The Outer Limits (1995–2002): Season 3, Episode 16 - Bodies of Evidence - full transcript

SO YOU ABANDONED SHIP?

YES, SIR.
IT'S IN THE REPORT.

I'VE READ THE REPORT.

IT'S QUITE A TALE.

I'VE ALSO READ
THE INVESTIGATION REPORT

PROVIDED BY THE JUDGE
ADVOCATE'S OFFICE

AND THEIR
RECOMMENDATIONS.

I'M AFRAID IT ISN'T GOOD NEWS,
BILL.

THE AGENCY CAN'T IGNORE

THE EVIDENCE OF WHAT YOU DID.

WHAT I DID?



THEY SAY YOU DELIBERATELY
STAYED UP THERE TOO LONG.

BUT, SIR,
I WAS PERFECTLY FINE.

THEY THINK YOU LOST YOUR MIND
UP THERE.

AND BY YOUR INSISTENCE ON
PROLONGING YOUR ASSIGNMENT,

YOU ALLOWED YOURSELF TO BECOME
PSYCHOLOGICALLY UNHINGED...

AND THAT YOU KILLED
YOUR OWN PEOPLE.

WHAT?

THEY'RE WRONG.

I DIDN'T KILL ANYONE.

YOU HAVE TO CONVINCE THE HEARING
OF THAT.

HEARING, SIR?

CAPTAIN WILLIAM CLARK,

BY ORDER OF
THE CHAIRMAN'S OFFICE,

I'M DIRECTED TO PLACE YOU
UNDER ARREST



FOR VIOLATION
OF YOUR DUTIES

AS AN OFFICER OF THE FLEET,

AND FOR THE MURDER
OF THREE OF YOUR CREW.

VIDEO LOG SCIENCE MODULE ONE.

MESCADRINE STUDY 254-J
CONTINUES.

CRYSTAL FORMATION
HAS REMAINED CONSTANT

OVER THE LAST 12-HOUR PERIOD.

AS EXPECTED,
ZERO-GRAVITY ENVIRONMENT

HAS ACCELERATED CRYSTAL GROWTH.

PRESSURE VALVE ON CRYSTAL

SEEMS NORMAL.

0.6%.

HE'LL SAYS HE'LL TAKE
ANOTHER YEAR

TO PERFECT AN ANTIDOTE
FOR SPACE PSYCHOSIS.

WHICH WILL PUT OFF
ANY LONGTERM SPACE ASSIGNMENTS.

BILL, YOU'VE
ALREADY BEEN UP

FOR A YEAR AND A HALF.

YOU'LL HAVE TO GO BACK.

YEAH... TO WHAT?

TO YOUR LIFE.

A LIFE OUTSIDE
THIS SHOEBOX.

FRANKLY,
I DON'T UNDERSTAND

YOUR OBSESSION
WITH STAYING HERE.

EVEN OUR ENGINEER'S
SHOWING SIGNS

HE'S BEEN ON BOARD
TOO LONG.

THE PROBLEM WITH YOU, DOC, IS
YOU CAN'T TELL THE DIFFERENCE

BETWEEN SPACE SICKNESS
AND A HANGOVER.

EITHER IS ENOUGH TO KEEP YOU
UNDER OBSERVATION.

HEY,

GORDON'S BEEN UNDER OBSERVATION
FOR OVER A WEEK NOW.

I'M SHORT ON CREW.

THAT SPACE DEBRIS THAT HIT US
LEFT A HELL OF A MESS.

SORRY, BUT HE STAYS
ON LIGHT DUTIES.

I DON'T MIND,
HONEST.

ALL RIGHT,
WHAT ABOUT REPAIRING

AN AIR DUCT
IN THE SERVICE MODULE?

THAT
LIGHT ENOUGH, DOC?

I SUPPOSE
IT COULD BE.

GORDON.

SIR?

OFF TO AIR DUCT
LAND, PLEASE.

HAVE FUN.

DAD?

DAD.

DAD.

YOU PROMISED ME

WE'D PLAY SOME BALL.

BILLY?

BILLY, IS THAT YOU?

DAD!

COME ON, LET'S PLAY SOME BALL.

COME ON,
YOU PROMISED.

HOW THE HELL DID YOU GET
IN THE AIRLOCK?

COME ON, DADDY.

BILLY, COME HERE.

YOU SHOULDN'T BE
IN HERE.

COME ON, BILLY!

FIVE SECONDS
TO AIRLOCK CLOSURE.

FOUR, THREE, TWO, ONE.

NO!

COMMENCING DEPRESSURIZATION.

THERE IS NOTHING WRONG
WITH YOUR TELEVISION.

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO ADJUST
THE PICTURE.

WE ARE NOW CONTROLLING
THE TRANSMISSION.

WE CONTROL THE HORIZONTAL,

AND THE VERTICAL.

WE CAN DELUGE YOU
WITH A THOUSAND CHANNELS

OR EXPAND ONE SINGLE IMAGE
TO CRYSTAL CLARITY...

AND BEYOND.

WE CAN SHAPE YOUR VISION

TO ANYTHING OUR IMAGINATION
CAN CONCEIVE.

FOR THE NEXT HOUR,

WE WILL CONTROL
ALL THAT YOU SEE AND HEAR.

YOU ARE ABOUT TO EXPERIENCE
THE AWE AND MYSTERY

WHICH REACHES FROM
THE DEEPEST INNER MIND

TO
THE OUTER LIMITS.

THE SEARCH FOR TRUTH IS
A UNIQUELY HUMAN PROCESS,

A QUEST GUIDED BY
OUR PERCEPTION OF AN EVENT.

BUT WHAT HAPPENS TO THE TRUTH

WHEN WHAT WE SEE
AND WHAT WE THINK WE SEE

ARE TWO VERY DIFFERENT THINGS?

