1996
Psychologist Norman Johnson is recruited by the Navy to join a team of scientists investigating a mysterious spacecraft discovered on the ocean floor. The team, including biochemist Beth Halperin, geologist Ted Fielding, and mathematician Harry Adams, descends to a deep-sea habitat where they discover the spacecraft is American and from the future, containing a large, enigmatic sphere. After Harry enters the sphere, strange events begin to occur, including the manifestation of a sentient entity named Jerry and the deaths of crew members. Norman and Beth realize that Harry, and eventually themselves, are manifesting their fears and desires due to the sphere's influence, leading to escalating paranoia and deadly hallucinations. As the habitat faces imminent destruction, Norman, Harry, and Beth escape in a submarine, deciding to collectively forget their experiences with the sphere to neutralize its dangerous power, and subsequently deny any knowledge of the events to the authorities.
Save the Cat beat sheet
Norman Johnson is called to investigate a mysterious crash and is thrust into an underwater habitat where an ancient spacecraft and its enigmatic sphere await.
Open full beat sheetNorman Johnson is listed as Psychologist. 53, disheveled, unshaven, expert in aircrash survival. In the parsed data, Norman Johnson is connected to 47 scenes, 79 dialogue lines, 79 text mentions, first appearing around scene 8.
47 scenes / 79 dialogue linesBeth Halperin is listed as Biochemist. 36, mother of three. In the parsed data, Beth Halperin is connected to 27 scenes, 43 dialogue lines, 43 text mentions, first appearing around scene 17.
27 scenes / 43 dialogue linesHarold Barnes is listed as Project Commander. 60s, immaculate, proud, military officer. In the parsed data, Harold Barnes is connected to 25 scenes, 57 dialogue lines, 57 text mentions, first appearing around scene 5.
25 scenes / 57 dialogue linesHarry Adams is listed as Mathematician. 32, African-American, wire-glasses, no bullshit. In the parsed data, Harry Adams is connected to 21 scenes, 42 dialogue lines, 42 text mentions, first appearing around scene 11.
21 scenes / 42 dialogue linesTed Fielding is listed as Geologist. 41, boyish, happy. In the parsed data, Ted Fielding is connected to 15 scenes, 26 dialogue lines, 26 text mentions, first appearing around scene 17.
15 scenes / 26 dialogue linesWife is listed as Norman's spouse. Concerned, supportive. In the parsed data, Wife is connected to 9 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 1.
9 scenes / 1 dialogue linesJane Edmunds is listed as Unit Archivist. 32, works control panel. In the parsed data, Jane Edmunds is connected to 8 scenes, 7 dialogue lines, 7 text mentions, first appearing around scene 18.
8 scenes / 7 dialogue linesTeeny Fletcher is listed as Officer. 30s, big-boned female officer. In the parsed data, Teeny Fletcher is connected to 3 scenes, 9 dialogue lines, 9 text mentions, first appearing around scene 21.
3 scenes / 9 dialogue linesArthur Levine is listed as Marine Biologist. 54, pudgy, quiet. In the parsed data, Arthur Levine is connected to 2 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 9.
2 scenes / 1 dialogue linesPilot is listed as Helicopter Pilot. Navy pilot. In the parsed data, Pilot is connected to 2 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 2.
2 scenes / 1 dialogue linesOfficer is listed as Navy Officer. Young, female, greets Norman. In the parsed data, Officer is connected to 2 scenes, first appearing around scene 3.
2 scenes / 0 dialogue linesAdmiral is listed as Navy Admiral. 60s, senior officer. In the parsed data, Admiral is connected to 1 scene, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 53.
1 scenes / 1 dialogue linesSub-Officer is listed as Submarine Officer. Assists with descent. In the parsed data, Sub-Officer is connected to 1 scene, first appearing around scene 9.
1 scenes / 0 dialogue linesTechnician is listed as Ship Technician. Works on computers. In the parsed data, Technician is connected to 1 scene, first appearing around scene 6.
