“Higher Power” / “An Ocean On Fire”

Directed by: John T. Kretchmer

Written by: David J. Burke & Patrick Hasburgh

Summary: A power plant designed by Lucas’s father may hold the key to the world’s energy problems, but when it goes on-line on the world’s first international holiday, it pours molten lava into the ocean and there is a danger of the polar ice caps melting, and Bridger must sacrifice the seaQuest to save the world. Meanwhile, as the current tour of duty nears an end, the crew wonders about their futures: Ford and Hitchcock compete for the same job as captain of a supertanker; Crocker contemplates retirement as his wife leaves him; Lucas ponders his relationship with his father (and Bridger); and Bridger and Westphalen must come to terms with the mutual attraction they’ve finally acted on.

Guest Starring:

Kristoffer Tabori as Dr. Wolenczak

Charles Cyphers as Calvin Shelley

Patricia Harty as Jordan

Tom Henschel as Rosenthal

Dustin Nguyen as Chief William Shan

Richard Herd as Secretary General William Noyce

Co-Starring:

Yvonne Farrow as UEO official

Jason Stuart as motivational speaker

Christopher M. Brown as Obatu

Featuring:

Jill Engels as Helen Crocker

Brenda King as Carol Bridger

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.

- World Power Hydroelectric Plant, off the coast of Australia, Dr. Wolenczak’s office -

Dr. Wolenczak: Most breakthroughs, events history books define as progress, don’t arrive with the crashing sounds of brass horns and drum rolls. Real breakthroughs, the ones that last like fiber optics and the paper clip, sneak up on the page from the back of the book. Let’s remember that it took mankind a hundred thousand years to make a simple drinking cup. A hundred millennia just to drink out of a cup instead of clasped hands. So you see, goodness takes time ... and sacrifice. I mean, the world power project has taken fifteen years, and it’s cost me my marriage, well, I don’t know my son as well as I should; but I have to believe that it’s all been for a higher good. I mean, think of it. We’re gonna turn on the lights of the world forever, and for everyone, and for free. The first world and the third world coming together to share the benefits of this, this technology.

- a bar, on a beach somewhere -

Calvin Shelley: When’s the last time you had a day off?

Nathan Bridger: I don’t know, today.

Calvin Shelley: I’m serious.

Nathan Bridger: So am I. I take a day off at the end of every sea tour whether I need it or not. You’re seven for twelve, I’m nine for eleven. If I make this one stand up, you owe me another three hundred bucks.

Calvin Shelley: Double or nothin’.

Nathan Bridger: Oh, can’t do that, Shelley. I’d be worried about your retirement.

Calvin Shelley: You, uh, wanna recommend any of them.

Nathan Bridger: Recommend who?

Calvin Shelley: Your crew. Some of them are leaving, right.

Nathan Bridger: You can’t have my crew.

Calvin Shelley: Why not?

Nathan Bridger: Because they’re the best and you’ve got nothing to offer them. (throws hands up, leaving salt shaker standing and walks off)

Calvin Shelley: What about sunshine? Thirteen months on a sub would make anyone put in for duty on a carrier.

Nathan Bridger: I’m not gonna argue with you; it’s our day off.

Calvin Shelley: When the whole world has a day off it doesn’t feel like one.

Nathan Bridger: Come on, it’s monumental. It’s a worldwide effort. Pretend it’s Armistice Day.

Calvin Shelley: It’s a power plant. People everywhere are getting electricity for free. Just another somethin’ for nothin’.

Nathan Bridger: You’re such a romantic.

Calvin Shelley: What I am is out three hundred. Care to let me try and get it back?

Nathan Bridger: You wanna be out six hundred?

Calvin Shelley: What I want is Commander Ford. How’s about we play for him?

Nathan Bridger: He doesn’t do aircraft carriers.

Calvin Shelley: Well he won’t mind me playing for the right to try and persuade him otherwise.

Nathan Bridger: Playing what?

Calvin Shelley: Volleyball.

- World Power Hydroelectric Plant, command center -

Rosenthal: One hour and counting.

Dr. Wolenczak: Engage the turbines please.

- World Power Hydroelectric Plant, command center, a little later -

Jordan: We have a compromise at the six hundred mile relay.

