Journey to the Center of the Earth (1993) - full transcript

Volcanoes, the foundries of the Earth,

ladies and gentlemen, where the very wheels

of planetary evolution still turn.

And where, I am here to tell you, you will

find the only viable doorway to the

inner world.

Doorway to what?

The inner world.

Egyptians, Greeks, the Norse, Romans,

all told of vast inhabitable regions

beneath the Earth. The same people who



gave us science, logic, astronomy.

This volcanic bubble,
if you will, is just

one of thousands that weave a path to

the Earth's core. Estimated at over 3,000

miles across and as high in places as

5000 feet, you could slide the entire

United States into it.

If one had a proper craft,

it could descend into a live volcano.

Is this a joke?

No, they could descend into a live

volcano ... where enormous temperatures

... where enormous temperatures
weaken the geological

crust just the solid
side of liquid ... then



a sonic blast, of suitable amplitude,
could open a momentary

doorway to the inner
world ... it's ... it's

very clear, it's possible.

It makes me crazy when
they call you a lunatic,

a crackpot, a dreamer.

Why won't they believe?

Those minds can't

be forced open. Put a move on it, I've

got a surprise for you. They really call me

a dreamer?

Put - put a move on.

Behold ... the Geo Explorer.

Will it work?

There's only one way to find out.

Forward, ever forward.

The rate of lava shift seems
like it's rising ... fast.

That's a roger, Mountain Base.

Keep it firm on lava shift, Firebird. Over.

No question, chief.

Lava flow's on the north face is
twice what it was on our last check...

And we're showing a new
breakup near the south, Firebird.

Can you check it out?

Acknowledged, on our way to confirm now.

Don't know how close we can
get with these temperatures, but...

It looks like it's gotta
be now or never, Jim.

Your call.

This is Firebird.
That's a roger on south lava breakup.

I'm going in close to put
an eyeball on the dome.

Whoa, it could be any minute now.

Chris, Collin, put it on!

It's happening now! This is it. This is it!

I'm telling you, Collin,
all you got a do is agree.

My uncle will go along with it.

No Chris.

Once your uncle sets mind on something,

that's it.

Personnel must clear the area. Repeat...

We're going in, Collin, now.

Uncle Jim, take me instead.

No, we have been through this.

No, wait.

If we wait any longer

nobody will go in.

But Collin says the decision is

yours, he'll stand aside.

Buckle up, Collins.

Aye aye, sir. Sorry, Chris.

I need you here.

You know all the work I've done,

all the research.

You're the only one who understands,

who believes like I do.

If something happens.
I need to know they'll be

someone who'll carry on, maybe come and get

me if I get lost.

Wait.

Can't!

Here ...

...take this.

Now you gotta come home,
cause I want it back.

Forward.

Ever forward.

Control to Geo Explorer.
Jim, do you read me?

Thank you Firebird.

Raise Geo Explorer

into locked position.

Minus 60 seconds.

Confirmed, telemetry has
tracking of your position, please.

T minus 45.

We got 'em at ----

That's a roger, thank you. Jim...

---- confirmed.

Beginning engine brief checks, now.

Seismic activity increasing fast.

Suggest you launch as soon as possible.

Repeat, as soon as possible.

It's gonna blow!

Minus 15 seconds.

Control, our readings indicate
the eruption has started.

Can you confirm, Firebird?

Affirmative, eruption has begun.

It's gonna rip wide open any second now.

No, too soon!

No...no...

Jim,
we're not showing you can launch in time.

I won't turn back now.

We're going in, dammit.

All units, evacuate now.

Prepare to fire engines, on my mark.

Geo Explorer, this is Control.
Final countdown engaged.

Jim, pairing in the final launch angle now.

Geo Explorer, this is Control,
... do you copy? Over.

Jim, this is Control, come in please.

Firebird, this is Control.

Can you confirm ship's status? Over.

Negative, Control.

Not a chance in hell.

Geo Explorer, this is Control.

Do you copy? Over.

No way they lived through that.
Sorry, Mr. Turner.

Chris?

Chris? Mr. Turner?

Mr. Wentworth can see you now...

can see you now... can see you...

Yes, yes.

Mr. Turner, would you follow me, please?

Mr. Wentworth is ready for you, now.

Welcome, Mr. Turner.

Thanks for coming.

Thank you, sir.

Broca's theories are a hobby of mine.

Brilliant man, Jim Harlech, unorthodox yet

a free thinker, a priceless commodity, a

mind like that, which is why you are here.

Exactly, now sir, I have factored out my

uncle's seismic predictive methods...

We're aware of your results.

Excuse me, Christopher Edison Turner,
Dr. Margo Peterson.

Oh, I'm sorry. You know one another?

We've met. Dr. Peterson and I come from

opposite sides of the scientific tracks.

Why is she here?

Dr. Peterson is head of

my research division. I thought you were

aware of that.

No sir, I - I wasn't.

I'm a futurist, Mr. Turner,
I'm concerned with where

we're going, and we're rushing headlong

into oblivion; pollution, overpopulation,

apathy. We live in a planetary community

Mr. Turner.

My father was making billions destroying

the surface and I used my allowance to

tunnel under it.

Life in outer space is

centuries off, inner space is not.

You are not the only one,
for varying reasons, who

is intent on going under, whereas I am

the only one rich enough
to risk paying for it.

And that's why I'm here, sir.

And this is how I'm gonna get there.

Four crew,
powered by thermal steam turbines,

once we're under, and this is gonna

render all previous
tunneling technology obsolete.

Sonic blaster.

