Original subtitles

...it's because we all came from the sea.

And it is an interesting biological fact...

that all of us have in our veins...

the exact same percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the ocean...

and, therefore, we have salt in our blood...

in our sweat, in our tears. We are tied to the ocean.

And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch it...

we are going back from whence we came.

Jenny, they're firing at me. Jenny, answer me!

Say your prayers, Reef Runner. There's no escape.

Fire! He's across the line.

Whoa!

Reloading.

Reef Runner to Home Plate. Come in, Home Plate.

Jenny, come on, pick up! Pick up!

Jenny!

Home Plate to Reef Runner. Go ahead.

Jenny, it's Bobby. Bobby! Where the hell have you been?

Never mind. Just get ready to open up the main airlock. I'm coming in.

Lock on target.

Locking.

Fire!

Jenny, start closing the main airlock. Now!

You're not through yet!

Just close it. Start closing it right now!

Think thin, Bobby boy.

Disengage. Let's call in the big guns.

Jen! I thought those Hornets had me for sure. Your timing with those doors...

You were prospecting over the territorial line again, weren't you?

No way.

Well, maybe a little bit, but everybody does it.

I've got some great... I had some great magnesium samples.

Where's Earl?

With everyone else, out battening down the perimeter.

There was a skirmish out near the Northern Marker this morning.

What happened?

You know better than to jackrabbit another confederation's border.

Those Hornets have been just waiting for an excuse to fire on this facility.

What were you thinking? I don't know.

Wait, wait. What is it?

It's those two that chased you in.

They're on the satellite link to their home base.

They're asking for military intervention.

Every confederation has got attack subs lurking outside these walls.

Once again, information has reached Earthcast News...

that warrior submarines from several economic confederations...

are converging on the Livingston Trench in the North Atlantic.

Representatives are frantically meeting...

trying to keep the situation from escalating.

The subs are all trying to reach their up-world bases.

They want the green light to fire.

What the hell? What's wrong?

These parameter readings. There's something down in the trench.

There's nothing that big out there. Except seaQuest.

Captain, Nor-Pac Command is trying to get through.

It's breaking up. Heavy Sat-Link interference.

Keep trying, Lieutenant. Aye, sir.

Deploy WSKRS, Mr. Ortiz. Narrow cone sweeps.

Feed data directly to Fire Control. WSKRS out.

Feeding data now.

Four plasma torpedoes, charged and loaded.

Thank you, Mr. Phillips.

Capt. Stark, there's still no message from Nor-Pac Command.

How many more of these standoffs are we going to have...

before someone makes a decision?

Don't they understand the only way to secure peace is with strength?

This cat and mouse game is going to go on forever.

Come around to 2-0-9 and hold her steady.

WSKR data coming in.

Five Class-C shooter subs. Target status?

Captain, I remind you... Not now, Commander. Mr. Ortiz?

All targets, 78% vulnerability.

We're locked in attack position. Target grids.

Grids activated.

Captain, I strongly recommend...

we wait for clear orders from Nor-Pac.

Clear orders? Aren't you tired of this game?

We aim at them, they aim at us, and the whole world holds its breath.

Look at this boat. We have the strength and the advantage.

We can end this madness once and for all.

We can do what we were trained to do.

Captain, confirmed orders are coming in from Nor-Pac Command.

Do not fire. Repeat, do not fire.

The other subs are receiving similar orders.

Mr. Phillips, initiate firing sequence.

Mr. Phillips.

Thermonuclear warhead arming sequence initiated.

Confirm authorization.

Confirmed. Thermonuclear launch authorized.

Capt. Stark...

under Article 20, Section 8, of Nor-Pac Command regulations...

I'm relieving you of command.

Cmdr. Ford.

Adm. Noyce.

Commander, how's seaQuest's refit coming?

We're a few days ahead of schedule. Good.

I'll bet you're looking forward to getting back into the water, huh?

Yes, sir. Six months is a long time to be dry, sir.

