Unnatural History s01e03 Episode Script
Sleeper in a Box
Now I live with my uncle and cousin trying to fit in at Smithson High, a school inside the National Museum Complex.
I work in the museum's basement where they store all kinds of weird stuff.
Where were you raised; in a cave? Only for a year.
Want to know what I have learned so far? No matter how hard I avoid it; trouble always seems to find me.
[.]
[.]
Henry? [knock on door.]
Henry I found everything for our project.
[.]
[knocks.]
Henry where are you, open the door! Okay, check out the [inaudible.]
I scored for our art project! Henry? [sound effects.]
You are taking this museum internship a little too seriously.
It's lame Henry - seeing my grandmother naked didn't scare me.
[.]
[sound effects.]
Okay, very funny.
You got me.
Can you return to maturity now please? [.]
Henry, answer me! Come on stop it! Okay it's just the division of unknown and obscure Henry! HenryHenry! [.]
[.]
Henry, HenryHenry! Henry - come on man.
Oh hey Jasper.
Oh hey? You just scare theyou don't want to know what you just scared out of me.
Good thing you had the toilet handy.
Seriously - who sleeps like a side of beef? Guess you didn't hear any of those weird noises out on the warehouse floor.
I was meditating, kind of tuned it all out.
What's with the candles? Mango lavender scent opens up the pathway to my imagination.
Although yours does seem to be in the fast lane.
Well why don't you check for yourself.
There was creaking and a high pitched whistling coming from all over the place.
What is that horrible smell? [coughs.]
Oh I think I do hear something.
You do; what is it? The spooked ramblings of a teenager who when his dad went away for a conference stayed up all night watching horror movies.
That has nothing to do with it, okay.
I know what I heard and I know what I smelt.
You meant the candles? No, I mean you, specifically your clothes.
When was the last time you washed them? Who am I to poison the biosphere with detergent tainted gray water? You are a well meaning idealist who will not have any friends until he runs his clothes through a rinse cycle.
What am I supposed to wear until then? [.]
You sure it wasn't Henry speaking in tongues? No, it was coming from inside the warehouse, not the shed.
I looked, listened, there was nothing.
You are right, I mean what could possibly be weird in the division of unknown and obscure miscellany.
Speaking of obscure, what is with the toy TV? You know we went over all of this in art class.
I thought we decided not to do the post modern death of irony thing.
Yeah, except when you say 'we' decided, you actually mean 'you' decided.
You guys do understand the assignment is to work together? We are.
Hey guys, say cheese.
[camera shot.]
Jasper give me an I just scored a full ride to Yale.
Oh okay.
Can I get a shot of you for the website? You are perfect for the home page.
Sorry, art class, way busy.
What do you mean I want it.
You have something of mine.
Sorry what? When you took that picture of me you stole a piece of my soul - at least that is what the Gabby Gabby taught me.
I'm Henry.
Henry Griffin; I know.
I am Whitney Coleman, you have been on my wish list since you transferred in.
Wish list? To interview.
I am lead blogger for the student social networking hub.
He has no idea what that means.
Huh, then we are even.
What's a Gabby, Gabby? A tribe of indigenous Australians.
They never much liked being called Aborigines.
You have been to Australia? Just the outback.
Just? I would love to go there; I would love to go anyplace.
You've never been to Tibet? That is a Buddha pendent, you see them all over Nepal.
Well I borrowed this from my sister's jewelry box - if you know what I mean.
So tell me about your art project.
It looks like a totem pole made of toilets.
A scathing commentary on consumer society? Technically it's a shame pole - tribes in the Pacific Northwest make them to draw attention to somebody's bad behavior.
Oh, like stealing someone's soul? Is it true you were raised in a cave? And a rainforest canopy, an igloo and a bird's nest until we were evicted.
Evicted? Condor's make lousy landlords.
Pithy - that is my lead.
Your what? The first line in my profile of you.
Henry, you do not seem to appreciate what a unique specimen you are.
A student at Smithson who has actually had a real life.
I could have text review you my questions but I would much rather do it f-to-f.
F-to-f? Face to face.
Henry doesn't speak 21st century.
Well then maybe we can help out each other; You tell me your story and I can tutor you.
How about during my break? Right, right, you work in the doom rooms with all that mysterious stuff.
How about a tour as part of the interview? Only interns with clearance are allowed in the doom rooms.
Sorry.
[.]
Bright green? You are ruining it! How can I ruin something that is made of old toilets? Maggie, stop! This is just like the rocket project You are being really immature! Maggie! [.]
[.]
[clapping.]
[.]
Boundaries, propriety, dress code, respect for the human gag reflex.
Henry you totally trashed my clothes.
Okay, so I'll wash them with mine.
Excuse me? Hey can I borrow your calculator? Go for it.
Now you two are getting along? Because we are competing.
Competing against Maggie for the best GPA - there can be only one.
So when you guys are against each other you are friends, but when you have to work together you fight all the time? It's a mystery - like why Whitney Coleman is crushing on you.
FWIW.
Translation Jasper? FWIW, for what it's worth It means that Maggie doesn't think too much of Whitney but the deeper subtext is Maggie is jealous of Whitney.
I am not jealous and I have never said I did not like her.
Whitney is perfectly likeable if you are into that whole shallow popularity thing.
Oh you are just annoyed because Whitney is an open book and nobody has a card to your library.
Just remember that all the popular books get checked out a lot and before you know they are soiled.
Let go Maggie, I did.
Let what go? Last year's rocket expo; It was a team assignment and guess whose rocket never made it off the pad? You two worked on it together? That was my first and only mistake, otherwise it was all Jasper's fault.
And Whitney wrote about it in the school paper.
Well print is dead, but technically yes.
And if it was a bunch of gossip I would still be mad too.
But what she wrote was the truth and nothing but.
Plus, she I way hot, so why hold a grudge? I am not holding a grudge; It's just for some reason I do not feel like I can trust her.
What do you mean you cannot trust her.
The girl runs a financial investment club for the teachers.
She teaches Braille to homeless kids.
She runs a babysitting business after school.
Maybe that is why; Nobody is that perfect.
Let me rephrase that - anybody that perfect is hiding something.