Behold ...

the Avenger.

182 feet long, 200 tons fully loaded,

with a 4 inch thick solid titanium hull

on a triad of all-terrain treads, 7 crew

with room for 3 more, self generating

fuel supply, completely omniphibious in

nature, Sonic 4 units are incorporated in...

You stole my design, my research!

I liberated your ideas, Mr. Turner,

expanded them, and started construction

almost two years ago.

Sue me,

or come on board as a full partner.

Captain Turner.

There's just one condition.

What's that?

Dr. Peterson goes with you.

What?

As my personal representative if you like.

Why, she's been with the
program from the beginning.

She'll co-supervise mission

preparations and you will, of course, be

in command, Captain,
once the mission is under way.

It's an irrevocable condition, Mr. Turner.

Decide. I'm an insanely busy man.

For what it's worth, Turner, you made the

right choice. Now should we discuss the

rest of the crew.

Fine, who'd you have in mind?

Dr. Tesue Ishikawa, from the

Bio-botanical Institute. She's the world's

foremost authority on plant-based food

sources, and the ship's medical officer.

Good, done. Here's the rest of the crew.

Unacceptable, unacceptable, unacceptable.

Miss Peterson, when's the
last time your life was in danger?

I mean besides some virus jumping out of

a Petri dish at you.

What does that have to do with it ...

Assembling this team is about balance.

We can't go poking around world's

unknown with a bunch of lab coats.

There's an inherent risk factor.

I'm well aware of the risk.

No, not risk - risk factor,

a statistical variable defining

response to danger in the unknown.

The stuff that attacks the lizard brain in

all of us and then either cripples you

or it makes you stronger.

Lab coats have never been exposed to that.

These people have.

In fact, they like it.

These three fit every conceivable physical

situation we could possibly encounter.

Sandra Miller,
psychologist and champion rock climber.

Also spelunker.

... master caver.

Anthony LaStrella, world's
youngest jet aircraft test pilot and

video game champion.

Has the world's fastest
hand-eye reaction time.

Joe Briggs?

Ex-navy SEAL, still holds the

all-time solo descent diving record.

This only makes six crew members,
what about the seventh?

Well, I - I haven't got a recent photo,
but it's

Dr. Cecil Chalmers.

What?

The decision's already made,

there's nothing you can do about it.

You can't be serious.

What possible function could that

supernatural crackpot...

Dr. Chalmers is

the categorical expert on legenderology

and all mythic lore dealing with the

inner world.

So what?

Of what there is to

know about where we're going

he knows everything.

He advised my uncle...

Did your uncle a lot of good.

Closed minds...

Miss Peterson ...

every great civilization has stories of

vast magical inner world.

My uncle believed that. Chalmers knows it.

That is why I'm going down there,
to prove it.

You haven't sold out Chris.

Now - now, not another word.

You made the right decision.

Besides,
Wentworth may have stolen your ideas

but once we're under, we will have

effectively stolen his ship, so to speak.

By Jove, it's brilliant. I'll be with you

Monday week, as ordered, Captain.

Oh no, no, not to worry.

It's just turkey expanding.

Hey, aw I got this one.

Eh, I think I'm in love.

Hey, hey, can't you read?

You touch this stuff the wrong way,

Boom!

All they find is a shoe heel.

Thank you, my man.

Now, it's critical you all

appreciate the danger of this project,

constituting a risk factor 10 times

that of any NASA mission to date.

Now,
if you decide to sign on you'll be paid

one million dollars in cash.

The mission should take six months.

Hey, not that I

couldn't use a cool mil, maybe get me a

Porsche, or two, but Captain, I couldn't

help but notice we're sitting on the

edge of one of nature's time bombs.

Is there something you're not telling us,
Captain?

Everything you need to know is detailed

in the manuals, once you sign the

contracts and secrecy agreements.

According to our data, within a year

Mount Oliver is due for a major eruption.

Now, our training and preparation is

scheduled to be completed in six months,

well ahead of the window of opportunity.

Now, at that time, we will launch...

administering a sonic blast to the

molten lava opening a momentary doorway

to the inner world.

Well, that about wraps it up, Turner.

I'll take that return ticket, now.

You haven't heard everything yet,
Mr. Briggs.

I've heard enough. Now, I've dived

everything from oil to toxic waste; even

did a gig in a nuclear reactor once

because some fool
dropped his Walkman in it,

but I have never heard of anybody

diving through solid damn rock.

Not solid ... liquid.

Right ... liquid damn rock.

Do you know what kind of
temperatures you're talking about?

We're not free diving through magma,
Briggs.

Well then how in the hell are
we supposed to get down there?

In a sub?

Not exactly.

Welcome to your new home, the Avenger.

- Oh, Margo, this is incredible.
- You got to be kidding me.

Oh, a tad large, don't you think, Chris?

Reminds me of myself in many ways.

Ah, geez, you broke it.

No, next time I break it.

The systems, Mr. Chalmers, required a

housing of this size, no more, no less.

What if we encounter a subterranean sea?

The Avenger is completely
omniphibious in nature.

Like a frog?

No, that's a dual environment species.

This is omniphibious,

Not all-terrain, any terrain.

We're gonna fly this?

Yes. Mr. LaStrella, we are.

We're also gonna drive it and tunnel

it through the Earth.

What's the power source?

It's in the reactor chamber, back this way,

just ahead of the main thrusters.

Nice.

Sixty pounds of synthetic fusionable

self-regenerating material.

Has indefinite range.

No stops at Texaco.

Damn straight.

I still don't get it. It's so big,

How can we possibly move around down there?

