Alphaville

---

Sometimes,

reality is too complex

for oral communication.

But legend embodies it

in a form

which enables it to spread

all over the world.

It was 24:
17, Oceanic Time

when I approached

the suburbs of Alphaville.

Silence. Logic.

Security. Prudence.

My paper reserved

a room for me:

- You are?

- Ivan Johnson.

- Which paper?

- Figaro-Pravda.

Room 344. Have you registered

at Residents Control?

You must, even if you're

a Festival visitor.

Your bag, sir.

- Please, sir.

- Nothing. Get lost.

This way, sir.

You're tired, sir?

You wish to sleep, sir?

It's this way, sir.

If you're tired,

you can rest, sir.

Here it is, sir.

The bedroom's here, sir.

- What are you looking for now?

- I'm checking if the Bible's here.

- Everyone has one.

- Do you believe that?

Yes, of course.

I'll leave you the tranquillizers

in the bathroom.

I'm very well.

Thank you so very much.

- Are you going to take a bath, sir?

- Yes, I must reflect.

I'll help you, sir.

And your tie, sir.

- Now what? - I'll take a bath

with you, sir, if you like.

Listen, doll, I'm a big boy.

I can find dames all alone.

Now get lost.

Be polite to the ladies,

Mr. Johnson.

Sh*t. Now what?

This kid doesn't please you?

And your sister, sir?

- I'm getting out of shape.

- What sir?

What's going on here?

Are you on drugs or what?

No, it's normal, sir.

All things weird are normal

in this whore of cities.

Sit in that chair.

Her name was Beatrice.

She said she was a seductress,

third class.

I was struck by the sadness

and durability of her face.

Something's not in orbit

in the capital of this Galaxy.

Hold this up.

Not bad for a veteran

of Guadalcanal.

Just what I was thinking

about you.

Go play your games

with someone else.

I've heard it before.

Yes? Mr. Johnson.

Miss Natasha Vonbraun

calls for you.

Just a moment, please.

Leonard Von Braun, inventor

of the death ray

bring back alive, or liquidate.

Tell her to wait,

I'll be down in 5 minutes.

She's on her way up.

Henry Dickson, Agent X21,

12, Enrico Fermi, Alphaville.

Got a light?

I've traveled 9,000 kilometers

to give it to you.

- I'm Natasha Vonbraun.

- Yes, I know.

How do you know?

You are Miss Vonbraun.

Yes, I'm very well,

thank you so very much.

You come from the Outlands,

Mr. Johnson?

- Everything to your satisfaction?

- Yes.

I've been ordered to stay

in your service

during your stay in Alphaville.

Who ordered you?

The authorities, of course.

You came for the festival,

Mr. Johnson?

Which festival?

The big one; that's why people

from the Outlands come.

- In my opinion, it's silly

you did not. - Why?

The festival's nearly over;

No more until next year.

You don't say.

Yes, Mr. Johnson.

But this evening,

there's a gala reception.

Very big.

At a ministry. I'm going;

come if you like.

OK.

What time? I must attend

to something else first.

You must go to

Residents Control registration?

No. What's that?

You mustn't forget to go there,

Mr. Johnson. We can meet afterwards.

No, I'll go there tomorrow.

First I must meet a friend.

Me too, I've work to do.

I'll give you the address

where I'll be.

Call for me

and we'll go together.

OK. In an hour or two.

All right, see you later,

Mr. Johnson.

I'll go down with you, miss.

Mr. Johnson, what's it like

in the Outlands?

You've never been?

No, but my father told me about

them when I was little.

Now it's forbidden to think

about them.

Are you often ordered

to stay with strangers?

- Yes, it's my job.

- Sometimes, it must be nice.

- Why?

- You never have love affairs?

- What? - Has no one ever fallen

in love with you?

In love? What's that?

There's one thing I'd like

to know, miss.

- Yes, Mr. Johnson.

- You've finished taking me

- for an ass, or are you beginning?

- Let go of me.

But answer me.

I don't understand,

what are you talking about?

Realize, Princess. I don't know

what you're talking about either.

It's always like that.

You never understand anything.

Yes, it's always like that.

You never understand anything.

And one night,

you end it in death.

- Which way are you going?

- 12, Enrico Fermi.

That's after Heisenberg Boulevard,

not far from Mathematical Park.

I have a car, I can give you

a lift, if you wish. - OK.

I'll get the keys.

- You don't want me to court you?

- What?

You really don't know

what it means?

Her smile and her small,

pointed teeth

reminded me of the old

vampire films,

the sort they used to show

at cinerama museums.

I'm a programmer, second class.

Natasha's a name from the past.

Yes, but in life, one can

only know the present.

No one's lived in the past,

or will live in the future.

Thanks for the lift, anyway.

It's a pleasure to do my job,

Mr. Johnson.

It's much farther?

You know we must cross

the North Zone, Miss.

What's the population

of Alphaville?

Don't forget, you must go

to Residents Control.

Yes.

What exactly do you do

for a living?

I work

for a newspaper.

Professor Vonbraun is

your father?

It's vital that I write about him;

Could you arrange a meeting?

I don't know. I've never seen him.

I'll ask.

Finally, I leave you.

- Here?

- I've changed my mind.

You have the address?

Yes. Tell him to stop.

Telecommunication.

I'd like to telecommunicate.

- Galaxy or local call?

- Local.

Cabin 2.

Miss, do you know that man?

Of course I know him.

Don't be stupid.

At the end of Galata Bridge

one finds the Red Star.

My place.

You can't compare it

to our splendid

galactic corridors

all a-glitter with

luxury and light.

It's only a vast labyrinth,

tall, cramped.

Is this the Red Star Hotel?

Yes, it is, thank you.

- Is Mr. Dickson in?

- He's out.

Fine, I'll wait.

You have money, sir?

You can have a seat, sir,

if you're tired.

I wanted to see it again,

the tomb of

the Duc de Montpensier.

The reclining statue

of the Prince

is the work of Pradier.

The Prince wears

the costume of...

Henry, it's me!

We've got plenty to talk about.

- Where's my key?

- Where's my money, Mr. Dickson?

- My key.

- His key.

And a beer.

And me?

Why don't you hurry up

and commit suicide?

We need the room for our cousin

from the south.

You come from the Outlands?

Why did he ask

if you'd commit suicide?

There's quite a few...

There's quite a few who do.

One can't adapt to this place.

It's the method

the Chinese invented

about thirty years ago

in Pekingville.

Dissuasion is their strong point.

What about those who won't adapt,

or commit suicide?

- Those... they're executed.

- Yes, the authorities.

But one can hide, you know.

There aren't many left.

Dick Tracy, is he dead?

And Guy Leclair?

Why didn't we hear from them,

or from you, Henry?

I'm sorry.

These things happen.

And what's Alpha 60?

A giant computer, like they used

to have in big business.

Nueva York... IBM...

Olivetti... General Electric...

Tokyorama...

Alpha 60 is one hundred and fifty

light years more powerful.

I see. People have become slaves

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