HOW DID IT HAPPEN?

I DON'T KNOW.
I WAS IN THE HABITATION MODULE.

HE DEFINITELY USED HIS PASSWORD.

ACCESS AT 1623.

BUT WHY?

I THOUGHT HE WAS FIXING
AN AIR DUCT.

THAT'S WHAT HE WAS
SUPPOSED TO BE DOING.

CONDUCT A MODULE DIAGNOSTIC.

I'LL CONTACT EARTH COMMAND.

CAPTAIN.

HE WAS YOUR BEST FRIEND.

IF YOU PREFER,
ONE OF US CAN TELL THEM.

REALLY, CAPTAIN, I'VE GOT
IMPORTANT WORK TO COMPLETE.

AREN'T YOU COMING BACK TO BED?

THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE!

EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE,

MY LOVE.

TOUCH ME.

FIND OUT
FOR YOURSELF.

DON'T STOP THERE.

MY GOD,
I'VE MISSED YOU.

I BROUGHT YOU
SOME WINE.

SECURITY ALERT.

KEEP THE DIAGNOSTICS RUNNING.

I'LL CHECK IT OUT.

ATTENTION: SECURITY ALERT.

ATTENTION: SECURITY ALERT.

SOMERSET!

CAPTAIN?

LAURA.

YOU ALWAYS WERE SO PREDICTABLE.

YOU CAN'T BE REAL.

I PUT YOU IN THE PRISON
MYSELF.

LAURA.

DID YOU REALLY THINK
THEY COULD KEEP ME IN THERE?

KEEP ME FROM COMING
AFTER YOU?

YOU BASTARD!

WHERE'S LAURA?

SHE'S IN THE LAB.

IT'S KILLED HER.

IT'LL KILL US TOO
UNLESS WE LEAVE THE STATION.

WHAT ABOUT
SOMERSET?

HE'S DEAD.

WE'VE GOT TO ESCAPE
WHILE WE STILL CAN.

DOCTOR,
THAT'S AN ORDER.

TELL ME
WHAT'S HAPPENING.

DOCTOR, THAT'S AN ORDER.
GO!

DEFENSE COUNSEL.

IT'S ALMOST TIME.

HOW'S THE PANEL LOOK?

FAIR.

ADMIRAL JONES WILL BE
ACTING AS CHAIR.

THE RUSSIANS HAVE
APPOINTED ADMIRAL YOROV,

AND THE BRITS HAVE SENT
ADMIRAL BIRCH.

BIRCH?

WHY DON'T THEY JUST
SHOOT ME NOW?

THEY'RE ALL OBLIGATED
TO GIVE YOU

THE BENEFIT
OF THE DOUBT.

I'VE BEEN IN THIS GAME
LONG ENOUGH TO KNOW ONE THING.

THEIR ONLY OBLIGATION IS
TO FIND A SCAPEGOAT.

WE SHOULD GET IN THERE.

ROBIN, I WANT YOU
TO KNOW SOMETHING.

NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS
IN THERE,

I'M GRATEFUL FOR YOUR HELP.

IT'S NOTHING.

WITH ALL
WE'VE BEEN THROUGH,

I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW
IF YOU WOULD.

I HAD TO THINK
ABOUT IT.

WHAT MADE YOU
DECIDE?

BY NOW
I PROBABLY KNOW YOU

BETTER THAN
ANYONE ELSE.

I KNOW YOUR STRENGTHS
AND YOUR FAULTS

AND I KNOW THAT YOU COULDN'T
HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE

FOR WHAT HAPPENED UP THERE.

SO NOW HERE I AM

DEFENDING THE VERY THING
THAT TORE US APART,

THE ONE THING THAT I HATED
MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE...

YOUR JOB.

GUARD.

COURT MARTIAL NUMBER 99658

IN RELATION TO THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE AGENCY'S

ORBITING PLATFORM
MERIDIAN
SHALL COMMENCE

IN CAMERA UNDER THE JURISDICTION
CONFERRED UPON THIS PANEL

BY THE SPACE EXPLORATION ACT
OF 2025.

RECORDING AND BACKUP CONFIRMED.

YOU MAY PROCEED.

COLONEL BELL, YOU'RE APPEARING
FOR THE JUDGE ADVOCATE'S

PROSECUTION BRANCH?

I AM, SIR.

CAPTAIN CLARK, I UNDERSTAND

YOU'VE RETAINED
YOUR OWN COUNSEL.

ROBIN DYSART, ADMIRAL.

I'LL BE REPRESENTING
THE CAPTAIN.

HIGHLY UNUSUAL
TO HIRE YOUR EX-WIFE.

AREN'T YOU CONCERNED ABOUT
THE POTENTIAL CONFLICT?

NOT AT ALL, SIR.

I HAVE EVERY CONFIDENCE
IN HER PROFESSIONALISM.

SHE'S THE BEST
IN HER FIELD, SIR.

EVEN SO,
YOU'RE A LONG WAY

FROM YOUR NORMAL
PRACTICE, MS. DYSART.

YOU REALIZE THE RULES ARE
DIFFERENT HERE,

THAT PROTOCOL IS LESS FORMAL
THAN IN

NORMAL CRIMINAL
PROCEEDINGS?

I'M WELL AWARE OF THAT,
ADMIRAL,

BUT I UNDERSTAND
THE OBJECTIVE REMAINS THE SAME.

A FULL AND IMPARTIAL HEARING
FOR MY CLIENT.

PRESENT YOUR FIRST
WITNESS, COLONEL BELL.

I WOULD ASK THE COMMANDER
OF THE RESCUE SHUTTLE,

LOUIS BIDWELL
TO TAKE THE STAND.