Well, you know, the brass is under intense pressure from the political powers...

to find someone to captain her who's not thought of as strictly military.

Someone who commands respect outside the ranks.

There's only one man who meets that qualification...

but can still shoot when he has to.

And he'll never take the job.

Nathan Bridger. He was one of my heroes.

What makes you think anything will get him back?

I served with him for 30 years.

You live and breathe Navy that long, and it never gets out of your blood.

I can get him here, that part doesn't worry me.

It's keeping him.

The incident at Livingston Trench...

had us all staring down the barrel at the same time.

It was terrifying.

But as bad as it was for everybody, I believe you had the hardest task.

Relieving a superior officer of duty is a horrible thing to have to do.

You handled it with a great deal of courage.

However...

it's nothing compared to the pain I'm about to ask you to suffer.

Jonathan, I need you to be prepared to appear arrogant...

incompetent, even cowardly.

To be everything a commander shouldn't.

It may be the only way we've got to persuade him...

he's got to assume command.

Sir... It's all in there. I gotta run.

I know you can handle it.

Don't let me down, Jonathan.

Excuse me. Pardon me.

So sorry.

Capt. Bridger? Bridger?

I think there's one on the other side of the island.

Of course, he gets up very early to go to work. You may have to hurry.

That is a very nice outfit. Nathan Bridger...

we've come at the request of UEO Command.

Who? The United Earth Oceans Organization.

Doesn't ring a bell. But then, I've been out of touch for a while.

Captain, we've gone to great lengths to find you.

I don't really know what you people are selling...

but I'm really not interested.

Now, why don't you do yourself a big favor...

and get the hell off my island?

Hello, Nathan.

Go home, Bill.

Nathan, wait. Will you just listen?

She's finished. She's been operational for three years.

Nathan.

Nathan, don't pretend you don't care. I know you do.

All right, come on.

Come on. Come on.

All right, Darwin, my boy.

You know the routine.

Don't be cute.

I'm in no mood.

Now, listen.

You're gonna go down. One, two, three.

Then you're gonna tag the marker.

Tag the marker.

Go.

Go.

Hand-motion communication?

It's not perfect, but we understand each other.

Which is more than I can say about you and me.

I remember, it was Carol who got you interested in dolphins.

I heard about what happened. I'm sorry. She was a wonderful woman.

Yeah. How did you hear it?

Well, you don't think the Navy's going to let...

one of its most valuable human resources...

run off to some island and not keep tabs on him?

Whatever happened to privacy?

Last time I looked, the Bill of Rights was still intact.

Everything's changed, Nathan.

I've come halfway around the world to tell you about it.

Once the oceans became a frontier for mining...

pharmaceuticals, farming...

the world became a dangerous place.

Undersea borders went up, nations split into confederations...

to protect their territorial claims.

They hammered out a peace treaty.

The United Earth Oceans Organization was formed to administer it.

It's different out there now. There's farms and colonies and families.

UEO needed a way to maintain the situation.

That's why Nor-Pac gave us the seaQuest.

Not as a warship, as a peacekeeper. What's the difference?

She's being refitted to include a large science contingent.

What for? Research. Deep-ocean exploration.

The largest deep-submergence research vessel ever.

No, Bill. That part of my life is over.

Don't you understand what I'm offering you?

Nathan, you can't pass this up!

For God's sake, Carol is dead!

Let it go. I won't!

I gave her my word.

I know how much losing Robert hurt you...

how you blame yourself for his joining the service.

I have kids.

Look around you, Nathan. You're totally alone.

Don't you see how your research and your passion...

could be used aboard a ship you poured your life into?

Come see her.

Let me at least show you what I'm talking about.

Okay, let's go.

Please stand clear of docking collar hatch.

Check for personal belongings.

Don't get too full of yourself.

As soon as this little show-and-tell is over, I'm out of here.

Crewmembers, please display holographic ID imprints.

Not too helpful.

You think these people have heard about your peacekeeping program?

Career Navy. They're going to be a little touchy at first...

about having all these science types on board. No offense.

