seaQuest DSV (1993) s02e02 Episode Script

The Fear That Follows

Still nothing on the breach, sir.
This part of the abyssal is kind of famous for its phantom signals.
We get them all the time.
I don't investigate boogiemen, soldier.
Launch a Scattercom, at 3200 meters.
Sir, I'm not authorized to violate U.
E.
O.
tracking accords.
Well, fortunately, I am.
S.
C.
I.
transmitting at twenty, thirty-thousand meters, seventy thousand, one hundred.
There you are.
Isolate it.
Give me a secured audio.
I wanna hear this.
Yes, sir.
That's weird.
If I didn't know any better, I'd swear it was looking for seaQuest.
Wake the General.
I thought you said we couldn!t make their technology.
We can't.
I launched an S.
C.
I.
That!s a U.
E.
O.
violation, Lieutenant.
Yes, sir, it is.
But, as I understand it, so is treason.
You telling me I have a spy aboard seaQuest? One that I know of.
Secure all locations! On the double! On the double! Drop that knife! Put that down! You mind telling me what this is about? Stand to, Captain.
Stand to? What is this? A joke? Sorry, Captain, this is strictly need-to-know.
Now listen, you're not my commander.
You can't storm aboard my boat, arrest my people.
You bet I have a right to know.
Not this time, Nathan.
I still can't get through, sir.
I'm sorry.
Do you want me to keep trying? Yes, Mr.
O'Neill.
I want you to keep trying.
Aye, sir.
You are traveling east by southeast.
Well, hello.
Thank you for selecting In the event we actually find our off ramp, Lucas, you sure you wanna blow right past it? I'm sorry.
I just don't get to drive that much.
You are traveling How'd you like the food? Major paella time.
How'd you ever find that place? Nice, huh? I don't know, I think I woke up there or something.
You still alive, sport? What are you doing back there? Drawing.
You are traveling south by southwest on Interstate Does the restaurant know you took their placemat? I didn't mean to.
He's kidding, Dagwood.
Did you get enough to eat? I'm still hungry and I have to urinate.
You are at the junction of U-57.
All circuits are busy.
Please try again.
Try the Internet.
I tried the Internet.
I can't log on.
GPS lockup has failed.
That's weird.
Global positioning is never down.
I wonder how old these are? Mapdisks? There's an idea that went out with leather seats.
Please enter your coordinates or press!Q! for further assistance.
Lucas? Not now, Dagwood.
thank you for selecting But, Lucas.
No! Hey Mister, I'm sorry.
I didn't even see you there.
Where did he come from? There isn't a town around here for miles.
Must be a reservation or something.
Yeah.
It's minor.
But this guy Hey, guy.
You lost or something? That would be "no," right? Huh? I wouldn't aggravate him, Tony.
Not to worry, aggravation doesn't seem to be in this guy's book.
Listen.
What's going on? I!ve been looking for you two for over an hour.
Where!s Lucas? He's right here.
What's wrong? Darwin!s been arrested.
That signal has been chewing up U.
E.
O.
communications all week.
A signal transmitted over secured U.
E.
O.
frequencies.
General, he's a dolphin, not a spy.
Sir, you can't put him in just any ecology.
He's gonna get sick in there.
Your mammal is responsible for a breach in U.
E.
O.
Security.
Until we find out who he was talking to, we intend to keep an eye on him.
My friend, have you been sending messages? Come on, buddy, I don't think these guys are kidding around.
Who sent this to you? Captain, if there were fewer people around.
Lieutenant, I don't think we're gonna sneak him a flounder with a file in it.
Is there something about national security that amuses you, Captain? Yes.
Quite a bit.
Lieutenant.
That guy's a million laughs.
Who are the messages to? Bridger message.
My message? Returning.
Who's returning? Invitation.
Cooperation.
Uh-oh.
What? Our friends, they're returning.
The aliens? Visitors coming.
Captain, that would explain the Internet going down and the power drain.
Yeah, but you're forgetting something.
I withheld very important information from these people.
I'm lucky I'm not in jail.