I mean, what if we run into like - like a

really small cave or something?

I thought you'd never ask.

That's why I designed the sonic blaster.

And why I perfected it.

We've prepared a small demonstration.

With your permission, Captain.

Absolutely. It's over this way, people.

Commence with the sonic bore test, Tom.

Now hear this.

Now hear this.

Sonic bore firing in 20 seconds.

Everybody ready?

Clear the area.

Power grid engaging.
Target coordinates locked and final.

All systems green and
ready to fire on command.

Prepare to fire.

Fire!

We've tested the sonic bore on every

existing geo structure known to man.

Nothing withstands it.

When do we go inside?

Right now. If anyone has any

reservations about the project,

now's the time to decline.

I wouldn't miss it for the world.

To be honest about it, I was still

burning inside from Wentworth having

stolen my work, but that first day when

the crew all signed on and came aboard,

I realized that this whole crazy project

was gonna get off the ground I'd have to

put that behind me now. For reasons I

can only guess at Wentworth had put me

in charge. I was their captain and it

didn't take long to see that was bound

to be as much of an adventure as getting

to the center of the Earth.

Don't even think about it.

Like cramming these seven

type-A Gonzo's in a titanium tin can

for the next six months and keeping them

from blasting holes in each other.

Not that the Avenger didn't have its

creature comforts but it was clear my

job is gonna be looking past even what

Margo's whiz-bang computer could see.

We're outfitted for every possible

circumstance Devin could anticipate.

Hey, you know Captain,
I think I'll bunk right here.

I don't think that
would be appropriate.

Who's Devin?

Sounds like a babe to me.

Digital Electroplasmic Virtual
Intelligence and Navigator.

Devin for short.

Good morning, Devin.

Good morning, Captain Turner.

Is this the crew?

Yes, it is. This...

Dr. Tesue Ishikawa,

your work precedes you doctor, I've so

looked forward to meeting you, and you

Dr. Chalmers, I hope we have time for

lengthy conversation.

Indeed.

She controls every system on the

ship, Cecil, I wouldn't mess with her.

Devin, if you please.

The upper deck stations

control the Geoscience evaluation

systems while all other mechanical and

operational modes, from sonic bore

deployment to flying, are controlled from

the flight deck. Navigation shares a

redundant link to Dr. Peterson ...

I had to admit,
Devin gave new meaning to the word

database, but I still wasn't about to

just follow the bouncing ball, no matter

how many megabytes she had up her sleeve,

at least not when hanging ten on the

edge of an active volcano, which I knew

could have the nasty habit of ignoring

everyone's projections, and all the more

reason to get right down to business.

Step one was to have Margo familiarize

our crew with the ship. Of course, knowing

LaStrella he was in a hurry to just get,

well, familiar, and the truth was Margo

did seem more at home programming Devin.

When it came to anything high-tech, no

question Margo was in a class by herself,

but somehow she couldn't seem to cut

much slack for us mere humans.

Fortunately, I knew Sandy and her smile

would be as good at pulling us all

together as she was at scaling mountains.

Not to mention the
famous Dr. Tesue Ishikawa,

who had her own curious

formula for uniting the crew.

Oh, Margo was right.

Tesue was first-rate as a medical

officer, but she hauled all of us in for so

many tests, Briggs took to calling her

Marcus Welby.

I don't think he meant anything by it.

Hell, within the first week, Briggs had

picked a nickname for most of us, so I'm

sure it was just a coincidence, but when

the time came for us to gather in the

galley and try out some of
Tesue's more bionic grub,,,

well, for some reason, she seemed to think

Briggs was the man for the job.

Meat loaf.

I'm not sure but I don't think

he ever called her Marcus Welby after that.

I mean it didn't take a rocket scientist

to know it would be tough enough

learning to get comfortable in such

tight quarters without looking to rattle

each other's cages, and that I'm afraid

included Chalmers' beloved briar number

12, not exactly a big hit with fitness

freaks like Briggs and Sandy,

so I had no

choice but to tell him, Cecil, with his

smoke there's mutiny. Besides where we

were going, there was likely to be enough

smoke even for his taste.

And one good look at the volcano cookin'

outside was all it took to settle that

question and remind everyone that we

were training on borrowed time.

Two months,
15 days till operational readiness.

I knew Devin could keep good time, but

wary of putting all our eggs in her

basket, I had Margo build us a

holographic navigation unit so we could

eyeball our way through the inner world

if it came down to that, and I started

drilling with LaStrella until he could

not only fly the Avenger without me

but deploy and fire the sonic bore

blindfolded, if necessary.

I need to be sure this ship and crew

could survive even if,
for some reason, I didn't.

Briggs was assigned with ship

security and backup on navigation, and I

told Margo to program a series of

emergency drills for us, running the

gamut from an onboard
fire to an all-out crash.

Like my uncle's Geo Explorer, the

Avenger was one of a kind.

While we could guess
how the ship might react if

things got gnarly, what the crew would do

was another story.

But whether Margo and I chose well or

we just got lucky,

I was glad to see they all came through

it like the pros they are, and then there

was the so-called book of knowledge.

I finally recognized a picture of it and

Wentworth's office and I was sure

Chalmers could fill me in if anyone could.

Well, he did one better by revealing what

he claimed was an actual piece of this

magical book, supposedly coughed up by

Vesuvius over a century ago and, frankly,

I had trouble keeping a straight face

about it all, but Chalmers,
well, he wasn't laughing.

According to Devin, the eruption was

still months off, but it didn't look that

way when I go out and walk the rim alone

at night.

