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Island Zero (2017)
[skateboard rolling]
[wind] [man humming] Salt! Some ice, and there we are. [singing] Love tequila, how I love tequila. Hey sweetie. Sweetie, sweetie... Come on, I got the drinks. It's your favorite! Come and have a little drinky-poos. [baby talk] See? I knew you likes it. I know you did. Yes. [kisses] [imitates dog bark] [imitates dog bark] [kisses] [laughs] You're actually a rather good dancer, you know? Yes, you are. [water noise] Daddy's going below, to make himself another drinky-poo. You want one? Hmm? Wha-What's that? What's that? [laughs] A double? Ooh... You're getting daring, aren't you? Well, there's a good boy. Stay there, hmm? [rushing through water] [dog growls] [dog barks] [continues barking] Sweetie! I got more drinks. Little bit of a fruit cocktail to go with this one. Wooh! Unsteady stay on the pins... ...for some reason. [laughs] Yes! Sweetie? Where are you? Sweetie? [grunts] Sweetie? Sweetie? Sweetie, for God's sakes! Sweetie? Sweetie, where are you? Sweetie! Sweetie! [hesitant cry] [eerie music] [man cries] [piano music] [music intensifies] [slamming sound] [heart beats] [heavy breathing] Sits all day like a lump in his chair. Never does anything around the house anymore! I got to do it all! Yesterday, I split a whole half cod of wood all by myself. Ask him to do the simplest thing, and he's tired. Like I'm not tired? Ruth, could you step outside? I'd like to hear what Alvis has to say. It-it's no wonder he's gaining weight. I'd gain weight too if I had someone else do all my work for me. Ruth, I'd like to speak with Alvis alone. Why? He can't tell you anything I can't. Can you, Alvis? - Can you? - Nope! And he's got the thermostat cranked up so high, the whole house it like a sauna. 82 degrees! I'm gonna die of a heat stroke! You got to do something about him, and quick! What would you like me to do, exactly? Fix him! [eerie music] [seagulls caw] [item thuds] That's all I've been pulling up this week. Ain't a single lobster in any of my traps. Reuben and Emmett been pulling up that same stuff, too. That crap, whatever it is. - Ctenophores. - What? Gelatinous zooplankton. What? It's a comb jellyfish. Hell, I know it's a jellyfish! But what are they doing up here in December? You-you're the biologist, you tell me! We've had jellyfish blooms here before but usually in the summer like that weird invasion of moon jellies we had last July. Look, all I care about is my bottom line. Where did all the fish and lobsters go? I don't know. Something's happening out there. Yeah, I just finished it, I'm emailing the file to you as we speak. I'll be on the afternoon ferry. I'll see you tonight. [hangs up phone] [ding] God, get me off this island. [diner music] Jess, two burgers. Same thing's happening to me. Last few days haven't pulled in so much as a guppy. Usually expect at least a fish or two. But my nets have been empty. Yup, that makes three of us. Uhh, Donnie. His traps came up empty. He's givin' up for the season. So, Arthur... this is a multi-species drop, to have everything collapse at once. The lobster, fish, scallops. You've seen this before? A few years ago, off the cost of Maryland, the whole fishery suddenly collapsed. Sorry to butt in, sorry. Couldn't help overhearing. What do you think is causing this? Well it could be a number of things. I mean, basically our species has declared war on the fish, the fish are losing. all these super trawlers, the high tech nets. sonar, climate change. [laughs] Now you got him startled. Okay, okay. I'll stop. You've all hear my angry biologist rant. We'll, uh, I haven't hear it. I'm-I'm interested. Are you gonna put this in your novel, Titus? Well, you never know what'll end up in one of my novels. Ahh. Maybe you'll make and appearance. As long as I'm good lookin' like George Clooney, give me a hot love scene with Jesse over here. Get his wife a gun. Are you sure you're leaving us today? Well, I finally finished my novel and I gotta get back to New York City. You know, we've been seeing you work on this book for about three weeks now, but you never told us what it's about. Well, it takes place on an island, just like this one. That's why I came here. Cause I wanted to get all the details right. It's a story about love. and jealousy, and a very pretty girl who works at the local diner. Jess, can I have a refill, please? What happens to this girl? You're gonna have to read the book to find out. Jess? That guy's not coming back, Jess. You know he isn't. Want anything else, Emmett? Another chance... with you. Turkey club! I gotta go. I'm taking my boat out to Rockland this afternoon, to get my radar fixed. Would you want to come? We'll be back the day after tomorrow. We can get dinner, maybe see a movie, like the old days? I have to work. At least come down to the dock. You can see me off. Jess, turkey club. [music plays] Ooh, neat! Lucy. You unwrapped your own Christmas present, didn't you? I just wanted to make sure you got the right one. and even though it's not, like, the best. It does have a 64 gig card and multi-spectral dynamic imaging. And you remember I wanted the built in la- Just put it back under the tree. You don't want to spoil the surprise. What surprise? I already know what you and Dad got me. You're dad doesn't. [car approaches] [car door closes] Go to your room, Ellie. Why? Please. Just go to your room. Hey, honey. Sam, we need to talk. Beverly called to me this morning. Mitch, it's happening again