(MYSTERIOUS MUSIC) (LOW PULSATING WHIRR) (MYSTERIOUS MUSIC CONTINUES) (FLARING AND RUMBLING) (COMPUTER TRILLS) (BOOMING) (DRAMATIC MUSIC) (ALARM BEEPS) (RUMBLING) (GLASS RATTLES) (COMPUTER BLIPS AND TRILLS) (BEEPING) (MECHANICAL WHIRRING) (INHALES SHARPLY) FEMALE VOICE: Good morning, James. How are you feeling? Wait. What? It's perfectly normal to feel confused. You've just spent 120 years (VOICE FLICKERS) in suspended animation. What? It's OK, James. It's Jim. Jim. Just breathe. Everything is OK. Where am I? You're a passenger on the starship 'Avalon', the Homestead Company's premier interstellar starliner. We've nearly completed the voyage from Earth to your new home, the colony world of Homestead II. (HOPEFUL MUSIC) A new world, a fresh start, room to grow. Oh, yeah. The 'Avalon' is on final approach. For the next four months, you'll enjoy space travel at its most luxurious ` food, fun, friends. My friends. That's right, Jim. The ID band on your wrist is your key to the wonders of the 'Avalon'. (COMPUTER TRILLS) You're in perfect health, Jim. Let's get you to your cabin where you can get some rest. (ROBOTS DRONE QUIETLY) You may be experiencing post-hibernation sickness. Your door will illuminate for you. Welcome to your cabin ` your home until we make landfall. Over the next four months, you'll prepare for your new life on Homestead II, meet your fellow passengers, take skill-building classes and learn about colonial living. You've been assigned to Learning Group 38, for passengers with engineering and technical trade skills. Please scan your ID to confirm luggage delivery. Jim, please scan your ID to confirm luggage delivery. (LIQUID FLOWS) To help you recover from hibernation, be sure to drink plenty of fluids. Enjoy the rest of your voyage on the 'Avalon', a Homestead Company starship. MALE VOICE: Good morning, one and all. It's a beautiful morning here on the starship 'Avalon'. Whatever you do don't get homesick, get Homestead. Let's start things off with one of my favourites back on Earth. BOB DYLAN: # Once upon a time you dressed so fine # You threw the bums a dime in your prime... # (JIM MURMURS INDISTINCTLY) No. (BOB DYLAN'S 'LIKE A ROLLING STONE' CONTINUES) That's stupid. Just own it. Own it, Jim. You got a cool jacket. (FANFARE PLAYS) Hello, passengers. Will you all please take a seat? Welcome, Learning Group 38 ` your introduction to colonial life. Earth is a prosperous planet, the cradle of civilisation. But for many, it's also overpopulated, overpriced, overrated... I'm sorry. I think I may be in the wrong... Hold all questions until the end, please. Oh, sorry. The colonies offer an alternative, a better way of life. Where are all the other... And there's no colony more beautiful than Homestead II, the jewel of the occupied worlds. I'm sorry. Where is everybody? We are all on the starship 'Avalon'. But I'm the only one here. There are 5000 passengers and 258 crew members. So why am I alone? We're all in this together. (OMINOUS MUSIC) Hello?! Anybody here?! Hello? (DOOR DINGS) COMPUTER: Please buckle up and secure any loose items. This elevator will experience a momentary lapse in gravity. Oh! COMPUTER: Grand Concourse. MALE VOICE: Hello. (DEVICE BLIPS) Welcome to the Grand Concourse aboard the 'Avalon'. Can I help you? I need to talk to a person. A real, live person, please. What sort of person? Personal trainer? Travel planner? Therapist? I don't... I don't know. Somebody in charge. The ship steward handles passenger affairs. It's on level 3 of the Grand Concourse. Thank you. Happy to help. Not good. Hello. Who's flying the ship? The flight crew ` the captain, the pilot, chief navigator... Captain. I want to speak to the captain. The captain rarely handles passenger queries directly. It's an emergency! Please. The captain is usually found on the bridge in the Command Ring. (SCANNER TRILLS) COMPUTER: Bridge access requires special authorisation. Bridge access requires special authorisation. You gotta be kidding me. (FANFARE PLAYS) MALE VOICE: Welcome to the Observatory. What can I show you? We're supposed to land soon. (CHUCKLES) I'm... I'm the only one awake. I don't understand. What can I show you? Show me Homestead II. Homestead II is the fourth planet in the Bhakti system. Right, and where are we? We're in transit from Earth to Homestead II. We will arrive in approximately 90 years. What? We arrive at Homestead II in 90 years, three weeks and one day. No. Wait. How long ago did we leave Earth? Approximately 30 years ago. I woke up too soon. MALE VOICE: Hello. How do I send a message to Earth? Interstellar messages are sent by laser array. This is an expensive service. Bite me. Happy to help! COMPUTER: Planet and connection? Earth, the Homestead Company. There are 30,826 contacts listed under Homestead Company. I'm emigrating to Homestead II, and I have an emergency. I have a Customer Help Line. Sounds about right. Begin message. Hi. Uh, I'm Jim Preston. I'm a passenger on the 'Avalon'. Uh... (CHUCKLES NERVOUSLY) Huh! I think something went wrong with my hibernation pod. I woke up too soon, and I mean WAY too soon. Nobody else is awake, and I don't know how to get back to sleep. And the thing is there's 90 years to go. At this rate, I'm... I'm sorry. I'm trying to fix this. I... Maybe I missed something. I could use a hand. That's all. Thank you. Message sent. Outstanding. Message will arrive in 19 years. Wait. What? Earliest reply in 55 years. 