COMMANDER BIDWELL.

DESCRIBE WHAT HAPPENED.

WE WERE ON A ROUTINE
SATELLITE REPAIR MISSION

WHEN THE DISTRESS SIGNAL
FROM THE POD CAME IN.

TWO SURVIVORS...

DR. HELENE DUFOUR
AND CAPTAIN WILLIAM CLARK.

AND THEIR CONDITION?

PHYSICALLY
THEY BOTH SEEMED FINE.

THE DOCTOR WAS MAYBE
A BIT FRIGHTENED.

AND THE CAPTAIN?

HE...

HE SEEMED TO BE UNDER
A BIT OF STRAIN.

YOU CAN'T GO
BACK OUT THERE.

I HAVE MY ORDERS.

COMMAND DOESN'T UNDERSTAND
THE SITUATION.

YOU'D BE ENDANGERING
EVERYBODY.

BUT THERE MAY BE
OTHER SURVIVORS.

IT'S POSSIBLE.

THERE ARE
NO OTHER SURVIVORS!

YOU MIND TELLING ME
WHAT...

I DON'T KNOW
WHAT IT IS, LOUIS!

BUT IT'S UP THERE,
AND I GUARANTEE

IT WILL KILL US
ONE BY ONE.

YOU CAN'T GO BACK UP THERE.

YOU ARE OUT OF LINE,
CAPTAIN!

THIS IS MY SHIP!

YOU CANNOT GO
BACK UP THERE!

SORRY, CAPTAIN.

SO DESPITE THE CAPTAIN'S
OBJECTIONS,

YOU DOCKED
WITH THE
MERIDIAN.

YES, WE SEARCHED
THE STATION

FOR OTHER SURVIVORS.

THE LAB MODULE HAD BEEN
GUTTED BY FLAMES,

BUT OTHERWISE EVERYTHING SEEMED
RELATIVELY NORMAL.

AND WERE THERE
ANY OTHER SURVIVORS?

NO, SIR.

THE OTHER THREE WERE DEAD
JUST LIKE CAPTAIN CLARK SAID.

ADMIRAL, THIS IS
A BLAST ANALYSIS

PREPARED BY THE AGENCY'S
INVESTIGATIVE BRANCH.

IT SEEMS
THE LAB EXPLOSION

LIKELY RESULTED
FROM

DETONATION OF CYROXIN GAS.

YOU'LL NOTE THAT
A POSSIBLE CAUSE

IS THE FIRING
OF A STANDARD ISSUE

N-39 HAND WEAPON

WHICH STRUCK
ONE OF THE CANISTERS,

CAUSING AN EXPLOSION

SUFFICIENT TO DESTROY THE LAB
AND ANYONE IN IT.

BUT NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO OPEN
THE COMPARTMENT TO SPACE.

WOULDN'T IT HAVE ENGULFED
THE SHOOTER?

NOT IF HE WAS STANDING
JUST OUTSIDE THE HATCH.

A DIFFICULT ANGLE,

BUT CERTAINLY POSSIBLE

FOR A MARKSMAN
OF CAPTAIN CLARK'S ABILITY.

I OBJECT TO THE IMPLICATION.

I'LL WITHDRAW THE COMMENT.

WHEN CAPTAIN CLARK WAS SEDATED,

YOU WERE ABLE TO SEIZE
HIS WEAPON...

AN N-39, CORRECT?

THAT'S RIGHT.

HAD IT BEEN FIRED?

YES.

THANK YOU, COMMANDER.

THOSE ARE ALL MY QUESTIONS.

YOUR WITNESS, MS. DYSART.

COMMANDER, YOU'RE AWARE
OF STANDARD PROCEDURES

ABOARD THE
MERIDIAN.

WHO ELSE WOULD HAVE CARRIED
A SIDEARM?

THE SECURITY OFFICER.

WHOSE BODY WAS
IDENTIFIED

AS THE ONE IN THE LAB.

KNOWING THAT CAPTAIN CLARK HAD
JUST LOST THREE OF HIS CREW,

INCLUDING HIS BEST FRIEND,
DOES IT SURPRISE YOU

THAT HE MAY HAVE BEEN
DISTRAUGHT?

I GUESS NOT.

AND WOULDN'T YOU AGREE
THAT IT'S POSSIBLE

HIS DETERMINATION
NOT TO RETURN TO THE
MERIDIAN

WAS BASED ON
THE LEGITIMATE FEAR

FOR THE SAFETY
OF THE SHUTTLE?

IT'S POSSIBLE.

ANYTHING'S POSSIBLE,
MS. DYSART.

BUT THIS PANEL IS ONLY
INTERESTED IN WHAT IS PROBABLE.

UNLIKE A NORMAL CRIMINAL TRIAL,
WE DO NOT HAVE TIME

FOR ENDLESS SPECULATION
BY DEFENSE COUNSEL.

SO UNLESS YOU HAVE SOMETHING
MORE COGENT TO ASK,

I SUGGEST WE MOVE ON.

I THINK WE'VE MADE OUR POINT.

NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

IT PERFORMS VIRTUALLY
THE SAME FUNCTION

AS A BLACK BOX DOES
ON AN AIRPLANE.

ONE OF THESE RECORDERS
WAS BUILT INTO

EACH OF THE MODULES
IN THE
MERIDIAN,

MAINTAINING
A CONTINUOUS AUDIO LOG

OF THE EVENTS ON BOARD.

SOME OF THE MORE
SENSITIVE DEPARTMENTS...

ENGINEERING AND THE LAB MODULE,
FOR EXAMPLE...

ALSO RAN VISUAL
AS A PRECAUTION.

WITH YOUR PERMISSION,

WE'LL PLAY ONLY THOSE PORTIONS
WHICH ARE IMMEDIATELY RELEVANT.