just as we expected. Multiple reports, multiple fishermen. Traps and nets are up empty. If you could send a few grad students and that exascan sonar unit. [man talks on phone] - They're launching a new- - When did that happen? They're launching a new magazine. There's a spot on the MASDT for me. We are talking about the collapse of a major fishery. You can't spare even a few grad students? [man on phone speaks] Sam, I'm going back to Boston. Mitch, I'll call you back. I tried to make it here, I really did. But two years on this island... I'm suffocating. I need to get back to the real world. The real world, what does that mean? Uhh-someplace not surrounded by water. Where I can work. I can't turn down this job offer. I can come up here ever few weeks. Or we can all move back to Boston together. I can't. I can't leave now. I need to be here. What I predicted is finally happening. Right. The fish are vanishing. The ocean is dying. The world is doomed. And what about Ellie? You know how hard change is for her. And she's finally settled in. She loves it here. Please don't bring Ellie into this. Well I have to bring Ellie into this. She's my daughter. She's not mine. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I have to finish packing. [eerie music] Made you a corn beef sandwich. Thanks. Are you, uhm-are you sure you don't want to come with me? Val needs me. Some new guest might be coming in on the ferry. And you want to spend every last minute with Titus. Have a good trip, Emmett. I'll see you Wednesday. - Wait, Jesse? - Yeah? [sigh] One thing you know about me is I always come back. [waves crashing] And that's the last patient of the day. Oh, just in time to catch the ferry. Oh, uh, do you have your sea-sick pills? Right here in my bag. I'll see you in March, Nina. Have a Merry Christmas. Oh, hey. Do you have any plans for the holiday? [sigh] A glass of wine and a good book. I'm gonna spend it all by myself. So that's fine with me, [softly] Okay. [regular voice] Bye. Damn. The power went out. [ominous music] [lights flicker] [scoffs] [zipping] [music continues] [seagulls caw] [water splashing] [annoyed sigh] [bell rings] Look, I've been trying to reach the ferry for an hour but no one's responding on the radio. Our power's out and so is cell phone service. You can hear we're on back up generator, here. Have you tried email, yet? Internet's out. Anyone else got it? It's out at the clinics, too. So, no one knows why the ferry didn't show up? When the ferry cancels, it's either weather or mechanical. Well. the weather seems fine to me. So it's gotta be mechanical. It'll show up when the fix it. Well, I-I have to get back to New York City tomorrow. My daughter's expecting me for the holidays. Well, I'm expecting and Amazon package tomorrow. If Barb don't get a Christmas present I'm... dead-meat. You haven't got Barb a Christmas present, yet? What's wrong with you? Looks like nobody's getting off the island tonight. I'm goin' home. I'm sure it'll be here tomorrow. It better. It's got the monthly shipment of diesel on it. Storage tank's are getting mighty low down on the docks. Looks like you two'll need lodgin' again tonight. I'll make sure there rooms are ready. Thanks. [generator revs] [ominous music] We're shutting off the generator in about fifteen minutes. I brought you a flashlight and some candles. Thanks, Jesse. I'm sorry about your ferry not showing. That's kinda how it goes, though. Living on an island, can't count on anything. Ferry, power, the weather. [chuckles] Why do you stay here? I always lived here. And never had a good enough reason to leave. I could use one. It's only 40 miles to the mainland, it's not like from here to the moon. Sometimes feels like it. I mean, just about everything comes from the mainland, but, without the ferry- [power surges] this is all we're left with. [deep breaths] Well, at least I get one night with you. [soft music] [rocking chair creaks] [generator revs] [ominous sound] I like your little waitress outfit, by the way. - Really? - Yeah. Wish you'd wear it all the time. I think I can manage that. [both chuckle] [diner music plays] Ell tells me you're a novelist. Anything I might have read? Uhh, only if the name Titus McLean means anything to you. Sorry, it doesn't. I hear you're a doctor. Locum tenens. I'm filling in while they looking for someone permanent to take over the islands. It seems like I spend most of my time on ferry's. When they're running. It'll show up today, trust me. Trust him. [ominous music] [waves crashing] [vehicle approaches] [music on radio] Looks like you'll have to stay for Christmas. Wouldn't be so bad, would it? It just makes things harder. I want it to be harder, I don't want it to be so easy for you to leave me. I'm not leaving you. I'm leaving this island. It works out the same. But then come with me, then let's leave together. You could find a new job, talk to the university. - I burned that bridge. - Right. And besides, I need to stay hear. I need to finish the study. You're chasing a phantom, Sammy. You need to move on. Rachel's dead. And whatever she believed... I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought her up. Uhm... I don't know anymore than you do. I can't raise the Clara Bee on the radio, and the phone's still out. Well I can't raise anybody on the VHF. That's never happened before. Emmett went over to Rockland yesterday. he'll let us know what's going on when he gets back. Hey, Doc. Guess who's staying with us another night? - Mmhmm. - What