“Whale Song”

Directed by: Bryan Spicer

Written by: Patrick Hasburgh

Summary: Illegal whaling ships are loose and a renegade sub has been sinking them. When Bridger is ordered to stop the sub even though whaling is illegal, he feels he can’t do it and resigns. But then the sub sinks a cruise ship by accident and Bridger has to return to the seaQuest to try and stop the sub before it sinks another ship. This is complicated by the fact that the rogue sub is commanded by Maximillian Scully, an old friend of Bridger. At the same time, Krieg is trying to find some outlawed beef so he can make a cheeseburger.

Guest Starring:

Jonathan Banks as Maximillian Scully

Robert Engels as Malcolm Lansdowne

Peter DeLuise as Wiggins

Jack McGee as Mike Lutz

Derek Webster as Jerry Corbett

Jesse Doran as General Frank Thomas

Leo V. Gordon as Admiral Matt Smith

Frank McCarthy as General Jack Jones

Denis Arndt as Navy Quartermaster Bickle

Richard Herd as Admiral William Noyce

Co-Starring:

none

Featuring:

none

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.

- a beach somewhere -

(Scully pulls a rowboat onto the beach, goes over and looks sadly at a whale skeleton)

- submarine, bridge -

Jerry Corbett: Scandinavian whaler, three hundred meters off port. Get me closer. OK, that’s it, I got her.

Wiggins: Give me the numbers.

Jerry Corbett: Hull number four, five, alpha, seven, bravo, three, eight, zulu. It’s the Irish Ocean, seven minutes, fifty-three degrees North latitude, nine minutes, five degrees west longitude. They had a humpback in their nets.

Wiggins: I should tell Max.

Jerry Corbett: Let him sleep. We’ll tell him in the morning.

Wiggins: He doesn’t sleep anymore, Jerry, none of us do. We’re losing.

Jerry Corbett: I know.

- submarine, Scully’s cabin -

Max Scully: Scandinavian?

Wiggins: Yes, sir.

Max Scully: Is it a kill?

Wiggins: I’m afraid so, sir, but we can ID the numbers. We got ‘em cold, this is the third time. We have a great case against them.

Max Scully: But no one cares, Wiggins.

Wiggins: You care.

Max Scully: Well, maybe that’s not enough anymore.

Wiggins: Whatever it takes, sir.

Max Scully: You don’t have to say that unless you mean it.

Wiggins: I do.

Max Scully: And Corbett?

Wiggins: He’s with me, sir.

Max Scully: Thank you, Wiggins. Get some sleep.

- submarine, bridge, later -

Jerry Corbett: A direct hit, sir.

Max Scully: We’ve crossed over, boys.

- seaQuest DSV, mess -

Ben Krieg: This is a perfect orange. Perfectly round, perfectly fresh, and perfectly, well, perfectly orange. Fulfilling the government’s suggested daily requirement for a natural vitamin C supplement perfectly.

Tim O’Neill: That’s not a supplement. That’s an orange, the real deal.

Ben Krieg: That’s my point. It’s not.

Miguel Ortiz: Than what is it?

Ben Krieg: It’s a chemically engineered, hydroponically grown, citrus-like replacement food. I mean just once I would like it bruised, or not quite ripe. Something, anything, make it taste real.

Tim O’Neill: It’s just breakfast Krieg, try the egg product.

Ben Krieg: But they’re not eggs.

Tim O’Neill: Uh, no cholesterol, no fat...

Ben Krieg: And no chickens. No chickens. This boat never has to stop by a grocery store. The crew’s menu is created in the lab out of altered DNA and chemical pies. The ice cream has a half-life of fourteen hundred years. I mean, who knows what this stuff is doing to us.

Jonathan Ford: I like it.

Ben Krieg: Oh yeah, than where is your breakfast?

Jonathan Ford: I just got off watch. This is dinner.

Ben Krieg: No. No, this is a freeze-dried protein patty. A look alike beef product.

Tim O’Neill: Raising cattle was outlawed because their methane gas was deteriorating the ozone.

Ben Krieg: So some cow passes air, and I can’t eat a cheeseburger?

