BIG JIM: Three weeks ago, an invisible dome crashed down on Chester's Mill, cutting us off from the rest of the world. The dome has tested our limits, forcing each of us to confront our own personal demons ` rage, grief, fear. My God. Now, in order to survive, we must battle our most dangerous adversary, the enemy within. - I need you to do everything I ask without question. One amethyst died this morning. A second one is losing power. - Something's infected all of Chester's Mill. - With what? - This fluid is finite and precious. - Whatever the leader does, the group will follow. - Sometimes it's a relief to admit who you really are. - NORRIE: Get off me! - HUNTER: I asked Norrie to come with me, and she pushed me. - That's not what happened. - No one's going anywhere until we talk to Christine. - You're on your way to Bird Island, were whatever's in you that's making you such a monster will be removed. (BOTH SHOUT) - I can't be with someone who's not gonna talk with me. - Hey, what is this?! - Christine Price is the experiment. And you, Mr Rennie, are the control. (SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC) - I brought you here to show you something. You see? Right there is where Christine Price became... something else. (EERIE MUSIC) And that's Eva Sinclair, her assistant. (MUSIC CONTINUES) There you have it. The dome came down, and a mini-dome came down over the egg. - Why are you showing me this? - On a cellular level, the person you know as Christine is not of this earth,... but she is something very foreign. - Well, I could have told you that without your fancy equipment. - Hmm. We've learned a lot in the past few hours, but what we still don't know is what she is and what she wants. - (CHRISTINE SCREAMS ON MONITOR) - That's where you come in. - (CHUCKLES) Oh, no. You're not stickin' me in a room with that thing. - Mr Rennie, we are only hours away from isolating the inhuman properties in her blood. The effect that that has when injected into an uninfected host is of great interest. However, if you're successful in getting us the information we want, you'll be spared that future. The choice is yours. (CHRISTINE PANTS) - (GROANS) (TENSE MUSIC) (OMINOUS MUSIC) - Where do you want me to start? - How about the beginning? - Christine and I work for Aktaion. We were told we could help the world, so they hired us to find fragments of meteors from a shower that hit the Earth 25 years ago. - When Melanie found the egg. - It was in one of the meteors. I'm sorry I lied to you. I swear I'm the same person you fell in love with. I lived that year with you. But I was afraid that if you knew the truth, you'd want nothing to do with me. - And I lived those moments too. And you... You, I know. But Christine... Yesterday, every time I pressed her for the truth, she avoided that like the plague. - Dale, I've known Christine for years. I've travelled the world with her. I trust her with my life. - I'm gonna give her one more shot, OK, because of you. - Thank you. (PENSIVE MUSIC) - Let's go find her. And after we talk, I think it's time that you both tell everyone the truth. (TENSE MUSIC) (BEEPING, DISTANT WHISTLING) (PEOPLE WHISTLE EERIE TUNE) (WHISTLING STOPS) (UNSETTLING MUSIC) - Audrey? Uh, what's going on? - The beds are finished. We're waiting for Christine to give us the go-ahead to move in. Have you seen her? - I'll let you know if I do. (TENSE MUSIC) (ALL WHISTLE EERIE TUNE) (DOOR CREAKS) - (WHINES) - WHISPERS: There you go. (DOOR CLANGS) - (GRUNTS, GROANS) - You want some water? (SIGHS) You know, I find it best just to tell these bastards what they want. - Drop the act. Junior told me everything. - Glowing reviews, I bet. (SIGHS) (TENSE MUSIC) (SIGHS) Do you even need water? - This body still needs what you do to survive. (MUSIC CONTINUES) - (WHINES) - (SIGHS) Is my calm demeanour alarming to you? Would you prefer it if I acted afraid? Would that make you feel less alone? (MUSIC CONTINUES) (SOBS) What about sad? It's the easiest emotion to fake. - How about honest? Can you do that one? - Here, boy. - (BARKS, GROWLS) - That's the funny thing about dogs. They're a real good judge of character. - People will come for me. Junior will come for me. - Not if there's any of the son I know left. - There isn't. - So you preyed on