1 scenes / 0 dialogue linesGuard is listed as Security. Navy guard.
0 scenes / 0 dialogue linesNavy Seaman is listed as Navy Seaman. 40s, African-American.
0 scenes / 0 dialogue linesNorman receives a mysterious call about a crash while his wife observes a Navy car arriving outside.
Norman Johnson, WifeNorman travels to the ship via helicopter and discusses his background with the pilot.
Norman Johnson, PilotNorman arrives on the ship and is greeted by an officer.
Norman Johnson, OfficerNorman is escorted to meet Captain Barnes.
Norman Johnson, OfficerNorman meets Captain Barnes, who reveals he was forced to hire Norman by the Pentagon.
Norman Johnson, Harold BarnesBarnes shows Norman the sonar footage of the craft, revealing it is 400 years old.
Norman Johnson, Harold Barnes, TechnicianNorman meets the rest of the scientific team.
Norman Johnson, Harold Barnes, Beth Halperin, Ted Fielding, Arthur Levine, Harry AdamsNorman confesses to Beth that his ULF report was a fabrication.
Norman Johnson, Beth HalperinThe team descends to the ocean floor; Arthur panics and is removed.
Norman Johnson, Harold Barnes, Beth Halperin, Ted Fielding, Arthur Levine, Harry AdamsThe team arrives at the DH-8 habitat.
Norman Johnson, Harold Barnes, Beth Halperin, Ted Fielding, Harry Adams, Teeny FletcherThe team explores the spacecraft, discovers footprints, and finds a room with English instructions, leading to the realization that the ship is American and from the future.
Norman Johnson, Harold Barnes, Beth Halperin, Ted Fielding, Harry AdamsThe team finds a mysterious sphere in the cargo bay and discusses its potential origins and dangers.
Norman Johnson, Harold Barnes, Beth Halperin, Ted Fielding, Harry AdamsThe team debates the risks of opening the sphere while Barnes coordinates with the surface.
Norman Johnson, Harold Barnes, Beth Halperin, Ted Fielding, Harry Adams, Jane EdmundsHarry expresses his belief that they are all going to die, while Norman tries to remain optimistic.
Norman Johnson, Harry AdamsHarry enters the sphere, Norman goes to find him, and the ship loses power.
Norman Johnson, Harold Barnes, Beth Halperin, Ted Fielding, Harry Adams, Jane EdmundsNorman checks on Harry, who is alive, and observes the sphere.
Norman Johnson, Harry AdamsThe lights flicker back on as the team switches to internal power.
Ted Fielding, Beth Halperin, Harold BarnesBarnes informs the team about the wait time for surface ships.
Harold Barnes, Beth Halperin, Ted Fielding, Jane EdmundsHarry wakes up and talks to Norman about the sphere.
Harry Adams, Norman JohnsonBarnes confronts Beth about following procedures.
Harold Barnes, Beth HalperinThe team eats, and Harry has a violent reaction to squid.
Harry Adams, Ted Fielding, Norman Johnson, Teeny FletcherNorman and Edmunds discuss a mysterious data transmission.
Norman Johnson, Jane EdmundsNorman questions Harry about his behavior and the jellyfish outside.
Harry Adams, Norman JohnsonThe team watches Fletcher get attacked by jellyfish outside.
Harold Barnes, Ted Fielding, Beth Halperin, Teeny FletcherNorman and Beth discuss the jellyfish and Beth's mental state.
Norman Johnson, Beth HalperinNorman reveals Beth's history of suicide attempts to Barnes.
Norman Johnson, Harold BarnesHarry decodes the message from the sphere.
Harry Adams, Ted Fielding, Harold Barnes, Norman Johnson, Jane EdmundsThe team communicates with Jerry.
Harry Adams, Ted Fielding, Harold Barnes, Norman Johnson, Beth HalperinBarnes discovers Edmunds is dead.
Harold Barnes, Jane EdmundsNorman and Beth investigate outside.
