Pioneer One (2010) s01e02 Episode Script

Previously on Pioneer One A piece of a plane's fuselage maybe crash-landed in Canada.
- A dirty bomb? - We haven't confirmed that yet.
- But that's what it looks like? - Nobody really knows what that looks like.
- That's no airliner.
- He was wearing this when we found him.
Does that kid look like he was even born when there was a Soviet Union? - He has cancer.
- Say that again? We need to get an expert in here, someone who knows what they're talking about.
- This is your Martian pioneer.
- This man has been to Mars? He was born there.
Will you help us out doctor? Abso-fucking-lutely.
To abandon our efforts now is simply a failure of imagination of the worst kind.
More than that, it's near-criminal in the opinion of this humble scientist.
We speak of responsibility to the future, to our children's future, yet we refuse to take the next step as a civilization as a species to ensure that future.
Mars is the next step.
Mars is the future.
Dr.
Walzer I'm sure I speak for all of us when I say we appreciate your enthusiasm and your passion.
But all the proposals I see here are simply too expensive to be taken seriously at this time.
To say nothing of the danger involved.
- Perhaps, in the future - With all due respect, Mr.
Chairman.
What we're talking about here is akin to Columbus, upon discovering the New World, deciding to turn his ships around and never looking back.
Surely, his contemporaries also thought his voyage was too expensive and too dangerous.
Some might even have called it foolish.
But that journey is what led us to where we are today.
Not returning to the Americas after that first journey is unimaginable to us now.
I sit here before you and say that we are making that very mistake.
I think Christopher Columbus is just a little outside the purview of this committee, Dr.
- May I continue? - By all means.
Thank you.
If we go to Mars we should go there to stay.
By taking a long-term view and prioritizing sustainability my proposal for a manned Mars mission is a third the cost of NASA's July 1997 proposal.
Yes, just one second.
I've asked Dr.
Walzer to brief us on some of the unknowables we're dealing with here.
Doctor? Doctor Walzer? Yes.
Sorry.
Are you ready to begin? Begin? Uh, yes.
Please.
So.
Since we don't know the details of the mission architecture, I can only surmise based on what I believe to be the most sensible way to send people to Mars and survive on the surface.
As soon as we get in contact with the Russian authorities I'm sure they'll be able to confirm or correct some of the assumptions I've made here.
Ok, given the cost-prohibitive nature of most Mars mission proposals I'd say the mission was probably some variation of my living off the land approach for which I've advocated strongly for years.
What distinguishes my approach from more traditional approaches is in-situ resource utilization, on which I'll get into more detail a little bit later.
But this allows for immense savings in initial launch weight.
Counter-intuitively a mission of this type would be launched during Martian Conjunction, when Mars and the Earth are the greatest distance apart.
By doing this we take advantage of the Earth's inertia and substantially reduce fuel cost on our Trans-Mars-Injection maneuver saving, as i said, an immense amount of weight.
It's more than a fair trade-off, and I would argue, it's no more of a risk than a launch during Martian Opposition when the two planets are closest together.
Conventional thinking says this is the best time for a launch to Mars.
Because the thrust required I'm gonna stop you there, doctor.
What is this? - What's what? - I asked you for a briefing.
This sounds more like a sales pitch for your book.
In order to brief you, I have to All I need to know is if this Mars story is credible or not.
I'd say it is.
I told you that yesterday.
I need evidence, proof.
Not a science lesson.
Well I'm working on that.
Good.
Let me know when you have something.
Pioneer One 1x02 He's dying.
Cancer? Cancer is the least of his problems.
He's having a reaction to something And I can't for the life of me figure out what it is.
Everything I try seems to make things worse.
I thought it was an immunodeficiency disease but the whole of tests are coming up negative.
- What are your theories? - This isn't House, Mr.
Taylor.
I have some things I'm going to try but I'm not very optimistic.
This kid just isn't possible.
- Where did you say he was from? - I didn't.
Just keep at it.
Because if he dies it was all for nothing.
If it's worth anything, I think you did the right thing.
Yeah, I hope the review board sees it that way too.
It doesn't matter who he is or where he's from.
It's a person's life we're talking about.
Just take care of the kid, doctor.
I'm doing my best, but no promises.
Yeah.
Let me know if anything changes.
I hate when people say that to me.
You think I'm going to keep it to myself? You'd be surprised.
Yes, okay.
McClellan's office wants an ETA on the suspect.
- Tell them to call back.
- I think they meant they wanted it now.
Yeah and I want a cheeseburger.
We have to get them something.
It's the Deputy Secretary of Homeland.
