I.S.S. (2023)
Genre: Science fiction, thriller
Director: Gabriela Cowperthwaite
Writer: Nick Shafir
Stars: Ariana DeBose, Chris Messina, John Gallagher Jr., Masha Mashkova, Costa Ronin, Pilou Asbæk
Running time: 1h 35m
Release dates: June 12, 2023 (Tribeca), January 19, 2024 (United States)
Synopsis: NASA astronaut Kira Foster joins the International Space Station (ISS) crew, quickly facing a dire situation as nuclear explosions devastate the United States, inciting a crisis with suspicions of Russian aggression. The crew, comprised of both American and Russian members, grapples with failed communications and a critical orbit decay threatening the ISS. Amidst this chaos, trust fractures, leading to sabotage and a fatal confrontation that results in the death of Commander Gordon Barrett. In a tense alliance, Kira and Russian cosmonaut Weronika devise a plan to secure research capable of curing radiation sickness, pivotal in the aftermath of the nuclear attack. However, the plan spirals into violence, leading to further casualties among the crew. Ultimately, Kira and Alexey, another Russian cosmonaut, choose to defy their orders, escaping the ISS with the vital research in a perilous journey back to Earth, leaving their fate and that of the research uncertain.
* * *
(MYSTERIOUS MUSIC PLAYING)
(SPACESHIP RUMBLES)
(UNSETTLING MUSIC PLAYING)
(KIRA BREATHES HEAVILY)
(MAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
You good?
Yeah. (CHUCKLES)
MAN: (OVER RADIO) From all of us down here in Mission Control, welcome to space, Kira Foster.
(PEOPLE CHEERING)
MAN: Now you’re a real astronaut.
(PEOPLE CHEERING OVER RADIO)
(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)
(MAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
(WERONIKA SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
(MAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
The Russians always knock three times.
It’s their way of telling us it’s time to start paying attention.
Though I think it’s just a superstition.
Our guys just swing the shit open.
Which one?
Wait, Ashley. Right?
No, Mia.
Okay.
She made the dress.
Aw. Cute.
She’s my youngest.
Ashley’s not really speaking to me, right now.
She’s at that age where her mother is, my ex, is probably telling her that, “Oh, you know, Daddy’s…”
(BANGING ON DOOR)
Oh, mother of God, that is…
(KIRA LAUGHS HAPPILY)
CHRISTIAN: Finally!
KIRA: We’re in! (CHUCKLES)
CHRISTIAN: What took you guys so long?
(AIR HISSES)
(TRIUMPHANT MUSIC PLAYING)
(ASTRONAUTS APPLAUDING, CHEERING)
Welcome!
Come on!
Oh, man… (LAUGHS)
WERONIKA: How do you feel?
Good!
You’re early.
No. Not…
(WERONIKA LAUGHS)
What?
Do like this.
(TRIUMPHANT MUSIC CONTINUES)
Zero grav.
Now we’re better, right?
That’s right.
(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)
(INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER)
(STATIC BUZZES)
ALEXEY: You need food?
CHRISTIAN: Yeah, I’m hungry.
ALEXEY: All right, come get some food. All right!
(ROCK MUSIC PLAYING ON SPEAKERS)
That’s no shift.
KIRA: I’m good, thank you.
Weronika…
“Nika.”
Nika, 50 days.
WERONIKA: Whoohoo!
KIRA: Yeah, that’s exciting.
Yeah.
And they’re making all of us celebrate this, along with your arrival, of course.
Of course. That’s very nice.
Okay, now…
(SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
(IN ENGLISH) The important thing…
(BOTH SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
(IN ENGLISH) Good job.
(KIRA CHUCKLES)
It means, “The important thing is that we stick together.”
It’s a quote from the famous astronaut, Buzz.
My training partner over there, Alexey, and I, say it all the time.
Oh, Buzz Aldrin.
No. The other Buzz.
Lightyear.
Okay, Russian dad joke.
(KIRA CHUCKLES)
(SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
(KIRA SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
(IN ENGLISH) You just welcomed Weronika aboard.
WERONIKA: It’s her first day.
KIRA: Oh, darn it.
WERONIKA: It’s okay.
KIRA: Whoa!
It’s all right. It takes a minute.
Put your feet in the foot holes.
Isn’t that better?
Yeah. Thanks.
The blue handles are your friends.
