Say What?

David said that he could "perhaps" read the inscriptions. There was a lot of writing on that wall. Perhaps it was the script of the sequel! Personally, I doubt that the concepts being described on that wall could be easily understood by a human. It's going to be full of weird alien stuff from their weird alien culture.

[quote]Perhaps it was the script of the sequel![/quote] -------- :D

But it wasn't described by a human, David is not human remember and no human could possibly remember ALL those languages. And David says "I belive I can" when asked if he can read them.

Meaning....given enough time I can understand them, but will I tell you? You may not be around when I do get around to deciphering them

I'm trying to figure that out. But somebody needs to ask some people who know all about this stuff, to please figure out what the writings on THIS PICTURE SAY: [url=http://www.prometheus-movie.com/gallery/view/img/117][img]http://www.prometheus-movie.com/media/prometheus_screencap25.jpg[/img][/url]

@Red Wolf Insufficient data. @zzplural Albeit the exchange was, I thought obviously, meant to indicate that David could read it perfectly well, or understand a lot more than, "not one thing at all", as a result of staring at it, I found his reply coy to the point of insubordination and found it really annoying that it was just left hanging, unchallenged by another character. If I'd been in some alien temple a trillion miles from home and the 'Droid Man answered my direct question with, "Perhaps", I would have swiftly tickled the back of his neck with a cattle-prod on full charge - that I'd be sure to keep very handy for when 'Droids start to get coy: either you can read it, or you can't, Tin Man. Furthermore, it wouldn't stand up that he couldn't understand the glyphs when they spent so much time setting up his proficiency in ancient languages - and when he could speak it well enough at the end to get his own block ripped off and used as a club: so maybe he wasn't as clever as he thought, after all.

Unknown...and we don't get but a glimpse of them, so that the audience can't know or recognize any symbols....I think thats an invented language on there.

Just see my recent post on this topic up there ^ for the screenshot Even invented languages can be figured out. There are people who dedicate their lives to figuring languages out and translating. We just NEED to reach out to those people and form a bond! With one exception and this is a big exception. And that would be...that if the text is figured out and all it turns out to be is a bunch of letters, and not a real sentence. Kinda like "qoweiroiwe adfl;ksadlk;sdlk adkflksdahg" which would be Ridley Scott shoving it in our face.

It says: "Dear Diary: Wow... it's getting preety lonely here after releasing Mr. Whiskers. I wonder if he is ok. I miss you Mr. Whiskers... wherever you are. p.s.: - awwwww don't be jealous Diary, you know I wove you. BOB." and: "ZARDOZ WAS HERE" and: "SJ GANGSTAZ" and: "You wanna have some good time? call 0950948392910289475" and: "Ladies Room to the right" ROFL

I fully agree with allinamberclad. When David's reply was "Perhaps-", my first thought was you'de damn well better tell us what it says or even might mean!! David was insubordinate for sure, by keeping this information from his crew mates. My take on the phrase "Invented language" is that it was cryptic looking hyroglyphs as set decorations. Not an actual made up language like; for example, Klingon. Possibly the writing on the wall is meant to assume that David can in fact read it, whereas the mural is beyond that door and is intended for us to see and regard it as something to recognize in some way (from the original) that David's character cannot.

In reality (in the context of the art department) it is gibberish in this film. It does not correspond to the spoken language created by Anil Biltoo, which is verbalized by the Engineers (and might actually one day appear on screen). In the fictional context David is likely able to read a lot of it. However, It may very well say something like this. [i]—Nekhratic Ampule Chamber— To the glory and honor of Xorattns, Scinatmaester of the IIIrd Evolution of the grandeur of the reign of Yran of Taramn. Caution. Contains bioquinoxic mutosa of the genera comun-transardm. Mutosa can spontaneously anstabilize in prohmanicular environments. Non-biopronen-secured personnel are advised to consult with Section 18, Dome 3, Office of the High Praetonatus before attempting entravolvation. Please ring 00111010A001011BB011BA00110111010 for more information.[/i] David's being "perhaps" able to read all of the writing is another convenient conceit that works well to keep his intentions ambiguous. The fact that all of these "scientists" do not demand that he do his best to read each word and produce his best guess for the meaning of each is a part of the filmmaking. "It's a movie, not a [congress on historical linguistics]" — Ridley Scott (and Arthur Max)

David -- never at a loss to capitalize -- conveniently opens the door to the BHC (oops) before anyone can think about calling him out on such a juvenile resply to a semi-pointed question. In fact, no one seems to have the nerve to call David out on ANYTHING, though he's supposed to be the "servant." Like when he opens the door despite Shaw telling him not to. WE REALIZE IT'S A MOVIE, RIDLEY. Not Earth-ending stuff here (well, the script notwithstanding); but a movie that Charlie Chan, Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie couldn't figure out.

