“Games”

Directed by: Joe Napolitano

Written by: David Venable

Summary: SeaQuest rescues a warden and his cryogenically frozen prisoner, the brilliant but murderous scientist Dr. Rubin Zellar, from their collapsing prison. However, they soon discover that Zellar has been posing as the warden, who is already dead. The captured Zellar soon escapes and tells Bridger that he has a deadly frozen toxin which will be released unless the crew does what he says, which means launching its missiles. But Zellar is stopped by Westphalen and some advanced planning by Bridger.

Guest Starring:

Alan Scarfe as Rubin Zellar

Co-Starring:

Mark Fauser as Weapons Officer Matthew Phillips

Timothy Omundson as Joshua Levin

Featuring:

Jean Barrett as Williams

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.

- Arctic Ocean, under the Mackenzie Shelf, seaQuest DSV, bridge -

Nathan Bridger: Any news from our launch team?

Tim O’Neill: No, sir, they’ve been out of contact since they entered the ice prison.

Matthew Phillips: Why would anybody build a prison up here in the middle of nowhere? A thousand miles of frozen desert in every direction.

Nathan Bridger: Exactly. It’s where escape attempts become suicide missions.

Miguel Ortiz: Captain, Doctor Westphalen has some preliminary data she thinks you might be interested in.

Nathan Bridger: Thank you, Mr. Ortiz, I better go down and see what we’ve got. Ladies, gentlemen.

Tim O’Neill: What kind of low life would you have to be to get locked up on the top of the world.

Matthew Phillips: Low, very low.

- launch, approaching Kersh Ice Prison docking port -

Katie Hitchcock: Commander, we’re approaching the bottom of the glacier.

Jonathan Ford: Watch out for those ice spurs, Katie, if any of the glacier shears off, we’re history. Can you believe they keep this whole place open for one prisoner?

Katie Hitchcock: So why won’t they tell us who it is?

Jonathan Ford: I don’t know.

Katie Hitchcock: OK, we’re docked and locked.

Jonathan Ford: Did you contact the Captain?

Katie Hitchcock: We lost our transponder, we’ve been cut off. Sounds like this whole place is coming down.

Jonathan Ford: Things get too bad you take off, understood?

Katie Hitchcock: Look, you get ‘em in, I’ll get us out. OK, pressure equalized. Ready? Go.

Rubin Zellar: Thank God, you came.

Jonathan Ford: Woah, woah.

Rubin Zellar: Please give me a hand.

Jonathan Ford: Who are you?

Rubin Zellar: My name’s Griggs, I’m the warden.

Jonathan Ford: Hold on, I can’t let you on until I know who you are.

Rubin Zellar: I told you, my name is Griggs, I’m the warden here.

Jonathan Ford: What the hell is going on?

Rubin Zellar: The power station is on fire, the reserve tanks are blowing next to the main housing unit, if that goes the whole place will fall. We have to get out of here, now.

Jonathan Ford: Where are the others?

Rubin Zellar: They’re all dead, except for him. Please, we have to go before this place buries us all.

Jonathan Ford: Let’s get the hell out of here.

Katie Hitchcock: What is this?

Rubin Zellar: Death on ice.

Jonathan Ford: Let’s go.

Katie Hitchcock: All right, all right. What do you mean “death on ice”?

Rubin Zellar: I mean, you don’t want to thaw it out.

- seaQuest DSV, hallway -

Lucas Wolenczak: (Krieg looks around, sees no one, pushes three big boxes down the hall, is stopped by Lucas’s foot) Hiya, Ben, what’s in the box? Plutonium?

Ben Krieg: Get out of the way.

Lucas Wolenczak: Oh, not till you tell me what’s in the box.

Ben Krieg: You wanna know what’s in the box, I’ll show you what’s in the box. All right. (opens top box) Only the answer to all of my problems.

Lucas Wolenczak: Oh, and that would be? (Krieg holds up a shirt) Underwear?

Ben Krieg: You’re so young. Not underwear, self-heating thermal long johns. And I own two hundred and fifty pair.

Lucas Wolenczak: Well, congratulations.

Ben Krieg: You don’t get it, do you? What’s worse than being stuck at the bottom of the arctic?

Lucas Wolenczak: What?

Ben Krieg: Nothing. The answer is there’s nothing worse. It’s cold, it’s wet, it’s dark. I purchased these babies for twenty-five bucks a pair, I figure I can get at least twice that from the local outposts.

Lucas Wolenczak: Now wait.

Ben Krieg: Get out of the way.

Lucas Wolenczak: So you’re gonna take advantage of people.

