"SpinDrift"

by Carleton Eastlake

Prep: Sept. 6 - Sept. 14 Shoot: Sept. 15 - Sept. 25

Q)1995 Amblin Television and Universal Television

THIS MATERIAL IS THE PROPERTY OF AMBLIN TELEVISION AND IS INTENDED AND RESTRICTED

SOLELY FOR USE BY AMBLIN ENTERTAINMENT PERSONNEL. DISTRIBUTION OR DISCLOSURE

OF THIS MATERIAL TO UNAUTHORIZED PERSONS IS PROHIBITED. THE SALE, COPYING OR

REPRODUCTION OF THIS MATERIAL IN ANY FORM IS ALSO PROHIBITED.

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#K0410 08/31/95

"SpinDrift"

CAST

CAPTAIN OLIVER HUDSON

COMMANDER JONATHAN DEVIN FORD

ENSIGN LUCAS WOLENCZAK

LT. J.G. TIM O'NEILL

LT. JAMES BRODY

LT. J.G. LONNIE HENDERSON

SEAMAN FIRST CLASS TONY PICCOLO

DAGWOOD

LT. J.J. "FREDDIE" FREDRICKS

ENSIGN DARWIN

PRESIDENT ALEXANDER BOURNE SECRETARY GENERAL MCGATH GENERAL ARMAND STASSI DR. PERRY

BETHMAY

JACKBEN

VOCAR

CHIEF JUSTICE

MARTIN

CUSTOMS AGENT

COMMANDO

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#K0410 08/31/95

SEAQUEST "SpinDrift"

INTERIORS

SEAQUEST

- CORRIDORS

- WARD ROOM

- BRIDGE

- LAUNCH BAY

- MEDBAY

- HENDERSON'S QUARTERS MACRONESIAN FORTRESS - STATE SECURITY UNIT - OUTER AREA

- STATE SECURITY UNIT - INNER AREA

- COURT OF THE STAR CHAMBER

- DOCKING HALL

WEIRD SPINDRIFT SUB - COCKPIT SEAQUEST SHUTTLE WAR SURPLUS ASSAULT BOAT SPINDRIFT LEADER'S SUB SEASFEEDER

CGI / STOCK

SEAQUEST

SEAQUEST SHUTTLE

WEIRD SPINDRIFT SUB

SPINDRIFT LEADER'S SUB

MACRONESIAN UNDERSEA FORTRESS

SEASPEEDER

WAR SURPLUS ASSAULT BOAT

DEMON SQUADRON CRAFT

LASER CANNON NEST

SEA FLOOR

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

SEAQUEST "SpinDrift" TEASE

FADE IN:

1 EXT. SHUTTLE - DAY

A seaQuest Shuttle cruises through the peaceful ocean.

2 INT. SHUTTLE - DAY

Henderson is aboard the shuttle alone, but does have O'Neill's image on her vid screen to keep her company. Various boxes of cargo are secured to the deck behind her.

0'NEILL ...You get me the SlinkyDo?

HENDERSON It isn't on the list.

O¹NEILL

What do you mean it isn't on the list?

Piloting with one hand, she waves a requisition form at him:

HENDERSON

Tim - I still have the list. You didn't ask for any.

O¹NEILL Look on the back side.

She flips it over.

HENDERSON Oh no...

O'NEILL Told you.

But she looks genuinely stricken:

HENDERSON

...Why didn't you tell me you wrote on the backside? I didn't get the Captain his violin strings, either. He's going to kill me.

(CONTINUED)

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#K0410 2. 8/31/95

CONTINUED: 2

O'NEILL

C'mon, Lonnie - save a tree. I always write on the back side.

Suddenly, a RAPIDLY PULSING TONE is sounding in the cabin. Henderson turns to her comm console...

HENDERSON

Wait a sec - I'm picking up something on the VLF...

0'NEILL I'm not getting anything.

HENDERSON It's really low power - stand by.

