The Swarm (2023) s01e02 Episode Script

1
Something strange is happening.
- What do you do?
- Monitoring tidal fluctuation.
And other possible stressors
on the ecosystem.
What do you think is going on?
- They've been late before.
- Not this late.
What the hell is that?
It's methane hydrate. Fire ice.
Looks like a hell of a lot.
- Send me the data.
- Of course.
- Whales are back.
- I know!
Lizzie, no!
I'm telling you.
Look at this morning's catch.
Here we go. It's nearly time.
Put it there.
The lobsters go there.
- Hello.
- Hello.
Plenty of choice today.
Yeah, not bad.
This could work. Maybe a little light.
It will do for ravioli or a salad, no?
So now it's you planning my menu?
Well, what do I know.
I can't afford your prices anyway.
Soon I won't be able
to afford yours, either.
Okay, this one is fine.
Put this on ice, please.
It's fine.
Gilberto!
Get rid of the lobster
and clean up this mess!
Of course.
Get rid of it.
Gilberto, finish this.
I'm going to get some air.
I'd like to get out of here
before midnight.
He's a sous chef.
He works in the kitchen at Le Sinquet.
- Where we went for your birthday?
- Yeah.
He came in this morning,
his clothes soiled with black vomit.
High fever, acute diarrhea.
I had to induce a coma.
- The chef also collapsed outside.
- When?
Last night.
His clothes were covered
in the same vomit.
He died before we could get to him.
We're waiting for permission
from his family to do an autopsy.
Sorry.
Let me know when you get the results.
Thank you, Sophia.
- What happened?
- Dad left for Antwerp.
- He had a meeting.
- But what about Tanya?
- She's in Portugal.
- He doesn't know.
- What?
- That we left.
Mom, there's nothing to do there.
We don't know anybody. He's never home.
- You should have called me anyway.
- I know how to get on a train.
- We almost got on the wrong train.
- Shut up.
You can't leave like that.
What if something happened to you?
- What do you expect to happen?
- That's not the point, Isabelle.
We just have to know where you are.
That's it.
Okay, we'll talk about this later.
Don't touch anything, I'll be back.
- Why did you even say that?
- Shut up.
You're such an idiot.
Three weeks
and you couldn't find the time
- Something came up.
- Something always comes up.
I have to work, Cécile.
You have to work.
We all
I'll be back in Brussels tomorrow.
- I'll take them to
- They are here, Michael.
- What?
- They came home.
- By themselves?
- Yes, by themselves!
I'll drive down at the weekend,
I'll bring them back.
Do you really think I'm going to
let them go back?
Cécile, come on.
They shouldn't have left.
I've told them as much.
But they were alone,
and I hear it's not the first time.
And you never leave them alone?
Of course I do. But not overnight,
without someone coming to stay.
And not on their holidays when I've
promised we'll spend time together.
Do you just expect them
to sit around and wait for you?
Yes, actually. They're children!
Yes, children.
In a city they don't know.
Without their father.
I have to go.
Call them. In a few days.
Hello.
Hi.
Nothing to eat?
If you wanted something,
you should have told me.
I thought you'd surprise me.
Looks like I did.
- What do you want?
- No, no, I'll get it.
My turn to surprise you.
She thinks being on holiday
means six meals a day.
You're giving a talk. On whale song.
There's a flyer in our hotel.
I was.
Got cancelled,
with everything that's happened.
Must have been terrible.
You're a cetologist?
You?
You look out there,
I look up there.
- Astronomer?
- Astrophysicist.
They say we know more about space
than the oceans.
Not sure who "they" is.
My parents once asked me
why I wanted to spend my life
searching for something
no one even knew existed.
- What did you say?
- Hope.
Sounded good at the time.
Deep down, though,
the idea of not being alone is
strangely comforting.
I should get going.
Here.
We're staying
a few more nights at the Inn.
If you feel like talking
send me a message.
AA137 has just landed.
Professor, welcome aboard.
Captain.
- You're older, Sigur.
- By six years.
You haven't aged at all, though, Jasper.
Maybe just no aging left to do.
Surprised you're still doing
the northern tour.
Never one for the heat.
Or land, for that matter.
Hello, Sigur.
Tina.
Shall we head below?
Eighty meters.
One hundred meters.
Steer zero-one-four.
They should come into view
right about
now.
Sirsoe methanicola.
What's that?
Ice worms.
How long have they been here?
We came across them a few days ago.
I thought you said
they covered fifty square meters.
They did when we first discovered them.
- Are you sure we're in the same spot?
- Let me double-check.
Same spot.
Can you get closer?
What are they doing?
They are feeding.
- On what?
- You see those brown patches?
That's the bacterial mat
which the worms feed on.
The white spots are
patches of frozen methane.
Do you have the footage
from the original dive?
- We do.
- I'd like to see that.
I'll have someone set it up for you.
Could you turn that up?
What was that?
Sometimes we get
some sort of interference
from kinks in the tether.
There, picture.
Picture.
Thank you.
Picture.
Picture.
- Could you upload these?
- All of them, professor?
Please.
Will you do the honors?