Ben Krieg: You know, you have an incredibly warped sense of reality. It’s basic economics, supply and demand. Now if you’ll step aside I can just go check my inventory.

Lucas Wolenczak: This is a big mistake, Ben, this is bad karma.

Ben Krieg: Yeah, well after I’m finished I’ll purchase some of the good stuff.

- seaQuest DSV, sea deck -

Nathan Bridger: These are the latest figures?

Kristin Westphalen: Hot off the presses.

Nathan Bridger: Well the water’s risen a foot and a half since the last measurement.

Kristin Westphalen: That’s in two years.

Nathan Bridger: What else can we do?

Kristin Westphalen: Quite a lot I think. If we– (comlink buzzes)

Nathan Bridger: Excuse me. (goes over to comlink) Bridger.

Manilow Crocker: (on comlink) Captain, Commander Ford has just returned from the ice prison.

Nathan Bridger: I’ll be right there. (walks past Westphalen) I’ll catch up with you later, I wanna hear what you think. (leaves)

- seaQuest DSV, launch bay -

man on PA: Seacraft three fifteen report to docking bay two. Seacraft three fifteen report to docking bay two.

Jonathan Ford: Get it locked down as soon as you can. And be careful, those tanks are pressurized. Captain.

Nathan Bridger: I thought you were going to stay in contact.

Jonathan Ford: Well, we tried, but our transponder got crushed when we entered the ice prison.

Nathan Bridger: A little more than a Sunday drive, huh.

Katie Hitchcock: Yeah, well, it’s not a run I’d like to make on a regular basis.

Nathan Bridger: I don’t blame you. What the hell is this?

Rubin Zellar: TS-6000 support chamber, it’s the top of the line in cryogenic transport.

Jonathan Ford: Captain Bridger, Warden Griggs.

Nathan Bridger: Warden. (goes to shake his hand)

Rubin Zellar: Oh, I’m sorry, it’s uh, frost bite, many years ago.

Nathan Bridger: I see. Where’s the rest of your people?

Rubin Zellar: I’m afraid that there aren’t any. My two assistants died when the power plant exploded. This is our only prisoner.

Nathan Bridger: He have a name?

Rubin Zellar: Zellar, Doctor Rubin Zellar.

Nathan Bridger: (surprised) Zellar? The bio-warfare criminal?

Rubin Zellar: That’s right. I believe the Doctor has degrees in biochemical engineering as well as nuclear physics and laser technology.

Nathan Bridger: He was your only prisoner?

Rubin Zellar: Well, Zellar is more than an inmate, he’s a living case study. I’m a criminal psychologist.

Nathan Bridger: Well I’d heard he’d been captured, but I ... I’m not thrilled about having him aboard.

Rubin Zellar: I don’t blame you, Captain, but I can assure you, that he’s of no danger as long as he remains in the chamber. I don’t mean to seem ungrateful, but I wonder if I could trouble you for some dry clothing, I’m soaked to the bone.

Nathan Bridger: Oh, of course, I’m sorry. Commander Ford will help you.

Jonathan Ford: My pleasure.

Rubin Zellar: Thank you.

Nathan Bridger: See that our friend here gets hung up to dry too. (leaves)

Jonathan Ford: Yes sir, warden. (follows Zellar out)

- seaQuest DSV, dining room -

Matthew Phillips: You shoulda seen his face. (contorts his face)

Tim O’Neill: So he looks like you.

Matthew Phillips: Oh, very funny. Anyway, they took him down to sea deck.

Tim O’Neill: Was he alone?

Matthew Phillips: No, there was some other guy, I think he was a warden or something.

Tim O’Neill: Are you sure it was the Doctor Zellar?

Matthew Phillips: Who else would they drag around in a cryo-chamber?

Kristin Westphalen: Did you say Zellar?

Matthew Phillips: Yes ma'am, he’s down on sea deck.

Tim O’Neill: But I wouldn’t worry. According to Phillips, he’s an icicle. Right?

Matthew Phillips: Right. (makes face again, Westphalen walks away)

- seaQuest DSV, sea deck -

Katie Hitchcock: (Westphalen is looking at man in cryo-chamber, Hitchcock walks up) Scary looking, isn’t it? It’s a sick world when we’re forced to invent something like this. Doc, are you OK?

Kristin Westphalen: He’s not what I’d imagined.

Katie Hitchcock: He’s responsible for thousands of deaths, most of them by toxic poisoning. I can’t imagine a worse way to die. I remember in uh, survival training they showed us this film on the effects a gas bomb could have on a human being, you couldn’t imagine the pain and agony–

Kristin Westphalen: I see, um, ... I really must get back to my work. Do excuse me. (leaves)

Katie Hitchcock: What did I say?