I knew this ship and crew were ready for

anything, but then it never fell to me to

be the captain of a
mission like this before,

so maybe what was troubling me was

whether or not I was ready.

Dr. Chalmers, Hiram Wentworth.

Very nice to meet you.

I'm a great enthusiast of your work,
Dr. Chalmers.

Hiya, Mr. Wentworth, Tony LaStrella.

Mr. LaStrella.

Hi. Sandy Miller.

Charmed.

A vessel and crew worth drinking to,
eh, Mr. Wentworth?

Mr. Wentworth, fungal champagne,

one of my more favorite synthetics.

Hey, not too shabby.

I say, Doctor, well done.

A speech, a speech, ah, Chris?

Yes, Mr. Turner, inspire us.

The past 24 weeks haven't been easy on

any of us, but your hard work and

dedication have paid off. Tomorrow we're

fully operational. One final week of

tests to flush out the gremlins on the

system and then we'll just sit on our

hands and wait for Old Faithful to blow.

Now, I'm not gonna stand here and tell

you that none of us is in any danger and

that everything will be smooth sailing

on the journey because, well, that might

not always be true, but I will say what

we're doing has got to be done.

The potential of what we discover could be

the salvation of our planet Earth;

thermal energy sources, pure air that

could revitalize our atmosphere.

The good doctor here
might even discover a cure

for cancer and who knows what else.

I am so proud to be
part of it and I couldn't

have a better crew if I had hand-picked

every single one of you, which I did.

So here's to us,
and whatever lays before us,

or beneath us, or whatever. We are a team,

a unit, we are...

The Descenders.

Descenders... descenders... descenders...

that's cool.

Captain Turner,
I detect an unsettling development.

Well, forgive me, Devin, we didn't mean to

forget you. You're as
much a part of this ship

or crew has anyone. To Devin.

To Devin...to Devin...to Devin...

I - Captain - I - I

Don't just hang there babe,

say something.

The volcano is about to erupt.

What?

When?

How much time?

According to my

calculations we can make it if we launch

in 30 minutes.

This is no drill.

Everybody, man your stations.

Man your stations, let's go. The count is

back in t-minus ten, the shuttle is going

to full power as soon
as your butt hits the seat.

If anybody's got any
questions ask 'em on the run.

There's all the system checks
needed we can test them almost --

I can't think of a better test,
can you doctor?

Let's go people, put a move on we're a

minute behind already.

Unless you plan on
getting your hands dirty,

Mr. Wentworth,
I suggest you get off my ship.

My ship, Mr. Turner.

My ship.

I love it, God I love it.

Cross your fingers.

Prepare launch sequence, on my mark.

Forward scanners, 5 x 5.

Now.

Launch count initiated.

Clear the flight deck.

Give me heads-up display, eruption status,

and countdown readouts.

We are in

pre-programmed launch sequence, Captain.

Cancel program and transfer

launch control to the helm.

You read me?

Affirmative.

All monitors up and active.

Project full eruption in three minutes

and we are at T minus 2.24 and counting.

Dr. Peterson,
give me fuel and booster status.

Boosters armed and fueling.

Prepare for hydraulic lift.

Preparing for lift.

Activate lift.

We are now at T minus
one three six and counting.

Stand-by to fire main
boosters in four seconds.

Buckle in, everybody,
we're going ballistic.

Now approaching optimum release angle.

Repeat, we are ready for launch, Captain.

Captain.

Captain

Escape velocity now three
kilometers per second and rising.

Minus ten kilometers.

20 kilometers

40 kilometers

80 kilometers

150 kilometers

220 kilometers

325 kilometers and descending

Activate side thrusters!

Negative, they're not responding!

Hit the backup gyros, now!

Coming in too fast!

Get her nose up.

Hang on!

We're gonna hit. We're gonna hit.

You all right?

Sound off, anybody injured?

- I think I'm okay.
- I'm okay.

Talk about a new ticket.

How bad?

Can't tell. What does Devin say?

Devin

I detect seven carbon-based life-forms,

I presume the crew is intact.

Yes, everyone survived.
Get these alarms off and then

I'll need a complete damage report.

All major systems appear to be functional.

The sonic bore unit is impacted but

repairable, surface communication is out.

I'll need time for further determination.

Have you run self-diagnostics.

I'm battered but not broken.

I'm gonna shut you down to sleep level for

a while until I can factor out

your potential for error rate.

Maybe you're right.

A little rest might be just what the

doctor ordered.

Devin?

I shut her down but her data

systems are available.

Can you rely on

her to run an atmospheric analysis?

We gotta check the hull.

Chris, Margo,

I'm afraid some of the food is, well, it's

blended itself... it's ruined.

You're breaking my heart.

I should really gather some specimens.

Captain, if you don't mind me asking,

what do we do now?

Well, we compile a detailed damage report

and effect whatever repairs are necessary

for the continuing of the mission.

Continue the mission? Are you all blind?

Mission over, we're finished...

Briggs.

No, I say we...

Briggs!

...call the surface and...

At ease.

Hey, relax, all right?

According to Devin,
the atmosphere is breathable.

What if she's wrong?

That's the hatch.
Give me an outside camera.

Sorry for the alarm. You must come and

see this Chris. Talk about breaking

through to another world.

Invaders from the overworld

with the book,
they have a piece of the book.

Impossible, the book belongs only to the

center realm. If what you say is true,

then bring it to me now.

Just one more piece, added to my own,

and I will be free from this living death!

Hey, just look over here.

Briggs, take point.

LaStrella, watch our backs.

