The Expanse (2015–…): Season 2, Episode 12 - The Monster and the Rocket - full transcript

HOLDEN: Those cops were
going to kill them both.

Oh, God...
I'm sorry.

Get off my ship.

COTYAR: You're the only person
that knows the truth

about Errinwright, the only person
anyone might actually believe.

And that puts you in
a precarious position.

lam Gunnery Sergeant Roberta
Draper, Martian Marine Corps.

lam requesting
political asylum on Earth.

GUNNY: You were right
about that thing on Ganymede.

It was a weapons test.

The weapon's up for sale
and Mars wants it.



JULES-PIERRE: If you truly have the
best interest of Earth at heart,

we meet in person on
a ship of my choosing.

Don't refuse this offer.

It won't be repeated.

That's the protomolecule.
Don't touch it

(BEEPS)
PRAX: What are you doing?

What do you think?

You can't do that.

That's someone's child.

HOLDEN: I came here
to destroy the protomolecule

and that's what
I'm going to do.

I'm not going with you

I'm going back to make sure the
Somnambulist is up and running.

I'm going to help get
as many people



off this station
before it dies.

I think something
broke out of this.

What was it?

We made the protomolecule

in our own image.

And there's a lot more

where she came from...

ALEX: That thing ain't got
a vac suit on.

Suit up.
We're going on a hunt.

(THEME MUSIC PLAYING)

SADAVIR: Everything I did,
I did out of love.

For Earth. For our people.

CHRISJEN: I know you did.

SADAVIR:
Well, then help me.

These hearings...

They'll have my head
on a stick.

CHRISJEN:
Tell them everything.

SADAVIR: There's no way
to answer for it.

CHRISJEN: Trust in mercy.

Atone for your sins.

JEFFERSON:
Real or imaginary monsters?

Huh?

Real or imaginary monsters?

I mean, I heard you screaming
in your sleep last night.

Ah. A bit of both,
I guess.

Is that why you're walking me
to school, like I'm seven?

(CHUCKLES)

Sometimes it takes
a few monsters

to get back on track.

I don't have nightmares.

Sit down a minute.

Come on. We've got time.

All right.

We never really get a chance
anymore

to just talk, you know?

Just hang out.

You okay, Dad?

I never really did
tell you that...

I was sorry that I had
to leave your mother.

You know, you're at an age now
when time is going to...

You're just going to put
your head down and...

"Whoosh."

And all the old farts like me,

we're all going
to be telling you

this is how you do it

and this is the path you take.

We're all going to be experts
on how you should grow up.

But there's only one thing
that I need to tell you.

And it's the simplest thing.

But it's the hardest thing
to remember.

Listen to your heart.

No matter what.

It'll always be
the right call.

(SIGHS)

Come on.

You're kinda freaking me out,
Dad. Come on.

I'm sorry, man.
I don't mean to...

I don't mean to freak you out.

Everything's going to be okay.

Okay.

It went over that rise,
dead center.

I'm on it.

HOLDEN: l want
every sensor we got

looking for that thing.

ALEX: I can give you scopes
and thermals

with full motion detect,

but I can't give you
any active radar or LADAR,

not without making
our presence known

to the patrols upstairs.

When I first saw
that thing outside,

for a split second I thought
I was hallucinating.

But afier hearing
what went down in that lab,

now I wish I kinda had been.

When the European tall-ships
first arrived

on the American continent,

the natives couldn't see them.

The sight was so completely
outside of their experience,

they just couldn't compute.

So they didn't see.

Those natives all got
wiped out in the end,

didn't they?

If that thing out there

really is some sort
of human-proto crap hybrid,

then we're yesterday's model.

Obsolete.

We'll see about that.

(BEEPING)
There it is!

In the ag dome.

Ready PDCs.
Fire control to me.

Why kill it?

It's such a base
human instinct,

to destroy things
we don't understand.

Don't talk down
to me, plant guy.

If you were on Eros,
you'd understand plenty.

You saw it.

What you keep referring
to as a "thing,"

could have been my child.
You don't know that.

Alex, give me the scopes!

PRAX: A child
with a soul, Holden.

Terrified and tortured,

unable to comprehend
what happened to her.

(ALARM BEEPING)

Shit.

What's happening?
Why are we stopping?