can I get you for dinner? Coffee and a B.L.T. That will be without lettuce or tomato, fresh vegetable just ran out, and breads not doing so well either. [laughs] I got about two days worth of diesel left from my generator. I'm gonna have to start cutting' down trees just to stay warm. - Yeah. Folks are getting' upset. More like thrilled. This is the most excitement that's happened to this island in years. Hey, Sam. You're the science guy. You got a theory on what's goin' on here? Maybe the undersea cable got disrupted dragged up in an anchor, or something. That could take out the power and the phone-line. Doesn't explain why the ferry hasn't shown up. [eerie music] [radio back-feed] Tucker island to Gladys Wink. [radio back-feed] Gladys Wink, where are you? Over. [radio back-feed] Emmett, please answer me. [radio back-feed] Emmett. [radio back-feed] [waves crashing] Three days without a single word. We can handle the ferry not showing up, it's the not knowing that bothers me. Why hasn't the ferry come? [imitates ghost sound] End of the world. [laughs] Shut up, Reuben. It's not funny. Did it sink? What if there was a disaster we haven't heard about? We're out of bread and milk at home. My kids are eating peanut butter for breakfast. I have a enough diesel to run the generator for a few more days, but when that runs out, we're in the dark. [snicker] - No heat. No lights. Instead of snickering, Reuben, why don't you head to Rockland and find out what's goin' on over there? Emmett's already on his way back. He'll let us know what's goin' on. [snicker] He was supposed to be back yesterday. Where is he? I don't know. [soft cry] [group chatter] You really need all them beans, Lars? You never know. 'Cause that's the last of 'em. You should leave some for other folks. Who knows when that ferry's gonna run again? I don't see any limit posted. Maybe there oughta be. There's no more evaporated milk. Does anyone have a few cans they can spare for my kids? Anyone? Oh, come on, Lars. Give 'em one of yours. Early bird gets the worm. Oh, damnit, Lars. Give 'em one. No. - Yes. - No. [items clutter] Hey. Stop it! Come on! Come on! Come on! [grunts] We're gonna start eating each other next. [soft chuckle] Crisis like this, you'd think they'd pull together. In stead, they're starting to tear each other apart. They're scared. And I can understand that. They think the rest of the world's vanished, and we're on our own. At least no one will starve. They could always go fishing. Good luck catching anything. Boat's will be out of diesel soon. All the fish have vanished. What? Yeah, no one's picked anything up in weeks. No lobsters, no fish. What's goin' on out there? It's a question I'm trying' to answer. I wrote a paper on the phenomenon a few years ago. Sudden Unexplained Collapse of a fishery. SUC Fish for short. [soft chuckle] It sounds funny, but it's a tragedy. So this is not a new phenomenon? There was a theory proposed, that maybe there are apex predators we haven't identified yet. This is your theory? My wife's. I though Lucy was a journalist? Lucy and I aren't married. My wife, Rachel. She was a Marine Biologist like me. Was? Four years ago she was lost at sea. We found her research boat adrift with no aboard. I'm sorry, Sam. Yeah, she died doing what she loved. That's the one thing I keep telling myself. It's like the only way I can... I lost someone, too. So I understand. There you go. Four stitches. [soft chuckle] I'm no plastic surgeon, so you may end up with a scar. I'm lucky you happened to be on the island. Well, I would love to get off this island. What if the ferry doesn't come? We all descend into mass cannibalism. [soft laugh] - No, listen. I'm serious. Look at them, they're scared and they're at each others throats. Who's gonna keep order? [knock on door] Uh, Sam. There's a problem down in the dock and they need you. [ominous music] That Emmett's boat? Yeah. Only problem is there's no sign of Emmett. I found it on the shores over there. Radioed Lars and Author. We went searching on the water but we couldn't find any sign of Emmett or his body anywhere. The day he left, Jess packed him a sandwich, it's still in his duffle bag. He never ate it. I don't think he ever made it to the mainland. Maybe he hit a wave? Knocked him down. Sam. There's blood here. [ominous music] He went overboard. Yeah. It's what it looks like. Trouble is, the morning Emmett left, the water was glass. There were no waves. What is that? I don't know. Looks organic. [sniffs] Smells organic. It's like the sea. He was such a smart kid. Lived his life on the water. I don't understand it, how could he- how could he go overboard? The ocean takes ever the careful ones. - [deep exhales] Oh, Jesse. - What? [inaudible] [group chatter] So Emmett never made it to the mainland. And we still don' know where the damn ferry is. Well there's gotta be a logical explanation. You keep saying, Sam. But what is the explanation? Why isn't anyone tryin' to reach us? Has the whole world forgotten we're here? Someone needs to go across and find out what the problem is. Emmett already tried, look what happened. Look, my generator's dead. My power's off. If you're goin' Lars, I comin' too. My kids and I are comin', too. We've had enough. Hold on, then. My boat's no big enough. Well I got enough fuel to get across the water, I can carry some of you. But Lars, you and I should go out together. Keep an eye on each other, in case one of us get's into trouble. Lee's runnin' out of his heart pill. He needs