Last Spark of Hope, The (2023)

[bunniefuu]

We destroyed our own planet.

Actually, it was pretty predictable.

We were moving like the Titanic,

even though we knew

we were heading toward the iceberg

that we would eventually hit.

But no one cared.

We kept having fun.

The band kept playing.

No one wanted

the party to end.

Temperatures quickly climbed.

Water from the ice caps

submerged the continents.

The permafrost then released methane.

Viruses and bacteria, extinct for

millions of years, woke up.

They were patiently waiting

to k*ll us all.

It was too late

to save the Earth.

Governments had

rockets built,

to send

survivors into space.

Only politicians,

and the powerful could get a ticket.

But they had no clear plan

as to the destination.

After all, there is no

spare Earth.

They probably died

from cosmic radiation,

or they k*lled each other

for the last supplies.

The Earth, intelligent and exhausted,

got rid of its enemy,

namely us, humans.

Meanwhile, the survivors

have taken refuge in a safe place.

In shelters,

on top of mountains,

high enough to be able

to escape the contaminated zone.

I don't know what they are become.

Is my family alive?

I think so.

That's why I live here,

solitary, without being alone.

My companion is a box of conserve.

It's a small R-w*r 5 military robot

from the third generation.

It's no longer in good condition, having served

during the Climate Wars.

It makes a noise like scrap metal

and it doesn't look like anything anymore.

But it was programmed to protect me.

Protect me? From who?

His name is Arthur.

I'm glad he's here.

At least I have someone to talk to.

Arthur, I'm going to go down to town.

I advise you not to.

It's a dangerous expedition.

The area is contaminated.

You must not drink

the water in this area.

- Not even a drop.

- I know.

Watch the base

and don't let anyone in.

I am a patrol robot.

My duty is to protect your home, Eva.

That was a joke.

Do you know what that means?

Of course.

It's a short story

meant to make the listener laugh.

There's also irony, black humor

or bad jokes,

that only amuse the person telling them.

Calm down.

You're going to start sweating.

Robots don't sweat.

That was a bad joke.

I'll be back in a few hours.

82% OXYGEN

LAVENDER

RMF, THE BEST OF MUSIC

UNDER THE SUN

WE HAVE BEEN PLAYING FOR YOU FOR 100 YEARS

Hello, Eva.

The password, please.

- "Scarlet".

- Correct password.

How was your day?

I went to the mall,

and had coffee with a friend.

Then we met some friends

at a concert. It was great.

I'm going to have to fix your eye.

Hello, Eva.

The password, please.

- Paws full.

- Incorrect password.

Stand back, or I'll be

forced to open fire.

"Scarlet". Damn robot.

Correct password.

Shower system activated.

This is Eva Wisz.

Registration number 278-054-321.

Call Sierra-5-Lima-1-2.

My position is: 508'N 1851'E.

I'm alive and waiting for contact.

I hope I'm not

the last one alive.

I'm waiting for contact.

I'm waiting for contact.

Arthur, how about a guessing game?

I'm a robot.

I can solve all the riddles.

I know, you always win.

But we're going to play anyway.

In three rounds, okay?

And no math problems.

Okay.

First riddle, please.

I'll definitely arrive,

but never today.

Who am I?

The correct answer is: tomorrow.

Now, my turn.

What can't speak,

but always responds when spoken to?

That's the echo.

You can break it

without having to touch it.

The correct answer is: a promise.

Excellent answer, robot.

It was a promise.

So, we are tied.

Here is my riddle.

A man is 13 years old in 2040,

but 8 years old in 2045.

How is this possible?

13 years old and 5 years later 8 years old?

We can't go back in time.

That's too bad, actually.

Ah, I know.

He lived before Jesus Christ.

Well done, very funny.

Correct.

That's the right answer.

You can give me another riddle, please.

Let's see...

Three robots are crossing the desert

in single file.

And the first one says:

"In front of me, I can see the desert

"and behind me, two robots."

The second one, the one in the middle, says:

"In front of me, I see a robot

and behind me, a robot."

The last one in line,

the third robot then says:

"In front of me, I see two robots

"and behind me, I see a robot."

Why does he say that?

What kind of robots are they?

Why does this matter?

What kind of robots are these?

So why does the last robot say that?

Think about it.

Can't you guess?

Of course, only a human can

answer this riddle.

Which means I won!

I won against a robot

for the first time. Wow!

What's the solution, please?

I won't give it to you.

You'll have to think a little harder, robot.

Arthur,

what if we got married, you and me?

Marriage is the union of two people,

usually a man and a woman.

Followed by a life together

made of mutual aid and cooperation

to form a fulfilled family.

I'm sorry, Eva. But no.

I don't believe it.

