2000
In 2050, Earth faces overpopulation and environmental collapse, prompting the Ares mission to Mars to assess its terraforming potential. A massive solar flare critically damages the Ares, forcing Commander Kate Bowman to order an emergency evacuation to the Martian surface, where the crew crash-lands and becomes lost. On Mars, the crew discovers that the terraforming algae has been consumed by a rapidly evolving, aggressive species of nematodes, leading to the deaths of Ed Santen, Chip Pettengill, and Cooper Burchenal. Mechanical Systems Engineer Robby Gallagher, the sole survivor on the surface, repairs the Cosmos lander using parts from the rogue robot AMEE and launches into orbit.
Save the Cat beat sheet
Red Planet opens with Earth’s ecological collapse narrated from space, then follows the Ares crew’s ill-fated Mars mission.
Open full beat sheetRobby Gallagher is listed as Mechanical Systems Engineer. Space janitor, practical, resourceful, former NASCAR and sub mechanic. In the parsed data, Robby Gallagher is connected to 15 scenes, 23 dialogue lines, 23 text mentions, first appearing around scene 6.
15 scenes / 23 dialogue linesKate Bowman is listed as Commander. Quiet assurance, experienced pilot, mission leader. In the parsed data, Kate Bowman is connected to 11 scenes, 18 dialogue lines, 18 text mentions, first appearing around scene 2.
11 scenes / 18 dialogue linesCooper Burchenal is listed as Geneticist. 40s, weathered, unconcerned, former Western BioTech employee. In the parsed data, Cooper Burchenal is connected to 7 scenes, 10 dialogue lines, 10 text mentions, first appearing around scene 7.
7 scenes / 10 dialogue linesJohn Skavlem is listed as Capcom. Mission Control communicator. In the parsed data, John Skavlem is connected to 7 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 19.
7 scenes / 1 dialogue linesChip Pettengill is listed as Terraforming Expert. 30s, dour, expert in extremophile and cryptoendolithic biology. In the parsed data, Chip Pettengill is connected to 5 scenes, 7 dialogue lines, 7 text mentions, first appearing around scene 7.
5 scenes / 7 dialogue linesEd Santen is listed as Pilot and Mission Specialist. Co-pilot, military background, disciplined. In the parsed data, Ed Santen is connected to 3 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 7.
3 scenes / 2 dialogue linesMatt Russert is listed as Flight Director. Mission Control leader. In the parsed data, Matt Russert is connected to 3 scenes, first appearing around scene 3.
3 scenes / 0 dialogue linesAleksandr Ivanovich Borokovski is listed as Russian Space Engineer. 70s, former space program legend, runs a deli in Brooklyn. In the parsed data, Aleksandr Ivanovich Borokovski is connected to 2 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 13.
2 scenes / 2 dialogue linesAMEE is listed as Robot. Eight-legged silver spider-like robot, modified military gear. In the parsed data, AMEE is connected to 2 scenes, first appearing around scene 16.
2 scenes / 0 dialogue linesBud Chantilas is listed as Chief Science Officer. 60s, graying, former Nobel laureate in chemistry and molecular biology, later studied theology. In the parsed data, Bud Chantilas is connected to 1 scene, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 1.
1 scenes / 1 dialogue linesHarold Ernest is listed as Senior Scientist. Head of the Space Exploration Office. In the parsed data, Harold Ernest is connected to 1 scene, first appearing around scene 13.
1 scenes / 0 dialogue linesBud Chantilas narrates the history of Earth's overpopulation and environmental destruction from 1961 to 2050.
Bud ChantilasThe Ares spaceship approaches Mars for the first manned mission.
Kate Bowman, John SkavlemMission Control discovers a massive solar flare is heading toward Mars.
Matt Russert, John SkavlemThe solar flare hits the Ares, causing critical system failures. Bowman orders an emergency evacuation via the MEV.
Kate Bowman, Ed Santen, Robby GallagherBowman fights fires and shuts down the ship manually to save the crew.
Kate BowmanThe crew crash-lands on Mars and realizes they are lost.
Ed Santen, Robby Gallagher, Cooper Burchenal, Chip PettengillGallagher and Burchenal discuss the mission and Mars while Pettengill approaches Santen at a cliff edge, leading to a confrontation.
Robby Gallagher, Cooper Burchenal, Chip Pettengill, Ed SantenPettengill returns to the others and reports Santen's death; Gallagher experiences oxygen failure.
Robby Gallagher, Cooper Burchenal, Chip PettengillBowman communicates with Mission Control about the crash site and the unstable orbit.
Kate Bowman, John SkavlemBowman locates the ground crew on the Martian surface and confirms they are on schedule.
Kate BowmanThe ground crew discovers a massive colony of nematodes eating the algae.
Robby Gallagher, Cooper Burchenal, Chip PettengillPettengill commits suicide after the discovery of life.
Robby Gallagher, Cooper Burchenal, Chip PettengillMission Control discusses the discovery of life on Mars.
Matt Russert, John Skavlem, Harold Ernest, Aleksandr Ivanovich BorokovskiGallagher and Burchenal survive the night by digging a cave.
Robby Gallagher, Cooper BurchenalBurchenal sacrifices himself to distract the nematodes.
Robby Gallagher, Cooper BurchenalGallagher reaches the Cosmos and attempts to launch.
Kate Bowman, Robby Gallagher, AMEEAMEE tracks Gallagher to the Cosmos site and attempts to kill him, but Gallagher fights back and destroys her.
Robby Gallagher, AMEEGallagher repairs the Cosmos using AMEE's power cell and prepares for launch.
Robby GallagherBowman prepares for return ignition.
Kate Bowman, John SkavlemGallagher launches the Cosmos.
Robby GallagherBowman prepares to leave, mourning Gallagher.
Kate BowmanBowman spots Gallagher and aborts the departure.
Kate Bowman, Robby Gallagher, John SkavlemMission Control observes the situation.
Matt Russert, John Skavlem, Aleksandr Ivanovich BorokovskiBowman maneuvers the Ares to rescue Gallagher.
Kate Bowman, Robby GallagherBowman and Gallagher discuss their future and the worms.
Kate Bowman, Robby GallagherThat's why we could breathe. You should have seen these suckers burn when they went up. I had some time to think about this. I was in orbit for six minutes before you found me. I shoulda been dead. But the air locked in the suit was almost pure O2. 'Cause of the worms. We didn't just find a new place to live on, we may have saved our old one. Toxic waste, they'll eat it. Poisonous landfills, they'll eat it.
That's what they call the datum. Sea level. If there was a sea. Or when there was a sea, that's where it was. You can tell 'cause the sand was created by what's called the fluvial process where water breaks rocks into smaller and smaller pieces. We're the first men on Mars. Even if it isn't gonna last long.
The Earth. From space. In all its glory, the most perfect, self-regulating organism you could imagine. We went out there; we turned around; we looked back; we saw it. You'd think we'd behold and learn something.
MEV launched. Radio contact zero. Visual shows crash site, one body, no motion. Believe entire crew to be End of Mission. Ares systems check at below 70 percent. Telemetry to follow.
Fuck you. Fuck you. I'm gonna die. But I'm gonna spend the next five minutes of my life completely satisfied knowing I killed you.
Air purge in fire control degraded orbital path. Current orbit unstable. Thirty-two hour projected failure. Do you copy, Houston?
Single event upsets. All over the board. Latch up. Free flow. We're gonna lose chips. Shut it down.
Look, I'm sorry. I owe you an apology. I've been a dick. I pick on people who are weaker than I am.
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