2001: A Space Odyssey

Here you are, sir. Main level, please.

Right. See you on the way back.

- Bye. - Bye.

- Good morning, sir. - Morning.

- We haven't seen you for a long time. - Nice to see you again.

- Did you have a pleasant flight? - Very nice.

Mr. Miller of Station Security is supposed to meet me.

- May I call him for you? - Would you? Here he is.

- Hello, Dr. Floyd. - Hello, Miller.

- Sorry I'm late. - That's all right.

- You look great. - It's nice to have you back.

- Did you have a good flight? - Very nice.

- Shall we go through? - Would you please use number 17?

Thank you, Miss Turner.

This way.

Welcome to Voiceprint Identification.

When you see the red light go on, please state in the following order:

Your destination, your nationality and your full name.

Surname first, Christian name and initial.

Moon. American. Floyd, Heywood R.

Thank you. You are cleared through Voiceprint Identification.

Thank you.

- Have I got time for breakfast? - I think we can manage that.

How long have I got?

Your flight leaves in an hour and 10 minutes.

I've reserved a table for you in the Earthlight Room.

It's been seven or eight months since you were here, hasn't it?

Let's see. Yeah, about eight months.

I suppose you saw the work on the new section?

- Coming along great, huh? - Yeah, it's fine.

Oh, wait.

I've got to make a couple calls. I'll meet you in the restaurant.

- Dad? - Hello.

- Hello. - Hi, squirt. What are you doing?

Playing.

Where's Mummy?

Gone to shopping.

- Who's taking care of you? - Rachel.

- May I speak to Rachel, please? - She's gone to the bathroom.

Are you coming to my party tomorrow?

I'm sorry, sweetheart, but I can't.

Why not?

Well, you know, Daddy's traveling.

Very sorry about it, but I just can't.

I'm going to send you a very nice present, though.

All right.

- Anything special that you want? - Yes.

What?

A telephone.

We've got lots of telephones already.

Can't you think of anything else for your birthday?

Something very special?

- Yes. - What?

A bush baby.

A bush baby? We'll have to see about that.

I want you to tell Mummy something for me. Will you remember?

- Yeah. - Tell Mummy that I telephoned. Okay?

And that I'll try to telephone again tomorrow.

Now, will you tell her that?

Yes.

Okay, sweetheart. Have a nice birthday tomorrow.

All right.

And have a nice birthday party tomorrow too, huh?

All right.

Okay. Now, take care and be a good girl, won't you?

All right. Bye-bye.

Bye-bye. Happy birthday.

- Elena, how nice to see you again. - Heywood, what a wonderful surprise.

- You're looking wonderful. - You're looking well too.

This is my friend, Dr. Heywood Floyd.

- I'd like you to meet Dr. Kalinan. - How do?

- Dr. Stretyneva. - How do you do?

And this is Dr. Andrei Smyslov.

How do you do? I've heard a lot about you.

Do sit down.

- Well, we... - No, no, please.

Thank you.

- Would you like a drink, doctor? - No, thank you.

I haven't had breakfast yet. Someone's meeting me in the restaurant.

I'll just sit with you a minute. Then I'll be off.

- Are you quite sure? - Quite sure, thank you.

- Well, how's Gregor? - He's fine.

He's been doing some underwater research in the Baltic...

...so I'm afraid we don't get to see very much of each other these days.

- When you see him, give him my regards. - Yes, of course.

Well, where are you all off to? Up or down?

We're going home.

We've just spent three months calibrating the new antenna at Tchalinko.

- What about you? - I'm just on my way up to Clavius.

Oh, are you?

Dr. Floyd, I hope you don't think I'm being too inquisitive...

...but perhaps you can clear up the big mystery about what is going on there.

I'm afraid I don't know what you mean.

It's that for the past two weeks...

...some extremely odd things have been happening at Clavius.

- Oh, really? - Yes, yes.

For one thing, when you phone the base, all you get is a recording...

...which repeats that the phone lines are temporarily out of order.

Probably having some trouble with their equipment.

Yes.

