Original subtitles

Disconnect the artificial kidney.

Stop the drips.

Switch the heart to its own power supply.

He'll be hibernated during the transport.

That's for the best.

"Interton" and "Nortronics" would give anything

to get that contract from us.

Good. Him being alive would make me uncomfortable.

He's just like you and me, in almost every detail.

You'll have to get used to him anyway, when you get there.

- Good luck. - Thank you.

FILM STUDIOS & TALLINFILM PRESENT A FILM

BASED ON A SHORT STORY BY STANISLAW LEM

PILOT PIRX'S TEST

STARRING

AND

WITH PARTICIPATION OF

SCREENPLAY AND DIALOGUES

MUSIC

PRODUCTION DESIGNER

PRODUCTION MANAGER

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

DIRECTED BY

After primary qualifications we have two candidates.

Commander Kent, whom we saw yesterday.

And Commander Pirx.

Both are excellent pilots.

And both are at our disposal, at least theoretically.

Pirx is known for his unblemished honesty.

Let me remind you "Vega" rescue mission,

during which he discovered a series of irregularities.

As a human being, he does have some weaknesses.

Kent is a really strong man

and United Atomic Laboratory trusts him completely.

And that's exactly why we will insist on his candidacy.

His positive report will surely be enough

for the UN as well as UNESCO.

And will allow us to start mass production,

which is the main purpose of this experiment.

Letting someone like Pirx

participate in the program is a gamble,

a risk.

As the representative of "Cybertronics",

I believe that a pilot as honest as Pirx,

regardless of whether he does it consciously or not…

If he's on our side, we hold the best argument

for the press and public opinion.

And what if his opinion is negative?

Here in this room we can openly admit

that our products are not completely flawless.

This can cause a failure of unimaginable proportions.

In the face of the difference of opinion, I suggest holding a vote.

Which one of you, gentlemen,

is for Commander Pirx's participation in the program?

I object in the name of United Atomic Laboratory!

Hello?

The voting was positive.

Now it's up to you, director, to convince Commander Pirx

to participate in our, I can say it now, joint program.

We weren't as fast as we were on the Moon.

But at least we don't have to wear the suits.

Let's get a move on. The weather is changing.

Apparently, on mountain peeks one can see stars at noon.

Tomorrow we'll see if that's true.

One would think you never saw them from space.

They look better from Earth.

We still have a month to watch them from Earth.

Commander, an urgent message for you.

I have to get back at once.

- You're on vacation. - That's an order.

Shame. It was to be such a great month.

- We're here. - Thank you.

- Commander Pirx? - That's me.

I've been waiting for you for days. Please, take a seat.

I'm busy. No one's to disturb me.

Commander, I have an original offer for you.

An experiment if you will.

But I have to ask you to keep everything to yourself.

Even if you decline my offer.

- Do you agree? - No. Unless you tell me more.

I understand. You don't do anything blindly.

I should have expected that. But that's better.

It's about an experimental flight.

A new type of ship?

No. A new type of crew.

Crew?

I don't understand. What's my part in this?

Versatile assessment of its suitability.

That's all I can say for now.

The decision is yours.

I can't accept this offer.

What criteria are you guided by?

My own conscience.

I can't assess anyone without knowing the rules of the game.

Very well. Let's have lunch...

And then we'll go to our facility where you'll learn more.

As you can see, I agree to anything.

All right. I wonder what you came up with.

Well, Commander, it's about circling Saturn and

introducing new automatic satellites into stationary orbit.

It's not an ordinary flight.

Recently, the Soviet Union and the US started production

of anthropoid automatons, so called 'finite non-linear'.

Mostly to service extraterrestrial vessels.

I've heard about that.

Even better. What do you think about it?

That's absurd.

Pilots' union will never allow it.

Because the manufacturers of non-linear

must take into account objections of the press,

trade unions, the workers' movement, etc.;

they gave us several prototypes to examine their usefulness

as a crew aboard spaceships.

Us? Who do you mean by that?

The UN?

I mean UNESCO, as the organization that has to do

with matters of culture, science and education.

And do what robots have to do with culture and education?

Isn't that invasion, as you yourself called it,

of those pseudo humans produced on a mass scale of utmost importance

to the field of general culture?

