Defying Gravity s01e07 Episode Script
Fear
Previously on Defying Gravity - Paula! - Steven! The container pinned her and the hatch door came down.
She's got no thumb! I saw Mars, Eve.
Does it do this? - It's trying to tell you something.
- Has it happen to you? Just me and one other person.
It's to late for second thoughts.
I took the pill this morning.
I need a doctor! Get her into a bay.
Stats and IV access now.
Let's move.
- You had an emergency hyterectomy.
- Abortion pill? - You can't tell anyone.
- A burst cyst? That's what we're saying.
Understand? I remember a schoolgirl in a bombed-out building during the war.
Did you save her? I was the one that called in the strike.
If I was on that table, she wouldn't give up on me.
I found her thumb! Whatever this was, it wasn't pain medication.
or withdraw from alcohol.
This was a full-grown hallucination.
From all of us down here on terra firma, We'd like to wish you folks a little near-the-spirit-world happy halloween.
Hey, what happened, baby? I thought you said you were gonna wear a mask.
Very funny.
Oh, Paula.
We both dressed up as zombies.
This is just embarrassing.
Save your insults, Steven.
I can already wiggle my thumb.
Okay, yo, yo, yo.
Careful with that.
A lot of work went into that little digit, okay? We do copy the movement, though, Paula.
Well, nothing's keeping me off Venus.
One of the first things you learn in training doesn't come from a manual.
It's instinctual-- Darwin-type stuff.
Never show weakness.
Surgeon, she's looking pale.
Do you have anything? Yeah, a slightly elevated heart rate and temperature at the moment.
Could be a response to the oxygen.
Her hand's infection-free and healing well.
Keep me updated.
It doesn't matter that you're frightened or hurt or having a bad day.
No one cares what you're going through.
They only care if you can get the job done.
Okay, folks, today's the big day.
so other than the task at hand, it's light marching orders for everyone.
How about we give a nice, big, friendly wave to our guests from the Comet Candy Company.
Who are here to watch you make your commercial today.
Yes, they're very excited to see you trick-or-treat in space.
I know I certainly am.
Yeah, we're all pretty excited.
up here, as you can tell.
Copy that.
Okay, I'm gonna turn things over to your director, David Selner.
He's gonna be calling the shots.
Yeah, we all know Dave from training.
Hey, man.
You guys look great.
Listen, we're gonna keep it real simple.
The most important thing is just have a good time.
Copy that.
It'll be exactly what we rehearsed in training.
You all step off the ship, move to your marks.
Nadia, you unfurl the banner with the Canadarm.
Then y'all say, "trick or treat," And we make broadcast history.
Piece of cake.
You heard him, folks.
Piece of cake.
It's a busy day, so we'll let you all get to work.
- Well, this goes without saying, Paula.
- I can do it.
- You cannot.
- You can't.
Jen will replace you on the EVA.
And you can shoot a "Making Of" Video for your classroom.
Okay? Your thumb's gonna thank you, Paula.
Yeah.
You don't want to risk more damage for some stupid commercial.
How much are they putting into the program anyway? - I heard $10 Billion.
- What? $10 Billion to advertise a candy bar? - It's prostitution.
- It's tradition.
Russians used commercials to pay for the "Mir" back in the '90s.
Guys, get used to it.
There's gonna be eight more along the way.
- Let's go.
- Ted, i can do this.
Let's go.
Everyting is a-okay, all systems go, ready for liftoff.
every astronaut knows the rules of the jungle.
limping antelope don't go into space.
They stay on earth, where they're killed and eaten.
I'm a freak.
- You're not a freak.
- I'm worse than a freak.
I am a pathetic, recently spayed wannabe astronaut condemned to the barren existence of a space nun.
They are looking at me.
I Have seen that look before.
That is the way you look at a dying pet.
Those are looks of awe and amazement.
They're amazed i'm eating my lunch? They're amazed you're moving.
I get my uterus out.
And I am on the floor, in a ball, bowl of ice cream next to me.
That was day two.
I am better now.
Should you even be here? I'm fine, okay? In fact, I feel terrific.
- You ought to be home in bed, though.
- I heal quickly.
- I'm just saying.
- Well, I'm a-okay, Donner, yes.
Please.
Go.
So does this mean that you're going to go to the halloween shindig tonight? They way I feel? Not a chance.
Well, I think I'm gonna go either as a pirate wench or a vampire slut.
Not sure, but, you know, either way it's fishnets.
Ted likes fishnets? All men like fishnets.
- It's genetic.
- Zoe? I just wanted to say-- No, Ajay.
You don't say anything.
Nothing.
If you're going to sit here, all you can do is eat.
- Would you like half of my sandwich? - Why? Because I look weak? Becaus I look like I need more food? You're a freak.
Is there an increase in Gamma? Nothing we can see.
My temperature's rising.
I feel a pulse coming on.
Open.
Go, go, go! Close.
Ted Shaw.
A pulse? Do you mean like a heartbeat? No, no.
No.
IT's more like a wave.
Builds to a peak and then ends.
I've only had it happen a few times.
Are you feeling flushed or feverish? - Yeah, a little.
- Well, you may experience more intense hallucinations.
- Like Mintz? - Possibly.
You know, he's convinced that his med patches were psychotropic.
And he should keep believing that.
Is anyone else experiencing anything? - Paula's running a low-grade fever.
- Her hand is healing.
You know, Donner did hint at something about a week ago but hasn't mentioned anything since.
Well, he's an astronaut.
Astronauts aren't the only ones that hold things back, Mrs.
Shaw.
I know, but I'm telling you now, Ted, keep your eye on them and on yourself.
Thanks.
I'll take him.
Look who Mama's talking to.
- Daddy.
- Hey, Roy boy.
- Tell him why you're here.
- Watch him in the commercial.
You know, when I wave from outer space who I'm gonna be waving to? - You.
We're gonna go trick-or-treating with some of the other kids.
And have you decided who you're gonna be? Doctor Ra.
- Doctor Ra.
- I don't want to go.
Ugh.
Some of the other kids have him freaked out with ghosts and graveyards and So you don't want to trick-or-treating? It's dark.