to go. - I called dibs first. - People! People! We can't fit the whole island in two boats. Some of you are gonna have to stay here. Why don't you all just draw lots? [group mutters] It's the only fair thing to do. Are you kiddin'? There's gotta be priorities. Sick folks, first. Then woman and children. Hey, what is this? The Titanic? I need to get off this island, too. Not more than my children do. If you want to go to the mainland, be on the pier at 3 o'clock. We'll figure out then who gets to go on board. Looks like there won't be any room for us. Well, let me check with Arthur. His boat's up on the north shore. Maybe he can get you across. [ominous music] [muffled argument] At least I can count on you. [leaves rustle] [argument continues] I'm not trying to- [ominous noise] [crow caws] [ominous music] We'll be okay, Ellie. Whatever happens between me and Lucy, you and I... we'll manage. Just the two of us. - It is 'cause of me? - What? - The reason Lucy's leaving? - No. No. This is between me and Lucy. If anyone's at fault, it's me. 'Cause of the fish? The fish? She say's that's all you think about. "Where are the fish?" Dad, who cares about the stupid fish? No one but you. [sigh] - Your mom did. You know, when you were six years old, we took you to the Boston Aquarium, and you wouldn't leave. You stuck to that jellyfish tank tighter than a limpet. - Remember that? - Yeah. We stayed there three hours. The truth is you mom didn't want to leave you there. She was like a fish, herself. Never happy out of water. She would have loved it here. Not like Lucy. No. Lucy's different. You can wait here? I'm just gonna go talk to Arthur. And I'll be right back. [birds cawing] Arthur! Arthur! Arthur! You in there? Jesus! Ugh. Dinner. What? I'm guessing his last meal was dinner. Specifically pork and beans. I can see the remains here in the stomach which would place time of death some time last evening. Would have been soon after he ate because this is - still pretty much undigested. - Jesus. You're a biologist. Haven't you dissected animals? Yeah, but this animal shook my hand last week. And hello. We have a capsule. Blue. Arthur was taking Cardizem. A blue capsule. Who the hell would have done this? Just sliced him up and thrown him on the rocks. I can't imagine anyone on this island killing Arthur. I'm not sure this was murder. His intestines looked like they were ripped apart, not sliced. Do you have any bears on the island? A bear would have to swim 40 miles to get here. What do you think happened to him? I don't know. Clearly there was a struggle. There's blood everywhere. Let's take a look at that blue substance. Where did you find it, again? On the axe blade. It looked like the same stuff we found on Emmett's boat. - Blood cells. - Are you sure? But those are blue. I've never seen blood that color. I have. It's an adaptation to cold water. In stead of hemoglobin, some marine animals have blood with hemocyanin. It's copper based. They could survive sub-freezing temperatures all the way down to Antarctica. Marine animals? The water. Everyone should stay off the water! We need to stop those boats! It's too late. Lars and Reuben left an hour ago. Who went with them? [ominous music] Most of the island. [radio back-feed] Tucker island calling Anya. Anya, are you there? Over. [radio back-feed] Lars, are you there? [radio back-feed] Lars, are you there? [radio back-feed] They should still be in radio range. Lars, come in. Over. [radio back-feed] Do you really want them to turn around and come back? They must be half way to the mainland by now. They need to know what happened to Arthur. We don't know what happened to Arthur. Lars, are you there? Over. [radio back-feed] [on radio] This is Anya. What's up, Val? Over. Lars, it's Sam. You folks alright out there? [on radio] Yeah, we just passed Burdock. No problems. What about Reuben? [on radio] His boat's right behind me. And here's the good news; there's plenty of fish out here. My sonar just lit up like Vegas. What do you see on sonar? [on radio] It looks like a giant shoal of fish. Movin' right beneath us. About 30 meters down. Big ass echoes. Could be blue fin. Are you sure they're fish? [on radio] What else would they be? Lars, listen to me. Get to the shore as soon as you can. Just head for the closest landfall, even if it's just a pile of rocks. Just get the folks off the boat. [on radio] Why? Just get off the water! [on radio] Jesus Christ. What the hell is that? Lars? [on radio] Hey. Hold on! And don't let them go over. [screams over radio] - [on radio] Hold on. [muffled speech] Lars? [radio feedback] Lars! [generator dies] [strikes match] That's it. That's the last of our diesel. From now on, we're in the dark. What happened out there, Sam? I don't know. You told them to get off the water, you must have known something was going to happen. Well, I was guessing. After what happened to Emmett and then to Arthur. What did happen to Arthur? You looked at the remains, what did you see? It looks like he was ripped apart by some sort of animal. But this happened aboard his boat. On the water. This is straight out of your research paper. What paper? I wrote it four years ago on the collapse of fisheries. Tell them the rest, Sam. Rachel and I first saw it happen here. It was December, four years ago in Cape Hatteras. A sudden and drastic drop off in catches. We tried to hunt down reasons. We tested for toxins, temperature shifts, and dinoflagellates. Dino what? Red tide. We found nothing to explain it, but it was clear there was some sort of marine catastrophe, everything vanished from crab to fish to dolphins- You said that was the first time you saw it happen, so it's happened since then? A year later, a colleague in Dover observed the same thing. And a year after that, it happened in Nantucket. So, we thought it might be the Gulf stream Phenomenon. Maine isn't on the Gulf stream. No, but the Gulf stream and the Labrador current collide to create one the richest fishing grounds in the world, the gulf of Maine. And I predicted this is where it would happen next, and I was right. 