Uh, Nika was just helping me get more acclimated.
Really?
Yeah.
(SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
(MIMICKING GORDON)
(GORDON CHUCKLES)
GORDON: (IN ENGLISH) You’re hopeless.
WERONIKA: (WHISPERS) Get lost.
Weronika, back to work.
Foster, let’s, uh… let’s get ya stowed away.
Okay.
(MYSTERIOUS MUSIC PLAYING)
GORDON: This is you, portside.
Your glorified phone booth.
You’ve got your bed, your computer, up here’s your alarm speaker.
Well, everything as promised. (CHUCKLES)
GORDON: Now, look, no one knows what kind of sleeper they’ll be ’til they get up here.
I get in the bag.
Christian’s a floater, literally floats the entire night.
My advice to you, start in the bag, go from there.
It will suck, but it will get better.
All right.
KIRA: Cool.
GORDON: Node Two, back there, that’s pretty much your home away from home.
Do whatever you want in your sleep station.
Sleep, uh, watch movies.
The internet never really works, so it’s a pain in the ass when you wanna try to videochat with your loved ones.
Wanna take a little break, try to reach them, try to make contact?
No.
Cool.
That low hum you’re hearing?
(LOW HUMMING)
That’s our life support.
You hear that hum, and everything’s right as rain.
When you don’t hear that hum, that’s when you can start to panic.
Yup.
(FAN WHIRRING)
GORDON: Like I said, we share everything up here.
So, if you wanna avoid someone looking for an extra pair of watch glasses and accidentally ruining a bunch of your research, just lock it up with this key.
Works on any American lock.
You can use Russian cabinets, but you just gotta trade keys.
Do you mind if I take a minute and just set up and get my little guys acquainted, put some things away?
GORDON: Yeah, no problem.
You want me to hang out or you wanna do it alone?
No, I got it.
Uh, okay. We’re happy you’re here.
Thank you.
Take your time.
(CHUCKLES)
Hi. Oh, you were taking a nap, weren’t you?
I know. Okay.
I know, I know.
(MOUSE SQUEAKING)
You’re doing good. Yup, yup, yup.
Good job. I know it’s weird.
There ya go. Gotta hold.
Hold, hold, hold, hold.
Hi, little brother.
I missed you, too. (CHUCKLES)
Look at that. Stay, stay.
(KIRA CHUCKLES)
Hello, Doctor.
(KIRA SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
(IN ENGLISH) You’re all right. You’re all right.
There ya go. Good job.
(SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
Spasibo.
Uh… (SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
Mmm.
(IN ENGLISH) I’m sorry.
My Russian is not very good right now.
No, it’s good, it’s good, it’s good.
Better than my American.
(KIRA CHUCKLES)
I’m Doctor…
KIRA: Pulov.
Da.
No, I read a translation of your thesis on the contagious cancers amongst Taz devs.
I’d actually like to talk to you, because there’s a direct correlation with my…
I don’t, um…
If you could…
Oh, God.
ALEXEY: Yes. I don’t want…
KIRA: I…
ALEXEY: Impolite.
Oh, we’re sharing.
ALEXEY: Yes.
Ah.
Thank you.
KIRA: Horribly embarrassing.
I know. Oh, sorry, little man.
We done many of these.
Mice?
ALEXEY: Yes.
Right. I read about the thyroid fabrications.
How was that?
Yes, we done many with mice.
They’re afraid up here.
(MICE SQUEAKING)
ALEXEY: Nothing to hold onto.
(SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
I’m sorry?
(IN ENGLISH) It does not end well.
(KEYBOARD CLACKING)
(KIRA SIGHS)
Was nice meeting you.
Welcome aboard, Doctor.
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
(ROCK MUSIC PLAYING ON SPEAKERS)
(GORDON AND WERONIKA LAUGHING)
KIRA: Oh.
Not again.
Wow. That’s a thing we do here?
Yup.
They didn’t tell ya I’d be playing with fire up here?
Well, playing with fire was highly discouraged.
Yeah, yeah. You’ve got your mice and I’ve got my babies, too.
And I miss them very much.
KIRA: Aw. (CHUCKLES)
I don’t know why they put us in the gym, though.
KIRA: Mmm.
Well, they put a toilet here as well.
You don’t hear me complaining, do ya?
Hey, Kira.
KIRA: (CHUCKLES) Hi.