55 years? We apologise for the delay. That will be $6012. (UPBEAT JAZZY MUSIC PLAYS) Afternoon. Oh, man! Is it good to see another face! I thought I was the only one awake. Who wants to sleep on a beautiful day like this? No, I mean we're in trouble. We're not supposed to be here. Well, I won't tell if you don't. Huh? Our little secret. What can I get for you? What? You look like a whisky man. Uh, OK. (WHIRRS) Oh, you're a robot. Android, technically. (LIQUID POURS) Arthur's the name. Jim. Pleased to meet you, Jim. How much do you know about this ship? I don't know. I know some things. What do I do if my hibernation pod malfunctions? Oh, hibernation pods are fail-safe. They never malfunction. Well, I woke up early. Can't happen. How long until we get to Homestead II? About 90 years or so. When are all the passengers supposed to wake up? Not till the last four months. How is it that I'm sitting here with you with 90 years to go? (BLIPS) Hmph. It's not possible for you to be here. Well, I am. MALE VOICE: Good morning. It's a beautiful day here on the 'Avalon'. So wake up, sunshine. It's time to relax and enjoy your stay. COMPUTER: Please make a selection. Sorry, the mocha cappuccino extreme is reserved for gold-class passengers. Sorry, the mocha cappuccino extreme is reserved for... I want the mocha cappuccino extreme. Bill my room, please. Food can be purchased in the ship's... Sorry, the French roast... Sorry, the pumpkin spice... Sorry, vanilla chai... (DEVICE BLIPS) Sorry... sorry... sor... sor... (TRILLS) Large coffee. Cream, su... Please enjoy your coffee. Oh, really? (PENSIVE MUSIC) (BUZZES AND WHIRRS) (EXHALES) (GRUNTS) (THUDS) (GASPS) COMPUTER: Crew pod room access requires special authorisation. (DRILL WHIRRS) (BANGING ECHOES) (CUTTING TORCH FIZZES) (CRACKLING) (ALARMS BLIP) (DOOR CLUNKS, GARBLED AUTOMATED SPEECH) COMPUTER: Going dow... Please make... Level... (ELEVATOR DINGS) Grand Concourse. I'm screwed, Arthur. Completely and ridiculously screwed. Come on now. Every cloud has a silver lining. Well, I guess I am gonna die of old age on this ship. Oh, we all die. Even androids end up on the scrap heap. I'm your only customer. Why are you always polishing a glass? Trick of the trade. Makes people nervous when a bartender just stands there. So lay some bartender wisdom on me. I'm lost in space here. (WHIRRS) You're not where you want to be. You feel like you're supposed to be somewhere else. (SCOFFS) You said it. Well, say you could snap your fingers and be wherever you wanted to be. I'll bet you'd still feel this way ` not in the right place. The point is you can't get so hung up on where you'd rather be that you forget how to make the most of where you are. What are you telling me? Take a break from worrying about what you can't control. Live a little. Live a little. Ugh! COMPUTER: Welcome to the Vienna Suite. Oh-ho! Oh, yeah. (CHUCKLES) Yeah! What?! Oh-ho-ho-ho-ho! ('A LITTLE LESS CONVERSATION' BY ELVIS PRESLEY vs JXL) Go, Jim! Go, Jim! Yeah! Make that a double jumbo shrimp... Triple! Arigatou gozaimasu. Dance Off. Alright. (BLIPS) I did exactly what you just did! COMPUTER: Large coffee. Uno mas margarita, por favor. You have had many, senor. Oh, Hector, por favor! Otra vez? Si, senor. Gracias. (CHEERING) SONG: # A little less conversation # A little more action, please... # Get out of here! Come back. Hey. (FOOD SPLATTERS) Come here. Argh! (BOTTLE RATTLES AND CLINKS) (WHIRRING) COMPUTER: Welcome, Jim. Please turn your attention to the screens displaying safety tips. These spacesuits are designed to withstand the harsh environment of space. The carbon fibre and polyamide construction means your suit is both flexible and durable... (COMPUTER CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY) (UNEASY MUSIC) Remember, your spacesuit is your lifeline. Slide the handle on the right to release the air pressure. Your magnetic boots are now engaged. They can be deactivated using the control panel on your arm. Press the red button to open the airlock door. Have a wonderful time. Tether attached. (GENTLE, WONDROUS MUSIC) (MUSIC SWELLS) (MUSIC SOFTENS) COMPUTER: Welcome back, Jim. We hope you decide to join us again soon for another thrilling experience. Have a wonderful time. (BREATHES SHAKILY) (TENSE MUSIC) Ohh...! (GROANS) (WEEPS) Ohh... (GENTLE MUSIC) Aurora. COMPUTER: Searching passenger profiles. ON RECORDING: I'm Aurora Lane, passenger 1456. I'm a writer. I think we tell each other stories to know we're not alone, to make contact. MAN ON RECORDING: Your father was Oliver Lane, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author. No pressure, right? My dad used to say, "If you live an ordinary life, all you'll have are ordinary stories. "You have to live a life of adventure." So... here I am. Good morning. We're starting over, in every way. I'll have to figure out where to live, how to live, who my friends will be. It's like the first day of school if the school bus took 120 years to get