========================================================================== 14 - BREAKING POINT 2047 Team ========================================================================== Timeline: SeaQuest 2047 Author's E-Mail: schiller@mgl.ca (E-Mail contact) ========================================================================== seaQuest 2047 "Breaking Point" By Ray Stilwell & Victoria Morgan Hyde Publication Draft Monday, May 5, 1997 Based on "seaQuest DSV" and "seaQuest 2032". ========================= PART 0 - TEASER =============================== TEASER OPEN ON EXTERIOR _SEAQUEST_ -- CGI Standard exterior shot of _seaQuest_ cutting through the water. Caption reads: "On patrol in the Bermuda Neutral Zone." CURCIO (V.O.) So how did you feel when he asked you to work for the Carolinans? CUT TO CURCIO'S OFFICE Doctor Mark Curcio is seated behind his desk, with Chief Petty Officer Sara Percell in the chair opposite him. Percell is obviously very uncomfortable being here, and isn't too willing to talk about her feelings. PERCELL (agitated) How do you _think_ I felt?! He'd been putting up this big front about how much he cared about my work, when all along he was just trying to use me! Curcio jots a note, then looks at Percell. His gaze shows no curiousity, merely clinical detachment. CURCIO Were you in love with him? PERCELL (aghast) Pardon me? CURCIO (pressing on) Did you feel this sense of betrayal because you were in love with him? (beat) Did you think he was in love with you? Percell rises quickly from her seat. PERCELL (flatly) I'm not going to listen to these ridiculous questions any more. She turns for the hatch, but Curcio's not done with her yet. CURCIO (as if to a wayward child) Chief, how can I possibly help you deal with these feelings if you won't answer my questions? All Percell can do is stare at him--he obviously wouldn't understand even if she _could_ calm down enough to explain to him. She walks out without a backward glance. CUT TO BRIDGE Our usual crew (including Percell) are in their places; the Bridge is busy but not unduly so. WOLENCZAK Sensors, report. PERCELL (off her console) Sir, my readings are jumping in and out of phase. There's a lot of iron ore deposits in this area, and they're corrupting the data. (beat, punching buttons) The magnetic variance makes this a guess, but I seem to be picking up some weird energy readings over the next ridge. WOLENCZAK Keep trying, Chief. REEDE (aside, to Trueman) There's the Bermuda Triangle for you...heaven only knows what we'll find here... Trueman responds with a quizzical glance; Wolenczak has overheard. WOLENCZAK Please keep your superstitions to yourself, Mister Reede. I've been through these waters enough to know there's always an explanation. (beat, smiling) After you've survived a hurricane in the Triangle, I'll let you say whatever you like. (beat, back to Percell) Any luck yet, Chief? PERCELL (shaking her head) No, Sir. Nothing definite. WOLENCZAK (sighing) Great. Well, we'll have to send someone out for a close-up look, then. (to Matthews) Who's on duty in Docking Bay? MATTHEWS Evans, Sir. WOLENCZAK Right. (to Trueman) Get Docking Bay on the line. Trueman pushes buttons, then nods at Wolenczak. WOLENCZAK Evans, take a launch over the ridge. We're picking up what might be energy readings, and I want you to investigate. (beat) But make it look innocent, just in case there really is someone out there. You've gone out with Morgan a few times; make it look like you're gathering samples or something. EVANS (over com, supressing excitement) Understood, Sir. CUT TO SAN FRANCISCO GENERAL HOSPITAL Chaos reigns in the emergency room as Doctor Meridith Burke is working her tail off, trying to keep up with a seemingly never-ending stream of patients. She is bent over an immobilized and bleeding patient, giving orders to a nurse. BURKE Okay, this one's ready to go upstairs. They should have a room ready; tell neuro it's up to them. The patient is wheeled out. Burke follows out into the hall, but it appears that all patients are being attended to at the moment. She leans wearily against the wall as she strips of her latex gloves and drops them into a waste receptacle. Frank Melanson passes, helping a nurse push a gurney toward the elevator. He loads the gurney onto the elevator, then comes back to Burke. MELANSON (mildly teasing) Busy day. BURKE Actually, I was thinking of getting a few people together to play bridge. Since there's _so_ little to do around here. MELANSON (looking around) Well, the last of them are being taken care of now. Want to grab some dinner? BURKE (checking her watch) Might not be a bad idea. (beat) Since I missed lunch. (beat, curious) What happened, anyhow? MELANSON (shrugging) Paramedics said it was a multi-vehicle accident. Three carloads of kids were out joyriding and it got out of control. BURKE (shaking her head) I don't think I've ever seen so many injured people at one time. MELANSON (surprised) Not even in some of those adventures I heard about in the news? That Vortex thing, for instance... Burke shakes her head. BURKE Not even then. And even then... Melanson can see something's bugging her. MELANSON What is it, Meri? BURKE (upset, but not overly so) It just seems like such a waste--all these innocent people hurt because some kids drove too fast. MELANSON You're not trying to tell me you never had to help innocent people on _seaQuest_, are you? BURKE (wryly) No. But at least they knew the risks. These people... (indicating the ER in general) ...Were just out for a drive. MELANSON Meri, you've got to stop letting it get to you like this. (beat) Let's go eat. You'll feel better with some food in you. They walk off down the hall. CUT TO BRIDGE All is as usual. TRUEMAN Sir, Seaman Evans is reporting in. WOLENCZAK On the speakers, Ensign. Trueman pushes buttons and Evans' voice comes over the speakers. EVANS (over com) Sir, I don't see anything unusual out here. The magnetic readings are screwy, and I _am_ picking up some kind of energy signal, but I can't get a fix on it. If there's something out here, it must be buried. WOLENCZAK (frowning) All right Evans. Guess we'll just have to be happy with that. You can come on back. EVANS (over com) Yes, S-- A wave of static breaks up his communication, and Trueman quickly pushes buttons, trying to bring the signal back. TRUEMAN (agitated) I can't get him back, Sir. The signal's completely gone. I don't think he's even broadcasting. WOLENCZAK (to Percell) Anything on the WSKRS? PERCELL (frustrated) Nothing, Sir. It's like he just disappeared. Wolenczak paces for a moment, considering his options. WOLENCZAK Okay. Matthews, take your Marauder out and see if you can find him. Until we know what happened, we'll just have to assume there's something hostile out there. MATTHEWS (briskly) Yes, Sir. As she leaves, worried glances are exchanged among the bridge crew. CUT TO INTERIOR MARAUDER Matthews is talking through her headset to _seaQuest_. MATTHEWS I can't see anything that would have caused Evans trouble, but I still haven't found the launch. (beat, checking displays) Oh, wait a second... (beat) I'm picking up his ELF beacon now. It looks like it's coming from the trench. (beat, as she throttles up the Marauder) I'm proceeding in that direction now. WOLENCZAK (over com) Understood. Be careful, and keep this line open. MATTHEWS Yes, Sir. She pilots her craft along for a moment, looking anxiously at the viewscreen. Without warning, all the lights, including those on the operating panels, blink off. The red glow of the emergency lighting comes on, revealing Matthews flicking switches. MATTHEWS All my systems are dead! (beat) Can you hear me, _seaQuest_? She listens for the sound of a friendly voice through her headset, but hears nothing. MATTHEWS (more frantic now) _seaQuest_! CUT TO EXTERIOR MARAUDER The Marauder is adrift, beginning to sink. CUT TO COMMERCIAL END TEASER =========================== PART 1 ===================================== ACT ONE OPEN ON INTERIOR MARAUDER It's still dark; Matthews is frantically flipping switches, etc., trying to get things back online. As abruptly as they quit, things begin working again. WOLENCZAK (over com) ...Read, Matthews? MATTHEWS (relieved) Sir, I'm back on line. My systems were out. Completely. For nearly a full minute. (beat, checking displays) Everything looks okay now; diagnostic checks out perfectly. (beat) Except for main communications. I'm working off the backup system. (beat, unsettled) And it doesn't get the extra-low-frequency range. WOLENCZAK (over com, subdued) Understood, Commander. (beat) You're certain your systems are all right now? I could send Percell out... Matthews' face shows what she thinks of this idea: she wouldn't hear of it. She's going to complete the job she started. CUT TO BRIDGE All is as before. Percell looks more than a little nervous at Wolenczak's suggestion that she go out to back Matthews up. MATTHEWS (over com) No, Sir, it's fine now. Everything's a green light except for ELF reception. (beat) I'm proceeding in the direction the ELF came from. I'll just have to find him the old-fashioned way. Wolenczak doesn't look pleased at this, but Matthews is still the best chance Evans has. WOLENCZAK Acknowledged, Commander. But if you have the _slightest_ indication of further problems, you're to turn around immediately. Understood? MATTHEWS (over com) Yes, Sir. CUT TO EXTERIOR MARAUDER--CGI The Marauder puts on speed as Matthews continues her search for Evans. CUT TO BRIDGE A flurry of activity is going on as the Bridge crew is trying to help Matthews get a fix on Evans' location. PERCELL Still no good here, Sir. There's just too much interference. WOLENCZAK (turning to Trueman) Do you have a fix on where his last transmission came from? TRUEMAN Negative, Sir. (beat, shaking her head) Best I can come up with is about a five kilometer radius, and we already pretty much _knew_ that. It's like the signal was bounced around before it finally got to us. WOLENCZAK (decisively) Brief Callan and Morgan on the situation and ask them to get together and try to find a solution. TRUEMAN On it, Sir. She pushes buttons and starts talking into her headset. REEDE (to nobody in particular) The Triangle's not going to give up that easily... Riller shoots him a dirty look, to which Reede responds with a shrug of his shoulders. Wolenczak walks to the forward viewscreen, which is presently showing the sea view. WOLENCZAK (to himself, worried) Dammit, Evans, where are you? Trueman speaks excitedly from behind him. TRUEMAN Sir! Matthews says she's spotted something that could be the launch. She's going to investigate now. Wolenczak turns, a hopeful look on his face. WOLENCZAK Put her on the speakers, Ensign. CUT TO EXTERIOR MARAUDER--CGI The Marauder "pulls up" alongside the launch, which is wedged into a cleft in the reef, then maneuvers around it, like Matthews is taking a good look. CUT TO INTERIOR MARAUDER Matthews is peering earnestly through her viewscreen at the downed launch. MATTHEWS (into com) Evans, do you read me? (beat) This is Marauder One, calling Launch BL9, do you read? She waits, but the line is still silent. MATTHEWS (to herself) C'mon, Evans, _answer_! She waits another moment, presses a button, and speaks again. MATTHEWS (into com) _seaQuest_, I'm going around to the far side of the launch. I want to see if the survival pod is still there. WOLENCZAK (over com) Acknowledged. Matthews maneuvers her Marauder in silence, still looking hard at the viewscreen. Her eyes go wide and she shakes her head. MATTHEWS (anguished) Oh, no... CUT TO EXTERIOR MARAUDER--CGI The view on this side of the launch reveals the truth: the forward section is crushed in against the reef. CUT TO BRIDGE The frantic activity has stopped; the Bridge is hushed as everyone waits for Matthews' report. Wolenczak is now seated in the command chair. MATTHEWS (over com, very subdued) _seaQuest_, it's not good. (beat, steeling herself to deliver the news) The hull's breached. The faces of the Bridge crew reflect the effects of this news--hope has turned to dismay. Wolenczak's face, however, is impassive. He will not let this affect him in front of his crew. WOLENCZAK What about the survival pod? MATTHEWS (over com) It's still in place, Sir. He must still be