The First (2018) s01e04 Episode Script

1 [BOTH BREATHING HEAVILY.]
[INSECTS CHIRPING IN DISTANCE.]
[SIGHS.]
Thanks.
Where are you at? - Huh? - The manuscript.
30,000 or so.
That's progress.
The last 5,000 are just words.
I'm going round in circles.
Maybe give it a rest for tonight.
No, I'm gonna plow on.
I don't like it when you sleep in here.
You also don't like it when I wake you up.
Well, that's something I'll have to get used to, I guess.
We both will.
If we have a baby.
Yeah, right.
Give me the towel.
- [GRUNTS SOFTLY.]
- [GRUNTS.]
[FOOTSTEPS DEPART.]
Going to fall.
No, leave them.
Y You've ruined it.
You'll live.
[SIGHS.]
[BIRDS CHIRPING IN DISTANCE.]
[ALARM BEEPING.]
Alarm off.
[BEEPING STOPS.]
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATION IN DISTANCE.]
Time.
[EXHALES DEEPLY.]
How'd I do? There's room for improvement.
- Is it the DNA sequencing? - It's a few things.
Chain-termination I'm good with, but the shotgun sequencing, - I can't - We'll get there.
You did this in your sleep, huh, at minus 40.
More like minus 20.
It was summer.
[CHUCKLES.]
I thought Alaska was no joke, but Antarctica must've been so gnarly.
You were saving lives.
I was just drilling into ice.
- Let's go over your results.
- Okay.
It's eating into Aiko's training time.
There's no point in training if you don't have a way to get home.
- The MAV is our top priority.
- I understand that.
I'm just letting you know we're gonna get jammed up.
I'm less concerned about Aiko than Fletcher.
I've not been impressed with his performance.
[SIGHS.]
Well, it's a lot to learn.
Sadie's doing a great job with him.
- Did we make a mistake? - No.
Now's the time to reverse it before we get too entrenched.
I'd let you know if we had a problem.
Kayla? We're good.
When we realized the EHA issue was fault masking, we hoped that the respin would clear the faults.
Um, I'm working with Eitan's team to determine why it caused the deadly embrace.
- If we can isolate the mo - How far along are you? Here.
If you finish and still nothing? We repeat the process.
The problem is that we can't get the on board computers to talk back to us.
It's sort of like trying to heal a patient that won't show up at the hospital.
I can't say that to the President.
It takes time.
It's slow.
Every line of code needs to be evaluated.
Is it a question of resources? Do you need more people on the software team? No, no.
Throwing more personnel at it won't work.
We need to show them a path forward, otherwise this mission gets scrubbed.
What path other than what we're doing? If you have a solution, I'm all ears.
Listen, the, um the analysis is almost done.
That's scheduled to be another week.
We can talk about ways to accelerate.
Let us get back to work? [DOOR CLOSES.]
She is who she is.
She is.
Since day one.
It doesn't make it any easier.
Sometimes I feel like I should've just stayed at NASA.
Mnh-mnh.
You pulled me into this program.
You don't get to shit-talk it.
Okay.
So how do we accelerate the analysis? I have no freakin' idea.
[CHUCKLES.]
I have a NASA administrator who has no answers.
I have a Congress that feels like fools for reallocating your budget.
The opposition is up my ass for wasteful spending.
We're moving as fast as we can to find a solution.
The MAV respin protocol is a time-consuming and complicated process.
- If the - I want a plan, and I want it by next week.
If not, I'm having the Speaker introduce a bill to freeze your funding again.
Well, another freeze, and we'll miss our prep target.
There won't be a mission.
I should've killed it in the first place.
Is there anyone you want me to talk to in Congress before I fly back We are so far past the point where glad-handing is gonna do any good.
Your time is best spent with your team.
Ma'am? The economic council.
Are there any other fuck-ups I should be aware of? No, ma'am.
Finish your tea before you go.
They went to the trouble of bringing it.
[DOOR CLOSES.]
[SIGHS.]
That's not fucking tea.
