They Came Back (2004)

[bunniefuu]

Initial estimates...

which remain very vague for now...

mention more than 70 million men
and women...

who have returned to the world.

In our town alone...

there are no less than 13,000 people.

The flow of the dead lasted
a little more than two hours.

Then it ended suddenly...

without reason, as it had begun.

There were many familiar faces in the crowd.

Apparently, the returnees...

include only those men and women
who died recently.

In the last 10 years, it seems.

If we refer to the death registers...

sixty-five percent of these people are
over 60...

twenty-five percent are aged
between 40 and 60...

All seem to be unharmed...

and in good health.

At the police chief's request...

we have requisitioned
the local community center...

along with most
of the Codexa warehouses...

in order to provide facilities.

It is vital to group all returnees together...

in order to be able to identify them.

I don't think anyone will oppose
this decision...

which, in addition,
respects the UN guidelines.

We don't yet know...

how long we shall maintain these facilities.

We'll need three to six months.

That may be optimistic.

The census work alone
will take over a month.

The Red Cross will take care
of these people.

It will be backed up by the army
and the police.

The situation resembles
that of refugee assistance.

Basic commodities and clothing
will be distributed.

Dormitories have already been set up.

People will be grouped
according to their sex and age.

All archives will be transferred there.

These measures are designed
to facilitate identification.

Anyhow, this task is likely
to take several weeks...

even several months.

Isn't your view rather pessimistic?

I don't think so.

Mr. Mayor, it isn't a matter of efficiency.

I don't think we should hurry things.

These people died recently.

Their memory is still present.

We don't know the effect...

caused by the return
of a recently deceased loved one.

The process of return to the families...

is likely to require more time than you think.

We've formed a counseling team
to make sure things go smoothly.

Other experts, such as sociologists...

and anthropologists,
will join us to study their behavior.

This joint effort is indispensable...

if we wish to facilitate their return
into society.

You're not going to see her?

I've asked them to take her home.

It's easier.

We have many decisions to make.

But you don't have to stay, Isham.
I understand.

Thank you.

I won't make anyone stay.

- You're not coming?
- No.

Are you sure?

My dear friends...

we've worked together for some time...

and we've done a good job...

despite our occasional disagreements.

But today, like many of you...

I'm astounded.

Astounded and overwhelmed
by these events.

The unthinkable has happened.

People who yesterday...

were considered dead have come back.

These people have rights...

like the rest of us.

A right to return to their families...

to their jobs.

In short, the right to resume their lives.

Here they are.

You're here for a child?

Yes. He's 6 years old. His name's Sylvain.

We have papers and photos.

Follow me.

Wait here. I'll be right back.

Come with me.

Remember, you don't have to take
your child right away.

Your reaction may not be
the one you hoped for.

You don't have to hold your child.

This is an initial contact. That's all.

You can come back to see him
as often as you like...

to get used to his presence again.

You're home late.

Are you all right?

You look tired.

Dufournier, Marie...

Dufournier: Natural causes.

Matry, Lucien: Heart attack.

Sir, you should lie down.

Please, you have to sleep.

Sorry, I didn't see you.

- How are you?
- I'm okay.

I haven't seen you lately.

Yes, we're all working a lot.

Am I wrong or have you been avoiding me?

Why?

You say goodbye from afar in the evening.

You walk home when I could give you a lift.

I could use my car, too...

but walking does me good.

Something wrong, Marion?

Here, let me take care of it.

You're not asking about Sylvain?

Yes, how's it going?

Very well.

He found his room again
without us helping him.

He was upset to find it empty.

We'd put everything in the cellar.

We've brought it all back up,
furniture, clothes...

He doesn't say much...

but it's good to see him shout, play,
and have fun.

For him, nothing's changed.

Tell me, Rachel,
have you asked about Mathieu?

Do you know if he's back?

No, I don't know.

What are you afraid of?
Worried you've aged?

That's not what worries me.

Don't you think
he might be waiting for you?

I don't share your enthusiasm...

and, if we want to move ahead,
we must be wary of our own hypocrisies.

The first hypocrisy:

Companies need to create new jobs
unless they fire people...

who were hired following the deaths.

