The Expanse (2015–…): Season 2, Episode 10 - Cascade - full transcript

HOLDEN: Dr. Strickland
pulled your daughter

out of the clinic an hour
before the battle started.

I believe we'll
find your daughter.

We'll leave the
Somnabulist once we dock

and then we'll intermingle
with the locals.

I'm gonna take the
Roci and mosey on down

to the dark side of Ganymede.

I'm gonna tuck her

behind one of those
71 cute little moons.

And we'll rendezvous at one of
these service airlocks here.

Are your plans
always this vague?



This is about average.

We mistook a training exercise
as an active engagement

and opened fire without orders.

CHRISJEN: What was the reason?

We thought we were under attack.

CHRISJEN: Under attack?

So you were fired upon?

He was trying to kill the enemy.

I didn't even know what
it was, nobody did.

He wasn't wearing a vac suit...

She knows we're
working together.

Forced me to explore
other options.

You need me.

You need my government's
resources and my protection.



Eros changes everything...

Just like a soldier on
Ganymede without a suit.

We're taking all of the cargo

and the ship.

All clear!

I'm sorry.

Go! Get off my ship!

Go!

( THEME MUSIC PLAYING)

We shouldn't have
left her alone.

She didn't want us there.

We've got her husband killed.

Those cops were going
to kill them both.

It was the right move.

I'm going to keep
telling myself that.

If we do what we
came here to do,

I'll figure out a way
to live with it.

How many people have you killed?

I'm not sure.

You're not sure?

Well, I'm not a
homicidal maniac.

Holden and Naomi,
they're not like me.

They're better.

I'll watch your back,

but they'll find
your little girl.

NAOMI: It's a directory
of the dead and missing.

Let's see if they're on it.

She's not dead.

And Strickland's not
dead or missing,

which is good.

They could both still be here.

Where was Strickland
when he took Mei?

Ganymede Pediatric
Care, Clinic 7.

Let's see if anyone who
worked there is still around.

NAOMI: There's a few.

- They're all in Ag Dome 9.
- This way.

PRAX: This is where
I used to work.

It was beautiful.

I'll try using my imagination.

A single soldier kills
a dozen marines

on the surface of Ganymede
without a vac suit?

(SCOFFS) Please.

The MMC trains their people to
believe they're invincible,

and that failure is an
unacceptable option.

Well, Sergeant Draper failed.

And then she snapped,

because she couldn't
deal with it.

So you think she's lying.

I think she's crazy.

Still, I wouldn't mind
getting her in a room alone.

She seemed perfectly sane to me.

And after Eros, my
definition of crazy

has contracted significantly.

Well, she has zero credibility.

There's no point
talking to her again.

The point is that something
was bothering her

and she was ordered
to suppress it.

Mars is using peace
as a distraction.

CHRISJEN: "Peace
as a distraction."

God, I wish I could disagree
with you right now.

Our apologies if we
kept you waiting.

SADAVIR: Not at all.

How is Sergeant Draper?

In her quarters, resting.

CHRISJEN: And in
no frame of mind

to answer any more
questions, I assume.

I'm afraid not.

The traumatized mind
is a dark place.

But rest assured, we're here,

and happy to help
any way we can.

We have Earth's best
doctors at our disposal.

Thank you, but the medical
team at our embassy

is more than able.

And if it's
absolutely necessary,

we can arrange for
further testimony

after the Sergeant
has fully recovered.

But right now,

we need to finalize the
terms of our accord.

Who was the officer
who spirited.

Sergeant Draper away?

A friend of Sergeant
Draper's family

here to offer moral support.

He didn't seem like
the supportive type.

Madam. Your ships
are still heading

towards ours at Ganymede.

So unless your intention

is to have us shooting
at each other again...

Let's do what we
came here to do.

You really fucked
up in there, Gunny.

I know.

- But I know I saw something.
- Ah, yes.

A man standing on the
surface of Ganymede

without a vac suit.

Are you absolutely
sure about that?

(SIGHS) So you think I'm crazy.

I think we asked too
much of you too soon.