Ha, that, there! That's the noise, that's what I heard - and the strobing lights too.
It sounds mechanical or electronic.
We should check it out.
What do you mean; Go down there? How else are we going to find the source? Unless you are scared.
I am not scared.
[.]
[.]
[sound effects.]
Oh my god; I knew your boss Broxton was skimming our snack stash.
One mystery solved.
One to go.
[sound effects.]
Listen to this; seems like it's picking up radio signals.
No it cannot be; radio waves cannot travel through the warehouse walls.
They do not have to if the source is already down here.
And if it is? Henry can use the boom box to find whatever it's.
[static radio sounds.]
[static radio sounds.]
I think this is it.
[static sounds.]
Anybody got a crowbar? You are not actually going to ? Of course you are, what was I thinking? [distorted radio sounds.]
A rock? A whispering rock? [phone rings.]
Broxton is back in ten minutes.
Oh it would be a real shame if he just made us box it back up.
[.]
Jasper, how long is your dad out of town? Long enough.
You know I really thought that was it; I mean, contact right there in the doom rooms.
Contact with what? Something oao - of alien origin.
I was really nervous.
That explains the swamp gas I smell walking from your direction.
Yeah seriously, imagine how awesome it would look to have discovered extra terrestrial live written under your yearbook picture.
Every known close encounter has been completely debunked.
Oh come on Roswell.
High altitude weather balloon.
[inaudible.]
Forest, 1980.
[inaudible.]
Lighthouse.
Phoenix '97 Flares dropped by air force jets on maneuvers.
Jasper, you know my dad is in the air force, it's his job to know about this stuff.
Okay so it never crossed your mind that this thing could be from outer space? I mean look at it; what kind of rock is perfectly spherical? If it's from outer space it's a meteorite, nothing more and nothing [cracking sounds, high pitched static sounds.]
Does anybody have a hammer? Wait, hold on, my dad is going to call in exactly half a minute.
How do you know? Well he does not want me to think he is rigid and predictable so he always tells me he is going to call sometime around 4:00.
But because he is rigid and predictable he always waits until exactly 4 minutes past four until he calls me.
[phone rings.]
Can you put this into the radio? [phone rings.]
[band music.]
He expects me to be at band practice.
Hi dad? Yeah, yeah, I didn't even think you were going to call.
You know I really - I cannot hear you over the band practice; could you call me later? [band music.]
What? What, me at home? No that's crazy? How can I be in two places at the same time; how can I be at band practice and at home at the same time? Snuck a GPS card into my phone.
Dad, I don't know whether to be deeply disappointed or wildly impressed.
What do you mean you cannot trust me? I think the point is here Does that sound hollow to you? Henry! Gentle, not everything is a coconut to be cracked open.
Before we touch we first listen and observe.
It sounds likedo you hear whirring? [sound effects.]
[.]
[.]
Okay, I for one think we revisit the whole alien probe theory.
[.]
It's a satellite [.]
It's not just any satellite; it's the first manmade anything launched into orbit.
[.]
Sputnik! The space age blasted off on October 4, 1957 when the Soviet Union successfully launched Sputnik, the world's first manmade satellite.
For three months spunky little Sputnik circled the globe, its distinctive beat audible on ham radios all over the world.
Who are you texting? If my stupid phone would cooperate I am trying to check the exchange rate of the ruble.
Why? Why else; he is hoping there's a reward I'll share.
Until early 1958 when it was pulled out of orbit According to the Russians if you had listened you would know that Sputnik burned up more than fifty years ago.
Then why is it in Jasper's kitchen? No trace of Sputnik remains but the legacy of this tin can icherus lives on in the race to the moon.
[.]
Our space race feature will start again momentarily.
Thank you for your patience.
[.]
[.]
[speaking Russian.]
Hey guys.
Who's that? Just another lost tourist looking for the men's room.
How did you get stuck on [inaudible.]
duty? Oh sometimes I come down here and talk to the people who visit the museum; I just love hearing their stories.
Which reminds me, when do I get my hands on you - journalistically speaking? Henry is booked up pretty tight.
Tell me you guys heard that! Heard what? Maggie, am I not allowed to have other friends? Henry on this topic I am a better authority.
Girls will often use a casual impersonal request like asking for an interview to mask their true agenda.
We are in high school; What kind of true agenda could Whitney possibly have? Well either she wants to your girlfriend or she wants to copy our homework.
And considering your grades Feels like this project is getting out of control.
For the hundredth and final time there is no grudge.
Forgiveness is a virtue of the brave.
I told you, I think she is hiding something and I am not in the mood for Mahatma Gandhi quotes.
It's Indira Gandhi and I think anger for one person has a way of spilling over into anger for everyone.
Fine, if this is the way it has to be, I will prove she is not what she seems.
[.]
Wow, did not know anyone could annoy Maggie more than me.
[.]
[.]
[laughter.]
[.]
I don't see anything.
Because you are not the one with the flashlight.
Huh, pretty impressive array of gyroscopes.
Looks like the servos were trying to power back up which would explain why it was kicking in its crate and making the doom room lights wig out.
What are you doing? I finally washed my clothes - yours too.
Good as new.
Is that rag my sweater? That is the dishwasher - the clothes washer let Henry be Henry, let Henry be Henry So if all Sputnik did was orbit the globe what was causing all those voices we heard? I do not know; maybe it was storing up broadcast signals.
Or maybe there is something more.
Think about it, being first in space was a huge propaganda victory for the Russians.
If Sputnik was still in orbit all these years later, why not brag about it? Why lie and say it burned up? [sound effects.]
How did that happen? I have no idea.
If this panel had not fused, I could see everything inside.
See, this is why I hate atmospheric friction.
Knock, knock.
Oh no, it's Whitney.
We have to hide it.
We can bring it back tomorrow.
[.]
Oh come on, hurry it up.
Whitney, hi.
I know I am barging in, but if this helps Apple pie? Just a traditional way of saying welcome to America.
A little thank you in advance.
Thank you? For what? That interview.
Oh, right now is not a good time.
Sure it's, we are covered.
Have fun.
You sure you do not want to hang? Can't hear you.
So let's start with the easy stuff; where were you born? I am not exactly sure.
