seaQuest DSV (1993) s01e02 Episode Script
The Devil's Window
Beneath the crust of the Earth is an unimaginable heat so hot, rock melts and seeps through the ground in a liquefied state.
It's a mile and a half beneath us in a place no life should be able to exist.
This is where we are about to go.
We're about to reach into the birth canal of Mother Earth.
There they are.
Look at them, son.
Black smokers, tube worms.
I'm a hungry man.
Don't blink, they're a rare sight.
Ah! Hmm.
Can you eat this? There's a thought.
This is a hydrothermal vent.
An underwater volcano.
Seawater.
Lava.
Smoke.
Yes.
So what? That smoke is laced with the Earth's most carcinogenic minerals.
When a factory dumps them in a river, the river dies.
But here here they are dumped in their most concentrated form yet around them grows life.
Why? Is it the seawater? The 2 tons per square inch of pressure? Or is it something in the vent? What's in the vent are hundreds of species of bacteria we know nothing about.
They're living creatures.
They're deadly organisms.
Surviving organisms.
We're about to open the door on the how and why of their survival.
Or we are about to open Pandora's box.
Show me my platform, Nathan.
Beautiful, isn't she? Once the platform is anchored over the vent the heat emanating from the smoker is transformed into energy powering the platform's survey systems: spectral analysis, immunochemistry thermal evaluations.
An absolute dissection of a yet unexplored habitat.
It is exciting.
I mean, if this thing works we'll know in weeks what normally would have taken years.
Exactly.
On the other hand, we could wind up at the bottom of the ocean in little tiny bits.
SeaQuest wasn't designed to haul around your fantasies, Raleigh.
Is that Darwin? I don't know.
I let him out to eat, he's been roaming around since we got here.
Call him back in, Lucas.
We're going where stone roils and shrieks defiance as it's delivered into a gelatinous ooze swarming with the elements that cause life.
You can get off your soapbox now, Raleigh, the boy is gone.
Darwin.
SeaQuest, this is Seacrab One.
Container is ruptured.
Leaking core samples.
That's poison.
Jettison container.
Affirmative.
The 21st century.
Mankind has colonized the last unexplored region on Earth: the ocean.
As captain of the seaQuest and its crew, we are its guardians.
For beneath the surface, lies the future.
Boat stands ready, Captain.
Take her down, Commander.
Begin descent.
You know, it's aggravating enough diving through a thermocline without your platform attached to us, Raleigh.
I don't know how seaQuest is going to handle this.
She'll rise to the occasion.
One of our sea trucks was rising through that layer and ruptured the only sample container we had ready.
I don't think we should underestimate the severity of the temperature changes.
Are you losing your enthusiasm, Nathan? Not at all.
Just being realistic, that's all.
the thermocline.
Report.
Mount points positive.
WSKRS telemetry optimal.
Position us at alpha point.
Lateral strain? Within tolerance.
Mr.
Ortiz? Attitude trim and level.
Shear force is increasing.
Commander Hitchcock? Within tolerance.
Close that tank.
Aye, sir.
Counter board status.
Counter board status.
Hydraulic levels.
Four point niner.
Bring it in line.
Lock it down.
Locking down.
Hydrodynamic stress overload.
The helm is fighting, sir.
Mr.
Ortiz? Shear at tolerable limits.
Captain, structural stress 95%%.
If you need to, drop that platform, Commander You can't drop my platform.
Raleigh.
Drop it if you need to.
Helm can't hold depth.
Losing attitude control.
Rolling back through.
Yaw increasing.
You want to back off? Not yet, sir.
Commander Hitchcock, would you join me at the helm? Go ahead, I'll take it.
Thank you, sir.
Clear first seats, please.
Okay, forward planes neutral.
Planes neutral.
Roll two degrees starboard.
Midships' planes.
Five degrees climb.
Okay.
Five degrees.
Countersteer rudders.
I'm getting green indicators.
Descending.
550 meters.
Stabilizing.
The boat is clear and level.
All indicators are green.
SeaQuest is in position at alpha, Commander.
Great work.
Congratulations.
Way to go.
Nice work.
Close one.
Magnificent performance.
Yes.
But don't expect an encore.
Nathan, are you all right? I'm fine.
A little warm.
Captain! Something's wrong.
Kristin.
Get him to sea deck.
I'll prep diagnostics.
Quick.
Grab that rebreather.
Let's go.
Nathan, my platform! Kristin, you can't leave.
You're the senior science officer.
I'm also the chief physician.
I think Darwin talked to me, in my head, on the bridge.
I heard it, too, but it wasn't clear.
It scared me.
Where are we? I don't know.
I failed to put directions down here.
Must be a design flaw.
Well, what are we going to do? It's all right, Tim.
We're going to dive down below the wall.
Oh.
And the light is the continuation of the tunnel.
All right? Okay.
All right, now, Darwin.
You're going to do the same thing.
You're going to dive down underneath the wall and follow the tunnel to the end.
