Arrival

I used to think this was the beginning of your story.

Memory is a strange thing.

It doesn't work like I thought it did.

We are so bound by time,

by its order.

Okay.

Okay, come back to me.

Come back to me.

Come back to me.

Stick 'em up!

Are you the sheriff in this here town?

These are my tickle guns, and I'm gonna get ya.

No.

You want me to chase you? You better run.

I remember moments in the middle.

I love you.

I hate you!

And this was the end.

Come back to me.

Come back to me.

But now I'm not so sure I believe in beginnings and endings.

There are days that define your story beyond your life.

Like the day they arrived.

Good morning.

- Morning. -Morning.

Where is everyone?

Okay. Well, let's get started.

Today, we are talking about Portuguese

and why it sounds so different from the other Romance languages.

The story of Portuguese begins in the kingdom of Galicia...

- Sorry. -...in the Middle Ages,

where language was seen as an expression of art.

Any news you wanna share?

Dr. Banks, can you turn the TV to a news channel?

...arrived here on scene,

but police have already set up a blockade here around the area.

As you can see, we've gotten just about as close as we can,

but unfortunately, Montana, right now, is on complete lockdown.

The object apparently touched down 40 minutes ago just north of I-94.

We're waiting to hear if this is perhaps an experimental vessel or...

Hold on.

I'm learning that more objects like this have landed

at as many as eight other locations around the world.

Yes. Can we?

This is from a site in Hokkaido.

This is worldwide. It is happening right now.

Okay.

That's... Class is dismissed.

For now, we're simply asking for cooperation

while authorities assess the object.

So, you're saying it's not ours?

Do you even know if it's from Earth?

We're still collecting information. We're coordinating with other countries.

We are not the only ones to have one of these in our backyard.

If this is some sort of peaceful first contact,

why send 12?

Why not just one?

Yeah, I know. I saw that, too.

I don't know, Mom. I'm watching the same news coverage you are.

Well, Mom, please don't bother with that channel.

How many times do I have to tell you those people are idiots?

Yeah, well, do I sound nervous?

Okay, exactly. So...

Me? Yeah. You know me, I'm about the same.

Mom, I'm fine.

Okay, I'll call you later. Bye.

And at around eight hours after landing,

there are still no signs of what might be called "first contact."

Now, the objects measure at least 1,500 feet tall.

Two are reported to have penetrated Russian airspace,

one in Siberia and the other off the coast of the Black...

...suspended above the ocean.

So far, there are 12 unidentified objects spread across the globe.

There is no obvious logic to their locations

and no evidence that the ships are even...

...who entertain the idea that if it is a kind of vessel,

it may be unmanned.

Regardless, we have a protocol for scenarios like this, but...

After Tuesday's extraordinary events,

the President, this morning, has declared a state of emergency,

with as many as 5,000 National Guard being deployed

to the state of Montana alone.

Borders are closed and flights have been grounded,

stranding millions of travelers.

Panic buying of gas, water, and food continues to escalate

and federal authorities have temporarily lifted all caps

on overtime for law enforcement.

The ATF has put a temporary ban on new gun licenses,

forcing many independent suppliers of hunting equipment and firearms

to close their doors to the public.

Forty-eight hours later and no further development...

Two days.

...from the sight of the 12 UFO...

And already the public expects us to know the answers.

I'm Colonel G.T. Weber.

We never formally met,

but two years ago, you did some Farsi translations for Army intelligence.

You made quick work of those insurgent videos.

You made quick work of those insurgents.

You are on the top of everyone's list when it comes to translations.

And you have another two years in the SSBI.

So, you still have top-secret clearance.

That's why I'm in your office and not at Berkeley.

Okay.

I have something I need you to translate for me.

Why are you here?

Can you... Can you understand us?

Where did you come from?

Now you heard it.

What do you make of it?

Is that...

Yes.

How many?

How many what?

How many speaking?

Two.

Assume they were not speaking at the same time.

Are you sure? Did they have mouths...

How would you approach translating this?

Do you hear any words?

Phrases?

I don't... I don't know.

So, what can you tell me?

I can tell you that it's impossible to translate from an audio file.

I would need to be there to interact with them.

You didn't need that with the Farsi translations.

I didn't need it because I already knew the language.

But this, this is...

I know what you're doing.

- Tell me what I'm doing. -I'm not taking you to Montana.

It's all I can do to keep it from turning into a tourist site

for everybody who has a TS clearance.

I'm just telling you what it would take to do this job.

This is not a negotiation.

If I leave here, your chance is gone.

Good day.

Colonel?

You mentioned Berkeley, are you going to ask Danvers next?

Maybe.

Before you commit to him,

ask him the Sanskrit word for "war" and its translation.

An agreement on sharing scientific discoveries looks closer tonight,

as Russia and China join talks at the United Nations.

Meanwhile, financial markets across the world are in crisis

as the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell over 2,000 points

in its worst weekly decline in history.

Mornin'.

Colonel.

Gavisti. He says it means "an argument."

What do you say it means?

"A desire for more cows."

Pack your bags.

All right, give me 20 minutes?

We take off in 10.

Dr. Banks. Right this way, please.

Contact and ready to approach...

Excuse me, Dr. Banks, let me make sure you're properly secured.

You Okay?

Thanks.

Sorry, I couldn't hear what you were saying.

"Language is the foundation of civilization.

"It is the glue that holds a people together.

"It is the first weapon drawn in a conflict."

Louise, this is Ian Donnelly.

Louise Banks, Ian Donnelly.

It's quite a greeting.

Yeah. Well, you wrote it.

Yeah, but...

It's the kind of thing you write as a preface,

dazzle them with the basics.

Yeah. It's great.

Even if it's wrong.

It's wrong?

Well, the cornerstone of civilization isn't language, it's science.

Ian is a theoretical physicist from Los Alamos.

You'll be reporting to me,

but you'll be working with him when you're in the shell.

That's what they're calling the UFO.

Priority one. What do they want, where are they from.

And beyond that, how did they get here?

Are they capable of faster-than-light travel?

Are they...

I have a list of questions that, you know, we can go over.

Starting with a series of just a "handshake" of binary sequences...

How about we just talk to them

before we start throwing math problems at them?

This is why you're both here.

I'll bring the coffee.

Coffee with some aliens.

All right. I want you to take these two to Dr. Kettler.

Yes, sir.

Follow the captain to Medical.

The procedure should take just a few minutes,

and then, we'll get started.

These men are gonna take care of your bags.

I'll take your cell phones.

Cell phones.

Follow me.

Put these on. You're gonna wear them at all times.

- Not until they're here. -Great.