Norman Johnson, Beth HalperinBarnes and Norman discuss the threat of Jerry while Edmunds is discovered dead.
Harold Barnes, Norman Johnson, Jane EdmundsNorman and Beth discover Edmunds' body and find it has been chewed.
Norman Johnson, Beth HalperinBarnes and Ted detect something large on the sensors.
Harold Barnes, Ted FieldingBeth and Norman find eggs underwater.
Norman Johnson, Beth HalperinThe team examines an egg which contains a fetus.
Beth Halperin, Harold Barnes, Norman Johnson, Harry Adams, Ted FieldingNorman and Beth argue about the food appearing in the refrigerator and Harry's involvement.
Norman Johnson, Wife, Harold BarnesHarry hangs up Norman's jumpsuit.
Harold BarnesNorman discovers books in the refrigerator and cupboards.
Norman Johnson, WifeNorman searches Harry's belongings.
Norman Johnson, WifeNorman and Beth discuss the theory that Harry is manifesting his fears.
Norman Johnson, WifeHarry confronts Norman and Beth about the transmission.
Norman Johnson, Wife, Harold BarnesNorman and Beth prepare a sedative for Harry.
Norman Johnson, WifeNorman and Beth confront Harry and sedate him.
Norman Johnson, Wife, Harold BarnesNorman experiences a hallucination of snakes.
Norman Johnson, WifeBeth confronts Norman with a needle and gun, accusing him of being responsible for the situation and his own fears. Norman escapes up a staircase.
Norman Johnson, Beth HalperinNorman reaches the lab, traps Beth outside, and is then locked in by her.
Norman Johnson, Beth HalperinThe lab floods, and Norman struggles to survive as Beth taunts him over the intercom.
Norman Johnson, Beth HalperinNorman navigates the exterior of the habitat to reach the airlock.
Norman Johnson, Harold BarnesNorman enters the airlock and prepares to find a way out as explosives are activated.
Norman Johnson, Beth HalperinNorman finds Beth and Harry; Harry knocks Beth unconscious.
Norman Johnson, Beth Halperin, Harry AdamsNorman, Harry, and Beth escape in the sub just before the habitat explodes.
Norman Johnson, Beth Halperin, Harry AdamsThe survivors discuss whether to forget the events to erase the power.
Norman Johnson, Beth Halperin, Harry AdamsThe Admiral questions the survivors, but they deny knowledge of the events.
Norman Johnson, Beth Halperin, Harry Adams, AdmiralNorman prepares to leave, having forgotten the report.
Norman Johnson, PilotA while back, Beth and I -- we worked at the same university. She was assisting a chemist there -- I forget his name -- doing research, experiments. She was also living with him. Yeah, I know. And when she finished her work, he kicked her out, broke off the relationship, and published five papers -- all her work -- without any thank you or acknowledgement.
I don't remember much. It's like my memory is on the tip of my tongue -- but I can't taste any of it. Funny, my senses are much keener though. Purer. Hearing, seeing, smelling. Like, I can smell your sheets, Norman. You tried to wash it out earlier, But I can still smell the urine.
-- without a cautionary word to anyone. You know, Ted said something to me earlier. I think he's right. He said, "When you got a guy who -- if he wasn't here -- he'd be standing in the unemployment line, you gotta question if you got the right guy."
Don't gimme that psychology bullshit, Norman. Psychology isn't a science, it's superstition. It's a bunch of soft, subjective theories without any hard data to back it up. With an intellect like this, emotions don't mean shit.
Normally, I'd say no. Everything's quiet now -- no ships, no divers, no electricity. Makes sense. But what's curious is -- these aren't normal jellyfish.
Damn it, Norman! He's lying. Don't you get it? There is something seriously fucked up going on here -- and he's causing it. Why can't you believe me?
It's the same as before, but the spacing's different now. It's definitely nonrandom. See... It's a single sequence repeated over and over.
There are procedures, Beth, that I want followed. My procedures. And considering what's going on, I want you to follow them very closely.
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