in there. (beat, swallowing audibly) With all the time it took me to get here, there's no way Evans could still be alive. WOLENCAK (flatly) Acknowledged. Drop a marker buoy and get back here--we'll send a salvage team. MATTHEWS (over com, resigned) Buoy away. (beat) My ETA's about fifteen minutes. WOLENCZAK Acknowledged. _seaQuest_ out. (beat) Mister Riller, you have the conn. Wolenczak turns and leaves the bridge. CUT TO MAGLEV As the doors close behind him, Wolenczak drops into a seat in the empty MagLev car. He stares into space for a few moments, then his impassivity crumbles, revealing his grief over the death of Seaman Evans. CUT TO EXTERIOR MARAUDER--CGI As a marker buoy drops down beside the wrecked launch, the Marauder turns for home. CUT TO DOCKING BAY Repair crew are waiting for Matthews' arrival. Curcio is also present, as Ensign Anne Morgan rushes in. MORGAN I just heard about Evans-- Curcio gives her a cold look. CURCIO Don't waste your time worrying about him, he's been dead for quite a while. Morgan is taken aback by Curcio's callous attitude. MORGAN But you're here... CURCIO I'm here to make certain Lieutenant Commander Matthews is okay. (beat, explaining condescendingly) Her systems were down for almost a minute. It's my duty to be sure she wasn't adversely affected. Morgan nods, not giving him her full attention. When she speaks, it isn't to him specifically, but more out of a need to maintain hope. MORGAN Maybe he's in the survival pod and it just wouldn't jettison; there's still a chance he'll be all right. Curcio gives her a disbelieving look. CURCIO ("don't be stupid") Ensign, the hull had a large breach. The water pressure at these depths would give him only seconds before the compartment was flooded. He wouldn't have had time to get to the pod. Morgan nods, getting more and more upset. MORGAN (softly) I know that, Doctor. But I can't help hoping... CURCIO (coolly) If you need to worry about someone, wouldn't it be better for you to be at home worrying about your _own_ child? Morgan stiffens at his remark. Her face becomes blank as she retreats to a corner, away from both Curcio and the repair team. There's a burst of activity as Matthews comes out the hatch from her shuttle. She's barely out of the way before the repair crew swarms in to inspect it. CURCIO (pushy) Come along, Commander. MATTHEWS (puzzled) Come along? Where to? CURCIO To MedBay. I have to examine you. MATTHEWS (brushing him off) I'm fine. CURCIO But-- MATTHEWS (firmly) I'm _fine_. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to report to the captain. She turns and walks away. Morgan leaves in the opposite direction, leaving Curcio standing alone, slightly puzzled by the brushoff he just received. CUT TO SAN FRANCISCO GENERAL HOSPITAL -- CAFETERIA Burke, Melanson, and a few others are having their evening meal. From the low traffic at the service counter and the number of takeout meals in the room, it's obvious that the food service hasn't improved recently. Burke is toying with the food on her tray--she apparently made the mistake of buying hospital food. BURKE (disgusted) This is a hospital. You'd think the food here would be a little better than this. MELANSON Nah. (beat, facetiously) Y'see, Meri, it's a plot. We make people sick on the food, so they have to come here for treatment. How else do you think we fund all this research and new equipment? BURKE (pushing her tray aside) Well, three cheers for private enterprise! One of their table mates, a med student, has been following the conversation. MED STUDENT I heard you were on a Navy sub before you came here, Doctor Burke. BURKE That's right. MED STUDENT (grinning) I've also heard submarine food's pretty bad... BURKE (taking the bait) It may have been boring and bland, but compared to this...the Crew's Mess was a four-star restaurant! Off her trayful of hospital glop, we... CUT TO CREW'S MESS We begin with a closeup of empty plates stacked at the end of a table, indicating that whatever the dinner du jour was, it was well received. The camera pulls back to show Riller, Trueman, Reede, and Morgan seated around the table. Morgan, chin in hand, is silent as the others talk. They lack the animation of other dinner discussions. REEDE ...I can't believe how cool the captain was about it all. TRUEMAN What did you expect him to do? He's the captain. He has to act cool. RILLER You think it was an act? TRUEMAN Don't you? I mean, someone _died_ who probably shouldn't have. RILLER I don't know. Ever since that thing happened with the psych evaluations, he's been like that all the time. REEDE He has a point, there, Becca. (beat) What do you think, Anne? Morgan doesn't respond. REEDE Yoo-hoo...Anne. Wake up! MORGAN (jolted back from wherever her thoughts had taken her) Sorry. What was that? RILLER We asked what you think of the captain's reaction to Evans' death. MORGAN (still not completely with it) Oh. Well, I wasn't there, was I? REEDE (patiently) No. But don't you think he's been a little...distant...lately? MORGAN (shrugging) I hadn't noticed. (beat, thoughtfully) He's the captain. He's not supposed to be everyone's best friend. I'm sure he'll do his grieving in his own way. (beat) After all he's been through, he's probably learned how to keep it from hurting too much. TRUEMAN I hadn't thought of it that way. I just think he's been acting kind of odd recently. MORGAN He's probably just got a lot on his mind. (beat, "drifting" again) If you'll excuse me... She gets up and leaves the room. RILLER (looking after her) Speaking of a lot on your mind...what's with her? REEDE You'd probably be like that too, working right next to Jack Curcio. She's freezing right back over. RILLER (puzzled) Jack? I thought his name was Mark. TRUEMAN (definitely) Nope. Jack. REEDE ("helping") Short for Jackass. They laugh as Riller "gets it." CUT TO WARDROOM Wolenczak, Matthews, and Lieutenant Commander Greg Callan are huddled around the conference table, which is littered with SEAPOCs and printouts. Wolenczak has obviously recovered his composure and is all business. CALLAN The salvage team couldn't bring the launch in, Sir. It's lodged quite tightly and the reef's rather unstable. But they checked it out pretty thoroughly, and there was no mechanical reason for it to crash. WOLENCZAK How about the computer system? MATTHEWS Perfectly sound, Sir. There was nothing in there that shouldn't be. WOLENCZAK (frustrated) So why did he sink? MATTHEWS (hesitantly) Well, Sir...we _are_ in the Bermuda Triangle. (beat) And even if you're _not_ superstitious, there's some pretty weird currents in this region. (beat, thoughtfully) Weren't you on a mission here, on the first _seaQuest_, Sir? WOLENCZAK (nodding) That's right. A French sightseeing sub was caught in a freshwater sinkhole. CALLAN Could something like that have put Evans into a dive? Wolenczak chews that idea over for a moment. WOLENCZAK (shakes his head) I don't think so. The sinkholes were caused by karstification of the limestone. The ridge where he crashed didn't show any of the characteristics of the line of sinkholes where the French sub was caught. (beat, sighing) Perhaps Doctor Curcio will find something in the autopsy to help us figure this out. None of them looks very comfortable at hearing the word "autopsy." MATTHEWS (slowly) There's still that energy reading unaccounted for. WOLENCZAK Until we know what brought Evans down and what happened to Matthews' Marauder, I'm hesitant to sent anyone else out. CALLAN The salvage team reported nothing out of the ordinary. WOLENCZAK I know. I just don't want to take any chances until we pin this down. Percell rushes into the room, looking at a SEAPOC as she takes her place at the table. The others nod in acknowledgment of her presence. CALLAN Well, whatever happened to the Marauder, it wasn't mechanical. I've gone over that boat from end to end and there's just nothing wrong with it. Percell looks up quickly. PERCELL But there _was_ something in the software. She has everyone's full attention. WOLENCZAK Explain. PERCELL Well, the systems are completely separate from those of _seaQuest_. So none of the upgrades or anything we've done in the past few months would have had an effect. (beat, warming to her subject) Additionally, when we loaded the systems after the Vortex incident, each of our deployable craft was re-loaded with the backup of its _own_ specific system. MATTHEWS (mildly exasperated) And how does all this cause my Marauder to go dead on me? PERCELL (flatly) There was a subroutine in there that just plain doesn't belong. (beat) Near as I can tell, it was designed to cut in after a specific number of hours of the Marauder being in use. (beat, to Matthews) It was just your bad luck you'd used your Marauder the most. MATTHEWS You mean it was present in the other ones? PERCELL Not quite. It was in yours and Reede's. Mine and Riller's are clean. (beat) I'm running comparisons on the rest of the deployables now. WOLENCZAK (thoughtfully) A time-delayed software glitch, huh? They all exchange long looks over the table. Finally, Callan gives voice to what they're all thinking. CALLAN Hunter. As the impact of this sinks in, we... CUT TO WOLENCZAK'S OFFICE We start with a closeup of a vidlink with a "please hold" message superimposed over the UEO logo. We then pull back and pan across to a pacing Wolenczak, who appears more agitated than impatient. As if to pass the time more productively, he picks up a thick printout from his desk labeled "Hunter, Jason," begins to leaf through its contents, then watches as several sheets fall out and land, hopelessly out of order, at his feet. Wolenczak then slams the rest of the printout to the floor as its remaining contents join in the mess. His PAL beeps; Wolenczak removes it from his pocket and activates it. TRUEMAN (over PAL) Sir, the chaplain will be here from Annapolis in an hour. WOLENCZAK (into PAL, shortly) Thank you. As Wolenczak puts his PAL back into his pocket a nameless bureaucrat's face appears on the vidlink. His voice is brusque, with a hint of smugness. BUREAUCRAT I'm sorry, Captain, but I am not going to be able to connect you to the Secretary-General without an explanation of the diplomatic crisis requiring her attention. WOLENCZAK (annoyance now joins the agitation and impatience) I have _never_ been asked to release that kind of information to a middle manager of unknown security clearance. (beat, the tone in his voice becomes edgier) And today is _not_ the day for you to try it with me. I will _only_ discuss my findings and conclusions with Katherine Hitchcock. Is that clear? BUREAUCRAT (shrugging) All the same to me, Sir. I will pass your message up through channels. (beat, the smugness is now more than a hint) The _proper_ channels. The bureaucrat reaches forward and cuts the channel. Wolenczak begins to sort and reorganize the mess at his feet, but it is becoming clearer that there's also a mess about six feet higher, which may be harder to sort through. FADE TO COMMERCIAL END ACT ONE =========================== PART 2 ===================================== ACT TWO OPEN ON MEDBAY Curcio is doing some organizing of his own--at a seemingly microscopic level, but it's all clearly important to him. He is the last one in the facility as Doctor Laura Taylor exits and walks across to the science lab to meet up with Morgan. She leaves the hatch open behind her, further ruining Curcio's need for Everything In Its Place. To which he gives voice. CURCIO _Doctor_ Taylor, I want that hatch kept closed at all times! His words fall not on Taylor's ears, but on Morgan's. She sticks her head through the portal. MORGAN Sir, the memorial service will be starting.... CURCIO (cutting her off curtly) ...It's _already_ started, Ensign. It's started to throw off my schedule, it's started to disrupt my staff and it's started to make me wonder why you people are so addicted to sentimentality. Now, I may have to stop my work while this silliness persists, but I do _not_ have to waste any more of my time going there and coming back. MORGAN (one last try) But Sir, it's... CURCIO Dismissed, Ensign. (beat) And shut that hatch behind you. Morgan gives it a good heave, as close to a slam as rank permits. We see her shaking her head, as if to say "Just when I thought I'd