Ah, it's hot.
Why such a hurry?
I am going to the old lab.
I hate this place.
Careful up here.
Look what I found.
Enough Vesper, my battery is low.
Nobody forced you to come.
You should have stayed home to charge.
You are wasting our time on these experiments.
Don't worry.
It won't hurt.
Thank you.
Wait here.
It's just a pilgrim.
Come on.
I think it's a she.
Leave it.
One day, I would like to follow one,
find out where they are taking all that junk.
Don't.
They just wander until they die.
How do you know they never come home?
Everyone knows it.
How could anyone know about all of them?
Vesper.
She is not coming back.
Is there anyone in there with you?
I think they are gone.
I don't hear anything.
Vesper, the tank!
The power!
Get the back up from the fridge.
I took it out...
I needed space for my cell cultures.
I will go to Jonas.
Who is in charge?
Me...
But they didn't attach the po...
The Jug was your responsibility.
Now put the poor creature out of its misery.
It's not human.
It won't feel a thing.
It was made in a lab.
That Jug might have cost you a fortune.
What a waste. What brings you here Vesper?
You know.
How would I?
You just holed up in that shack with my brother.
Someone sabotaged our generator.
Is that so?
What a world.
All our bacteria is gone.
We have no power.
Well you know, we can't do charity.
I am not asking for any.
Believe me, we work for it.
Family has to stick together to survive out here,
especially with the Citadel raising the price of seeds.
Fortunately we have what they want.
Skinny!
Look who is come to see us.
Your blood won't be young for ever.
Shame to waste it all on emergencies like this.
But of course,
living alone as you do,
you are lucky it has not been worse.
Pilgrims,
drifters,
bandits...
They come to your door,
and it can all end in tragedy.
You would be safer here.
What about my father?
We would take care of him.
It's not his fault your mother left.
You would both be more comfortable,
especially during the winter.
Oh, you remind me so much of your mother.
I hope you are not afraid of me?
I am not going to become just another one of your breeders.
You say it like it's a dirty word.
Do you think you are better than everyone?
I have skills.
I taught myself.
And one day I will get out.
But you...
You will still be here,
sucking your kids blood to trade for seeds.
Oh my ambitious little girl.
You know we are so alike, you and I.
Because we won't let this world of shit crush us, will we?
But don't think you can change the order of things.
Take every opportunity as it comes to you.
Can I have my bacteria now?
You will have to come back in two days time.
Because I need to sell your blood to the Citadel first.
You know Papa won't survive that long without energy.
I wish I had some more to spare.
No!
You won't be mad anymore when you see what I got.
What is this?
Where did you get that?
Jonas gave me.
For what?
What did you do to get them? Nothing.
I just took them.
Put them back before he notices.
No.
They are mine and...
I am going to unlock them.
Make them fertile.
You know that's not possible. Once I do,
the Citadel will want me to work in their labs.
I guess
They never let you work inside.
You are just afraid that I leave like Mum!
Oh Vesper,
you don't know the cost of dreams.
Shut up!
Your place is here. Shut up!
I saw a wing glider last night.
Maybe it crashed.
Would not you want to help?
If it were you? Dump her back where you found her.
She is not our responsibility.
Maybe she could help us.
Oh, no...
You think she is going to take us to the Citadel.
These people do not act out of kindness.
What does she have to gain by bringing you?
Maybe...
The labs.
Nothing.
Vesper! Do you want to blow us up?
Would you prefer that I left her there to die?
Yes!
Where is the man who was with me?
You were alone.
I need to find him.
He might be injured our glider crashed.
Can you take me to where you found me?
You are not going to get very far.
Can you help me?
Oh you can go?
You can get help. You can search for him.
We are not your servants.
Yes.
Please forgive my... manners.
The man is my father and I am scared for him.
Any help you provide will not go unrewarded.
We have helped.
Did you call the Citadel?
Are they coming? I don't know.
