Sanctuary s03e18 Episode Script
Carentan
Previously on Sanctuary Previously on Sanctuary It's your fault, Normandy 1944, It's your fault, Normandy 1944, Allied invasion.
Allied invasion.
You were on French soil when it happened.
You were on French soil when it happened.
Carentan? Carentan? Carentan is a very bad place.
Carentan is a very bad place.
Why don't we just attack this weather device? Why don't we just attack this weather device? If we simply blow it up, If we simply blow it up, the creature they're using to power it the creature they're using to power it could do massive damage.
could do massive damage.
There's no way to really kill a fire elemental.
There's no way to really kill a fire elemental.
Is there a way that you can force down? Is there a way that you can force down? I appreciate it, Ravi, thank you.
I appreciate it, Ravi, thank you.
I need you to visit the Mumbai Sanctuary.
I need you to visit the Mumbai Sanctuary.
Ravi is the head of house.
Ravi is the head of house.
Dr.
Zimmerman, Dr.
Zimmerman, Ms.
Freelander, namaste.
Ms.
Freelander, namaste.
Call me Ravi.
Call me Ravi.
He pretty much saved my life, He pretty much saved my life, twice.
twice.
Will! Will! What happened? What happened? Unbelievable! Unbelievable! Did you say Carentan? Did you say Carentan? In Normandy? In Normandy? Yeah, I thought it might ring a bell.
Yeah, I thought it might ring a bell.
It does indeed.
It does indeed.
How many are missing? How many are missing? Well, it's hard to say exactly.
Well, it's hard to say exactly.
There's a media blackout, There's a media blackout, and my usual sources are strangely silent.
and my usual sources are strangely silent.
You have the partial list there.
You have the partial list there.
Yeah, uh, a local farmer Yeah, uh, a local farmer And his livestock.
And his livestock.
A couple of backpacking tourists, A couple of backpacking tourists, and a busload of senior citizens.
and a busload of senior citizens.
All disappeared without a trace All disappeared without a trace within a ten-kilometer radius of Carentan.
within a ten-kilometer radius of Carentan.
And no word from any of the residents? And no word from any of the residents? No response to phone calls or emails, No response to phone calls or emails, not even from the local police, not even from the local police, and did you see that sat-link I sent you? and did you see that sat-link I sent you? Yeah, I'm calling it up now.
Yeah, I'm calling it up now.
Censored? Censored? By whom? By whom? There's the rub.
There's the rub.
And Ravi went in five days ago? And Ravi went in five days ago? He was already in Paris He was already in Paris wrapping up the Bipedal Conference, wrapping up the Bipedal Conference, so I figured-- so I figured-- No, absolutely, you made the right call.
No, absolutely, you made the right call.
I discovered he was sending a video log I discovered he was sending a video log back to his computer at the Mumbai Sanctuary.
back to his computer at the Mumbai Sanctuary.
I called up his last post.
I called up his last post.
Take a look at this.
Take a look at this.
I'm inside the first checkpoint now, I'm inside the first checkpoint now, and I think I'm getting closer and I think I'm getting closer to the perimeter of the disturbance.
to the perimeter of the disturbance.
According to my estimates, it's within According to my estimates, it's within I'm feeling a strange tingling sensation-- I'm feeling a strange tingling sensation-- Since then, Since then, nothing.
nothing.
All contact was instantly lost.
All contact was instantly lost.
It was like he disappeared off the face of the planet.
It was like he disappeared off the face of the planet.
# # Bastards! Bastards! That answers my question.
That answers my question.
The French government, now Interpol.
The French government, now Interpol.
Complete stonewall.
Complete stonewall.
I know the feeling.
I know the feeling.
C.
I.
A.
? C.
I.
A.
? Schtum .
MI-6? Schtum .
MI-6? Waiting for a call back.
Waiting for a call back.
I've got a bridge I want to sell you.
I've got a bridge I want to sell you.
Precisely.
Precisely.
Are you getting the feeling Are you getting the feeling we've been kicked out of the treehouse here? we've been kicked out of the treehouse here? It's like all our reciprocal agreements It's like all our reciprocal agreements have been rescinded overnight.
have been rescinded overnight.
Which means whatever's happening in Carentan Which means whatever's happening in Carentan must be terrifying the hell out of them.
must be terrifying the hell out of them.
I've just come from I've just come from the regional Magistrate's office.
the regional Magistrate's office.
Like blood from a stone, Like blood from a stone, and apparently the Surete now wants me and apparently the Surete now wants me to leave the country within 12 hours, to leave the country within 12 hours, which, of course, which, of course, only makes me more determined to stay.
only makes me more determined to stay.
I'm inside the first checkpoint now, I'm inside the first checkpoint now, and I think I'm getting closer and I think I'm getting closer to the perimeter of the disturbance.
to the perimeter of the disturbance.
According to my estimates, it's within According to my estimates, it's within I'm feeling a strange tingling sensation-- I'm feeling a strange tingling sensation-- Any abnormal you heard of Any abnormal you heard of discharge energy like that? discharge energy like that? Several, but they leave radiation signatures Several, but they leave radiation signatures in the atmosphere, in the atmosphere, and we don't have any spikes in that area.
and we don't have any spikes in that area.
Gulfstream's on standby.
Gulfstream's on standby.
You ready? You ready? Almost.
Almost.
This would go a lot faster with Hank's help, by the way, This would go a lot faster with Hank's help, by the way, but apparently they don't have phones in sweat lodges.
That's the last time we give him the weekend off to commune with his inner wolf.
Okay, so we used the background landscape from Ravi's video And the towers the cell signal bounced off To geo-map his last location, nice.
Exactly.
Oh, we got a hit.
Looks like a couple miles from the town center.
Okay, so if Ravi did find a way in, that would be our access point.
Stay sharp.
And have the TAC team standing by, just in case.
They're ready and waiting at Plymouth Naval Base.
It's just a 30-minute hop across the channel, if need be.
Good.
I'm leaving now.
I'll meet you there.
Ah Do you think that's wise? We're already down one Sanctuary head.
