“Treasures of the Tonga Trench”

Directed by: Les Sheldon

Written by: John J. Sakmar & Kerry Lenhart

Summary: While a UEO drill proficiency instructor is putting the seaQuest crew to the test, Krieg brings back what he believes is a priceless gem. Soon greed becomes the name of the game when everyone but Bridger seems to know what is going on, and they all want a piece of the profits, but no one reckons on Krieg’s sea monster tale being real until it attacks the seaQuest.

Guest Starring:

Yaphet Kotto as Captain Jack Clayton

Co-Starring:

Tom Provost as Ensign Filie

Stephen Kronish as Murray Goldwater

Featuring:

Ava DuPree as Dispatcher

Derrick Hatcher as Ensign

Rachael Harris as Rose

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.

- South Pacific, near the Tonga Trench, depth 3,299 ft, sea crab, near seaQuest DSV -

Ben Krieg: SeaQuest, this is sea crab one on your FM dial. We’re leveling off at thirty-three hundred feet. Please confirm.

Katie Hitchcock: (on seaQuest) Negative, sea crab one. I show you at thirty-two ninety-nine feet. That’s three two nine nine, not three three hundred.

Ben Krieg: Pick, pick, pick. Thirty-five thousand feet of ocean and I’m off by one. I’ll tell you what, I’ll make up for it on the parallel parking portion of the test. Now how does that work again on hills? Rudder into or away from the reef? (instruments all go off) Katie? What are you doing? Uh, you are doing something, aren’t you?

Katie Hitchcock: (on seaQuest) Oh, Lieutenant, I’m driving now. (sea crab rocks) You want help getting ready for the UEO proficiency drills, I’ll help. You wanna act cute, save it for Captain Clayton, the UEO inspector.

Ben Krieg: Not funny, Katie, this is not funny. You know what this does to me.

Katie Hitchcock: (on seaQuest) You mean that nausea thing, I’m sorry. (seriously) OK, here’s the drill: no lights, no power; stabilize your vessel, ascend to fifteen hundred feet, hold your position there.

Ben Krieg: All right, I can do that. (ship rocks) Katie?

Katie Hitchcock: (on seaQuest) Ben, what’s going on down there?

Ben Krieg: Oh damn, oh damn, oh damn, damn, damn. Ahhh! (quickly) Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep; if I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take. Amen.

Katie Hitchcock: (on seaQuest) Sea crab one come in, sea crab one. Ben? Ben? (Krieg, in sea crab, sees shining lights on bottom of sea)

- seaQuest DSV, launch bay -

man on PA: (Krieg exits sea crab) Sea crab landed and locked. Lock-in collars secured. Maintenance team B report to docking bay three.

Katie Hitchcock: Lieutenant Krieg, wait a minute please, I’ll be right up. Here’s where we may have the problem. Now what I want you to do is I want you to check the contacts of all the life-support circuitry.

Crewman: Uh huh.

Katie Hitchcock: And then redo the oil packs.

Crewman: Uh huh.

Katie Hitchcock: Clayton will probably test at four degrees Centigrade. (stands up) Think maybe now you can tell me what happened out there?

Ben Krieg: Nothing. A current probably, uh, yeah, must have been some sort of a rip current.

Katie Hitchcock: Currents don’t move the way you were moving.

Ben Krieg: It’s a big ocean out there, and maybe there are still a few things that you and I don’t understand. (leaves)

- seaQuest DSV, bridge -

Ben Krieg: (enters, walks over to Ortiz) I need a favor.

Miguel Ortiz: Yeah, no problem, just clear it with Clayton. He’s got me running bio-mass sweeps right now.

Ben Krieg: I spent the last hour out in a crab. I gotta know if WSKRS picked up anything, you know, uh, unusual. A biologic maybe.

Miguel Ortiz: A biologic, as in something alive?

Ben Krieg: Yeah, something alive.

Miguel Ortiz: How unusual?

Ben Krieg: A ten, a biologic ten unusual.

Miguel Ortiz: Sorry. No, wait, wait a minute. Clayton had me running drills with Junior and Mother, Loner might have seen something when I wasn’t monitoring. Want me to check his memory?