I ran the DNA sequencing three times just to be sure.
It's solid data.
We're already finding complex microbes in the core samples 20 meters above the lake.
[CHUCKLING.]
The whole team is flipping out.
If there's evidence in the ice, there must be life in the water.
That means it's possible anywhere Europa, Enceladus, maybe even Mars in the subsurface.
It's just so exciting, Ollie.
I can't sleep.
All this work, and it's happening.
We have proof.
I feel I feel drunk or, I don't know, exhausted.
Both, maybe.
Maybe it's just the light.
You can sing now.
Happy birthday to Sadie - [CHUCKLES.]
- Happy birthday to Sadie Happy birthday, sappy Sadie [KEYBOARD KEYS CLACKING.]
[SIGHS.]
I got my period.
Well, maybe next month.
Yeah.
[ALARM BEEPING.]
Do you see chloromethane in this data? Uh, yeah, at 15 parts per billion.
Good.
This DNA sequence Is the signal here strong or weak? - Strong.
- And this one? Strong? I know it looks that way, but see here? There's too much baseline noise for it to be reliable.
Right, right.
Shit.
You're being too hard on yourself.
Mm.
I got a perfectionist bent.
My sister says it's a "Virgo thing.
" Written in the stars? Nah, written in her frou-frou astrology books next to this massive pile of quartz she has.
[CHUCKLES.]
What about this one? I know that this is harder for you than it is for me.
I just wanted to say it, at least once.
I'm amazed by everything that you know that I'll never be able to grasp.
And I'm even more amazed about how well you're handling this.
It's big of you, and it makes me want to work even harder.
Let's keep going.
Hey, I wasn't trying to make you uncom I know.
What about this one? 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20.
- Oxygen.
- Copy.
Colonel? Ms.
Ingram would like to see you.
- I'm in the middle of a sim.
- Whenever you're free.
Well, let me finish up here and change, okay? [KNOCK ON DOOR.]
- Yep? - Uh, Colonel Price.
- Laz.
- Hi, Kayla.
- Please, uh, sit down.
- Oh, thank you.
How's it going with Matteo? Oh, we're working out the CPR protocol.
We're in good shape.
Uh-huh.
Excellent.
Look, I won't keep you long.
I wanted your opinion on Fletcher's performance whether we'd made the right decision.
We all discussed this.
Yes, but we've a major problem with the MAV, and I don't want to compound that with a crew problem.
So if we made a mistake, now is the time to correct it while we still have time.
Well, don't you think Tom should be here? You've worked with the crew for longer.
I wanted an honest conversation just you and me.
You're bypassing the chain of command.
Yes, so you can speak freely, in confidence.
I gave my opinion months ago.
Tom decided to go a different route.
Our job is to make that work.
What if Tom was wrong? That's not for me to say.
It's a choice you make.
I should get back to training.
I would value your input.
I hope you don't see bringing Tom back as any kind of lack of faith in you.
- We don't need to revisit this.
- It wasn't just my choice.
NASA approved.
You and Tom spoke.
Was I going to say no? I was the last person to the table.
If you resent the decision to What I resent is being forced to discuss this.
But if there's a deeper issue, we should address it.
All things being equal You didn't think I should be the face of this program.
- Are you suggesting - Yeah, I'm black.
I'm a woman.
I'm queer.
That has nothing to do with anything.
I'm telling you how it feels.
Okay.
There are a number of reasons why I get why you did what you did.
The funding.
His experience.
He was the first person you brought on board.
- So where's this coming from? - You asked me to speak freely.
If you think that any of those factors influenced I am saying how it comes across to me.
You can divorce these things from your mind.
My entire career, I have tried, and here we are.
You're an astronaut and a great one, and that is all I see.
You asked my advice on a leadership issue.
I encouraged you to respect the chain of command.
I should've left it then and there, yeah? [SIGHS.]
[EXHALING SHARPLY.]
- Hey, there.
- Hey.
[DOOR CLOSES.]
- This? - Yeah.
- You want in on this? - No, thanks.
I'm doing lower body.