'Cause something's changing. Something that's causing the fish population to collapse. Like in Delaware and Nantucket. And it turned out in other places, too. There've been reports from the Azores and Cape Verde. And the pattern is always the same; a sudden disappearance of fish, local economic devastation, and then the fishermen start to die. From what? Everyone assumed the deaths were accidents or suicide, but the bodies were never found because it always happened at sea. Look, you said you had a theory for what's causing this? Rachel believed that there is a marine predator that we haven't identified, yet. It's an apex predator that migrates with the fish. And it kills the fishermen? [laughs] Wouldn't somebody have reported this? That's why no one took it seriously, but Rachel did. Because she spotted it on sonar, something that she couldn't identify. And the day that she disappeared, she was out on the water looking for it. Lars saw something on sonar, too. He said it looked like a giant shoal of fish. Which means there's more than one. [soft chuckle] Or it's really fucking big. [laughs] Oh, my God. [ominous music] Not so boring here, after all. [soft laugh] Maybe you should stay and cover the story. Like any good journalist. Maybe I should. For the sake of the story. It just turned out to be right under my nose. Captain Aha and the White Whale. What? It's what you called me once, Captain Ahab, chasing a monster that would drag me under the waves. And it did. Cost me my job, brought us to this rock. When I heard you explain everything tonight, I finally understood the obsession. It's still about Rachel, isn't it? You're on this island because of her. Because you are compelled to find this thing that she was searching for. This thing that killed her. I was never really quite sure it existed. But now I know she was right. I believe her. So do I. [waves crashing] I always despised beans. Better learn to like 'em, Titus, 'cause we're running out of everything else. Do you mind if we bring some of our supplies over to Nina's? She told me this morning that she's running low on food. Sure. She can move in here if she wants. Ruth and Alvis, too. It might be smart for us to pull our resources while we figure out what the hell is goin' on. If this were one of your novels, how would you explain it? [soft chuckle] We all wake up and find out it just was a nightmare. Pretty lame for a writer. Even with that fire goin', it's gonna get cold in here. We're gonna need more blankets. I'll get 'em. I just hope this story has a happy ending. There's no such thing as a happy ending. You're full of sunshine and light, doctor. Well, I've seen too many endings. some are painful, some are tragic. None of them are happy. That's why I prefer fiction. Why come all the way out here to write? 'Cause- My book takes place on and island, and I wanted authenticity. Pulled out a map, searched the Maine cost for the most remote island I could find, and this was it. Island Zero. It's uh... It's my title. What does it mean? The island where all things can be rebooted. New lives, new relationships. New possibilities. [music plays] [closes truck of car] Nina? I got about a weeks worth of pork and beans for you. [muffled] Nina? [music on radio] Nina? I brought a weeks worth of pork and beans for you. Nina? [gasp] [cries] [pants] [tires screech] [cries] What did that? What the hell did that to her? Ruth and Alvis. Dad? - Stay in the car! - But, Dad. Stay with Jesse. Both of you just stay in the car. But, Dad. [ominous music] [creature growls] Well you could've knocked, first. Are you okay? Alvis ain't up to speed but I'm doin' fine, considering. Sounds like a bear hibernating. [Al snores] 82 degrees in here and he needs all them blankets. Ruth! You can't stay here. You and Alvis need to leave the house right now. Why? Where we goin'? To the inn. Everyone on the island needs to stay together. - Dad? - Go back to the truck, Ellie! Ruth, Nina's dead. Something got into her house, smashed through the window. Dad, I need to show you something. Ellie recording this a couple of nights ago. And it happened at the waters edge right behind our house. Why are we only hearing of this video now? 