Come on, Nathan. Lots to see. All science personnel...

proceed to B-Deck holding area.

Come on. You know, the last time you saw her, she was no more than a keel...

laid out in a San Francisco shipyard.

There's two complete decks of science labs and research facilities.

Everything you could ever want or need is right here.

Who's footing the bill? Grants...

industry contributions, private donations.

Government? Only through the UEO.

Mag-Lev engaged. Be seated to avoid injury.

Next stop, Bridge. Nathan!

Please wait for full stop. Bridge.

Thank you for riding Mag-Lev.

After you.

Admiral on the Bridge.

As you were.

There was a time when my future was one of boundless profits.

Petroleum from the deep seas of international waters...

and vital minerals from the deep-sea trenches...

coral from the new-found barrier reefs.

It was fantastic, it was beautiful. You just take, ja?

Well, now we have the UEO...

and this is what UEO has left me.

And now they want more even in the name of peace and harmony.

Only, what does peace and harmony have to do with business?

I don't know.

We have to do something about the seaQuest.

There's no competing with seaQuest.

No, my son, mein kind...

I'm not talking about competing with the seaQuest.

I'm talking about getting rid of her. What?

Ja.

The ship has lost its leader.

And the crew, the crew is full of dreamers...

and eggheads, and wannabes.

Not one ounce of practical knowledge in the whole group. That's a fact.

And the result?

She's vulnerable.

Am I right, Capt. Stark?

You have the Delta 4 submarine at your disposal, ja?

The ship is as good a ship as any ship on, above, or around the water.

I want you should take out the seaQuest.

What you need, what you want, I buy.

And when you're finished...

you will be rich.

So tell me, Captain...

how do we beat the seaQuest?

I've already beaten seaQuest.

What I want is to be there when she drowns.

That's good.

That's good.

Can I help you? No. No. No, thanks.

WSKRS.

Wireless Sea Knowledge Retrieval Satellites.

We used to call them roving periscopes.

How many WSKRS are you operating out of here? I mean, we planned three.

One forward and two aft. That's right.

Sir, this is a highly restricted area.

This tourist bothering you, Mr. Ortiz?

He's asking for classified information.

Well, they really scraped the bottom of the barrel...

for the crew this time, didn't they?

Yeah, from the looks of things...

they did a little digging beneath that old barrel, too.

What the hell is that supposed to mean, sailor?

I'll tell you exactly what that's supposed to mean.

It means it sure is good seeing you again, Cap!

How are you? It's been about 10 years.

Oh, longer than that. It's been 12, at least. Where the hell you been?

I mean, the scuttlebutt had it you'd gone bug-eyed...

and you were making like Tarzan on some desert island somewhere.

I don't think I went deep enough into the jungle.

I know what you mean.

So now you're part of this peacekeeping group, huh?

Oh, you know military, Cap.

You want to play the game, then you gotta join the team.

To tell you the truth, I was more than just a little surprised though...

when I got the call. The call?

Yeah, from Adm. Noyce.

I was just about ready to turn in my discharge papers...

when he asked me to come back as security chief.

I'm still not sure what he wants with an old warhorse like me...

on board with all these...

Academy pups.

I'm sure he just wanted the best crew he could get.

Giving tours now, Chief? Lieutenant Commander.

I don't like visitors at my station. Your station?

That's right, and it's off-limits.

Now, if you want to see some sights, why don't you try the Arizona Memorial?

What kind of security clearance you got anyway?

Indefinite?

Perhaps a few introductions might be in order here, Lieutenant...

before you swallow your entire leg.

Katherine Hitchcock, Chief Engineer, this is Nathan Bridger.

Capt. Nathan Bridger.

How do you do? It's a pleasure, sir.

You and I are going to have a long talk later.

Yes, sir. I'll be looking forward to that.

Captain.

He's some guy, isn't he?

Yes, sir. He's a great guy. Thank you.

You must know this boat pretty well.

Stem to stern. I'd put my knowledge against anybody's.

I'm sure.

