PSI Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal (1996–2000): Season 3, Episode 3 - Heartland - full transcript
HARD TO BELIVE THIS WAS FERTILE SOIL.
TILL ABOUT A WEEK AGO.
NOW OVER 600 ACRES WERE BON
DRY PRACTICALY OVER NIGHT.
BUT ONLY IN POCKETS LIKE THIS. ITS
THE DAMNEST THING I'VE EVER SEEN.
IT'S NOT EASY
BEING GREEN.
WHEN DID IT RAIN LAST?
WE HAD A DOWNPOUR 2 DAYS AGO;
THE LAND WON'T HOLD THE WATER.
I'VE RUN
EVERY TEST I CAN.
I JUST
DON'T KNOW.
THIS IS LINDSAY DONNER,
OUR SENIOR DATA ANALYST.
OH, HI.
JOHN VALENTINE,
BUREAUCRACY OF AGRICULTURE.
WE SPOKE
ON THE PHONE.
OF COURSE, IT'S NICE
TO PUT A FACE TO THE VOICE.
AH, WE'VE GOT
OUR NEXT DEAD ZONE
RIGHT OVER THIS WAY.
YOU GO AHEAD,
I'LL TAKE A LOOK
AROUND HERE.
MATT.
MATT, I FOUND A BODY;
IN THE TREES, EAST OF YOU.
THE FIRE--
THE FIRE--
ANTON, WE NEED MEDICAL HELP
RIGHT AWAY.
*
ELEOA, WE7LA3AoS
NATIVE CEREMONIAL GROUNDS
ARE RICH IN HISTORY
AND MYSTERY.
IN CASE FILE 898-777,
THE OFFICE OF SCIENTIFIC
INVESTIGATION AND RESEARCH
UNCOVERED A DEEP AND
DEADLY SECRET ON SACRED LAND.
A SECRET WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN
BETTER LEFT BURIED.
I'M STILL THIRSTY,
DOC.
IN A MINUTE.
YOUR FLUID LEVELS
ARE WAY BELOW NORMAL.
YOU'RE LUCKY
TO BE ALIVE.
THAT'S YOUR OPINION,
JUST GET ME THE HELL OUTTA HERE.
SO WHAT WERE YOU
DOING THERE?
NONE OF YOUR DAMN BUSINESS,
THAT'S WHAT.
MR. MANSFIELD, PLEASE--
TRY
AND TAKE IT EASY,
ALRIGHT?
NOW LOOK,
YOU NEED A SALINE DRIP.
WITH YOUR PERMISSION I'D LIKE
TO CONSULT YOUR FAMILY DOCTOR.
MY OLD MAN
USED TO SAY
I WAS GOOD FOR NOTHIN'
BUT CANNON FODDER.
I GUESS THAT'S WHY
I JOINED THE SERVICE.
DO MY BIT.
PLAY MY PART.
WE'RE ALL EXPENDABLE,
AREN'T WE?
I MEAN,
THEY DON'T CARE.
STILL IN THE SERVICE,
JOE?
YEAH,
I'M AN AIRCRAFT MECHANIC
UP AT THE BASE.
INTERESTING WORK.
DO YOU REMEMBER
HOW YOU CAME TO BE THERE?
THE FIRE--
OUTTA NOWHERE.
WHAT FIRE?
LIKE HELL
OPENED UP.
I GOTTA
GET THE HELL OUTTA HERE.
THAT WILL
HAVE TO WAIT.
I'LL BE BACK
IN JUST A MINUTE.
HE GIVE ANYTHING UP?
HE'S
BORDERLINE DELUSIONAL,
COULD BE RELATED
TO THE DEHYDRATION.
I REALLY THINK
HE SHOULD BE IN HOSPITAL.
LET'S MAKE IT HAPPEN.
FIRST THE LAND,
NOW THE PEOPLE.
EVERYTHING'S DRYING UP
BUT THE QUESTIONS.
ANTON,
HOW 'BOUT YOU?
ARE YOU DOIN' OKAY?
MATT--
YOU'VE EXPERIENCED
SOMETHING INCREDIBLE.
WE ALMOST LOST YOU.
I'M JUST CONCERNED,
THAT'S ALL.
IF I WASN'T UP FOR THIS JOB,
I WOULDN'T BE HERE.
HEY, THERE.
I UNDERSTAND YOU PEOPLE ARE
LOOKING AFTER JOE MANSFIELD.
YEAH.
OUR DOCTOR'S CHECKIN' HIM OUT;
MATT PRAEGER.
CHIEF PHIL PRATT.
SO, HOW'S MY BOY?
HE'S IN PRETTY ROUGH SHAPE,
I'M AFRAID.
HE CAN'T BE THAT BAD OFF;
I JUST SAW HIM THE OTHER DAY.
HE LOOK SICK THEN?
NO,
JOE'S AS TOUGH AS NAILS.
ANY IDEA WHAT HE WAS DOING
IN THE AREA?
NAW,
CAN'T HELP YOU THERE.
I UNDERSTAND
THAT YOU PEOPLE
ARE GONNA HELP US OUT
WITH THIS DROUGHT HERE.
YEAH.
THAT'S GOOD.
THAT GOVERNMENT MAN,
VALENTINE,
HE'S NEXT TO USELESS.
WELL, WE'LL GIVE IT
OUR BEST SHOT, CHIEF.
I'D APPRECIATE IT
IF YOU'D KEEP ME INFORMED.
ABSOLUTELY, NOTHING I HATE MORE
THAN BEING KEPT IN THE DARK.
MR. MANSFIELD--
WHERE'D HE GO.
HE WAS JUST HERE.
YOU SAID HE NEEDED A HOSPITAL;
HOW'D HE GET UP AND WALK OUT?
I DON'T KNOW.
I'LL GET
RIGHT ON IT.
PETE,
YOU ALRIGHT?
YEAH.
LET ME
HAVE A LOOK AT YOU.
HOLD STILL.
ANTON,
I'M FINE.
I WAS DOING
AN ATMOSPHERIC SCAN.
I--
I READ HYDROGEN.
IT MUST HAVE
POCKETED UNDERGROUND
BEFORE
IT WAS IGNITED.
HYDROGEN--
IS THAT POSSIBLE?
I NEVER
SEEN IT BEFORE.
METHANE, HELIUM,
YEAH.
HYDROGEN,
NEVER.
YOU'LL LIVE.
NEXT TIME YOU BLOW YOURSELF UP
DON'T COME CRYING TO ME.
THAT'S A BIG HOLE.
ALMOST LIKE
A LAND MINE.
SOME SERIOUS FORCE.
YEAH, ENOUGH TO DISPERSE
ABOUT 1000 CUBIC FEET
OF DIRT.
SO WHAT
SET IT OFF?
I CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH FIELD
STUDY REPORTS FOR COMPARISON.
THAT'D BE GREAT.
ANYTHING YOU CAN TELL ME
ABOUT THE AREA'S HISTORY?
ABOUT 500 ACRES
OF LAND
WERE CEDED TO THE CREE NATION
BACK IN THE 1960's.
A LAND CLAIMS
SETTLEMENT?
YUP.
THEN AWHILE BACK THE AIR FORCE
UNEARTHED SOME REMAINS
WHILE THEY WERE DIGGING
FOR A NEW RUNWAY.
A NATIVE
BURIAL GROUND?
YEAH, YOU'RE STANDING
IN THE MIDDLE OF IT.
THE BASE IS ABOUT
A MILE NORTH OF HERE, RIGHT?
YEAH, THEY PULLED OUT LAST YEAR,
BUDGET CUTS.
THE BUILDINGS ARE SHUTTERED UP,
THE JETS AND THE JOBS ARE GONE.
JOE MANSFIELD SAID
HE REPAIRED PLANES AT THE BASE.
NO,
NOT FOR SOME TIME.
LAST I HEARD HE WAS DOING
ODD JOBS FOR HIS SISTER MARTHA
AROUND HER STORE.
HI,
CAN I HELP YOU?
YOU MUST BE MARTHA;
I'M LOOKING FOR JOE.
OH, ARE YOU ONE OF THE FOLKS
WHO PATCHED HIM UP?
YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.
CHIEF PRATT DROPPED HIM OFF HERE
A LITTLE WHILE AGO,
BUT I SENT HIM
TO DR. LANDS.
HE DIDN'T
LOOK SO GOOD.
DOES JOE WORK HERE?
WHEN HE FEELS LIKE IT.
MUST BE NICE; WISH MY BOSS
WAS THAT UNDERSTANDING.
AFTERNOON, ROY.
WATER.
IT'S AT THE BACK,
IN THE COOLER.
WELL, THANKS
FOR YOUR HELP.
SURE.
*
WANT SOMETHING, LADY?
AH, I WAS--
I'M LOOKING FOR JOE MANSFIELD.
HE AIN'T UNDER THERE.
NO.
