Chapter Text
EXT. TUNDRA - NIGHT
A meteor streaks across the sky. It CRASHES into an icy mountain. It CRACKS, splitting in half, tumbling down opposite sides of the mountain. A bubble explodes out of one half. On the other side of the mountain, the other half pulses with a red gem.
EXT. SHIP FREIGHTER DECK - NIGHT
A man--a poet in his own mind--grips the railing and inhales deeply. This is DR. WESLEY OBERON (late 40s-early 50s). He pulls out his phone. We see pictures of him and woman canoodling on a beach. Behind him, a bushy-haired woman (29) sprints onto the deck, throws herself at the railing, and HEAVES.
WES: We’re almost there, Paige. The Antarctic tundra in its enigmatic beauty awaits. Make a wish.
He looks toward a shooting star in the sky.
A MAP OF ANTARCTICA AND A BLOWN-UP SECTION OF OIL RESERVES.
On the map is a “You Are Here” red dot near a valley. We zoom out to see a frustrated woman (40s-50s) pacing in front of the overhead shot projected on a screen. With a bleary-eyed game face, she looks out.
INT. RECREATIONAL ROOM - DAY
Facing her is her bleary-eyed taskmaster, HANNAH (28) sitting at the wet bar with her laptop open. A pinball machine and a foosball table are pushed against a wall next to a jukebox. Hannah looks up from her laptop at DR. TATIANA KUSAMA. Tatiana cues Hannah for the slideshow.
A MAP THAT SHOWS OIL RESERVES NEARBY
TATIANA: ...These sites are our last hope.
Hannah clears her throat. Tatiana takes a swig from her water bottle.
HANNAH: Maybe not the end? I think you got it.
Overhead, the lights come up. A chipper Scandinavian accent pipes in from the PA system:
LARS (O.S.): Morning everyone! Friendly reminder that it is morning. It is our last week of limited light. So, Up! Up! Up!
BING! Hannah clicks some more on her laptop.
TATIANA: What am I even doing anymore? I donated to Greenpeace.
HANNAH: Hey, Ana there was a last minute change to the crew. Theo isn’t coming.
TATIANA: Oh. I hope he’s okay. Who’s replacing him?
HANNAH: You’ll never believe this. Dr. Wes Oberon.
Tatiana CRUSHES her water bottle.
HANNAH: You worked with him before, right?
TATIANA: That son of a bitch.
EXT. SHIP FREIGHTER DECK - DAY
A green-around-the-gills Paige follows Wes pacing the deck.
PAIGE: So, she’s going to be happy you’re coming right?
WES: She’s in trouble, and she’s too stubborn to ask for help.
EXT. WILLIAM'S RESEARCH STATION - DAY
Tatiana glides across the snowy low-lit tundra on her way from the squat orange building to the larger blue main building. Hannah “stair-masters” through the snow to keep up.
TATIANA: He wants to play Prince Charming and save the day. Should’ve known when that mid-life crisis tank showed up.
EXT. SHIP FREIGHTER DECK - DAY
Intercut Wes and Paige with Tatiana stalking the tundra.
PAIGE: That’s why you didn’t put your name on it?
WES: I couldn’t! I haven’t heard anything from her. She went halfway around the world. It’s complicated.
TATIANA: It’s simple. I thought the divorce papers were very clear.
WES: I slipped up once!
TATIANA: Once for two years!
Tatiana and Hannah arrive at the blue building.
HANNAH: Did he sign them?
TATIANA: No!
WES: Of course not!
INT. HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS
Tatiana tears down a “Welcome!” banner in the hall, breaking a framed photo of her, Hannah, and three others holding a sign that reads TEAM 2010.
TATIANA: I bet he sees this as some second chance.
EXT. SHIP FREIGHTER DECK - CONTINUOUS
On the freighter, Wes stops.
WES: Paige, this is my last shot.
PAIGE: Didn’t she dump your ass, boss?
WES: What we have is eternal. Messy. A fire you can’t put out.
Paige sidesteps a fishy spill and holds back a heave.
INT. HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS
TATIANA: And I am burning in a hell of my poor taste in men. Ever the opportunist. He’s trying to re-up his marriage contract and score a VC client at the same time.
EXT. SHIP FREIGHTER DECK - CONTINUOUS
WES: It’s just. We’ve always worked so well together.
Wes and Paige exit the deck.
INT. CAFETERIA - CONTINUOUS
Tatiana stops and takes a breath.
TATIANA: Let’s just keep this clean and professional.
Their steps echo in the large cafeteria. Tatiana laser-eyes to ALEXANDER (30).
