"VELDT"
"VELDT Based on the works of Ray Bradbury"
"VELDT - The name given to the wild steppes of South Africa"
Petya, it's all exactly like I told you. Just like last time.
I saw a knight in full armor, so help me God!
Let's get off, have a look?
What's the use? I looked last time, there was nothing.
This damn place. I don't even want to stop here, it gives me the creeps.
There's an abandoned graveyard here.
- But we hit someone! - Someone, sure.
I signaled at him. He could have swerved if he'd wanted to.
Hey, look!
Ah, that's Hernando Latinez. He's always here at the graveyard.
Come on, stop it, let's go.
Well, I have to go, Son.
Hey, who's there?
Hernando, Hernando!
I'm here, Dear, I'm here.
So how is our Tom, our little boy?
He's fine, Cora. He's asleep.
Did you kiss him for me?
I did.
Good.
Let him sleep.
What was that?
God only knows.
Mike, Mike...
I can't take it, Mike!
What's the matter, Linda?
- What's the matter? Come on. - They roar!
They're roaring, Mike!
- Linda, wake up! Who's roaring? - The lions!
- What lions? - In the nursery!
The nursery?
Did you hear that? You heard that, didn't you?
Where are you going?
I'm going to go see what the hell's going on there.
- Ladies first. - No no, you go ahead.
What's this?
Look! Lions!
They're eating something.
Some kind of animal.
Filthy creatures.
Watch out!
Idiots! We're idiots, look at us!
I don't see why you're laughing. They, they almost got us.
What are you talking about, Linda? Are you insane? They're just walls!
Regular television walls! They're just for fun!
Fun? You saw the lions! They looked almost real!
Those, those horrible eyes, they're...
They're horribly life-like!
- Are you serious, Linda? - No!
No, Michael. This really is serious.
Don't you see?
Ever since we got that room, something's happened to the kids.
They, they've changed. They're nothing like they used to be.
I don't even recognize them anymore. There's so much hate in their eyes.
Evil.
God! I'm afraid of them!
Can you imagine? I'm afraid of my own children.
No, we have to do something, or...
- Michael, what was that? - Relax, Linda.
The lamp just burned out. Let's go.
Michael, I'm begging you.
Tell Peter and Wendy never to play these terrible, disgusting games anymore.
Okay.
And lock the nursery, at least for a few days.
I can't take it anymore. I can't keep myself together, Michael.
You're always busy, and I'm going through something terrible.
Why do they love that veldt so much?
Those lions can't get out of there, can they?
Uh, no. No, of course not. What are you saying? No.
Goddamn it.
That was some dream.
Damn animals.
Go away! I command you!
Show Sweden!
- Good morning. - Good morning.
The room's out of order. It won't respond.
- Or? - Or what?
Or it can't respond.
The children have thought about lions and killing for so many days.
The room's in a rut.
Could be.
Or Peter's set it to remain that way.
Set it?
Yes.
He may have got into the machinery and tampered with something.
Peter doesn't know machinery.
Still. Still, for a fifteen-year-old...
Will you stop that!
Give me a kiss! I'm going to eat you up!
Good morning, Mother.
Good morning, Peter.
So, come on, tell us about the nursery.
The nursery?
Yes, the nursery.
All about Africa and everything.
I don't understand. There's no Africa in the nursery.
Oh, come now, Peter. We know better.
I don't remember any Africa. Do you?
Well, isn't that nice. Maybe we imagined it all?
Because of our insomnia, yes? - Maybe!
Quit fooling around, Michael! Can't you see, he's lying? Lying!
And making her lie!
Wendy, why don't you run and see if there's any Africa in the nursery.
Wendy, come back here!
She'll look and come tell us.
She doesn't have to tell me, I've seen it.
I'm sure you're mistaken, Father.
I'm not, Peter. Let's go.
So, is Africa there?
See?
We'll see about this.
Clever.
What are you saying, Dad?
I'm saying it's time you went to school.
Did you hear me?
Peter, Wendy, breakfast!
Kids, you'll be late for school!
Peter?
Wendy?
