Quintet

Synopsis: In the distant future the world is in the grip of another ice age. A city originally built to house five million people is now in its death throes as the relentlessly advancing glacier is slowly crushing the metropolis's steel infrastructure. The relatively few surviving fur-clad inhabitants, perhaps thousands, perhaps only hundreds, drift aimlessly in their grim, drab world, awaiting their inevitable fate as they try to survive from day to day with scavenged firewood and minimal diet. Their only solaces are booza, an alcoholic drink distilled from moss, and Quintet, a seemingly innocuous board game for six players. The only other surviving mammals are roving packs of hungry mastiffs which roam the city's corridors and quickly dispose of the remains of the dead. Newly arrived from the south is Essex with his pregnant wife Vivia, seeking shelter in the doomed city only to find it populated by people middle-aged or older. They had supported themselves by hunting seals, but now that the l
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi
Director(s): Robert Altman
Production: Fox
 
IMDB:
5.2
Rotten Tomatoes:
13%
R
Year:
1979
118 min
154 Views


Essex!

Look.!

What is it?

My God.

It's flying north.!

I haven't seen one of those in years.

I didn't know there were any left.

Will we make it to the city?

If the dogs are out this far,

there may be no city left.

You're funny.

What?

You've always told me you left the city

because there was nothing for you there...

and now you are returning.

Don't you think that's funny?

No.

Tell me about your city.

I already have.

Again.

There were 25 levels...

five sectors.

In the center there was a park...

with a lake.

And I remember...

the trees.

Vivia?

Six.

Seventeen.

- Limbo.

- Shh-shh-shh.

Blockade.

Redstone...

you're in the tournament.

Argo gratias.

You share the threat.

You're up.

Me?

Good.

Deuca.

So soon?

My pleasure, sir.

- Oh?

- Quintet.!

Not your day, Ernecht.

Better luck next time.

- Your luck is better, Ambrosia.

- Finally.

A bonus.

A new game

is starting at table number six.

Vivia.

Vivia.!

- May have been a bad idea coming here.

- It's a place to go.

That's what you said.

Essex.

By knowing five numbers,

you can find any person here?

Five numbers

and a color code, yes.

How many people lived here?

Five million.

Five million?

Yes. It was designed

for a million people in each sector.

And you could find a person

with only five numbers?

And a color code, yes.

You know so much.

But not how to find seals.

Vivia.!

Vivia?

Vivia?

Vivia!

Vivia?

You're not very good at finding people.

Don't run off like that.

- I was just playing.

- I know.

But don't run off that way.

Shouldn't we help him?

He's gonna freeze to death.

He already has.

I'm so tired of walking.

It's not far.

And what if he's not there?

You don't even know if he's alive.

We'll face that when we get to it.

I'm hungry.

Who is there?

My name is Essex.

I'm looking for my brother.

Name is Francha.

Does he still live here?

There is no one here by this name.

Could you tell me where he went?

What did you say your name was?

Essex.

Essex.

My God.

Come.

Come in.

We have a fire.

Come, come, come.

Quick.

Essex.

I was sure you were dead.

Are trains running anywhere?

Where have you been?

South, hunting.

I went 10, 12 years ago.

I lost count.

- I didn't know if you'd be here.

- South, huh?

- What's to the south?

- Seals.

Well, not anymore.

How'd you find me?

Things have changed so.

- Information center.

- That still works? No.

It doesn't transmit.

The information's still there.

Oh, that's Vivia.

I used to hunt with her father.

He's dead now.

Jaspera. Aeon.

Obelus.

My brother.

What's your name, child?

Vivia.

We're hungry.

Is there any food?

Of course.

Jaspera, some food.

Is the whole city like this?

Will I find work here?

I can't believe my eyes.

So young.

Nothing like her anymore.

She's the youngest person I've seen.

She could be the last one born,

for all we know, the-

the end of the line.

This is a real event.

My God.

Jaspera. Aeon.

It's true.

It's alive.

Feel it.

