Original subtitles

Previously on "Ascension"...

You really think she's been spying for Rose this whole time?

Sex is the true currency on this ship.

[Krueger]: What the hell are you doing to these people?

There's a rumour that the inoculations were poisoned.

You have someone inside Ascension.

You have a wild imagination.

Your life and the life of this project have the same expectancy.

She's what we've been working towards, isn't she?

She's the best chance we have.

- I'm scared. - Let me out!

[♪ Jazz ]

Excuse me. Excuse me.

I didn't think it could be possible

to top last year's Ostara, but you have done it.

So many eager faces.

They spend the year hoping and praying

they'll be chosen to have a child.

Tonight they find out if they won the lottery.

And those who aren't chosen, you think they'll blame you?

There's always a few who feel

like I have some influence over the birth list.

All I really do is keep the alcohol flowing.

What about us?

Do you ever regret not having a legacy?

Do we have to have this discussion again, William?

Yeah, we wouldn't want to talk about anything

that's simmering beneath the surface.

I'm content. You're the one with regrets.

Mm-hmm.

Thank you.

[Krueger]: So what is this, some kind of fertility festival?

Essentially. It's Ostara.

It's a completely unique cultural phenomenon.

It evolved into what it became now

out of the necessity for keeping the ship's population static.

Everything on the ship is geared to this moment,

finding out who the birth computer chose.

- With a little help. - I don't make the selections.

Before couples are allowed to be married,

they submit their profiles

and find out their chances of being selected.

That makes it pretty easy

to kill off any pairings that you don't like.

The integrity of the experiment depends

on non-interference.

What is it? What are you waiting for, Gault?

If I were single,

I'd be doing a damn sight more than just watching.

You put your name in for marriage approval?

Every year for the last 3 years straight.

Ah, don't lose faith. You're a high-value male.

An officer.

It's just a matter of finding you

the right match.

Ma'am!

Do your captain a favour. Make sure the XO enjoys himself.

To Ostara!

[Crew]: To Ostara!

To Ostara.

[Crew applauding]

[Woman laughing, echoing]

[Woman continues laughing]

Mom.

[Whispering]: Hi, Christa.

Do you hear that, Mom?

[Muttering indistinctly]

[Woman continues laughing]

[Footsteps]

Be honest.

Who rigs the birth list, Viondra or your dad?

It isn't rigged, but it's not a true lottery, either.

Come here.

It's weighted to take into account genetic variance

in a small gene pool.

Think about it.

We only have 600 people...

to make billions.

So there's a chance, then, for you and me.

Depends what the computer decides.

It's kind of romantic, if you think about it.

One match out of hundreds.

It's a machine that decides our lives for us.

There's nothing romantic about that.

[Sighing]

Come on.

I don't want to miss the dancing.

Can you believe she's actually wearing a crown?

[Chuckling]

She thinks she's royalty.

No, it's not a crown. It's a fertility wreath.

Seems wrong that someone who opted out of the birth list

should preside over it.

No, that's actually a necessity.

It would be such a temptation to put yourself on the list.

Ah, you're too young to remember,

but just a dozen years ago,

the selection was the most tense day on the ship.

Now it's a party!

[Denninger]: Welcome to Ostara!

[Crew]: To Ostara!

The originals knew a journey of this magnitude

comes with great sacrifice.

Our lives and laws are governed by a different set of needs.

Our ancestors could fall in love, marry and have children

as fate would allow.

But we have a bigger responsibility:

to ensure the survival of the human race.

[Crew cheering and applauding]

Lorelei?

For us, death and life are intrinsically intertwined.

Without one, there cannot be the other.

Let us pause and remember those who are no longer with us.

Ike Messmer, Medical,

John Stokes, Stockyard Master,

and Lorelei Wright, Archives.

In their passing,

they allow for a creation of new life, of new hope.

Lorelei, don't!

Now for the moment you've been waiting for.

The computer's selection was sealed in this envelope, unseen.

It is my honour to present...

Deborah and Timothy Fermi.

[Woman]: Whoo!

Susan and Paul Carr.

And the last name selected for this year's birth list is...

Emily and Duke Vanderhaus.

[Crowd cheering]

Duke, I--

[Viondra]: Escort them to their sleeping pods.

[Crowd whistling]

Lorelei, wait!

[Lorelei, echoing]: Look away!

Look away!

