Original subtitles

(REGGAETON MUSIC PLAYING)

Al orden, Capitan!

(CAN SPLASHES)

- Vamos a subirla! - Si, sefor.

Despacio. Despacio.

Este cabrestante esta hecho polvo, le qudan dos meses.

Le tengo dicho a Nicolas, invierte un poco en el barco,

gastate el dinero.

(CREAKING)

(SCREECHING)

(SCREECHING)

(SCREECHES)

(GUNSHOT)

(SIRENS WAIL IN DISTANCE)

(PHONE BUZZES)

(GROANS)

(SIGHS)

(PHONE BUZZING CONTINUES)

(GROANS)

(PHONE BUZZES LOUDLY)

(GROANS) No way!

Kirby? Kirby, I'm so sorry, darling.

You gotta get up.

I just got a phone call. I'm not supposed to tell you,

but there's this oil spill in Scotland. They need me.

You've got to go to your mum's.

- Oh... - I know. I know. I'm so sorry.

Will you get up? Will you get up, please? Love you, love you.

- (KIRBY GROANS) - Thank you. Thank you.

I'll phone your mum.

- Hello. - Why have they activated you?

I don't know.

Uh, this is Kirby. They're my child.

- They're with me. - But I'm in uniform.

We got to drop 'em off at their mum's.

It's in Fulham, it's on the way.

We can get a taxi in two minutes.

I'm old enough.

- I'm not a kid. - No, look,

you're not crossing London on your own at this time of night

and that's that. I'm sorry, this is just how it is. Sorry.

So, why are you with soldiers?

Uh, well, because...

...sometimes with an oil spill,

there might be, erm...arguments.

Thanks. Sorry about this.

Can't be helped, I suppose. You and that bloody job.

- Sorry, Mum. - When are you back?

- I can't tell. I'll text you. - (LAUGHTER INSIDE)

Sorry to interrupt the party.

Who's there? Clive and Kaleesha?

Yeah. And Stanley.

Yeah. Well, he would be, wouldn't he? See you.

Sorry. The ex is a bit cross with me.

- You've broken so many rules. - I know.

And I want to say, um...

...I am sorry about Christmas.

If you can't drink, don't.

I checked.

Apparently, you're onboard to replace

someone called Roger Trevithick.

He's on a mission in Scotland,

So you've been made his replacement.

- Is that what it says? - Yup.

That thing about Roger Trevithick,

- did that come from HR? - How should I know?

General.

Sergeant Chakri, welcome aboard.

- And you are? - Uh...

Oh, Barclay Pierre-Dupont, sir.

I'm Roger Trevithick's replacement.

Oh, the civilian. Read and assess.

I just wanted to say, about Roger Trevithick,

- did that come from HR...? - Barclay Pierre-Dupont -

does that surname make you French?

- Yeah, on my father's side. - Tres bien.

- (PLANE ENGINE WHIRRING) - Oh, my God.

(INDISTINCT PILOT'S ANNOUNCEMENT)

- Barclay. - Oh.

- Hiya. Pip, innit? - Yeah.

I'm replacing Roger Trevithick.

Oh, my God. Yeah.

GENERAL: OK. We arrive on Cabrera at 0900 local time.

From there, we get taken to the island of Dragonera.

The village is called Cala Escondida,

designated prime location.

There's a lot to take in, so I suggest you make a start.

(ENGINES WHIR)

(CLANKING)

(MURMURS)

Wow.

(GUNFIRE AND SCREAMING)

(SIGHS)

Amazing, isn't it?

Mind blown.

The thing about Roger Trevithick...

Look...

I replaced him only one time, back in 2020.

His wife was having a baby - it was premature

and he had to rush off,

and I just happened to be there. So all I had to do

was answer his phone, which didn't even ring,

and so that was that. But then I went on file

as Roger Trevithick's replacement.

- Ah. How is the baby? - Yeah, the baby is fine.

But t-t-the thing is, I-l just got stuck on the list in HR.

Roger Trevithick's replacement.

I get, like, memos. I mean, there's one time

I even got tickets to Japan! And I'd email them,

I'd say, "Look, I'm not Roger Trevithick's replacement."

- So? - So I'm not

Roger Trevithick's replacement!

I'm grade ten.

Ten?! You're ten?!

- Look, I... - Don't talk to me!

And I didn't show you anything!

Yeah, but what do I do?!

I work in transport. I just book the taxis!

(SIGHS)

(HELICOPTER WHIRRING)

(RADIO CHATTER)

GENERAL, ON RADIO: All troops. As of now,

the Mediterranean is hostile territory.