Darwin tired.
Yeah.
Thanks for keeping our secret.
This is my crime, pal, not yours.
Engaging extraterrestrials, inviting them back.
Look, we don't know anything about these aliens.
Who are they? What do they want? We'll ask.
We're the U.
E.
O.
, the first line of defense between invasion and the people of this planet.
Now, don't you think we owe it to them to think this through? Do you want me to uninvite them? No, what I want is to fly back to Washington to see my Capitols play.
Three aliens land and you want to see a hockey game? It's the finals.
Oh! Oh, that's fine.
That's great.
You have my word, I'll take every precaution.
I had your word last time, Captain.
This time, I want Rienhardt in charge of security.
Rienhardt is a jerk.
Yes, but he's my jerk.
And no one's gonna be walking off with the planet on his watch.
I want my dolphin back.
An intelligent holographic message that could still be activated after a million years.
That'll give you an idea of the kind of technology that slipped through our fingers.
But not this time.
Commander Ford and I both feel that a night docking at sea would provide the most security.
We'll be evacuating this entire sector.
We'll launch a Class-B buoy, signaling to the surrounding ocean communities that the U.
E.
O.
is investigating a bioreactor spill.
We'll then communicate coordinates with the aliens through Darwin, rendezvous with the alien ship, and then escort her to a secured U.
E.
O.
underpost.
You were getting to this part, weren't you, Captain Bridger? It's a deionization process.
I don't know anything about it either, but the results weren't permanent.
No side-effects? No.
Except for the hope they'd return, so we'd learn more about them.
You have no idea what these creatures did to you, yet you would willingly submit to it again.
Sounds like you've been brainwashed, son, and not by any alien.
Anything else, Lieutenant? Yes.
I want Seaman Piccolo and your Model K off-loaded.
Why? Piccolo is a convicted criminal and your Model K is classified technology.
There's nothing classified about our Model K.
And as for Piccolo, we don't persecute those who've submitted to the will of the court.
He's here to make good.
History tells us he's better at making trouble.
This is my call, Captain.
Well, the pressure in this container is pretty low.
This stinks.
I know.
Take it easy, sailor.
Hello.
I got more in common with these aliens than anybody.
I agree, but that's not the point.
What is the point? Special circumstances.
We're special? Yeah, we're special.
I'm a convict, and you're a varicose vein.
Look, Rienhardt's order is not out of policy.
It's just unfair.
Get used to unfair, Dag.
Military's lousy with it.
Shuttle MR-3 is cleared for departure.
Wait.
I forgot my drawings.
Sorry, Dagwood.
Now means now.
Your drawings will be safe.
I promise.
Commander Ford, everyone!s checked in and we!re green to go, sir.
Captain.
Up-world reports all phases of the evacuation have been completed.
Thank you, Commander.
Mr.
Ortiz? Yes, sir.
Caps and Rangers tied with 3:09 to go.
I'm sorry, sir.
General Thomas asked me to keep him appraised of the game.
We're in position any time you wanna send the message.
See who's listening out there.
Come in, Scott.
We're set, Nathan.
We got our fingers crossed.
Look at that.
One night in jail, he gets a tattoo.
Everyone thought I'd be the first.
Is he all right? He picked up a non-virulent strain of some kind.
No big deal.
I'll do some more blood work, but he'll live.
They!re responding to our signal, sir.
That was fast.
I think they're as anxious as we are.
I find that hard to believe.
Let's go for it.
Numbers accepted.
Eager welcome.
Gratitude.
Thanks, pal.
What's their ETA? Sir, their ETA was two minutes ago.
They're here already? On their way down, sir.
That's what I call stealth technology.
All right.
Open the window.
Let's see what she looks like.
Aye, sir.
Nitrogen content six parts per thousand.
It's smaller than the last ship, but the fusion ratings are through the roof.
They've had a million years to make improvements, if that's possible.
Initiate docking sequence in three, two, one.
Caps are out of it, four games to three.
If anyone Docking procedure complete.
Henderson.
On behalf of all the people of our confederations, we welcome you.
