The Expanse (2015–…): Season 3, Episode 1 - Fight or Flight - full transcript

Proton molecule... they gave
the goddamn thing a name.

We did not choose this,

but this is our fight now.

We'll hide it.

No one knows we have it.

It'll be safe.

What's happening?

Eros has changed trajectory.

It's now on a direct
collision course with Earth.

They left me here all alone.

I just want to go home.



Why don't we go to Venus?

The Eros incident was our
first contact with alien life.

It's too dangerous to leave
our sample out there anymore.

We should kill it,
drive it into the goddamn sun.

It's the only way.

It's done?

Yeah, it's done.

They are engaging in orbit!

Free fire, 500 meters!

What do you know about
Dr. Lawrence Strickland?

He's my daughter's pediatrician.

You're going to Ganymede
to find Dr. Strickland.

Please take me with you.

You were right about
that thing on Ganymede.



It was a weapons test.

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

What were you doing
with the protomolecule?

We made it... in our own image.

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

Got it!

No, please!

That is not your kid!

Not anymore!

Monsieur Mao, the MCRN "Karakum"

dispatched by Korshunov

to take delivery of your
protomolecule technology

was destroyed over Ganymede.

And I gave the order.

Get down!-

- You're shot.
- Go to the airlock, go.

Fire!

The creature gets energy
from radiation.

We lure it out.

Prax, it's not Mei!

Firing up the barbecue.

I think we've stopped.

The protomolecule
has changed everything.

I don't ever remember a time

when Earth, Mars, and the Belt
weren't fighting.

No one knows
what the protomolecule wants

or what it's doing,

but they are using it anyway.

Earth has it;

Mars has it;

And the Belt needs it too.

Naomi...

what did you do?

I gave the protomolecule
to Fred Johnson.

The Arboghast was above
the Eros impact crater

when the astonishing
event occurred.

Experts throughout the system

are now training
their instruments on Venus

to observe the activity
of what multiple sources

are calling "the protomolecule."

In what many believe
is a prelude to war.

Planetary defenses
have been placed on high alert

as UNN ships were dispatched
from Earth and Luna

to reinforce fleets
in the Belt and Outer Planets.

After accusing the UN

of assassinating
Defense Minister Korshunov...

And imperialism of Earth
for far too long.

And now their actions
have brought us to the brink.

If they wish
to test us in battle,

we are ready.

We will not back down.

Our people are united
in purpose.

Mars shall prevail.

A sense of despair is pregnant.

Most Belters believe
that this time,

war is inevitable.

Third Fleet
is on intercept, sir.

Awaiting engagement
authorization.

We need to get Mars
back to the table

before this madness
spreads past Ganymede.

Where the hell is Chrisjen?

We don't know.

She still hasn't reported in.

Sir, any overtures
towards peace,

it would be a grave mistake.

I'm the Secretary General.

I will make that decision.

Of course you will, sir.

We were just sitting
across the table,

hammering out a treaty.

It was a Martian smokescreen

to take advantage
of the chaos after Eros.

All the while, they were
redeploying their fleets.

Followed by a wave of lies,

accusing us of assassinating
Defense Minister Korshunov

or firing the first shots
over Ganymede.

We don't know who fired
the first shots...

Enough!

Mars has bloviated for a century

about creating a paradise
for its people.

And what
have they built instead?

War.

Sir, every conflict assessment
concludes the same thing.

They have better ships,

but we have significantly more.

In an all-out war, we prevail.

All-out war?

If Mars gets a hold
of whatever's on Venus,

this alien technology,

I believe Earth is over.

This is happening on my watch.

I get to wear this, not you.

Sir, in five years,
Mars will have the strength

to impose their will
on the system,

to shut Earth off
from the resources of the Belt.

I mean, at that point,
we may as well be their colony.

Future generations
will look back on this day

as the moment that
you forged your legacy.

Convene the Security Council.

I want a formal
declaration of war.

You heard the Secretary General.

Let's go.

Get this clear, people.

I need five scenarios,
including exit strategies.

Joe, go with her.

Reactor shielding's intact.

Nothing critical damaged.

Boys...

There any more residual
protomolecule back there?

No, I think we're square.