I would have been so disappointed if you had said otherwise.
Well it was aboard a C5 transport plane during a hurricane over the Caribbean, somewhere between Bimny Island and Cuba.
Near the Bermuda triangle.
In the Bermuda triangle.
The controls were spinning, the plane was bouncing and I was kicking.
My mom was convinced I was trying to get out and see what was going on.
[sound effects.]
What is that? What was what? That beeping noise.
There it's again.
So, where were you born? What are you hiding? This is just a bunch of laundry.
Henry I am going to the world's top school of journalism next year.
I didn't get into Colombia by being a ditz.
[.]
Imaybe we should finish this interview another time.
[.]
Did she see it? Would she know what it was if she did? Good point? We need to hide this until we figure out what to do with it.
Okay.
[.]
[.]
If anybody knows we have this, we are dead! Are you typing or pecking for feed? What is a mailer demon? Oh okay, I will take mercy on your tech-neptitude.
Who are you writing to? Maggie.
You were right Jasper, I said too much earlier.
I am trying to tell her I am sorry.
One 'mea culpa', coming up.
Thank you.
You want the last piece? No, I am totally stuffed.
The cool thing about eating apple pie for dinner is you eat dessert at the same time.
I will save it for Maggie then.
It's weird, if you think about it, Maggie and Whitney should really be best friends.
Like sputnik America and Russia both wanted to get into space.
Instead of cooperating they stayed bogged down in fear and resentment.
You underestimate the power of competition; That's how we got to the moon.
Yeah but if we had worked with Russia maybe we all could have gone to mars together.
Well maybe we still will.
It's not the Russian and the United States are enemies - at least not anymore.
Okay, listen to this.
So in closing Maggie, it would be really cool if you let Jasper win the academic decathlon this year.
Your pal Henry.
We should take Sputnik back to the doom rooms tomorrow, let Broxton decide what to do with it.
Do you think if there's a finder's fee and we cut him in, he won't bring the hammer down on us.
[sound effects.]
Jasper? Jasper, wake up? Henry, I am not getting dragged into your weirdo nocturnal thingy Shhh! Henry! Do I look like a marsupial with gross teeth and a pouch? Did you close all the windows downstairs? Me? I never opened them.
Did you hear something? Felt it; the airflow changed - door window - somebody opened something downstairs.
[indiscernable noise in background.]
[indiscernable noise in background.]
Did you hear that? [indiscernable noise in background.]
[.]
[indiscernable noise in background continues.]
You do realize that if someone is actually trying to break into the house my dad is never going to leave us alone again.
Relax and focus; listen to what your environment is telling you.
Okay, my environment is telling me that my dad is going to kill us! [banging sound.]
[banging sound.]
[banging sound.]
Are you sure you locked this door? Anything with a lock, I lock.
[.]
[.]
[.]
Hey look what he left.
What is it? It's an EMF reader; it is kind of like a Geiger counter, but instead of finding radiation it finds electromagnetic pulses.
Isn't kind of a weird thing for [.]
No, no, no.
Tell me Sputnik is not gone.
It's gone! [.]
Someone broke into the house last night and stole Sputnik and you are doing the dishes? I am working on a plan for finding it.
You are? By purifying our surroundings we clarify our minds; only then will our intentions emerge.
So you are procrastinating? For as long as possible.
[phone.]
It's my dad; the guy who barely speaks sends texts longer than Moby Dick Jasper, judging by the early hour and your typical modus operandi for Saturdays I can only surmise that Henry induced you to Delancy park for some much needed exercise.
Bravo for greeting the morning with yada, yada, yada You exercise? What is he talking about? My GPS card - it must have stuck to Sputnik when my phone got sucked into it.
Well if it's still attached to the satellite could the tracking device be working? Yeah, all it needs is a charge.
You know Sputnik is oozing that.
Then whoever stole it Took it to Delancy park.
[.]
[.]
[.]
Whitney? What are you doing? I'm babysitting.
Who is that guy? Henry, go away please.
You don't understand what is happening.
Is that sputnik? I do understand; you broke into our house.
You stole Sputnik.
He took it; he has Sputnik! [.]
[crash.]
[speaking in Russian.]
[.]
Come back here boy; you do not know who you are messing with.
Come on Henry, get in the car.
Let's go - go, go, go, just drive.
I will catch up.
[.]
[yells in Russian.]
Run, run, run, run.
[.]
Hang on and do not scratch the paint.
Just go, go, go, go.
Are you guys okay? Thanks for coming.
After that e-pology, how could I not: although next time Jasper spell-check groveling.
Who are those guys in the park? Well other than the fact that they spoke Russian We have no idea.
So where do we start? I vote why - as in why all the cloak and dagger? Or what - as in what is so important about this hunk of metal.
You might want to start with who - as in who is Whitney Coleman.
Exactly; who is she? The answer is, not who we thought.
Yesterday when I was leaving the museum I thought I heard her say something strange, so I decided to find out.
I put up an announcement for the language club.
What does that prove? Only that she likes dirty jokes, written in Russian.
You know a dirty joke? That's not all.
I did a little background check.
All of her previous schools checked out but there is literally no information about her family before they moved in the area.
It's like they did not exist.
That apple pie.
I knew I smelled vinegar.
That was the charlatka.
I thought she said it was traditional.
It's in Moscow.
Not Moscow - Kiev.
It was my grandmother's recipe but my father would make it for us on Thanksgiving - makes it traditional for me.
She cannot take all three of us.
No I can't, but those men will be along and trust me, they can.
Trust you? How can we trust you when you are acting like a Russian spy? I am as American as you He.
I have even lived her longer.
And what about your friends? They are not my friends.
I only met them two weeks ago.
Then why are you helping them? Because they threatened my family.
Fifty-two years after it supposedly burned up Sputnik finally fell out of orbit and crashed in a Virginia pasture.
Those two men were sent to recover it.
But why you; how did you get involved? My father was a sleeper, a KGB agent sent to live here in the states as an American.
After he died I wanted to forget about his double life.
What the world was told about Sputnik was wrong.
But then two weeks ago those men showed up; they said since daddy was gone, it was my 'duty' to help them.
As a student at Smithson you had access To the people who had access to the doom rooms.