It's really dark where Daddy's gonna be trick-or-treating.
But you know what I do when I'm scared? I think about all the candy I'm gonna have when I'm done.
Trust me.
It's gonna be worth your while.
Baby astronauts can't be scared.
So let me get this straight.
Four of the most highy trained human beings ever are about to use their skills to step into the deep, unforgiving darkness of space, so that we can go trick-or-treating for $10 billion? And if something goes wrong, we get to die on live TV.
You know what? I'll tell you the truth.
I don't really care what the risks are.
I'll do pretty much anything if it means hours outside the ship.
And I'll freely admit it.
I'm an EVA whore.
Yeah, whore.
$10 billion buys a whole lot of science, by the way.
Science? Yeah, the ship admission dollars are already guaranteed before launch.
These commercials pay for the gravy.
Oh, wait a minute.
Since when did the science become the gravy? Yeah, isn't that why we're up here in the first place? Oh, you mean in addition to the flag planting and the industrial exploration and the mining rights? Let me ask you-- what's the first thing to get cut during a budget squeeze? - The science.
- Yeah, the science.
Trick or treat, ladies.
Trick or treat.
It's my favorite holiday, i'm on a spaceship, and it feels like ass.
It's the isolation.
You're missing other people.
No, it's the fact that I'm stuck with a bunch of tight butts that won't make the effort to wear a little costume.
I mean, everybody up here is so afraid of looking stupid.
Whatever happened to that spirit of Major Tom? That's what I want to know? Major Tom's is 35 million kilometres away.
So? We are astronauts living in a tin can hurtling trough a vacuum.
Somehow getting dressed up like vampires or pirate wenches loses its appeal.
Not to mention the fact that El DÃa De Los Muertos is a day to honor the dead.
Not to pervert them.
Do you guys ever get, like, really bad cramping when you keep your butt cheecks clenched together that tightly? Okay.
Selner wants us to use cameras 25, 35, 92 and 120.
Nadia, you want to move the arm so 92 can see it? Who are you? Who's who? Nadia? Nadia! - Maybe your days be peaceful - and filled filled with good health.
It's not a bad Doctor Ra.
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
Oh, you-- you're missing the belt.
You know, they said you were detail-oriented.
Oh, really? What else did they say? That you were mysterious.
And influential.
And somebody said you were good-looking.
You know, the exact opposite of anyone from ISO.
They're not that bad.
Well, you're only saying that because they employ you.
Actually, I work for a subcontractor.
And they said that you're involved with, uh, training - and crew selection? - Yeah, a little bit of everything, which is part of why I want to talk to you-- to get to know you a little better.
Well, how about after work tomorrow for drinks? How about now? And I should warn you.
It might get a little detail-oriented.
It's only gonna take a few minutes of your time.
It's about Mars.
You sure you don't want to come? I have an extra pair of fishnets.
Yeah, I'm not up to being vampy.
I'm thinking hot bath and a bed.
- You feeling allright? - Yeah.
Never better.
And you are? I'm Greg Maddux.
It's, my namesake.
He was a hall of fame pitcher back in the 1900s.
Nice.
Nice.
Your father gave it to you in high school.
You, uh, haul it out every year at halloween.
Yeah, something like that.
- What are you supposed to be? - I'm a baseball cheerleader.
Baseball doesn't have cheerleaders.
She's from Germany.
I'm a german baseball Cheerleader.
In Fishnets? Nice touch.
I'm sorry you won't be coming, Zoe.
You must be very weak.
Such an ordeal.
We all were talking about how awful you must feel.
- Please get some rest.
- Yeah.
- Take it easy, okay? - Thank you.
I will.
Good night.
- Okay.
- Bye.
Okay, so now I wanna go trick-or-treating.
- I don't feel like trick-or-treating, Nadia.
- I do.
Hi.
Give me 20 Minutes.
I'm coming.
What's the matter? Nothing.
It was nothing.
Well, you just turned your head like you Yeah, I thought I heard someone come in.
I was wrong.
- Want me to zip you up? - Sure.
Thanks.
Now see, that's what I'm talking about.
Zoe just had a heart spike.
I'm getting them from Ted, Paula, Evram and Donner.
They're also running low-grade fevers.
So am I.
From all the way down here? Eve? Distance doesn't seem to matter.
So Beta is causing these hallucinations? We're not sure how many of them are actually hallucinating, but they're experiencing something.
elevated heart rates and body temperatures.
- Like you've experienced in the past? - And I'm experiencing now.
Typically, Beta's pulse will crescendo and then recede.
And where are we in the symphony? - Oh, it's getting louder.
- Why? Why now? What is it trying to do? We're about to broadcast live to millions of people around the world.
I don't think it's a coincidence.
What would it have to gain? We've been hiding it from the crew, from the world.
I don't know.
Maybe it wants to be revealed.
No.
Not now.
Not on its terms.
Do we have an alternative? Only one.
We believe that this particular lot of libido inhibitors is contaminated.
What we're seeing indicates that, at the far end of the spectrum, There may be a chemical reaction that acts like a psychotropic.
Hold on.
Hang on.
So your astronauts are on acid? No, but there is the potential for disorientation and mild hallucinations.
Awesome.
The contaminate hasn't been pinpointed just yet, But we're analyzing it right now.
In the meantime, I don't think anyone wants to jeopardize the safety of our crew for a candy commercial.
Nadia.
Evram.
I thought You scared me.
Really? You? - Are you feel all right? - I'm fine.
I'm fine.
Come back to the air lock with me.
A contaminated batch of HALOs? Seriously? I mean, I feel great.
All of us are running low-grade fevers except for Jen and Wass, And I'm worried it might be psychotropic.
You mean, like cause hallucinations? It certainly explains what's been happening to me.
But we're still gonna shoot the commercial? I think they're in a meeting.
This is $10 billion scientific research we're talking about.
All we have to do is go out there on thethers and say "trick or treat".
An hour ago, you thought it was a complete waste of time.
That's before we realized what it funded.
They pull back on the programs, nothing we do up here will get properly analyzed.
Yeah, at least not in our lifetime.
I mean, we don't do this commercial, you can be damn sure they're not gonna give us the money.
You realize this is not just another candy commercial.