Dr. Wolenczak: That’s expected. Mr. Rosenthal, would you advance the maintenance schedule.

Rosenthal: But we’re showing an increased reading on the thermo–

Dr. Wolenczak: That’s fine, that’s fine. Just carry on.

- a beach somewhere -

Ben Krieg: (to girl with stereo) Hi. Ya know, I wrote that tune.

Jonathan Ford: (sitting nearby and watching Krieg) Guy’s busier than a one-legged man at a butt-kicking contest.

William Shan: It’s a variation of the scatter technique.

Miguel Ortiz: The what?

William Shan: The scatter technique. It was invented by a guy I used to work with back in Vancouver. You know, he’ll go up to one girl after another, sometimes a hundred a night and ask if they wanted to go home with him.

Tim O’Neill: Did it work?

William Shan: Well, he used to get slapped a lot, but he used to take them home a lot too.

Manilow Crocker: The scatter technique, huh? Guess I’m gonna have to learn that one.

Miguel Ortiz: Come on, Crocker. You got it made. Finish your tour, you got that gig running security up at Tucker Enterprises. You and the little lady are gonna get that condo in Oxnard.

Jonathan Ford: Hey, Lucas, you enjoying this?

Lucas Wolenczak: (seriously) Tons.

Jonathan Ford: You gotta be pretty proud of him.

Lucas Wolenczak: Proud of who?

Jonathan Ford: Your dad. I mean, he’s the reason for the holiday. This is the biggest event of the twenty-first century.

Lucas Wolenczak: Well if I ever see him, I’ll tell him you’re impressed.

- a beach, at a volleyball net -

Calvin Shelley: The name of the game is volleyball, gentlemen. SeaQuest DSV against the real navy. The winners, against the losers.

Ben Krieg: How ‘bout I bet on those guys and give you points?

William Shan: How many?

Ben Krieg: Ten.

William Shan: Not enough.

Calvin Shelley: The object is to get the ball over the net more times than the other guys. Think your people can handle that Bridger?

Nathan Bridger: Just don’t spend my money yet Shelley. (to Lucas) You playing?

Lucas Wolenczak: No.

Nathan Bridger: Why not?

Lucas Wolenczak: Because I’m angry.

Nathan Bridger: What are you angry at, your old man?

Lucas Wolenczak: No, I’m not angry at him.

Nathan Bridger: I’d be angry at him.

Lucas Wolenczak: Give me the ball.

Jonathan Ford: Captain, what are we playing for?

Nathan Bridger: Uh, pride, Commander. Just pride.

Jonathan Ford: (doubtful) OK.

The trouble I’ve seen, glory hallelujah. Sometimes I’m standin’ cryin’, tears that he does not see. I cry to the Lord “Have mercy! Help me, run misery” Oh Lord, I have so many trials, so many pains and woes. I’m askin’ for faith and comfort, Lord help me to bear this. Well, nobody knows oh, the troubles I’ve seen. Well no, nobody knows but Jesus. Well, well no, nobody knows oh, the trouble, the trouble I’ve seen. I’m singin’ “Glory, glory, glory, glory hallelujah.” Well nobody knows oh, the trouble, trouble I’ve seen, glory, glory hallelujah. Well no, nobody knows oh, the trouble, trouble I’ve seen, oh, no, nobody knows my sorrow. Well, well, well no, nobody knows, you know the trouble, trouble I’ve seen. I’m singin’ “Glory, glory, glory, glory hallelujah, Lord.”

- by the volleyball net on the beach -

Nathan Bridger: (misses ball and lands by Westphalen) What are you laughing at?

Kristin Westphalen: You. I think you look cute.

Nathan Bridger: I’m not cute. I’m four points behind.

Kristin Westphalen: Well just don’t get hurt. We’ve waited a long time to say goodbye.

Nathan Bridger: I’m still working on hello. (Westphalen smiles)

- by the volleyball net on the beach -

Nathan Bridger: (taking money from Shelley’s hands) One, two, three. I guess you’re gonna have to find another commander. (everyone claps)

- World Power Hydroelectric Plant, command center -

Jordan: We’re on line in Moscow, Jerusalem, Athens, Tucson, Glasgow...