All right, head in.

Prax...

Prax,

you got the cargo bay
shield up yet?

Yeah, I was...
just finishing up.

Amos.

Look, I know Holden,

and there's no way he's okay

after everything that went down.

What do we do?

We leave him the fuck alone.

Amos, listen to me...

Hey, you like Ceres, right?

There's probably a lot
of great dock work on there,

and we know
they got good brothels.

What the hell
you going on about?

Our family is falling apart.

- Do you understand that?
- We were never a family, Alex.

All we did was draw
lucky straws on the Cant.

We were stronger together;
Now we're not.

So that's your answer.

After everything
we've been through,

our ship, our home,
you want to lose the "Roci"?

You mean the ship
that we stole from Mars?

We're the only ones
who can fix this.

You keep telling yourself that.

No, we're not done here.

Look, just look in my eyes and
tell me the God's honest truth.

What were you thinking

when Naomi told you
what she did?

I'm not gonna lie, I didn't
know what she was saying,

'cause my blood
was so hot in my ears.

She's not the person
I thought she was.

Guys, check your alerts.

We're about to be
in the middle of a war zone.

We'll need
a new transponder name

and drive signature.

This ship would be a prize
for either side.

Copy that.

It's okay.

Stay with me now.-

- Stay with me.

It's okay.

It's okay.

We still have hostiles on board.

They've killed the elevator,
which is our only way out.

So first things first.

I'm gonna leave the room
for five minutes.

You can hold the fort that long.

I brought you so you could
hold the fucking fort, not me.

Go, Bobbie, get out of here.

Shut up.-

- Pick it up.

I don't want to.

Pick it up!

If anyone else but me
comes through that door,

you put them on the ground.

Don't you dare leave us here.

I'll be right back.

You're fired!

I thought we had a deal.

New deal.

I was rooting for you.

It's what kept me going.

I need you to help me
take control of the ship.

I'm just a junior electrician.

Well, today you
get to be a hero.

Cargo bay is sealed
and pressurized.

Inners finally got their war.

I need a new name
for our transponder.

From me?

Why not?

Okay, how about, um...

How about "Contorta"?

It's short for Pinus Contorta
or P. Contorta.

It's this type
of pine tree from Earth,

does surprisingly well in low-G.

Spent a lot of time with them
for my dissertation.

They're good company.

Actually quite fascinating.

In order for them to survive,
they have to die with fire.

The seeds come out of the fire.

That's the wisdom of the pines.

I could say you owe me

or that we have a debt
to settle,

but that would be playing
yesterday's game.

And there's no longer time
for that,

because now the Belt
is in a position

to become an equal player,

because I have
the Inners' weapon,

and you have the key
to harnessing that weapon.

The more you share,

the more your bowl
will be plentiful.

Why are you looking
at me like that?

I saved your life.

I have a new dent in my skull.

Would you like another one?-

Where's our Martian tank?

So you're in charge of defense?

Damn right.

Well, it suits you.

Errinwright gave the order
to kill you.

He'll want confirmation,

which he won't get
from that guy.

So what's Errinwright's
next move?

He's got people
on that escort ship.

We have to assume
they'll be back.

So we'll take control
of this boat,

haul ass to that safe port,

where we can broadcast out
for help.

Unless you have
a better bad idea.

No.

- All right, I'm ready.
- Wait.

- Let's do this.
- Let me help you.

Hold on... what?

Maybe I'll just...

for a minute.

Shit.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!

Well done, Madam.

This is Theo.

He's gonna help us out.

Give me that.

Yeah.

Fleet reports, sir.

Leave them with the office.

I have a draft
of an official statement

for you to review, sir.

Keep me apprised
of any additional changes.

Yes, sir.

Privacy.

Have you heard from Avasarala?

No, you?

No.

She knows.

What the hell you talking
about, Sadavir?

Sir, we need to discuss Eros.

Right now?

I haven't been forthright

about Avasarala's absence

or her recent actions,

not while there was
still any doubt.

Doubt about what?

I believe she's involved

in a conspiracy
against this government.

You'd better be goddamn sure

before bringing charges
like that to me.

For several years,

Chrisjen has been running
a shadow government.