This is an international event.
We have purchased commercial airtime across the planet.
We understand it would be a pretty high-profile scrub.
And of course we would expect our expenses to be covered.
That's in excess of $1 billion US in addition to the $10 billion that you would no be getting from us for this mission.
Let's not get crazy.
We can just reschedule this for the fly-by to Mars next year.
Next year? Who's gonna give a rat's ass about this mission next year? It'll be old news by then.
Look, The money's obviously substantial, Mike.
We'd need to make cuts to certain programs.
The science.
But if we're talking about potential problems and not actual problems, Why don't we put it to the crew, See how they feel? I feel fine.
I'm perfect, and I'm certainly not hallucinating.
I'm not about to lose those science dollars.
Good to go.
Not quite sure what you guys are talking about, but happy to take the HALO off, if that's gonna do it.
That's two of us.
Listen, I, um, promised my son I would wave to him from outer space, and that's what I intend to do.
From where I'm standing, everyone is medically sound and unimpeded, as am I.
Astronauts.
I guess we're ready to go.
- Let's get on with it then.
- Yes, Sir.
Antares, you're good to go.
Copy that.
- Hi, Mommy.
- Hi, Baby.
- Time for Doctor Ra? - Yes, it's time for Doctor Ra.
Hope you're ready.
Rollie said that Ted is going as Doctor Ra.
So i fgured i would show up as Medic Zu.
What are you going as anyway? Something I will never be.
Oh, no.
No, no, no.
Oh, my god.
Yeah, pregnant astronaut, folks.
That's right.
You can stop your puppy dog stares, because I'm back, and I'm, uh, laughing at it with ya.
Classic case of overcompensation.
She's probably on all sorts of meds.
I hope she's smart enough to not drink.
I need a drink.
This is a disaster waiting to happen.
All right, Nadia, are you and wass ready on the arm and cameras? Roger that.
We are good to go.
Ted? You guys all set? Roger.
Just waiting on the trick-or-treat buckets.
All right.
I'm gonna turn you over to David in a minute.
We are 12 minutes and counting to air.
Copy.
By the time you guys see this, you probably would have seen the Comet Candy commercial about a hundred times, but this is a behind-the-scenes look at how we did it.
The astronauts are just about ready to enter the air lock That is their pathway to space.
The air lock is where we depressurize the atmosphere, Uh, to that of Until it's the same as outer space.
And then we can, uh open the outer air lock door and we can Hector? Hector? Paula! Paula! - Ted, you okay? - I'm fine.
All nominal.
I'm sweating like crazy.
I think we ought to be doiing a deodorant commercial.
Ajay, any way you can pump some more A.
C.
intohese suits? Yeah.
Let me see what we can do.
Ted's heart rate is near 130.
Zoe and Donner-- 120 plus.
Which one's Daddy? The big astronaut, babe.
Come on.
Let's go to mommy's sation.
I'll give you a headset, and you can listen in.
- Are they all right? - Yeah.
Okay, folks, we're at T minus ten until airtime.
Opening the media feeds now.
Hector? Paula, where are you going? Hector? Help me! - Paula.
- Oh, it's okay.
He's dying.
Oh, my god.
- Who's dying? - It's okay.
- It's okay.
- Paula, who's dying? It's my dog Hector.
He's dying.
- Paula, Hector's not here.
- It's okay, boy.
- Help me, please.
He's dying.
- Paula, he's a hallucination.
All right? - You're doing it again.
- What? That thing that you just did-- it's like you're hearing something.
What are you hearing? I don't know what you're talking about.
Hey, you guys, do you mind if we save the small talk until after we get this done? Did I tell you my boy is watching? Roy's down in Mission Control.
I'm gonna wave to him.
Well, all right, let's do this for Roy.
And $10 billion.
- Science forever.
- And forever science.
- Flight, depressurizing air lock.
- Copy that, Antares.
- Outer hatch opening.
- You're good to go.
Mag grav coming off.
And.
.
mag grav off.
Copy.
All right, guys.
Let's do this.
Ted? Ted, is there a problem? I understand you not wanting to talk about the mission.
Probably pretty painful.
But we're going back there, and I want experienced astronauts on this crew.
There's not much I can say that you can't read about.
I want to hear it firsthand from you.
Right.
The detail lady.
God is in the details.
Look, I don't know if you've ever felt responsible for losing anyone.
I have.
Same as you.
And it haunts me all the time.
tell me about the storm.
Donner and I were packing up the hab.
- It was the last sol on the mission.
- Sharon and Walker? Sharon and Walker were about 5 Kilometres out, in the rover, picking up experiments, some last minute stuff.
The rover broke down in the dust, so they had to cover that by foot.
And then the storm just Did it take you by surprise? We were expecting it, but We just didn't know how bad.
You try to plan pretty well for everything, You know, have alle the contingencies covered, do everything that is humanly possible so you won't fail, fail your crewmates, fail the mission and It just all happened so fast.
One, two, three.
I'm not paying for these.
That's gotta be, like, her sixth shooter.
Will you please stop worrying about Zoe Barnes? She's a big girl, Donner.
She can take care of herself.
I can't believe this.
How can he not just pick up and say, "I'm busy"? He's probably too busy.
You know what? I'm not even asking for an explanation.
I just want a little common courtesy, because I am telling you, putting together Medic Zu at the last minute is not easy.
Please.
I'll bet you had the wig and the top in your closet already.
I know the stockings were.
- Hey, I am looking for a sympathetic ear here.
- Not getting one from me.
- Come on.
Let's dance.
- No, no, no.
Last thing you want to do is dance.
The last thing i want to do is look like, the last thing i want to do is dance, you get it? I get it.
You want to dance? A pregnant astronaut drinking.
I like it.
- To the baby.
- To the baby.
So Doc Ra a no-show? Never trust a Vortan.
Right.
Can you tell me what the hell's going on? Uh, Ted, we got six minutes to get you people into place.
We were just wondering what the hang-up is.
Ted, you gonna do this? We need you guys out of the air lock.
Ted, you copy? - Surgeon? - His blood pressure's off-the-chart.
You're not doing too well either.
No one is.