TATIANA: ALEX!
Alexander drops the gameboy and scrambles over with a notebook.
TATIANA: Is the penis-compensator working? (waiting) The tank?
ALEXANDER: Uh, yep. The Tumbler is gassed up for the site inspection.
TATIANA: Good. We’re taking them to the site today. What is that smell?
Tatiana heads toward the service window. “Que Sera, Sera” plays under the HISS AND CLANG of cooking while the cook, ULLI (30s), dances and flips omelets. Tatiana frowns at a plate of fluffy pancakes and RINGS the bell.
TATIANA: Ulli! ULLI!
Ulli jumps but smiles after she sees Tatiana.
TATIANA: What is this?
ULLI: A pancake?
TATIANA Pancakes?
Tatiana shoves the pancakes onto a plate and loads it up with all the fixings. She stabs at the pancakes as she monologues.
TATIANA: That sonofabitch tried to sneak--He dropped this fancy gadget that I know can’t do half the things its supposed to do because it’s still a beta version he rushed through production and when his little gizmo doesn’t work it’s going to be all my fault because I can’t read a manual. “Chase the sunset. Break barriers”...
Hannah makes an apologetic gesture. Alex taps her on the shoulder and hands her the report. She takes it. He doesn’t let go.
ALEXANDER We really should talk about it.
HANNAH It was a mistake. I was cold.
Alex lets go of the report and goes back to his cereal. Hannah, torn, shrugs once more at Ulli and leaves.
ULLI: We have a saying in Fin--
TATIANA: --Why doesn’t he focus on making shit work properly! Just because he can’t find a button doesn’t make me the frigid one, you know?
Ulli is looking a little scared.
TATIANA: These are delicious.
She takes a final bite and throws the rest away.
ULLI: That was for the new crew--
TATIANA: --FUCK THE NEWBIES!
INT. WORKSHOP - CONTINUOUS
Hannah enters the workshop and flicks on a blinking light. DANIEL (30), studious, focused on cutting a board, stops work. He lights up at seeing Hannah. She skips up to him and kisses him.
DANIEL: Good morning! You didn’t come to bed last night.
HANNAH: I was busy with Ana. (beat) Hey, you should help me with the tour. Guess who’s joining us?
DANIEL: Who?
HANNAH: Dr. Wes Mavericky himself.
DANIEL: Wes Oberon?
HANNAH: Yep.
DANIEL: Yeah! No. Uh. I should,
HANNAH: Don’t short circuit. I’ll do all the talking.
DANIEL: I don’t want to come off like some crazy fanboy. There’s rules to how you go about this.
HANNAH: (sweetly) Always by the rules. He might notice you if you broke them.
LARS: (over the PA) New crew E.T.A. 10 minutes.
HANNAH: Last chance?
He shakes his head. They kiss goodbye.
EXT. TARMAC - DAY
A helicopter lands at the airplane hangar/dock. LARS, 30’s, burly, and bright gets out of a helicopter. He stays behind as Wes, Paige, and HENRY (29), a beefcake, walk across the tarmac carrying heavy bags.
PAIGE: So, it’s half now and half when we get back?
HENRY: 25 now and 75 when we get back.
WES: Let’s not get greedy.
PAIGE: (to Henry) He doesn’t have loans to pay off.
Hannah, their tour guide, meets them at the front door of the largest building. NICK (29) steps out onto the tarmac, looking dejected.
HANNAH: Hi! Welcome to Williams Station. I’m Hannah Scott--
Paige SHRIEKS. Henry cringes. Hannah jumps. Nick turns in the direction of the scream.
PAIGE: (yelling) Nicholas “V-8 Power” Bottom, III!
Paige drops her bag and removes her hat and scarf, shaking her hair out. Nick lights up.
NICK (yelling) Paige? Paige “good time” Goodfellow!
She runs to him, SHRIEKING ALL THE WAY.
HENRY Hm. There’s two of them.
Nick scoops her up in a big bear hug. Wes LAUGHS. Nick and Paige walk over.
WES: What a coincidence. A reunion. Here, of all places. (to Hannah) Call me Wes.
Beaming, he outstretches his hand. Hannah takes it.
NICK: Hannah, I haven’t seen this chick in like, how long? Three years?
PAIGE: My dude, it feels like 30.
Henry extends his hand to Hannah. Tatiana arrives.
HENRY: I’m Henry. I don’t know anybody here.
HANNAH: Well. I’ll give you all the tour--
TATIANA: --No need. I’ll take them to the site right now. Wes.
WES: Tati.