Just listen to the speech of the representative

of electronic companies during a closed-door UN session

which made us launch the program.

Let us not be afraid of strictly economic consequences,

danger of unemployment or psychological, social

or cultural damages which non-linear are supposedly prone to cause.

What is most important and what should count is the fact

that as the crew of the spaceships non-linear

give better guarantee of safety than humans.

Their reactions are faster,

they don't need to sleep and don't get tired;

they do not succumb to diseases.

They can function even after being severely damaged.

Moreover...

They do not require food or oxygen.

They can carry on their tasks

even aboard an overheated or depressurized ship.

You should therefore realize, gentlemen,

that we're not after profit but the safety of space travel.

Thus not only private space but also socialistic ones

and those answering to the UN...

should vote...

for our decision.

Enough for now.

If their automatons are really so good,

sooner or later your company will take them.

What will change if UNESCO takes upon itself

the part of technical controller of those companies' production?

Commander, it's not about technical control.

It's about the psychological side of the matter.

Now it's time for me to tell you everything.

We want to offer you a flight with such a crew.

You'd be in charge and have some time

to figure out its value from every point of view.

- And that would be all? - Yes.

- I have one more question. - I'm listening.

What are the consequences of my opinion?

- It'll be decisive. - For whom?

For us, of course. For UNESCO.

The world press will publish your findings.

Negative results will surely stop

the process of mass production of the robots.

What will happen if they're positive?

Unfortunately, we are not a global government

and we cannot ban the production of any machines.

Some governments tried and failed.

The church was equally powerless

and you know its negative position on that matter.

No one likes the idea and everyone looks on helplessly.

How is that possible?

That's my first question.

And the second is why me?

We've considered a number of pilots and decided

that you, as someone not entirely convinced,

will present the objections most effectively, if there are any.

Commander, you can refuse, but if we did the same

it would have been like Pilate washing his hands,

as it's the easiest thing to do.

After all, we'll not completely powerless.

We can at least conduct this experiment.

Please think about it and let us know within two days.

Fine.

Hello?

Yes.

It really wasn't my fault.

I did everything in my power…

Yes, of course. I do realize that.

A negative opinion means the company's going under.

I'll use all the means at my disposal at once.

Yes, I understand.

It's Mitchell.

Find Commander Pirx at once.

We're over the M-73 road.

The object has been located.

He's under constant surveillance. Thank you.

That's great that he's been located.

You've partially rehabilitated yourself in my eyes.

I'll leave...

the method to you.

Green speaking.

It's Pirx.

I agree.

He'll wake up, fully conscious, in the next 24 hours.

And you can include him in the crew.

My job here is done.

You know, the thought of being alone with him…

Rubbish. He's intelligent, educated

and has precisely determined tasks.

And if he exceeds the range to which he's been programmed for?

The human brain and its possibilities haven't been fully examined yet.

His has a larger capacity.

Good luck.

Commander Pirx, please go to room 207.

- Good morning, I'm… - I know who you are.

I'll show you in.

- Are they here? - Yes, they're expecting you.

- Did you see them? - Yes. Briefly.

What are they like?

There's five of them. One talked to me.

Completely unalike, I'm telling you…

If I met him on the street...

I'd never think…

But when you look closely, there's something weird about his eyes.

We're here.

Good luck, Commander. I leave you to it.

After you.

No, I'm not going in there. I don't want to.

My name is McGuirr.

I had the honour of flying with you once

but you probably don't remember me.

No, I don't.

Gentlemen,

this is your CO, Commander Pirx.

Commander, this is your crew.

First pilot, John Calder.

Neurologist and cyberneticist, Tom Novak.

Electrical engineer, Ian Otis.

Second pilot, Harry Brown.

Nucleon engineer, Kurt Weber.

And now I'd like to talk to you.

Commander, to avoid any misunderstandings

I'd like to tell you now that some of them

were born and some weren't.

Each of them knows their origins

and knows nothing of the origins of others.

I'm sure they will follow your orders well

and will show sincere initiative both on and off duty.

They were instructed, however, to answer each question

about who they are with the statement:

“An ordinary human being...

So I should not be asking questions like that.

You can. Just be painfully aware

that one of your crew members is not telling the truth.

