========================================================================== 08 - VORTEX 2047 Team ========================================================================== Timeline: SeaQuest 2047 Author's E-Mail: schiller@mgl.ca (E-Mail contact) ========================================================================== seaQuest 2047 "Vortex" Written by Eric Boyd Sunday, February 2, 1997 Publication Copy Based on "seaQuest DSV" and "seaQuest 2032" ========================= PART 0 - TEASER =============================== TEASER OPEN ON COLONY EXTERIOR Caption Reads: "Forbes Ridge Colony, Mid-Atlantic Ridge" New Line: "South of Iceland." CUT TO COMPUTER LAB The computer lab onboard the Forbes Colony is spacious, but crammed with equipment. Austin, a younger-looking man with blond hair, lounges in a swivel chair, feet on his desk. On his desktop sit two computer monitors and a jumble of circuit boards. He's wearing a headset. He hears someone enter the room behind him and swivels around. AUSTIN Hey, Jack. What d'ya have there? Jack, an older man with graying hair and an unimpetuous features, frowns and tosses a pile of paperwork onto Austin's desk. JACK (shortly) You ready to start? AUSTIN (easily) Yeah, I've been waiting on you guys. He picks up the pile of papers, glances at the cover page, then quickly leafs through the first couple of pages. AUSTIN (continues, agitated) What _is_ this? Industrial sabotage? They're afraid we're behind, aren't they? Afraid we're "losing the race"... He grins and looks back at Jack, pulling the headset down to rest on his neck. AUSTIN (continues, shaking his head) Corporate greed at its finest, Jack. JACK (shrugs, sourly) It's not my decision. Who am I to argue? (beat, grinning) The last thing the world needs is another out-of-work magnetic radiology specialist. Austin returns Jack's grin with one of his own, shaking his head. AUSTIN You're ready to start, then? JACK Everyone downstairs is waiting for _you_. AUSTIN Fine then, lets do it. He pushes the headset back on and turns around as Jack leaves the room. He props his feet back up on his desk, pulls the keyboard down onto his lap, and begins typing away. CUT TO ENGINEERING BAY The engineering bay on Forbes is also crowded, but less so than the computer lab. Jack enters and approaches a terminal, while the camera continues panning. The middle of the room is dominated by an enormous pool of water with a large electronic device suspended in the center. The pool is surrounded by various sensors, exposed circuit boards and monitors. The camera passes over all of this, coming to rest by a bulkhead, a large "Electromagnetic Radiation" sign, replete with skull and crossbones, dominating the view. JACK (O.C.) Okay, everybody out. We're ready to get this show started. We hear rustling papers and the bustle of people leaving as the camera closes back in on Jack, intently typing commands. He stops to check his watch, then presses his headset up against his ear. JACK Austin? (beat) Everyone's cleared out down here. The diagnostic checked out. (beat, grinning) The show's all yours! AUSTIN (over headset) All right then...power is coming online in about thirty seconds. I'm firing up compression containment in the power generator...fields are in place... (beat) You out? Jack rises from his terminal and exits, closing the door. The camera follows him out. JACK Yeah. Everything's sealed up. AUSTIN (over headset) Okay. (beat, excitedly) Hold on to yer seats... CUT TO INTERIOR VIEW OF ENGINEERING LAB Through a large viewing window we see the members of the engineering team assembling outside. The camera pans over to the pool, which is glistening in the light. Suddenly, the entire pool crackles to life, flickering electric blue, then falling silent again. Slowly, almost imperceptibly, the water begins to swirl. Packets of red dye are squirted into the pool, spreading out and showing the waters' rapid swirling accelerations. CUT TO VIEWING DECK The assembled crew people barely breathe. Their apprehension and excitement are palpable, as if they'd been this far and been disappointed before. We pan from the pool to Jack, who is licking his lips, staring intently. CUT TO COMPUTER LAB Austin is also staring intently at the monitor, which is playing live footage from the engineering lab. He is on the edge of his seat. AUSTIN (tensely) C'mon. C'mon! CUT TO VIEWING DECK The camera pans around back to Jack, zooming in on him. We hear Austin speaking through the headset. AUSTIN (over headset) We're exceeding sixty knots around the center... (beat) One-eighty on the outside. PSI is going off the scale. (exuberantly) It's working! We're past eighty interior... Closeup on Jack's face reveals the expression in his eyes. A wide grin breaks out across his face. _This_ is what they had been waiting for, working for. It was all coming down at _this_ moment. The team is literally pressed up against the reinforced glass. The mood suddenly shifts; something is wrong. We can see it in Jack's eyes, replacing the look of success and accomplishment. He looks back toward the wall, alarmed. Monitors showing the closed circuit video are shaking now, shuddering under the strain. JACK (murmuring, to himself) What strain? (alarmed) This isn't right! He walks to the back of the room, grabbing hold of the monitor. One of the tech people notices that Jack has been drawn away from the excitement, wanders over to him, then looks down at the ground. He can feel it, too. The camera pans down from the worried look on Jack's face, as he turns to the tech person, to the floor. The floor shakes visibly. JACK (apprehensively, shaking his head) This isn't right. No force should be exerted. The tech person opens his mouth, but is cut off by a scream. Jack winces at the sudden volume. AUSTIN (over com, bewildered) It's not compression containment, _or_ the reactor. It's something else. (beat, panicked) The colony is collapsing. CUT TO COMPUTER LAB Equipment is falling from shelves, items are scattering across the floor. The noise is much louder than down in the observation bay. Austin is staring out a window blankly, almost dreamily. Camera shot shifts out the window towards the dark blue waters, then back to Austin's face as his jaw drops open, in wonderment and horror of some awesome power he is confronted with. An eerie flickering electric blue begins to dance across his face, cast on him like a shadow through the window. The window begins to rattle and strain. Austin's thrown out of his chair. AUSTIN (pulling him self back up, overwhelmed) Jack...It's over... (intense beat, the window begins to crack.) It's here. CUT TO OBSERVATION ROOM POV is once again on Jack, a look of horror spreading over his face. Through his headset, he hears walls caving in, water rushing in to fill the void. He flings the headset down on the ground, eyes wild with fear. By now, the rest of the engineering crew is in a panic. The structure loudly begins collapsing in the background. JACK (screaming) Everyone! Get _out_!! The crowd begins to scatter, as the room begins shaking violently. Jack hesitates for a second, then bursts back into the Engineering lab, met with a violent blast of air and current. He frantically hurries to his terminal, just as the monitor and other items slide off and crash to the floor. He falls to the ground and begins tossing items out of the way. He picks up a small disk that was buried in the mess, with a look of intense relief on his face. With that, he stands up and runs back through the door, as the entire room begins to collapse. Beams are falling and by now none of the equipment has survived. Calmly, in stark contrast to the apocalyptic scene ensuing around it, the camera pans over to the swirling pool of water, which is now spiraling intensely out of control. The camera zooms in, blurring out of focus, on the richly blood-red water. FADE TO OPENING END TEASER =========================== PART 1 ===================================== ACT ONE OPEN ON WOLENCZAK'S OFFICE Captain Lucas Wolenczak is sitting at his desk, staring intently at his console. He frowns at the screen and begins typing furiously. There's a knock on the door, Wolenczak is not amused. WOLENCZAK (pleasantly, with a touch of irritation) Come in. Lieutenant Commander Jessie Matthews enters, closing the door. MATTHEWS (solemnly, also vaguely annoyed) You're gonna love this. (beat) They're yanking us off the ridge expedition. Wolenczak forgets the computer momentarily and directs his attention towards Matthews. WOLENCZAK (confused) What? Why? MATTHEWS (sighs) The UEO's just lost an important farming colony, it seems. (beat) HQ said it wasn't pretty, either. The whole thing looked like it got bowled over by some underwater rip current or something, except it wasn't. Matthews shrugs. WOLENCZAK (irritated) Yeah, it sounds like something Hitchcock would want to keep quiet. A farming colony? (beat) Don't they have other ships that could handle it? Matthews shrugs. MATTHEWS I guess not. WOLENCZAK Are they trying to make a PR statement or something? MATTHEWS You know, that's the strange thing. (beat) They're keeping this from the media. All the orders came through secure channels. (beat) We're supposedly making a pit stop in the North Atlantic, picking up spare circuitry. The standard UEO cover story. Buncha bull if you ask me. They should try something creative like a "superconductor malfunction" or something. My guess is the media will have this sniffed out in a day, two at most. Wolenczak glances down at his screen. WOLENCZAK What's our ETA? MATTHEWS About three and a half hours. Briefing logs are somewhere in there. (she motions towards the monitor, pausing) What are you doing, anyways? WOLENCZAK (long pause, he starts typing) You remember the virus Percell and Hunter were supposed to be uploading when...? MATTHEWS Yeah? WOLENCZAK Some of that virus actually made it into CC's systems before it was purged. Best I can tell, I might be able to reactivate it. (beat) That's a long shot, though. Apparently only a few fragments are left. Wolenczak looks down and shakes his head. WOLENCZAK (continues) I guess I'm just trying to make something outta that mess, you know? MATTHEWS Is it really worth pursuing? I mean, it'd probably be best to put it behind-- WOLENCZAK (cutting Matthews off) Probably not. (beat, shrugging) But I can't help but try.. Wolenczak sighs, frowning at the monitor, then stands. WOLENCZAK It's about lunch time. Want to grab a bite? CUT TO ROSS' OFFICE President Eileen Ross of the Carolinan Confederation is absolutely livid. She is standing up behind her desk, yelling at the screen on the far side of her office. On the screen is Theodore Walker, looking rather browbeaten. ROSS (literally screaming) --and after all this, you're telling me that we may not see it at _all_?!? (beat, gaining some control) Do you have _any_ idea how much time and money _we_ have put into this project? To say nothing of releasing that UEO officer!! WALKER (also upset, though not as vocal as Ross) Please, Madame President. (beat) This is _not_ something I have any control over (beat) If my people tell me this will take awhile, I can't do anything about it. Eileen, there is nothing I would like better than to have this project completed, but in the meantime-- ROSS (oblivious to what Walker has to say) ...And what about this UEO colony that