- seaQuest DSV, Bridger’s room -

William Noyce: (on screen) The North Seas frequently produce unpredictable weather patterns. I’ve been in the Irish Ocean, it can be rough, but three ships lost in the last two months?

Nathan Bridger: What about a rogue wave? We could run some wave patterns.

William Noyce: (on screen) Rogues don’t discriminate and the vessels involved are all whalers. First one, Scandinavian, then two weeks later a Japanese commercial disappeared, and now, the wreckage of an unidentified trawler washed up off the coast of Norway. That’s why the Pentagon wants to see you.

Nathan Bridger: You know, this is not my end of the rope anymore, and whaling’s been illegal since the turn of the century.

William Noyce: (on screen) So is smoking cigars in restaurants but people still do it. We’ve got trade agreements with those guys, Nathan. We’re partners with Japan in the super collider; and we don’t want to compete against the Saab space lab. And, people are dying.

Nathan Bridger: So are whales.

William Noyce: (on screen) Sorry, Nathan, it’s an order. A chopper will pick you up off the launch at oh five hundred hours. Nathan, bring a coat, it’s raining in Washington.

- seaQuest DSV, Krieg’s room -

Bickle: (on screen) No can do, Lieutenant.

Ben Krieg: Look, that’s not the answer my superiors want to hear, Chief.

Bickle: (on screen) Tough.

Ben Krieg: Come on, I could ring your bell on this, Bickle, but I’m a good guy, so I won’t, but you’re refusing a direct order.

Bickle: (on screen) No, I’m not, I’m obeying one – no red meat, no natural eggs, and no alcohol. Anyway, you still owe me for those interactive video headsets.

Ben Krieg: They were stolen.

Bickle: (on screen) Try again, Krieg. Harmson told me you traded ‘em for a still. You can’t brew beer out of genetically cultivated barley, they bred the buzz out of it – I’ve tried.

Ben Krieg: Look, this is a medical emergency.

Bickle: (on screen) Two pounds of ground beef?

Ben Krieg: Come on, Bickle, pretend we got a sea cow on board in need of a transplant.

Bickle: (on screen) Try a nine hundred linkup, Krieg – naked women dancers – it’s more your speed.

- Washington D.C., Pentagon, a room -

Frank Thomas: (Bridger enters, goes to salute) Oh, let’s keep this easy, Nathan, we’re all old friends here, aren’t we?

Nathan Bridger: Well, not exactly.

Frank Thomas: Oh, no? Matt Smith, Jack Jones, Nathan Bridger. I thought you guys would have met on the golf course back on Guam.

Nathan Bridger: Gentlemen.

Matt Smith: Captain.

Nathan Bridger: How do you do?

Jack Jones: Captain.

Frank Thomas: Let’s have a drink. Scotch rocks, with a twist, right?

Nathan Bridger: No, not for me, thank you, sir.

Frank Thomas: Oh, come on, Nathan, it’s Frank. Relax, have a drink, we’re off duty.

Nathan Bridger: If we’re off duty, then why was I flown in with a military escort?

Frank Thomas: Couldn’t get you a seat on the Navy shuttlebus.

Jones: You have to try some of this roast beef, Captain. It’s from Argentina. They must feed the cattle something special down there.

Nathan Bridger: I didn’t know they were supposed to feed them anything down there.

Frank Thomas: Still going by the rulebook, huh, Nathan?

Nathan Bridger: Turned in my rulebook, sir.

Frank Thomas: It’s Frank.

Nathan Bridger: Frank.

Matt Smith: I’ve been very impressed with your work on seaQuest, Captain.

Nathan Bridger: Thank you.

Frank Thomas: Yeah, from damn the torpedoes to talking dolphins. Science ... if I didn’t have rank it would have put me out of a job.

Nathan Bridger: Science is the job, Frank – at least for me.

Frank Thomas: Come on, Nathan, this isn’t a fund-raiser, and don’t tell me you don’t miss some of the old run and gun.

Nathan Bridger: Not since I lost my son in combat, no. Why am I here, Frank?