Mom, I don't want any breakfast.
Come with me, Peter.
Peter, come here.
Sit and eat.
I don't want any, Mom.
Please, I'm asking you.
I'm not hungry.
In that case, I am hungry.
You're not eating either?
Hernando, what was that?
God only knows.
Do you know, Cora...
Our Tom would have turned forty today.
Just imagine.
We're sitting here, just like we are now,
And suddenly a car stops by the road.
And out comes... Who do you think?
Our Tom.
Tall, handsome...
Alive.
He smiles and runs to us,
And we're laughing and crying with joy.
And then, late in the evening,
We've set a table, we're celebrating.
Drinking strong, old wine.
Drinking to Tom's birthday.
And on the morning, he takes us far, far away.
To some forgotten island,
where no one lives.
Only you, me and Tom.
And summer never ends.
Never! It can never happen! Shut up! Shut up!
- Shut up! - Cora, forgive an old fool. I'll stop.
I'll stop thinking about our Tom. Cora, come on...
So, little guy. You keep running.
What for?
Relax, relax.
It's all right.
Don't worry, he's impossible to understand.
He's my favorite.
I call him Gandhi.
Complete disintegration of speech logic. Says everything backwards.
Funny, no?
The only trouble is, he keeps trying to escape.
Say, you don't look too well.
Is something the matter?
Come on, speak up.
You didn't just come here to do rounds.
I'd like you to take a look at our nursery.
- What's wrong with it? - No idea.
What is that, Dave? I saw something like it this morning.
This morning?
Michael, you're living in a fantasy land.
This has been going on for almost a year.
Like the good book said:
"And the graves were opened and many bodies of the saints arose,
"and came out of the graves, appearing unto many."
What do you mean, saints?
Here's what I mean.
Those things you see, they're not people.
What are they?
Who knows? They appear to the living...
Looking like their dead friends or loved ones.
And living with them.
Are you out of your mind?
Me?
Why?
The dead stay dead.
These people from the quarantine services seem to think so.
And you don't?
Maybe.
Who was it that said:
"Man is miserable because he is mortal."
That must be the greatest form of insanity...
the pursuit of happiness.
You've got a regular zoo here.
Something like that.
This morning I locked the nursery, but the kids still got in.
Though maybe that's for the best, so you can see what they've been doing.
Kill!
Kill them!
Why aren't you at school?
What are you doing in the nursery? I locked it!
All right, we'll talk about this later. Now, get out of here!
No, don't change the mental combination. Leave the walls as they are. Go.
That's how we live now.
- Cheerful. - Just like my clinic.
They look real, don't they?
You don't suppose there's any way they could become real?
Some flaw in the machinery, through tampering or something...
That's insane.
What is this?
An old wallet of mine. I found it here like this.
Why is there blood on it?
That's what I wanted to ask you.
Michael, I'm a psychiatrist, not a criminologist.
Seriously, though, I think your children are just playing a mean prank.
Poked three holes with a nail and added a little paint.
What if this isn't paint?
Then what?
Let's get out of here. I can't stand these rooms.
What is this?
That's Linda's scarf.
Why the long face?
Cheer up, Michael. Cheer up!
Everybody's mad about these rooms now.
And if it's everybody, that means it's nobody.
It's pointless to look for reason where there's none to be found.
Linda, open the door.
Linda!
Linda.
Hernando, Hernando.
I'm here.
I was scared, I thought you were dead.
Now, how could I die without you?
Don't you forget.
You know what your memory's like.
I dreamt of our Tom.
He was standing in the road.
So small and helpless.
All around it was quiet.
He smiled at me and waved his hand. And then he ran.
He was running down the road, looking back, waving at me.
And I'm standing still and crying, I can't move my feet.
Now, Cora, we said we weren't going to talk about Tom anymore.
Yes, yes.
I won't talk about him anymore. I won't.
Hernando, I want to be with our boy.
Hernando, I want to be with our Tom, Tom...
Who are you? What do you want here?
Who are you talking to?
A boy is standing by the stoop.
He won't answer me.