- seaQuest DSV, bridge -

Nathan Bridger: Commander, we can take advantage of all those currents.

Jonathan Ford: If we hug the coastline we should gain half a day.

Rubin Zellar: Well, Captain, how do I look?

Nathan Bridger: I’m no fashion critic, but I’d say you looked, uh, fine.

Rubin Zellar: Well it’s been quite a while since I had new clothes, I’m very pleased. It’s remarkable.

Jonathan Ford: I think the warden needs a little touch of civilization.

Rubin Zellar: Oh, yes, a hot meal, some wine, perhaps a game of chess. Do you play, Captain?

Nathan Bridger: I’m afraid not, poker’s my game.

Rubin Zellar: Of course.

Nathan Bridger: I can, however, offer you a tour of the seaQuest.

Rubin Zellar: I’d like that very much.

Kristin Westphalen: I’d be happy to show the warden around.

- seaQuest DSV, hallway -

Rubin Zellar: And you say this entire section is devoted to science.

Kristin Westphalen: Plus the decks above and below. Currently we’re charting water tables in relation to global warming.

Rubin Zellar: It must be quite stimulating to have such resources at your disposal.

Kristin Westphalen: We’re very excited about the possibilities. What’s he like?

Rubin Zellar: Excuse me?

Kristin Westphalen: Zellar, you must have got to know him very well.

Rubin Zellar: Well, he’s a private man, almost shy.

Kristin Westphalen: Really?

Rubin Zellar: Why do you ask?

Kristin Westphalen: I’m a scientist, my work is fueled by curiosity. How long were you alone with him?

Rubin Zellar: They pulled the support staff about a year ago. There were several guards until the fire, but for the best part of a year it’s been mostly Zellar and myself.

Kristin Westphalen: That is a long time to be confined with a mad man.

Rubin Zellar: Too long I’m afraid. I lost myself toward the end. I became obsessed with unlocking the mystery of his mind.

Kristin Westphalen: I don’t believe that’s possible. I mean, the mind is too complex, too filled with contradictions, especially a mind like Zellar’s.

Rubin Zellar: I don’t know, I think in many ways he’s no different than you and I.

Kristin Westphalen: Well I think that’s about everything. The rest is engine rooms and crew quarters.

Rubin Zellar: What’s in there?

Kristin Westphalen: Oh, missile control, that’s off limits, of course.

Rubin Zellar: Of course.

Kristin Westphalen: Did I overhear you telling Captain Bridger that you play chess?

Rubin Zellar: Yes, do you play?

Kristin Westphalen: A mild compulsion, would you care for a game?

Rubin Zellar: Yes.

Kristin Westphalen: My quarters in, um, (looks at watch) let’s say an hour?

Rubin Zellar: Yes, an hour should be fine.

Kristin Westphalen: I do hope you don’t mind my interrogating you. I don’t get many opportunities to converse with someone who’s ... had your experiences.

Rubin Zellar: Not at all, I only hope you find the man as interesting as the scientist.

Kristin Westphalen: Well, until later than. (leaves)

Rubin Zellar: (walking past crewman outside missile control room) Hello.

- seaQuest DSV, sea deck -

Williams: (enters, sits down to eat her lunch, hears dripping sound, goes over to check cryo-chamber) Oh my God. (goes over to comlink)

Jonathan Ford: (on comlink) Ford here.

Williams: Commander, this is Williams down on sea deck. Sir, I think you better get down here right away.

- Bering Strait, entering Pacific Ocean, seaQuest DSV, sea deck -

Nathan Bridger: You’re sure, I mean there’s no mistake.

Jonathan Ford: The DNA match came back positive. This is definitely Warden Griggs.

Nathan Bridger: That means that Zellar’s loose on the boat. Well how did he pass the ID scan?

Jonathan Ford: I’ll show you. (holds up hand of body)

Nathan Bridger: (astonished) He cut off his fingertips?

Jonathan Ford: That’s not all. When I was checking the body I found this. (reveals cavity) a surgical cavity cut into his chest)

- seaQuest DSV, Westphalen’s room -

Kristin Westphalen: My point is that we’ve studied enough psychopathic criminals to know that, short of lobotomies, they’re incurable. The only answer is to isolate them for life.

Rubin Zellar: (moves chess piece) Check. Isn’t that like giving up because the challenge is too great?

Kristin Westphalen: I don’t consider mass genocide a game.