the weak, huh? Junior alone is not gonna rescue you, you know. So who else you got? Barbie? Problem there is Julia. She's probably telling him everything she knows about you, which is a lot. So, you see, your plan has no margin for error,... and that's a big chance to take when the fallout is your brain in a jar. - I still have a human being's body, Jim, and it's tired. (TENSE MUSIC) - This is so messed up. We didn't even do anything wrong! (SIGHS) I've never seen anything like last night. It was like they were all brainwashed or drinking the same Kool-Aid. - Or ate the same food. - (SIGHS) I'm so scared. (DOOR OPENS) (GASPS) Mom. - Are you OK? - I'm better now. - Please tell me we're getting out of here. - Eleanor, I need your help. There's an X-ray machine at the clinic we're gonna bring here to see how badly Hunter's hurt. - OK, great. How are we getting it here? - It's on wheels. - OK. I can help. - I'm glad you offered, but it's mother-daughter time. Junior will be in with you in a minute. - No, no, he's the one that locked us up in here all night. - Mom,... did you know that Joe and I were in this room all night? - The accident you caused didn't just affect Hunter. It affected our town, our kinship. The hope is ` the time you two spent in here has helped you understand just what you've done. Let's go, Eleanor. (OMINOUS MUSIC) (DOOR SLAMS, LOCKS) (MUSIC CONTINUES) (SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC) (MUSIC SWELLS) - WHISPERS: Shit. (MUSIC CONTINUES) (GASPS) - (DEVICE BEEPS) - Oh, what's the password? - What do you mean, Christine's not here yet? - She's not in the town hall. You saw the people gathered down there. They're waiting for the go-ahead to move in, but she hasn't shown up yet. I'm worried that people will panic. - People that attached to her? - She provided food and shelter. Not long ago, we were almost killing each other over those things. - Do you think it could happen again? - Well, not yet, but I don't wanna take any chances. (MUSIC SLOWS) - What's this design for? - Uh, yesterday, Christine told me about a project that she needed to get started. - Well, what the hell is it? - I don't know. She just said it was important. - We should go look for her. Knowing Christine, she's probably out surveying an area for whatever this project is. - Oh, I` I talked to her yesterday, but somebody must have seen her after me. How about you handle things here? Eva and I will ask around, see who had eyes on her last. - Uh, actually, I could use Eva. I'm gonna tell people to move in, and we're gonna start working on solar power. More hands, the better. - I think that's a good idea. I'll help Junior, and then I'll be able to check in on Hunter too. - I hope he's doing better. All right, I'll bring Christine back here when I find her. (OPENS DOOR) - How's it coming along with Barbie? - Well, (SIGHS) he took Pete out last night, so that won't be a problem any more, but he still doesn't trust Christine. This town's come so far. Most have completed their journey. Others, like Barbie, are so close. What about Joe and Norrie? - They keep resisting, but I'm working on that. - What is it? - If the X-ray comes back showing that Hunter's injuries are permanent, what do we do? - If he's no longer of use, then we have to put him down. - Mm. (OMINOUS MUSIC) Captions were made with the support of NZ On Air. www.able.co.nz Copyright Able 2022 - Roger, hey. How are you? - Hey, man. - You wouldn't have happened to have seen Christine today, would you? - No. The last time I saw her was yesterday, just before dinner. She got on a boat with a couple of guys. - You didn't see which way they were headed, did you? - It's hard to tell exactly. The only thing out there is Bird Island. - Thank you. - Tick-tock. Tick-tock. (TENSE MUSIC) Are you sure the cavalry's comin' for you? - With that kind of attitude, once I get out of here, I'm of the mind to leave you caged and take your little friend. Here, puppy. - (GROWLS) - Come here. - You underestimate me. I think you could benefit from seeing the world my way. - Oh, I'm sure that's what you sell everyone. - Just one rule ` always cover your own ass. - Yeah. Your one rule is a played-out cliche. Behind all the quips and the 'me against the world' shtick, when was the last time you did