He looks like our Tom.
You imagined it.
No. He's still there now.
I'm afraid.
I'm afraid!
Hernando, take me inside.
Hernando! Hernando, where are you going?
Sleep, darling, sleep.
I'll just close the door.
Tom!
Tom...
if it's you...
If by some chance it is you...
I'll leave the door unlatched. And if you're cold...
come in,
and lie by the hearth.
Hernando!
Good morning!
Good morning, Cora.
Isn't it a beautiful day?
The day? Yes...
Wash up. We're about to have breakfast.
Cora...
How did you manage to light a fire and set the kettle?
You're so silly.
I didn't do a thing.
It was all our Tom!
Tom?
Where is he?
He went to feed the horse.
Good morning, Father!
Tom.
It's you.
You're alive.
It's not a dream.
You do want me to be here, don't you?
Of course, Tom, of course we do.
Then why ask questions? I'm just here, that's all.
How old are you now, Son?
Don't you know, Father? Fourteen, of course.
Who are you, really?
You can't be Tom, but you are someone.
Who are you?
Who?
Why? Why would you ask that?
Please, please, just don't doubt me.
Tom, wait! Come back!
Stop!
Stop, Tom, I'm begging you!
Tom! Stop, Tom!
Tom, come back! I'm begging you! Tom!
Tom...
Tom, don't go... Just don't go...
I won't...
I won't doubt you anymore.
Are you going to ask me anything?
No questions.
Never?
Never.
Never ever.
You're still here, old thing.
Operator.
Buenos Aires. Erickson.
The number is 3899541.
Who may I say is calling?
Colonel Stahl.
Here's your call.
- Bueno. - Jorge!
Señor Stahl! Again? This costs money.
Let it cost money!
You must not phone again, Señor.
Your nurse asked me not to talk to you. I must hang up.
No, no, Jorge!
Please!
One last time, listen to me.
They're taking the phone out tomorrow.
I can never call you again.
For friendship!
For the old days!
You don't know what it means to me.
You can walk!
I haven't gone anywhere in ten years.
Jorge! Are you...
Hello, Colonel.
Have you been good?
You have a visitor.
Hello, Dad.
Yeah, yeah.
- I need to check your pulse. - Not now!
You did it again? You're hurting yourself.
Impossible old man.
He calls Buenos Aires every day and listens to the ocean,
even though he knows it's bad for him to get excited.
I'm sorry, Colonel, but I'm going to have to take out the phone.
You wouldn't dare! It's my phone!
I pay your salary!
Not you. Your son.
And he pays me to make you better, not to help you die!
Ten years I've been rotting in this hellhole,
And if I'm still alive, it's only because of that phone!
Now give it back!
Give him the phone.
This is the last time, Colonel.
Dad...
Operator? Put me through to Buenos Aires.
Dad, how are you feeling?
Erickson.
The number is 3899541.
- Dad... - Yes, yes, Colonel Stahl.
Mike...
Buenos Aires. Here's your call.
Here's your call.
Yes, I'm here.
Bueno.
We were cut off, Jorge.
Father!
Yes?
You're going to lock the nursery?
I've already locked it.
Why?
You're not playing with it properly.
I thought we were free to play as we wished.
You are, within reasonable bounds. But the game can turn into a nightmare.
All right. If it's that important, we'll play within reasonable bounds.
You're just saying what I want to hear!
In that case...
I just don't want the nursery locked up.
Ever. You hear me? Or else...
Or else what?
Nothing.
Sir!
I'm listening.
- I... - Please.
I need your help. I was advised to contact you, I...
Relax.
Have a little more confidence.
All our clients are nervous at first, but eventually...
- I don't know where to start. - Just get to the point.
So...
who do you want to kill?
I don't want to kill anybody.
Then who's your executioner?
Yes, executioner.
There are three kinds of people: The executioners, the victims,
And the victims who wish they were executioners. They come to us.
But they're my children.
Just a moment.
Yes, call me back in ten minutes.
Excuse me, Sir.
The abbot's here, Father...
Yes, I remember. Victim number?