'Cause it was her Christmas present, she wasn't supposed to be using it. What kinda camera is this? It's a thermographic camera, the images come from infrared radiation. You can see temperature differences as little as .07 degrees celsius. Definitely your kid. Here. This is when it happens. What the hell was that? Could be a bear, or a cougar. No. So on this camera, cold temperatures are blue the warm temperatures are orange. Play it again, Ellie. Look what attacks the deer, what color it is. It's cold blooded. Amphibian? I mean, possibly. But, even octopuses come out of the water to hunt. They could stay out for as long as an hour. So this is what killed Arthur and Nina and Emmett. It's cold blooded, and it came from the water. How far is Nina's house from the water? About a hundred yards. We're closer than that right now. [gun clicks] How'd you learn to do that? Take apart guns? I've spent some time around weapons. You mean like hunting? In a way. Lucy won't let me near any guns. Good for her. This pistol's worthless, but the rifle and shotgun seem to be in working order. Are there any other weapons on the island? Between me and Alvis, that's all we've got. What about ammo? There's only four bullets for the rifle. Arthur used to hunt. Maybe there something at his house. I better get over there before it gets dark. You shouldn't be out there alone. I'll go with you. [ominous music] If this creature really exists, why hasn't anyone reported it? Well new breed of species are discovered all the time. Well were talking about something that can rip a man apart. One of these must've washed on the shore, somewhere. - Not necessarily. Could be like whale fall. Like what? Well when a whale dies at sea, it doesn't wash on shore. It sinks. And there carcasses can end up on abyssal zone five-six thousand feet down. where a complex ecosystem feeds on the corpse. The deep sea bed is just littered with the bones of whales, and who knows what else. Found some. [bullets shake in box] [music plays] Here, look at this. Don't run down the battery, Ellie. I'm just showing him how to use it. I've never been good at roughing it. [chuckle] I hate camping. Can't stand the ocean. I always get sea sick. How did you end up with a marine biologist? [soft laugh] I interviewed him for a Father's Day story on single dads. One thing led to another. So you never met his wife? No, Rachel had died two years before. Sam says Ellie looks just like her. It's like Rachel's ghost is always with us. How can I compete with that? Now why do you have to compete? You can spot animals that you'd never see with a regular camera. See that orange thing up in the branches? I think it might be a squirrel. So how long does the battery last on this thing? I charged it up yesterday, plus I have a spare battery. Even when it's pitch black outside, you could still see- What is it? Kid. What is it? [ominous music] There's something coming. Oh, my God. [items thud] [bangs on door] What the hell was that? [door creeks] [monstrous noise] Where is it? Why can't we see it? [screams] [flesh ripping] [screams] [gun shot] What the hell was that? Sam? They'll be back. [ominous music] [door creeks] This is it. This house is about as far from the water as we can get. Who lived here? The McCarty's. After their kid drowned they left the island. Never came back. A girl. Titus, are you ready to go? The others are already headed up the hill. Titus? [dark music] Titus? [gasp] [hammer on door] Alvis? Down at the inn, you said they'll be back. Like you already know what's gonna to happen. Have you seen one of these things before? I didn't see it, exactly. But I've seen what they do. How? When? It was on a freighter, in the Pacific. The Dundee. We were in the middle of nowhere. The dolphins had been followin' us for days. Then, they vanished. The sea went calm. We lost Bill the first night, on night watch. Nobody saw him go overboard, he was just gone the next morning. The next night, Jake was gone. On the third ni- On the third nigh- What happened on the third night? I was in the engine room, on duty. When I heard the gunfire, I thought there had been pirates attacking us. Huh! When I got up on deck, there was no one left. Blood everywhere, on the bridge, the galley, the crewmen's quarters. 12 men gone. I was the only one left. You said you saw it, Alvis. What did you see? Just on deck, a shimmer, like T.V. static? like shimmering. Then I heard the Navy copter coming in, answering our distress call. The Navy asked me what had happened. [laughs] I couldn't tell 'em. I didn't know. That was 30 years ago. [loud bang] There should be enough there to tie us over for a few days. - Where's Jesse? - Isn't she here? I thought she was with you. I didn't see her, I though she came with you. I'll go look for her. [stammer] I'm the one who screwed up. I'll go with you. I'll take the shotgun. No, there gonna need a weapon here. You can take the camera. Just watch for anything coming at us. 'Cause it's the only way we'll see them. Yeah. Yeah, okay. - Be careful. - I'll hold down the fort. [door opens] Jesse? Jesse, are you here? [whispers] There's nothing. It's clear. Oh, shit! I'm sorry. I'm sorry. It was a mouse. They oughta call the health department. [soft laugh] Blood. What do you see in there? Anything? Nope. It's clear. [floor board creaks] [grunts] [cocks gun] He killed Jesse. And left her hanging on the porch, like bait. And they gutted her. Why? What are you really doing on this island? He's got it password protected, Dad. I can't get into it. What's the password? Guess. What's the fucking password?! You might want to cooperate. Or what? You'll shoot me? What about the hippocratic oath? You're a doctor. You know what's good about being a doctor? After I shoot you, I can keep you from bleeding to death. A well placed tourniquet should do it. Stop, for God's sake. What are you doing? I'm okay with this? You Alvis? Got no problem. Have we all lost our minds? You didn't see Jesse's body, and what they did to her. And what he did to her. And I need to know why. Okay, Ellie. Go to the bedroom. - But, Lucy. - Just go, please. Shut the door. Say good-bye to procreation. [stammer] palmyra415. That's the password? No caps. [keypad clicking] Isn't