- Do you want me to lift that? - Yeah.
- Let's get this set.
- [EXHALING SHARPLY.]
Can't help it if I'm stronger.
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATION.]
Are you jealous? It's not a competition, brother.
Let's see if you'll feel that way when we're doing squats.
You have beautiful thighs.
- [SIGHS.]
- Yeah.
Yeah.
I know.
[ZIPPER ZIPS.]
- Hey.
- Hey.
Can I be a total pain in the ass? Do you mind if we meet up tomorrow? - I know it's the weekend.
- Sure.
You know, if if you don't want to, that's cool.
- I could just really - It's fine.
I'd be happy to.
- I could really put in the time.
- Just come by the house.
- Okay.
Uh, 10:00? - Great.
Alright, great.
Thanks.
10:00 sharp.
She's right.
Y-You put her in a very unfair position.
- I know.
- So why did you go around me? I wanted to have an honest conversation with her.
Eroding my authority.
My job is to prevent problems, and when I can, to solve them, and that's what I was trying to do.
Do you not trust my judgment? I I was looking to do a holistic evaluation.
I've got four people whose lives depend on my judgment.
That's disruptive enough that they've got to adjust to a new commander, especially when the former commander is on the crew.
But I can't have them doubting me.
I can't have you doubting me.
And I definitely can't have you doubting them.
[DOOR OPENS.]
[INSECTS CHIRPING.]
[PLATES CLATTER.]
- Hey.
- Hey.
I didn't have time to cook, so I hope Vietnamese suits you.
Mm-hmm.
Uh, Fletcher's coming around tomorrow for some tutoring.
We won't disturb you.
No worries.
I've been taking my pill again.
You knew.
I thought maybe.
I wasn't sure.
And you didn't say anything? You seemed to be processing something.
- I wish I could explain.
- You don't have to.
- I want to.
- I don't.
We've had this conversation too many times.
It was a few months ago.
I was late, and it just It scared the shit out of me, and then If you suspected, why didn't you ask? - Why didn't you - Why didn't I? Obviously I couldn't figure out how to bring it up not that that's an excuse.
Would you just Would you stop? I'm saying fine you didn't.
Let's not belabor it.
But you just played along.
"Played" is a very poor choice of words.
Oh, who cares what fucking word I use.
You get the point.
I don't get it.
I've never gotten it.
I will never get it, which is why I didn't believe you when you said you wanted to try.
But when I said it, I did.
We can't do this.
This is how it starts, and then, five hours later, where are we? - Nowhere.
- This time is different.
No, it's not.
It's not different.
[INSECTS CHIRPING.]
I should've just walked out of there before it escalated.
Found a way to to get out of the room without it being a thing, you know? No, I think it's good you pushed back.
No, leaders don't break like that.
She needed to hear what you were feeling, and you needed to say it.
My feelings are irrelevant! W-what don't you get about that?! What don't I get about that? Look, when we first spoke about this, you said, "I'll just recalibrate," and that didn't work, and it's been eating you up.
This needed to be addressed! But it wasn't the right way to go about it.
- That's all I'm saying.
- What is?! All your rules and your your chain of command? - I think you hide behind that.
- [SCOFFS.]
Yeah, you say it got you where you are, but also keeps you where you are.
I achieved the rank of colonel in the United States Army.
I'm one of the top astronauts Yeah, you got the rank you want.
Do you have the respect you want? I have the respect of my crew.
But it isn't your crew anymore, is it? No, Nancy, it's not my crew anymore, - and that's not gonna change.
- Well, something's gotta change.
[DOG BARKS IN DISTANCE.]
- Have you spoken to Kayla? - Not yet.
I'm hoping she'll call.
It's good that you're giving her space.
Hmm.
We'll see.
I don't know.
Maybe she feels that it isn't hers anymore.
Could be.
But it just doesn't sound like Kayla, the way that Laz described it.
- Well, she's human.
- Yeah, she's also a rock.
- Mm.
- She is the coolest cookie in the candy store.
- What? - Yep.