just vanishes off the face of the earth, eh? We got word that it was torn up beyond imagination, like some kind of underwater "vortex" had torn through it. (beat, she lets her point sink in) Now they have a security lock-down zone so tight that we can't even get our minisubs within a hundred kilometer radius! Her arrogance indicates that she knows more that Walker had hoped, and he starts to dodge. WALKER (realizing she probably has him pinned down) That incident, I'm sure, has nothing to do with our project or-- ROSS That's not what our sea network tells us. (she pauses, vaguely enjoying this) It's telling us that there was an intense underwater disturbance, tightly concentrated, with a current swirling so powerfully forwards that the colony had _no_ hope of holding itself together. (beat) I also happen to know that that colony was home to UEO's superconductivity and electromagnetic research laboratories. (beat) Mr. Walker, I don't really like having EWS using my weapons to take care of its competition, and I don't want you telling me that I have to wait another day, or week, or month. (beat, she turns condescending) I want my weapon _now_, preferably _before_ the UEO starts sniffing around. With something this big, they're not going to waste any time tying it to either of us WALKER (in a nervously soothing tone of voice) I assure you, there's no way the UEO can tie this to us. (beat, covering his tracks) Even if we had used the weapon. (beat, coldly) Which we didn't. ROSS Don't give me that bull, Walker, I know what the weapon can do. I didn't buy into this project not knowing what I'd come out with. (beat) You realize that this project has funded most of your "private" research branch for nearly that long? If I were to pull my contract now. WALKER (not genuinely frightened by her threat, but hinting at it) Please, please Ms. Ross, I'm doing everything I can to try and get this device into your hands, but if my researchers feel it isn't stable enough, there's nothing I can do but wait. ROSS (angrily) How much longer, then? A week? Two? WALKER They assure me it will be ready in a maximum of two weeks. Maximum. ROSS Two weeks, Walker. If a viable device isn't in my hands in two weeks, I'm pulling the contract. (beat, coldly) It's something I can afford; but you cannot. Walker fidgets a little in his seat. WALKER Fine then. I'll contact you when transferal arrangements need to be made. (beat, as an afterthought) You won't be disappointed. ROSS I had better not be. With that Ross cuts the connection, and leans back in her seat, obviously pondering the thought of what needs to be done. CUT TO EXTERIOR _SEAQUEST_ -- CGI The _seaQuest_ is stopped in the water, the camera pans down to show a large wreckage field. Caption reads: "Former position of Forbes Aquaculture Colony" CUT TO WARDROOM Wolenczak is standing up beside the monitor, pointing out to the rest of the staff what appears to be a part of the colony, shredded beyond recognition and buried in the silt. All of the senior staff are present. WOLENCZAK It appears this portion of the colony was sheared off and embedded in the sea floor, which would indicate enormous vertical pressure He pauses, and the screen changes to display a current map, which zooms in to show an immense disturbance. WOLENCZAK Now, our SONAR network caught this event, and it gave us this-- He turns to look at the screen. The disturbance begins to tumble, forming what appears to be a horizontal funnel churning through the water. It continues onwards until it impacts with the colony. The animation ends with a small, animated explosion. WOLENCZAK --Which brings us up to where we are now. The destruction was pretty much complete. (beat) Not much left to rummage through. No one left to interview (beat, he sighs) Since this obviously isn't some kind of natural event, the UEO has this entire area locked down, and they're searching for a sub capable of generating or launching this. (he begins to get irritated) So we've been ordered to track this thing down, or round up the people who did it, or even find out what it is...and not stop until we find something. Matthews rolls her eyes, and we hear various mumbled replies. WOLENCZAK That's why we're here. (beat) Any ideas? RILLER They've already searched through seaNet, then? WOLENCZAK Yeah. All they caught up with were a few supply haulers, and a NATO battleship. The battleship was in the area while this mess was going on, but they didn't see anything. (beat) I ran a search for any and all organizations that might be researching a technology that would do something like this. Since we assume it's some kind of superconducting electromagnetic device, the only other people researching it would be in the South Pacific. MATTHEWS (incredulously) "Other people"?! WOLENCZAK (realizing something's slipped) Whew. (beat) I'm not supposed to bring you up to speed on this, but it appears that the UEO was also researching these kinds of devices. (beat) The real kicker is that they were right here. This really wasn't a farming colony. Matthews is obviously irritated at Wolenczak for not letting her 'in'. MATTHEWS (sarcastically) Well, that would explain why they're so "concerned" about the whole matter. TRUEMAN Are they keeping _everyone_ in the dark about this? I mean-- She's cut off by Wolenczak's PAL, which is resting on the table. Wolenczak walks over to answer it. WOLENCZAK (into PAL) Yes? REEDE (over com) Sir, we just found somethin' you might be really interested in. WOLENCZAK (into PAL) Ensign, we're in the middle of a conference. Just what's so important? REEDE Not what, Sir. (beat) Who. A rather perplexed silence falls over the wardroom. REEDE They've found a survivor, sir. Wolenczak ironically shifts his gaze to the animated pile of rubble on the viewscreen behind him. Off his questioning stare, we CUT TO WALKER'S OFFICE Walker is lying back in his chair, feet propped on his desk. He's staring intently at the monitor across the room, which is showing a Northwestern-Florida football game. Florida is winning. He's rather rudely interrupted as the door is jerked open. It's Phillip Saquido, one of the founders of EWS, and Walker's long-time business associate. SAQUIDO (not amused) Shut it off, Ted. WALKER Aww, c'mon Phil. Florida's just about to-- SAQUIDO (his anger blossoms) Shut it off now! Saquido walks up to the desk and hefts a massive pile of documents onto it. Some of them fall into Walker's lap. Walker is surprised and confused at Saquido's outburst. He shuts off the game. WALKER Phil, if this is about the router deal that fell through, you _really_ don't have to worry about-- SAQUIDO (cutting him off, again) This isn't about some router deal. (beat) It's about a project named "Vortex". WALKER (perplexed and apprehensive) How did you find out about that?? SAQUIDO Doesn't matter. Saquido picks a small videodisk out of the stack, and shoves it into the drive on Walker's desk. The screen comes to life again splitting in half, with a man in a black jumpsuit talking to Walker. SAQUIDO Frank Goldwater, lead researcher onboard the _Phoenix_. Saquido turns to Walker, who nods grimly. This isn't going to be pleasant. GOLDWATER (on screen) It appears that the Vortex is far more than we'd hoped it would be. (beat) The test indicated that it struck with a force equivalent to that of a medium-sized nuclear device. Underwater. (beat) My God, Ted, do you have _any_ idea what kind of power we're handing to the Carolinans?! (beat) With this device, they can tear apart entire underwater cities! There's not going to be anything stopping her! WALKER (on the screen) That's just what she's looking for, Frank. (beat) If you can pull this off, you're going to be a very, very wealthy man. GOLDWATER (grimly) I would hope so. (beat) But I really don't like this. WALKER Relax, Frank. (beat) I'm sure Ross'll use the weapon...responsibly. Besides, we're the ones building 'em. (beat, half-jokingly) If she commits any "egregious" brutalities, we can always slap her on the wrist, hike up the price. Goldwater is still not amused. GOLDWATER Fine, but if this gets out of hand, you're gonna need to find another lead for this sub. (beat, he sighs) I sure hope you know what you're doing. WALKER Believe me, I do. With that, Goldwater cuts the connection, and the video ends. Saquido glares back at Walker. SAQUIDO (somberly) You know, I really thought you were better than this, sacrificing lives for dollars. (beat) When that bottomless hole popped up in the R&D wing's budget, I was willing to overlook that. (beat) EWS is, after all, a weapons contractor. I suppose none of us are exactly guiltless... (shaking his head) ..with all the lives we've destroyed. (beat) If this was any other weapon-- another bomb, a torpedo revision-- I'd have no problem But this (beat) I read the reports, Ted. The power output on this thing exceeds the input. The _only_ way science can classify it is as a nuclear device! I mean...hell Ted, even _I_ don't know what I mean. (beat, upset) I know what happened with that UEO research colony out in the Atlantic. You had your "important" schedule to catch up with. That testbed colony wasn't going to be evacuated for another three days, and you just couldn't stand the wait. (beat, sarcastically) And hey, since the UEO is basically your _only_ competitor, even though they aren't even developing any weaponry, but they were only a few hours away, you could kill two birds with one stone, right? Saquido paces, then slams his hands on the desk, leaning down until he's nearly nose-to-nose with Walker. SAQUIDO (very angry) This kind was stuff was banned twenty years ago! The electromagnetic pulse stuff we were developing back in '42 was closed down by the UEO. The only reason I agreed to give you access to that research was because you _guaranteed_ me that it was for non-military use! I was almost tried by a tribunal in San Diego for violating UEO code! (beat) I'm _not_ doing it again Ted. Saquido takes a deep breath, and rubs his temples. Walker's keeping quiet, looking for some form of excuse. SAQUIDO Look, this Vortex project is _far_ too much of a risk for EWS to be taking. If news of this were to get out, that we were developing illegal technologies, the media wouldn't only hound us, they'd shut us down. God help us if the UEO decides they won't stand for it (beat) I want Vortex taken down within the week. I've already contacted the _Phoenix_, and Goldwater is cooperating. The equipment is going to be offloaded at New York and send back here for storage. Saquido turns for the door, leaving Walker with his mouth hanging open. SAQUIDO (almost pleasantly, a sarcastic grin on his face) Oh, by the way, it's going to be _your_ job to call President Ross. (beat) Be nice, and try to assure her she'll get _something_ back for her investment. (beat) You know what she's like when she doesn't get her way. FADE TO COMMERCIAL END ACT ONE =========================== PART 2 ===================================== ACT 2 FADE IN ON _SEAQUEST_ LAUNCH BAY Several crewmembers, along with Dr. Burke, are busily taking the survivor out of the shuttle on a stretcher. Burke quickly looks him over, and attaches an electrode to each side of his head. Sutherland is not a pretty sight; his clothing is torn and dried blood covers most of his face. She motions for the crew to take him to MedBay, as Wolenczak