You'd think somewhere over the last million years they would've picked up a couple of Earth words.
I'll take that.
Lieutenant! It!s okay now.
It!s cool.
No.
It's very cool.
You've learned to talk to us.
We picked up a couple of words.
I'll need those.
We'll give them back.
We have come in peaceful exploration of our common goals.
We want you to feel safe.
And this It's barium.
It's a harmless sensor.
You need that leash? Captain, I can't let them off the seaQuest without it.
Will there be anything else, Lieutenant? Yes.
You will submit to a full medical workup followed by a Q and A.
It's security.
We don't like it either.
Please.
Nathan, I'm gonna take a seacrab and I'm gonna see inside their cockpit.
I promise I won't touch anything.
Let's take us up, Commander.
Aye, sir.
Elevator engaged.
Please state destination.
Now, there's intelligent life.
Lieutenant, I can't imagine anyone feeling welcome when you've got them on such a short leash.
These guys have come an awful long way.
Well, in all due respect, Commander, we really don't know where they came from.
And we certainly don't know why they're here.
Well, it's gonna be kind of hard to find out if they don't feel they can trust us.
It's not their trust I'm interested in.
It's their fear I want.
With the technology they're packing, it might be the only effective weapon we have.
That's assuming they know what fear is.
Oh, they know, all right.
There isn't a creature in this universe whose heart isn't driven by fear.
We just have to find it.
The design is flawless.
If I could figure out how to synthesize their heart, I could make a fortune in the pulmonary aftermarket.
Look at this.
They're not even breaking a sweat.
Don't they know they're not supposed to like this? Well, in theory, we're heading the same way.
There's nothing here I can't identify.
I've always theorized about a biological evolution away from carbon to silicon life forms, durable, organic, relatively invulnerable to damage.
Wait.
Are those what I think they are? Male and female reproductive organs.
No disease, no hang ups.
No "Honey, I got a headache.
" Well, that's no fun.
So much for perfection.
Well, nothing's perfect, Captain.
Good.
Anything that can self-procreate and live to be 300 years old has got to have some flaws, right? You'd think so, wouldn't you? Quark physics applied is inter-dimensional.
Now, we've made theoretical stabs at these concepts, but you've actually proven that our theories on fusion and matter/antimatter propulsion systems actually makes intergalactic travel possible.
Commander, with all due respect to your findings, I know what we know.
What I want to know is what they know.
You have had the ability to travel between planets for over a million years.
Where have you been? What have you seen? How many times have you been to Earth? Have you been here recently? No.
We have not.
With the knowledge you could give us, we could jumpstart the new world.
Apply concepts in high-life dynamics.
Peace, thousands of years ahead of the game.
You must come to knowledge.
It cannot come to you.
We have come here, searching for beginnings of intelligent life.
Until we understand the genesis of all life-bearing worlds, we find our knowledge meaningless.
We are very flattered that you responded to our signal.
But, surely, we're not the beginning of life.
With the universe constantly expanding and creating new life, aren't you just wasting your time stopping here? Perhaps you should ask your Dr.
Smith about wasting time.
Doctor Smith? Wendy? Don't be afraid.
That's what she does.
Oh, what? Why is everyone looking at me? Next time you decide to pick their brains, you might wanna ask first.
Why won!t you permit us to leave your base? Well, unfortunately, your appearance would cause concern and panic among the people of our communities.
Panic? It's pretty common for people to fear what they don't understand.
But you are not afraid.
Well I guess I'm just too stupid to be afraid.
Our methods of security can seem a little mistrustful, but they are for your own good.
Give us 24 hours to work something out.
I have every confidence that we can make this a satisfying encounter for everyone.
Why am I always suspicious when you and I are in agreement? You don't object to a little good cop, bad cop, do you? Not when you play both parts.
Having Dr.
Smith read their thoughts without their permission is inexcusable.
She could've been hurt.
What good is having a parapsychologist if you can't engage her? They run a few of the tests on you just Well, they like the Wolenczak kid.
They should spend time together, build a trust.