anything for anyone else? - I gave you the water, didn't I? - I mean when was the last time you were fulfilled? Was it with your family? When you got married? (SIGHS) Oh, maybe it was when you taught Junior to play catch. Oh, they're all gone. Ooh. Now you've got no one. (SIGHS) That loneliness, that emptiness churning inside ` that's your reward for only looking out for yourself. - I'm fine with the choices I've made. - You people think we're enemies. - What? You're` You're saying we're not? - Well, there's no reason to be. We mean no harm. We can all live together, but we will defend ourselves. - But you've stripped away everything that makes us us. I mean, you're puppeting around inside a real person who had faults and charms and quirks. - Petty self-interest brought this community to the brink of destruction. But because of me, people are thinking about things other than themselves. Because of that, we have food. We have peace. - Progress comes from creativity and individual ingenuity. Where would we be without Churchill and` and Galileo and Napoleon? No, no, no. History of the world is made by leaders, not` not followers. - Well, we come from very different worlds. And from where I sit, you're no leader. You're just a very sad and lonely man. I mean, why are you here? I mean, me I understand. They fear what I bring. But what's the point of having you in here with me? - What the hell? (DRAMATIC MUSIC) (TENSE MUSIC) - (SIGHS) I'm sorry. - (PANTS) Things would go a lot faster if I had some help. - You let the kinship down. You've lost the privilege of help. - The help that I'm asking for is for the good of the kinship. And I'm not doing anything else until someone lends me a hand. (OMINOUS MUSIC) - You're learning to appreciate what you turned your back on yesterday. Pick it up. Pick it up now! - What the hell are you doing? - Joe's being punished. - You don't have the right to punish anyone. Let's go. - That's where you're wrong, Julia. - You get off of him! What are you doing? Get off of me! - This is what's best for all of us. (GRUNTS) (TENSE MUSIC) - Aktaion. (OMINOUS MUSIC) - Hi there. (TENSE MUSIC) - Why did you do that? - You weren't doing so hot. Sure, you helped us get some information on what she is. But as to what she wants, not so much. Can you guess what this is? - Wouldn't be Rogaine by chance, would it? - (CHUCKLES) I swear to God, Jim, if we had met in a bar, we'd be good friends. - Well, I could use a drink right about now. - (CHUCKLES) This is the cellular essence of what's inside Christine. We've isolated it. You remember what we were talking about before? - You know, doc, you're real good at threats. (SIGHS) But what I need to do in there is make a deal. Getting someone to talk about their beliefs is easy. Getting someone to open up about their plans when they have every reason not to, it's a different story. - What do you need? - Leverage. If she wakes up and she's a little more hurt or she's a little more concerned that she might not make it out of there in one piece, and I had something to pick a lock with... This'll do. - We're gonna put you back in there. You need to appear as though you're in the same boat. - (GROANS) - You both need to be a little concerned you won't come out in one piece. (DOOR OPENS) (OMINOUS MUSIC) - (GASPS) What the hell is going on? - Something out of your control. I was teaching Joe an important lesson. - Listen to me, James. You're sick. This isn't who you really are. - You're right. (EERIE MUSIC) I'm something better. The James you know is gone. (OMINOUS MUSIC) (GRUNTS) - (PANTS) (TENSE MUSIC) - You've caused a problem. Problems get reported to Christine. She'll know what to do with you. (PEOPLE WHISTLE EERIE TUNE) (TENSE MUSIC) Sam. - Hey, Eva. - Christine mentioned you were having a hard time. - I was, but I'm better now, back in the fold. - Good to hear. I could use a hand. (MUSIC CONTINUES) - Hey. How you doin'? - Can't move my legs. Try a different question. - (SIGHS) Hunter, it was an accident. - Was it? - Yes, absolutely. Why would I ever hurt you? - Eleanor, I need a hand. - The solar panels are in place. Should have enough power for the X-ray. - That's really good work, Joe. (TENSE MUSIC) - I wrangled an expert. - I can help with that if you` - I got it. - Kids, why