SEAQUEST DSV: TO BE OR NOT TO BE (TV)
Summary
The pilot film of this science-fiction television series about the crew of a high-tech submarine in the near future.
In the year 2017, the ocean floor has been colonized and separated into various undersea nations; the inhabitants of these nations vie with each other for resources and control. A standoff between several nations' submarines at the Livingston Trench comes to a head when Marilyn Stark, captain of the hi-tech submarine named "Seaquest," prepares to launch nuclear weapons at the assembled craft, despite explicit orders to the contrary. Her first officer, Commander Jonathan Ford, prevents her from doing so and relieves her of command. A peace treaty is drawn up and the conflict ends, save for pockets of resistance opposed to the treaty. Six months later, Seaquest is undergoing a major refit when Admiral Noyce of the UEO (United Earth Oceans Organization) asks for Ford's help in bringing Captain Nathan Bridger out of retirement. Bridger was the architect behind the entire Seaquest project, but went into seclusion on a remote island six years ago and hasn't been heard from since. Admiral Noyce orders Commander Ford to appear incompetent and arrogant in order to coax Captain Bridger back into service.
Admiral Noyce visits Captain Bridger, who is living a quiet life on his island, accompanied only by his trained dolphin Darwin. He has developed a means of communicating with Darwin via hand signals. Admiral Noyce explains the precarious political situation to Captain Bridges, and that Seaquest is being converted to serve as both a peacekeeping vessel and as a platform for scientific research. Captain Bridger, however, is not interested: his son was killed in action in the North Atlantic, and he made a promise to his now-deceased wife that he would not return to the service. However, Admiral Noyce convinces Captain Bridger to accompany him on an inspection of Seaquest. Meanwhile, wealthy industrialist George Le Chein laments how the UEO's peacekeeping efforts have disrupted his business enterprises, and funds Captain Stark on a mission to destroy Seaquest.
Captain Bridger is shown around Seaquest while it is docked, and inspects the various technological improvements to his original design. He meets some of the crew: his old friend Manilow Crocker, now Seaquest's security chief, and chief engineer Lieutenant Commander Katherine Hitchcock, who gives Captain Bridger a chilly reception. Admiral Noyce tells Captain Bridger that although many of Seaquest's weapons have been disarmed, it is still a military vessel. Much to his surprise, Captain Bridger finds that Darwin has been taken aboard and placed in a special tank system allowing him access to every part of the ship. To his further surprise, he finds that Darwin's vocalizations can be translated into human speech via the ship's computer. This technology is the product of Lucas Wolenczak, the teenage son of one of Seaquest's biggest sponsors. Lucas lives on Seaquest and Admiral Noyce notes his expertise with computers and electronics.
Admiral Noyce then introduces Captain Bridger to Commander Ford, who has been watching him the entire time. Captain Bridger soon realizes that Seaquest has undocked and is moving. He is furious and Commander Ford assures him that he'll be given a launch and taken back to shore as soon as possible. In the meantime, Captain Bridger visits his quarters and finds that Lucas installed a holographic professor in the chamber as a "sounding board" for the ship's captain. Elsewhere, Captain Stark commands a heavily-armed submarine supplied by Le Chein, pursuing Seaquest. Ford puts on the appearance of arrogance in order to trick Captain Bridger into staying on board Seaquest. He meets the leader of the ship's science team, Dr. Kristin Westphalen, who is an admirer of Captain Bridger's work in topography. He also meets Lieutenant Benjamin Krieg, the ship's supply and morale officer. He learns that Lieutenant Krieg was a friend of his son Robert when they were in the academy together and also that he and Lieutenant Commander Hitchcock were once married but are now divorced.
Captain Stark's ship attacks an underwater geothermal power station and Seaquest receives its distress call; it is the only ship in response range. Commander Ford offers Captain Bridger command of Seaquest, but he declines. Seaquest moves to intercept Stark's vessel and the crew moves to battle stations, but Captain Bridger argues with Commander Ford that they should assist the survivors of the attack on the power plant first. Captain Stark moves to an attack posture and suddenly Seaquest's control systems malfunction, rendering them mostly inoperable. Seaquest is hit with a torpedo and sustains damage, taking on water. When Commander Ford freezes up, Captain Bridger orders Seaquest to descend into a nearby oceanic canyon in order to lose Captain Stark. Captain Stark follows, but the pressure is too great for her ship and she breaks off the pursuit.