Rosenthal: Yes!

Jordan: Sydney, Tokyo, Beijing...

Rosenthal: We did it!

Jordan: Nairobi, Los Angeles, New York, Paris, Brisbane.

- World Power Hydroelectric Plant, Dr. Wolenczak’s office -

Jordan: We have another compromise, southern quadrant. We’re showing a second-degree surface failure.

Rosenthal: I think we should shut it down.

Dr. Wolenczak: This is a hundred billion dollar project Mr. Rosenthal. We don’t shut it down, we fix it.

- seaQuest DSV, bridge -

Nathan Bridger: I hope all your time aboard seaQuest has been productive and insightful. Thirteen months – we’ve logged over two hundred thousand sea miles, participated in seventeen rescue operations, completed three years of underwater research. Congratulations. I just hope your memories of this tour are as warm as mine. As many of you know this boat has been a dream of mine. I’d like to thank all of you for making this dream come true. Some of us are going on to the next tour, and others are moving to newer opportunities, but I’d like to wish all of you great success. Thank you, and good luck.

Manilow Crocker: Ten hut. (all salute)

Nathan Bridger: Mr. Shan, make way for homeport.

William Shan: Aye, aye, Captain.

Manilow Crocker: Dismissed.

Kristin Westphalen: Nice speech, Captain.

Nathan Bridger: Short ones are always nice. Have you seen Lucas?

Kristin Westphalen: No, I was surprised he wasn’t here for the goodbye.

Nathan Bridger: All this hoopla about his father, he’s taking it pretty hard.

Kristin Westphalen: His father may be a great man, but ... he’s a strong boy.

Nathan Bridger: The great man hasn’t been seen for a year. I better check.

Kristin Westphalen: Still on for dinner tonight?

Nathan Bridger: (looks around) Absolutely. (walks off)

Kristin Westphalen: ’Bout time.

- seaQuest DSV, in a hallway -

Ben Krieg: Captain, the three of us chipped in. We wanted to give you this.

Tim O’Neill: It’s a little something to say thanks. Krieg picked it out.

Miguel Ortiz: At a shop in Singapore.

Ben Krieg: Wrapped it myself.

Nathan Bridger: Did you? (looks at package and shakes it) You know, someone once sent me a Strip-o-gram. I think I spent about a half an hour running around my room trying to get a nude geisha girl back into the box. Thanks, I think I’ll pass. (hands it back and walks down the hall)

Ben Krieg: How did he know what it was?

Tim O’Neill: ‘Cause it was you idea, Ben.

Miguel Ortiz: Probably just started in the sewer and worked his way back up from there.

- seaQuest DSV, Wolenczak’s room -

Dr. Wolenczak: (on screen) Hello, Lucas. It’s, it’s good to see you again. I apologize that once again I-I can’t be spending the holidays with you, but I spoke to your mother, and she assures me you’re doing well and that you’re growing up and... (sighs) Anyway, I, I can’t wait until this project is finished so that we can spend some time together.

Lucas Wolenczak: Yeah, right. (rewinds tape and plays it again)

Dr. Wolenczak: (on screen) Hello, Lucas. It’s, it’s good to see you again. I apologize that– (Lucas pauses tape)

Lucas Wolenczak: (three knocks) Come in.

Nathan Bridger: (entering) You missed my goodbye speech.

Lucas Wolenczak: Oh, I’m sorry, I had other stuff to do.

Nathan Bridger: (looks at screen) You don’t want to go back, do you?

Lucas Wolenczak: Would you? Look at what you’ve done for me. And now everyone’s saying goodbye and giving you presents and stuff. It’s like a bad birthday party. Don’t worry, I didn’t get you anything.

Nathan Bridger: Oh, that’s all right. You don’t have to do that. There’ll be another tour, you don’t have to leave seaQuest.

Lucas Wolenczak: Oh, yeah, yeah. I know. But now that he’s done, you know, still famous for saving the world, he’s gonna want to show me off, he’s gonna want to parade me around like one of his projects.

Dr. Wolenczak: (on screen) Once again, I, I can’t be spending the holidays with you, but I spoke to your mother, and she assures me that you’re doing well and–

Lucas Wolenczak: (pauses message) That was my Christmas present. But it’s the thought that counts, right.