Swim to the end.
All right? I think you better take a nice big breath.
Here we go.
Saline drip? Hypodermics? Good.
Where are they? It's not working.
Calm down.
Take it easy.
Take it easy.
We've got 10 minutes of air left.
Okay, okay.
Now just breathe slower.
Okay, give it a hoist.
That's it, Mike, that's it.
Bring it around.
Darwin.
Elevate it slowly.
Let's keep him level.
Flip around this end to me.
Get that cradle done up.
Where's that hypodermic? Thank you.
Okay, hold still.
Darwin.
Darwin.
You're going to be all right, my friend.
What's wrong? You're going to be all right.
I've taken the specimen What's the diagnosis? We don't have one.
So I'm pumping him full of antibiotics and monitoring his vital systems.
Shouldn't you be on the Bridge? Ford can handle that.
And Raleigh? Ford can handle him, too.
Thanks.
How you doing? I can't get this to work.
Let me see.
Darwin, what's wrong? Darwin's sick.
Seems all right.
What kind of sickness? Dark.
What's dark? Light is dark and one.
He keeps saying that: "Light is dark and one.
" I have no idea what he's talking about.
Is it the computer, or is he really saying that? I don't know.
It's beta software and it's not finished.
I'm sorry.
I'm just past the edge of what I understand here.
It's okay.
Come on.
You're doing fine.
How is he? He's sick.
How about you? Can I pet him? Sure.
I'm fluent in six languages, okay in a dozen more but when Darwin talks or thinks at me, I feel like it's coming at right angles.
We have to let him go.
The light is dark and one.
Yes, sir.
I can't call this man, he's crazy.
Yes.
Nathan, Darwin's white cell count is extremely high and climbing.
I don't know if I can stabilize him.
What's the matter with him? It may be viral.
It may be bacterial.
I don't know.
Thank you.
Nathan.
This project is much larger than tube worms and black smokers.
We're reaching into the very skeletal system of the Earth.
This is a model of a magma buoy.
It's a ceramic alloy designed to withstand extreme levels of heat found in the subsurface river of lava.
This is the most essential element of our mission.
Why didn't I know about this? It has to remain classified until we get it in the magma flow.
Because we don't know where or when it will spit out.
Nathan, think of it.
If this works It can anticipate volcanic stresses, earthquakes.
Exactly.
It's brilliant.
But it's going to have to wait a few days.
But, Nathan A member of my crew is sick and that comes first.
Come on, Downy, come on.
Malcolm? Hello? Malcolm Lansdowne? I don't know.
Does he owe you money? It's Nathan Bridger, you clown.
Good heavens.
Nathan, where have you been? Are you in jail? I'm on a submarine.
Oh, yeah, right, I heard, seaQuest.
Hey, I want you to meet my mom.
Mom.
Nathan, this is Mom.
Hi, Mom.
Emile, Bill, don't be shy.
Don't be shy.
Emile, Bill, meet Nathan.
Hello.
How are you? Family barbecue.
Once a year sort of thing.
Mom blimps over, stays the week brings the cousins, enjoys the sunshine.
Malcolm, listen to me.
Darwin is very sick.
I think he may be dying.
Let me get this in the other room.
Symptoms? Elevated white cell count.
His color is off.
Fever.
My medical chief thinks it's bacterial or viral.
Usually takes a postmortem to tell.
Where's he been? On seaQuest, mainly.
Contact with other dolphins? No.
Not that I'm aware of.
Exactly what part of what oceans have you been in recently? There was a red tide off the Yucátan.
No.
Nowhere near that.
Bad oil spill in Bahrain? No.
We've been in the equatorial Mid-Atlantic.
I need to see him, Nathan.
Well, can't you You're just around the corner.
I need to see him.
I'll get back to you.
Where are we? Two hours to get the platform down.
Eight to ten to secure it.
Can we release the platform now? I suppose so.
Are you mad? We can't drop it.
The placement's critical.
It's right over the black smoker, exactly where it's supposed to be.
Let it go.
Nathan! It's not going anywhere, Raleigh.
No, you will not! Set course for Caicos Key.
Nathan! Who gave you the authority? You can't play God.
Next stop, sea deck.
I've invested years, teams of scientists billions of dollars, the UEO, for what? So that you could toss it away for a dolphin? A member of my crew.
In some parts of the world that crew member is an ingredient in bouillabaisse.
Please wait for full stop.
Sea deck.
You're not a scientist.
You're a self-absorbed, egomaniacal dictator.
This boat isn't your personal fiefdom.
Look him in the eye.
I'll do no such thing Look him in the eye! Light is dark and one.
Relieve him of command! He's irrational.
Commander Ford? I don't agree, Admiral.
Dr.
Westphalen? He's distraught, withdrawn, even belligerent.
But not irrational.
Dr.
Young, I promise your project won't suffer for a few days' wait.
I can't be snowed with promises, Admiral.
I'll go to Secretary General Dre.