That's very arrogant of you.

I could be a perfect wife.

I'll cook,

I'll take care of you.

Say yes, Arthur.

We can grow old together.

Marrying a machine

makes no sense.

You would be making a terrible mistake.

What makes sense anymore?

Do you know what loneliness is?

I have no one left.

Do you hear? Nobody.

You're all I have left.

Where is Mr. Krzysztof?

He must be

leading an army of robots.

How many times

are you going to ask me?

My father built this base

and after the w*r, he rejoined

his unit and brought you back here.

He found you in a warehouse.

I remember

the day he left you with me.

He said to me: "Don't worry,

I'll be back soon.

"I promise.

"And this robot will protect you.

"You are now its owner

and you can give it orders."

We are all alone here,

and we both know each other well,

so I ask you the question again.

Dear Arthur, would you marry me?

I'm sorry, I have to decline.

What's wrong with you?

"Scarlet."

A simple breakdown could

cause serious problems for the couple.

What to do if one of the spouses

breaks down ?

We replace it

with a new model.

We can replace a robot.

But can we replace a human?

No one is irreplaceable.

Since humanity has existed,

there have always been replacements.

One thing can replace another,

without necessarily being better.

And by replacing too much,

we end up alone.

Arthur, do you realize

that we are probably alone in the world?

I can't confirm that.

The latest data I have,

dates from late 2040.

The human population

had reached 9 and a half billion.

I don't have updated data.

And even if it did exist,

I don't have access to it. Sorry, Eva.

I always leave my contact information

in the contaminated area.

I did it in the city.

I hope someone stumbles upon it.

But if there are no humans left,

why leave your information?

If they left no trace,

I conclude that they were annihilated.

Robots are not programmed

to self-destruct.

Remind me of the three laws

of robotics.

Rule number 1. A robot

must not harm a human,

- intentionally or by omission.

- Use a retro voice.

Rule number 2. A robot

must obey the orders of a human,

unless it contradicts the first law.

Rule number 3. A robot must protect itself,

unless it contradicts

the first or second law.

Do you know this law?

A robot must always

protect its own existence,

to do this, it must find

new sources of energy.

In short, this is my source of energy.

Good old solar panels

from the 2020s.

Besides, why

am I the one putting them together?

I'm a patrol robot,

not an assembler robot.

My mission is to prevent

intruders from entering here.

What do you think an intruder is?

It's simple:

those who don't have the password.

That's an interesting definition.

Remember the border,

during the Climate Wars?

You didn't let anyone through.

Yet they were humans,

not intruders.

Negative. They were intruders.

They didn't have the password.

What are you talking about? It seems...

that you don't know

why you were built

During the First World w*r,

there was no water in India

and temperatures rose so much

that people and animals

boiled alive.

What did you want them to do?

Apart from fleeing?

To go where they had

a chance of surviving.

And what did

the Northern countries do?

They deployed thousands

of robots like you

all along their border.

Thousands of robots

who carried out the greatest

extermination of the human race.

They didn't let anyone pass.

And no one passed.

No one.

A genocide targeting people

who only wanted to live,

to defend

their children and families.

"Scarlet."

This is impossible.

Robots cannot

harm humans.

You served and led

an army of robots during the Wars.

Your memory has been erased.

I know the tasks

I must perform.

If I knew how to do it,

I would reprogram you,

and give you more important tasks

than your stupid patrols.

You're going around in circles

for no reason!

I'm programmed for this.

I have a defined patrol sector.

I must not leave or exceed it.

It's for your safety.

My mission is to protect your home.

And therefore, to protect you, Eva.

If I could reprogram you,

you'd be a kitchen robot, you know?

You'd be a little more useful to me.

You see, Arthur,

we're going to have more electricity.

I have to assemble these panels.

That way, we can put up some lights.

It's almost Christmas.

I'll get you a gift.

Robots don't get gifts.

I don't even know

what I'd do with a gift.

I always forget

that you're just a piece of junk.

A rudimentary android.

A machine that feels no emotion.

Make an effort, will you?

What if you pretended to be human?

That would help me.

Eva!

I know what I want for Christmas.

An eye. I need a new eye.

You'll get one.

Tomorrow, we'll put up the Christmas tree.

Eva?

What is the answer to the riddle

about the three robots in the desert?

Why did the robot say that?

I won't tell you that.

The point of a riddle is

to make you think.

BOOK OF CODES

I'll get the Christmas tree.

It will be artificial, because, as you know,

there are no more trees.

I advise you not to do it.

It's a dangerous expedition.

Put on a protective suit

and take oxygen tanks.

You must not drink water from this area under any circumstances.

Not even a drop.

Calm down. I know.

Hello, Eva.