there. (CHUCKLES) We're creating a culture... You are funny. Do you ever read something and feel like it's written just for you? I don't do a lot of reading. She's good. Who's that? Aurora. Oh, the sleeping girl. (SMOOTH JAZZ PLAYS QUIETLY) You know, I'm not saying the universe is evil, but it sure has a nasty sense of humour. How is that? You get to fly to another planet, but you'll die along the way,... and you find the perfect woman right in front of you, yet she's completely out of reach. Yeah, I'll miss New York City. Give me a cup of coffee, a view of the Chrysler Building and I can write all day. They do have coffee on Homestead II, right? (CHUCKLES) They better have coffee. If they don't, I have to turn around and come back to Earth. MAN: Is there anything you regret leaving behind? Yeah, I'll miss the trees in Central Park turning in the fall. I'll also miss crowds... (INTERVIEW CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY) (DARK, PENSIVE MUSIC) Say you were trapped on a desert island and you had the power to wish somebody there with you. You wouldn't be alone any more, but you'd be stranding a person on the island. How do you... Would you make that wish? I don't know. I've never been on an island. OK, well... Yeah... (STAMMERS) Forget the island. Let's say you figured out how to do something that would make your life a million times better, but you knew it was wrong and there's no taking it back. How do you do the math? Jim, these are not robot questions. I know how to wake Aurora up. Oh! Well, that seems like a fine idea. You could use some company. I'd be stranding her on this ship for the rest of her life. Oh, well, you can't do that. What am I gonna do? I'm here for you. Arthur, you're a machine. (SIGHS) See, see, see? You can't feel that. You don't have feelings. See? That doesn't hurt. And you don't even mind,... because you're not a person. Don't even think about it. No more Aurora talk. I'm over it. I'm moving on. GRUNTS: Don't even think about it! What am I gonna do? Sit and think about it? I can't think about it, so I'm not going to. That's the deal. I've made my decision. I know what I'm doing. (CLICKS TONGUE) I just cut it off. I'm not... No more. You won't hear me bring up her name again. I'll never even mention her name again. Done. You can't do it. I'm shaving off my beard. (SIGHS) Please don't do it. (PENSIVE MUSIC) (LOW, SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC) (ELECTRICITY CRACKLES) (POWER WHINES UP) (ELECTRICITY ZAPS) (GASPS) (EXHALES GENTLY) (GENTLE, WONDROUS MUSIC) Good morning, Aurora. How are you feeling? It's perfectly normal to feel confused. You've just spent 120 years in suspended animation. (TROUBLING MUSIC) (BREATHES HEAVILY) (GRUNTS SOFTLY) (PANTS) (GASPS) (RIPPLING, WONDROUS MUSIC) COMPUTER: Grand Concourse. AURORA: Hello? Anybody? Hello. Hi. Are you passenger or crew? Passenger. Jim Preston. Aurora Lane. Do you know what's going on? Nobody else from my row woke up. Same for me. The crew's supposed to wake up a month before we do. But I haven't seen anybody. The crew is still asleep. Are you saying nobody's awake? Just me. Just you? It's just us. But somebody's got to land the ship in a few weeks. MALE VOICE: We will arrive in approximately 89 years. 89 years? The other passengers aren't late waking up. We were early. We... We need help. Where's the crew? The crew's in a secure hibernation room. Everything important ` the controls, the reactors, the engines ` it's all behind firewalls. There's no way through. How long have you been awake? A year and three weeks. (GASPS) No. No, no, no. No, this can't be happening. We have to go back to sleep. Aurora, we can't. We just have to get back in our pods and start them up again. (GASPS) I can't find my pod. I can't find my pod. I can't find my pod. Oh, no... It doesn't matter. Aurora. I can't find it! Stop. I can't find which one is mine. How do I know which one is mine? I can't... Stop. It doesn't matter. Putting somebody into hibernation requires special equipment. Remember the facility where they put us under, all the procedures we went through? These pods are designed to keep us in hibernation, to wake us up at the right time. They can't put us back to sleep. You don't think there's a way back into hibernation? No. But there has to be. There has to be. (GENTLE MUSICAL CHIMING) (POWER SOFTLY WHINES DOWN) 9 o'clock. Night time. (NIGHT INSECTS CHIRRUP) I know I should be working the problem, but... I can't even keep my eyes open. You just came out of hibernation. It's going to be a couple of days before you're 100%. You should get some rest. I think I'm gonna have to. I'll walk you to your cabin. No, it's OK. I'll be alright. OK. (DOOR CHIMES) Goodnight, Aurora. (SIGHS) More than a year. I can't imagine. It must have been so hard for you. It was. Goodnight, Jim. COMPUTER: Please buckle up and secure any loose items. Whisky. Neat. Sure thing. How's your day been? WHISPERS: Aurora's awake. Congratulations. You don't look happy. Arthur, can you keep a secret? Jim, I'm not just a bartender; I'm a gentleman. Don't tell Aurora that I woke her up. She thinks it was an accident. Let me tell her. Of course. (GASPS) (TERRIFYING MUSIC) (WHIMPERS) How