And the second hypocrisy:
Everyone knows...

even here, that they're slow,
they don't communicate well...

Just a second!
The State is funding these extra jobs.

Besides, most of the people...

who have returned are retired.

Pensions need funding, too...

and, sorry to be so blunt,
that's a problem for wage-earners.

I'd like to say something. I agree.

I think that our present difficulties
can be overcome.

In some fields, everything is fine.
We must work out why.

All these people, young or old,
male or female...

have symptoms
that resemble forms of aphasia...

like those observed
following a severe concussion.

But, for some strange reason...

the motor functions are unharmed.

We observe sluggishness in their speech...

and lapses of awareness...

but the subjects are rarely incapable
of communicating.

In fact, they seem to be in a latent period.

A waking phase, in a way.

Mathieu?

Hi, Nadine.

The work has advanced
while you were away.

Yes, so I see.

It's time for the meeting.

I'll start with a quick summary for Sector A.

I'll start with a quick summary for Sector A.

The fragile terrain is going to delay
drilling work slightly...

mainly on this side.

We've come across tunnels...

that, fortunately for us,
are of no archaeological interest.

But we have to wait a few weeks
before resuming work.

Mathieu, where have you got to
on the third-stage foundations?

The third stage...

The plans I've studied
follow our predictions.

Good. We have no reason to alter...

Actually, I still have a few plans to look at...

notably for the wiring
and the ventilation ducts.

I hope to finish in a few weeks.

All right.

Let's move on...

All the subjects display...

a lack of synchronism with reality...

at least in their oral expression.

For now, these phenomena continue...

but may well vanish within a few months.

This is frequently seen in cases
of post-traumatic aphasia.

Apparently, returning to work...

allows some of them
to make significant progress.

As a result, reassessing
the reintegration policy...

would be a serious mistake.

I think that covers everything.

We'll meet again next week.
Have a good weekend.

Hello, Sylvain.

Are you out on your own?

Come on.

Hi, Rachel.

He's out with his class today.

We're keeping an eye on him.

- It's not too complicated?
- It's okay.

Come over for dinner one night.

All right.

Now Sylvain's here, let's carry on.

Well, how are things?

Everything going well?

I guess.

One, two, three, freeze!

He hasn't seen me.

Let him play a little.

He has to fit in...

and make new friends.

He can stay with us.

He's always with us.

Is that a problem?

I'm going home, I'm a bit tired.

See you later.

Sit down.

Have you seen how he's grown?

Remember how tiny he was before?

He used to be all white.

Now he has patches everywhere.

He hasn't seen you for four years...

but he recognized you right away.

You understand?
That means he hasn't forgotten you.

No one has forgotten you.

They are often elderly, retired people...

left to their own devices and unaware
of the dangers around them.

They tend to wander night and day.

They may be looking for familiar places...

such as a childhood home or a workplace.

Therefore, it's hard
to keep them in the centers.

They are full of energy
and apparently in excellent health.

Paradoxically, this vitality is a problem
for their caregivers.

Some disturbing details...

have been reported
by medical staff at the centers.

The subjects under observation seem to
have a high resistance to infection.

This resistance may be
due to their low body temperature...

five degrees lower than ours.

Clinical research...

hasn't yet provided answers...

but has shown the relative efficacy

axadrolyne.

This neuroregulator acts
like a chemical straitjacket on returnees...

allowing them to sleep better at night
and move around less during the day...

thus easing the work of the police
and medical staff.

We feel...

the product should be available
to everyone...

families in particular,
dealing with similar problems.

Therefore, we have sped up
the product licensing of axadrolyne...

which will soon be marketed as Lithanol.

We have designed more practical packaging.

The product is packaged in vials.

In its liquid form...

it can be diluted in food or drinks.

It is important...

to dispel the idea of forced administration...

as would be the case with capsules.

Here. Be careful.

What happens if I sh**t myself in the foot?

You'd sleep for a day or two and wake up
feeling very sick.

Your system would take a week to recover.

I'll avoid wounding myself, then.

Have you ever used it before?

No, never.

But they can put themselves at risk.

In that case, it may be useful.

Have you noticed?

They're pretending to sleep.

In fact, they're active all the time.

