The Expanse (2015–…): Season 2, Episode 7 - The Seventh Man - full transcript

DRUMMER: 150 live thermonuclear
missiles under your control.

I believe that makes you the most
powerful man in the system right now.

The only thing those weapons
are good for is first strike.

Hell, they're good
for a lot of things.

They can be used
as deterrents,

or a bargaining chip.

Eros changed everything.

Earth and Mars are scared.

And whenever that happens,
Belters always lose.

Our first priority
is to protect ourselves.

We're gonna take advantage
of every edge we've got.



DOCTOR: He was altered. Part of his
temporal lobe has been effectively erased.

The part
that governs empathy.

Is his condition reversible?
I'm afraid not.

The sooner we have it out
with Earth, the better.

Well, I'm sorry
to disappoint you.

We're not going to Earth.

We've been ordered
to Ganymede Station.

Farm patrol?
We're Marines.

They are engaging in orbit!

Make a line.
Free fire at 500 meters.

God damn it, I need
a surface visual now!

(GROANS)

(GUNNY PANTING)

(THEME MUSIC PLAYING)



(GROANS)

(MAN SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)

The farm was breached.

Life support critical.
You got a hole in your suit.

We're gonna get you out
of here. Hold still.

Almost there.

(GRUNTS)

(BEEPING)
MAN: Clear.

(BEEPING INTENSIFIES)

All we know is that fire
from UNN and MCRN forces

hit one of our
orbital mirrors,

which crashed into the station
and several ag domes.

We estimate over 3,000 dead
and thousands more wounded.

Ganymede is the breadbasket
of the outer planets.

Without us, millions
will go hungry.

This is a humanitarian crisis
of epic proportions.

(BEEPS)

Mars believes that Ganymede
was just a proxy war.

That we'll stay in the sandbox
and fight them there.

But make no mistake,
this was an escalation.

We need to choose an
appropriate Martian target

in response.
Chrisjen.

We invite Mars
to a peace summit.

A peace summit?

And what,
foot massages, too?

Trust me. Mars wants this
worse than we do.

They've got nice,
pretty ships.

But they'll never match our numbers.
They're not idiots.

They were the aggressors
on Ganymede.

So, what was that?
Fear

The whole system has been
a tinderbox since Eros.

No one can explain it.

Mars thinks it's
our weapon.

We think it's theirs.

There are too many ships
in one place.

And we're sending more.

The next step will be war.

We lost on Ganymede,
definitively.

When losers seek peace,
they look even weaker.

A peace summit, here on Earth.
On our terms.

Mars will read it as
a warning.

Which it is.

Forty years ago,
the Vesta Blockade

was the closest
we ever got to the brink.

You know why we barely
avoided mutual extinction?

Because the man
sitting in that chair

decided to talk
instead of shoot.

Ganymede is the worst

it's ever been
between our nations.

It's time to step back

before we're all wandering
through the rubble,

defending ourselves
with rocks and sticks.

You'll never sell it
to the Security Council.

You will sell it.

Because you saved Earth
from Eros.

We all know
who really did that.

And whom do I serve?

Why didn't you
ever run for office?

I like getting shit done.

And I like to keep my head
attached to my neck.

You father was smart.

You're smarter.

MAN: Ganymede Station
refugee ships

are now arriving at docks
three and seven.

AH personnel,
please report.

Refugee ships
waiting to clear...

DAWES: (OVER PHONE) And
despite the circumstances,

it'll be good to see you
again, setara. Until then.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER OVER PA)

MAN: (OVER PA)
All new arrivals must

register their ID
with state authority.

ALEX: Right, you got
a little bit of food,

a little bit of water
on the menu,

and a little bit of magic.

You guys know
what magic is?

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

AMOS: One to a person.

Here you go, one each.

DAWES: We here
for to tell you

all beltalowda are
welcome on Ceres.

(ALL CHEERING)

Ceres is your home.

Anderson Dawes.

Canterbury had
to pay tribute to him

every time
we parked on Ceres.

Belter tax.

Oh, is that
what he calls it?