Ben Krieg: (nods) Thanks. (leaves)

- seaQuest DSV, sea deck, by moon pool -

Jack Clayton: Let’s go seaQuest, you’re on Clayton time now.

Jonathan Ford: Let’s go. This is a water rescue drill.

Jack Clayton: Ten seconds.

Jonathan Ford: Let’s go, let’s go.

Jack Clayton: Come on, people.

Jonathan Ford: Ensign, we gotta be in the water, in formation, inside of three minutes.

Jack Clayton: Twenty seconds. (looks at fish in jar)

Nathan Bridger: Gigolo of the sea.

Jack Clayton: I assume we’re talking about the fish.

Nathan Bridger: It’s a member of the angler family. The male attaches itself to the female for life. Let’s her do all the work.

Jack Clayton: Not unlike the relationship the science contingent has with the military members of your vessel, is it, Captain Bridger?

Jonathan Ford: Proficiency drill seven dash seven four oh four. Your hypothetical: vehicle distress, location and retrieval. Prepare to move on my command.

Jack Clayton: That’s two minutes, Mr. Ford. I’ve seen better organization at a candy tailed water ballet.

Nathan Bridger: If I remember the manual, Captain, anything under three minutes for this drill is considered excellent.

Jack Clayton: The Commander’s men still aren’t wet, Captain. (laughs) Two fifteen.

Jonathan Ford: Complete prep and step up. (Darwin swims in)

Nathan Bridger: A natural sonar for rescue operations.

Jonathan Ford: (to himself) Not quite, not quite. (Bridger gives him a look, Ford nods, men enter water)

Nathan Bridger: Two fifty-three, congratulations, Commander.

Jonathan Ford: Thank you, sir.

Jack Clayton: (leaves, re-enters room) Your dolphin was out of formation. (leaves)

- seaQuest DSV, Krieg’s room -

Miguel Ortiz: (knocking on door) Lieutenant, Mr. Krieg.

Ben Krieg: (opens door, pulls Ortiz into room, closes door) What did you find?

Miguel Ortiz: Loner’s positioned three hundred meters to the north, you went south in the crab. Went pretty deep too.

Ben Krieg: And Loner didn’t pick up any biologics to the north, anything unusual?

Miguel Ortiz: Big mahi-mahi count?

Ben Krieg: No, anything else?

Miguel Ortiz: No, nothing.

Ben Krieg: You’re sure.

Miguel Ortiz: Yeah, I’m sure.

Ben Krieg: Double-checked all programs.

Miguel Ortiz: I’m sure. Are you OK, Lieutenant?

Ben Krieg: Yeah, I’m fine, I’m fine. All right, beat it. Get out of here, dismissed, go. No, wait, I gotta tell somebody, it might as well be you. Sit.

Miguel Ortiz: Where?

Ben Krieg: Down. (Ortiz motions to room) Here. (Krieg clears off chair) Sit. All right, what I’m about to tell you doesn’t leave this room. You don’t tell no one, got it, you’re it, understand, the only person I’m telling so if anybody else finds out I’m gonna know. How am I gonna know? Because you’re the only guy I’m trusting this information with. You understand? You’re the only person that I can ... Have you ever known, I mean been absolutely certain, that you were gonna die?

Miguel Ortiz: Are you sure you don’t wanna discuss this with a priest or somethin’?

Ben Krieg: I looked out the window and I saw this ... thing coming right at me. It was, it was dark, I don’t know where it came from, I don’t know what it was, but I just remember thinking to myself, Ben, you are about to die.

Miguel Ortiz: What’d it look like?

Ben Krieg: I don’t know, I don’t know. I mean you could see right through it, but not really, but it had this energy, it was like static electricity running all through it, and I don’t even know how it grabbed me, head, tail, but the ... it had to be huge and the power, I mean I could feel it and, and the thing of it is it knew exactly what it was doing. It was intelligent, don’t ask me how, but I could tell.

Miguel Ortiz: Are you saying you were attacked by some kinda sea monster? (Krieg nods) Lieutenant, sea monsters don’t exist except in legends and fables.