Don't you think that someone is making an idiot out of me?

Not at all. The conditions envisaged the new kind of the crew

but no one said it will be a homogenous crew.

We wanted to make sure that you're not at all...

biased.

You've explained it all very nicely

and yet I still feel tricked.

I shall not change my decision regardless.

I assumed as much.

So? Will you let me talk

to my...

men?

Of course.

Brown,

do you believe in God?

- It's not a part of my duties. - You didn't answer my question.

I said, it wasn't part of my duties.

As your CO, I decide what's part of your duties.

If that's an order I can say

that I never took interest in that problem.

Take some time to think about it.

Your answer will determine whether you're a part of the crew.

Calder,

you're a pilot. With what experience?

I completed a flight course, 290 hours in outer space,

ten individual landings including four on the Moon,

two on Mars and two on Venus.

Otis,

you're an electrical engineer.

How many roentgens can you stand per hour?

About 400, sir.

As much as any average human.

- But it takes some treatment after. - And more than 400?

I'm not sure,

- but I don't think so. - Where were you born?

In the North, behind the polar circle.

Everyone except Brown is considered a part of my crew.

Brown will answer my question tomorrow.

That's all.

Gentlemen Pirx and McGuir, come to the the Program Room, please.

Thank you.

The Program Director will brief you on the tasks

your crew is to perform during flight.

You have no idea how glad I am.

You've decided before the deadline.

Would you like to know why?

I think you decided because you understood

the value of our Program's premises.

No, not at all.

Someone tried to prevent me from taking part in that flight.

- I don't follow. - Someone tried to kill me.

- Impossible. - And yet it's true.

I was lured into a trap from which I barely got out.

And if I died, the police would rule it a car accident.

But who would want that?

Someone who didn't want me on that flight.

And that's why I've decided to go.

I don't like my decisions being made for me.

I'll explain the technical side of the JOVIAN project now.

This way.

- You underestimate us, Commander. - How do you mean?

Our boys are not so easily distinguishable from the rest.

How do you know it all?

Who are you, anyway?

You mean if I am a designer?

No, I'm in Public Relations.

But you are competent enough to answer my questions?

Of course.

Members of the crew who aren't humans behave like humans?

- Yes. - Yes?

- But why? - So that the illusion is complete.

For the world, that is.

And blood?

I asked if they have blood.

They have an illusion of blood and a heart.

What does it mean, an illusion?

Only a medical specialist after thorough examination

could figure that out.

And not me?

No, not you.

- Unless you had… - An X-ray?

You're very quick-witted, Commander.

But unfortunately there isn't an X-ray machine on board.

But there's a flaw detector

and atomic pile can provide any number of isotopes.

You're doing all you can to make our task more difficult.

Only to make mine easier.

You have to understand. We didn't invest millions

into mass production just to mislead you.

We were the first ones to put a brain in the head.

Nature was first if I'm not mistaken.

Fine, we were second.

But the details are secret.

- The rest is a secret as well? - What do you mean?

Can they lie? Can they lose their temper?

Yes, but less so than a man in a similar situation.

How can you be so sure?

Don't be ridiculous. We've conducted experiments.

- With people as guinea pigs? - Of course.

- Even if it involved the risk of death? - Exactly.

Interesting. What about the results?

People are more elusive.

Poor, poor people.

What if I try smashing one of their heads?

He will fight back.

- Until he kills me? - No, he'll limit himself to defence.

What if the only option of defence is to attack?

Then he will attack you.

Give me that contract. I'll sign.

Here. Good luck, Commander.

You can tell your supervisors

that I will squeeze all the worst out of them.

Commander...

you are a brave man but I advise caution.

For your own good.

So the robots don't finish me?

No, not the robots. People will be the first to break.

Those ordinary, kind, good boys. Do you understand?

And the robots?

What is it that you want from them? They'll do anything for you.

I'll try to make them do even more.

Whiskey, please.

Here you go.

Tonic, please. Thank you.

A phone call for you.

Thank you.

Hello?

It's Pirx.

And? Have you decided?

I had little time.

But, considering all the pros and cons,

I arrived at the conclusion that there is a 90%

or even a 99% probability that he doesn't exist.

That leaves a 1% probability that he does.