David is Weyland's "son" and most belovèd of his father. This gives him a special status among the "equipment and instrumentation". David is one of the ONLY members of the crew who behaves like an actual human being for much of the film (and I don't just mean like a 'nice human being'). Knowledge is power and power is known to corrupt. Secret knowledge is referred to as "capital" in many contexts. David is rich and powerful. Only Vickers truly has insight into what he really is, but he remains an enigma even to her—because that's one of the tools that Daddy uses to keep her at arms length. David has [i]carte blanche[/i] to do whatever the hell he 'feels' (= 'calculates') is necessary or even well-advised to accomplish what his omnipotent father has instructed him to do.

Agreed. But none of the CREW knows Weyland is still alive (only Vickers & David)...

Flat out: David's behaviour is incompatible with his status. The fact that the behaviour regularly, consistently, goes unchallenged does not seem credible. I don't think there is any swerving it. I think it's symptomatic of a wider malais generate by numerous other, of themselves small, but collectively, significant, things. Using the present example, as I see it, if one character had simply said, "What?!..." When he made that ridiculous reply and if, [i]then,[/i] the situation had suddenly changed, this whole thing would scan - at a cost of 0.5 seconds of screen time. There would still be either ambiguity in whether David can read it or not; or certainty that he can and is lying; he will still have acted strangely and out of turn of his station - but surrounding characters will have been given just a little realism and dimension, while issues of "conceit" and "filmaking", remain untroubled and the whole 4 seconds of it has more colour.

Well said, Siggy. You have a way with words, like when you professed that "Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar."

He was introduced quite intentionally to the entire crew right up front as being the equivalent of Weyland's son. And, of equal importance, they don't know that Vickers hates him so much—if they had been informed of that, Charlie would likely not be the only one treating him like shite (for which, BTW, haughty Dr. Holloway paid a rather costly price). They are never told that he is there to SERVE them, so logically he wears his capital well; and they keep their "emotional" distance from him. The parallels to anyone who is "different" in the non-fictional world sync up almost perfectly. While David is everything that NO human wants to be (soulless), he is simultaneously what EVERY human wants to be: — Calm & In Control — Knowledgeable and Frighteningly Intelligent — Chivalrous — Favored by the Powers that Be — Eternal — Easy to Talk To — Useful — Innovative — Self-determined He is even what a lot of human strive to be after the expiration of their corporeal vessels. If you don't believe me, watch [url=http://transcendentman.com/]Transcendent Man[/url]. You'll get no argument from me that the humans could have been written better, in fact they may have been. And it could all come back in the Restoration cut.

@sukkal Wait 1 - he was introduced in the context of a robot substitute for the son Weyland never had: that is something very different. That is to say, "I consider this robot man the son I never had" - in context, is actually slightly patronizing and diminishing, and only re-inforces the fact that David is not human and, a little de facto, not as preferable as an actual human. That is [i]not[/i] to say, "accord this robot man the same value as you would a human who was my son. He is as good as human" - were that actually the case, it seems to me that it wouldn't be Ms. Vickers, a "daughter", Weyland seems to have a fractious relationship with, up there in her well-cut suit, running the show? I'm not sure it matters whether they were explicitly told he was there to serve them, [although I don't know how you know that], as it is quite obvious from his general behaviour, dress and duties - fetching Vicker's Martinis? He may be [i]considered[/i] a son, but he is plainly [u]not,[/u] an [i]equal[/i] - even to a human Weyland may not much like. He plainly, it seems to me, regularly, "acts out" - I don't think there is a swerve.

Sukkal, Everyone knows -- well at least in 2094 -- that androids exist to serve us. It is as well known as the sky being blue. Why else would Holloway talk to David so demeaningly at the pool table ("we made you 'cause we could"). Spoken like a true SOB to a "low-life" servant.