RIGHT.
OKAY.
THANKS.
NO HOSPITALS!
JUST KEEP YOUR HANDS
OFF OF ME.
DAMN IT JOE,
I CAN'T HELP YOU.
MR. MANSFIELD?
I NEED TO TALK
WITH YOU.
WANNA KNOW ABOUT
THE FIRE?
WELL,
IT BURNED ME
AND IT'S STILL
BURNING ME.
WHAT?
KEEP AWAY
FROM ME.
HEY!
YOU TOO,
LANDS!
ALL OF YOU!
YOU OKAY?
YEAH, YEAH,
I'M OKAY.
HERE'S
ANOTHER ONE.
WHAT IS THAT,
20 SO FAR?
MAYBE NOT.
NO WAY THIS ONE
WAS CAUSED BY A HYDROGEN BURST.
SEE THE SHARP EDGES,
THE AMOUNT OF DIRT PILED UP?
SOMEBODY USED A CABLE OR A CHAIN
TO PULL SOMETHING OUT OF THERE.
YOU GENTLEMAN
ARE TRESPASSING.
THIS IS
PRIVATE LAND.
ACTUALLY THIS LAND
WAS GRANTED
BACK TO THE CREE
BY THE GOVERNMENT.
WE'RE GATHERING INFORMATION
BY INVITATION.
AND NOW YOU'VE BEEN INVITED
TO LEAVE
BY ME.
WOW.
THESE HOLES
ARE A PUBLIC NUISANCE.
WE'RE HERE
TO FILL THEM IN.
I'D HATE TO SEE
ANYBODY GET HURT.
CHIEF OF POLICE
AND GROUNDS KEEPING.
WHEN DO YOU
HAVE TIME
TO CATCH STRAY DOGS
AND PAINT THE TOWN HALL?
EXCUSE ME.
THANK YOU.
THOSE'LL
STUNT YOUR GROWTH.
WHAT
DO YOU THINK?
I THINK PRATT'S DIGGING UP
ARTIFACTS TO SELL TO COLLECTORS.
YEAH, IT DOESN'T REALLY CONNECT
TO EXPLOSIONS, THOUGH.
YOU GET A CHANCE
TO GO OVER THOSE FIELD REPORTS
VALENTINE
SENT OVER?
YEAH, HIS SCIENCE IS GOOD.
HIS EQUIPMENT'S
FROM THE DARK AGES, THOUGH.
YOU COMIN' IN?
I THINK I'LL TAKE IN
THE FIREWORKS FIRST.
WOW.
MY GOD.
JOE?
IT CAN'T BE.
NOW YOU GOT SOMETHING TO BURY
IN ONE OF YOUR HOLES.
HE CAME AT ME
THIS AFTERNOON.
HE DIDN'T LOOK
THIS BAD THEN.
MARTHA SAID HE DIDN'T SHOW UP
AFTER THE DOCTOR'S.
I THOUGHT HE MIGHT
COME BACK OUT THIS WAY.
WHY'S THAT?
HE WAS OFF HIS HEAD.
I SAW A FLASH OF STEEL
IN HIS HAND.
I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS HIM;
MY GOD, HE WAS MY FRIEND.
BUT YOU SHOT HIM
ANYWAY.
HE CAME AT HER WITH A KNIFE; YOU
THINK I WANTED THIS TO HAPPEN?
AN AUTOPSY'LL GIVE US
A CLEARER PICTURE.
I'LL SEE TO IT.
THE NEAREST MORGUE'S
DOWN AT BRANDON.
NO, THE AUTOPSY'LL TAKE PLACE
AT DR. LANDS' CLINIC
UNDER
OUR SUPERVISION.
LEMME GUESS,
AS PER
YOUR FEDERAL INVITE.
HE COULD USE
SOME MOISTURIZER.
AS WE SAW
WITH THE LUNGS,
THE BRAIN CASE
IS DEVOID OF FLUID.
LIKE THE INSIDE
OF A ROTTEN WALNUT.
THE SPINAL CORD SHOWED SIMILAR
SIGNS OF DRAMATIC DEHYDRATION,
ALTHOUGH
NOT AS SEVERE.
THERE IS SOME KIND
OF RESIDUE HERE, THOUGH.
LET ME GET THAT.
I THINK WE SHOULD TAKE A TISSUE
SAMPLE FROM THIS AREA AS WELL.
WHATEVER ABSORBED THE FLUID
FROM THIS BODY
LEFT A VERY STRANGE
SIGNATURE.
HIS SOFT TISSUE SEEMS TO SUFFER
MORE SEVERE DEHYDRATION
THAN THE REST.
LET'S HARVEST
THE REMAINS
AND RUN A FULL
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS.
WASN'T THERE LIQUID
IN THIS BEFORE?
IT'S
RAPID DEHYDRATION.
WHAT COULD DO THAT?
WHAT THE HELL
IS TAKING SO LONG?
I HAVE OTHER PATIENTS,
YOU KNOW, LIVE ONES.
WHERE WERE YOU
LAST NIGHT?
YOU WERE SEEN
ON THE RIDGE.
WELL, THAT'S CREE LAND; I DON'T
NEED ANYBODY'S PERMISSION.
A MAN WAS SHOT--
YOU'RE A DOCTOR.
YOU JUST
WALKED AWAY.
YOUR DOCTOR
WAS THERE.
THERE WAS NOTHIN'
I COULD DO FOR MANSFIELD.
MAYBE IT WASN'T
WORTH THE EFFORT.
LOOK.
JOE MANSFIELD WAS A MEMBER
OF THE LOCAL GUN CLUB
ALONG WITH PRATT AND OTHER ANGRY
DISENFRANCHISED WHITE MALES.
YEAH,
I'VE GOT THE T-SHIRT.
MIND YOU, THAT'D EXPLAIN
SOME OF THE BUMPER STICKERS
I'VE SEEN AROUND TOWN--
"KEEP THE TRUE NORTH FREE".
WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENED
TO JOE MANSFIELD,
MR. PRAEGER?
SOME KIND
OF CHEMICAL POISONING.
CHEMICALS
COME IN MANY FORMS.
MEN HAVE BEEN
POISONING THE LAND
EVER SINCE THEY WALKED
ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH.
MAYBE THE LAND'S
JUST GETTING REVENGE.
WHERE'D YOU GET
ALL THIS STUFF?
CURBSIDE SURPLUS.
WHEN THEY CLOSED THE BASE, THEY
SHUT OUT THE TOWN'S HISTORY.
I KEPT
WHATEVER I COULD.
ARE YOU
THE LOCAL ARCHIVIST?
I GUESS
YOU COULD SAY THAT.
SPEAKING OF WHICH--
ONE REPATRIATION
AGREEMENT.
WHICH GIVES THE CREE NATION
ALL THE RIGHTS TO THE LAND.
EXCEPT
EXCAVATION ISN'T PERMITTED.
JUST AS WELL,
THE SITE'S TOXIC.
FROM WHAT?
THE ARMY DELIVERED BLANKETS TO
STARVING NATIVES IN THE 1800's.
A NICE GESTURE,
EXCEPT,
THE MATERIAL
WAS LACED WITH SMALL POX.
1000's DIED.
THAT WAS OVER
100 YEARS AGO.
I GUESS COVERING YOUR BUTT
HAS NO STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS.
WHAT DO YOU KNOW
ABOUT DR. LANDS?
NOT MUCH.
ANY TIME I NEEDED PERMISSION
TO RUN SOIL TESTS
IN THE BURIAL GROUNDS,
HE'D BE THERE WITH ME.
WHAT ABOUT PRATT?
LET'S JUST SAY, I'M CAREFUL
NOT TO GET ANY PARKING TICKETS.
ON THAT NOTE,
I'LL GO BRING THE TRUCK AROUND.
I HAVEN'T SEEN THIS
IN AWHILE.
THAT'S BIOCHEMISTRY'S
"CATCHER IN THE RYE".
I KNOW;
MY DAD WROTE IT.
YOU'RE WILLIAM DONNER'S
DAUGHTER?
YEAH.
REALLY; THAT TEXT
GOT ME THROUGH GRAD SCHOOL.
THAT, AND
A LOT OF VERY STRONG COFFEE.
HOW DID A BIOCHEMIST END UP
IN A SMALL PLACE LIKE THIS?
I ANSWERED THE AD.
THANK YOU
FOR THIS.
YOU'RE WELCOME.
GOOD THING
WE GOT ALL DAY.
WHAT THE HELL
IS GOING ON?
REDNECKS GOING POSTAL
AND DRYING UP LIKE BEEF JERKY.
WERE WE--
NEVER MIND.
ANY NEWS
FROM THE BIOPSIES?
I'VE RULED OUT
EVERY POSSIBLE DISEASE.
I MAY BE
GOING OUT ON A LIMB HERE,
BUT WHAT IF THIS
IS SPIRITUAL RETRIBUTION?