I fell from the glider before it crashed.
Pap? No!
You can't stop me.
Do what you want, but don't come crying to me.
I am Camellia.
Vesper.
You will not regret helping us.
You have my word.
We will start at sunrise.
It's not safe at night.
Thank you.
I gave you the juiciest ones.
Thank you.
Who lives here with you?
Just...
me and Pap.
The...
cranky drone.
He uses it to...
communicate.
What happened to him?
He got hurt,
serving for the...
Citadel's army.
All they gave him was that...
old scrap drone.
You know if we brought you both to the Citadel,
I am sure they could help him.
Really? You...
You could do that?
My father is a very influential man.
You hear that Pap?
Pap?
Pap.
Pap. Pap.
Pap. Stop!
Stop. Pap, no.
Pap!
No.
Stop. Stop it!
Stop it!
Pap.
Stop.
Stop. Pap.
Stop!
Pap. Please.
Stop!
Please, stop!
Keep hold of him. Stop!
He is sleeping now.
What did she do to you?
I don't know.
Can everyone from the Citadel do that?
I don't think so.
Lucky she was there.
She is awake now.
Vesper?
I expected to find pilgrims.
This man needs help.
Good to see you Darius.
Jonas.
I see you got your power back.
I found backup supply.
How fortunate.
We still owe you for that blood.
You should come and see us.
Bring me...
Why has no one from the Citadel come to find you?
Camel...
Close blinds...
Lay with me.
You know I have always wondered...
What do you do with my children's blood?
Do you use it to make your own more special?
Help.
Please.
You are suffering?
Now you know how it feels.
No!
No! Please!
No!
No! Let him!
No.
No...
No.
No...
Take it apart.
Salvage what's good.
What's bothering you?
Did this man mean anything to you?
There was another passenger.
How did you find this?
We were foraging.
What you just...
stumbled on it?
Why won't you look at me?
Because she is afraid of you!
Let's go Vesper.
No.
You don't just leave.
Not without helping to clean up first.
We say we didn't find anything.
Can't lie to her for ever.
Jonas is looking for her.
It would be dangerous if she did anything rash.
We have to inform the Citadel.
Jonas is the only one with a transceiver.
So?
You have never snuck into his farm before?
Did you find him?
We didn't find anything.
But how...
The wing glider could not have crashed so far away.
The...
area is...
It's really big.
I go with you tomorrow.
We need to inform the Citadel about the crash.
Our neighbour has a transceiver.
We will go in the morning.
Yes.
Alright.
Let's do that.
Your leg.
You have almost stopped limping.
Can I see?
You made that?
I did it for him.
To protect his open sores but...
It doesn't speed up the healing process.
I didn't know people here knew so much about synthetic biology.
The vermin have brains, too.
This is nothing.
Come with me.
Vesper, it's not safe.
She needs to see my work if she takes us to the Citadel.
Let's go.
The...
little ones always greet me.
She likes you.
This is the first one I created.
He is sulking,
because I have not been here for a few days.
He is not the best looking,
but...
He has character.
Like Pap.
Come on.
They are safer here,
but,
I hope one day,
they make their way out into the world.
I have never seen anything like it.
We have to show Elias.
Who?
My father.
He is the head synthetic biology,
at the Citadel.
He would love this.
I am still learning.
The first ones didn't even survive,
or,
they killed each other.
But,
I am getting closer to the right assembly with each generation.
I still make mistakes though.
This one should be blue like the others.
Something must have changed my original code.
Let's find out why you
don't do what you are supposed to.
We both know I won't make it to the Citadel.
But the kid trusts you.
It's everything to her.
When did your mother pass away?
She is not dead.
She left us a year ago.
Followed the pilgrims.
Who are the pilgrims?
They wander in groups
with veils over their faces, scavenging old junk.
No one knows why.
They...
don't talk.
Why did she follow them?
Pap said she dreamed too much.
Got sad staying here.
She...