Rubin Zellar: Oh, but it is, it’s the ultimate game, at least to the perpetrator. Zellar’s mind, however depraved holds the key to unlocking his condition, perhaps an understanding of all aberrant behavior. I’m sorry, I tend to lose a bit of myself when it comes to my work. I sometimes forget that there are other pleasures in life, other indulgences. (door opens, group enters)

Kristin Westphalen: What the – Captain, what is happening here?

Nathan Bridger: (holds up Zellar’s hand) Nice touch, Doctor.

Rubin Zellar: I’m nothing if not creative.

Nathan Bridger: Get him out of here.

Rubin Zellar: (being forced out of the room) I’m afraid we’ll have to finish our game later. It’s a shame, it was going so well, don’t you think?

Nathan Bridger: (hugs Westphalen) Easy, easy.

- seaQuest DSV, brig -

Jonathan Ford: That’ll be all, Chief.

Manilow Crocker: Aye, sir. (leaves)

Rubin Zellar: I hope Doctor Westphalen wasn’t too upset by my abrupt departure.

Jonathan Ford: She’ll get over it. Why’d you do it?

Rubin Zellar: Come now, you’re a military man, isn’t it the duty of every good soldier to attempt escape?

Jonathan Ford: But you knew we’d figure it out.

Rubin Zellar: Actually, I was surprised it took you as long as it did. I have this terrible habit of overestimating my opponent.

Jonathan Ford: Just answer the question, Doctor.

Rubin Zellar: It’s simple. I wanted to play the game.

Jonathan Ford: The game?

Rubin Zellar: You really know nothing about me, do you?

Jonathan Ford: What’s to know? Your file’s been sealed, there’s no history, no, no pictures, nothin’.

Rubin Zellar: Yes, well, I’m afraid that’s the price one in my chosen field pays for success. When the wars ended in twenty ten, there was a ground swell of idealism. I became an embarrassment to the very governments that had hired me. To purge their guilt, they decided that it was in their collective interest that I disappear. So, they burned my files and put me on ice.

Jonathan Ford: That’s a very touching story, Doctor, but the fact is, you murdered people.

Rubin Zellar: Takes all kinds. But tell the Captain this: he’ll know as much or as little about me as I decide. (Ford leaves)

- seaQuest DSV, Lucas’s room -

Lucas Wolenczak: (playing video game) Hah, hah! I got you, bag of bones.

Nathan Bridger: (entering) Hey, I thought you and I talked about this.

Lucas Wolenczak: About what?

Nathan Bridger: About tapping into a billion dollar computer to play these games.

Lucas Wolenczak: Hey, came on, I was bored.

Nathan Bridger: (picks up chocolate) You know this stuff makes you hyper?

Lucas Wolenczak: Well I’m a kid. It’s my job to be hyper. (screen goes blank) Hey!

Nathan Bridger: Relax, relax, I’ve got a new game for you. (puts name ‘Zellar, Rubin’ into computer, gets back ‘Classified’)

Lucas Wolenczak: What do you want me to do with that?

Nathan Bridger: Open it.

Lucas Wolenczak: Uh, Captain, this is a UEO Level One sealed file. Opening it would be illegal.

Nathan Bridger: Why do you think I came to you?

Lucas Wolenczak: Good point. (tries to open file) This thing is wrapped tighter than Krieg’s wallet. It’s gonna take me some time to pop the lock.

Nathan Bridger: Work fast.

Jonathan Ford: (seriously, in doorway) Captain.

- seaQuest DSV, med bay -

Joshua Levin: He’s got a contusion on the back of his head and apparently he was swabbed with some sort of venom-laced fungus. I’m not certain what it is, I’m analyzing it now. But he seems to be coming out of it.

Manilow Crocker: He was discovered by his relief during the watch change at the machine shop. There was also some equipment taken, a power box generator, some optic lenses.

Nathan Bridger: You’re gonna be all right kid. (to Crocker) I want every crewman accounted for.

Manilow Crocker: I’ve already done that, Cap. There’s, uh, one missing.

Nathan Bridger: Get me Commander Ford.

Manilow Crocker: Aye, sir.

- seaQuest DSV, brig -

Rubin Zellar: Ah, Captain, not much of a conversationalist, are we? If it makes you feel any better, the venom will wear off in a month or two.

Jonathan Ford: (attempts to strangle Zellar) You son of a–

Nathan Bridger: (restraining Ford) Hold it. Wait outside. You heard me, hey, come on, get out, get out. (Ford leaves) I’m still missing a crewman, you wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?

Rubin Zellar: (innocently) Who, me?

Nathan Bridger: (takes handcuffs off Zellar) Now get up.