can there be no way to put someone back into hibernation? What if a pod breaks down? MALE VOICE: No hibernation pod has malfunctioned in thousands of interstellar flights. Well, I'm awake. Hibernation pods are fail-safe. Good morning. Have you eaten? No. I'm starving. And this is the dumbest machine. Happy to help! (INFOMAT ZAPS AND BABBLES) (OMINOUS MUSIC) (ALARM BEEPS REPEATEDLY) COMPUTER: Gold-class breakfast. (DISPENSER PINGS) Well, you're a man of simple tastes. I'm not a gold-class passenger. French breakfast puff's above my pay grade. What? This whole time? (LAUGHS) Yeah. What can I get you? No. No, I'm fine. Stop it. Really. OK. Here you go. (CHUCKLES) Yeah. So, I was thinking maybe there's another way to go to sleep. What about the infirmary? I checked it out. It's just scanners and an Autodoc. There could be another hibernation machine in the cargo hold. I had that thought too. And then I read the manifest. It's mostly farming stuff, machines and trade goods, replacement parts for computers and engineering. You're not going to find a hibernation facility in a box. We could build our own. We can't. Jim, you're not even trying! I have tried everything. For over a year, I... I tried everything. BREATHLESSLY: Well... Well... Well, I'm not ready to give up. COMPUTER: Infirmary. What about research articles? Any kind of technical documents? Hibernation technology is proprietary. The following articles deal with the subject on a theoretical level. (GRUNTS REPEATEDLY) (PANTS) (GRUNTS) (PANTS) (GRUNTS) (METAL CLANGS) (ROBOT BLEEPS) (DARK, TROUBLING MUSIC) (HEAVY THUDS ECHO) New file. 'My Voyage'. I boarded the 'Avalon' with an idea, a destination. Both now out of reach. I've been awake for seven days,... awake far too soon, and I may well spend the rest of my life here, in a steel world 1000 metres long. There's another passenger awake, a mechanic named Jim Preston. He seems to have accepted our fate. But I'm scared. I'm fighting to stay calm. All the other passengers will sleep for another 90 years,... while I live out my life on this ship, travelling forever,... never arriving, my only companion a total stranger. (PENSIVE MUSIC) Why did you do it? Do what? Emigrate. Leave Earth. I'm interviewing you. You're what? You were the first hibernation failure in the history of space travel. That makes you a story. Who are you gonna tell? Posterity. So why did you give up your life on Earth? 120 years space hibernation means you'll never see your family or friends again. You'll wake up in a new century, on a new planet. It's the ultimate geographical suicide. Well, I could ask you the same thing. But it's my interview. Were you running away from something? No. Everything was OK. So? I guess I just wanted a new world. I don't know, a fresh start. That's Homestead Company advertising. Is it? Jim. I... I know. I guess you're right. Back on Earth, when something breaks, you don't fix it, you replace it. In the colonies, they have problems to solve. They're my kind of problems. And a mechanic is somebody. It's a new world still being built. I could build a house and live in it. Open country, room to grow. Now you're back to slogans. Can't slogans be true? Do you know how much Homestead Company made off its first planet? 8 quadrillion dollars. That's 8 million billions. Colony planets are the biggest business going. Did you pay full price for your ticket? No. I'm in a desirable trade. So they fill your head with dreams, discount your ticket, and you fly off to populate their planet and give Homestead 20% of everything that you make for the rest of your life. Not to mention the debt you run up on this fancy starship. So all you see here is 5000 suckers? I see zeroes on the Homestead Company's bottom line. I see 5000 men and women changing their lives... for 5000 different reasons. You don't know these people. I'm a journalist. I know people. Really? This one. Is he a banker, a teacher or a gardener? Banker. He's a gardener. And her ` is she a... Madison, Donna or a Lola? Donna's too serious for that hair. Lola. Madison. Shit. Alright, chef, accountant or midwife? She has to be a midwife. No way you just made that one up. Yeah, she's a midwife. (CHUCKLES) I didn't know they still had midwives. I like her. We'd be friends. You think you can see that? Don't you? I do. A round-trip ticket? That's right. I was gonna fly to Homestead II, live for a year and then right back to Earth. I don't get it. I left Earth for a new life. But you end up back where you started. I end up in the future ` 250 years in the future ` on Earth, which is still the centre of civilisation, like it or not. And I'll be the only writer to ever travel to a colony world and come back. I'll have a story no one else can tell. What story? Humanity's flight to the stars. The greatest migration in human history. It's the biggest story there is. But you won't know any of the people reading it. But they'd be reading it. Or they would have been. I'll never write it now. I don't know if I'll ever write again. Jim, I can't think of anything else to try... to save us. And I don't even want to think about it any more. What is there to do around here? (BLEEPING) Are you serious? I'm dead serious. Partner