So the whole reason you talked to me, you interviewed me, that was all fake? You were just using me? Henry, I had to find a way.
If I refused they threatened to expose me and my family.
We would be deported or put in jail or worse.
I owe you another apology.
You were right to be suspicious of Whitney if that is even her real name.
Now you are friends? Now I know what she has been hiding and now we know why; if anyone needs a friend right now, it's Whitney.
And I am sorry; did you miss the whole part about her being a Russian spy? Plus she totally fooled with Henry's feelings.
Seriously Jasper, do you really think the Russian government would force a teenage girl to steal something that already belonged to them? Those guys were probably in the Russian mob.
The question now is why? Hey, do you guys remember how we could not figure out why there were voices coming from it? Well there was a sealed compartment in there; I never figured out how to open it.
Jasper, get your pliers, let us see what Sputnik is hiding.
[.]
[.]
There should be a data cable right here.
[.]
[.]
A little stripping, a little clipping, one ancient a computer program and [.]
What is it? I think these are radio incepts of video feed.
We finally found out why.
Sputnik was not just history's first manmade satellite It was history's first ever spy satellite.
That's an air force base.
So that is why it was a secret.
It has been up there all this time spying on America.
I was never told about this; they never said anything about this.
Do you know how much this is worth? Terrorists, hostile governments.
Organized crime would pay a fortune for this.
If I help those guys get what they want then more people are going to get hurt.
We have to stop them.
I can live with whatever happens to me and my family after that.
We are not going to let that happen Whitney.
Come on; lock it up in uncle Bryan's office until it all gets sorted out.
[.]
Stop, stop! It's the guys from the park! Change of plan.
We'll never be able to get Sputnik safely into uncle Bryan's now - there has to be another way to get Sputnik out of here.
There is - a rocket.
But it's on the other side of those guys.
Seriously? Right now, launching Sputnik is our only option.
A bad idea is better than being killed.
Our infamous rocket expo flame out, it's still in the science lab.
Maggie won't admit it but the only reason he rocket flamed out is because we had to do everything her way.
Because everything you were doing was wrong.
Because you would not let me explain what I was trying to do.
The weak can never forgive; forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.
Indira Gandhi again? This time Mahatma.
Good guess though.
How about it? Can you two handle launching the rocket? Sputnik will ride again.
I'll set up the boosters unless you want to No, no, command module for me, I mean unless you wanted to do that because I am okay with Okay already.
Now all we need is a diversion.
[.]
[.]
Are they following us? Right behind us.
You act scared? I do not have to act.
[.]
Stop! Did we not make it clear what would happen if you refuse to cooperate? Give us what we want or maybe you will be looking a lot like stegasoarus here.
It's triceratops.
Three horns, that is how you tell; it's like tricycle or triangle Give us Sputnik! Now! [.]
Want it? You got it! Heads up! [.]
[struggle.]
Go, get out of here Hold it back.
[.]
Dude, they're fooled, we're going to make it.
Pay attention and don't call me dude.
[.]
[.]
[struggle.]
Thanks Henry.
[.]
Fuel mixture ratio? Fifteen parts to 1000, NASA couldn't do better.
Ignition switch? Charged and ready.
We're clear for launch [.]
Or the burn ward.
They are right behind us.
Good idea to get down.
Cover your heads.
Ears too.
Ready - 4, 3, 2, You know what; just live your dream.
Jasper, how did you know? I've always known; I've known since the time we started building the Push the button.
[rumbling.]
[loud rumbling.]
Jasper! [loud takeoff.]
[.]
[rocket sound.]
Where is it coming down? Jasper was in charge of the reentry coordinates.
I just left them at the default settings.
Which was? Tell me it's not your home address.
I am so dead.
You are dead? Wait till my father gets the news! [.]
[.]
Downside I'd give you aeronautical landing estimates a B-.
Upside if the navigation computer had been any better your house would be toast.
[.]
Step back, all of you.
Give us what we want then all of you can go back to picking zits and stressing about the SATs.
Stressing? If you only knew my system.
I already scored 2,300 twice.
SATs, is that a satellite thing? You! Yeah, monkey boy, go get Sputnik or I throw girl in fire.
[.]
Do it now, no more delays! [.]
[.]
[.]
Is this what you want; The video footage? Give it here boy.
You will get it when you let her go.
No Henry.
Now you give.
You want it; go get it! [explosion.]
No! [speaks in Russian.]
Oh you are going to pay for this.
I am going to bury you in this fire pit.
I am going to kill you all.
Could you say that a little louder? Louder? Yeah? I don't think they heard you.
So which one of you amateur astronauts launched the rocket and set off every air defense alarm in DC? You, you, you in the back, come on out where I can see you.
Come on out.
Hi daddy.
Maggie.
What's going on here? Ask them but do not be surprised if they answer in Russian.
Russian - do we sound Russian? No way, we are just good citizens here to help, Making sure all these little geniuses are okay.
Everything is under control so, go.
Grab these guys.
Move, up against the vehicle.
What is this supposed to be? Uh dad, that's Sputnik.
Sputnik? [laughs.]
That's great sweetie.
Come on guys, let's move out.
Call the fire department and get this cleaned up.
[.]
[.]
Hey guys.
Oh hey, so what is the verdict? Well thanks to the recommendation from Maggie's dad the FBI clearer us - me, my mom, my sisters.
We do not have to hide who we are anymore.
That is fantastic Whitney.
Yeah it's, except my mom wants us to get a fresh start.
She is in Georgia right now.
Like the Republic of Georgia; Eastern Europe? Atlanta, Georgia.
Once she finds a place we are all going.
[speaking in Russian.]
Yeah, okaybye Whitney.
Bye.
Well I am finally going someplace.
The first trip of many.
I have something of yours I need to give back.
Of mine? After everything you did for me it wouldn't be right to steal your soul.
Keep it; I know it is in good hands.
Thanks Henry for everything.
What are friends for? You were right Henry, working together on this is a lot better than just fighting all the time.
Are you not glad you gave up on that bright green toilet seat? Well considering your dad wrote off the rocket launch as a school project I figured it was the least I could do.
So your permanent record is safe.
Uh huh.
