Original subtitles

So you abandoned ship?

Yes, sir. It's in my 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 far too long. But, sir,

was perfectly fine.

Well, they disagree.

They think you lost your mind up there. And that 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. We'll 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.

Crystal formation has remained constant during the last 12 -hour period.

As expected, zero -gravity environment has accelerated crystal growth.

Pressure valve on chamber seems normal.

0 .6%. I think it'll take another year to perfect an antidote for space

psychosis. Which is going to put off any long -term space excitement.

Bill, you've already been up for a year and a half.

At some point, you'll have to go back.

Yeah?

To what?

To your life.

A life outside of this shoebox.

Frankly, I don't understand your obsession with staying here.

Even our engineer showing signs he's been on board too long.

There's a problem with you, Doc.

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, Lana.

All right, what about repairing the air duct and the service module? Very

simple. Is that light enough, Doc? Well, I suppose it could be.

Gordon. Sir.

Off to air duct land, please.

Have fun.

Let's see if we can play some more.

Billy?

Alan?

Is that you?

Dad?

Come on, let's play some more.

How the hell did you get in the airlock?

Come on, Daddy.

Come here.

Come on, come on.

We'll be in here.

Five seconds to airlock closure.

Four, three, two, one.

Medicine specialization.

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 delude you with a

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 didn'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.

All right.

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?

Everything is possible.

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.

Put you in a prison myself.

Did you really think they would keep me there?

Keep me from coming after you?

Bastard.

Where's Laura?

She's in the lab.

Let's kill her. It's going to kill us too unless we get off the station. What

are you talking about? There was an explosion in the lab. What about

He's dead.

We've got to escape while we still can.

No. I can't just leave.

Doctor, that's an order. Tell me what's happening.

Doctor, that's an order. Go!

Defense Council.

It's almost time.

How's the panel look?

Fair. Admiral Jones will be acting as chair.

The Russians have appointed Admiral Urov.

And the Brits have sent Admiral Birch.

Birch?

Why don't they just shoot me now and get it over with? He's only one voice.

Besides, they're all obligated to give you the benefit of the doubt.

I've been in this game long enough to know one thing.

And their only obligation is to find a scapegoat.

We should get in there.

Rob, I want you to know something.

No matter what happens in there, I'm grateful for your help.

It's nothing.

No, it was 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 strength, and I know 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.

National number 99658 in relation to the International Space Agency's orbiting

platform Meridian shall commence in camera under the jurisdiction conferred

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 in

this matter?

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 a big confidence in her professionalism.

She's the best in her field, sir.

Even so, you're a long way from your normal practice, Miss Dysart. You

the rules are different here?

That... Protocol is less formal than in normal criminal proceedings.

I'm well aware of that, Admiral, but as I understand it, the objective remains

the same.

Oh?

A full and impartial hearing for my client.

You ready to present your first witness, Colonel Bell?

Yes, sir.

I would ask the commander of the rescue shuttle, Lewis Bidwell, to take the

stand.

Commander Bidwell, describe what happened.

We were on a routine satellite repair mission when the distress signal from

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, uh... He seemed to be under a bit of strain.

I have my orders. Forget the orders. Forget the orders, Lewis. If the command

doesn't understand the situation, you'll be endangering everybody.

Everybody on this shuttle. But there may be other survivors.

It's possible.

How many times do I have to tell you? There are no other survivors. They

them all, I thought, with my own eyes. You mind telling me what... I don't know

what it is, Lewis. I don't know. I don't know where it's from. But it's up

there, and I guarantee it'll kill us one by one by one. We have got to get back

to Earth. You can't go back up there.

Listen to me. You are out of line.

Get out of my ship.

You're going to have to truck down the ship. You cannot go back up there.

All right.

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 Seroxan 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

destroy the lab and anyone in it, but not strong enough to open the

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, Miss Dizer.

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

Meridian was based on the legitimate fear for the safety of the shuttle and

crew? That's possible.

Anything's possible, Miss Dyckhardt. But this panel's 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 that make up 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 him, boys?

They were colleagues and best friends.

Why don't we hear him? In fact, how do we know there was anyone else present at

all? 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 in the compartment was

obscured by the ambient noise. The recording from the lab module is a bit

clear.