Mode. VIDEO GAME: Let's get it on! Come on, get in power mode. (FAST-TEMPO DANCE BEAT PLAYS) You just stand here, and then we repeat what they do. Is there anything else we can do? Just do... You don't have to. OK. I can... Beat down! Hey! Here we go. Let's see if... Oh. Whoa! Whoa! (GAME CHIMES MUSICALLY) Oh! Why are you smiling? (CHUCKLES) Because I'm up two points. Who's the lovely lady? This is Aurora. Aurora. A pleasure. (FAST-TEMPO DANCE MUSIC CONTINUES) (LAUGHS) I can't! You did great! OK, one more time. One more time, let's see it. (ORCHESTRAL FANFARE PLAYS) (DANCE MUSIC CONTINUES) (LAUGHS) Oh! Yes! Whoo! (CHUCKLES) So I didn't wear pants for a month. Seven weeks and two days, to be exact. The man has no shame. Well, you're a little lacking in that area yourself, Arthur. (LAUGHS) I laughed at the man with no pants until I realised I have no legs. (LAUGHS) (CHUCKLES) (SIGHS SOFTLY) For a minute, I almost forgot my life is in ruins. I'm sorry. What for? I'm going to go to bed. Goodnight. Alright. Goodnight, Aurora. She is wonderful. Excellent choice. (METAL CLINKS) (MELLOW ELECTRONIC MUSIC) (GASPS SOFTLY) (WATER SPLASHES) (MELLOW ELECTRONIC MUSIC CONTINUES) (CHUCKLES) (POWER WHINES UP) Hello. Hi. Here you go. Is he asking me on a date? Do you need a pen? She didn't seem that impressed. (SIGHS) "Love to." She wrote, "Love to." (DOOR CHIMES) COMPUTER: You have a visitor. (FOOTSTEPS APPROACH) (ROMANTIC ORCHESTRAL MUSIC) Wow. You clean up pretty good yourself. You went shopping. I went shop...lifting. (CHUCKLES) Evening. What can I get for you? I'll have a Manhattan, please. Whisky, rocks. Coming up. ('CALL ME IRRESPONSIBLE' BY BOBBY DARIN PLAYS ON P.A.) You two look fine this evening. Thank you, Arthur. We're on a date. Very nice. Took you long enough to ask. I was giving you space. (SCOFFS) Space, the one thing I do not need more of. (CHUCKLES) ROBOT WAITER: Merci beaucoup. That was so good. Well, it wasn't easy getting a reservation. They're probably gonna want us to give up our table. Getting a lot of dirty looks. Very popular tonight. (CHUCKLES) So how's your book coming? I don't really know what it is yet. My dad used to always write about his life, but he had stories. He... sailed around Antarctica. He... was a war reporter. He... had lovers. He wrote about his daughter. And what about you? No. I grew up reading about myself in his books. How was that? Not always easy. A little more than you wanted to know about yourself. And then when I was 17, he... had a heart attack... writing at his keypad. End of story. Oh, so serious. I'm sorry. We need more wine. I like hearing about your life. Thanks. Why are we here? You'll see. Best show in town. So you've done this before? Oh, yeah. And it's safe? No. (GASPS) Reasonably safe. Hop in. You're next. What about my dress? Right. (LAUGHS) Turn around. (AIR WHOOSHES) COMPUTER: Tether attached. (BREATHES HEAVILY) (GENTLE, WONDROUS MUSIC) What are you doing? Do you trust me? Thank you. (THUD!) (BOTH CHUCKLE) (GRUNTS) Mmm. Mmm. (SERENE, ROMANTIC ORCHESTRAL MUSIC) (SERENE MUSIC CONTINUES) You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. You kill me. (ROBOTS CHITTER SOFTLY) You OK? Yeah. I'm fine. It's just... (SIGHS) Yeah, I know. (BIRDS TWITTER AND CALL) AURORA: 'So, I'm seeing someone. 'You'll never guess who. 'We're the last two people in the world who would ever get together. 'But here we are. The last two people in the world.' What's that? I'm writing, Arthur. Hush. 'Jim and I live in accidental happiness, 'like castaways making their home on strange shores.' "Strange shores." I love it. You do? You don't have to say that. I know. You're not gonna eat this? Does that seem fishy to you? (SNORTS) Keep reading. 'It's funny. 'We all have dreams. 'We plan our futures like we're the captains of our fates. 'But we're passengers. 'We go where fate takes us.' BOTH SING TONELESSLY: # I can't... help... # Arthur! 'This isn't the life we planned. 'But it's ours. 'And for the first time in my life, I don't feel alone. 'We weren't supposed to find each other,... 'but we did. 'He makes me feel like my life isn't over. 'Like it's just beginning.' How was your day? Good. I wrote a few pages. Did you find anything that can help us? (CHUCKLES) I did. Are they real? I cut them myself. WHISPERS: Oh, wow. You know, for two unlucky people, we sure got pretty lucky. COMPUTER: Attention. You may wish to proceed to a Viewing Area. The 'Avalon' will slingshot around the star Arcturus. Look! Oh my God! (UPLIFTING ELECTRONIC MUSIC) Oh, wow. (LAUGHS) That was amazing. A red giant. The universe's present to you. What? WHISPERS: Happy birthday. (CHUCKLES) JIM AND WAITERS: # Happy birthday to you # Happy birthday to you # Happy birthday, dear Aurora # Happy birthday to you. # ARTHUR: A birthday drink for the birthday girl. Aren't you going to ask for ID? I might not be old enough to drink. Oh, I would never ask your age in front of a gentleman. Jim's no gentleman. (CHUCKLES) Anyway, there's no secrets between me and Jim. Is that so? You heard the lady. I will be right back. (GENTLE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC) This is the perfect birthday drink. Thank you. I remember this day, a year