(SIGHS) Bobbie, truth

and fact are not the same thing.

Now I know this may
be too much for you

to grab a hold of right now.

But you believe what
you saw is true

because you need it to be true.

To explain how your
team was killed.

So what happens now?

Now you go home back to Mars.

You've earned it.

And then what?

Then we do what's best for
you and for the Corps.

I'd like to see the
ocean before I leave.

If that's possible?

Sorry. You're under
restrictions now.

You mean I'm a prisoner.

No.

I mean, you're a Martian.

It takes weeks,
sometimes months,

to acclimate to
these open spaces.

You saw what happened when
we stepped off the ship.

You're breathing natural air.

You're trying to orient yourself

with that damned horizon.

Just rest.

A transport is
coming to get you.

You'll be shipping out
day after tomorrow.

Open the shades.

Close them.

U.N. TECH: Our
analysts confirmed

that Sergeant Draper's

power armor was subjected
to massive concussive

and incendiary forces.

And the suit's internal data
logs, as far as they go,

are consistent with the
MCRN's account of the battle.

The Martians wouldn't
have given us the armor

if it were otherwise.

What about biologicals?

U.N. TECH: Well,
we did find traces

of various plant material,

but again that's consistent
with the accounts.

She was found in the
wreckage of the Ag Dome.

I'm not talking about soybeans.

I mean exotic biologicals.

Anything that shouldn't
be on Ganymede.

U.N. TECH: Sir, I'm not sure
what you're getting at.

We did a pretty
thorough analysis...

I don't want "pretty thorough."

I want you to go over every
goddamn molecule on that armor

and tell me if there's
anything you've missed.

Do you understand me?

U.N. TECH: Yes, sir.
Right away, sir.

NAOMI: Do you have any idea where Dr.
Strickland

might have been going?

Lucky for me, I wasn't anywhere

near the clinic when
the mirrors came down.

I have no idea where Dr.
Strickland is.

Have you seen any patients with

any kind of bluish mottling or
unusual, heavy skin growths?

The growths might
have been glowing.

From what?

Radiation exposure, possibly.

I haven't seen
anything like that.

What is it?

Something we heard about.

It's probably just a story.

Then do me a favor and
don't spread it around.

People don't need anything
more to worry about.

The battle took out
three of these domes

but we managed to save two.

We've got things moving in
the right direction now.

We're going to
rebuild this place.

This doesn't feel
like Eros, does it?

Maybe it just
hasn't started yet.

I haven't seen Strickland
around for a while.

There's a lot of
turnover these days.

Aid workers come in,
refugees go out.

Location services
are real spotty.

It's hard to keep track.

Sorry.

What do we do now?

I'm not the guy you
should be asking.

This yellowing indicates
a nitrogen imbalance.

We have phage-resistance
bacteria

in the hydroponic lines
to prevent that,

which means that something
got in and killed

the good bacteria.

Which means the hydroponics
have been contaminated.

Is that a hard fix?

Under normal circumstances, no.

These are too far
gone to make it.

Basia? God. Is that you?

- Prax?
- Yes, it's me.

(GROANS)

Coward! You goddamn coward...

Our children are out
there somewhere

scared and alone and you just...

And you just leave?

You just...

Are you done?

It's got nothing to do with you.

He's helping me find Mei.

I came back to look for her.

Basia, have you seen Mei?

He took Mei out of the clinic
before the mirrors fell.

If Mei's still with him,
then maybe Katoa is too.

We...

- We gotta go!
- Do you know where.

Strickland is?

I don't know...

Roma will know.

(STAMMERS) We gotta...

We gotta show this
whole thing to Roma.

- We gotta go right now.
- Hold on, hold on. Who's Roma?

He finds people.

He's helping me. He's...

He's helping all of us.

You guys got things to trade.
Okay, that's good...

Because Roma, he
doesn't take scrip.

Only barter.

(STAMMERS) He likes chicken.

Only... Only canned chicken.

That works the best.

- Canned chicken.
- Wait. He works for food?

BASIA: Yeah.

