ACT FIVE OPEN ON EXTERIOR FOREST Covarrubias, Bear, and Svetlovana hide silently in the treeline. Goodwin helps the scientist settle in near them, making sure Petersen does not expose their location. Just below them, a few meters away, is the nearest part of the fence around the compound. Various barrels and crates serve to mask the fence from the rest of the compound...a natural place to sneak in, if the fence were breached. Takemitsu and Dobbs are working near the fence. We pull in on them, hearing a growing , deep hum in the background, as Takemitsu studies a small handheld sensor, which shows only a small green phrase on the screen: "No field detected." She looks at Dobbs, and nods. Dobbs doesn't answer; instead, he unreels a length of gray, waxy cord and hangs it on the fence, outlining a low, wide hole. He then looks back at Covarrubias, who has been watching for guard patrols. The POV swings briefly to the lieutenant, who nods. Dobbs turns back to his work. He reaches into a pocket, pulling out a small grey box. Two wires are clipped to parts of the cord. Dobbs opens a small cover on the box and pushes the red button underneath. The cord glows, then disappears in a nearly silent burst of vapor; as it does, a section of fence falls neatly away. The rest of the party moves up to the hole in the fence. COVARRUBIAS (softly) All right, Doctor. I need you to come... Behind them, a siren goes off. The humming noise ramps up, becoming a loud, low-pitched buzz. The group freezes in place, except Petersen, who jerks and starts to bolt. Goodwin and Bear each grab a shoulder and hold him back. Bear looks at Goodwin, assessing, and nods. LOUDSPEAKER Attention all personnel. Attention all personnel. Target acquisition in progress; generator hot. Secure for weapon discharge; I say again, secure for weapon discharge. (beat) Atencion... As the message repeats in Spanish, Petersen goes white. PETERSEN (near-whimpering) _No_... COVARRUBIAS That’s it. (staccato) Dobbs, Taks, head over to the hydro plant, set some charges, get ready to cut them off at the plug if we need to. ‘Vana, Bear, diversions...blow the hell out of things, mill around, confuse 'em. Goodwin, Doctor, you're with me, on the weapon itself. Go! Dobbs and Takemitsu ease away from the compound, moving rapidly toward the dam. Bear and Svetlovana move just in, among the crates and drums, waiting for an opportunity, or a clear run into another part of the base. Covarrubias, Goodwin and Petersen then ease through the fence and head for the weapon itself. We follow Covarrubias’ group as they dart from cover to cover. Suddenly, Goodwin taps Covarrubias on the shoulder. He points. CUT TO GOODWIN’S POV OF THE COMPOUND A Humvee pulls up to a freestanding transformer block. Two white-coated technicians get out, go around the block, out of sight of the main compound, and start reading gauges. TIGHT ON GOODWIN AND COVARRUBIAS Goodwin and Covarrubias nod and motion Petersen to hold still. CUT TO COMPOUND The Humvee rolls smoothly through the compound, toward the main building. Covarrubias and Goodwin are dressed in the white coats now. Behind them, hidden under a tarp, is Petersen. CUT TO FENCE Bear and Svetlovana wait expectantly. After a moment, Bear nods and looks at his partner. They rise smoothly, pulse rifles swinging as one, and fire a long burst into a fueling station across the compound. Bodies fall, as soldiers look frantically about. After a moment, there is a large explosion, as the fuel lines give way. CUT TO CONTROL ROOM Weiss looks up sharply as his guards start shooting wildly in the aftermath of the explosion. Indoors, the buzzing noise is less noticeable. WEISS (angry) Goddam it... He turns to Gilman. WEISS (pointing at a screen) The cross-hairs have been firmly on Portland for _five minutes_, and you keep screwing around. What in hell are you doing? GILMAN (frantically working controls and keyboard) I don't care what your repeater says, these readouts aren't making any sense; they keep shifting. (beat) I don't _understand_... Another blast, sounding suspiciously like a grenade, goes off a little nearer. Weiss loses his temper. WEISS Damn it, enough already. (beat) _Fire the damn thing_! Gilman appears to ignore him, working feverishly at his console. Something in Weiss gives way. His expression changes into something that might be mistaken for a smile. TIGHT ON GILMAN He is perspiring, eyes wide as he tries to make the weapon work properly. WEISS (O.C., behind him) Gilman... You're fired. Gilman swivels his chair to look at Weiss, trying to figure out what he meant. TIGHT ON WEISS The camera is tightly focused on Weiss' head and shoulders...and his pistol, which fires twice in rapid succession. Off camera, there is a surprised "chuff", and a body falling. The camera pulls back somewhat, showing Weiss moving towards the console. He steps over something, leans down to study the console briefly, and reaches toward the keyboard. WEISS (a very hungry look in his eyes) Yes... here it is... Savagely, his finger stabs down. CUT TO BASE EXTERIOR The Humvee swerves wildly to a stop at a side door. Two Carolinan guards run over, waving at the vehicle. GUARD ONE Devereaux, get the hell under cover, there's a raid going on! Pulse rifle fire cuts him down. The second guard tries to return fire, but is shot. Covarrubias, and Goodwin jump out, Petersen rises from beneath the tarp, and the three race into the building. CUT TO INTERIOR The three men are crouched behind a guard desk. COVARRUBIAS (softly) Now what? PETERSEN (breathing heavily) Control...room...upstairs, third door along the hall...crash the focusing array's computers, we can stop this... Goodwin looks at Covarrubias, who nods. COVARRUBIAS Not much time for elegant... They get up and head for the stairs, keeping the scientist behind them. CUT TO CONTROL ROOM Weiss is pacing angrily, looking at a console. On it, by satellite feed, is a local Portland program. No evidence of damage is apparent; the show continues. WEISS (frustrated) Come on, come _on_...there should be something by now... Behind him, monitors flash "Weapon Discharge In Progress." CUT TO PHILADELPHIA HARBOR We see an overview of a busy harbor, centered on a bustling shipyard, with many subs in drydock. Caption reads: "Philadelphia Naval Shipyards" The normal sounds of urban life are suddenly overwhelmed by a deep rumble, and a low, almost indiscernible, hum. Metal creaks and lines start to part and snap as structures sway. Suddenly, a large stretch of the shoreline, several city blocks, ripples, and starts to sink meters deep. Buildings collapse as the ground quivers, almost like the surface of a pond, and disappears under water. Sirens blare as docked ships and subs frantically try to escape being pulled under by collapsing drydocks, smashed by falling cranes, or being thrown onto the wreckage of the shoreline by sudden strong currents. CUT TO PARIS Caption reads: "Paris, France" Dusk in the City of Lights. Our view centers on the Eiffel Tower. Again, the odd hum, this time without obvious tremor... until a perfect circle, a kilometer in diameter, is suddenly flattened as if by a giant's foot. The Tower is just outside the devastated area, but it has been pulled at a precarious angle, teetering, as if something in the center of the disaster had snatched at it. An eerie silence settles over the city as dust and smoke begin to rise. CUT TO RIO DE JANEIRO Caption reads: "Rio de Janeiro" A whirlpool forms in the harbor, sucking ships down into oblivion. The residents hardly notice, as thousands are crushed in the earthquake that has erupted ashore. CUT TO AGRA Caption reads: "Agra, India" Tight shot of a stunned police officer, sitting on a curb, weeping unconsolably. The camera pulls back to reveal the smashed remains of the Taj Mahal. CUT TO EXTERIOR NEXUS COLONY--CGI All appears calm at first, then vibrations in the colony superstructure become visible. Caption reads: "Nexus Colony" CUT TO INTERIOR The central promenade of the colony is bustling...until the seafloor underneath shakes. A groan from overhead, and a huge crack appears in the shell of the colony. The camera focuses on a horrified woman, as there is a sudden roaring of water, and we... CUT TO EXTERIOR HOTEL A highrise hotel sits on a sandy beach in the late afternoon sun. CUT TO HOTEL ROOM Vince Matson is lying on his bed in his semi-darkened hotel room. An insistent beeping goes on, and on, until he wakes, fumbles around for a moment, and comes up with his cell phone. MATSON (groggily) What? VOICE It’s Neal Carver, Vince. MATSON Neal, I told you yesterday that I’d need a couple of days before I get out to that village-- CARVER (excited) Never mind that, Vince. There’s been some earthquakes in Egypt; the Aswan Dam has burst. (beat) You need to get there pronto. MATSON (protesting) Neal, I’m really on to something here...isn’t there _anyone_ else? Matson trails off as a faint rumbling is heard. Items on the dressing table vibrate, and the shaking increases. This goes on for about a minute as Matson holds the phone tightly to his ear, saying nothing. When it is over, he speaks again. MATSON Neal, we just had a quake here...what the _hell_ is going on? CARVER There’s been seismic activity reported all over the world. (beat, laughing uneasily) Maybe the end has finally come. MATSON It can’t come yet, Neal. (beat, making light of it) I’ve got a wedding to attend back home. CARVER As long as it’s _after_ you go to Egypt... MATSON Send Trista MacAllen. Trust me. Before Carver replies, we hear the wailing of sirens from outside. Matson walks over to the window and opens the curtains. As he looks out, he goes completely pale, his knuckles whitening as he grips the cell phone. MATSON God, Neal... He is unable to say any more, merely looking out the window as we... CUT TO EXTERIOR _SEAQUSET_--CGI The _seaQuest_ is at station keeping off the coast. CUT TO BRIDGE Wolenczak is looking at monitors, trying to make sense of what he's seeing. Morgan stands beside him, equally puzzled. MORGAN ...And just about ten minutes ago, some of the gravimetric sensors we still had running went absolutely berserk. And look at this seismic activity... (beat, pointing at console) It's utterly unprecedented... WOLENCZAK I thought our team went in to _stop_ that thing-- The Bridge suddenly lurches, and shudders. Wolenczak and Morgan grip desperately at handrails. WOLENCZAK What the hell is going _on_? MATTHEWS (shouting) Sir, sonar reports a huge rift opening in the seabed, 15 degrees off the port stern! There's a huge current, as if some