Commander Ford brings Captain Bridger aside to tell him that the real reason he was brought out of retirement was to combat Captain Stark's submarine, which Seaquest has been tracking for months. Captain Bridger is furious that he was manipulated in such a manner and tells Commander Ford of the promise he made to his wife, but Commander Ford sharply rebuts him. Captain Stark tries to draw Seaquest out of hiding by attacking a nearby underwater farming community. The Seaquest crew discover that Captain Stark's attack damaged a geothermal power station that is about to rupture, which could cause irreparable damage to surrounding plant and animal life for hundreds of miles. After an argument, Captain Bridger and Dr. Westphalen manage to convince Commander Ford to repair it before going after Captain Stark. Captain Bridger suspects that Seaquest's computer systems were sabotaged and Lucas is assigned to determine the culprit. He discovers a computer virus embedded deep in the Seaquest computer core disabling their systems one by one, and works to discern where it came from.
Seaquest picks up the distress signal from the farming community and Captain Bridger realizes they are being baited. After speaking with the holographic professor, Captain Bridger realizes how much he missed the ocean, which convinces him to don his uniform. Lucas determines the virus was planted in Seaquest's systems 13 months ago. With the geothermal vent repaired, Captain Bridger calls a meeting with Commander Ford, Dr. Westphalen, and Lieutenant Krieg. Based on Lucas's findings and records analysis, he has determined that it was Captain Stark who planted the virus in Seaquest's computers to ensure that no one but her would be allowed to command it. He reveals that Captain Stark was a pupil of his. He plans to bypass the virus in order to temporarily regain access to some of Seaquest's systems, and the entire crew works to get Seaquest ready.
Captain Stark attacks another farming community and Seaquest moves to intercept despite having reduced propulsion and no available weapons. Captain Bridger intercepts a transmission and speaks to Captain Stark, trying to get her to stop her rampage, but she refuses. The Seaquest crew manages to get a single torpedo functioning, but they have no targeting system to aim it. Captain Bridger devises a solution: he plans to release Darwin from one of the torpedo tubes and have him attach a tracking beacon to Captain Stark's vessel, thus allowing the torpedo to home in on it. The two ships face each other once more and Captain Bridger calls for the farmers to get to safety and for Captain Stark to surrender. Captain Bridger attempts to bluff Captain Stark into standing down, but she recognizes the bluff and prepares to fire all her weapons at once. However, Darwin accomplishes his job and Seaquest's torpedo hits Captain Stark's vessel, rendering it inoperable. Captain Stark's crew immediately abandons her.
With the conflict over, Commander Ford apologizes to Captain Bridger for his behavior. They part on better terms. Captain Bridger scans an image of his wife into the hologram projector and talks with Lucas about her. Captain Bridger is still uncertain as to whether he will stay or not, but Lucas manages to convince him. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: September 12, 1993 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:31:23
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:54040
- GENRE: Drama, fantasy/science fiction
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, fantasy/science fiction; Submarines
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1993-1996
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Steven Spielberg … Executive Producer
- Rockne S. O'Bannon … Executive Producer, Created by, Writer
- Tommy Thompson … Executive Producer, Writer
- Gregg Fienberg … Producer
- David Kemper … Co-Producer
- Phillip Carr Neel … Associate Producer
- Kerry Lenhart … Supervising Producer
- John J. Sakmar … Supervising Producer
- Irvin Kershner … Director
- John Debney … Music by
- Roy Scheider … Cast, Captain Nathan Bridger
- Stephanie Beacham … Cast, Dr. Kristin Westphalen
- Stacy Haiduk … Cast, Lt. Com. Katherine Hitchcock
- Don Franklin … Cast, Commander Jonathan Ford
- Jonathan Brandis … Cast, Lucas Wolenczak
- John D'Aquino … Cast, Lieutenant Benjamin Krieg
- Royce D. Applegate … Cast, Chief Manilow Crocker
- Ted Raimi … Cast, Lt. j. g. Timothy O'Neill
- Marco Sanchez … Cast, Sensor Chief Miguel Ortiz
- Clark Heathcliffe Brolly … Cast, Renegade Sensor Chief
- Scott Coffey … Cast, Bobby
- Eric DaRe … Cast, Maxwell
- Mark Fauser … Cast, Weapons Officer Phillips
- Shelley Hack … Cast, Captain Marilyn Stark
- Richard Herd … Cast, Admiral Noyce
- Dan Hildebrand … Cast, Helmsman Carlton
- Michelle Holden … Cast, Earthcast Anchor
- Brad Hunt … Cast, Le Chein Guard
- Bruce Klassen … Cast, Ensign
- Buckley Norris … Cast, Territorial Governor
- Michael Parks … Cast, George Le Chein
- John Schafer … Cast, Pollack
- Brenda King (See also: Brenda Siemer Scheider) … Cast, Carol Bridger
- Justine Arlin (See also: Justine Shapiro) … Cast, Cmdr. Williams
- W. Morgan Sheppard (See also: William Morgan Sheppard) … Cast, The Professor
- Rebecca Stanley … Cast, Aunt Jenny
- Michelle Sullivan … Cast, Crew Member
- Michael Zurich … Cast, Renegade Sensor #2
- Frank Welker … Voice, Darwin