Ben Krieg: That’s what they said about Bigfoot.

Miguel Ortiz: Maybe you should talk to Doctor Westphalen. (goes to leave, Krieg stops him)

Ben Krieg: No way, she’ll think I’m crazy.

Miguel Ortiz: No, she won’t.

Ben Krieg: And she’ll try and find it, and she’ll get in the way.

Miguel Ortiz: Of what? (Krieg opens box, takes out rock) What is it?

Ben Krieg: I don’t know. Gem, mineral, something we’ve never seen before, and, unless I miss my guess, definitely worth a small fortune.

Miguel Ortiz: Are there any more?

Ben Krieg: Are you kidding? There’s a whole trench filled with ‘em, and I’m the on– we’re the only ones who know about it. Now, I’d be willing to share, if you’d be willing to help.

- seaQuest DSV, Krieg’s room, later -

Ben Krieg: It’s a warm night, the ocean’s like glass, and you’re walking along the beach with a woman so beautiful, so full of love, your heart aches just to look at her. You stop, take her hands in yours, breathe deep as a gentle breeze caresses her face and tickles your senses with her sweetness, and there, alone under a canopy of stars and the moon so bright you swear God musta poked a hole right through from heaven just to whisper inspiration in your ear, you kneel, slide a ring on her finger and ask her to be your wife. And tell me, Murray, what kind of gem do you suppose is set in that ring?

Murray Goldwater: (on screen) Hot number like that, it better be a diamond, at least two carats if I’m expecting any kind of reply to the affirmative.

Ben Krieg: A diamond, outside, at night? It’s gonna look like a black hole on her finger. No, you want sparkle, you want dazzle, you need light. Well, I’ve got your light, and a new jewel for a new millennium. I call it Krieglite. More rare than diamonds, more beautiful than rubies or emeralds. The lovely woman on the moonlit beach, Murray, that’s every woman. And every woman’s gonna want a piece of Krieglite dancing on her finger.

Murray Goldwater: (on screen) The glow, it’s natural?

Ben Krieg: Right off the ocean floor and one hundred percent organic. No batteries or solar cells required.

Murray Goldwater: (on screen) And you can get me...?

Ben Krieg: Murray, what I can get you is gonna depend a lot on, uh, what you can get me.

Murray Goldwater: (on screen) Listen, Benny, I’m not prepared to talk numbers yet. A few contacts in retail I have to confer with first, but if this little sea gem is everything you say, your life’s about to change in a most dramatic way.

Ben Krieg: Excellent.

Murray Goldwater: (on screen) Now, just one thing, lose the name, Krieglite sounds like something you hacked up from the back of your throat. (screen goes blank)

Ben Krieg: Thanks for the private line, I owe you one.

Lucas Wolenczak: Who else knows about this stuff?

Ben Krieg: No one, no one knows, just you and me and that’s the way it’s gonna stay. Understand? Our secret.

Lucas Wolenczak: Hey, Ben, if you can’t trust me, who can you trust?

- seaQuest DSV, galley -

Nathan Bridger: Ready one and three, Commander.

Jonathan Ford: One and three ready, sir.

Nathan Bridger: Fire one and three. Ready two and four, Commander.

Jonathan Ford: Two and four ready, sir.

Nathan Bridger: Fire two and four.

Jack Clayton: Ignition delay on burner four. I suggest your cook bleed the gas line. And speaking of your cook, Petty Officer Reilly, where is he?

Jonathan Ford: Well, you requested a spot inspection sir. Petty Officer Reilly wasn’t informed his presence would be necessary.

Jack Clayton: I suppose there’s an answer to my question somewhere in there.

Nathan Bridger: Uh, Mr. Reilly has gone to the launch bay to check out a sea crab. He’s donating his personal time between breakfast and lunch to qualify in EVA proficiency. Will there be anything else?

Jack Clayton: You can count on it. (leaves)

- seaQuest DSV, hallway -

Ben Krieg: Seen Ortiz anywhere?

Crewman: No, sir.

Ben Krieg: Thanks. (walks down hall)

Katie Hitchcock: (rounds corner) Ben.