kind of cavern was breached, and we're barely making headway! WOLENCZAK Emergency full! Get us _out_ of here! Reede rapidly begins to comply. CUT TO EXTERIOR _SEAQUEST_--CGI The _seaQuest_ slowly fights her way free of the current. The chasm below her widens, and fills with lava, glowing red, oozing quickly up from the rift in the seafloor. Two WSKRS are dragged backwards by the current, and disappear from view. CUT TO WEAPON BASE--HALLWAY Covarrubias, Goodwin and Petersen are huddled just at the foot of the stairs. Machine pistol and laser fire whines overhead. GOODWIN (to Covarrubias) Flash-crash? COVARRUBIAS (nods, grinning) Cover the doctor's ears! The scientist looks baffled as Goodwin slips plugs into his ears, and puts some in his own. Covarrubias has already done so, and now pulls a small cylinder from one pocket. He flips it, in a lazy arc, into the hall. There is a blinding flash of light and a loud WHAM! from around the corner. The UEO team moves smoothly into the hall, where several Carolinans lie dazed, stunned, or dead. Covarrubias and Goodwin glide towards the door. The doctor is horrified at the scene... all the more so as both Covarrubias and Goodwin shoot each Carolinan in the head, dispassionately, as they pass. PETERSEN (in shock) What are you _doing_?! (beat) My God... At the door to the control room, Covarrubias shakes his head. COVARRUBIAS (to Goodwin) Locked. We blow it, high low, right? GOODWIN (also ignoring the scientist) Go. Goodwin puts a small lump on the middle of the door. Covarrubias pulls out another cylinder. Petersen goes to the floor, covering his eyes and shivering. Goodwin steps back, as does Covarrubias; Goodwin fires his pulse pistol at the lump of putty, which blows the door wide open. Covarrubias flips in another flash-crash grenade, which goes off immediately. They both swing smoothly into the room. After a moment, Goodwin comes back out and grabs the still-dazed Petersen. GOODWIN (almost sympathetic) It's ugly, I know. But we can't risk any of them surviving to shoot us in the back, can we? (beat) Come on, you have to shut this thing off. CUT TO CONTROL ROOM The room is a shambles. Papers and chairs have been blown everywhere. A body lies to one side, unmoving. Covarrubias is already peering at the console, frowning. COVARRUBIAS Doctor, is it firing, or not? Petersen sits at the console, frowning. He brings up a map of Earth...and is aghast at the angry red blobs dotting the surface. PETERSEN (subdued) It's as bad as I feared. We have to stop this now... He starts entering instructions into the console. As he does, a slightly dazed Weiss staggers from behind one of the mainframe computers, which shielded hm from the worst of the grenades. His ears are bleeding, but his grip on his pistol is firm. Covarrubias hears Weiss shuffle, and turns. Goodwin sees the motion, and moves far more swiftly than a normal human should be able to. There is a flash of a knifeblade, and a long burst from Weiss' pistol...then Weiss is down, unmoving, and Goodwin pivots. He sees Covarrubias staggering back...and Petersen clutching his arm, moaning. Goodwin goes to Covarrubias, who is pale. COVARRUBIAS Sometimes...even you GELFs... aren't quite fast enough, no? He coughs bloodily. COVARRUBIAS Finish this, Longknife. I can hold on for a bit...but not long... Goodwin nods and spins to Petersen. GOODWIN Doctor, let's blow this damn thing and go home, huh? Petersen shakes his head. PETERSEN We _can't_. (beat) That madman Weiss has destroyed the controls. I can't run the weapon shutdown sequence. GOODWIN (impatient) So just pull the plug on the damn thing! DOCTOR (shouting) We can't! If we cut the power, the dampers will drop offline before the machine has dissipated its residual charge. (beat) The feedback explosion will blow us all to kingdom come! GOODWIN And if we don't? The scientist points at the monitor map. Another three red spots bloom: Ross Ice Shelf, Antarctica; Mt. Fuji, Japan; and the Aleutian Island chain. Goodwin looks at the doctor, who sits unmoving at the console. His shoulders slump, as if defeated, and he turns. He looks at Covarrubias, and they nod fractionally at each other. Suddenly, Goodwin spins at his _full_ speed. He pumps a long blast from his pulse pistol into the control circuitry cabinets lining the wall, and into the base of the machine, which bursts into flame. Petersen is stunned; some of the shots were fewer than six inches from his face. PETERSEN (horrified) Do you know what you just _did_? Goodwin turns, facing the door. Shouts from below indicate that a Carolinan reaction force is headed upstairs, ignoring the diversion at last. He smiles, looking over his shoulder for a moment. GOODWIN (slightly wistful) Doctor... you might say I'm doing the job I was born for. He turns, and moves behind a cabinet. Covarrubias has dragged himself behind a chair, and they wait for the Carolinans, determined not to let them at the controls now. The doctor turns around, pale and sweating, and moves to a side console, punching keys frantically. A status report appears on the screen. We pull in on the screen; all the status indicators are flashing an ominous red, as we... CUT TO FOREST We see the rest of the Force Recon team slipping through the jungle, moving silently, with little fuss. Bear enters a small clearing, and the others quietly gather round him. BEAR (softly) Charges planted? DOBBS They'll do, Sir. All in place, all correct. TAKEMITSU (grinning) I left 'em some goodies too... EMP mines, fast-entry wormtaps, static grenades. (beat) Should smear any network left after the fireworks show--it’ll fry anything smarter than a calculator. As she tucks a small radio-detonator into her pocket they look back, towards the base. SVETLOVANA (frowning) They should be back by now... Her voice trails off. Takemitsu shakes her head. TAKEMITSU (as if to convince herself) Hey, the skipper's cool, tovarisch... Suddenly, Taks is cut off by a large explosion...from the direction of the base. The team reflexively goes to ground; then, moments later, as they realize where the explosion came from, they rise to low crouches and look toward the site. A large pillar of flame and smoke rises in the clean morning air. Svetlovana turns pale. SVETLOVANA (horrified) Bozhe moi... nyet, nyet... She settles to her knees, fists clenched tight on her thighs, and moans softly, rocking. Bear and Takemitsu look at Dobbs. His face is distant, as he looks at the smoke... and looks... and looks... and turns to them, sadly, and shakes his head. No one speaks. Bear's face has gone utterly still. Takemitsu is furious, eyes flashing, color high in her cheeks. Takemitsu furiously brings the detonator from her pocket. TAKEMITSU (fury and grief) We’ll give them same as they gave the skipper... She holds out the detonator toward the dam, ready to press the button, but Svetolovana snatches it from her grasp. SVETLOVANA (intense) _No_. Takemitsu looks at her, aghast. SVETLOVANA (shaking her head) He did what we came for. DOBBS If you blow up the dam, all the people downstream, who had _no idea_ what the Macronesians built here, will suffer. TAKEMITSU (protesting) No. We tank ‘em _now_, while the fire’s hot. (beat) We wait...we forget. We let it go. BEAR (slowly) No. They’re right, Taks. (beat) Hell...if he was here, he’d be telling you the same thing. Takemitsu’s finger slowly eases back from the button. Dobbs nods slowly, as Takemitsu takes a deep, shuddering breath. TAKEMITSU (convincing herself) We did what we came for. BEAR (slowly) Yeah. (beat) All right, people, job done. Let's slip the hell out of here. (beat) We have a wake to hold... The team members nod, and start to move back into the forest, towards the Wraith. CUT TO _SEAQUEST_--PASSAGEWAY Matthews and Wolenczak are walking briskly along. MATTHEWS ...Trueman’s doing her best, but communications from headquarters are spotty at best. (beat) Damage reports are coming in from all over the world. (beat) Europe, North and South America, Asia, Africa... (beat, heavy irony) The only confederation without _any_ losses was the Carolinans. WOLENCZAK I think we’d better head for the shipyards ASAP...I want this boat completely checked over. (beat) I wish we were closer to the yards in Philadelphia--they’ve handled this boat more. Matthews stops short. MATTHEWS (hesitant) Doesn’t matter. The shipyard’s gone. (beat) Philadelphia took a pretty big hit. Wolenczak goes pale. WOLENCZAK (softly) Tori... He shakes his head briefly, and they continue on. CUT TO CREW’S MESS As Wolenczak and Matthews enter, we see the survivors of Force Recon Team Six silently a few tables away from anyone else. The atmosphere in the room is quite subdued, lacking the usual hum and bustle. With a glance at Matthews, Wolenczak joins them. Matthews joins Percell, Morgan and Trueman. All video screens in the room are tuned to news stations. All at Matthews’ table have their attention glued to CNN. ANCHOR (on screen) ...UEO sources claim the cause of these catastrophes is the Carolinan Confederation’s use of an environmental super-weapon. (beat) Political analysts speculate that the UEO will soon delcare war on the Carolinans for their actions. (beat) Now, with more of our continuing coverage on the scope of these disasters, we have a live report by telephone from the Azanian capitol The screen cuts to a "Live coverage" logo, while we hear a female voice speak. The women at Matthews’ table listen anxiously. VOICE Damage assessments are still coming in, but... The report fades into the background as we pull in on Matthews, Trueman, Percell, and Morgan. MORGAN (worried) I wonder why Vince isn’t reporting? He was in Azania already when all this happened. PERCELL (comforting) He was probably already out in the village, and all this mess has kept him from getting to the capitol yet. Morgan nods, and they all listen intently to the reporter once more. VOICE While the waters have receded, there is a great deal of devastation, and recovery has only just begun. (beat) The Azanians blame both the UEO and the Carolinans for this tragedy, because, although the earthquake was well offshore, the resulting tsunami brought in radioactive water from the RadZone as it engulfed the city. At least 50,000 are dead. (beat, solemnly) One of those confirmed dead is CNN reporter Vince Matson, who was in Azania working on a story. (beat) This is Trista MacAllen, reporting live. Morgan stands, rigid, staring at the screen. As she does, the sound from it fades, leaving us with a silent image of her staring at the screen. All light has gone from her