She scribed these beautiful songs.
When she sang, it made me feel...
Warm.
One morning, I...
I went to her,
asking her to sing but...
She had lost her voice.
Two days later she was gone.
Some people say...
That it's a virus...
that makes them pilgrims.
She had never have left you if she had a choice.
What about yours?
I never met her.
Maybe it's better like that.
Do they exist for real?
They did, a long time ago.
Is it true that the Citadel can generate...
any...
Any life form?
Have you ever seen this one?
That's a Cat.
They are very independent.
Does it make a sound?
Yeah.
What about this one?
That's an Owl.
They fly and they go...
This one?
That's a Parrot.
They repeat everything you say.
What? What?
What are you doing? What are you doing?
Oh, I get it. Oh, I get it.
Stop now. Stop now.
Stop. Stop.
Stop it. Stop it.
Stop it now. Stop it now.
Stop. Stop.
Stop, Camellia. Stop, Camellia.
Stop it. Stop it.
Stop. Actually stop. Stop. Actually stop.
Stop. Stop.
Stop. You stop.
This is a Wolf.
They travel in packs.
And they like to howl at the moon.
Why is the Citadel so closed off to people like us?
If they opened its doors to everyone, there would not be enough resources.
But...
You are creating...
Jugs to serve you.
We could do their work.
The Citadel likes control.
Jugs are designed to be loyal.
It would not be so easy with humans.
Hum something.
He will be busy with them.
I will check if it's clear.
Come on in Vesper.
The gyroscope was not working properly.
I am fixing it for you.
What brings you two here?
Vesper.
Why are you trespassing on my farm?
We came to get what you owe us,
for the blood.
Well there is no need to sneak through the back.
Last time, your kids threw rocks at me.
The things have been a bit tense here.
A few days ago our germinating seeds disappeared...
Skinny was watching them.
He said that bugs took them.
Imagine?
I had to send him away to think about that.
If you can't trust your family...
Do you really think bugs stole those seeds?
Hold here.
If I caught a bug stealing from my family's stockpile,
I would tear off his wings,
each little tiny leg.
And what about the extra passenger?
You have seen anything?
I have lost all patience with liars.
The drone is as good as new.
But we don't do charity here.
Are you hungry?
Can you fly?
What did he do to you?
Fly one more time.
No!
No! No! No!
What happened?
Vesper?
Did you contact the Citadel?
Vesper.
Hey,
just take a moment. No!
Vesper! No.
What if it can't be fixed?
Of course it can.
You will find a way.
I promise.
And then we can go look for Elias
because I am feeling so much better.
He is dead.
Show me.
No, no, no, no, no.
No, no!
You are a...
I am a Jug yeah.
But, I have seen a Jug before...
It was not like you.
He created me.
I am different.
You can't get us into the Citadel.
We were escaping the Citadel when we crashed.
Creating an intelligent Jug is a major crime.
They would kill me.
Elias made a deal
with another Citadel for refugee status.
You were never going to take us.
Get cleaned up.
Go!
Vesper, Vesper.
I am sorry.
I never felt so worthless.
Try to fly.
You can't stay here.
Jonas marked you.
He thinks you belong to him now.
We are not going anywhere Pap.
She is a Jug.
She lied to us.
You were right.
I am going to take her to Jonas.
Then maybe he will go easier on me.
Don't be too hard on her.
Jugs obey their masters.
She didn't have a choice.
Let me...
Stop!
I don't exist anymore.
You don't just get to give up
when things are hard.
They are hard for all of us,
but we stay,
and we help each other.
Follow me.
Sit.
I found out why it was not doing what it was supposed to.
It's...
met a fungus,
with an orange pigment.
They...
joined and...
made something new.
If a flower can change its purpose,
so can you.
What?
Could I study a sample of you?
Camellia?
See this part here.
It keeps repeating,
but it doesn't belong to your core DNA.
What is it?
It's locked.
Elias didn't tell me anything.