hurries in. WOLENCZAK (breathing heavily) How is he? BURKE (thoughtfully) Ah, he's got a fairly severe concussion. (beat) He's covered with scrapes and bruises, but I'd say he has a fair chance of recovery. WOLENCZAK (insistently) How long will-- BURKE (seriously) You _won't_ be able to talk with him for at least twenty-four hours. Wolenczak opens his mouth, but decides it's not worth the argument. Burke turns and heads for MedBay. CUT TO EWS HQ, TRANSPORT BAY The transport bay is a large, crowded room, filled with multitudes of EWS employees going home for the weekend. A monorail quickly slides into the station, and hundreds of employees embark, clearing the room. Walker enters quietly through one side of the terminal, paying little attention to the departing crowds. He walks up to a door on the far side of the terminal labeled, "Exec Shuttle Only", and slips his card through a small slot. The door opens, and he steps through into a lavishly decorated cabin on a smaller version of the monorail that had just entered. He sits down and lays his head back as the shuttle departs. His few seconds of relaxation are broken, as a small monitor across the cabin springs to life. Walker's eyes pop open as he hears who's calling... ROSS (exasperated) Walker, would you mind explaining what's going on with Vortex?! (beat, darkly) It had _better_ not mean what I'm told it means... Walker irately glances out the window, not bothering to look back at the screen. WALKER (resigned) Look, Saquido found out. He told Erickson, and _they_ told the board of directors. (beat) It's out of my hands now. The contract was terminated by the board. Look, I'm lucky to still have control of R&D. (beat) When they found out that I'd contracted out an illegal weapon development, the company came about this... (holding his thumb and forefinger about two centimeters apart) ...close to "suspending" my pension. I had to remind a few of them that they wouldn't have jobs without me here. (beat, he leans forward) However, to make up for the money you've invested, they've given the go-ahead for me to offer you an extra shipment of Mark-eight launchers, along with several next-generation autolaunchers. But that's the best I could do. Vortex has been buried so deep that even _I_ couldn't get back at it. ROSS (in shock) So Vortex is essentially gone? (beat, more so) After all the money I've spent?! Walker shrinks back ever-so-slightly, but tries his best not to. WALKER I'm afraid so. Ross puts her hands on her hips and glares at him, definitely not pleased to hear this. ROSS What can I say, Mr. Walker? She shakes her head and turns away from the screen for a moment. Then, she looks back to it. ROSS (very seriously) Just don't look forward to dealing with us in the future. (beat) Have the launchers sent to King's Bay. Ross angrily shuts the link off, and Walker breathes a sigh of relief, obviously grateful that this will be their last conversation. For now. CUT TO _SEAQUEST_ BRIDGE The bridge is silent, except for intermittent pinging of _seaQuest's_ SONAR. Wolenczak is at the con, and the other crew members are at their stations. Trueman, who is looking rather bored, is startled by an incoming transmission. TRUEMAN Captain, we have a UEO shuttle inbound. They'll be docking within the hour. (beat, puzzled) They say the survivor should be prepared for transfer. Wolenczak nods. WOLENCZAK How long? Trueman looks down at her console. TRUEMAN A little over seven hours. Wolenczak nods, though he's obviously not pleased by the news. CUT TO MEDBAY MedBay is empty, except for Morgan, who is standing over by a workbench. Sutherland shifts uneasily, and we hear him groan. Startled, she looks up from her work. Seeing that he's regained consciousness, she frowns, and reaches for her PAL and punches in a code. MORGAN (mock-seriously) Doctor Burke? Swing by MedBay as soon as you're able, would you? Your patient's waking up. BURKE (over com) Great. (beat) I'm coming... CUT TO MESS HALL Burke is hurriedly finishing up her dinner, sitting with Riller and a few others. RILLER (surprised) Leaving so soon? BURKE (grimly) Please, Justin. (beat) That poor guy's been through enough already. Imagine how surprised he'll be waking up on the _seaQuest_. Besides, he's your concern, too. I wouldn't be surprised if-- She's cut off by a chirp from Riller's PAL. He answers it. WOLENCZAK (over com) Lieutenant? Report to MedBay ASAP. Riller flashes a look at Burke, who grins back. RILLER (into PAL) I'll be right there. He shuts it off and shrugs. RILLER What can I say? It's a small boat. Burke shakes her head as they leave for MedBay, laughing. CUT TO MEDBAY MedBay is now very busy. Wolenczak and Matthews are standing over by Sutherland, while Riller and Burke hurry in. Wolenczak turns for a second to see who's arrived, then turns back. Sutherland is sitting up on the bed, looking significantly better, but covered with a fair number of bandages. WOLENCZAK (indicates each) Mr Sutherland, this is our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Burke, and Lieutenant Riller, Chief of Security. SUTHERLAND (flatly) Ah, yes. Doctor Burke and Lieutenant Riller. Matthews and Wolenczak exchange glances. Sutherland chuckles at this. SUTHERLAND I read the press release, Captain. (beat, with nostalgia) I've always wanted to take a ride on _seaQuest_...Back when I was in high school, I loved to hear about the adventures of the _seaQuest_, and her "swashbuckling" Captain Bridger. WOLENCZAK (chuckling) Well, I wouldn't call him "swashbuckling", but we had our fair share of adventures. (beat) But seriously, we need to hear about what happened...preferably _before_ the UEO starts hounding me to hand you over. Sutherland sighs. SUTHERLAND Ah yes. Let's see. Do you want to start with _which_ plants we were growing, or how many? Wolenczak grins, scoffing WOLENCZAK (amused) I want to know about the EM research, Mr. Sutherland. (beat, ironically) The colony wasn't destroyed for growing subaqueous algae... SUTHERLAND (suspiciously) You do have clearance, right? WOLENCZAK (offended) Of course I do-- Sutherland glances up questioningly at Matthews and Riller. Matthews begins to protest, but Wolenczak nods towards the door; she and Riller disappear quietly. SUTHERLAND Ah, well then. (beat, he slows down considerably) I was assigned to the EM research project about six months ago, and I was transferred out here. (lengthy pause, he sighs) They had just gotten to the point of being able to start the spin cycle-- WOLENCZAK (lost) Spin cycle? SUTHERLAND (jokingly) Like in a washing machine? He chuckles, and Wolenczak rolls his eyes. SUTHERLAND (regaining his composure) A little term we came up with. (beat, seriously again) They'd just gotten to the point where they could actively displace water in the test pool. I mean, sure it was only a cubic centimeter over the time period of an hour, but big things hafta start small, y'know? (beat) Eventually, we worked up to nearly a cubic meter's worth of displacement, but after that, things fell apart on us. The equipment was stretched to the max, ideas were running thin... (beat) ...best I could tell, we were about to be shut down. But that's when Austin-- WOLENCZAK (breaking in, confused) Austin? SUTHERLAND (almost apologetically) Our computer specialist. Good kid. He gave the capacitor a code boost. (beat, he chuckles) Shoot, the thing was more software-based than hardware... ...Anyways, I can't say as the last month or two had been anything special. I mean, we got the flow up to maybe four or five units an hour, but nothing important was on its way. (beat, he grows more somber) Then _this_ happened... ...I woke up this morning when my bunk collapsed. It was all I could do to find an escape pod. He looks down at the floor. SUTHERLAND (continues, subdued) I guess I was the only one who did. (beat) I lost a lot of good friends. WOLENCZAK We're sorry, Mr. Sutherland. Really. There's a respectful moment of silence. Then, Wolenczak breaks it. WOLENCZAK (beat) What were you developing in there, anyways? SUTHERLAND Well, I imagine that the kind of fields we were researching could lead to more efficient propulsion systems, anything from that up to invisible magnetic grappling hooks. Wolenczak is vaguely puzzled by the last item, and Sutherland can see it. He grins. SUTHERLAND (surprised) Tractor beams, Captain. You're a sci-fi fan, right? (beat) Think about it. EM fields strong enough to grapple metal objects, and remotely "reel them in". Fantastic, huh? Wolenczak nods slowly as he imagines the force Sutherland is describing. WOLENCZAK Interesting... (beat, he frowns) Is there any possibility that this research could be applied to weapons development? Sutherland thinks for a moment, then shakes his head. SUTHERLAND (becoming exhausted) With the speeds we were achieving, not even a remote possibility. A small torpedo would do lots more damage. (beat) Besides, do you think the UEO is up to violating international treaties on EM development? Wolenczak shakes his head. WOLENCZAK You never know.... At this point, Burke enters from a side room and pulls Wolenczak aside. WOLENCZAK (quizzically) Yes, Doctor? BURKE (somewhat sarcastic) Oh, come on, Captain. What do you think I'm about to say? (beat) He nearly died out there, suffered major traumatic injuries, and lost all of his friends and co-workers. (beat, ironically) Let's just say he hasn't had the best of days. Wolenczak looks at her for a moment, and although he hates to admit it, he knows Burke is right. WOLENCZAK (nods, reluctantly) I suppose so. (beat, he drifts off) I've heard all I needed. (beat) Tell him to get some sleep. Wolenczak leaves MedBay. CUT TO CORRIDOR OUTSIDE MEDBAY As Wolenczak leaves, he runs into Matthews-- who has obviously been waiting for him. MATTHEWS (matter-of-factly) He's lying. (smiles) Morgan took readings on the medical equipment while you were talking. She ran them through a lie-detector program; his heart rate and respiration spiked throughout your conversation, but he did a good job of hiding it. Wolenczak starts off for the bridge. Matthews tags along. WOLENCZAK (unsurprised) I'd figured as much. (beat) The problem is: I have no idea _what_ he's lying about. It could have been any of those things. (beat, he frowns) I have no way of getting that information out of him. They both fall silent. Matthews uneasily stares down at her shoes as they clank on the grating underfoot. She looks up in surprise as Wolenczak interjects. WOLENCZAK (changing the subject) You know, Morgan never ceases to amaze me. MATTHEWS (assuredly) You're not the only one... CUT TO WOLENCZAK'S OFFICE Wolenczak is not off duty just yet, but he's leaning forward in the impressive leather captain's chair in anticipation. He's typing furiously, and we zoom in just far enough to see the words "Captain's Log" emblazoned across the top. WOLENCZAK (v.o.) Getting information from Sutherland is impossible; he claims he's telling us the truth in every department, and if it weren't for the readings Morgan got after our first conversation, I'd probably believe him. (beat) From my point of view, it would appear that the UEO has again crossed the line into the shadowy world of illegal experimentation and black budgets, just like they did several decades ago, with the GELFs, chasing the elusive dream of the perfect soldier; the ultimate