Hyper Reality Probe. That wasn't in my original design.

With all due respect, sir, there's probably been hundreds of changes since you left.

I'd be happy to give you a tour.

I'd like that.

Perhaps when I'm finished over at the Arizona.

I guess all that talk about him going native was true.

You know, you'd think the brass would at least let us know he was coming.

Well, Noyce was afraid any kind of show might scare him off.

Wait a second. You knew he was coming on board, and you didn't say anything?

Jonathan.

Ten-hut!

This was supposed to be the missile prep room.

It was. We pulled them out after the treaty was signed.

As you were.

And the forward weapons room?

I'm not going to lie to you, Nathan. This is still a military vessel.

Not everybody was satisfied with the terms of the treaty.

There are still pockets of resistance.

Why all the science?

If the world can just hang in there, and this thing works out...

this could eventually become a full-time research vessel.

Why me? We need a cool head.

Someone who hasn't been sitting with their finger on the trigger.

Besides, you understand these science guys.

You speak their language. That's good.

I told you back at the island, I am not interested.

Nathan, just listen to me. Just...

Hey.

Very funny. Hey, you thought of it.

Thought of what?

A sub that could carry a Navy-trained dolphin on board.

The tubes I saw? Yeah. "Bridger's Folly. "

You mean, he has access to the entire ship?

Just the way you designed it.

Hey, boy, come here. Come on.

Come here.

Darwin! This is my dolphin.

Well, I thought you'd enjoy having him on board.

Well, you thought wrong.

You know, you talk peace, but you act military.

You took him for your own objective. That's not acceptable.

Now you're after me. Also not acceptable.

Easy, fellow. We'll have you out of here in no time.

Darwin play.

What?

Darwin play here. Who wants to play?

I think he wants to play.

Smooth rocks.

He means the sides of the tank. I know what he means.

This is some kind of a game, huh?

Oh, it's no game.

Cutting-edge technology.

You see, sensors in the tank pick up his sighs, clicks, and whistles.

The ship's computer then interprets it, translates it...

pumps it back into these speakers.

Unless it fritzes out on you or something.

Who are you? Who are you?

Lucas Wolenczak. Nathan Bridger.

Lucas designed the system that allows Darwin to speak.

You're kidding.

You seem surprised, Captain. Or maybe just a little jealous.

Jealous?

Well, I heard you were working on a similar system and gave up.

Switched to hand signals or something?

So? Nothing.

He can understand me? Don't ask me.

Ask him.

All right, I will.

Darwin...

how did we meet?

Darwin hurt.

Island help.

Well?

I found him floating in a lagoon. He was cut up by a fisherman's net.

Wait a minute.

Darwin...

what's the color of my favorite bathing suit?

No suit. Skin.

He's right, I don't wear a suit.

Thanks for painting that picture for us.

Listen, I hate to break up this little seminar, but I gotta go.

Or should I say...

Impressive, isn't he?

I could think of a few other words to describe him. What's he doing here?

He lives here. How so?

His father's in charge of one of our largest corporate endowments.

He pulled a few strings and got Lucas assigned to seaQuest.

Apparently, there was a bit of a disciplinary problem...

and the father figured, what better place to put him than on a submarine?

So you're not only a peacekeeper, now you're a babysitter.

Nathan, the kid's a genius.

I mean, this thing with the dolphin is just the tip of the iceberg.

He needs discipline, he needs guidance. He needs a haircut.

Commander. Jonathan.

This is the boat's XO, Cmdr. Jonathan Ford.

Sir. Commander.

Now, if you two'll excuse me, I have to take care of something.

Why don't I go with you? No, no, it's just some paperwork.

I'm sure the Commander can entertain you while I'm gone.

Be an honor to show the Captain around.

Seeing you here like this somehow makes the boat feel complete.

The Admiral seems pleased to have you aboard.

It's a temporary condition.

As soon as this little show is over, I'm on the first jet out of here.

Yes, sir.

So how many years have you been assigned to the seaQuest, Commander?

Three years.