The password, please.

"Scarlet".

Incorrect password.

Back off, or I'll have to open fire.

"Scarlet".

Are you kidding me?

You recognize me, right?

- What's my name?

- Eva.

We agree.

It's me, Eva.

Let me in.

The password, please.

The password has been the same

for three months. "Ecarlate".

That's the old password.

The new one, please.

The new one...

sh*t.

Arthur, I remember the procedure.

The password changes

every three months.

The old password is "scarlet".

And the new passwords

are in the Code Book...

which is on the fridge.

Then give me the new password.

Let me into the base.

That's an order!

Sure. I understand.

An order is an order.

The password, please.

How am I supposed to give it to you?

f*ck, that sucks!

Hello, Eva.

The password, please.

"Scarlet"?

The new password

is different from the old one.

Indigo, Amethyst...

Green apple, Prussian blue,

mahogany, olive, emerald,

purple, cyan, carmine, terracotta,

what do I know?

"Terracotta"...

Negative. Incorrect password.

Arthur...

Stupid robot, you know who I am.

Am I Eva or not?

Do you see anyone else here?

I'm probably

the last human being on the planet.

I managed to survive.

And I'm doing everything I can

to stay alive.

Now what?

Am I supposed to die right now,

because I don't know the password?

Move over, you moron. I'm going in.

You're not kidding?

No, you're not kidding.

He's going around in circles

like a robot vacuum cleaner.

He has a limited patrol area.

Here, he doesn't see me.

There must be a way in.

It's just a robot.

Hello, Arthur.

It's a nice day today.

Indeed, today,

it's a particularly nice day.

Hello, Eva. Password, please.

Okay, but first, I have to get

into the base. I need an axe.

To cut down the Christmas tree.

Without an axe, it's going to be difficult.

Affirmative,

it would be difficult without an axe.

Just a formality...

Password, please.

I have a question.

I'm listening.

Why do you need an axe?

There are no more trees.

Without a password,

you won't let me in?

Yet you know me.

Affirmative, I know you.

But I can't let you in.

Changing your password regularly

ensures your safety.

That's a good solution.

This procedure was

developed for you, Eva.

Think about it.

If you know me

and you know that I'm Eva

and that I've always known the password

but today, I forgot it.

Well, I didn't forget it,

I rather forgot to check it.

That doesn't mean

I'm not Eva.

You always say to me: "Hello Eva".

So you recognize me?

Right?

Affirmative.

I recognize you, Eva.

Okay. If I'm Eva,

that I live here,

that we've known each other

for several years,

and that the password is a formality,

here's what we're going to do:

I'm going to enter the database for a second,

I'll check the new password pass

and then I'll give it to you.

And if it turns out...

that it's the wrong password,

you won't let me in.

You can even k*ll me.

Is that okay?

Does that make sense to you?

I can't k*ll you.

I can't k*ll humans.

I was created to protect them.

I can only k*ll intruders.

And you see intruders?

- Intruders are...

- Those who don't have the password.

Bravo, now take into account

this data and you'll see...

that if I'm Eva,

I can't be an intruder.

This statement

is only apparently correct.

Why is that?

the algorithm is simple.

An intruder doesn't have the password.

Eva does.

An intruder can't have the password

so he can't give it away.

How could he

have the password?

Does that make sense, Eva?

Hello, Eva.

I'm not Eva.

I'm a refugee.

I'm here to seek asylum.

Could I speak

to the owner of this base?

What's the problem?

What does Article 14 of the Universal

Declaration of Human Rights say?

Every human being may seek asylum

in another country from persecution.

I am being persecuted.

I am seeking asylum.

Immediately.

Of course.

I just have to report it to Eva.

And where is this Eva?

Over there, behind the generator.

Then I'll go get her

and if she comes back in the meantime,

give her the message.

Hello Arthur. Is everything okay here?

There's been an incident.

An intruder tried to get in.

He threw stones at me.

And a refugee just passed by.

Where is the refugee?

Behind the generator,

with the intruder.

Listen to me carefully.

If this refugee comes back,

give her water immediately.

That's an order.

Refugees have the right

to ask for help. Understood?

Understood.

We must help the refugees.

Hello, guard.

I'm a refugee.

I'm seeking asylum.

But first, I'd like some water.

Eva told me

a refugee was coming.

Protocol requires

that I ask you questions.

Go ahead.

Are you a climate or political refugee?

Political, of course.

Climate refugees

have no rights.

I can confirm that,

political.

Please prove to me that

you are persecuted in your country.

There is no need for proof

to obtain refugee status.

It is stipulated

in the Geneva Convention.

Isn't it?

A foreigner must prove

that he is in danger of persecution.

