The crew of Discovery One consists of five men and one of the latest generation of the HAL-9000 computers. Three of the five men were put aboard asleep, or to be more precise a state of hibernation. They were Dr. Charles Hunter, Dr. Jack Kimball and Dr. Victor Kaminsky. We spoke with mission commander Dr. David Bowman and his deputy, Dr. Frank Poole. Well, good afternoon gentlemen, how is everything going?
from the earlier-recorded BBC News broadcast that Bowman and Poole watch
2001: A Space Odyssey quotes
Page 1 of 2The sixth member of the Discovery crew was not concerned about the problems of hibernation. For he was the latest result in machine intelligence - the HAL 9000 computer, which can reproduce, though some experts still prefer to use the word 'mimic,' most of the activities of the human brain, and with incalculably greater speed and reliability.
My God, it's full of stars.
This statement is not actually in the movie. Bowman makes it in the novel by Arthur C. Clarke, and it is included in the sequel 2010: The Year We Make Contact.
Well, he acts like he has genuine emotions. Uhm, of course, he's programmed that way to make it easier for us to talk to him. But as to whether or not he has real feelings is something I don't think anyone can truthfully answer.
Good day, gentlemen. This is a pre-recorded briefing made prior to your departure and which for security reasons of the highest importance has been known on board during the mission only by your H-A-L 9000 computer. Now that you are in Jupiter's space, and the entire crew is revived, it can be told to you. Eighteen months ago, the first evidence of intelligent life off the Earth was discovered. It was buried forty feet below the lunar surface, near the crater Tycho. Except for a single, very powerful radio emission aimed at Jupiter the four million year old black monolith has remained completely inert, its origin and purpose still a total mystery.
Floyd's prerecorded message to the Discovery crew that plays to Bowman after HAL is disconnected
You guys have really come up with somethin'.
Good afternoon, HAL. How's everything going?
Good afternoon, Mr. Amer. Everything is going extremely well.
HAL, you have an enormous responsibility on this mission, in many ways perhaps the greatest responsibility of any single mission element. You're the brain, and central nervous system of the ship, and your responsibilities include watching over the men in hibernation. Does this ever cause you any lack of confidence?
Let me put it this way, Mr. Amor. The 9000 series is the most reliable computer ever made. No 9000 computer has ever made a mistake or distorted information. We are all, by any practical definition of the words, foolproof and incapable of error.
HAL, despite your enormous intellect, are you ever frustrated by your dependence on people to carry out actions?
Not in the slightest bit. I enjoy working with people - I have a stimulating relationship with Dr. Poole and Dr. Bowman. My mission responsibilities range over the entire operation of the ship, so I am constantly occupied. I am putting myself to the fullest possible use, which is all I think that any conscious entity can ever hope to do.
The sixth member of the Discovery crew was not concerned about the problems of hibernation, for he was the latest result in machine intelligence: The H.-A.-L. 9000 computer, which can reproduce, though some experts still prefer to use the word mimic, most of the activities of the human brain, and with incalculably greater speed and reliability. We next spoke with the H.-A.-L. 9000 computer, whom we learned one addresses as "Hal." Good afternoon, HAL. How's everything going?
Good afternoon, Mr. Amor. Everything is going extremely well.
HAL, you have an enormous responsibility on this mission, in many ways perhaps the greatest responsibility of any single mission element. You're the brain and central nervous system of the ship, and your responsibilities include watching over the men in hibernation. Does this ever cause you any lack of confidence?
Let me put it this way, Mr. Amor. The 9000 series is the most reliable computer ever made. No 9000 computer has ever made a mistake or distorted information. We are all, by any practical definition of the words, foolproof and incapable of error.
HAL, despite your enormous intellect, are you ever frustrated by your dependence on people to carry out actions?
Not in the slightest bit. I enjoy working with people. I have a stimulating relationship with Dr. Poole and Dr. Bowman. My mission responsibilities range over the entire operation of the ship, so I am constantly occupied. I am putting myself to the fullest possible use, which is all I think that any conscious entity can ever hope to do.