At least until your dad gets home.
And sees the big crater across the street.
How is that my fault?
I work in the museum's basement where they store all kinds of weird stuff.
Where were you raised; in a cave? Only for a year.
Want to know what I have learned so far? No matter how hard I avoid it; trouble always seems to find me.
[.]
[.]
Henry? [knock on door.]
Henry I found everything for our project.
[.]
[knocks.]
Henry where are you, open the door! Okay, check out the [inaudible.]
I scored for our art project! Henry? [sound effects.]
You are taking this museum internship a little too seriously.
It's lame Henry - seeing my grandmother naked didn't scare me.
[.]
[sound effects.]
Okay, very funny.
You got me.
Can you return to maturity now please? [.]
Henry, answer me! Come on stop it! Okay it's just the division of unknown and obscure Henry! HenryHenry! [.]
[.]
Henry, HenryHenry! Henry - come on man.
Oh hey Jasper.
Oh hey? You just scare theyou don't want to know what you just scared out of me.
Good thing you had the toilet handy.
Seriously - who sleeps like a side of beef? Guess you didn't hear any of those weird noises out on the warehouse floor.
I was meditating, kind of tuned it all out.
What's with the candles? Mango lavender scent opens up the pathway to my imagination.
Although yours does seem to be in the fast lane.
Well why don't you check for yourself.
There was creaking and a high pitched whistling coming from all over the place.
What is that horrible smell? [coughs.]
Oh I think I do hear something.
You do; what is it? The spooked ramblings of a teenager who when his dad went away for a conference stayed up all night watching horror movies.
That has nothing to do with it, okay.
I know what I heard and I know what I smelt.
You meant the candles? No, I mean you, specifically your clothes.
When was the last time you washed them? Who am I to poison the biosphere with detergent tainted gray water? You are a well meaning idealist who will not have any friends until he runs his clothes through a rinse cycle.
What am I supposed to wear until then? [.]
You sure it wasn't Henry speaking in tongues? No, it was coming from inside the warehouse, not the shed.
I looked, listened, there was nothing.
You are right, I mean what could possibly be weird in the division of unknown and obscure miscellany.
Speaking of obscure, what is with the toy TV? You know we went over all of this in art class.
I thought we decided not to do the post modern death of irony thing.
Yeah, except when you say 'we' decided, you actually mean 'you' decided.
You guys do understand the assignment is to work together? We are.
Hey guys, say cheese.
[camera shot.]
Jasper give me an I just scored a full ride to Yale.
Oh okay.
Can I get a shot of you for the website? You are perfect for the home page.
Sorry, art class, way busy.
What do you mean I want it.
You have something of mine.
Sorry what? When you took that picture of me you stole a piece of my soul - at least that is what the Gabby Gabby taught me.
I'm Henry.
Henry Griffin; I know.
I am Whitney Coleman, you have been on my wish list since you transferred in.
Wish list? To interview.
I am lead blogger for the student social networking hub.
He has no idea what that means.
Huh, then we are even.
What's a Gabby, Gabby? A tribe of indigenous Australians.
They never much liked being called Aborigines.
You have been to Australia? Just the outback.
Just? I would love to go there; I would love to go anyplace.
You've never been to Tibet? That is a Buddha pendent, you see them all over Nepal.
Well I borrowed this from my sister's jewelry box - if you know what I mean.
So tell me about your art project.
It looks like a totem pole made of toilets.
A scathing commentary on consumer society? Technically it's a shame pole - tribes in the Pacific Northwest make them to draw attention to somebody's bad behavior.
Oh, like stealing someone's soul? Is it true you were raised in a cave? And a rainforest canopy, an igloo and a bird's nest until we were evicted.
Evicted? Condor's make lousy landlords.
Pithy - that is my lead.
Your what? The first line in my profile of you.
Henry, you do not seem to appreciate what a unique specimen you are.
A student at Smithson who has actually had a real life.
I could have text review you my questions but I would much rather do it f-to-f.
F-to-f? Face to face.
Henry doesn't speak 21st century.
Well then maybe we can help out each other; You tell me your story and I can tutor you.
How about during my break? Right, right, you work in the doom rooms with all that mysterious stuff.
How about a tour as part of the interview? Only interns with clearance are allowed in the doom rooms.
Sorry.
[.]
Bright green? You are ruining it! How can I ruin something that is made of old toilets? Maggie, stop! This is just like the rocket project You are being really immature! Maggie! [.]
[.]
[clapping.]
[.]
Boundaries, propriety, dress code, respect for the human gag reflex.
Henry you totally trashed my clothes.
Okay, so I'll wash them with mine.
Excuse me? Hey can I borrow your calculator? Go for it.
Now you two are getting along? Because we are competing.
Competing against Maggie for the best GPA - there can be only one.
So when you guys are against each other you are friends, but when you have to work together you fight all the time? It's a mystery - like why Whitney Coleman is crushing on you.
FWIW.
Translation Jasper? FWIW, for what it's worth It means that Maggie doesn't think too much of Whitney but the deeper subtext is Maggie is jealous of Whitney.
I am not jealous and I have never said I did not like her.
Whitney is perfectly likeable if you are into that whole shallow popularity thing.
Oh you are just annoyed because Whitney is an open book and nobody has a card to your library.
Just remember that all the popular books get checked out a lot and before you know they are soiled.
Let go Maggie, I did.
Let what go? Last year's rocket expo; It was a team assignment and guess whose rocket never made it off the pad? You two worked on it together? That was my first and only mistake, otherwise it was all Jasper's fault.
And Whitney wrote about it in the school paper.
Well print is dead, but technically yes.
And if it was a bunch of gossip I would still be mad too.
But what she wrote was the truth and nothing but.
Plus, she I way hot, so why hold a grudge? I am not holding a grudge; It's just for some reason I do not feel like I can trust her.
What do you mean you cannot trust her.
The girl runs a financial investment club for the teachers.
She teaches Braille to homeless kids.
She runs a babysitting business after school.
Maybe that is why; Nobody is that perfect.
Let me rephrase that - anybody that perfect is hiding something.
Ha, that, there! That's the noise, that's what I heard - and the strobing lights too.