THERE'S NO
PHYSICAL EVIDENCE.
THE FIRE IN THE SKY,
THE DROUGHT,
BOTH CONFORM
TO CREE MYTHOLOGY.
I KNOW THAT'S--
A CULTURAL REALITY.
BUT WE NEED
HARD EVIDENCE.
RESTLESS SPIRITS DIDN'T CREATE
HYDROGEN POCKETS IN THE GROUND.
NOT ON A SCIENTIFIC BASIS,
BUT ACCORDING TO THE CREE,
WHEN YOU DISTURB
THE ORDER OF THE UNIVERSE,
YOU RISK REPRISAL.
SICKNESS, INJURY, DEATH.
MY OWN RECENT EXPERIENCE
HAS TAUGHT ME THAT MUCH.
YOU SOUND
LIKE DR. LANDS.
I KNOW.
CASE MANAGER'S LOG.
PRAGER REPORTING.
IN ORDER TO BETTER UNDERSTAND
THE HISTORY OF THE CREE,
I'M SURVEYING THE AREA.
PRAEGER OUT.
*
CAREFUL WITH THAT THING,
ESPECIALLY IF IT'S LOADED.
ACCIDENTS HAPPEN
ALL THE TIME.
I GUESS
PRATT WOULDN'T MIND.
ONE SPORTSMAN
TO ANOTHER AND ALL.
PRATT'S
NO FRIEND OF MINE.
IT'S NOT LIKE I SLOW DANCE
WITH HIM EITHER.
GET DOWN.
WHAT'S WITH
THE CAMERA?
I'M RECORDING
GUN CLUB MANOEUVERS
TO SUBMIT
TO THE AUTHORITIES
ON THE ADVISE
OF MY LAWYER.
YOU THOUGHT
I CAUSED THE DROUGHT, THE FIRES?
HOW DO I KNOW
YOU'RE NOT?
INJUN CURSE,
BAD MEDICINE?
IS THAT IT?
YOU'VE SEEN
TOO MANY MOVIES.
NEXT SHOVEL TO SPARK OFF A ROCK
OR SOMEBODY LIGHTS A SMOKE--
KABLOOEY.
FIRE IN THE SKY.
IT CAN EVEN
SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUST.
YOU'RE RIGHT TO STOP THEM
DIGGING UP YOUR ANCESTORS.
MR. PRAEGER,
THAT'S NOT A BURIAL GROUND.
I THOUGHT THE AIR FORCE
WAS TURNING UP OLD GRAVES.
SO THEY SAY,
BUT THEY'RE NOT OURS.
NOT ACCORDING TO
OUR ORAL HISTORY.
WHY WOULD THE GOVERNMENT
TURN THE LAND OVER TO YOU?
BEATS ME;
WE TOOK IT ANYWAY.
THEY'VE TAKEN
SO MUCH FROM US.
WE JUST COULDN'T
SAY NO.
SO WHAT THE HELL
IS BURIED OUT THERE?
WE'RE SEEING A CHEMICAL REACTION
AT THE SOUTH END OF THE LAND.
NOW, THIS IS ONE OF PRATT'S
MANMADE HOLES.
NOTICE THAT
THE VEGETATION AROUND IT
IS COMPLETELY
DRIED OUT.
THIS IS 500 METRES
AWAY FROM THE SAME HOLE.
GROUND COVER IS DRYING OUT BUT
IT'S NOT COMPLETELY DEHYDRATED.
SO, SOMETHING
LEACHED FROM IT?
SOME
VIRULENT CHEMICAL.
AND JOE MANSFIELD
CAME IN CONTACT
WITH IT.
IT MATCHES THE SAMPLE
FROM HIS SPINAL FLUID.
CAN IT CAUSE
VIOLENT BEHAVIOR?
ONCE IT'S IN HIS SYSTEM, THERE'S
NO CONTROLLING HIS REACTIONS.
THERE MAY BE OTHER VICTIMS
ON THE LOOSE OUT THERE.
WHAT DOES PRATT WANT WITH IT;
WHAT'S IT DOIN' THERE?
SOMEONE
BURIED IT THERE.
SEE, WHAT WE HAVE
IS A SMALL AQUIFER DIRECTLY
BENEATH THE DROUGHT LAND.
THE CHEMICAL IS LEACHING DOWN
TO THE WATER TABLE.
THE WATER SEPARATES
AND THE HYDROGEN
HITS THE GROUND
RUNNING.
THE GOVERNMENT REPATRIATES
THE LAND TO THE CREE
AFTER THEY BURY
THEIR CHEMICALS THERE-- NICE.
THE LAND IS SACRED, SO THAT'S
THEIR CHECK AGAINST EXCAVATION.
NICE PIT
FOR A BAR-B.
WHERE'S
THE SHRIMP?
AH--
BACK IN SCHOOL,
PRAEGER,
DID YOUR TEACHERS
EVER CALL YOU A SLOW LEARNER?
NO, I WAS THE KID
IN THE BACK OF THE CLASS
WHO TOOK HIS TIME TO COME UP
WITH THE RIGHT ANSWERS.
YOUR FRIEND,
JOE MANSFIELD LEARNED
HIS LESSONS THE HARD WAY.
DID HE KNOW
WHAT POISONS
YOU HAD HIM
DIGGING UP?
HEY, CARRY ON,
CHAPS.
HE DOESN'T KNOW
WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT.
CARE TO STAKE YOUR LIFE
ON THAT?
LET'S GET ONTO
ELSINGER'S CONTACTS AT DEFENSE.
SEE IF ANYONE CAN DECLASSIFY
WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH.
MAYBE THEY GOT AN ANTIDOTE
STASHED SOMEWHERE.
HELP,
HELP ME.
HE'S LOST 15 PERCENT
OF HIS TOTAL BODY MASS
IN THE LAST
1/2 HOUR.
THE MEDEVAC's
ON THE WAY.
WE SHOULD BE IN A HOSPITAL
WITHIN THE HOUR.
SOMEONE CAN DO A LOT OF DAMAGE
WITH THAT CHEMICAL.
IF THERE'S ANY MORE, WE GOTTA
FIND THEM BEFORE THEY DO.
I'LL START
ANOTHER SURVEY.
YOU CHECK OUT
VALENTINE.
SEE IF HE'S INVOLVED WITH
PRATT'S LITTLE SEWING CIRCLE.
HE CALLED US IN
ON THIS.
HE'S ALSO A BIOCHEMIST
WHO COLLECTS MILITARY LEFTOVERS.
THAT DOESN'T
MAKE HIM GUILTY.
NO, BUT IT DOESN'T
MAKE HIM INNOCENT.
LINDSAY, WHAT IF HE CALLED US IN
TO FIND THAT WEAPON FOR HIM?
I'LL TAKE CARE OF IT.
YOU CAN CANCEL
THE MEDEVAC.
HELLO.
JOHN?
LOOKING
FOR ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR.
I'M SORRY,
I KNOCKED BUT--
IT'S OKAY.
YOU SEE ANYTHING IN THE FRIDGE
YOU LIKE?
I'M NOT HERE
FOR A SOCIAL VISIT, JOHN.
OH, OKAY.
YOU DID SAY
THAT YOU KEEP YOUR DISTANCE
FROM PRATT
AND HIS GUN CLUB, RIGHT?
YEAH, I DO.
WHY?
BECAUSE SOMEHOW
THEY'VE DISCOVERED
THERE'S A CACHE OF CHEMICAL
WEAPONS BURIED ON THE CREE LAND.
AND THAT'S
WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR?
RIGHT.
IS THERE ANYTHING
I CAN DO TO HELP?
YOU THINK
I'M INVOLVED WITH THEM?
ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH
THE DEDICATION IN THIS BOOK?
YEAH,
IT'S DEDICATED TO YOU.
MY FATHER AND I
WERE REAL CLOSE.
THEN ONE NIGHT I FOUND SOME
FILES HE FORGOT AT THE HOUSE.
HE WAS TRYING
TO FREEZE-DRY CHOLERA.
CHOLERA?
IT WAS
A CLASSIFIED
MILITARY COMMISSION.
I TOLD A FRIEND
IN CONFIDENCE.
ONLY THEY DIDN'T KEEP IT
TO THEMSELVES.
WITHIN A WEEK
HE WAS A PARIAH.
HE LOST HIS JOB,
HIS TENURE,
HIS SELF RESECT.
IT DESTROYED HIM.
I SHOULDN'T
HAVE TOLD ANYONE.
BUT WHAT IF
HIS RESEARCH HAD CONTINUED?
YOU WOULD HAVE
DONE SOMETHING EVENTUALLY.
I DON'T KNOW;
I GUESS I NEVER WILL.
LINDSAY,
I'M NOT WORKING
WITH PRATT.
TRUST ME.
LET ME
GET THIS STRAIGHT.