I'll not be given the runaround by a flock of vapid lackeys.
I'll wait for your apology, Doctor.
Very well.
I'm sorry.
Thank you.
I share your concerns, but Captain Bridger must have a good reason for his actions.
He most certainly does! He's lost his mind.
Driving all over the sea searching for spiritual dolphin healing.
I'm sorry I didn't bring my own personal astrologer along.
Dr.
Young, Captain Bridger retains my full confidence.
Until I see good reason to think otherwise, his decisions are final aboard seaQuest.
Thank you, and good day.
Get me the Secretary General.
I want to speak to Secretary Dre! Which one of these buttons? You had better lie down.
You're going to give yourself a heart attack.
Commander Ford.
Ford, here.
We're at the Caicos Key outer sonar ring, sir.
Commander, could Chief Ortiz please send a WSKR to give us something tranquil to look at? Chief.
I have one near a reef now, sir.
Channel seven Bravo.
Thank you.
Thanks.
Come on.
Please sit down for a while.
There we go.
There we go.
There we are.
I'm going to dial up an outside view.
Some soft music.
That's better.
Everyone's abandoned me.
My whole life, whatever it was if I didn't clutch on like a drowning man, I'd lose it.
You've accomplished a great deal.
Don't go popping a vessel now.
You won't be around to enjoy it.
How can I stop struggling now? You just relax.
You just relax.
Be strong, my friend.
Darwin understands.
Understands what? Darwin sick.
Bridger hurts? Yes.
Why? I want you to be well.
Light is dark, except "Except"? What does that mean, "except"? Bridger is family.
You're family, too.
You really are.
Darwin loves Bridger.
I love you, too.
Okay, let's go.
Nice and gently.
Take the IV please.
Stop and lower.
My, don't you look terrible.
A little elbow room here, please.
Nothing you haven't seen before.
Well, the breath's not bad, it's not respiratory.
I've done a complete blood history.
And you've got him on antibiotics? Including cyclines and sulfas.
And you got no response from white cell count or T-cells? That's right.
Well, it doesn't make my life any easier.
Watch out.
Watch out.
Get a urine sample.
Marine veterinary medicine is about as sophisticated as voodoo.
Nathan, why don't you all get a bite to eat in the kitchen.
I'll find you later.
Thanks, Downy.
Dr.
Westphalen.
I could use your help.
Come in.
You all right, Doctor? Just fine, thank you.
I thought you might like some lunch.
That would be nice.
You're sure you're all right? Commander, I assure you, I'm just fine.
Nathan.
Come walk with me.
He's going to die, isn't he? Yeah.
I think so.
I looked at Dr.
Westphalen's results.
I'll know more in a few hours, but I wouldn't expect much.
It's just that we've learned so little about how they heal themselves.
I wish I could tell you otherwise.
So, you want a beer? Sure.
Is that Raleigh Young? He's been aboard the seaQuest running a project for a couple of weeks.
I really feel sorry for Lucas.
Darwin's the closest thing he's had to a pal.
It's going to be very hard on him.
Raleigh, you know Malcolm Lansdowne? Well, I, guess I'll be heading back.
Why don't you ask him to stay, Nathan? Lucas, stick around.
Yeah, sure.
Sit down.
I'll get you a beer.
He's only 16, Downy.
I'll get him two.
Nathan.
I understand why you've done what you've done.
I don't agree with it, but I understand it.
I'll suffer the wait.
Thanks, Raleigh.
How long? Raleigh So what would we like to hear? Blues? New Orleans jazz? Zydeco? I haven't bought anything new since they stopped making CDs.
Not to be rhetorical, but where are we? Don't you have island music? Tourist.
Jamaican ginger beer.
No alcohol.
Plenty of bite.
Thank you.
Is your dolphin going to die? Probably.
How long? I don't know.
Death doesn't punch a clock.
Can't you feel anything when you look at Darwin? Don't you know he's a thinking and feeling creature that's hurt and scared? The importance of my work Your work is an inanimate object.
You're a selfish old man.
Boys.
Boys.
You strip away the education the billions of dollars worth of machinery, what do you got? Us.
A couple of bucks' worth of chemicals.
Who understands any of it? Life.
And death.
To beer.
The light is dark and one.
What? Lucas is our computer whiz.
He's designed a program to translate Darwin's clicks and whistles.
You mean he can speak and understand English? A little bit.
Sometimes.
It's experimental.
Amazing.
What does he say? Since he's been sick all he says is "Light is dark and one.
" Incredible.
Knowledge is light.
Then darkness is the absence of knowledge.
He's faced with losing everything he knows.
And one? And one is alone.
"Light is dark and one.
" He doesn't want to die alone.
We have to let him go.
He's too weak to swim.
No.
Dolphins will support a member of their pod if they're hurt.
You can find Darwin's pod, his community, and return him to it.
You didn't find him far from here.
His pod could be anywhere within hundreds of miles from here.