That is,

he is persecuted in his country

or a military conflict in his country

threatens his security.

What is your question then?

For what reasons

did you leave your country?

I fled because of the w*r.

Military operations

in the country of origin

do not guarantee

the automatic granting of refugee status.

What is worse than w*r?

My attacker burned my house,

k*lled my family and shot me.

I have been walking for months,

isn't that enough?

Indeed, you have suffered

relatively serious damage.

"Relatively serious"?

Please provide me with the documents.

What documents?

Oh, those.

I had them, but I lost them.

I fled

and survived as best I could.

Please prove

that a border crossing official

granted you refugee status.

Refugees must file

an application at a border crossing.

Did you do it?

Yes. Can I have some water?

I'll get you some water.

But first, I have to give Eva some.

She's dehydrated

and will probably die soon.

Water for Eva first, then

for the refugee, and finally for the intruder.

In that exact order.

Eva, do you think there are

any other humans left on Earth?

It's unlikely, I've already told you.

Then how come there was

a refugee and an intruder here?

How do you expect me to know?

I know where there are other humans.

Where?

In this power plant.

There hasn't been anyone here for years.

Do you understand?

It's empty.

So who maintains it? Without humans,

how can it still work?

It's stupid robots

who maintain it.

Robots? What for?

Why wasn't it closed?

Give me some water first.

I can't. I'm not allowed to.

- I can't take anything from the base and...

- And...

and you can't bring anything in

without the permission of the person in charge.

I know! You already told me.

It's to keep me safe.

That's funny,

since I'm about to die.

Perfect. I'm glad

we're finally agreeing on this.

Do you know why

the power plant is still working?

Because a stupid robot like you

must be in control of his system.

And his finger must have gotten stuck

one centimeter from a key on the keyboard.

From the "Enter" key.

He got stuck there.

And you know why?

Because it's a robot,

a stupid machine.

And because at the end of the

complex procedure to shut down the plant

a message appeared.

A simple message.

"Confirm that you are not a robot".

A robot authorized to condemn a power plant

must act appropriately.

Robots can't lie.

So you'll never

understand my riddle.

I know it's not enough.

But you can do it, kids.

I have a proposition to make to you.

Do you remember the riddle

about the three robots in the desert?

Affirmative. And I still haven't

managed to solve it.

Let's make a deal.

I'll give you the answer and you,

you let me in.

You won't fool me.

I'm a third-generation robot,

prepared for any attempt at manipulation.

Then give me water

and you will have the answer.

Why didn't they condemn her?

18%.

That's 87 minutes.

Travel time

and 40 minutes to find water.

40 minutes.

I would like to report an incident.

An intruder tried to enter with a vehicle.

Where is this intruder?

He survived, he's hiding behind

the generator with the refugee.

What if I told you it was me?

Instead of protecting me...

you would have k*lled me.

I never make mistakes.

Eva.

Here's some water, you need to drink.

You can come in

if you give me the password.

If you want to live,

this is a good solution.

Arthur.

Give me some water.

I beg you.

I wish you and I could get married.

A husband should take care of his wife.

A husband should indeed

take care of his wife.

What if I had been yours?

Would you give me water?

Yes,

Eva.

But a new variable prevents

any possibility of marriage with you.

What variable?

You're going to die tomorrow.

Maybe even tonight.

A human can't survive

without water for several days.

Especially with such serious injuries.

What are you talking about?

I'm in great shape.

There's another problem,

probably even more serious.

More serious than my death?

Yes.

I'll become the first widowed robot.

And I wouldn't know what to do

as a widowed robot.

Let me remind you

that I'm a patrol robot.

Eva. I sense that this is

maybe not the right time.

I wouldn't want to be tactless,

especially in such circumstances.

But I have to ask you

one last question.

This must be

a really important question.

Since

you're about to die,

I'd like to know the answer to the

three robots in the desert riddle.

No.

Not yet.

I have to...

again...

beat this machine.

Go back to the base.

You can drink water.

I just need

the password, please.

Maybe you have

hidden features.

Maybe a "human" mode will activate.

My "emergency" mode will activate

once your death is confirmed.

That's a good solution.

Will the password reset?

If the owner dies, the password

is automatically deactivated.

That's a good solution.

And you will become the last survivor.

You are not the only person on Earth.

There is still hope

that the human species will survive.

Impossible.

Over the last hour,

I've run several complex analyses.

When you die soon, Eva,

there will be a refugee and an intruder left.

They're there,

behind the generator.

A refugee and an intruder

are going to save the world.

Correct.

There is one last glimmer of hope.

I have one last request.

You will have to water my seeds.

They must grow.

Make sure to save...

my...

lavender.

"Lavender".

Password correct.