YOU'RE VOUCHING FOR VALENTINE
BASED ON A CONVERSATION?
I RAN THE STANDARD BACKGROUND
CHECK ON HIM BEFORE WE ARRIVED.
HE COULD BE
A TERRORIST.
WHAT ARE YOU
SAYING?
I WANT TO KNOW HIS POLITICAL
AFFILIATIONS, SCHOOL TIES,
THE TOOTHPASTE
HE USES.
HE'S CLEAN,
I KNOW IT.
DID YOU TELL HIM
ANYTHING WE SHOULD DISCUSS?
NO,
NOTHING ABOUT THE CASE.
LOOK,
I TRUST HIM.
YEAH,
OBVIOUSLY.
I'M NOT SURE
THAT'S GOOD ENOUGH.
MATT.
IT'S PETER.
ALRIGHT, LOCK IT OFF THERE;
TAKE IT EASY.
WHAT'S UP?
LOOK WHAT WE FOUND.
THERE'S 9 MORE OF THEM
WITHIN EASY WALKING DISTANCE.
CAREFUL,
MATT.
THAT CONTAINS
SOME TYPE OF NERVE GAS.
IS IT ACTIVE?
YES.
FORTUNATELY, THE EPOXY CELL
IS AIR TIGHT.
BUT
WATCH THIS.
THE DISH AT THE BOTTOM
CONTAINS THE CHEMICAL SOLUTION
THAT'S BEEN LEACHING
INTO THE SOIL.
IT'S ESSENTIALLY
AN ACID.
IT'S DEADLY ENOUGH
ON ITS OWN.
THAT WOULD BE CONTAINED
IN THE MALE PART OF THE WEAPON.
THE RED CELLS ARE CONTAINED
IN THE FEMALE PART
OF THE WEAPON.
THE ACID COMES IN CONTACT
WITH THE RED CELL--
RELEASING
THE NERVE GAS.
YES.
IT INSTANTLY ATTACKS
THE MUCUS MEMBRANES.
BREATHE THAT,
AND YOU DROWN
IN YOUR OWN BLOOD.
IT'S UNPLEASANT.
THE MILITARY MUST HAVE BURIED
THE PARTS SEPARATELY
TO PREVENT
ACCIDENTAL RELEASE OF THE GAS.
YOU'VE SEEN THIS
BEFORE.
IN KURDISTAN,
WHEN I SERVED WITH
THE MEDICINS SANS FRONTIERES.
CHEMICAL WEAPONS ARE NOT
JUST MEANT TO KILL PEOPLE.
THEY FILL HOSPITALS,
DRAIN RESOURCES,
CRUSH MORALE.
EXCUSE ME.
MAYBE WE DID
RUSH HIM BACK TO WORK TOO EARLY.
PETE, CAN YOU SEE
HOW HE'S DOIN'?
YEAH.
THANKS.
WELL, IT'S A NEAT BIT
OF ENGINEERING.
AN ALTIMETER TO ENSURE
THE NERVE GAS IS RELEASED
AT THE OPTIMUM RANGE
ABOVE A CITY.
THIS IS WHAT I SAW
ON THE BACK OF THAT TRUCK.
WE NEED A BIOCHEMIST TO FIND
A WAY TO NEUTRALIZE THIS STUFF.
WHAT ABOUT
VALENTINE?
NO, THIS IS FOR OUR EYES ONLY;
I WANT TOTAL CONTAINMENT.
WE HAVE
NO OPTIONS.
LET ME TALK
TO HIM.
NONE OF OUR GUYS
CAN GET HERE UNTIL MORNING.
EITHER YOU TRUST ME ALL THE WAY
OR NOT AT ALL.
I CAN'T DO MY JOB IF YOU
QUESTION EVERY MOVE I MAKE.
ALRIGHT.
GET OUT OF
THE CAR.
COME ON,
LET'S MOVE.
DO AS YOU'RE TOLD
AND YOU WON'T GET HURT.
LET'S GO,
STEP ON IT.
YEAH,
LINDSAY.
PRAEGER,
I FOUND SOMETHING OF YOURS.
I WANT
THE REST OF THE CELLS.
PRATT?
YOU WANNA SEE
MISS DONNER AGAIN,
DO EXACTLY
AS I SAY.
STAY TUNED,
I'LL BE IN TOUCH.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO GAIN
FROM ALL THIS?
FAIR REPRESENTATION.
BEFORE WE'RE DONE,
WE'LL SEE THIS GOVERNMENT'S
CORRUPT POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS
BROUGHT TO THEIR KNEES.
AND IF PRAEGER
REALLY WANTS TO PLAY GAMES,
I'LL CALL
THE MEDIA.
AFTER THEY BROADCAST
OUR MESSAGE,
WE'LL RELEASE ENOUGH NERVE GAS
INTO THE AIR TO KILL 100's,
MAYBE 1000's, DEPENDING ON
WHICH WAY THE WIND IS BLOWING.
YOU'D DO IT,
WOULDN'T YOU?
YOU'RE THAT CRAZY.
HISTORY SORTS OUT THE GIANTS
FROM THE MADMEN.
I HOPE
YOU'RE PREPARED TO DIE
FOR THIS.
WE'LL DO
WHATEVER'S NECESSARY.
PRATT.
TALK TO ME,
I KNOW YOU CAN HEAR ME YOU F--
HE WANTS US
TO LOSE OUR TEMPER, MATT.
DON'T GIVE HIM
THE ADVANTAGE.
I NEVER SHOULD HAVE LET LINDSAY
OUT OF THE LAB WITH THAT STUFF.
WHAT ABOUT
THE POLICE?
HALF THE LOCAL COPS
ARE PROBABLY IN THERE WITH THEM.
THE S.W.A.T. TEAM'S
AN HOUR AWAY.
WHAT ABOUT
AN ANTIDOTE?
I PREPARED EMERGENCY DOSES
OF ATROPINE, IT MIGHT WORK.
PRAEGER?
ALRIGHT,
PRATT.
A TRUCK WILL BE ARRIVING AT
YOUR LAB IN THE NEXT 5 MINUTES.
HAVE ONE OF YOUR MEN
ESCORT THE CELLS BACK HERE.
YOU HAVE 15 MINUTES.
THAT'S NOT
ENOUGH TIME.
DON'T MAKE ME
REPEAT MYSELF.
CALL PETE
ON A SECURE LINE.
TELL HIM TO COOPERATE,
BUT TO STALL AS LONG AS HE CAN.
PRAEGER?
YOU STILL LISTENING?
PRATT, NO!
THAT WAS
YOUR LAST WARNING.
CHIEF, YOU THERE,
COME IN.
YEAH?
WE'RE AT THE TRAILERS; JUST LOADING UP.
BRING HER
ON HOME.
PRAEGER,
YOU MAY START THE COUNTDOWN
FROM 15 MINUTES
EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.
WHEN THE TRUCK GETS HERE,
TAKE HER OUT BACK.
WHAT THE HELL
IS GOING ON?
IS THIS
WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR?
OKAY.
CAREFUL WITH THAT,
HUH?
JUST GIVE IT
TO ME.
OR WHAT,
YOU'LL SHOOT ME?
THE WAY
I SEE IT,
I'M DEAD
NO MATTER WHAT.
STAND DOWN.
I SAID
STAND DOWN!
WHERE'S YOUR MASTER PLAN NOW,
PRATT?
IT'S OVER.
YOU KNOW WHY WOMEN
ARE NO GOOD
AT POKER?
BECAUSE
THEY CAN'T BLUFF
WORTH A DAMN.
PRATT,
WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?
TALK TO ME.
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?
NOBODY USES ME.
PRAEGER,
GET A DOCTOR IN HERE,
RIGHT NOW.
PUT DOWN
YOUR GUNS.
GET AWAY
FROM HER.
PUT DOWN
YOUR GUN.
LISTEN TO ME,
IT'S OVER.
LET US HELP.
PRATT,
THIS IS YOUR ONLY HOPE.
NOW PUT DOWN
YOUR GUN
AND CALL OFF
YOUR MEN.
NO.
COME ON,
GO OUTSIDE.
HOW ARE YOU
FEELING?
IT STILL HURTS
TO BREATHE.
WELL, DON'T LET THAT
STOP YOU.
THAT WAS
INCREDIBLY BRAVE.
OR STUPID.
OR BOTH.
THEY WOULD HAVE KILLED ME
ANYWAY.
THEY HAD
TO BE STOPPED.
DID I EVER TELL YOU
ABOUT MY FATHER?
NO.
MAYBE IT'S TIME
THAT I DID.
FINAL CASE LOG.
MATT PRAEGER REPORTING.
WORKING WITH LOCAL
AND FEDERAL AUTHORITIES
WE'VE MANAGED TO LOCATE
ALL THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS
BURIED HERE
IN THE 1950's.