ago. Jim was so looking forward to meeting you. What? How could he be looking forward to it? Oh, he spent months deciding whether to wake you up. He couldn't stop talking about you. Jim woke me up? Oh, yes. He said it was the hardest decision of his life, but I see it worked out just fine. (EERIE MUSIC) What? Did you wake me up? Yes, I woke you up. (GASPS) How? How could you do it? I tried not to. (GASPS AND PANTS) I'm going to be sick. I can't see. Aurora, please... Stay away from me! (BUTTON BLEEPS) I've got to get off the ship. I've got to get off the ship. I've got to get off... (BREATHES HEAVILY) (SHRIEKS) (SOBS) (DARK MUSIC) Can I talk to you? (DARK MUSIC CONTINUES) (GRUNTS REPEATEDLY) (GASPS) (GRUNTS) (SOBS) (SHRIEKS) JIM OVER P.A.: Aurora. I know nothing I can say will make this OK, but please listen. I was so alone... for so long. I felt like I was disappearing. The night I first saw you, I was ready to... You saved my life. And I know that's no excuse for what I did. I read everything you wrote, and I fell in love with your voice and with the way your mind works. I fell in love with you. And all of a sudden, it was like I wasn't trapped any more. My pointless life suddenly had meaning. And I wish I could take it back,... but I can't. Aurora, I don't want to lose you. SHOUTS: I don't care! I don't care what you want! I don't care why you woke me up! You took my life! (QUIET, UNEASY MUSIC) (ELECTRICITY ZAPS) (POWER CHARGES DOWN) COMPUTER: Please stand by. Your suite's control centre is rebooting. (POWER CHARGES UP) (ELECTRICAL WARBLING) (SCREEN ZAPS) (WHIRRING) (POWER CHARGES DOWN) I envy you, Arthur. How so? You have a purpose. You're always happy. How's your book coming along? I've never written about myself before. I think it's some of the best work I've ever done, and I don't even know why I'm doing it. There's only one person who could read it, and I can't stand him. They say time heals all wounds. Broken hearts aren't that simple, Arthur. You wouldn't understand. Arthur! Tuesday is my day with Arthur. It's Wednesday. The bar is all yours. What'll you have? Whisky? Coffee. BOTH: Aurora, we love you! What are we going to do without you? (ALL CHEER) The bravest woman I know. ALL: Bye, Aurora! I promise that I will think of you every day. When you wake up, I'll be gone, but just know that I will never forget you. You're my best friend. You were never happy here, I know. Nothing was ever enough for you. You know, you don't have to go. You could... You could do whatever it is you have to do right here. But since you're going, here's my wish. I hope you finally find someone who fills your heart, and I hope you let him in. I hope you realise you don't have to do something amazing to be happy. Go. Have fun. Take chances. Um... OK. I love you, Aurora. Bye. Morning, Arthur! Coffee, please. Coming up. Are you soiling my bar stool? You want to make things, you got to get your hands dirty. And what have you been making? Improvements. COMPUTER: Grand Concourse. (GENTLE, EMOTIONAL MUSIC) COMPUTER: First floor. (JARRING THUD) (BUTTON BLEEPS) COMPUTER: Gold-class breakfast. (GASPS) (GRUNTS) MAN OVER P.A.: This is Deck Chief Gus Mancuso. Who the hell planted a tree on my ship? Who did that? I did. Who are you? Jim Preston. Aurora Lane. Anybody else awake? Just me and him. How far along are we? 88 years to go. (SIGHS) Hibernation failure. They said that couldn't happen. But three people, three pod failures. (DRAMATIC MUSIC) You have no idea how long I've been trying to get in there. Now that you're in, don't touch anything. This is where you work? No, this is flight crew. I'm a deck chief. Ops, Navigation Comm. Hmm... (BUTTON DINGS) COMPUTER: Unauthorised personnel. Sorry. If I'm reading this right, we're still on course, so whatever's wrong with the ship, NavComm is still on the job. There's something wrong with the ship? Three pod failures? Yeah, there's something wrong. The question is, what. (HOLOGRAM WHIRRS) That's strange. I should be getting diagnostics from all over the ship right here, but there's no data. We've got to check all the systems manually. Can't we turn the ship around? Go back to Earth? We're doing 50% of light speed. Turning back would take as much time as going on. Well, there's got to be something we can do! Sorry, we're going where we're going. (PANTS, GRUNTS) You OK? Hibernation hangover. Get it all the time. COMPUTER: Grand Concourse. Two years, huh? Any more trees I need to know about? (METALLIC CLANGING) Look out! (FRAGMENTS BUZZ) Never seen that before. Those robots have been breaking down. This guy makes... 15. 