don't you wait in the hallway? It's getting really crowded in here. - We can give a hand to the people in tents, help 'em move in. - That's what I like to hear. Carolyn and I will check out the beds. (MUSIC CONTINUES) - Joe. Are you crazy too? Offering to help everyone move in? - I was just telling them what they wanted to hear. Something's really screwed up with everyone. - I know. My mom scolded me and told me I needed to be selfless for the kinship? She's lost it like everyone else. - Not Julia. She tried to get me out of there, but Junior punched her, and a gaggle of drones just picked her up and dragged her off. Look, I don't know what's going on, but Julia's the only one who's still herself. - Where did they take her? (MUSIC CONTINUES) - There's only so many rooms here. - (X-RAY BUZZES) - SAM: It's gonna be all good, OK, man? - Anxious for the results. - Where did you get these bad boys? - I gave them to him. - Name says they're for Jessie Gordon. - Christine asked everyone to hand over their medications to start a dispensary. - Dispensary. That's right. - Not a fan of suspense. - Your fourth cervical vertebra is fractured. - But you can... - Even if we were outside the dome, you'd never walk again. I'm really sorry. - Can I have a minute with Hunter? (MUSIC CONTINUES) - I'm sorry. (SIGHS) - No need to apologise. - What happens now? - Something I hoped we could avoid. To manage the pain for your injury will deplete our supply of painkillers in one week. You alone would permanently take away valuable resources from the kinship. To continue down that path would be irresponsible. (POIGNANT MUSIC) - If it's what's best... then I want to do it. (MUSIC CONTINUES) - We've got another problem. - What happened? - Julia got in the way of Joe's training, so I put her in a safe place where she can't disturb anyone. - Hey. So, I got a lead on Christine. I'm gonna need some backup. I think she's out on Bird Island. I did a little recon. She's not alone. Aktaion's here. - (SHOUTS) - (SIGHS) I'm worried about Christine. - Yeah. - (GRUNTS) (TENSE MUSIC) - Barbie! (OMINOUS MUSIC) (DOOR UNLOCKS, OPENS) (TENSE MUSIC) - I want you to know this isn't personal. I'm here to inform you that trying to get Dale back is a lost cause. He's part of a kinship that you can't understand. Either accept that and contribute to it or be disposed of. Though it would be a shame to lose you and Hunter in one day. Just think about it. - (GRUNTS) (MUSIC CONTINUES) - You know, it's strange, isn't it? Because if you were one of us, we'd both be able to be with Dale. (MUSIC SLOWS) (DOOR SHUTS) - (GROANS) - (GROANS) - (GRUNTS) - (GASPS) What happened? - Looks like they stepped up their experiments. - Your lip ` did they punch you? - Yeah. Guess I still got a little fight in me. (SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC) - What are you doing? - (SIGHS) Well, that fight and a little selfish ingenuity will get me out of here. (SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC CONTINUES) - Take me with you. - (SCOFFS) Why the hell would I? - Because if you get me out of here, I can get you out of the dome. (SIGHS) WHISPERS: OK, wait. Ready? Help! I` I messed up on the wiring, and she got shocked and collapsed! Please! She's part of the kinship! (GRUNTS) Get her feet. Get her feet. - (GRUNTS) (DRAMATIC MUSIC) (BOTH GRUNT) - (GASPS) You guys are unbelievable. - I think you're the only sane one around here. - They're gonna kill Hunter. You've gotta help him. - What? - Junior and Eva ` they're going to kill Hunter. You've gotta get him out of here. - How? - You found me. You'll think of something. I heard Barbie's going to Bird Island. I gotta stop him from doing something he's gonna regret. - Why are you different? Why are we different? - I wasn't in the cocoons. Everyone who was has something inside them that's taking control. - There's something inside of us? - Some people are more resistant than others, so whatever you're doing, keep doing it, and keep your head down. Get Hunter somewhere safe. I'll find you. - OK. (SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC) (DRAMATIC MUSIC) - How many do you see? - In all, I counted four. - What do you think they're doing with her? - Probably trying to get answers. - Section three all clear. How's the