Contact is a science fiction movie that explores the possibility of extraterrestrial life and the inevitability of faith even in a world governed by scientific logic. The plot follows the career of female astronomer Ellie Arroway. Ellie (Jodie Foster) longs for contact with life beyond this world. She is convinced that a universe with life only on earth would be a waste of space.

As a scientist, she dismisses faith in God because of the absence of empirical proof. Ironically, she maintains a belief in aliens even though she lacks credible evidence. Ellie is transformed, however, when she contacts alien beings. She travels to deep space but cannot convince skeptics that she has because she lacks scientific proof. She finally realizes not everything that is true can be reduced to test-tube analysis.

Although Ellie's mother died giving birth, Ellie has a remarkable relationship with her dad. He encourages her scientific curiosity and introduces her to long-distance contact through a ham radio. Sadly, when Ellie is nine years old, her father dies of a heart attack. On the day of the funeral, the family pastor attempts to comfort the grief-stricken little girl.

"Ellie, I know it's hard to understand now, but we aren't always meant to know the reasons why things happen the way they do. Sometimes we just have to accept it as God's will."

Because Ellie feels responsible for not getting her dad his heart medicine in time, she is unwilling to accept the minister's counsel. Her searching eyes lock on the minister's caring glance, but find no comfort. She retreats to her bedroom.

Feeling desperately alone, Ellie sits leaning forward at her desk in front her ham radio, painfully calling out for her father in heaven: "Dad? Dad? Are you there? Come back, Dad!" As the extended family members mingle on the main floor of the home, little Ellie slowly repeats her plea: "Dad? Dad? Are you there? Come back, Dad!"

The camera pulls out, revealing a little girl longing for assurance that she is not alone.

Elapsed time: Measured from the beginning of the opening credit, this scene begins at 0:23:09 and lasts approximately two minutes.

Content: Contact is rated PG for sexual content and language.