weapon. (beat) I can't help but wonder who's responsible, and what Hitchcock has to do with all this. Was she just swept along in this, led blindly along by the chiefs of staff, or is she not as guiltless as I'd hope she is? People do, after all, change. He's interrupted by a beep from his PAL. He answers the call. TRUEMAN (over PAL) Captain, the UEO shuttle is docking now. WOLENCZAK (thoughtfully) Thank you, Ensign. (beat) Have Sutherland prepared for transfer. TRUEMAN (over PAL) Yes, Sir. Wolenczak shuts off the PAL and leans back, contemplating. Obviously dissatisfied with the conclusions he's drawn, he shuts the monitor off, and we... CUT TO LAUNCH BAY The UEO shuttle's just arrived, and Sutherland is preparing to board it. He's recuperated just enough to hobble onboard on his own. Before he boards, though, he's approached by Seaman Evans, carrying a bundle of clothes. EVANS Mr. Sutherland? (beat) These are the items you were brought on board with. Would you like them back? Sutherland grins and accepts. SUTHERLAND Yessir, thanks. Evans heads off, and Sutherland begins back towards the launch, but before he climbs on, he carefully unwraps the pants he was just handed, and reaches in, pulling the leg inside out. On the inside, there's a small zipper pocket. He unzips it and removes a disk. It's the one from the colony. He eyes the disk and smiles sardonically. Clutching the disk tightly, he climbs on board the UEO shuttle, and it departs quietly. CUT TO COMMERCIAL END ACT TWO =========================== PART 3 ===================================== ACT 3 CUT TO EXTERIOR UEO SHUTTLE- CGI A small UEO shuttle is sliding through dark blue water. The caption reads, "UEO Dispatch Shuttle, off Newfoundland" CUT TO INTERIOR SHUTTLE The shuttle is very quiet apart from the soft thrum of the engines. The two crewmen are sitting up front. The pilot, Charlie, is reading. He finishes, and glances over at his sleeping co-pilot, Norton. Charlie grins and slaps Norton on the chest with his manual. CHARLIE (shaking his head) C'mon Norton, it's bad enough that we're out here in the middle of nowhere, running back and forth, shuttling-- NORTON (laughs) Give me a break, Charlie. You're the one who just killed this fabulous dream about a beach... CHARLIE (sarcastically) Yeah, yeah. Let me guess. (mockingly) A warm beach in the sun, with a cool breeze... NORTON (grinning) Don't forget the girls. CHARLIE Ah, yes. The girls... He drifts off, glancing back at the controls, his mind a million miles away. They once again fall silent, and Norton leans back in the chair again. He's startled awake when someone rests his hand on the seat's back. He turns around to see who it is. NORTON (incredulously) What do you think you're--? CHARLIE What? He turns around to face the barrel of a gun. SUTHERLAND (flatly) You boys having fun? CUT TO WALKER'S OFFICE Walker is sitting at his desk, glancing over various papers and then back to his computer. Unannounced, Andrea Berger walks in, causing Walker to instantly hide what he was working on. Seeing who it is, he relaxes and moves some of the papers back to their original place. He looks up at Berger, who is obviously ticked. WALKER Never walk in on me. BERGER (her tone is very ruthless) Then don't stand me up. Berger realizes her tone was too sharp and "softens." BERGER (lightening) Teddy, sweetheart, I understand you're busy but could you please tell me when you're going to have to cancel? I bought a new outfit just for the occasion. Do you realize what a waste it-- Walker leans back in his chair and cuts her off. WALKER You're certainly living well with _my_ money. Berger glances down at him and decides to play along. BERGER Well... She trails off and puts her arms around him. BERGER (coyly) Yes... She gives him a peck on the cheek. BERGER (pulling back a little) The money could be mine if you gave me something to do. WALKER (he gives her a glance) After what happened with that officer from the _seaQuest_... Berger crosses over to the bookcase. BERGER (snorts) The _seaQuest_ isn't the world. There's plenty I can do without having to worry about running into them. _If_ they even recognized me. Walker picks up a pile of papers and starts going through them. He's obviously trying to let her know she's dismissed and she isn't buying it for one minute. BERGER What is so important that you're here on a Saturday? (beat) Did Phillip threaten to black ball you again? WALKER (still sorting papers, but tone is full of sarcasm) Don't you have someone to go blackmail? BERGER (smiles coldly) If Saquido's the one keeping you here...why don't I go have some fun in his office? Walker looks up and smiles at her. However, the screen behind Berger comes to life suddenly, causing both to jump. Walker stands and walks over behind Berger, who has turned to face the screen. SUTHERLAND (With a "cheshire cat" grin) Mr. Walker, Ms. Berger. So glad I could get a hold of you. (beat) Ted, we need to talk. Walker looks from Berger to Sutherland, noticing that she doesn't look too happy about seeing Sutherland. WALKER I, I-- (beat) I thought you were on Forbes when it-- SUTHERLAND (scowling) _I_ know that. (beat) But I'm here, now. BERGER (under her breath) Too bad you're _not_ dead, you self-satisfied-- Walker shoots Berger a "shush!" look. She gives him a short glance before giving Sutherland a sickeningly sweet smile and turning back to Walker. BERGER (haughtily) Ted, I'll wait outside. She leaves. Walker turns back to the vidlink screen. Sutherland is watching Berger go. WALKER (warning) Don't press your luck. Sutherland gives him a "who, me?" look. WALKER (playing dumb) Fine, then. What is it we need to speak about? SUTHERLAND Well, aside from the fact that you had me "killed", we need to talk about Vortex, Ted. WALKER What about? Vortex has been called off, Jack. There's nothing left to talk about. SUTHERLAND There is now. He holds up the disk. SUTHERLAND _I_ have it. Walker laughs at this. WALKER _You_ have it? The specs were locked down so tight that even _I_ couldn't get at it. Sutherland decides to change tactics. SUTHERLAND No, those specs are minor compared to what I have now. (beat) What I have could be even more powerful, Ted. (beat) You know, you chose a good time to take care of that little bit of UEO competition, 'cause they were coming real close. (beat) They were just about to run it up to two-hundred units a second. Almost what _your_ working models were up to. (beat, condescendingly) But that's not all. The UEO model had room for expansion, improvement. Their capacitor was an advanced freeloading design. It could handle all the power you could give it. As I recall, Ted, yours was a linear device, only capable of twenty gigawatts. WALKER (with a hint of anxiety) But you could just be telling me things. How do I _know_ you're really sitting on something? SUTHERLAND That's easy, Ted. (beat) I know the magic number. The frequency at which water begins to modulate. With it, I can do basically anything. WALKER Fine then. (beat) What? SUTHERLAND Two-four-eight-point-zero-zero-three. Walker looks down at his desk, shaking his head. WALKER Great, Jack. (beat) Knock yourself out using it. (beat) But why'd you call? SUTHERLAND (with a hint of malice) Just to say 'hi', Ted, just to say 'hi'. With that, Sutherland ends the call, and Walker walks back over to his chair and sits. He swivels around a little bit, contemplating what this new bit of information means to him. The door opens. Berger was obviously listening, but doesn't act the least bit conscious of it. BERGER (carelessly) What did he want? Her tone is icy, and we get the feeling that she doesn't _like_ Sutherland. Walker look at her, and a slow smile spreads across his face. WALKER (annoyed) I don't know; and I don't want to find out. (beat) Andrea... BERGER (impatiently) What? Do I get more filing work to do this week? WALKER (shakes his head) I have a _new_ job for you. His tone leaves no doubt as to what the job will be. Berger smiles. CUT TO _SEAQUEST_ REC ROOM TRUEMAN (sarcastically) Well, Tom. It isn't exactly mahogany... (beat, she rolls her eyes) But who am I to complain? Trueman raps her knuckles on the flimsy plastic casing of a pool table that Reede is snapping together. RILLER (joining Trueman) Yeah, it's even got "real'" imitation felt... Reede crawls out from under the table. REEDE Hey, you guys. It's the best I could do. (beat, good-humoredly) Stop whinin' about it or I'm not gonna let you play. Got me? Trueman rolls her eyes again and grins at Riller, who shakes his head. Reede starts to look for something. REEDE Besides, no one's gonna get to play unless I can find the balls. (beat) Wait a second...here they are. He bends down to pick up a bag in the corner, but as he picks it up, the bag tears at the bottom, and the balls clatter onto the hard metal floor. Trueman and Riller chuckle to themselves. Reede sighs and begins to pick them up. REEDE Ah, geez. (beat) You think this is funny, huh? He points a finger at Trueman, who holds her hands up in innocence. REEDE Yeah, yeah. With that trick we played on Morgan and those ping-pong balls. (beat) I should make _you_ pick this up. Trueman laughs and picks up a ball that rolled up to her feet, tossing it onto the table. Reede chases a ball as it rolls out of the rec room, nearly running into Percell as she walks in. She watches sadistically as the stooping Reede runs into another ensign. PERCELL I _musta_ missed somethin'. Riller picks up a cue and examines it carefully, frowning as he peels off a rather large sticker that reads "Made in Uzbekistan". RILLER Yeah. Tom's new pool table isn't exactly getting along with him. (beat, slyly) First the leg collapses and the darn thing just about crushes him, then he loses the assembly instructions, and now it seems he's lost his balls. Trueman cackles at the off-color joke. RILLER Though Becca claims she's innocent of any wrongdoing... TRUEMAN Hey! CUT TO EXTERIOR _SEAQUEST_ A lone WSKR is scanning the bottom, sending a narrow shaft of light down through the silty water. It stops and examines a small, black, perfectly rounded rock on the bottom. It beeps and whirrs quizzically, as we zoom in... on the "8" ball. CUT TO _SEAQUEST_ REC ROOM Reede walks in, throwing his arms up in disgruntlement. REEDE (aggravated) That's it. I give up. (beat) That stupid eight-ball is nowhere to be found. Riller chuckles at him. RILLER (cynically) You sure it didn't get into a wastewater system? Maybe it's sitting on the bottom of the ocean. Reede mock-laughs at him, and Percell shakes her head, setting up her next shot. She cringes as she hits the cue ball a tad too hard. Scratch. PERCELL (trying to detract attention from her shot) So, guys, help me out here. (beat) A UEO colony gets leveled by some "unknown" weapon, we drag a lone, scraggly survivor onboard. I hear that he lies to our faces about himself and his work, and got dragged off by the UEO, who, by the way, has been developing illegal weaponry? (beat, quizzically) Any ideas? Riller takes his shot, skillfully sinking the two and three balls in one shot. RILLER Ask Matthews. She'd explain it better. If you can _call_ it explaining. (beat) I think this has gotten people all the way up confused. I mean, I know the captain is as puzzled as the rest of us, unless he's hiding something. Which I seriously doubt. (beat) Best I can tell, that survivor --Sutherland was it?