stas.
I need just one more day,
a single day more.
We have to reprogram your Tom
into an exploratory version...
and send him down into the caves.
I need your help.
- You can't be serious?
- Why not?
Because Robby could die.
We almost killed
him today already.
What can we do?
There are always some victims.
Otherwise there would be
no progress for mankind.
Do you hear me?
Do something!!!
No!!
No more!
Robby!
Robby!
Robby, Cricket...
Please forgive us, boy.
I would like to tell you something.
I know you're here.
We're leaving, Robby.
Just like you wanted us to.
But I...
I'll never forget you.
I am leaving Tom here for you,
he has a built-in monitor...
and if you turn it on,
and if you want to,
I'll show up on it.
Please do it for me.
And then,
we can see each other again
whenever you want.
We can play together again.
Please do that for me.
Hi, Stas.
Am I calling too soon?
I still cannot tell when is too soon
and when is too late.
Are you rested now?
No, not really.
It takes you too long to get rested.
Can we talk?
Yes, of course we can.
What's new with you?
Is everything okay?
Are you happy at the base?
I am.
How much longer will you be there?
However long you want me to.
I am here only for you;
I am happy to be close to you.
Awesome.
You are happy and
I am happy, too. Cricket.
Stas, listen, you do look tired,
I am worried about you.
You need to sleep.
You are worried about me?
Yes, go and take a rest.
Over now.
Hi, Stas. Did you get any sleep?
No.
Do you know what I would like now?
I would like us to be able to play together.
Hmmm, that wouldn't be bad,
I would like that too.
Cricket.
Do you know what?
Do you know what we will do?
We will talk, okay?
Okay. We will talk.
Stas! I have a question.
When was it found that people
think with their heads?