Frank Thomas: We’ve lost three UEO allied vessels in the last two months.

Nathan Bridger: Ships that were whaling illegally.

Frank Thomas: I don’t care if they were floating whorehouses. These guys are on our side.

Nathan Bridger: But they were breaking UEO law.

Frank Thomas: They were blown out of the water, an outright act of aggression.

Matt Smith: Our intelligence tells us there’s a sub cruising the North Sea, apparently it’s armed and active.

Frank Thomas: We want you to find the sub and then sanction with extreme prejudice.

Nathan Bridger: You mean hunt them down and kill them.

Frank Thomas: This is within the UEO charter.

Nathan Bridger: I’m sorry, I think you’ve got the wrong man.

Frank Thomas: But we’ve got the right boat.

Nathan Bridger: Meaning what?

Frank Thomas: Gentlemen.

Matt Smith: Captain. (leaves)

Jack Jones: Captain. (leaves)

Frank Thomas: Sit down. I want you to search out this submarine, and destroy it.

Nathan Bridger: The seaQuest’s mission is search and rescue, sir.

Frank Thomas: Not this time, Captain.

Nathan Bridger: With all due respect, you can’t order me to do this.

Frank Thomas: No, I can’t, but every young hotshot on that boat of yours can forget about a career in my navy if you don’t. I’ll make their lives miserable, and I’ll make your life miserable. You know I will. I’ll expect an answer in twenty four hours. (Bridger salutes) I’m sure you’ll come to the right decision, Nathan.

- seaQuest DSV, launch bay -

Manilow Crocker: Captain on board.

Nathan Bridger: As you were.

Jonathan Ford: Welcome back, sir. How was Washington?

Nathan Bridger: Redskins lost. Where’s Lucas?

Jonathan Ford: I think he’s sleeping, sir.

Nathan Bridger: Wake him up.

- seaQuest DSV, Bridger’s room -

Nathan Bridger: (knock on door) Come in.

Lucas Wolenczak: You wanted to see me?

Nathan Bridger: Yeah, you awake?

Lucas Wolenczak: Yeah, sort of. I was in the middle of this dream about driving some girls to the beach on a motorcycle.

Nathan Bridger: I hope you were wearing a helmet.

Lucas Wolenczak: See, that’s the weird part, I was just wearing my underwear.

Nathan Bridger: I’ll try and get you back to it as soon as I can.

Lucas Wolenczak: Right.

Nathan Bridger: I think you’ve done some terrific work for us here on seaQuest.

Lucas Wolenczak: And there’s a lot more to do.

Nathan Bridger: Yes, and I hope that this has been an experience to help you decide what you wanted to do with your future.

Lucas Wolenczak: Well, this is what I want to do with my future.

Nathan Bridger: Maybe, and maybe it’s just something you try on and see if you like.

Lucas Wolenczak: Captain, am I being fired?

Nathan Bridger: No, but I’m pulling you off seaQuest.

Lucas Wolenczak: What?

Nathan Bridger: I’m sorry.

Lucas Wolenczak: Well, look, if I’ve done something wrong, just tell me. I can change.

Nathan Bridger: No, no, it’s not you, it’s me. I’m resigning. Commander Ford’s taking over, temporarily, and after that, I don’t know if this is going to be a place you wanna be.

Lucas Wolenczak: What happened to you at the Pentagon?

Nathan Bridger: I can’t tell you, it’s military.

Lucas Wolenczak: I’m your friend.

Nathan Bridger: There’s been a submarine in the North Seas sinking whaling ships. They want me to hunt it down and destroy it, but I can’t do that. I can’t take sides on this issue.

Lucas Wolenczak: But in this case, aren’t the means justified by the end?

Nathan Bridger: Machiavelli said that and wound up in prison.

Lucas Wolenczak: I know.

Nathan Bridger: Lucas, I don’t know what I’m going to do about this, but for now I’m going to do nothing.

Lucas Wolenczak: You’re quitting.

Nathan Bridger: Yes, I guess I am, but at least I wanted you to hear it from me first.