Dr. Poole, what's it like living for the better part of a year in such close proximity with Hal?
Well it's pretty close to what you said about him earlier, he is just like a sixth member of the crew. You're very quickly get adjusted to the idea that he talks, and you think of him, uh, really just as another person.
In talking to the computer, one gets the sense that he is capable of emotional responses, for example, when I asked him about his abilities, I sensed a certain pride in his answer about his accuracy and perfection. Do you believe that Hal has genuine emotions?
Well, he acts like he has genuine emotions. Um, of course he's programmed that way to make it easier for us to talk to him, but as to whether or not he has real feelings is something I don't think anyone can truthfully answer.
[about the AE35 communications device]
Well HAL, I'm damned if I can find anything wrong with it.
Yes, it's puzzling. I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like this before. I would recommend that we put the unit back in operation and let it fail. It should then be a simple matter to track down the cause. We can certainly afford to be out of communication for the short time it will take to replace it.
Hello, HAL do you read me, HAL?
Affirmative, Dave, I read you.
Open the pod bay doors, HAL.
I'm sorry Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that.
What's the problem?
I think you know what the problem is just as well as I do.
What are you talking about, HAL?
This mission is too important for me to allow you to jeopardize it.
I don't know what you're talking about, HAL.
I know you and Frank were planning to disconnect me, and I'm afraid that's something I cannot allow to happen.
Where the hell'd you get that idea, HAL?
Dave, although you took thorough precautions in the pod against my hearing you, I could see your lips move.
All right, HAL. I'll go in through the emergency airlock.
Without your space helmet, Dave, you're going to find that rather difficult.
HAL, I won't argue with you anymore! Open the doors!
Dave, this conversation can serve no purpose anymore. Goodbye.
Note: the bolded line is ranked #78 in the American Film Institute's list of the top 100 movie quotations in American cinema.
Well, this was done in order to achieve the maximum conservation of our life support capabilities, basically food and air. Now the three hybernating crew members represent the survey team. And their efforts won't be utilized until we're approaching Jupiter.
Dr. Poole, what's it like while you're in hibernation?
Well, it's exactly like being asleep. You have absolutely no sense of time. The only difference is that you don't dream.
As I understand it, you only breathe once a minute. Is this true?
Well, that's right. The heart beats three times a minute. Body temperature's usually down to about, um, three degrees centigrade.
Don't suppose you have any idea what the damn thing is, huh?
Dr. Rolf Halvorsen
Wish to hell we did.
Elena Oh, we're going home. We have just spent three months calibrating the new antennae at Tchalinko... And what about you?
I'm just on my way up to Clavius.
Let's say we put the unit back and it doesn't fail, huh? That would pretty well wrap it up as far as HAL is concerned, wouldn't it?
Well, we'd be in very serious trouble.
We would, wouldn't we?
Hmm, hmm.
What the hell can we do?
Well, we wouldn't have too many alternatives.
I don't think we'd have any alternatives. There isn't a single aspect of ship operations that's not under his control. If he were proven to be malfunctioning, I wouldn't see how we would have any choice but disconnection.
I'm afraid I agree with you.
There'd be nothing else to do.
It would be a bit tricky.
Yeah.
We would have to cut his higher-brain functions...without disturbing the purely automatic and regulatory systems. And we'd have to work out the transfer procedures of continuing the mission under ground-based computer control.
Yeah. Well that's far safer than allowing HAL to continue running things.
You know, another thing just occurred to me...Well, as far as I know, no 9000 computer has ever been disconnected.
No 9000 computer has ever fouled up before.
That's not what I mean...Well I'm not so sure what he'd think about it.
Umm...anyway, Queen takes pawn. OK?
Bishop takes Knight's pawn.
Hmm, that's a good move. Er...Rook to King One.
I'm sorry, Frank. I think you missed it. Queen to Bishop Three. Bishop takes Queen. Knight takes Bishop. Mate.
Ah...Yeah, looks like you're right. I resign.
Thank you for a very enjoyable game.
Yeah. Thank you.