01x10 - Firestorm

[bunniefuu]

- Is that a beer?
- I'm nervous. It's a new ship. Want to make a good impression.

It's 9:15 in the morning.

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My god!

Only on fox.

Report!

All sections reporting.

Numerous minor injuries,
no major structural damage.

Gordon, why the hell
aren't we out of here yet?

Working on it, captain.

I'm transferring an updated
plasma distribution map

- to your console.
- Got it.

Looks like a big screen saver,
doesn't it?

Crap. Everybody, hold on!

Major structural damage reported
in engineering, sir.

An expl*si*n of some kind.

Lieutenant, I'm transferring
auxiliary power to your station!

Got it, sir!

Newton, what's happening
down there?

Sir, we've lost
both quantum phase inducers

in the upper engine!

I need to divert
all available power

to the containment
regulators now!

Acknowledged.

Isaac's transferring access
to your station.

- Phase inducers are stabilized!
- Good work!

My god!
Give me a hand over here!

My leg!

Newton to bridge!

We have a crewman
pinned under a bulkhead!

We can't move him!

We need lieutenant kitan
down here!

- Alara!
- I'm on my way.

Lieutenant, it won't budge!

Okay, step back, chief!

Lieutenant!

Losing a crewmate

is something that every officer
is always prepared for.

And many of us
have felt the pain firsthand.

But you never get used to it.

Lieutenant Payne's death

is a loss that is deeply felt
by all of us.

And we will be
forever indebted to him

for his sacrifice.

Now to deliver the eulogy

is lieutenant Payne's friend
and commanding officer,

chief engineer Newton.

Hey, guys.

Thanks for coming.

Harrison was a great guy.

We met at camp
the summer after eighth grade

when he gave me
the heimlich maneuver

after I accidentally swallowed
a wine cork.

Harrison and I
went through a lot together.

He was my best friend.

And it's fitting
that his last name was Payne

because he probably d*ed
in a lot of it.

Which is exactly the kind
of thing he would find funny,

in case anyone was planning
on getting mad at me.

Anyway...

Rest in peace, Harrison.

You were the best.

Alara.

How long have you guys
been standing there?

Long enough.

End simulation.

Alara, we know you're upset
about what happened.

But we also know, as you should,

that it's not your fault.

Yes, it is.

Not according to the autopsy.

The first bulkhead
that collapsed

caused massive
internal injuries.

It's unlikely
he would have survived,

and if you had gone in there,
you'd probably be dead, too.

Well, we'll never know
'cause I didn't even try, so...

You did try.

It was just too late.

And we could have lost
our chief of security, too.

But we didn't because you made

the responsible
command decision,

no matter how hard it was.

You don't understand. I froze.

What do you mean?

I was running towards him.

I was gonna grab
the fallen bulkhead,

but when the fire started,
I just... I froze.

I have no idea why. I just...

I've never been so scared
in my life. I... -Okay,

okay, I understand.

But you're being too hard
on yourself.

Lieutenant Payne's kids
probably have it harder.

His wife.

His parents.

Hey.
We have the simulator at 3:00.

How much longer
are you guys gonna be?

Just give us a minute, okay?

- Yeah. No, it's fine.
- Yeah.

Why even have reservations?

Alara, it might be helpful
for you to talk about this.

Reset program.

I don't think
this is a healthy way to...

Get out. Please.

Am I early?

It's a little short
for a condolence letter.

I know. I suck at these things.

I don't want
to make it sound too generic,

but I hardly knew the man, so
ii just got nothing to go on.

Yeah, but look how you open it:

"Dear Mr. and Mrs. Payne,
I'm deeply sorry

"for your loss.

Your son was such a neat guy."

I mean, that'sthat's terrible.

I'm not a writer, okay?

Yeah, well, wwhy don't you say,

"your son was a brave
and accomplished man,"

and then pull up
his personnel records

and put his résumé
into sentences.