There's a patrol
flying overhead.

Do not break off.

If we keep moving
and they see us,

they're gonna send us

a high-explosive
welcome package

and then this hunt is going
to be over permanently.

Right now, we need to look
like part of the scenery.

They'll be outta range
in a couple of seconds.

(ALARM CONTINUES)

(ALARM STOPS)

Get us to the ag dome now.

Aye-aye, Captain.

WOMAN: (OVER PA)
The Eros incident hearings

will commence
in the General Assembly

in five minutes.

(ANNOUNCER ON PA
SYSTEM IN FRENCH)

Jefferson and Jodie...

They don't deserve this.

You'll be strong for them.

You keep this.

You give it to Jefferson
if I can't.

And you tell him that
this medal was given

to the father he knows,

no matter what
he hears about me.

You were instrumental

in bringing Sergeant Draper
to our side.

She's given us
critical information

on the Martian weapons test
on Ganymede.

All of that will go
in your favor.

History's written
by the winners, Chrisjen.

Isn't it?

I promised fire
from the gods

and I delivered smoke.

Jules-Pierre Mao
lied to you.

And now I'm trying to decide
if he is lying to me.

I have received back-channel
communication

from Monsieur Mao.

What does he want?

An end to my public
witch hunt

against his family.

He's demanded
a face-to-face meeting,

at a location of his choosing.

We have to hear him out.

If he's in bed
with the Martians...

He holds
all the cards here.

Make him a peace offer.

I'll grovel, even if it's
from a prison cell.

He won't speak
to you, Sadavir.

Chrisjen, this may be
our only chance

to stay in the game.

They're already
making weapons.

They're testing them...
You honestly believe

that Mars would
use this protomolecule

to destroy Earth?

Yes, I do.

And I couldn't persuade
Jules of that.

But I know that you can.

(SADAVIR SIGHS)

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

(INDISTINCT ANNOUNCEMENT
OVER PA IN BELTER CREOLE)

Hey, we don't...
We don't have much scrip.

Save your scrip.
All are welcome,

long as you enjoy
a hard floor.

I heard they're shutting off
the air handlers

one level at a time.

Then what
everyone gonna do?

Line up over there,
keep out of the way.

Soon as we clear
the cargo hold,

I'll allow you aboard.

I can take you
as far as Europa.

I can help you unload.

That's not necessary.

We wanna work for our passage.

WOMAN: (OVER PA) Please be
advised that water systems

in Sector 3 are
no longer in service.

Once again,
water systems

in Sector 3 are
no longer in service.

You're not welcome
on my ship.

We don't want a ride.

I want to fix your ship.

Your panel was shot to shit.

Thanks to you.

It's being taken care of.

Hey, big fella.

How about corralin'
these folks for me?

What's in it for me?

Guaranteed first-class seat.

Maybe two.
How about that?

Back it up!

Back it up!

Who's working on your ship?

A friend who owed
my dead husband a favor.

He'll get it done.
It's covered.

Your ship is a rust-bucket,

cobbled together
with spare parts.

That's my specialty.

If you want
to get out of here,

and help these people,
you need me.

(CROWD CLAMORING)

(SCOFFS)

You people
are shit-magnets...

ENGINEER:
Goddamn piece of shit.

What the hell are you doing?

That doesn't go there.
Who the hell are you?

Please put those down,

and step away from the panel,
right now.

The hell I Will...

Station power's failing.
There's no time for this shit.

Move! Move!

(KNOCKS ON DOOR)

So where's the old lady?
I was told...

COTYAR: It's Madam
Undersecretary to you.

Or just Madam.

(EXHALES)

ls there a problem?

You're with us because
you betrayed your oath.

Is that a habit for you?

Now, I'll be polite,
but I'm short on time.

I have never
crossed anyone first.

But burn me and mine

and I'll go through you
like a door.

All right, then.

Let's go.

PILOT: (OVER RADIO) We have
confirmed rendezvous coordinates

for Mr. Mao's ship.

We will be
departing momentarily.

Nice of you to join us.

(EXHALES) Just making sure
they didn't lose our luggage.

When was the last time
you left Earth?

None of your goddamn business.

Thought so.

CHRISJEN:
When you mysteriously vanish,

no one will ever find
your body.

We used to use that
for target practice.