Rubin Zellar: You have to ask nice.

- seaQuest DSV, sea deck -

Rubin Zellar: (as he’s slammed into the ground) Oww.

Nathan Bridger: If he so much as blinks...

Manilow Crocker: Don’t worry, Cap, he’s mine.

Nathan Bridger: You ready?

Katie Hitchcock: Yeah, I’ve just finished.

Rubin Zellar: Excuse me, Lieutenant, could I trouble you for a wipe? (points to mouth) No?

Nathan Bridger: It’s all right, Commander.

Katie Hitchcock: Yes, sir. (leaves)

Nathan Bridger: Get him in here.

Manilow Crocker: My pleasure.

Rubin Zellar: You disappoint me, Captain. I thought you surely more inventive.

Nathan Bridger: Caught me on a bad day.

Rubin Zellar: Yes, well, before you freeze dry me, there’s something that you should know. During my free time, I took the liberty of hiding a toxin on board your vessel. I assume that you found the cavity in Warden Griggs’s chest, I realize that was a bit unorthodox, but it was the only way that I could safely support the toxin. It’s encased in ice and at current temperatures, probably melting. If it’s released, well, we’ll have a whole new meaning to the term ghost ship.

Nathan Bridger: What do you want?

Rubin Zellar: Your word. I take you to the toxin and you promise not to stick me in the deep freeze. Do we have a deal? (Bridger thinks, nods) Oh, what about these?

Nathan Bridger: Don’t push your luck. Move it.

Rubin Zellar: (grabs remote, laser beams appear) I wouldn’t fire that, Chief. The cross of energy fields could be hazardous to your health. (takes off handcuffs) Oh, you might want these. (lays handcuffs down on side of moon pool, leaves)

Manilow Crocker: This explains why he hit the machine shop. You got any suggestions about what we do now?

Nathan Bridger: Nothing. (Darwin swims over) He knows. Yes, Darwin. That a boy, Darwin. (Darwin splashes box) Do it again. (Darwin splashes box again, laser beams disappear) Thank you.

Manilow Crocker: That’s the damndest thing I ever saw.

Nathan Bridger: Contact Commander Ford immediately.

Manilow Crocker: Captain, I just found our missing crewman.

Nathan Bridger: (into comlink) Trauma team to sea deck on the double.

- seaQuest DSV, hallway -

Nathan Bridger: (walking with Ford and Crocker) I want all department heads in the wardroom in fifteen minutes. Chief, I want a deck-by-deck search immediately.

Manilow Crocker: Aye, sir.

Nathan Bridger: Prefer to take him alive but don’t take any risks.

Manilow Crocker: I understand, Captain. (goes down hall, Bridger goes down hall in other direction)

Jonathan Ford; Where are you going?

Nathan Bridger: (turns around) I have to take care of something. (continues)

- seaQuest DSV, hallways, a little later -

Manilow Crocker: (walking down the hall with some others) Allen, take D-Deck. Billet, you come with me. (points to door) Bud, check the manifold room.

- seaQuest DSV, wardroom -

Jonathan Ford: Now, Zellar says the toxin is encased in ice.

Katie Hitchcock: I don’t get it. Our security check may have been glitched, but I know he didn’t have it on him when we picked him up.

Nathan Bridger: (entering) It wasn’t on him. It was on Griggs. He planted it in his chest. I hope you’re feeling up to this, Doctor.

Kristin Westphalen: I’m fine, thank you.

Nathan Bridger: Zellar must have removed it after his little tour.

Katie Hitchcock: How do we know there really is a toxin?

Kristin Westphalen: Oh, given the nature of this particular beast, I don’t think we have any choice but to believe there is.

Nathan Bridger: She’s right. There’s no Russian roulette with this guy.

Katie Hitchcock: So what do we do?

Nathan Bridger: We freeze the seaQuest.

Katie Hitchcock: What?

Nathan Bridger: It’s the only way we can guarantee that the toxin won’t be released accidentally.

Katie Hitchcock: I’m not sure how long we can keep life support systems operating under those conditions.

Nathan Bridger: If the toxin is loose, there’s no guarantee that we’ll even need a life support. (knock on door) Come.

Ben Krieg: (entering) Yes, sir, you wanted to see me. (sees others) Oh. (turns to leave)

Nathan Bridger: Lieutenant.

Ben Krieg: (turns back to Bridger) Sir.

Nathan Bridger: I’ve heard that you’ve gone into the garment business.

Ben Krieg: (hesitantly and cautiously) Uh, yes, sir, I have actually recently ventured into the retail clothing arena, on a small scale.