eyes and her face has gone pale. Behind her, we see the others get up, unsure of what to say to her as we... FADE TO BLACK THE END Copyright 1998 2047 staff. This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental. ACT FOUR OPEN ON EXTERIOR GUATEMALAN BASE Carolinan soldiers stand guard in the early-morning sunlight, while others patrol the area. CUT TO CONTROL ROOM Weiss sits in a chair, watching those around him work. Gilman can be seen moving quickly between consoles and computers, directing the work from every angle. Weiss looks bored and impatient with the men around him as he watches. The intercom at his console buzzes, diverting his attention from the repair operation. VOICE (over com) Sir, President Ross is asking to speak with you. Weiss immediately perks up at hearing this. WEISS Put her through! He turns himself to the screen to wait as Carolinan Confederation President Eileen Ross’ face appears. She seems to be in a good mood over recent events, and greets Weiss with a smile. ROSS (on screen) Colonel. I hope I’m not catching you at a bad time. Weiss shakes his head earnestly, obviously happy to be having Ross contacting him personally. WEISS Not at all, Madame President. Ross continues, as if it really didn’t matter whether she did or not. ROSS How is the project coming along? Weiss looks quickly around the room before answering. WEISS It’s coming well, Madame President. Very well. (beat) In fact, we should be ready to go in less than twelve hours. Ross is delighted by the news, and shows it in her expression. ROSS Good work. (beat, smiling) We don’t forget those who help us as you have, Colonel. After your work there is complete, we’ll have to see about getting you a more...responsible...position. Weiss nods, calmly but happily. From the look on his face, we see that he’s probably been expecting exactly that. ROSS Have fun, Colonel. Ross flashes one more brief smile before the communication is broken, leaving Weiss to stare at the blank screen. After a second he turns to watch the scientists closely, making certain the job is finished quickly. CUT TO SURROUNDING FOREST Force Recon Team Six, along with Goodwin, moves silently through the dense grouping of trees. There is a faint sound of a river. Covarrubias’ hand goes up sharply and the entire team stops instantly. Slowly they crouch down as a trio of Carolinan soldiers is seen passing by only a few yards away. Their eyes search the area, but fail to see the hidden recon squad. Once the patrol has passed, the recon team rises and looks around. Lieutenant (j.g.) Ken Bear whispers to Covarrubias. BEAR That’s the fifth patrol we’ve seen in two hours. (beat) A lot for a simple scouting mission, don’t you think? Covarrubias only nods before motioning to the rest of the squad. They move off quietly, away from the patrol, creeping through endless trees and underbrush. The camera pans back to Goodwin, taking up the rear of the column. He appears quite comfortable with his position, eyes constantly scanning the area. Covarrubias’ hand goes up, and the squad stops once more. Goodwin looks for the approaching patrol but sees nothing. He looks to Covarrubias inquisitively. The squad commander is looking down at something, heightening Goodwin’s curiosity. Taking a breath, Goodwin moves slowly, still in a crouch, up to the front of the column. The other squad members say nothing, though all give him annoyed looks. The camera pans up a bit as Goodwin reaches Covarrubias’ side, bringing the sight below into view. At Covarrubias’ feet is the edge of a ridge, dropping down to the river below. Spanning the river is a large hydroelectric dam. Carolinan patrols move along the riverbank and down a winding path into the trees on the opposite side of the river. COVARRUBIAS (frowning) Looks like we found something. GOODWIN (deadpan) Yeah. Best thing we’ve found by a dam site. (beat, slightly sarcastic) Maybe the Carrots are stealing electricity from a third world nation. Covarrubias shoots Goodwin a glare, but otherwise ignores him as he looks to the rest of the squad. COVARRUBIAS Let’s set up here, see what’s going on down there. (beat) Dobbs and Bear, set up a perimeter. Dobbs and Bear nod, moving cautiously away as we... CUT TO CONTROL ROOM Gilman sits at a console, his hands moving in a blur as he types. Weiss paces behind him, completely impatient. Gilman ignores Weiss and continues to work. After a moment, Weiss stops, leaning over Gilman’s shoulder. WEISS How much longer are you going to be? GILMAN (not looking up) I don’t know. Weiss looks about to snap, but Gilman continues. GILMAN I’m booting up the main system now. I just don’t know how long the boot cycle _is_ on this thing. Weiss calms somewhat, understanding the delay now. He pulls up a chair and sits next to Gilman. WEISS If you’re booting it up, you must have some idea of what it’s going to do when we turn it on. Gilman looks from the screen and shrugs. GILMAN I think I may know what it does. I’m not sure how. (beat) Actually, I have no idea how. WEISS We don’t need to know how. Not yet. (beat) But I want to know what Bourne was planning on doing with this thing. Gilman nods and turns to the keyboard, typing in a few more commands before turning back to Weiss. GILMAN It’s...some sort of gravity laser. WEISS (frowning) What? GILMAN The weapon focuses the Earth’s gravity at a specific point, increases it by a factor of hundreds at that point. WEISS (confused) How is that possible? GILMAN (shrugging) It’s not like there’s an instruction manual for this thing. Whoever designed it doesn’t seem to be around to help us. Weiss frowns, knowing _why_ the designer isn’t available. WEISS Well, will we be able to use it even if we don’t know specifics? GILMAN You mean, can we fire it? Yes. (beat) Do we know the most effective way of using it? No. Weiss rises from his chair, looking pleased. WEISS Good job. Finish up here, and then I’ll give President Ross a call with the good news. GILMAN (nonchalant) Fine with me. Gilman turns back to his terminal and gets to work as Weiss walks off with a triumphant smile on his face. CUT TO FOREST--RIDGE The reconnaisance team, minus Dobbs and Bear, sits on the ridge and watches the river below. Covarrubias watches through binoculars, tracking slowly over the land. Goodwin sits leaning against a tree, looking somewhat less intense than the others. Covarrubias’ head stops, as he sees something of interest. After a moment of looking, he scowls. COVARRUBIAS Oh, damn. They all freeze, and Svetlovana attempts to see what it is he’s staring at, to no avail. SVETLOVANA Have we been seen? Covarrubias shakes his head, handing the binoculars over to Svetlovana. COVARRUBIAS Worse. Some civilian’s poking around. Not a native. Svetlovana shakes her head, frowning, and drops the binoculars to her side. As she begins to speak, Goodwin snatches the binoculars and takes a look for himself. SVETLOVANA _Idiot_. COVARRUBIAS He’ll get himself killed. Goodwin’s body goes rigid suddenly as he looks through the binoculars. GOODWIN We need to go get him before that happens. Petty Officer Masaki Takemitsu shakes her head. TAKEMITSU Right. And risk our own asses? (beat) We’re not the Red Cross. (beat, shrugging) If he wants to wander where he shouldn’t, let him. COVARRUBIAS Taks is right. I’m not risking the mission for a bystander. Svetlovana nods with a frown, but Goodwin shakes his head. GOODWIN Trust me on this one. We need to grab him. (beat) Fast. There’s a patrol moving his way and he doesn’t have a clue about how to hide. Goodwin tosses the binoculars to Svetlovana, flashing a smile. She catches the item, not returning the grin. The three Force Recon members turn from Goodwin, looking back down the ridge where two Carolinan guards move towards the trees on a more gently sloping area of the river valley. The camera pans away from Goodwin to show the patrol guards from a better vantage. COVARRUBIAS Too late for that now. As Covarrubias speaks, he turns to look at Goodwin, and inhales sharply in surprise. The others turn, and the camera pans with them to show that Goodwin has simply disappeared. Svetlovana and Takemitsu turn to Covarrubias, suspicion in their faces. SVETLOVANA He's not just a sailor, is he? COVARRUBIAS (nods) No, he isn't. His expression indicates he has some suspicions on that count. CUT TO RIVERBANK Two Carolinan guards patrol the area around the river. A sound of a cracking branch catches their attention from behind the tree line and the two spin quickly. Spreading out a bit, they move uphill toward the sound. One of the guards quietly goes out of sight behind the trees. Another sound of movement from up ahead causes the patrol guard to increase his speed. Ahead of him break is a small clearing, allowing the guard to see the civilian. GUARD Hold it! The civilian stops and turns, raising his arms in the air. The man’s face comes into view, and despite a full beard, he is recognizable as the scientist who escaped from Weiss years ago: Doctor Lawrence Petersen. GUARD (warning) Keep your hands up, and don’t move. Petersen’s head drops in defeat, but he looks up quickly when a faint thump is heard to his right. The guard notices the sound as well, turning to search for the source of the sound. But by looking to his left, the guard doesn’t see the blur of movement to his right. He straightens, grabbing at his throat, then slumps to the ground. Petersen watches the man’s death in disbelief before looking up to the face of his savior. The camera pans up with him, bringing Goodwin’s smiling face into view. GOODWIN Hey there, Doc. Hope you don’t mind a little help. Goodwin nonchalantly steps over the guard’s body. Petersen just shakes his head, still stunned by the speed of the recent events. GOODWIN Let’s get you out of sight so you can explain why a dead man is creeping around out here. CUT TO RIDGE Force Recon waits silently at their observation post as Covarrubias watches the area below them through the binoculars. TAKEMITSU Anything? COVARRUBIAS (shaking his head) Lost track of the civvie too. Once those Carrots went after him they both disappeared into the forest. SVETLOVANA He’ll get us all caught. TAKEMITSU Probably. (beat) So why’d he get invited to the party? Covarrubius lowers the binoculars and turns to his teammates. COVARRUBIAS Because there’s something going on here we’re not being told about. The comment gets a frown from the other two. Their collective bad mood is interrupted as Dobbs’ voice comes softly over the team’s radios. DOBBS (over com) Goodwin’s on his way up. (beat) He’s got a