It sounds mechanical or electronic.
We should check it out.
What do you mean; Go down there? How else are we going to find the source? Unless you are scared.
I am not scared.
[.]
[.]
[sound effects.]
Oh my god; I knew your boss Broxton was skimming our snack stash.
One mystery solved.
One to go.
[sound effects.]
Listen to this; seems like it's picking up radio signals.
No it cannot be; radio waves cannot travel through the warehouse walls.
They do not have to if the source is already down here.
And if it is? Henry can use the boom box to find whatever it's.
[static radio sounds.]
[static radio sounds.]
I think this is it.
[static sounds.]
Anybody got a crowbar? You are not actually going to ? Of course you are, what was I thinking? [distorted radio sounds.]
A rock? A whispering rock? [phone rings.]
Broxton is back in ten minutes.
Oh it would be a real shame if he just made us box it back up.
[.]
Jasper, how long is your dad out of town? Long enough.
You know I really thought that was it; I mean, contact right there in the doom rooms.
Contact with what? Something oao - of alien origin.
I was really nervous.
That explains the swamp gas I smell walking from your direction.
Yeah seriously, imagine how awesome it would look to have discovered extra terrestrial live written under your yearbook picture.
Every known close encounter has been completely debunked.
Oh come on Roswell.
High altitude weather balloon.
[inaudible.]
Forest, 1980.
[inaudible.]
Lighthouse.
Phoenix '97 Flares dropped by air force jets on maneuvers.
Jasper, you know my dad is in the air force, it's his job to know about this stuff.
Okay so it never crossed your mind that this thing could be from outer space? I mean look at it; what kind of rock is perfectly spherical? If it's from outer space it's a meteorite, nothing more and nothing [cracking sounds, high pitched static sounds.]
Does anybody have a hammer? Wait, hold on, my dad is going to call in exactly half a minute.
How do you know? Well he does not want me to think he is rigid and predictable so he always tells me he is going to call sometime around 4:00.
But because he is rigid and predictable he always waits until exactly 4 minutes past four until he calls me.
[phone rings.]
Can you put this into the radio? [phone rings.]
[band music.]
He expects me to be at band practice.
Hi dad? Yeah, yeah, I didn't even think you were going to call.
You know I really - I cannot hear you over the band practice; could you call me later? [band music.]
What? What, me at home? No that's crazy? How can I be in two places at the same time; how can I be at band practice and at home at the same time? Snuck a GPS card into my phone.
Dad, I don't know whether to be deeply disappointed or wildly impressed.
What do you mean you cannot trust me? I think the point is here Does that sound hollow to you? Henry! Gentle, not everything is a coconut to be cracked open.
Before we touch we first listen and observe.
It sounds likedo you hear whirring? [sound effects.]
[.]
[.]
Okay, I for one think we revisit the whole alien probe theory.
[.]
It's a satellite [.]
It's not just any satellite; it's the first manmade anything launched into orbit.
[.]
Sputnik! The space age blasted off on October 4, 1957 when the Soviet Union successfully launched Sputnik, the world's first manmade satellite.
For three months spunky little Sputnik circled the globe, its distinctive beat audible on ham radios all over the world.
Who are you texting? If my stupid phone would cooperate I am trying to check the exchange rate of the ruble.
Why? Why else; he is hoping there's a reward I'll share.
Until early 1958 when it was pulled out of orbit According to the Russians if you had listened you would know that Sputnik burned up more than fifty years ago.
Then why is it in Jasper's kitchen? No trace of Sputnik remains but the legacy of this tin can icherus lives on in the race to the moon.
[.]
Our space race feature will start again momentarily.
Thank you for your patience.
[.]
[.]
[speaking Russian.]
Hey guys.
Who's that? Just another lost tourist looking for the men's room.
How did you get stuck on [inaudible.]
duty? Oh sometimes I come down here and talk to the people who visit the museum; I just love hearing their stories.
Which reminds me, when do I get my hands on you - journalistically speaking? Henry is booked up pretty tight.
Tell me you guys heard that! Heard what? Maggie, am I not allowed to have other friends? Henry on this topic I am a better authority.
Girls will often use a casual impersonal request like asking for an interview to mask their true agenda.
We are in high school; What kind of true agenda could Whitney possibly have? Well either she wants to your girlfriend or she wants to copy our homework.
And considering your grades Feels like this project is getting out of control.
For the hundredth and final time there is no grudge.
Forgiveness is a virtue of the brave.
I told you, I think she is hiding something and I am not in the mood for Mahatma Gandhi quotes.
It's Indira Gandhi and I think anger for one person has a way of spilling over into anger for everyone.
Fine, if this is the way it has to be, I will prove she is not what she seems.
[.]
Wow, did not know anyone could annoy Maggie more than me.
[.]
[.]
[laughter.]
[.]
I don't see anything.
Because you are not the one with the flashlight.
Huh, pretty impressive array of gyroscopes.
Looks like the servos were trying to power back up which would explain why it was kicking in its crate and making the doom room lights wig out.
What are you doing? I finally washed my clothes - yours too.
Good as new.
Is that rag my sweater? That is the dishwasher - the clothes washer let Henry be Henry, let Henry be Henry So if all Sputnik did was orbit the globe what was causing all those voices we heard? I do not know; maybe it was storing up broadcast signals.
Or maybe there is something more.
Think about it, being first in space was a huge propaganda victory for the Russians.
If Sputnik was still in orbit all these years later, why not brag about it? Why lie and say it burned up? [sound effects.]
How did that happen? I have no idea.
If this panel had not fused, I could see everything inside.
See, this is why I hate atmospheric friction.
Knock, knock.
Oh no, it's Whitney.
We have to hide it.
We can bring it back tomorrow.
[.]
Oh come on, hurry it up.
Whitney, hi.
I know I am barging in, but if this helps Apple pie? Just a traditional way of saying welcome to America.
A little thank you in advance.
Thank you? For what? That interview.
Oh, right now is not a good time.
Sure it's, we are covered.
Have fun.
You sure you do not want to hang? Can't hear you.
So let's start with the easy stuff; where were you born? I am not exactly sure.
I would have been so disappointed if you had said otherwise.