You did not get this in the canteen.
Thought it might
make the meal go down easier.
So, you had something to show me.
Right, there are species of
ice worm living this far north,
but none of them have teeth,
let alone jaws like this.
And that's not all.
Ice worms are broadcast spawners.
It means they spew billions of sperm,
eggs, into the water,
very few of which are fertilized.
And those that are?
Well, they take weeks to hatch.
There is no known species
that can reproduce fast enough
to cover an area this big
in just a few days.
And also, they're bigger.
Almost double the size of the ones
you spotted a few days ago, so I
I mean, I know this isn't
what you wanted to hear, but
I think it's a pretty good guess
that we're looking at a new species.
And if we are,
then I'll name it after you.
You can think of it
as a parting gift from an old friend.
I'll send you some names
of the experts in the field
so you can follow up.
- I'd rather stick with you.
- Tina.
It won't be like the last time.
- It won't.
- It will. 'Cause it's the only way
No, I wouldn't have called you
if that were true.
You called me because you need me.
Hovedstad Energy needs me.
We do. But that doesn't mean that
The government is opening up
fifty new fields in the Norwegian Sea.
For the exploration of oil,
gas hydrates,
minerals which no one
will be allowed to develop
unless you get a clean bill of health
from the environmental groups
breathing down Hovedstad's neck.
Which is why you'd like to add my name
to the list of other experts
you've consulted.
- We're doing it right this time.
- You say that.
No, I'm not just saying that. I mean it.
If the worms, or anything we discover,
proves to be environmentally sensitive,
it will be in my report.
Nothing will be deleted
or buried in the footnotes.
And if it kills Hovedstad's plan
to develop the site?
It will still be in my report.
Okay, but this time,
when you write your report,
before you submit it, I sign it.
Every page. Top, bottom.
Okay.
How long did you run the test?
A little over twenty-four hours.
As you can see, the worms ate
right through the bacterial mat.
And then carried on into the ice.
Which explains their teeth
and oversized jaws.
But it doesn't explain
why they ate through the bacterium.
There's nothing in the ice
for them to feed on.
Whatever the reason,
they kept going until they suffocated.
Why would they do that?
Some species display
self-destructive behavior.
Sometimes it's population control,
you know, sacrifice for the group.
- But that doesn't seem to be the case.
- It doesn't.
We checked the rate of reproduction
of the bacterium as well.
It's faster
than any other known bacterium.
It looks like you've stumbled on
a new species of ice worms,
and also a new strain of bacterium.
Smack in the middle of
Hovedstad's fields in the Norwegian Sea.
We'll write up our findings
and send the report to
To me.
Copied to Sigur.
I'll circulate it to the people
who need to know at Hovedstad.
- Is there somewhere I can make a call?
- You can use my office.
So, what do you think they'll say?
What, Hovedstad?
Not much they can say.
It's a new species.
It's fact, it's not up for debate.
Sure, the information is fact,
but what they decide to do about it,
that's another question.
Yeah, you're right, it's true.
Unfortunately, it's not my decision.
So that's it?
You deliver your report,
collect your check and move on?
- That's enough, Rahim.
- No, no, it's fine.
Listen, you, why don't you
fight your battles your way?
And I'll fight them mine.
Katharina, thank you.
And just be sure to
copy me, with the report.
- Sure.
- Yeah.
You are entitled to your own opinion,
whether I agree with it or not.
But what you are not entitled to do
is to insult someone
with whom this Institute has dealings.
You want to challenge Dr. Johanson?
Go to Trondheim,
sit in one of his lectures.
And when he asks for questions, ask him.
Until then, you pay him
the respect that he deserves.
So what should we do about them?
Do about them?
Your worms. What do we do about them?
You proceed,
under Norway's rules
for ecological impact
on seabed oil and gas operations.
What we're asking, Dr. Johanson,
is if there is anything we can do
to expedite the process?
Well, assuming that
you want to do this by the book
Which I assured Dr. Johanson we do.
Whether or not
you need to cease operating
depends on how widespread
the species is.
If it's distributed
over a much larger area
than the area
disturbed by the operation,
then I see no major risk
for biodiversity loss.
And so you proceed. It's not a problem.
However, if it isn't,
then you have to stop.
Which is why we need to go back
and have another look.
See how far they've spread,
take some more sediment samples.
It seems like your worms
are doing far more harm to themselves
than anything we could do to them.
Aaren, I'm not trying to stop you.
I'm trying to do the job
you hired me to do.
Which is to make sure we do things
in the most environmentally
responsible way possible.
I spoke to Captain Alban.
We can charter the Thorvaldson
for another week, two, if we need it.
The sooner we get back out there,
the sooner we'll know
the extent of the problem.
Fine.
And Aaren, I want you to go with them.
Happy to.
I'm sure you can use
an extra pair of hands.
Always.
Yeah, well, I'm just looking forward
to the pleasure of your company.
- Aaren is exactly how I remember him.
- I would argue worse.
- Yeah.
- And Erika?
- Well, she's better.
- At what?
Saying something
without actually saying anything.
So, do you need a ride?
I have one, thanks.