Odd, you sound angry with them.

Have any of your relatives returned?

No, I don't think so.

You don't know?

Actually, I haven't asked.

And I don't really want to.

You're wrong.

Because of people like you,
the centers are overcrowded.

Have you noticed that guy there?

The one in the blue shirt?

Yes, I know him.

He does the same thing every night.

He leaves the center.
Do you know where he goes?

He goes back to work.

What do you mean?

He goes to his office.

You think that's normal?

They meet up here every night.

Management has told me not to interfere...

just to keep them out of the factory.
It could be dangerous.

What are they doing?

It's obvious.

They're having a meeting.

You see?

They're talking.

What shall we do tonight? Eat in or go out?

Come on, mother dear.

They're all outside.

Look.

You're beautiful in that dress.

You say that as if I'd never worn it before.

Coming to sit down?

Here, I've cut you just a small slice.

I'm not hungry.

I have no appetite in the evening.

Don't force yourself to eat it.

She ate a very good lunch.

She's probably not hungry now.

Martha?

She has been walking like that all day.

I watched her from the window.

I checked that the gate was locked.

I didn't want her to stray onto the road.

It's dangerous.

I'll take a walk with her.

Martha!

Don't you want to stay with us?

They're here for you.

They want to see you, talk to you.

Why don't we take a holiday?

It's been so long.

It can wait, can't it?

You have to rest first.

But I'm not tired.

You've grown so much.

What was it like, Grandma?

When you were dead, what was it like?

Julie, what did I tell you?

It's because of your job.

What do you mean?

That's why we can't go on holiday.

No, not at all.

It's a shame.

What were you doing? Sleeping?

No, just having a rest.

I've repainted the bedroom...

but I didn't have the energy
to finish down here.

I haven't made much headway.

Rachel...

are you okay?

I'm sorry.

Our study is based on
one of their particularities...

namely, their slightly lower
body temperature.

The difference is between four and five
degrees according to the subject.

It is enough...

to be picked up by thermal cameras...

as you can see.

Of course, our study doesn't end there.

Having developed this technique...

of visual differentiation...

we attached some of these cameras
to balloons...

that have been floated above
nearly the whole town.

You have probably noticed them.

There have been numerous studies...

of a psychological nature...

to try to understand
the agitation of the returnees.

Our goal is noticeably different.

We shall attempt to analyze
their movements.

People have reported gatherings
in certain parts of town...

notably at night.

But we must go further
and try to find out if there isn't...

what we could call
a migratory phenomenon.

Among the first data recovered...

there is one surprising element:

The people followed cover an average
of nine miles a day...

whatever their age.
Even a woman in her 60s does it.

She does it at her own pace, but she does it.

By the way, all observations carried out
from our balloons...

respect individual anonymity.

Just in case the Big Brother aspect
scares you.

Now here are more exhaustive studies
of these movements.

These shots were taken
at two-minute intervals...

and give us a clear perception
of their itineraries.

Indeed, here and there, we have noted...

vague gatherings,
but we haven't had enough time...

to know if they occur regularly...

and concern the same people.

Finally, there are...

questions that we still cannot answer.

I don't want to attend
those meetings anymore.

There's no sense in it.

I'd rather stay with you.

No one would notice if I stopped going.

That's what I'll do.

I'll stop going.

You never seem to close your eyes.

You don't sleep much. Aren't you tired?

No, I sleep very well.

You could stop going to work, too.

I'm sure they wouldn't dare fire you.

It's a bit hot, isn't it?

A bit, but it's nice.

I'm too hot.

Shall we have a swim?

Hello, Mathieu!

Do you remember me?

Of course.

How are you?

Very well. And yourself?

You must be Rachel.

I'm a doctor at the center. We met there.

I see. Hello.

We talked a lot...

when he was at the center.
He told me about this lake.

He told me a lot about you.

I wonder what on earth he said.

Nothing unkind, don't worry. He needed...

to talk about his life.
It helped to bring memories back.

It's usually a good sign when they need...

to talk about their past. It does them good.

I think I'll go for a swim.

What's wrong? You look worried.

He hasn't forgotten how to swim.

Like driving or dressing,
they remember all that perfectly.