We used to call it
a shakedown.

You think that's
why Belters love him?

Because he lined
his own pockets for years?

Dawes put all of those bribes
back into the neighborhood.

Yeah, now he's practically
running Ceres.

About time a Belter was.

See?

You're already friends.

AMOS: One to each person.
One each.

One per person.

I said one each.
Back off.

Leave my mother alone.

You leave her alone.

(CHILD CRYING)

Sergeant Draper.

Gunny.

You're on the Scirocco.
I'm Commander Thorsen.

Can we get you anything?

A porterhouse.

Medium-rare.

Okay, I'll see
what I can do.

For the kids, too.

Except Hilly.
She's a vegan.

Gunny, I'm sorry to be
the one to tell you,

but no one
from your team made it.

(SIGHS)

What happened?

I was hoping
you could tell us.

(SIGHS)

The suit feeds...
All lost with your team.

Under the mirror arrays.

Gunny, you're
the only one who survived,

our only eyes and ears
on what happened down there.

Now, you said that
you were under attack.

You reported shots fired
along the UN line.

(WHIMPERS)

Six Blues.

(BREATHING HEAVILY)

They were coming right at us.

Then we got jammed, I...

I grabbed Travis
and we made a line.

Six Blues charging you?
No.

No, wait,
there was a seventh.

Lieutenant Sutton, he would've
picked up on it. He was...

Lieutenant Sutton was killed

with 11 others
on the Scirocco.

(GASPING)

(SOBBING)

(MACHINE BEEPING)

NURSE:
She's bleeding again.

Nurse, we need a sedative.
Yes, sir.

(WHIMPERING)

It's all right, Gunny.

(BEEPING CONTINUES)

Dr. Cortazar,
they changed your brain

with that procedure.

That's forever, right?

It was temporary at first.

Dresden never coerced
any of us.

When did you decide
to make it permanent?

That first day,
within five minutes.

I knew I'd never go back.
Why?

The calm I felt.

It was like a terrible storm
had lifted.

It was painless, you know?
The procedure.

If you are interested...
I didn't say that.

Today there was this boy

that looked at me
like I was a monster.

I think I scared his mother.

I didn't mean to.

It made me remember
when I was that boy.

Hmm. So, somebody
hurt your mother.

I lost her
a long time ago.

And then there was Lydia.

Who?

Just someone
that looked after me.

And you loved them.

I think I did.

I loved my mother, too.

It was the residue
of guilt, shame...

Need.

Love kept me at her bedside
until she died.

Nearly caused me to miss out

on the greatest work
humanity has ever undertaken.

The protomolecule

devours old constructs
and recreates them.

It only moves forward.

As we must.

Move forward?
What do you mean?

You want to be
that real boy again.

To feel how you felt
before the world broke you.

The safety
of your mother's embrace.

But you cauterized all that
in order to survive.

You don't want
that back again.

Stomp out those last embers
and you'll be free of it.

We are about to rewrite that
entire story of humanity.

And, if you like, you can
be a part of that, too.

I can help you.

I know how.

FRED: Thank you all
for your presence today.

We are here,

not as Black Sky,
or lnaros,

or Tres Copains,
or any other.

We are Belters.

(CROWD CHEERING)

And we have a historic
opportunity before us.

First, Eros.

Now, Ganymede.

Earth and Mars
have pushed themselves

to the brink

and they'll have to find
a path to peace.

Or risk mutual annihilation.

What then? The Belt is
just gonna get an invite

when the lnners are busy
divvying up the Solar System?

(CROWD CLAMORING)
FRED: We...

We can buy a ticket.
The OPA just saved Earth.

And if that is not sufficient
enough to earn their respect,

we have their missiles.
(CROWD MURMURING)

FRED: And that
is our ticket to the table.

But we must come
together first.

A unified Belt must send
a representative

that speaks for all of us.

(CROWD MURMURING)

You look good
in a suit, Fred.

(ALL LAUGHING)

MAN: Earther who thinks
he's a Belter,

goes home to Earth
begging for table scraps,

and maybe he forgets
about us,huh?