He only complains when I kick his ass at chess.
Oh, please!
(KIRA LAUGHS)
Watch this, Captain Bubbles!
GORDON: He’s showing off.
(WERONIKA EXCLAIMING)
GORDON: Major FAA violation, by the way…
WERONIKA: Yeah, I know. I know.
KIRA: Were you aware of that?
WERONIKA: But my granddad was a captain, so…
Don’t change the radio.
ALEXEY: Happy New Year.
GORDON: That was smooth.
NICHOLAI: Oh, yes.
GORDON: Want one?
You little shit.
(CHUCKLES)
I’ve always wanted to see Siberia.
I come from the west side of Russia so we have pine trees.
Incredible, so you smell it…
GORDON: See, that’s what I want…
…for miles away.
GORDON: Yeah, yeah.
Your lungs open up and you…
GORDON: I miss that.
I miss that. I’m gonna come visit you, and we’re gonna smell the pines together.
(LAUGHS)
I love this song.
Oh, is that what I think it is?
(WIND OF CHANGE BY SCORPIONS PLAYING)
I know you want one.
WERONIKA: (SINGING ALONG) ♪ Down to Gorky Park… ♪
BOTH: ♪ Listening to The wind of change ♪
KIRA: Not bad.
CHRISTIAN: Here we go.
GORDON: Oh, God.
CHRISTIAN: It’s beautiful.
BOTH: (SINGING ALONG) ♪ An August summer night ♪
♪ Soldiers passing by ♪
♪ Listening to the wind… ♪
Sing, girl.
BOTH: (SINGING ALONG) ♪ …of change ♪
GORDON: Oh, boy. It’s cruel.
Why you said cruel, Gordon?
Not the song. The song’s…
No, but this song was an end of a bad life.
(NICHOLAI CLEARS THROAT)
End of a bad era for parents and grandparents.
No, no, we’re not doing this.
No, I didn’t mean the song’s cruel, I just meant the singing…
ALEXEY: What am I doing?
Kira, pay attention.
We don’t talk politics on here.
Here, we’re one.
(ALEXEY LAUGHS)
We’re evolved species.
It is not politics.
When you grow up like we did… you know, right?
The song means something.
Means something different to us.
ALEXEY: Yeah, but it means a lot to me.
Lyosha!
CHRISTIAN: We don’t talk about any of it.
We stay away from Syria, Israel.
I definitely don’t talk about my service.
And we sure as hell don’t talk about what’s going on down there right now.
GORDON: Alexey, I’m sorry.
I was only… that was stupid.
I was just joking around.
It’s a bad joke.
(WERONIKA SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
GORDON: Yeah.
Bad joke. It was stupid.
ALEXEY: Hey!
I wasn’t sure before, but now, it is exactly the moment to present to you…
CHRISTIAN: Oh, shit!
Tada!
(CHRISTIAN EXCLAIMING)
NICHOLAI: You thought I forgot!
I wasn’t gonna say anything.
NICHOLAI: Yeah.
You know how long it took me to find this brand for you, Christian? Never say,
I don’t do anything for you.
CHRISTIAN: I’m honored.
All right, while I got ya all here, Santa brought gifts for everybody this time.
Oh.
WERONIKA: Santa.
CHRISTIAN: Here we go.
Got this from your niece.
Oh! I think she really captured you guys this time.
(NICHOLAI SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
Gordon, look how handsome you are.
GORDON: Which one?
WERONIKA: This one.
NICHOLAI: The one that says “Gordon.”
Yeah.
Sorry, Foster, I wasn’t sure what you’d be into.
Little something from the gift shop.
The strap is the same webbing that we use in our tethers, so.
NICHOLAI: Hmm.
I’ll get ya something better next time.
Couldn’t ask for anything better.
(WERONIKA CHUCKLES)
We do toast.
(WERONIKA SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
Um, to Kira, new crew members,
welcome.
(ALL EXCLAIMING)
ALEXEY: There is a trick to open it.
Don’t do… Put it back!
WERONIKA: No, no!
KIRA: I forgot! I forgot! I forgot!
ALEXEY: You go too fast.
KIRA: I swear I’m smart. I swear.
(LAUGHS)
(NICHOLAI AND WERONIKA SINGING IN RUSSIAN)
(KIRA EXCLAIMING)
GORDON: I’d like to show Foster the cupola for the first time…
Oh, no, you don’t…
If anyone is…
…have to do that.