Unfortunately, it is incomplete.

The chemicals that Dr. Somerset was using...

had a corrosive effect on both audio and video. Mr. Chairman, surely the JAG

office isn't intending on introducing a partial record. I mean, how can that do

anything but prejudice my client? I object. But all the relevant portions

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

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 both works completed.

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 ten

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

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

who it is?

Well, there is the uniform.

The uniform. One of many which might have been in storage. Wouldn't you agree

that anyone could be wearing that uniform? It could be a woman, for all

know. Look at it.

I guess it could.

But, Diane, it's not just what the person was wearing.

We all heard Somerset on audio.

Addressed him as captain.

Before he turned around.

He didn't know who it was. He made the same assumption you have.

Dr. DeFore.

You were the Meridian's medical officer.

That's right.

I was appointed six months ago, around the same time as Dr. Somerset began the

second phase of his mastodon studies.

I've been asked to assist him in what is work, if necessary.

Why was that?

I've had a lot of experience with space psychosis, an ailment related to long

-term space assignments, which we hoped mastodon would cure.

Space psychosis? It causes delusional states, similar to those associated with

cabin fever.

Run medical Saturn 57A.

Patient here was part of our last attempt to reach the outer planet.

For most of the time, he displays behavior which is well within the normal

parameters. He's intelligent, coherent, and shows remorse.

Remorse? He killed one of his crew in the midst of a paranoid illusion.

Psychotic incident can occur at any time, without warning, resulting in

acts against self or others.

Early symptoms are notoriously difficult to recognize.

Persistent headaches, such as those Commander Gordon was experiencing, can

good indicator.

And Captain Clark?

I'd have to say that prior to the incident, the captain's behavior was

within the norm.

He exhibited all the qualities of a first -rate officer.

In fact, there were no marked deviations until after he forced me into the life

pod.

We have to find a way to destroy this thing. Please calm down, Captain.

We'll be picked up soon. It looks like us, you know.

It tried to fool me, but I figured out what it was.

I went to kill it so this damn thing just wouldn't die.

You said it looked like us?

Yeah.

We're going to have to just destroy the whole station. It's the only way we're

going 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.

And 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 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 the danger in this.

Correct? That's correct.

And did you?

Did you, Doctor?

Yes.

Oh, uh, 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 mescaline.

Ten years ago, you worked with Dr. Rachel McDonald's neuropsychology team

Harvard. In a very junior capacity.

I assisted in her schizophrenia studies.

And 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. In fact, 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. DeFore's term paper have to these

I, for one, 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 siroxan.

The drug Somerset had been developing had siroxan gas as a component. The

creation of mescadrine requires massive amounts of that chemical. And as you

pointed out in your paper, even small amounts of siroxan can induce immediate,

though not permanent, psychotic breakdowns in humans. Are you suggesting

was a leak?

I am.

Then why wasn't Bidwell or any of his crew affected? It has a short life. When

combined with oxygen, it became inert before they docked. And 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 Navikoff, the captain, and you. Isn't it possible that

leak aboard the station caused an outbreak of mass hysteria and that in

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 get back up to the lab. They're going to check it out. They're going to

figure out there was no damn gas. Check what?

There's not enough of it left to prove anything.

As I explained to the panel, any siroxan 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,

know, the mescadrine studies, they 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.

Probably better than I deserve considering, you know.

I 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 gotta tell them.

Tell them what?

Tell them the truth.

For God's sake, Bill, don't you get it yet? All right, they are not looking.

For the truth, they never were. They are looking for an out.

And the Turoks and Gasly give them that out.

That's not how it happened. They don't care. Right now, it is the most likely,

most palatable scenario, and they don't want to hear otherwise from you. When

the Meridian reopens for business, and others go up there and they 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.

God Captain in the interest of time it might be best if you Limit your

testimony to those events that happened after commander Gordon's death.

Yes, sir. Well as you already heard I went to the lab module to tell Dr.

Somerset about the accident.

It was there that I saw what happened to him and what killed the others.

Hi, Bill.

Miss, you wouldn't come to me.

You're not here.