Until I know what we're dealing with-- I was the one who sent Ravi in there.
I'm responsible.
So with all due respect, Guv, I'll see you at De Gaulle.
Cheeky bugger.
So, 65 years later Look a little different without the barbed wire and swastikas? Ever so slightly.
Heads up.
What's the situation here? Industrial spill.
We're asking everybody to turn back.
But I believe one of my colleagues-- Sorry, ma'am, until clean-up is complete, the area is off-limits.
Oh, bumpy roads You're not going to get carsick again? She's been very, very sick.
Oh, God She's been really sick.
Nicely done.
Arretez! Who's in charge here? I am.
Dr.
Magnus Inside.
Just you.
You know who I am.
Let's just say your reputation precedes you.
Wish I could say the same about you.
I don't have a name, not as far as you're concerned.
Right, then.
Let's cut to the chase, shall we? This Hazmat dog-and-pony show is a joke.
If there was a real radiation risk, you and your boys would be suited up.
Atmospherics from the area came back clean as a whistle.
No large industries for over a hundred kilometers.
Oh, and, by the way, you've got at least two trucks outside full of surface-to-air missiles.
Starstreaks , if I'm not mistaken.
Now, I had no idea they could be used to clean up a toxic spill.
You know the only reason you're still alive is because of who you are? And I'm not leaving until I get some answers.
Now, one of my colleagues-- Ravi Ganapathiraman? Have you seen him? Six days ago.
Like you, he was stopped at our first checkpoint, and he was ordered to turn back.
But he didn't.
Is he alive? Take your people, leave.
Now.
You know who I am, therefore you know what I do.
Whatever's going on here, maybe I can help.
This is above your pay grade, doctor.
Yeah, even you.
Well, whoever he is, he's clearly ex-military.
He's not French army.
Yeah, generic uniforms, no markings on the vehicles.
Some sort of private international security force.
Yet he's clearly acting with the approval of the French government, and yet his mandate's being rigorously shielded by intelligence agencies worldwide.
Well, something very big and very bad is going on inside that town.
Something no government wants to take responsibility for.
And yet all governments want to cover up.
That field, those trees.
Pull over.
I wonder if it's still there.
A tunnel from the war.
It leads under the field, and if memory serves, should end beyond the base camp.
Looks like somebody used it recently.
It must be how Ravi bypassed perimeter security.
Well, how did he know about it? Well, it's in my old logs.
It could've come up if he did a Carentan search.
Now, you two, until we know what we're dealing with, I'm not willing to endanger the entire team.
Aw, come on.
I could argue there's strength in numbers.
I'm sure you could, but not this time.
I guess I'll go first.
Don't even think about following.
Check our coordinates.
Yeah.
Okay, GPS says we're now behind enemy lines.
The perimeter camp is back that way.
Shh! Listen.
It's so quiet.
Exactly.
Not even any birds.
The town's that way, beyond the treeline.
What the hell just happened? Do you hear it? Yeah.
Hey.
Hello.
Anglais.
Newcomers.
You were right.
You from Carentan? Oui.
Come with us.
The last one will be very excited to meet you.
Check it out, the whole town's gone green.
It's not quite as I remember it.
I'm not sure what I expected, but it certainly wasn't this.
I don't understand.
Something's not right.
Here he is.
The last one.
Helen, Will Ravi! Helen, even though it's only been six days for you, I'm now 74 years old.
My mind says it's not possible, and yet I look at you.
Um, I'm sorry, Ravi.
My brain is still playing catch-up here.
You say that you arrived in Carentan six days ago? In your time.
But in this village, In "dome-time," or at least, that's what I call it.
It's a massive time dilation field, and you can't leave? Anyone who tries to pass through the boundary and re-enter the normal time stream is killed instantly.
There's an intense dimensional recoil.
It's like being hit by a train.
So we're trapped inside an invisible time dome In France.
Awkward, but it does explain a lot.
Oh, yeah, it makes complete sense.
Come with me.
There's someone I want you to meet.
Anna! Newcomers.
Welcome.
Helen, Will, this is my wife, Anna.
This used to be an old Nazi bunker.
Fond memories.
Of course.
But as I was saying, the time stream first erupted just over three weeks ago your time.
The epicenter was in a cave off the cliffs.
That's when the disappearances started.
The French government thought they had a Bermuda Triangle on their hands, so at first they sent in scientists.
Who never returned.
Then they sent in the military, who also never returned, and then, no one.
Until you The last one.
The rest, as they say, is history.
Literally.
So all this equipment Was already here, or brought in since.
Previous experiments? The result of over by top scientists in France and the military, trying to understand the time stream, trying to solve it, dissolve it, and yet Here we are.
God, I can't believe it.
What? I destroyed a massive fire elemental back in 1944.
Drove it into the Earth less than half a mile from here, and now this? You don't think this is your fault? Well, it can't be a coincidence.
I have to admit, the thought did occur to me, but I haven't been able to find a connection.
Anna told me we had newcomers.
Josie, Helen, Will.
Josie is the granddaughter of the first French scientist to enter Carentan.
An excellent assistant.
She's also a natural at mathematics.
I also make sure he does not forget to eat his lunch.
Of course.
Let's go, Anna hates it when I'm late.
So easy to lose track of time when there's three years of daylight.
So one day of our time is equal to six years inside Carentan.
Three years of daylight, followed by three years of night.
The dark time.
Your 12-hour cycle translated into our years.
We're cut off, remember, from the outside world, so we have to stockpile all our resources.
Food from the harvests.
Energy from the solar panels, but it is never enough.
The stores of energy are the first to go.
Then the food runs out.
The last few months Only the youngest and the strongest make it through to the sunrise.
How long until the next dark time? Nine months, in dome time.
But out there Less than three hours.
What if they don't come back? They will.
Yeah, but what if they don't? Then we'll go in after them.
What if we don't come back? Well, then at least we'll be in there.
This is pointless.
You heard Magnus.
Yeah, she said "don't go in the tunnel.
" Right.