friend. SVETLOVANA (under her breath) Great. TAKEMITSU ("cheerful") Well, hey, what’s the fun in an easy mission? Goodwin, tailed by Petersen, comes through the trees and into view mere seconds after Takemitsu speaks. Covarrubius, who looks more than a bit upset, rises at the sight of Goodwin. COVARRUBIAS Who is this? GOODWIN This is Lawrence Petersen. (beat, they’re unimpressed) _Doctor_ Lawrence Petersen, actually. Petersen cautiously nods to those around him, looking uncomfortable at their obvious displeasure. COVARRUBIAS (tightly) Why is he here? Goodwin smiles confidently before explaining. GOODWIN Doctor, why don’t you tell him what you started telling me? Petersen looks from Goodwin to Covarrubias and the others, swallowing. PETERSEN The dam down there... (he motions below the ridge) It doesn’t just power the nearby towns. It was built to power a nearby base which houses an experimental weapon. Covarrubias loses his scowl, but is still cautious. COVARRUBIAS How do you know that? Petersen swallows again, not pleased with his answer in any way. PETERSEN Because I helped design it. Takemitsu and Svetlovana exchange glances as Covarrubias thinks on this. Glancing, a bit confused, between Goodwin and Petersen, he finally turns to Takemitsu. COVARRUBIAS Taks, uplink to UEO HQ. Flash Priority Olympus. TAKEMITSU (nodding) No problem. Covarrubias turns from Takemitsu back to Goodwin and Petersen, obviously wishing he understood more about what was going on. CUT TO CONTROL ROOM Weiss walks slowly through the control room, gazing around contentedly as the base comes to life. His is shaken from his reverie by the voice of a tech, though. TECH (nervously) Sir, patrol four is calling in. They say they’ve found patrol six. Weiss spins around to look at the tech. WEISS (impatiently) And? TECH Dead. Throats cut. (beat) The patrol leader said the job looked pretty professional. (beat) They said the bodies were well hidden. They wouldn’t have found them if they hadn’t practically tripped over them Weiss’ good mood has clearly been broken by the news. WEISS Maintain alert status. Inform me at once of _anything_ unusual. TECH Yes, Sir. Weiss walks briskly to the tech’s console to wait for the results on the scan. CUT TO RIDGE Takemitsu has set up the communication equipment, and the small screen shows the words "Please hold for connection." Covarrubias, with Petersen behind him, sits in front of the screen, waiting. After a few seconds, the hold screen is replaced with a split screen communication with Hitchcock and Robinson. COVARRUBIAS Admiral...Madame Secretary... ROBINSON (on screen) No need for formality now, Lieutenant. We’ve been briefed on why you’re calling, and if what we heard is true, we may not have much time. HITCHCOCK (on screen, nodding in agreement) So what exactly do we have here, Lieutenant? COVARRUBIAS I’ve got a man here, a former Macronesian scientist. He’s going to explain it to you. Petersen moves forward, very nervous. PETERSEN Hello. HITCHCOCK Tell us about this weapon. How does it work? PETERSEN I’ll, ah, do my best to keep it simple. There’s no easy way to explain how it works. I could be here for the next day explaining that to you, and you still wouldn’t know everything. ROBINSON Just do it so we’ll understand it. We’ll chat about specifics later. PETERSEN (nodding) It’s gravity based. It focuses the Earth’s gravity at a point with, say, a five-meter radius. And when I say "focused," I mean as much as 10 Gs. It can be aimed anywhere in Earth’s effective field, out to at least geosynchronous orbit. Above ground, you can flatten buildings or cities. (beat, taking a deep breath and gathering steam as he goes) It can be aimed underground, at fault systems or lava tubes. Doing this, you won ’t just get damage at the focal point, but anywhere in the surrounding area. Dormant volcanoes could become active as magma replenishment is blocked and rerouted. It could alter mantle convection currents to cause magma plumes, which could cause fissures. Aiming it a fault lines creates huge earthquakes. HITCHCOCK (horrified) My god... PETERSEN That’s not the worst of it, either. Earthquakes and volcanoes, those are transitory. They’ll do their damage and then stop. (beat, shaking his head) Rockslides, lahars, landslides...things like that would follow. And that’s assuming it doesn’t cause widespread tectonic instability. Forces like this have never been generated anywhere on Earth that we know of. We literally _could not predict_ what the results would be, when Bourne asked us in briefings. ROBINSON (quietly) And now Ross has control of it. COVARRUBIAS (nodding) I’d say that’s a reasonable assumption, Sir. PETERSEN I’ve lived in Jacaltelongo since I fled the base five years ago. But I kept my ears open. (beat) When I heard the rumors that there were soldiers by the dam, I immediately knew they’d found it. HITCHCOCK Why didn’t you tell anyone about this? PETERSEN So you could drop more bombs to get rid of it? I think not. (beat) I hoped to be able to make it to the base. To come in the passage I escaped through, and disable the weapon myself. But it...well it didn’t work out that way. Petersen throws a grateful glance back at Goodwin. ROBINSON Can you show this passage to our team? Petersen nods once as we... CUT TO CONTROL ROOM Weiss stands over the tech’s shoulder, watching the screen in front of them. The tech notices something and gestures to the screen. TECH There it is again. I think I isolated it this time. (beat) Yeah, I did. It’s a communication. Secure too. WEISS Someone’s watching us. Who? Can you track it? TECH (nodding) It’s being bounced off a high orbit satellite. (beat) It’s a UEO satellite, Sir. Weiss loses it at that point, his face turning red from anger. WEISS They’ve found us already. (beat, fuming) I won’t let them get a chance to hit us first this time. (beat) Jam that transmission, jam all frequencies and make sure they can’t get anything else out. (beat) _Now_! TECH But that cuts _us_ off, too! Weiss whirls on him, angry. WEISS I don’t _care_! We cannot allow the UEO to figure out what we’re doing here. The tech, who wasn’t really hesitating in the first place, speeds up his work. CUT TO RIDGE All is as before. HITCHCOCK We can’t let this base stay in Carolinan hands. ROBINSON No, we can’t let this base stand. Period. It needs to be taken out. PETERSEN You’re right. The base is an even more terrible danger right now, unless the Carolinans have built another node. The sound and picture turn to white noise suddenly before the screen goes black. Covarrubias turns to Takemitsu. COVARRUBIAS Taks, what the hell happened? TAKEMITSU Got some peanut butter? GOODWIN Huh? TAKEMITSU (as to a small child) Someone’s jamming us. COVARRUBIUS They know we’re here, then. Svtelovana has her eyes fixed on Petersen, not paying attention to those around her. SVETLOVANA Doctor, you said something about another node. What did you mean? Everyone goes quiet at Svetlovana’s question, turning to Petersen. PETERSEN You should know...shouldn’t you? You took out the other node in Africa with your nuclear attack. They are silent and puzzled for a moment. COVARRUBIAS (slowly) There was another weapon in Azania then? PETERSEN (nodding) Yes, the second node. The way the weapon works on gravitational fields, at least two nodes are needed to accurately focus the desired effect. Three or more would be better, but they need to be widely spaced, many hundreds of miles away from each other for good tuning, and the Macronesian Alliance hadn't that many friends left. (beat) Only difference between this one and the other is that the Azanian had nuclear power, and this one is hydroelectric. GOODWIN And what happens without two nodes? PETERSEN (looking down) A disaster. CUT TO CONTROL ROOM Weiss storms towards Gilman, who sits at the main console in the room. WEISS (before reaching Gilman) Are you done booting the system? GILMAN (startled) Yes... (beat) Shall we call Ross now? WEISS (snapping) There’s no time for that. (beat) Set the targeting coordinates for Portland. GILMAN What?! Without consulting-- WEISS Didn’t you hear me? If we take the time to ask, there won’t be a weapon left. The UEO knows about us. (beat) Target Portland. GILMAN But-- Weiss pulls his sidearm, pointing it directly at Gilman. WEISS It’s this, or we’re all dead when the UEO sends in the bombs. I abandoned this base once because of them, I won’t again. (beat, growling) Do you want to die by the UEO’s hand? Or would you rather hit them first, and force them to back off. Gilman weighs the problem for only a few seconds before turning to his keyboard. GILMAN Targeting Portland. CUT TO RIDGE All is as before, but the intensity of the group has risen significantly. COVARRUBIAS What do you mean, "disaster"? PETERSEN Without a second node, the weapon can’t maintain cohesion in the beam. Once gravity is focused, it’s scattered within seconds by the Earth’s crust. (beat) Imagine a fire hose without someone holding it. It whips around, getting everyone wet randomly. (beat, sighing) If that weapon is fired, there will be no controlling or stopping it. It will continue to cause damage across the planet until its power is cut off. GOODWIN And the Carrots don’t know about this? PETERSEN Few of us on the project did. (beat) It was highly classified. (beat) If that weapon is fired...they’ll be dooming this planet to a disaster like no one has ever seen. CUT TO CONTROL ROOM Gilman looks up to Weiss nervously. GILMAN Cooridinates set. Portland is targeted and the weapon is powered. WEISS (smiling cruelly) Good. (beat) Fire. Gilman nods and reaches a hand to the keyboard, tapping a single key as we... CUT TO COMMERCIAL END ACT FOUR ACT ONE OPEN ON WOLENCZAK’S QUARTERS Captain Lucas Wolenczak sits in front of the vidlink screen at his desk. The screen is blank, but Wolenczak is still watching it intently. His expression is one of nervousness, and he is breathing deeply. After a moment the symbol for the UEO’s Bureau of Learning appears on the screen before being replaced with Tori Johanson’s face. When she sees Wolenczak from the other end she smiles, not necessarily a happy smile, but a relieved one. Behind the smile she is obviously a bit upset. TORI So...he finally calls. Wolenczak blushes a little, obviously embarrassed. WOLENCZAK I know I should... (beat, sighing) Did you get my note? Tori smirks, a little amused in spite of herself by Wolenczak’s embarrassment. TORI You mean the one you left before running away from our vacation. (beat) Without saying a real goodbye I might add. WOLENCZAK (nodding