Find the signature whistles.
You've got Darwin's recorded.
Search for familial similarities.
We can configure the sonar.
I could program the computers.
Try, Nathan.
You must.
Status, Mr.
Ortiz? Feeding acoustic data directly into communications.
Lieutenant? We're getting responses, Captain, but there's nothing even close.
There's a pod out there, but it's not Darwin's.
This is amazing.
When dolphins bear their young the females usually stay with their mother.
Their signature whistles change slightly so they can tell each other apart.
The males usually leave.
Their whistles don't change, so they can find their way back home again.
How's he doing? He hears the whistles, but he doesn't seem to care.
WSKRS five at the limit of its range, Captain.
Send it west.
Nathan.
Nathan, something's happening.
Repeat Darwin's call.
Careful.
Quickly.
Get him.
This has to be his pod.
It has to be.
Captain, I think we found Darwin's mother.
Darwin's mother for sure? According to the text.
Underneath.
Underneath.
Come on, let's go.
Stay still, baby.
All right, I got him in the back here.
Darwin.
The dolphin pod is moving towards us, Captain.
Let's meet them halfway.
Nathan, get down here.
What's wrong? Darwin's having a seizure.
We can't restrain him.
He's going to hurt himself or us.
On my way.
Captain.
Come on.
Let's go.
Watch his head.
All right, we can let him go.
Let him go.
Everyone out.
Everyone get out.
Open the pressure door and shut off the sonar relay.
Bridger.
Bridger.
Just go.
Go.
Shut the door.
Pressurize the moonpool.
Captain, we're approaching the pod.
Thank you, Commander.
Open the hull doors.
Let him out of the boat.
Captain, it's the WSKRS that followed the pod.
That's Darwin.
Where're they taking him? I don't know.
Should I have the WSKRS follow them, Captain? No, no.
We've delayed Dr.
Young long enough.
Commander.
Captain.
Set a course for the black smoker.
Aye, sir.
Do you think they can help him? I couldn't even guess.
But at least he's going home.
We must test the sample containers again.
I will not risk a repeat performance of the rupture during the initial survey.
That was an aberration, I tell you.
Not a single sample comes up until I am satisfied with the tests.
Another day's delay.
What does it matter after all these years? Raleigh, go eat.
Go fill your mouth with something other than words.
Mmm.
Don't worry, I'll survive.
Sir, we've just completed the final checks of the platform systems.
The first new set of sample containers from the smoker will be coming aboard shortly.
Sir, you're really depressing everybody.
Very good.
Thank you.
I'll go down to the moonpool.
Maybe some heavy lifting will be good for me.
Dr.
Westphalen.
Doctor, you have a call from Malcolm Lansdowne in the wardroom.
What are you doing out there? What do you mean? I mean, I've identified some of the bacterial agents in Darwin's blood.
You're working a black smoker.
I don't care if it's classified.
What do you want, a letter from my mom? The bacteria I can identify have only been found living around black smokers.
There's probably a dozen species in here no one's ever seen.
You saw what it did to your dolphin.
You got anyone else out there playing with the stuff? They're bringing up the first containers of it now.
I'd say you've got a problem, Doctor.
This is Dr.
Westphalen.
Can you hear me? Can you hear me? Don't touch the sample containers.
It's so nice to have you back.
Well, hello, Mama.
Thank you.
Okay, it's seaweed.
Mostly.
But there are indications of antibacterial properties, inducing hints that it grew near a black smoker.
But dolphins can't dive down that deep.
If we knew all the answers we wouldn't be scientists, we'd be gods.
Do you know, I think it may be some kind of dolphin medicine.
And Darwin's mom has brought it to us, like chicken soup.
Yes.
Listen, Raleigh's about to send his magma buoy into a smoker.
Do you want to come along? I think I'll carry on working.
I don't think that Raleigh or his ceramic suppository will mind my absence.
Ooh.
Why did you bring us the seaweed, Darwin? Swim.
Anything yet? He wants to swim, I guess.
Swim, Lucas.
Swim, Bridger.
Lucas will swim with you.
I'll swim with you later.
What's the seaweed for? Open dark.
Don't look at me.
Why doesn't that thing work better? I guess Darwin doesn't think like us.
The program can only translate what it understands.
Objects and material things are easy.
This is a red box.
Swim through the tunnel.
It's the irrational, the abstract that's confusing.
How do you explain joy? "Open dark" is the computer's effort to attach meaning to something that we feel but don't really understand.
Lieutenant.
You know, I haven't felt anything from Darwin since the Bridge.
I feel like I glimpsed at something wonderful and had it taken away.
Stand by.
Dr.
Young? Release the magma buoy.
Godspeed on its quest.
Hello, I'm Bob Ballard director for the Center for Marine Exploration at Woods Hole.
In 1979, we discovered the black smokers you saw on this week's episode in 9,000 feet of water.
The water is hot enough to melt lead and contains toxic gas which support exotic bacteria.