I know that.

It will be fine.

Don't you want to come in?

Your snack is ready now.

Who is it?

Sorry, I didn't want to scare you.

What are you doing here?

I just wanted to check up on you.

You seemed a little lost earlier.

You followed us?

You must take care.
Of yourself, not just Mathieu.

Rachel, you have to accept what you feel.

Everyone in your situation reacts
in the same way.

In just one day...

you can experience every type of emotion:

Anger, frustration...

hope...

indifference...

guilt...

These emotions are hard to take all at once.

Have you noticed Mathieu gets up at night?

Yes, it happens. He has trouble sleeping.

No, he goes out.

He goes back to work. Didn't you know?

I think you ought to leave us alone.

I'm worried about you.

Everything's fine.

We don't need your help.

Were you talking to someone?

I thought I heard your voice.

You must have dreamt it.

"New mains. Fifty-five yards.

"Fifty-five yards below sea level...

"huge excavations to house
the compartments.

"Temporary access to reach the depths
prepared by workers.

"Tunnels access the different areas
of the site."

Could you explain what you mean
by all that?

What kind of project do you call this?

I've tried to sum up the third-stage work
as you asked.

Mathieu, I don't want to upset you...

but this makes no sense.

It's no use insisting. He doesn't understand.

I agree, Nadine.

- But we have to talk to him.
- I know.

We need to make a decision...

a decision that we make reluctantly.

Nadine will explain.

I think you know Germain and Rinaldi.

You're on the same team.

They have come back like you.

I'll show you your machine.

"Echo and Memory."

That is the name of Dwight's theory.

Dwight is a psycholinguist who has done
remarkable research in the USA.

He suggests that their linguistic system is
an illusion.

Either they imitate the expressions
of the living...

to create a pattern that he calls the "echo"...

or they remember expressions
they once used...

in certain everyday situations.

He calls that the "memory."

Combined, they create an illusion
of normal behavior...

but, unfortunately,
these people are unlikely...

to develop normally.

In these conditions, of course...

we must approach reintegration differently.

The incapacity of the dead to innovate
excludes them...

from all positions of responsibility.

However, they can do tasks more adapted...

to their capacities...

if we take the time to train them properly.

What does that mean?
Specific jobs for them?

The choice facing us...

is deciding to leave them inactive...

on the margins of society...

or deciding to find them
a true place in society.

You pass a large furniture store...

a brightly lit store.

It's not far from there.

Isham...

can't you hear?

He fell asleep against me. He seemed calm.

He's been hitting the door for an hour.

I'm sorry.

Sylvain, stop it now.

Come here.

Gently, Veronique.

What's going through your mind?

Won't you tell me?

Come here.

The ministry is preparing
an education program...

for children like Sylvain.

I don't want to know.

It could help him.

Sorry, I don't trust them.

Maybe you're right.

I don't know anymore.

We mustn't rush things.

In any case, they don't want him at school.

He scares his classmates.

The headmaster says so?

No, Isham...

I say so.

Don't talk like that in front of him.

Here, take this.

It'll help you sleep.

Haven't you given him one already?

- Please, for me.
- Cut it out!

Look at him.

All he wants to do is run away.

He doesn't care how we feel.

It's like he never came back.

What are you doing?

I don't know what came over me.

I took her to the bedroom...

and I locked her in.

She stayed awake all night, watching me.

In silence.

I've locked the door every night since then.

I feel like I've put her in prison.

I'm so afraid of waking up...

and seeing that she has run off.

I can't stand her sweet smiles anymore.

She scares me.

Why don't you let her leave, then?

How can you say such a thing?

If you can't take it...

that may be the answer.

What will become of us, Rachel?

What can we possibly do?

I don't understand.

Why did they come back
if they want to run away again?

I have to go.

Rachel, it's important for us to talk.

We're so alone.
We have to help each other, don't we?

I can't help you.

What do you think, Rachel?

That Mathieu is any different?

That you'll sort things out?
Are you blind or what?

You won't hold him back any more
than we can.

That day...

That day...

That day, I was tired...

I was tired, that's all.

I didn't answer right away.

That day...

we got up...

without a word...

without a look.