THE RISK
OF CONTAMINATION
HAS BEEN CONTAINED.
PRAEGER OUT.
TILL ABOUT A WEEK AGO.
NOW OVER 600 ACRES WERE BON
DRY PRACTICALY OVER NIGHT.
BUT ONLY IN POCKETS LIKE THIS. ITS
THE DAMNEST THING I'VE EVER SEEN.
IT'S NOT EASY
BEING GREEN.
WHEN DID IT RAIN LAST?
WE HAD A DOWNPOUR 2 DAYS AGO;
THE LAND WON'T HOLD THE WATER.
I'VE RUN
EVERY TEST I CAN.
I JUST
DON'T KNOW.
THIS IS LINDSAY DONNER,
OUR SENIOR DATA ANALYST.
OH, HI.
JOHN VALENTINE,
BUREAUCRACY OF AGRICULTURE.
WE SPOKE
ON THE PHONE.
OF COURSE, IT'S NICE
TO PUT A FACE TO THE VOICE.
AH, WE'VE GOT
OUR NEXT DEAD ZONE
RIGHT OVER THIS WAY.
YOU GO AHEAD,
I'LL TAKE A LOOK
AROUND HERE.
MATT.
MATT, I FOUND A BODY;
IN THE TREES, EAST OF YOU.
THE FIRE--
THE FIRE--
ANTON, WE NEED MEDICAL HELP
RIGHT AWAY.
*
ELEOA, WE7LA3AoS
NATIVE CEREMONIAL GROUNDS
ARE RICH IN HISTORY
AND MYSTERY.
IN CASE FILE 898-777,
THE OFFICE OF SCIENTIFIC
INVESTIGATION AND RESEARCH
UNCOVERED A DEEP AND
DEADLY SECRET ON SACRED LAND.
A SECRET WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN
BETTER LEFT BURIED.
I'M STILL THIRSTY,
DOC.
IN A MINUTE.
YOUR FLUID LEVELS
ARE WAY BELOW NORMAL.
YOU'RE LUCKY
TO BE ALIVE.
THAT'S YOUR OPINION,
JUST GET ME THE HELL OUTTA HERE.
SO WHAT WERE YOU
DOING THERE?
NONE OF YOUR DAMN BUSINESS,
THAT'S WHAT.
MR. MANSFIELD, PLEASE--
TRY
AND TAKE IT EASY,
ALRIGHT?
NOW LOOK,
YOU NEED A SALINE DRIP.
WITH YOUR PERMISSION I'D LIKE
TO CONSULT YOUR FAMILY DOCTOR.
MY OLD MAN
USED TO SAY
I WAS GOOD FOR NOTHIN'
BUT CANNON FODDER.
I GUESS THAT'S WHY
I JOINED THE SERVICE.
DO MY BIT.
PLAY MY PART.
WE'RE ALL EXPENDABLE,
AREN'T WE?
I MEAN,
THEY DON'T CARE.
STILL IN THE SERVICE,
JOE?
YEAH,
I'M AN AIRCRAFT MECHANIC
UP AT THE BASE.
INTERESTING WORK.
DO YOU REMEMBER
HOW YOU CAME TO BE THERE?
THE FIRE--
OUTTA NOWHERE.
WHAT FIRE?
LIKE HELL
OPENED UP.
I GOTTA
GET THE HELL OUTTA HERE.
THAT WILL
HAVE TO WAIT.
I'LL BE BACK
IN JUST A MINUTE.
HE GIVE ANYTHING UP?
HE'S
BORDERLINE DELUSIONAL,
COULD BE RELATED
TO THE DEHYDRATION.
I REALLY THINK
HE SHOULD BE IN HOSPITAL.
LET'S MAKE IT HAPPEN.
FIRST THE LAND,
NOW THE PEOPLE.
EVERYTHING'S DRYING UP
BUT THE QUESTIONS.
ANTON,
HOW 'BOUT YOU?
ARE YOU DOIN' OKAY?
MATT--
YOU'VE EXPERIENCED
SOMETHING INCREDIBLE.
WE ALMOST LOST YOU.
I'M JUST CONCERNED,
THAT'S ALL.
IF I WASN'T UP FOR THIS JOB,
I WOULDN'T BE HERE.
HEY, THERE.
I UNDERSTAND YOU PEOPLE ARE
LOOKING AFTER JOE MANSFIELD.
YEAH.
OUR DOCTOR'S CHECKIN' HIM OUT;
MATT PRAEGER.
CHIEF PHIL PRATT.
SO, HOW'S MY BOY?
HE'S IN PRETTY ROUGH SHAPE,
I'M AFRAID.
HE CAN'T BE THAT BAD OFF;
I JUST SAW HIM THE OTHER DAY.
HE LOOK SICK THEN?
NO,
JOE'S AS TOUGH AS NAILS.
ANY IDEA WHAT HE WAS DOING
IN THE AREA?
NAW,
CAN'T HELP YOU THERE.
I UNDERSTAND
THAT YOU PEOPLE
ARE GONNA HELP US OUT
WITH THIS DROUGHT HERE.
YEAH.
THAT'S GOOD.
THAT GOVERNMENT MAN,
VALENTINE,
HE'S NEXT TO USELESS.
WELL, WE'LL GIVE IT
OUR BEST SHOT, CHIEF.
I'D APPRECIATE IT
IF YOU'D KEEP ME INFORMED.
ABSOLUTELY, NOTHING I HATE MORE
THAN BEING KEPT IN THE DARK.
MR. MANSFIELD--
WHERE'D HE GO.
HE WAS JUST HERE.
YOU SAID HE NEEDED A HOSPITAL;
HOW'D HE GET UP AND WALK OUT?
I DON'T KNOW.
I'LL GET
RIGHT ON IT.
PETE,
YOU ALRIGHT?
YEAH.
LET ME
HAVE A LOOK AT YOU.
HOLD STILL.
ANTON,
I'M FINE.
I WAS DOING
AN ATMOSPHERIC SCAN.
I--
I READ HYDROGEN.
IT MUST HAVE
POCKETED UNDERGROUND
BEFORE
IT WAS IGNITED.
HYDROGEN--
IS THAT POSSIBLE?
I NEVER
SEEN IT BEFORE.
METHANE, HELIUM,
YEAH.
HYDROGEN,
NEVER.
YOU'LL LIVE.
NEXT TIME YOU BLOW YOURSELF UP
DON'T COME CRYING TO ME.
THAT'S A BIG HOLE.
ALMOST LIKE
A LAND MINE.
SOME SERIOUS FORCE.
YEAH, ENOUGH TO DISPERSE
ABOUT 1000 CUBIC FEET
OF DIRT.
SO WHAT
SET IT OFF?
I CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH FIELD
STUDY REPORTS FOR COMPARISON.
THAT'D BE GREAT.
ANYTHING YOU CAN TELL ME
ABOUT THE AREA'S HISTORY?
ABOUT 500 ACRES
OF LAND
WERE CEDED TO THE CREE NATION
BACK IN THE 1960's.
A LAND CLAIMS
SETTLEMENT?
YUP.
THEN AWHILE BACK THE AIR FORCE
UNEARTHED SOME REMAINS
WHILE THEY WERE DIGGING
FOR A NEW RUNWAY.
A NATIVE
BURIAL GROUND?
YEAH, YOU'RE STANDING
IN THE MIDDLE OF IT.
THE BASE IS ABOUT
A MILE NORTH OF HERE, RIGHT?
YEAH, THEY PULLED OUT LAST YEAR,
BUDGET CUTS.
THE BUILDINGS ARE SHUTTERED UP,
THE JETS AND THE JOBS ARE GONE.
JOE MANSFIELD SAID
HE REPAIRED PLANES AT THE BASE.
NO,
NOT FOR SOME TIME.
LAST I HEARD HE WAS DOING
ODD JOBS FOR HIS SISTER MARTHA
AROUND HER STORE.
HI,
CAN I HELP YOU?
YOU MUST BE MARTHA;
I'M LOOKING FOR JOE.
OH, ARE YOU ONE OF THE FOLKS
WHO PATCHED HIM UP?
YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.
CHIEF PRATT DROPPED HIM OFF HERE
A LITTLE WHILE AGO,
BUT I SENT HIM
TO DR. LANDS.
HE DIDN'T
LOOK SO GOOD.
DOES JOE WORK HERE?
WHEN HE FEELS LIKE IT.
MUST BE NICE; WISH MY BOSS
WAS THAT UNDERSTANDING.
AFTERNOON, ROY.
WATER.
IT'S AT THE BACK,
IN THE COOLER.
WELL, THANKS
FOR YOUR HELP.
SURE.
*
WANT SOMETHING, LADY?
AH, I WAS--
I'M LOOKING FOR JOE MANSFIELD.
HE AIN'T UNDER THERE.
NO.
RIGHT.
OKAY.
THANKS.
NO HOSPITALS!