But that doesn't mean we're supposed to sit around with our thumb up-- What is your point? My point is, we're learning nothing here.
Let's go.
Freeze! Stay right there.
Aw, crap Your colleagues did a very stupid thing.
They may be lost forever.
Look, you know what's going on, so just tell us.
Maybe he doesn't know.
Maybe no one knows what's happening in Carentan.
Impound their vehicle, put them in the supply tent.
Sir.
Let's go.
Some of this handwriting is practically indecipherable.
A combination of poor penmanship and homemade inks.
French, German, English.
Was none of this research computerized? At first, but then they realized how risky that was.
Hard drives weren't built to last 150 years.
I barely feel like I've made a dent at all.
You've only been at it a week.
Give yourself time.
Time Time dilation.
Adam Worth and the time nodes.
Yet this can't have been his doing.
He died months ago in Hollow Earth.
In all my years here, I've explored every square inch of the boundary.
There's no device anywhere.
Do you never feel like giving up? Just quitting? Every day.
What keeps you going? You.
I wanted to see the look on your face when I cracked this mother.
Well, let's get to it, then, shall we? You take these readings every week? The dome's like a living thing.
We're taking its pulse.
Looking for a weakening in the energy.
Have you ever found any? If it's so dangerous to penetrate the dome, yet you can't see it, how do you Careful, now, we are close.
Slowly.
Yeah, I-I feel it.
It's like my skin is tingling.
If we kept walking, it would intensify.
Let me show you.
Another three meters, and I saw it happen once.
A young man, just before dark time.
He started screaming and ran, and ran, and just Blew apart.
Hey Don't think about that.
There's gotta be another way out, right? What? It's just, I was born here.
This is the only world I have ever known.
There's a hell of a lot more world outside of Carentan.
You're gonna love it.
Thanks.
Nice bathrooms you got there.
Just keep moving.
You know, it was real sweet of you to wait for me.
Get inside.
Okay.
Of course I trust you.
It's just that there are only two functioning motherboards left.
I can't give any guarantees.
But it is a chance to communicate with the outside world.
And on a frequency we know will be monitored.
But previous transmissions have never been answered.
That's because of the time differential.
When a signal broadcast from inside the dome is received on the outside, it's incredibly condensed.
We're talking hundredths of a nanosecond.
It would barely register on the most sensitive equipment.
Which is why I'm stretching out this signal, slowing it down.
Even a simple message like, "we are alive.
Time dilation field.
" Will take up two weeks to transmit.
And we're going to need uninterrupted power.
I've dedicated one of the solar panels.
All set, then.
I know they've only been gone half an hour, but this whole set-up gives me the creeps.
Yeah, me too.
I've got your location now.
Also, there's a strong satellite transmission coming from the same area.
The command tent.
Can you eavesdrop? Signal's scrambled.
No surprise.
One more thing.
Just before your call came in, I picked up something odd.
Specifically? Short bursts of static, like screeching white noise.
Interference? Yeah, could be.
I'll look into it.
Ravi's asking that the solar panels be re-routed back to the battery stores.
Uh-huh.
You know, it's been three weeks since our S.
O.
S.
call.
Yes, I know.
If the outside hasn't responded by now-- I'm fully aware of the situation, thank you.
Is there something I can help you with? Yeah, I could really use a computer, or a proper pen and paper! God, even a bloody slide-rule! I'm sorry, Will.
These energy readings from the boundary? Over a century's worth.
Do you know that when this time dilation field first came into existence, it was the size of a city block? And now it's over And every few decades, the pressure builds, like before an earthquake.
And when it breaks apart, the dome grows.
We know this.
But what we didn't know was that it was happening exponentially.
The energy readings from the past 20 years are climbing steadily, beyond anything we've ever measured.
So the dome's getting ready for another growth spurt.
A massive one.
Define "massive.
" Half the eastern coast of France, and if it keeps growing at this rate, in 120 years, the time dilation field will blanket the entire Earth.
In here, but out there-- three weeks before the planet is torn apart.
This is ridiculous.
Agreed.
I mean, I didn't even work on that time dilation node we salvaged from Worth's warehouse.
Right.
Neither did you, by the way.
Right again.
And yet here we are trying to recreate it using pieces of old laptops, and-and-and iPods, and What is that? Thermostat from a toaster.
I'm sorry I asked.
Look We know the epicenter of the original eruption.
Now, all subsequent growth radiated from there.
If I can nullify the time dilation field at that spot-- it would burst this bubble and return Carentan to normal time? Come on, it can't be that simple.
Well, unfortunately, you're right.
However, we are lucky in that we have decades of research at our disposal.
I sense a "but" coming.
We are missing a key element, an element found in Worth's time node.
Cerrelium.
Okay, so where do we find that? Hollow Earth.
Perfect.
Or From the time node that Henry dismantled.
At the Sanctuary? Mm.
In case you've forgotten, we can't just reach out and touch someone.
You know, I've been thinking about that, and I may have a way.
You were right.
This is the ultimate slow-broadcast message.
It's no wonder the satellites couldn't pick up any movement in Carentan.
In real-world time, we're moving so fast, we're not even a blur.
We are invisible.
But this should get somebody's attention.
Look at him.
I remember the early days.
It wasn't easy.
Go, talk to him.
Evening.
May I sit down? Sure, please.
So, how are you? I'm okay.
You? Every day a new bone creaks.
But it does get easier, you know.
I'm not sure I want it to.
When did you Give up? I was going to say "surrender.
" I can't recall a specific moment.
I guess it happened gradually, a day at a time.
Next thing I knew, one day had turned into decades.
And you don't miss the real world? Of course I do, but I've got a family here now, a life.
So it wasn't just interference? It was an extremely compressed radio signal.
From here? From Carentan.
It's Magnus! Number 37 Probably too much copper.
Yeah.
You know, I-I think I need another coil here.
Did I see one in the tool box? Happy Birthday.
I can't believe you remembered.
Neither can I.
Can I open it? Yeah, but I-I don't want you to get too excited, okay? It's nothing much.
It's beautiful.
See, I think I screwed up the clasp-- Oh, be quiet.