I'm aware who it is on the other end of the god damn phone, Agent Larson.
I don't have anything new to tell them right now.
All due respect You can't dodge calls from the Deputy Secretary like it's a woman you're standing up on a date.
Thanks for making that distinction.
Is there anything else? Why are you doing what you're doing? Because we're no gonna find out what's really going on here - if we send him back as a terrorist.
- And how can you make that call? Because I'm the one making it.
Are you here or aren't you? - I'm here.
- Good.
Was there anything else? - No sir.
- Thank you Sofie.
- I think Dr.
Walzer would like to - Yeah.
- You want me to? - Please.
I didn't come here to be pushed around by you people.
I'm starting to think maybe it was a mistake to bring you in here.
Well, I'm sorry you feel that way.
But I'm here and I'm not leaving.
I'm sorry you feel that way.
Because that's not up to you.
You know I don't really understand why you brought me here in the first place.
I know you're not the brightest bunch but NASA still works for you don't they? Doctor Walzer.
Believe me when I say I don't have time to assuage your ego right now.
People I work for are more interested in showing that they're tough on terror than bringing anyone from NASA.
It may come as a surprise to you, but they don't believe this whole Martian business, and I can't say that I do either.
The problem is it's the only story that fits the facts right now.
From what you told me, that kid might represent the key to your life's work.
You can help him by helping me.
What.
No I'm not gonna come see, I'm on the phone just tell me.
Who? I'll be right there.
I apologize if this is a stupid question but - has anyone bothered to call the Russians? - We're not there yet.
Not there yet? They'll probably be able to tell us a lot of things we need to know.
It's not that simple.
As far as the United States government is concerned we're holding a terrorist.
One step at a time.
You want my help? This would help.
Sharing information helps.
That's how science works.
Unfortunately it's not how governments work.
Show me.
We've been getting a lot of questions from reporters having a hard time confirming the satellite story and this was just forwarded to me by one of the guys in the press gang.
It's a segment their local news ran about an hour ago.
Turn it up.
catch this whatever-it-is when we were going through our backlog of nightly images and I can tell you for sure it wasn't a satellite, and that it came from deep space.
Find him, get him off the TV and keep him away from the press Wait.
Find out who he is, get him here.
- You can't just do that.
- No? Where were you yesterday? It's the secretary's office.
The Russians are calling about their satellite.
Should I tell them to call back? They say they know where all of their satellites are and they didn't lose one.
They want to know what we know.
Luckily for me, I don't know much of anything and I wasn't about to tell them we have a cosmonaut from Mars But this would be a good opportunity for you to explain to me exactly what in the hell you think you're doing up there I thought by now you'd have the suspect on a plane.
I was assured by his doctors that a travel in his condition could be fatal.
I'd like our own people to be the judge of that.
I have no reason to doubt them.
Unfortunately for us the Canadians are getting uppity about their sovereignty.
Especially since no one can seem to find any documentation about their request to your office for assistance.
Things were moving very quickly, sir.
Of course.
But right now you're our only foothold there We'll stick with the satellite story for now since it's already out there.
But if the Russians think we have something that's theirs, they're going to want it back.
There's no way in hell we're going to hand anything over to them until we know what it is we've got.
If this turns out to be black market hardware that they let slip away we're not about to turn over the evidence so they can cover it up.
Yes sir.
You were never supposed to get anything this important.
But it landed in your lap.
The White House knows they can't afford to bungle this one or they won't make it to another term.
That means everyone's expendable.
No more surprises.
I expect you to step up.
You're to maintain constant communication with my office.
Get me? I do.
- Agent Larson.
Where is Director Taylor? - What's this about? I'm acting as an official representative of the Canadian government.
I need to speak to the person in charge of your operation.
He's in there.
- Who are you? - I'm Captain Benton.
Where's the guy I was dealing with yesterday, I liked that guy.
Captain Adrian's been promoted.
Since last night? He was on temporary duty here during the emergency.
What's this about? You should know I've been ordered to place you under arrest.
My government believes your operation is a violation of Canadian sovereignty I spoke directly with the Foreign Minister and told him that based on Captain Adrian's report I felt it was in Canada's interest not to rush till we have all the facts on the ground He agreed.
- Thank you very much.
- Thank Captain Adrian He believed you were doing the right thing.
Are you? - I believe we are, yes.
- Good.
Because my neck's on the line now too.
How much time do we have? Don't know.
But I'd move quickly if I were you.
- My men and women are at your disposal.
- Thank you.
- Anything new from the crash site? - Just more debris.
Clean-up operations are almost complete.
