“Brothers and Sisters”

Directed by: Bill L. Norton

Written by: Art Monterastelli

Summary: When the seaQuest team has to entomb an old and crumbling munitions facility that could unleash a deadly weapons explosion, they discover a group of abandoned children living there. They manage to coax all but one child out, who will not leave the facility, and eventually holds Commander Ford hostage. Meanwhile, the structure of the plant is weakening rapidly, and on the seaQuest, Lucas is falling for another one of the children.

Guest Starring:

Kellie Martin as Chloe Walker

Christopher Pettiet as Zachary Thomas

Co-Starring:

Jonathan Dohring as Matthew

Robert Dohring as Brawley

Featuring:

Kimble Jemison as Ensign Torrance

The twenty first century ... Mankind has colonized the last unexplored region on Earth – the ocean. As Captain of the seaQuest and its crew, we are its guardians; for beneath the surface, lies the future.

- Landau Trench, Indian Ocean, seaQuest DSV, ward room -

Rusty Thomas: (on loudspeaker) Mayday, mayday, this is Colonel Thomas, Landau Munitions Depot. We’re in marine submersible Romeo Lima three four four approximately one half hour out, bearing two niner five. We’ve encountered severe turbulence off the sea mount. Having trouble holding – port runner Dan, port!

Dan Walker: (on loudspeaker) Linda!

Linda Walker: (on loudspeaker) I’m all right.

Rusty Thomas: (on loudspeaker) Zero thrust, approaching crush depth.

Linda Walker: (on loudspeaker) Oh God, the children.

Rusty Thomas: (on loudspeaker) We’re going down.

Linda Walker: (on loudspeaker) Rusty ... (tape ends)

Nathan Bridger: That transmission was received almost three years ago. Colonel Thomas and Sergeant Walker and their families were living at the Landau Munitions Depository. They were there to decommission stockpiled weapons. Apparently what we just heard was their unsuccessful attempt to leave the facility. Our mission today is twofold. One, to find the lost submersible.

Jonathan Ford: Chief Ortiz is plotting a WSKRS search pattern.

Nathan Bridger: Thank you. And the primary mission is to, uh, permanently seal the depository. Commander?

Katie Hitchcock: Well, if the structure’s stable we go in and plant C-84 explosives. If not, we back off, fire long range at her supports.

Nathan Bridger: The location was designed so that a blast of sufficient force would collapse the overhanging geology and entomb the depot. The obvious way to do this would be C-84, but Doctor Westphalen is against sending any party over to plant charges.

Kristin Westphalen: Yes, I am. This is what the surrounding terrain looked like three years ago, and this is what it looks like today. Now, undersea slide has filled in the opposite slope. This causes, um, a funnel effect, which, uh, increases the hydrodynamic forces exponentially.

Katie Hitchcock: Our external examination of the depot shows structural weakening has already taken place.

Nathan Bridger: All right, do we let Mother Nature do the job for us?

Katie Hitchcock: I wouldn’t advise it.... If the depot is weakened piecemeal, it might tumble down the sea mount.

Jonathan Ford: And that would scatter a lot of high yield weapons, among other things Timberwind NTR’s, Tacit Rainbow AGM’s, MLRS Reload Pallets, Quantums–

Miguel Ortiz: (over loudspeaker) Captain to the bridge, Commander to the bridge.

Nathan Bridger: Report, Mr. Ortiz.

Miguel Ortiz: (over loudspeaker) We’re being targeted, sir.

Nathan Bridger: By whom?

Miguel Ortiz: (over loudspeaker) The munitions depot.

- seaQuest DSV, bridge -

Tim O’Neill: (as Bridger, Ford, and Hitchcock enter) Captain, I’ve received a warning signal from an automated defense system.

Miguel Ortiz: A tube is flooding, Captain, launch imminent.

Nathan Bridger: Sound collision, brace for impact.

Computer: All hands brace for collision. All hands brace for collision.

Jonathan Ford: (missile hits seaQuest, bounces off) It’s a dud.

Nathan Bridger: Damage report.