SOLDIER: Ready your arms!

SOLDIER, ON RADIO: Village evacuated. Border established

at 10km, sir.

This entire coastline belongs to us.

They hung it far away from the village,

like they were scared of it.

Even in death.

COMPUTER: Decontamination in progress.

Decontamination in progress.

Decontamination in progress.

- Colonel. - General.

Quite a sight, isn't it?

Caught 5km off the coast.

They shot it dead,

but then thought they could make money out of it.

Hauled it up -

the monster from the deep.

We saw it online. Declared it a hoax.

Flew in from Madrid, sealed the place off.

But it's quite a find.

It's the first time we've seen one exactly like this.

In mythology and superstition we call them Sea Devils,

but we're better than that now.

Let's say, uh...

...Homo aqua.

We think their species branched off from temnospondyls,

which means the correct name is Homospondyl erectus.

I say Homo aqua...

...cos that's what it looks like.

- Do we have a sex? - Difficult to say.

The genitalia suggests reptilian cloaca,

which is found on both male and female.

GENERAL: What about the neck?

Was there a pearl?

Plain and simple.

Nothing artificial.

Calcium carbonate.

60% aragonite, 40% calcite.

Then I suggest we return it to its rightful place.

Every time we find a creature like this, we find a pearl.

It might be simple decoration -

mankind has worn pearls ever since God knows when -

but every pearl gets analysed, and we've found nothing.

No technology, no inscription.

But still,

does it signify a caste or belief or identity?

The pearl is always located at the base of the throat,

actually embedded in the skin.

We think it's placed there at birth.

It goes back at least 2,000 years, sir,

the use of pearls as jewellery.

It's said Cleopatra removed her pearl earring,

dissolved it in vinegar

and drank it in front of Mark Antony.

Could be useful. File that.

- Ready for the DeepScan? - Yes, sir.

- Yes, sir. - Corporal Morgan,

you can join the team here and liaise with Sergeant Brock.

Thank you, Ms Tso. I think your team can stand down.

- Yes, sir. Let's pack it up! - General.

- Yes, Sergeant. - Yes, Sergeant.

GENERAL: Charge 'em up.

- Coffee, sir. - Thank you.

You're welcome.

Cheers.

(ELECTRICAL WHIRRING)

I just wonder what they're doing here.

I mean, it's a pond, the Mediterranean.

It's got no depth.

January 2020, there was an avalanche underwater

lasting two days

off the west coast of Africa, spreading over 1,200km.

Massive event.

- All hidden under the sea. - You think it was them?

It severed communications cables,

which I think is significant.

They're waking up.

Now, the world is two-thirds water.

If it's us against them...

(ELECTRICAL CHIRPING)

(HIGH-PITCHED BOOM)

(BOOM VIBRATES)

Well...

...I think they heard that.

- What was that, sir? - A translation pulse.

We said hello.

Um, can we use our phones yet?

No.

No, no, no. It's a true story! That's why people die.

Most common domestic accident -

they fall downstairs, break their necks.

- What are you supposed to do? - Well, you go like this.

As you fall, you starfish, yeah?

It jams you into the stairwell,

- you stop falling. - But who is gonna

remember that? You're falling!

You don't think, "What do I do?

- "What kind of fish?" - That's the point.

No-one remembers, so you die!

(LAUGHS) Anyway...

- Right, do you take sugar? - No, thanks.

- (SQUELCHES) - Whoal

What the...?

- What? - What's all this?

- What's wrong? Muddy boots? - Something's leaking.

- Bloody hell! - Careful! Is it chemicals?

Whoa! Right...

- What is it? - I don't know.

Wait... Wait... I don't know.

- (YELLS) - What the hell?!

(GROANS)

OK. No, no. Hold on to me.

I can't!

I can't!

- (SCREAMS) - Jesus! Right.

We need help! We need help!

(RADIO STATIC)

(INDISTINCT VOICE ON RADIO)

(YELLS)

(SHRIEKS)

(ALARM BLARES)

- What's happened? - You must decontaminate, sir.

- But tell me what's happening. - I'm sorry, sir.

You'll be able to see once...

Captain, tell me what's happened!

They've gone, sir.

What do you mean?

Everything's gone.

Who was on duty?

Corporal Morgan and Private Abdallah.

Then where are they? And where's that...thing?

We were just seconds away. They can't have got far.

Hold on! Keep the area clear.

But they've stripped the place bare.

Where did everything go? Who was on duty?

Corporal Morgan. Private Abdallah.

Please report your location.

We can search the village, sir.

Corporal Morgan. Private Abdallah.

Please report!