- Keep me updated.
- You do the same.
I've got it from here.
- Mr.
Anderson.
- Anderton.
With a 'T'.
Right.
Do you have those images with you? Sure do.
Anything I can do to help you guys out.
Good.
Between you and me, we can use it.
- Mr.
Anderton, this is dr - Holy, crap! You the Mars guy, aren't you? Zachary Walzer? Two Planets, One Future? That's right.
Anderton.
Clive Anderton.
I'm a big fan of yours.
Thank you, thank you.
It's nice to be appreciated.
What the hell have they got you up here for? - Did they pick you up in a helicopter too? - Who are you exactly? Clive.
Clive Anderton.
Call me Clive.
- I meant - I'm out of Goldstone in Arizona we work with Spaceguard tracking Near-Earth-Objects Asteroid hunters, you know.
Seems we spotted your whatever-it-is before it caught us and came down I guess they called me in to help you out.
I don't suppose you guys got a phone I could? I think I'm out of my coverage area - Oh.
Good, mister? - Anderton, call me Clive.
Tom Taylor, how are you? First, let me just say it's a privilege to be able to help you guys out I really admire what you do, if I may say so.
- Thank you very much.
- Pleasure's mine.
So, doctor You want to fill me in? Actually before we get to that we'll need you to sign a couple of documents - You don't have to sign that.
- He really does.
Of course, no problem, I understand.
National security and all that.
Where do I sign? Alrigth, I'll leave you to it.
Agent Larson will get you everything you need.
Zachary Walzer.
How 'bout that Who is this? Adlai DiLeo, sir, I'm with the Helena office.
Why am I talking to you? Where's Taylor? He's indisposed at the moment, sir, he asked me to How old are you? Are you really asking? No.
Where's Taylor? Director Taylor is with the suspect, sir.
Is he talking? I don't believe so, but he's, uh, doing better as I understand.
Better enough to be moved? - I wouldn't know, sir.
- Of course you wouldn't.
Is there anything I can pass on to Director Taylor for you? Yes.
Tell him the Canadians are threatening to close their borders.
I'm dispatching a team to extract the suspect before that happens.
They'll reach you there in six hours.
- Six hours? - That's right.
- Remind me again who I'm talking to? - Agent DiLeo, sir.
Fine.
Next time I call I want Taylor.
Yes sir.
I shouldn't be here.
I already have the password, I need the encryption key.
The encryption key.
I don't even know why we have to Okay.
Hang on.
Yeah, great, that worked.
Keep everything together while I'm gone.
I told you, I can't tell you where I am.
Official business.
Because I can't, that's why.
Ok, yeah, bye.
Here we go.
This is what we got.
That does look like it could be a Russian Soyuz.
That was my first thought too.
But coming from deep space? That doesn't make sense.
Pictures don't lie.
The trajectory I calculated had it miss us by a notable margin - So your calculations were wrong.
- They weren't.
I checked it three times and so did my staff.
It's our job to look for stuff like this.
These pictures are from Wednesday night.
At the time I made those calculations, they were correct.
So something must have changed between then and when it came down on Friday For the trajectory to have shallowed that much, it would have had to have slowed down.
Like it was trying to catch us.
- My god.
- I know.
This is it.
What? Proof.
What's this? A rock.
I can see that.
Why is it on my desk? This isn't just any rock.
It's a rock from Mars.
It looks pretty much like every rock I've ever seen.
Turn it over.
That's fossilized evidence of life on Mars.
The best evidence I've ever seen.
- Better than the ALH-84001 meteorite.
- The ALH-what? Here.
Back in 1996 NASA announced they had found microscopic evidence in meteorites - from Mars! - You carry this around in your wallet? It was big news, but this this is better.
This is definitive.
- You said these were found in the capsule? - Yeah.
It's a message.
They're sending us a message.
This is exactly what we'd hoped to find if we ever went there.
I'm sorry, doctor, you gonna have to do better than that.
Better than that? Listen to what I'm telling you.
I can't get go to my superiors with a bunch of rocks.
I need something definitive, like why that thing came down and spread radiation everywhere.
Obviously more than just the re-entry capsule came down.
The nuclear battery was probably inside the service module which is supposed to be ejected and left in space.
But it wasn't.
The whole thing re-entered.
- Could that have been intentional? - What? Could that have been done intentionally.
I don't follow.
Why would somebody do that? - To use as a weapon.
- That's insane.
These are the questions I'm going to be asked.
It's not wholly inconceivable but it's a hell of a stretch.
Yeah, you're right, a man from Mars is much less of a stretch.