She switches from O'Neill's image to the second broadcast -and a STATIC-FILLED IMAGE of a TERRIFIED TEN YEAR-OLD CHILD, BETHMAY, fills the screen. Her younger brother, JACKBEN, is in the background. Strangely dressed, they look a little like futuristic Arab or Berber children:

BETHMAY

...day... Mayday - can anybody hear us? Over...

Henderson urgently leans into the console:

HENDERSON

Unidentified submersible, this is UEO Shuttle 4600-2, what is your status, over?

The panicked child's eyes widen seeing Henderson:

BETHMAY We're on fire and losing power...

HENDERSON Where are you, honey?

BETHMAY I don't know... 1

HENDERSON

Push the red button under your transmitter. It says GPS-SAR. Do you see it?

The child slams her palm down just below the screen and a HIGH-PITCHED DATA FLOW bursts from the audio channel while a READOUT appears on Henderson's screen.

(CONTINUED)

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#K0410 3. 8/31/95

2 CONTINUED: 2

BETHMAY Is that it?

RENDERSON

Yes! Hold on - I'll be there soon, (cutting to O'Neill)

SeaQuest - this is 4600-2. I am receiving a distress call from what appears to be a SpinDrift child at GPS Block 427-297...

But instead of O'Neill's image, she's seeing worse static...

HENDERSON

..SeaQuest - do you read me? Over.

3 INT. SEAQUEST - BRIDGE 3
O'Neill adjusts his screen, but gets only static:

O'NEILL

Lonnie? Lonnie? (to Ford) I lost her.

Ford starts urgently punching up a navigation chart while Dagwood innocently asks:

DAGWOOD What's a SpinDrift child?

LUCAS

The SpinDrift Folk are sort of scavengers and merchants. They don't even have homes, they just live in their subs.

Now, studying the chart, Ford is really looking worried:

FORD She said Block 427?

O'NEILL Yes.. .

FORD Where's Brody?

LUCAS Still out of position.

(CONTINUED)

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#K0410 4. 8/31/95

3 CONTINUED: 3

FORD We've got to stop her.

(to the helm)

All ahead flank, steer course two-one-nine.

(to the intercom) Captain to the bridge.

4 EXT. WEIRD SPINDRIFT SUB / SHUTTLE - DAY 4

The SPINDRIFT SUB is a weird, patched-together craft, half-CargoSub, half-houseboat. But it's been ripped apart by laser attack and now its POWER CELLS are SPARKING AND SPILLING MURKY CLOUDS OF PHOSPHORESCENT FUEL, the FLASHES of ELECTRICAL DISCHARGES and FIRE rapidly expanding... as Henderson's Shuttle swoops toward it and docks.

5 INT. WEIRD SPINDRIFT SUB - COCKPIT - DAY 5

The airlock bursts open. It's Henderson, reaching through for the kids. She can hear the MUFFLED THUNDERING of the EXPLODING POWER CELLS.

HENDERSON C'monl Let's go! Let's go!

A MAN and a WOMAN, clearly dead, are slumped inside the SpinDrift ship. JackBen tugs at them:

JACKBEN Daddy? Mom...?

But BetnMay grabs him, although she's crying herself:

BETHMAY

We can't help 'em, JackBen. C'mon -we gotta go!

And she propels JackBen through the airlock while Henderson spins away from checking the bodies to look at BethMay:

HENDERSON Any more?

BETHMAY They're all dead.

An EXPLOSION bursts up the corridor into the SpinDrift cockpit. Henderson swings BethMay though the airlock after her brother:

(CONTINUED)

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#K0410 5. 8/31/95

5 CONTINUED: 5

RENDERSON Then let's go!

6 EXT. WEIRD SPINDRIFT SUB / SHUTTLE - DAY 6

A CHAIN-LIGHTNING of ELECTRICAL and FUEL EXPLOSIONS ZIPPERS up the side of the SpinDrift sub...

7 INT. SHUTTLE - DAY 7

Henderson slams her throttles into full reverse as her airlock cycles closed...

HENDERSON Strap inl

8 EXT. WEIRD SPINDRIFT SUB / SHUTTLE - DAY 8

..And as the SpinDrift Sub bursts apart in a GIGANTIC EXPLOSION, the Shuttle rockets up and away.