Behold, the inner world.

How can there be light?

Actually, a self-suspended subterranean

bioluminescent mineral source,
to be precise.

Living Rock?

And maybe more than just rock.

Look at that lake,

where there's water there's life, right?

And who knows what
forms of it we might find here.

I'd kind of like to start by being grateful

that we're still alive. all right?

A stunning sight, if ever I saw one.

Agreed, but we won't be able to explore it

unless we get started on some repairs.

Turner, the ship.

Well, the design worked,
no major structural breach.

Sure hope somebody
popped for the insurance.

What the hell was that?

Chris?

I hope you're satisfied, both of you.

What the hell happened here?

Did I miss something?

Oh, just Briggs here,

shooting up our main control link and a

few other miscellaneous but vital relays.

I was shooting at someone, something.

It was in the crew quarters.

Doing what?

I don't know what. Maybe we should check

our gear, see if anything's missing.

Now wait, wait a minute, wait!
Let's get this

squared away. Did anybody see anything?

Just what or who were we supposed to see,
Briggs?

We're the only ones down here.

Yeah, well then who blindsided me over the

back of the head, huh,
how do you explain this?

Oh,
come on man that's nothing look at this.

I got one, too.

Yeah, check this out.

All right, all right, let's go.
We got work to do.

I trust it's repairable.

I think we can crawl,

the flying might take a little doing.

LaStrella, Sandy, Briggs, you're with me.

I want to set "Homer".

You're trying to go somewhere.

You bring me words about strem spirits

in this ship of theirs,

but you were sent for the book.

Do not anger me with your excuses.

It is clear you must have help.

Go into the Maze

and find Katheoc of the Crogs

and bring him to me.

That much I know you can do.

Briggs, be cool, okay?

Now listen up everybody.

Try and stay in sight of the ship.

We're gonna rendezvous here in 30 minutes.

Then what?

Then we eat.

Maybe I should keep an eye on her.

Not to worry, I'll go with her.

Here, this way.

Oh, isn't this amazing?

Yes, indeed.

Secure.

Activated, Cap.

Alright, Homer's in place.

In case we want to get back.

Say the word, I'm ready.

What was that?

It came out of that cave.

Chalmers and Tesue are in there.

Come on.

Just when I was starting to think Briggs

might be seeing things, but it hadn't

made an aggressive move since we found it.

With all due respect, Captain, are you

out of your mind? First, this thing breaks

into the ship, then it knocks out Chalmers.

Actually, it was my fault.

It's bigger than any
two of us and you bring

it onboard ship.

You're out of order, Briggs.

The creature's obviously harmless.

Now stow the weapon and sit down.

You understand what he's saying?

No, but it sounds similar to a Tibetan

dialect found in the high Himalayas.

I can't believe this.

We found the abominable snowman.

You mean, like a Bigfoot?

Please, some respect.

We're standing in the presence of a

life-form believed to be extinct,
or even non-existent.

If only we could talk to it.

Try this.

A Walkman?

An AIT, aural impulse transducer.

It scans the incoming sounds for patterns

of intelligent communication and translates

them into something
maybe we can understand.

I didn't get a chance to test it before

we left so don't expect any miracles.

Who are you?

It works.

How did you get here?

Keep talking, it adjusts for pitch.

How did you get here?

We came here

through a volcano, in this ship, to

explore beneath the surface of the Earth.

Are there more like you?

I am a Fabrice,
that lives within this planet.

Where do you live, where are your people?

I live here, in the Maze.

The Maze?

I think he's referring to
the puzzle of the deep.

According to ancient mystics,

a portion of the inner world is a tangled

web of passages that constantly shift

and change direction.

Please, Mr. Chalmers, this is no time for

hocus pocus theories.

Oh, really.

But it is not by chance that

I dwell alone in the Maze.

I must tell you of my crime.

I knew it.

And we see him attack me on the ship.

What were you trying to steal?

Briggs...

Enough.

Sit down.

My people are a gentle race.

We live by two commandments.

First one is - no harm.

We cannot hurt any living thing,

but we also live at the hand of fate.

It is forbidden to

interfere with it in any way.

Even saving a life is taboo.

A girl was playing at

the bottom of a rocky slope.

The stones gave way.

I grabbed her, saving her life.

It just happened.

I saw the boulder.

I grabbed the girl.

I don't know what came over me.

It is for this,
that I was banished to the Maze.

I shame you with my presence.

No.

On the surface we consider the saving of

a life to be a sacred act. Your deed was

one of profound courage.

You are jesting.

No, it's true.

There are strangers among us now, come in a

great ship from the overworld to destroy

you all but do as I command and your people

will live. Soon I will cause this

great ship of theirs to become lost,
Katheoc,

and then you and your
warriors will find them.

Before we theorize on a future, perhaps

we should make decisions about the

immediate, such as what to do with your

friend here.

You know my vote

I say we video it, take some blood and

tissue samples, and put it back.

I think he'd make an
invaluable addition to the crew.

I agree.

We can't take on everything

we find down here, this isn't Noah's Ark.

She's right. We know nothing about this

thing, that could be a man-eater.

My people are vegetarian.

It's even worse, it's a liberal.

Would you like to join us,

become part of our team?

Oo, yes.

Now that that's settled,

what did they call you at home, big guy?

mm-hmm

What is your name?

How do others recognize you?

Ah, my sounds.

We are each given one at birth.

Mine is ------

Pinto...

Oh, Bob's good.

Bubba, Ed, Jack, Bob, anything.

How is Rocky?

George?

Chalmers, you found him, you name him.