Nathan Bridger: Do you want me to call him?

Lucas Wolenczak: No, no, that’s all right. But if you do, tell him I said hi.

- World Power Hydroelectric Plant, command center -

Jordan: Dr. Wolenczak, you have a call.

Dr. Wolenczak: Not now.

Jordan: It’s a Captain Bridger from seaQuest.

Dr. Wolenczak: Ask if my son is all right.

Jordan: (turns toward screen) Is his son all right?

Nathan Bridger: (on screen) Well, yes.

Jordan: (turns back to Dr. Wolenczak) He’s fine.

Dr. Wolenczak: Good. Tell him thank you, but I can’t speak to him right now.

Jordan: (turns back to screen) He can’t talk to you right now.

Nathan Bridger: (on screen) It’s ... it’s quite important.

Jordan: (turns back to Dr. Wolenczak) He says it’s important.

Dr. Wolenczak: Not now!

Jordan (turns back to screen) He’ll call you back.

- seaQuest DSV, Bridger’s room -

Nathan Bridger: (disgusted) What a dad. (three knocks on door) Come in. (Westphalen enters) Hm, you look gorgeous.

Kristin Westphalen: (laughs) Thank you. Oh, Santa came early this year I see.

Nathan Bridger: The crew, they’re all, uh, giving me goodbye presents.

Kristin Westphalen: I know. This is lovely.

Nathan Bridger: I think I’d be very jealous if anyone else saw you looking like this. May I kiss you, Doctor?

Kristin Westphalen: Of course, Captain. (they kiss)

- seaQuest DSV, Ford’s room -

Jonathan Ford: I know it’s a lot of money, but we didn’t get into this for money.

Ben Krieg: I did.

Jonathan Ford: Honey?

Katie Hitchcock: Please.

Jonathan Ford: Ben, how did you figure there was money in this?

Ben Krieg: I guess I should have read the “seaQuest career opportunities” brochure. They offered you a lot of money?

Jonathan Ford: Well, yeah, but I don’t see myself on the bridge of a supertanker.

Ben Krieg: I see myself there.

Katie Hitchcock: You need discipline to run a ship, Ben.

Ben Krieg: I am disciplined.

Jonathan Ford: So, Katie...

Katie Hitchcock: Hm.

Jonathan Ford: What are you gonna do?

Katie Hitchcock: I’ve been approached for a Captain’s position on a supertanker too.

Jonathan Ford: No way, which one?

Katie Hitchcock: The H.R. Clinton, registered out of Delaware.

Jonathan Ford: That’s the one I was asked to captain.

Katie Hitchcock: Maybe they thought you’d say no.

Jonathan Ford: I haven’t said no.

Katie Hitchcock: But you could afford to. I don’t know how to turn down four hundred thousand dollars a year.

Jonathan Ford: (scoffs) Four-four hundred thousand dollars?

Katie Hitchcock: Yeah.

Jonathan Ford: They offered you four hundred thousand dollars?

Katie Hitchcock: Yes.

Jonathan Ford: They only offered me three.

Ben Krieg: Maybe they’re willing to pay more for a woman. Women make better captains.

Jonathan Ford: That is purely subjective.

Katie Hitchcock: It’s a statistical fact. All things being equal, women make better captains of non-combat vessels. A woman at the helm has a calming effect on her crew.

Jonathan Ford: Well, Ben, there’s another reason you’ll never captain a ship.

Ben Krieg: Don’t write me off so quickly. I could be a woman.

- seaQuest DSV, Bridger’s room -

Carol Bridger: (hologram) Hello darling. I’ve missed you terribly.

Kristin Westphalen: Who’s that?

Nathan Bridger: (shocked) My wife.

Carol Bridger: Sorry I can’t be with you, but, you’ll be just fine.

Kristin Westphalen: (shocked) Your wife!

Carol Bridger: Just, keep me in your heart.

Kristin Westphalen: Can she see us?

Nathan Bridger: (sheepishly) I hope not.

Lucas Wolenczak: (on screen, proudly) How’d you like my goodbye gift, Captain? I’ve programmed a way to make your wife talk.