See, I knew it.
I love it.
I'm glad you like it.
I'm sorry, I shouldn't have-- No, no, no, no It's just complicated.
Abby.
Complicated.
Not for me.
But, see, you're And she's the past, and Dark time is coming.
If we make it through the famine years till sunrise I want to have a baby.
Hey, Magnus.
How's everything? Great.
Yeah.
I'll go get us some lunch.
Anything you want to tell me? No.
About the magnetic readings? Oh, that.
Uh, yeah.
None of the metals that we smelted together have nearly enough gauss as cerrelium.
Damn.
Means we'll have to wait and hope that someone's seen the rock signal.
And what if they do? I mean, that could take years in our time to get that node here, and even then, there's no guarantee that it's going to work.
No, there isn't.
Yeah.
Will-- No, look You're immortal, essentially, but I'm not.
I mean, has it ever occurred to you that we may not solve this problem in my lifetime? Time dilation field? Her message is irrefutable evidence they're still alive! And they need help, so let's move! Your colleagues took it upon themselves to break through the barrier.
Their fate is their own responsibility.
So, what the hell are you and your boys doing here, then? 'Cause you're certainly not helping anyone trapped in Carentan.
There is a plan.
It's in motion.
Oh, yeah, right.
Hey, this satellite feed How long has this been here? A few minutes ago.
It suddenly appeared.
That's an elemental symbol.
Not according to my science guys.
No element on earth like that.
True.
It's the symbol for cerrelium.
An element found Elsewhere.
All personnel.
Project Greenhouse is a go.
T-minus 37 minutes.
Mark.
This is a message from Magnus and Will.
What does it mean? Uh, it's hard to explain, but give us time.
Time, you don't have.
The field is expanding.
My job is to stop it.
Project Greenhouse.
It's an air strike.
They're going to blow Carentan off the map.
there's no way we're going to beat the air strike.
Does it have to be cerrelium? There must be something else we can substitute.
I don't know Okay, Biggie, remember last week when you were making that bouillabaisse, and you ran out of saffron, so you used turmeric instead, and it tasted just as good.
Did not.
You get my point.
All right, let's give it a shot.
What do you got in your kitchen over there? Should be just up ahead.
By the way, Will, Happy New Year.
Somehow I don't feel like celebrating.
You see that sky? Sunset's beginning.
The solar panels will go dead, we'll lose power to the lab.
Which is why we're testing this node now.
Here we are, the epicenter of the original disturbance.
You know, without the cerrelium I agree, and if time weren't forcing my hand, I'd wait, but what choice do we have? Say a prayer.
Turn it off! Bloody hell! Ravi? Ravi! Your experiment, my God.
What happened? People disappeared.
What do you mean? Everything went very fast, then slow, and then they were gone.
Just vanished? I saw one of them with my own eyes.
Andre.
He was re-sheeting one of the solar panels.
He fell, but vanished before he hit the ground.
Magnus, what have we done? Four people were vaporized because our experiment failed.
What if it didn't fail? What if, for a few seconds, we managed to diffuse the time dilation field? Well, then why did those people disappear? Because when Carentan resets itself to real world time, they don't exist.
In your time, they haven't been born yet.
Okay, okay, so If we get the cerrelium, stabilize the node, make it work properly Then anything inside this dome that was created after its inception, equipment, animals, people, will cease to exist.
And the only people who'll survive the reset The three of us.
Everybody else No! No Josie Josie, wait! Josie, wait! Hey, stop! Look at me! We didn't know! We didn't know.
We didn't know.
But now you do.
So are you going to continue your experiments, even though we would all just How could you just Disappear me? Oh, beauty.
It's not going to be easy walking a surface-to-air missile past these guys.
We don't need the whole missile.
The alloy Biggie mentioned is the thruster stage.
It's part of the heat shield.
Uh, I don't suppose you have a screwdriver? Penknife? Yeah.
Here.
Oh, come to mama Okay.
You're going to need this.
Thanks.
Hold your fire! What the hell was that all about? It's not cerrelium, but I was able to use parts of the missile they sent.
How's it going? As usual, slower than I'd like.
Hopefully this new shielding will do the trick.
One more stunt like that, and the next bullet goes in your head.
To hell with you! There are people alive in there! There's still a chance to save them! Not in the next nine minutes.
The birds are already in the air.
Let's go.
I don't hate you.
If the dome continues to spread, continents shifting at lightning speed Oceans born in the blink of an eye The stress on the Earth's core will rip this planet apart.
I understand all that.
Like you, I'm a scientist, but I'm also a husband.
The sun has almost set.
Are you ready? Can I really be doing this? Please, dear, I can't talk about this anymore.
If our small sacrifice can save billions of people You were always the stronger one.
Whenever the children got sick, I would worry so much, but you-- we will never leave you, I promise.
If you don't see us here, look here.
That's where we will be.
Always.
Now, go, my love.
It's time for you to be the strong one.
The shielding is as secure as it'll ever be.
It's been a long time, not a good time.
I just wish I knew how to say goodbye.
It's Ravi! There's a crowd in the street.
I told them that you'd come out and speak with them.
They're watching the front of the mayor's office.
All right, we'll go through the basement and out the back.
I don't know how long I can hold them.
Every second counts.
Thank you.
Just listen to us! The time dilation field's a massive concentration of energy.
You hit that sucker with a bomb, and there is no telling what the fallout will be! You still don't get it, do you? The train has left the station.
Whatever happens, it's all going to be over in 60 seconds.
Magnus! Will! What is it? You've got to hurry.
I couldn't hold them.
They have found out where you are.
Stop! Stop! Josie Josie, don't do this.
Helen, get away from that machine.
Please.
Who the hell are you to say who lives and who dies? Josie! No! We made it.
Ravi didn't.
Anyone else? After the reset, we were found in the field.
Kate said something about a An air strike that was called off at the last second, but I was still pretty groggy.
I could have dreamt that.
They had a million questions, but I told them to let you sleep.
Thank you But now we need to get to work.
Something, or someone, is behind what happened in Carentan.