JUST KEEP YOUR HANDS
OFF OF ME.
DAMN IT JOE,
I CAN'T HELP YOU.
MR. MANSFIELD?
I NEED TO TALK
WITH YOU.
WANNA KNOW ABOUT
THE FIRE?
WELL,
IT BURNED ME
AND IT'S STILL
BURNING ME.
WHAT?
KEEP AWAY
FROM ME.
HEY!
YOU TOO,
LANDS!
ALL OF YOU!
YOU OKAY?
YEAH, YEAH,
I'M OKAY.
HERE'S
ANOTHER ONE.
WHAT IS THAT,
20 SO FAR?
MAYBE NOT.
NO WAY THIS ONE
WAS CAUSED BY A HYDROGEN BURST.
SEE THE SHARP EDGES,
THE AMOUNT OF DIRT PILED UP?
SOMEBODY USED A CABLE OR A CHAIN
TO PULL SOMETHING OUT OF THERE.
YOU GENTLEMAN
ARE TRESPASSING.
THIS IS
PRIVATE LAND.
ACTUALLY THIS LAND
WAS GRANTED
BACK TO THE CREE
BY THE GOVERNMENT.
WE'RE GATHERING INFORMATION
BY INVITATION.
AND NOW YOU'VE BEEN INVITED
TO LEAVE
BY ME.
WOW.
THESE HOLES
ARE A PUBLIC NUISANCE.
WE'RE HERE
TO FILL THEM IN.
I'D HATE TO SEE
ANYBODY GET HURT.
CHIEF OF POLICE
AND GROUNDS KEEPING.
WHEN DO YOU
HAVE TIME
TO CATCH STRAY DOGS
AND PAINT THE TOWN HALL?
EXCUSE ME.
THANK YOU.
THOSE'LL
STUNT YOUR GROWTH.
WHAT
DO YOU THINK?
I THINK PRATT'S DIGGING UP
ARTIFACTS TO SELL TO COLLECTORS.
YEAH, IT DOESN'T REALLY CONNECT
TO EXPLOSIONS, THOUGH.
YOU GET A CHANCE
TO GO OVER THOSE FIELD REPORTS
VALENTINE
SENT OVER?
YEAH, HIS SCIENCE IS GOOD.
HIS EQUIPMENT'S
FROM THE DARK AGES, THOUGH.
YOU COMIN' IN?
I THINK I'LL TAKE IN
THE FIREWORKS FIRST.
WOW.
MY GOD.
JOE?
IT CAN'T BE.
NOW YOU GOT SOMETHING TO BURY
IN ONE OF YOUR HOLES.
HE CAME AT ME
THIS AFTERNOON.
HE DIDN'T LOOK
THIS BAD THEN.
MARTHA SAID HE DIDN'T SHOW UP
AFTER THE DOCTOR'S.
I THOUGHT HE MIGHT
COME BACK OUT THIS WAY.
WHY'S THAT?
HE WAS OFF HIS HEAD.
I SAW A FLASH OF STEEL
IN HIS HAND.
I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS HIM;
MY GOD, HE WAS MY FRIEND.
BUT YOU SHOT HIM
ANYWAY.
HE CAME AT HER WITH A KNIFE; YOU
THINK I WANTED THIS TO HAPPEN?
AN AUTOPSY'LL GIVE US
A CLEARER PICTURE.
I'LL SEE TO IT.
THE NEAREST MORGUE'S
DOWN AT BRANDON.
NO, THE AUTOPSY'LL TAKE PLACE
AT DR. LANDS' CLINIC
UNDER
OUR SUPERVISION.
LEMME GUESS,
AS PER
YOUR FEDERAL INVITE.
HE COULD USE
SOME MOISTURIZER.
AS WE SAW
WITH THE LUNGS,
THE BRAIN CASE
IS DEVOID OF FLUID.
LIKE THE INSIDE
OF A ROTTEN WALNUT.
THE SPINAL CORD SHOWED SIMILAR
SIGNS OF DRAMATIC DEHYDRATION,
ALTHOUGH
NOT AS SEVERE.
THERE IS SOME KIND
OF RESIDUE HERE, THOUGH.
LET ME GET THAT.
I THINK WE SHOULD TAKE A TISSUE
SAMPLE FROM THIS AREA AS WELL.
WHATEVER ABSORBED THE FLUID
FROM THIS BODY
LEFT A VERY STRANGE
SIGNATURE.
HIS SOFT TISSUE SEEMS TO SUFFER
MORE SEVERE DEHYDRATION
THAN THE REST.
LET'S HARVEST
THE REMAINS
AND RUN A FULL
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS.
WASN'T THERE LIQUID
IN THIS BEFORE?
IT'S
RAPID DEHYDRATION.
WHAT COULD DO THAT?
WHAT THE HELL
IS TAKING SO LONG?
I HAVE OTHER PATIENTS,
YOU KNOW, LIVE ONES.
WHERE WERE YOU
LAST NIGHT?
YOU WERE SEEN
ON THE RIDGE.
WELL, THAT'S CREE LAND; I DON'T
NEED ANYBODY'S PERMISSION.
A MAN WAS SHOT--
YOU'RE A DOCTOR.
YOU JUST
WALKED AWAY.
YOUR DOCTOR
WAS THERE.
THERE WAS NOTHIN'
I COULD DO FOR MANSFIELD.
MAYBE IT WASN'T
WORTH THE EFFORT.
LOOK.
JOE MANSFIELD WAS A MEMBER
OF THE LOCAL GUN CLUB
ALONG WITH PRATT AND OTHER ANGRY
DISENFRANCHISED WHITE MALES.
YEAH,
I'VE GOT THE T-SHIRT.
MIND YOU, THAT'D EXPLAIN
SOME OF THE BUMPER STICKERS
I'VE SEEN AROUND TOWN--
"KEEP THE TRUE NORTH FREE".
WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENED
TO JOE MANSFIELD,
MR. PRAEGER?
SOME KIND
OF CHEMICAL POISONING.
CHEMICALS
COME IN MANY FORMS.
MEN HAVE BEEN
POISONING THE LAND
EVER SINCE THEY WALKED
ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH.
MAYBE THE LAND'S
JUST GETTING REVENGE.
WHERE'D YOU GET
ALL THIS STUFF?
CURBSIDE SURPLUS.
WHEN THEY CLOSED THE BASE, THEY
SHUT OUT THE TOWN'S HISTORY.
I KEPT
WHATEVER I COULD.
ARE YOU
THE LOCAL ARCHIVIST?
I GUESS
YOU COULD SAY THAT.
SPEAKING OF WHICH--
ONE REPATRIATION
AGREEMENT.
WHICH GIVES THE CREE NATION
ALL THE RIGHTS TO THE LAND.
EXCEPT
EXCAVATION ISN'T PERMITTED.
JUST AS WELL,
THE SITE'S TOXIC.
FROM WHAT?
THE ARMY DELIVERED BLANKETS TO
STARVING NATIVES IN THE 1800's.
A NICE GESTURE,
EXCEPT,
THE MATERIAL
WAS LACED WITH SMALL POX.
1000's DIED.
THAT WAS OVER
100 YEARS AGO.
I GUESS COVERING YOUR BUTT
HAS NO STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS.
WHAT DO YOU KNOW
ABOUT DR. LANDS?
NOT MUCH.
ANY TIME I NEEDED PERMISSION
TO RUN SOIL TESTS
IN THE BURIAL GROUNDS,
HE'D BE THERE WITH ME.
WHAT ABOUT PRATT?
LET'S JUST SAY, I'M CAREFUL
NOT TO GET ANY PARKING TICKETS.
ON THAT NOTE,
I'LL GO BRING THE TRUCK AROUND.
I HAVEN'T SEEN THIS
IN AWHILE.
THAT'S BIOCHEMISTRY'S
"CATCHER IN THE RYE".
I KNOW;
MY DAD WROTE IT.
YOU'RE WILLIAM DONNER'S
DAUGHTER?
YEAH.
REALLY; THAT TEXT
GOT ME THROUGH GRAD SCHOOL.
THAT, AND
A LOT OF VERY STRONG COFFEE.
HOW DID A BIOCHEMIST END UP
IN A SMALL PLACE LIKE THIS?
I ANSWERED THE AD.
THANK YOU
FOR THIS.
YOU'RE WELCOME.
GOOD THING
WE GOT ALL DAY.
WHAT THE HELL
IS GOING ON?
REDNECKS GOING POSTAL
AND DRYING UP LIKE BEEF JERKY.
WERE WE--
NEVER MIND.
ANY NEWS
FROM THE BIOPSIES?
I'VE RULED OUT
EVERY POSSIBLE DISEASE.
I MAY BE
GOING OUT ON A LIMB HERE,
BUT WHAT IF THIS
IS SPIRITUAL RETRIBUTION?
THERE'S NO
PHYSICAL EVIDENCE.