The kid's name is Lucas.
You don't intend to let these people leave the base, do you? You can't lie to them.
Who's lying to who, Captain? They're on a mission to find the beginnings of intelligent life.
What did they do, stop to stretch their legs? Why not? Captain, these "people" can travel thousands of light years in the time it takes me to back out of my driveway.
Now, technologically speaking, we have one hell of an opportunity on our hands but very little leverage.
The leverage is not gonna be Lucas.
No? No.
Well, it can be their space craft.
And if our friends aren't a little more forthcoming in the next 24 hours, not only will they not be leaving Fort Gore, but I'll see to it they don't leave this planet.
What is it? What's wrong? Where are the others? Do you want me to come with you? They've left the ship.
Where is this position? That's a cove about half a mile from here.
It's within the evacuation area.
Who's with them? Lieutenant Brody.
Yes, Commander.
Who's watching our guests? Aren!t they with you? Get a transport.
Meet me up top.
What is it? What's wrong? Kind of late, isn't it, Lucas? Everything all right? Commander, it's wrong to keep them from leaving the base.
That's not our call, Lucas.
Are you all right, Lucas? Where's the other guy? Come on, guys.
We have to get back to the seaQuest.
Where is he? This won't hurt.
Well, something happened here.
I'm getting ion particles and a high mix of xenon and argon readings.
Would it have caused these burns? No.
lon magnetics and fire can't exist in the same environment.
One of them needs oxygen, the other is literally an absence of oxygen.
Are you sure this is where the barium signal died? They're gone, Captain.
I see no reason to doubt the abduction of your men.
But they're ship is at the bottom of the ocean and your men are guarding it.
With their stealth technology, they could have an entire fleet hovering just beyond our capabilities, and we would never know it.
Lieutenant, why the elaborate charade if all they were interested in was three of our people? You tell me, Captain.
Say nothing.
Vehicle I.
D.
confirmed.
U.
E.
O.
plates.
Probably had one too many.
Evening, fellows.
Blowing the fuel cells out a little? I'll need to check your vehicle registration and conveyance data.
Commander, huh? All right, I'm not gonna bust your chops on the speed violation.
But I do want to know what you're doing in a non-authorized confederation zone.
I guess we're a little turned around.
Yeah.
Well, I guess you're a lot turned around.
The ocean's back that way about 65 miles.
You're gonna have to leave this area.
We're on official U.
E.
O.
business.
Yeah.
Not in this zone, you're not.
All right, fellows, step out of the car.
Look, fellows, don't make me ask you again.
Now out of the car.
Move away from the vehicle.
Dagwood's drawing and Darwin's tattoo.
There must be some significance there somewhere.
Doesn't anybody know what this means? Well, it could be some kind of ancient alphabet.
Maybe a language.
Get me O'Neill.
I found Dagwood, sir.
Oh, good.
Tell me.
What is this? I don't know.
But you drew hundreds of them.
Do you know what it means? Who told you to draw them? I don't know.
I just started drawing it when we went to dinner.
With Lucas and Piccolo? When the highway went dark.
Is Lucas hurt? I hope not.
They were communicating telepathically.
They were sending a message ahead.
To him? Yes! Dagwood, Darwin.
Did you want to see me, sir? Yes.
Do you recognize this? If I had to guess, I'd say it was a codet, like a picture symbol.
Maybe the kind the Timucuan mound builders used.
He drew it.
I didn't know you were Timucuan.
I'm not.
No one is.
They were decedents of a pre-Columbian Creek and Iroquois nation.
They're all gone now.
Do you know what it says? Can I read Timucuan? I'm not that dull.
Am I? No.
You could ask a Seminole Indian.
There's a reservation about 60 miles from here.
The transport vehicle is about We don't have to be afraid.
They won't hurt us.
One abduction and the man's an expert.
I'm just saying that I think we can trust them.
As recently as 1984, President Reagan denounced the holdings of the Florida tribes even though they still had the deeds to their wetlands.
His administration simply declared their documents worthless.
We need a location, O'Neill, not a history lesson.