FADE OUT: END OF TEASE

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#K0410 6. 8/31/95

ACT ONE

FADE IN:

9 EXT. SHUTTLE - DAY 9
Speeding away from the disaster site.

10 INT. SHUTTLE - DAY 10

The water is still turbulent, but Henderson's anxiety has dropped half a notch.

HENDERSON What happened back there?

BethMay is a tough little survivor, used to the dangerous life of SpinDrift scavengers.

BETHMAY

We were sneaking in medical supplies to Macronesia. You know, antibiotics, implants? If you buy them from the government, they charge you ten times as much as what we could sell 'em for.

HENDERSON Yeah, and so...?

BETHMAY

A Demon Squadron jumped us. They holed our fuel tanks and left us to die. Mom and Dad... burned trying to fight the fire.

That puzzles Henderson, because:

HENDERSON Block 427 is a neutral zone...

BethMay looks at her with plain honesty:

BETHMAY

Not any more. We're in Macronesian territory. They claimed it last week.

The worst possible news. Henderson is suddenly urgently scanning her sensors... but it's too late. With a SHRIEKING EXPLOSION, the Shuttle is SLAMMED by a LASER BLAST.

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#K0410 7. 8/31/95

11 EXT. SHUTTLE / DEMON CRAFT - DAY 11

Three Macronesian DEMON CLASS FAST ATTACK SUBS each about the size of a SeaSpeeder, but studded with LASER WEAPONS, TORPEDO MOUNTS AND SENSORS, are SCREAMING in, FIRING.

12 INT. SHUTTLE - DAY 12
BethMay is yelling from the side window to Henderson:

BETHMAY Demon Craft! They're back!

But Henderson is already barking into her comm link while trying to out-maneuver the Demons:

HENDERSON

SeaQuest, seaQuest, this is 4600-2. I am under attack by a Macronesian Fast Attack Squadron! I repeat, I am under attack!

But all she gets on screen is static. And now another LASER BLAST SLAMS into the shuttle, pitching it sideways. Desperately, Henderson clicks over to another frequency:

HENDERSON

Macronesian WarSub! Macronesian WarSub! Hold your fire! This is a UEO Shuttle and I have civilian children aboard!

With a burst of static, suddenly a clear picture resolves on her vid screen of GENERAL STASSI:

GENERAL STASSI

If you are who you say you are, stop your engines and standby to be boarded.

Henderson slumps, defeated.

HENDERSON Message received. I am complying.

13 EXT. SHUTTLE / DEMON CRAFT - DAY 13
A Demon Craft docks with the Shuttle.

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#K0410 8. 8/31/95

14 INT. SHUTTLE - DAY 14

Led by General Stassi, a heavily armed BOARDING PARTY enters, while furiously brave but frightened, Henderson protests:

HENDERSON

Firing on and boarding a military vessel in the open sea is a violation of international law and an act of war.

GENERAL STASSI

So is invading our waters and trying to escape with our children...

HENDERSON I was transporting them to safety.

GENERAL STASSI Did you have their parents' consent?

HENDERSON Of course not. You killed them.

GENERAL STASSI

Then pursuant to the Macronesian Code of Justice, Section 14-02, I am placing you under arrest for espionage and kidnaping... crimes that upon conviction are punishable by death.

Off her reaction...

15 EXT. SEAQUEST - DAY 15
Rushing at us.

16 INT. SEAQUEST - CORRIDORS - DAY 16
BATTLE ALARMS BLARE as the crew scramble to their stations.

O'NEILL (O.S.)

...General Quarters, General Quarters - all hands man your battle stations.

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#K0410 9. 8/31/95

17 INT. SEAQUEST - BRIDGE - DAY 17

Hudson has arrived on deck from his cabin and is in command. He looks at Lucas:

HUDSON

ETA at the location of last contact?

LUCAS Five minutes.

Hudson turns to Ford, who is trying unsuccessfully to hide his feelings about Henderson's jeopardy:

HUDSON

That gives you four minutes to explain how this happened.