-- knew enough to be able to put it all together for us. Why he wouldn't talk to us is what really gets me. I mean, the cap'n is about as far up as you can get. But if you're gonna hide something big like this from the rest of the UEO, I guess you'd want people who don't go blabbing anything. Maybe it's another GELF thing, Sara. I really don't know. PERCELL (taking her shot) Well, it sounds like a conspiracy to me. (beat, she misses again, chuckling) Then again, _I'm_ the one with all those old _X-Files_ movies... CUT TO ROSS' OFFICE The office is rocked by a thunderclap loud enough to gain Ross' attention, and rain pelts the window, which shows more rain and a dark sky. Turning back to her work, Ross is startled by Sutherland's face on her vidlink. He has obviously bypassed DeLano to reach her directly. ROSS (cautiously) Who are you? SUTHERLAND Madame President, my name is Joe Hatcher... (beat) I'm here to make you an offer. ROSS (puzzled) Which would be...? SUTHERLAND (smiling) Vortex, Ms. Ross. (beat) Let's just say that I worked for EWS at one time or another. ROSS (more excitedly, but still cautious) And I should trust you? SUTHERLAND If you'll look down at the display panel on your desk, you'll see a full schematic for the weapon. Now I'm sure you'll want to run it by your techheads for a full analysis, but I guarantee you it's the real deal. (beat) However, there _is_ one thing. ROSS (not even bothering to look up from her display) What? SUTHERLAND (sincerely, like a real salesman) You'll need me to assemble it for you. For a small fee, of course, but it will be nothing compared to the power it's giving you in return. Ross looks back up from her display, smiling, mostly in wonder at what has just been handed to her. ROSS I'm sure we'll be able to work out a deal. CUT TO EXTERIOR OF ROSS'S OFFICE Just outside the door, Ross's assistant, Gary DeLano, sits quietly at his desk, typing wildly away at a new press release. He stops, breathing hard, as the intercom beeps. DELANO ("what now?") Yes? ROSS (over com, urgently) Gary, call our Atlantic research facility and tell them to halt their work on the Mark Eleven design. (beat) Forward them this file, and tell Winston to take a long vacation. They'll be getting a new project manager _very_ shortly. Ross hangs up, and leaves DeLano sitting there, pondering what might be going on. He opens a channel. CUT TO HITCHCOCK'S OFFICE Hitchcock is sitting at her desk, with the lights dimmed. It's obvious she's had a long day, and she's lounging around in her chair. Her computer beeps at her, and she leans forward, turning on the monitor. At this point, what's on the screen catches her attention, and the camera pans around to face the screen. On it reads: "UEO Classified: EM research, Forbes Colony, North Atlantic." CUT TO HALLWAY We open facing a large wooden door with the words "Joint Chiefs" prominently emblazoned in brass. Presently, the door is opened by a well-dressed but weary looking man, who is followed by several others. We see Hitchcock walking hurriedly down the hall towards them. HITCHCOCK (to the first man) Where's Langson? FIRST MAN (unsure) Still in the meeting, I think. He motions towards the door. Hitchcock walks up to it, and nearly runs into a few more of the joint chiefs on their way out. Minister of Defense Andrew Langson is among them. He's obviously not happy to see her. HITCHCOCK (firmly) We need to have a talk. Langson leads Hitchcock a little father down the hall. LANGSON Yes, we do. CUT TO LANGSON'S OFFICE Langson's office is far less decorated than Hitchcock's, and is much more cluttered. A few papers are strewn on the desk, and there is only one small window, nearly hidden behind a bookcase. Langson walks in and sits down. He invites Hitchcock to do the same, but she doesn't. She wants to be standing up for this. HITCHCOCK (angrily) Okay Langson. Tell me about this supposed aquaculture colony, and exactly what was going on there? (beat, her voice rising) Why we were breaking five statutes of international code? And why was _I_ not informed? LANGSON (calmly, if not wearily) Madame Secretary He holds up a finger, pulling a small videodisc out of his desk, inserting it into a small drive next to his monitor. It begins to whir. LANGSON Before we get into this...You were kept in the dark on Project Hotwire, not of any cover-up you may think is going on, but because of its extreme sensitivity. Ford left us with very concise instructions to keep it quiet. It _was_ his project, after all. HITCHCOCK (stunned) _Ford_ authorized it?! LANGSON (flatly) Believe me, after watching this, you'll understand. The lights automatically dim as the screen across the room flickers to life. We are greeted by a large "EWS" logo, as Hitchcock squints at the screen, scrutinizing. She watches with fascination as a man appears on the screen. He's conversing with a person on the other end of the line. It's probably a vidlink tap, and highly illegal. The man is Frank Goldwater; and we are watching the same video Saquido confronted Walker with just before canceled the entire project. Hitchcock watches in rapt amazement. Goldwater wraps up his argument, and we are ominously reassured by Walker that "everything is all right". The disk spools down and ejects itself. Langson looks at Hitchcock, arms crossed, obviously sure of himself. LANGSON (firmly) This is-- (beat, he corrects himself) _was_ our competition. EWS Global, Madame Secretary. (beat, ironically) We've done some business in the past. Not to mention their new undersea demolition technology, which is, interestingly enough, an offshoot of _this_. He motions towards the screen. LANGSON (beat) The man you heard speaking was Frank Goldwater, a retired field-pulse engineer from a British techhouse. He was, obviously, the lead engineer on their Vortex project. (beat, he sounds more interested) Now, the man he was speaking to was Theodore Walker, one of EWS's founders, and their head of R&D. He's responsible for the project and its development. With that, he returns to his desk. LANGSON A little over two years ago, when we first learned of EWS's developmental efforts, we began our own counter-development. HITCHCOCK In violation of international treaties? LANGSON Yes, the development was in violation, but that couldn't be helped. (beat) This course of action was only decided upon after our initial attempts to infiltrate EWS's team failed. (beat) They weren't a complete loss, however. One of our operatives managed to get hold of the prototype's basic structure, and we were able to begin from there. HITCHCOCK But EWS could have been stopped. Langson shakes his head. LANGSON EWS is a very, very powerful organization. Even if we were to seek a court order, there would be no way past the invariable wall of legal protection they were bound to throw up. (beat) Before we began, Katherine, every effort was made to halt them legally. (beat) But... Langson shrugs. LANGSON These people simply couldn't be allowed to go on without some type of activity to counter them. (beat, aggressively) Look at the power of the weapon they already have! (beat) As it is, we have _nothing_ to counter that. (beat) We began a rush-production of the technology we do have in our Pacific basin lab after the main facility was destroyed. As of right now, we have three working devices. And they're nowhere near the power of EWS's. HITCHCOCK (unbelieving, her anger flaring) You mean to tell me that a severe threat to UEO's very existence was _covered up_ because of your in-- Langson calmly holds up a finger, indicating that he wasn't finished. There's more to the story. LANGSON (slowly) After their attack on Forbes, the Vortex project was called off. (beat) Not only called off, but best we can tell _erased_. Our informant tells us that there's no trace of its existence, in the classified databases or anywhere in the company's network. Best we can tell, one of the other EWS high-ups got wind of this. Apparently, he had more sense than Walker. If the international press got wind of this... Langson leans back and chuckles bitterly to himself. LANGSON (chagrined) We thought this thing was already over, just after it'd started; EWS had plans to sell this device to the Carolinans-- but then it was scrubbed. (beat) Evidently, that's not the case. Hitchcock is confused by this. Not over yet? She begins to ask what he means, but he can clearly see she's clueless. LANGSON (wryly) Are you aware the lone survivor of Forbes was in the employ of EWS? (beat) You were having him transferred to New York. They never made it. The shuttle was found scuttled, about a hundred-and- fifty clicks off the coast. Sutherland was _not_ on board. (beat) We have reason to believe he escaped with the plans to our prototype EM device, and plans to -- or may already have -- combine them with EWS's Vortex device. If blended correctly, what he could have would be far more powerful than either of its parents. (beat, nervously) What's worse, we just received word that he's made a deal with the Carolinans. They're rushing to begin construction. Hitchcock is visibly shaken by the news. HITCHCOCK (with difficulty) Do you have _any_ idea what you've done?! Off this accusation, we... FADE TO COMMERCIAL END ACT THREE =========================== PART 4 ===================================== ACT 4 CUT TO STORAGE FACILITY The storage facility is a dark, cavernous room that is dripping profusely from some indeterminate source high above, forming large pools in which various left-over hulks of machines are dumped. A drop of water splatters into a large pool, creating a thunderously loud noise that echoes through the deathly silent room. A dark, blue light is cast through the water visible through large windows across the top. Suddenly, a ray of light pierces through the darkness, and a large door swings open, shattering the silence. A few uniformed Carolinan soldiers clamber out, followed by a man in a dark jumpsuit, and one in uniform. The man in the jumpsuit is Sutherland, and he immediately wanders over to the opposite side of the room. The soldiers exchange confused looks as he begins tossing stray sheets of rusting metal aside, until he comes to a large crate. Grabbing a sharp piece of solid-looking metal, he begins to pry the lid off the crate, the top falling to the ground. He grins as he's met by a soft glow of red status lights. SUTHERLAND (shouting to the officer) Right where we left 'em. The officer motions for the soldiers to go retrieve it, and they begin loading the crate onto a flatbed cart. OFFICER (perplexed) What _I_ don't understand is the need for such elaborate-- (beat, he looks at the open room, obviously afraid it will fall in on him at any moment) --security measures (beat) An old US submarine base is an ideal location, though. It wasn't on any of _our_ maps. SUTHERLAND (unemotionally) Once you see the power of these devices you'll understand. (beat, sourly) And probably wish you hadn't. OFFICER Ah. Well (beat) You, Mister Hatcher, have been most helpful. (beat) Even if that is _not_ your name. SUTHERLAND (interested) Oh? OFFICER Please, Mister Sutherland. You underestimate us. (beat) We were trained for this. You were not. SUTHERLAND (oddly relieved) Well, then. Maybe you're not as well-informed as you think you are. OFFICER (caught off guard by