Katie Hitchcock: None showing, sir.

Miguel Ortiz: Captain, I believe that torpedo was fired manually. There’s someone down there, sir.

Nathan Bridger: Commander, send out the H.R. Probe. (Hitchcock does so) Give me visual.

Katie Hitchcock: Aye, aye, sir. (on screen sees three kids pushing torpedo, then girl looks out)

Nathan Bridger: Children.

- seaQuest DSV, bridge, later -

Kristin Westphalen: (coming over) OK, there were six children on the depot, their ages would range from six to sixteen now if they’re alive.

Nathan Bridger: They looked alive to me. (into radio) What’s your position now, Commander?

Jonathan Ford: (on launch) Captain, we’re underneath the docking bay. It seems deserted, completely unprotected.

Nathan Bridger: Mr. O’Neill?

Tim O’Neill: Sending on all frequencies, no response.

Nathan Bridger: (into radio) You can go in now, Commander, but remember, they’re just children.

Jonathan Ford: (on launch) Yes, sir. (opens door) All right, be alert. Let’s go. (enters depot)

- Landau Munitions Depot, depth 485 feet -

Jonathan Ford: (into PAL) Branching corridor, Captain.

Nathan Bridger: (on bridge of seaQuest, into radio) Keep your group together.

Manilow Crocker: Commander, look at this.

Jonathan Ford: (into PAL) Stand by. (enters room) Entering the main complex, it’s been rigged as a communal sleeping area.

Nathan Bridger: (on bridge of seaQuest, into radio) How big are the bunks?

Jonathan Ford: (into PAL) Child size.

Manilow Crocker: An old AU-26, this has got a nuclear warhead on it.

Zach Thomas: Hold it right there.

Jonathan Ford: (into PAL) Captain, we found the children. Stand by.

Zach Thomas: Who are you?

Jonathan Ford: Commander Jonathan Ford. Who are you?

Zach Thomas: Zachary Thomas.

Jonathan Ford: Did you fire at our vessel, Zachary?

Zach Thomas: You didn’t listen to the warnings. You didn’t go away.

Jonathan Ford: We can’t, we have to evacuate this depot. It’s being destroyed.

Zach Thomas: This is our home.

Jonathan Ford: Where are your parents?

Zach Thomas: They’re gone, but they’re coming back.

Jonathan Ford: Please, point your spears at the floor, we’re not pointing our weapons at you. (all do) Thank you.

Katie Hitchcock: You know, we have hot food and warm clothes back at the boat.

Zach Thomas: We’re not leaving. (groans come from behind him)

Jonathan Ford: Who’s that? (motions for Hitchcock and Crocker to see)

Katie Hitchcock: (examining boy) What happened to him?

Cleo Walker: Tony went into the torpedo tube to open the outside door, then he got sick.

Katie Hitchcock: He was exposed to the outside pressure?

Cleo Walker: Yes.

Katie Hitchcock: He’s got an embolism.

Jonathan Ford: Med tech, get over here. (into PAL) We need a stretcher.

Crewman: (on PAL) On the double.

Zach Thomas: What are you going to do with him?

Jonathan Ford: I’m taking him to seaQuest.

Zach Thomas: No.

Jonathan Ford: This kid’s about to die.

Tim O’Neill: (on bridge of seaQuest) Captain, I’ve got Commander Ford.

Nathan Bridger: (on bridge of seaQuest, into radio) What’s the situation?

Jonathan Ford: (into PAL) Captain, we’ve got a kid with an embolism.

Nathan Bridger: (on bridge of seaQuest, into radio) I’ll have Doctor Westphalen meet you at the hyperbaric chamber.

Jonathan Ford: (into PAL) OK, we’re on our way.

Manilow Crocker: No, he can’t wait for a stretcher. We gotta get him outta here now. (picks up Tony) Come on. (leaves)

Kids: (in unison) Tony!

Zach Thomas: Cleo, don’t leave.