Is there something wrong with the computer? No, sir, it's a map.
The Iroquois nations receive no funding, so we receive no intelligence.
But I think you're close.
We are.
Oh, Captain.
I found out that symbol's meaning.
It represents some kind of Timucuan prophecy.
It's like their version of the last supper where the disciples gather to discuss the end.
The end of what? Everything.
Lucas.
Don't No.
Please.
We're safe.
We just need to leave them alone.
Where are they? Where's Lucas? Leave us to our work and no harm will come.
Three degrees Celsius above absolute zero.
It's the echo, Nathan.
Echo? Life hurled away from its origin.
The big bang.
Maybe they're not searching for new life.
Maybe they're starting over.
Now back off! Stop! No, wait! No, Nathan! Get away from it.
I said get away! Move! This is why you came? To rid yourselves of this death? It is not our leader!s death we leave here.
It is his hope for the future.
We are all that remains of our world.
A planet, taken by our own hand, leaving nothing but the knowledge that self-destruction is a fate sealed in the organism of all life-bearing worlds.
The burden of intelligent life is death? By finding the beginning, we hope to reengineer our organism to build a new world.
For who? For all of us or just for those for whom you see fit? Aren't we all on the same path of destruction? Yes, but, Captain, it doesn't have to be that way.
They were keeping a promise they made to the people who lived on this planet long before we did.
And the knowledge of them someday returning gave these people hope.
Hope which we managed to destroy through technological imbalance, fear and our own gigantic egos.
You give us hope, Lucas.
Come with us.
Help us build a new life.
Captain? I can't make this call.
If anything, I'm envious.
It's the journey of the ages, son.
It's exodus.
Oh, thank you, but this isn't helping.
The selfish part of me wants you to stay, Lucas.
But whether your work is with us, or with your new friends, that's for you to decide.
Soak it up, junior.
It's not every day you get your butt kissed by two planets.
I'm flattered, but, um, this is where my home is, with my friends.
Maybe someday you'll come back for me.
We will come back.
We know you exist.
Now how do we return to what we thought was our normal life? Once we leave you will understand how to go on.
Who's driving that thing? Um Sir, no one.
No one? It must be on some kind of auto pilot.
Shoot it! Shoot what, sir? Once we leave, you will understand how to go on.
How to go on.
How to go on.
How to go on.
Numbers accepted.
Eager welcome.
Gratitude.
Thanks, pal.
What's their ETA? Sir, their ETA was two minutes ago.
They're here already? On their way down, sir.
Talk about stealth technology.
Okay.
Open the window.
Aye, sir.
Let's see what she looks like.
Where's Lucas? He should see this.
Sir, I lost them.
Lost them? Checking frequency responses.
What happened? I don't know, they're just gone.
Like they got spooked or something.
Or changed their minds.
I'm sorry, sir, but whatever was out there, she's not there now.
False alarm, eh, Wolenczak? Those aliens must have figured our dinky planet wasn't ready for them.
Yeah, something like that.
Welcome home.
Sorry we had to shuttle you up-world.
No problem, sir.
Hey, I had two hours free liberty.
I'll live.
I know you'll live.
I just said I'm sorry.
Yes, sir.
Thank you, sir.
Where were you? Oh, I've been around.
Wait.
His infection is gone.
Dr.
Smith said that would take 48 hours to clear up.
Hmm.
Well, I Something you're not telling me? No.
No.
I wouldn't keep anything from you.
I just Well, I know how disappointed the General's gonna be.
The General? If anyone cares, the Capitols were just eliminated from the finals, four games to three.
Mr.
Ortiz.
Send the General my condolences.
Hi, I'm Rosalind Allen and this is Moose, an orphaned manatee calf being cared for by SeaWorld's rehabilitation unit in Orlando.
Moose will grow to be about 10 feet long and weigh around His life expectancy is about 50 years, but manatees as a species are endangered.
Less than 2000 remain in the wild.
Rescue programs like SeaWorld's aim to help repopulate the ocean with these gentle creatures.
See you on the next adventure of seaQuest.

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