Lucas Wolenczak: Oh, well, thanks for telling me. (leaves)

- seaQuest DSV, bridge -

Jonathan Ford: I can’t accept this, sir.

Nathan Bridger: I’m afraid you’ll have to. It’ll be the last order I ever give you. Please send that to General Thomas immediately. I’ve ordered a launch to take me ashore at first light, I’ll get home from there.

Jonathan Ford: But this is your home, Captain.

Nathan Bridger: Not anymore, Jonathan.

Jonathan Ford: Request granted, Nathan.

Nathan Bridger: Thank you.

Manilow Crocker: Ah, Captain, I–

Nathan Bridger: Consider it said, Chief.

Nathan Bridger: Take good care of her for me, gentlemen.

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

Nathan Bridger: Time to go, pal.

Darwin: Go, where?

Nathan Bridger: Time to go home.

Darwin: Bridger sad?

Nathan Bridger: Yes, I am. Go on, go. (as Darwin swims away, Bridger turns around and sees Westphalen) You heard.

Kristin Westphalen: (walking toward Bridger) It’s a small boat.

Nathan Bridger: What do you think?

Kristin Westphalen: Well, I’m not sure it’s what I would do, but I think that for you, you’re doing the right thing.

Nathan Bridger: Thanks for that, and for everything else.

Kristin Westphalen: I am going to miss you. (they kiss)

- submarine, bridge -

Jerry Corbett: We’ve got her, she’s in range.

Max Scully: Fire when ready.

Wiggins: Fire ... one.

Jerry Corbett: Oh, my God. We just hit a cruise ship.

- a beach somewhere -

Radio: ...The attack, labeled by the UEO as an outright act of terrorism, is the fourth in the last three months, but this is the first time a luxury liner has been targeted. The first three ships were whaling vessels, and speculation is that this tragedy may have been a case of mistaken identity. Rescue ships are steaming toward the scene, but casualties are expected to be high. The identity of those passengers on board have yet to be released.

Nathan Bridger: Oh, look what they’ve done.

Radio: In other news, former President Bill Clinton has celebrated his seventy-second birthday at his home in Arkansas....

Nathan Bridger: (sees dolphin) Well, look who’s decided to come home.

- submarine, bunks -

Jerry Corbett: What are we going to do now, Max?

Max Scully: I’m sorry, I don’t understand the question.

Jerry Corbett: We just sunk a boat full of innocent people.

Max Scully: Yes, I know that.

Wiggins: This goes way beyond activism, Max. The whole world is gonna be lookin’ for us.

Max Scully: I doubt it, Wiggs. It’s unfortunate, but I doubt it. An innocent country is invaded, and two days later everyone’s watching the soccer championships on television. Passenger jet’s shot down and the airlines offer supersavers to Hawaii. The headlines of the day are about busboys who win the lottery.

Wiggins: No, no, it’s not like that anymore.

Max Scully: No, Wiggs, it is exactly like that. It’s an intermission, Wiggs, and you are either a soldier or a victim.

Wiggins: But now, we’re as bad as they are.

Jerry Corbett: This is wrong.

Max Scully: Why? Tell me why? Because a bomb delivered in a suitcase is less moral than one delivered by a Navy jet? I don’t think so.

Wiggins: Um, we are gonna leave.

Max Scully: Oh. And do what?

Wiggins: And turn ourselves in.

Max Scully: Victim or soldiers, you’ve made your choice, gentlemen, and I’ve made mine.

- Caicos Key Dolphin Research Center, by the pool -

Nathan Bridger: Malcolm.

Malcolm Lansdowne: Nathan!

Nathan Bridger: Who is he?

Malcolm Lansdowne: Who’s what?

Nathan Bridger: Now, don’t take me through the tide pools on this. You know everything that’s going on underwater or you know somebody who does. Who’s been sinking these ships?

Malcolm Lansdowne: I made a decision a long time ago to stay out of this game. No one wins, so I don’t play it anymore.

Nathan Bridger: When it comes to people and whales it’s close, but people win. You know who it is, don’t you?

Malcolm Lansdowne: So do you.