I was part of a hand-picked team brought in to get her activated.

Must be satisfying for you to see your vision realized.

Yeah, I guess it is.

But, of course, I suppose there have been hundreds of changes made since then.

At least.

Pyritic limestone...

with traces of pink quartzite. This is very pretty.

Wait a minute. What is this? Sir?

This boat is moving. What the hell is going on?

I don't know, sir.

Bridge. This is Cmdr. Ford.

Who gave the order to shove off? Adm. Noyce did, sir.

He set me up. I want this boat stopped right now.

That's impossible, sir.

Once we break port, we're committed to the channel.

This isn't exactly a rowboat. I know what it is, Commander.

I designed the damn thing!

If the Captain would like, I could arrange to have a launch craft...

shuttle you back to Pearl, once we hit open water.

The Captain would like. Yes, sir.

Never trust the military.

Hmm. Military.

Hello, Nathan. Welcome back.

Wait a minute.

The Navy refused to install this program. How'd you get here?

Young Mr. Wolenczak.

He brought me online several weeks ago.

He's really quite remarkable.

So I've observed. Wolenczak.

What's your mission? I'm a hologram...

here to provide a sounding board in times of moral or ethical conflict.

Very good.

Lucas has given me a wide range of source material to draw from.

You can also change my image by inserting a photograph...

in the imaging port of the computer main unit.

Really?

What's the current depth of this ship? One hundred meters.

What's the speed? Twenty knots.

What's the meaning of life? Be more specific.

Jeez.

Captain, the seaQuest has just passed the harbor marker...

and headed for open water.

Lock course and rig for silent running.

Course locked. Activate silent running.

Weapons systems? Armed and ready.

Shall we proceed?

By all means, Mr. Maxwell. By all means.

Thirty-five years. That's how long we've known each other.

And now you treat me like a stranger.

No, worse than a stranger.

Well, I want to tell you that I think it stinks.

Nathan, I'm not going to sit here and deny the fact that I might have misled you.

Misled? How about lied? Just tell me, why did you do it?

Because if I hadn't, you might have died on that island.

What are you talking about?

I'm talking about regrets. I'm talking about running away from yourself.

Now, look at us, Nathan. We're not kids anymore.

How much time do you think we have left to make a difference?

Oh, please! No, that's the truth.

You still have too much left to offer, too much you can share...

than to spend the rest of your life hiding in the jungle.

That's your opinion. And it doesn't justify kidnapping.

Nathan, you're not a prisoner. I told Cmdr. Ford...

to make a launch available for you anytime you wanted to leave.

Right. Very big of you.

Look, I'm sorry, Nathan.

My methods may be flawed, but my intentions were the best.

Intentions? The road to hell is paved...

with good intentions.

Current depth, 650 meters.

Speed, 35 knots.

Course, 2-9-0 and holding steady.

Commander.

I just received this message for you. It's from Adm. Noyce.

Rhubarbarum.

What? Rhubarb.

The Admiral's wondering, while I'm aboard...

if I might take a look at the main drive propulsion units.

It seems there's some glitches in the aqua-return jets.

Does this mean the Captain won't be returning to the mainland as scheduled?

Can't wait to get me off this boat, can you? No, sir. It's just...

It's all right, Commander. I assure you, I understand.

I'm not here to snake your command. Snake, sir?

Well, are you telling me that you don't deserve the command?

No, sir, I'm not saying that at all.

But the fact is, those decisions are out of my control.

I suppose they are.

But whatever the Admiral has in mind, it's not going to work...

because I'm not interested in the job. Yes, sir.

Does that mean the Captain is ready to leave the seaQuest?

Well, I'm here. I might as well look around. What the hell.

Cmdr. Ford.

Let's get something clear, shall we?

My people will not be treated like so much cargo.

We are scientists, we are not mindless, military drones.

Your point, Doctor?

Your people have occupied areas clearly designated as science research labs.

I want them removed immediately.

May I remind you that you are aboard a military vessel?

This is a research and exploration vessel.