…interested in joining.
We could do it tomorrow.
NICHOLAI: Listen.
Watching somebody for the first time, seeing the cupola,
it never gets old. It’s remarkable.
You’ll never forget this day.
We don’t have a lot to get excited about up here.
And besides, the YouTube tours, they got nothin’ on the real thing.
Oh, okay, let’s do it.
ALL: (CHANTING) Cupola! Cupola!
Okay! Okay! Okay!
(PENSIVE MUSIC PLAYING)
KIRA: Whoa!
I’ve seen pictures but this is…
You know, there’s only about 500 or so people who saw what you’re seeing right now, so, enjoy.
KIRA: Whoa!
ALEXEY: Forget about everything that happens down there, when you can see the beauty from up here.
Yeah. Yeah.
ALEXEY: You like?
Yeah, that’s beautiful.
No, it’s great.
(ALEXEY LAUGHS)
What?
(BOTH SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
What do I… Okay, I understood that.
What do I not feel?
CHRISTIAN: It’s okay, Kira, you’re not alone.
I’ve never actually felt it either.
Well, what am I supposed to feel?
It’s the overview effect.
You look at the Earth and there’s no borders.
For some people, it’s a spiritual awakening, like the whole world, like humanity, all connected or together or something.
Hmm.
(SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
I…
(ALEXEY LAUGHS)
I feel it.
(WERONIKA LAUGHS)
ALEXEY: Da. Da.
(OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING)
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
(WHISPERS) Jesus.
(BREATHING HEAVILY)
One, two three, four, five, six, seven, eight…
Boo!
Ah!
(KIRA CHUCKLES)
Hey, Kirachika.
The first night is the worst.
Here, get back in.
One.
Two.
That’s better, isn’t it?
I think that’s what’s missing up here, feeling like you are… uh… held?
Spasibo, Weronika.
Nika.
(SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
Oh, man.
(UPBEAT ROCK MUSIC PLAYING ON SPEAKERS)
(SLURPS)
KIRA: Morning.
GORDON: How’d you sleep?
Uh…
Okay.
Nice first day, right? Computers are down.
Oh, and I thought Houston was just being nice to me.
Don’t get used to it.
(KIRA LAUGHS)
CHRISTIAN: That’s crap.
It just means twice as much work later on.
KIRA: Oh, is that what it means?
GORDON: Anything on your side?
KIRA: Hey, Christian.
CHRISTIAN: Yep?
Do you know that you sleep with your eyes open?
Because it’s weird.
I told you.
(CHRISTIAN CHUCKLES)
Yeah, I’ve been told.
(KIRA CHUCKLES)
CHRISTIAN: We have espresso, if you want some.
(EXCITEDLY) Good morning. Good morning.
How are we today? Yeah?
(MICE SQUEAKING WEAKLY)
Oh, no, no, no, no.
(SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING)
Oh…
No.
Mmm.
Why did you do this to each other?
(MOUSE SQUEAKING)
KIRA: I’m so sorry.
(SOMBER MUSIC CONTINUES)
Hey, you didn’t happen to check in on my mice, did you?
No, why?
I’m already gonna have to euthanize some of ’em.
Oh, man. That’s no good.
I’m sorry.
KIRA: Thanks.
Nothing still?
GORDON: Anything on your side?
No.
WERONIKA: Coffee, anyone?
I thought we’d enjoy the sunrise together.
Morning, everybody.
NICHOLAI: Morning.
WERONIKA: Morning, Kirachika.
Thanks for the bungees.
(SIGHS)
(SOMBER MUSIC CONTINUES)
KIRA: Hey, guys,
I think I’m seeing a volcano erupting.
(OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING)
Where’d you see it?
CHRISTIAN: I think she’s looking at
the Yucatan peninsula.
No, it was east of all of that.
WERONIKA: (GASPS) Whoa!
You all just saw a flash, right?
CHRISTIAN: Wait a minute. What the hell is going on down there?
GORDON: What?
NICHOLAI: We gotta get out of the cupola, now, guys!
Let’s get out of here.
NICHOLAI: Get out, now!
KIRA: Hey, Christian.
GORDON: Foster, let’s go.
NICHOLAI: Get out. Yeah.
GORDON: Foster, move!
NICHOLAI: Hang onto me.