That God exists.

Very well...

you can report for duty with the rest of the crew.

I'll see you there.

Goodbye.

What can I get you?

Gin and tonic.

Time to say goodbye.

Goodbye, director.

One more thing, Commander.

I have to warn you that all your orders will be recorded.

Black box?

Yes. It will survive any crash and will replace your testimony.

The countdown has started. It's time for me.

I wish you all the luck.

We did everything that was asked of us.

The rest is in Pirx's hands.

You know, one thought is bothering me.

Pirx decided to go because he escaped death.

You're worried that our part of the crew could mutiny?

That's nonsense.

I don't know…

But if so, may God watch over Pirx and humans in his crew.

Stand by for docking.

Start the engines!

Yes sir, start the engines.

Plasma: 814.

Ionization: 523.

Reaction begins.

Full thrust!

Full thrust in 30 seconds.

Novak, switch on launch protection shield.

Yes, sir!

Full thrust in ten seconds.

Turn on the auto pilot.

After the briefing, you'll take the watch.

Brown will release you, then me, Novak, Otis and Weber.

Please, proceed to performing your duties.

In half an hour in the control room

I'll brief you on the details of the flight.

"Goliath" has two automatic probes on board.

Our task is to send them into Cassini's Division.

It's not that simple.

The division is narrow.

Yes, theoretically it's 3500 km in width,

and the edges are covered with a thick layer of meteorite ice dust

that will burn any ship that collides with it.

The clear path is about 500 km wide.

Passing through the division is almost impossible.

Only the first probe, which can be launched from a great distance,

will be aimed there since it has its own ion engine.

The second probe will control the first one's flight.

Our task is fairly simple, providing,

there aren't any unpleasant surprises from the ship...

or the crew.

After you.

Present possible variants of "Goliath's" disaster

while performing the task.

Pilot's error, going through Cassini's Division

and touching its edges.

What's the possibility of moving the ship out of the division

without the risk of crossing to the other side?

Slow down immediately

and escape into the space on the hyperbole.

Stop! Danger! Impossible to perform with humans on board

who will die of g-load.

Show me a situation forcing pilots to go through the Cassini Division.

Can I talk to you?

Come in.

I want to inform you about something.

But...

this has to stay between us.

All right.

I promise no one will know about this conversation.

I'm listening.

I'm...

human.

I'm saying this because I want to help you.

There is something like basic human solidarity.

I can't be silent when the fate of humanity is at stake.

You would do the same.

They kept us apart all that time.

We weren't allowed to see each other until three days before take-off.

So I don't know exactly who is and who isn't human.

- But I suspect… - Just a second.

When I asked you about God why did you say

that it never interested you and wasn't a part of your duties.

I wanted to stay on the crew.

Any definite answer would be risky for me.

- McGuirr was there. - Do you believe in God?

- I do. - And you think that a robot can't?

And you think that robots can have children?

All right, let's leave it. Let's get back to your suspicions.

I believe that electric engineer Otis is not human.

These are hardly noticeable details.

But when he sits or stands he doesn't move.

No human can remain still in exactly the same position for long.

When he remembers it, he makes tiny movements and then becomes still.

- And what else? - He eats everything.

What do you mean?

He doesn't care what's being served to him.

And none of us likes everything.

- Why didn't you keep your promise? - Excuse me?

You made a promise to keep your origins a secret.

I will get quite a lot of money for that flight.

I gave my word but I believe that in some situations

not keeping a promise becomes one's duty.

And this is one such situation?

Of course.

Any decent man would do exactly the same.

You're the first one. But we've just taken off.

I'd like to help you during the voyage.

Why?

It won't be easy to figure out who is who.

What do you expect to gain by helping me?

Don't walk away, sir.

Listen to me carefully.

Let's assume that thanks to you I know

that there is one more human in the crew.

You think I'll treat him differently?

That I'll write well about humans and not those who deserve it?

I don't think you believe me…

You think that I…

- You think I can be… - I believe you.

But since you already said what you shouldn't have said

there is no use in playing hide and seek.

Thank you for your honesty. What else?

- I'm back. - All right.

You can get dressed. Everything's fine.

Thank you.

I would like to ask you a question.

Yes?