[On video]: Let me put on some music.

I love it when you do that.

What is this?

What else do you like?

Shut it off. Shut it off!

[Distorted]: Look away, Christa!

Look away!

[Moaning]

[Screaming]

[Woman]: What's wrong?

Christa!

It's okay. Christa, it's okay.

Go back, before the tape starts.

[Chuckling]

You see?

She's reacting before the tape begins.

She knew it was gonna happen,

just like in the medical centre.

And the milk!

My father said morphic resonance

would take a minimum of 3 generations,

and he was right.

She's the catalyst.

[Christa screaming on video]

Looks like things are getting out of hand on your ship.

It's Ostara.

Everyone gets a little crazy.

Christa is extremely unstable.

You clearly haven't spent much time with teenagers.

They're volatile by definition.

You sit here, and you watch them day in and day out,

but I think that you forget they're people.

And you forget I've known Christa

since the day she was born.

I watched her take her first steps.

And now you get to watch the project's effect on her.

I bet you're very proud.

What does it do?

Basically, it uses magnets to look inside you.

Robert's father built it a long time ago.

Will it be able to help me?

Part of what makes the brain just so hard to understand

is that we're stuck inside of it.

We're just trying to figure it out.

Like solving a maze from the inside.

You still don't remember anything

about the time when you were sick?

No, it's all fuzzy.

But I remember seeing Lorelei.

Lorelei?

You mean in a dream?

At the party.

Lorelei kept telling me to look away, but I couldn't.

Sometimes, this feeling, it comes over me.

I don't know how to explain it.

Try. I'd like to know.

It feels like I'm holding back an ocean.

[Viondra]: Damn it, William. You should've known better.

How many times am I gonna have to tell you?

I had no idea Lorelei was filming me.

Half of power is perception,

and thanks to your stunning lack of restraint,

everything that I have worked for has come undone

in one humiliating moment.

It's gonna blow over.

We're not gonna end up in the lower decks anytime soon.

Do you think all my efforts to keep you seated,

the negotiation, the favour-trading,

my lunches with Rose,

are because I'm afraid to go back to the lower decks?

I've been there, William! It doesn't frighten me!

It was your goddamn birth-list ceremony!

I mean, how the hell did that video get shown?

I have no idea, but it's cost us dearly!

Do you think I don't know what people say about me?

That I'm self-indulgent, manipulative, a harpy?

I'm not who people think I am, William.

I'm not.

If they knew the compromises that I have made...

That was the bargain that we both entered into.

You're the one that complicated it.

Because I was foolish enough to love you?

To think that we were in this together?

And they meant nothing to me.

You know that.

None of them compare to you.

I saw the way you looked at Lorelei.

It's been years since I've seen that look in your eyes.

I'd almost forgotten you were capable of it.

I hope it was worth it.

You know, you can drink in the officer's lounge

now that you're a cadet.

It's not my favourite place right now.

Of all the men on the ship,

I never would've guessed it was the captain.

I'm sorry, James.

[Sniffing]

I don't know what to say.

Don't.

It only makes it worse.

We're never gonna be matched, Nora.

There's no point in starting this.

James.

With Lorelei I knew we didn't have a future.

But with you, I fooled myself into thinking

that this was a possibility.

It is! You just have to have faith in the system.

The system's rigged,

and all the hoping in the world won't change that.

- I refuse to believe that. - It's the truth.

So until someone finds the courage

to destroy the birth computer

and change everything on this ship,

we should stop seeing each other.

You know, it's kind--

Looks like someone lost a bet.

Um, no, a couple of the guys just had a wager

about who'd get chosen for the birth list.

That's a pretty steep challenge,

trying to keep people from procreating.

Kind of goes against human nature.

How do they keep them from getting knocked up?

I mean, fooling around seems to be their number-one pastime.

It's, um, subcutaneous birth- control implants at puberty.

And everyone just always follows the rules?

Uh, no.

No, uh, some people rebel.

They try to circumvent the system, rip out their implants.

Their kids are called "unclaimed."

The families are pretty much at the bottom of the food chain.

Total pariahs.

And they knowingly put themselves in that position?

Well, some people are just hardwired

to want to have families,

regardless of whether or not they should.

Should?

Genetically speaking, of course.

Of course.

And what does Enzmann look for, genetically speaking,

when determining who makes the birth list?

Oh, no, no, no! Harris has nothing to do with it.