Corporal Morgan. Private Abdallah.

(RADIO CRACKLING)

Corporal Morgan.

(ECHOING) Corporal Morgan.

- Private Abdallah. - (ECHOING) Private Abdallah.

Please report your location.

(ECHOING) Please report your location.

(RADIO STATIC)

- Corporal Morgan? - (ECHOING) Corporal Morgan?

- Private Abdallah. - (ECHOING) Private Abdallah.

(GASPS)

BARCLAY: What's that?

Huh?

What is that?

He was 28.

GENERAL: I wanted to say sorry you had to see that.

- You got the wrong one. - That was your first death.

I'm sorry.

No. I'm here by mistake, OK?

I haven't got clearance. I am grade ten.

I work in transport. I'm a clerk.

You were meant to have Roger Trevithick, right?

I've just ended up here by mistake.

I shouldn't be here!

Are you saying you're here by accident?

Yes, sir.

And that, I suspect,

is how history is made.

One great big chain of mistakes.

But still, the UNIT protocol states...

...at times of historical or cultural or political impact,

a member of the civilian staff

must stand alongside the military as witness.

And they could not be more civilian than you.

Too late to turn back now, Barclay.

Welcome aboard.

(SIGHS) Typical military intelligence!

I got a first-class degree

and did intensive training

at St Andrews for three years to get here.

You blundered in...by mistake.

Yeah.

I'm the one who orders the cars and finds cheaper lorries.

But I met the Doctor once.

No way.

Last year in the Tower,

he said hello and then he...

Then off he went.

What was he like?

Just like...

He was vivid, you know?

It was just this tiny little moment, but...

...I think about it every second of every day.

That creature, what was it?

(SIGHS) The Unified Intelligence Taskforce

was created to deal with alien life forms, but...

...this species isn't alien.

They're from Earth. They were here before us.

But...

What, did they die out? What...?

They hibernated.

Underground.

And this was when the Earth was young,

cos the planet reformed around them and sealed them in.

Sometimes proof is found and...we hide it.

What for?

Think about it.

They were here first, millions of years ago,

so the planet belongs to them.

Technically, we inherited their world,

but if they're not dead...

...what if they want it back?

CORPORAL. Positive sighting! Grid 9! We have a life form!

SOLDIER: Let's go!

SGT CHAKRI: Barclay, with me!

- For you. - What's that? What's that for?

You're the civilian witness. You record everything.

That could be our testimony if we get killed.

If we get... If we get what?!

(INDISTINCT RADIO)

(LIGHTNING CRACKS)

At my command, arms down.

- RADIO: All units, arms down. - How are we on translation?

Aligned and running.

Three, two, one...

Ready to calibrate, sir.

As soon as it talks, we can capture the sound.

(LONG SCREECH)

Running translation, sir.

We are calibrated, sir. Ready to go.

My name...

...Is General Austin Pierce.

(COMPUTER BEEPS)

(SPEECH-LIKE CLICKING TRANSLATION)

And I represent the Unified Military Taskforce

of the Combined Nations of the Drylands of Earth.

(CLICKING TRANSLATION)

And I welcome you into diplomatic concord.

(CLICKING TRANSLATION)

(CLICKING)

Concord is a big concept.

Sorry, can we think of another word, please?

Meeting.

I welcome you into this diplomatic...

- ...meeting. - (CLICKING TRANSLATION)

(CLICKING)

(COMPUTER BEEPS)

"You killed us."

Oh, God. Oh, no.

- You... - (CLICKING TRANSLATION)

...then took two lives.

And now... suggest...

...we stop.

(BREATHES RAGGEDLY)

(CLICKING)

(COMPUTER BEEPS)

"Agreed."

I hope we can meet in peace...

- (CLICKING) - "Agreed."

...and learn from each other...

(CLICKING TRANSLATION)

- (SNARLING CLICKING) - "Agreed."

...and work to forge a friendship

between the land...and the sea.

(CLICKING TRANSLATION)

(CLICKING)

Is that agreed?

- "Agreed." - Told ya.

(COMPUTER BEEPS)

(SCREECHES)

"But...

(HARSH CLICKING)

"...we do not..."

- (CLICKING) - (THUD)

"...agree."

(CLICKING)

Do not agree with...?

(CLICKING)

"We would talk to

"all your animals."

- Humans. - Er, "We would talk to

"all humanity."

Er, no, sorry, sir, it's...

...it's not "would" in the conditional tense, sir.

It's, "We all talk. All.

"All of us."

Oh, my God...

It means all of them.

Repeat the declaration of peace.

Yeah, I know.