Ah, this must be
weird for you.

CHRISJEN:
If it's any consolation,

I don't want
to be here either.

Why am I here?

Because the Martian delegation
is still on Earth

and as long as they are here,

you're a bargaining chip.

So now I've taken you
off the board...

I see,
I'm your property...

Let her win. (SIGHS)
Trust me.

I'm not a fragile flower.

CHRISJEN:
Which is also why you're here.

Any shit hits the fan
out here,

I expect you two
to get me out of it.

PILOT: All hands prepare
for liftoff.

(WHIRRING)

(RUMBLING)

PILOT: Archangel One clear
and on course

for Hotel Echo Oscar
insertion.

(EXHALES)

Say something to distract me.

COTYAR: I don't like
this whole set-up.

Why is Mao suddenly so eager
to come in from the cold?

It reeks.

Actually, be quiet.

(CHUCKLES)

A child can leave Earth
without looking back,

but not an old man.

Jules-Pierre may be
a titan of the system,

but his life, his memories
are anchored to that rock.

That is Earth's real gravity.

It's in there.

(CREAKING AND THUDDING)

Damn it.

(WHIRRING)

I'm going to back us up
and ease us out.

HOLDEN: No, you're not.
Keep going.

Right, you wanna talk
about this for a second?

Not really.

Okay.

Look, those things
you saw on Eros...

I mean, I can't even...

You were in the belly
of the beast, so...

I get why this might be
kinda personal for you.

Good. So let's not
overthink it.

How far are we gonna
take this, Jim?

Got it!

No, please...

That is not your kid!

Not anymore!

All this death?

It's not the protomolecule.

It's Protogen
and men like you.

Damn it, we lost it.
Alex, give me a full 360!

We cannot maneuver here.
Do it!

You ever think that maybe
it's luring us in here?

Are you refusing to fly?

No, sir.

(ALARM BEEPING)

(ALL CLAMORING)
All right, listen up.

Why can't we wait on board?

Air out here is gettin'
like poison...

'Cause she said so, asshole.

People!

We're doin' this my way

or you can find yourself
another ship out of here!

The connectors between
the docks are collapsed.

How we gonna find
another ship?

We're getting on...

MELISSA:
We're shutting the doors

until this crowd calms down!

MELISSA: (OVER PA)
Big guy!

These doors are going
to stay closed

until you get them
under control.

(GRUNTING)

(CLAMORING)

What's going on out there?
People are getting scared.

Which means
they'll start getting ugly.

Hey. You doin' all right?

Yep. (EXHALES)

Another hot day at Pimlico.

Take it easy.
I got this.

I'm gonna need a little nip,
take the edge off.

MELISSA:
Call the refill station and...

ENGINEER: Refills shut down
an hour ago.

MELISSA: This can't be right.

(SIGHS) Take a look
for yourself.

(AMOS GROANS)

Not much longer.

Just the new wiring harness.

What is it?

We've got a problem.

The air refill station's
been shut down.

We can't fill
our ship's air tanks.

How much air do we have?

Not counting us five,

enough for about 52 people.

There's over 100 out there.

And they'll be
coming faster now.

That's not good.

We open that door and announce

we're taking 50
on a ship that fits 300,

they'll tear each other apart
and us.

I'll call the Roci.

Get Holden to come back.

MELISSA: You can't.

The Martian ships have
jammed all our comms.

So we load up everyone

and when our ship comes back,

we transfer the overflow
to the Rocinante.

And when your ship
doesn't come back,

you want to suffocate slow
with a couple hundred people?

I trusted you
to repair my ship,

don't ask me
to trust James Holden.

Are you telling me
we have to leave

all those people behind?

You wanna walk
down that line,

look at every face,
and decide who gets to live?

You think they're going
to let you do that?

We are not fucking
leaving those people here.

KORSHUNOV:
You did your homework.

You knew this was
my favorite opera.

Mmm-hmm.
Don't quote me,

but Earth still makes
the most beautiful music.

Well, there's no
shortcuts to culture.

(SIGHS)
Right? Please.

It's unfortunate
we had to grin

through those
photo ops tonight.

Pretending we'd signed
a peace agreement.

But that's off the table

until we have
our wayward Marine back.

Well, then,
let's talk solutions.

How many times
have we worn our masks

with each other?