prisoner? (MUSIC SWELLS) (BOTH GRUNT) (TENSE MUSIC) - Once out of the cocoons, the concepts of me, ego and self were gone from my mind. Immediately, I saw the world in a new light ` a better light. A world where the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. - Hmm. Yeah, I` I've seen the movie, Mrs Spock. - Jim, what we want is no different than any living organism ` to survive,... to flourish. - Well, that's a good plan, except for that body-snatching part. - Oh, come on. Let's work together. - So, what, I let you out, and you bring the dome down, just like that? - Well, it's not that easy, but it is what's ultimately planned. - We can take it from here. - Hear all that? - Mics are in the cage. - Remember, there's only one rule ` cover your own ass. - (DISTANT GUNFIRE, MEN SHOUT) - (BARKS) - Indy! (MEN SHOUT, GUNFIRE) Toodle-oo. - You have to stay. (TENSE MUSIC) - You know,... if only we'd met in that bar, doc. - (GASPS) (OMINOUS MUSIC) (COUGHS, GROANS) - Jim, let me out. I can help you. - You know, I can handle good and I can handle evil, but what I can't handle is desperate. You're in a position to tell me whatever I wanna hear, but I ain't buyin'. No hard feelings. (SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC) (GUNSHOTS ECHO) (GUNSHOTS) - Barbie! Junior! (MUSIC CONTINUES) (DOOR CREAKS) (TENSE MUSIC) - Is it time? - Just look into my eyes. You won't feel a thing. - I'm ready. - This first one's gonna put you to sleep. The second one will stop your heart. (MUSIC CONTINUES) Just look at me. Just look at me. There you go. (SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC) - No! - (BOTH GRUNT) - No! Stop! I want this! - What? - I don't wanna be a burden! - No! - He wants this. (GRUNTS) You'll understand one day. - (BOTH GRUNT) - Let's get him the hell out of here! - (GRUNTS) Come on, Hunter. Come on. - Come on. Come on. Come on. (TENSE MUSIC) All right, Junior, why don't you run up ahead? Get the boat ready. - Sure. (SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC) - (SIGHS) So, we have a conversation that we need to finish. I believe the outstanding question was, 'Who are you?' (MUSIC CONTINUES) - I worked for Aktaion and was tasked with finding the egg. - And what did Aktaion tell you the egg was? - They said it had the potential to be the next great energy source and they saw that... We wanted to be a part of something great and... - What is it? - When I made contact with the egg, it triggered the dome. I trapped all of us inside it. Every death, every family that was separated, it's my fault. - Well, Aktaion used a lot of really good people for a lot of terrible things. My guess is that they knew they were sending you into something dangerous. It's not your fault. - (GUN CLICKS) - Barbie, get away from her. - Julia, what are you doing? - She's not who she says she is. I know what you really are. - Julia's the one who gave me to them. She held me at gunpoint and handed me over to Aktaion. - And I'd do it again. Aktaion was only trying to help. Barbie, she is dangerous. - Then let's talk, all right? Just you and me. No guns. Julia, come on. Lower the gun. - Not a chance. - All right, then I'm coming to you. (TENSE MUSIC) WHISPERS: Come here. Come here. I'm right here. Come here. - (SIGHS) - It's just you and me, all right? So, what's goin' on? - Christine and Eva work for Aktaion. I have proof. - I know. They told me, Julia. They used them. - There's more. I know how this is gonna sound, so I need you to trust me. Yes, Christine works for Aktaion, but that's not the real Christine. When Melanie placed the egg on her cocoon, something from inside it went into the others, and now it is... It's growing inside of everyone like an infection. - I feel fine. - I know you feel fine, but you're different. - Julia, do you even hear yourself? - Barbie, think about it. You were manipulated into killing Pete. - No, that was self-defence. - Christine and Eva are not themselves, and they are using you. They want you to become like them. - Eva? Again, let's just be honest here, all right? That's what this is about. - You're not listening to me! Look, I know you. I love you. But you're sick, and they want you to stay that way. You can't bring her back to Chester's Mill. - You tell me that I'm not myself. (OMINOUS