THE FIRE IN THE SKY,
THE DROUGHT,
BOTH CONFORM
TO CREE MYTHOLOGY.
I KNOW THAT'S--
A CULTURAL REALITY.
BUT WE NEED
HARD EVIDENCE.
RESTLESS SPIRITS DIDN'T CREATE
HYDROGEN POCKETS IN THE GROUND.
NOT ON A SCIENTIFIC BASIS,
BUT ACCORDING TO THE CREE,
WHEN YOU DISTURB
THE ORDER OF THE UNIVERSE,
YOU RISK REPRISAL.
SICKNESS, INJURY, DEATH.
MY OWN RECENT EXPERIENCE
HAS TAUGHT ME THAT MUCH.
YOU SOUND
LIKE DR. LANDS.
I KNOW.
CASE MANAGER'S LOG.
PRAGER REPORTING.
IN ORDER TO BETTER UNDERSTAND
THE HISTORY OF THE CREE,
I'M SURVEYING THE AREA.
PRAEGER OUT.
*
CAREFUL WITH THAT THING,
ESPECIALLY IF IT'S LOADED.
ACCIDENTS HAPPEN
ALL THE TIME.
I GUESS
PRATT WOULDN'T MIND.
ONE SPORTSMAN
TO ANOTHER AND ALL.
PRATT'S
NO FRIEND OF MINE.
IT'S NOT LIKE I SLOW DANCE
WITH HIM EITHER.
GET DOWN.
WHAT'S WITH
THE CAMERA?
I'M RECORDING
GUN CLUB MANOEUVERS
TO SUBMIT
TO THE AUTHORITIES
ON THE ADVISE
OF MY LAWYER.
YOU THOUGHT
I CAUSED THE DROUGHT, THE FIRES?
HOW DO I KNOW
YOU'RE NOT?
INJUN CURSE,
BAD MEDICINE?
IS THAT IT?
YOU'VE SEEN
TOO MANY MOVIES.
NEXT SHOVEL TO SPARK OFF A ROCK
OR SOMEBODY LIGHTS A SMOKE--
KABLOOEY.
FIRE IN THE SKY.
IT CAN EVEN
SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUST.
YOU'RE RIGHT TO STOP THEM
DIGGING UP YOUR ANCESTORS.
MR. PRAEGER,
THAT'S NOT A BURIAL GROUND.
I THOUGHT THE AIR FORCE
WAS TURNING UP OLD GRAVES.
SO THEY SAY,
BUT THEY'RE NOT OURS.
NOT ACCORDING TO
OUR ORAL HISTORY.
WHY WOULD THE GOVERNMENT
TURN THE LAND OVER TO YOU?
BEATS ME;
WE TOOK IT ANYWAY.
THEY'VE TAKEN
SO MUCH FROM US.
WE JUST COULDN'T
SAY NO.
SO WHAT THE HELL
IS BURIED OUT THERE?
WE'RE SEEING A CHEMICAL REACTION
AT THE SOUTH END OF THE LAND.
NOW, THIS IS ONE OF PRATT'S
MANMADE HOLES.
NOTICE THAT
THE VEGETATION AROUND IT
IS COMPLETELY
DRIED OUT.
THIS IS 500 METRES
AWAY FROM THE SAME HOLE.
GROUND COVER IS DRYING OUT BUT
IT'S NOT COMPLETELY DEHYDRATED.
SO, SOMETHING
LEACHED FROM IT?
SOME
VIRULENT CHEMICAL.
AND JOE MANSFIELD
CAME IN CONTACT
WITH IT.
IT MATCHES THE SAMPLE
FROM HIS SPINAL FLUID.
CAN IT CAUSE
VIOLENT BEHAVIOR?
ONCE IT'S IN HIS SYSTEM, THERE'S
NO CONTROLLING HIS REACTIONS.
THERE MAY BE OTHER VICTIMS
ON THE LOOSE OUT THERE.
WHAT DOES PRATT WANT WITH IT;
WHAT'S IT DOIN' THERE?
SOMEONE
BURIED IT THERE.
SEE, WHAT WE HAVE
IS A SMALL AQUIFER DIRECTLY
BENEATH THE DROUGHT LAND.
THE CHEMICAL IS LEACHING DOWN
TO THE WATER TABLE.
THE WATER SEPARATES
AND THE HYDROGEN
HITS THE GROUND
RUNNING.
THE GOVERNMENT REPATRIATES
THE LAND TO THE CREE
AFTER THEY BURY
THEIR CHEMICALS THERE-- NICE.
THE LAND IS SACRED, SO THAT'S
THEIR CHECK AGAINST EXCAVATION.
NICE PIT
FOR A BAR-B.
WHERE'S
THE SHRIMP?
AH--
BACK IN SCHOOL,
PRAEGER,
DID YOUR TEACHERS
EVER CALL YOU A SLOW LEARNER?
NO, I WAS THE KID
IN THE BACK OF THE CLASS
WHO TOOK HIS TIME TO COME UP
WITH THE RIGHT ANSWERS.
YOUR FRIEND,
JOE MANSFIELD LEARNED
HIS LESSONS THE HARD WAY.
DID HE KNOW
WHAT POISONS
YOU HAD HIM
DIGGING UP?
HEY, CARRY ON,
CHAPS.
HE DOESN'T KNOW
WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT.
CARE TO STAKE YOUR LIFE
ON THAT?
LET'S GET ONTO
ELSINGER'S CONTACTS AT DEFENSE.
SEE IF ANYONE CAN DECLASSIFY
WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH.
MAYBE THEY GOT AN ANTIDOTE
STASHED SOMEWHERE.
HELP,
HELP ME.
HE'S LOST 15 PERCENT
OF HIS TOTAL BODY MASS
IN THE LAST
1/2 HOUR.
THE MEDEVAC's
ON THE WAY.
WE SHOULD BE IN A HOSPITAL
WITHIN THE HOUR.
SOMEONE CAN DO A LOT OF DAMAGE
WITH THAT CHEMICAL.
IF THERE'S ANY MORE, WE GOTTA
FIND THEM BEFORE THEY DO.
I'LL START
ANOTHER SURVEY.
YOU CHECK OUT
VALENTINE.
SEE IF HE'S INVOLVED WITH
PRATT'S LITTLE SEWING CIRCLE.
HE CALLED US IN
ON THIS.
HE'S ALSO A BIOCHEMIST
WHO COLLECTS MILITARY LEFTOVERS.
THAT DOESN'T
MAKE HIM GUILTY.
NO, BUT IT DOESN'T
MAKE HIM INNOCENT.
LINDSAY, WHAT IF HE CALLED US IN
TO FIND THAT WEAPON FOR HIM?
I'LL TAKE CARE OF IT.
YOU CAN CANCEL
THE MEDEVAC.
HELLO.
JOHN?
LOOKING
FOR ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR.
I'M SORRY,
I KNOCKED BUT--
IT'S OKAY.
YOU SEE ANYTHING IN THE FRIDGE
YOU LIKE?
I'M NOT HERE
FOR A SOCIAL VISIT, JOHN.
OH, OKAY.
YOU DID SAY
THAT YOU KEEP YOUR DISTANCE
FROM PRATT
AND HIS GUN CLUB, RIGHT?
YEAH, I DO.
WHY?
BECAUSE SOMEHOW
THEY'VE DISCOVERED
THERE'S A CACHE OF CHEMICAL
WEAPONS BURIED ON THE CREE LAND.
AND THAT'S
WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR?
RIGHT.
IS THERE ANYTHING
I CAN DO TO HELP?
YOU THINK
I'M INVOLVED WITH THEM?
ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH
THE DEDICATION IN THIS BOOK?
YEAH,
IT'S DEDICATED TO YOU.
MY FATHER AND I
WERE REAL CLOSE.
THEN ONE NIGHT I FOUND SOME
FILES HE FORGOT AT THE HOUSE.
HE WAS TRYING
TO FREEZE-DRY CHOLERA.
CHOLERA?
IT WAS
A CLASSIFIED
MILITARY COMMISSION.
I TOLD A FRIEND
IN CONFIDENCE.
ONLY THEY DIDN'T KEEP IT
TO THEMSELVES.
WITHIN A WEEK
HE WAS A PARIAH.
HE LOST HIS JOB,
HIS TENURE,
HIS SELF RESECT.
IT DESTROYED HIM.
I SHOULDN'T
HAVE TOLD ANYONE.
BUT WHAT IF
HIS RESEARCH HAD CONTINUED?
YOU WOULD HAVE
DONE SOMETHING EVENTUALLY.
I DON'T KNOW;
I GUESS I NEVER WILL.
LINDSAY,
I'M NOT WORKING
WITH PRATT.
TRUST ME.
LET ME
GET THIS STRAIGHT.
YOU'RE VOUCHING FOR VALENTINE
BASED ON A CONVERSATION?