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
FRED: No, no.

The Belt needs a born Belter
to be its voice.

Anderson Dawes
should represent us.

(DAWES LAUGHS)

(CLEARS THROAT)

Excuse me,
no disrespect.

(SIGHS)
I just imagined the look

on the lnners' faces

when they see who is sitting
across the table from them.

(ALL LAUGHING)

I would be honored
to represent the Belt.

(ALL CHEERING AND APPLAUDING)

It's a beautiful dream
he has, huh?

Earth and Mars at peace.

And the Belt, equal
partners in that peace.

(CROWD CHEERING)

But is it too much
an Earther's dream?

I do not doubt his heart.

Fred Johnson
has proven himself

to be a true friend
to the Belt.

But as much as I fear war
between Earth and Mars,

I fear the peace more.

For that is when they will

turn their sights back
on all of us.

The lnners
are not like us.

Earthers cannot look
upon a thing

but wonder
who it belongs to, huh?

To make it their possession.

"Possession is nine-tenths
of the law," they say.

But that is not the way
of the Belt.

We say, "The more you share

"the more your bowl
will be plentiful.

"And those that
will not share..."

(CROWD SPEAKING
IN BELTER CREOLE)

And if we are all welwalas...

Kowmang gonya die!

(CROWD CLAMORING)

Earthers, Martians,

they see us
as their possessions.

(CROWD MURMURS IN AGREEMENT)

Animals to test
their new weapons on.

And, make no mistake,
they will do it again.

We must protect ourselves
against these weapons.

(CROWD CHEERING)

We must find out
what it was!

FRED: It is my hope

that someday we will know
the whole truth of Eros.

But right now, we believe

that we have
destroyed the threat

when we took over
Protogen's station.

We killed the madman
who made that weapon.

We've seen Eros
burn up into Venus.

Earth knows that the wrath
is coming from this house.

They almost lost their planet
as a result.

They don't want another Eros
any more than we do.

Fred Johnson says
that we are safe.

(ALL CHUCKLING)

But I say,

once a thing is written...

(CROWD SPEAKING IN BELTER
CREOLE) It is forever.

(CROWD CLAMORING)

HOLDEN: I was on Eros!

I was on Eros.

I saw it dying.

And I was there
when we killed

the bastards who did it.

It was a small group,

we believe not working
on behalf of any government.

And I think Fred is right.

The threat
has been eliminated.

And those missiles
you have...

Earth and Mars have pointed
those damn things

at each other
for over 100 years.

So, let's give them back.
Yes.

Returning them will show
that the Belt

is ready to lead the peace.

James Holden, huh?
Beratna.

(CROWD APPLAUDING)

You see, one by one,

the best Earth has to offer
us are coming to our fight!

But I think he's idealist,
my friend.

And idealism is a luxury
of the Inner planets.

But I agree with you
about the missiles.

No! Felotas! No, no!

We divide them
amongst the factions.

Let each decide
for themselves, huh?

Keeping... Keeping...
Keeping the missiles

is an act of war

which will lead
to the end of the Belt.

Using them gets us
the same results.

That is why
they are both right.

The missiles are
useless to us.

(CROWD CLAMORING)

You, setara.

You were on
Eros, too, yeah?

You think this is over?

I hope that it is.

I have a feeling Fred
and Dawes have a history.

Which is why you should have
stayed out of it.

Fred needed back up.
I couldn't just sit there.

That was OPA business.
Fred has plenty of supporters.

But not ones
who were on Eros.

Do you know what
everyone saw in there?

Do you know what
Anderson Dawes saw in there?

You and Fred Johnson,

two big, nice Earthers,

telling Belters
how they should run the Belt.

We're all in this goddamn
thing together

and everyone keeps telling me
to pick a side.

Those fuckers who did Eros
sure as hell picked a side.

So, great.

Everything is as
it should be then.

If Eros rammed
into Earth,

wiped out half of your people,
then you'd know.

THORSEN: How're you feeling?
GUNNY: I'm good, sir.

Good. I see your red meat's
done you some good.

Tank-grown,
but still not bad.