that the name of his novel? [snicker] This isn't a novel. This is a scientific report. "Sudden drop in fish stocks, next event expected at latitude 43.76, Island Zero" What's island zero? You are. We are. This place, this rock. We're sitting at ground zero for the invasion. I was hoping I would be miles away by now, but things coalesced faster than expected. You knew what was gonna happen. You knew people would start dying. I couldn't be certain, but the data was there. - What data? - Your late wife's date, as a matter of fact. Four years ago, when she brought up the possibility of an unidentified apex predator, most people laughed. Some of us didn't because we have been monitoring these instances for decades. Did you never wonder why your research funding was yanked so precipitously? Because we knew too much. We had to be silenced. This is a new species. A major scientific discovery. It should be shared with the world. [laughs] It's the journalist talking. Why would you keep it a secret? Because it's exploitable. Right, Titus? You want it for yourselves. Oh, I know how you people think. These creatures can't be detected with the naked eye. On sonar? They just look like a harmless school of tuna. They're amphibious killing, eating machines. Gee. Who might be interested in that? - The military. - You think? You were military, weren't you, Doctor Barrow? I can always spot an ex-soldier. That's why you're so comfortable around fire arms. Did you serve in Iraq or in Afghanistan? Both. So, and you know what war does to human bodies? That's why I left. I got sick of seeing soldiers ripped apart. That is exactly why we need these creatures on our side, working with us. Problem is, you may have destroyed any chance to negotiate with them because you went and fucking shot one. That thing ripped Val apart, You think we are gonna to negotiate with them? We're making first contact with an intelligent marine species. My job is to be the diplomat. We cannot kill any of them. Do you all understand that? Do you? You're negotiatin' with fish? They're not fish. They have a complexed language, and social structure. They hunt cooperatively. Their brains are every bit as large and neurologically complex as ours. And their use of echolocation is beyo- You ca- You cannot possibly know this much about them. Unless you have one in captivity. We caught one. Nine years ago, after an oil spill, in the Gulf of Mexico. It was sick, it was unable to camouflage itself. After that discovery, we went looking for more of them. Captured another one, uhh, off the Carolina's. Third of Cape Hatteras. Like so many other species, they're migrating northward. It's climate change. Rising temperatures and over fishing has caused them to move northward in search of food, which has brought them right here, to the world's richest fishing waters. Island Zero. Where it all begins. People live here. You can't keep this a secret. They can keep anything a secret. All them people dead. And we're next, aren't we? Damn you! Goddamn you! - Don't! - Dad! Their coming! A lot of them! [monster growls] [leaves rustle] Oh, my God! [hammering nails] [monster growls] Cut me loose! You need me, Sam! You, shut up! You're all gonna die if you don't listen to me! I can negotiate with them! [hammering nails] You have to let me go! Only 'agotiations gonna be with this here shotgun! If you kill one of them, you kill all of us! [distant thumps] You have to let me go! I can talk to them! [monster growls] [distinct talking] [walls creak] [loud thud] [floorboards creak] They're in the basement. I don't know how they got it. Dad! [monster growls] Don't shoot it! For God's sake. Let me talk to them! [gun clicks] - Start talking. - I need my laptop. Cut me loose! [loud thud] Here, here, here! Talk now, Titus, or I'm pulling the trigger. [monster growls] What the hell? We've been studying their language for years, and we think this means "hello." You think? We're not entirely sure. So you might be telling him his mom wears army boots. It stopped. It's thinking. [monster hisses] It's working. It's not attacking. What happens after hello? Negotiations begin. [computer imitates monster noise] What are you telling it, Titus? [computer imitates monster noise] What the hell are you telling it? [computer imitates monster noise] What the hell are you telling it? I think he just told them "dinner is served." And we're dinner. The attic. Get to the attic! Ellie! Alvis. Alvis come with us! Alvis! Ruth, go! Go! Dad, there's one right behind you! [gun shot] [monster whimpers] [monster growls] I'm a friend! [computer imitates monster noise] Don't attack! Don't attack! Don't attack! [laptop breaks] I'm a friend! I'm a friend! [intense music] [monster hisses] [gun shot] [group screams] [Ruth cries] Where are they? I don't know. Are they gone? We have no food or water in here. [Ruth continues to cry] All we have to do is wait and starve ourselves. [knocks on door] Hey, it's me! Alvis? [jiggling door handle] - Open up! Oh, my God. It's Alvis! It's Alvis! Damn old fool! I thought I lost you! Ohh! I thought you were dead! Where's Titus? He is there! And there! Well they take their dead with them. Why is Alvis still alive? Why didn't they attack him? Probably 'cause his hide's too damn tough. [soft laugh] Would you want to eat him? Sam, come up and take a look at this! Look at the skin on this thing. It's shiny, almost reflective. Some kind of protective armor? This skin isn't for protection, it's for bending and refracting light. The