- Caicos Key Dolphin Research Center, a room -

Video: Maximillian Scully, the noted oceanographer and undersea explorer, was tragically lost in a boat explosion earlier this week while on expedition off the Great Barrier Reef. Scully, most known for his work with whales and his radical tactics to preserve undersea life, may have been the victim of an assassination. Throughout his career he was the target of harsh criticism by the commercial fishing industry, and efforts to thwart his activism had increased in recent years.

Nathan Bridger: Max Scully is not dead?

Malcolm Lansdowne: And it was his bomb that exploded. He was planning to sabotage a whaler. Probably forgot to reset his watch when he crossed the date line.

Nathan Bridger: Have you seen him?

Malcolm Lansdowne: And he doesn’t look good. His face was badly burned. He’s turned a corner, Nathan. He wanted me to give him money to buy an old Russian Foxtrot.

Nathan Bridger: Why didn’t you tell me?

Malcolm Lansdowne: Didn’t know what he was planning to do. I just thought Max wanted to disappear, like I did, like you have, like the Regulator has. We’ve all reinvented ourselves. It was his business, it wasn’t my place to tell ya.

Nathan Bridger: Malcolm, I spoke at this guy’s funeral.

Malcolm Lansdowne: I know, and he was very touched.

- seaQuest DSV, Krieg’s room -

Ben Krieg: (enters) Lucas, Lucas, where are you?

Lucas Wolenczak: (in vent) I’m in here, Ben.

Ben Krieg: (helping Lucas out) What are you doing?

Lucas Wolenczak: I’m a stowaway, I had to get some socks.

Ben Krieg: Great, well, I brought you some food. It’s sort of food.

Lucas Wolenczak: I’m not hungry.

Ben Krieg: Look, you can’t be sneaking around the boat like that. Bridger finds out I didn’t take you up world, I’m gonna end up running a marina on Lake Chautauqua.

Lucas Wolenczak: Bridger’s not coming back, and I don’t even care.

Ben Krieg: Lucas, the Captain did what he thought was right.

Lucas Wolenczak: He didn’t do anything.

Ben Krieg: Yeah, and sometimes that’s the hardest thing to do – nothing. But you can’t get caught still here, or I’m bait.

Lucas Wolenczak: I’ll take full responsibility.

Ben Krieg: How?

Lucas Wolenczak: I’ll tell them I blackmailed you because you found out that after you took me up world you were going to smuggle some ground beef aboard. You had no choice.

Ben Krieg: Do yourself a favor – forget law school. And I didn’t take you up world because you’re a member of this crew. I just gotta let it blow cool for a while, then, when everybody starts missing the Lucas-man, I will be a hero. (pulls out frozen meat)

Lucas Wolenczak: How’s it coming?

Ben Krieg: Not good, it’s been frozen at absolute zero since it was outlawed.

Lucas Wolenczak: Put it in the galley microwave.

Ben Krieg: Yeah, right, crew gets whiff of this, everyone will want a bite.

Lucas Wolenczak: It’s dead cow, Krieg.

Ben Krieg: Uh huh, and you haven’t lived until you’ve had some, cooked over an open grill, with melted cheese, and mustard, and relish on the fourth of July, just like my father used to make them for me when I was a kid.

Tim O’Neill: (over loudspeaker) Attention, all officers not on duty report to the launch bay.

Ben Krieg: Hands off the beef.

Lucas Wolenczak: It’s not a problem.

- seaQuest DSV, launch bay -

Manilow Crocker: Captain on board.

Nathan Bridger: (salutes) Request permission to come aboard, sir.

Jonathan Ford: This is your boat, Captain.

Nathan Bridger: No, it’s not, I resigned. Don’t you remember? You sent the letter.

Jonathan Ford: I never sent the letter, sir.

Nathan Bridger: That was an order, Commander.

Jonathan Ford: I know, sir, but once you wrote it, technically you were no longer a Captain. I was under no obligation to carry out the order. (Crocker and Krieg chuckle, Bridger stops them with a look) What should I do with this, sir?

Nathan Bridger: Do with what?

Jonathan Ford: Thank you, sir.