I RAN THE STANDARD BACKGROUND
CHECK ON HIM BEFORE WE ARRIVED.
HE COULD BE
A TERRORIST.
WHAT ARE YOU
SAYING?
I WANT TO KNOW HIS POLITICAL
AFFILIATIONS, SCHOOL TIES,
THE TOOTHPASTE
HE USES.
HE'S CLEAN,
I KNOW IT.
DID YOU TELL HIM
ANYTHING WE SHOULD DISCUSS?
NO,
NOTHING ABOUT THE CASE.
LOOK,
I TRUST HIM.
YEAH,
OBVIOUSLY.
I'M NOT SURE
THAT'S GOOD ENOUGH.
MATT.
IT'S PETER.
ALRIGHT, LOCK IT OFF THERE;
TAKE IT EASY.
WHAT'S UP?
LOOK WHAT WE FOUND.
THERE'S 9 MORE OF THEM
WITHIN EASY WALKING DISTANCE.
CAREFUL,
MATT.
THAT CONTAINS
SOME TYPE OF NERVE GAS.
IS IT ACTIVE?
YES.
FORTUNATELY, THE EPOXY CELL
IS AIR TIGHT.
BUT
WATCH THIS.
THE DISH AT THE BOTTOM
CONTAINS THE CHEMICAL SOLUTION
THAT'S BEEN LEACHING
INTO THE SOIL.
IT'S ESSENTIALLY
AN ACID.
IT'S DEADLY ENOUGH
ON ITS OWN.
THAT WOULD BE CONTAINED
IN THE MALE PART OF THE WEAPON.
THE RED CELLS ARE CONTAINED
IN THE FEMALE PART
OF THE WEAPON.
THE ACID COMES IN CONTACT
WITH THE RED CELL--
RELEASING
THE NERVE GAS.
YES.
IT INSTANTLY ATTACKS
THE MUCUS MEMBRANES.
BREATHE THAT,
AND YOU DROWN
IN YOUR OWN BLOOD.
IT'S UNPLEASANT.
THE MILITARY MUST HAVE BURIED
THE PARTS SEPARATELY
TO PREVENT
ACCIDENTAL RELEASE OF THE GAS.
YOU'VE SEEN THIS
BEFORE.
IN KURDISTAN,
WHEN I SERVED WITH
THE MEDICINS SANS FRONTIERES.
CHEMICAL WEAPONS ARE NOT
JUST MEANT TO KILL PEOPLE.
THEY FILL HOSPITALS,
DRAIN RESOURCES,
CRUSH MORALE.
EXCUSE ME.
MAYBE WE DID
RUSH HIM BACK TO WORK TOO EARLY.
PETE, CAN YOU SEE
HOW HE'S DOIN'?
YEAH.
THANKS.
WELL, IT'S A NEAT BIT
OF ENGINEERING.
AN ALTIMETER TO ENSURE
THE NERVE GAS IS RELEASED
AT THE OPTIMUM RANGE
ABOVE A CITY.
THIS IS WHAT I SAW
ON THE BACK OF THAT TRUCK.
WE NEED A BIOCHEMIST TO FIND
A WAY TO NEUTRALIZE THIS STUFF.
WHAT ABOUT
VALENTINE?
NO, THIS IS FOR OUR EYES ONLY;
I WANT TOTAL CONTAINMENT.
WE HAVE
NO OPTIONS.
LET ME TALK
TO HIM.
NONE OF OUR GUYS
CAN GET HERE UNTIL MORNING.
EITHER YOU TRUST ME ALL THE WAY
OR NOT AT ALL.
I CAN'T DO MY JOB IF YOU
QUESTION EVERY MOVE I MAKE.
ALRIGHT.
GET OUT OF
THE CAR.
COME ON,
LET'S MOVE.
DO AS YOU'RE TOLD
AND YOU WON'T GET HURT.
LET'S GO,
STEP ON IT.
YEAH,
LINDSAY.
PRAEGER,
I FOUND SOMETHING OF YOURS.
I WANT
THE REST OF THE CELLS.
PRATT?
YOU WANNA SEE
MISS DONNER AGAIN,
DO EXACTLY
AS I SAY.
STAY TUNED,
I'LL BE IN TOUCH.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO GAIN
FROM ALL THIS?
FAIR REPRESENTATION.
BEFORE WE'RE DONE,
WE'LL SEE THIS GOVERNMENT'S
CORRUPT POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS
BROUGHT TO THEIR KNEES.
AND IF PRAEGER
REALLY WANTS TO PLAY GAMES,
I'LL CALL
THE MEDIA.
AFTER THEY BROADCAST
OUR MESSAGE,
WE'LL RELEASE ENOUGH NERVE GAS
INTO THE AIR TO KILL 100's,
MAYBE 1000's, DEPENDING ON
WHICH WAY THE WIND IS BLOWING.
YOU'D DO IT,
WOULDN'T YOU?
YOU'RE THAT CRAZY.
HISTORY SORTS OUT THE GIANTS
FROM THE MADMEN.
I HOPE
YOU'RE PREPARED TO DIE
FOR THIS.
WE'LL DO
WHATEVER'S NECESSARY.
PRATT.
TALK TO ME,
I KNOW YOU CAN HEAR ME YOU F--
HE WANTS US
TO LOSE OUR TEMPER, MATT.
DON'T GIVE HIM
THE ADVANTAGE.
I NEVER SHOULD HAVE LET LINDSAY
OUT OF THE LAB WITH THAT STUFF.
WHAT ABOUT
THE POLICE?
HALF THE LOCAL COPS
ARE PROBABLY IN THERE WITH THEM.
THE S.W.A.T. TEAM'S
AN HOUR AWAY.
WHAT ABOUT
AN ANTIDOTE?
I PREPARED EMERGENCY DOSES
OF ATROPINE, IT MIGHT WORK.
PRAEGER?
ALRIGHT,
PRATT.
A TRUCK WILL BE ARRIVING AT
YOUR LAB IN THE NEXT 5 MINUTES.
HAVE ONE OF YOUR MEN
ESCORT THE CELLS BACK HERE.
YOU HAVE 15 MINUTES.
THAT'S NOT
ENOUGH TIME.
DON'T MAKE ME
REPEAT MYSELF.
CALL PETE
ON A SECURE LINE.
TELL HIM TO COOPERATE,
BUT TO STALL AS LONG AS HE CAN.
PRAEGER?
YOU STILL LISTENING?
PRATT, NO!
THAT WAS
YOUR LAST WARNING.
CHIEF, YOU THERE,
COME IN.
YEAH?
WE'RE AT THE TRAILERS; JUST LOADING UP.
BRING HER
ON HOME.
PRAEGER,
YOU MAY START THE COUNTDOWN
FROM 15 MINUTES
EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.
WHEN THE TRUCK GETS HERE,
TAKE HER OUT BACK.
WHAT THE HELL
IS GOING ON?
IS THIS
WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR?
OKAY.
CAREFUL WITH THAT,
HUH?
JUST GIVE IT
TO ME.
OR WHAT,
YOU'LL SHOOT ME?
THE WAY
I SEE IT,
I'M DEAD
NO MATTER WHAT.
STAND DOWN.
I SAID
STAND DOWN!
WHERE'S YOUR MASTER PLAN NOW,
PRATT?
IT'S OVER.
YOU KNOW WHY WOMEN
ARE NO GOOD
AT POKER?
BECAUSE
THEY CAN'T BLUFF
WORTH A DAMN.
PRATT,
WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?
TALK TO ME.
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?
NOBODY USES ME.
PRAEGER,
GET A DOCTOR IN HERE,
RIGHT NOW.
PUT DOWN
YOUR GUNS.
GET AWAY
FROM HER.
PUT DOWN
YOUR GUN.
LISTEN TO ME,
IT'S OVER.
LET US HELP.
PRATT,
THIS IS YOUR ONLY HOPE.
NOW PUT DOWN
YOUR GUN
AND CALL OFF
YOUR MEN.
NO.
COME ON,
GO OUTSIDE.
HOW ARE YOU
FEELING?
IT STILL HURTS
TO BREATHE.
WELL, DON'T LET THAT
STOP YOU.
THAT WAS
INCREDIBLY BRAVE.
OR STUPID.
OR BOTH.
THEY WOULD HAVE KILLED ME
ANYWAY.
THEY HAD
TO BE STOPPED.
DID I EVER TELL YOU
ABOUT MY FATHER?
NO.
MAYBE IT'S TIME
THAT I DID.
FINAL CASE LOG.
MATT PRAEGER REPORTING.
WORKING WITH LOCAL
AND FEDERAL AUTHORITIES
WE'VE MANAGED TO LOCATE
ALL THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS
BURIED HERE
IN THE 1950's.
THE RISK
OF CONTAMINATION
HAS BEEN CONTAINED.
PRAEGER OUT.