- Mintz? - Evram, are you near the air lock? Uh, no.
Uh, in the truss corridor with Paula.
The hallucinations, um, we can't move.
Copy that.
Don't try.
In five minutes we go live to the world, people.
Five minutes.
I need to see them in their places.
- What's wrong with Daddy? - Nothing, honey.
Daddy's fine.
He looks scared.
Hey, buddy.
I know, you're going through something there, but, uh, where you at? Talk to me.
Come on, Ted.
Look at us.
Continue the launch sequence now.
- Ted, we can't leave them here.
- You're damn right we can't.
Sharon? Walker? Come on.
Push.
You and Donner thought they were close enough.
You thought they had a chance.
They were less than 100 metres away.
That's less than a football field.
And Goss ordered you to launch.
You know, we all have moments we regret.
But you don't need to feel guilty.
My clearance allows complete access to the archives.
I've gone through the cockpit tapes, the telemetrics, The readings from Sharon and Walker's suits.
I'm the detail lady, Ted.
And I'm here to tell you definitively, they were not gonna make it.
Nadia, excuse me.
You know, it's gonna be a lot less festive tomorrow morning.
I'm having fun, Donner.
FOAD.
- FOAD? - (fuck off and die).
- I though you didn't swear.
- Oh, I swear.
I swear.
Ich thought you didn't date astronauts.
- Tequila, Tommy.
- No, Tommy, belay that.
Two large waters.
I told you to foad.
Look, I'm just here with Nadia because we had a I don't care, Donner.
You do whatever you like with your rules.
Well, you watch your sixes with vapor trails over there, okay? I know he may seem really charming, but he's kind of a legend for scamming on pretty, drunk ASCANs, - And you're pretty drunk.
- Watch my sixes? What? You're my wingman now? You're looking out for me? Let me tell you somethin', Mr.
Hotshot- been-to-Mars, tragic american hero.
I don't need a wingman.
I can look after myself.
Okay? - I belong in this program.
- Yeah, I know you do.
I told you that.
- I have sacrificed for this program.
- I got that.
Really? Do you have that, Donner? Mr.
I have rules? 'Cause I don't think you have a clue.
I don't think You know what? You never will.
You will never know What I gave up for this program.
This is all yours now.
You're kind of making a little bit of a scene here.
Tequila, Tommy! Hey, maybe we should go out and grab a bite, get some air.
No.
- You know - Take her home.
You expect everyone, me especially - All right.
Come on.
- I got here.
You stay here.
Donner, get out.
I'm always sick around you.
Our relationship is built on vomit.
I think I should be the one to help them get home.
Zoe.
Zoe, come on.
We gotta get going here.
Do you copy? What the hell is going on with all of you? Ted, look at me.
We can do this, Donner.
It's now or never.
We have to go.
Donner, we need to focus here.
Two minutes to air, people.
Two minutes.
It's time to go, Donner.
Where's my canadarm? Nadia, I need to see the banner.
- Ted? - Nadia.
She's not doing so good, David.
She says she keeps seeing someone in the hatchway.
Come on, Ted.
Look at us.
Please, Ted.
Come on.
We can't lose those funds.
Do it for Roy.
Do it for science.
But please, copy.
$10 billion, Ted.
Come on.
Do you copy? - Somebody's gotta call it.
- We can do this, Donner.
No.
No, Sharon.
Please.
Please.
We can do this, Donner.
No.
We can't.
Flight, we're aborting.
You copy? Copy that, Donner.
We are aborting.
Get everyone back on the ship.
Unbelievable.
$10 billion.
That's gonna take a real bite.
We might as well just abandon the science altogether.
I'm sorry, guys.
I'm sorry if I let you down.
My son probably saw everything, right? It wasn't just you, Ted.
It was all of us.
Is anybody still hallucinating? - I'm okay.
- I am a litte bit, but it's fine.
- I'm good to go here.
- So am I.
This is one screwed-up halloween.
I trust you are as ambarrassed as I am disappointed.
I won't belabor the point.
Expect to hear from our attorneys.
The only embarrassment I suffered, was watching astronauts carry candy buckets into space.
As to the rest, my man made the right call.
I hope you feel that way in the morning.
Count on it.
Hey, maybe next time, fellas.
Mahalo, Mike.
Much aloha.
Is it over? Their vitals are starting to normalize.
It's over, but nothing's to say it won't happen again.
So, Roy, is your mom gonna take you trick-or-treating? Daddy didn't.
There's a reason no one likes to show fear.
It's taken as a sign of weakness.
A festering wound.
Being vulnerable leads to being dinner in a darwinian world.
It's okay.
We'll finish.
But there's also the risk of hubris, of not knowing your own limits And that may be the biggest danger of all.
What I wanted to say today in the cafeteria wasn't about sandwiches.
What I meant to say was, That you made the right decision.
So you must never look back or feel regret because your path is in space.
You know that.
Your soul was meant to soar.
Even I know that.
Your baby's sould It was meant to move on To another body, another path.
Independent of you, but not forgotten.
So you must not feel guilt, because, you see, there is freedom for both of you.
That must bring you some joy.
How is he? He's confused, a little shaken up.
Scared.
A weakness he learned from his father.
His father is the most brave man I know.
- Is he going trick-or-treating? - No, not with the others.
As I was saying.
- But I think he will come out all right in the end.
- Trick or treat.
There's a fine line between bravery and stupiditiy.
Thank you.
And if you really want that bag of candy sometimes it makes more sense to show a little weakness, ask for help.
Donner? Thanks for today.
One of us could have been killed.
I guess.
I may not be expressing it, but I am really glad you're up here.
Likewise.
I mean that.
If I tell you something, will you promise not to make fun of me or think that I'm crazy? I mean it.
This is This is between you and me.
Yeah, sure.
I've been having this dream, and I don't know why, but it really scares me.
In the dream I am, um - I'm pregnant.
- You're pregnant? Yeah, I'm pregnant up here, and floating, naked through here, into the air lock.
I look out the pane, and I see You see me, and I'm outside.
I'm working on a thruster and there's a really bright light emerging from behind a planet.
Yeah.
Okay.
I've been having that same dream, for, like, two months.