Ben Krieg: Hey. (turns corner trying to avoid Hitchcock) Oh.

Katie Hitchcock: Stop avoiding me. We need to talk.

Ben Krieg: I’m not avoiding you and I’m just merely looking for Ortiz. And talk about what? You shortcut through the gym, didn’t you?

Katie Hitchcock: I know you, Ben. Something happened out there in that sea crab yesterday and you’re trying to act like it didn’t.

Ben Krieg: OK, so something happened and I’ll tell you all about it, be happy to, but not now because now I gotta go find Ortiz, gotta get over to the launch bay, get back in a crab, because you know what they say. Once you’ve been thrown you gotta get right back in the saddle. Otherwise, you know, what’s gonna happen, it’s gonna–

Katie Hitchcock: Ah, (stops him) Lieutenant Krieg, I guarantee I will accompany you to that launch bay, personally see to it that you don’t go anywhere in anything until you tell me what happened out there.

Ben Krieg: All right, but I need you to promise that what I’m about to say stays between you and me. No one else knows. Promise? Promise?

Katie Hitchcock: I promise.

Ben Krieg: Have you ever known, I mean been absolutely certain, that you were gonna die?

- seaQuest DSV, launch bay -

man on PA: Marine topography team set to launch in fifteen minutes. Marine topography team set to launch in fifteen minutes.

Crewman: Make way, up ladder.

man on PA: Sea craft three is set for deep-sea video imaging detail. Sea craft three is set for deep-sea video imaging detail. Sea craft two is set for Acoustic Engineering Team Bravo. Sea craft two is set for Acoustic Engineering Team Bravo.

Tim O’Neill: Hey, Miguel.

Miguel Ortiz: What’s going on? One of Clayton’s drills?

Tim O’Neill: Come on, let’s see.

Miguel Ortiz: See what?

Manilow Crocker: Glowing rocks. That’s what you got in the bag, isn’t it?

Miguel Ortiz: You told him?

Tim O’Neill: No.

Lucas Wolenczak: I did. They wouldn’t let me take a sea crab by myself.

Miguel Ortiz: Well how’d you hear about it?

Lucas Wolenczak: Krieg.

Miguel Ortiz: He told me no one else knew.

Lucas Wolenczak: That surprises you?

Tim O’Neill: He musta told Riley. I heard him talking about it at breakfast.

Manilow Crocker: Well, actually I mighta mentioned something about it to Riley.

Miguel Ortiz: Anyone else you mighta told it to?

Manilow Crocker: All right, I talked to Nevins and McGhee too. What, it’s a crime to share the wealth a little bit here?

Miguel Ortiz: Aw, McGhee, you might as well have broadcast it to the whole boat. Nice going, Lucas.

Lucas Wolenczak: Oh, me, like you didn’t blab it to him.

Tim O’Neill: Come on, let’s see what’s in the bag.

Miguel Ortiz: Get your hands off, all right, get your own.

Lucas Wolenczak: I just wanna see them– (Ortiz slaps his hand) OK, all right. (all fight)

Tim O’Neill: Now listen to me. Who’s your pal?

Miguel Ortiz: You were until you blabbed.

Lucas Wolenczak: Come on, let’s just see them.

Miguel Ortiz: Look, you’re gonna–

Tim O’Neill: What are you doing?

Miguel Ortiz: Come on, you’re gonna spill it.

Lucas Wolenczak: I just wanna see them.

Miguel Ortiz: Unbelievable.

Ben Krieg: (enters) No, no, no, no, no, this is not good, not good.

Katie Hitchcock: Between you and me huh.

Ben Krieg: I swear I did not tell these people.

Katie Hitchcock: Save it.

Ben Krieg: What are you doing?

Miguel Ortiz: You do the same. Put them back in.

Lucas Wolenczak: Oh man!

Katie Hitchcock: I need a sea crab, now.

Dispatcher: I’m sorry, Commander, but they’re all out.

Katie Hitchcock: Than I suggest you get on the phone and get one back. Am I making myself clear?

Dispatcher: Aye, aye, Commander.