Ford is blaming himself more than Hudson ever could:

FORD

The Macronesians have been moving into the Neutral Zone all week. But Lieutenant Henderson's course was plotted well inside UEO territory until she picked up that distress signal.

HUDSON And you think they jumped her?

FORD

From the fragments of her transmission? Yes. I'd say the static we heard was an attempt to jam her broadcasts.

Hudson calls it like he sees it:

HUDSON

Even outside the Neutral Zone, Mr. Ford, Henderson should have had an escort.

At that, Ford and Brody trade uneasy glances - which Hudson notices.

BRODY

I was assigned to rendezvous with her. But I blew my nav point.

Hudson turns his look back to Ford:

(CONTINUED)

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#K0410 10. 8/31/95

17 CONTINUED: 17

HUDSON

And you didn't launch Fredricks as backup.

Given the depth of Ford's feelings for Henderson, he truly is filled with regret and self-loathing:

FORD No, sir.

Hudson sees the depths of Ford's and Brody's self-accusation... and can't help feeling for them. He nods, letting it drop, and looks to Brody:

HUDSON

Return to your SubFighter and standby to launch...

But he's interrupted by an ALERT SIGNAL from O'Neill:

O'NEILL

Captain - I have a Flash Priority message incoming from UEO Command.

HUDSON On screen.

The image of a very stressed Secretary General McGath flashes up on the screens:

MCGATH

Captain? What the hell are you doing?

HUDSON Recovering one of my officers.

MCGATH By invading Macronesian territory?

HUDSON It wasn't Macronesian a week ago.

MCGATH

It is now. They've claimed it and we're not going to contest it.

HUDSON

Meaning they've stolen it and we're not going to fight to get it back.

MCGATH I'm your superior, Captain...

(CONTINUED)

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#K0410 11. 8/31/95

17 CONTINUED: 17
Hudson takes a breath.

HUDSON

Look - I know the pressure the Security Council's putting on you. But I think the Macronesians have ambushed Henderson, and I want to grab her back before they can concentrate their forces... now will you let me do it?

MCGATH I can't. And I don't need to.

HUDSON

What the hell is that supposed to mean?

MCGATH

We just received a communique over the hot line. Lieutenant Henderson was captured by a Macronesian Fast Attack Squadron inside their claimed territory twenty minutes ago. They've already transported her out of the area.

Ford feels relief that she's alive, but alarm that she's a captive. Hudson only feels grim anger. He orders O'Neill:

HUDSON

Ready my jump-jet. (to McGath) I'll be in Cape Quest in two hours.

MCGATH

Don't bother, Captain. I'm on my way to the Macronesian base at GPS 429. You and an observer team can meet me there.

HUDSON An observer team? Why?

MCGATH

Because that's where we'll try to negotiate for Lieutenant Henderson's release.

HUDSON

You really think negotiations will free her?

(CONTINUED)

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#K0410 12. 8/31/95

17 CONTINUED: 17

MCGATH

They better, Captain - because I'm not going to war. Out.

Off their looks as McGath irises off screen...

18 EXT. MACRONESIAN UNDERSEA FORTRESS - DAY 18

It is an AWESOME DEEP-WATER BASE, bristling With SENSOR ARRAYS, LASER CANNON, and TORPEDO TURRETS. Several MACRONESIAN WARSUBS are docked around it as well as a few CIVILIAN CRAFT and weirdly diverse SPINDRIFT SUBS.

19 INT. THE FORTRESS - STATE SECURITY UNIT - OUTER AREA - DAY 19

STATE SECURITY COMMANDOS, including the nineteen year-old MARTIN, drag Henderson up onto a platform that looks like HIGH-TECH VERSION of an IR9N MAIDEN TORTURE DEVICE. JackBen and BethMay are being dragged in behind her. Struggling fiercely, Henderson yells:

HENDERSON Get your hands off of mel

Instead, the Commandos lock her into the device, as GENERAL STASSI orders:

GENERAL STASSI Scan her.

A NETWORK of FAST-SCANNING LASER BEAMS record Henderson's image in 3-D while she demands:

HENDERSON

Under the Geneva Convention of 2027 you have an immediate obligation to release me and give these children food, water and medical attention.