It becomes the habit.

What do you say
we break that habit.

For half an hour?

Great. Just had
a new liver installed.

I need to break it in.

Well, sir,
you're in luck.

Scottish gold.
It's 107 years old.

Found in a shipwreck
off Scapa Flow.

(GLASSES CLINK)

Oh.

107 years old...

I love that about Earth.

Well, you know what, you take that bottle.
It's a gift.

But as for
the protomolecule,

Sergeant Draper was witness
to a game-changing technology,

and there can't be peace
if one of us has it

and not the other.

I understand you,
Pyotr, because...

Well, because you're me.

You've chosen to work outside
the limits of your government,

because you knew no one
would see the big picture.

But our hour
on the stage is short.

You gambled everything
on the project, Sadavir.

And now you have debts
you cannot pay.

I'm truly sorry
one of us has to lose.

Oh, don't worry about me.

Or you, for that matter.

God damn it,
think about our people

about to blow each other up
over Ganymede.

And it won't end there.

Let's not let the next war
become our last war.

(ALARM BEEPS)

MAN: (OVER RADIO) Attention-
This is an MCRN priority alert.

MCRN Karakum is en route
to Ganymede Station

and under no circumstances

is the ship
to be interfered...

MCRN is securing
a landing corridor

for an inbound burner.

Those scientists were
packin' up the lab

to leave with that thing.

I'm guessin' that
was their ride.

They're not gonna be too happy

when they find out
their lab rat is loose.

Even more reason
to kill it now.

I guess you got your wish.

Mars is in the
protomolecule business now,

just like everyone else.

You know we don't
know that for sure.

Yeah. We do.

And Ganymede is their
fake war to cover it up.

(ALL CLAMORING)

That lady, she's makin'
a fool of you.

She's usin' you
to keep us off her ship.

No money in savin' refugees.

(GRUNTS)

You lying to me, coyos'?

When you gonna
open this door?

You finished?
Yeah.

She'll fly.

HEY-

You know she's right.

We can't open
that door again.

Why is all new technology
first viewed as a weapon?

To Mars, this could be
the grail

that shaves a century
off our terraforming efforts.

You're in
that much of a rush?

I think you'll empathize.

The young people on Mars

don't give a shit.

They grew up under domes.

They don't embrace
old men's dreams

of turning Mars
into another Earth.

The thing is, of course,

that any power corrupts.

Even old men's dreams.

There's no
evolving past that?

(GROANS)

No, Pyotr.

It was 186 minutes ago.

We spent billions

developing this
simple enzyme,

to debilitate soldiers
taking drugs

for gravity sickness.

Your soldiers.

This enzyme can be genetically
tailored for one recipient.

Absorbed instantly
through the skin,

without a trace.

Cardiac arrest.
An act of God.

I mean, this stuff was
staggeringly effective.

But then, they banned it
under the Brussels Act.

And yet,
here we are, using it.

(BREATHING HEAVILY)

You give a monkey a stick,

inevitably he'll beat
another monkey

to death with it.

(EXHALES)

(GRUNTS)

(PANTING)

You were right.

One of us has to lose.

(GROANING)

(PANTING)

(PHONE BEEPS)

(HYPERVENTILATING)

Help!

I need help!

Get a medic! Get a medic!

PILOT: (OVER RADIO)
Security scans are complete.

We are clear to dock.

Madam Avasarala,
we'll meet you at the air lock.

Aw. Adorable.

That's how you never
see me comin', sister.

(SCOFFS)

I'm running ops here.

Understood?
Not my first rodeo.

Oh, cowgirl,
consider yourself

a diplomatic observer
on this rodeo.

(GUN CLICKS)

You served.

SIGINT, back in the day.

Ah. Military intelligence.

Filing reports and hiding
behind a desk, huh?

Forward observer. I spent
plenty of time in the dirt.

My IQ tested too high
to be a Marine.

And your morals tested
low enough to be a spy.

That's good training
for politics.

No wonder you ended up
in her world.

Actually,
I got her son killed.

Madam, lam Captain Malik.

Welcome aboard
the Guanshiyin.

Thank you, Captain.

My aides.

(PIANO MUSIC PLAYING
OVER SPEAKERS)

It's a beautiful ship.

Earth has been very good
to Mr. Mao.