seen the worst of him," as we... CUT TO WOLENCZAK'S OFFICE A much thinner printout is now in Wolenczak's hands--Evans's service jacket. He is clearly troubled and for a moment it seems this problem may also wind up on the floor of the sub, but his thoughts are interrupted by the sound of his vidlink. Secretary General Katherine Hitchcock's face appears, showing concern for her friend, but also concern about the situation. HITCHCOCK I'm sorry, Lucas. Between the new security directives and these constant calls from Ben, I'm afraid I've had to resort to call screening. The lightness of her "excuse" vanishes and she appears to be examining Wolenczak's expression with extreme care. HITCHCOCK (continues) There's more going on here than me not answering my own calls, isn't there? What's wrong, Lucas? WOLENCZAK (maintaining the game face a bit longer) I'm _fine_, Katie. Just a bit indisposed at the moment. I have to preside at the memorial service of a seaman who, until a few seconds ago... (beat, tapping the service jacket) ...I couldn't have told you what his first name was. Hitchcock's brow tightens. She's not buying this. HITCHCOCK Come on, Lucas. It's just us. Off the record. (beat, trying another tack) Look, we've known each other for close to thirty years-- (beat, wryly) Give or take a decade here and there--and I've never seen you like this. WOLENCZAK (still reserved but a chink is visible in the armor) I've been in the service, or at least on a service sub, since I was younger than this kid. Yet in all that time, I never ordered anyone to their death before. (beat, more emotion in his voice) I mean, why did I care about those readings in the first place? Why did I send a kid to do the job of a WSKRS? (beat, he's really rolling in it now) Why did I send a goddamn _Marauder_ to try to rescue him? HITCHCOCK ("pointing out the obvious") Because you trusted your judgment, Lucas. That's why we gave you that rank patch. (beat, more firmness than empathy) Which still belongs on you more than on anybody else in the fleet. WOLENCZAK (not through with the self-flagellation just yet) Except Jason Hunter, maybe. He certainly did a better job of outsmarting me than I ever pulled on him. (beat, the anger rising) And this incident--it's _really_ the last straw, Katie. HITCHCOCK What do you mean, this incident? What does Hunter have to do with this? Wolenczak remembers he wouldn't tell the underling anything about this. He calms down a bit. WOLENCZAK (rather pedantically) One of our people found evidence of some time-delayed tampering with that Marauder's software. We've downloaded the source code and are comparing it to some of the other bugs we identified. I can't yet prove it was Hunter... (beat, gaining more resolve) ...But I will, Katie. I promise you. Hitchcock is seen turning away to an off-vidlink distraction. Her facial expression shows a combination of annoyance and relief. HITCHCOCK Lucas, I've got someone I need to speak with right away. If you can make the connection, I swear we'll use every means at our disposal to protest. Wolenczak appears calmer than at the beginning of the scene, but still obviously sees the glass as half empty. WOLENCZAK Thanks. I just hope our protest will result in an end to this kind of loss of life... (beat, trailing off back into his doldrums) ...And doesn't just get Hunter two minutes in the penalty box. CUT TO ENTRANCE OF DOCKING BAY Virtually the entire crew, with the exception of a few dozen essential personnel and a handful of malcontents (i.e, Curcio), has gathered. The ceremony is taking place without the body present, but there is still a powerfully overriding air of grief as at any funeral. We focus in on Morgan and Taylor, who have been joined by Reede, Trueman, Riller and Percell. They speak among themselves in hushed tones. REEDE ...And apparently, those were the family's very clear wishes. (beat, shrugging) Something about their religious beliefs. MORGAN (struggling to maintain her composure) It may be just as well. I'd asked the captain to let me participate-- after all, I'd worked with Evans about as much as anyone--and there's less protocol for a memorial service than a full funeral. (beat, tears begin to form) Not that it's going to make much of a difference to Evans. PERCELL (reassuringly) It's going to make a lot of difference to all of us, Anne. It's good of you to have volunteered. VOICE OVER INTERCOM Attention! It is 1500 hours--all but specified personnel are ordered to stand down. CUT TO EXTERIOR _SEAQUEST_ -- CGI The _seaQuest_ is seen coming to a full stop. CUT TO DOCKING BAY A podium has been set up before several rows of chairs. Wolenczak finally enters, accompanied by Lieutenant Marjorie Shafer, a chaplain from UEO headquarters. It is she who steps to the podium and begins the ceremony. SHAFER We are gathered here, in the sight of God and in the presence of our friends and comrades, to honor the memory and achievements of Seaman Garrison Hopkins Evans. Some of you have asked already to say a few words, but the podium will then be open for anyone with a word to share. I would first ask Ensign Anne Morgan to come forward. Morgan approaches, holding some note cards in one hand and dabbing at tears with her other. She shuffles the cards for a moment, then begins to read. MORGAN "...For the sea lies all about us. The commerce of all lands must cross it. The very winds that move over the lands have been cradled on its broad expanse and seek ever to return to it. The continents themselves dissolve into and pass into the sea, in grain after grain of eroded land. So the rains that rose from it return again in rivers. In its mysterious past it encompasses all the dim origins of life and receives in the end...the dead husks of that same life. For all at last return to the sea..." A long beat follows. Morgan dries her eyes--and she's not the only one we see doing so. MORGAN (continuing) Rachel Carson wrote those words close to a century ago. She was one of the first to understand and express the dangers of what we were doing to the world around us. She was an inspiration to me, and I'm sure... (beat, choking back some more tears) ...Her beliefs and motivations must have inspired Seaman Evans also. He cared about our oceans, and shared the vision of trying to save them. And now he, too, has... Overwhelmed, Morgan trails off, unable to finish. Shafer puts an arm around Morgan and escorts her to one of several folding chairs set up near the podium. While she does, Wolenczak steps forward. He is holding a well-worn book that contains the formal Naval ritual for the burial of the dead. He turns to a marked page and begins to read. WOLENCZAK Unto Almighty God, we commend the soul of our brother departed, and his body will be committed to the earth; in sure and certain hope that he will be risen up on that day when earth and sea give up their dead. Another long pause, but one marked more with anger than sadness. Wolenczak closes the book and lowers it to the platform--both the closing and the lowering come close to slamming. WOLENCZAK Look, everyone. I'm sure this is a hard time for all of you. I _know_ it is for me. For all the good we've done, and everything we've gained, the senselessness of this loss seems... (beat, a heavy sigh and a struggle to continue) ...Inexcusable. All of you who knew Evans... (another beat, another sigh) ...And probably knew him better than I did...know he was deserving of a better end than... (one last beat, as Wolenczak ponders giving voice to his guilt) ...Than he met with. I know you'll all try to carry on. I hope we'll all be able to. He gathers the book he came in with. Shafer starts to escort him to the chairs, but he brusquely heads in the other direction and stands near the entrance to the Docking Bay. SHAFER Before we conclude, is there anyone else who wishes to say anything? A mix of tears, sighs and an undercurrent of whispers is heard, but no one feels comfortable coming forward now. SHAFER I invite you all to stay and share your memories and feelings with each other, or with me, after we conclude. And now... (beat, saying the words from memory but with meaning) ...Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth; yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them. ALL Amen. The assembled crew begins a very slow dispersal as the strains of "Amazing Grace" on the bagpipes plays over the com system. A pan around the room shows Percell and Trueman talking together quietly, Morgan still seated in her chair sobbing, and, just before fade out, Wolenczak still standing by the hatchway, alone, staring into space. CUT TO HITCHCOCK'S OFFICE Carolinan President Eileen Ross's overly pleasant face is seen through Hitchcock's vidlink screen. ROSS (sweetly) Madame Secretary. To what do I owe the.... HITCHCOCK (angrily) Let's cut through the pleasantries. Do you know what I'm holding? CUT TO ROSS'S OFFICE We now see the reverse--Hitchcock's steaming demeanor on Ross's screen. As Hitchcock sits down at her desk we see her holding a printout and a computer disk in her right hand. ROSS Why, I have no idea what you might be wasting our time on today, Madame Secretary. HITCHCOCK (over vidlink) Jason Hunter's latest going-away present. Which had better be his last. It cost us the life of one of our seamen and destroyed one of our launches. ROSS (the sweetness now has an edge) I am _sorry_, Madame Secretary, but I do not appreciate your laying every one of _your_ technical problems on one of _our_ citizens just because of some unproven theories and paranoid suspicions on the part of your people. CUT TO HITCHCOCK'S OFFICE HITCHCOCK Oh, we're working on finding the proof... (the next two words are spoken with heaping helpings of sarcasm) ..._Madame President._ I assure you, when we have it, you'll be among the first we'll tell. You may even be the second--I know Vince Matson is just looking for a reason to get back onboard _seaQuest_ to do a followup story, and I'm sure he'd find this very...newsworthy. (beat, as the anger peaks) So if this is your story and you're sticking with it, get ready for some turbulence. And she angrily cuts the link. CUT TO ROSS' OFFICE Off the "End Transmission" screen, we see Ross's pleasant demeanor fade the instant the link is cut. Ross presses an intercom button. ROSS Hunter! From the look on Ross' face, Hunter would do well to come in bearing chocolates...he's in _big_ trouble. CUT TO EVANS' QUARTERS Wolenczak is looking through a few small boxes of personal possessions that have been gathered up for return to Evans' family. He picks up a few items at the top--a framed photograph of a family of five, a Bible--and carefully replaces them. He then walks to the chest of drawers, opens a drawer, sorts through an assortment of UEO-issue shirts and socks, and finds a teddy bear discreetly placed beneath them. His face takes on a mixture of wryness and sadness, which is quickly interrupted by... MATTHEWS (O.C) Sir? Okay if I come in? WOLENCZAK (pulling himself together) Please. (beat) I'm trying to write a note to his family to go along with the possessions. Matthews enters the room, sits on the desk chair. MATTHEWS I figured that's why you'd be here. Looking for something to help you find the words, right? WOLENCZAK Something like that. He pulls the teddy bear out to show her what he's found. MATTHEWS (shaking her head) I know there's always a ton of these confiscated after a new crew comes on board, but it never ceases to amaze me how important they are to these kids. Wolenczak does not respond. He's back into his celebrated blue period. MATTHEWS (hesitantly) Sir, can I ask a personal question? (beat, quickly giving him an out) You...don't have to answer, but I'd like to ask. Wolenczak drops down onto the bunk, sitting forward, arms on knees. WOLENCZAK Whatever. I'm not sure I've got a lot of answers for anyone right now. MATTHEWS It's just that...you seem to be taking this awfully hard even before we know exactly what happened out there, and, well...why this incident? I know you've had to deal with losing people before, some of them a lot closer to you than Evans was. Wolenczak half-smiles. WOLENCZAK You mean people like Tony Piccolo? Matthews nods. WOLENCZAK That's just it. I didn't order Tony to his death; I fought