Nathan Bridger: I think it’s time for you to have a going out of business sale.

Ben Krieg: Sir?

Nathan Bridger: I want you to distribute that underwear to the crew immediately, understood?

Ben Krieg: Yes, sir. And, sir, who would I send that bill to?

Nathan Bridger: Bill?

Ben Krieg: Well, considering our relationship, you’ll receive the customary five percent discount after taxes.

Nathan Bridger: Lieutenant, do I have to remind you that there’s a penalty for black-marketing aboard this boat?

Ben Krieg: Certainly not, sir. I hope you’ll consider my wares a gift, a very expensive–

Nathan Bridger: Dismissed. (to others) Let’s get started.

Katie Hitchcock: Yes, sir. (all go to leave)

Nathan Bridger: (stopping Ford) Commander, can you stick around for a moment please? (takes out chart) I think you and I have to consider a worst-case scenario.

Jonathan Ford: Begging the Captain’s pardon, but from where I’m standing, the worst case is we’re dead

Nathan Bridger: I’m thinking of a larger picture. What happens if this toxin leaks out into the Arctic currents?

Jonathan Ford: Well these waters feed out into the Pacific plane. Thousands of people could die.

Nathan Bridger: That’s right. That’s why we’ve got to go here. (points to chart)

Jonathan Ford: Dreo fault?

Nathan Bridger: It’s the only place that’s deep enough to protect the whole area in case we have to abandon the ship.

Jonathan Ford: Scuttle seaQuest?

Nathan Bridger: If we have to.

Jonathan Ford: Well what about the crew?

Nathan Bridger: Well, we can off load them in their launches on this ridge, and then, if necessary, blow off the top of this fault, and bury the boat.

Jonathan Ford: You’re serious about this?

Nathan Bridger: Plot the course.

Jonathan Ford: Then what?

Nathan Bridger: Then we find Zellar. (leaves)

- seaQuest DSV, hallway, outside wardroom -

Kristin Westphalen: (as Bridger exits ward room) Nathan, he’s a game player. You’re playing into his game.

Nathan Bridger: No, no, I don’t think so. We’re playing ahead of his game. (leaves)

- seaQuest DSV, Lucas’s room -

Lucas Wolenczak: This is all I could come up with.

Nathan Bridger: A deleted file?

Lucas Wolenczak: No pictures, no bio data, nothin’.

Nathan Bridger: I don’t understand. How can they classify a deleted file?

Lucas Wolenczak: Well that’s what I wanted to know, so I ran a multi cross systems global search and dump.

Nathan Bridger: That sounds painful. What the hell is that?

Lucas Wolenczak: The cross-reference came up dry. So I triangulated, searching data fields related to what we know about Zellar.

Nathan Bridger: And?

Lucas Wolenczak: Nothing. Wiped clean. The only thing I could find was a piece of testimony used in Zellar’s UN trial.

Nathan Bridger: Well, show me.

Computer: What follows are classified photos. Island A dash two four seven, Indian Ocean. Five hundred members of a multinational geological research team were exterminated. Due to the unknown origin of toxin, removal of bodies was not possible. No government has confirmed involvement, however biowarfare specialist Doctor Rubin Zellar has claimed responsibility. Doctor Zellar was tried by a joint assembly of the United Nations and sentenced to life imprisonment. This is the last known photograph of the expedition team before their deaths. All members of the team, led by Doctor James R. Westphalen, were killed.

Lucas Wolenczak: (turns, sees red in Darwin’s tube) Captain, they killed him. (gets up to leave)

Nathan Bridger: (stops Lucas) Wait, where do you think you’re going?

Lucas Wolenczak: What do you mean, where am I going? I’m gonna find Darwin.

Nathan Bridger: No, no, you’re gonna stay on the bridge.

Lucas Wolenczak: But–

Nathan Bridger: No buts. You’re going to stay safe until I find this madman. Is that understood? Is that understood?

Lucas Wolenczak: Yes, sir.

Nathan Bridger: Good.

- seaQuest DSV, hallway -

Jonathan Ford: You don’t think he’d kill a dolphin, do you?

Nathan Bridger: As opposed to what? Five hundred human beings?

- seaQuest DSV, sea deck -

Nathan Bridger: (entering, goes over to moon pool) Where else could he be? Come on, my friend.

Jonathan Ford: I don’t see him.

Nathan Bridger: (pounds side of moon pool) Darwin, come on. You know that sound. (points) Please. There he is. (Darwin swims over) What are you trying to do? Are you trying to give us heart failure?

Rubin Zellar: (on screen) Now, this is very touching. I had no idea you were an animal lover, Captain.