Her public attacks

against Jules-Pierre Mao
and Fred Johnson

were calculated to cover up
the truth about Eros,

that it was a weapons test
of the alien technology.

She saved Earth from Eros.

From a disaster
that she unleashed herself.

Look, it was Chrisjen
who convinced us

to give control of the missiles
to Fred Johnson

during the Eros crisis...

Missiles that still go
unaccounted for.

So where is she now?

According to my sources,

she's left for a covert meeting

on board a ship
owned by Jules-Pierre Mao,

accompanied
by the Martian defector.

And that ship is currently
running dark in the Belt.

Why the hell wouldn't you
tell me about this, Sadavir?

Because this is a woman I love.

Christ, she's almost
a mother to me.

If our relationship
has blinded my judgment,

I'll answer for that.

Do you think

that she would offer
the protomolecule to Mars?

Anything's possible

when she realizes
she's no longer safe.

What do you want me to do?

Apprehend her,

at all costs.

They had a sample all along.

Holden lied to us.

Who told you where to find it?

Naomi Nagata.

Bitch.

Now we have a deterrent.

And that means power.

And how long before
Anderson Dawes

steals this from you too?

No, he's not gonna steal it,

because I already told him.

Look, he has the scientist

who's the key
to opening this lock.

You told him?

New day, new bedfellows.

We can't afford
to be shortsighted right now.

You're crawling into bed
with Anderson Dawes...

Who incited my Belters

into nearly firing missiles
at Earth...

who nearly destroyed Tycho
and got both of us killed.

Transponder's done.

Masking our transponder

isn't gonna keep us alive
for very long.

We should go to Tycho!

No.

Fred Johnson will help us.

Of course he will.

You brought him the blue goo.

Now you want to bring him
a nice little warship.

What the hell
were you thinking, Naomi?

Do you have any idea how many
more people are gonna die

because of what you did?

Fewer Belters...

Are you kidding me?

You know, I wanted to give
that shit to Mars, remember?

But we all decided as a group

to fly that crap into the sun.

So what gives you the right

to make that decision
for all of us?

We were talking about survival.

Tycho is how we survive.

We're not going to Tycho.

We'll take our chances
on Pallas or Ceres.

There's plenty of places
to hole up and ride this out.

Everyone knows who we are,

and a lot of them
consider us criminals.

Five minutes after we dock,

they'll rat us out to Mars
for a nice little finder's fee.

And if it's a Martian patrol,

they will take back
this ship by force.

And if it's an Earth patrol,
they'll just blow us up.

We've got no friends,
no safe harbor.

We are living on borrowed time

if we don't get
this ship parked.

Get us to Tycho,

and you'll never
have to see my face again.

Come on, let's finish this up.

All right, bring it in.

Get behind me.

This is gonna get ugly.

Don't shoot.

We're unarmed.

We're just a flight crew.

I tweaked the engines
to burn hot and dirty.

As long as no one
gets too close,

we'll just look like
another shitty freighter.

When you're done, have Alex
power down the comms array

for silent running.

Roger that.

We should go to Tycho.

Alex thinks so too.

I hate it, but she's right.

Tycho?

It's the only way
to keep the crew breathing

and out of a Martian gulag.

Fred Johnson's
the devil we know.

And he owes us,
because of Naomi.

Yep.

Let me know
when everything's finished.

How's your leg?

It's fine.

Is it?

Because you seem like you're
in a lot of pain, and I just...

I'm good.

I'm good.

Okay.

You should try tea.

Hey, are you okay?

Feels like a hangover.

Yeah, you'll be okay.

I always wanted
to fly this thing.

They tell you,
get your training,

get certified,

and then they never let you
near the control room.

It's a total
who-you-know type deal,

this whole company.

What was that?

What the hell are you doing?

That wasn't me.

It's the automatic defense
countermeasures.

Defense against what?

Errinwright is going
with missiles

from that escort ship.

That would have been
my move too.

Missiles?

17 minutes till impact

if this perfume bottle
maintains current thrust.

Shit, wait.

When I was not selling out
to the captain,

he told us Mao
kept his kid's ship

up in the hangar bay...

A racing ship.

Let's go, move.

All communications
come through here, yes?