about that with the man who did. I've _never_ ordered anyone to their death before this. (beat, Wolenczak starts to lose his composure) I killed a kid who never did a thing wrong--never had a chance to do a thing wrong. (beat) And I _almost_ killed you. (beat, now he's visibly upset) My God. He exits hurriedly, not giving Matthews a chance to get a word in edgewise. CUT TO ROSS' OFFICE Hunter is on the carpet. Oblivious so far to the trouble he's in, he stands before Ross' desk, relaxed, in an open-necked shirt, cotton slacks, and loafers. HUNTER (easily) You wanted to see me... When Ross speaks, her tone does not yet suggest the full extent of her displeasure. ROSS So. You put trojan horse software in their systems, is that it? HUNTER (caught, but still trying to weasel his way out of trouble) Only in some of them--the ones I had the chance to. I'd originally hoped to be able to activate them remotely, just in case we needed a little target practice, but we at least were able to disable their best fighters, since they'd be the one with the most hours on 'em. ROSS (by the end of this it's clear she's displeased) And naturally you had fully reported this to your handlers when you were still under cover. They must have just forgotten to report anything about it to _me_ before one of them went off on its own and killed somebody. HUNTER (defensively) That's not the way it was supposed to happen, Ma'am. I mean, what sort of tactical idiot would send that boat's best fighter pilot and Marauder out on a rescue mission? ROSS Obviously the same tactical idiot they promoted over _you_, and the same tactical idiot that keeps defeating _us_ at every turn. Now, for the time being, it's all pure speculation on the UEO's part, so don't worry about us giving you our full support... Hunter looks relieved and is about to say thank you, but Ross isn't finished. ROSS (continues) ...For as long as it suits my purposes. (beat, disgusted) Now get out of here. CUT TO PASSAGEWAY OUTSIDE MEDBAY The hatch is closed. As usual. Wolenczak has come down to speak with the medical staff about his reaction to the Evans incident. WOLENCZAK (to himself) It's easy. You just talk to him about the way you feel over all this...no big deal. Unable to convince himself, Wolenczak paces a few times--should I or shouldn't I? Morgan, exiting the Science Lab, spots Wolenczak and stops him at the hatch. MORGAN (concerned) I'm not sure you want to go in there right now, Sir. WOLENCZAK What's his problem now? MORGAN Oh, he had a set of readings that didn't get taken during the service earlier, and he scuttled the whole experiment rather than extrapolate. (beat, ironically) You could probably base a thesis on the research that man has thrown into the trash. WOLENCZAK (distantly) I wouldn't know about that. MORGAN (picking up on it) You okay, Sir? What were you coming down here for, anyway? WOLENCZAK I've just been feeling out of sorts, Ensign. I still have to write something to that kid's family, and... MORGAN (cutting him off maybe a bit too soon, but thinking she's helping) I meant to ask you about that, Sir. Would it be okay for me to write something? (beat, difficultly) After all, I've been through what they're going through right now. (beat, sadly, but with fondness) He used to come in and talk about his family when he got homesick. I guess, after spending all that time helping me collect samples, he felt like he could confide in me. (beat) He was a really good kid. WOLENCZAK (relieved) I'd really appreciate that, Ensign. It'd take a load off my mind. Wolenczak gives her a very tentative pat on the shoulder as he exits. He's more relieved than when he came here, but it's clear that much of the load on his mind is still there. FADE TO COMMERCIAL END ACT TWO =========================== PART 3 ===================================== ACT THREE OPEN ON EXTERIOR _SEAQUEST_ -- CGI Standard exterior shot of _seaQuest_ cutting through the water. Caption reads: "The next morning, 0500 hours." CUT TO WARDROOM Wolenczak is sitting at the head of the table, looking uneasy and in need of the sleep he obviously didn't get. Of the other senior officers called to this meeting, only Callan and Matthews are already seated near the captain, not looking much more rested than he. Riller starts to enter the Wardroom, but is pushed aside by Curcio, who walks straight up to Wolenczak. CURCIO Captain, what is the meaning of this? When I get a wake-up call at 0430 in the morning I expect to be scrubbing fifteen minutes later. WOLENCZAK (rudely) Too bad if I disrupted _your_ dreams, Doctor. Dreams are a pleasure-- (staring straight at Curcio) --I seem to be deprived of right now. Besides, I thought you were the doctor who was tougher than everybody else on this boat--including most of your injured patients. CURCIO (defensively) I do what I do for the good of this crew's health. I don't think _this_-- (gesturing to the assembled senior staff) --Is good for the crew's health. WOLENCZAK (angrily) That will be quite enough, Doctor. (beat, toning it down a notch) Let's withhold our judgment on the value of this meeting until it's over, please. Wolenczak taps a few keys on a computer console and projects several listings of names on a viewscreen, some of them recognizable to us (such as Reede and Morgan), but mostly not. WOLENCZAK I couldn't sleep, so I started thinking about our staffing and how to approach this diagnostic problem. CALLAN Sir, if you mean the subroutine in the Marauder, I think we've checked that unit out completely. WOLENCZAK We thought that the _last_ time. We had completely new upgrades of all our systems... (beat, with disgust) ...All the systems we could _think_ of, anyway, and this treason still got through. (beat, with resolve) People, these bugs have to be removed. I want full diagnostics done on all the usual places, and then run them again in every last one of the _unusual_ places. MATTHEWS (delicately trying to inject the voice of reason) But Sir, what you're proposing would take... WOLENCZAK (cutting her off) I don't _care_ what it takes. That's what we're here to figure out. Now here-- (gesturing to the viewscreen) --Are the current duty assignments and downtimes in each of your departments. I want a 24-hour rotation worked out in each of them for ongoing diagnostics and repairs. Wolenczak looks around the table. Nobody is saying it, but he knows what they're thinking. WOLENCZAK (miffed that anybody could be thinking such a thing) Yes, that means double shifts. No, they're not going to like it. And no, I don't care if they like it or not. (beat, getting worked up) I'm not going to have any more people dying because some of them don't like something. (beat, trying to sound more reasonable) Now do you want to turn in revised duty rosters to me, or shall I just have the computer program them randomly? MATTHEWS (trying to buy some time) I think I can have the new rotation worked out by 0800. WOLENCZAK Make it 0700. Can the rest of you live with that? General nods, "uh huh" sounds, etc. WOLENCZAK Fine. I'll be in my office until then. Dismissed. (beat, an afterthought) Oh, and if any of your departments are a slot or two short on the 24-hour rotation, I want to hear about it personally. The officers begin their departure. Matthews stays behind, ostensibly reviewing the roster on the screen, until she and Wolenczak are alone. MATTHEWS Isn't this going to be hard on the crew? WOLENCZAK I hope it's not too hard on them. Because I'm going to be on it myself continuously until every system checks out a hundred and ten percent debugged. (beat) Somebody told me once that I should never make somebody do something I wasn't willing to do myself. (beat, visibly shifting gears) Have we recovered the launch yet? MATTHEWS (shaking her head) No, Sir. It's lodged pretty tightly in the reef; there's some really weird formations there. The divers are still working on it, but it's slow going. WOLENCZAK (emphatically) We'll leave it until we get this boat debugged. Still skeptical, Matthews nods, then follows Wolenczak from the room. CUT TO CREW'S MESS The tray contents suggest the dinner hour; the size and demeanor of the gathered crew suggests overwork and fatigue. Morgan is alone at the usual table, looking tired enough to do a faceplant into her peas. Trueman walks over with a tray, yawns, and then joins Morgan. She eats quickly during their conversation. TRUEMAN Nice of them to give us twenty-minute meal breaks during this drill. (beat, rubbing her eyes) I'm _really_ looking forward to going up to the Bridge in an hour and doing my _real_ job after this. MORGAN (aghast) You've got a regular shift scheduled right _after_ a whole round of diagnostics? TRUEMAN (grumpy) Just today. The luck of the draw for the first day. (beat, mock enthusiastically) But in _three_ days I get sixteen straight hours off all to myself! MORGAN (still surprised) They ran the rotations out three days? TRUEMAN (shaking her head) _Five._ (beat, resigned) I don't know what we're supposed to be finding here, but I don't think anyone is expecting us to succeed at finding it. MORGAN (wearily) And _I_ don't know if this will be any consolation or not, but at least you have a department to work _with_ on this. I'm the only one who knows what to look for in all the science computers and systems, so I almost feel like I need to work around the clock to get it all done. Trueman realizes she _could_ have it worse. TRUEMAN (sympathetically) Can't _anyone_ help you out? MORGAN The only other people on board who come close to understanding my equipment are Jack... (beat, visibily shuddering) ...And the captain. (beat, sadder) And Evans, a little. He liked to come in and help me when he was off-duty. Trueman doesn't look any more pleased at the mention of Wolenczak than she does at the sound of Curcio's name...er, nickname, and violently spears a piece of food on her tray. TRUEMAN (sarcastically) Captain Outrageous, if you ask me. I mean, what are we really accomplishing here? Just because we missed one little thing, he's gone off the deep end about this. MORGAN (trying to explain) That "one little thing" may have cost Evans his life. And the next "little thing" could be just as dangerous. It may be our own lives this routine is saving. TRUEMAN (somewhat cheered up) You may be right. I never doubted his _heart_ is in the right place. (beat, starting to grumble again) Not like that other idiot you mentioned. MORGAN (getting a little grumpy herself at the mere thought) Him. (beat) He's definitely being _his_ usual smiling self about this procedure. He's been running his staff like a drill sergeant and I keep hearing him boasting of his own abilities to go long hours. But guess who was on the vidlink to UEO HQ first thing this morning to complain about it? TRUEMAN That's our Jack. (beat, a bit surprised at his audacity) He made that call right in front of you? MORGAN No, he had his hatch closed. But all that does is keep the decibel level down. Trueman finishes her hurried meal and the two exit together. CUT TO MAINTENANCE DUCT Wolenczak, true to his word, is crammed inside with a diagnostic gizmo in one hand and a PAL at his side. It chirps. WOLENCZAK (testily) What is it now? Trueman's voice shows she's not exactly feeling like Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm herself. TRUEMAN (over com) Sorry to disturb you, Sir, but you've got an incoming transmission from the Secretary General. WOLENCZAK (with resignation in his voice) Put the audio down here, Ensign, I'm busy. CUT TO BRIDGE Trueman's face shows she is flustered by this short response, but it's an order, so she complies. CUT TO HITCHCOCK'S OFFICE Our focus is on the vidlink screen, which shows only a logo, as Wolenczak's voice is heard. WOLENCZAK (over com, plainly bothered by the intrusion) Yeah, what now, Katie? I'm up to my ears in circuitry here. We swing over to Hitchcock's face: one of shock and reserved anger. HITCHCOCK _Captain_ Wolenczak, you had better have an explanation for this serious breach of protocol... (beat, getting angrier as the second thought occurs to her) ...Not to mention breach of security. I can't even tell where you are. WOLENCZAK (over com) Don't worry. I'm alone. (beat) I've been here all day and I'm not coming out 'til I'm