PROCEED.

RUN
MERIDIAN... AUDIO,

MODULE 5,
MARKER 50.

BILLY.

BILLY, IS THAT YOU?

HOW THE HELL DID YOU GET
IN THE AIRLOCK?

NO!

MAY I REMIND THE TRIBUNAL

THAT THE ONLY BILL OR BILLY
PRESENT

ON THE STATION AT THE TIME

WAS CAPTAIN WILLIAM CLARK.

THEN WHY DON'T WE HEAR
HIS VOICE?

THEY WERE COLLEAGUES
AND BEST FRIENDS.

WHY DON'T WE HEAR HIM?

IN FACT, HOW DO WE KNOW
THERE WAS ANYONE ELSE PRESENT?

YOU ANALYZED
THE LOG.

CAN YOU SAY FOR CERTAIN
THAT SOMEONE ELSE WAS THERE?

NO, NOT FOR CERTAIN,

BUT IT IS POSSIBLE THAT
THE SOUND OF SOMEONE ELSE

WAS OBSCURED
BY THE AMBIENT NOISE.

THE RECORDING
FROM THE LAB MODULE

IS A BIT MORE CLEAR.

UNFORTUNATELY,
IT IS INCOMPLETE.

THE CHEMICALS
THAT DR. SOMERSET WAS USING

HAD A CORROSIVE EFFECT

ON BOTH AUDIO
AND VIDEO.

SURELY THE JAG OFFICE

ISN'T INTENDING ON INTRODUCING
A PARTIAL RECORD.

HOW CAN THAT DO ANYTHING
BUT PREJUDICE MY CLIENT?

I OBJECT.

BUT ALL THE RELEVANT PORTIONS
ARE INTACT

AND WILL PROVE CONCLUSIVELY

WHO WAS IN THE LAB
WITH DR. SOMERSET

AT THE TIME OF HIS DEATH.

THEN I SEE NO REASON
WHY WE SHOULDN'T VIEW IT.

OBJECTION OVERRULED.

AS I WAS ABOUT TO SAY,

WE'VE COMBINED THE BEST
OF THE VIDEO AND AUDIO LOGS

THAT WERE SALVAGED.

RUN
MERIDIAN
AUDIO-VIDEO MERGE,
MODULE 11.

YOU'LL NOTE FROM THE LOG THAT THIS IS
MOMENTS BEFORE DR. SOMERSET DIED.

REALLY, CAPTAIN, I'VE GOT
IMPORTANT WORK TO COMPLETE.

STOP...
BACK IT UP, PLEASE.

FREEZE.

THE CAPTAIN'S STRIPE IS
CLEARLY VISIBLE

ON THE SLEEVE
OF THE UNIFORM.

THE EXPLOSION THAT KILLED
COMMANDER NABOKOV

OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY
10 MINUTES LATER.

AND THE WHEREABOUTS
OF CAPTAIN CLARK?

THERE'S NO RECORD

UNTIL HE RETURNED TO
THE SERVICE MODULE.

I'M CONFUSED.

COLONEL BELL DID SAY
THAT THIS

WOULD SHOW US
CONCLUSIVELY

WHO WAS WITH
DR. THOMAS SOMERSET,

BUT THIS IS A PICTURE
OF A UNIFORM.

OBVIOUSLY
THERE'S SOMEONE IN IT.

THE CAPTAIN'S RANK IS
CLEARLY VISIBLE

ON THE SHOULDER PATCH.

IGNORING THAT FOR THE MOMENT,

HOW TALL
MIGHT THIS PERSON BE?

I COULDN'T SAY.

THAT ANGLE DOESN'T GIVE US
ANY INDICATION OF HEIGHT.

AND THE PERSON
PROBABLY WEIGHS

LESS THAN IT MIGHT APPEAR
ON CAMERA.

IT DOES TEND TO ADD
A FEW POUNDS.

THEN WITHOUT KNOWING THE HEIGHT,
WEIGHT, OR FACIAL FEATURES,

CAN YOU REALLY SAY
WHO IT IS?

WELL... THERE IS THE UNIFORM.

THE UNIFORM...

ONE OF MANY WHICH
MIGHT HAVE BEEN IN STORAGE.

ANYONE COULD BE WEARING
THAT UNIFORM.

IT COULD BE A WOMAN,
FOR ALL YOU KNOW.

I GUESS IT COULD.

MS. DYSART.

IT'S NOT JUST WHAT THE PERSON
WAS WEARING.

WE ALL HEARD SOMERSET ON AUDIO
ADDRESS HIM AS CAPTAIN.

BEFORE HE TURNED AROUND.

HE DIDN'T KNOW WHO IT WAS.

HE MADE THE SAME ASSUMPTION
YOU HAVE.

DR. DUFOUR,

YOU WERE THE
MERIDIAN'S
MEDICAL OFFICER.

THAT'S RIGHT.

I WAS APPOINTED
SIX MONTHS AGO,

WHEN DR. SOMERSET BEGAN

THE SECOND PHASE
OF HIS MESCADRINE STUDIES.

I'D BEEN ASKED TO ASSIST HIM
WITH HIS WORK IF NECESSARY.

WHY WAS THAT?

I'D HAD A LOT OF EXPERIENCE
WITH SPACE PSYCHOSIS,

AN AILMENT RELATED TO
LONGTERM SPACE ASSIGNMENTS,

WHICH WE HOPED MESCADRINE
WOULD CURE.

SPACE PSYCHOSIS?

IT CAUSES
ILLUSIONAL STATES

SIMILAR TO THOSE ASSOCIATED
WITH CABIN FEVER.

RUN MEDICAL SATURN 57-A.