Could you determine,

by means of appropriate tests,

which of the crew members…

No, it can only be determined during surgery.

Commander...

I'd like to confess something.

I am not human.

What do you mean?

I'm not human but I'll be on your side during this experiment.

Why?

That's simple. I'm an egoist.

If your opinion about us, non-linear, is positive,

we'll be everywhere, not only on spaceships.

As long as it's just me,

or just a few of us,

we have a future, like any human.

With the small difference of us being more talented.

That's logical.

Aren't you worried that the company may destroy you

if my opinion is negative?

I'm too expensive to be destroyed.

More expensive than a supersonic bomber,

so the negative opinion won't destroy me.

Can you tell

who else from the crew…?

No. I mean I'm not sure.

And…

- What else do you want to know? - Tell me about yourself.

Of course, I have nothing to hide.

Has anyone ever reacted to you...

with surprise, fear or disgust?

When people discovered you weren't human.

Yes.

Just once. During surgery with which I assisted.

The scrub nurse didn't know who I was.

Scalpel.

No! No!

I see… And what did you feel?

I feel very little in general, but that was unpleasant.

I had a feeling that it's easier to work with men.

What's your attitude towards those who created you?

People, I mean.

I'm glad that I exist.

My creators couldn't have foreseen many things

but I am grateful to them,

for it's better to exist as a machine than not at all.

Do you remember when you were born?

I haven't been through all the stages of development

so there's no trace of child in me.

What does it mean?

That the world of cities, streets and family life

is the only reality you know and it just makes me laugh.

I see nothing to laugh about.

What is your opinion of God?

Science created me and it rejects all absolutes.

Absolute time or space as well as immortal soul.

- You have a lot of such conventions. - What else is conventional?

Ethics, friendship, love?

What do those things mean to you?

They mean nothing to me,

even though I make use of them.

My ethics are different than yours

but I find it useful for now.

For now?

Technical progress is destroying your morality.

Who knows how long your ethics will last?

Excuse me.

Why are they eating?

Is it just to prove that they're all human?

It's ridiculous.

And even more conventional than what Novak was talking about.

So far, only I look ridiculous.

They're eating, talking; everything's natural and ordinary.

Each of them is human and a robot at the same time.

Maybe they're all trying to deceive me?

Maybe Novak is an ordinary doctor and Brown just resembles a human.

Is there a solution? A way to verify it?

Maybe I should provoke a dangerous situation

that will make them act and separate them?

What if I break my neck and kill all the men,

and robots, who can endure anything take the ship back to earth?

What a great advertisement for the companies

manufacturing those monsters.

Who's there?

It's me, Weber.

- Did you check the probes? - Yes, Commander.

You want to tell me something?

- No. - Wait, please.

What is it?

- I'm listening. - I'm afraid that…

Yes?

I would like you to consider me an ally,

although I must tell you right now that I won't reveal who I am.

I must keep my promise.

All right.

So you want to tell me about other crew members.

Yes.

Brown isn't human.

And the evidence?

I was checking the reactor before take-off.

And I had an idea.

I took a sample from the reactor's core

and put it between two lead bricks by the entrance to the Flight Control.

Everyone had to pass through a weak radiation beam.

When Brown was about to cross it,

he stopped to let me through and looked towards the bricks.

No one else reacted at all.

It would mean that Brown has an additional radioactive sense built in.

This could have been a coincidence.

Have you noticed anything else?

Not yet. I will let you know if I do.

If that's what you wish.

Okay, thank you.

Give me the approach area to Saturn.

Calder, it's Pirx.

Yes, Commander?

Please join me in my cabin.

Yes, Commander.

- I'm here, sir. - Come in, don't be shy.

It's your turn, isn't it?

I don't follow, Commander.

Don't you have anything to tell me?

So at least have a drink with me.

We can give in to a human weakness while off duty, don't you think?

- I think that… - I'll allow it.

To your health, Calder.

And yours, Commander.

Tomorrow we're passing through very dusty regions.

I'd like to go through the topography of that region.

- With your permission. - I won't be keeping you.

Thank you for the whiskey, sir.

It was delicious.

The watch is going normally.

Commander,

I am a crew member who is not human.

I've been watching you trying to recognize me among your men.