I feel it in my gut.
You're not blaming yourself, are you? Until I know differently.
Allied invasion.
You were on French soil when it happened.
You were on French soil when it happened.
Carentan? Carentan? Carentan is a very bad place.
Carentan is a very bad place.
Why don't we just attack this weather device? Why don't we just attack this weather device? If we simply blow it up, If we simply blow it up, the creature they're using to power it the creature they're using to power it could do massive damage.
could do massive damage.
There's no way to really kill a fire elemental.
There's no way to really kill a fire elemental.
Is there a way that you can force down? Is there a way that you can force down? I appreciate it, Ravi, thank you.
I appreciate it, Ravi, thank you.
I need you to visit the Mumbai Sanctuary.
I need you to visit the Mumbai Sanctuary.
Ravi is the head of house.
Ravi is the head of house.
Dr.
Zimmerman, Dr.
Zimmerman, Ms.
Freelander, namaste.
Ms.
Freelander, namaste.
Call me Ravi.
Call me Ravi.
He pretty much saved my life, He pretty much saved my life, twice.
twice.
Will! Will! What happened? What happened? Unbelievable! Unbelievable! Did you say Carentan? Did you say Carentan? In Normandy? In Normandy? Yeah, I thought it might ring a bell.
Yeah, I thought it might ring a bell.
It does indeed.
It does indeed.
How many are missing? How many are missing? Well, it's hard to say exactly.
Well, it's hard to say exactly.
There's a media blackout, There's a media blackout, and my usual sources are strangely silent.
and my usual sources are strangely silent.
You have the partial list there.
You have the partial list there.
Yeah, uh, a local farmer Yeah, uh, a local farmer And his livestock.
And his livestock.
A couple of backpacking tourists, A couple of backpacking tourists, and a busload of senior citizens.
and a busload of senior citizens.
All disappeared without a trace All disappeared without a trace within a ten-kilometer radius of Carentan.
within a ten-kilometer radius of Carentan.
And no word from any of the residents? And no word from any of the residents? No response to phone calls or emails, No response to phone calls or emails, not even from the local police, not even from the local police, and did you see that sat-link I sent you? and did you see that sat-link I sent you? Yeah, I'm calling it up now.
Yeah, I'm calling it up now.
Censored? Censored? By whom? By whom? There's the rub.
There's the rub.
And Ravi went in five days ago? And Ravi went in five days ago? He was already in Paris He was already in Paris wrapping up the Bipedal Conference, wrapping up the Bipedal Conference, so I figured-- so I figured-- No, absolutely, you made the right call.
No, absolutely, you made the right call.
I discovered he was sending a video log I discovered he was sending a video log back to his computer at the Mumbai Sanctuary.
back to his computer at the Mumbai Sanctuary.
I called up his last post.
I called up his last post.
Take a look at this.
Take a look at this.
I'm inside the first checkpoint now, I'm inside the first checkpoint now, and I think I'm getting closer and I think I'm getting closer to the perimeter of the disturbance.
to the perimeter of the disturbance.
According to my estimates, it's within According to my estimates, it's within I'm feeling a strange tingling sensation-- I'm feeling a strange tingling sensation-- Since then, Since then, nothing.
nothing.
All contact was instantly lost.
All contact was instantly lost.
It was like he disappeared off the face of the planet.
It was like he disappeared off the face of the planet.
# # Bastards! Bastards! That answers my question.
That answers my question.
The French government, now Interpol.
The French government, now Interpol.
Complete stonewall.
Complete stonewall.
I know the feeling.
I know the feeling.
C.
I.
A.
? C.
I.
A.
? Schtum .
MI-6? Schtum .
MI-6? Waiting for a call back.
Waiting for a call back.
I've got a bridge I want to sell you.
I've got a bridge I want to sell you.
Precisely.
Precisely.
Are you getting the feeling Are you getting the feeling we've been kicked out of the treehouse here? we've been kicked out of the treehouse here? It's like all our reciprocal agreements It's like all our reciprocal agreements have been rescinded overnight.
have been rescinded overnight.
Which means whatever's happening in Carentan Which means whatever's happening in Carentan must be terrifying the hell out of them.
must be terrifying the hell out of them.
I've just come from I've just come from the regional Magistrate's office.
the regional Magistrate's office.
Like blood from a stone, Like blood from a stone, and apparently the Surete now wants me and apparently the Surete now wants me to leave the country within 12 hours, to leave the country within 12 hours, which, of course, which, of course, only makes me more determined to stay.
only makes me more determined to stay.
I'm inside the first checkpoint now, I'm inside the first checkpoint now, and I think I'm getting closer and I think I'm getting closer to the perimeter of the disturbance.
to the perimeter of the disturbance.
According to my estimates, it's within According to my estimates, it's within I'm feeling a strange tingling sensation-- I'm feeling a strange tingling sensation-- Any abnormal you heard of Any abnormal you heard of discharge energy like that? discharge energy like that? Several, but they leave radiation signatures Several, but they leave radiation signatures in the atmosphere, in the atmosphere, and we don't have any spikes in that area.
and we don't have any spikes in that area.
Gulfstream's on standby.
Gulfstream's on standby.
You ready? You ready? Almost.
Almost.
This would go a lot faster with Hank's help, by the way, This would go a lot faster with Hank's help, by the way, but apparently they don't have phones in sweat lodges.
That's the last time we give him the weekend off to commune with his inner wolf.
Okay, so we used the background landscape from Ravi's video And the towers the cell signal bounced off To geo-map his last location, nice.
Exactly.
Oh, we got a hit.
Looks like a couple miles from the town center.
Okay, so if Ravi did find a way in, that would be our access point.
Stay sharp.
And have the TAC team standing by, just in case.
They're ready and waiting at Plymouth Naval Base.
It's just a 30-minute hop across the channel, if need be.
Good.
I'm leaving now.
I'll meet you there.
Ah Do you think that's wise? We're already down one Sanctuary head.
Until I know what we're dealing with-- I was the one who sent Ravi in there.
I'm responsible.