Bacterial scientists are trying to use to process the pollution we create.
See you on the next adventure of seaQuest.
It's a mile and a half beneath us in a place no life should be able to exist.
This is where we are about to go.
We're about to reach into the birth canal of Mother Earth.
There they are.
Look at them, son.
Black smokers, tube worms.
I'm a hungry man.
Don't blink, they're a rare sight.
Ah! Hmm.
Can you eat this? There's a thought.
This is a hydrothermal vent.
An underwater volcano.
Seawater.
Lava.
Smoke.
Yes.
So what? That smoke is laced with the Earth's most carcinogenic minerals.
When a factory dumps them in a river, the river dies.
But here here they are dumped in their most concentrated form yet around them grows life.
Why? Is it the seawater? The 2 tons per square inch of pressure? Or is it something in the vent? What's in the vent are hundreds of species of bacteria we know nothing about.
They're living creatures.
They're deadly organisms.
Surviving organisms.
We're about to open the door on the how and why of their survival.
Or we are about to open Pandora's box.
Show me my platform, Nathan.
Beautiful, isn't she? Once the platform is anchored over the vent the heat emanating from the smoker is transformed into energy powering the platform's survey systems: spectral analysis, immunochemistry thermal evaluations.
An absolute dissection of a yet unexplored habitat.
It is exciting.
I mean, if this thing works we'll know in weeks what normally would have taken years.
Exactly.
On the other hand, we could wind up at the bottom of the ocean in little tiny bits.
SeaQuest wasn't designed to haul around your fantasies, Raleigh.
Is that Darwin? I don't know.
I let him out to eat, he's been roaming around since we got here.
Call him back in, Lucas.
We're going where stone roils and shrieks defiance as it's delivered into a gelatinous ooze swarming with the elements that cause life.
You can get off your soapbox now, Raleigh, the boy is gone.
Darwin.
SeaQuest, this is Seacrab One.
Container is ruptured.
Leaking core samples.
That's poison.
Jettison container.
Affirmative.
The 21st century.
Mankind has colonized the last unexplored region on Earth: the ocean.
As captain of the seaQuest and its crew, we are its guardians.
For beneath the surface, lies the future.
Boat stands ready, Captain.
Take her down, Commander.
Begin descent.
You know, it's aggravating enough diving through a thermocline without your platform attached to us, Raleigh.
I don't know how seaQuest is going to handle this.
She'll rise to the occasion.
One of our sea trucks was rising through that layer and ruptured the only sample container we had ready.
I don't think we should underestimate the severity of the temperature changes.
Are you losing your enthusiasm, Nathan? Not at all.
Just being realistic, that's all.
the thermocline.
Report.
Mount points positive.
WSKRS telemetry optimal.
Position us at alpha point.
Lateral strain? Within tolerance.
Mr.
Ortiz? Attitude trim and level.
Shear force is increasing.
Commander Hitchcock? Within tolerance.
Close that tank.
Aye, sir.
Counter board status.
Counter board status.
Hydraulic levels.
Four point niner.
Bring it in line.
Lock it down.
Locking down.
Hydrodynamic stress overload.
The helm is fighting, sir.
Mr.
Ortiz? Shear at tolerable limits.
Captain, structural stress 95%%.
If you need to, drop that platform, Commander You can't drop my platform.
Raleigh.
Drop it if you need to.
Helm can't hold depth.
Losing attitude control.
Rolling back through.
Yaw increasing.
You want to back off? Not yet, sir.
Commander Hitchcock, would you join me at the helm? Go ahead, I'll take it.
Thank you, sir.
Clear first seats, please.
Okay, forward planes neutral.
Planes neutral.
Roll two degrees starboard.
Midships' planes.
Five degrees climb.
Okay.
Five degrees.
Countersteer rudders.
I'm getting green indicators.
Descending.
550 meters.
Stabilizing.
The boat is clear and level.
All indicators are green.
SeaQuest is in position at alpha, Commander.
Great work.
Congratulations.
Way to go.
Nice work.
Close one.
Magnificent performance.
Yes.
But don't expect an encore.
Nathan, are you all right? I'm fine.
A little warm.
Captain! Something's wrong.
Kristin.
Get him to sea deck.
I'll prep diagnostics.
Quick.
Grab that rebreather.
Let's go.
Nathan, my platform! Kristin, you can't leave.
You're the senior science officer.
I'm also the chief physician.
I think Darwin talked to me, in my head, on the bridge.
I heard it, too, but it wasn't clear.
It scared me.
Where are we? I don't know.
I failed to put directions down here.
Must be a design flaw.
Well, what are we going to do? It's all right, Tim.
We're going to dive down below the wall.
Oh.
And the light is the continuation of the tunnel.
All right? Okay.
All right, now, Darwin.
You're going to do the same thing.
You're going to dive down underneath the wall and follow the tunnel to the end.
Swim to the end.
All right? I think you better take a nice big breath.
Here we go.
