David Laughlin: We didn't choose this place! We didn't choose these people! They were invited!
Claude Lacombe: They belong here more than we.
Roy Neary: You can't fool us by agreeing with us.
Roy Neary: I know this sounds crazy, but ever since yesterday on the road, I've been seeing this shape. Shaving cream, pillows... Dammit! I know this. I know what this is! This means something. This is important.
Scientist 1: Einstein was right!
Team Leader: Einstein was probably one of them.
Claude Lacombe: Major Walsh, it is an event sociologique.
David Laughlin: Have you recently had a close encounter?
Project Leader: If everything's ready here on the Dark Side of the Moon... play the five tones.
Project Leader: He says the sun came out last night. He says it sang to him.
Answer: It wasn't definitively answered, but it appears the aliens took people in order to learn more about humans. It's unclear if all those who were returned had originally gone willingly, but the intent was not to keep them indefinitely or harm them, and they were returned to Earth, albeit many decades later. At the end, after the aliens had made contact, a new group of humans, including Roy, went with them voluntarily.
raywest ★