THE PATIENT HERE WAS
PART OF OUR LAST ATTEMPT

TO REACH THE OUTER PLANETS.

FOR MOST OF THE TIME
HE DISPLAYS BEHAVIOR

WHICH IS WELL WITHIN
THE NORMAL PARAMETERS.

HE'S INTELLIGENT, COHERENT,
SHOWS REMORSE.

REMORSE?

HE KILLED ONE OF HIS CREW

IN THE MIDST
OF A PARANOID DELUSION.

THE PSYCHOTIC INCIDENT
CAN OCCUR AT ANY TIME,

WITHOUT WARNING,

RESULTING IN VIOLENT ACTS
AGAINST SELF OR OTHERS.

EARLY SYMPTOMS ARE

NOTORIOUSLY DIFFICULT
TO RECOGNIZE.

PERSISTENT HEADACHES,

SUCH AS THOSE COMMANDER GORDON
WAS EXPERIENCING,

CAN BE
A GOOD INDICATOR.

AND CAPTAIN CLARK.

I'D HAVE TO SAY THAT
PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT,

THE CAPTAIN'S BEHAVIOR WAS
WELL WITHIN THE NORM.

EXHIBITED ALL THE QUALITIES
OF A FIRST-RATE OFFICER.

THERE WERE
NO MARKED DEVIATIONS

UNTIL AFTER HE'D FORCED ME
INTO THE LIFEPOD.

WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY
TO DESTROY THIS THING.

PLEASE CALM DOWN,
CAPTAIN.

IT LOOKS LIKE US.

IT TRIED TO FOOL ME.

I FIGURED OUT WHAT IT WAS,
BUT I COULDN'T KILL IT.

YOU SAID
IT LOOKED LIKE US?

I'M GOING TO HAVE TO
DESTROY THE WHOLE STATION.

IT'S THE ONLY WAY TO BE SURE
THAT THAT THING IS DEAD.

DOCTOR, HOW WOULD YOU
CHARACTERIZE

THE BEHAVIOR
YOU'VE JUST DESCRIBED?

I'D SAY IT WAS UNUSUAL
FOR THE CAPTAIN.

WOULD YOU DESCRIBE IT
AS PSYCHOTIC?

WELL,
THAT'S DIFFICULT TO SAY.

THEN LET ME
PUT IT THIS WAY...

GIVEN YOUR EXPERTISE
IN THE FIELD,

WAS CAPTAIN CLARK
EXHIBITING SYMPTOMS

CONSISTENT WITH
SPACE PSYCHOSIS?

IN SOME RESPECTS,
PERHAPS.

COULD THIS
HAVE BEEN

RELATED TO HIS LENGTH OF STAY
ON BOARD THE
MERIDIAN?

THE CORRELATION
BETWEEN THE DISEASE

AND TIME LOGGED ON SPACE
ASSIGNMENTS IS VERY HIGH.

AND
DOES THAT MEAN

THAT THE LONGER THAT
THE CAPTAIN WAS IN SPACE

THE GREATER HIS RISK
IN CONTRACTING THE ILLNESS?

BASICALLY.

AND BASED ON YOUR STUDIES,

WAS HIS STAY LONGER OR SHORTER
THAN THE MAJORITY OF PATIENTS

DIAGNOSED WITH
SPACE PSYCHOSIS?

MAYBE A BIT LONGER.

AS A MEDICAL OFFICER
OF THE FLEET,

YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN OBLIGATED
TO WARN HIM OF THIS DANGER.

CORRECT?

THAT'S CORRECT.

AND DID YOU?

DID YOU, DOCTOR?

YES.

JUST ONE MORE QUESTION.

DURING YOUR TIME

ON BOARD THE
MERIDIAN,

DID YOU OBSERVE ANYTHING WHICH,
IN YOUR MEDICAL OPINION,

WOULD JUSTIFY SHUTTING DOWN
THE STATION?

NO, I DIDN'T.

THANK YOU.

DOCTOR, LET'S TALK ABOUT
MESCADRINE.

10 YEARS AGO,
YOU WORKED WITH

DR. RACHEL McDONALD'S
NEUROPSYCHOLOGY TEAM AT HARVARD.

IN A VERY JUNIOR CAPACITY.

I ASSISTED IN
HER SCHIZOPHRENIA STUDIES.

THAT'S WHERE YOU MET
DR. THOMAS SOMERSET.

THAT'S RIGHT.

BECAUSE HE WAS USING
THAT RESEARCH

TO DEVELOP NEW
DRUG THERAPIES

FOR THE TREATMENT
OF MENTAL ILLNESS.

ISN'T THAT THE GENESIS
OF MESCADRINE?

POSSIBLY ONE OF THEM.

IN THE HALIFAX JOURNAL
OF PSYCHOLOGY,

DR. McDONALD CITED
A STUDENT PAPER YOU WROTE

IN WHICH YOU POSITED THE USE
OF MESCADRINE-LIKE SUBSTANCES

AS A CURE FOR ISOLATION-RELATED
MENTAL DISORDERS.

WHAT POSSIBLE RELEVANCE DOES

DR. DUFOUR'S TERM PAPER HAVE
TO THESE PROCEEDINGS?

I FAIL TO SEE ANY.

I BEG THE PANEL'S INDULGENCE.

PROCEED.
THANK YOU.

AS I WAS SAYING, DOCTOR,
IN YOUR PAPER,

YOU SAW THE POTENTIAL
FOR MESCADRINE,

BUT YOU ALSO SAW
A HUGE DRAWBACK

IN THE CRYSTALLIZATION
PROCESS.

THE COST WAS PROHIBITIVE.

I'M REFERRING TO THE USE
OF CYROXIN.

THE DRUG SOMERSET
HAD BEEN DEVELOPING

HAD CYROXIN GAS
AS A COMPONENT.

