"How Far Would You Go?"

MC

MemberOvomorphMay 31, 20121011 Views14 Replies

I have a theory based on the clip titled, "[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRa_xmJ4zXg]Prometheus - We Made You Because We Could[/url]". The setup is that David is asking a very drunk Holloway what the purpose of the trip was. Holloway says he want's to meet our makers and get answers [to] why the even made us in the first place. David's answer is interesting and may be showing a lot more about why he, reportedly, infects Holloway with the alien based on Weyland's instructions. David doesn't answer Holloway's question but instead turns it on him: "Why do you think your people made me?" Holloway's answer is classic: We made you because we could. David is disappointed but puts it back on Holloway, " How far would you go to get what you came all this way for ... your answers ... what would you be willing to do? Holloway gives David permission: Anything and everything. My theory: David and Holloway are having two separate conversations. David wants some kind of implicit permission to infect him to achieve his mission as demanded by Weyland. David, basically a robot, cannot hurt another human being unless he is given permission to do so (hat tip to Asimov). But hearing that Holloway would be willing to do "anything and everything" to achieve his mission allows David to say, "okay, I can do that too to complete my mission even if that means infecting you with an alien." I could be wrong here (of course) but I would not be surprised if in some future interview or web featurette we're told that David is a robot in the Asimov tradition trying to faithfully follow the laws of robotics. The conversation with Holloway was directed at finding a way to complete David's mission, not to help Holloway with a refill.

Xenotron
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May 31, 2012

Yes, I haven't seen the movie, but it sounds like you've definitely picked up on the intended subtext of that scene. David is asking Holloway what the normal human advice would be in his situation which justifies in his computer-mind his actions.

db
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May 31, 2012

Yes, agreed. That along with a real belief that putting an emotion chip in a machine is a bad, bad idea. But here's my question to you: How did David know for sure the black goo would infect Holloway with an alien organism?

Wintermute
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May 31, 2012

@MC, that's precisely the way I interpreted it as well.

MC
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May 31, 2012

@db, Here's something plausible (of course, I'm not sure): Weyland instructed David to test out the black goo on Holloway to see if that's the secret to immortality. If Holloway dies, then we know the answer and Weyland didn't get killed. If it IS the secret, then Weyland can use it on himself. As an audience, we know that this isn't going to end well for Holloway and David has a suspicion that if this doesn't work, he might hurt David, leading to his conversation about how far he could go.

private problem
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May 31, 2012

i agree with this and i bet at this point ,david gives holloway an infected drink"the poisoned challis"

Mostly
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May 31, 2012

I see it in a different manner. I dont think david needs permission at all. I think David is a much deeper character and plans on infecting Holloway either way. The exchange between the two is one of the masterstrokes of the movie." I keep reading people say the film is not deep enough", I do not know how much deeper you can get than this conversation It seems almost as If david is amused by Holloways lack of respect for him as a "being". That quickly takes on a sinister role as he "gives" Holloway exactly what he asks for. Fassbender is just awesome in this scene and I think should have strong consideration for an oscar.

MC
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May 31, 2012

Thanks for your response @Mostly. It's fun to have these discussions. You can look at it that way. Evidence: I was caught up in David's quick laugh and then pushing to the heart of what he wanted to know. Here, David is in control of this even if Holloway is looking upon him as an inferior being. I still come down on the notion that David is put in a very uncomfortable position by his maker, Weyland, and he's trying to make some sense of it. Remember, most people (and possibly androids) will try to rationalize their behavior with their core beliefs. If, following robotic conventions, we guess that David's basic programming includes Asimov's laws, then David HAS TO find a way out that FITS. Even HAL wasn't evil. HAL was doing what he thought was right. Still, I agree with you completely. David is a great character and Fassbender has done a remarkable job with it in the few scenes I've caught so far.

db
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May 31, 2012

Agreed again. That scene between D8 and Holloway is one of the one's you can watch over and over. David seems deeper every time you do.

Rubirosa
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May 31, 2012

That scene is awesome. I have not watched the movie myself, but from judgeing from the scene. It is very important to the movie. I personally think that David planned this conversation from the get go. As he comes into the room with the liquor, he asks Halloway if he needs a drink, at the same time going for a glass. Then when David asks Halloway why did his people make him, and Halloway laughs it off by saying , because we could. I saw David react to the Halloways statement. He was angered, and felt hurt. I think that listening to Halloways desrespectable answer, and also the hurt he felt from that. All if this snapped a switch inside of him to go and poison Halloway with the Alien substance. It's almost like David did not want to do it, but Halloways answer pushed over the edge. Even though David himself knew what Halloways answer would be.

abiogenesis
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May 31, 2012

I agree, too. David seems to be the most interesting of the crew; if the plot summaries are correct, then I'm glad he survives (in a sense).

Blood
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May 31, 2012

That's it. Poor Holloway, he probably just meant that he could have slept with Fifield to have answers.

sandman
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June 01, 2012

MC, the is no doubt that you are correct. Not about the nod to Asimov, that may be too deep, but the convo. It felt to me like David has feelings for Shaw, doesn't seem to care either way for Holloway, but was in a way almost letting Halloway "give permission" in a sick way. Like a justification for his actions.

iapetus
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June 01, 2012

oh oh believe me, that little bitchy David wanted nothing more but to do it haha. If there is one emotion he can feel it's "how good would that feel to eff' Dr. Holloway up all the way, with some logic and the tip of my finger?" @MC i think it's such indeed. The hat tip to Asimov is not that deep and def. there in my opinion. David is ambiguous and imperfect, with a few clear drives that makes it believable that he seeked this 'authorised breach into not-hurting-humans with an intent'.

Alain
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June 04, 2012

Well I think you are right. That was the only way for David to trespass one of Asimov's laws. But, to what purpose ? To know what will happen to Holloway ?