Well it was aboard a C5 transport plane during a hurricane over the Caribbean, somewhere between Bimny Island and Cuba.
Near the Bermuda triangle.
In the Bermuda triangle.
The controls were spinning, the plane was bouncing and I was kicking.
My mom was convinced I was trying to get out and see what was going on.
[sound effects.]
What is that? What was what? That beeping noise.
There it's again.
So, where were you born? What are you hiding? This is just a bunch of laundry.
Henry I am going to the world's top school of journalism next year.
I didn't get into Colombia by being a ditz.
[.]
Imaybe we should finish this interview another time.
[.]
Did she see it? Would she know what it was if she did? Good point? We need to hide this until we figure out what to do with it.
Okay.
[.]
[.]
If anybody knows we have this, we are dead! Are you typing or pecking for feed? What is a mailer demon? Oh okay, I will take mercy on your tech-neptitude.
Who are you writing to? Maggie.
You were right Jasper, I said too much earlier.
I am trying to tell her I am sorry.
One 'mea culpa', coming up.
Thank you.
You want the last piece? No, I am totally stuffed.
The cool thing about eating apple pie for dinner is you eat dessert at the same time.
I will save it for Maggie then.
It's weird, if you think about it, Maggie and Whitney should really be best friends.
Like sputnik America and Russia both wanted to get into space.
Instead of cooperating they stayed bogged down in fear and resentment.
You underestimate the power of competition; That's how we got to the moon.
Yeah but if we had worked with Russia maybe we all could have gone to mars together.
Well maybe we still will.
It's not the Russian and the United States are enemies - at least not anymore.
Okay, listen to this.
So in closing Maggie, it would be really cool if you let Jasper win the academic decathlon this year.
Your pal Henry.
We should take Sputnik back to the doom rooms tomorrow, let Broxton decide what to do with it.
Do you think if there's a finder's fee and we cut him in, he won't bring the hammer down on us.
[sound effects.]
Jasper? Jasper, wake up? Henry, I am not getting dragged into your weirdo nocturnal thingy Shhh! Henry! Do I look like a marsupial with gross teeth and a pouch? Did you close all the windows downstairs? Me? I never opened them.
Did you hear something? Felt it; the airflow changed - door window - somebody opened something downstairs.
[indiscernable noise in background.]
[indiscernable noise in background.]
Did you hear that? [indiscernable noise in background.]
[.]
[indiscernable noise in background continues.]
You do realize that if someone is actually trying to break into the house my dad is never going to leave us alone again.
Relax and focus; listen to what your environment is telling you.
Okay, my environment is telling me that my dad is going to kill us! [banging sound.]
[banging sound.]
[banging sound.]
Are you sure you locked this door? Anything with a lock, I lock.
[.]
[.]
[.]
Hey look what he left.
What is it? It's an EMF reader; it is kind of like a Geiger counter, but instead of finding radiation it finds electromagnetic pulses.
Isn't kind of a weird thing for [.]
No, no, no.
Tell me Sputnik is not gone.
It's gone! [.]
Someone broke into the house last night and stole Sputnik and you are doing the dishes? I am working on a plan for finding it.
You are? By purifying our surroundings we clarify our minds; only then will our intentions emerge.
So you are procrastinating? For as long as possible.
[phone.]
It's my dad; the guy who barely speaks sends texts longer than Moby Dick Jasper, judging by the early hour and your typical modus operandi for Saturdays I can only surmise that Henry induced you to Delancy park for some much needed exercise.
Bravo for greeting the morning with yada, yada, yada You exercise? What is he talking about? My GPS card - it must have stuck to Sputnik when my phone got sucked into it.
Well if it's still attached to the satellite could the tracking device be working? Yeah, all it needs is a charge.
You know Sputnik is oozing that.
Then whoever stole it Took it to Delancy park.
[.]
[.]
[.]
Whitney? What are you doing? I'm babysitting.
Who is that guy? Henry, go away please.
You don't understand what is happening.
Is that sputnik? I do understand; you broke into our house.
You stole Sputnik.
He took it; he has Sputnik! [.]
[crash.]
[speaking in Russian.]
[.]
Come back here boy; you do not know who you are messing with.
Come on Henry, get in the car.
Let's go - go, go, go, just drive.
I will catch up.
[.]
[yells in Russian.]
Run, run, run, run.
[.]
Hang on and do not scratch the paint.
Just go, go, go, go.
Are you guys okay? Thanks for coming.
After that e-pology, how could I not: although next time Jasper spell-check groveling.
Who are those guys in the park? Well other than the fact that they spoke Russian We have no idea.
So where do we start? I vote why - as in why all the cloak and dagger? Or what - as in what is so important about this hunk of metal.
You might want to start with who - as in who is Whitney Coleman.
Exactly; who is she? The answer is, not who we thought.
Yesterday when I was leaving the museum I thought I heard her say something strange, so I decided to find out.
I put up an announcement for the language club.
What does that prove? Only that she likes dirty jokes, written in Russian.
You know a dirty joke? That's not all.
I did a little background check.
All of her previous schools checked out but there is literally no information about her family before they moved in the area.
It's like they did not exist.
That apple pie.
I knew I smelled vinegar.
That was the charlatka.
I thought she said it was traditional.
It's in Moscow.
Not Moscow - Kiev.
It was my grandmother's recipe but my father would make it for us on Thanksgiving - makes it traditional for me.
She cannot take all three of us.
No I can't, but those men will be along and trust me, they can.
Trust you? How can we trust you when you are acting like a Russian spy? I am as American as you He.
I have even lived her longer.
And what about your friends? They are not my friends.
I only met them two weeks ago.
Then why are you helping them? Because they threatened my family.
Fifty-two years after it supposedly burned up Sputnik finally fell out of orbit and crashed in a Virginia pasture.
Those two men were sent to recover it.
But why you; how did you get involved? My father was a sleeper, a KGB agent sent to live here in the states as an American.
After he died I wanted to forget about his double life.
What the world was told about Sputnik was wrong.
But then two weeks ago those men showed up; they said since daddy was gone, it was my 'duty' to help them.
As a student at Smithson you had access To the people who had access to the doom rooms.