Gordon, for god's sake,
the guy gave his life

in the line of duty.

Fine, go with "neat guy."

He was a neat guy.

It's not like I'm making
that up. -

Come in.

Captain, may I speak with you?

In private?

Yeah, sure.
Um, Gordon, can you...

Go ask Kelly to write
the letter for you? -Yeah.

Just have her do,
like, an outline,

and then I can fill it in later.

- On it.
- Thanks.

Sorry, lieutenant.

What's on your mind?

Captain, I would like to submit

my official resignation.

What?

I am neither fit nor qualified
to be chief of security

aboard the Orville
or any other starship.

Look, I understand
you're feeling guilty

- about the whole...
- Lieutenant Payne d*ed

because I was too afraid
to do my job.

No, he d*ed
because in a crisis situation,

things happen
that you can't control.

Payne knew the risks
of this uniform,

- just like the rest of us.
- Captain, I could've moved

that bulkhead with one arm.

But I didn't.

Because I was scared.

Harrison is dead
because I was scared.

People seem to think

that being brave
means not being afraid.

The way I see it,

if you're not afraid, there's
nothing to be brave about.

Tell that to Harrison's parents.

You know, I remember

the day I came aboard
the Orville and I met you,

I was really skeptical.

I thought to myself,

"she's too young.
She's inexperienced.

"There's no way
she can run a whole department,

let alone security."

Well, six months have passed,
and I'll tell you this:

If I was being rushed
by an angry moclan

who wanted to k*ll me,

the one person I would want
between him and me is you.

I do not accept
your resignation.

Captain, you don't understand...
Alara.

What happened to you
could have happened to anyone.

And it has happened
to many of us.

But if this thing is really
gonna eat you alive inside,

I would suggest doing
a little psychological digging.

Find out why you were afraid
of the fire.

Talk to Dr. Finn.

Talk to your parents.

Maybe they can offer
some insight.

Take any time off you need,

but you are still
my chief of security.

I don't want anyone else.

Hear me?

Yes, captain.

Dismissed.

Sweetie, I am so very sorry
this has happened.

- Thanks.
- The thing is,

you knew this was a risk
when you decided

to pursue such a...
Physical line of work.

I know.

Maybe this is a sign.

What do you mean?

I mean that maybe it's time
to come home

- and get your degree.
- God.

Dad, don't start with that,
okay? Please.

- Not now.
- I'm just saying it's possible.

Just because
you're a little slow

doesn't mean you can't get there

if you work hard enough.

A lot of intellectually
deficient people

find a place
for themselves here.

- That is the beauty of xelayah.
- You know what?

Can we just have
one conversation

where you don't att*ck my choice

to join the fleet? Please?

We just want
what's best for you,

and we feel the m*llitary
is beneath you.

It's what any parent
would say to their child.

Any parent on xelayah.

You do realize
that there are planets

where a m*llitary career
is a very honorable thing.

The humans view it
with great respect.

Well, yes, the humans.

The hillbillies of the galaxy.

Dad, can you just can it
for one second, please?

That's not why I called.

I need to know
why I got scared of that fire.

Is there anything
you guys can think of,

anything
that might have happened,

maybe when I was a child?

Actually, yes.

It was late evening.

Your father was attending
a symposium at the university,

and I fell asleep in the living
room with you in my arms.

You were less than
eight months old.

The fire began in the kitchen

and then spread
to the living room.

They told us later
that it was due

to a surge
in the power generator.

It was your cries
that woke me up.

Almost as if you were screaming
to me that we were in danger.

The flames were all around us.

I climbed out the window
and got us both to safety.

And you never... thought
to mention this to me before?

Honestly, the whole thing
upset me so much,

I didn't like to talk about it.

And you were a baby.

You didn't even remember
it happening,

so what would have been
the point?

Hey, settle an argument for us:

Do I look like
I've put on weight?

Wait!

Captain.