What did I just say? [BOTH LAUGH.]
W-what does that even mean? - Cookie? - She's a cool cookie.
I'm more worried about you than her.
[LAUGHS.]
Whoopsie-daisy.
Oh, you didn't.
You didn't.
I did.
I did.
I said that.
I just said whoopsie-daisy.
Now we are both idiots.
Wow.
- What Is that them? - Yeah.
It's amazing.
This is so haunting.
She's got her mother's genes.
You really feel Diane's presence here, huh? Yeah.
Every inch.
Every splinter.
Every chair, spinning.
She carved this log that washed up from the river.
And this We got it in an eBay war.
I don't know if it works.
[CHUCKLES.]
She used to keep a jar with quarters around here somewhere.
When was the last time you've been with someone? How do you mean? You know how I mean.
[CLEARS THROAT.]
A long time.
Yeah.
Have you? Since Matt? No.
Should we? [SIGHS.]
Should we gives ourselves that? No strings.
Friends.
Just tonight? Do you wish you hadn't married me? I want kids.
You don't.
I'm not saying that I don't want them.
I'm just s-saying that right now How many times have I heard "right now"? How many times have I heard it tonight? It's always "right now.
" There's still a chance I can go.
It's slim, but maybe I am just using that.
I don't know.
Maybe I'm holding on to that and I shouldn't.
I know it's hurting you, but if there's still a chance, just the smallest chance [INSECTS CHIRPING.]
[OWL HOOTING.]
[TOOTHBRUSH WHIRRING.]
[SIGHS.]
[WHIRRING CONTINUES.]
[WHIRRING STOPS.]
[KEYBOARD KEYS CLACKING.]
I'm turning in.
Okay.
I told Nick not to come tomorrow.
That I'd meet him at the office.
Okay.
Will you come to bed with me? [SIGHS.]
[DOG WHIMPERS.]
[BIRDS CHIRPING.]
Oh.
Hey.
- I forgot to change my - That's okay.
Go get ready.
I'll look after it.
- Are you sure? - Yeah.
- I just I have to go.
- Go, go.
It's fine.
I got it.
Okay.
Thank you.
[SIGHS.]
This'll be fast.
I know you got to get going.
Mm.
No rush.
I'm not picking her up from my Mom's till this afternoon.
You're a good boy.
You are a good boy.
Oh, yes, you are.
He's just trying to charm you so you'll give him bacon.
Oh, you want bacon? You will get bacon.
You will get - Hey.
- Morning.
- Hi.
- Oh, you're up early.
I smelled the food.
Wanna join us? I could eat.
We were looking at some of your art last night.
You took her downstairs? Well, I'm proud of you, and I wanted to show Ellen.
That one on the easel.
It's so beautiful.
Hmm.
It's not done.
Well, I was impressed.
And the way the color is coming through the black, it's really eerie.
In a good way.
- My mom.
- That was your mom? Well, I guess it's not that good if you didn't recognize her.
Oh, no, I [CHUCKLES.]
D-Did she have short hair? - That's not Diane.
- W How would you know? - Stop.
- What? [INHALES, EXHALES DEEPLY.]
[CHUCKLES.]
You know, I think that maybe I should get going.
- No, you don't have to leave.
- It's okay.
It was really nice to see you, Denise.
I'll walk you out.
I'm sorry.
Don't sweat it.
[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES.]
What was that about? Okay.
[ENGINEERS DISCUSSING MARS ASCENT VEHICLE.]
[DEVICE CHIMES.]
[DOOR OPENS.]
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATION.]
[GIRLS SINGING INDISTINCTLY.]
I'm so sorry.
I-Is it you we're blocking in? - Yeah.
- Real sorry.
[CAR ALARM BEEPS.]
All the handicap spots were taken.
- It's fine.
Don't worry.
- It was supposed to be a really quick in and out.
[WHISPERS.]
Bathroom emergency.
- Can I help? - Oh, no, no.
We've got it.
Thank you, though.
Girls, let's take a break.
New song.
Can you help me, please? Thank you, girls.