THE CREATION OF MESCADRINE

REQUIRES MASSIVE AMOUNTS
OF THAT CHEMICAL.

EVEN SMALL AMOUNTS OF CYROXIN
CAN INDUCE

IMMEDIATE
THOUGH NOT PERMANENT

PSYCHOTIC BREAKDOWNS
IN HUMANS.

ARE YOU SUGGESTING
THERE WAS A LEAK?

I AM.

THEN WHY WASN'T BIDWELL
AFFECTED?

IT HAS A SHORT LIFE WHEN
COMBINED WITH OXYGEN.

I AM WILLING TO BET
THAT NEITHER DR. DUFOUR

NOR DR. SOMERSET WARNED ANYONE
OF THE POTENTIAL DANGER.

THERE WAS NO DANGER.

IT WAS STORED
IN SEALED CONTAINERS.

EVERY PRECAUTION WAS TAKEN.

BUT IF THERE WAS

A LEAK, EVEN INFINITESIMAL,

IN AN ENCLOSED SPACE
LIKE THE
MERIDIAN,

IT WOULD DRIVE
EVERY ONE OF YOU INSANE.

COMMANDER GORDON,
DR. SOMERSET,

COMMANDER NABOKOV,
THE CAPTAIN, AND YOU.

ISN'T IT POSSIBLE
THAT A GAS LEAK

CAUSED AN OUTBREAK
OF MASS HYSTERIA

AND THAT IN THE GRIP
OF PARANOID DELUSION

THEY KILLED THEMSELVES.

WELL, I CAN'T SAY FOR SURE.

ISN'T IT POSSIBLE?

YES, IT'S POSSIBLE.

DEFENSE COUNSEL.

EVEN BELL AGREES,
THE MESCADRINE ISSUE

BLOWS THE WHOLE THING
WIDE OPEN.

THEY'RE GOING
TO CHECK IT OUT

AND FIGURE OUT
THERE WAS NO DAMN GAS LEAK.

THERE'S NOT ENOUGH OF IT LEFT
TO PROVE ANYTHING.

AS I EXPLAINED, ANY CYROXIN
WHICH ENTERED THE AIR SUPPLY

HAS LONG SINCE
BECOME INERT.

SO THEY JUST THINK
WE ALL WENT CRAZY.

POLITICALLY
IT WORKS.

A SIMPLE
SPACE ACCIDENT.

IT'S
NO ONE'S FAULT.

BUSINESS AS USUAL.

WELL, THEY'LL PROBABLY ISSUE
SOME GUIDELINES

ABOUT
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS,

BUT THE MESCADRINE
STUDIES WON'T STOP.

THEY'RE
TOO IMPORTANT.

WHAT ABOUT ME?

WELL, WITHOUT DEFINITE PROOF
OF CULPABILITY,

YOU'LL BE CLEARED.

YOU'LL BE ABLE
TO GO BACK.

IT'S EVERYTHING
YOU COULD ASK FOR.

YOU WERE GOOD OUT THERE.

PROBABLY BETTER THAN I DESERVE,

CONSIDERING.

FORGOT HOW GOOD YOU WERE.

HOW GOOD WE WERE.

ROBIN, THIS ISN'T OVER.

I WAS UP THERE.

I KNOW THERE WAS
NO DAMN GAS LEAK.

I SAW WHAT I SAW.

I GOT TO TELL THEM.
TELL THEM WHAT?

TELL THEM THE TRUTH.

BILL, THEY ARE NOT
LOOKING FOR THE TRUTH.

THEY ARE LOOKING
FOR AN OUT,

AND THE CYROXIN
GAS LEAK

GIVES THEM
THAT OUT.

THAT'S NOT HOW IT HAPPENED.

RIGHT NOW IT IS THE MOST LIKELY,
MOST PALATABLE SCENARIO.

WHEN THE
MERIDIAN
REOPENS
FOR BUSINESS

AND OTHERS GO UP THERE
AND DIE,

AND I KNEW ALL ALONG

AND I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING,
WHAT HAPPENS THEN?

IF YOU TAKE THE STAND,

YOU COULD END UP LIVING
IN A PRISON CELL.

YOU WOULD BE RISKING
EVERYTHING.

GUARD.

CAPTAIN,

IN THE INTERESTS OF TIME
IT MIGHT BE BEST

IF YOU LIMIT YOUR TESTIMONY
TO THOSE EVENTS

THAT HAPPENED AFTER
COMMANDER GORDON'S DEATH.

YES, SIR.

AS YOU ALREADY HEARD,
I WENT TO THE LAB MODULE

TO TELL DR. SOMERSET
ABOUT THE ACCIDENT,

AND IT WAS THERE

THAT I SAW WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM
AND WHAT KILLED THE OTHERS.

HI, BILL.

SINCE YOU WOULDN'T COME TO ME...

YOU'RE NOT HERE.

I KNOW
YOU'RE NOT HERE.

OF COURSE I AM.

I'M AS REAL AS YOU ARE.

TOUCH ME.

DON'T YOU WANT TO TOUCH ME?

WHAT ARE YOU?

SO I WENT BACK TO
THE SERVICE MODULE

TO WARN DR. DUFOUR
AND COMMANDER NABOKOV.

UNFORTUNATELY, IT WAS TOO LATE
FOR THE COMMANDER.

LET ME GET THIS
STRAIGHT.

YOU'RE TELLING
THIS HEARING

THAT YOU SAW AN ALIEN
ON BOARD THE
MERIDIAN.

THAT'S CORRECT.

CAPTAIN, YOU'LL HAVE TO ADMIT
IT IS A BIT FAR-FETCHED.

WELL, NO MORE THAN

THE LIFE FORMS
WE DISCOVERED ON MARS, SIR.