Nathan Bridger: (angrily) Damnit, Lucas! How dare you invade my privacy!?

Lucas Wolenczak: (confused) I was just ... oh, oh, I get it now, Captain. I’m sorry about your privacy.

- World Power Hydroelectric Plant, command center -

Jordan: We’ve got thirty miles of raw projects coming off the mound.

Dr. Wolenczak: Take the northern quadrant off line.

Jordan: We’ve got control seizures.

Dr. Wolenczak: Shut it down.

Jordan: I can’t.

- seaQuest DSV, Wolenczak’s room -

Lucas Wolenczak: (four knocks) Come in.

Kristin Westphalen: Can we talk?

Lucas Wolenczak: Talk.

Kristin Westphalen: To your face. (Lucas twirls around to face her) Your present to Captain Bridger couldn’t have been more thoughtful, it just came at an inauspicious time.

Lucas Wolenczak: You don’t owe me an explanation.

Kristin Westphalen: I think I owe myself one. Do you mind listening?

Lucas Wolenczak: No.

Kristin Westphalen: Nathan and I have become very close over the last year, and when a bond is established between two adults, intimacy (a... a... a...) and I don’t mean sex, is something that adults need in a relationship.

Lucas Wolenczak: That’s your way of saying I’m not adult enough to understand what you’re talking about.

Kristin Westphalen: No.

Lucas Wolenczak: I understand, and I’m glad you and the Captain can share whatever it is you were sharing. I’m sorry my present ruined it for you.

Kristin Westphalen: Than why is it I feel you’re angry with us?

Lucas Wolenczak: (angrily) Because intimacy, and I don’t mean sex, is important to me too. But adults always put their needs in terms that make my needs unimportant. Your search for science is more important than my needs; seaQuest exploration of the deep is more important than my needs; my father’s pursuit of an empire that serves mankind is more important than my needs. Wait in line Lucas, stand over there Lucas, take a number Lucas. We’ll get to you.

Kristin Westphalen: Look, however important your father’s work is, you’re absolutely right to think that you should come first.

Lucas Wolenczak: Tell him that.

Kristin Westphalen: I’d very much like to.

Lucas Wolenczak: Oh yeah, good luck getting through. (he twirls around back to the screen and resumes his game; Westphalen leaves)

- seaQuest DSV, dining room -

Manilow Crocker: Hey, Cap. How are you doin’?

Nathan Bridger: I’ve been better, thanks. I, uh, wanted to come down here to say goodbye to you personally. You know I never even thanked you for delaying your retirement to come aboard this boat.

Manilow Crocker: Well, it was a chance to serve one more tour with you.

Nathan Bridger: It meant a lot to me. (gives Crocker a gift)

Manilow Crocker: I don’t know what to say.

Nathan Bridger: No, no, no, come on, open it. (Crocker does) Guess you’re anxious to get home, huh, see Helen.

Manilow Crocker: It’s been an emotional time. (looks at gift, a watch)

Nathan Bridger: That’s the watch that Hyman Rickover wore the day they launched the Nautilus.

Manilow Crocker: I-I can’t accept this. This is too precious.

Nathan Bridger: Oh, sure you can, I want you to have it.

Manilow Crocker: Aw, hell. (hands machine to Bridger)

Helen Crocker: (on screen) This is very hard, but I’ve fallen in love with someone else. And I realize that the best part of our marriage was how much time you weren’t here. I’m sorry, but you always loved the sea more than you loved me. (Crocker goes to throw the machine, Bridger stops him)

Nathan Bridger: Wait.

Manilow Crocker: She’s right, ya know. We only got along from a distance. Wha...what am I going to do now? I mean, one part of my life is over with, and the other part just up and disappeared on me.

- seaQuest DSV, bridge -

Jonathan Ford: Is there a problem, Mr. O’Neill?

Tim O’Neill: I’m getting a confirmed uplink from every satellite we’re assigned to, but nothing’s coming back.

Lucas Wolenczak: Yeah, I’m shut out of the Internet. I’m not getting anything back either.

Katie Hitchcock: Did you run diagnostics?

Tim O’Neill: Three times. I tried emergency bands, private sector transponders, and commercial broadcasts. Nothin’s comin’ back. It’s like the globe’s been unplugged.