You give him canned chicken,

he gives you a video from
the security monitor.

You give him more chicken,
he gives you more video.

He said that he
could find Katoa,

but I... I didn't
have enough chicken.

Yeah, that sounds like a scam.

Does this Roma provide results?

Yeah! He's got a place
in the AWP Corridor.

Level 2, room 2K.

Please, I can take you there...

No, no, no, stay, Basia.
Stay, rest.

Rest.

I'll talk to Roma
for the both of us.

I promise.

For Mei and Katoa.

(DOOR OPENS)

A friend at the Martian Embassy

managed to get me.

Sergeant Draper's
service record.

Anything interesting?

Not at all.

She's an exemplary soldier
who does what she's told to.

What's wrong with you?

Hmm?

Sit down.

I think she did see
something on Ganymede.

Something we're not
supposed to know about.

And what is fueling
these thoughts?

I believe that Ganymede was
a test of a new weapon

that Jules-Pierre Mao
is developing for Mars.

Based on technology
he unleashed on Eros.

You've been in contact with him.

No.

But I was aware of his
weapons research...

Because I was working with him.

(CHUCKLES)

You've known for a while.

Ever since you had
Frank Degraaf killed.

I know it makes no difference,

but I had no hand
in that, Chrisjen.

But you covered it up.

You protected Jules.

You need to understand that...

It started out as a
conversation about peace.

About the discovery
of this incredible

protomolecule on Phoebe.

This was a way to guarantee
the safety of Earth.

At a terrible price.

You're the one who taught me
that Earth must come first.

And Eros?

A hundred thousand souls.

Did I teach you that?

If I had known what was
going to happen on Eros,

I would have stopped the project

and Jules-Pierre Mao along
with it and you know that!

Eros nearly destroyed
this planet.

You will have to answer
for your part in that.

I know...

And I will.

But what we need to do right now

is keep the system
from burning down.

This is everything
that I know about

the protomolecule project.

If Ganymede really was a
test, then this is...

It's just the beginning.

(CLATTERS)

(GASPS)

(WIND WHISTLING)

(THUDDING)

(BIRD SQUAWKING)

(GASPS)

Basia's son Katoa and Mei

have the same genetic disorder.

They met under Dr.
Strickland's care.

They've been best
friends ever since.

Katoa means everything to him.

He's a good father.

These plants have
been stripped bare.

That nurse said that a
dozen freighters packed

with food left the
station after the battle

to honor contracts instead
of feeding the people here.

They've been eating the
plants to survive.

These plants have no
nutritional value.

They're air scrubbers

that supplement the
station's system.

Roma's place should be
somewhere around here.

Looks like no one's got
a place around here.

(INDISTINCT SHOUTING)

WOMAN: I have a family to feed!

- Please!
- MAN: Get out!

What you want, pampa?

You Roma?

Who Roma?

There's some people
on the station

we need to find.

Heard Roma's the man to talk to.

Ah, in that case...

Ah, cute kid, copain.

We need to find her
and the man with her.

And we need to
find them quickly.

Lot of jobs ahead of you. Lot
of work for other people.

You got chicken?

That's what I like.

Gonna take a lot.

You guarantee results?

No.

That doesn't give us
much faith in your work.

Then leave.

You seem to be doing
quite well for yourself.

I mean, you got enough here
to feed half the station.

Put that back.

This guy just wants to
find his little girl.

She's sick.

She could die if he
doesn't find her.

This business.

We got rations, protein bars,

ammunition. We're
happy to barter.

What I want is chicken.

No chicken? Back of the line.

- (GRUNTING)
- Amos, no!

NAOMI: Stop!

- Amos!
- Enough. Stop!

Stop it!

He can't find Mei if
you bash his head in!

What's wrong with you?

Are you gonna help us?

Absolutely.

I find little girl.

Pro bono.

Thank you.

(ALARM BLARING)

AUTOMATED VOICE: (OVER PA) The
amnesty has been extended

indefinitely.

Take advantage of basic
income, group housing,

medical services.

Register today for
a better tomorrow.