TERRESTRIAL
SINGLE-CELLED ORGANISMS

ARE HARDLY
A COMPARISON.

I'M NOT EVEN SURE WHAT
YOU'RE COMPARING THEM TO.

IS IT PSYCHIC,

IS IT
A SHAPE-SHIFTER?

REALLY, CAPTAIN.

I HAD NO IDEA
THE PSYCHO-GENIC EFFECTS

OF CYROXIN COULD LAST
THIS LONG.

IT WAS NO GAS LEAK.

I DID AN AIR-QUALITY CHECK
MYSELF.

IT WAS CLEAR ON ALL LEVELS.

MAYBE IT AFFECTED YOU
AND YOU WEREN'T AWARE OF IT.

BUT I KNOW WHAT I SAW!

I'M SORRY, SIR.

PLEASE JUST HEAR ME OUT.

THERE ARE REEF FISH
IN OUR OWN SEAS

THAT DO HAVE THE ABILITY
TO CHANGE THEIR APPEARANCE.

THERE ARE AQUATIC MAMMALS
THAT WE NOW BELIEVE

MAY HAVE SOME RUDIMENTARY
PSYCHIC ABILITY.

WHAT IF THERE'S SIMILAR
CREATURES IN THE OCEAN

THAT THE
MERIDIAN
SAILS THROUGH?

ONE OF THEM COULD HAVE COME
INTO CONTACT WITH THE SHIP

WHEN THE SPACE DEBRIS HIT US.

IT MUST HAVE FOUND
COMMANDER GORDON FIRST

AND REACHED INTO HIS PSYCHE
AND SEIZED THE IMAGE OF HIS SON

AND THEN BECAME THAT PERSON
THE SAME WAY IT DID WITH ME.

WE ALL HEARD ON THE AUDIO.

GORDON SAID,
"BILLY, IS THAT YOU?"

BUT GORDON ONLY REFERRED TO ME
AS "BILL."

HE WAS REFERRING TO HIS CHILD
WHO HE NAMED AFTER ME.

SOMEHOW WHEN IT LINKED UP
WITH GORDON

IT MUST HAVE ABSORBED
EVERYTHING HE KNEW...

HIS MEMORIES,
HIS KNOWLEDGE OF THE SHIP,

OF THE STATION, OF THE CREW.

AFTER THAT,
IT MUST HAVE BEEN EASY FOR IT

TO BECOME A FAMILIAR IMAGE
TO DR. SOMERSET OR NABOKOV,

EACH TIME USING THIS
EMOTIONAL CONNECTION TO LURE

THE CREW TO THEIR DEATHS
LIKE SOME SORT OF SIREN.

THEN HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN
YOUR ABILITY TO RESIST

ITS INFLUENCE?

I DON'T KNOW.

MAYBE BECAUSE IT SHOWS THE IMAGE

OF SOMEONE THAT I HAVE
CONFLICTED FEELINGS ABOUT.

AND THERE WAS THE WAY THAT
IT DID NOT REACT TO THE ACID.

BUT WHY DIDN'T IT KILL YOU
IN THE PASSAGEWAY?

I DON'T KNOW, SIR.

MAYBE IT COULDN'T.

YET IT EASILY KILLED
THE OTHERS.

AND FOR
WHAT PURPOSE?

MARK NEW TERRITORY,
PROTECTION OF YOUNG,

SOME PREDATORY INSTINCT.

I AM NOT SURE
WHAT PURPOSE.

ALL I SAW WAS
THE END RESULT.

WHERE IS IT NOW, CAPTAIN?

IT'S GOT TO BE UP THERE.

IT MUST BE.

AND THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE TO
DESTROY THAT STATION.

AND THROW AWAY
A PROJECT

THAT HAS FUNDAMENTAL
IMPORTANCE

TO THE FUTURE
OF OUR PLANET?

COMMANDER BIDWELL
SEARCHED THE STATION

AND HE DIDN'T FIND

ANY ALIENS ON BOARD.

COLONEL BELL IS RIGHT.

GENTLEMEN, THIS THING CAN
ASSUME ANY SHAPE IT WANTS TO.

THERE ARE A THOUSAND DIFFERENT
PLACES IT COULD HIDE.

BIDWELL DID NOT HAVE THE TIME
TO DO A PROPER SEARCH.

WHAT CAN I DO TO CONVINCE YOU?

YOU HAVE CONVINCED US
OF THE DANGERS

ASSOCIATED WITH
OUR MESCADRINE STUDIES.

SIR, THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO
WITH MESCADRINE OR CYROXIN

OR ANY OTHER SUBSTANCE.

THIS IS A CREATURE THAT IS
INTELLIGENT, THAT CAN HUNT.

A CREATURE THAT KILLED
THREE OF MY CREW

AND WILL KILL AGAIN.

YOU'RE A VERY SICK MAN
CAUGHT UP IN A DELUSION

THAT CAN ONLY BE LINKED TO
TOXIC EXPOSURE

AND THE LONG DURATION

OF YOUR
SPACE ASSIGNMENT.

I AM NOT CRAZY.

I THINK WE'VE HEARD ENOUGH
TO RENDER A DECISION.

PLEASE, GENTLEMEN,
LISTEN TO ME.

IT IS STILL UP THERE.

THIS THING WILL KILL AGAIN.

GENTLEMEN,
THERE WAS NO GAS LEAK.

I KNOW WHAT I SAW.

THE PANEL HAS CONSIDERED
ALL THE EVIDENCE PRESENTED TO IT

AND IS NOW PREPARED TO RENDER
A DECISION.

WE WERE UNANIMOUS IN CONCLUDING

THAT THE DEATHS RESULTED
FROM A MASS OUTBREAK

OF TEMPORARY PSYCHOSIS
CAUSED BY A LEAK OF CYROXIN GAS.