- I say again... - (CLICKING TRANSLATION)

...we come...

...in peace.

(CLICKING TRANSLATION)

(LIGHTNING CRACKS)

(CLICKING)

(COMPUTER BEEPS)

- "Agreed." - (SIGHS)

SOFTWARE OPERATOR: No, no, no. Hold on, sorry.

We still haven't got the right translation.

"We all talk" is a layered statement.

There's another concept embedded.

Could he say it again, please?

Don't refer to them as male.

I ask you to repeat your previous statement...

(CLICKING TRANSLATION)

...for translation.

(CLICKING TRANSLATION)

(SCREECHING CLICKS)

"We are talking to the whole world"?

"We are talking to the whole world...right now."

Present tense.

What do they mean? In... In what way?

(PHONES BEEP AND BUZZ)

It's happening all over the world.

NEWSREADER: All over the world...

...humanity reacts to the simple fact -

the species that came before us

has woken up.

(NEWSREADER SPEAKS MANDARIN)

And the President has called

for a new age of cooperation.

It's being called H20 Diplomacy.

The first official meeting with Homo aqua will begin here,

on the banks of the Thames, inside Imperial House.

Behind me, that's the construction

that's being called the Waterway.

It's a specific demand from Homo aqua as a junction

between the water and the land.

Some say it's a symbol of peace.

BARCLAY: OK, so I can't do the 17th or the 24th

and I don't know yet about the 31st.

KIRBY'S MUM: Bloody hell! You can't do that!

That job of yours is useless.

- Kirby! - What?

Your dad said he can't come and get you

for the next three weekends because he's not bothered.

- Is that a problem, Kirby? - No.

What about me? I've got plans.

Yeah? So, anyway, I have just put 3,000 quid in your account.

- Hope that's OK. - What do you mean?

- Like I said. - You did not.

Where's that from?

Well, I got promoted, thank you,

but apparently my job's useless.

Well, if I'm getting £3,000, how much did you get?

- Oh, that's nice. - Mm-hm.

Well, you can get some extra cooks in now,

- help with the business. - KIRBY: Thank you.

Funny thing is, with these Sea Devils,

it's got Kirby watching proper TV again, like the old days.

Well, you can't say Sea Devils.

They're called homospondyls.

All right, don't laugh.

Don't laugh - because homo doesn't mean gay.

It does if you're my age.

So Homo aqua's "gay water"?

That's them, the Gay Waters!

That's what you've been drinking, Kirby -

- too much gay water! - (LAUGHS)

KIRBY: Shut up!

KIRBY'S MUM: So, what's this promotion, then?

- What are you doing? - Er, it's just, you know...

...just more admin.

Come on, this way.

General Austin Pierce in Grid B2, Seat 1.

Morning, everyone.

KATE: A very good morning to you, General Pierce,

and to everyone.

For the record and for history,

my name is Kate Lethbridge-Stewart,

Commander-in-Chief of the Unified Intelligence Taskforce.

UNIT has been chosen to lead these talks

because we stand above and outside all countries,

borders, governments and oceans of the world.

We represent humanity.

But today, we represent all life on Earth.

And I hope this will be the start of a great endeavour

to find peace between all of our kindred species.

To begin the formal proceedings,

confirm Downing Street online.

Good morning, Prime Minister.

PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, Kate.

Extraordinary days.

I spent a long time working hard to get the people's vote.

Now we've got new people.

- White House online? - Confirmed.

- Hall of the People, Beijing? - Confirmed.

- National Congress of Brazil? - Confirmed.

We have all 195 nations, ma'am.

And do we have the Ambassador?

Approaching now.

Apparently, he had the lobster thermidor last night,

against our advice.

Let's hope that's not a major crime down below.

Thank you, Mrs Bingham. Let's concentrate.

Eyes on the task.

SHIRLEY: Pardon me, ma'am.

- Ah, General. - Good to see you, sir.

- Very special day. - Absolutely.

Hmm.

Mr St Lewis, how's the Waterway?

Are we ready to go?

Stress is holding.

Seals checked and secure.

A16 has been fixed.

The only way to see if this works is to do it.

You've got quite a crowd.

All under control.

SHIRLEY: Ma'am, we have a press drone.

Ready for that. Take them out.

- (GUNSHOT) - (ALL EXCLAIM)

What was that?

- Paparazzi drone. - Did they see us?

One-way glass. Didn't you read anything?

My family don't know where I am. They'd flip!

Thanks to you, I'm not even allowed in this room!

Very well done!

That's Roger Trevithick.

COMPUTER: Prepare tank activation.

Positions. And good luck to us all.