Do you like cucumbers?

I was going to ask you where
you got those lovely couches,

but I don't want to run out
of sparkling conversation

before your boss joins us.

I don't think that
will be a problem.

(DOOR OPENS)

Madam Undersecretary,

I appreciate
you coming here...

Just get to the fucking point.

(WHIRRING)

PATROL: Karakum, respond.

What the heck?
Karakum, respond.

Holden.
Patrol comms are going nuts.

The Karakum, it...

It's gone.

You mean it veered off?
Or went stealth?

Nah, I mean it...

It went dead.

There's still a heat signature
where it used to be,

but it's all scattered

and dissipating.

I think someone blew it up.

You gonna behave
like a pack of animals?

That's how I treat you!

Hey, hey, hey, hey!

You push him again,

I send you out
the nearest air lock

sa-sa ke?

(RUMBLING)
(SCREAMING)

What was that? MELISSA:
Something fell out of orbit.

Something big.

(RUMBLING)
(SCREAMING)

Stop! Stop! Back!

MELISSA: Naomi, get ready
to push off.

There's nothing we can do.

JULES-PIERRE:
You even arrested my cousin.

He's a monk.

When you exonerate
my family, unconditionally,

unfreeze my assets,

we'll talk about how
I can help keep

Earth and Mars from blowing up
this whole goddamn system.

And I'll remind you,

l chose
to work with Earth first.

And selling yourself to Mars

was the remedy
for a lovers' quarrel?

In time, Earth may
be granted access

to the protomolecule,
same as Mars.

You'll partner
with my companies

in funding and research.

Mars and Earth will maintain
peace through balance,

which you prefer to call
mutually assured destruction.

And you'll remain
in the middle,

benefitting from both,
somehow loyal to both?

It's that simple.

A lovely thought.

But when parents fight,

the child has
a crisis of loyalty.

You've got that
backwards, madame.

Earth and Mars
are the children here,

screaming for their trinkets.

Blind to a miracle...
What is it?

Sir, an urgent tight-beam
from Secretary Errinwright.

Excuse me?
It's for you, sir.

And the Undersecretary.

Put it up.

Time is short,
and I'll be brief.

Martian Defense
Minister Korshunov

suffered a fatal heart attack
earlier this evening.

Simultaneously,
the MCRN Karakum,

dispatched by Korshunov

to take delivery of your
protomolecule technology

was destroyed over Ganymede.

And I gave the order.

And I can give the same order

to end your life
where you breathe

at the same coordinates
I'm sending this message.

You led him right to me...

Don't be an idiot.

SADAVIR: Monsieur Mao...

There were two men
in the entire universe

who could protect
your protomolecule project,

and now Korshunov is dead.

I can assure you

I'm the only friend
you have left

and do not test my resolve
on this.

Chrisjen, if you're listening,

you taught me,

you drilled it into my head,
that Earth must come first.

And now you've thrown me
to the wolves

for fulfilling my sacred oath

while you grove!
at the foot of Mars

and Jules-Pierre Mao.

And that is
the real betrayal here.

So, Jules,

you will clean up the mess
you made for me.

You will return
to Earth alone.

You will await
my instructions.

And you will get the fuck
back to work.

Easy now...

MAN". All systems are online

and we are commencing
pre-flight checks.

We should be ready
to depart the station

in a few minutes.

MELISSA:
Where the hell are you going?

AMOS: Naomi!
What are you doing?

We need
to be strapped in, now.

I'm going to try talking
to those people.

I can't let you do that.

People are scared.

A lot of them are
going to die.

And I know you
can't understand

why that should matter
but that's not my problem.

Those people will kill you.

Let go of me!

Let gm!

(AMOS GROANS)

MELISSA: Don't do it.

Naomi!

(DOOR OPENS)

(ALL CLAMORING)

(BEEPS)

(DOORS SLIDING OPEN)

Listen to me, please!

You! You beltalowda!
(EXCLAIMS)

Letting your own
die out here!

Listen to me!
(GRUNTS)

The ship
has air for 52.

(GRUNTS)
Only 52.

I came out here
to see what you

and I could do about that.

Trying to trick me, huh?
Like that sebakawala

who flies this ship?
(SCREAMS)

Calm these people down
and line them up.

Children first,
best you can.