Nathan Bridger: You’re really enjoying this, aren’t you?

Rubin Zellar: (on screen) What can I say? I’m one of those few people fortunate enough to love their work.

Nathan Bridger: What do you want now?

Rubin Zellar: (on screen) Nothing very complicated, I just want to send a message to UEO Command.

Nathan Bridger: So send it. You’ve obviously tapped into our communications.

Rubin Zellar: (on screen) I had something a little more ... personal in mind. But I need your help. I want you and your first officer to report to the missile control room alone and unarmed. You have exactly one minute. (screen fuzzes out)

- seaQuest DSV, missile control room -

Rubin Zellar: (Bridger and Ford enter, see crewman on floor) He’ll stop shaking in a moment. (looks at watch) Seconds to spare. Amazing what a little motivation can do. You have only yourself to blame, Captain.

Nathan Bridger: What do you want now?

Rubin Zellar: Ah, a bottom-line man. I like that. Take out your launch keys. I believe you carry them on chains around your necks.

Jonathan Ford: You can’t be serious.

Rubin Zellar: What about you, Captain? Do you believe I’m serious? (Bridger thinks, takes out key)

Jonathan Ford: The keys are DNA coded, we’re the only ones who can use them.

Rubin Zellar: And so you will.

Nathan Bridger: You went to all this trouble just to destroy UEO Command?

Rubin Zellar: Oh, I’m going to do far more than that. I’m going to demolish the whole charade of the new peace. When will people understand there’s a balance that must be maintained? Dark and light; good and evil; life and death. Without one, there can’t be two. They feed on each other. They exist only in relation to themselves. Like you and I, Captain. Your launch keys.

Nathan Bridger: Take it out, Commander.

Jonathan Ford: Captain.

Nathan Bridger: That’s an order.

Jonathan Ford: (takes key out) You realize you’ll be held responsible for this.

- seaQuest DSV, bridge -

Matthew Phillips: Commander, I think you better take a look at this.

Katie Hitchcock: (walking over) What is it?

Matthew Phillips: We’ve just initiated a missile firing sequence.

Lucas Wolenczak: Zellar, he’s in the missile control room.

Katie Hitchcock: Override the system. Shut down the entire missile bay if you have to.

Computer: Initiating launch sequence override. Override access denied.

Matthew Phillips: Override isn’t responding.

Lucas Wolenczak: Let me try.

Katie Hitchcock: (unsure, Phillips looks at Hitchcock) Let him try.

Matthew Phillips: Go.

Lucas Wolenczak: (tries) I can’t break the line. He musta bypassed the bridge controls.

Computer: Override access denied.

Lucas Wolenczak: I can’t stop it.

- seaQuest DSV, missile control room -

Rubin Zellar: Activate launch sequence on tubes one, three, five, and seven. Prepare to activate launch keys. Turn on my mark.

- seaQuest DSV, bridge -

Matthew Phillips: Commander, I’ve got fire in the hole.

Katie Hitchcock: Where?

Matthew Phillips: Tubes one, three, five, seven. We’re in a launch countdown.

Katie Hitchcock: I don’t believe this.

Computer: Pre-launch sequence complete.

Katie Hitchcock: Mr. O’Neill, any luck contacting the missile room?

Tim O’Neill: No response.

Katie Hitchcock: What the hell is going on down there?

- seaQuest DSV, missile control room -

Rubin Zellar: Eight ... seven ... six ... five ... four ... three ... two ... mark. (Ford and Bridger turn keys)

- seaQuest DSV, bridge -

Computer: Missile launch executed.

Matthew Phillips: I’ve got four birds away.

Katie Hitchcock: Oh my God. Mr. Ortiz?

Miguel Ortiz: Sir?

Katie Hitchcock: Target path?

Miguel Ortiz: Tracking.

Katie Hitchcock: Mr. Ortiz?

Miguel Ortiz: They’re locked and headed toward ... Pearl Harbor.

- seaQuest DSV, missile control room -

Rubin Zellar: It’ll be all over soon.

Nathan Bridger: All right, you got what you wanted, now give me the toxin.

Rubin Zellar: I don’t think so.

Nathan Bridger: You gave me your word.

Rubin Zellar: I lied. (throws vial, Ford misses catching it, Zellar laughs) Oh, I wish I had a picture of your faces. Priceless. Relax gentlemen, a simple fungus. The worst it can do is give you a rash. Well don’t feel too guilty, Captain, you had to believe me, I factored that into the equation.

Nathan Bridger: I thought you might. That’s why I did some factoring of my own.