To confirm, the perimeter's now secure, ma'am.

All stations at gold standard. Thank you.

If you could not interrupt.

We have all comms focused and recording.

Backups online. Good, good.

Mrs Bingham, let's begin.

COMPUTER: Initiate tank activation.

And flood the tank.

(EXHALES)

COMPUTER: Open seals one, two, three.

(CRASHING WATER RESOUNDS)

COMPUTER: Open seals four, five.

Take it up to 100 PSI.

Open seals six, seven, eight.

(CRASHING WATER RESOUNDS)

(SHOUTING)

SHIRLEY: Section 45 compromised.

COMPUTER: System compromised.

KATE: Emergency teams.

(SHOUTING)

(CRASHING WATER RESOUNDS)

(SHOUTING)

(CRASHING WATER RESOUNDS)

COMPUTER: Void stable.

Water filtered and purity at 98%.

940,000 litres. Well done, Mrs Bingham.

Thank you, ma'am.

Now, are we ready? Let's welcome our guests.

Open water lock one.

(COMPUTER CHIMES)

Looks like we have six life forms.

And a seventh.

Four Homospondyl erectus, AKA Homo aqua.

Two of an unknown life form.

One of a second unknown.

Three different life forms in total.

General Pierce to all troops. Red status.

Confirm...

...Red status.

(COMPUTER CHIMES)

And here they come.

(COMPUTER CHIMES)

Two unknown life forms entering.

It's just...

- What are we saying? - I'd call them...

...Piscimorpha grandis.

Welcome to Piscimorpha grandis.

- Does that mean big fish? - Yup.

Focus. Thank you.

That's the signal for the airlock.

- (COMPUTER CHIMES) - Third life form approaching.

Ma'am, we don't know what that third life form is.

Then the first gambit is to trust them, Colonel.

Open the doors.

COMPUTER: Activating airlock pumps.

Airlock at full capacity.

Decontamination in progress.

(MURMURING)

I'd say Homomorpha sapiens...

...or, to simplify, Homo amphibian.

Oh, amazing.

They killed two of us, remember?

We killed them. That's what this is for -

to bring peace.

Ready with translations?

Up and running. Ready to go.

Sir Jonathan,

good luck.

(CLEARS THROAT)

(FAINT CLICKING)

- I, er... I bid you welcome... - (CLICKING TRANSLATION)

...on behalf of the human race.

(CLICKING TRANSLATION)

- I stand here as, er... - (CLICKING TRANSLATION)

We do not need translation.

SOFTWARE OPERATOR: Did we learn their language?

- No, we did not! - Save the comments.

Well, your... your English is excellent.

(SPEAKS RUSSIAN)

That's...Russian.

(SPEAKS RUSSIAN)

Well played, old man.

I bring you greetings from the United Nations of this world

that we call Earth.

It's a symbolic title of Indo-European origin

that bears no disrespect to the oceans, seas,

lakes, rivers and waterways around us.

And I bring you a gift.

Rhododendron nivale,

the dwarf snow rhododendron.

A flower that grows at the highest point on planet Earth,

on the slopes of Mount Everest,

four miles above sea level,

perhaps never seen by your kind.

Now, it carries a scent, erm...

...er, or a flavour,

an essence that you will have never known before.

Would you, erm...?

(ALL INHALE)

This is given with respect

and the hope of peace between our species.

We have a gift for you.

My children.

(ALL GASP AND MURMUR)

My children

should have been born at the turn of the Third Cold Current.

But they choked on your oil...

...and poison...

...and excrement.

Skip to 16!

Sir Jonathan, go to 16,

paragraph 10.

I must state with vigour that we recognise the problem.

Our solutions are remarkable...

We do not know you.

Well, I...

I am Ambassador... Sir Jonathan Hynes...

You are not known to us.

We would speak...

...with him.

(MURMURING)

Me?!

- Who the hell is he? - CAPTAIN: Well, he's...

...nothing. He's no-one.

He... He's part of the team. He's the witness.

He's the mistake. He was there by mistake!

Give me intel on him - now!

- Yes, ma'am. - Right away, ma'am.

BARCLAY: No!

Sorry. No, no.

Y-Y-Y-You... You've got the wrong man.

You showed respect.

Er...

No, that's just a... that's just a thing.

You respected our fallen kin

when no others did.

What are they? Christians now?

Someone tell me what's going on!

I'm not even religious. I don't know why I did it...

But we saw your kindness.

And we see you.

Will you stand as Ambassador?

And talk on behalf of the entire human race?

(VOICE BREAKING) OK.

(MURMURING)