(NICHOLAI SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING)
(NICHOLAI SPEAKING RUSSIAN OVER RADIO)
(SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
(NICHOLAI SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
GORDON: Houston, this is Commander Barrett.
Do you read?
WERONIKA: I need to talk to my sister.
(SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
GORDON: Houston, this is Barrett. Can you read me?
What a surprise, the internet’s out, too.
Hey, did anyone see if one of those flashes was near California?
That’s not a helpful line of thinking.
What are you, a fuckin’ robot?
I just wanna know if my girls are okay.
Hey, everyone’s worried about people down there, okay? Level heads.
I.T.S., reconfirmed.
I.T.S., no visible damage.
Copy.
GORDON: Houston, can you read?
This is ISS.
WERONIKA: Hey.
Is it really the time for that?
Helps me relax.
GORDON: Can we get a walkabout? Someone check system summary?
(NICHOLAI SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
WERONIKA: Copy that.
(NICHOLAI SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
Lyosha! Lyosha!
(IN ENGLISH) You okay?
(SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
(IN RUSSIAN) Not yet.
(SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
(SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
(NICHOLAI SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
(SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
Got it.
Nika.
(SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
KIRA: (IN ENGLISH) P4 and P6 solar array, no visible damage.
(ELECTRONIC BEEPING)
Houston respond?
No, no.
I got… It’s just a confirmation tone.
(NICHOLAI SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
(COMPUTER BEEPS)
(OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING))
(NICHOLAI SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
(COMPUTER BEEPS)
(COMPUTER BEEPING)
(OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING))
(COMPUTER BEEPING)
(BREATHING HEAVILY)
(TYPING)
(ELECTRONICS POWER DOWN)
CHRISTIAN: That’s normal, right?
GORDON: You gotta be kidding me.
(ELECTRONICS POWERING UP)
Anything?
Nah, nothing. It’s…
Got nothing.
KIRA: So they didn’t say anything else?
GORDON: That’s all they said.
KIRA: No other information at all?
GORDON: No why, no how.
KIRA: “Take control of things”?
What does that even mean?
We’re definitely not there yet.
Well, it’s unlikely that anyone would’ve been able to breach and cut communications like that, so…
(SHUSHING)
(WHISPERS) What?
(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING)
Just lower your voice, okay?
Okay. I’m sorry.
CHRISTIAN: So it’s more probable that something’s either damaged or we’re dealing with the residual effects of an electromagnetic pulse.
We don’t know that for sure. We don’t know anything.
The pulse from a warhead at a high enough altitude…
No, they haven’t said nuclear…
We don’t know, for sure.
(METAL CLANGS)
Then something, something like that, that could’ve overloaded our electronics.
And if that’s the case, then hopefully, uh, communications will be back online in about 24 hours and then we’ll be able to…
Well, we’ll get some answers.
So for now, we wait.
That’s exactly right.
Wait and we figure out what to do with the limited information that we have.
Exactly.
I think we’re all thinking the same thing, here.
What’s that?
If we got orders from our government to take control of things…
Hey, uh, we have a problem.
GORDON: Try rebooting it and bringing it back up, it’ll be fine.
WERONIKA: We have no internal propulsion. Everything is dead or damaged.
I see that. I see that.
Well, the ISS hasn’t used the thrusters in years.
So what’s the deal if we don’t have ’em now?
We intentionally asked the ground to lower our altitude for a faster rendezvous for more supplies.
Wait, like atmospheric drag low?
So we have probably less than a day.
And then we fall.
WERONIKA: We’re scheduling an immediate resupply, and we’ll use the additional boost to lift us again.
For that, you’ll have to communicate with the ground.
We’ll take the Soyuz, then.
GORDON: “We’ll take the Soyuz”?
Which of us, Alexey? Who’s gonna take it?
Who gets to be in the lifeboat?
NICHOLAI: Taking the Soyuz without understanding what’s going on below, it’s a suicide.
I don’t hear you suggesting anything.
(SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
WERONIKA: (IN ENGLISH) Great.
GORDON: It’s not helpful.
We survived a nuclear blast so that we can fall to the earth. (SPEAKS RUSSIAN)
(IN ENGLISH) This is Science Officer Kira Foster requesting immediate reboost from the ground.
If you receive this message in the next 24 hours, you can still keep us afloat.
We’re counting on you.