Katie Hitchcock: Incredible, and you weren’t even gonna tell me?

Ben Krieg: And I’m sorry but I’m willing to make up for it. Now if you could just get a second crab for me, I’d appreciate it. I’ll give you ten, five, five percent of everything I collect on the first load.

Katie Hitchcock: I don’t want any percent of any load you collect. Your shiny rocks don’t interest me. I wanna see the creature you saw, with my own eyes. You have no idea what a discovery like this could mean to all of us.

Ben Krieg: (stunned) The creature. Yo, people, uh, Ortiz, everybody, listen up, can I please have your attention, please. Um, I don’t know what you’ve been told, but there are potential dangers to what you’re doing. You see, uh, I’ve been out there, and, uh, well, what I’m trying to say is that, uh, we’re not alone down here and, um, there’s something I can’t really describe, but it’s, uh, big, and I’m not so sure it really likes us and, uh, wants us messing around down there you see.

Miguel Ortiz: I’ve been out there, Lieutenant, and I didn’t see anything, except these. (holds up rock, everyone cheers)

Manilow Crocker: Ben, Ben, we’ve all heard about your sea monster. Now you’re gonna have to come up with something a whole lot better than that if you expect to keep all this for yourself.

Ben Krieg: Fine, if you don’t wanna believe me, don’t. But if we’re gonna be partners in this, than let’s do it right. So, first thing we gotta do is get organized, work in shifts, keep teams moving around the clock. O’Neill, you’ll be in charge of scheduling. Next, no one neglects their duties, Captain Bridger or Clayton suspect anything, we’ll be shut down for sure. Got it? All right then, leave your names with Mr. O’Neill and report at your assigned times. (everyone cheers)

Crewman: OK, let’s go get ‘em guys.

- seaQuest DSV, hallway -

Jack Clayton: Eighty-eight military, it’s ridiculous. A vessel this size should carry twice that.

Nathan Bridger: What for? Our main focus is research and exploration. If anything, we should, uh, beef up the science staff.

Jack Clayton: Oh, now that would be smart. Maybe you could add a trained whale to your little dolphin show. Be realistic, Captain, you need personnel who can carry their weight in a crisis situation.

Nathan Bridger: I don’t think I understand what you mean.

Jack Clayton: Good God, man, I’m talking conditioning, stamina, training. Your average tech head simply isn’t strong enough.

Nathan Bridger: Captain, I command this boat, but first and foremost I consider myself a man of science, a tech head.

Jack Clayton: It shows. (Bridger does acrobatic stunt) Uh, what’s that supposed to prove?

Nathan Bridger: You do it.

Jack Clayton: You’re wiry, thin. I’m talking muscle mass, brute strength. Strip, to the waist. Let’s see what you’ve got.

Nathan Bridger: What?

Jack Clayton: As captain, you lead by example. Muscle tone’s an indicator of discipline and diet.

Nathan Bridger: Agreed, but as, uh, UEO inspector, I think you should set the example for me.

Jack Clayton: I have nothing to hide. I do two hundred and fifty sit-ups a day.

Nathan Bridger: Three hundred, and a hundred push-ups.

Jack Clayton: (takes shirt off) Ah ha, one fifty, and twenty-five of those are one armed. Great upper body strength, (slaps his chest) flat gut, and the buttocks of a sixteen year old. (Bridger walks away) You don’t believe me, do you? Feel for yourself. You think I’m kidding, I’ve cracked walnuts with these cheeks.

- seaQuest DSV, bridge -

Nathan Bridger: (entering with Clayton) Commander, could you please call the launch bay and have a sea crab stand by?

Jonathan Ford: I just spoke with them, sir. All sea crabs are presently in operation.

Jack Clayton: This had better not be a delay tactic.

Jonathan Ford: No, sir. We have a team fully prepared to demonstrate repair techniques on the outer skin. We just have to wait for the next available crab.

Jack Clayton: Very well, perhaps we can settle a few things while we wait, Captain, mano a mano. Call us when you’re ready. (leaves)

Nathan Bridger: Why are all the sea crabs out at one time?

Jonathan Ford: I don’t know, sir, but I certainly intend to find out.