The client would like to have another one.
We'll send one over.
The main purpose of our company is to prevent
Potential crimes from being committed.
Using a Marionette. An exact copy of the victim.
If you want to beat someone...
Kill someone, torture someone...
Be yourself, in short.
You can let it all out on a Marionette.
Death without death. Rape without rape.
All strictly legal.
Is this expensive?
It'll cost you. But it's worth it.
Committing a so-called fake murder, a man is freed...
From rage. From bloodlust.
The memory of what he's done is so terrible,
he'll never want to kill again.
Companies like ours are scarce now.
But a time will come.
And then, moral issues won't be resolved by the Church.
Not by the constitution.
But by us. Only us.
Hello, Sister. How are you feeling?
I feel wonderful, thank you.
The abbot's waiting for you.
Lifelike, isn't she?
Bring your little ones.
Hernando! Hernando, come here!
What is that?
Who are you?
- Why did you come here? - What do you want?
I'm afraid!
What do you want? You can't come in here!
You can't come in here! No!
Tom! Tom! Tom!
Halt! Quarantine services!
Hands up, face the wall!
- But... - Hands up or I'll shoot!
Name?
Michael Stone.
- Speak up! - Michael Stone! Damn it.
Settle down. Age!
- Forty. - Address!
- Eleven South Saint James Street. - What are you doing out?
- What's it to you? - Turn around!
Against the wall or I'll shoot!
- So what are you doing outside? - Taking a walk.
What for?
- To get some air! Bastard. - There is air in your house.
That's none of your business! Maybe I like fresh air, Goddamn you!
Hello, Dear. Here I am.
Don't.
You're bleeding.
It'll pass.
God, Michael.
When will this end?
Tell me, when will this end?
Today, Linda.
Right now.
Father. When are you going to unlock the nursery?
I don't think I'm going to, Peter.
What do you mean?
We're starting a new life.
I wonder what kind of life.
We're leaving.
Today. Now.
Come on. We'll have a holiday.
Just thirty years or so.
We'll buy a nice white yacht
and sail far, far away from this city.
To some forgotten island.
And we'll be the only ones there.
Only us, the sound of the ocean... Clean, hot sand...
And the summer...
The summer never ends.
We'll live, and love one another.
And teach your children to do the same.
Aren't you packing? We're leaving!
Pack up, Linda! We're going!
This joke is in poor taste, Michael.
I'm not kidding, we're leaving.
Don't do this, Father. Don't do this.
We have to, Peter. One day you'll understand I was right.
This is our salvation.
I don't need your salvation, you hear? Don't need it!
Oh, I hate you! I wish you were dead!
We were, Peter, for a long while.
Now we're going to live.
I don't want to live with you! I don't ever want to live with you!
I want the nursery! Right now!
Mike!
Unlock the nursery.
Please... Unlock it.
You know, Linda...
If I could wake up tomorrow to find there's not a soul in the world...
No-one else. Only you, me, the kids...
Only the Earth, the sea, everything that grows...
Trees, flowers, grass.
The animals, they can stay too.
Everything, except for man.
Who hunts when he's not hungry, and eats even when he's sated.
Who is cruel, though no-one treats him unkindly.
It would have been wonderful.
We'd have all the time in the world.
And...
The happiest picnic on Earth.
And then, when we grow old and die,
Let the world belong to the horses and the cows,
the spiders, the chipmunks.
They'll do fine without us.
And then, a new generation, one that can combine
natural joys with natural curiosity,
will build cities nothing like our own.
And they'll live on.
Peter! Wendy!
Peter! Wendy! Open the door!
I order you to open the door!
What kind of joke is this?
Open the door! Right now!
Kill. Kill them.
And I saw a new heaven and a new Earth,
for the first heaven and the first Earth had passed away,
and I saw the new city, coming down from God out of heaven.
And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying:
behold, the tabernacle of God is with men,
and he will dwell with them.
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes,
and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying,
neither shall there be any more pain: For the former things are passed away.
Hernando.
I'm here, Dear, I'm here.
Sleep, sleep.
God help me.