So with all due respect, Guv, I'll see you at De Gaulle.
Cheeky bugger.
So, 65 years later Look a little different without the barbed wire and swastikas? Ever so slightly.
Heads up.
What's the situation here? Industrial spill.
We're asking everybody to turn back.
But I believe one of my colleagues-- Sorry, ma'am, until clean-up is complete, the area is off-limits.
Oh, bumpy roads You're not going to get carsick again? She's been very, very sick.
Oh, God She's been really sick.
Nicely done.
Arretez! Who's in charge here? I am.
Dr.
Magnus Inside.
Just you.
You know who I am.
Let's just say your reputation precedes you.
Wish I could say the same about you.
I don't have a name, not as far as you're concerned.
Right, then.
Let's cut to the chase, shall we? This Hazmat dog-and-pony show is a joke.
If there was a real radiation risk, you and your boys would be suited up.
Atmospherics from the area came back clean as a whistle.
No large industries for over a hundred kilometers.
Oh, and, by the way, you've got at least two trucks outside full of surface-to-air missiles.
Starstreaks , if I'm not mistaken.
Now, I had no idea they could be used to clean up a toxic spill.
You know the only reason you're still alive is because of who you are? And I'm not leaving until I get some answers.
Now, one of my colleagues-- Ravi Ganapathiraman? Have you seen him? Six days ago.
Like you, he was stopped at our first checkpoint, and he was ordered to turn back.
But he didn't.
Is he alive? Take your people, leave.
Now.
You know who I am, therefore you know what I do.
Whatever's going on here, maybe I can help.
This is above your pay grade, doctor.
Yeah, even you.
Well, whoever he is, he's clearly ex-military.
He's not French army.
Yeah, generic uniforms, no markings on the vehicles.
Some sort of private international security force.
Yet he's clearly acting with the approval of the French government, and yet his mandate's being rigorously shielded by intelligence agencies worldwide.
Well, something very big and very bad is going on inside that town.
Something no government wants to take responsibility for.
And yet all governments want to cover up.
That field, those trees.
Pull over.
I wonder if it's still there.
A tunnel from the war.
It leads under the field, and if memory serves, should end beyond the base camp.
Looks like somebody used it recently.
It must be how Ravi bypassed perimeter security.
Well, how did he know about it? Well, it's in my old logs.
It could've come up if he did a Carentan search.
Now, you two, until we know what we're dealing with, I'm not willing to endanger the entire team.
Aw, come on.
I could argue there's strength in numbers.
I'm sure you could, but not this time.
I guess I'll go first.
Don't even think about following.
Check our coordinates.
Yeah.
Okay, GPS says we're now behind enemy lines.
The perimeter camp is back that way.
Shh! Listen.
It's so quiet.
Exactly.
Not even any birds.
The town's that way, beyond the treeline.
What the hell just happened? Do you hear it? Yeah.
Hey.
Hello.
Anglais.
Newcomers.
You were right.
You from Carentan? Oui.
Come with us.
The last one will be very excited to meet you.
Check it out, the whole town's gone green.
It's not quite as I remember it.
I'm not sure what I expected, but it certainly wasn't this.
I don't understand.
Something's not right.
Here he is.
The last one.
Helen, Will Ravi! Helen, even though it's only been six days for you, I'm now 74 years old.
My mind says it's not possible, and yet I look at you.
Um, I'm sorry, Ravi.
My brain is still playing catch-up here.
You say that you arrived in Carentan six days ago? In your time.
But in this village, In "dome-time," or at least, that's what I call it.
It's a massive time dilation field, and you can't leave? Anyone who tries to pass through the boundary and re-enter the normal time stream is killed instantly.
There's an intense dimensional recoil.
It's like being hit by a train.
So we're trapped inside an invisible time dome In France.
Awkward, but it does explain a lot.
Oh, yeah, it makes complete sense.
Come with me.
There's someone I want you to meet.
Anna! Newcomers.
Welcome.
Helen, Will, this is my wife, Anna.
This used to be an old Nazi bunker.
Fond memories.
Of course.
But as I was saying, the time stream first erupted just over three weeks ago your time.
The epicenter was in a cave off the cliffs.
That's when the disappearances started.
The French government thought they had a Bermuda Triangle on their hands, so at first they sent in scientists.
Who never returned.
Then they sent in the military, who also never returned, and then, no one.
Until you The last one.
The rest, as they say, is history.
Literally.
So all this equipment Was already here, or brought in since.
Previous experiments? The result of over by top scientists in France and the military, trying to understand the time stream, trying to solve it, dissolve it, and yet Here we are.
God, I can't believe it.
What? I destroyed a massive fire elemental back in 1944.
Drove it into the Earth less than half a mile from here, and now this? You don't think this is your fault? Well, it can't be a coincidence.
I have to admit, the thought did occur to me, but I haven't been able to find a connection.
Anna told me we had newcomers.
Josie, Helen, Will.
Josie is the granddaughter of the first French scientist to enter Carentan.
An excellent assistant.
She's also a natural at mathematics.
I also make sure he does not forget to eat his lunch.
Of course.
Let's go, Anna hates it when I'm late.
So easy to lose track of time when there's three years of daylight.
So one day of our time is equal to six years inside Carentan.
Three years of daylight, followed by three years of night.
The dark time.
Your 12-hour cycle translated into our years.
We're cut off, remember, from the outside world, so we have to stockpile all our resources.
Food from the harvests.
Energy from the solar panels, but it is never enough.
The stores of energy are the first to go.
Then the food runs out.
The last few months Only the youngest and the strongest make it through to the sunrise.
How long until the next dark time? Nine months, in dome time.
But out there Less than three hours.
What if they don't come back? They will.
Yeah, but what if they don't? Then we'll go in after them.
What if we don't come back? Well, then at least we'll be in there.
This is pointless.
You heard Magnus.
Yeah, she said "don't go in the tunnel.
" Right.
But that doesn't mean we're supposed to sit around with our thumb up-- What is your point? My point is, we're learning nothing here.
Let's go.
Freeze! Stay right there.