Our interests were compatible at the beginning.

Your negative opinion was even in my favour,

for mass production of my kind would deprive me of my uniqueness;

maybe even resulted in my decommission.

I haven't planned anything but...

your nervousness and uneasiness

showed me that you lost the first round of this war of nerves.

Only then I understood that being a servant to humans

on board a spaceship can't satisfy me.

Your world is terrifyingly empty for me,

your ideals ridiculous and your democracy

is the rule of schemers chosen by fools.

And so I've decided to take over the power

to make humans see what they dared to do

creating an artificial being faithful to them.

I'll demonstrate that there's no insanity so thoughtless

or an idea so blatantly absurd

you wouldn't take as your own as long as it's befittingly imposed.

And you'll never free yourself

from the trap you built with your own hands.

As you can see, I'm completely honest.

I will win the second round as well,

for I seem to have no weak points which would allow you to win.

I'll be finishing now.

Maybe we'll meet one day and you'll be able to count on me

as I, in a way, am counting on you now.

Goodbye, Commander.

It's paranoia.

You promise me protection when you rule the world.

What a superiority complex.

Where does it leave me?

Physical fight is out, you being more resilient than me.

So is the intellectual one.

So what can I count on?

On emotions and humanity which you don't have?

The way you see it, humanity is a sum of defects and weaknesses.

Maybe I should use my weakness not strength against you?

Find a situation where human weakness is better than a robot's strength.

Check.

Mate.

Rematch after completing the manoeuvrer.

Where's Calder?

Here, Commander.

You may proceed.

First probe to the starting position.

Done.

Dust level?

400.

And going up by the second.

A swarm of meteorites on the tangent.

Fire!

Zone is clear.

First probe - fire!

Probe on the orbit. Second launcher ready.

Second probe - fire!

Block!

Hydraulic piston.

It's not coming out.

In ten seconds the probe's ion engine will start.

Calder, turn off the probe's engine.

Five seconds.

First pilot to the commander.

We'll enter the division at great speed and lose the probe.

I don't allow…

The witness was the second pilot?

Yes, mister chairman.

What orders did your CO give you during the second probe's malfunction?

He gave no orders.

Please describe the situation on the ship

at the moment of the second probe's malfunction.

We were able to even the ship

and Calder should have started to slow down

but instead he increased speed

and I understood that he'd changed the course.

Instead of moving away from the planet,

he decided to enter the division at great speed

in order to lose the probe.

It was a dangerous, almost suicidal, manoeuvrer.

The CO did not allow it.

Prosecution objects. Pirx did not give such order.

But he wanted to!

When Calder increased the speed, the commander yelled at him.

Calder went full speed ahead

but at g-force over 14 g

no one is able to speak.

It seemed that Calder wanted to prevent him from talking.

Prosecution objects.

The witness is trying to suggest

that Calder, with premeditation and ill will,

wanted to prevent the Commander from giving an order.

The witness will refrain from commenting

and be kind enough as to repeat the Commander's actual words.

The Commander didn't have time to formulate the order,

but his intention was perfectly clear.

He forbade Calder to enter the division.

The witness will please repeat these words,

and the Court will make a decision on their proper sense.

I don't remember exactly. The commander yelled:

"Don't enter the division!"

Or "Don't cross the rings!"

It was something to that affect.

He couldn't speak after that.

So what really happened aboard?

What really happened was that the commanding officer

forbade the pilot to enter the division.

This witness is tendentiously distorting the facts.

The defence asks to listen to the tapes

from the control room again,

in the fragment concerning the commander's exclamation.

The Court dismisses deference's motion.

We've already listened to the tapes

and we found that only a person can be identified,

not the content of the exclamation.

What happened after that?

Novak, I think there'll be no rematch.

Calder, you disobeyed the order.

I forbade you entering the division.

I didn't hear it, Commander.

You want to cause a crash?

I'll cross the division and loose speed on the other side.

Don't touch the safety lock!

Brown, full speed ahead!

Full speed ahead!

Shoot, Brown.

- Shoot! - Yes, sir.

Please explain why Commander Pirx,

after “Goliath" entered the division and lost speed,

didn't order Calder to turn around or brake

seeing that the ship and the crew were in danger.