I need you to relieve me
of duty right now.

Alara, we talked about this.
I thought...

Just trust me, I am not well

and I am going
to check myself in

for psychiatric treatment
at the next union outpost.

But until then,

I need to be confined
to sickbay.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, slow down.

What makes you think
that you're not well?

I just saw a clown on deck c.

What?

A clown?

Like a... a clown clown?

Yes! And when I chased him
down the hallway,

he disappeared.

I am obviously losing my mind.

I don't like clowns.

What is... a clown?

Big red 'fro. Lots of makeup.

Big ol' floppy shoes.

Scary as balls.

Wow, you're describing my mom.

Did the clown speak?

- No.
- Was it like a...

Circus clown

or a hobo clown, or what?

What's the difference?

Hobo clowns are
the most dangerous,

'cause they're hungry.

Captain, I really need
to go to sickbay.

You know, usually when someone
has the presence of mind

to ask themselves
if they're going crazy,

it suggests they're not.

What are you saying?

I'm saying,
let's check the security logs.

Search deck c logs, beginning
with time index 468.2...

The past 30 minutes.

Ii don't, I don't want to look.

Whwhat do you see?

I see the clown.

Damn it, man! No, man! Come on.

I don't believe it.

Go to deck c, section 4.

Continuous time index.

That's impossible.
There's no other outlet

in that part of the corridor.

It just... vanished.

Then it was real.

Could it be an alien lifeform
of some kind?

Internal scans confirm
that there was indeed

an unidentified human
on deck c at the time.

What about now?

Negative.

Could he be...
Hiding from the scans somehow?

Only one way to find out.

We'll divide into teams.

Isaac will remain on the bridge
and continue to scan.

All weapons are
to be kept on stun.

We want the clown alive.

- Captain?
- Yeah.

I think it's only prudent
to caution everyone

to watch out for pies.

At this point,
anything is possible, so yes.

Pies, seltzer bottles,
balloon animals... be alert.

All right, let's go.

Check the cargo hold.

The lieutenant and I will
search the shuttle bay.

Lights on.

Clown?

I will check the upper level.

All right.

I apologize, captain.

When he got ahold of my w*apon,

he turned the setting up
to k*ll.

I didn't have time to lower it.

It's all right,
better the clown than you.

Isaac, do the scans
still read as human?

- Yes, captain.
- I'm telling you,

there was nothing human
about this thing.

I should've been able
to snap him like a twig,

but he was strong.

Those fangs...

Vampire clown.

Shut up.

Captain, I recommend that we
take the ship to yellow alert.

Until we know what the hell is
going on, that's a good idea.

All right, notify the crew.

There's nothing else
we can do right now,

but in the meantime,
everyone stay on the lookout.

For what?

More clowns.

I wish I could have captured
that stupid thing alive.

Honestly,
I'm almost glad you didn't.

I don't know if
I'd want to see it up close.

Kelly...
What the hell is happening?

I don't know.

Everything in my gut
is telling me

that we're dealing with
an alien presence,

but the scans don't lie.

Listen, I'm gonna
shower and change,

but you feel like a drink
in the mess hall?

Yes. A drink sounds amazing
right now.

Okay. I'll meet you there in 20.

Alara!

Alara, help me!

Aah!

What in god's name was that?

I don't know.

Were you able to get any scans?

No, sir. I was just trying

to get the commander
out of there alive.

Ed, what we saw was like
looking into infinity.

It's impossible.

It defies every law of physics.

Well, if it's impossible,

then it doesn't really exist.

And if that's the case...

There's something wrong with us.

You both saw it.

Saw it. Felt it.

Almost got swallowed up by it.

Doctor, these things
cannot possibly be real.

Is there a chance we're dealing
with some kind of...

Collective insanity?

A... a brain virus of some sort?

Could somebody have put peyote
in the food synthesizers?

Maybe we're all just
really stoned.

Well, you all saw the clown.