What happened, today, these hallucinations, the dream This has nothing to do with the HALOs, does it? No.
She's got no thumb! I saw Mars, Eve.
Does it do this? - It's trying to tell you something.
- Has it happen to you? Just me and one other person.
It's to late for second thoughts.
I took the pill this morning.
I need a doctor! Get her into a bay.
Stats and IV access now.
Let's move.
- You had an emergency hyterectomy.
- Abortion pill? - You can't tell anyone.
- A burst cyst? That's what we're saying.
Understand? I remember a schoolgirl in a bombed-out building during the war.
Did you save her? I was the one that called in the strike.
If I was on that table, she wouldn't give up on me.
I found her thumb! Whatever this was, it wasn't pain medication.
or withdraw from alcohol.
This was a full-grown hallucination.
From all of us down here on terra firma, We'd like to wish you folks a little near-the-spirit-world happy halloween.
Hey, what happened, baby? I thought you said you were gonna wear a mask.
Very funny.
Oh, Paula.
We both dressed up as zombies.
This is just embarrassing.
Save your insults, Steven.
I can already wiggle my thumb.
Okay, yo, yo, yo.
Careful with that.
A lot of work went into that little digit, okay? We do copy the movement, though, Paula.
Well, nothing's keeping me off Venus.
One of the first things you learn in training doesn't come from a manual.
It's instinctual-- Darwin-type stuff.
Never show weakness.
Surgeon, she's looking pale.
Do you have anything? Yeah, a slightly elevated heart rate and temperature at the moment.
Could be a response to the oxygen.
Her hand's infection-free and healing well.
Keep me updated.
It doesn't matter that you're frightened or hurt or having a bad day.
No one cares what you're going through.
They only care if you can get the job done.
Okay, folks, today's the big day.
so other than the task at hand, it's light marching orders for everyone.
How about we give a nice, big, friendly wave to our guests from the Comet Candy Company.
Who are here to watch you make your commercial today.
Yes, they're very excited to see you trick-or-treat in space.
I know I certainly am.
Yeah, we're all pretty excited.
up here, as you can tell.
Copy that.
Okay, I'm gonna turn things over to your director, David Selner.
He's gonna be calling the shots.
Yeah, we all know Dave from training.
Hey, man.
You guys look great.
Listen, we're gonna keep it real simple.
The most important thing is just have a good time.
Copy that.
It'll be exactly what we rehearsed in training.
You all step off the ship, move to your marks.
Nadia, you unfurl the banner with the Canadarm.
Then y'all say, "trick or treat," And we make broadcast history.
Piece of cake.
You heard him, folks.
Piece of cake.
It's a busy day, so we'll let you all get to work.
- Well, this goes without saying, Paula.
- I can do it.
- You cannot.
- You can't.
Jen will replace you on the EVA.
And you can shoot a "Making Of" Video for your classroom.
Okay? Your thumb's gonna thank you, Paula.
Yeah.
You don't want to risk more damage for some stupid commercial.
How much are they putting into the program anyway? - I heard $10 Billion.
- What? $10 Billion to advertise a candy bar? - It's prostitution.
- It's tradition.
Russians used commercials to pay for the "Mir" back in the '90s.
Guys, get used to it.
There's gonna be eight more along the way.
- Let's go.
- Ted, i can do this.
Let's go.
Everyting is a-okay, all systems go, ready for liftoff.
every astronaut knows the rules of the jungle.
limping antelope don't go into space.
They stay on earth, where they're killed and eaten.
I'm a freak.
- You're not a freak.
- I'm worse than a freak.
I am a pathetic, recently spayed wannabe astronaut condemned to the barren existence of a space nun.
They are looking at me.
I Have seen that look before.
That is the way you look at a dying pet.
Those are looks of awe and amazement.
They're amazed i'm eating my lunch? They're amazed you're moving.
I get my uterus out.
And I am on the floor, in a ball, bowl of ice cream next to me.
That was day two.
I am better now.
Should you even be here? I'm fine, okay? In fact, I feel terrific.
- You ought to be home in bed, though.
- I heal quickly.
- I'm just saying.
- Well, I'm a-okay, Donner, yes.
Please.
Go.
So does this mean that you're going to go to the halloween shindig tonight? They way I feel? Not a chance.
Well, I think I'm gonna go either as a pirate wench or a vampire slut.
Not sure, but, you know, either way it's fishnets.
Ted likes fishnets? All men like fishnets.
- It's genetic.
- Zoe? I just wanted to say-- No, Ajay.
You don't say anything.
Nothing.
If you're going to sit here, all you can do is eat.
- Would you like half of my sandwich? - Why? Because I look weak? Becaus I look like I need more food? You're a freak.
Is there an increase in Gamma? Nothing we can see.
My temperature's rising.
I feel a pulse coming on.
Open.
Go, go, go! Close.
Ted Shaw.
A pulse? Do you mean like a heartbeat? No, no.
No.
IT's more like a wave.
Builds to a peak and then ends.
I've only had it happen a few times.
Are you feeling flushed or feverish? - Yeah, a little.
- Well, you may experience more intense hallucinations.
- Like Mintz? - Possibly.
You know, he's convinced that his med patches were psychotropic.
And he should keep believing that.
Is anyone else experiencing anything? - Paula's running a low-grade fever.
- Her hand is healing.
You know, Donner did hint at something about a week ago but hasn't mentioned anything since.
Well, he's an astronaut.
Astronauts aren't the only ones that hold things back, Mrs.
Shaw.
I know, but I'm telling you now, Ted, keep your eye on them and on yourself.
Thanks.
I'll take him.
Look who Mama's talking to.
- Daddy.
- Hey, Roy boy.
- Tell him why you're here.
- Watch him in the commercial.
You know, when I wave from outer space who I'm gonna be waving to? - You.
We're gonna go trick-or-treating with some of the other kids.
And have you decided who you're gonna be? Doctor Ra.
- Doctor Ra.
- I don't want to go.
Ugh.
Some of the other kids have him freaked out with ghosts and graveyards and So you don't want to trick-or-treating? It's dark.
It's really dark where Daddy's gonna be trick-or-treating.