hesitantly) I...guess you did. (beat) I wouldn’t have left like that if I didn’t have to. Tori watches Wolenczak for a moment before saying anything. TORI And...you decided calling me when you got back to the ship was a bad idea, then? WOLENCZAK Well...no, I mean it’s only been... TORI (smiling) Three days? WOLENCZAK (sighing) You’re not going to let me off easy, are you? TORI Not unless you can think of a good reason I should. WOLENCZAK Because you just can’t bear to see me feeling sad and guilty? Tori’s smile broadens and she chuckles a bit. TORI Oh, I don’t know, I’m enjoying this. Wolenczak smiles back, despite continuing to look rather embarrassed. WOLENCZAK But...I hope you’re not too mad...believe me, the last thing I wanted to do was run off on you like that. TORI (nodding) I know. The life of a navy man...no, a navy captain...strikes again. (beat, feigning anger) But next time you run off, at least give me a call once you’re back on the boat so I don’t get worried about what happened to you. WOLENCZAK There’s nothing to worry about. Tori frowns, but it isn’t a frown of anger but of concern. TORI Nothing to worry about? The day you leave I flip on the TV to find out that the Carolinans and Mexico are buddies, and that everyone is worried about the "implications" of this. (beat) And it doesn’t take a genius to know that you’re probably going to get sent right into the middle of all of this. WOLENCZAK (sighing) That...I can’t talk about. Tori nods, understanding, and reaches her hand out to touch her index finger to the screen. She runs her finger down the screen slowly as she talks. TORI I just have a bad feeling. (beat) Be careful, okay? Please? WOLENCZAK (nodding) Am I ever _not_ careful? TORI (managing a smile) Respectfully, I won’t answer that. WOLENCZAK Thanks. Wolenczak notices a blinking on his vidlink screen and frowns. WOLENCZAK Look, I’ve got to go. Looks like my orders are in. (beat) I’ll call as soon as I can. TORI (nodding) Well, I’ve got to leave town for business soon. More inspections. WOLENCZAK Then call me when you get back, okay? Tori nods, smiling to him again as she waves. TORI Bye. The screen cuts off and Wolenczak sighs, once again staring at the blank screen before reaching forward and touching a button. The UEO command symbol appears on the screen as we... CUT TO EXTERIOR _SEAQUEST_--CGI The boat moves rapidly through the water, WSKRS preceding it. CUT TO WARDROOM Senior staff are all present around the conference table as Wolenczak addresses them. Commander Jessie Matthews sits on Wolenczak’s left. Next to her is Doctor Meridith Burke, then Lieutenant Justin Riller, Chief Petty Officer Sara Percell, and Lieutenant Commander William Goodwin. On Wolenczak’s right is Lieutenant Commander Ed Taylor, Lieutenant J.G. Tom Reede, Ensign Rebecca Trueman, and Ensign Anne Morgan. WOLENCZAK ...From what our satellite intelligence tells us, the Carolinans moved a large concentration of troops into the Mesoamerican Confederation about thirty seconds after the treaty was signed. GOODWIN (to no one in particular) Why is this not surprising? (beat) Sounds like they took advantage of us being late to the party. Wolenczak merely nods at Goodwin’s comment, then continues. WOLENCZAK Our job is to watch for and respond to any incursions. The Carolinans’ rights stop at the Mexico/Guatemala border. (beat) What we _suspect_ is that they’re going to try to take over the Nicaraguan Sub Tunnel. REEDE Makes sense. They’d have a big advantage if we had to go all the way around Tierra del Fuego instead of taking the easy route. MATTHEWS Exactly. WOLENCZAK We’ll be at condition two. I’d suggest you take it easy while you’re not on duty; if something comes up, I want you fresh and ready to go. (beat) Riller, I want security drills daily on every shift. RILLER Aye, Sir. WOLENCZAK (continues) In fact, that goes for all departments. I want you all drilling on emergency and battle procedures. (beat) And review all procedures for proper stowage of equipment. If this gets ugly, I don’t want anyone getting hurt by gear that’s come adrift. We hear general murmurs of understanding and assent. WOLENCZAK Communications will be minimized. Only official traffic will be allowed in real time. Personal message traffic will be limited to recorded messages, which will be reviewed by security to make sure no classified details are inadvertently leaked. (beat) For those of you who use the ‘Nex, no live chats. You can download info, but nothing goes out over the ‘Nex. More head-nodding around the table. WOLENCZAK Lieutenant Commander Goodwin has requested that we train some more people for the Outrider, now that Reede is also checked out on front-seat ops. If you have anyone with the necessary qualifications--or talent--for either position, let Commander Matthews know. (beat, reluctantly) Now, for the bad news. BURKE Excuse me, but I thought all this _was_ the bad news? WOLENCZAK (shaking his head) Nope. It gets worse. (beat, sighing) With the increased tensions and the likelihood that it’s going to escalate, we’ re not going to get the chance to do much research right now. We’re back to being a warship. He waits a moment while this sinks in. Morgan looks up at him, consternation on her face. MORGAN You mean I’m being fired? WOLENCZAK Not fired exactly, Ensign. You’ll be reassigned. (beat) Right now, you need to wrap up any current projects and oversee the safe stowage of your equipment. We’ll be converting the lab into medical space for the duration of the problems with the Carolinans. (beat) You’ll get orders for your shore assignment within the next couple of days. MORGAN (glum) Yes, Sir. WOLENCZAK (nodding) That’s all then. Dismissed. Subdued conversation ensues as the assembled crew get up and leave the room. Morgan, however, doesn’t move from her chair. Soon, only she and Wolenczak remain. WOLENCZAK Anne? You going to be okay with this? MORGAN (bitter) Sure. I give my life to this ship for two years, but as soon as people start making faces at each other, I get kicked off. Wolenczak sits down beside her, sighing. WOLENCZAK I tried to talk them out of it. But the fact is, we’re going to be on constant alert. I can’t let you go on field trips. You’d be stuck in your lab all the time. And we both know you can’t do your job very well that way. MORGAN I know, Lucas. (beat) The fact is, this feels like home to me now. I’m really going to miss everyone. WOLENCZAK I know how you feel. MORGAN (laughing shakily) I guess you do, don’t you? (beat) After all, _seaQuest_ really _was_ your home when you were a teenager, wasn’t it? WOLENCZAK (nodding) And I came back to her, in the end. (beat) I have a feeling you will, too, when this is all over. MORGAN So you don’t think all this will be permanent? WOLENCZAK (shaking his head) It’s all modular...what we rip out today, we can put back tomorrow. She nods. MORGAN You’ll at least save me any interesting stuff you might come across? (beat, slyly) Glow-in-the-dark fish poop, maybe? WOLENCZAK (laughing) I’ll e-mail it to you. MORGAN (grinning) Then I guess I can live with this. He reaches out and gives her hand a squeeze, nodding, as she rises, then leaves. CUT TO WEAPON BASE--INTERIOR Weiss and his team burst in the door. Weapons at ready, they storm down the hallway and up the stairs, toward the control room. CUT TO CONTROL ROOM As the troops burst in. The room looks, for the most part, unchanged, since we last saw it. A layer of dust coats surfaces, and there are brownish spots on the floor, but nothing has been disturbed in the intervening years. Weiss enters the room and looks around. WEISS At ease. The soldiers relax, holstering their weapons. Weiss strolls around the room, assessing its condition, then turns to one of the soldiers. WEISS Burns, you’re in charge of the cleanup detail. I want this place looking like brand new in an hour. Then bring in the specialists. Burns nods, and turns to begin assigning others to specific tasks as Weiss walks away, confident that his orders will be carried out. We follow him as he once more walks the perimeter of the room, looking at the equipment, trailing a finger along a console here, pushing buttons on a keyboard there. His aide, Sgt. Ben Garrett, trails him. Weiss keeps up a stream-of-consciousness type monologue as he goes. WEISS We were pretty careful when we left...just turned off all the power buttons and locked the doors behind us. (beat) The natives were scared to come near. Thing made a pretty good hum when it was operational...they said it sounded like a million bees, and all of ‘em angry. (beat) Funny thing is, the pencilnecks who put this place together said it was the safest place to be. (beat, shaking off the past) At any rate, we’ll have it up and running in no time...and once we figure out just how she works... (beat, a nasty smile) Well, then won’t a few people be surprised... Off his face we... FADE TO COMMERCIAL END ACT ONE ACT THREE OPEN ON GOODWIN’S QUARTERS Goodwin is lying on his bunk, napping. He is perfectly still, and when the intercom beeps, he is immediately fully awake. GOODWIN (pressing button) Yeah, what? TRUEMAN (over com) Your Mom’s on the vidlink... (beat) How do you rate? Thought they weren’t letting personal calls through. GOODWIN (not surprised) It’s all in who you know. (beat) Thanks, Becca. He sits at the desk as the screen comes to life, showing Mother, still in her gray turtleneck. MOTHER (on screen) Hello, Will. Hope I didn’t interrupt anything. GOODWIN (shrugging) A nap. MOTHER (raising an eyebrow) Don’t tell me the Delta Five job wore you out? GOODWIN Of course not. MOTHER You did a good job on that one. GOODWIN (sarcastic, drawling) Shucks, Ma’am, t’warnt nothin’. MOTHER (stern) Cut it out, Will. You don’t have to do the cowboy act for me. Goodwin leans in to the screen, face and voice intense. GOODWIN I don’t want to do _any_ act for you. (beat) I want out. Mother’s expression shows no surprise. MOTHER I had a feeling this was coming. (beat) But I can’t let you go. Not yet. (beat) Do well on this mission, though, and I think we can release you. GOODWIN What this time? MOTHER This one’s simple. (beat) Your Force Recon team’s being sent to see what the Carolinans are doing in Guatemala. I want you to go along and keep your eyes open for anything that...requires your unique skills. She holds up a photograph of the scientist, Doctor Lawrence Petersen. It’s obviously an academic shot, showing him in robes and mortarboard. MOTHER This is all we could find, but this man is probably the key to finding out what’ s happening. He disappeared several