Besides, we outnumber you, 124-to-88.

That sounds like a threat, Doctor.

Well, at least you have a grasp of the obvious.

Now, understand this, Dr. Westphalen.

Don't you point your finger at me!

You find this amusing?

Yes. As a matter of fact, I do.

And what are you? Some kind of stowaway?

Something like that.

The name's Bridger. Nathan Bridger?

Last time I looked.

I know your work. Topography, thermal range variances.

I tried to contact you once. They said you were unreachable.

I'm sorry. Kristin Westphalen, medical doctor...

physical oceanographer, and head of the science team aboard this ship.

Doctor.

I'm late for a staff meeting.

It was nice meeting you.

I'm not finished with this, Commander. Not by a long shot.

She seems very committed. She ought to be committed.

Hey, be careful with that! Make believe it's your mother's.

Sorry, sir. What do you have in the box?

Movie discs, sir. Movie discs. Open it up.

These are family films. Yes, sir.

I thought I told you to spice things up a little bit.

This is a submarine. Can you say that?

Submarine? Good. This is not a monastery.

Forget it. I'll pull some from my personal library. Get it out of here.

Take over.

Clearance level, please? Thank you.

You're Nathan Bridger, aren't you? Yes, I am.

Have we met? No, not really.

I mean, not directly.

I knew your son. Robert?

Yeah, we went through the Academy together.

He was my friend.

Forgive me, sir, my name is Krieg. Lt. Benjamin Krieg.

Lieutenant. Pleasure, sir.

Sir, I thought that you were retired. I didn't know you were back on active duty.

I'm not.

The Admiral's just giving me a little tour. I'll be leaving soon.

I see. Gee, it's kind of funny, isn't it? What's funny?

Well, that we only just met, and yet it feels like I already know you.

I guess because Bobby... Robert used to talk about you so much.

Anything good? Occasionally.

I do remember him talking about a Ben.

Are you the Ben who painted the Army mule yellow at homecoming?

No.

Pink.

So if you need anything, I'm your friendly Supply and Morale Officer.

"Supply and Morale"?

See, it's very important that the crew has activities...

to keep their minds off the isolation, because at a...

Mr. Krieg, I assume we're stocked and loaded.

Absolutely, Lieutenant Commander. Just finishing up here.

Good. Because I've got a schedule to keep. Captain.

Thank you.

What a sweetheart.

The Lieutenant Commander is a sweetheart?

Oh, well, sir, we were sort of married.

Really? Only for a year.

Seemed like a good idea at the time.

You know, actually, I think she's sort of still hung up on me.

It's been nice talking to you.

Robert used to say...

that a son would be lucky to have a father like you.

Thank you.

We're approaching the Gedrick power station, Captain.

Good. Resident personnel?

Fifty-nine workers. Families. 127 men, women, and children.

Excellent. Fire one and two.

You called? Yes. We've got a distress call coming in.

Why are you telling me?

UEO regulations require me to inform the ranking officer aboard...

of any emergency situations.

That would be you, sir.

What's the source of the call?

Gedrick power station. It's under attack. Aggressor unknown.

The signal's getting weaker.

The station's minimal defenses have been blown to hell...

and they're reporting numerous casualties. Maybe we should contact UEO.

How far to the nearest communications buoy?

A hundred kilometers due east.

And we're the only boat within a half-day's sail.

What's our proximity to the station?

It's on the border. Part of the Gedrick territory.

Distance, 48 kilometers. Depth, 4,900.

Well, at these currents, we should be there in about 20 minutes.

Captain, I'm prepared to offer you command of the seaQuest at this time.

Come again?

Would the Captain care to assume command at this time?

I don't think you're the kind of officer who turns his back on a command decision.

Are you?

I'm just along for the ride. Remember?

Feed spatial coordinates of the power station to Navigation.

Prepare for incoming change of course and speed.

Preparing for course and speed adjustments.

Bring her around to 0-9-0. All ahead full.

Gedrick power station, bearing 0-9-0.

One hundred kilometers, all ahead full.