It's purely a mathematic equation.

Also known as old-school eugenics.

Well, that's kind of a strong word.

You're deciding who can and cannot procreate.

From where I stand,

that makes social Darwinism look like a walk in the park.

You could've fired a warning shot.

Warren told you she got my report?

Yes, and she's on her way over here right now.

I thought you were starting to grasp what we're doing here,

the impact it will have on all of our futures.

Oh, I do, and I think that you've gone unchecked

for far too long.

You have no concept of the damage you've done.

You've cut me off at the knees.

I don't work for you.

I work for her.

[Rose chuckling]

You're working out your frustrations,

or are you just avoiding your lovely wife?

I'd imagine she's not pleased with you.

My marriage is none of your business, Councilman Davis.

Seems you made it the business of everyone on this ship.

That was some show you put on. I was on the edge of my seat.

I couldn't wait to see what would happen next.

Nothing stands in the way of my duty to this ship.

You'd be wise to remember that.

Looks like I've overstayed my welcome.

Captain.

Rose, I'll see you in chambers.

[Chuckling]

Is something funny?

You have no idea how powerless you really are.

What do you want, Rose?

I want you to step down as captain, Denninger.

Ha! Never.

Fine. Very well.

I prefer the public humiliation anyway.

Your movie swayed Councilman Davis to see things my way.

Now I have a clear majority.

I'm gonna make you beg in front of the whole ship.

It's been a while since I've seen a Denninger on their knees,

but tell your wife I send my regards.

[Rose groaning]

[Woman]: What's going on?

[Groaning]

[Man 1]: Sir! Sir!

[Groaning]

[Man 2]: Sir! Stop!

Sir! Councilman!

- Please! - Sir!

You're done, Denninger! Done!

[Denninger]: Let go!

Get off of me! I'm fine.

[Panting]

[Beeping]

[Lock beeping]

Time for your happy pills, Stokes.

You know the drill.

I need to go to the can.

Pills first.

[Groaning]

[Beeping]

[Grunting]

[Warren]: I've left room for your comments.

You cannot send this report up the chain.

Perhaps you forget our respective ranks here.

Seriously, Katherine--

If this is a plea based on personal friendship--

Friendship, my ass!

From the beginning, you've seen this

as a stepping stone to power in and of itself.

It means nothing to you. That's why you need me.

Only someone who lives and breathes

and devotes his life, his health, his sanity to this job

has any chance of pulling it off.

So, you're the only smart, motivated person on the planet?

I'm not irreplaceable because I'm smart.

I'm irreplaceable because I'm obsessed!

Do you know how we met, your father and I?

It was at Nellis. I was part of the president's advance team.

And when we arrived,

we found your father working on the tarmac,

covered in grease and dirt,

up to his elbows in one of his prototype engines.

He was threatening to murder every airman on the base

if he didn't get a socket wrench that moment.

But, evidently, the same design had exploded a few days before.

And I grabbed that wrench, and I marched up to him

and introduced myself to your father.

And he hired me on the spot.

You quit a job with the president to work for my father?

Yes.

He had a way of making other men, even great men,

seem ordinary when they stood beside him.

I didn't take this job for power.

I took it because it means something to me.

And I am questioning

whether you're the right person to drive this ship.

[Cell phone ringing]

[Sighing]

[Scoffing]

- Yeah. - We got a problem.

Stokes is gone.

Eight, good.

Nine, together.

Ten, and done!

I heard Lorelei was pregnant when she died.

You shouldn't believe everything you hear.

Report back to the stewardess dorms.

Prepare for a full inspection.

Now!

[Sighing]

Don't worry. No one saw me.

I was careful.

That wasn't smart.

I'm under a lot of scrutiny.

It sounds like you need to relax.

No, what I need is to find out--

Look, what I need is to find out who uploaded that video.

There's only one person it could've been.

Your wife.

What possible reason would she have to do that?

Hell hath no fury like an older woman scorned.

Don't underestimate experience.

Can experience give you a child?

I know a woman's place.

I would never have denied you a family to secure my position.

I need something, a favour.

Can I trust you?

Anything.

I need this delivered to the lower 40s.

I can't do it myself.

There are too many eyes on me.

There's nothing I wouldn't do for you.

[Zipper lowering]

S-sorry! I--I didn't know you were down here.

[Door slamming]

Hey!

What deck are we on, huh?