Well, there is a name I

always wished my parents had called me.

Yeah,
with a name like Cecil I'm not surprised.

What is it Chalmers?

Daedalus... Daedalus is

the Greek god of labyrinths and mazes,

father of Icarus.

Everybody, say hello to Daedalus.

Yea, that really rolls off the

tongue, doesn't it? Daedalus, Dedal, Datal,

Dallas...Dallas!
Yeah, that's close enough for me.

Dallas,

welcome to the crew.

All right, let's run

your checks people, we're goin' mobile.

Tony, we're gonna wanna
track to clear this debris.

Kick her around,
hundred eighty, hard right.

Aye aye, Captain.

Briggs, initiate forward scanner.

Margo, set Devin to standby and

activate holograph navigation scanners.

Setting Devin to standby and HG

navigation activated.

Okay, let's truck her

out of here, LaStrella.

Tread circles on and rolling.

Devin, prepare to fire main engines

in maximum lift mode.

Firing sequence engaged
and active controls enabled.

Three seconds...activate
side thrusters at full.

Side thrusters on.

Devin?

We have liftoff, Captain.

Steady as she goes, Tony.

All right, Margo,
find us a course out of here.

Looks like there's an opening to

another cavern, bearing two two seven.

Two two seven, I got it.

Scanner systems clear,

could be a mile, maybe more.

Been a rough start, for all of us, but my

uncle had been right, there was an inner

world, and even at a crawl I was

determined to give it our best shot.

I knew Briggs was against keeping Dallas,

but for all our high-tech toys, the truth

was, we were flying blind, and if Dallas

could help us get through this maze, then

it was worth the risk, but then who or

what really did attack Briggs back there

and why?

Scanner show's us clear for that passage

high and to - wait, check that.

What the...

That's impossible.

It's sealing itself off.

And damn fast, too.-

If the sonic bore was operational

we could blast our way out.

Full reverse, we're out of here.

Reversing engines now.

Devin, you got some

way to analyze this, just feel free to

jump in anytime here.

Processing now, Captain.

Wait, Chris, kill that reverse, man, and

check your aft monitors!

Look, it's closing off!

Devin?

Hull sensors indicate the passageway

is now constricting on all sides.

Did she say we're going to be crushed?

Extend hull stabilizers, now!

Stabilizers extending, maximum reach.

Shuttle power from main
engines to stabilizers.

And cut off side thrusters.

Do it, LaStrella.

Briggs, buckle in.

Everybody brace yourselves.

Devin, give me a hull pressure readout.

Hull pressure now at
12,000 pounds and rising.

Pressure now at 18,000 and still rising.

Margo, what's our maximum.

That was the maximum.

We're not gonna make it.

Anticipate hull collapse in 30 seconds.

29...28

Devin, drop ballast and
increase internal air pressure.

Negative, Captain, circuits not responding.

It will end soon.

We're going to die?

He's saying we're going to die.

No, the way, the way of the Maze.

Path close, path open.

What the hell's he talking about?

That!

Transfer full power back to main engines

and prepare to release the stabilizers,

on my mark.

Thrusters, LaStrella.

That's where we supposed to stop.

We don't know if we can

clear that, Turner.

We can't stay here.

Mark.

Releasing stabilizers!

Now, ahead full for 30 meters,

then 90 degrees hard to port,
when I holler.

Got it.

Come on.

Turn it, LaStrella.

Hard to port, 90 degrees.

Briggs?

Nobody's expanding but
I can't tell you if we'll fit.

Devin?

Pressure now at

19,000, Captain, but if kept at full power

the engine vibrations will cause a hull

rupture in nine seconds-eight-seven-six-

Make a braking turn to starboard and cut

engines to one-third.

Turning to starboard.

Hull rupture in four seconds.

Cut the power, LaStrella.

I can't, switch is stuck on full.

Rupture in three seconds.

Devin, reverse engines, now.

But, Captain...

Just do it!

Reversing engines.

Negative, blow back failsafe

triggered full engine shut down.

Yes!

And the hull?

Vibrations falling

back within normal tolerances.

No rupture.

Way to go, way to go guys.

Devin, restart engines, power to one third.

And when Briggs says it's clear, prepare to

take the helm.

Oh, and thanks for listening.

Any time, Captain.

Now that they fear the Maze, the ship will

keep to the great Canyon, even as it

brings them closer.

Go, and silence the voice

enough to call them back, before I give

them to the Crog.

Scanner shows we got a

clear channel for as far as it can see,
Captain.

All right then, I want you all to

grab some rest while we got the chance.

I'll keep watch up here.

I was hoping without the crew around,

I could think through what had happened.

One instant this world seemed to want us

by the throat, and the next it was as

gentle and amazing as Dallas, but was it

really this world or was there something

else I just couldn't see yet?

It's beautiful, isn't.

Yes, quite.

Uh, what's your heading?

What's your hurry, enjoy the...

Mr. Turner, do I have to remind you

that at this moment we have lost all

relays with our base above.

She had a

lousy way of saying it, but I guess that

meant Margo was scared of something, too.

What, what did I do? Did I say anything?

What the...?

No.

I've lost Homer.

So have I.

We'd better go back.

And miss a

chance to maybe find out who's been

after us since we landed?

After us?

Turner, you don't think...?

I don't think

it's safe to assume our problems are

just happening at random, Doctor.

Look, just keep us on this course for now

and tell the crew break time is over.

I want everyone back up on the bridge.

Yes, the invaders draw close. I can feel

the presence of the book within their ship.

Now, that it is time for their journey to

end in the fires of the Crog!