Instead, Stassi nods to Martin to remove the children from the room. As Martin forcefully but not brutally moves the children away, Stassi turns his full attention to Henderson:

GENERAL STASSI

State the name of your ship and the reason you violated our frontier.

But Henderson stoically glares at him:

(CONTINUED)

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

#K0410 13. 8/31/95

19 CONTINUED: 19

HENDERSON

I am Henderson, Lenore Ellen, Lieutenant, UEO Navy, Serial Number 437-271-809.

Stassi snaps to a Commando:

GENERAL STASSI Encourage her.

The Commando is closing a switch on what is obviously an electrical torture circuit... but:

PRESIDENT BOURNE

No. Release her, please. I'd like to talk to her.

The Commando freezes - then hits the release button for her shackles. Stassi turns around, surprised:

GENERAL STASSI President Bourne...?

Bourne smiles with charming grace:

PRESIDENT BOURNE

It's all right - you can leave us. She'll be safe with me.

Given Bourne's reputation with women, that gets a chuckle from his officers as they quickly leave. Bourne turns to Henderson, admitting:

PRESIDENT BOURNE

I'm told I have quite a reputation as a... connoisseur of woman. Has that rumor preceded me, Henderson, Lenore?

(off her silence, amused)

Apparently not. Would you please say something?

Bourne asks with such charm that Henderson replies:

HENDERSON

There's nothing I can say you don't already know.

Bourne nods at the seaQuest insignia on her uniform:

(CONTINUED)

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#K0410 14. 8/31/95

19 CONTINUED: 19

PRESIDENT BOURNE

Including the name of your vessel -seaQuest. So why don't you say it for the record?

Instead she looks at him evenly:

RENDERSON

My name is Henderson, Lenore Ellen, serial number 437-271-809.

Bourne smiles his respectful appreciation of her while admiring her beauty:

PRESIDENT BOURNE

Aaah - you're afraid, aren't you Henderson, Lenore? You fear that if you start talking, you might never stop. Believe me - I respect that. I wish half my men had as much heart as you.

HENDERSON

If you respect that, you'll give food and medical attention to the children. And you'll arrange for our immediate release.

PRESIDENT BOURNE Of course. But first answer a question, if you would - do you want peace between the Macronesian Alliance and the UEO?

Henderson almost says, of course she does - but stops.

PRESIDENT BOURNE

No - go ahead, whatever you were going to say, say it. We're alone.

But she nods at the scanners and vid cameras:

HENDERSON No we're not.

Bourne almost laughs:

PRESIDENT BOURNE Beauty, heart and intelligence. You're right, Lenore. But think of this. All I want is for you to tell the truth. Yes, I'll broadcast it, of course.

(more)

(CONTINUED)

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

#K0410 15. 8/31/95

19 CONTINUED: 19

PRESIDENT BOURNE (Cont'd) But what's the harm? Most of the citizens of the UEO - I'm sure even your own family - would prefer peace. So why not give voice to their hopes. .. and go free? What do you say?

And her face goes hard and cold:

HENDERSON

My name is Henderson, Lenore Ellen, Lieutenant UEO Navy. I demand the immediate release of myself and the children in my care.

Bourne's look also goes cold, though he's still intrigued:

PRESIDENT BOURNE ...And also stubborn.

He hits a button to summon his Commandos back into the room:

PRESIDENT BOURNE

Put her in Unit Nine. And put the children there, too.

And as his Commandos grab her and haul her struggling away, Bourne turns to General Stassi:

PRESIDENT BOURNE This is good. Very good. The Lieutenant has a warrior's spirit. A leader like Hudson will do anything to rescue her.

Off their satisfied looks...

20 EXT. ESTABLISH SEAQUEST - DAY 20
Speeding through the sea.

21 INT. SEAQUEST - BRIDGE - DAY 21
O'Neill looks over to Hudson to report:

O'NEILL

Sir - the Secretary General's shuttle is on final approach. And he has the leader of the SpinDrift Folk with him.

(CONTINUED)