A for Andromeda

The Universe can not be read

until we learn the language in which it was written.

Galileo Galilei 1564-1642

captions: j. rolling - t. braun translation: drcaio

Elvis Presley, known as the king of rock & roll...

Three airliners were kidnapped...

Well, John, you're safe.

"Be careful, John. "Do not worry, I will.

It is firm.

It's ok?

Damn it, John, it's not funny.

MILITARY BASE OF INVESTIGATION BOULDERSHAW FELL

When you hear background radiation, what is the time horizon?

It can monitor radiation from the origins of the Universe.

The song of the stars.

Strange to think that it is already ancient history,

just an impression that wanders through the universe, fortuitous and lost.

There is nothing strange.

Not for an astrobiologist like you.

"Did John say when he'd be back?" -Not for me.

I'm serious. I will not be climbing here again. It's too risky.

"It's still going to kill us." "You always say that."

But it's still here.

-Maybe the last chance. -Great.

How long will we be here?

Two, maybe three weeks.

Why, John? The computer is mounted,

is receiving signals from the satellite. Finished our work.

We should stay until we finish the tests.

You know they would not let us stay forever.

So you better keep climbing, do not you?

Billions of years of stars

which form under a blanket of dark, dusty clouds.

And then?

They then group into galaxies, the Milky Way, the solar system,

planets, the Earth and then us.

-That simple? "Yes, simple as that.

It was just that you were a math.

You will tell me now that there is a creative hand. God does not want to.

I'm a mathematician, so I'm skeptical.

That everything started with random sounds and dust,

sounds a bit unlikely, that's all. From a mathematical point of view.

What is it?

Do not know.

Review the synchrotron radiation source data.

-Interference? -I'm not sure.

-I do not think so. It is very regular. -Where do you see them?

"From what satellite, which group?" - I'm trying to establish.

John would love this.

"How often, Christine?" "About 2 gigahertz.

But, weak, there is a lot of background noise.

-Definitely is constant! -Yes, I think it is.

I'll try to find your source.

-John, come and see this. -What it is?

It's a sign. A repetitive sign.

Where does it come from?

It's not from any of our satellites.

"Maybe it's from the rubble." "They do not come from spacecraft."

I think it comes from the center of Andromeda.

Andromeda.

General Vandenberg, we find something extraordinary,

a low frequency microwave signal from M31.

M31 "

Sorry, the Andromeda galaxy.

From a satellite or a space probe?

From neither.

Dawnay, I do not want a new toy to distract you.

Of course, but this sign is very unusual.

Bouldershaw was not built with enough public money

for scientists to have fun

or look for the origin of the universe.

I know.

It will be used to intercept all types of communications

which may establish any suspected source,

but if there are distractions...

I'm sure it will not interfere with the work of the computer.

Dr. Fleming made sure.

The Ministry of Defense does not have as much faith in Fleming or Bridger.

We could not complete this project without John.

He may be eccentric, but he has a brilliant mind.

And Bridger?

John does not work without him.

How touching. It is well known that the Ministry of Defense

not interested in astrophysics.

If you want to be part of the project, keep the team disciplined.

-Where were you? - Talking to John.

-Yes! -What are you doing?

John wants a new show.

You want to compare the signal with the ones we have in the database.

I can do it through Geneva.

The Astrophysical Laboratory of Central Europe.

"Do you think it's a sign?" -Do not know.

Hope so.

Three years building a rat trap

so they can read the e-mails from others.

It does not matter, Christine.

Our work here is almost finished.

What about John's investigation?

I do not think it comes to anything.

Nothing significant. Anyway.

Maybe some new planet in the solar system or new particle.

Perhaps.

Perhaps.

We'll call it Fleming. That will make it worthwhile, right?

When did you become so cynical?

If only I could separate the carrier waves.

"Dennis, can you separate the fields?" -Yes. Of course.

It's incredible.

"The Universe is written in a huge book

which is always open before our eyes. "

Shakespeare.

Galileo. It is written in mathematical language.

Before Galileo we were the center of everything.

And "bang" everything has changed.

All our beliefs disappeared in an instant.

We must have our feet on the ground.

Ask Galileo and John Fleming.

Quiet.

-I think I have. -What?

-The message. I think I've isolated it. -I am seeing.

John, we should not let the signal interfere

with computer tests.

What you mean?

You do not have to waste any more time on that.

"It is clear that it interferes. "This is not interference.

This is what it is. I accepted all this, if I could do it my way,

with my people and now says that I can not work with my computer.

It's not yours. The Ministry of Defense was generous in giving you access.

Of course. He says what they want to hear, and when he finishes the job, street with him.

No one is putting you on the street.

You know why this project is so important.

It was never pure research.

They sent us to create a system that could filter information

through sound horizons.

Counter-terrorism.

Men with satellite phones in the Middle East or who knows where.

I'm a scientist. I came here to investigate.

You know the deal. Build a computer, do your work

and the Ministry of Defense uses it for surveillance.

We need them, John, it's their money.

I did not accept it.

What do you think it means?

If it's binary arithmetic, I do not know.

"Could be instructions. -Truth?

John, I'm on my way out.

The drawing is finished, there is nothing else to do.

There's plenty to do here. Do you have another job?

Do not.

I had offers, but nothing definitive.

What?

There are other people who value my contribution, John.

But we always do everything together. We are a great team.

And now that the computer works, think of the possibilities.

About the signal!

I think I'd better go forward.

"And Christine?" "What about Christine?"

"It was never very serious. "Maybe not for you."

It's all right with you.

Everybody listens to you, it's the great John Fleming.

No one pays attention to me.

When does this fascination for the stars end?

What you mean!

I do not know, just...

With his mind he could do anything. He could be rich.

Maybe even be happy, but here we are seeing stars every day.

My father said, "Look at the stars, son, it's all there,

the future, the past, and the present. "

Vast, empty and lonely. That's all I see.

-John! -What?

General Vandenberg wants to see us.

-This one? "No, but you're on your way."

He really believes he could send a message to Geneva

without them knowing?

What do you think about this?

-It could be anything. "You know as well as I do, which is."

And Geneva confirms.

Even if it's a message, you do not know what it says.

That's what we're finding out.

If the Ministry of Defense finds that we are diverting from the program,

drives us out.

Let me talk.

If you ask something, stick to the project.

It's ok.

I think this is your office.

Dawnay, come in.

Fleming, give us two minutes, please.

I told you I wanted this place safe.

He's been talking to Geneva, and that was a clear violation.

I'll be in charge now and I want Fleming and Bridger out.

But we did not.

Dr. Fleming.

Thank you

for his hard work on this very special project.

It's incredible.

I made a great discovery in quantum computing.

Better than I would dream.

The extra power allowed to identify the message.

John, that's not what the General meant.

As I said, thank you for your work on this noble project.

"You can not be serious. "Sorry, John.