@allinamberclad— Interesting use of "swerve"... Granted, the crew are not told that "David is in charge." Weyland designates that "honor" to Shaw and Holloway (thereby undermining Vickers in the same way he "de-souled" David. (Open villain case, remove one rich old bastard and begin to bash audience over the head with said villain.) However, there is no reason for Weyland to relate David to him personally in any way (much less in the role of a "substitute son") publicly if David does not NEED leeway to "act out" as you've phrased it. David is CLEARLY a member of an underclass. But, we fool ourselves if we begin to believe that the members of the court don't fear the king’s personal eunuch. Access and favor are EVERYTHING. @Red Wolf — Charlie treats David like Pinocchio because: (a) He (Charlie) WAS put in charge by Weyland's hologram in front of the whole crew (along with Shaw, but he's the man...) and (b) He's a dick. It is convenient for him to be a dick, because that helps legitimize (a rationalization of) David's infecting him.

This is beginning to take the shape of what is called an Irish Argument, Sukkal: both sides really agreeing but enjoying the argument too much to notice. Be well.

I wasn't aware that I was arguing.

I believe; and accept as story context, (based upon his reaction later in the film) that Weyland didn't know that Vickers (his biological daughter) would be on board the ship when he made the holographic recording. If he did, he certainly would have made the distinction between his daughter and Shaw/Holloway being in charge. (my take) I also observe that in this discussion, many (including myself) are positing that David was in effect a servant- both to the crew and to the mission. OK- He seemed to be just that. It is assumed that he was more importantly, a hidden instrument of Weylands actual agenda. Exceptional due to his being artificial- Superior memory and durability, no qualms about ethics, etc... potentially a hero probe, if you will. As a hidden instrument to Weyland, David (for reasons noted above) could easily manipulate Shaw & Holloway without their being aware of it- or why. Therefore, David was technically in charge- even though the rest of the crew were unaware of it. He was deliberately shown to be a member of the crew- with special abilities. An effectual disguise perhaps? He wasn't ever delegated or assumed to serve. I have said so elsewhere in this forum that perhaps Vickers was a thorn in David's side with regard to his mission agenda, as well as her meddling with her father's interests where it concerned Shaw & Holloway. I now propose that Vickers presence on the ship made David appear to be a servant. Where it is shown throughout the film that David behaves and does things that a servant wouldn't, I default to this point.

I understood it differently. I was pretty sure that David was able to read the text. And just like when he shut of his camera when streaming to Vickers when he found the SJ sleep chamber, David told no one but Weyland. I thought that was why he knew what was in the urns and what the black goo was used for and how to dose a crewmember with it.

Charlie didn't ask David "What does it say?". We have seen that David is very good at massaging the individual components of both speech and larger, all encompassing truths in order to retain/obscure information and remain focused on tasks of which most of his fellow crew members are unaware. David also seemed quite pleased with himself when he verbalized the notion that he could in fact read the engravings. He clearly was able to properly interpret the engravings because he was able to operate the control system that opened the door to the Black Goo chamber. It was only the contents of the BG chamber and the events that took place in it and outside the pyramid, meaning the dust storm, that kept the crew from stopping to ask David what exactly the control panel outside the BG chamber said.

@sukkal I think you might be missing the point, whether it's the "carte blanche" you claimed he had, or whether it's a sense of "leeway", conferred by the introduction by Weyland. Even if these things were true, David's agenda is hidden from the crew. The [i]crew[/i], then, would have to interpreting his actions according to their frame of understanding. What you call his, "leeway", unless it was explicitly stated that he was in charge, or could do,"whatever the hell he feels is necessary", over and above the chain of command and any instruction given him, would still have to be interpreted by the crew, according to the frame of their understanding. David's behaviour, regardless of whatever, "leeway", they might allow for, would [i]still[/i] extend into conduct that a believable crew would have to question or challenge at some point - unless you're suggesting that a credible crew in this situation would interpret that, "leeway", as David doing, "whatever the hell he feels is necessary", unchallenged at every turn, even at risk of their personal safety - which, I just don't think it very credible that they would do: that was the point. The absence of a minimum level of credibility in the crews' responses to David's behaviour - over and above any credible level of, "leeway", that could be accorded him, by the crew, in the context of the Story - was the point. So, nothing seems to have changed.