Saline drip? Hypodermics? Good.
Where are they? It's not working.
Calm down.
Take it easy.
Take it easy.
We've got 10 minutes of air left.
Okay, okay.
Now just breathe slower.
Okay, give it a hoist.
That's it, Mike, that's it.
Bring it around.
Darwin.
Elevate it slowly.
Let's keep him level.
Flip around this end to me.
Get that cradle done up.
Where's that hypodermic? Thank you.
Okay, hold still.
Darwin.
Darwin.
You're going to be all right, my friend.
What's wrong? You're going to be all right.
I've taken the specimen What's the diagnosis? We don't have one.
So I'm pumping him full of antibiotics and monitoring his vital systems.
Shouldn't you be on the Bridge? Ford can handle that.
And Raleigh? Ford can handle him, too.
Thanks.
How you doing? I can't get this to work.
Let me see.
Darwin, what's wrong? Darwin's sick.
Seems all right.
What kind of sickness? Dark.
What's dark? Light is dark and one.
He keeps saying that: "Light is dark and one.
" I have no idea what he's talking about.
Is it the computer, or is he really saying that? I don't know.
It's beta software and it's not finished.
I'm sorry.
I'm just past the edge of what I understand here.
It's okay.
Come on.
You're doing fine.
How is he? He's sick.
How about you? Can I pet him? Sure.
I'm fluent in six languages, okay in a dozen more but when Darwin talks or thinks at me, I feel like it's coming at right angles.
We have to let him go.
The light is dark and one.
Yes, sir.
I can't call this man, he's crazy.
Yes.
Nathan, Darwin's white cell count is extremely high and climbing.
I don't know if I can stabilize him.
What's the matter with him? It may be viral.
It may be bacterial.
I don't know.
Thank you.
Nathan.
This project is much larger than tube worms and black smokers.
We're reaching into the very skeletal system of the Earth.
This is a model of a magma buoy.
It's a ceramic alloy designed to withstand extreme levels of heat found in the subsurface river of lava.
This is the most essential element of our mission.
Why didn't I know about this? It has to remain classified until we get it in the magma flow.
Because we don't know where or when it will spit out.
Nathan, think of it.
If this works It can anticipate volcanic stresses, earthquakes.
Exactly.
It's brilliant.
But it's going to have to wait a few days.
But, Nathan A member of my crew is sick and that comes first.
Come on, Downy, come on.
Malcolm? Hello? Malcolm Lansdowne? I don't know.
Does he owe you money? It's Nathan Bridger, you clown.
Good heavens.
Nathan, where have you been? Are you in jail? I'm on a submarine.
Oh, yeah, right, I heard, seaQuest.
Hey, I want you to meet my mom.
Mom.
Nathan, this is Mom.
Hi, Mom.
Emile, Bill, don't be shy.
Don't be shy.
Emile, Bill, meet Nathan.
Hello.
How are you? Family barbecue.
Once a year sort of thing.
Mom blimps over, stays the week brings the cousins, enjoys the sunshine.
Malcolm, listen to me.
Darwin is very sick.
I think he may be dying.
Let me get this in the other room.
Symptoms? Elevated white cell count.
His color is off.
Fever.
My medical chief thinks it's bacterial or viral.
Usually takes a postmortem to tell.
Where's he been? On seaQuest, mainly.
Contact with other dolphins? No.
Not that I'm aware of.
Exactly what part of what oceans have you been in recently? There was a red tide off the Yucátan.
No.
Nowhere near that.
Bad oil spill in Bahrain? No.
We've been in the equatorial Mid-Atlantic.
I need to see him, Nathan.
Well, can't you You're just around the corner.
I need to see him.
I'll get back to you.
Where are we? Two hours to get the platform down.
Eight to ten to secure it.
Can we release the platform now? I suppose so.
Are you mad? We can't drop it.
The placement's critical.
It's right over the black smoker, exactly where it's supposed to be.
Let it go.
Nathan! It's not going anywhere, Raleigh.
No, you will not! Set course for Caicos Key.
Nathan! Who gave you the authority? You can't play God.
Next stop, sea deck.
I've invested years, teams of scientists billions of dollars, the UEO, for what? So that you could toss it away for a dolphin? A member of my crew.
In some parts of the world that crew member is an ingredient in bouillabaisse.
Please wait for full stop.
Sea deck.
You're not a scientist.
You're a self-absorbed, egomaniacal dictator.
This boat isn't your personal fiefdom.
Look him in the eye.
I'll do no such thing Look him in the eye! Light is dark and one.
Relieve him of command! He's irrational.
Commander Ford? I don't agree, Admiral.
Dr.
Westphalen? He's distraught, withdrawn, even belligerent.
But not irrational.
Dr.
Young, I promise your project won't suffer for a few days' wait.
I can't be snowed with promises, Admiral.
I'll go to Secretary General Dre.
I'll not be given the runaround by a flock of vapid lackeys.