How long, child?

Five months, at least.

This calls for a celebration.

- We are a real family now.

- Yes.

Some booza.

Set the table.

Quintet, huh?

You play, of course.

When my family was alive.

But I wasn't very good.

Well, never mind.

There are six of us. We'll play.

The last seal we killed...

was just after Vivia's father died.

I never saw an animal

fight so hard to stay alive.

Well, I've even forgotten

what seal meat tastes like.

That must have been-

Well, it was

more than a year ago.

I'm so glad you came when you did.

Francha was just leaving

for another tournament.

The hell with the tournament.

They can play without me for a while.

They still have tournaments here?

Oh, yes.

On all levels.

What about work?

How do you stay alive?

We play.!

There's nothing left but the game.

- Have you got pieces, Vivia?

- These will do.

Oh, yes.

Sit. Sit, child.

Ah, some booza.

This'll warm you.

Here.

That girl's a miracle.

There's been no new life here...

and no hope for any.

Oh, not in limbo, child.

You're up in the killing circle.

- Have you got pieces?

- I haven't played for years.

Well, here.

You can use these.

From my collection.

You collect Quintet pieces?

Oh, yes. It's a hobby.

Hobby?

What does that mean?

That's just something to do...

for no reason.

Come on, Essex.

Let's play.

I don't think I could put my mind to it.

All right. We'll make you sixth man.

You can play the survivor.

Somebody'll have to go to the market

for some more wood if we're to stay up.

I'll do it.

I wanna look around.

There has to be work somewhere.

There's a wood seller

in the market below.

Here.

A thousand old sou a kilo.

Don't let him cheat you.

Make sure it's not treated.

- Where'd you get-

- I've been very lucky in the casino.

Essex?

I'm sure I'll be the first one to lose.

Francha will look after you.

- Be careful.

- Yes.!

We must be careful with a man who hunts

seals where there are no seals.

We'll roll on.

Five, four.

- Double limbo.

- Double limbo.

Ah. Limbo five.

One there, one there.

Four, two. I'll arrange

the killing order for Essex.

You see...

I'm after you.

- Can't be that important.

- Hmm.

Oh-ho!

You're after your own death!

Hello.!

I need wood.

Buy or trade?

Buy.

Enough for the night.

- Two bundles.

- Is it treated?

Never been any complaints.

- Treated with what?

- From a building.

This wood doesn't come from buildings.

Taken out of the ice.

Here you are.

- I'm going to get you.

- No, you won't.

Ohh.!

At last the end is coming.

Where are you from?

- The south.

- The south?

They say there are still seals

in the south. Is it true?

If there were, I'd still be there.

Why do you torment me?

I broke no rules.!

What?

Are you finding

all the information you want?

The system is all but ruined.

Trying to find a person or a place?

A friend.

Oh. A friend.

How interesting.

Amicus.

I haven't heard that word

for a long time.

And what do you use in its place?

Alliance.

How did you and your friend

become separated?

Time.

Where does your friend live?

He doesn't.

Redstone?

I'm a friend.

- "Friend"?

- Yes. I know him.

I'm supposed to meet him here.

Is he expected soon?

The tournament won't be over

for many days...

or more.

They play at the old casino.

He has a room...

at the Hotel Electra.

Where's that?

Second sector.

Red level.

- Your-Your hand-

- Please don't.

I haven't had a fire for-

When did you last see Redstone?

Yesterday.

If you see him again-

What?

Yesterday.

You won't.

They still let rooms here?

Uh, Deuca.

She's probably in the Quintet room.

I really played the casinos.

Six and two.

Is there a Deuca here?

- I'm Deuca.

- Redstone.

- Redstone?

- Yes.

He hasn't checked in yet.

Well, something happened.

I was delayed.

You're lucky I still have a room.

- May I have a key?

- There are no keys here.

You're room 243.

All right.

- Four and six.

- Four and six.

This is one of the imponderables.

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Frank Barhydt

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Submitted on August 05, 2018

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