the last statement) As for your payment-- He points to another, smaller case, that is barely visible under the low light. Sutherland bends down and opens it. Cash, just as he expected. He slowly counts it. It's all here. The Carolinans were playing along. As he tries to stand back up, however, Sutherland finds the muzzle of a gun buried in his back. He grins in spite of himself. They _were_ playing along. OFFICER Did you really expect payment in full, Sutherland? (beat) Truthfully, it is far more than what we cared to part with, so you'll have to pardon us. You won't be taking it back with you. SUTHERLAND (confidently and irreverently ) Yes. I will. Before the officer can respond, a bright flash of light lances out at the soldier who is holding the gun to Sutherland's back, and he falls over, the gun clattering to the floor. Sutherland turns around to face the startled officer. SUTHERLAND (sourly) Oh, pardon me. (beat) I took the liberty of rebuilding this old base's security systems. (beat, "helpfully") If you'll notice the red points of light trained on your chests. The officer looks down at his chest, and, sure enough, a beam of light is trained securely on him. He looks up again to find the source: a device mounted up on the ceiling of the room, that has sprung to life, tracing out the paths to its victims, charging up its laser batteries. SUTHERLAND Infrared tracking and laser elimination systems are presently active, gentlemen, as your friend rather unfortunately discovered. Sutherland picks up the case of money, and backs over to the door, beginning to climb back into the launch. SUTHERLAND Oh, and don't worry. (beat, grinning nastily) I'm sure they'll find you in a couple days. Just don't touch the devices. You never know when they might emit some kind of deadly radiation pulse or something. (beat, teasing) But I wouldn't worry about it. With that, he closes the door, and we hear the docked launch powering up to leave. The officer, realizing the severe impact this will most likely have on his career, throws his gun to the floor, staring contemptuously at the three Vortex-hybrid devices in the crate, glowing indifferently with their red status lights. CUT TO EXTERIOR _SEAQUEST_--CGI _seaQuest_ is at a stop; we see a launch returning hurriedly, the doors to the launch bay close behind it. CUT TO BRIDGE The Bridge is nearly empty, but Wolenczak is on duty. It's the late shift, and of the senior staff, only Reede and Percell are present. The room is silent, except for the pinging of SONAR. Percell looks up from her console and breaks the silence. PERCELL (wearily) The shuttle's returned with the last of the instruments, sir. Wolenczak nods, sitting up in his seat. WOLENCZAK Good. (beat, happily) Reede, set a course for our port in Martinique. REEDE Aye, aye, sir. (beat, he grins) How long? WOLENCZAK Sorry to disappoint you, Ensign, but only for the day. (beat, optimistically) One more patrol in the South Pacific, though, and we're due for some serious R&R back in the states. REEDE It'll be nice to get some sun for a day, at any rate. (beat) Course laid in. WOLENCZAK Full speed, Mr. Reede. CUT TO CAROLINAN HQ We open in a crowded command room, with large screens and tactical displays for walls. The Carolinans haven't been cheap when it comes to equipment. A surprised technician looks up from a display and glances around for his supervisor. TECHNICIAN Sir? (beat) _seaQuest_ just queried the GeoSat for a course plot. SUPERVISOR (surprised) To where? The technician types in a few commands, and checks his watch. TECHNICAN Martinique, Sir. (beat) They'll be in port in another four and a half hours. SUPERVISOR (chuckles) Martinique, huh? (beat) If I could just have _one_ day there He reaches over, pushes a few papers off his cluttered desk, and searches around for the phone. He picks it up. SUPERVISOR (into telephone) Get me the President. (he frowns) Then get her _out_. CUT TO BOARDROOM, CAROLINAN HQ The Carolinan conference room is spacious with large windows on one side. The walls are wooden, with a dark finish, and a video screen dominates one end. A small group of official-looking men, including Jason Wyse, the Carolinan head of R&D, is sitting at the conference table, waiting. Rossmakes her unofficious entrance, pulling on a tan jacket. ROSS (sternly) This better be good, Mr. Wyse. (beat) Especially after our "lead developer" makes off with a sizable fortune, compliments of our bungling special ops head. Wyse stands up, grabbing a small pad, inviting her to sit down. WYSE Believe me, it is. (beat) Besides, the Vortex device was more than worth it. The finalized three devices are far more powerful than we'd guessed. They're on their way to our Bahamian outpost- ROSS (getting to the point) Strong enough to take down _seaQuest_? WYSE (nods gravely) And then some. (beat) Let me explain completely. I know you understand the concept, but that's only the beginning. Wyse presses a key on the pad, and waves his hand at the screen at the far end of the room. It flares to life, displaying an actual-size diagram of the device. A very inconspicuous looking small black cylinder, barely a meter tall and half that wide, it seems impossible that such a thing would be enough to take down seaQuest. Then again, they've all seen nuclear devices much, much smaller. WYSE To begin with, the device charges its EM field, funneling all power into the main capacitor, which Mr. Sutherland was so "helpfully" able to improve for us. (beat) Then the field is established, and the device begins to rotate it. The basic principle is similar to that of a superconducting engine, but here, the water is moved with incredible efficiency. At maximum power, the device affects an area about a hundred meters long, and twenty wide. The screen zooms out, and the 3-D rendered device is shown establishing its field. The water around the device sparkles with electricity, and then begins to rotate. WYSE (continuing) A "drum" of horizontally rotating water is established, and accelerated. The maximum water speeds that we've estimated ranges all the way up to five-hundred kilometers an hour, on the outside edges. One of the uniformed men whistles. He's obviously never heard of such a thing, let alone possessed it. Ross listens intently, and though even she hadn't thought it was _this_ powerful, she's keeping that to herself. WYSE (still lecturing) The device is dragged along at about forty or fifty clicks an hour; nothing the _seaQuest_ can't outrun, but way more than we need if she's dead in the water. ROSS _seaQuest_ is due in Martinique in a little less that four hours. WYSE (grinning ironically) Exactly. CUT TO SMALL FISHING BOAT A small, battered fishing boat is out in the ocean, riding up and down along the waves, trawling for fish. A small man is resting in the cabin, hat over his face, totally oblivious. not much to do when you're out in the middle of nowhere waiting until you can pull up your nets. A small chime sounds. Twice quickly. Once more. The fisherman jerks up in alarm, smacking his head on the bulkhead, knocking his hat to the floor. Muttering something, he stumbles over to a small SONAR readout. Five long, cyndrilical objects are cruising southeast, obviously subs, and later models, by the looks of them. Excitedly, the fisherman leans over, throwing a cabinet door open and knocking a few cans of preservatives out of the way. He pulls out a shiny, black set of communications gear. He fires it up, pulling the phone up to his ear. FISHERMAN (excitedly) Alpha bay, alpha bay, this is Charlie 160. Come in please. Over. ALPHA (filled with static) This -s Alpha ba-, we hea- you Cha--ie 160. Ove-. FISHERMAN (jokingly) I just hauled in three big'uns. Swordfish, by the look of 'em. (beat) If you've got any guys out 'ere, be sure to send 'em to the northwest. Repeat, northwest. Copy? ALPHA BAY We copy C-arlie 16-. (beat, insincerely) Tha-ks for the t-p. Do-'t get burned out t-ere, y'hear? FISHERMAN Copy, Alpha Bay. The fisherman sets the phone back down, shoving the comm set back into the cabinet. He climbs up on deck, under the blazing heat of the sun, and looks down into the dark blue waters. FISHERMAN What are they up to down there? CUT TO UEO HQ COMMAND CENTER The Command Center is busy as usual, but this time is marked by dim red lights. Hitchcock is staring at a large tactical map laid out on the table. She's joined Frank Hasley, CINCLANT UEO (Commander-In-Chief, Atlantic UEO forces), an older, balding man; and Langson, though he goes unnoticed. Hasley points out a few small few circles in the Caribbean. HASLEY (plainly) Those are a few problem spots we're having with the Texas withdrawal, colonial conflicts and such; nothing crucial for the UEO, but a pain, all the same. HITCHCOCK (intently) How long until we're completely evacuated? HASLEY Another day or two at most. The Carolinans are itching to gain control of the greater Caribbean, and it looks like they've succeeded. Hitchcock frowns disapprovingly, and she looks up, surprised to see Langson. HITCHCOCK Yes, Mr. Langson? LANGSON Nothing, Madame Secretary. (beat) As you can imagine, the Joint Chiefs have been very concerned about recent developments regarding the Carolinans' device. (beat) I'm trying to keep on top of things. HITCHCOCK (scoffs) You'd better be worried. (beat, bitterly) You're lucky I don't turn you all in to the World Trade Organization. Langson frowns at this irreverent statement. Maybe her transition to SecGen wouldn't be as easy as they'd first thought. HITCHCOCK (changing the subject) What are these? She motions towards a small group of three red arrows sitting alongside the Bahamian islands, pointing southeast. HASLEY Carolinan fleet movements. (beat) We assume they're transfering supplies to their Puerto Rican outposts. Intrigued, Hitchcock picks up a meterstick lying on the table, setting one end over the Bahamas, laying it across the small arrows. She traces the stick downwards, across Puerto Rico, and a few other small islands, over the Greater Antilles. She stops at a small island that is intersected perfectly by the stick, and looks up at Hasley. HITCHCOCK Where is _seaQuest_ stopping over for supplies? HASLEY Martinique. (beat) Why? Hitchcock slowly pushes the meterstick off the island's minute label. She leans over for a closer look, and taps her fingernail on it. HASLEY (dumbfounded) _Martinique_?? (beat) But why?? Langson looks up in surprise, then looks at the meterstick, taking it all in. He's stricken by the meaning of this. LANGSON My God! (beat) Our last intel reports were that the devices were in transport to their base in the Bahamas. (beat) But now... Hitchcock's jaw drops. HITCHCOCK (angrily) You mean you've overlooked something like _this_?! Hasley whirls around and faces an officer who'd been going about his business. The officer snaps to attention. HASLEY (perturbed) How long until _seaQuest_ arrives in port? The officer frowns and quickly types a few commands. OFFICER They arrived ten minutes ago, Sir. HASLEY (hastily) Get me a secure link! (beat, flaring) Now! Hitchcock glares at Langson, but her look is edged with fear. CUT TO _SEAQUEST_ BRIDGE The Bridge is bustling with activity, mostly people retrieving things and leaving. Wolenczak is at the con, and is listening to Callan over the com. CALLAN (over com) We're finalizing the airlocks right