MUSIC) You just handed over an innocent woman to be experimented on and tortured by Aktaion. - Barbie, you are not hearing me! - No, no, no, no. The only person that's changed here is you. Now, Christine has been nothing but great for this town. If you can't accept that, you need to stay here and never come back. (TENSE MUSIC) - It was Joe and Norrie who let Julia out and freed Hunter. - Well, I'll worry about them now. I have plans for Joe. He's gonna be instrumental in an upcoming project. You focus on Barbie. He took a big step today, but there's still progress to make. The trauma that he suffered in his military service has made him more resistant than most. - At least he finally trusts you. - I became what he needed me to be ` a victim for him to save. I need to ask you a personal question. Have the two of you slept together since being in Chester's Mill? - Not yet. - Well, the sooner you become his mate, the sooner he'll be what I need him to be, our protector. - I can do that. (TENSE MUSIC) (SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC) - I was just thinking about you. You look good. Sober. - I cleaned myself up. - Why the change of heart? - I saw a glimpse of my future if I continued along the path I was on. When I left yesterday, I went to Abby's. She didn't answer when I called out for her. I found her in the tub. - I have a feeling I know where this story goes. - I'm sorry I strayed. - We all get lost. The important thing is that you're here now. - You did it for me, didn't you? Abby couldn't have gotten the pills. And she already tried to kill herself once, but I saved her. This time I was too late. (TENSE MUSIC) But you saved me. You pulled me out of the quicksand. Thank you. - (SIGHS) (SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC) It needed to be done. You mean the world to all of us. - (BLADE THUDS, FLESH SQUELCHES) - (GASPS) (GROANS) - You shouldn't have done that to Abby. I'm sorry, but I'll never be able to be who you want. - (GASPS) (GROANS) - (OPENS DOOR) - Thank you, everyone. You've done a good job today. Christine will be proud. Christine? People are all moved in. I wanted to ask you about these designs. (GASPS) What happened? What do I do? - Get me to the caves. - (SIGHS) Come on. - (GRUNTS) - (BELL CHIMES) - Who's there? - Norrie, it's just me. - Is there anything we can do for him? - I don't think so. And when he wakes up, he's gonna be in a lot of pain. - He said he didn't wanna be a burden, but what does that even mean? - Julia said they were gonna kill him because he couldn't use his legs. - That's so messed up. - Well, if they're willing to kill him just because of that, then we need to do exactly what Julia said and keep our heads down. (TENSE MUSIC) (OMINOUS MUSIC) - Been looking for you everywhere. - Well, you found me. - I'm a Barbie bloodhound. - (BOTH CHUCKLE) (PENSIVE MUSIC) We can... We can go into one of these abandoned tents. It'll be just like old times. (MUSIC CONTINUES) - I'm sorry. Everything that happened today with Julia, what she did to Christine... - (SIGHS) Maybe she was never the person you thought she was. - Maybe. (MUSIC CONTINUES) I'm gonna go for a walk. (MUSIC CONTINUES) - Tell me what to do. (PANTS) - Set... Set me by the crystal. - (BOTH PANT) - Here. (SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC) (CRYSTAL WHIRRS) - Step back. (PANTS) Step back. (BREATHES SHAKILY) (WHIRRING CONTINUES) Bring me Sam. (CRYSTAL WHIRRS, BUZZES) (EERIE MUSIC) (AMETHYSTS BUZZ) - Indy! Indy, come here, boy! Where you at, boy? Come here! Indy! Indy! Come here, boy! (SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC) Not what I was lookin' for. - Yeah, same goes for you. - You find your action hero, tell him that something from another planet's pushing his kung fu buttons in the back? - I tried. Much as I hate to admit it, you were right. Barbie's not the same. - And Aktaion's all dead. So much for them helpin' me get out of here. - Or finding a cure for the infection. We're on our own. (TENSE MUSIC) - I'm gonna keep looking for my dog. You can walk if you want to. Indy! Come here, boy! Indy, where are you, boy? (FOREBODING MUSIC) (SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC) Captions by Able. Captions were made with the support of NZ On Air.