Yes, that's what we thought at first...

...but it's been going on now for the past 10 days.

You haven't been able to contact anyone for 10 days?

That's right.

Oh, I see.

There's another thing. Two days ago, one of our rocket buses...

...was denied permission for an emergency landing.

That does sound odd.

I'm afraid there's going to be a bit of a row about it.

Denying the men permission to land violates the IAS Convention.

Yes, of course. Did the crew get back all right?

- Fortunately, they did. - Well, I'm glad about that.

At the risk of pressing you on a point you seem reticent to discuss...

...may I ask you a straightforward question?

Well, certainly.

Quite frankly, we have had some very reliable intelligence reports...

...that quite a serious epidemic has broken out at Clavius.

Something, apparently, of an unknown origin.

Is this, in fact, what has happened?

I'm sorry, Dr. Smyslov, but...

...I'm really not at liberty to discuss this.

I understand.

But this epidemic could quite easily spread to our base.

We should be given all the facts.

Yes, I know.

As I said, I'm not at liberty to discuss it.

Are you sure you won't change your mind about that drink?

No, I'm positive. I really must be going.

I hope you and your wife can come to the IAC Conference.

I hope we can make it.

If you do, bring that darling little daughter with you.

That'll depend on school vacations and all that sort of thing.

If we can, we will.

You've got an invitation if you ever get to the States.

Gregor and I will look forward to seeing you.

Goodbye, Elena.

It's been a pleasure meeting you all. Dr. Smyslov.

Whatever the reasons for your visit, the very best of luck to you.

Thank you.

Ladies.

Excuse me, Dr. Halvorsen. I'm through now.

- Thank you very much, gentlemen. - You're welcome.

Well...

...I know you will all want to join with me...

...in welcoming our distinguished friend and colleague...

...from the National Council of Astronautics, Dr. Heywood Floyd.

Dr. Floyd has come up specially to Clavius to be with us today.

Before the briefing, he'd like to have a few words with you.

Dr. Floyd?

Thank you, Dr. Halvorsen.

Hi, everybody. Nice to be back with you.

First of all, I bring a personal message from Dr. Howell...

...who has asked me to convey his deep appreciation...

...for the many sacrifices you've had to make.

And, of course, his congratulations on your discovery...

...which may prove to be among the most significant in the history of science.

Now...

...I know there have been some conflicting views held by some of you...

...regarding the need for complete security in this matter.

More specifically, your opposition to the cover story...

...created to give the impression there's an epidemic at the base.

I understand that beyond it being a matter of principle...

...many of you are troubled by the concern and anxiety...

...this story of an epidemic might cause to your relatives and friends on Earth.

Well, I completely sympathize with your negative views.

I find this cover story personally embarrassing, myself.

However, I accept the need for absolute secrecy in this.

And I hope you will too.

I'm sure you're all aware of the grave potential...

...for cultural shock and social disorientation...

...contained in this present situation...

...if the facts were prematurely made public...

...without adequate preparation and conditioning.

Anyway, this is the view of the Council.

The purpose of my visit here is to gather additional facts and opinions...

...on the situation...

...and to prepare a report to the Council...

...recommending when and how the news should eventually be announced.

If any of you would like to give me your views and opinions...

...in private, if you like, I will be happy to include them in my report.

Well, I think that's about it.

Any questions?

Dr. Floyd, have you any idea how much longer...

...this cover story will have to be maintained?

I don't know, Bill.

I suppose it'll be maintained as long as deemed necessary by the Council.

There must be adequate time for a full study...

...before any thought can be given to making a public announcement.

As some of you already know, the Council has requested...

...that security oaths be obtained in writing...

...from everyone who has knowledge of this event.

Were there any more questions?

I'm sure we'll all want to cooperate with Dr. Floyd as fully as possible...

...and as there are no more questions, we ought to get on with the briefing.

- Thank you, Dr. Floyd. - Thank you.

Anybody hungry?

- Great. - Well.

- What do we got? - You name it.

- Is this chicken? - Something like that.

Tastes the same, anyway.