now. (beat) Okay. The airlocks are sealed. Docking computers slaved. (beat) That's it. Procedures complete, Captain. WOLENCZAK (relieved) Good. How long does the port authority think this will take? CALLAN (over com) They tell me it'll be seven hours. (beat) Martinique doesn't get much sub traffic, so their equipment is a bit behind. WOLENCZAK Good job, Mister Callan. (beat) Go get some fresh air, while you have the chance. CALLAN (over com, gladly) Yes, Sir! Wolenczak flicks off the com switch and leans back in the command chair. He notices Percell slinging a duffel bag over her shoulder, just about to leave. WOLENCZAK (as an afterthought) Chief, Do we have any other traffic in the area? Percell is a little surprised to hear him ask, but steps back towards her console just the same. Not bothering to sit down, she leans over and glances around. PERCELL Not to speak of, Sir. (beat) Looks like a local merchant sub (beat) Three more approaching from the north. They look like Bahamian traders, sir. But-- (beat, she types a few commands) Hmm, they were moving in a rough attack formation, but they're splitting off now, looks like they're coming to port. WOLENCZAK (unalarmed) How far out are they? PERCELL Ten klicks, sir. (beat) Just outside Fort-Au-France harbor. WOLENCZAK Ah. (he nods his head and smiles) Thanks. PERCELL (nodding) You're welcome. Percell quietly slips out, leaving Wolenczak alone. Wolenczak leans back again, tapping a few keys. Across the bridge, the viewscreen comes to life, displaying a tactical overview of the harbor. He sees the local merchant slowly puttering out to sea, but his attention is drawn to the three trader vessels, who have stopped and taken up what appears to be a formation guarding the harbor entrance, as if they were just being held off by the port authority until the surface traffic could clear out. Wolenczak leans his head back and shuts his eyes, unbothered by the ships on the screen. The bridge is completely quiet now. The silence is not even broken by the usual pinging. Abruptly, the silence is broken. The lights on the bridge turn a deep red, and the vidscreen flashes to life, showing a very worried Hitchcock. Wolenczak, startled, opens his eyes and sits up. HITCHCOCK (urgently) _seaQuest_! WOLENCZAK (surprised, to say the least) Madame Secre-- HITCHCOCK (panicked) I'm on an emergency channel, broadcast only. Someone has completely scrambled the seaNet and uplink communications systems! If anyone can hear this, please, please evacuate _seaQuest_ from Fort-France's harbor, and the vicinity of Martinique! (beat) This is an _extreme_ emergen-- With that, the viewscreen cuts off, and returns to the tactical display of the harbor, the graphics lined in red. Wolenczak suddenly realizes the importance that the three contacts on the display have, whatever they were. Trying not to panic, he grabs for the headset and pulls it onto his head, typing frantically with one hand. He activates the seaQuest's PA system and quickly taps into the port's equivalent. Wolenczak pushes the mic up to his mouth and attempts to sound calm; his voice booming all around the ship WOLENCZAK Attention all _seaQuest_ crew and everyone in port-- CUT TO THE PORT'S LAUNCH BAY The bay is a large, long room that recedes into the distance. It is packed with officers, crew, port attendants, and a small number of tourists, all of whom are looking around in alarm, none sure of exactly what was going on. We see Callan helping Trueman out of the docking tube, and they both turn towards a speaker in surprise. WOLENCZAK (over PA) _seaQuest_ is under attack. We are undocking in an attempt to prevent harm to the port. Please evacuate the port immediately. Any officers remaining aboard, report to your stations, on the double! Callan's head jerks up in surprise, and he turns to Trueman, shocked. CALLAN Under _attack_!? (beat, resolutely) I'm getting back on. Without hesitating, Callan leaps back through the tube before the airlock doors slam shut, directly in front of a genuinely horrified Trueman. CUT TO BRIDGE Wolenczak gets up from his chair and runs over to the helm. Firing up the engines, he pulls the _seaQuest_ backwards and to port. Squinting, he can make out a faint disturbance on the display, emanating from one of the trading vessels. It slowly expands, and begins a slow, but foreboding course towards _seaQuest_. WOLENCZAK (squinting at the screen, shocked) I've never seen anything like it! Callan runs breathlessly onto the bridge. CALLAN Captain! What the hell is going on? Startled, Wolenczak looks back. WOLENCZAK (distracted) I don't know. I just got a call from Hitchcock on an emergency channel- She was just on long enough to warn me that _seaQuest_ was in some kind of extreme danger. Someone's tossed up a very sophisticated jamming field. I can't get a call out for anyone. (beat) See that? He points towards the disturbance on the screen. It's picking up speed. WOLENCZAK Get a WSKR on it for me. Callan hurries over to the sensor console and types rapidly. He activates a WSKR, sending it out toward the disturbance. The main screen switches to the WSKR view. CALLAN Initial SONAR is telling me that whatever it is, it's not a definite object. (beat) It's like a...a current. Like a rip tide, combined with some kind of extreme power source. It's nearly as tall as the harbor itself. I don't think there's any getting over or under it. WOLENCZAK (decisively) Lock two Mark 7 scatter packs and fire. CALLAN Yes, Sir. CUT TO EXTERIOR _SEAQUEST_ -- CGI Two bright bursts are fired from the forward tubes. We follow the torpedoes out, and watch them as they scatter into dozens of smaller, nimbler groups. The small torpedoes break up and close on the disturbance, which we begin to make out in the distance, marked by scattered bright flares of electricity, lancing out, towards the edges of the cylinder of water. The torpedoes continue on, and dodge in for impact. Nothing happens. CUT TO BRIDGE Callan is jolted by the torpedoes' disappearance. CALLAN (near panic) They're gone sir, I-- WOLENCZAK _What?!_ CALLAN (shakes his head) As soon as they hit, _whatever_ it is, they disappeared. No effect. Wolenczak mutters something under his breath, pushing forward on the controls. WOLENCZAK I think we still have enough room to outrun it. (beat, he shakes his head) I don't want to find out if I'm wrong. Do we have any plasma field-intercepts? Callan shakes his head. CALLAN (ironically) Those were one of the first things that were supposed to be loaded. WOLENCZAK (attempting to reassure himself) It's okay. We can still outrun this thing. As if response to his statement, another displacement begins to form from the middle ship. WOLENCZAK (worried) Oh, geez. (beat) Tap into the auxiliaries for me. Callan flips a switch, his eyes glued to the tactical display. The second displacement moves into position more quickly than the first, and slides directly into _seaQuest's_ path, cutting off her straight shot out of the harbor. WOLENCZAK Well, Callan. It doesn't look like they're cutting us any slack. I'm gonna try to push our way out. (beat) Increase the bioskin's integrity fields to max. Tap into the emergencies and run the reactor up into overdrive. CALLAN (signs good-humoredly) You know I hate doing that. WOLENCZAK (grins) Oh yes, but it beats being fishy food any day of the week. (beat, pointing at the screen) The part where they almost overlap can you target two plasma charges to knock us a corridor just before we punch though? CALLAN Yeah, yeah. (beat) Locked and loaded. WOLENCZAK (weary, he looks back at Callan) Ten seconds. Cross your fingers. (beat) Here we go. END ACT FOUR =========================== PART 5 ===================================== ACT FIVE OPEN ON BRIDGE The Bridge is flooded with dim red lights. The whole ship is violently jolted. A loud rumbling punctures the tension-filled silence. Wolenczak sits nervously at the helm, and Callan is at tactical, typing at the console. Wolenczak taps into the PA system. WOLENCZAK (tensely, again pressing the mic up to his face) Everyone remaining on board brace for impact. (beat) I repeat, brace for impact! Callan glances up from his console just in time to see _seaQuest_ collide with the displacement on the map. He grabs the seat's arms just before the first violent jolt. _SeaQuest's_ nose is slammed downwards, the hull groaning in protest. A loud "crack" rips through the ship as it passes through the Vortex. Wolenczak is thrown from his seat, sprawled on the floor. Callan manages to hang on, but falls out of his seat as the ship lurches upwards. This time, the ship gives in with a deafening shudder. Warning klaxons blare and the red lights flicker back on. Callan hauls himself back into the seat and glances at the monitor. CALLAN (breathlessly) We have a hull breach. Looks like engineering is flooded. (beat) Hull integrity's down all over the ship. Reactor's offline. Environmental's offline. SONAR's down. Drive system's down. WOLENCZAK (picking himself up off the floor) How long before we lose containment? CALLAN (grimacing) My best guess is ten minutes before a complete failure. Wolenczak scans the helm console and curses under his breath. WOLENCZAK Ballast systems are offline, and our emergency's already gone. (beat, typing) Dive planes are responding; our speed's down to 180. CALLAN (unenthusiastically) On a brighter note, we're past the three hostiles, out into open ocean. They're coming about now. WOLENCZAK Can you get propulsion back before our friends decide to let loose another one of those? CALLAN No... (beat) Wait...yes! (beat, discouraged) It'll burn out the core, though. WOLENCZAK (decisively) Do it. (beat) The UEO can handle a burned out core much better than they can handle losing _seaQuest_. Callan types a few commands and looks up at the viewscreen. CALLAN That should buy us another three minutes of power. WOLENCZAK (nodding) Engaging at one-quarter. After this, they fall silent, transfixed by the images on the viewscreen. The middle ship has turned completely, and is now following _seaQuest_ out into open ocean. Another displacement swirls into existence. WOLENCZAK Let's-- CALLAN (anticipating the command) I've already locked on. This is our last charge. WOLENCZAK No, wait-- (beat) Can you get a lock on exactly _which_ frequency the field those things are emitting is at? CALLAN Yeah. (beat; he types, checks the console) Two-four-eight-point-zero-zero-three. WOLENCZAK Good, good. (beat) When the plasma is discharged, set the WSKRS up to form a harmonic reverb on that frequency. (beat) The plasma _should_ begin to oscillate, interrupting the power flow. (beat, grimly) It might just interrupt the displacement's power grids, buy us some time. Callan nods and enters the information. He flips the switch, and the charge blasts out of the rear torpedo tube. Once again, _seaQuest_ is rocked by the blast, but this time it groans miserably enough that it is obvious it won't take much more before completely caving in. Monitors flicker on and off, suddenly filling with gibberish and error messages. CALLAN Sir! (beat, he scrambles with the keyboard, getting nowhere) The plasma pulse...when it collapsed, it emitted a massive magnetic burst. WOLENCZAK (needing no explanation) Strong enough to get past the computer's shielding. (beat, the final blow) Wiping _seaQuest's_ databanks