done. Not even for you, Katie. CUT TO MAINTENANCE DUCT As we now focus in on Wolenczak in his close surroundings. Throughout the conversation, he works without pause. WOLENCZAK (continuing) ...Just me, my toys, and Hunter's bugs. I'm going to find them, Katie. I've got to. HITCHCOCK (over com, taking it down a notch) That was one of the things I wanted to tell you about, Lucas. Intelligence has a confirmed copy of the subroutine. We were able to restore an exact copy from files Hunter deleted from the system under his own ID code. WOLENCZAK (somewhat encouraged) You mean the virus on the Marauder? HITCHCOCK (over com, with a hint of victory) One and the same. It'll be hard to explain on the evening news, but we have him. The next line suggests Wolenczak is still seeing the glass as half empty. WOLENCZAK I'm sure that will make things easier for you diplomats, Katie, but it's not giving me much help debugging the damn boat. CUT TO HITCHCOCK'S OFFICE All is as before. We see Hitchcock take a brief swallow before leading into the other reason for her call. HITCHCOCK And that, Captain, was the other reason for my call. My staff has been receiving reports from members of your crew... (beat, this next causes her personal discomfort) ...And Robinson's fit to be tied. He was called personally by a particularly vitriolic member of your senior staff. WOLENCZAK (over com, not yet "getting it") About? HITCHCOCK About you assigning a hundred and fifty people to do the work of three hundred. About having them repeat work that has already been done by trained experts. (beat, driving it home) About being asked to find the unfindable for the sake of your own obsession. CUT TO MAINTENANCE DUCT All is as before--except Wolenczak. He now seems visibly upset about the accusation he has just heard. Camera is tight on him. WOLENCZAK Well, that's just tough if they have to endure all that, isn't it? You didn't care when the complaint was about Morgan. You didn't care when the complaint was about Curcio. So why should you care when it's about me? Wolenczak's tone changes to the mockingly sarcastic voice is that of a man with nothing left to lose. He still doesn't cease working, but the way he applies his tools suggests he's thinking of causing a little grievous bodily harm to someone. WOLENCZAK (continues) "Give him time, Lucas, he's a good doctor. Give her time, Lucas, she's a good officer." (beat, the sarcasm is replaced with resignation) Dammit, Katie, where's that devil's advocate now that _I_ need a good word? HITCHCOCK (over com, sounding tightly restrained) Lucas Wolenczak, I should hang up this line and order your XO to throw you in the brig for that remark... (beat, a brief burst at her angriest) ...For this entire conversation! (beat, stiffly) But I have been too indebted to you and too dependent on your skills. Those debts, however, will be considered paid in full if you _ever_ subject me to this sort of insubordination again. (beat) I _hope_ I have made myself clear. WOLENCZAK And you know where I stand, Katie... (beat, pulling back to reveal the circuitry around him) ...I'm all by myself in a maintenance duct trying to save lives. Please don't try to stop me, and don't bother cutting me any breaks on my report card. He reaches down to his PAL, cuts the link, and resumes his diagnostic work. CUT TO HITCHCOCK'S OFFICE Hitchcock's face shows stunned silence. CUT TO BRIDGE Matthews is in command. Percell's station springs to life, and seconds later, so does Percell. PERCELL Sir, I'm picking up motion and radiation activity in the vicinity of the wreckage of Evans's launch. MATTHEWS Is the launch itself moving? (beat, suspicion immediately arises) Or is it _being_ moved? PERCELL (checking displays) Neither. I'm showing the launch in position, but something is approaching it. (beat, with resolve) That's not a fish moving out there at forty knots. Matthews begins the process of assuming the worst. MATTHEWS (to Trueman) Ensign, sound yellow alert and summon the captain to the Bridge. Trueman's compliance with her orders is heard in the background. MATTHEWS (to the group at large) Theories, anyone? PERCELL Well, Sir, if I were a Carolinan and I'd destroyed that launch, I'd try to destroy all evidence of what happened to it before the UEO could get to it and try to prove the cause. TRUEMAN (running with the idea) But even if the Carolinans weren't directly responsible, there'd still be a motive just to make it impossible to prove their people were involved one way or the other. MATTHEWS Either way, there's quite possibly an enemy ship out there... (beat) ...Intentions and capabilities unknown. (beat, to Reede) We _are_ still in neutral water, aren't we? REEDE (off console) Yes, Sir. Matthews turns to Trueman. TRUEMAN (anticipating the question) Still no response from the captain. I transferred a call to his PAL within the hour, and that was... (beat, checking) ...In Engineering. And that PAL is now turned off. MATTHEWS I'd better make sure nothing has happened. Percell, send out a WSKR, try to get us some kind of close-up look. I know the magnetic problems in the area make it hard, but _try_. (beat) Riller, you have the conn. You are to maintain the status quo if at all possible, but I cannot give you orders on my own authority to start a shooting war. Is that clear? RILLER Perfectly. Matthews briskly leaves the Bridge. CUT TO ENGINEERING, OUTSIDE MAINTENANCE DUCT Several Engineering personnel have gathered. The muted voice we next hear is Wolenczak's, still inside the duct. WOLENCZAK (yelling, close to raving) _NO_!!! Matthews enters. MATTHEWS Is he all right? ENSIGN He's alive... (beat, choosing her words carefully) ...And definitely, um, responsive. He says he's working in there and he's not coming out. (beat, a bit of fear) And he doesn't want to talk about it. Matthews subtracts one from one and reacts immediately, addressing the ensign she was just speaking with. MATTHEWS Get Doctor Curcio down here. Tell him it's a medical emergency. The ensign heads for a communications panel as Matthews turns to the outside of the duct. MATTHEWS Captain, I know this work is important, but we are about to sound general quarters and you are _needed_ on the Bridge. CUT TO INTERIOR MAINTENANCE DUCT Wolenczak appears wild-eyed, sleep-deprived and totally unresponsive to the tack Matthews has taken. His voice suggests despair. WOLENCZAK What do you want me to do? Send out another Marauder and have _that_ crash? (beat, Wolenczak is on a direct heading for Scylla and Charybdis) Or order this boat in there and risk a hundred and fifty lives? MATTHEWS (O.S., muted through the tube) Sir, we _need_ your skills on the Bridge. We _trust_ your judgment. But Wolenczak is past the point of buying any of it. WOLENCZAK Look, I'm busy, and you're in command. Let this one be on _your_ head. (beat) I've already got plenty on mine. A mild tremor shakes Wolenczak briefly. CUT TO EXTERIOR, REEF--CGI A Carolinan "Marauder" equivalent is seen firing into the wreckage of the UEO launch. CUT TO BRIDGE Riller, in the command chair, is looking, wide-eyed at a WSKR view of the launch's wreckage. The view is still distorted from the magnetic variances in the area. RILLER What was _that_, Chief? PERCELL Massive energy bursts in the vicinity of the shuttle. My best guess is a full torpedo volley. RILLER Against the launch? Or something else? PERCELL It must have been the launch, Sir. Sensors show the same wreckage there was before, only far more dispersal. And only one energy reading moving away. The picture on the main viewscreen jumps and changes to static. RILLER Dammit, Percell, can't you get us a decent picture? PERCELL (hotly) I'm trying. Sir. But there's so much interference in this area... (beat, typing rapidly) There. That should do it. The viewscreen jumps again to a clear view of the Carolinan fighter making haste away from the crash site. Now that their suspicions are confirmed, Riller jumps to action. RILLER Intercept course. Ready all weapons. But nothing fires except on... (beat, as he is about to say "my orders") ...Direct orders. Riller walks over to Trueman's station and confides in her. RILLER Well, this is great. I'm in command and am under direct orders not to do anything. Can you try again to get the captain to the Bridge? Or at least _somebody_ to the Bridge who can do the right thing? CUT TO EXTERIOR MAINTENANCE DUCT Matthews is talking on her PAL, in something of a bind herself. _She_ has authority (and inclination) to start a shooting war over this, but she also has another job to do here. Curcio arrives carrying full emergency medical treatment regalia, but is greeted with a stern "what took _you_ so long?" look from Matthews. MATTHEWS (into PAL) Okay, Trueman, thanks. I'm keeping this channel open; I need you to record everything that goes on here. TRUEMAN (over PAL) Acknowledged. MATTHEWS (to Curcio, acknowledging his presence) Doctor. CURCIO (not the least bit apologetic or defensive) I got here as soon as I could prepare. Now where is the patient? Matthews grimaces at the misunderstanding that caused even a minor delay in Curcio's arrival. MATTHEWS He's in there, Doctor. And you won't be needing any of that unless he comes out fighting. CURCIO (indignant) You...summoned...me...to supervise a security detail? How dare you... Matthews meets him full force. MATTHEWS Damn you, Doctor, I need your authorization to relieve the captain of duty because of his psychological condition so I can take full command of this vessel! With this explanation, Curcio's demeanor changes ever-so-slightly from jackass to "day job." CURCIO (by rote) Captain Wolenczak, do you have anything to say to the allegation as to your fitness for duty? (beat, as close to a nanosecond as he can manage) Very well. Note the time of my report as 2349. Captain Wolenczak, you are relieved until further notice. MATTHEWS (also by the book, but more somber) Assuming command of the _seaQuest_ 4600_III as of 2349 hours. (beat, directly into PAL) Sound general quarters, and ready a Marauder. (beat, almost an afterthought) Not mine. I'll be on the Bridge in under a minute. CUT TO COMMERCIAL END ACT THREE =========================== PART 4 ===================================== ACT FOUR OPEN ON WARDROOM/PASSAGEWAY A wide-angle shot to show it cavernous and almost empty except for Curcio and Wolenczak. We pull back through the hatch just as Curcio pulls it closed from the inside. This act reveals a handwritten sign on the outside of the hatch: "Medical Emergency--do not enter." CUT TO INTERIOR WARDROOM We pan from Curcio, who is reading from a SEAPOC containing the captain's "chart," to Wolenczak, whose face shows sullenness and resignation. After several seconds, the doctor starts in with a voice steeped in sarcasm. CURCIO Well, first of all, Sir, I think we're going to need to work on this thing you have for going after secretaries general. Wolenczak looks first stunned, then angered, that Curcio has found out about this age-old incident and is now throwing it back at him. CURCIO (continues) You may not have been found with a weapon this time, but Hitchcock is about ready to put you in leg irons anyway. Wolenczak's first reaction is one of defensiveness. WOLENCZAK Those accusations about a weapon were a bunch of crap. Captain Hudson admitted it to me not long after it happened. I was just trying to-- CURCIO (cutting him off) Make a complete fool of yourself in front of the UEO assembly? (beat, looking down again at his "notes") I'd say you succeeded about as well as any fool ever did. (a pointed and unkind beat) Until now. Wolenczak doesn't respond verbally, just stares Curcio down and starts to get up. Curcio reacts quickly and curtly. CURCIO Sit back down, Captain. You have been relieved of command and duty and you're not going anywhere until your attending physician says so. Off the Captain's continued indignant stare, we... CUT TO BRIDGE In the middle of battle. Matthews is in command; all others are at their usual stations. MATTHEWS (to Trueman) Has he reported in yet? TRUEMAN Negative. Wait... (beat, feverishly working the controls) ...I've got him. CUT TO EXTERIOR MARAUDER--CGI The Marauder is in hot pursuit of the Carolinan invader. CUT TO INTERIOR MARAUDER Reede, piloting the Marauder, is