You ever been to Earth?

Soon enough, sir.

My mother was
Foreign Secretary,

took me there on a dip
tour when I was 15.

I trained in one G
since I could walk,

but it's different
when you're there.

This oppressive pull down.

It pulls their spirits
down with it.

I look forward to
experiencing it firsthand.

This interview
is being recorded.

You radioed Sutton

and said your team
was under attack.

Your reported shots fired
from the UN line, then?

Seven Blues
were charging at us,

about two klicks out.

Then we got jammed. I grabbed
Travis and we formed a line.

So, seven UN Marines

started charging
and shooting at you?

What's weird is that there
was only seven of them.

That's...“.
That's less than a third

of their full garrison.
Why would they...

Let's just focus
on the facts.

Seven Blues in a line,
coming hard at you.

Seventh man...

He was behind them...

The ag drone.

Before the Blues
were charging at us,

Hillman spotted a stray
ag drone over our position.

You need to check
that drone's feed.

We'll certainly
look into that.

So, seven UN Marines
were charging you...

It didn't make sense.

Sounds like you're saying
Earth initiated the attack.

That“
That's what I'm saying.

Yes.

Seven UN marines...

Yeah, they were
charging at us.

(BREATHING HEAVILY)
They were firing at us.

They... They jammed our comms.
I saw ships engaging in orbit.

And the Blues, they were
closing in on us fast.

Fucking Earth
has attacked us.

They want a war?

We'll give them
a goddamn war.

Oh, I could use
one of these.

Guarding the dogs
on Ceres.

I don't think the Martians
will give you one.

They didn't
give you one either.

Legitimate salvage.

It most certainly is.

I wanted to thank you
for your words earlier.

You've inspired the Belt
more than you know.

Well, we're all
in this together.

That is a story,
I like it.

It's the truth.

The truth is...

It's never what you expect it
to be, eh?

Mmm.

You mean, like,
all Earthers aren't scumbags?

And some Belters
are just full of shit?

I didn't say
it was the whole story.

Just the useful part.

What do you want?

To know
the part of the story

that you and Fred Johnson
left out.

We told you what we saw
and what we did.

And in all your travels,
Eros and back,

you came away with nothing

that could help the Belt
defend itself?

There wasn't time.

Now that is a story.

HOLDEN: Hey, fearless champion
of the Belt,

you want to paint me
as one of the bad guys

'cause I am an Earther?

Have a great time.

Good and bad, don't get
distracted by that.

It will just confuse you.

Good men do bad things,
like Fred Johnson.

And bad men
do things believing

it's for the good
of all mankind.

That's how I know
this isn't over, setara.

I can't rely on hope.

We nearly lost Earth
in all this, too, you know?

And yet, there she is. Hmm?

Shining like a jewel.
Enough.

We're really busy.

All right. All right.

Let's say I believe you.

I... I believe you.

Fred Johnson is tactical.

He can't think any other way.

He wouldn't offer me up
to the Inner planets

as his errand boy

or be willing to return
Earth's missiles so readily

unless he had
another card to play.

Mmm. None that we know of.

Now get off my ship.

(LAUGHS) You remind
me of someone.

Just missing the heart,
that's all.

Belters will never unify
under Fred Johnson's flag.

True, setara.

Earth will never forgive him
for the past.

And after the Nauvoo,

his days on Tycho
are numbered.

Any weapon that
Fred Johnson has

is vulnerable.

We are in this together,
otherwise we are all lost.

(PANTING)

(GRUNTING)

Ah. Shit.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

MARTENS: You know we can
get you a new suit.

Fuck off.

Sorry, sir.
No disrespect intended.

At ease. Captain Martens.

Chaplain?
Hmm.

When I marked my 2790
as "none,"

I was serious.

Well, don't worry,
I'm not here to proselytize.

You went through something
pretty horrible down there,

whatever you're feeling
is okay.

I'm a Marine.
I'll be fine.

You know, I served
with your father.

He would have been
very proud of you.

My father?

Do they teach you that
in Chaplain 101?