years ago...he may be dead, but then again... She then holds up a photograph of Weiss as he appeared five years before. MOTHER And look for this man. If you find him...well, I’m sure you know how we’d like this handled. Goodwin takes a long, hard look at the photograph. GOODWIN (mocking) What did he do? Wear white shoes after Labor Day? MOTHER (not amused) He’s been known to associate with the wrong people. Again, Goodwin studies the picture. When he speaks, his voice is hard. GOODWIN This _will_ be the last time. With that, he severs the connection, leaning back in his chair and sighing. He spends a pensive few moments, then starts entering commands on the computer. We see over his shoulder as the screen displays the words: "RECORDING--VIDEO MODE". GOODWIN (into computer pickups) You could say the story of my life is an interesting one. (beat) You _could_ say that, but you’d be way short of the mark... Goodwin stops, angrily keying in a command. GOODWIN (to himself) Jeeze...lame...gotta do better than that... He keys in another command, looks at the pickups, and starts again. As he does, we... CUT TO BRIDGE Wolenczak is in the command chair. All is calm, though some crew appear to be calm only through great self-control. Petty Officer Rupert Dobbs enters, followed moments later by Goodwin. Some crew members still look a little uneasy at the sight of the Force Recon Six patch on Dobbs’ uniform. They both approach Wolenczak; Dobbs speaks first. DOBBS (softly) Sir, we’re just about ready to depart for the Rio de Chiapas region as ordered. Lieutenant Covarrubias asked me to let you know personally that we’ll be keeping radio silence during the mission and under no circumstances should anyone come after us if _seaQuest_ should have to go anywhere. WOLENCZAK (nodding) Understood. GOODWIN And I’ll be riding along with them, Sir. Wolenczak looks to Dobbs for confirmation. WOLENCZAK You were aware of this? Dobbs nods once. DOBBS We just got word. WOLENCZAK And Covarrubias is okay with this? DOBBS (simply) We don’t ask questions, Sir. Wolenczak digests this information. WOLENCZAK (sighing) Sure. Fine. No problem. Outrider can fly itself. (beat, to Goodwin) But I’d like a word with you in the Wardroom first. GOODWIN (nodding) Yes, Sir. All three men head for the hatch. CUT TO WARDROOM As Wolenczak and Goodwin enter. The two remain standing throughout their conversation. WOLENCZAK (bluntly) Why you? (beat) And don’t tell me living in Texas taught you fluent Spanish. Covarrubias speaks Spanish. GOODWIN (somberly) No, Sir. (beat) I _do_ speak fluent Spanish, but it’s because my Grampa was a consular official in NORPAC and he was in Guatemala. (beat) I used to spend my summers with him when I was a kid. Had a summer house near the Rio de Chiapas, even. WOLENCZAK So you’re there as a...tour guide? GOODWIN (grinning) Easier to sneak in when you know where the best entries are. WOLENCZAK All right. Just be careful. (beat) You better get back here to train someone else on that fighter of yours. Goodwin tosses off a snappy salute. GOODWIN Yes, Sir! As the two exit, we... CUT TO EXTERIOR _SEAQUEST_--CGI The Wraith slides gracefully out of the Docking Bay and accelerates smoothly off into the deeps. CUT TO WRAITH INTERIOR Chief Warrant Officer Tatiana Svetlovana is in the pilot's seat; Goodwin is in the copilot's chair, watching _seaQuest_ fall quietly behind them as they go. GOODWIN (admiring her..navigation) _Nice_ launch, real smooth... Svetlovana seems not to hear him, minding her consoles as she pilots the Wraith. GOODWIN (trying gamely) Is she that easy to handle, or are you just that good? SVETLOVANA (eyes still on her consoles) He. GOODWIN Huh? SVETLOVANA In Russian, we call boats "he". GOODWIN (nonplussed) Oh. Svetlovana continues to ignore him. Goodwin gestures, vaguely, at the navigational displays, showing the Wraith closing on the Guatemalan shoreline. GOODWIN Amazing how quiet... (beat, changing tacks) This boat runs, even at speed. Svetlovana says nothing. After a moment, though, she hits several switches with intricate, economical precision. CUT TO EXTERIOR WRAITH--CGI The Wraith slows somewhat, and the quiet whine of her motors becomes inaudible almost instantly. CUT TO INTERIOR Svetlovana looks at a side panel, watching indicators fall below green markers. Only then does she turn to look at Goodwin. SVETLOVANA (utterly cold) _Now_ he is...quiet. Goodwin looks at her, deflated. Before he can decide on a rejoinder, team leader Lieutenant Miguel Covarrubias looks into the pilot's compartment. COVARRUBIAS (polite) Mister Goodwin, may I have a word with you? GOODWIN (rueful) Certainly, Lieutenant. What did you need? COVARRUBIAS I'd like to review the op plan with you. Why don't you step aft with me, so we can review what we have so far? GOODWIN Sure. (beat) It's probably warmer there, any way. Goodwin unbuckles himself, and gets out of the seat. As the two men leave, the camera pans back to Svetlovana. SVETLOVANA (grimacing slightly, speaking under her breath) Kulturny? Nyet! She shakes her head in disgust, as we... CUT TO STAGING BAY The two men make their way back through equipment lashed to the deck, towards the back of the Wraith. COVARRUBIAS So, Mister Goodwin, I understand you know this area, yes? GOODWIN Why certainly... spent a lot of time here, growing up. Beautiful country, but dangerous if you don't respect it. COVARRUBIAS And, of course, there are the new neighbors.... The two men grin at each other. Covarrubias continues, offhandedly. COVARRUBIAS (bland) ...Not that I expect such things to trouble you much. Something in his tone stops Goodwin. He turns, slowly, to face the other man. GOODWIN (annoyed) If you're going to cop an attitude on me, don't worry. I'll keep up, and handle my end just fine. COVARRUBIAS I have no doubt of that...Longknife. Goodwin is momentarily taken aback; he rallies, though. GOODWIN I don't know what you mean by that, but... Covarrubias interrupts him. COVARRUBIAS Please, Mister Goodwin. _We_ are professionals, yes? (beat) I remember your face, and your voice, quite clearly; it was the Tauranga smash-and-grab, North Island, New Zealand, ’44. You _should_ remember us fondly. (beat, grinning) Force Recon provided the covering "distraction" that allowed you lot to actually make the snatch. (beat) Slightly baroque op plan, but it worked out fairly well. (beat) Now, I really don't care about why Section 7 placed you aboard _seaQuest_-- GOODWIN (interrupting) Not Section 7. Talk to Personnel about why I'm out here; I transferred to the Fleet. Those special ops days are long behind me now. Covarrubias smiles politely, not believing a word. COVARRUBIAS Are they? (beat) Really? Goodwin smiles...but says nothing. After a moment, Covarrubias resumes. COVARRUBIAS Well, that doesn't matter. (beat) You're coming along with us; I know you know the job; so, let's have a look at the latest spysat maps and see what we're getting into. Goodwin shrugs, and moves as to go. Covarrubias stops him. COVARRUBIAS (lightly) Just one more thing, Longknife. Goodwin looks about to say something; Covarrubias continues, leaning close. COVARRUBIAS (intense now) I don't _care_ whether you've gone vanilla, or are still a spook. On this op, you're on _my_ team... and whatever other agenda you have better _damn_ well not conflict with mine. We do the job, we all come back if possible, and _no one_ simply gets "expended". (beat) Right? He stares at Goodwin... who flushes, and drops his gaze. GOODWIN Right. Covarrubias looks at him a moment more, and nods. He then crooks a finger, and the two men continue towards the Wraith's aft compartments. FADE TO COMMERCIAL END ACT THREE ACT TWO OPEN ON EXTERIOR UEO HQ The camera sweeps in, across the water, towards the glass expanse of the main headquarters. Late afternoon sun glints off the building as the camera rushes on to a satellite dish on the roof, which soon fills the screen. CUT TO SECURE SITUATION ROOM Tight on hands taking hardcopy from a printer. The POV expands, following the hardcopy, as it is taken by a flag aide. She moves through the technicians at the back wall, headed quietly towards the conference table at the center of the softly lit, windowless Secure Situation Room. She places it gently by the elbow of a UEO Admiral, wearing Section Seven insignia on his uniform, who looks at it briefly. ADMIRAL Thank you, Colonel. The harried aide pushes graying blond hair back from her face and nods deferentially as she returns to her duty seat behind the admiral. He turns, and returns his attention to the Executive Council meeting. Defense Minister Andrew Langson has the floor. LANGSON ... Madame Secretary General, I cannot understand why you _insist_ on this reckless, inflammatory course of action! Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Wallace Robinson breaks in. ROBINSON (coldly) _I_ insisted on deploying _seaQuest_ to the Mesoamerican Confederation's waters, _Mister_ Langson. The Carolinans have deployed troops; they are moving subfighters, wolfpacks of _Alabama_-class hunter-killers towards the region-- Langson interrupts him, in turn. LANGSON (sarcastic) Yes, yes, yes...all our other ships, all our planes and covert assets, and we send a crew of cowboys, who have been involved in provocation after provocation, and a captain who's not only been censured, but who has needed psychiatric counseling, for God's sake! When are we going to get over this in_sane_ fixation with this boat? ROBINSON (now really angry) Langson, can't you read a damn _map_? (beat) _Look_... Robinson jumps up and strides to the Situation Map displayed on a large wall screen. His fingers stab angrily as he talks. ROBINSON We have squadrons here, and here, and _here_, all making flank speed towards Nicaragua. We have Marine Expeditionary Forces staging _here_, and here, against the possibility this is the start of a full-scale invasion. (beat) The Amazonians aren't calling this an "internal NORPAC affair" any more, and have moved at least three "buzo tactical" elite battalions to their border. (beat) Orbital platforms at Defense Response 4. (beat) Three new spy satellites we launched, one of which got shot down during launch by Carolinan subs skirting the Exclusion Zone. (beat, near fury) How the _hell_ can you accuse _us_ of being fixated, when all you can see in this mess of hurt is _one_ goddam sub? LANGSON (arrogant) Admiral, don't talk to me that way! _You_ answer to _me_-- He is interrupted by Secretary General Katherine Hitchcock. HITCHCOCK That will be _enough_, Minister Langson. Langson turns, his