Beautiful night.
Hmm.
The gardenias.
Mm-hmm.
[INSECTS CHIRPING.]
You were right.
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS.]
- Hi.
- Hey.
- Thanks for coming.
- Of course.
Can I Can I get you something? No, I'm good.
[SIGHS.]
What did Laz tell you? Not much just that she had asked you about Fletcher, and that there was some tension.
I think she put you in a terrible position.
I let her know as much.
Yeah.
We should talk about Nick.
I was thinking we could carve out some more time for him with Sadie if we split up the buoyancy t training into into two groups so we really don't need the [SIGHS.]
It's No.
No, no, no, no, no.
I'm just gonna put it out there.
It stung.
It stung, Tom.
Losing command.
And that is not an easy thing for me to admit.
When you asked me if it was okay, I got on board like I always do.
Yeah, we never had the real conversation.
Exactly.
We didn't have the real conversation.
Yeah, I know.
I took for granted that you'd say yes.
The time that I was gone was hell.
I was lost.
I asked and you said yes and I never questioned it.
And I know.
It was selfish.
But I needed that yes.
We both need this mission.
It's who we are.
- Yeah.
- Mm-hmm.
What do you want to do about Laz? [SIGHS.]
No need to do anything.
- You want an apology? - I don't want an apology.
I want respect.
- She respects you.
- I mean yours.
[SIGHS.]
Colonel you have no idea how much I respect you.
- Want a beer? - Yeah, I'd like a beer.
- L.
T.
, here.
- And two shots.
[LAUGHS.]
[LAUGHTER, INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS.]
Hi, Denise.
Hey.
Can I get you s-started with a drink? A whiskey, neat.
- What kind? - Well, you pick.
Johnny Walker Black? That's fine.
- Why are you here? - I hope you don't mind.
Your dad told me this is where you're working now.
- You look well.
- Is this like A-Are you Did my dad ask you to come here or something? No, he doesn't know that I'm here.
Are you checking on me? You know, you can call me if you need anything.
Like what? Denise Hagerty.
Share contact.
I've been clean over a year.
Dad's not gonna have any meltdowns, if that's what you're worried about, and neither am I.
I'll go get your drink.
Eh, Denise.
Maybe don't tell your dad that I came.
Lights off.
You ever get a pebble in your shoe you can't get loose? No matter how much you shake the hell out of it, it's still there rock against flesh, trying to dig its way to the bone.
You feel helpless, defeated.
I can hear it in your breath.
Darling, you can't go barefoot when you're walking on glass.
[CACOPHONY OF TECHNICAL DISCUSSIONS.]
Nobody can see what's in your mind.
Nobody can hear your thoughts.
I want a plan.
You don't deserve it.
Now all they'll ever see is did you get us there or didn't you, and if you don't, you'll be nothing.
You hear me? Nothing.
As if you never was.
Unless you show them something.
Can you find it? Can you see it? Look where you ain't looking.
We should be looking at the simplest solution a hard reset.
We just unplug it.
A short-circuit.
Cut the power, reboot the computer.
We short the power lines coming from the reactor.
We just need to find a way to bridge the high side to the low.
- With what? - I'm not sure.
We'd have to strip the insulation, expose the line.
That's repairable.
I'm more concerned about frying the hardware.
If we short that line with too much current worst case, we blow up the reactor.
I don't have all the answers.
I just have the beginning of an answer.
I'm asking you to look at this from a different angle.
The survey rover We could, um, use its drill to strip the insulation and be the conduit.
That drill bit could cut that line instead of stripping it.
That's an easy enough test to run.
We can get in touch with JPL.
The rover arm's pretty slow.
Don't know how we'd pull the bit away in enough time before we overcook it.
Well, we just need to check its conductivity first.
Steel and titanium nitride.
It should hold a current.
What if it's not the drill? Or maybe it's something else we use to short the circuit.
Let's inventory all our assets.
Anything that could get us through that insulation.
And let's make a list of all the electroconductive parts of the rover.
If not the drill, I'm thinking