(CHUCKLES)

He was so disappointed

when your brothers
all went to AMT.

Mars needs
its engineers, too.

It does.

Thank you for coming by, sir.
Bobbie.

Sergeant Draper.

No,no,no.

MCRN Command is going
to need

your cooperation with
the investigation on Ganymede.

But you can speak
off the record with me,

if you want.

Just tell me
what really happened.

There was a stray ag drone
over our position.

Have you checked
that drone's feed yet?

We were on high alert
for anything in that area.

There was no drone
over your position.

No, no. That's not right.
I saw it.

You think I'm making it up.
No. No.

I believe you saw something.

Now, you say it was
a drone, okay.

What I wanna know is why is
that so important to you?

And why are you
so interested in it?

What do you think it saw?
What did you see, Bobbie?

I can't remember.

Okay. It's okay.

We can help you with that.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

Assistant Director
of Operations.

You've come a long way

since the loading docks
on Ceres, eh, mali?

You don't get to call me
that anymore, pampa.

From what people tell me,

you're the one really running
things around here. Hmm?

We need you back home.

It's hard to find good people.

I prefer it here.

This floating tin can?

I don't know if it's
the aching bones

or the constipation
I'll miss more.

(CHUCKLES)

You've been on Ceres
tool ong, eh?

You forget how to be
a good rock hopper.

You're constipated,
you suck a stone

to get things moving.

If it's the other problem,

you shove that rock
up their ass.

(LAUGHS) Come on.
(CHUCKLES)

If we are going
to reminisce,

let's at least
get a drink, huh?

We'll toast to Fred Johnson's
secret weapon.

It sharpens your mind.

(EXHALES)

THORSEN: (ON MONITOR) Gunny,
let's go back to Ganymede.

There were shots
along the UNN line.

Seven UN Marines
charged your position.

Is that correct?

Six Marines headed our way.

Closing fast. They appear
to be charging us.

GUNNY:
Six in formation up front

and the seventh bringing
up the rear.

(HIGH-PITCH WHIRRING)
(ALL GROAN)!

Travis, Sa'id.
Marines, do you copy?

I'm sorry.

Gunny, focus. A seventh man
was bringing up the rear?

The seventh man,
he was chasing them.

The UN Marines,
they weren't firing at us,

they were shooting
behind them, at him.

THORSEN: Then what happened?

GUNNY: They are engaging
in the orbit.

Who fired?
Not our problem.

Spread out. Make a line.
Free fire at 500 meters.

We formed a line.

(INDISTINCT SHOUTING)

(SOBBING) I'm so sorry.
Sergeant.

GUNNY:
That's when I saw the drone.

It was waiting.

Sergeant, what happened next?

Continue, that's an order.

The seventh man,
he wasn't wearing a vac suit.

That's enough.

She's had enough.

(GASPING)

FRED: He's getting new data.
He says it's talking to him.

What does that mean?

He says there is more
protomolecule out there.

But Phoebe's gone.
We drove Eros into Venus.

We killed it.
Apparently not all of it.

Well, does he know where?

Not yet.
But he's going to find out.

And then what?

And then we'll have it

and Cortazar will help us
understand it.

And the nightmare starts over.

No. If the Belt
has the protomolecule,

no one will ever
use it against us again.

Diogo Harari.

Forgive the intrusion.

I'm Anderson Dawes.

I wanted to meet the boy
who was found floating

beyond Hidalgo.

How long were you out there

before those rock hoppers
picked you up?

Uh, long time.

(SPEAKING IN
BELTER CREOLE)

Days.

Were you scared?

And then you fought alongside
Josephus Miller, huh?

Yeah, yeah. Beratnas.

(SPEAKING IN
BELTER CREOLE)

You were on Eros
with him, too?

And before,
on that Earther station?

Yeah, yeah.
With Miller, too.

I better keep my eye on you.

Soon your legend
will be better than mine.

Must have been a great raid.

Important station like that.
Sa-sa ke.

No time. Fred Johnson
just want people.

Scientists.

What for, do you pensa?

(SIGHS)

You ran with
the Five Points crew.