(SIGHS)
GORDON: Way to go, Foster.
KIRA: As soon as the signal’s back online, someone down there will receive that message and send help.
But for now, we’re good, right?
Yeah. Yeah, we’re good.
Everybody good?
KIRA: Mmmhmm.
ALEXEY: Da.
You good, man?
No, I’m not, actually, ’cause I need to reach my girls.
Are you good?
No, Christian, I’m not. But I’m trying.
We said we’re good, so let’s be.
Any luck with the radio?
No.
(SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
(IN ENGLISH) …antenna.
(SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
GORDON: All I heard was “antenna”.
Can you say that again in English, please?
He says antenna’s broken.
Needs to be repaired manually.
(LAUGHING)
Great.
(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING)
Glove connection secure.
Copy.
You okay?
Seem a little grumpy today.
I was reading last night about Siberia.
Said it means “Beautiful Land.” Is that right?
“Land of Beauty”?
I think that’s right. I think I… I think I can really get into Siberia.
KIRA: About time. Well done.
What are you talking about?
KIRA: I don’t know.
GORDON: Just getting ready to go out to space.
KIRA: Yeah. That’d be great.
CHRISTIAN: Are you sure about doing this alone?
Yup.
It’s a massive breach of protocol, but if anyone can do it…
Ready for this?
GORDON: Yeah, let’s do it.
How’s that?
Beautiful.
CHRISTIAN: Helmet’s secure.
KIRA: Yeah.
Let me ask you something.
You don’t find it at all odd that none of them are volunteering?
Christian.
Or, you know, frantically staring out the window?
I trust Weronika.
I trust all of ’em.
CHRISTIAN: No preparation.
This is a fucking death wish.
(DOOR CLOSES)
(ISS CREAKING)
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
(SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING)
KIRA: (OVER RADIO) Gordon?
Gordon?
Gordon, do you copy?
Kira, I want you to do me a favor, okay?
KIRA: Okay.
I want you to keep everyone away from the windows.
KIRA: Okay.
Listen to my voice. Stay with my voice.
I want you to look down and give me a suit pressure gauge reading. Okay?
(GORDON SIGHS)
KIRA: I need you to recalibrate, and report back with a target of 4.3.
GORDON: Lowering down.
(INHALES) It’s a little high.
Coming down.
Okay, 4.3.
Okay. Okay.
You’re free to move forward at will.
EV1, tether attached.
Slow and steady.
Approaching SSRMS.
Let’s just keep talking, okay?
KIRA: Okay. I can do that.
Hey. How’s it goin’?
Hi.
Head…
Yeah, you’re feeling it, too.
It’s awful.
(SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)
Too much CO2.
What’s new, huh?
Well, we can’t fix it now.
And even before, our, um… comfort, wasn’t their biggest purpose.
Yeah. “Priority.”
What?
Priority, instead of purpose.
Priority.
Yeah.
(BOTH CHUCKLE)
Hey, let me know if you need some Ibuprofen or anything…
That stuff usually works pretty well for me.
Da. Spasibo, spasibo.
CHRISTIAN: Yeah, yeah.
ALEXEY: I… toilet.
(CHRISTIAN CHUCKLES)
You know that word.
(ALEXEY CHUCKLES)
Good, good.
Be good, Christian.
CHRISTIAN: Yeah.
(OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING)
(GORDON PANTING)
KIRA: Tell me about Weronika.
GORDON: Uh…
KIRA: Gordon, when did you start dating?
I don’t know what you’re talking about.
That’s what you’re gonna go with?
That’s what I’m going with.
KIRA: Okay, fair.
Passing SSRMS.
KIRA: Okay.
But, I will just say, um… your attempts to keep the PDA secret are bordering on ridiculous.
And, let me… (CHUCKLES)
KIRA: Well, I can’t say that physics is exactly on your side up here.
(KIRA CHUCKLING)
GORDON: Can we talk about something else, please?
(EXHALES)
Okay. All right.
I didn’t know her ’til I came up here.
First week I docked we had this karaoke night.
Zero gravity and David Bowie, there’s nothing better.
What… So what did she do?
She woo you with her singing?
No. No, not at all.
I thought my eardrums were gonna explode.
KIRA: Really?
She was terrible.
She knows it, too.
(KIRA CHUCKLES)
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING)
GORDON: Wanna talk about you?
KIRA: Do we have to?