Cleo Walker: I have to stay with Tony. Come on boys, come with us Zach. (leaves)

Katie Hitchcock: (to Ford, holding Hope) I’ll meet you back down at the launch.

Jonathan Ford: Come on, Zach, let’s go.

Zach Thomas: I ain’t leavin’. (runs away)

Jonathan Ford: Come on, Zach, hey! (after others) Go on without me, send the launch back.

- seaQuest DSV, hallway -

Lucas Wolenczak: (running through halls, turns corner, bumps into crewman) I’m sorry, man, my fault. (runs off)

- seaQuest DSV, bridge -

Lucas Wolenczak: (enters bridge, walks over to Bridger) Captain.

Nathan Bridger: Those clam doors are closed for a reason, Lucas, I don’t need you on the bridge right now.

Lucas Wolenczak: Well, I heard there were some kids on the boat.

Miguel Ortiz: (walking by) WSKRS are holding position, sir.

Nathan Bridger: Thank you. (to Lucas) You know what, might be a good idea for you to talk to them. But try and show a little sensitivity. Their parents died three years ago and left them stranded in the depot.

Lucas Wolenczak: Yeah, sure, um, do you know where they are?

Nathan Bridger: Yes, they’re with Doctor Westphalen on the sea deck. Lucas, remember, you are still a part of this crew. (Lucas leaves)

- Landau Munitions Depot -

Jonathan Ford: (walking down hallway) Zach. Zach, please, there’s nothing to be afraid of.

- seaQuest DSV, sea deck -

Kristin Westphalen: Matthew, Brawley, come here, I want to show you something. Now, do you see those bubbles? (points to flask in Crocker’s hand) Tony is sick because he’s got bubbles like that in his blood, and we don’t like that, do we? So we put him in a hyperbaric chamber. Now, the hyperbaric chamber will get rid of the bubbles. Do you know how they’re going to get out? (the boys shake their heads) You see his feet are up in the air? The bubbles will go up his legs and come out of his toes, and then the lady in there will catch them. And then Tony will be just fine. Now, bet you guys are hungry, aren’t you? How would you like some sandwiches? Chief?

Manilow Crocker: Oh, that’s my specialty right there. How about, uh, peanut butter, maybe some grape jelly? (the boys nod their heads) Let’s go get it. (leaves with boys)

Cleo Walker: He’s not all right, is he?

Kristin Westphalen: No, no he’s, uh, very sick, but I believe he’s going to be fine, honestly. Do you know what you can do best to help him? Let him rest. He’s going to be in there for hours, and if he sees you out here, he’s going to tire himself by, you know, putting on a brave front. Really, you know, he needs to sleep. (Lucas enters) Lucas, have you met Cleo?

Lucas Wolenczak: No. (smiles)

Kristin Westphalen: Well, Lucas, Cleo; Cleo, Lucas.

Lucas Wolenczak: Hi.

Cleo Walker: Hi.

Kristin Westphalen: You know, this is the most spectacular ship on or under the oceans and, uh, Lucas knows every corner of it. Would you like to show Cleo around?

Lucas Wolenczak: Yeah, sure.

Kristin Westphalen: Good. (Lucas and Cleo just look at each other) Go. (Lucas and Cleo walk over to the moon pool)

Lucas Wolenczak: I’d like you to meet somebody. This is Darwin.

Cleo Walker: He’s great. I never had a pet.

Lucas Wolenczak: Well he’s not really a pet, actually, he’s, um, he’s more of a friend. Come on, I’ll show you around. (both leave as Krieg enters and walks over to Hitchcock, who is playing with Hope)

Ben Krieg: See, what did I tell you? You’re a natural. Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock.

Katie Hitchcock: You’re the most hateful man on the face of this Earth. (takes Hope by the hand and leaves)

- Landau Munitions Depot -

Nathan Bridger: (on PAL) Status, Commander?

Jonathan Ford: (into PAL) I sent Torrance up a level to check for areas that haven’t been flooded yet. A few more rooms and I’ll have my sweep down here completed.

Nathan Bridger: (on bridge of seaQuest) Any luck finding the boy?