pride stung. LANGSON With all due respect, Ma'am, it isn't nearly enough. You all fawn on Wolenczak; you act as if naming a submarine _seaQuest_ imbues it with magical powers. He looks at Hitchcock, smiling "sweetly". LANGSON (continuing) This... (beat) Starry-eyed infatuation... (beat) With Nathan Bridger's utopian pipe-dream has wrecked _every_ effort to deal with the Carolinan situation in a responsible fashion. (condescending, snide) We might have settled this already if you had listened to _my_ advice. Instead-- He is interrupted by Hitchcock, who is now standing. HITCHCOCK Langson, shut _up_! Langson--indeed, the whole room--falls silent, shocked. Before he can resume, Hitchcock dives in. HITCHCOCK (heavy sarcasm) Minister Langson. (beat) In case it had escaped your attention, _you_ were not appointed secretary general. _You_ do not make policy. You are a minister, a functionary, a _representative_ of the secretary general. (beat) _You_ answer to _me_, Mister. And I've had just about enough of your temper tantrums, your veiled innuendoes, and your snide backbiting. Langson is livid. LANGSON (harsh, angry past rational thought) Have you indeed? Fine. _Fine_. _Don’t_ listen, write your little love-notes to your "old shipmate", be foolish, just don't expect _me_ to pull your feet out of the fire! HITCHCOCK (cold) I won't. (beat) Your resignation is accepted. Langson stares at her, open-mouthed. He takes one angry step towards her... then freezes, as two uniformed Marine guards step to either side of the secretary general. Langson looks about, and sees Robinson's hand returning to his side. Langston stops then, and gathers his injured dignity about him. LANGSON This isn't over, Hitchcock. (beat) Not at all. (beat) Not at _all_... Langson turns, angrily grabbing his briefcase. One of the Marine guards stops him, and empties that briefcase, pointedly removing all documents that might be classified. Humiliated, furious, Langson stomps towards the exit, escorted by the guard. The MPs on either side of the door merely open it for his departure, faces expressionless. As Langson storms out, he passes the Intelligence aide...who, unlike the other shocked onlookers, is smiling gently to herself. CUT TO _SEAQUEST_--SCIENCE LAB Morgan is here, packing. As we watch, she takes her Monet print down from its place on the bulkhead and lays it on the desk. Burke is here, too, watching. BURKE You know, Anne, this place just won’t be the same without you. (beat) I’m going to miss the showtunes...you’re right, music does make the work go easier. MORGAN (smiling) So you finally admit it! BURKE (ruefully) Yeah, well... MORGAN I’ll leave you my "Les Mis" soundtrack. BURKE (sighing) Dammit, I wish you didn’t have to go... Impulsively, Morgan turns to Burke and hugs her. The intercom beeps, and Morgan turns to it. MORGAN Yes? TRUEMAN (over com) Vince is on vidlink for you... MORGAN (subdued excitement) Great! Put him through! BURKE I’ll just leave you two alone...but I want to hear _all_ about it. Morgan nods, and Matson’s image comes up on the screen as Burke quietly slips through the door to MedBay. MORGAN And what strings did you pull to get away with this? We’re on limited communications here, and the last person I should be talking to live is a news reporter... MATSON (on screen, grinning) Let’s just say I know a few people, and they consider me trustworthy. MORGAN Called in a few favors, huh? I’m honored. MATSON For you, it’s worth it. MORGAN (blushing) Well...thank you... MATSON I just wanted to let you know I’m still here in Mexico City. Things are pretty hot around here, but so far, so good. Morgan sits down, focusing her attention on the image on her screen. MORGAN (quite concerned) Vince...I really wish you’d leave. I have a funny feeling about your being there... MATSON (warning) Careful, Anne...we _are_ being monitored. Don’t say anything you shouldn’t or they’ll cut us off. MORGAN (shaking her head) No, it’s nothing like that. (beat) It’s only a...feeling. (beat) But it scares me. (beat, shrugging) It just...scares me. Matson gives her a long look, then nods. MATSON If it’s that important, I’ll go. (beat) My boss has been wanting me to go to Azania, anyway. (beat) Seems Amnesty International sent us a big tip on some human rights violations going on over there. (beat, thinking) You were there recently...got any clue what it might be about? MORGAN (carefully) We were just doing research on the RadZone...didn’t really see many people. MATSON (sighing) Too bad. I could have used some inside info. MORGAN Sorry. MATSON (smiling) Don’t be. It’s the business. Morgan smiles with him for a moment, then becomes serious. MORGAN Ummm...there’s something I wanted to ask you... (beat, gathering courage) You know that offer you made recently? MATSON (teasing) You mean that I’d help your dad paint the house? MORGAN (smiling nervously) No...the other one. MATSON (gently) About us. Morgan nods. MATSON I’m familiar with it, yes. MORGAN Is it...still open? MATSON Until you say yes, it is. MORGAN Then do your story in Azania quickly, and we’ll talk as soon as we’re both back in Portland. Hope dawns bright on Matson’s face. MATSON (emphatically) Count on it. (beat, looking away) I’ve got to go now. (beat) But remember...I love you. MORGAN I love you, too. (beat) Just, please...be careful? MATSON With what I’ve got to look forward to? (beat) I’ll be the most prudent man on the planet. (beat) Take care, and I’ll see you soon. Morgan nods, smiling, as the screen goes blank, then to the UEO logo. CUT TO ROBINSON’S OFFICE Robinson sits at his desk, looking over various intelligence briefs which just came in. As his eyes move between the reports slowly, his expression is grim. He sighs shakily as his intercom beeps. ROBINSON (pressing the button) Yes? SECRETARY (over intercom) Sir...it’s _them_ on a secure line. ROBINSON (sighing again) Put it through. Robinson turns to his vidlink screen and waits as Section Seven’s symbol appears on the screen a moment before being replaced by a middle-aged woman with graying blond hair, wearing a charcoal gray turtleneck: Mother. Robinson seems a bit surprised to see her. ROBINSON Making a personal call? That’s not like you. MOTHER Sometimes couriers aren’t good enough. (beat) We’ve detected some rather significant Carolinan activity across the Mexican border. They seem to be poking around in Guatemala. Robinson frowns, not liking Mother’s cool, superior tone at all. He does seem interested in her information though. ROBINSON What sort of activity are you talking about, exactly? MOTHER Troop movements. In fact they seem to have taken up residence just across the border, near the Rio de Chiapas. Robinson glances to a map on his desk, finding the area she’s referring to. He looks up, his expression even darker than before. ROBINSON Around the hydroelectric plant the Macronesians put in near the end of the war? Mother nods. ROBINSON (thoughtfully) That puts them just about 250 kilometers from the Nicaraguan border. (beat) They’re within striking distance of the undersea tunnel. MOTHER (uncaring, brushing a lock of hair back from her face) Well, there is that, yes. Robinson looks at the woman, confused by her comment. ROBINSON Then what else is there? MOTHER We don’t know, and that’s the problem. ROBINSON Then what do you suggest? MOTHER I’ll leave the tunnel to your adept hands. (beat) But if I were you I’d consider checking out what the Carolinans want near the Rio de Chiapas. There are worse things than attacks on your undersea tunnel. (beat, darkly) Or have you forgotten who had taken up residence in Guatemala six years ago. Robinson begins to understand where she’s going with this. ROBINSON The Macronesians...they put a dam on the Rio de Chiapas... (beat, quickly) I’ve got to go. Good work. MOTHER (shrugging it off) When don’t we do good work? Robinson doesn’t answer, instead just shutting off the vidlink and tapping a button on his intercom. ROBINSON I need a secure transmission to the _seaQuest_, for the leader of Force Recon Six. SECRETARY (on intercom) Yes, Sir. Robinson sits back in his chair and waits for the call to go through as we... CUT TO CONTROL ROOM Weiss enters the control room, which has been cleaned up significantly. The room is a bustle of activity, people under the various consoles replace wiring and other aged components while other people sit at working consoles, attempting to learn more about the station. Weiss walks up to a man in civilian clothing who appears to be supervising the repairs, Richard Gilman. He’s in his early-30s, tall and thin, with dark hair and wire-rimmed glasses. Gilman is intent on his work, barely noticing Weiss as he approaches. WEISS How are the repairs coming? Gilman doesn’t look at Weiss when he responds. GILMAN They’re coming along. Weiss frowns, unhappy both with Gilman’s attitude and his evasive answer. Weiss is about to press the issue when Gilman just walks off to observe the work on the other side of the room. Becoming increasingly annoyed, Weiss follows after. WEISS What is that supposed to mean? (beat) How _long_ until you’re finished? Gilman tosses Weiss a look like Weiss’ questions are terribly distracting. GILMAN (patiently) We’re replacing a lot of the components that, due to neglect and age, simply don ’t work anymore. Besides the fact that we have little idea what the components are supposed to do, yet, and you haven’t helped any in that. Gilman looks away from Weiss, tapping a few keys at one of the computers, watching the readout with interest. Wiess’ anger turns to something near fury, which he barely manages to contain. WEISS I want an approximate time to completion, so we can use this. (beat) Now. Gilman spins to look Weiss right in the eyes, not fazed in the least by Weiss’ yelling. When Gilman responds it’s not with anger, but with a cool annoyance. GILMAN About two weeks, give or take some. (beat) And it would go a lot quicker without you disrupting the repair operation. Weiss is utterly outraged, and has ceased trying to hide it. WEISS Two weeks is _not_ good enough. (beat) And you will _never_ address me in that tone again. Gilman is still calm, like Weiss’ anger is going right over his head. GILMAN Two weeks is how long it’ll take for me to give you a perfect job, and you won’t see me doing anything less than perfect work here. (beat) I’ll get your station running, but if you think you know how quickly I can do my job, you’re mistaken. There’s a reason _I’m_ doing this job, and that’s because I know what I’m doing and you don’t. Weiss snaps at Gilman’s