I'll wait for your apology, Doctor.
Very well.
I'm sorry.
Thank you.
I share your concerns, but Captain Bridger must have a good reason for his actions.
He most certainly does! He's lost his mind.
Driving all over the sea searching for spiritual dolphin healing.
I'm sorry I didn't bring my own personal astrologer along.
Dr.
Young, Captain Bridger retains my full confidence.
Until I see good reason to think otherwise, his decisions are final aboard seaQuest.
Thank you, and good day.
Get me the Secretary General.
I want to speak to Secretary Dre! Which one of these buttons? You had better lie down.
You're going to give yourself a heart attack.
Commander Ford.
Ford, here.
We're at the Caicos Key outer sonar ring, sir.
Commander, could Chief Ortiz please send a WSKR to give us something tranquil to look at? Chief.
I have one near a reef now, sir.
Channel seven Bravo.
Thank you.
Thanks.
Come on.
Please sit down for a while.
There we go.
There we go.
There we are.
I'm going to dial up an outside view.
Some soft music.
That's better.
Everyone's abandoned me.
My whole life, whatever it was if I didn't clutch on like a drowning man, I'd lose it.
You've accomplished a great deal.
Don't go popping a vessel now.
You won't be around to enjoy it.
How can I stop struggling now? You just relax.
You just relax.
Be strong, my friend.
Darwin understands.
Understands what? Darwin sick.
Bridger hurts? Yes.
Why? I want you to be well.
Light is dark, except "Except"? What does that mean, "except"? Bridger is family.
You're family, too.
You really are.
Darwin loves Bridger.
I love you, too.
Okay, let's go.
Nice and gently.
Take the IV please.
Stop and lower.
My, don't you look terrible.
A little elbow room here, please.
Nothing you haven't seen before.
Well, the breath's not bad, it's not respiratory.
I've done a complete blood history.
And you've got him on antibiotics? Including cyclines and sulfas.
And you got no response from white cell count or T-cells? That's right.
Well, it doesn't make my life any easier.
Watch out.
Watch out.
Get a urine sample.
Marine veterinary medicine is about as sophisticated as voodoo.
Nathan, why don't you all get a bite to eat in the kitchen.
I'll find you later.
Thanks, Downy.
Dr.
Westphalen.
I could use your help.
Come in.
You all right, Doctor? Just fine, thank you.
I thought you might like some lunch.
That would be nice.
You're sure you're all right? Commander, I assure you, I'm just fine.
Nathan.
Come walk with me.
He's going to die, isn't he? Yeah.
I think so.
I looked at Dr.
Westphalen's results.
I'll know more in a few hours, but I wouldn't expect much.
It's just that we've learned so little about how they heal themselves.
I wish I could tell you otherwise.
So, you want a beer? Sure.
Is that Raleigh Young? He's been aboard the seaQuest running a project for a couple of weeks.
I really feel sorry for Lucas.
Darwin's the closest thing he's had to a pal.
It's going to be very hard on him.
Raleigh, you know Malcolm Lansdowne? Well, I, guess I'll be heading back.
Why don't you ask him to stay, Nathan? Lucas, stick around.
Yeah, sure.
Sit down.
I'll get you a beer.
He's only 16, Downy.
I'll get him two.
Nathan.
I understand why you've done what you've done.
I don't agree with it, but I understand it.
I'll suffer the wait.
Thanks, Raleigh.
How long? Raleigh So what would we like to hear? Blues? New Orleans jazz? Zydeco? I haven't bought anything new since they stopped making CDs.
Not to be rhetorical, but where are we? Don't you have island music? Tourist.
Jamaican ginger beer.
No alcohol.
Plenty of bite.
Thank you.
Is your dolphin going to die? Probably.
How long? I don't know.
Death doesn't punch a clock.
Can't you feel anything when you look at Darwin? Don't you know he's a thinking and feeling creature that's hurt and scared? The importance of my work Your work is an inanimate object.
You're a selfish old man.
Boys.
Boys.
You strip away the education the billions of dollars worth of machinery, what do you got? Us.
A couple of bucks' worth of chemicals.
Who understands any of it? Life.
And death.
To beer.
The light is dark and one.
What? Lucas is our computer whiz.
He's designed a program to translate Darwin's clicks and whistles.
You mean he can speak and understand English? A little bit.
Sometimes.
It's experimental.
Amazing.
What does he say? Since he's been sick all he says is "Light is dark and one.
" Incredible.
Knowledge is light.
Then darkness is the absence of knowledge.
He's faced with losing everything he knows.
And one? And one is alone.
"Light is dark and one.
" He doesn't want to die alone.
We have to let him go.
He's too weak to swim.
No.
Dolphins will support a member of their pod if they're hurt.
You can find Darwin's pod, his community, and return him to it.
You didn't find him far from here.
His pod could be anywhere within hundreds of miles from here.
Find the signature whistles.
You've got Darwin's recorded.
Search for familial similarities.
We can configure the sonar.