On the monitor, at least.

But so far, only two of you

have had direct
physical experiences.

There is an alligator
in the cargo bay.

I successfully crushed it
with a chair.

Where did it come from?

I do not know.

Regardless, it is crushed.

Doctor?

All right. I'll do a brain scan

on each of you, just to be safe.

Take off your jacket
and lie down.

This will take about 20 minutes.

Okay?

Comfortable?

Yeah.

Good.

Where's... where's your staff?

Everyone's at lunch.

All at once?

What if there's an emergency?

Doctor?

Yes?

What are the restraints for?

The brain scan requires
a high degree of precision.

It's easily affected
by the smallest movement.

I just want to make sure
you lie still.

I will.
You don't need to strap me down.

Hey, who's the doctor here?

You're wondering why
you can't break free, right?

Superstrong alara kitan

can't bust through
those restraints.

I had them quadruplefortified
just for you.

Why?

- I'll be right back.
- What?

I just need
to get my instruments.

What?

Hey, lieutenant.

Nurse park.

Can you unlock these restraints?

Why are you in restraints?

Dr. Finn said I needed them

for the brain scan.

That doesn't make any sense.

Something's not right.
Get me loose.

I don't... I don't understand this.
What?

She must've changed the code.

Why on earth would she...

Claire!

My god, what are you doing?

Surgery.

Claire, what the hell
is wrong with you?

I understand
what you're feeling.

Nobody likes
going to the doctor.

But I'm here to make you better.

What? What are you doing?

The best way
to get accurate results

with a brain examination

is to go in through the abdomen,
up through the chest,

and through the base of the skull.
No.

No, Claire, this is insane.

Something's happened to you.

Just think for one second.

Help!

Someone help me!

Alara to bortus.

Request security detail
immediately.

I'll ask you one more time.

Why did you k*ll nurse park?

Why did you try to k*ll alara?

Why not?

Look, Dr. Finn,
you're obviously not yourself.

But if you ever want to see
the outside of that cell,

you'll tell us
what the hell is going on.

Did anything happen to you
that you can recall

prior to the k*lling?

Anything strange?
Did you see or feel

- anything out of the ordinary?
- I'm hungry.

Will somebody get me a pizza?

What kind of pizza?

No, she's not getting a pizza.

All right. Why don't you call us

- when you're prepared to talk.
- Captain.

Do you ever sit in your quarters

and look out the window?

Do you ever stop and watch

the darkness out there?

It's very, very dark in space.

Looks so empty.

But there are terrors
lurking all around us

in the infinite shadows.

You can't see them,

but they're there.

If you are attempting
to frighten us,

you have failed.

What are you talking about?

You have no idea...

what's coming for you.

All right, I need answers,
and I need them now.

What the hell is happening
on this ship?

Scans show no record
of the vortex

commander Grayson encountered,

nor were there
any anomalous readings

in or around sickbay.

That's not good enough.

We have clowns,
we have bottomless pits,

and our chief medical officer
has lost her mind.

Wait, what if we all d*ed
in that plasma storm

and this is actually

some kind of purgatory?

How would we know
we were in purgatory?

What's purgatory even like?

- You ever been married?
- No.

- It's like that.
- Wait.

Isaac, what about
the plasma storm?

Is it possible
that it affected us

or the ship in some way?

How so, commander?

I'm not sure.

This is gonna sound
like I'm talking out of my ass.

Then please try to enunciate.

No, it's a figure... Never mind.

Is it possible
that the damage to the ship

was more than just structural?

Could the storm have...

Frayed some boundary

between reality
and something else?

Thoughts, maybe?

Your ass
might be on to something.

An interesting hypothesis.

I suppose it is not impossible.

Was anyone thinking about clowns

or bottomless pits
before you saw them?

Captain.

Where'd that come from?

My god.

They cannot be real.

Get it off!

Get it off! Get it off!

Get it off!

What the hell?