Aw, crap Your colleagues did a very stupid thing.
They may be lost forever.
Look, you know what's going on, so just tell us.
Maybe he doesn't know.
Maybe no one knows what's happening in Carentan.
Impound their vehicle, put them in the supply tent.
Sir.
Let's go.
Some of this handwriting is practically indecipherable.
A combination of poor penmanship and homemade inks.
French, German, English.
Was none of this research computerized? At first, but then they realized how risky that was.
Hard drives weren't built to last 150 years.
I barely feel like I've made a dent at all.
You've only been at it a week.
Give yourself time.
Time Time dilation.
Adam Worth and the time nodes.
Yet this can't have been his doing.
He died months ago in Hollow Earth.
In all my years here, I've explored every square inch of the boundary.
There's no device anywhere.
Do you never feel like giving up? Just quitting? Every day.
What keeps you going? You.
I wanted to see the look on your face when I cracked this mother.
Well, let's get to it, then, shall we? You take these readings every week? The dome's like a living thing.
We're taking its pulse.
Looking for a weakening in the energy.
Have you ever found any? If it's so dangerous to penetrate the dome, yet you can't see it, how do you Careful, now, we are close.
Slowly.
Yeah, I-I feel it.
It's like my skin is tingling.
If we kept walking, it would intensify.
Let me show you.
Another three meters, and I saw it happen once.
A young man, just before dark time.
He started screaming and ran, and ran, and just Blew apart.
Hey Don't think about that.
There's gotta be another way out, right? What? It's just, I was born here.
This is the only world I have ever known.
There's a hell of a lot more world outside of Carentan.
You're gonna love it.
Thanks.
Nice bathrooms you got there.
Just keep moving.
You know, it was real sweet of you to wait for me.
Get inside.
Okay.
Of course I trust you.
It's just that there are only two functioning motherboards left.
I can't give any guarantees.
But it is a chance to communicate with the outside world.
And on a frequency we know will be monitored.
But previous transmissions have never been answered.
That's because of the time differential.
When a signal broadcast from inside the dome is received on the outside, it's incredibly condensed.
We're talking hundredths of a nanosecond.
It would barely register on the most sensitive equipment.
Which is why I'm stretching out this signal, slowing it down.
Even a simple message like, "we are alive.
Time dilation field.
" Will take up two weeks to transmit.
And we're going to need uninterrupted power.
I've dedicated one of the solar panels.
All set, then.
I know they've only been gone half an hour, but this whole set-up gives me the creeps.
Yeah, me too.
I've got your location now.
Also, there's a strong satellite transmission coming from the same area.
The command tent.
Can you eavesdrop? Signal's scrambled.
No surprise.
One more thing.
Just before your call came in, I picked up something odd.
Specifically? Short bursts of static, like screeching white noise.
Interference? Yeah, could be.
I'll look into it.
Ravi's asking that the solar panels be re-routed back to the battery stores.
Uh-huh.
You know, it's been three weeks since our S.
O.
S.
call.
Yes, I know.
If the outside hasn't responded by now-- I'm fully aware of the situation, thank you.
Is there something I can help you with? Yeah, I could really use a computer, or a proper pen and paper! God, even a bloody slide-rule! I'm sorry, Will.
These energy readings from the boundary? Over a century's worth.
Do you know that when this time dilation field first came into existence, it was the size of a city block? And now it's over And every few decades, the pressure builds, like before an earthquake.
And when it breaks apart, the dome grows.
We know this.
But what we didn't know was that it was happening exponentially.
The energy readings from the past 20 years are climbing steadily, beyond anything we've ever measured.
So the dome's getting ready for another growth spurt.
A massive one.
Define "massive.
" Half the eastern coast of France, and if it keeps growing at this rate, in 120 years, the time dilation field will blanket the entire Earth.
In here, but out there-- three weeks before the planet is torn apart.
This is ridiculous.
Agreed.
I mean, I didn't even work on that time dilation node we salvaged from Worth's warehouse.
Right.
Neither did you, by the way.
Right again.
And yet here we are trying to recreate it using pieces of old laptops, and-and-and iPods, and What is that? Thermostat from a toaster.
I'm sorry I asked.
Look We know the epicenter of the original eruption.
Now, all subsequent growth radiated from there.
If I can nullify the time dilation field at that spot-- it would burst this bubble and return Carentan to normal time? Come on, it can't be that simple.
Well, unfortunately, you're right.
However, we are lucky in that we have decades of research at our disposal.
I sense a "but" coming.
We are missing a key element, an element found in Worth's time node.
Cerrelium.
Okay, so where do we find that? Hollow Earth.
Perfect.
Or From the time node that Henry dismantled.
At the Sanctuary? Mm.
In case you've forgotten, we can't just reach out and touch someone.
You know, I've been thinking about that, and I may have a way.
You were right.
This is the ultimate slow-broadcast message.
It's no wonder the satellites couldn't pick up any movement in Carentan.
In real-world time, we're moving so fast, we're not even a blur.
We are invisible.
But this should get somebody's attention.
Look at him.
I remember the early days.
It wasn't easy.
Go, talk to him.
Evening.
May I sit down? Sure, please.
So, how are you? I'm okay.
You? Every day a new bone creaks.
But it does get easier, you know.
I'm not sure I want it to.
When did you Give up? I was going to say "surrender.
" I can't recall a specific moment.
I guess it happened gradually, a day at a time.
Next thing I knew, one day had turned into decades.
And you don't miss the real world? Of course I do, but I've got a family here now, a life.
So it wasn't just interference? It was an extremely compressed radio signal.
From here? From Carentan.
It's Magnus! Number 37 Probably too much copper.
Yeah.
You know, I-I think I need another coil here.
Did I see one in the tool box? Happy Birthday.
I can't believe you remembered.
Neither can I.
Can I open it? Yeah, but I-I don't want you to get too excited, okay? It's nothing much.
It's beautiful.
See, I think I screwed up the clasp-- Oh, be quiet.
See, I knew it.
I love it.
I'm glad you like it.