Lucas Wolenczak: That’s exactly what it’s like.

Katie Hitchcock: The globe doesn’t unplug. Have you tried Sat-Com?

Tim O’Neill: Sat-Com, Norpac First Strike, even Conal-Rad.

Jonathan Ford: Try the E-band. Stand by for UEO Sig-Core E-band test.

Computer: Identity confirmed. United Earth Oceans Signal Core emergency band engaged.

- seaQuest DSV, ward room -

Nathan Bridger: Well, to be perfectly honest with you, we’re in here because I’m still a little leery of Lucas’s hologram.

Kristin Westphalen: So am I. Do you regret what happened?

Nathan Bridger: Not yet.

Kristin Westphalen: (laughs) I talked to Lucas. I think he feels pretty threatened by you and me. You’re really all he has, and it’s hard being seventeen and not having a family.

Nathan Bridger: You’re right. But do you think we could have a nice quiet little dinner?

Kristin Westphalen: Absolutely.

Nathan Bridger: Thank you. (screen behind him changes to Ford and Noyce) What is it, Commander?

Jonathan Ford: I wish I could say Captain, but I don’t know sir.

William Noyce: Look, Nathan, World Power’s gone off line. We’ve got a global blackout.

Nathan Bridger: But your redundant systems can–

William Noyce: Well a power surge has frozen us out. Everybody’s working off generators – police, hospitals, everybody.

Nathan Bridger: But you’ve got contingencies. Dr. Wolenczak is a smart man.

William Noyce: Look, we don’t have time for Monday morning quarterbacking from candlelit dinners. The last I heard was that Wolenczak is dead. And because the last communication we got from World Power was an automated report of a catastrophic oscillation.

Nathan Bridger: Lay in a course, full speed.

Jonathan Ford: Yes, sir.

Nathan Bridger: And try to get back on line with our old systems.

William Noyce: It’s going to be weeks if we’re lucky. Without power, this globe is going to regress in geometric proportions.

- seaQuest DSV, bridge -

Nathan Bridger: (entering the bridge) Status?

Jonathan Ford: On course.

William Shan: One hundred fifty miles an hour and climbing.

Katie Hitchcock: Engines at full torque.

Miguel Ortiz: WSKRS on bow lock.

Jonathan Ford: ETA three hours.

Tim O’Neill: E-band open and holding,

Nathan Bridger: (to Lucas) Are you all right?

Lucas Wolenczak: Captain, my father...

Nathan Bridger: Noyce made a giant assumption about your father. Now you’re stuck with it. I know what that’s like.

Lucas Wolenczak: Yeah, and your son died.

Nathan Bridger: I’ll never be certain. And the not knowing eats at me a little every day. But I’ll tell you something. You know what’s helped me?

Lucas Wolenczak: What?

Nathan Bridger: You. You can’t imagine how important it is for me to have you here. And now I want you to know how important it is for me to be here for you.

Lucas Wolenczak: I know, I know.

Nathan Bridger: OK.

- World Power Hydroelectric Plant -

Dr. Wolenczak: We’re off line and stabilized at zero output.

Jordan: We’re stabilized, but the Earth isn’t; thermal indicators are rising.

Dr. Wolenczak: Ocean temperature will balance.

Rosenthal: It’s not happening.

Dr. Wolenczak: It’s just got to cool down.

Rosenthal: It’s not. We’ve got to evacuate.

Jordan: We can’t. The shuttle has dislodged from the airlock.

Rosenthal: We’re gonna die.

Dr. Wolenczak: Probably, and if you’re gonna whine, why don’t you just stand over there in the corner. (to Jordan) How soon until you can get me communications?

Jordan: I don’t know, and I don’t know who you expect to communicate with.

Dr. Wolenczak: Just get me an uplink.

- seaQuest DSV, Wolenczak’s room -

Dr. Wolenczak: (on screen) Lucas, can you hear me?

Lucas Wolenczak: Dad. Dad.

Dr. Wolenczak: (on screen) You there?

Lucas Wolenczak: Yes, I am.