Isaac, how much of a risk
would it pose to the ship

to reenter the plasma storm?

There is considerable risk,
captain.

It's the only lead
we have right now.

And it might provide a clue
to what's going on.

That storm nearly totaled
the engineering deck.

Perhaps we could fortify
the deflectors in some fashion.

Scanner log data
could give us a frequency window

for the plasma charges.

We could modulate the deflectors

to provide better protection.

However, it would not last long.

We have crew members
trying to m*rder each other.

All right, let's do it.

Alara, you and Gordon
report to engineering

and help chief Newton
get working

on the deflectors.

John, set a course
back to the plasma storm.

Push quantum drive to the limit
without breaking the ship apart.

Will do, captain.

From this point forward,
I want everyone to carry weapons

at all times.

All right. Let's go.

You know,
I'm not gonna lie to you.

I'm pretty scared.

Join the club.

That spider was real.

I could feel its hairy stomach
on my face.

My god. Whatwhat if it
laid an egg in my nose

and then my head swells up
with a big egg sac

and then it explodes
and all these baby spiders

come rushing out of my brain?

Gordon, just don't think
about it, okay?

Just let's focus on our jobs.

You're right.
If we start to panic,

we're in big trouble.

Believe me, I know.

Hey, alara,
I didn't mean it like that.

I'm sorry. I...

I'm just a little freaked out,
you know?

No, it's okay. I know.
I am, too.

Look, I know everybody's
been telling you this,

but you know
it wasn't your fault, right?

What do we do?!

Run!

Okay, I quit. I quit right now.

I cannot work here anymore!

Gordon!

Kitan to anyone who can hear me.

Gordon is dead.

Kitan to bridge. Do you read?

Kitan to engineering.
Do you read me?

If anyone can hear me,
there's nobody on the bridge,

and we are approaching
the plasma storm.

I need to know
if the deflectors are ready.

Can anyone hear me?

Is there anyone on board?

Hello, alara.

Isaac.

I've been all over the ship.
It's completely deserted.

Yes. I was on the bridge,

and I suddenly
found myself alone.

I came down to engineering

to determine the status
of the deflectors.

Me, too. We're headed
straight into the plasma storm,

and without the deflectors,
we're gonna be shredded.

Ship's power
is completely offline.

However, the comscanners
are functioning.

Perhaps we can transfer
enough power

to access the main logs.

That might tell us what happened
to the crew. Do it.

Isaac,
what the hell is going on?

Why are we the only ones
still here?

I do not have any more data
than you at this time.

Perhaps the scanner logs
will provide a clue.

How long is the power transfer
gonna take?

I would estimate
approximately four minutes.

I watched Gordon die.

I am very sorry to hear that,
lieutenant.

There was nothing I could do.

I couldn't save him.

We must remain vigilant

in case the alien creature
returns.

Minimum systems online.

We will need to work quickly,

as the power supply is limited.

I never told you how he d*ed.

I only told you he was dead.

How did you know
about the creature?

We do not have much time.

We must review
all the scanner logs

if we are to find out
what happened to the crew.

You didn't answer my question.
How do you know?

It's you, isn't it?
You're behind all this.

Don't make me use this.

It's set on maximum,
and we both know that's enough

to vaporize even you.

I do not believe
you would sh**t me.

Believe me, you son of a bitch.

Now, tell me what's going on.

Where is everybody?
What's happening to the ship?

Foolish little girl,
you cannot stop me.

Soon, this ship
will run red with your blood.

Inner hull compromised.

Evacuate ship immediately.

Inner hull compromised.

Evacuate ship immediately.

Inner hull compromised.

Evacuate ship immediately.

Captain, we need to
shut this down now.

We have to stop this now.

Isaac, shut it down.

I am afraid we cannot

end the simulation at this time.

Isaac, look at her biosigns.

Her adrenaline levels are
through the roof.

Isaac, shut it down, now!