Jonathan Ford: (into PAL) Zach? No, sir, but I am definitely on the right track.

Nathan Bridger: (on bridge of seaQuest, into radio) Keep me informed. SeaQuest out. (sits down on Matthew and Brawley) What? Get outta here!

- seaQuest DSV, hallway -

Lucas Wolenczak: My dad just dumped me here, never even asked what I thought. “It’s for your own good son, it’ll teach you discipline and responsibility.” You know, it’s not so bad or anything. It’s just that I’m living with two hundred adults who do nothing all day but run my life.

Cleo Walker: You’re lucky.

Lucas Wolenczak: You’re kidding, right?

Cleo Walker: I’m only fifteen years old and I’ve been like a mother to five kids since I was twelve. They all think I know what I’m doing, but ... We catch our food with nets and traps, and we never know if there’ll be enough. I take care of Matthew and Brawley and Hope, they’re always getting sick because we can never keep any place warm enough or dry enough for them. I worry all the time that they’ll get hurt and I won’t know what to do. And if there’s a little time left for myself, than I sleep, because I always feel so tired (sits down on stairs)

Lucas Wolenczak: How could they just leave you alone like that?

Cleo Walker: Well Nana was with us.

Lucas Wolenczak: Nana?

Cleo Walker: Zach’s mom. But she got sick. We tried to take care of her but ... At the end she told me and Zach that we had to be strong, look after everyone. She said as long as we stayed together we’d be all right.

Lucas Wolenczak: Listen, um, there’s no one here you need to take care of right now, and as far as I know there’s nothing you need to do, so how about we do something fun? (holds out hand) What do you say?

- Landau Munitions Depot -

(Ford comes to the end of a hallway and finds shrine, lights candle and turns and leaves)

- seaQuest DSV, bridge -

Nathan Bridger: Ahem. Not good for Indian braves to draw on Captain’s navigation table.

Manilow Crocker: It’s my fault, Cap, I’m sorry. I lost sight of these two for just a second and they were gone. They are slicker than an armadillo on a West Texas highway. I can tell you that much. Come on boys, let’s go find Lieutenant Krieg. You’ll love him, he’s a barrel of fun. (Crocker takes the boys away)

Kristin Westphalen: (enters and puts a chart on the table) These are, uh, the latest hydrodynamic projections. Doesn’t look good.

Nathan Bridger: I know. I’ve been changing helmsmen every thirty minutes. Maintaining a course in these currents is exhausting.

Kristin Westphalen: Are Commander Ford and the boy on their way back yet?

Nathan Bridger: We’re working on it. (Westphalen leaves, Bridger tries to rub writing off table) Crocker!

- seaQuest DSV, Lucas’s room -

Lucas Wolenczak: (entering, Cleo follows) OK, just hold on, hold on, I know it’s around here somewhere. (picks up seapoc) Yeah, you are going to love this game, it’s great.

Cleo Walker: I like it.

Lucas Wolenczak: (confused) What?

Cleo Walker: This room.

Lucas Wolenczak: Really?

Cleo Walker: Uh huh. It’s cramped, it’s messy, it smells like you.

Lucas Wolenczak: Thank you.

Cleo Walker: And it’s warm, like my home from before.

Lucas Wolenczak: I’ll, um, I’ll find that game I was telling you about.

Cleo Walker: (sits down, notices Darwin) Does he always follow you?

Lucas Wolenczak: Oh yeah, yeah. (sits down) We, uh, we sorta stick together. You know, like, uh, odd birds of a feather. (excitedly) I found it, you gotta see this, it’s great, it’s a hyper reality pirate game. Yeah, you gotta check this out, this baby goes way beyond cyberspace.

Cleo Walker: Would it be OK if we didn’t play a game?

Lucas Wolenczak: Yeah, yeah sure. Um, we could, uh, we could watch a movie. You like movies? I got some, uh, great interactives. (Cleo shakes her head) No movies. OK.

Cleo Walker: You know what I’d like?

Lucas Wolenczak: Name it.

Cleo Walker: Could we listen to music?