INT. HANGAR - CONTINUOUS
The garage doors open to reveal THE TUMBLER. A big black ice tank. Alex is loading up the tank.
TATIANA: It’s up to your manual’s specs. I will note there were some troubleshooting issues.
WES: It’s a prototype. We need experts like you to make it perfect.
TATIANA: If only you’d read the notes I made when the company asked for feedback.
ALEXANDER: We weren’t sure how to drive this thing.
PAIGE: I can drive. I just need the coordinates.
TATIANA: Perfect! Alex get those to her. Wow, Wes. You let your assistants drive now?
INT. TUMBLER - CONTINUOUS
The door closes. Alex sits shotgun. Paige STARTS THE ENGINE and flips a few switches on an upper console. Henry gets in the back.
TATIANA: Be careful, we don’t want to ruin this ecosystem.
PAIGE: Sure thing ma’am. Hold on to your butts.
The tumbler cruises away.
EXT. TUNDRA - CONTINUOUS
The Tumbler passes a green flag while driving down a windy expanse of tundra.
INT. TUMBLER - CONTINUOUS
Paige looks down at the radar screen. She puts the tank in park and turns back.
TATIANA: Why is there a shotgun in here?
WES: We have to stake our claim. Don’t be so naive.
TATIANA: Wes, let’s not turn your next pissing match into an international conflict.
PAIGE: HEY! We’re at the site. Let’s peek under the ice.
EXT. TUNDRA - CONTINUOUS
Henry and Paige walk a grid setting up stakes. Alex sits at a monitor. Wes and Tatiana are over his shoulder.
WES: Use the [spectrometer].
TATIANA: Alex knows what he’s doing. Let him work.
The monitor BEEPS.
ALEXANDER: (to Paige and Henry) Hold there! Bring those markers closer.
Paige and Henry move their stakes closer in.
ALEXANDER: Again!...STOP!
Henry and Paige stop five feet away from each other.
ALEXANDER: That’s very very weird.
TATIANA: Where did it go?
ALEXANDER: It all just disappeared.
WES: Where? How? You sure?
Henry pokes the ground. It CRACKS. He and Paige back away. The ice breaks into a perfect circle. Steam rises from the hole. Henry and Paige peer down. A SUCKING noise is heard from the hole.
WES: Has this happened before?
TATIANA: Once. That sound is new.
A COOING sound echoes across the tundra. They all look around for the source of the strange sound.
WES: (quietly) Sounds big.
INT./EXT. HANGAR - LATER
Tatiana and Wes exit the Tumbler mid-argument.
TATIANA: We don’t have time to run off after every tangent. The ice is going to get too thick to drill.
WES: Tati, the winds of fate have brought us together again.
She SLAMS the car door.
TATIANA: There is no, “us”. It’s a dead seal.
He follows her as he heads toward the door.
WES: Maybe not. We have to pursue this. You know I’m right. We have more eyes, the tools. Let us help.
TATIANA: You’re not the tool I need, Wes.
WES: It’ll be different. I’ve changed.
TATIANA: I’ve grown.
Henry, Alex, and Paige get out looking tired.
TATIANA: You haven’t been out here before. There’s a lot of weird things happening this winter.
WES: What kind of things?
TATIANA: Temp fluctuations. Animals changing migration patterns. Last week a piece of the ice shelf fell.
PAIGE: (to Henry) Do you think we can get 50% if we bail next week? I don’t do weird.
WES: You don’t want to see what caused that?
TATIANA: It’s climate change. There’s less permafrost this winter. Good for us. Bad for the planet.
WES: So we have time to look for the source.
TATIANA: Cause more disruption? No! This is still my operation. We get the oil. We get out.
Wes and Tatiana walk toward the station as the other three start unloading the Tumbler.
HENRY: Is she always this, uh,
PAIGE: Uptight?
ALEXANDER: She used to be pretty chill. Is Wes always...?
HENRY A Saturday morning cartoon? Yeah.
PAIGE: Boss likes to keep it spicy.
Tatiana and Wes stop at the hangar doors.
WES: Fine! Your team finds the sites. My team drills.
TATIANA: No! You think I’m going to let you go unsupervised? I’m going with you.
WES: I’m not a child.
TATIANA: You need a leash.
Paige MEOWS in the background. Wes is cornered.
WES: I’ll take one of your crew.
TATIANA: (grumbling) Fine.
PAIGE: Hey! Docs! Are both of you coming next time?
TATIANA, WES: NO!
They leave the hangar.
ALEXANDER: Good.
HENRY: Thank god.