(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)

Excuse me.

Do you know the fastest
way to the ocean?

For 50, I do.

(AIRCRAFT WHIRRING)

COTYAR: My source inside
the Martian Embassy

just informed me that
there's a lot of activity

around Sergeant
Draper's quarters...

Because she's no longer in them.

That is very interesting.

Why would she run?

I'm not sure. But I've
learned not to look

a gift horse in the mouth.

Hmm.

You have to find her as
quickly as possible.

I'm on it.

I can access our full
surveillance network,

- we'll find her face...
- And as quietly as possible.

The Martians will, of course,
be trying to find her as well.

But they are at a
severe disadvantage

on the streets of our planet.

Make sure they are
stopped frequently

by the local authorities
and checked

for proper identification.

My pleasure.

Oh, uh...

Are we information-sharing
with Errinwright now?

I'll tell him later.

Why haven't you turned him in?

At this moment, he's
more useful to me

outside of a jail cell.

You're the only person who
knows the truth about him.

The only person anyone
might actually believe.

And that puts you in a
precarious position.

Something changed
with Errinwright.

Maybe when he saw Eros
hurtling towards Earth

with no way to stop it

and realized what
he'd put into motion,

and only miraculously avoided...

That it was time to make amends.

I wasn't trying to be funny.

I wasn't laughing.

It's just...

I'd forgotten how it
felt to be fighting

for the good guys again.

I like it!

It's nice.

(DOOR OPENS)

(DOOR CLOSES)

Uh...

Excuse me.

Could you please tell me
how to get to the ocean?

(CRYING)

Don't take it personally.

The clinic stopped giving Peter
his meds two months ago.

Makes him forget his manners
and his reality sometimes.

But I can tell you how
to get to the ocean.

I don't have any scrip.

You're Martian, aren't you?

That obvious?

Well, I've seen a few
of you over the years,

being how close
we are to the UN.

But that's not what tipped you.

It's the way you're walking.

Like the sky might
fall in on you.

Like the ground's
gonna bite you.

And if you're Martian,
you'll have Osteo-X.

Give me what you can
spare and I'll tell you

how to get to the ocean.

You're a drug dealer.

They're not gonna fly
you to the moon.

I know what Osteo-X is for.

Then why do you want it?

I can trade that and get
a month supply of meds

for the kids who've been
exposed to radiation

from the drive plant.

And I can probably get a month
supply of the new chloroquine.

It'll save some of us
from dying in the summer

when we're forced to
drink sewer water.

Jesus. Is that true?

Would it matter
if I said it was?

So you're a doctor?

I put myself on the
vocational training list

when I was 17 years old.

I'm 52 now.

Still waiting for my slot.

But we still gotta take care
of ourselves down here.

And so we do.

I'm sorry.

That's okay.

Everything we've been
told about Martians

is probably garbage anyway.

That you're all a bunch
of robots with no souls

who just like to conquer shit.

Oh, and I hear your
music ain't nothin'

to write home about neither.

Well, that part might
be true, yeah.

(CHUCKLES)

Go back the way you came

until you see a drainage
tunnel on your right.

Got it.

What's your name?

Bobbie.

Nico.

Here's what you do.

Feet planted in line
with your shoulders.

Back straight.

Head down, staring at your toes.

Then...

Raise your chin, slowly...

Millimeter at a time...

Till your eyes are
locked on the horizon.

Okay.

In a couple of weeks,

your brain will
forge the pathways.

Your inner ear
will get the memo.

Then you'll be no different
than an Earther.

Thank you.

Now you.

(SOFTLY) Head down. Okay.

Millimeter...

I would've stopped him
before it went too far.

Every shitty thing we do makes
the next one that much easier,

doesn't it?

You said you weren't
a homicidal maniac.

I didn't kill him.

Not yet.

He's a bully.

And where I come from,

bullies take desperate young
girls like your daughter

and force them
into prostitution.

And when they finally
get knocked up,

they peddle them to johns
who get off on that.

After they have the kid,

they push them right
back out on the streets

even before they have
a chance to heal.