Nathan Bridger: Hurry up. One more day of this guy I’m gonna go nuts. (leaves)

- Tonga Trench, depth 5,268 feet, sea crab -

Manilow Crocker: (grabs Lucas, scaring him) What’s the matter? You ‘fraid you gonna be gobbled up by Krieg’s sea monster, huh?

Lucas Wolenczak: No, I, uh, just had this strange feeling. It’s nothing, never mind.

- seaQuest DSV, sea deck, by the moon pool -

Jonathan Ford: Swimmers on your mark ... get set ... go! (Bridger and Clayton jump in moon pool, swim to the other side, and back amid cheering crowd)

Nathan Bridger: (helping Clayton out of the pool) Nice race.

Jack Clayton: Yeah.

Nathan Bridger: I thought you were gonna out reach me at the end.

Jack Clayton: I was surprised I was even allowed to finish second.

Nathan Bridger: Are you suggesting that the Commander’s call was biased?

Jack Clayton: No, I’m suggesting that you enjoy your victory while you can. We still have work to do and the feeling may not last.

- seaQuest DSV, Krieg’s room -

Katie Hitchcock: Did you do anything to provoke it, bring it out?

Ben Krieg: No, I did not provoke it.

Katie Hitchcock: Nothing, no sudden moves, you didn’t turn on a light?

Ben Krieg: No, no lights.

Katie Hitchcock: OK, well maybe I just didn’t go deep enough into the trench.

Ben Krieg: Maybe.

Katie Hitchcock: What was the reading on the depth gauge when the creature let go of you? Oh, wait, no, better, what direction did it go when it left? Up, down, north, south?

Ben Krieg: I don’t know, I don’t know, Katie, but it’s like we’re married again all of a sudden. You push, and I’m supposed to come up with answers that I don’t have.

Katie Hitchcock: Pushing is just part of the job. So is finding answers. Ben, it’s the only way I can help.

Ben Krieg: So you still believe me, about the creature.

Katie Hitchcock: Yeah.

Ben Krieg: No one else does you know.

Katie Hitchcock: I believe you.

Ben Krieg: Thanks. (goes to pick up rocks by Hitchcock)

Katie Hitchcock: Uh, uh, uh, mine.

Ben Krieg: They’re all the same.

Katie Hitchcock: Oh, nice try, mine are better.

Ben Krieg: Trade. (Hitchcock shakes head ‘no’) Three for two. (Hitchcock shakes head ‘no’) Oh, that’s nice, Little Miss ‘Shiny-Rocks-Don’t-Interest-Me’ suddenly has to keep the best for herself.

Katie Hitchcock: Two, I went out and I took two. Besides, they’re for my mom, you know how she likes this kinda thing.

Lucas Wolenczak: (knocks) Ben. (Krieg opens the door) We, uh, gotta talk. (enters)

Ben Krieg: We? (as others enter) Oh no, guys, what’re you doing? Guys, hey, guys. (turns and sees them going through rocks) No, no, no, stop right there. Now we all agreed the rocks stay together. It’s safer that way.

Miguel Ortiz: Sorry, Lieutenant, there’s been a change of plans.

Ensign Filie: We talked it over.

Lucas Wolenczak: It’s nothing personal, Ben, we just felt that we really don’t trust you with the stuff.

Ben Krieg: We decided?

Time O’Neill: Yeah, on the west ridge.

Ben Krieg: Who we?

Tim O’Neill: Um, all of us, we. (turns to Filie) Now look...

Lucas Wolenczak: Ever think about, uh, airing this place out once in a while.

Ben Krieg: I’d like to air you out of here right now and that goes for all of you guys. All right, come on, get outta here, come on, let’s go.

Ensign Filie: Sorry, I believe those are mine.

Time O’Neill: Oh no, no, no.

Ben Krieg: Come on now.

Ensign Filie: Are you suggesting that I don’t recognize my own rocks?

Lucas Wolenczak: (to Hitchcock) Just two.

Ben Krieg: All right guys. Everybody.

Katie Hitchcock: No, they are for my mother.