AND THAT THEY WERE,
IN FACT, SUICIDES.

ENOUGH OF A DOUBT
HAS BEEN RAISED

TO ACQUIT CAPTAIN CLARK

OF ALL RESPONSIBILITY.

HOWEVER, THE PERSISTENCE
OF THE CAPTAIN'S DELUSION

GREATLY CONCERNS US.

IT'S CLEAR THAT THE LENGTH
OF HIS ASSIGNMENT

COMBINED WITH THE EXPOSURE
TO CYROXIN

HAS HAD A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT
ON HIS HEALTH.

THEREFORE HE WILL BE
RELIEVED OF HIS COMMAND

OF THE
MERIDIAN
AND TRANSFERRED

TO THE AGENCY'S MENTAL HEALTH
CLINIC FOR TREATMENT

PENDING MEDICAL DISCHARGE

FROM THE FLEET.

ADMIRAL, PLEASE DON'T DO THIS.

I'M NOT CRAZY, I'M NOT SICK.

WHAT I SAW UP THERE
WAS AS REAL AS YOU OR I.

THOUGH IT MAY SEEM LIKE IT,
THIS IS NOT A PUNISHMENT.

YOU'VE SAILED
THROUGH SPACE

LONGER
THAN MOST MEN,

AND LIKE ALL MARINERS,

YOU'VE FELT THE SOLITUDE
OF YOUR VOYAGE.

A SOLITUDE THAT BREEDS LIFE
INTO LEGEND.

MERMAIDS, SIRENS,
SEA MONSTERS.

THESE ARE CREATURES OF THE MIND,
CAPTAIN,

AND THEY'RE A SIGN
THAT IT'S TIME TO REST.

THIS MATTER IS NOW CONCLUDED.

THERE'S GOT TO BE A WAY
TO FIGHT THIS.

I'M NOT SO SURE.

WE COULD APPEAL, BUT I DOUBT
WE'D HAVE MUCH SUCCESS.

YOU'RE LUCKY THE PANEL

DIDN'T FIND YOU
CRIMINALLY NEGLIGENT.

OTHERWISE YOU'D BE GOING
TO A JAIL, NOT A HOSPITAL.

I COULD GO PUBLIC.

I COULD
TELL THE PRESS.

THEY WOULDN'T BELIEVE YOUR STORY
ANY MORE THAN THE PANEL DID.

LEGITIMATE PAPERS,
THEY'LL IGNORE IT.

AND THE TABLOIDS,
THEY'LL MAKE A FOOL OUT OF YOU.

ACCEPT THEIR DECISION.

I GAVE THEM EVERYTHING.

I KNOW.

BETTER THAN ANYONE I KNOW.

BUT EVEN ULYSSES WENT HOME...

EVENTUALLY.

COULD I SPEAK TO
THE CAPTAIN, PLEASE?

I'LL GO CHECK ON
YOUR TRANSFER PAPERS.

GUARD.

I CAN'T BELIEVE
IT TURNED OUT THIS WAY.

IT WASN'T YOUR FAULT.

YOU DID WHAT YOU HAD TO DO.

WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME
ABOUT THAT CYROXIN?

SOMERSET WOULDN'T LET ME.

DO YOU NOW BELIEVE
IT WAS RESPONSIBLE?

I DON'T KNOW.

I USED TO THINK I KNEW
WHAT HAPPENED,

BUT I'M NOT SO SURE
ANYMORE.

I BELIEVE YOU.

YOU DO?

WHY WOULDN'T YOU SAY ANYTHING?

BECAUSE THEN THEY MIGHT HAVE
DESTROYED THE
MERIDIAN,

AND I HAD TO MAKE SURE
THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

I STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK
TO DO UP THERE.

WHAT WORK?

THERE ARE SUCH THINGS AS
SEA MONSTERS, CAPTAIN.

IT WAS YOU.

YOU KILLED THEM ALL.

I NEED THAT STATION.

WHAT'S THE MATTER, CAPTAIN?

I BROUGHT YOU BACK.

YOU
ARE
A HERO.

I WON'T LET YOU DO THIS.

I CAN'T LET YOU DO THIS.

GUARD!

HE ATTACKED ME.

I HAD TO.

YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND...
SHE KILLED MY CREW.

AND SHE'S GOING
TO KILL AGAIN.

HE'S WORSE
THAN WE THOUGHT.

SHE'S NOT HUMAN.

YOU CAN'T LET HER
GO BACK UP THERE.

CAN'T LET HER GO!

I'M TELLING YOU THE TRUTH!

YOU GOT TO LISTEN TO ME.

I'LL FIND YOU!

YOU HAVE NO IDEA
WHAT YOU'RE DEALING WITH.

WHAT HAPPENED?

HE'S SO SICK.

I HAD NO IDEA THE PSYCHOSIS
COULD BE THIS STRONG.

THEY'LL GIVE HIM
THE BEST POSSIBLE CARE.

I HOPE SO.

HE NOW THINKS I HAD
SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT.

IT'S JUST
THE SICKNESS TALKING.

I HEARD YOU'RE GOING BACK
TO THE
MERIDIAN.

DUTY CALLS.

EVEN AFTER ALL THAT'S HAPPENED?

YOUR PLACE IS HERE, MS. DYSART.

MINE'S UP THERE.

SOME SAY THAT THE TRUTH IS

ONLY WHAT WE PERSUADE OTHERS
TO BELIEVE.

IF SO, WE SHOULD BE WARY,

FOR TRUTH IS EASILY
AND OFTEN HIDDEN

BY THE ARGUMENTS
OF THOSE WHO ARE FALSE.