Stranded Page #3

at the bottom of the Marineris Valley.

It's so strong that it could have

affected Belos's OCR oscillators.

That's not all. There's something

weird hidden under the fog.

Take a look at the new photos,

and look at them carefully.

I'm sorry. I have to go. I have

a long journey back. Good luck.

Lowell's departure left the rest of us

with a deep feeling of solitude.

All our hopes had vanished. We were

victims of an unavoidable tragedy.

What's going on?

Has our useless neighbor given up yet?

Don't say that.

It must have been frustrating for him.

-It's breaking my heart.

-What's that?

-A shot from a SAR camera.

-"I'm a doctor, Jim. Not an engineer."

Synthetic Aperture Radar.

-What's that?

-I've seen this somewhere before.

-Yeah, so have I.

-It doesn't seem to be natural.

-It looks like a maze.

-I'll compare it with the image bank.

Here it is. This photo was taken

near the south pole of Mars.

Look. They're completely identical.

This is so weird.

On our next trip to Mars, we'll take

some pictures and do investigations.

Unfortunately time is running out

- for all of us.

Was that just another comment,

or your conclusion as engineer?

We need to call a meeting.

The minimum amount of time for

a round-trip between Mars and Earth-

-is two and a half years. There's

no way to cut down on this time.

I know they'll never get here in time

to save us, but they can't tell us that.

How much time do we have if we

follow the energy saving measures?

We have about

one year and two months.

The problem is with the recycling

system. It uses too much energy.

What do you suggest?

We have to accept the

baseline facts - that all five of us-

-cannot survive on this module

for that period of time.

Luca, what you're

saying...is terrible.

You asked for the data,

and these are the cold facts.

The module cannot sustain the

five of us for two and a half years.

How many can survive?

How many?

Two of us.

That's not enough, Luca. Two out

of five doesn't make any sense.

-It's ridiculous.

-It's the way it is.

No, it's not. It's not that way, Luca.

That's a way of giving up.

You're the one who compared

our situation to castaways.

Sometimes castaways

have to make difficult decisions.

Are you crazy? Do you expect us to

draw lots to see who lives or dies?

I'm not crazy. In a year and a half,

there will be five frozen bodies here-

-unless three of us stop using water,

air, and the recycling system.

You and everyone else

refuse to accept that. - Right, Herb?

You think you'll go back to Earth like

some hero who never lost his cool-

-and always knew exactly what to do.

He's right. We won't admit

the truth, but he's right.

I don't plan to commit suicide.

It's against my religion.

Does anyone question Luca's numbers?

No one?

Well, then...

Then it's clear that we all accept

that Luca's numbers are accurate.

Two of the five of us.

They must be correct. I don't know...

I don't think we should

jump into anything.

What I'm saying is that

we have to take time...

...to think before we make any

decision. Maybe we'll find something.

What, Herbert?

What are we going to find out there?

When are you going to get that we're

in the most unlivable place there is?

The Earth's poles are a paradise

compared to where we are.

How do we decide who lives or dies?

How can we make a decision like that?

Why don't we apply

Herbert's example?

What did castaways do?

Pull the shortest straw?

Should we decide that way?

I'm the pilot of a space ship

that will never fly again.

Fidel, you're the astro-biologist.

Your skills wouldn't be of any use

in this situation.

Herb's skills do him no good either.

But Jenny is a doctor...

...and Luca knows how to keep

this machine running.

The decision has been made.

Luca and Jenny stay.

Rodrigo, Herbert and I...

We'll go outside for a walk.

That's a really euphemistic

way of putting it, Susana.

Very intelligent.

You're very intelligent, Luca.

Perhaps the most intelligent of us all.

Did you have it all figured out when

you said that only two would survive?

-I'm sorry. I just can't accept that.

-What can't you accept, Herb?

We haven't exhausted every possibility.

If I must die, I will. But not before

having used up all our resources.

That's it, Herb. There are none.

Did you hear what I said?

-There are no alternatives.

-There are.

What are there, Herb?

You seem to know everything.

-Listen! What is our main problem?

-Energy. So what?

-Why don't we build a windmill?

-Why didn't I think of that?

That's brilliant! We'll build a windmill

that will get energy-

-and we'll fly back home. The air is

too thin. A windmill won't work.

-I've thought of everything.

-Listen to me now.

There are winds of more than 130

kilometers waiting for us out there.

-We can build it.

-The air is too thin.

I'm a scientist. I've thought of

everything. There are no alternatives.

I'm not going to waste energy and

resources on ideas that won't work.

It will lower the chances

of anybody surviving.

-I'm sorry.

-That's so easy for you to say.

-What does that mean?

-You don't understand that?

You're so clever

and you don't understand that?

I'm sorry.

I'm not leaving the module.

You can't ask me to do that.

We decided to sleep for five hours

before preparing to leave.

Finally, the moment arrived.

What are those for?

We're taking as many oxygen tanks

as we can carry. Is that a problem?

Susan, do you need that many tanks?

-Please, Luca...

-All right. I'll go upstairs. - Good luck.

Good luck. Take care.

-Luca... Take care.

-You too.

-Fidel...

-I'm sorry I arrived late.

-Give me a hand with the suit.

-Sure.

My gloves...

It looks just like

a sunny winter day on Earth.

Certainly no one would say

that we are on another world.

It's a great day for a stroll. I wish

we could take these heavy suits off.

That wouldn't be wise, Herb. 80

degrees below zero, 10 REM per year-

-and virtually no atmospheric pressure.

Come on, guys.

Susana, I was thinking that you

should start up your video cameras.

I can record everything from here.

I think they'll be very satisfied on

Earth with the images you can get.

Are you serious, Luca? Won't that use

up too much of the energy reserves?

I've done some calculations,

and I think we can afford it.

I think it'll be worth while.

Giving meaning to their last hours...

It isn't that. I think this is important.

There could be some valuable shots.

I'm not being sentimental.

You're on screen, Susana.

You can say a few words if you want.

You already know our situation.

It isn't worth while repeating it now.

We are going to try to reach

the edge of the Marineris Valley.

We've calculated that we'll have

to walk for about four or five hours.

We are carrying

a few spare tanks of oxygen-

-so there is a pretty good chance

that we'll get some good shots.

Hope you enjoy them.

Wait a minute. Let's stop here.

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