just as feverish in sighting and locking weapons in on his target. REEDE (into headset) Carolinan craft, you have been deploying weapons of war in neutral waters. Either stand down or prepare to be fired upon. We follow Reede's expression, which shows relief as he redirects his communication. REEDE (into headset) _seaQuest_, the target is complying with our directives. (beat, another adjustment) Carolinan craft, I will escort you to _seaQuest_ for... Reede's cockpit jolts violently. CUT TO EXTERIOR MARAUDER--CGI An explosion rocks the Carolinan ship and large pieces of its wreckage splay in all directions. CUT TO INTERIOR MARAUDER Reede's face is in an expression of shock that his adversary would kamikaze over this relatively minor incident. REEDE (stunned) I can't believe it. Why would that pilot... (beat, some relief comes into his voice) _seaQuest_! I'm picking up an escape pod. MATTHEWS (over com) Grapnel it in. Nice work. Reede completes the job, then wipes his brow as we... CUT TO WARDROOM A pretty rough ping pong match has clearly been going on while we were out. The setting seems more kindergarten playground then medical bay. CURCIO Dammit, Captain, I cannot help a patient who doesn't want my help. WOLENCZAK (sarcastically) I'm not your patient, _Doctor_. In case you haven't noticed, people on this crew have been setting their own broken limbs rather than coming into that chamber of horrors you call a MedBay. CURCIO (aggressively) Do _not_ change the subject on me. Your mind is _mine_ until I say it's fit to leave this room. WOLENCZAK (sneering) Take a number. I've had so many people inside my head the past few weeks I've lost count. (beat, going for the jugular) And whatever you think of the Talents, they're a lot more faithful to their oaths than you are to yours. At this remark, Curcio rises and leaves the Wardroom in disgust, but not without a parting shot. CURCIO Fine. Take your time. This boat seems to be running fine without you. He exits, leaving the captain, for now, to contemplate the four walls. CUT TO DOCKING BAY Matthews and Riller are waiting when Reede and some security officers bring in the "prisoner." Percell is also present, with more than a little passing curiosity about the capture of a Carolinan. The Carolinan pilot's name patch says "McCarthy"; his rank patch is that of a warrant officer. He is young, with no more peachfuzz on his chin than Evans had, and scared stiff under a thin demeanor of game-face. Riller approaches him to begin what is not likely to be a pleasant exchange. RILLER You're aboard the UEO _seaQuest_, as I'm sure you know. I'm the Chief of Security, Lieutenant j.g. Justin Riller, and I'll be supervising your, um... (beat, trying not to play the heavy just yet) ...Accommodations while onboard. There are just a few preliminary-- McCarthy knows what's coming, and knows the drill in response. MCCARTHY McCarthy, Robert Andrew. Warrant Officer, Carolinan Confederation Navy. I hereby demand treatment as a political prisoner in accordance with-- Riller is a bit thrown off by this early resort to positioning. RILLER (trying to be reassuring) Mister McCarthy, I assure you we will provide you with every lawful entitlement. We're not here to interrogate you against your will, but we'll need some help to get you where you're supposed to be. McCarthy remains adamant. MCCARTHY And I am not telling you any more than I already have. Percell now steps forward and gestures toward Riller and Matthews that she'd like to speak privately with them. Camera shot is close-in. PERCELL Sir, would you mind if I try talking with him? Riller looks at her oddly, but Matthews "gets it" at once. MATTHEWS Worth a try, Chief. (beat, to Riller) You were doing fine, but I think Percell may have some cards that you and I don't. Percell approaches McCarthy. PERCELL (casually) Robert, is it? McCarthy nods, somewhat confused, but already letting his guard down a little. PERCELL (continuing) I'm Sara Percell. (beat, and McCarthy "gets it" during her next sentence) I was with Jason Hunter when he defected. So I know what you're going through. Believe me, when you get sent home, I want you to be able to tell him--_and_ President Ross--that we treat our guests better than they treated me. The kid relaxes somewhat. MCCARTHY (earnestly) I've heard of you, Ma'am, but I don't know anything else about what... PERCELL (easily) That's all right. I'm just trying to help find out what happened so we can all go home. Do you think you're up to talking with me about it? McCarthy seems more at ease; Matthews nods toward Percell as if to say it's worth a shot, and Percell and some security personnel escort McCarthy to a room for questioning. CUT TO PASSAGEWAY OUTSIDE WARDROOM The sign is still on the hatch, but by all indications the room is empty. Trueman is trying the handle, which is still locked, when Riller enters camera view. TRUEMAN What's going on here, Justin? Quarantine? RILLER (disgusted) Hardly. Doctor Jack-yll needed a bigger la-bor-a-tory for his experiments on the captain, so he commandeered the Wardroom. TRUEMAN (stating the obvious) But they're not in there. RILLER (shrugging) I don't think they're planning on coming back, either. I just got finished escorting the captain back to his quarters. I don't know who's madder at who. TRUEMAN (disgusted) So he just left the area restricted. A hundred and fifty people have to make do because he _might_ need it later. RILLER (mock vacantly) What's your point? Trueman gives him a good-natured grimace--and a not-so-good-natured shot to the right upper arm. CUT TO HITCHCOCK'S OFFICE We see a vidlink screen with just a logo on it, and hear a testy voice. HITCHCOCK (V.O.) Put him on. A besieged looking Wolenczak, alone in his quarters, is staring into the vidlink facing her. His face still shows the sullenness and nonresponsivness that have marked his recent life and times. HITCHCOCK (edgily) Captain. No response. So Hitchcock gives _him_ one. HITCHCOCK _Miss_ter Wolenczak. You are being addressed by a superior. At this, the captain snaps out of it. Somewhat. WOLENCZAK (over link, dully) Look, I'm sorry. About this. About everything. I don't know-- HITCHCOCK (still angry and cutting him off) I don't want to hear about what you don't know. Let me tell you what _I_ know. I know you put the lives of your crew members in serious jeopardy because you were having a hissyfit. I know you refused treatment from the most competent physician under your command-- At this last remark, Wolenczak's own feistiness returns. WOLENCZAK (over link, sarcastically) That idiot you stuck me with? He wasn't treating me, he was getting even with me for all-- Hitchcock doesn't want to hear about this now. None of it. HITCHCOCK That will be quite enough of that, _Captain._ I will deal with other people's problems in my own time. Right now the biggest problem I have is _you_. (beat, mulling over the cards in her hand) On second thought, maybe I don't have a problem. If you don't want to come out of this funk you've gotten yourself into, I may just give the command to your XO permanently. CUT TO WOLENCZAK'S QUARTERS The captain's eyes widen. He was expecting threats, but not this one. WOLENCZAK (shaking his head in disbelief) Matthews? She's not ready for permanent command. HITCHCOCK (over link, matter-of-factly) Oh, really? She did a pretty good job on her own handling that hostage situation with you and the Ortiz twins. (beat, letting the first barb sink in) And you're damn lucky she got you out of this last incident with the Carolinans. WOLENCZAK (getting angry again) You can't measure a commander's fitness based on a couple of incidents! CUT TO HITCHCOCK'S OFFICE Hitchcock relaxes the tension a bit. She's been waiting for an opening like this. HITCHCOCK Exactly, Lucas. That's why you aren't on a launch back here for formal psychiatric evaluation. I know you well enough not to judge _you_ too harshly based on a couple of incidents, either. (beat, firming up her tone) It is completely within your power to resume your command--the command that you are _still_ absolutely the best person for. But you can't do it alone, Lucas. (beat) Not only _should_ you talk to Curcio, I am ordering you to. WOLENCZAK (over link) Katie, I don't know if I can take any more of that man's-- Hitchcock starts to lose some of her recently regained patience. HITCHCOCK I _told_ you I will deal with other people's problems, Lucas. Believe me, "that man" is high on the list. I just need you to try to talk things out with him. I think you really have to for the sake of your own health. (beat) If you don't, I _will_ reassign this command, and I'm going to start making the calls in the morning if I don't get a report of some progress from Doctor Curcio by then. Wolenczak still sounds resigned, but not without hope. WOLENCZAK (over link) Fine. I'll give it a try. Hitchcock nods approvingly as we... CUT TO MEDBAY Curcio, too, is being berated via vidlink. On the screen before him is an unhappy-looking Doctor Burke. BURKE (hotly) I called Matthews with a simple question and found out that instead of treating the captain, you're throwing every mistake he's made in the past fifteen years at him. CURCIO (coolly) How I approach my treatment of a patient is none of your concern, Doctor. You may have served on this boat, but _I'm_ here now. BURKE (agitated) Laura Taylor's a trained psychiatrist. Why not let her handle this? CURCIO (affronted) Doctor Taylor is a junior physician on this staff. As CMO, it is my _responsibility_ to care for the ship's commanding officer. (beat, sarcastically) Whether you approve or not. BURKE (attempting patience) I'm not trying to tell you how to run your department or treat a patient, but if the captain of the UEO flagship winds up in a rubber room because of you, you are finished. (beat, losing it) So get down off your high horse and _treat_ him, dammit. Talk to him. Care about him. He'll respond. (beat) Even to you. Curcio's response to Burke's tirade is subtle--his eyes widen a bit, but no further expression crosses his face. CURCIO I'll take that under advisement, Doctor. Goodbye. And he cuts the link. CUT TO WOLENCZAK'S OFFICE Matthews is finishing a vidlink discussion with Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Wallace Robinson. Her manner is very much all business. MATTHEWS ...Yes, Sir, I understand how important it is to get them to talk to each other. I'll talk to the captain myself, if you think it'll help. (beat) Whether Curcio likes it or not. ROBINSON (over link) That's all we ask, Commander. (shifting gears) Now then, what has Chief Percell been able to find out from your... guest. MATTHEWS (reporting) He says the Confederation just wanted to know for sure whether that shuttle's demise was caused by Hunter's treachery or not. (beat) McCarthy volunteered for the mission because he _had_ to know; he was in training with Evans before politics and geography put them on opposite sides. All he says he was there to do was to investigate and, if possible, bring the shuttle back for analysis. But the shuttle was lodged in the reef, so he was told to destroy it, and if necessary his own ship, to escape detection. (beat) Percell believes him. ROBINSON (over link, nodding) I think this will help the situation. That and those lab results on Evans that ought to be back any time now. (beat) And next time, Commander, you are to _tell_ me, no matter what your concerns are. Is that understood? MATTHEWS (nodding) Yes, Sir. As she cuts the link, we... CUT TO ROSS'S OFFICE Ross sits at her desk and angrily punches the button to activate her vidlink screen. Hitchcock's face comes on, remnants of recently eaten canary surrounding her lips. HITCHCOCK (getting straight to it) Madame President, I regret to inform you that one of your boats was found off-course and self-destructed in the Bermuda Neutral Zone. Fortunately, the quick thinking of one of _seaQuest_'s pilots resulted in the safe rescue of one of your citizens. (beat, smiling coolly) Now Matson has his follow-up story for sure. Ross swallows hard. ROSS Cut to the chase, Madame Secretary. (beat) What'll it take to keep this just between us? HITCHCOCK (easily) Not much. Just a simple entree of Hunter a la Silver Platter. ROSS (surprised) Exchange