A record of every message
in and out of the ship?

There's a comms buffer
somewhere in the memory panels.

- Get it for me, please.
- Now?

Is this our priority?

Errinwright's message
should be on there,

the one that proves he's
a treasonous piece of shit

whose balls
should be ground into...

It proves nothing
if we're space junk.

There are dozens
of modules in that system.

It would take me hours.

Then stop wasting time.

It's my job to keep you alive,

and you're making it
damn difficult.

If I don't have any evidence,

then my life
isn't worth much either.

Should I just pick her up?

You try it.

There's no time.

Hey, hey, hey.

You, you're scared.

You're overwhelmed.

And so are we.

Take a breath.

You have a family
you want to get back to,

someone you love.

We're the same.

Now focus and get me
what I need.

It is very important.

The ship is pretty tense.

You could have mentioned
that on Tycho.

Some things are
in flux right now.

Nature's only constant...
Change.

You really like
botany metaphors.

How about one for a guy

who has a problem
tilting at windmills?

Tilting at windmills?

I tend to take on fights
that can't be won.

It's nice to let go
of all of that.

It's too bad.

It's the way a child
looks at things,

with a sense of the possible.

A child who won't grow up
turns into a fool.

But fools keep going,

even when they know
there's no chance of winning.

I knew a guy like that once.

What happened to him?

That wasn't Mei on our ship.

There was nothing human
in those eyes.

I'll probably never know.

I got to learn
to live with that...

Not knowing.

I got it. I got it.

You've done your planet
a great service.

She says that to everyone.

Let's go.

Clear.

That's a Series-6.

- A two-seater.
- Fuck!

There's got to be a way
we can all fit in there.

Pilot and navigator.

Anyone not strapped in
is hamburger

at the speeds that
ship will be moving.

I'm certified. I can fly it.

You're coming with me
to the drop ship.

Bobbie, you'll fly
Avasarala out of here,

somewhere you can
broadcast out for help.

You can pilot, right?

- Well enough.
- Does that mean yes?

That means I'll handle it.

Hey, I checked the flight deck
when I got my armor.

They've shot the pilot
and trashed the controls.

We'll manage.

I'm not getting
into that fucking coffin!

Yeah, but you are.

- The hangar bay won't open.
- What?

It's the countermeasures.

When the ship's under threat,

everything goes into lockdown.

Find us another way.

I'm sorry.

At full burn,
the bay will never open.

Stay here.

All right.

Let's... put you to sleep.

Record message.

From Alex Kamal
to Talissa and Melas Kamal,

Residential Dome 2-6,
Breach Candy District.

Hey, y'all.

This is Alex, your daddy.

Well, I mean, your husband
and your daddy.

This feels kind of awkward,
actually,

talking like we all
don't know each other.

But I guess it's...
It has been a while.

You know, you might not even
recognize me, little guy.

So I should have called you
after the Donnager, I know.

Well, I guess I'm doing it now,
right?

Better late than never.

Sorry.

I know you hate when I say that.

Look.

I just want to make sure
y'all are safe,

with everything that's been
going on right now.

I don't think Earth
would ever bomb Mars,

but people have acting
real crazy lately.

So you pay
extra special attention

to those drills at school,
all right, cowboy?

You listen
to what the government

and your mama tells you.

It'll keep you safe.

I've been an awful husband...

and a worse father.

I know.

I'm just trying to...

I'm just trying
to do some good out here.

And we have.

I have.

I think...

I think this is what I've
always really wanted to do...

More than I wanted
to be there with you.

I just could never
really tell you that...

'Cause I don't think
I knew myself.

But that doesn't mean

that for one second
I did not love you,

both of you,

very, very much.

We are rigged
for silent running.

This plan sucks.

I'm not gonna totally disagree.

She isn't even a pilot.

Well, I'd happily chauffeur,

but you wouldn't want
to see the mess from this wound

when we hit high six Gs.

Even if you escape the missiles,

the UN will fire
on your drop ship

when they come to mop up.

The UN fire on an unarmed
ship bearing their own flag?

They'll need to find out
if you're on board.

So we'll be all right.

I've laid in a course that
avoids the high-traffic zones.