Nathan Bridger: Well then, make way for the Irish Ocean. We’ve got a submarine to catch.

- a bar somewhere -

Mike Lutz: (two men fighting in ring, Scully and Lutz working controls) Yeah!

Computer: Green player, winner.

Max Scully: You play me again. Come on, come on, come on, play me again.

Mike Lutz: Eh, I played this thing out in Frisco, but that one had two women with hooks for hands. Damn game gives me a headache. Besides, you owe me a beer. Come on, ante up.

Max Scully: I’ll give you a headache. (follows Lutz to bar) So, when you shippin’ out? I’m lookin’ to crew up.

Mike Lutz: Check the board, plenty of ships goin’ out.

Max Scully: Yeah, well, I need somethin’ that pays real good, huh.

Mike Lutz: What are you, a seaman?

Max Scully: I had a first mate rating once upon a time. The sea commission lifted my papers. I harvested a little coral, some reef hugger took it personally. I was thinkin’ maybe the whalers would be hirin’.

Mike Lutz: Where did you hear that?

Max Scully: Where did I hear it? Where did I hear it? Well, ya know, maybe I didn’t hear it, maybe I guessed it. Three big ones down, crews might be a little spooked, I might find some work.

Mike Lutz: Yeah, dangerous work. If that guy out there shootin’ torpedoes doesn’t get you wet, the sea commission will put you in a room without windows for the rest of your life.

Max Scully: But they gotta catch ya first, don’t they? Pay’s good. Ya gonna help me?

Mike Lutz: Got a commercial fisher outta Liberia leavin’ at oh two hundred. Named the Saint Renee. We’re goin’ whalin’. You show up, you sign on; we ain’t gonna wait for ya.

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

Lucas Wolenczak: Darwin. Darwin. (Darwin swims over) You’re back.

Darwin: Man bad. Bridger wrong.

Lucas Wolenczak: Yes, I know.

Nathan Bridger: So do I.

Lucas Wolenczak: What are you doing here?

Nathan Bridger: That’s my question. I thought I ordered you ashore.

Lucas Wolenczak: Look, it’s not Krieg’s fault, it’s my own. And if you’re wondering, we made it to shore, but then I made Krieg turn around and come back because I told him I was gonna run away and get a tattoo and join the Italian Navy–

Nathan Bridger: All right, all right, all right.

Lucas Wolenczak: Uh, seaQuest is my home, too, you know.

Nathan Bridger: Yes, I know, I guess I wasn’t even in command when I gave the order.

Lucas Wolenczak: Why’d you come back?

Nathan Bridger: It’s not a perfect world, and sometimes you have to do things you don’t wanna do. And because I missed you.

Lucas Wolenczak: I missed you, too. (they hug)

- seaQuest DSV, Krieg’s room -

Ben Krieg: (singing) I like mine with lettuce and tomato, Heinz Fifty-seven, and french-fried potato, big kosher pickle, and a cold draft beer, well... (speaking to baseball bat under glass) good God, Nolan. Yes, your grandfather was a great pitcher, but I’m afraid you just couldn’t hit your way out of the minors. (singing) Cheeseburger in paradise, medium rare with mustard’d be nice. Not too particular not too precise, I’m just a cheeseburger in paradise. Ahhh.

- seaQuest DSV, bridge -

Jonathan Ford: Entering the Irish Ocean, sir.

Nathan Bridger: Sound the alert.

- seaQuest DSV, Krieg’s room -

Ben Krieg: (picks up burger) Oh, yeah. (alarm sounds as he’s about to take a bite) Oh great.

- seaQuest DSV, bridge -

Nathan Bridger: Ladies and gentlemen, what we have here is a Russian submarine, category-type, Foxtrot. Approximate length, three hundred feet, tonnage at dive, two thousand five hundred. She’s fully armed, runs on diesel, so we’ll be scanning for kerosene. Mr. Ortiz, begin you sonar sweeps on all frequencies, let’s see where this fish lives.

Miguel Ortiz: Aye, sir.

Nathan Bridger: And then, we’ll go get her.