But you know what I do when I'm scared? I think about all the candy I'm gonna have when I'm done.
Trust me.
It's gonna be worth your while.
Baby astronauts can't be scared.
So let me get this straight.
Four of the most highy trained human beings ever are about to use their skills to step into the deep, unforgiving darkness of space, so that we can go trick-or-treating for $10 billion? And if something goes wrong, we get to die on live TV.
You know what? I'll tell you the truth.
I don't really care what the risks are.
I'll do pretty much anything if it means hours outside the ship.
And I'll freely admit it.
I'm an EVA whore.
Yeah, whore.
$10 billion buys a whole lot of science, by the way.
Science? Yeah, the ship admission dollars are already guaranteed before launch.
These commercials pay for the gravy.
Oh, wait a minute.
Since when did the science become the gravy? Yeah, isn't that why we're up here in the first place? Oh, you mean in addition to the flag planting and the industrial exploration and the mining rights? Let me ask you-- what's the first thing to get cut during a budget squeeze? - The science.
- Yeah, the science.
Trick or treat, ladies.
Trick or treat.
It's my favorite holiday, i'm on a spaceship, and it feels like ass.
It's the isolation.
You're missing other people.
No, it's the fact that I'm stuck with a bunch of tight butts that won't make the effort to wear a little costume.
I mean, everybody up here is so afraid of looking stupid.
Whatever happened to that spirit of Major Tom? That's what I want to know? Major Tom's is 35 million kilometres away.
So? We are astronauts living in a tin can hurtling trough a vacuum.
Somehow getting dressed up like vampires or pirate wenches loses its appeal.
Not to mention the fact that El DÃa De Los Muertos is a day to honor the dead.
Not to pervert them.
Do you guys ever get, like, really bad cramping when you keep your butt cheecks clenched together that tightly? Okay.
Selner wants us to use cameras 25, 35, 92 and 120.
Nadia, you want to move the arm so 92 can see it? Who are you? Who's who? Nadia? Nadia! - Maybe your days be peaceful - and filled filled with good health.
It's not a bad Doctor Ra.
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
Oh, you-- you're missing the belt.
You know, they said you were detail-oriented.
Oh, really? What else did they say? That you were mysterious.
And influential.
And somebody said you were good-looking.
You know, the exact opposite of anyone from ISO.
They're not that bad.
Well, you're only saying that because they employ you.
Actually, I work for a subcontractor.
And they said that you're involved with, uh, training - and crew selection? - Yeah, a little bit of everything, which is part of why I want to talk to you-- to get to know you a little better.
Well, how about after work tomorrow for drinks? How about now? And I should warn you.
It might get a little detail-oriented.
It's only gonna take a few minutes of your time.
It's about Mars.
You sure you don't want to come? I have an extra pair of fishnets.
Yeah, I'm not up to being vampy.
I'm thinking hot bath and a bed.
- You feeling allright? - Yeah.
Never better.
And you are? I'm Greg Maddux.
It's, my namesake.
He was a hall of fame pitcher back in the 1900s.
Nice.
Nice.
Your father gave it to you in high school.
You, uh, haul it out every year at halloween.
Yeah, something like that.
- What are you supposed to be? - I'm a baseball cheerleader.
Baseball doesn't have cheerleaders.
She's from Germany.
I'm a german baseball Cheerleader.
In Fishnets? Nice touch.
I'm sorry you won't be coming, Zoe.
You must be very weak.
Such an ordeal.
We all were talking about how awful you must feel.
- Please get some rest.
- Yeah.
- Take it easy, okay? - Thank you.
I will.
Good night.
- Okay.
- Bye.
Okay, so now I wanna go trick-or-treating.
- I don't feel like trick-or-treating, Nadia.
- I do.
Hi.
Give me 20 Minutes.
I'm coming.
What's the matter? Nothing.
It was nothing.
Well, you just turned your head like you Yeah, I thought I heard someone come in.
I was wrong.
- Want me to zip you up? - Sure.
Thanks.
Now see, that's what I'm talking about.
Zoe just had a heart spike.
I'm getting them from Ted, Paula, Evram and Donner.
They're also running low-grade fevers.
So am I.
From all the way down here? Eve? Distance doesn't seem to matter.
So Beta is causing these hallucinations? We're not sure how many of them are actually hallucinating, but they're experiencing something.
elevated heart rates and body temperatures.
- Like you've experienced in the past? - And I'm experiencing now.
Typically, Beta's pulse will crescendo and then recede.
And where are we in the symphony? - Oh, it's getting louder.
- Why? Why now? What is it trying to do? We're about to broadcast live to millions of people around the world.
I don't think it's a coincidence.
What would it have to gain? We've been hiding it from the crew, from the world.
I don't know.
Maybe it wants to be revealed.
No.
Not now.
Not on its terms.
Do we have an alternative? Only one.
We believe that this particular lot of libido inhibitors is contaminated.
What we're seeing indicates that, at the far end of the spectrum, There may be a chemical reaction that acts like a psychotropic.
Hold on.
Hang on.
So your astronauts are on acid? No, but there is the potential for disorientation and mild hallucinations.
Awesome.
The contaminate hasn't been pinpointed just yet, But we're analyzing it right now.
In the meantime, I don't think anyone wants to jeopardize the safety of our crew for a candy commercial.
Nadia.
Evram.
I thought You scared me.
Really? You? - Are you feel all right? - I'm fine.
I'm fine.
Come back to the air lock with me.
A contaminated batch of HALOs? Seriously? I mean, I feel great.
All of us are running low-grade fevers except for Jen and Wass, And I'm worried it might be psychotropic.
You mean, like cause hallucinations? It certainly explains what's been happening to me.
But we're still gonna shoot the commercial? I think they're in a meeting.
This is $10 billion scientific research we're talking about.
All we have to do is go out there on thethers and say "trick or treat".
An hour ago, you thought it was a complete waste of time.
That's before we realized what it funded.
They pull back on the programs, nothing we do up here will get properly analyzed.
Yeah, at least not in our lifetime.
I mean, we don't do this commercial, you can be damn sure they're not gonna give us the money.
You realize this is not just another candy commercial.
This is an international event.
We have purchased commercial airtime across the planet.