It'll take us
a bit longer, but...

we'll get to Tycho quietly.

I didn't give a fuck
about your daughter.

Jim!

I used you to get us
through Ganymede,

and none of us
would be breathing

if you hadn't come.

Look, you don't have
to say that.

We owe you some answers,

so at least you know
we did everything we could

to find her.

The lab on Ganymede.

That was a field lab.

That's not where
they created those Hybrids...

Can I just speak for a moment?

When the Hybrid burned up
in our drive,

it timed exactly with that ship

that got pulled apart
over Venus.

Now, we know the protomolecule
is connected,

that it communicates
with itself.

And something else happened
at that same moment.

A spike on lo,

another "shout"
from the protomolecule.

And lo is still within range.

Look, we've already decided...

There's a decommissioned
Helium-3 refinery there...

built by Jules-Pierre Mao.

We've plotted
a safe, clean course for Tycho.

Everything is there.

We can go to Tycho... after lo.

Jim, we're all devastated
about Prax's child,

but sacrificing this crew
doesn't bring her back.

Look past your anger
towards me, please.

This isn't about you.

And I don't give a damn about
the protomolecule anymore.

It's out there now.

So be it.

But we promised Prax

we'd help him find his daughter,

and we did every damn thing
except that.

We're all in agreement.

Tycho is the only way
we survive.

I assure you,
Fred Johnson will help us...

Io.

- Fuck it, I'm in.
- Amos...

Me too.

I'll go set a course.

Which threatens
to throw the Inner Planets

into a state of all-out war...

More ships, more war,
more death.

You and Dawes
want to join that party?

The idea is to prevent
exactly that.

Yes, a "deterrent."

But everything becomes
a weapon, Freddy.

Didn't you teach me that?

Sometimes you make your move.

It's the Belt's moment,

and we didn't get to choose it.

You have your big ideas.

And I get shot.

You know why I stayed with you

after Dawes dragged you
out of the gutter,

after I convinced him
not to put you down like a dog?

To keep an eye on me.

Dawes wasn't convinced
of my loyalty.

Dawes wanted me back on Ceres,

and I wanted to get away.

No future down his road.

I saw something
different in you.

I chose you.

Well, then... I'm glad you did.

And we built Tycho together.

A way forward for the Belt.

Now that blue siren
has got you dreaming

about bigger things?

When I'm pissed off,

you normally have the good sense

to stay the hell away
for a couple of days,

and it's been two hours.

So what is it you want?

I need you to lead
a salvage mission.

Bring back the Nauvoo.

You gonna make nice
with the Mormons?

No, why would you?

We're gonna retrofit
the ship for the Belt,

because soon we're not
gonna be a bunch of tribes.

We're gonna be a nation.

Sounds a little like
you want me out of the way.

No, it's exactly
what I'm saying it is.

Yeah, the doctor's
been telling me

I need to take a vacation
to heal up.

I can't do this without you.

Once Earth and Mars get done

beating each other
back to the Stone Age,

they're gonna need the Belt
more than ever.

We need to be ready.

A cathedral converted
into a warship,

sounds like the heart
of a great and lasting nation.

I need you.

Will you go?

Can I finish my drink first?

Less than five minutes.

Easy, cowboy, plenty of time.

Ice water in my veins
under pressure.

That's why you hired me, right?

It's gonna be okay.

Okay?

Don't forget your antibiotics.

I won't.

Good job, Marine.

Same to you, spy.

Now we're anonymous.

I need to stow my suit.

Take off all that tinsel.

Is this really the time
for fashion advice?

At six Gs, that junk
will tear your head off.

You decide.

Go, go, go, go!

Just gonna tea-kettle
nice and easy

out into the big empty.

And then what happens?

I'm interested
to find that out myself.

Powering up.

I'm no expert,

but shouldn't we get
the hell away from that yacht?

Not too soon, or one of those
missiles might see us

and lock on our drive.

Did Cotyar get out?

I'm sure he did. Now quiet.

Prepare for clamp release.

Shall we shove off now, please?

Sit still, you're gonna need it.

Get me off this ship!

Hitch your tits and pucker up.

It's time to peel the paint.

Shit!

Brace for impact.