insults, grabbing the man by the collar and pushing him against the nearby wall. The other workers in the room, who have begin to watch the conversation with interest go dead silent at Weiss’ action. WEISS (quieter, but harsher) Never, ever talk to me like that again, do you understand me? You may be some kind of genius, but I couldn’t care less. (beat) This station will be operational in 72 hours. Gilman protests, but doesn’t seem to notice the fact that he’s been pushed against the wall in any way. The only thing bothering him is Weiss’ words. GILMAN (protesting) If we rush it like that, I can’t guarantee this place will be working in perfect order. WEISS It will be done, and it will be perfect. (beat) Understood? GILMAN (shrugging) I’ll do my best. Weiss lets go of Gilman’s collar, a little calmer now. He looks around the room at the staring workers. WEISS Get back to work. Weiss gives Gilman one more angry look before storming out of the room. Smoothing out his shirt, Gilman walks tot he center of the room, immediately forgetting Weiss’ violent actions. GILMAN You hear him. Let’s get to it. The technicians nod to the supervisor and get quickly to work as we... FADE TO COMMERCIAL END ACT TWO seaQuest 2047 "Gravity" Story by Eric Sipple, Don Speirs & Victoria Morgan Hyde Script by Eric Sipple , Victoria Morgan Hyde & Bill Ernoehazy Publication Draft Sunday, September 6, 1998 Based on "seaQuest DSV" and "seaQuest 2032". TEASER OPEN ON WEAPON STATION A nondescript compound in a jungle. Nothing remarkable about this place, except for the constant patrols of soldiers around it. CUT TO PETERSEN’S QUARTERS Doctor Lawrence Petersen and his colleague, Doctor Fredrick Brewer sit in Petersen’s small quarters, talking. The scene is all shot in black and white. Petersen, mid-thirties and sandy blond, is slowly smoking a crudely rolled cigarette, his hands shaking slightly as he does. Brewer seems equally unnerved. PETERSEN Do you think they know about us? (beat) Seriously, honestly...do you think they do? BREWER (humorlessly) If they did, don’t you think this whole area would be glowing just like Azania is now? Petersen sighs and taps the ashes of his cigarette into a coffee mug at his side. PETERSEN Maybe the UEO is trying to figure out a more clever way to take us out. (beat) Damn Bourne for making us all targets. Brewer rises from his chair, a little annoyed. BREWER I’d watch it with that. I doubt Weiss would be very kind to you if he heard you saying that. Petersen shrugs, taking a drag from his cigarette. PETERSEN Killed by Weiss, killed by some UEO bomb... (holding up his cigarette) ...Killed by these. What’s the difference? BREWER The difference is, he’d probably kill me too because I’m here with you. (beat, flashing a nervous smile) So watch it. PETERSEN Whatever. Brewer walks at a leisurely pace to the door, speaking as he does. BREWER Cheer up, Pete. If station two is as toasted as they said it is, they’ll probably be pulling us out of here anyway. (beat, smiling) And that means no more of this damn, sweltering Guatemalan weather. Cut down the rain forests, is what I say. Petersen doesn’t answer Brewer as he leaves; he just drops the butt of the cigarette into the cold coffee in his mug. CUT TO CONTROL ROOM The picture is still black and white. Major Bradley Weiss, dressed in a full Macronesian uniform, enters. He is on a vidlink communication with his superior officer, Colonel Robert Hodges. Hodges is leaning close to his vidlink pickups; his image fills the screen. Neither looks very happy. HODGES (on screen) I’m sure you heard about the UEO’s attacks on our Azanian station? WEISS I’ve heard some mixed reports. I’ve been trying to confirm them for almost a day now. HODGES We’ve had some... (beat, searching for the words) Problems with communications since the attack. Things have been hectic back here. Hodges’ words don’t seem to boost Weiss’ morale. WEISS How hectic are we talking about? (beat) What is President Bourne’s opinion on how to respond to these attacks? Hodges frowns, not comfortable with Weiss’ questions. HODGES Bourne is...unavailable at this time. But we do have orders for you. Weiss’ mood darkens even further as he waits for his orders. HODGES The Guatemalan government is getting nervous about our presence there. Your base is in danger, as the Guatemalans don’t want what happened in Azania to happen to them. WEISS (nodding) They’ve been picking off any patrols I send out. Though they seem reluctant to attack us here. HODGES We’re not going to give them the chance to attack, or to find out what it is you ’re doing there. (beat) Your orders are to implement Horatio immediately. WEISS (blinking in astonishment) You want us to abandon the base? Hodges glares at Weiss’ invalidating the entire worth of using a code word. HODGES Immediately. WEISS But, Sir, this place is operational. We could hit the UEO back, make them pay for their attack on us! HODGES No. You have your orders, Major. Horatio. WEISS But-- HODGES (snapping) No. The weapon is no longer useful to us. (beat) Take care of all loose ends on your way out. The Macronesian Alliance needs every man at home right now. The vidlink screen goes blank, leaving an infuriated and shocked Weiss staring at the screen. CUT TO PETERSEN’S QUARTERS Petersen shakily lights another cigarette, pacing the room. As he passes his small desk he looks down and smirks, picking up the small card from the desk. PETERSEN (under his breath) The idiot forgot his ID card. He shakes his head and snuffs out the only half-smoked cigarette before heading to the door, taking Brewer’s ID with him. CUT TO CORRIDOR Petersen steps out of his door slowly, looking to his right to see Weiss and two soldiers open a door far down the hall and enter the room. None of them seem to notice Petersen. Petersen has only walked a few steps when the muffled sound of a gunshot is heard from down the hall. Fear races into Petersen’s eyes, and he dashes back into his room, shutting the door, not quite completely. The sound of a door opening, then closing is heard, followed by footsteps and another door being opened and closed. The camera closes on Petersen’s face, wracked by fear and confusion as another gunshot goes off, and as we... CUT TO CONTROL ROOM A technician watches the screen in front of him intently, as a small red light appears on the screen, blinking quickly. The tech frowns and touches a key on the console. TECH (into headset) Major Weiss, I’ve got something strange here. (beat) Someone just accessed the crawlspace door without the security code. (beat) But not to get in...to get out. CUT TO PETERSEN’S QUARTERS The camera opens on Weiss’ face, glaring down. The camera pans to the floor as he speaks into a personal audio link. WEISS I know. The camera reaches the floor and shows the rather cramped ventilation duct, which has the grating pulled from it and set on the floor. WEISS (sharply) Get a patrol after Petersen; he’s the one who got out. (beat) Tell the guards they don’t have to bother bringing him back alive. TECH (over com, a little shocked) Yes, Sir. CUT TO GUATEMALAN FOREST Lawrence Petersen runs through the woods at top speed. The camera is at his side, following him as trees rush past the camera. The sound of Macronesian guards’ voices can be heard shouting as he runs. GUARD #1 He’s heading this way! GUARD #2 Close the gate! Petersen continues running, a look of blind fear in his eyes. The sound of running feet behind him spurs him on. The trees begin to part before him, becoming more sparse, when the sound of gunfire ahead of him causes him to stop. GUARD #1 There! A blast from behind Petersen misses him by only an inch, hitting the tree beside him. He quickly weighs his options before moving again. The trees finally break totally around him, and standing at the still-open gate are five Guatelmalan soldiers. They don’t seem to be advancing, but have obviously just taken a number of Macronesians prisoner, all of whom stand behind the Guatemalans, shackled. Petersen gets a glimmer of hope in his eyes, and shouts out in Spanish. PETERSEN (subtitled) Help me! (beat) Please, help me! One of the soldiers approaches him. SOLDIER (subtitled) Why should I help you? You are one of them, no? PETERSEN (subtitled) No! I have been their prisoner! Please help me! The guards keep their weapons trained on him, but don’t fire as Petersen approaches them, catching his breath. The camera closes on him as the sound of the other Macronesian guards coming upon the Guatemalan soldiers is heard, followed by the rapid discharge of weapons. The camera continues to close on Petersen’s face, as his expression changes from fear to sad relief as we... FADE TO JACALTELONGO--PETERSEN’S HOUSE As the scene fades in, and black and white changes to color, the camera is focused on a crudely rolled cigarette. The camera follows the cigarette up to the smoker’s mouth before zooming out. It is Lawrence Petersen, who has aged significantly in the past few years. His hair is also wilder, and his face is covered in a not-so-neat beard. The sound of shouting from outside causes Petersen to walk to the door of his home and open it, looking out. CUT TO JACALTELONGO--TOWN SQUARE Petersen walks outside as a villager bolts into town, yelling in Spanish. The villager has obviously been startled. A few of the other villagers perk up to hear what he is saying. FRIGHTENED VILLAGER (subtitled) There are men in the trees! Men with guns! A female villager waves him off before turning. FEMALE VILLAGER (subtitled) You’re crazy. Stop trying to get attention. Go back to your farm. FRIGHTENED VILLAGER (subtitled) It’s true. Just outside of the fields, there were armed men! FEMALE VILLAGER (walking away) No one wants to steal your tomatoes. And if they did, they wouldn’t need guns to get by you. The other villagers laugh at her comment before turning away from the frightened man. Petersen, though, does not turn. Instead, a cold fearful understanding has crept over his face, his eyes locked on the frightened farmer as we... CUT TO FOREST The camera follows a small group of soldiers walking through the trees, focused on their boots. The camera slowly pans up as the trees begin to part, revealing the old Macronesian station, still standing as if it were new. The soldiers stop, and the camera pans to bring them into view. They all wear the uniform of the Carolinan Confederation, including their leader, who is brought into view last. It is Weiss, now wearing colonel’s insignia, smiling triumphantly at his find... CUT TO BLACK SCREEN FADE TO OPENING CREDITS END TEASER