Alphaville (Alphaville, une étrange aventure de Lemmy Caution)

A STRANGE CASE OF LEMMY CAUTION

Sometimes reality

can be too complex to be conveyed by the spoken word.

Legend remoulds it into a form

that can be spread all across the world.

It was 24.17 Oceanic Time when I reached the suburbs of Alphaville.

SILENCE LOGIC SAFETY PRUDENCE

- Sir? - My newspaper reserved me a room.

- Mr...? - Ivan Johnson. Figaro-Pravda.

Room 344. Have you registered with Civil Control?

You have to, even if you're only here for the festival. Room 344.

Your suitcase, sir?

Second floor, please.

Room 344. Sir?

- Clear off. - This way, sir.

Your suitcase, sir.

Are you tired, sir?

Would you like to sleep, sir?

This way, sir.

If you're tired, you can rest, sir.

Your room is there, sir.

The bedroom is through here, sir.

- What are you up to now? - I'm just checking there's a Bible.

- Do you believe? - Yes, of course.

I'll put the tranquillizers in the bathroom.

I'm fine, thanks. Don't mention it.

- Are you having a bath, sir? - Yes, I need to think.

I'll help you, sir.

Your tie, sir?

- What is it now? - I could take a bath with you.

Look, sweetie, I'm big enough to find my own ladies.

Clear off now.

Talk nicely to the ladies, Mr Johnson.

Shit! What now?

- Don't you fancy this one? - How about your sister, sir?

- I'm getting rusty. - What, sir?

- What is this? Are you on drugs? - No, this is normal, sir.

Everything weird is "normal" in this damn town! Sit on that chair.

Her name was Beatrice. She told me she was a level-three seductress.

I was struck by the sadness and hardness in her face.

Something was definitely awry in this galaxy's capital.

Hold that up.

- Not bad for a Guadalcanal veteran. - Just what I was thinking.

Go and try your act on someone else... because it's not working on me.

- Mr Johnson? - What?

Miss Natacha Von Braun to see you.

Just a moment, please.

I'll be down in five minutes.

- She's just gone up. - OK, thanks.

Got a light?

I came 6,000 miles to give it to you.

- My name is Natacha Von Braun. - Yes, I know.

How do you know?

- You are Miss Von Braun? - Yes, and I'm fine. Don't mention it.

You're from the Outer Countries, Mr Johnson?

Is everything OK here?

I have orders to be at your service while you are in Alphaville.

- Who gave you these orders? - The authorities of course.

- Did you come for the festival? - Which festival?

The big festival. That's why people from the Outer Countries generally come.

- You really should've come earlier. - Why?

Because the festival is almost over. There won't be another for years.

Is that so?

Yes, Mr Johnson.

But this evening there will be a reception and gala performance.

It will be huge.

It's in one of the ministry buildings. I'm going.

- Come along if you like. - All right.

What time? Because... there's something I must do first.

- You're going to Civil Control? - No. What's that?

Don't forget to go.

- We can meet after you've been. - I'll go tomorrow.

- I'm meeting... a friend. - I have work to do too.

I'll leave an address to find me.

We'll meet there and go together.

- See you in an hour or two. - See you later.

I'll come down with you.

What are the Outer Countries like?

- You've never been? - No.

When I was a child, my father used to tell me about them.

Now it's forbidden to think of them.

Are you often told to accompany strangers?

- It's my job. - That must be nice sometimes.

Why?

No one's ever propositioned you? No one's fallen in love with you?

In love? What does that mean?

- There's something I'd like to know. - Yes, Mr Johnson?

- What kind of fool do you take me for? - Let go of me.

- Answer me. - I don't know what you mean.

Look, princess, I haven't a clue what you're on about either.

That's always how it is. You never understand anything.

That's always how it is.

You never understand anything and in the end, it kills you.

- Which way are you going? - 12, Enrico Fermi Street.

It's just after Boulevard Heisenberg, near Mathematics Park.

I have my car, I can give you a lift. I'll get the keys.

Don't you want me to proposition you?

- What? - You still don't know what I mean?

Her smile and pointed little teeth

reminded me of the vampire films they used to show in old picture houses.

I am a level-two programmer.

Natacha is a name from the past.

Yes, but all we have in life is the present.

No one has lived in the past and no one will live in the future.

Well, thanks for the lift.

My pleasure. I'm only doing my job.

- Is it much further? - Karl?

- We have to cross the North zone. - What's the population of Alphaville?

Don't forget to go to Civil Control.

- What do you do for a living? - I work.

For a newspaper.

Is Professor Von Braun your father? I have to do an article on him.

- Could you arrange me an interview? - I don't know... I've never seen him.

- I'll ask. - I'll get out now.

- Here? - Yes. Love changed my mind.

You've got the address of where we're meeting up?

- Yes. Tell him to stop. - Karl?

Telecommunications?

I'd like to make a call.

- Galaxy or local call? - Local call.

Booth number two.

- Do you know who this man is? - Of course, I'm not stupid!

"At the end of Galata Bridge is the Red Star..."

My place, my place!

"It bears no comparison

to our splendid galactic corridors

glittering with luxury

and with lights.

"It is merely a vast labyrinth, tall and narrow..."

- Is this Red Star Hotel? - Yes, I'm fine. Don't mention it.

- Is Mr Dickson here? - Yes.

- He's out. - I'll wait for him.

- Got any money, sir? - Clear off!

Sit down, sir, if you are tired.

"I wanted to see it again."

And I saw the tomb of Duke Montpensier.

The statue of the prince was sculpted by Pradier.

The prince is dressed in

"it is one of his last masterpieces."

Henry!

Henry!

It's me.

We've got a lot to talk about.

- Where is my key! - My money, Mr Dickson!

- My key! - His key!

- And a beer. - And a beer!

And me?

Will you hurry up and commit suicide?

We need your room for our cousin from the South.

You're from the Outer Countries, aren't you?

Why did he ask if you were going to commit suicide?

Quite a few...

Quite a few people... do it.

They can't adapt to this place. It's...

It's the method invented by the Chinese

about 30 years ago in Peking.

They are masters of dissuasion.

What about those who can't adapt and don't commit suicide?

The others? They're executed by the authorities.

They can hide. But there aren't many left.

Is Dick Tracy dead? What about Flash Gordon?

Why didn't we ever hear from any of you?

Forgive me. You know how things are.

Alpha 60 - what's that?

The super-computer companies used years ago.

- Don't you remember? - In New York, IBM...

And Olivetti, General Electric, Tokyo.

- And? - Alpha 60 is 150 lights years ahead.

I see. People have become slaves to probability.

Alphaville is their ideal place - it's a technological society,

like the ant or termite world.

- I don't understand. - Probably about 150 light years ago...

- 150? - 150, 100...

There were artists in the ant world.

Yes, artists, novelists

musicians, painters...

Today, there is nothing.

Nothing, just like here.

Did Professor Von Braun see to that?

He just obeys the orders of logic.

- Then why didn't you kill him? - Why?

Why? What does "why" mean?

Why?

- I forget. - Do you know his daughter Natacha?

Who is she really?

He was the man we sent to Los Alamos.

That wasn't his name.

That wasn't his name back then!

Listen, Henry, let's get out of here together.

You'll get better. But first, you must...

It's my sordid little secret...

Come in, Madame Ia Marquise.

My cloak, Madame Recamier.

Thank you, Madame Pompadour.

Madame Bovary. Marie Antoinette.

Madame Lafayette.

LEMMY, conscience,

conscience make Alpha 60 destroy itself.

Tenderness, tenderness

save those who weep.