Continue bearing on course 195 for...
No, wait!

Full stop.

Full stop!

I see it ... I see it!

Reverse forward thrusters, LaStrella.

Let's try and put down on that shelf we

just passed before this cavern

shifts anymore.

Roger, Captain, reversing

and preparing to land.

Ah, full stop. Ease her are down.

Landing sequence engaged.

Reducing main engines

to 1/8 and beginning descent at

15 meters per second.

Switching forward scanners to ground view.

Touchdown in 4 seconds -3 -2 -1

We have touchdown.

Margo, as soon as were secured I want

the sonic bore back in operation.

These walls get pushy,

I'd like to know we can push back.

The rest of you come out with me.

I want to check our antenna to Homer.

Let's hope it's only the antenna.

Sandy, LaStrella, check it out

Briggs, keep an eye out.

Briggs, be cool, alright?

If I could offer my assistance?

It's not needed.

Oh, really?

What possible help could you

be to me, Mr. Chalmers?

Well, let's see. I should

remind you I have doctorates in

electromagnetic theory, charmed quark

physics, and applied systems engineering,

along with advanced degrees in eighteen

other varied subjects.

Voila. Care to close, doctor.

Listen, professor,
I need to say something to you.

I apologize.

Whatever for?

I've always rejected

anything or anyone connected with the

supernatural and it's affected the way I

thought of you.

My dear miss Peterson,

you're simply confused. Let me explain it

this way, I believe science and magic

represent mankind's highest aspirations.

Right at first, they seemed like opposing

forces, at some point their paths converge.

All right, come on everybody, bring it in.

Let's go.

My God, look!

Hold your fire - hold your fire.

My people are familiar with these beasts.

What are they?

If I'm not mistaken, they're troglodytes.

Evolutionary transition from ape to man.

Some of the species must have

found an amiable environment below the

surface, thereby avoiding extinction.

You mean missing links?

Speaking of missing links,

where's Tony?

LaStrella.

This is the

scientific chance of a lifetime.

Sidearm.

LaStrella.

We have to gather data

on these creatures. It could prove

invaluable in our search for habitability.

LaStrella!

Look at this.

Wait wait wait wait wait.. hold it hold it

just stay here,
just stay here, just stay here

I've got the uncomfortable

feeling they've already made contact.

All right, Margo, run a geo stability scan

I'm going after him.

Devin, I need you to run a geo structural

analysis of the surrounding area.

We might have to be here for a while.

There is a disturbing
number of serious deep

level geo structural faults in the

immediate area. I do not suggest

remaining here for more than two hours.

Even that may be pushing it.

I'll let the Captain know.

Let me go with you, Cap.

No, I need you here, they need you here.

Besides, when we find LaStrella, Chalmers

here is the only one who might be able

to talk 'em into giving him back.

Devin says two hours, maximum.

Well then, if we're not back in

two hours or haven't made radio contact

you do whatever you have to to save

the Avenger.

What?

I say, Chris, is that absolutely necessary?

For the good of the many, Professor.

... Captain...

that's an order.. you clear?

Looks like we're not the first.

Not even close.

My God, Chris, look at this. This might be

their history, how they came to dwell

below the surface... through a volcano.

Uncle Jim was right.

Look, there's more.

It'd appear the trogs don't like visitors.

My God, you don't think LaStrella is...

I'll try and talk to them.

Cecil...!

I guarantee they know
how to use these things.

Then what do we do now?

I'll let you know when I think of it.

Repeat, access not authorized.

Dallas?

It's cold in here.

We have to keep it cool

to protect the computer system.

I do not mean that kind of cold,

my people are used to that.

I am talking about woman

who lives within this wall.

She has no heart.

What do you suppose that was all about?

Maybe he meant... Devin?

How long they been out?

Little over an hour.

Forget this, I'm going after 'em.

Sit down and relax, Mr. Briggs.

It's an order.

Captain, Chalmers.

Tony! You alright?

Yeah, yeah, I'm fine.

That's more than I can
say for the company.

They're offering us food,

always a good sign.

Let's sit.

Chris, do you read me? Over.

Dr. Chalmers, this is Margo. Come in,

please. Over.

Anything?

No.

They still got 20 min...minutes.

Oh God, I can't eat anymore of this crap.

Force yourself, smile.

They want to have us for dinner.

Well, why are they feeding us now?

You don't understand,
they're fattening us up.

They are having us for dinner.

What?

You have only three?

You were sent to take them all.

Silence [ ].

You talk to me of white furred demons.

I'm the demon you must fear, damn you!

No, let him go for now.

But see to it the ship is watched.

I must think.

It's been two hours.

Well?

Well what, Mr. Briggs?

We just gonna leave him out there or what?

I don't know about you, but I had a

real hard time understanding the

Captain's last order.

You know, I couldn't make it out either.

Yeah, I didn't hear a thing.

I heard him, he said "if we're not

back within two hours" we're supposed to

leave without him.

Gear up, we're going after him.

You stay here.

I think we should take him with us.

He would make an excellent guide.

I like it.

Devin,
I'm putting you on full security alert.

What are you doing?

You gear up, I gear down.

Yeah, whatever.

Security program loading now.

Now activating ship security.

Warning.

Main hatch closing and hull electrified at

500 megawatts.

What does this mean?

It means trouble.
Come on, let's go - go.

It is as I thought,
the others follow.

And the book ... their spirit keeps

guard over it within their ship

and prevents our entry.

Then quickly, bring Katheoc back

so I can warn him of their approach.

Eh, no way. Nothing there.