Rubin Zellar: What’s that supposed to mean?

Nathan Bridger: At first I couldn’t figure out what it was you wanted. What was the one thing that this boat offered you? Then it hit me – power. That’s why when you started this little game, the first thing we did was to disarm all the warheads.

Rubin Zellar: You’re lying.

Nathan Bridger: No, I’m not. I laid in a fail-safe override on the flight clocks of all the missiles. In fact, they should be going into the drink just about now.

Jonathan Ford: UEO has cruisers standing by to retrieve the missiles. Oh, I should notify the bridge.

Nathan Bridger: Yes.

Rubin Zellar: I’ll kill you.

Kristin Westphalen: (in doorway, holding gun) I don’t think so.

Nathan Bridger: Kristin.

Kristin Westphalen: No, he deserves to die.

Nathan Bridger: That may be true, but that’s not for us to decide. Why don’t you give me that thing? (reaches for gun)

Kristin Westphalen: Don’t. (points gun at him, then back to Zellar) How could you? You don’t even remember, do you? Innocent people die and you don’t even remember doing it.

Rubin Zellar: I’ve killed a lot of people. You can’t expect me to remember every one.

Kristin Westphalen: Try Doctor James Westphalen. He was in charge of the A two forty seven research team.

Rubin Zellar: How unfortunate for him.

Nathan Bridger: Listen to him, he’s messing with your head. That’s his game, that’s what he does. Now why don’t you just put the weapon down?

Kristin Westphalen: I have to finish this.

Rubin Zellar: Than finish it. Go ahead, shoot me. Come on, go ahead, shoot me.

Kristin Westphalen: I don’t think so. That would be too easy. I have another idea. (pulls vial out from pocket) You’re not the only biochemist aboard. I want you to know what the others felt, what my brother felt.

Rubin Zellar: Captain.

Kristin Westphalen: Don’t ask him, ask me. Well, do you want to live, or do you want to die? Hmm? Answer me.

Rubin Zellar: (sheepishly) I want to live.

Kristin Westphalen: Well I don’t think so. (flings contents of vial into Zellar’s face)

Rubin Zellar: Ahhhh!

Kristin Westphalen: Checkmate. (hands gun to Ford, leaves)

Nathan Bridger: Put him on ice, Commander.

Rubin Zellar: No, you promised, you gave me your word.

Nathan Bridger: I lied.

- seaQuest DSV, launch bay -

Jonathan Ford: They’re expecting Zellar at Pearl. They plan to move him to a facility in the Sahara.

Nathan Bridger: As long as he’s not aboard my boat. (sees Krieg and Lucas arguing) Is there a problem here?

Ben Krieg: Oh, sir, actually there is. It seems Mr. Wolenczak, here, is refusing to follow your orders.

Lucas Wolenczak: Hey, I wasn’t the one trying to rip off innocent people.

Ben Krieg: You call it a rip off, I call it free enterprise.

Nathan Bridger: I call it a draw.

Jonathan Ford: I believe the Captain’s orders were for you two to hand wash and deliver these to the local outposts.

Lucas Wolenczak: Captain, I don’t see why I’m here. I wasn’t the one ripping off people.

Nathan Bridger: Let me try and explain it to you. There are two kinds of people in this world who make me crazy: those who take advantage of people, and those who watch and then turn ‘em in. You two have a nice day. (walks off, Ford follows)

Ben Krieg: Well, I hope you learned an important lesson here today. Maybe next time you’ll think twice before you open your big mouth– (turns back to Lucas, who throws a towel at him)

- seaQuest DSV, sea deck -

Crewman: I’ve got it.

Manilow Crocker: All right, bring it forward. All right, a little farther. All right, bring it forward.

Crewman: Make sure it’s level.

Manilow Crocker: Just a skosh. All right, hold it there. All right, Riley, Mathison, I want you over here. Let’s secure it, get it ready for transfer.

Crewman: Right away, sir...

Kristin Westphalen: (as Bridger walks over) I wanted to see this thing through to the end. I thought I owed the others that much.

Nathan Bridger: He would have been proud of you, your brother. Although for a second or two there I – I thought maybe you were gonna kill him.

Kristin Westphalen: Me, too.

Nathan Bridger: I’m, uh, just about ready to go off duty, I was wondering if maybe, maybe we could have a game of chess.

Kristin Westphalen: I don’t think I’ll ever play the game again.

Nathan Bridger: Right, just thought I’d ask. (turns to go)

Kristin Westphalen: Captain, is, um, poker a difficult game to learn?

Nathan Bridger: Not if you have the right teacher. (both leave)