(GORDON CHUCKLES)
GORDON: I did see your file, you know.
Seemed like a hard left turn from a promising biology track to the Marine Corps, which, unlike our friend Christian, is something you haven’t brought up.
Well, he’s Air Force. That comes with the territory.
GORDON: Oh.
You raced through the space program.
And you and I both know, that’s not easy.
What’s your secret?
I spent seven years researching organ replacement, with my best friend and my fiance.
Oh, so there is a boyfriend in the picture?
Not a boy.
(SIGHS) I’m an idiot.
Mmmhmm. But that’s okay. I’ll forgive you.
When I was young, my father died on a waiting list.
And I made it my goal to find an easier way to manufacture what people needed.
GORDON: Wow. I’m sorry.
KIRA: No, no, that’s okay. I’m good.
I mean, our research only worked in theory, and every attempt at practice had failed, because there was too much weight on the cells.
But up here you don’t have that problem.
Nice one.
But what about them?
Please tell me this story has a happy ending.
Uh…
Not for me.
Not for you? What happened?
She cheated.
They found each other one night and every night after that, it seems.
Honestly, trust isn’t my strong suit. (CHUCKLES)
GORDON: Nah. You just been trusting the wrong people.
(CHUCKLES)
I’m… (CHUCKLES)
It’s just better to go it alone.
It’s much easier that way.
I’ve got my work and… that’s enough.
I don’t know what to say.
Look, if we can get our shit together, it might be good to be stuck with this weirdass family for a while.
(GORDON PANTING)
We got ya, Doc.
You’ll never get rid of us.
(ALEXEY INHALES)
(CHUCKLING)
(GORDON PANTING)
(BREATHING HEAVILY)
GORDON: There we go.
Was getting a little quiet there, for a second, huh?
(KIRA CHUCKLES)
GORDON: Let’s…
(GASPS)
(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING)
(STATIC BUZZING)
(FEEDBACK WHINES)
Gordon?
Gordon, come in.
Gordon, do you read me?
(COMMS FEEDBACK)
Do you have him?
Do you have Gordon?
CHRISTIAN: No. What’s up?
My comms are dead.
He’s not responding. Gordon, do you read?
CHRISTIAN: Just keep trying.
WERONIKA: What? What happened?
My comms are out.
Where’s Alexey?
KIRA: Completely out. There’s nothing.
All right, keep at it, okay?
KIRA: Gordon, do you copy?
Do you read me?
Gordon, do you read me?
GORDON: Closing in on the antenna.
I can see it from here.
Kira.
Kira, do you read?
Foster, do you read?
Foster, do you read me?
(GORDON GRUNTING)
Kira, if you can read me, now would be the time for some words of encouragement.
(GORDON PANTING)
Okay. Okay.
(GORDON BREATHING HEAVILY)
Okay. You got this.
(GORDON GRUNTING)
(PANTING)
KIRA: Gordon?
Gordon, do you read…
Try ours.
Gordon?
Gordon, come in.
(THUDDING)
Is someone on the arm?
I don’t need the arm, Kira. Do you copy?
I don’t need the arm.
(CHRISTIAN BREATHES HEAVILY)
(GORDON PANTING)
I’m coming up on the antenna. It looks…
(SIGHS)
It looks completely fine.
(ISS CREAKS)
The antenna’s fine, Kira!
Kira, the antenna’s fine! Kira!
Kira, do you read? He lied!
(MACHINE WHIRRING)
Is someone on the arm?
Kira, I don’t need the arm, right now.
Kira, do you read…
Kira, I don’t need the fuckin’ arm!
(SIGHS)
Foster, what channel are you on?
Foster, do you read…
(THUDS)
(THUDDING)
Let me try.
Hey.
Gordon, you hear me?
Gordon, I need you to respond.
KIRA: Anything? Christian?
CHRISTIAN: No, nothing.
Gordon, you hear me?
Gordon, I need you to respond.
Come on. Come on. Come on.
(WHISPERING) Where are you, Gordon?
Where is he? Where?
Where? I’m not… Oh, damn it.
There.
That’s starboard.
It looks like he’s moving starboard.
Check that portal.
CHRISTIAN: What the hell happened out there?
Honestly, I’ve got no idea.
He was with me and then he wasn’t.
Gordon, do you hear me?
KIRA: We need a clearer visual. Check every window.