- seaQuest DSV, bridge, a little later -

Miguel Ortiz: I’ve picked up a pod of whales on our passive sonar, sir.

Nathan Bridger: Follow them. Update WSKR readings, that’s our bait. Let’s keep the energy up boys and girls. This guy’s no Easter Bunny. Chemical scan.

Miguel Ortiz: Traces of kerosene, sir.

Nathan Bridger: Parts per million?

Miguel Ortiz: Two parts per million.

Nathan Bridger: Rotate sensitivity three five niner.

Miguel Ortiz: Five parts, sir, now seven populating at ten o’clock. I’m picking up a low frequency prop noise.

Nathan Bridger: Run it through our acoustical library, see if it confirms Foxtrot. Then come sixteen degrees port. I think this is our man.

Miguel Ortiz: I’ve got him, sir.

Nathan Bridger: Come starboard, twenty degrees, half speed ahead, split the difference. I’m gonna run a down field block here.

Katie Hitchcock: Aye, aye, sir.

Nathan Bridger: Arm forward lasers and torpedoes.

Jonathan Ford: Arming forward lasers and torpedoes.

Nathan Bridger: Inflate the outer skin with maximum ballast shell protection at assault ratings – he may take a shot at us.

Katie Hitchcock: What can we take at this depth?

Nathan Bridger: Well, we’re specked at twenty-nine thousand pounds at impact. I hope that’s enough. (sees Lucas enter) I thought you were in your room.

Lucas Wolenczak: I’m scared.

Nathan Bridger: So am I. Back up Ortiz. Let’s go to alert.

- submarine -

Max Scully: (sees return on his sonar display) Bridger.

- seaQuest DSV, bridge -

Miguel Ortiz: He’s fired on her, sir. One o’clock at three hundred yards.

Nathan Bridger: Full speed ahead.

Jonathan Ford: Aye, Captain. (missile hits seaQuest)

Nathan Bridger: Damage report.

Katie Hitchcock: Second deck, starboard, A three and four. We’ve got water.

Nathan Bridger: Lock it off.

Miguel Ortiz: Sub’s cutting and running, sir.

Nathan Bridger: Good. Crocker, take a launch over to that whaler and arrest the crew.

Manilow Crocker: Aye, aye, Captain. On my way.

Nathan Bridger: Disable the sub, Commander.

Jonathan Ford: Aye, aye, sir. (missile hits Foxtrot’s propeller)

Tim O’Neill: Come in, Max Scully, do you read? Can you copy? He’s not responding, sir. Maybe he can’t hear us.

Nathan Bridger: He can hear us. Get me a sea crab – I’m going over there.

Jonathan Ford: Alone, I can’t let you do that, sir.

Nathan Bridger: This time, it’s an order. And besides, it’s between me and him. Take it easy, Lucas.

Lucas Wolenczak: You too.

- submarine -

Max Scully: (Bridger enters) You’ve come here to kill me, haven’t you?

Nathan Bridger: I hope not, Max.

Max Scully: Hmm. I knew it’d be you.

Nathan Bridger: I didn’t.

Max Scully: Well, it’s appropriate, isn’t it? We’re both on the same side, and look what they’ve done to us.

Nathan Bridger: This one is all yours, and what you’re doing is wrong.

Max Scully: Yes, it’s wrong, Nathan, but if I don’t do it, who will? And if not now, when? I’m a hero, and let me tell you something I’ve learned about heroism. It’s most often done by men who are frightened or stupid. I don’t like to think of myself as stupid, Nathan, but I am frightened, for you, for me, the world, my seas, the whales, everything. So I’m willing to make the final sacrifice – eternal damnation? So be it. Because that is heroism, Nathan, knowing there’s no return, doing what you think is right, regardless.

Nathan Bridger: That’s why I’m here.

Max Scully: I know.

Nathan Bridger: I’m going to have to take you back with me.

Max Scully: Then you’re killing me, and you know it.

Nathan Bridger: The choice is yours, Max.

Max Scully: May I have a moment with my ship, Captain?

Nathan Bridger: Certainly.

Max Scully: Oh, Nathan. (goes over to torpedo tube and climbs in)