I must have spoken harshly.

That day,
I must have spoken harshly to you.

I spent the day thinking of you.

I'm sorry.

I took the car.

When I got back, you had gone.

I took the car.

That day, you were scared.

Rachel, I'm sorry.

It's time. Are you coming for lunch?

I wanted to study architecture...

but then I enrolled in engineering.

It took three years.

When I graduated, I was 26. I started work...

and then changed jobs...

Our first interview.

This was about a month ago...

before he returned home to you.

I interviewed him a lot.
He was sharper than the others.

But when I tried spontaneous speech...

or free monologue exercises,
nothing worked.

I soon realized that he was still talking...

in one way or another,
about his previous life.

Mathieu, can you tell me...

what your job is exactly?

I'm working on the factory extension.

It's a six-year program...

I've come to see you to ask for advice...

to try to help him.
I don't know how to go about it.

I can give you advice,
but you mustn't think...

that Mathieu will be the man
you knew again.

At best, he'll recover his memory...

and the ability to use that memory
in the present.

But his reality will never be yours.

Meaning? I don't understand.

I know it's hard to hear...

but you mustn't hope for the impossible.

Do you know what they're thinking?

I do.

I've spent enough time with them to know.

Sometimes in the morning,
you're barely awake...

when the previous day's problems
nag at you.

Your ideas go round in circles...

but you aren't yet able to think.

You're powerless in the face
of the images that beset you.

That's what's happening in Mathieu's mind.

Thoughts and memories keep crowding
into the darkness.

That's all.

Last time, you talked about your partner.

You talked about Rachel.

He's no longer the man you knew.

How are things with her?

Very good.

The other day,
she said she wanted to change jobs.

I think she mainly wants to move away.

When did she say that?

A few weeks ago.

Can you be more precise?
Two, three, or four weeks?

Two weeks.

Mathieu, you haven't seen Rachel
for two years.

Why did I come? I must be mad.

Do you remember your car accident?

Maybe you need my help.

No, I don't need you.

Rachel, I'm just worried about you.

I don't know what'll happen to them.

Don't move. You're too tired.

Martha, what are you doing?

You're still very ill. You must rest.

I have to go.

What are you saying?

No, don't turn it on.

I don't want you to see me. I look terrible.

I'm dead.

You must rest.
There's no sense in getting worked up.

I have to leave.

Look...

all your energy's gone.

Your hand's shaking.

Don't insist.

There.

Gently.

Who's there?

What are you three doing here?

You know you can't come here at night.

Yeah, clear off!

I'll set the dogs on you next time.

Got that?

What are you all here for?

You pass a large furniture store...

a brightly lit store.

It's not far from there.

We can open it together.

The place is deserted.

Fairly deep tunnels...

It's me. Where are you going like this?

Come on, let's go home.

What's the matter?

Is something wrong? You don't look well.

Do you want to come with us?

Don't resist, then.

Just let go.

There.

Good.

There.

After a series of sabotage attacks
in city centers...

the dead have set off in groups...

towards destinations that remain unknown.

There have been no casualties...

but a curfew is in force
throughout the country.

People are advised to stay in...

Turn it off.

...and not look for their relatives
and to let the police do their job.

We can't keep him locked in like this
for long.

What are you saying?

We're not going to let him go.

You're crazy.

The aggressiveness of the dead
forces us to fight back.

Experiments over recent months
have shown that axadrolyne...

has a spectacular effect on their bodies...

casting them into a deep
and irreversible coma.

...a new expl*sive releasing a gaseous form
of the product...

concentrated and volatile enough
to neutralize all individuals...

within a 10-yard radius.

That day...

I was tired, perhaps.

We got up...

we got dressed...

without a word...

without a look.

Later, that morning, I probably spoke
a little harshly.

You ask if everything's fine.

I don't reply right away.

That's when you got scared.

I see that something has snapped
inside you.

You left for work.

So did I.

I spent the day thinking of you.

That day...

when I got home, you weren't there.

So I panicked.

I took the car.

I thought you were in town.

I didn't know where exactly.

I wanted to find you, Rachel.

I just wanted to talk to you.

And I drove too fast.

I'm sorry.