I used to play for Elias when he was working,
he said it helped him concentrate.
He was in a Citadel lab.
With their technology, this would be easy.
You would not like it in the Citadel.
Elias used to say life there was like a frozen river,
the surface was beautiful,
but underneath...
Everyone tries to live for ever,
and it's a joyless and a lonely life.
You lived there.
I lived for Elias.
I entertained him, I took care of him.
I let him take care of me.
I kept him warm,
I helped him sleep...
I did everything he told me to.
Camellia?
No.
Keep playing.
There,
that last note, keep playing that.
Look.
These, the DNA sequences of plants...
There are so many,
I don't get it.
Wait.
Pap!
I found the key to unlock the Citadel seeds.
I can make them fertile.
We will never starve again.
So that was his plan.
To trade them for entrance to the other Citadel.
You need to take Vesper there tomorrow.
No.
Vesper. You... Pap.
I am not leaving you.
You don't understand,
the Citadel will be ruthless.
I need new filters.
We have to go to the old lab.
You won't believe what I am about to do.
I am so relieved to finally find you Miss.
And you are?
Where are my manners?
My name is Jonas.
I am his brother.
If you come back with me,
I can help get you home.
We have contacted the Citadel, they are on their way.
Either you are mistaken or...
Someone isn't truth telling.
I am the only person,
in this area with a transceiver.
You have to be really careful
who you trust.
My place is more...
appropriate for a lady.
It's bigger,
more comfortable.
It doesn't smell of death.
I will go with you.
Unbelievable!
You are practically human.
A Jug needs a master.
I have one.
Not anymore, you don't.
You think I am stupid?
Vesper stop!
Stop that! Stop it!
No, no, don't.
Jonas, no!
Drop it.
So this is how it ends.
I want to make a deal.
Camellia's owner was an engineer.
He hid the codes to unlock the seeds inside her DNA.
I can make them fertile.
We will both have all the food we need.
I found the Jug you are looking for.
This will mix with the seeds' cells
and change their DNA.
How long will it take?
It worked.
This little one can change our entire lives.
Away from the window.
Vesper...
Leave it.
Don't breathe it.
They will be here soon.
I will turn myself in.
It's too late for that.
They know we have helped you.
You and Vesper have to go now.
No!
We are not leaving you here.
Don't argue.
I can buy you enough time to escape.
Look at me.
You and Camellia must go to the Citadel in the south.
Trade the seeds for safety.
No, I don't want any of this.
I will give them the seeds.
It doesn't work that way.
I am not leaving you here.
Vesper.
How about this?
We will trick them.
You will hide in the swamp and I will tell them you are gone,
and when it's over you can come back.
I have worked for these people.
I know how to talk to them.
Besides,
how can they hurt me any more?
We could hide you from them too.
There you go.
That's a great idea.
Promise you will take care of her.
No, no.
No!
I am sorry. No!
Come here. I am sorry. No, no!
No.
He will always be with you.
Vesper.
He told us to go to your garden,
and then when it's safe we go south to the Citadel.
OK?
Come on.
Run.
Don't touch the red grass.
I will go with you.
Hey!
They won't stop until they get me.
No.
Pap said...
We have to stay together.
You can't just leave me.
Vesper,
do you remember what you said about the seeds?
How just one...
could change everything?
No.
Vesper. No.
No you can't do this.
It's ok. You...
You are coming with me.
You are going to stay with me,
and that is it!
You have to do, what I say.
It's an order, I am ordering you,
and you will stay with me.
Vesper... OK?
Come on. Come on.
You are staying with me.
You are going to stay with me.
Ok?
You are going to stay with me.
You are not going to leave.
No. No.
Please.
Vesper. No.
Please.
Please don't leave me.
Please. Please. Vesper.
Please. Vesper...
Please.
Please stay with me.
Stay with me...
Have beautiful dreams.
By LESAIGNEUR Sync & corrections September 2022