We understand it would be a pretty high-profile scrub.
And of course we would expect our expenses to be covered.
That's in excess of $1 billion US in addition to the $10 billion that you would no be getting from us for this mission.
Let's not get crazy.
We can just reschedule this for the fly-by to Mars next year.
Next year? Who's gonna give a rat's ass about this mission next year? It'll be old news by then.
Look, The money's obviously substantial, Mike.
We'd need to make cuts to certain programs.
The science.
But if we're talking about potential problems and not actual problems, Why don't we put it to the crew, See how they feel? I feel fine.
I'm perfect, and I'm certainly not hallucinating.
I'm not about to lose those science dollars.
Good to go.
Not quite sure what you guys are talking about, but happy to take the HALO off, if that's gonna do it.
That's two of us.
Listen, I, um, promised my son I would wave to him from outer space, and that's what I intend to do.
From where I'm standing, everyone is medically sound and unimpeded, as am I.
Astronauts.
I guess we're ready to go.
- Let's get on with it then.
- Yes, Sir.
Antares, you're good to go.
Copy that.
- Hi, Mommy.
- Hi, Baby.
- Time for Doctor Ra? - Yes, it's time for Doctor Ra.
Hope you're ready.
Rollie said that Ted is going as Doctor Ra.
So i fgured i would show up as Medic Zu.
What are you going as anyway? Something I will never be.
Oh, no.
No, no, no.
Oh, my god.
Yeah, pregnant astronaut, folks.
That's right.
You can stop your puppy dog stares, because I'm back, and I'm, uh, laughing at it with ya.
Classic case of overcompensation.
She's probably on all sorts of meds.
I hope she's smart enough to not drink.
I need a drink.
This is a disaster waiting to happen.
All right, Nadia, are you and wass ready on the arm and cameras? Roger that.
We are good to go.
Ted? You guys all set? Roger.
Just waiting on the trick-or-treat buckets.
All right.
I'm gonna turn you over to David in a minute.
We are 12 minutes and counting to air.
Copy.
By the time you guys see this, you probably would have seen the Comet Candy commercial about a hundred times, but this is a behind-the-scenes look at how we did it.
The astronauts are just about ready to enter the air lock That is their pathway to space.
The air lock is where we depressurize the atmosphere, Uh, to that of Until it's the same as outer space.
And then we can, uh open the outer air lock door and we can Hector? Hector? Paula! Paula! - Ted, you okay? - I'm fine.
All nominal.
I'm sweating like crazy.
I think we ought to be doiing a deodorant commercial.
Ajay, any way you can pump some more A.
C.
intohese suits? Yeah.
Let me see what we can do.
Ted's heart rate is near 130.
Zoe and Donner-- 120 plus.
Which one's Daddy? The big astronaut, babe.
Come on.
Let's go to mommy's sation.
I'll give you a headset, and you can listen in.
- Are they all right? - Yeah.
Okay, folks, we're at T minus ten until airtime.
Opening the media feeds now.
Hector? Paula, where are you going? Hector? Help me! - Paula.
- Oh, it's okay.
He's dying.
Oh, my god.
- Who's dying? - It's okay.
- It's okay.
- Paula, who's dying? It's my dog Hector.
He's dying.
- Paula, Hector's not here.
- It's okay, boy.
- Help me, please.
He's dying.
- Paula, he's a hallucination.
All right? - You're doing it again.
- What? That thing that you just did-- it's like you're hearing something.
What are you hearing? I don't know what you're talking about.
Hey, you guys, do you mind if we save the small talk until after we get this done? Did I tell you my boy is watching? Roy's down in Mission Control.
I'm gonna wave to him.
Well, all right, let's do this for Roy.
And $10 billion.
- Science forever.
- And forever science.
- Flight, depressurizing air lock.
- Copy that, Antares.
- Outer hatch opening.
- You're good to go.
Mag grav coming off.
And.
.
mag grav off.
Copy.
All right, guys.
Let's do this.
Ted? Ted, is there a problem? I understand you not wanting to talk about the mission.
Probably pretty painful.
But we're going back there, and I want experienced astronauts on this crew.
There's not much I can say that you can't read about.
I want to hear it firsthand from you.
Right.
The detail lady.
God is in the details.
Look, I don't know if you've ever felt responsible for losing anyone.
I have.
Same as you.
And it haunts me all the time.
tell me about the storm.
Donner and I were packing up the hab.
- It was the last sol on the mission.
- Sharon and Walker? Sharon and Walker were about 5 Kilometres out, in the rover, picking up experiments, some last minute stuff.
The rover broke down in the dust, so they had to cover that by foot.
And then the storm just Did it take you by surprise? We were expecting it, but We just didn't know how bad.
You try to plan pretty well for everything, You know, have alle the contingencies covered, do everything that is humanly possible so you won't fail, fail your crewmates, fail the mission and It just all happened so fast.
One, two, three.
I'm not paying for these.
That's gotta be, like, her sixth shooter.
Will you please stop worrying about Zoe Barnes? She's a big girl, Donner.
She can take care of herself.
I can't believe this.
How can he not just pick up and say, "I'm busy"? He's probably too busy.
You know what? I'm not even asking for an explanation.
I just want a little common courtesy, because I am telling you, putting together Medic Zu at the last minute is not easy.
Please.
I'll bet you had the wig and the top in your closet already.
I know the stockings were.
- Hey, I am looking for a sympathetic ear here.
- Not getting one from me.
- Come on.
Let's dance.
- No, no, no.
Last thing you want to do is dance.
The last thing i want to do is look like, the last thing i want to do is dance, you get it? I get it.
You want to dance? A pregnant astronaut drinking.
I like it.
- To the baby.
- To the baby.
So Doc Ra a no-show? Never trust a Vortan.
Right.
Can you tell me what the hell's going on? Uh, Ted, we got six minutes to get you people into place.
We were just wondering what the hang-up is.
Ted, you gonna do this? We need you guys out of the air lock.
Ted, you copy? - Surgeon? - His blood pressure's off-the-chart.
You're not doing too well either.
No one is.
- Mintz? - Evram, are you near the air lock? Uh, no.
Uh, in the truss corridor with Paula.