clean. CALLAN (very worried) And with the computers down- WOLENCZAK Don't worry, Mister Callan. (beat) We can reload the operating system from our optical storage; that wouldn't have been affected. Wolenczak types quickly as he speaks. WOLENCZAK (continues) Should be back online...about now. (beat, chuckling ironically) Of course, it's been a while since we backed that up. You'll have to start searching for Hunter's mementoes again. The monitor flickers back to normal before Callan's eyes, and he looks up in admiration. CALLAN I guess I can handle that, considering how much worse things could be. Wolenczak smiles contemptuously, motioning towards the middle sub, the one that launched the attacks. WOLENCZAK And _they_ don't have the kind of redundancy we do. (beat) I'd say they're pretty much out of the fight. Callan checks the displays on his console. CALLAN (confirming) They're at full stop, falling towards the bottom. WOLENCZAK (nodding) Now, about our little friend. (beat, thinking) If we dive any deeper, we'll be crushing ourselves for sure. (beat) If we surface, it's bound to follow us. CALLAN (shaking his head) The best thing to do is put some distance in between. (beat) We're losing the reactor already. It's shutting down; I can't stop it. WOLENCZAK That gives us less than a minute before impact. (beat) Can you bring up weapons with the auxiliaries? CALLAN (tainted with fear) N-No. (beat) The auxiliaries are gone, from the initial impact, I'd guess. Wolenczak is silent for a stark moment of realization. He rearranges hisheadset and activates the PA system. WOLENCZAK (defeated) All hands... (he falters) Abandon ship. I repeat, abandon ship. He looks up at Callan, who is staring dejectedly at the viewscreen, watching the displacement slowly catch up with then. WOLENCZAK Greg. Go. (beat) Get out of here. CALLAN (protesting) But I-- WOLENCZAK (firmly) Go. Callan slips away without further argument, leaving Wolenczak alone on the Bridge. Wolenczak stares up at the viewscreen. The middle ship is out of the picture now, probably nestled into the silt on the bottom, after losing all depth control along with its computers. The other two are moving closer, but still maintaining a safe distance, watching as the Vortex does its dirty work. WOLENCZAK (tensley) Thirty seconds... _seaQuest_ begins to shake, a hint of the violent intensity it will soon face. Bulkheads begin to creak. WOLENCZAK Twenty... He begins typing furiously; thecomputer beeps back at him, displaying an "ERROR-SYSTEM OFFLINE" message. WOLENCZAK Ten seconds... The deck begins to shimmy. Grating elsewhere on the ship begins to break loose, and clatter around. The nose pitches down once again, more gradually this time. The viewscreen accross the bridge glares a red warning: "HULL TOLERANCE AT MAXIMUM." A pipe bursts on the ceiling somewhere, piping supercooled water that instantly vaporizes onto the bridge. The mist glows with the glare of the red lights, which are once again flickering. WOLENCZAK Five, four, three, two.... The _seaQuest_ is rocked by a mild explosion. WOLENCZAK (surprised) What the...? He types quickly. On the viewscreen, a red barrier forms in the precious small distance between the displacement and _seaQuest_. WOLENCZAK (astonished) A plasma barrier? _seaQuest_ is battered once again, not by an attack, but something else. The displacement suddenly disperses. The rumblings cease. The leak seals. A friendly face appears on the viewscreen--Captain Haise from the Zodiac. HAISE (surprised, waving his hand in a joking attempt to clear out the mist) Captain? WOLENCZAK (astounded) Captain Haise? HAISE Glad to see you're all right. (beat, sarcastically) Wish I could say the same for your boat. As Haise tries to peer through the mist, we... CUT TO BEACH, MARTINIQUE The sun is out in force on this beautiful tropical getaway, and the crewmembers are out as well. It's not often they get a chance like this to bask in the sun and have a little fun. Percell and Callan are basking in the sun, not far from Reede, who's playing volleyball with a group from MedBay. Callan is watching people walk by on the beach-- not everyone just the attractive, well-tanned women. Percell sits up, looking at him watching "everyone." CALLAN (jokingly) Too bad Kelly couldn't take some time off. (beat) She doesn't know what she's missing. Percell shakes her head and slaps him on the leg. PERCELL Greg--you are _pathetic_. CALLAN (chuckling) That's what they tell me. (beat, a happy sigh) Another week of this, and I'll be ready to go again Percell shakes her head and lies back down, watching Trueman and Riller walking up to them. RILLER (cynically, to no one in particular) Hey, _look_. (beat) It's our "swashbuckling hero" himself. CALLAN (embarrassed) Please. (beat) Wolenczak was the one doing all the swashbuckling. I've had about all I can handle, thank you. RILLER ("yeah, right") That's not what I heard. (beat) If you hadn't hopped back on in time... CALLAN (suddenly realizing something) Time, time. What time is it?! Trueman glances down at her wrist. TRUEMAN Sixteen-ten, why? CALLAN (springing to his feet) I was supposed to be back on board ten minutes ago to help with repairs! He leans over, folds the chair up, and grabs a large beach bag, hurrying off. RILLER (not surprised) Whoops. (beat, he turns to Trueman) Wanna go for a swim? Trueman tosses her stuff down on the blanket Callan had just vacated. TRUEMAN (smiling) Sure. Percell shakes her head and lies back down, sliding her sunglasses back on. Just as she begins to nod off, there's some yelling coming back from the volleyball game. Much to her irritation, the ball lands next to her head, spraying her with sand. She sits ups, spitting out the sand that worked its way into her mouth. Reede comes over to get the ball, laughing. REEDE (grinning) Sorry, Sara. Percell just gives him a _look_. CUT TO DOWNTOWN FORT-AU-FRANCE, UEO CONSULATE--EXTERIOR It's late evening in Fort-Au-France, and the sun is just dipping below the horizon, bathing the city in a warm, red glow. Wolenczak, dressed in a flowery shirt, shorts, and sandals, walks down a lightly traveled street, stopping a tall building on the right side of the narrow street. The light wooden is marked with an inconspicuous UEO symbol carved into its surface. Wolenczak slowly pushes it open and enters. CUT TO UEO CONSULATE--INTERIOR The consulate is ornately decorated with maritime artifacts. A ship's rusting, but polished anchor dominates one wall, and what appears to be an old wooden prow hangs on the other. As Wolenczak admires the artifacts, he's approached by an older, female UEO officer. OFFICER (thoughtfully) Captain? Wolenczak turns to see who it is. WOLENCZAK Yes? OFFICER Right this way... Wolenczak begins to follow. CUT TO CONFERENCE ROOM The conference room in the consulate is also decorated with maritime artifacts, and a wonderfully-done model of the _Mary Rose_ sits in the center of the conference table, replete with tiny turrets protruding from the gunports. This immediately catches Wolenczak's attention, to the annoyance of Hitchcock, who's on the vidlink screen, waiting for him. Wolenczak pulls out a chair and sits down, gazing at the model. WOLENCZAK (paying no attention to Hitchcock) Why, Madame Secretary-- (beat, derisively) How nice of you to call. HITCHCOCK (exhausted) Captain, please. WOLENCZAK (suddenly looking up at Hitchcock) Oh. Is there something you want to tell me? (beat, seriously) Maybe about a certain weapon? (beat) It _would_ have been nice if you had told me about this _before_ I was almost killed. Hitchcock is almost unfazed by Wolenczak's attitude. She'd obviously expected it. HITCHCOCK Look, if I'd known about it, I would have told you; it's just not that simple. (beat) Right now, all I can really say is that it _was_ the Carolinans who attacked _seaQuest_. They're denying it, of course, and those subs were so cleaned out, we'll never be able to prove any connection between them and Ross. (beat, more optimistically) I _can_ tell you, with some certainty, that those weapons will never be used again. The man that constructed the weapons for the Confederation disappeared several days ago, and without him, they'll never be able to make more. Hitchcock leans back in her chair, looking away. HITCHCOCK (sincerely) Lucas, I'm sorry you've been kept in the dark. (beat, chagrined) You're not alone. (beat) There are some interesting skeletons in the UEO's closet, and I'm not going to be able to bring them all out. Things that even _my_ security clearance can't reach-- WOLENCZAK (cutting in) Look, Katie, all I want is some insurance that this won't happen again. (beat, correcting himself) This, or anything else like it. HITCHCOCK (frankly) I'm sorry Lucas. (beat) I can't even give you that. Hitchcock returns Wolenczak's gaze for a moment, the picture of a disturbed and worn individual. Wolenczak is chilled by the thought of what Hitchcock must have found. WOLENCZAK (quietly exasperated) What, then? Hitchcock slowly shakes her head. HITCHCOCK I don't know. With that, she reaches forward and ends the call, leaving Wolenczak to fill in the blanks for himself. Wolenczak takes a last look at the _Mary Rose_, shakes his head, and turns for the door and the warm glow of the Caribbean twilight. CUT TO MIAMI SEAPORT TERMINAL The submarine port at Miami is a very large, spacious complex, similar to an airport. Sunlight pours in through massive skylights, giving weary, returning sailors, who've been cooped up for months on end in cramped spaces, their first wonderful glimpse of it in a long time. Sutherland makes his way out of one of the many gates, and an attendant helps him with his bags. ATTENDANT How long's it been? SUTHERLAND (understanding completely) To tell you the truth, I've lost track. ATTENDANT (smiling) Well, enjoy the freedom. SUTHERLAND (whimsically) Freedom's always had a nice ring to it. Sutherland takes his bags from the attendant and makes his way toward the food courts and the exits onto Miami Boulevard. As Sutherland walks by, a young woman who's reading the paper looks over the rim of her sunglasses. It's Berger. She smiles, stands, and walks quickly after Sutherland. CUT TO SUTHERLAND'S APARTMENT The room is dark. The door opens. Sutherland enters. He sets his suitcase on the floor and moves to go into the kitchen. As he turns his back... VOICE (from the shadows) Mister Sutherland...so nice to meet you in person. Sutherland looks up. SUTHERLAND (covering fear) Who's there? Silence. SUTHERLAND (a little more brash) Whoever's in here, this is a private apartment. (beat) Who's there? When there's still no response, he reaches into his pocket. VOICE (from the shadows, taunting) Think you could beat me on the draw? Sutherland whirls, and sees the figure in the shadows: Berger. She already has her gun out, and a small laser scope is trained on Sutherland's forehead, just between his eyes. He goes pale. SUTHERLAND (panicking) Oh God...I-- BERGER (snaps) I don't care. (beat) Please understand...it's nothing personal. (beat, reconsiders) Well, actually, in a way, it is. CUT TO CORRIDOR OUTSIDE APARTMENT SUTHERLAND (v.o., scared witless) Please, no, I-- He is silenced by a gunshot. All is perfectly silent and still. FADE TO BLACK THE END ========================================================================== Copyright 1997 seaQuest 2047 Staff