I grew up
in the Rosse Burt, too.

(SIGHS)

Do you know
how old you are?

Nineteen, I think.

Earther years.

Even our sense of time
comes from them.

The time it takes the Earth
to spin on its axis...

The Earth to go once
around the Sun.

(CHUCKLES) On Jupiter,

you'd be celebrating
your first birthday.

It's hard to feel we
matter out here, isn't it?

The distances are so vast.

It's hard to believe

that we can make a difference.

Sergeant Draper.

In recognition of your
extraordinary service to Mars,

MCRN Command has awarded you
the Purple Heart.

Thank you, sir.

After the shit show
on Ganymede,

Earth and Mars are meeting
for an emergency summit.

Your firsthand account
of what happened

will lay the groundwork
for what's to come.

You'll tell them your story.

Uh, tensions were high...

Uh, in the confusion
of a communications blackout,

your team fired first.
Sir.

Did you say
we shot first?

Well, given the lack of intel,

that's a
supportable conclusion.

(STAMMERS) They fired first.

Maybe not at us, but
they definitely fired first.

Sergeant,
this is bigger than you...

I know I'm not wrong
about that.

Well, truth is a tricky thing
especially when...

They stormed our line.

That thing was
driving them...

I don't want to hear any more
talk about a thing, Gunny.

Are we clear?

Yes, sir.

You know what I remember
most about Earth, Gunny?

Oh, so you're gonna tell me
a fucking story now

to sell me
on this bullshit?

My apologies, sir.

Is that right, Gunny?

You're the only witness
from Mars and Earth.

And Ganymede could be

the spark that leads
to an all-out war.

Do you understand?

The UN has to manage
your direct testimony.

When you get there,
you'll tell them your story.

When I get there?

Sergeant, you are
going to Earth.

(DOOR BEEPS)

(GUN COCKING)

(INDISTINCT VOICES)

How can I help you, Holden?

HOLDEN: (OVER PHONE)
Where's Cortazar?

Under guard in his cell.

I'm in his cell right now.
He's gone.

So are his guards
and his data cores.

Lock down every berth.

No one leaves
without my authorization.

Give me eyes on Dawes' ship.

(BEEPING)

(INDISTINCT ANNOUNCEMENT
OVER PA)

(ALARM BLARING)

He's taken Cortazar.

(SPEAKING IN
BELTER CREOLE)

(BEEPING)

EDIN: Docking clamp release,
Berth 38-C!

Override it.

Can't do.
System's locked out.

They just killed
their transponder.

They are trying to go dark.
Maintain visual.

Alex, are you on the Roci? ALEX:
(OVER PHONE) Sure am, Hoss-

But what is going on?

Dawes has Cortazar,
he's running.

NAOMI: What?

Dust off, now!
Copy that.

Let's roll. HOLDEN:
Is Amos with you?

I don't know where he is.
Get your ass down here.

We'll lose him if you wait.
Just go! Go!

Tycho TC, this is Rocinante
requesting emergency release.

(BEEPS)

They cut their drive.
Ah, shit!

Standard evasive maneuvers,

they're going to alter course
on their thrusters

and then kick
the drive back in.

Widen out your visual.
Try and reacquire.

(BEEPING)

Got 'em.
Hang on.

Prepare the PDCs.

We cannot shoot them down.

Not down. Out.

(SCREEN CLACKING)

Steady. Steady.

Gotcha.

(ALEX CHUCKLES)

(SIGHS)
ALEX: Seal is good.

You're gonna have to force
their air-locked door.

We should wait for backup.

Every second we wait
is another second

that Dawes can put
a bullet in Cortazar's head.

God only knows what
Cortazar's told him already.

Safety's off.
ls that what you want?

Force the air lock.

If it comes down to it,
I go low, you go high.

Open our door on my mark.
Ready?

Three, two, one.
(DOOR BEEPS)

Don't shoot,
boss man.

You got me.
Just me.

Turn around,
you little shit.

I got nothing!

NAOMI: (OVER PHONE) We lost
Dawes- He's got Cortazar.

They're gone.