So the whole reason you talked to me, you interviewed me, that was all fake? You were just using me? Henry, I had to find a way.
If I refused they threatened to expose me and my family.
We would be deported or put in jail or worse.
I owe you another apology.
You were right to be suspicious of Whitney if that is even her real name.
Now you are friends? Now I know what she has been hiding and now we know why; if anyone needs a friend right now, it's Whitney.
And I am sorry; did you miss the whole part about her being a Russian spy? Plus she totally fooled with Henry's feelings.
Seriously Jasper, do you really think the Russian government would force a teenage girl to steal something that already belonged to them? Those guys were probably in the Russian mob.
The question now is why? Hey, do you guys remember how we could not figure out why there were voices coming from it? Well there was a sealed compartment in there; I never figured out how to open it.
Jasper, get your pliers, let us see what Sputnik is hiding.
[.]
[.]
There should be a data cable right here.
[.]
[.]
A little stripping, a little clipping, one ancient a computer program and [.]
What is it? I think these are radio incepts of video feed.
We finally found out why.
Sputnik was not just history's first manmade satellite It was history's first ever spy satellite.
That's an air force base.
So that is why it was a secret.
It has been up there all this time spying on America.
I was never told about this; they never said anything about this.
Do you know how much this is worth? Terrorists, hostile governments.
Organized crime would pay a fortune for this.
If I help those guys get what they want then more people are going to get hurt.
We have to stop them.
I can live with whatever happens to me and my family after that.
We are not going to let that happen Whitney.
Come on; lock it up in uncle Bryan's office until it all gets sorted out.
[.]
Stop, stop! It's the guys from the park! Change of plan.
We'll never be able to get Sputnik safely into uncle Bryan's now - there has to be another way to get Sputnik out of here.
There is - a rocket.
But it's on the other side of those guys.
Seriously? Right now, launching Sputnik is our only option.
A bad idea is better than being killed.
Our infamous rocket expo flame out, it's still in the science lab.
Maggie won't admit it but the only reason he rocket flamed out is because we had to do everything her way.
Because everything you were doing was wrong.
Because you would not let me explain what I was trying to do.
The weak can never forgive; forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.
Indira Gandhi again? This time Mahatma.
Good guess though.
How about it? Can you two handle launching the rocket? Sputnik will ride again.
I'll set up the boosters unless you want to No, no, command module for me, I mean unless you wanted to do that because I am okay with Okay already.
Now all we need is a diversion.
[.]
[.]
Are they following us? Right behind us.
You act scared? I do not have to act.
[.]
Stop! Did we not make it clear what would happen if you refuse to cooperate? Give us what we want or maybe you will be looking a lot like stegasoarus here.
It's triceratops.
Three horns, that is how you tell; it's like tricycle or triangle Give us Sputnik! Now! [.]
Want it? You got it! Heads up! [.]
[struggle.]
Go, get out of here Hold it back.
[.]
Dude, they're fooled, we're going to make it.
Pay attention and don't call me dude.
[.]
[.]
[struggle.]
Thanks Henry.
[.]
Fuel mixture ratio? Fifteen parts to 1000, NASA couldn't do better.
Ignition switch? Charged and ready.
We're clear for launch [.]
Or the burn ward.
They are right behind us.
Good idea to get down.
Cover your heads.
Ears too.
Ready - 4, 3, 2, You know what; just live your dream.
Jasper, how did you know? I've always known; I've known since the time we started building the Push the button.
[rumbling.]
[loud rumbling.]
Jasper! [loud takeoff.]
[.]
[rocket sound.]
Where is it coming down? Jasper was in charge of the reentry coordinates.
I just left them at the default settings.
Which was? Tell me it's not your home address.
I am so dead.
You are dead? Wait till my father gets the news! [.]
[.]
Downside I'd give you aeronautical landing estimates a B-.
Upside if the navigation computer had been any better your house would be toast.
[.]
Step back, all of you.
Give us what we want then all of you can go back to picking zits and stressing about the SATs.
Stressing? If you only knew my system.
I already scored 2,300 twice.
SATs, is that a satellite thing? You! Yeah, monkey boy, go get Sputnik or I throw girl in fire.
[.]
Do it now, no more delays! [.]
[.]
[.]
Is this what you want; The video footage? Give it here boy.
You will get it when you let her go.
No Henry.
Now you give.
You want it; go get it! [explosion.]
No! [speaks in Russian.]
Oh you are going to pay for this.
I am going to bury you in this fire pit.
I am going to kill you all.
Could you say that a little louder? Louder? Yeah? I don't think they heard you.
So which one of you amateur astronauts launched the rocket and set off every air defense alarm in DC? You, you, you in the back, come on out where I can see you.
Come on out.
Hi daddy.
Maggie.
What's going on here? Ask them but do not be surprised if they answer in Russian.
Russian - do we sound Russian? No way, we are just good citizens here to help, Making sure all these little geniuses are okay.
Everything is under control so, go.
Grab these guys.
Move, up against the vehicle.
What is this supposed to be? Uh dad, that's Sputnik.
Sputnik? [laughs.]
That's great sweetie.
Come on guys, let's move out.
Call the fire department and get this cleaned up.
[.]
[.]
Hey guys.
Oh hey, so what is the verdict? Well thanks to the recommendation from Maggie's dad the FBI clearer us - me, my mom, my sisters.
We do not have to hide who we are anymore.
That is fantastic Whitney.
Yeah it's, except my mom wants us to get a fresh start.
She is in Georgia right now.
Like the Republic of Georgia; Eastern Europe? Atlanta, Georgia.
Once she finds a place we are all going.
[speaking in Russian.]
Yeah, okaybye Whitney.
Bye.
Well I am finally going someplace.
The first trip of many.
I have something of yours I need to give back.
Of mine? After everything you did for me it wouldn't be right to steal your soul.
Keep it; I know it is in good hands.
Thanks Henry for everything.
What are friends for? You were right Henry, working together on this is a lot better than just fighting all the time.
Are you not glad you gave up on that bright green toilet seat? Well considering your dad wrote off the rocket launch as a school project I figured it was the least I could do.
So your permanent record is safe.
Uh huh.
At least until your dad gets home.
And sees the big crater across the street.
How is that my fault?