15. The breakfast bar went crazy today. Yeah, and an elevator. Last week, my door broke. I was trapped in my cabin for two days. You were? Things like that don't happen. Not on this ship. There's 16 of these tech stations on every deck. Docu-slate. Data syncs automatically. Got it? Mm-hmm. Yeah. OK. You take decks 1 and 2. You take decks 3 and 4. I'm going down to the Hibernation Bay to check our pods. Well, that should be interesting. Ain't you supposed to be making your rounds? I'm finished. I checked your pod. The problem's very simple. The clock chip's burnt out. It ain't supposed to happen, but pretty simple. My pod's more complicated ` a bunch of system failures that all happened at the same time. The whole damn thing went haywire. (GRUNTS) Explains why I'm feeling so bad. But Aurora's pod... You did this. Yeah. All this time, I'm thinking you're one lucky son of a bitch to get stuck with Aurora. It wasn't luck, was it? No. She knows? She knows. How long were you alone? A year. Still... Damn. COMPUTER: Data received. (DOOR OPENS) COMPUTER: Data received. COMPUTER: Data received. Same as Jim's. COMPUTER: Interpolating data. System shutdowns everywhere, but no apparent connection. You saw the hibernation pods? I saw. COMPUTER: Data received. So, you know... what Jim did? Yeah. And? It's not my duty... He woke me up! He took away my life! I know, and I'm sorry, but there's work I have to... It's murder! You're right, Aurora, but the drowning man will always try and drag somebody down with him. It ain't right, but the man's drowning. (DOOR OPENS) This one makes 16. Yeah. (COUGHS) Hey. Are you OK? You should go rest. Yeah. But just for a couple of hours, and then back at it first thing in the morning. (COUGHS) (INTRIGUING MUSIC) (BLEEPING) (WATER SPLASHES) (INTRIGUING MUSIC CONTINUES) (GRUNTS) (GASPS) (GASPS) (DRAMATIC MUSIC) (GRUNTS) (GASPS) (BLEEPING) (AVALON POWERS UP) (GRUNTS) (WATER SPLASHES) (GASPS, SPLUTTERS) (COUGHS) (GASPS, PANTS) I was in the pool when the gravity gave out. Are you OK? We need to find Gus. (KNOCKING AT DOOR) Gus! Gus! Gravity loss means that whatever is wrong is starting to hit the big-ticket items. Not good. Every failure is a burnt-out processor, everything on board is thinking too hard. Why? Computer, display these failures over time. COMPUTER: Processing timeline. Cascade failure. It started two years ago ` power surge. 17 failures in one day, including hibernation pod 4298. That's me. Woke me up. What happened that day? Something big. A major system went down somewhere. Everything else on board is trying to pick up the load, but the load's too heavy. Whatever started this, we've got to find it and fix it. How bad can this get? Give me a risk analysis based on this data. COMPUTER: Extrapolating. A mission-critical failure is imminent. Failing systems ` life support, fusion reactor,... So, we're stranded... ...ion drive... ...on a sinking ship. (DRAMATIC MUSIC) COMPUTER: Main Engineering. Not a lot of things big enough to hit this ship that hard. With diagnostics out, we'll have to find it ourselves. JIM: Where do we start? (GROANS) Gus! (SCANNER WHIRRS) AUTODOC: Scan complete. Analysing data. What does it say is wrong with me? It's a few things. AUTODOC: 612 disorders found. Get me out of here. What's the prognosis? AUTODOC: Critical diagnoses cannot be discussed without a doctor in attendance. Override on my authority, ID 2317. Lay it on me, Doc. Pan-systemic necrosis. Progressive organ failure. Cause unknown. My goofy hibernation pod, that's the cause. What's the treatment? Various treatments are possible. None will meaningfully extend the patient's life. How long have I got? Your end-of-life transition is already underway. (DEVICE BLEEPS) These sedatives will alleviate your suffering during these final hours. (WHEEZES) Gus? I need a minute. (WHEEZES) (WHEEZES) (BOOSTERS POWER DOWN) COMPUTER: We are experiencing difficulties in flight. Gus! Gus! Where can he be? (SIREN BLARES) For your own safety, please return to your cabins. We are experiencing difficulties in flight. For your own safety, please return to your cabins. SOFTLY: Should have took the damn pills. I'll go get them. No, stay here. Sit down. You two take care of each other. (GRUNTS SOFTLY) My ID. Get you where you need to go. Fix the ship. Find out what's wrong with her. How do I look? You look magnificent. Ladies love the dress blues. What do we do now? (AVALON RUMBLES) (POWER CHARGES DOWN) (ELECTRICITY BUZZES, ZAPS) This can't be good. (AVALON RUMBLES) I'm going back to Engineering. Can you fix this? I need your help. (AVALON RUMBLES) Let's go! (BOTH PANT) (BOTH GRUNT) (SIREN BLARES) (GLASS SHATTERS) (WHIRRS, ZAPS) Arthur! (GRUNTS) (POWERS DOWN) Let's go! (DRAMATIC MUSIC) COMPUTER: Main Engineering. Can't we wake up some of the crew? It'll take them too long to recover. We don't have time. What are we even looking for? Something broken. Something big. Come on! Is it broken? It seems OK. What's next? Power Plant. This way. (CONTROLS BLEEP) Come on! (CONTROLS BLEEP) The whole section's closed off. Something's wrong. We're looking for wrong. Try to open it. (TOOL WHIRRS) (AIR ROARS) (SHRIEKS) (GASPS) COMPUTER: Warning. Pressure vault. Lockdown initiated. (YELLS) Please secure all doors. Hold on! Warning. Dangerous oxygen level. Please secure all doors. (GRUNTS) Dangerous oxygen level. Please secure all doors. (GROANS) Grab it! (GASPS) (GLASS CRACKS) Pressurising cabin unsuccessful. (FOAM GURGLES) (PANTS) (FROST CRACKLES) COMPUTER: Pressure normalised. (FROST CRACKLES) Oxygen level restored. End lockdown. A hole in the ship. More than one. (PANTS) How did that even happen? This ship's supposed to be meteor-proof. I guess one got through. (SIREN BLARES) It's hot! I think we found it. It's the reactor control computer. This is what hit us two years