I know you're not here.

Of course I am.

I'm interviewing you, huh?

Catch me.

Don't you want to touch me?

What are you?

So, I went back to the service module to...

warned 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 it is you're comparing them to. Is it psychic?

Is it a shapeshifter? Really, Captain?

I had no idea the psychogenic effects of oxygen could last this long. There was

no gas leak.

I did an air quality check myself. It was clear on all levels. Well, how do

know that? I mean, maybe it affected you and you weren't aware of it. How can

you be sure of anything that went on up there? 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 are similar creatures in the ocean that the meridian fails?

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 somehow reached into his

psyche and seized the image of his son and then detained that person just 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.

Navikov, each time using this emotional connection to lure each one of the crew

to their death, 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 then there was the way that it just did not react to the asset. But it could

have killed you in the passageway, and it didn't. Why not? I don't know, sir.

Maybe it couldn't. Yet according to you, it showed remarkable vigor in killing

the others. And for what purpose? Mark new territory, protection of young, some

sort of predatory instinct.

I am not sure what purpose. All I know is that I did see 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 such fundamental importance to the future of

our planet. But it will kill again. Excuse me, but as I recall, Commander

Bidwell searched the station and he didn't find any aliens on board.

Yes, Colonel Bell is right. Gentlemen, are you listening to me?

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? Oh, you have convinced us. Most eloquently.

of the dangers associated with our mescadrine studies. Sir, this has

do with mescadrine or thyroxine or any other substance. This has got to do with

a creature that is intelligent, that can hunt.

A creature that killed three of my crew and will kill again. And I'm telling you

that 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.

Perhaps this might be time to take a recess. I think we've heard enough to

render a decision.

Please, gentlemen, listen to me. It is still up there.

It is still up there.

This thing will kill again.

Gentlemen, there was no gas leak. I know what I saw.

has considered all the evidence presented to it and is now prepared to

decision.

We were unanimous in concluding that the deaths resulted from a mass outbreak of

temporary psychosis caused by a leak of Xeroxan gas.

That they were, in fact, suicides.

Enough of a doubt has been raised to acquit Captain Clark of all

However, the persistence of the Captain's delusion greatly concerns us.

It's clear that the length of his assignment, combined with the exposure

Seroxan, has had a detrimental effect on his health.

Therefore, he will be relieved of the command of the Meridian and transferred

the agency's mental health clinic for treatment, pending medical discharge

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. Captain, 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. The 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.

I mean, we could appeal, but I doubt we'd have much success.

I mean, you're lucky. You're lucky the panel didn't find you criminally

negligent. I mean, otherwise you'd be on your way to a jail, not a hospital.

I could go public. I could tell the press the truth.

They wouldn't believe your story any more than the panel did.

Come on.

Legitimate papers, they'll ignore it. And the tabloids, they'll make a fool

of you.

Accept their decision.

I gave them everything.

I know.

Better than anyone, I know.

But even Ulysses went home.

And Julie.

Could I speak to the captain, please?

I'll go check on your transfer papers.

Good.

I can't believe it turned out this way.

Well, it wasn't your fault. You did what you had to do.

Why didn't you tell me about that Xerox?

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 American.

And I had to make sure that didn't happen.

I still have a lot of work to do out there.

What work?

There are such things as sea moths, Captain.

Phew.

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.

God!

He attacked me! I had to!

Wait, hold on.

You don't understand. She killed my crew. She killed my crew and she's going

kill again.

There's so much worse than we thought. I can't listen to it.

She's not human.

You can't let her get away. You can't let her go back up there.

You can't let her go.

Listen to me.

I'm telling you the truth. You've got to listen to me.

Don't let her go.

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.

So give him the best possible care.

I hope so.

He now thinks I have something to do with it.

Speaking of talking, I heard you're going back to the Meridian.

Duty calls.

Even after all that's happened?

Your place is here, Miss Neithart.

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.

You can extend the limits of feasibility again tomorrow at 8.

Over on the studio in a few minutes, the horror maestro Wes Craven features in

the directors.

For more info, log on to thestudio .com.

Some people have no imagination.

Frank's after a copycat killer next in Millennium.