Ben Krieg: Now cut that out. Come on, come on.

Katie Hitchcock: These are mine, mine, mine.

Ben Krieg: (goes to door, everyone continues to fight) Knock it off!

Time O’Neill: Come on, did you hear the Lieutenant?

Ben Krieg: What’s wrong with you people? Look at yourselves, you call yourselves friends, well friends trust each other; you call yourselves partners, well partners share. Hey, look, I know I can’t tell you how to behave, it’s not my place, but the way I see it, you got two choices here: you wanna act like mature, rational adults, than drop everything, shake hands, and walk out that door with your heads held high; or, there’s the other way, where you could forget about how long you’ve known each other, forget about teamwork, about faith in your fellow man, or about how all the money in the world isn’t going to erase the poverty that’s choking in your rotting souls. If you can live that way, if that’s what you want, than do me a favor: take everything I’ve got and get out of here, because I’m ashamed to share the same room with you.

Time O’Neill: OK, Ben.

Miguel Ortiz: Sounds good to me.

Lucas Wolenczak: I can live with that.

Ben Krieg: Maybe I’m not making myself clear. You can have the rocks, but you can’t have Murray. Uh uh.

Ensign Filie: Who’s Murray?

Lucas Wolenczak: Murray Goldwater, Krieg’s buyer.

Ben Krieg: That’s right, and Murray has major contacts in fine jewelry. And that spells money, big money. But he’ll only deal with me.

Ensign Filie: He’s all yours. (leaves)

Tim O’Neill: Um, we’ve been talking to an R and D group, they think this stuff’s gonna make a great light source for deep-sea colonies. (leaves)

Miguel Ortiz: Buddy of mine markets novelty items. Low cost, high volume, makes a bundle in mail order. (leaves)

Ben Krieg: You too?

Lucas Wolenczak: Greed, it’s human nature, Ben, why fight it?

Katie Hitchcock: You better get a handle on this, or I’ll shut you down. You know, it really does stink in here. (leaves)

- seaQuest DSV, bridge -

Nathan Bridger: (into PAL) This is Captain Bridger, we’ll be operating lights out until further notice. All hands please report to stations to begin emergency preparations.

Jack Clayton: (over loudspeaker) This is Captain Clayton, your objective during this lights out drill is to demonstrate a tactile knowledge of your boat and its systems. Cheating of any kind will not be tolerated. Out. (Clayton, Bridger, and Ford put on glasses)

- seaQuest DSV, hallway -

Miguel Ortiz: Uh oh, we gotta get to the bridge.

Ensign Filie: Give me your stuff, I’ll hide ‘em.

Tim O’Neill: No, I got a better idea, why don’t you give your stuff to me?

- seaQuest DSV, another hallway -

Lucas Wolenczak: If Clayton sees us with these, we’re dead.

Katie Hitchcock: I don’t know what I’m doing, this is insane. I could lose my commission over this. (gives rocks to Lucas)

Lucas Wolenczak: Hey, hey, hey, what am I supposed to do with these?

Katie Hitchcock: Run.

- seaQuest DSV, another hallway, a little later -

Jack Clayton: (two crewmen bump into each other, Clayton looks at Bridger, writes on board) Captain, Captain, Captain. Ah hah, what was that?

Jonathan Ford: Sorry, sir, we must have missed it.

Jack Clayton: What are you, blind? There’s a scofflaw on the loose.

Jonathan Ford: A what?

- seaQuest DSV, another hallway, a little later -

Jack Clayton: (Lucas turns corner, sees Clayton, Bridger, and Ford, goes other way) Hold it right there, Tinkerbell. (Lucas drops some rocks, Bridger picks one up)

Jonathan Ford: What is it?

Nathan Bridger: I never saw anything like it.

Jack Clayton: Smells funny. (hears noise) The little bugger’s headed for the sea deck. Let’s get him. (leaves rocks and goes to sea deck, Krieg picks up rocks and follows)

- seaQuest DSV, sea deck, by the moon pool -

Nathan Bridger: (Lucas is throwing rocks into moon pool as group enters) What’s going on here, Lucas?

Jack Clayton: Commander, lights on, the drill’s over.