So where are they?

They - they have gone through

that passageway, beyond.

What damn passageway?

The one beneath the boulder.

Come on.

You don't feel it?

The bat, it's still warm.

It's a dead end.

No, look further.

Yeah, lights out.

They're ugly, but they ain't stupid.

They got sentries all over the place.

We gotta find a way over that ridge.

Heads up.

Okay, go.

They're gonna burn them alive.

Oh no.

Oh, there's one more thing.

They've got these two big stone heads.

They look just like Dallas.

Crogs are deathly afraid of my people.

They think we are demons.

How come it's like pulling teeth to get

anything out of you?

No..no.

Miller, help me rig a harness
and tackle for the big guy.

You got it.

Hmm

You worthless slime.

You were told to bring him, not kill him.

He's useless to me now.

Go,
tell me if the Crog have taken the others.

Quickly!

For three millennia,

I have been left to suffer in this hell,

but freedom reaches for me now.

Why are you doing this?

You're gonna help us

get our friends out of there.

Wha?

Strap you in a cradle,

hang you on a roller,

sail you across the rope.

oh oh

Fly over the troglodytes,

scare the hell out of them,

they run for cover,

we duck in and grab the

Captain and the others.

I'll get sick.

Good, go ahead and puke.

That'll scare 'em even more.

Don't you see, I - I can't.

You either do it on a rope

or you do it free fall.

It's all the same to me.

... won't allow any threats.

I've seen guys like him,

they just need to be convinced.

You've seen guys like him?

I don't think so, Briggs.

I thought we were your friends.

My first.

Then why won't you help us?

We believe that a friend is more

important than any law.

You get straight over the village,

drop these, they detonate on impact.

No, no harm.

They won't hurt anyone,

Dallas, they just fireworks.

Yeah,
you'll be the bright spot of their day.

You ready?

No!

Good.

Give 'em hell, big guy.

I'll do the Captain.

Get Chalmers.

Escaped!

I don't care how, damn you.

But they run for their ship, yes?

Okay, big guy,

Let's find some cover. Come on.

Okay, big guy, do your thing.

That's no way to treat a demon.

Wait.

They cannot be allowed to leave.

I have no choice, now.

Prepare yourself to insure my return.

I can venture from here but no more than a

handful of minutes, but I must have their

piece of the book!

Damn, gun's jammed.

It's the gut for us

Yeah!!

Yeah!!

Come on, Dallas,

let's get out of here, man.

Go! Let's go. Let's go.

It is time.

Go now, all of you,

and be there when I call.

LaStrella, Devin, initiate

emergency takeoff protocol.

Let's get this thing in the air.

Roger, side thrusters going to full.

Elift protocol engaged.

Main engines firing in 8 seconds.

Margo, Briggs?

Activating HG navigation now, Captain.

Scanners up and sweeping.

We have ignition on all main engines.

Prepare for liftoff in ten seconds.

Nine. Eight

Time to strap yourselves in, people.

Four. Three. Two. We have liftoff, Captain.

Assume stable hover at 18 meters.

Prepare for level flight.

Approaching stable hover, 18-meters.

Clear to take it out that hole

you blew to get us out, Captain.

Come ahead one quarter

and turn us to port, 12 degrees.

Engines ahead at 2.53, Captain.

And bearing 169 just below

that cliff ahead, LaStrella.

Oh!

Danger! Full hull anomaly.

Primary bridge, overloading.

Circuit relay failure imminent.

Initiating bi-control sequence.

Give me your piece of the book!

Flight control, reaching critical.

Somebody want to tell me who,

or what the hell that just was.

Well, I can't swear to it,

but I think that's who's been

hounding us since we got here.

I think this is why.

For this?

But, what is it?

That piece is only a small

part the book of knowledge.

Doesn't look like book.

More like a puzzle, really.

It's a cosmic force that makes the

Holy Grail pale into insignificance.

Just before the demise of Atlantis,

the high priests of the city used

a craft to descend into a volcano.

Sound familiar? Mythology states that the

priests then built deep within the Earth

the legendary library of Atlantis.

The library?

Probably destroyed. What we saw

were only a few pieces of the puzzle.

It's a spiritual circuit board of sorts,

contains a mystical energy that could

enlighten mankind.

However,
if it were to fall into the wrong hands,

it would be a source of evil power,

it could enslave the human race forever.

He wasn't lying.

Who?

Wentworth.

He knew all about this... puzzle. I was

supposed to let him know if we found it.

Looks like your billionaire has a hidden

agenda, world dominion, if you will.

How many of these pieces are there?

No way of knowing till

they're all assembled.

It's based on a technology

that doesn't yet exist,

or rather used to,

it was lost with Atlantis.

It's a crossing point, the bridge from this

world, it's finite knowledge, to the next

one, to the infinite.

So, it must store...

If I'm not mistaken,

the combination to the Maze.

Without it, we may never get out of here.

I know this journey has not been a

smooth one, there's not one of us who

hasn't had second thoughts, fears about

what may lay ahead,

but down here, we and only we,

control our destiny.

Our strength is in us as one, and as one,

we will survive.

Let's do it.

[ ] Captain.

Devin, status and helm

control, if you please.

Maintaining level flight at 50 meters.

Forward scanners read all clear

and the helm is yours now, Captain.

Full ahead, LaStrella.

Forward, ever forward.

I guess it wasn't until

then I realized there exists a strange

and unknown place like this in all of us.

For me, it was becoming captain, but I'd

looked into that darkness now and seen

more than I ever thought possible, and a

journey was just beginning.