Dr. Wolenczak: (on screen) I don’t know how long I have, but I, I want you to know, I, I want you to know that you’re my son, and I love you. Whatever’s happened, I want you to know that. (static on screen)

- seaQuest DSV, bridge -

William Shan: Two hundred miles an hour.

Jonathan Ford: ETA, five minutes.

Nathan Bridger: Three quarter speed.

William Shan: Three quarter speed.

Katie Hitchcock: Hull temperature rising.

Miguel Ortiz: We’re entering a thermocline.

Katie Hitchcock: Five degrees, now ten.

Nathan Bridger: WSKR view.

Kristin Westphalen: This isn’t a thermocline.

Nathan Bridger: Mr. Obatu, use target systems to measure this.

Obatu: Twelve feet wide beneath us, ten thousand at its source, three miles out.

Miguel Ortiz: Captain, three miles and closing.

Nathan Bridger: Dispatch WSKRS. I want a closer look.

Katie Hitchcock: Twenty-degree rise. We’re at ninety percent on the hull skin tolerance.

Kristin Westphalen: Thermoclines cool off four hundred degrees within a foot of their vents. This isn’t happening, this ocean is cooking.

Katie Hitchcock: Hull tolerance at a hundred and five percent.

Nathan Bridger: E-band. Bill, we’ve got an exposed river of lava, two miles wide, running underneath this power plant. We’ve got a twenty-degree increase in ocean temperature with no sign of abatement.

UEO Official: (on screen) Can we salvage the plant?

William Noyce: (on screen) To hell with the plant. Didn’t you hear what he said? We’re destroying the ocean.

UEO Official: (on screen) A balanced ecology doesn’t mean squat when compared to our cities’ collapse.

William Noyce: (on screen) Now look, just a minute–

Nathan Bridger: Hey, guys, listen, a rise in temperature like this is gonna melt the polar caps. You’re gonna need scuba gear to stand on the observation deck of the World Trade Center. Your cities aren’t gonna collapse, they’re gonna drown. All right, let’s go to alert on all stations, this is gonna get rocky. (seaQuest takes hit from lava in thermocline)

Miguel Ortiz: Going to emergency power.

Nathan Bridger: Maximize stabilizers.

Jonathan Ford: Stabilizers full. (seaQuest takes another hit)

Tim O’Neill: Mayday, mayday, this is the seaQuest, location thirteen degrees, fifteen minutes. Mayday, this is seaQuest, coordinates fifteen degrees, thirteen minutes.

Nathan Bridger: Attention all personnel, this is Captain Bridger. Go to your emergency launches immediately. We’re abandoning ship. I repeat, we’re abandoning seaQuest. Mr. Shan, go to automated systems, evacuate your helmsmen.

William Shan: Aye, aye, Captain. (to helmsmen) Penny, Russ, Susan, launch bay.

Jonathan Ford: Just giving up?

Nathan Bridger: Some of us are. We’re going to abort the rescue mission. Mr. O’Neill, keep E-band open and then evacuate and take the doctor with you.

Tim O’Neill: Aye, sir.

Kristin Westphalen: No, Nathan.

Nathan Bridger: Kristin, don’t argue. Mr. Obatu, switch your systems down here. Ortiz, WSKR control at my station and then evacuate. Hitchcock, you’re in charge of the launch bay and I want you out on the last one.

Katie Hitchcock: Yes, sir.

Lucas Wolenczak: What about my father?

Nathan Bridger: Lucas, chances of survival–

Lucas Wolenczak: Will eat at me a little every day.

Nathan Bridger: I can’t risk sending anyone over there, it’s suicide.

Manilow Crocker: So maybe I die now instead of a little bit later. Besides, his old man might be able to help us figure out what’s going on here. Let me go see if I can find him.

Nathan Bridger: Chief, I can’t.

Manilow Crocker: Captain, I don’t want to waste away on some bar stool in San Diego. The sea is where I live, it’s where I prefer to die. Now hold on to this for me. (hands the watch to Bridger)

Lucas Wolenczak: What are you doing?

Nathan Bridger: I’m trying to save my crew and then maybe my boat. It goes with the job. Will you please get on a launch?

Lucas Wolenczak: If you do find my father, tell him I love him.

Nathan Bridger: I will. (Lucas leaves) You two, out.

Jonathan Ford: No, sir.