I could program the computers.
Try, Nathan.
You must.
Status, Mr.
Ortiz? Feeding acoustic data directly into communications.
Lieutenant? We're getting responses, Captain, but there's nothing even close.
There's a pod out there, but it's not Darwin's.
This is amazing.
When dolphins bear their young the females usually stay with their mother.
Their signature whistles change slightly so they can tell each other apart.
The males usually leave.
Their whistles don't change, so they can find their way back home again.
How's he doing? He hears the whistles, but he doesn't seem to care.
WSKRS five at the limit of its range, Captain.
Send it west.
Nathan.
Nathan, something's happening.
Repeat Darwin's call.
Careful.
Quickly.
Get him.
This has to be his pod.
It has to be.
Captain, I think we found Darwin's mother.
Darwin's mother for sure? According to the text.
Underneath.
Underneath.
Come on, let's go.
Stay still, baby.
All right, I got him in the back here.
Darwin.
The dolphin pod is moving towards us, Captain.
Let's meet them halfway.
Nathan, get down here.
What's wrong? Darwin's having a seizure.
We can't restrain him.
He's going to hurt himself or us.
On my way.
Captain.
Come on.
Let's go.
Watch his head.
All right, we can let him go.
Let him go.
Everyone out.
Everyone get out.
Open the pressure door and shut off the sonar relay.
Bridger.
Bridger.
Just go.
Go.
Shut the door.
Pressurize the moonpool.
Captain, we're approaching the pod.
Thank you, Commander.
Open the hull doors.
Let him out of the boat.
Captain, it's the WSKRS that followed the pod.
That's Darwin.
Where're they taking him? I don't know.
Should I have the WSKRS follow them, Captain? No, no.
We've delayed Dr.
Young long enough.
Commander.
Captain.
Set a course for the black smoker.
Aye, sir.
Do you think they can help him? I couldn't even guess.
But at least he's going home.
We must test the sample containers again.
I will not risk a repeat performance of the rupture during the initial survey.
That was an aberration, I tell you.
Not a single sample comes up until I am satisfied with the tests.
Another day's delay.
What does it matter after all these years? Raleigh, go eat.
Go fill your mouth with something other than words.
Mmm.
Don't worry, I'll survive.
Sir, we've just completed the final checks of the platform systems.
The first new set of sample containers from the smoker will be coming aboard shortly.
Sir, you're really depressing everybody.
Very good.
Thank you.
I'll go down to the moonpool.
Maybe some heavy lifting will be good for me.
Dr.
Westphalen.
Doctor, you have a call from Malcolm Lansdowne in the wardroom.
What are you doing out there? What do you mean? I mean, I've identified some of the bacterial agents in Darwin's blood.
You're working a black smoker.
I don't care if it's classified.
What do you want, a letter from my mom? The bacteria I can identify have only been found living around black smokers.
There's probably a dozen species in here no one's ever seen.
You saw what it did to your dolphin.
You got anyone else out there playing with the stuff? They're bringing up the first containers of it now.
I'd say you've got a problem, Doctor.
This is Dr.
Westphalen.
Can you hear me? Can you hear me? Don't touch the sample containers.
It's so nice to have you back.
Well, hello, Mama.
Thank you.
Okay, it's seaweed.
Mostly.
But there are indications of antibacterial properties, inducing hints that it grew near a black smoker.
But dolphins can't dive down that deep.
If we knew all the answers we wouldn't be scientists, we'd be gods.
Do you know, I think it may be some kind of dolphin medicine.
And Darwin's mom has brought it to us, like chicken soup.
Yes.
Listen, Raleigh's about to send his magma buoy into a smoker.
Do you want to come along? I think I'll carry on working.
I don't think that Raleigh or his ceramic suppository will mind my absence.
Ooh.
Why did you bring us the seaweed, Darwin? Swim.
Anything yet? He wants to swim, I guess.
Swim, Lucas.
Swim, Bridger.
Lucas will swim with you.
I'll swim with you later.
What's the seaweed for? Open dark.
Don't look at me.
Why doesn't that thing work better? I guess Darwin doesn't think like us.
The program can only translate what it understands.
Objects and material things are easy.
This is a red box.
Swim through the tunnel.
It's the irrational, the abstract that's confusing.
How do you explain joy? "Open dark" is the computer's effort to attach meaning to something that we feel but don't really understand.
Lieutenant.
You know, I haven't felt anything from Darwin since the Bridge.
I feel like I glimpsed at something wonderful and had it taken away.
Stand by.
Dr.
Young? Release the magma buoy.
Godspeed on its quest.
Hello, I'm Bob Ballard director for the Center for Marine Exploration at Woods Hole.
In 1979, we discovered the black smokers you saw on this week's episode in 9,000 feet of water.
The water is hot enough to melt lead and contains toxic gas which support exotic bacteria.
Bacterial scientists are trying to use to process the pollution we create.
See you on the next adventure of seaQuest.