And those kids...
They use them, too.

Some people deserve
to be punished.

When I learned the clinic
had been destroyed...

When I had to accept
that Mei was dead...

There was a part of me that...

I felt almost relieved.

She was sick her whole life.

I couldn't fix her.

I'm better with plants.

I couldn't help her the way
a father is supposed to.

Are you asking me to
tell you that's okay?

I know it's not.

(TYPING)

(DOOR CLOSES)

What are you doing?

PRAX: Something I
actually know how to do.

Did you notice the
Epipremnum patatas

on the green wall?

I'm sure that I did not.

Right here.

Big fork-shaped
leaves on the vine.

Same yellowing as before.

If you say so.

They're using distilled water
in the hydroponic supply

instead of the proper
mineral solutions needed

for long-term stability.

AMOS: That sounds bad.

They'll only be able
to get away with it

for another week, maybe two.

After that, the air,
the scrubbing plants,

what's left of them,
will die off.

When that happens,
they won't be able

to stop the cascade.

What's the cascade?

In real nature,

there's enough diversity
to cushion an ecosystem

when something
catastrophic happens.

Nothing that we build,
our ships, our stations,

has that depth.

Now in an artificial ecosystem,

when one thing goes wrong,
there's only a certain amount

of pathways that can
compensate for it.

Eventually those pathways
get overstressed,

and then they fail.

Which leaves fewer pathways,

and then they'll
get overstressed

and then they fail.

AMOS: So it's not the
thing that breaks you

that you need to watch out for.

Exactly.

And Ganymede is a
simple complex system.

Because it's simple,
it's prone to cascades,

and because it's complex,

you can't predict what's
going to break down next

or how.

Yeah, but Ganymede is
the most important

food station out here.

They're not going to
let it just collapse.

This station is dead already.

They just don't know it yet.

ALEX: (SINGING ALONG)
* Did you ever see

* A robin weep

* When the leaves begin to die

* Like me he's lost

* The will to live

* I'm so lonesome I could cry

* Hear that lonesome
whippoorwill

* He sounds too blue to fly

* The midnight train

* Is whining low

* I'm so lonesome I could cry

* I've never seen

* A night so long

* When time goes crawling by

* The moon just went

* Behind the clouds

* To hide its face...

Whoo!

(ALARM SOUNDING)

AUTOMATED VOICE: This is
an MCRN Priority Alert

to all vessels

in the Jupiter AO.

A no-fly zone is
now in effect...

- (MUSIC STOPS)
- around Ganymede Station

- until further notice.
- Aw, crap.

Any unauthorized
ship entering...

Aw, this is bad.

Or leaving the zone
will be fired upon

without warning.

This is an MCRN
Priority Alert...

This is very, very bad.

Ah!

Good news, copain.

I find the little
girl and the man.

They be moving way
away from the battle

and where the mirrors fall.

Those part of the station
still be okay, so

if they there, maybe
they still be okay, too.

That's as far as you can go?

ROMA: Yeah. Swear.

That's oldest part
of the station,

no camera after that.

But if you wanna find her,
that's where you gotta go.

What's down there?

How do I know?

CHRISJEN: Is it everything
you thought it would be?

I can't remember the last time
I went down to the water.

You take it for granted.

You're right about that.

Your people are on their way.

So we have to be quick.

Uh, quick about what?

We never finished
our conversation.

It didn't feel like a
conversation to me.

The thing you saw on Ganymede?

It was real.

Here.

This is what attacked you
and your team, isn't it?

A new type of weapon.

It was being tested on Ganymede.

Tested?

By your own government.

Fuck you, ma'am.

Sergeant, I wish to God
it was my government.

Then I would have some
control over the situation.

But right now, all
I have is you.

So you're telling me
that me and my team,

we were...

Sacrificial lambs.

And your friend Travis...

I don't believe it.

And I don't believe a
goddamn thing you were

told to say in that room.

I need to know who is
doing this and why.

I need your help.

This has to be a mind game.

You are the enemy.

We cannot afford to
be enemies anymore.

We need to go now.