Do it and I'll trade places
with you.

Why would you do that?

I was on the last ship
off Eros.

I didn't do enough.

I had a brother on Eros.

We all did.

The ship is locked
from the inside!

Get her to open the door!

If they open that door right
now, all of us are dead.

Give her to me
I'll make her talk.

Fifty-two people.
Help me save that many.

(CLAMORING CONTINUES)

(GRUNTS)

Get back!

Everybody back!

Get back!

Go!

(CHAMPA SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)

CHAMPA: Where is your pride,
beltalowdas?

We are tougher
than anyone in the system.

Every single one of you knew,
you were certain,

on the day you were born,
our life is hard.

Now, there is air
for only 52 aboard.

(ALL MURMURING)
Only 52 of us can go.

There will be children,
young women and young men

getting on.

If we have to stay back,
we have to stay back.

So let's be tough
and do what needs to be done.

(EXHALES)

Children, go.

MOTHER: Go!
I'll have my turn.

Stay together.

Go! No, he'll lose his place...

CHAMPA: Next group, go!

Move, move, that's right.

(MOUTHS) Go.
That's good. Keep moving.

Keep moving.

Next group, go.

I'm sorry, sister.
(SOBBING)

And next group, 90!

Come on.

That's it. No more.

Go.

You've earned it.
Thank you.

You're not finished yet.

MAN: (OVER RADIO)
Somnambulist,

this is the harbor master.

You do not have clearance
to leave dock.

Return to your berth
immediately.

You are violating
MCRN flight restrictions.

Please, acknowledge.

I got it!
Alex get me a clear shot!

Let me go out there and see
if I can make contact.

Whatever happens,
it's not on you...

How are you gonna
make contact?

You saw what it did
to those people in the lab.

They had it in a prison.
I need to know.

I can't let you do it.

(ALARM BEEPING) MAN: (OVER RADIO)
This is a harbor master alert.

The Somnambulist
was not clear to depart

and is violating MCRN rules.
All ships...

Holden! The Somnambulist is
pushing off, they're underway!

Things must've gotten
a lot worse on the ground.

Screw this,
we're outta here.

We're not going anywhere
till that thing is dead.

Are you insane? We are in
a Martian No-Fly Zone

and their Black Ops ship
just got blown to hell!

The second the Somnambulist

sticks its head
outta the station

it's gonna get lit up!

Naomi was right.
And you know it.

This ain't
gonna end anything.

And our family
needs our help right now.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

MAN: (OVER RADIO)
Somnambulist.

This is the MCRN Valkyrie.

Return to port
or you will be fired upon.

MELISSA:
Unable to comply.

The station is in collapse.

We are a relief ship,
carrying refugees.

MAN: (OVER RADIO) Standing orders are
that no ship leaves the station.

Return now.
This is your final warning.

We cannot comply!

We surrender. Board us.
Take us into custody.

Just do not fire!

(ALARM BLARING)
(ALL GASPING)

Torpedo launch.

(REFUGEES EXCLAIMING)

(ALL SCREAMING)

(PANTING) Ha-ha!
I got it.

(LAUGHS) I got it.

HOLDEN: Somnambulist,
what's your status?

Status?
You're a son of a bitch!

That's my status.
It's good to hear you, too.

Hold on, kids.
It ain't over.

We're being target-locked.

Well, target-lock them back!
Every ship up there.

Every PDC and torpedo
we've got.

All right. She's bristling.

Give me an open channel.

Oh, man.
Here we go again.

(SIGHS) Okay, you're live.

This is the warship Rocinante.

You're aware
of our capabilities

more than anyone.

We're escorting a vessel of
refugees away from your AO.

Any ship
that opens fire on us

will feel the sum total
of our state-of-the-art

Martian arsenal,
rammed up its ass.

We'll all die together.

This is our only and final
warning, stay clear.

(BEEPS)

You know someone's gonna try
and test us, right?

Nah. Not today.

They're saving their bullets
for each other.

(SCOFFS) I'll be damned.

When'd you
get so wise, Cap?

I'll take it.

ALEX: All right,
we are good to go.

Sending rendezvous coordinates
with the Somnambulist.

(LAUGHS)
Looks like we're clear.

(ALL SIGHING IN RELIEF)

(EXHALES)

You did good today.