The hallucinations, um, we can't move.
Copy that.
Don't try.
In five minutes we go live to the world, people.
Five minutes.
I need to see them in their places.
- What's wrong with Daddy? - Nothing, honey.
Daddy's fine.
He looks scared.
Hey, buddy.
I know, you're going through something there, but, uh, where you at? Talk to me.
Come on, Ted.
Look at us.
Continue the launch sequence now.
- Ted, we can't leave them here.
- You're damn right we can't.
Sharon? Walker? Come on.
Push.
You and Donner thought they were close enough.
You thought they had a chance.
They were less than 100 metres away.
That's less than a football field.
And Goss ordered you to launch.
You know, we all have moments we regret.
But you don't need to feel guilty.
My clearance allows complete access to the archives.
I've gone through the cockpit tapes, the telemetrics, The readings from Sharon and Walker's suits.
I'm the detail lady, Ted.
And I'm here to tell you definitively, they were not gonna make it.
Nadia, excuse me.
You know, it's gonna be a lot less festive tomorrow morning.
I'm having fun, Donner.
FOAD.
- FOAD? - (fuck off and die).
- I though you didn't swear.
- Oh, I swear.
I swear.
Ich thought you didn't date astronauts.
- Tequila, Tommy.
- No, Tommy, belay that.
Two large waters.
I told you to foad.
Look, I'm just here with Nadia because we had a I don't care, Donner.
You do whatever you like with your rules.
Well, you watch your sixes with vapor trails over there, okay? I know he may seem really charming, but he's kind of a legend for scamming on pretty, drunk ASCANs, - And you're pretty drunk.
- Watch my sixes? What? You're my wingman now? You're looking out for me? Let me tell you somethin', Mr.
Hotshot- been-to-Mars, tragic american hero.
I don't need a wingman.
I can look after myself.
Okay? - I belong in this program.
- Yeah, I know you do.
I told you that.
- I have sacrificed for this program.
- I got that.
Really? Do you have that, Donner? Mr.
I have rules? 'Cause I don't think you have a clue.
I don't think You know what? You never will.
You will never know What I gave up for this program.
This is all yours now.
You're kind of making a little bit of a scene here.
Tequila, Tommy! Hey, maybe we should go out and grab a bite, get some air.
No.
- You know - Take her home.
You expect everyone, me especially - All right.
Come on.
- I got here.
You stay here.
Donner, get out.
I'm always sick around you.
Our relationship is built on vomit.
I think I should be the one to help them get home.
Zoe.
Zoe, come on.
We gotta get going here.
Do you copy? What the hell is going on with all of you? Ted, look at me.
We can do this, Donner.
It's now or never.
We have to go.
Donner, we need to focus here.
Two minutes to air, people.
Two minutes.
It's time to go, Donner.
Where's my canadarm? Nadia, I need to see the banner.
- Ted? - Nadia.
She's not doing so good, David.
She says she keeps seeing someone in the hatchway.
Come on, Ted.
Look at us.
Please, Ted.
Come on.
We can't lose those funds.
Do it for Roy.
Do it for science.
But please, copy.
$10 billion, Ted.
Come on.
Do you copy? - Somebody's gotta call it.
- We can do this, Donner.
No.
No, Sharon.
Please.
Please.
We can do this, Donner.
No.
We can't.
Flight, we're aborting.
You copy? Copy that, Donner.
We are aborting.
Get everyone back on the ship.
Unbelievable.
$10 billion.
That's gonna take a real bite.
We might as well just abandon the science altogether.
I'm sorry, guys.
I'm sorry if I let you down.
My son probably saw everything, right? It wasn't just you, Ted.
It was all of us.
Is anybody still hallucinating? - I'm okay.
- I am a litte bit, but it's fine.
- I'm good to go here.
- So am I.
This is one screwed-up halloween.
I trust you are as ambarrassed as I am disappointed.
I won't belabor the point.
Expect to hear from our attorneys.
The only embarrassment I suffered, was watching astronauts carry candy buckets into space.
As to the rest, my man made the right call.
I hope you feel that way in the morning.
Count on it.
Hey, maybe next time, fellas.
Mahalo, Mike.
Much aloha.
Is it over? Their vitals are starting to normalize.
It's over, but nothing's to say it won't happen again.
So, Roy, is your mom gonna take you trick-or-treating? Daddy didn't.
There's a reason no one likes to show fear.
It's taken as a sign of weakness.
A festering wound.
Being vulnerable leads to being dinner in a darwinian world.
It's okay.
We'll finish.
But there's also the risk of hubris, of not knowing your own limits And that may be the biggest danger of all.
What I wanted to say today in the cafeteria wasn't about sandwiches.
What I meant to say was, That you made the right decision.
So you must never look back or feel regret because your path is in space.
You know that.
Your soul was meant to soar.
Even I know that.
Your baby's sould It was meant to move on To another body, another path.
Independent of you, but not forgotten.
So you must not feel guilt, because, you see, there is freedom for both of you.
That must bring you some joy.
How is he? He's confused, a little shaken up.
Scared.
A weakness he learned from his father.
His father is the most brave man I know.
- Is he going trick-or-treating? - No, not with the others.
As I was saying.
- But I think he will come out all right in the end.
- Trick or treat.
There's a fine line between bravery and stupiditiy.
Thank you.
And if you really want that bag of candy sometimes it makes more sense to show a little weakness, ask for help.
Donner? Thanks for today.
One of us could have been killed.
I guess.
I may not be expressing it, but I am really glad you're up here.
Likewise.
I mean that.
If I tell you something, will you promise not to make fun of me or think that I'm crazy? I mean it.
This is This is between you and me.
Yeah, sure.
I've been having this dream, and I don't know why, but it really scares me.
In the dream I am, um - I'm pregnant.
- You're pregnant? Yeah, I'm pregnant up here, and floating, naked through here, into the air lock.
I look out the pane, and I see You see me, and I'm outside.
I'm working on a thruster and there's a really bright light emerging from behind a planet.
Yeah.
Okay.
I've been having that same dream, for, like, two months.
What happened, today, these hallucinations, the dream This has nothing to do with the HALOs, does it? No.