Well I guess we'll find out when he starts talking.
I don't think we can count on that.
Why? Apparently his immune system has been compromised.
He's having a reaction to something, they can't figure out what.
If they can't figure out in time, well Well that would make sense.
- Why would that make sense? - Think about it, living in one of the most closed-off, anti-septic environments imaginable.
No acquired immunity to any of the germs you and I are exposed every day.
Never had a vaccination.
Never rolled around in the mud.
Never scraped his knee on the playground.
So what should we do? I'm saying they have to stop treating him like he's a normal human being.
He's not.
It's not a reaction to something, it's a reaction to everything.
Great.
You know, pretty soon I think you're going to have to decide what you believe.
- And what do you believe, doctor? - What I can see.
We have a kid with no acquired immunity who has cancer all throughout his body as if he's been exposed to intense amounts of cosmic radiation.
We have pictures of a space capsule coming toward the Earth from deep space.
We have rocks whose composition matches meteorites known to be from Mars.
What else do you need? Time.
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And that's what you gonna run? Okay.
Alright, well, listen, I gotta run, thanks.
Well, I got good news or bad news - depending on how you look at it.
- What? I just got off the phone with the science editor from The Times.
- As in New York Times? - No, as in South Podunk.
Yeah, sorry, The New York Times.
- They got the Mars story.
- Where did they get it? - Wouldn't reveal their source.
- And? They're not running it.
- Why not? - They don't believe it.
So the bad news is that we have a leak and the good news is that no one believes the real story is real.
- Correct.
- This is a strange day.
I'll tell him.
- South Podunk? - It was funnier in my head Listen, we are going to get some food in here at some point, yes? I would hope so.
That doesn't sound promising.
- Somebody leaked the story.
- What story? The one where we're holding a cosmonaut from Mars.
- And? - Vernon's guy says they're not running it.
- Why not? - They don't believe it's real.
Oh.
Well.
Good.
Yeah, good, but we can't have somebody going to the press behind our backs.
- Who do you think it was? - The same person you think.
- Yeah.
- He hasn't exactly been quiet about his displeasure with you.
Neither have you.
No, but that's my job at least partially.
That's fair.
You want me to talk to him? - No, I'll do it.
- I thought you'd be a little more upset.
- They're not running the story.
- Not yet.
So, what do you want me to do? I want you, sooner rather than later, to tell me what's going on inside your head.
- I don't know if we have that kind of time.
- I'm serious.
Right now everybody's going along with this because they trust you.
But there's only so much you can ask of them before they're gonna start questioning you.
If you recall, yesterday you were the one convincing me - there might be something to all this.
- I was simply pointing out the story we had was consistent with the facts.
I didn't say anything about ignoring orders and lying to the press.
- Well, for now I expect - For now I'm holding down the fort.
Thank you.
Everyone's starving, by the way.
Hello? Yeah, he's here.
It's for you.
Hello? Did you leak the story? What? A newspaper got a hold of the Mars story.
Did you tell them? - I don't know what you're talking about.
- Doesn't matter, they're not running it.
Why? They don't believe it's real.
- Really.
- Yeah.
Is that good or bad? A leak is definitely bad.
And any violation of the confidentiality agreement would have serious consequences.
I would think so.
Anyway, we're out of time.
About that.
Right before the Apollo 11 astronauts returned from the Moon Congress passed something called the Extra-Terrestrial Exposure Act.
It was to prevent any contamination by foreign microbes they might have picked up by placing them in a quarantine for two weeks.
- And? - Well if you're willing to accept that we're dealing with something from Mars there may be a legal requirement to place this entire area everything and everyone that's come into contact with the capsule or its occupant under quarantine.
If not under that law specifically then there's still a case to be made.
It's a good try, doctor, but I think we're out of time here.
I see.
You've made up your mind then.
What? - Are you still - I'm gonna have to call you back.
We've initiated a containment protocol.
But he's going to need a lot more care than I can deliver.
My god.
Not for nothing, but if you'd been straight with me from the beginning we could have avoided a lot of this.
I wasn't sure I believed it.
Belief has nothing to do with it.
I can't effectively treat a patient if i don't know everything there is to know about their history.
Don't keep anything from me again.
Again, again, again I'll refer you I'll refer you to our earlier statement.
Ladies and gentlemen Deputy Secretary Eric McClellan.
Good evening.
As you already know, a satellite crashed two nights ago near Edmonton in Canada.
It spread some of the nuclear material it used as a power source over parts of Montana state before crossing the U.
S.
/Canadian border.