military is trying to develop something just like this. That's why we can't see them. In stead of changing the color of it's skin, like a chameleon or octopus, these things have evolved a completely different way to disappear. Prey would never see it coming. The ultimate advantage for a predator. [ominous music] [couple talking] Dad, my camera battery is almost dead. Shut it down. We won't be able to see them coming. Then we'll just have to keep them out. And we'll reinforce the boards again. And then what? We stay here and starve? Well at least we won't freeze to death. Got all that wood to burn. [Alvis laughs] Heat. That's it. That must be it. What? The reason Alvis is still alive. He stayed near the stove. And they can't tolerate heat. And that's why they're moving north like the other species. Huh. You were the only survivor on that cargo ship because you were in a hot engine room. According to this research, the creatures are attracted to noise and to light. There's no mention of heat, or any specific temperature that repels them. 82 degrees. How do you know that? 'Cause that's how we set the thermostat at home. [soft laugh] They didn't come to our house. They went to Nina's instead. So we're gonna heat the place up. We're gonna get it nice and toasty. And keep it warm in here. Keep 'em at bay until someone rescues us. I don't think anyone's coming to rescue us, Sam. It's all here in the report. Their plans for the island. - Isolate. Quarantine. - And eliminate. I thought they wanted these creatures alive? Why would they kill them? This isn't about the creatures. It's about us. What they have planned for us. That's why they cut off the island. The ferry, the phones. We're the only ones left who know what happened. Their gonna wait until we're dead. The world would find out. There'd be questions. And they'd have the answers. A way to explain how we all died. A fire in the village, or Sam here went berserk and slaughtered us all. If no one's coming to rescue us then... what are we gonna do? [intense music] What was it like in the army? Hot. I don't like hot. Did you ever shoot anyone? Why are you asking? You think it's fun shooting people? I just wondered. I've never even held a gun. Lucy's scared of them, and my dad says he won't shoot anything 'cause he's a biologist. A gun is a tool, Ellie, that's all. Like a chainsaw, someone could get hurt if your careless. I'm not careless. Would you really have shot Titus in the you know where? I guess we'll never know, will we? Shouldn't you be sleeping? You aren't. Someone has to stay alert. Can I lie down next to you? What do they want? The creatures. Probably what everybody wants, to stay alive, and breathe, to eat. Have kids. How come you don't have any kids? That's a personal question. I'm sorry. I just think you'd be a cool mom. I was. [loud clang] Anything happening? Not a sound. I know they're out there somewhere. I don't know what they're waiting on. Not hungry enough, yet. Maybe we scared them. You did kill a few. Sam, there's only seven bullets left. - It's not enough. - I know. I wasn't there when she was born. Rachel went into labor three weeks early. I was at a conference in Oregon. I missed- watching her come into the world. And now-now I'm gonna have to watch her- I'm not gonna let it happen. Not to you. [monster growls] I hate this waiting around. Letting them choose the moment. There's nothing else we can do. I read the Island Zero report. They can only be out of the water for an hour at a time. And they hunt at night. If they do attack, it will be in the next five hours. [monster growls] I've got every window boarded up. But even if we hold them off tonight, what about tomorrow night? And the night after? In a week we'll be out of food and water. Maybe it's the soldier in me, but starving to death is not how I wanna go down. Are you suggesting we attack them? We know they're attracted to light and to noise. That's how they locate their prey. They don't need to find us, they know where we are. So let's roll out the welcome mat. [monster growls] [distant Christmas music] [monster growls] What are you waiting for? What if this is the only population on earth, I'd be killing the last of their species. Good! [Christmas music continues] [deep exhale] [fire crackles] [monster growls] [helicopter hovering] We can't stay here. We need to leave. Maybe they're coming to rescue us. What if you're wrong? [building collapses] Go, now! Sam! Shouldn't we at least wait to see if- [gasp] [monster growls] [ripping sound] [gasp] [Lucy screams] Lucy! [gun shots] No! No! No! Lucy! No! Oh, my go- Oh, my God! - Sam, we need to leave now! - No. No! - Sam, we have to leave! - Please don't leave me! - Please! No! - They're coming! [building collapses] Sam! - Sam! - Don't leave me! No! No! [soft talking] [Sam cries] Here! Here! We're here! Where's my dad? Where's Lucy? [ominous music] [Sam cries] [distant gun shots] Dad? Dad? - Quiet. We have to be quiet. - No! We can't leave him! Go back! We have to go back! No, I'm in charge, soldier! My job is to keep you alive, and I am going to do that, you got that? That is what I am going to do! And it's what I'm going to do. [Ellie cries] [ominous music] We're far enough away, now. Can't you turn on the engine? No engine, no noise. There might be more of them. We have to be silent. It's forty miles to the mainland. You're gonna row the whole way? I can do it. I can do it. [whispers] I can do it. [ominous music] |
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