To brake effectively at such a speed

one would have to engage the reverse thrust.

And it would mean the crew dying from G-overload.

Moreover, if the CO was silent,

he allowed the pilot to act on his own accord.

If it pleases the Court,

witness' statement confirms the prosecution's arguments.

Instead of making a decision

and giving the order to the pilot,

Commander Pirx remained silent.

The behaviour of the accused is clear.

Commander Pirx doesn't stop his pilot from entering the division

and keeps quiet leading to a catastrophic situation.

Did this criminal passivity

which caused the destruction of the non-linear prototype,

nearly led to the destruction of the spacecraft

and the death of the entire crew?

The defence motions that the witness,

on board medic Tom Novak, presents material evidence.

What is this important evidence that you'd like to present?

Please explain.

After Calder's death...

I conducted a thorough examination of his body.

Or rather what was left of it.

I came across something resembling a black box.

It's a verbal recording of Calder's thoughts

and his optical impulses.

It can be played as a regular video tape.

Objection!

Violation of the privacy of thoughts

is a crime against fundamental human rights.

It's an exaggeration

to try to transfer human rights

to the construction details of the machine.

The Court accepts the deference's evidence.

Please play the tape.

Calder, you disobeyed the order!

I forbade you to enter the division.

I didn't hear that, Commander.

You want to destroy the ship?

We'll cross the Cassini and I'll lose speed on the other side.

I can't control the ship. Time for a decision.

Give the order.

Each will lead to catastrophe. Give the order.

Danger! If we wait any longer, the ship's done for.

My variant is impossible. What do I do?

Escape into space.

Break the g-force safety lock.

People will die and I'll bring the ship back to Earth.

The solution found.

Don't touch the safety lock! Brown, full speed ahead!

I've been discovered. They want to destroy me,

push away from the lock.

G-force is growing… 10 g, 12 g… What should I do?

14 g… I can't stand it.

Range of acceptable damage…

Before the Tribunal rules, Commander Pirx has the final word.

Your Honour,

until you heard Calder's tape my testimony sounded ridiculous.

Now, all is clear.

Since the temperature of the flap was equal to the one of the vacuum,

water released by Calder froze, blocking the probe.

When the probe was hit by the hydraulic piston,

it got even more stuck in the hull.

When the engine started working,

the ice melted leaving no sign of sabotage.

Calder calculated everything in advance.

The probe's malfunction,

entering the division and the crew dying.

He wanted to change "Goliath" into a death ship.

Calder foresaw everything.

He just overlooked one thing.

A person can be helpless and lost.

A person can be hesitant and doubtful, but a robot...

never can.

To be honest I didn't know what to do.

Each order could end in catastrophe.

And Calder could have contested it.

And the tape would later become a proof of his loyalty.

A proof, that he tried to save us to the very last moment.

And I was silent,

and Calder took it for wit,

and my powerlessness he took for incisiveness

and when he started reacting like a person...

he lost with us,

human beings.

I was accused of remaining passive in this critical situation.

But no,

my fault lies elsewhere,

although it has not been foreseen in the Code of Space Tribunal.

Can you say few words?

How are you feeling, Commander?

Commander!

It looks like once again you don't know what to do.

I'm grateful to Novak.

If he hadn't found that tape.

I would spend the rest of my career behind a desk.

Excuse me.

- Novak. - Yes?

Be honest with me.

Why did you tell me you were a robot?

I'm a neurologist

and as such am quite familiar with a robots' psyche.

My duty was to help you uncover their weaknesses.

I was much more convincing as a robot traitor, wasn't I?

True. And I believed you.

And now you've really helped me.

Thank you, champ.

After protests in many countries,

the UN General Assembly banned the production

and use of so-called non-linear, artificial people.

We were saved

and he was doomed by my indecisiveness.

By my kind-heartedness.

This human kind-heartedness which he truly detested.

It doomed him and saved us.

We should be going.

I hope this time nothing will stop us from seeing

if the stars are visible from a mountain top at noon.

I'm sure nothing will.

You're not yourself after that flight.

What's going on?

- What are you thinking about? - Nothing, really.

The only thing I can't...

get out of my mind is that scar...

on Novak's hand.

You think that others can still be among us?

Let's go.