Nathan Bridger: (into PAL) Commander, lights on.

Katie Hitchcock: (over PAL) Aye, sir. (lights go on)

Lucas Wolenczak: I, uh, I, uh, was just checking up on some of Doctor Westphalen’s work. Something about ra-radiant flux and, uh, how it’s impacted by marine conditions and deep pressures, and, uh, that sorta thing. (throws last rock into pool, Darwin throws rocks out of pool)

Nathan Bridger: Do you think he’s trying to tell us something?

Ben Krieg: (entering) Sir, I think I can explain everything.

Nathan Bridger: An expert on radiant flux?

Ben Krieg: I’ve obviously come at a bad time. I’ll tell you what, why don’t you finish your drill, I’ll leave, we’ll talk later.

Jack Clayton: No, I want you to stay here and explain to me what’s going on. Am I making myself clear, Lieutenant?

Ben Krieg: Sir, have you ever known, I mean been absolutely certain, that you were going to die? (ship rocks)

Jack Clayton: Now what?

Katie Hitchcock: (over loudspeaker) Captain, please report to the bridge. Captain to the bridge.

Nathan Bridger: What is it, Commander?

Katie Hitchcock: (on bridge) We’ve been struck sir, still awaiting a preliminary damage report.

Nathan Bridger: You have any idea who we’re dealing with?

Katie Hitchcock: (on bridge) It’s a biologic, a very large biologic.

Ben Krieg: (scared) Oh no.

Miguel Ortiz: (on bridge) Picking up some kind of electrical interference. It’s coming around for another strike and it’s moving fast.

Nathan Bridger: On my way, Commander. Damage report when I get there, and have Doctor Westphalen join us. (to Krieg) Talk to me, Lieutenant, talk to me.

Ben Krieg: (scared) I’d like to, sir, but I’m not sure you’re gonna believe me.

Nathan Bridger: (ship rocks) Try me. (all leave)

- seaQuest DSV, bridge -

Miguel Ortiz: (boat rocks) It’s giving off a charge sir, almost electrical. WSKRS transmission’s still breaking up.

Nathan Bridger: Launch your probe, Commander.

Katie Hitchcock: Aye, aye, sir.

Nathan Bridger: (to Westphalen) What do you think?

Kristin Westphalen: Well, as bizarre as Mr. Krieg’s story sounds–

Jack Clayton: Ludicrous would be a better word.

Ben Krieg: Captain, I know what I saw, I think.

Kristin Westphalen: I believe him.

Ben Krieg: (surprised) You do?

Nathan Bridger: You do?

Kristin Westphalen: Yes. Well, medusas, jellyfish, squid, they can all grow to giant proportions in the deep. You see, the only thing that limits their size, is their diet.

Nathan Bridger: How big is this thing, best guess?

Kristin Westphalen: And a giant squid has been known to grow to over a hundred feet.

Miguel Ortiz: Captain, coming around again.

Jonathan Ford: Should we try and target it, sir?

Nathan Bridger: No.

Jack Clayton: What?

Nathan Bridger: There are creatures down there that no one has ever seen, never even dreamed of. I’m not about to destroy it without taking a look at it. Prepare a speeder.

Miguel Ortiz: Captain, the creature’s holding on, it’s wrapped around us.

Katie Hitchcock: It’s blocking the launch bay.

Nathan Bridger: Seal the hull doors.

Katie Hitchcock: I, I can’t sir, they’re stuck. There’s been a breach.

Nathan Bridger: Sound general quarters. Have security report to the moon pools.

Jonathan Ford: Aye, sir.

- seaQuest DSV, sea deck, by the moon pool -

Manilow Crocker: All right, let’s move, move, move, on the double, on the double. This is not a drill. Let’s go, let’s go, move it, move it, quickly, quickly.

Nathan Bridger: All right Darwin, come on. What have you seen, huh?

Darwin: Shining. Sees the shining.

Jack Clayton: What kind of gibberish is that?

Kristin Westphalen: Probably means bioluminescence. Certain species that live in the dark create their own light. (noises come from behind closed door)

Manilow C