him? Never. HITCHCOCK ("gotcha") Oh, but you misunderstand. I don't want him in the flesh--just his complete cooperation in debugging every last trace of his sabotage of our systems. (beat) We will deliver Mister McCarthy to your waters--in an _escorted_ launch--the minute the last of Hunter's fixes is checked out. (beat) I'll let you think it over. Before Ross is able to respond, Hitchcock cuts the link. CUT TO CREW'S MESS Trueman and Riller are finishing their dinner. Trueman pushes her plate toward the middle of the table and stretches. TRUEMAN So the captain's confined to quarters, Percell's chatting up the Carrot prisoner, Matthews is playing captain...this boat gets crazier every day. RILLER (nodding) Makes you wonder what'll happen next, doesn't it? TRUEMAN (sighing) I've never routed so many vidlink transmissions in one hour before. It's got to be some kind of a record. (beat, checking her watch) And I'm due back on duty for my second shift in an hour. (beat) I just hope this is all over by the time we hit Annapolis. I _need_ to get off this boat! RILLER (glumly) If it doesn't end soon, Evans'll be the only one going ashore in Annapolis. Trueman looks at him, not sure whether he's making a joke of a serious situation. She decides to give Riller the benefit of the doubt, and nods her head in agreement. CUT TO WOLENCZAK'S QUARTERS Wolenczak is lying on the bed, staring morosely at the ceiling. There is a knock at the hatch, and without pause Curcio comes in, the chip on his shoulder reduced noticeably. In fact, this is the least abrasive the good doctor has ever been. He stands before Wolenczak. CURCIO Captain, I, ah... (beat, trying again) I appear to have been... Wolenczak sits up, deciding to make Curcio's plight a little easier. WOLENCZAK Doctor, I'm sorry I've been so obstructive. I know you're doing your best. (beat) It's just all the stress of the past few months...losing Hunter, Percell's imprisonment. (beat) Thinking about that last mission with Hudson. (beat, difficultly) And now a loss of life. Curcio is refreshingly matter-of-fact if still unsympathetic. CURCIO We've been fighting wars for thousands of years, Captain. The _idea_ is for men to die. WOLENCZAK (correcting him) It's not just men, any more, Doctor. CURCIO (unfazed) Okay, _people_ have been killed by accident, killed after the battle was over, even killed sometimes by their own side. They taught us in command school that doctors can't change that. And neither can you. (beat) The reason you're a commander in this man's Navy is that you _are_ a good officer and you have good judgment. (beat) But you can't command others if you don't even have command of yourself. Wolenczak nods slowly. CURCIO (continuing) We need to talk about this further, Captain. WOLENCZAK (subdued, but making the effort to be cooperative) Okay. Curcio pulls up the desk chair, activates his SEAPOC, and begins as we... CUT TO ROSS'S OFFICE Hunter is seated at Ross's desk. The camera is tight on him, we see his face over the top of the console. It is not a very happy face. HUNTER Yes, that's all of it. VOICE (from vidlink) Thank you, Mister Hunter. Out. ROSS (V.O.) Well..._is_ that all of it? The camera pulls back to show Ross looking over Hunter's shoulder. HUNTER I can't be a hundred percent sure. (beat, explaining) Some of it I just made up as I went. But between what they'd already found and what I just gave them, that's all I can think of. ROSS (controlled, just shy of threatening) Think hard. Because I've given the UEO my word on this, and this time they can make it stick. (beat, harder) If an executive shuttle crashes--hell, if a dishwasher goes offline in the galley--and your fingerprints are on it, I will hand you over in a heartbeat. (beat, driving it home) The only question is whether you'll be in a shuttle or a pine box. Hunter exits, tail between legs, to think hard. FADE TO COMMERCIAL END ACT FOUR =========================== PART 5 ===================================== ACT FIVE OPEN ON WOLENCZAK'S OFFICE Matthews is seated at the captain's desk, reviewing reports--the one on top is in checklist format with technical detail suggesting it concerns onboard repairs. She buzzes Trueman. MATTHEWS (into com) I've just gone through the last of the diagnostic reports. It looks like Hunter's list has been all checked out and the repairs made. Trueman's voice in response reflects great relief. TRUEMAN (over com) That's great news. I'm sure everyone will be glad to hear it. MATTHEWS Go to it, Ensign. Put out the word that everyone can stand down from the double shifts. (beat) And the leave assignments for Annapolis will be up in about half an hour. A muted echo of Trueman's voice is heard over the shipwide com as Matthews straightens out the reports. Moments later, remote cheers are heard from crew members. Matthews smiles, but is quickly interrupted by a knock at the hatch. MATTHEWS Come in. It's Wolenczak. He appears in better spirits than we've seen him since Evans's death. Matthews jumps to attention, but Wolenczak waves her down. Matthews seems relieved at his improvement, but her next line still reflects some caution. MATTHEWS Are you...okay, Sir? WOLENCZAK (with a hint of a smile) You mean am I allowed out? (beat, reassuring her) Yes. The doctor thinks we've made enough progress to give me free run of the boat. (beat) But don't clear your things off the desk just yet--it may be a while before I'm back on duty. Matthews smiles, but there's still concern in her face and voice. MATTHEWS Would it help to talk about it? Wolenczak's gaze drifts off for the next line. WOLENCZAK "Who you are, and what you are, and where you are, make you a very smart observer. I just don't know if you're lonely." Wolenczak snaps out of it, but is met with a puzzled gaze from his XO. MATTHEWS Sir? WOLENCZAK Sorry. Just thinking about something Captain Bridger said when I was 16. (beat, nostalgically) Even then he was worried about the dangers of my being separated from the crew because I was different. I guess in many ways I still am. MATTHEWS (making sure she understands) Different? WOLENCZAK (confirming) Different. (beat, somewhat distantly) And lonely. MATTHEWS I'm not sure I completely understand, Captain, but I think it's good you're facing it. Wolenczak smiles. WOLENCZAK It's nothing I'm ashamed of. (beat) I mean, think about it. What if you woke up this morning and realized yesterday was 2038? Yesterday _you_ were 16, maybe 17 years old. How many of the people you love have aged since yesterday? Died since yesterday? Has the world changed much since Bourne and Deon were terrorizing it last night? MATTHEWS (nodding) I think I'm seeing the picture better. But I wouldn't be a good officer, or a good friend, if I tried to work you through these problems myself. (beat) I think you need to stay on the track you're on for that. WOLENCZAK I wouldn't expect that kind of help from a lay person. But thanks for talking about-- The conversation is interrupted by a beep from the com unit. It's Trueman. TRUEMAN (over com) UEO Medical just sent over the final lab reports on Evans's death. I'm forwarding them to you now. (beat, hesitant) Should I alert the captain? MATTHEWS No need, he's right here. Thanks, Trueman. Matthews turns off the com, hits a few keys on her console, and begins to read. MATTHEWS (off console, not quite comprehending) Primary cause of death was a brain aneurysm. She pronounces it "ay-nooer-ism," suggesting unfamiliarity. Wolenczak picks up both the term and his spirits. WOLENCZAK "Ann-your-ism." The pedantry quickly changes to pensiveness. WOLENCZAK (continues) Hmmmmm. (beat) It's basically an undetectable cerebral time bomb waiting to go off. MATTHEWS (nodding as she reads on) That's consistent with the report; it says when this thing "went off," he must have lost consciousness and control of the launch instantly. Matthews hits home with it. MATTHEWS I couldn't have saved him, Captain. Nothing could have. Wolenczak takes this in for a moment, obviously comforted by it. But there's one question left... WOLENCZAK Have we found out what that energy reading was? The one we sent Evans out to investigate? Matthews picks up a SEAPOC and reads from it. MATTHEWS You know we were having a helluva time getting the launch out of the reef. (beat) Turns out this is one of those artificial reefs created back in the '90s when the military dumped a bunch of junk in the water. Morgan says the natural flora and fauna of the ocean have completely concealed the fact that this reef's made of an old destroyer. Knowing that, the source was easy to find. (beat) Those ships used old close-in weapons systems that fired spent uranium shells. Apparently, they must have left a quantity of the casings inside her when they scuttled her. Wolenczak mulls this over, too, as we... CUT TO EXTERIOR _SEAQUEST_--CGI The boat is approaching its berth in Annapolis. CUT TO DOCKING BAY Matthews, Percell and Reede are standing in a group. Standing apart from them is Wolenczak. Morgan is in a corner, checking readings on a piece of equipment. Riller enters with McCarthy, flanked by two security personnel. MATTHEWS Percell, you'll pilot the launch. Reede and Riller will be escorting you in Marauders. Riller and Percell nod in acknowledgment, as Wolenczak approaches the group. He offers a hand to McCarthy; they shake. WOLENCZAK I'm Captain Wolenczak. I'm sorry I haven't been able to speak with you earlier. MCCARTHY (a bit awed) It's a pleasure to meet you, Sir. WOLENCZAK I understand you knew Evans. (beat) And that you were just trying to help learn the truth. MCCARTHY (nonplused) Sir, I, uh... WOLENCZAK (reassuring) You'll make a fine officer for your fleet. I hope the Confederation has more like you. (beat, grinning) Just not _too_ many. (beat, more serious now) If someday circumstances permit it and you ever speak to his family, tell them that he was a fine seaman... (beat) ...And that he died in the line of duty and with no pain. Observing, Morgan seems touched by what the captain has said, although she doesn't leave her corner. Wolenczak leaves. PERCELL (to McCarthy) I suppose you'll be glad to get home. MCCARTHY Yes, Ma'am, I will. (beat) And thanks for being so good to me. The security detail departs, leaving Morgan looking on. CUT TO MEDBAY Curcio is working at his computer console when Morgan enters the room. She looks very unsure of herself, but determined. Either Curcio doesn't notice her presence, or he doesn't care. MORGAN Doctor? CURCIO (gruffly) What is it, Ensign? I'm very busy. MORGAN (hesitantly) I, um, just wanted to tell you how impressed I am with the way you've been working with the captain. We'd hate to lose him, so we all really appreciate-- Curcio finally looks up from his console. It would have been better for Morgan if he hadn't; the look he gives her is the same kind people give to many-legged crawly things, right before stepping on them. CURCIO (very coldly) My work with the captain does _not_ concern you, Ensign. Or anyone else on this boat. I'd thank you to keep your opinions on that subject to yourself. (beat) You'd do better to worry about your own problems--like how to raise a child long-distance. (beat) Now, if you'd please leave, I have a lot of work to do. Without sparing Morgan another thought, he goes back to his work. Morgan is completely crushed by his rejection of her overture of friendship, and turns for the safety of her lab. CUT TO SCIENCE LAB Morgan enters hastily, shaking and beginning to cry, and starts typing at her computer. CUT TO WOLENCZAK'S QUARTERS The lights are down, but not out; it's late. Wolenczak, wearing civvies, is looking over mementos of his time in the UEO, smiling wanly. There is a knock at the hatch. WOLENCZAK Yes, come in. Matthews enters the room, looking grave. MATTHEWS We're docked at Annapolis and I've set up rotations for the crew to go ashore, Sir. WOLENCZAK Good work. You've handled...everything...very well, Matthews. (beat) So what's got you so worried? She hands Wolenczak a piece of paper. MATTHEWS This. I don't know how to handle this one, Sir. Without another word, Matthews leaves. Off the paper in Wolenczak's hand, we... CUT TO WOLENCZAK'S OFFICE Matthews is seated at the desk, working on duty reports. The hatch is flung open and Wolenczak