@Red Wolf: David does not say "I believe I can". You're confusing that with the statement that he made when asked if he could pilot a ship to the Engineer's home world. @allinamberclad: Actually, after David answered the question "perhaps", things moved on very swiftly indeed, with the triggering of the ancient holographic playback within a few seconds. There wasn't time for anyone to drill David on how much he'd been able to figure out. We don't know how much of the inscription David knew. He certainly knew enough to start pressing buttons with purpose. He could have potentially figured out a lot more. General: However, the point I originally made was that the concepts being described are likely to be ones that would not make a lot of sense to humans (from our very human culture), let alone a robot. For example, it might say: [i]Here and Inside Here imbue Exordium and Terminus Through the purity and essence of our natural fluids Permit Transitional Form only Ergalitris in Era 81794[/i] I choose to believe that advanced alien culture will be indistinguishable from magic as far as we are concerned.

@ allinamberclad By definition, any hypothetical "synthetic [i]human[/i]" could not always and consistently behave with stereotypical [i]robotic[/i] subservience. Doing so, would obviate any semblance of humanity, which would be its' entire raison d'etre. Therefore, if the term "synthetic human" isn't entirely nonsensical, your objection to David's behavior is spurious.

@allinamberclad — With the exception of Shaw, Vickers, Janek and David, the entire "crew" are written to be pure red shirts or comedic relief, with Charlie reserved the role as prick extraordinaire. I'm not counting Weyland as crew. If David had revealed to them that the door said watch out for the [i]bioquinoxic mutosa[/i] inside Charlie simply would have said "Oh, I gotta get me some of that!" even though he has no idea what it is. I get your point that the crew is not written as a realistic, sensible group of scientists, and it is a shame. The film could have been even more frightening (and just "good" at that level) if "intelligent" people had faced the remnants of the Engineer equivalent of a "nuclear meltdown" on LV-223 instead of a bunch of dufi to whom a typical theater-going audience is better able to relate. I'm just saying that "the writers" and Ridley—in the way that most of the writing is not too deep—threw out a bone that David is favored of Weyland, and "not your typical robot" and I believe that they did that intentionally to help explain to the audience why David is not promptly locked in a closet after first contact. To the writers’ credit, however, they also had David play the part of the gallant hero in saving Elizabeth and Charlie from the silica storm. This obfuscates further the fact that he is NOT working for them as "the help." David is the only character with any true complexity at this point and that is why I love him and am thrilled that he is along for any future ride. @Svanya— I am a little dubious that David knew exactly what the goo from the specific vial he selected would do, but I'm pretty sure he knew it would do something; something dramatic. Even though he may have a general understanding of the basics of the Engineers’s language, it is unlikely that he'd have a perfect understanding of their modern technology terms because he lacks full context. This is what zzplural it touching on. Speaking/reading English does not mean an immediate understanding of: — CERN — Large Hadron Collider (LHC) — Higgs boson — The God Particle ...or even Monosodium glutamate (MSG) for that matter. The black goo likely has parallels to MSG, actually; in the sense of its having been created for a specific purpose. It's just that it gives you *E*gineered *E*bola instead of a headache. ;)

@sukkal I cannot understand how the crew being, "red shirts", is either here, or there? They remain badly drawn - whatever shirt they're wearing. If you're suggesting the fact that the shirts are red is some kind of excuse for the fact that they are badly drawn in this film, I just cannot accept it, nor agree. No: that might be what [i]you[/i] would have had Charlie reply. That is not to say that is all he could have said - and not to say that someone [i]else[/i], [perhaps with more of an obvious flair in this area], might not and could not have had him say something else, that was not conveniently facetious, [or that was - but good], and that improved the character, the scene and - by token of the cumulation of similar effect, elsewhere - the entire film. Yes: of course, I do understand what was being attempted with the whole, "spotlight David", and - while I really don't think it had one bit of the least much of the smallest thing, at all, to do with explaining why he wasn't to be placed in a closet - what I say is that, having been built, whatever the consequence was of that little piece of construction, (in terms of how the crew were given to react to it), was just not properly 'played out - leading to jarring anachronisms in perceived behaviour. However, I do agree with one thing: the fact of it, is a shame. A very great shame, indeed.