Where's the captain been hiding?

I've never been on this part of the ship before.

We must be below Water Reclamation,

near the pusher plate.

I can't--I can't imagine how this must be for you.

I didn't kill that girl, all right?

I will not rot down here forever.

You can tell the captain that.

I'm afraid that's not gonna happen.

Then you take me to him, and I'll tell him myself.

[Gasping]

You know I'm a butcher, right?

[Knocking on door]

Emily.

I need to talk to you.

Duke will be back soon.

I'm looking for Lorelei's stenotab.

Do you know where it is?

All of her possessions

were turned into the Safety Office after the funeral.

The stenotab was never logged in.

Who did you turn it over to?

Who do you think?

Why are you acting this way?

Aaron, you know what's between us is over.

You can't find excuses to--

You're the one discussing our relationship, not me.

I came to ask a question, and I got an answer.

Thank you.

Oh, and congratulations on the birth list.

You must be very happy.

Looks like he hasn't been taking his meds.

What do you think Warren will do

when she finds out he's loose in the building?

We're locked down.

Security's looking for him. He can't get far.

Director Warren is talking contingency plans, Carrillo.

It's not just the project that's at stake. It's us.

Find Stokes.

Who's that?

I'm supposed to deliver this.

From the captain.

The captain sent this?

He said you were expecting it.

You're not getting enough rations.

He's an unclaimed, isn't he?

You should go.

Take me to the bridge. I wanna talk to Denninger.

Believe me, he doesn't know any more than you do.

No, you're lying! He framed me!

I know that you didn't kill Lorelei.

How do you know that, huh? Who are you?

[Men talking in distance]

Safety officers!

[Man on hand radio, indistinct]

[Guard]: Sound the all clear.

[Both panting]

Why didn't you scream?

You don't deserve to be here, okay?

I wanna help you.

Why? What do you care?

No, don't go in there, please! Please!

The ship landed?

Where?

We're on Earth.

That's impossible. We didn't turn around.

You never left.

No, we--we haven't had contact in decades.

No, this is some kind of trick.

Stokes, listen to me. You never left Earth.

[Crying]

I don't-- I don't understand.

I don't understand.

They've been lying to you since before you were born.

They've lied to you about everything.

We have to get out of here now.

Stokes!

We have to go now!

We have to go!

How's she doing?

She suffered intense trauma,

and her brain may have forged some faulty pathways

to avoid dealing with it.

- She's been through a lot. - Yeah.

That video that was shown during Ostara,

can you track the access code that was used to upload it?

The subvid data woven into each file,

it should track the codes.

So, it looks like this was broadcast

from a terminal on Deck 13.

[Lorelei]: Let me put on some music.

[Bryce]: Section C. Wait a minute.

That doesn't make any sense.

What is it?

That's the captain's access code.

That's impossible. The captain didn't upload it.

Well, then, someone who had his code did.

[Lorelei]: I love it when you do that.

[Echoing]: Christa!

Christa!

Hi! What are you doing home?

I got off work early to have my implant removed.

[Chuckling]

I still can't believe this is happening.

What's wrong?

Gault came by to ask about Lorelei's stenotab.

Gault, here?

And what did you tell him?

That you took it to the Safety Office.

He told me it was never logged in.

Hmm...

Duke, tell me the truth.

It was stolen from the Safety Office.

I didn't realize it was missing until after Ostara.

Why didn't you tell me?

The better question is why did Gault

bypass the Safety Office

and come to see my wife in our cabin?

He probably thought I'd forgotten to give it to you.

I'm not a fool, Emily.

Please don't treat me like one.

I've seen the way he looks at you.

We haven't always been as close as I'd like,

but we're going to have a child.

We've been chosen.

I need to know that I'm your first choice.

You are.

And that there hasn't been anyone else.

I told myself I was being paranoid,

that it was one-sided.

"Let him have a crush," I thought.

"Let him envy me."

I ended it. I ended it to be with you.

[Sniffling]

Sleeping with an officer's wife,

that is serious enough,

but now that your implant is gone...

Duke, I would never!

If he touches you now,

that is treason against the ship!

And I will make sure

he goes straight back to the lower decks.

[Crying]

[Both panting]

This way!

[Beeping]

Come on!

[Man on radio, indistinct]

Stop where you are!

How did you get past the checkpoint?

TC Group. Full authorization.