Lucas Wolenczak: Yeah. I’ve got, um, I’ve got classical, I’ve got country, Neurohouse, maybe a little old-fashioned rock n’ roll?

Cleo Walker: How ‘bout something soft?

Lucas Wolenczak: Soft?

Cleo Walker: You pick it.

Lucas Wolenczak: OK. Yeah, I think you’ll like this. (plays music)

Cleo Walker: It’s been so long. It’s perfect.

Lucas Wolenczak: You didn’t have music at the depot?

Cleo Walker: (stands up) We were moving, we sent it all away.

Shai: (singing) As I look into your eyes I often fantasize about your kiss, and somehow I just knew it would be just like this....

Lucas Wolenczak: That’s three years without music.

Cleo Walker: Well, sometimes we’d sing whenever Hope or the twins got scared. It would make them feel better. We’d all just get together and we’d sing. (Lucas and Cleo dance)

Shai: (singing) Follow me, I’ll be your guide. Take me with you, let me ride. I will do most anything you say, baby, ‘cause baby, I’m yours, oh, baby, all yours, oh, baby. (yours, yours, yours, yours) Ah, tell me what you need and I will make sure I provide your every one. Hey, babe, make a list of pleasures, I’ll give you treasures ‘till the end of time, live long. Ooh, ahh...

- Landau Munitions Depot -

Jonathan Ford: (into PAL) Torrance has finished the security check on his level, sir. All clear.

Nathan Bridger: (on bridge of seaQuest, into radio) Good. What’s the structure’s stability?

Jonathan Ford: (into PAL) Well I’ll be happy to get out of here. Stand by. (enters another room) What the... (into comlink) Must be some kind of playroom. Wow, woah. (falls in, wrestles under balls with Zach)

Nathan Bridger: (on bridge of seaQuest, into radio) Commander Ford?

Torrance: Commander? (depot shakes and Torrance falls in)

Nathan Bridger: (on bridge of seaQuest, into radio) Commander.

Tim O’Neill: (on bridge of seaQuest) His unit’s active, sir, he’s just not answering.

Nathan Bridger: (on bridge of seaQuest) What’s that noise?

Jonathan Ford: (stands up in balls with Zach pointing spear at him) Easy Zach, easy, take it easy.

Nathan Bridger: (on PAL) Commander?

Jonathan Ford: (into PAL) I found Zach, sir.

Zach Thomas: Shut up about me.

Nathan Bridger: (on bridge of seaQuest, into radio) What’s going on down there?

Jonathan Ford: (into PAL) I have a situation in here, sir.

Zach Thomas: Shut up and turn that thing off.

Jonathan Ford: (into PAL) SeaQuest, stand by.

- seaQuest DSV, gym -

Ben Krieg: Hi. (pauses, she ignores him) Katie, about before–

Katie Hitchcock: I don’t have time, Ben. I’m on duty in twenty minutes. You know, tick-tock, tick-tock.

Ben Krieg: Sometimes I slip into old habits when I see you, ya know.

Katie Hitchcock: Since when is insensitivity an old habit? We’re not married anymore. Leave me alone.

Ben Krieg: The tick-tock thing was supposed to be a joke. I came down here to apologize. I’m sorry. (heads toward door)

Katie Hitchcock: Ben, that little girl, she’s so trusting, so hungry for love. Even from me and I’m just a stranger. She made me feel what it’s like to want a baby. It’s wonderful, scary. Then you, you come along with your biological clock thing, and it’s like twisting the knife.

Ben Krieg: I can explain that, I’m an idiot. And I never see the line until I’ve crossed it. But I didn’t mean to be cruel. Look, uh, we never should have married. I mean, I wasn’t in love with you. I was in love with the idea, the idea of us. Top of our class, fast track careers, the best and the brightest. Heck, I was marrying myself.

Katie Hitchcock: Is that supposed to be a compliment?

Ben Krieg: Oh, sure it is. An insensitive thoughtless one, but a compliment. Look, I used to fantasize about havin’ my own ship, but you, you’re command material.