PAIGE: Thank sweet 8-pound, 11-ounce baby Jesus.
EXT. TARMAC - SUNSET
The entire crew of the Williams base has gathered to watch the sunset.
WES: You said we have a little more time. Just a peek. You can scrub my name from anything we find...For last time.
TATIANA: It’s too late.
Henry, Alex, and Paige join the rest of the crew. The sun sets behind a mountain ridge. Aurora Borealis briefly flickers on the horizon. The stars twinkle. Ulli stands apart to address the group.
ULLI: Newcomers, we always have a little party to celebrate the solstice. Come join us in the mess hall.
CLOSE-UP: A CHAMPAGNE TOP POPS OFF.
INT. MESS HALL - LATER
The hall is decorated like a tiki room with pineapple lights, grass skirts, leis, etc. YACHT ROCK is playing. A buffet table with ribs, mini corndogs, vegan treats, and cookies is against the wall. Henry approaches Dan at the table.
HENRY: So what’s good?
DANIEL: It’s all good. It’s Ulli.
HENRY: Solstice parties? So, you guys get wild with midnight ice raves? They laugh awkwardly. Dan shuts down.
DANIEL: Not my kind of music.
He takes his plate and leaves. Ulli, Paige, and Alex arrive and fill up their plates. Paige greedily fills her plate.
PAIGE: Ulli? (Ulli nods at her) You are my new best friend.
Ulli smiles. Paige takes the opening.
PAIGE: So, there’s a meteor shower--not a shower, but it’s like a special astronomical--
Lars steps up to the buffet table.
ULLI (ecstatic) Lars!
They begin a conversation enthusiastically in Finnish. Paige takes her tray and leaves. Dan walks up to Hannah with a cherry-garnished drink.
DANIEL: The last cherry coke.
HANNAH: My hero!
Hannah spies Wes grabbing a plate at the table.
HANNAH: There’s your shot.
Dan gives Hannah a kiss and heads over to Wes. Tatiana approaches Hannah.
TATIANA: You two are so cute.
HANNAH: Thanks.
TATIANA: Be careful with that one.
HANNAH: Why?
TATIANA: He’s sharp. Always focused on the next step. I know the type.
HANNAH: He has goals, but he stays sane.
TATIANA: He’s young. He hasn’t tasted success yet.
Dan heads over toward Wes.
DANIEL: Dr. Wes, I’m Daniel. Big admirer of your work. If you need a storm tracker, I’m your guy. Your TED talk on the Fifth Industr--
WES: --Thanks, David. But I’ve got Abel--the one with the hair?
DANIEL: Alex.
WES: Yeah, him. Maybe next time.
Wes taps his champagne flute with a fork and walks toward the center of the room. TING! TING! TING! Wes clears his throat.
WES: First, I want to thank the Williams' base for so graciously welcoming us into their family. Alex, Paige, and Henry look nervous.
TATIANA: (jumping in) Yes! With Dr. Oberon’s help, we’ll find that next oil reserve--
WES: --Expanding humanity’s horizon at the bleeding edge of the Earth. Special thanks to the Bottom’s Up VC. We’re combining our teams--
TATIANA: --If you want to go far, go together! CHEERS!
Forced APPLAUSE. Henry, Alex, and Paige sigh collectively. Tatiana sees a goofy, smiling Nick approaching her. She simmers with rage.
TATIANA: You called your dad?
NICK: I didn’t know he’d call your ex-husband. Come on. You’ve been so tired.
He strokes her cheek. She takes his hand, pats it condescendingly, and smiles. Wes, observing the scene, cocks an eyebrow.
The lights dim again as Nick Drake’s “Northern Sky” plays. Hannah breaks into a huge smile because she knows what’s coming next. Daniel is down on one knee, holding a black woolen glove.
DANIEL: Hannah, three years ago, in the Men’s department of Macy’s, I asked you if these were women’s gloves. And you said no because the weight and...weft of the fiber was too thick for women’s apparel. I didn’t know a woman could make nitpicking so adorable.
Hannah looks down, a little embarrassed by the memory.
DANIEL: You only had to say “no”. Hannah, I can’t live without your need to keep searching for a reason why.
Everyone chuckles. Dan pulls out the ring.
DANIEL: Hannah, will you continue searching with me and marry me?
HANNAH: Yes. Yes!
Everyone CHEERS except Alex. Hannah glances back at Alex with guilt. Dan catches Alex’s eye from across the room. He throws an arm around Hannah.
EXT. TUNDRA - DAY-ISH
In a valley in the tundra, the bubble begins to shimmer.