It was for that reason that DHS agents from our Montana field office were dispatched to assist local Canadian authorities.
This was at the request of officials in the Canadian government.
Despite initial fears, all the information we have suggests that this was an accident that there was no hostile intention on the part of any nation or terrorist organization and that this is exactly what it appears to be.
It has been suggested that the satellite may have been of Soviet origin, a relic from a bygone era.
While we have not confirmed that we have been in communication with the Russian government through their embassy and I understand that the President spoke to Russian President by phone earlier this afternoon We are expecting their full cooperation in determining the origin of the satellite, if it is needed.
For now, the base in Calgary where the satellite debris has been collected is being placed under a strict quarantine.
Since the first affected areas were in the United States, the Canadian government has agreed to let the American task force, headed by Director Thomas Taylor, to remain in Calgary to continue the investigation for the duration of the quarantine.
I understand they will be issuing their own official statement shortly.
I wish to express my hope that the media refrain from sensationalizing this too much.
Not that that's ever happened before Seriously folks.
I know it's a juicy story, but there is really very little cause for alarm.
The situation well in hand, good night.
Mr.
secretary! Well, we're in it now.
I know none of you were expecting an extended stay up here.
But I think you'll all agree that these unique circumstances deserve a thorough and thoughtful investigation.
I also know that some of you may disagree with of how I've handled this matter thus far.
That's fair.
Feel free to file a report when we get back.
But for now I expect you to continue doing your jobs so we get to the bottom of this.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm expecting a phone call.
I'm to be your liaison with the Canadian government.
Everything you do goes through me - Fine.
- I have those call reports you asked about.
Two weeks.
- Sir? - You've got yourself two weeks.
Mainly because I'm not convinced the Russians aren't hiding something.
What, I don't know.
But at least I bought ourselves some time to find out.
By the way Your Extra-Terrestrial Exposure law was repealed twenty years ago.
The only reason the Canadians are going along with all this is because it seems you have an advocate in their government.
If you have any idea who I'd send them a fruit basket.
Yes sir.
One last thing.
This now involves three countries, and you don't set policy for this government on your own.
Are we clear? We are.
Oh, good, I was just looking for you.
There's something going on with the toilet in the mens' room, Mr.
Anderton I'm going to have to ask you to come with us.
What for? The waiver you signed prohibits making any unauthorized calls.
The logs indicate you made several calls out of the base That's right, I needed some information from my staff.
I don't suppose you know anyone at the news desk at The Times? Am I under arrest? No.
But I'm going to have to have you escorted off the base.
And if any more news leaks out that we didn't leak ourselves I know whose door to knock on.
Humanity's future lies in space.
We have the means to go there.
What we seem to lack is the will.
We could have been on Mars 20 years ago.
Why aren't we? We could be pushing the boundaries of a new frontier world.
Why aren't we? We could be sparking innovation and raising a whole new generation of dreamers who will push us even further than the generations that came before thought possible Honorable men and women of the committee: I come to you as an advocate for the very future of the human race.
Because that is what we are talking about here Not simply the future of our manned space program but the future of Man himself, in the most real and profound way possible.
And I for one will not sit idly by and watch us condemn that future to stagnation because we lacked the will or the imagination.
That future lies on Mars.
And if it's not us it'll be somebody else that gets there first.
Thank you.
There's food if you want.
I don't think I like that Clive guy very much.
Yeah, well, you'll be pleased to know he won't be working with us any longer.
Turns out he was our leak.
I apologize for accusing you.
What's the boy's name? I realize I never bothered to ask.
The note didn't say.
One of the many salient details it conveniently left out.
For now they're calling him Yuri.
Why Yuri? I don't know, seemed as good a name as any.
I wanted to thank you.
You saved the kid, not to mention my ass.
Not bad for government work.
You're welcome.
You know, it's funny before all of this started I was this close to putting in my letter of resignation.
Why? A lot of this job is about playing politics.
Turns out I don't really have the patience for playing politics.
Well I can understand that.
I need you to level with me, doctor.
What are we dealing with here? The evidence supports the boy's story.
I can't fathom why somebody would make something like that up.
But? As much as I want it to be true I can't quite accept it.
The odds of surviving something like that even under ideal circumstances there's a missing element.
But seeing that kid's face I don't know what to believe.
Yeah.
Hey f we're going to be here for a while, I'm going to need somebody to feed my dog.
I'll get right on that.
Are you sure it's a good idea to keep bringing new people? You're the nurse? That's me.
What's our cosmonaut friend hiding? - I don't have time to argue.
- That's a change.
- What is going on up here? - You wouldn't believe me if I told you.
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