Katie Hitchcock: My fantasies never included children. But now, I’m never gonna get a command with a baby on my hip.

Ben Krieg: You’ll get whatever you want because you deserve it. One day you’ll even find the right guy. Of course, he won’t be as good-looking as me. (Hitchcock throws her towel at him as she leaves the room)

- seaQuest DSV, bridge -

Lucas Wolenczak: (entering with Cleo) Captain?

Nathan Bridger: Oh, Cleo, listen, Zach is refusing to leave the depot and he’s threatening one of my officers. I’d like you to speak to him.

Cleo Walker: OK.

Nathan Bridger: (into radio) Commander, this is Captain Bridger. We’d like to speak to Zach.

Zach Thomas: (on depot) Well, I don’t wanna talk to you.

Nathan Bridger: You see. That structure is collapsing, we have to get him outta there.

Cleo Walker: (into radio) Zach?

Zach Thomas: (on depot) Cleo, are you OK? How’s Tony?

Cleo Walker: (into radio) He’s in a special chamber, he’s getting better.

Zach Thomas: (on depot) I want you to come back.

Cleo Walker: (into radio) It’s not safe there any more.

Zach Thomas: (on depot) That’s a lie, they’re telling you lies.

Cleo Walker: (into radio) Zach, please, listen to me.

Zach Thomas: (on depot) No, no, no. You come back here. Everybody’s leaving me. We promised Nana, you come back here now. (to Ford) You get away, get outta here, I don’t need ya, any of ya.

Nathan Bridger: (into radio) Commander?

Jonathan Ford: (on depot, into PAL) Give me a little time with him Captain. I’m not ready to give up on him yet.

- seaQuest DSV, mess -

Ben Krieg: (picks up brass shell) Have either of you boys ever heard of ... the shell game? No? Well it’s really quite simple. All you gotta do is keep your eye (puts down shell, picks it up again) on the ball. (puts down shell again) Ready? Simple, follow me. (shuffles shells, Matthew and Brawley point to middle shell, Krieg picks it up, reveals ball) That’s right, very good, beginner’s luck, except now is where we move into the danger zone. (shuffles shells, Matthew and Brawley pick up middle shell, revealing ball) You guys worked in Vegas, didn’t you?

- seaQuest DSV, bridge -

Katie Hitchcock: (operating H.R. Probe) There it is.

Nathan Bridger: This is the most treacherous part of the trench.

Katie Hitchcock: (operating H.R. Probe) Earlier landslides must have buried the evidence, that’s why WSKRS had problems finding anything.

Nathan Bridger: Can we get in there?

Katie Hitchcock: (operating H.R. Probe) I ... I’m fighting the currents, it may take some time.

Nathan Bridger: Do the best you can. (into comlink) Doctor Westphalen?

Kristin Westphalen: (on comlink) Captain?

Nathan Bridger: (into comlink) How are you doing?

Kristin Westphalen: (on comlink) Tony’s condition’s improving, I’d have to say we’re doing OK. Thank you.

Nathan Bridger: Lieutenant O’Neill, the wheel is yours. (leaves)

Tim O’Neill: Aye, aye, sir.

- seaQuest DSV, sea deck -

Manilow Crocker: OK, guys, what are you up to now? Ah, the old shell game, huh. Who taught you boys this? Still not talking I see. OK, you get over there and sit next to your brother. Let’s see just how good you are. Show me your stuff. (they shuffle the shells) Ha, ha, ha, right there. (they pick it up, the ball’s not there) All right, all right, we go two out of three. Let’s go. (they shuffle the shells again) Right there. (the ball’s not there) Wait a minute. (Crocker tries the other two shells, no ball) What the heck is this? You tricked me. Where’s the ball? Let me see the ball. (one holds the ball in his hand and throws it in the moon pool) We don’t throw things in the pool around here, all right. Now, you boys have got a whole lot to learn about sportsmanship. (he turns to get the ball from the moon pool) I’ll tell you what, when I was your age... (they push him in the moon pool, and run away) If I get my hands on you...