enters. WOLENCZAK Where is Morgan now? Matthews smiles a bit at his brusqueness, despite the seriousness of Wolenczak's tone. MATTHEWS I let her go ashore in the first group. I thought maybe if she could get off the boat for a while she'd change her mind about wanting to resign her commission. WOLENCZAK (flatly) She's not answering her PAL. She _did_ take it with her, didn't she? MATTHEWS Of course, Sir. (beat, becoming concerned) I hope nothing's wrong...Anne's not the type to do something irrational just because she's upset. WOLENCZAK She _would_ go off by herself to be miserable alone. (beat, decisively) I've got to talk her out of this. Put a tracker on Morgan's PAL and let me know as soon as you have a location. MATTHEWS (worried) What will Doctor Curcio say about you leaving? WOLENCZAK (explosively) To hell with Curcio! He's part of the problem! Off Matthews' concerned look, we... CUT TO APARTMENT We see a studio apartment. Out the window is a view of the lights of the city. The furniture and decor are very modern, with abstract paintings on the wall. Morgan, wearing jeans and a blouse, is lying on the sofa, her hair loose, staring at the ceiling as the interweaving melodies of Bach's "Little Fugue in G Minor" wash over her, broken up by a knock at the door. MORGAN (startled) Who's there? WOLENCZAK (O.S.) Captain Wolenczak. (beat) We need to talk. Morgan gets up, pushes her hair out of her face, turns off the music, and opens the door. Wolenczak enters and looks around. WOLENCZAK (politely) Nice place. I thought you were into Impressionist art, though. MORGAN (explaining) It's my friend Janina's apartment. She's a nutritionist at the Academy. She told me I could crash here any time I'm in town. (beat, fondly) She's out of town, but she hasn't changed the security code on the locks in eons... (beat, back to earth) But that's not what you came here to talk about, is it? Wolenczak shoves her resignation letter at her, but speaks gently. WOLENCZAK What the hell is this all about? Morgan is unable to reply, and he goes on. WOLENCZAK (persuasively) Look, if it's just Curcio, I'll be happy to recommend you for a transfer. (beat) I know how abrasive he is. Don't let him ruin your career. The strain of the past several weeks is finally too much for Morgan. MORGAN (bitterly) My career? (beat) With all due respect, Sir, I don't think I give a damn about my career any more. (beat) It's just another thing I use to hide the fact that I don't know who I am. WOLENCZAK (puzzled) I don't understand... Morgan sits on the sofa and gathers her thoughts, then takes a deep breath and stands and paces, not wanting to look Wolenczak in the eye as she talks. MORGAN Would you believe I've never been on my own before? I went from living with my family, to college. When I was in college, David and I got married. A few weeks after I got my degree, John was born. I went from being a student to being John's mother and David's wife. (beat) Then, after David died, I was an academy cadet. (beat) Now I'm _seaQuest_'s science officer. (beat, painfully) But I haven't a clue who _Anne_ is. I'm just going through my life playing the parts I'm handed, acting happy when inside I'm all alone and I don't know who I am. (beat, laughing, but not happily) You probably think I'm crazy. I should be grateful for a job like this. As Wolenczak speaks he is obviously restless, wandering to the bookcase, then to the window, then back to the bookcase. WOLENCZAK No, I don't think you're crazy. Because I know exactly how you feel. (beat) I had some rough experiences before I went into stasis. Then I woke up to find it was ten years later, the world had changed, and some of my closest friends were dead. (beat) In some ways, the loss of the years was worse than the loss of the lives. Almost everyone I knew before had changed, and I never had the chance to. Almost every one of us who was in stasis has suffered because of it. (beat) There's very few people left who even know me well enough to call me by my first name. (beat) The only thing in my life that has remained constant is _seaQuest_. My dad dumped me on the first _seaQuest_ when I was a kid; he couldn't wait to get away from me... MORGAN (miserably) And I've dumped my son on my parents. (beat, walking over to the window) I can't bear to be away from him, yet here I am. (beat) You probably think I'm pretty terrible, for leaving him like I did. Wolenczak walks over to Morgan at the window and stands beside her. He takes her gently by the shoulders and turns her to look at him. There are tears in Morgan's eyes. WOLENCZAK (softly) No, Anne, I don't think you're terrible. I think you're sacrificing now to make a good life for your son. I wish _my_ mother had been willing to do that for me. Morgan just looks at Wolenczak, mutely, as her tears overflow. Then, hesitantly, he kisses her, briefly. After a few moments of silence, they kiss again, with more intensity, caught up in their mutual need for reassurance. It's Morgan who breaks off, stepping back. MORGAN (uncertainly) I'm sorry, we're both pretty upset. I didn't mean-- WOLENCZAK (gently) If you can look me in the eye and say you don't want this, then I'll leave and we'll forget it ever happened. Morgan turns her back on him, unspeaking, shaking. Wolenczak goes to the door. Before he can turn the handle, Morgan turns and speaks. MORGAN (softly) Captain...Lucas...stay. He turns back to her, turning off the light as he does. CUT TO CAROLINAN INTERROGATION ROOM McCarthy is under the hot lights, being "debriefed." Hunter has a disappointed look on his face. HUNTER That's _it_? Nothing else to report? MCCARTHY Look, Sir, I could do schematics of the sections of the ship I saw, but they didn't look any different from the ones _you_ did before I left. (beat, with an injection of reality) You _were_ on the boat a lot longer than I was. Hunter's next several "stabs" suggest dismay that the "visit" did not produce any decent intelligence or political gains. HUNTER How about new personnel? MCCARTHY I talked to four people. Saw two other security people who mostly grunted. The only name I heard that I didn't recognize was "Curcio," and from what they were saying about him I'm glad I didn't meet him. HUNTER (brushing it off) New doctor. Don't think he'd have anything helpful anyway. (beat) Did they at least torture you a little? MCCARTHY (as close to indignant as possible under the circumstances) I already _told_ you what Percell said. (beat) And I have to admit she was true to her word. Hunter decides enough is enough. HUNTER Very well. Report to medical--you know they have procedures for checking out what you're telling me. MCCARTHY No problem, Sir. The truth's the truth. And McCarthy exits. Off Hunter, with an equivocal look on his face: "Maybe they aren't so bad after all?" CUT TO APARTMENT By the light in the window, we see it's very early morning. Morgan, in T-shirt ("Cats"), shorts, and bare feet, hair down, is in the kitchen end of the apartment, looking in cupboards. By the sounds, a teakettle is very close to boiling. In fact, it begins to whistle shrilly, startling Morgan, who jerks, then rushes to take it off the heat. MORGAN (grumbling) Stupid noisy thing... She pours hot water into a mug, drops in a teabag, and turns back to the cupboard. MORGAN I know there's got to be sugar in here _somewhere_... WOLENCZAK (O.S.) Tell me there's something resembling coffee in there, too. Morgan is startled again and spins around as Wolenczak enters the kitchen, barefoot, his shirt untucked, much like the Lucas Wolenczak of long ago. MORGAN (apologetically) I'm sorry if I woke you; I didn't know the kettle would whistle like that. WOLENCZAK It's okay. I'm a pretty early riser anyway. They stand and look at each other awkwardly for a few moments. Then both speak at the same time. MORGAN Look, about last night-- WOLENCZAK We need to talk-- Both of them stop talking, looking embarrassed. Wolenczak sits down at the table and looks out the window. Finally, he breaks the silence. As he speaks, Morgan makes herself busy taking instant coffee, sugar, creamer, a mug and a spoon from various cupboards and putting them on the table. WOLENCZAK Anne, I want to be sure you know that when I came here last night, I had no intention of...of staying the night. (beat, trying to make sense) But I can't say I'm sorry it happened. (beat, explaining) A little over four years ago, I just completely shut myself off from everyone around me. Wouldn't let myself feel anything, so nothing else could hurt me. And, well, you know what's happened over the past few weeks. I guess you could say I've been finding out how to live again. And last night... (beat, softly) Last night you reminded me what it's like to care about how someone else feels. Morgan finally stops acting busy and stands by the table. MORGAN And you reminded me it's okay to be a whole person--not just a naval officer or a mom, but a woman... (beat, shaking off the slings and arrows that have and may come) ...With all the feelings _and_ responsibilities that come with that. She smiles at Wolenczak with a "hug me, you fool" look about her. MORGAN (continues) And that I'm capable of being a friend. They again embrace, but this time it ends there. WOLENCZAK (stepping back) So this wasn't a mistake. MORGAN (resolutely) No. Uh uh. (beat) I think it made me realize how much we need the people around us. I finally feel like a part of the human race again. WOLENCZAK (sincerely) Be honest with me. If we leave it at that, and if nothing else ever happens, can we work together without problems? Morgan remains steadfast in her resolve. MORGAN I can. Some things I'm not sure about, but some things I am. (beat, a deliberate think-about-it-pause) I am. Wolenczak smiles, then searches for the resignation letter in the living room. He picks it up with a "gotcha!" look of triumph and hands it to her, more gently than the first time. WOLENCZAK So are you suggesting I not bring this back to the boat? Morgan grabs it from him and gleefully shreds it. MORGAN (teasing) This better be the only copy. WOLENCZAK Copy of what? Off their knowing laughter, we.... CUT TO EXTERIOR _SEAQUEST_--CGI WSKRS precede the boat through the water. Caption reads: "Two weeks later." CUT TO PASSAGEWAY OUTSIDE SCIENCE LAB Music, uptempo and very loud, can be heard through the closed hatch of the Science Lab. Wolenczak, walking down the passageway toward us, stops at the hatch and listens for a moment, then knocks. CUT TO SCIENCE LAB Morgan is seated at her computer console, back to the hatch. The music is loud as Benny Goodman's clarinet rises over Gene Krupa's drums in "Sing, Sing, Sing--With a Swing." Morgan is typing, nodding her head to the music. We see the hatch open and Wolenczak enters. He observes for a moment, smiling, then reaches over and turns the music down considerably. Startled, Morgan spins round in her chair to face him. MORGAN (mildly embarrassed) Oh! Captain...I didn't know you were there. WOLENCZAK (easily) Well, I certainly knew you were here. (beat) I could hear the music halfway to Seadeck. MORGAN I'm sorry, Sir. (beat, grinning) I just had to play it loud because I'm in such a good mood. WOLENCZAK What's up? MORGAN (excited) Finally I can tell someone! Curcio wouldn't give a damn, and Trueman or Matthews would just nod politely and say "That's nice," but you'll _understand_. (beat, more excited) Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is publishing my paper on that new bioluminescent seaweed we found up in the Pacific Northwest. Lucas, I'm so _excited_-- WOLENCZAK (breaking in) What was that? MORGAN (puzzled) What was what? WOLENCZAK What did you just call me? Morgan replays the conversation in her head. MORGAN (chagrined) I called you Lucas. (beat) I'm sorry, Sir, I... WOLENCZAK (smiling) No, don't be. It means we're friends. I'm glad. (beat, pulling up a chair) Now, show me this paper that's got you so excited. MORGAN (pleased) You really want to see it? WOLENCZAK Of course I do. I was a science officer myself, remember? (beat) I remember how excited I was when I was published for the first time... As they converse, the camera pulls back on the scene and we... FADE TO BLACK THE END ==========================================================================