Step aside.

Yes, sir. I apologize.

All right. Thank you.

An armed contingent just arrived from TC.

There's been a vote of no confidence.

The TC Group wants to move in another direction,

and I'll be taking a more hands-on roll for the time being.

They're arriving to escort me off the premises?

Drive me into a field somewhere?

Katherine, please!

I told you we are close. I've had a success!

All you have done is concealed the truth

about the anomaly, the sabotage, the explosion.

The Group feels you have lost your objectivity, and they're right.

You've become a liability.

Perhaps if you had been more forthcoming,

you wouldn't find yourself in this position.

Well, what are you gonna tell my family,

that I drove my car off a bridge?

Or is it gonna be a hiking accident?

Oh, don't torture yourself.

Harris, your family will be well-provided for.

So, all of this, keeping me here, was just to keep me busy

until my retirement squad arrives?

Listen, I know you consider this a betrayal.

Without me, this project is over.

The 600 people on that ship don't stand a chance.

You'll fail, and they'll be gassed

inside of 6 months, and you know it!

You've already failed, Harris.

- Katherine, please. - It's over.

I'm begging you. Katherine?

Please! Listen to me!

[Stenotab beeping]

Whatever you have planned,

you sure you have enough to unseat him?

[Men and women clearing throats]

Mrs. Denninger.

Would you please tell the council

the laws regarding the birth list?

Everyone here knows the statutes.

Humour me.

No man or woman will reproduce

who has not been selected from the birth list.

Mm-hmm, and the children born from unsanctioned pairings

are a burden to the shipboard community.

And their progenitors are subject to discipline,

are they not?

The parent of an unclaimed

is forbidden to hold office or rank.

Exactly!

Send them in, please.

Director Warren.

Mr. Carrillo, thank you for coming.

Well, as you may have guessed,

there's been a change in leadership.

I'll be overseeing Ascension during the transitional period.

I want you to know how grateful I am

for alerting me to the anomaly.

I was just doing my job.

Well, that's why I'm keeping you on.

I look forward to working with you.

Katherine, please!

Director Warren, please!

Katherine, I'm begging you!

Look at me!

Come on, this way.

Come on.

[Echoing]: Christa.

Christa!

Christa!

I wanna show you.

You didn't congratulate me!

I'm gonna be a father!

Duke...

After all these years of waiting,

I should be happy about it, but I'm not,

'cause, see, I just found out

that my wife has been sleeping with another man!

You couldn't find your own woman, huh?

[Vanderhaus grunting, Gault groaning]

Goddamn decker! You put your hands on my wife!

Captain...

You know this woman and child, don't you?

And what is the nature of your relationship with them?

None.

None?

[Chuckling]

You've been sending ration credits to them, sir.

I took it upon myself to ensure food for the boy.

Hardly an impeachable offence.

Is that so?

Now that it's out in the open,

I find Councilman Davis' unwillingness

to take responsibility for his son shameful.

It's bad enough that Davis has broken the ship's laws,

but to allow his own child to suffer

so that he can maintain his position and life of luxury

is repugnant.

Well...

in light of these recent revelations,

perhaps we should--

The ship's bylaws are quite clear on this matter.

Goddamn it, Rose.

Councilman Davis,

I'm afraid we are going to have to demand

your immediate resignation.

[Panting]

[Birds chirping]

It's so bright!

I can barely see!

[Laughing]

Stokes, please, we gotta get out of here now!

We've gotta go!

Hans Yablon. I knew him.

Captain Elgin.

Mitchell Bowman. What--what is this?

It's a memorial.

All these people died without ever knowing the truth?

Dwight Crouch.

Stokes, we gotta go now! Hey!

We have to go now! Hey!

[Both grunting]

Why did you bring me here?

Why did you bring me here to my son's grave?

[Panting]

[Men grunting]

[Roaring]

[Gasping]

[Both grunting]

Lorelei!

[Electricity crackling, Vanderhaus groaning]

Duke!

It's Christa.

Next time on "Ascension"...

Dr. Bryce, what the hell is happening to my ship?

A massive power discharge.

I haven't found what originated it or what caused it.

[Crew screaming]

It's fried!

She is Punctuated Evolution made real.

Everything we've been working for.

There's nothing down there, Christa.

I saw it rise up.

I got Stokes out as a witness.

We're going full Snowden.

The world is gonna know about Ascension.