Nathan Bridger: (entering) Chief?

Manilow Crocker: Don’t even ask, Cap.

Nathan Bridger: (walking over to hyperbaric chamber) How is he?

Kristin Westphalen: Well he needs to sleep for a couple of days to let his lungs repair. Haven’t I just told you that?

Nathan Bridger: I heard something else in your voice. (Westphalen smiles) Is there something else?

Kristin Westphalen: Yes, I’m worried about the children. What’s going to happen to them?

Nathan Bridger: I think they’re a lot stronger than you and I can even imagine. They’re gonna be OK, they’re survivors.

Kristin Westphalen: Yes, when they’re together. That’s where they get their strength from, each other. But what about if they’re separated? Nathan, there are six of them. Have you any idea how difficult it’s going to be to keep them all together? I mean, two or three children, OK; six?

Nathan Bridger: The most important thing is keeping them all alive, and right now I have to worry about getting a frightened sixteen year old boy out of a munitions depot.

Kristin Westphalen: Yes, and then?

Nathan Bridger: Then it’s out of my hands. (leaves, Cleo comes out from behind chamber where she overheard whole conversation and takes knife from nearby table)

- seaQuest DSV, Lucas’s room -

Cleo Walker: (enters) Lucas.

Lucas Wolenczak: Hey, what’s wrong? (notices knife in Cleo’s hand)

Cleo Walker: You have to – Lucas you have to– (Lucas takes knife, sets it down) I’m sorry.

Lucas Wolenczak: Come here. What’s the matter?

Cleo Walker: Zach won’t leave.

Lucas Wolenczak: Well they’re gonna go get him.

Cleo Walker: No, they won’t. He won’t listen to an adult, he hates them. All they do is desert us. I’m so sorry, I was gonna try to force you to take me back.

Lucas Wolenczak: Listen, they’re not gonna leave him there. I mean, even if they gas him to knock him out, they’ll bring him back.

Cleo Walker: You don’t understand. I heard it in his voice, he’s lost it. Zach has been our father, our protector, since he was thirteen. He’s not like you, he’s not a normal sixteen year old. He can really get out of control.

Lucas Wolenczak: He’ll only hurt himself.

Cleo Walker: Lucas, he’s going to die.

Lucas Wolenczak: (thinks) Are you sure he’ll listen to you? No, Cleo, are you sure? (Cleo nods her head) I’m gonna take you to Zach. I’m gonna steal a launch. Just come with me before I change whatever’s left of my mind.

- Landau Munitions Depot -

Jonathan Ford: Hear that, the current’s getting stronger.

Zach Thomas: The noise always comes.

Jonathan Ford: That noise gets louder every time I hear it.

Zach Thomas: You’re afraid to die.

Jonathan Ford: (shows Zach his officers stripes) You don’t get one of these if you’re afraid to die. But it’s stupid to just sit here while this place collapses around us.

Zach Thomas: Than leave.

Jonathan Ford: We can’t leave without you Zach.

Zach Thomas: This place is my home, I’ll never leave.

- seaQuest DSV, bridge -

Computer: Attention, security breach.

Time O’Neill: (into headset) For bridge link, please use channel six or seven.

Nathan Bridger: (coming over) Lieutenant?

Tim O’Neill: Security breach, docking bay three.

Miguel Ortiz: Captain, we’ve just dispatched a launch.

Nathan Bridger: What?

Manilow Crocker: (into comlink) Bay three, what the hell’s going on down there?

Ensign: (hesitantly, on comlink) Chief, I–

Manilow Crocker: (into comlink) Report, Ensign.

Ensign: (on comlink) Chief, I lost the launch.

Manilow Crocker: (into comlink) You what?

Ensign: (on comlink) Lucas tricked me and that girl was with him and– (Bridger slams hand on table)

Manilow Crocker: You ask me, Cap, what these kids need is a good swift kick in the britches.

Nathan Bridger: (angrily) Oh, fine, I’ll have Commander Ford shoot them.