I'm sorry, I shouldn't have-- No, no, no, no It's just complicated.
Abby.
Complicated.
Not for me.
But, see, you're And she's the past, and Dark time is coming.
If we make it through the famine years till sunrise I want to have a baby.
Hey, Magnus.
How's everything? Great.
Yeah.
I'll go get us some lunch.
Anything you want to tell me? No.
About the magnetic readings? Oh, that.
Uh, yeah.
None of the metals that we smelted together have nearly enough gauss as cerrelium.
Damn.
Means we'll have to wait and hope that someone's seen the rock signal.
And what if they do? I mean, that could take years in our time to get that node here, and even then, there's no guarantee that it's going to work.
No, there isn't.
Yeah.
Will-- No, look You're immortal, essentially, but I'm not.
I mean, has it ever occurred to you that we may not solve this problem in my lifetime? Time dilation field? Her message is irrefutable evidence they're still alive! And they need help, so let's move! Your colleagues took it upon themselves to break through the barrier.
Their fate is their own responsibility.
So, what the hell are you and your boys doing here, then? 'Cause you're certainly not helping anyone trapped in Carentan.
There is a plan.
It's in motion.
Oh, yeah, right.
Hey, this satellite feed How long has this been here? A few minutes ago.
It suddenly appeared.
That's an elemental symbol.
Not according to my science guys.
No element on earth like that.
True.
It's the symbol for cerrelium.
An element found Elsewhere.
All personnel.
Project Greenhouse is a go.
T-minus 37 minutes.
Mark.
This is a message from Magnus and Will.
What does it mean? Uh, it's hard to explain, but give us time.
Time, you don't have.
The field is expanding.
My job is to stop it.
Project Greenhouse.
It's an air strike.
They're going to blow Carentan off the map.
there's no way we're going to beat the air strike.
Does it have to be cerrelium? There must be something else we can substitute.
I don't know Okay, Biggie, remember last week when you were making that bouillabaisse, and you ran out of saffron, so you used turmeric instead, and it tasted just as good.
Did not.
You get my point.
All right, let's give it a shot.
What do you got in your kitchen over there? Should be just up ahead.
By the way, Will, Happy New Year.
Somehow I don't feel like celebrating.
You see that sky? Sunset's beginning.
The solar panels will go dead, we'll lose power to the lab.
Which is why we're testing this node now.
Here we are, the epicenter of the original disturbance.
You know, without the cerrelium I agree, and if time weren't forcing my hand, I'd wait, but what choice do we have? Say a prayer.
Turn it off! Bloody hell! Ravi? Ravi! Your experiment, my God.
What happened? People disappeared.
What do you mean? Everything went very fast, then slow, and then they were gone.
Just vanished? I saw one of them with my own eyes.
Andre.
He was re-sheeting one of the solar panels.
He fell, but vanished before he hit the ground.
Magnus, what have we done? Four people were vaporized because our experiment failed.
What if it didn't fail? What if, for a few seconds, we managed to diffuse the time dilation field? Well, then why did those people disappear? Because when Carentan resets itself to real world time, they don't exist.
In your time, they haven't been born yet.
Okay, okay, so If we get the cerrelium, stabilize the node, make it work properly Then anything inside this dome that was created after its inception, equipment, animals, people, will cease to exist.
And the only people who'll survive the reset The three of us.
Everybody else No! No Josie Josie, wait! Josie, wait! Hey, stop! Look at me! We didn't know! We didn't know.
We didn't know.
But now you do.
So are you going to continue your experiments, even though we would all just How could you just Disappear me? Oh, beauty.
It's not going to be easy walking a surface-to-air missile past these guys.
We don't need the whole missile.
The alloy Biggie mentioned is the thruster stage.
It's part of the heat shield.
Uh, I don't suppose you have a screwdriver? Penknife? Yeah.
Here.
Oh, come to mama Okay.
You're going to need this.
Thanks.
Hold your fire! What the hell was that all about? It's not cerrelium, but I was able to use parts of the missile they sent.
How's it going? As usual, slower than I'd like.
Hopefully this new shielding will do the trick.
One more stunt like that, and the next bullet goes in your head.
To hell with you! There are people alive in there! There's still a chance to save them! Not in the next nine minutes.
The birds are already in the air.
Let's go.
I don't hate you.
If the dome continues to spread, continents shifting at lightning speed Oceans born in the blink of an eye The stress on the Earth's core will rip this planet apart.
I understand all that.
Like you, I'm a scientist, but I'm also a husband.
The sun has almost set.
Are you ready? Can I really be doing this? Please, dear, I can't talk about this anymore.
If our small sacrifice can save billions of people You were always the stronger one.
Whenever the children got sick, I would worry so much, but you-- we will never leave you, I promise.
If you don't see us here, look here.
That's where we will be.
Always.
Now, go, my love.
It's time for you to be the strong one.
The shielding is as secure as it'll ever be.
It's been a long time, not a good time.
I just wish I knew how to say goodbye.
It's Ravi! There's a crowd in the street.
I told them that you'd come out and speak with them.
They're watching the front of the mayor's office.
All right, we'll go through the basement and out the back.
I don't know how long I can hold them.
Every second counts.
Thank you.
Just listen to us! The time dilation field's a massive concentration of energy.
You hit that sucker with a bomb, and there is no telling what the fallout will be! You still don't get it, do you? The train has left the station.
Whatever happens, it's all going to be over in 60 seconds.
Magnus! Will! What is it? You've got to hurry.
I couldn't hold them.
They have found out where you are.
Stop! Stop! Josie Josie, don't do this.
Helen, get away from that machine.
Please.
Who the hell are you to say who lives and who dies? Josie! No! We made it.
Ravi didn't.
Anyone else? After the reset, we were found in the field.
Kate said something about a An air strike that was called off at the last second, but I was still pretty groggy.
I could have dreamt that.
They had a million questions, but I told them to let you sleep.
Thank you But now we need to get to work.
Something, or someone, is behind what happened in Carentan.
I feel it in my gut.
You're not blaming yourself, are you? Until I know differently.