ago. Jim. How can we fix this? We're gonna die. There's replacement parts for everything. (BOOM!) Light! Sorry. As soon as I pull this module, the entire computer's gonna shut down. What happens then? I'll get it back up as quickly as I can. Hurry! Jim! COMPUTER: Control computer restored. Venting reactor. But we fixed it! Reactor vent failed. Manual override required. Oh! Vent failure. Come on! Jim. (BOOM!) Outer door non-responsive. What does that mean? The outer door is jammed. We've gotta open that door and cool the reactor down or the whole ship's gonna blow. How? I gotta go out there. Open it from the outside. I open the door, I get clear. You blow that fire into space. You get clear? You talk to me through this. What happens to you when that door opens? Heat shield. It might help. You might need this. (POIGNANT MUSIC) It's gonna be OK. (BANG!) I'd better go. Jim. Jim. Come back to me. I can't live on the ship without you. (GASPS) (SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC) Oh! COMPUTER: Warning. Temperature critical. Argh! Ugh! Argh! What's wrong? (GROANS) What's the matter? Are you OK? Nothing. Go. You sure? Go. I'm at the vent tube. New anchor point. Reset tether. I see the door. (GROANS) Temperature level rising. (GASPS) (MOANS) Warning. Temperature critical. Containment unstable. Ugh! Where are you? I'm at the door. I'm ready. Just say when. Here goes. The door won't open. I'll have to bypass it. Temperature level rising. Jim, come on! Please, hurry! OK, I'm trying it again. Tell me when you're clear. No! What? What's going on? Jim? Jim! The door won't stay open. I think I have to stay here, hold the door open. Wha... N-No! No way! Get out of there! I can't. Jim... We're out of time. Containment unstable. Jim? Vent the reactor. No, you don't understand! f I open the door right now, it will kill you! I'm hoping not. Come back in. We'll think of something else. There is nothing else. Jim! It's OK. No, it's not OK! Aurora. Warning. Temperature level exceeded. This isn't what you said was gonna happen! Aurora, this ship is gonna go. I don't care! You die, I die. There are 5000 other people on this ship, Aurora. We have to do this. Maximum pressure reached. Do it. Now. Maximum cabin pressure reached. (CRIES OUT) (GLASS CRACKS) Argh! Argh! Oh! (CONTINUES YELLING) (YELLS) Temperature dropping. (YELLING CONTINUES) Jim. Argh! (YELLING CONTINUES) Argh! (THUD ECHOES) Jim... Vent successful. Rebooting process initiated. Jim, please say something. (BREATHES HEAVILY) (DRAMATIC MUSIC) COMPUTER: Suit pressure dropping. Return to ship immediately. Aurora? (GASPS) It worked! You did it. You can come in! Yeah, about that... What's the matter? Are you hurt? I got blown out of the tube. What? My tether broke. I can't get back to the ship. I'll come out. I'll come out. I'll pull you in. Warning. Oxygen level critical. Return to ship immediately. (BREATHES WITH DIFFICULTY) Aurora, I'm sorry... for everything. Shut up. I'm coming. I wish we'd have met in 90 years. I... I'd have built you a house. I'd have read your book. It's gonna be great. (URGENT MUSIC) COMPUTER: Tether attached. Locate Jim Preston. Jim Preston located. I'm coming to get you. (BREATHES HEAVILY) Jim! (SOBS) (GROANS) Oh! (GRUNTS) Argh! COMPUTER: I'm sorry. The patient is dead. SCREAMS: Well, resuscitate him! Post-mortem operations require authorised medical supervision. No! Jim! (CRIES) Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Override! Override on my authority! ID One-seven-thr... Argh! Two... Two... Two... God! Two-three-one... 2317! ID 2317! COMPUTER: Multiple procedures are not recommended. SHOUTS: Override! Do it now! Executing. (MOUTHS WORDS) (TENSE MUSIC) (SOBS) (BREATHES) (GASPS) Ha! Jim! (LAUGHS) Jim. (GENTLE MUSIC) You brought me back. Yeah. Thank you. Be still. Of course. There's something I have to show you. In command mode, it turns out the Autodoc has an option called "stabilise and suspend". It stops all metabolic activity. What are you saying? With Gus' ID, it can be like hibernation. Inside the Autodoc, you can go back to sleep. But there's only one Autodoc. Yeah. And you're going to lay down in it and fall asleep. And you'll wake up on Homestead II, and you'll write your book. You finish your journey. You do what you set out to do. You'd be alone. I've been alone before, and I'll be fine. But I would never see you again. I'll come and visit you. (POIGNANT MUSIC) Tuesday's MY day with Arthur. ARTHUR: Lovely as ever. Thank you, Arthur. You're looking very well yourself. Thanks to you. What's that? Something I've wanted to give you for a long time. It's beautiful. Took you long enough to ask. Champagne. I'll wait. Hell of a life. (LAUGHS) Hell of a life. (GENTLE, TOUCHING MUSIC) (EXPECTANT MUSIC) COMPUTER: Crew wake-up process initiated. AURORA: 'My fellow passengers, 'if you're reading this, then the starship "Avalon" has reached its destination.' COMPUTER: Grand Concourse. 'A lot happened while you slept.' (BIRDS CHIRP) 'A friend once said, "You can't get so hung up on where you'd rather be "that you forget to make the most of where you are." 'We got lost along the way, 'but we found each other. 'And we made a life, 'a beautiful life, 'together.'