Yeah, okay. So
I'll just see you out there, then.
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
- See you back out there.
- Sure.
- Did it go well?
- Yes.
Did anyone else not show up today?
- One of the apprentices.
- Did you hear from them?
Do you have the address?
I will go check on them.
- Yes. In my office.
- Okay.
Can you also make me a copy
of your reservation list
from last night, please?
So I can check if anybody else got sick.
- Must have been the lobster.
- The lobster?
Yeah, the chef, Monsieur Bouquillon,
he was preparing it and it
What?
It just burst.
What happened to the lobster?
Gilberto, he started
to clean up the mess.
And then the apprentice, Alaina,
she threw it away.
Where?
Down the waste disposal.
Gilberto, is he
He's in good hands. I promise.
Oxygen, adrenaline, now!
Hold him down! Hold him down!
Alaina?
Anybody there?
- Yes?
- Cécile, where are you?
The apprentice's flat.
We just lost Miguel Gilberto.
Cécile?
Cécile, are you there?
Leon Anawak.
Vancouver Island Marine Institute.
Here to see Clive Roberts.
Let him through.
Eighteen days ago, everything in order.
Entered Canadian waters yesterday.
Nothing unusual.
Then, I can't control.
No response when I try to steer.
You lost power?
No, no, we have power.
Rudder not working.
Jammed.
Tugboats came, attached cables.
I saw a shadow underwater,
coming fast toward us and the tugboats.
The shadow got closer.
And then it went down.
Disappeared.
And then it came up.
Out of the water.
A humpback whale
landed onto the tugboat.
And a second humpback
landed onto another tugboat.
You seen any other whales?
Any calves, any small ones?
No, no.
Just two big ones.
Why did you ask about the calves?
Whales have been known
to attack ships to protect their young.
Or when they're mating.
But they don't mate in these waters.
We've been hearing reports
of other incidents
up the coast and in the States, too.
It's causing hell for all of us.
Ships backed up, waiting to dock.
We're trying to get the go-ahead
to reroute some freighters
to Prince Rupert.
No wonder the rudder was jammed.
Never seen this many mussels.
Captain Nakamura told me the hull
was clean when they sailed from Tokyo.
Mind if I
We've got plenty to spare.
Okay, let it down.
Slowly.
Little more.
- Hi.
- Hey.
Seven-one-four meters.
They're bigger.
They're much bigger.
And there's more of them.
Ready to deploy, captain.
What? What's wrong?
Corer's broken through.
Oh my God!
What happened?
I'll be on the bridge.
When the corer
punched through the seabed,
it released the methane trapped beneath.
You see that from time to time
on oil rigs:
an uncontrolled release of crude oil
after pressure control systems fail.
If you would've been on a smaller ship,
you might have gone down.
Professor Lehmann.
I've got it up on screen.
We looked at the section of sediment
you brought us
to see if we could figure out
why the corer
punched through the seabed.
But this time,
we let the test run longer.
And we discovered that
the holes on the ice kept getting deeper
even after the worms had died.
If it isn't the worms, is something else
eating through the ice?
It is.
- The bacteria.
- Yes.
And if nothing stops them,
how deep can they go?
All the way to the bottom, I'd imagine.
The amount of methane released
would be minimal.
It would never make it
to the atmosphere.
So there's no need to be concerned
about the greenhouse effect.
But given how fast
the worms are reproducing,
it's probably worth a look to see
if anyone else out there has found
the same worms.
- Here.
- Thank you.
Sure.
You okay?
Yeah.
I just didn't realize
what a close call we all had.
Yeah, neither did I.
There's a conference in Geneva tomorrow
hosted by
the International Energy Council.
I wasn't planning to go,
but after I heard what Katharina said
It might be a good opportunity
to find out
if anyone else
has found the same worms.
Yeah. So you should go.
I was hoping you would come with me.
I have a pretty heavy class load
next semester.
And I've just been away
more than I should.
We could go and get back in a day.
- Two at the most.
- Tina.
Look, I work for Hovedstad.
People won't be as comfortable
talking to me.
You heard what Katharina said.
If it had been a smaller ship,
we would've gone down.
There's someone I know
who can find out for us
what, if anything,
anyone has discovered.
One day.
I'll set something up.
Thank you.
Okay. Enough.
I need air, and food, and a drink.
Starting with a drink.
Are you coming?
- Five minutes.
- Okay.
See you up top.
Hi.
- There you go.
- You're the best.
- And for you.
- Thanks.
Bit heavy for a Friday night, isn't it?
What can I say? My idea of fun.
You're welcome to join me,
but I have a very demanding professor
waiting for this data.
As tempting as that sounds,
I think I'll leave you to it.
But if you want, you know, conversation,
a normal drink at the pub?
We're over there.
- Five minutes.
- I'll take it.
- Cheers.
- Cheers.
Happy birthday!
Charlie. Thanks for the message.
Thirty.
How how did that happen?
Wish you were here to soften the blow.
We could relive
some of last year's madness.
Maybe not. Considering.
Anyway, hope the reason
you're not answering
is because you're with
that hot guy from the boat.
Miss you.