I am sorry, captain.

I do not have the authority
to do so.

Lieutenant kitan has exercised

directive 38 in the execution
of this program.

No bare feet
in the engineering section?

- What does that have to do...
- No, 38.

38.

Wait a minute, she exercised
directive 38 for this?

What does that mean?

It's an extreme
crisisonly regulation

that allows the chief of
security on board a starship

the ability to override
all other clearance.

- Including the captain's.
- What in god's name for?

In the rare case that the
captain has been compromised

in some way... alien influence,

extreme drunkenness,
that kind of thing.

If they use it and they're
wrong, it's a careerender.

And it's definitely not meant to
be used for something like this.

She was afraid we might try
to shut it down.

So what do we do now?

Lieutenant kitan must complete
the program.

Inner hull compromised.

Evacuate ship immediately.

God, no.

What...?

Alara, are you okay?

What... what's going on?

What's happening?

You have successfully completed
the simulation.

Simulation?
What are you talking about?

None of it was real, alara.

Wait, you mean I've been

in the simulator
this whole time?

Yes, you have.

Why?! Why would you
do that to me?

- We didn't.
- Well, then, who did?

You did, lieutenant.

What?

Alara, do you remember
coming back to my office

after you talked to your
parents?

No.

You told me you asked
your parents if there was

anything else they hadn't told
you about, aside from the fire.

They said no, but you didn't
believe them.

So you asked permission to have
Isaac create a simulation

that would help you uncover
any additional fears

that might be lurking
beneath the surface

so that you'd never be caught
off guard in a crisis again.

I tried to talk you out of it,

but you threatened to resign
against my wishes.

You asked to be subjected

to a variety
of frightening situations,

so I designed a program
based on inquiries conducted

with the crew, in order to
select a number of baseline

phobias with which to populate
the program.

The simulation began
in the corridor,

right before you saw the clown.

But how did you...

A memory wipe.

If you knew you were
in a simulation,

the fear wouldn't be real.

So you needed a shortterm
memory wipe

to erase any knowledge
of the request.

It's a risky procedure, but you
told me it was essential

for the protection
of classified security material.

I ought to write you up
for lying to a medical officer.

Wait... so who's afraid
of clowns?

That's me.

You really are afraid of clowns?

Yes. Please stop saying
the "c" word.

- And the abyss?
- Heights. My phobia.

- What about the sickbay mess?
- That's me.

Scared to death of surgery.

I had a skin tag removed once...

Total panic att*ck.

The spiders came from me.

I'm a bit of an arachnophobe.

Commander Grayson cited a fear

of isolation, with which
I conceived the empty ship.

That just leaves crazy,
psycho Isaac.

You can thank bortus
for that one.

Fear of being conquered
by a superior enemy.

I am feeling very selfconscious.

May I leave?

Sure.

Isaac, ii guess
I should say thank you.

You made it an order,
lieutenant, I had no choice.

Alara, you invoked directive 38
to prevent us

from shutting down the program
when it got too hot in there.

I ought to courtmartial you
on this very spot

for the position you put us in.

We were really worried
about you.

Captain, I am so sorry.

I mean, I don't...
I don't remember it,

but still, I'm sorry.

I'm letting it slide because
no one got hurt.

And also because you owned

every crisis Isaac threw at you.

Every insane situation
you were up against,

you handled like
a firstrate officer.

There should be no doubt
in your mind

that you are capable
of doing your job.

See you in the morning.

You've explored space
with the Orville.

Now here are a few more shows
to check out from fox.

I'm picking up
a large artificial mass.

Yeah, I'm picking it up too.

- My god.
- Kids, roll the windows up.

Millions have made the Orville
TV's newest fan favorite.

- Whoo!
- Seth macfarlane stars

in a series that's
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- You got this, right?
- Yeah.

- Why'd your voice get so highpitched?
- It's fine. I got this.

The Orville. Thursdays on fox.