MovieChat Forums > K-PAX (2001) Discussion > [SPOILERS] I think I may have figured th...

[SPOILERS] I think I may have figured this out

posted 9 years ago by jamesmhbates
6 replies | jump to latest

One thing that bothered me when I watched this movie was "what actually happened to Bess?"

This is my theory:

Prot is an alien. Robert Porter is his vessel. There is dialogue between Jeff Bridges' character and Prot where Jeff Bridges asks "Why do you appear human?". Prot responds saying that it is the most ideal shape for Earth, similarly if he was on K-PAX he would appear K-PAXian. Also, Prot sees in UV due to there being very low light on K-PAX.

When Prot goes back to K-PAX when the surveillance cameras go blank, his body (or vessel) is left behind and found under the bed. Now, with Bess it is never explicitly understood or explained what happens to her. To the viewer, she is no longer in her room... Or is she?

Could it be that Bess is actually under the bed also? Let us think back to Prot declaring his need to appear human to cope best with Earth, and also think back to Prot seeing in UV. Bess, in human form, would not be able to live on K-PAX. Her human body probably is not best suited for K-PAX nor is her eyesight. For her to survive on K-PAX, surely she would need to appear K-PAXian? Would it be too much of a leap of the imagination that Prot actually took Bess back to K-PAX but just simply took her conscience? Prot was interested in what everyone had to say about why they should be taken to K-PAX, understanding their character rather than their physical attributes.

I thought I would just share this with you all and see what you think?

[–] Mickyfinn 9 years ago

I believe most of the clues to Prot being either from K-PAX or just an insane Robert Porter are ambiguous enought that it can be argued either way.

Bess can't 'actually be under the bed also' because they never do actually find out what happened to her - she remqains missing. The Doctor says that in the last scene with him and Porter in the wheelchair. Bess' conscience may have just gone with Prot, but thee still is the question of where her body is.

For the record - I think Prot is from K-PAX, pretty much like your 'vessel' explanation.

You just have to be resigned-
You're crashing by design

[–] therefdotcom 9 years ago

i think it's pretty clear that he's from K-Pax. I don't think that the director ballance the clues so that it could be either way. for example when prot says "now that you have found him, please take good care of him", then the two identities under hypnosis, the prediction of the blue bird, the "smirk" scene and then the final, where it would be one hell of a coincidence if at the same time the superbright light appears, the monitor goes blank, the chick disappears and the protagonist suffers a mental breakdown, leaving him in a catatonic state ... and all of that at exactly the very same minute he predicted? that would be one hell of an accident. Actually that would be one hell of an ARRAY of coincidents.

[–] DeusExKatrina 9 years ago

I believe that Prot taught/told Bess how to escape the facility. He escaped the facility when he went on his "trip," so he knows how, and could impart that information to Bess. The essays were perhaps his way of figuring out who would benefit from leaving the facility, compared to those who genuinely need to be there.

---
Pride is not the opposite of shame, but its source. True humility is the antidote to shame.

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] geearf 8 years ago

Oh that's actually good!
I never thought of Prot entering Bless' body, but it would explain the whole "only one person".

[–] vinnmann29 7 years ago

Excatly, well done