Kristin Westphalen: Chief has a point, (Bridger looks at Crocker, and back at Westphalen) not that they need to be beaten, but children need role models for their behavior. Well, Zach hasn’t had one, he’s had to be one. He’s been responsible for his family since he was thirteen, that’s three young impressionable years. Then we come along and we invalidate every good effort that he’s made. He is, after all, captain of his crew.

Nathan Bridger: This boy’s father was a colonel in the Marines, right?

Kristin Westphalen: Mmm hmm.

Nathan Bridger: Thank you. Chief.

Manilow Crocker: Aye, sir.

Nathan Bridger: The wheel’s yours, Commander. (leaves with Crocker)

- Landau Munitions Depot -

Jonathan Ford: Not much time left, Zach, what do you say?

Zach Thomas: Cleo. (Cleo and Lucas enter)

Cleo Walker: Zach.

Zach Thomas: Who’s he?

Cleo Walker: This is Lucas. Lucas, that’s Zach.

Lucas Wolenczak: Hi.

Jonathan Ford: What are you doing here?

Lucas Wolenczak: What are you doing in there?

Cleo Walker: Zach, you have to come back with us. It’s a better place where they took us.

Zach Thomas: We promised to stay together, here, until they come back.

Cleo Walker: They’re not coming back. Nana knew that, it’s what killed her. But we can stop this, we can leave here.

Zach Thomas: No.

Lucas Wolenczak: Are you nuts? She risked her life to come back here and get you. This place is disintegrating.

Zach Thomas: I don’t like you.

Lucas Wolenczak: Now wait a minute. (falls in balls)

Cleo Walker: Zach, no.

- seaQuest DSV, bridge -

Katie Hitchcock: (on comlink of launch) Captain, the probe’s inside the wreckage of the shuttle.

Nathan Bridger: (on launch) And?

Katie Hitchcock: Three bodies inside, one female.

Nathan Bridger: (on comlink) Parents of the children?

Katie Hitchcock: Yes, sir. Looks like the shuttle was slammed into the rocks. Captain?

Nathan Bridger: (on comlink) Commander?

Katie Hitchcock: I think the children should know, their parents were trying to get back to the depot when they crashed.

- Landau Munitions Depot -

Manilow Crocker: (enters) Ten hut!

Nathan Bridger: (enters) Commander Ford, move out, on the double. (no one moves) I said on the double.

Jonathan Ford: Yes, sir. (leaves with Torrance)

Nathan Bridger: Now Mr. Wolenczak. (Lucas leaves, Bridger turns to Zach, Zach pulls back spear, Bridger inspects spear) Nicely maintained, Mr. Thomas. (gives spear back to Zach) Your father would have been proud of you. It is my sad duty to inform you of your father’s death. Upon returning to this depot, his shuttle was crushed by currents, six kilometers to the east. All hands on board perished. Time to go, son. (takes spear, leaves with Zach)

- seaQuest DSV, sea deck -

Cleo Walker: So what’s gonna happen to us?

Lucas Wolenczak: You mean will they split you up? (pauses) No. Captain Bridger said he would do his best not to let that happen. He’s a man of his word.

Cleo Walker: Do you think we’ll ever see each other again?

Lucas Wolenczak: Yeah, yeah sure we will. If you want to. (takes out music disc) This is for you. It’s, um, “Take Me With You.” (leans over to kiss Cleo)

Tim O’Neill: (on loudspeaker) Mr. Wolenczak, and Miss Walker to the bridge please.

Lucas Wolenczak: (laughs) Um, I’ll take you there. (both leave)

- seaQuest DSV, bridge -

Nathan Bridger: A moment of silence for brave men and women. (pauses) Commander.

Jonathan Ford: Tubes one and two, fire.

Nathan Bridger: The greatest legacy of your parents’ lives has been the strength and courage that they instilled in you. And in recognition of that, the United Earth/Oceans Organization bestows upon you its highest civilian honor. (medals are placed on the children, all clap) And as for you, Mr. Wolenczak, you are grounded. Commander, let’s get these kids home.