Gordon.
I can’t see him. Can you?
KIRA: I got nothing portside.
Anything, Christian?
CHRISTIAN: Here. Here, here! Hey, I see him!
I got him! Down here!
Go, go, go! Come on, Nika.
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
Gordon.
Gordon. Please say something.
Gordon.
Please.
Gordon, come in. Anything.
Say something.
Talk to us, pal.
(WERONIKA SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
Gordon. Was he still tethered? Let’s find out.
WERONIKA: Let’s go.
Come on.
(DRAMATIC MUSIC CONTINUES)
(UNSETTLING MUSIC PLAYING)
(BREATHING HEAVILY)
CHRISTIAN: Kira, please, we have to talk.
Look, I… I have to go out there.
I have to get…
No.
He is dead, Kira.
It’s no less than what he would do. He is not dead. We don’t know that.
I have to go out there, even if there’s the smallest chance, or at least we need to find out what actually happened.
He is dead.
He would do it for us.
You know he would.
He’s dead, Kira, and if you leave me here alone with them, I will be, too.
(SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
(SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
(SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
(SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
(CLEARS THROAT)
Nika.
(NICHOLAI SIGHS)
(WERONIKA SIGHS)
(SCOFFS)
ALEXEY: Nika…
(WERONIKA SIGHS)
Lyosha…
Lyosha!
Nika…
(WERONIKA SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
ALEXEY: Nyet. Nyet. Nyet.
Nyet.
Nika?
(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING)
KIRA: (IN ENGLISH) What’re you exactly saying?
Have you thought about that?
Well, we know what Gordon was told. Right?
So, that means we have to assume that the Russians got the same orders as us.
And they just struck first.
Struck first?
Where the hell do you think you are right now?
Gordon is gone!
I don’t know if you have noticed that, but he is fucking gone!
I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I just…
We can agree that we’re playing a man down here, right?
That means that we need to trust each other.
I’m all you have. And you’re all I have.
And I don’t know about you, I wanna fuckin’ survive this thing.
But what if it was an accident?
CHRISTIAN: Oh, come on.
Can we at least consider that it…
Gimme a break, Foster.
You trained to be up here too, right?
Yes, I did.
You know the safety protocols that are in place.
I do, and I know you sound resigned to believing the worst of them.
And I’m not there, yet.
I’m not saying it was an accident.
But you know them better than I do.
You’ve worked with them.
Lived with them.
Are they really the type of people who would’ve killed Gordon?
I don’t know.
But I know that we don’t have the time to assume that they wouldn’t have.
Okay, so if they got the same orders that we did, if they actually killed him…
(BREATHING HEAVILY) What do you suggest we do now?
Well, for starters, uh…
I vote that we don’t believe a single thing they say.
WERONIKA: Kira.
Hey.
I need to talk to you.
To both of us, right?
To Kira.
CHRISTIAN: Kira?
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
Nika, I’m so sorry about Gordon.
Oh…
If there’s anything that I can do…
I need your help.
And I need you to keep it a secret.
Why?
Because you’re new.
And I know I can’t trust anyone else now. So… you’re all I have.
I don’t know what to say to that.
Well, maybe in a few hours we’ll be safe and sound.
Or maybe we’ll be falling out of the sky.
But we have work to do before either of those things happen and we don’t have time for hesitation.
Okay, what do ya need?
Your key.
In exchange, I’ll give you mine.
I don’t want your key.
What do you need mine for?
I want to open an American lock box.
Which one?
Does it matter?
It depends.
It’s gone.
I lost it.
You lost it?
I lost it.
You lost it?
It’s gone! I lost it! I don’t have the key!
I’m not lying. I lost it.
It’s not here.
Did the Americans give you orders to kill us?
I don’t know anything about that.
You know, you’re not the only bioengineer onboard.
Alexey?
Do you know what he’s working with?
Advanced compounds of Prussian blue and potassium iodide, a treatment for radiation sickness.
With what seems to be going on down there,
I think it’s the most valuable thing we have onboard, much more than the five of us.
Maybe that’s why we’re in this mess.
Right now it’s a treatment.
But if there truly is a war down there, whoever has the treatment gets to decide who gets saved.
I don’t know what you want me to do.
They didn’t tell us anything.
You sure?
Gordon never got through. I’m positive.
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
Okay.
They told us…
They told us to take the ISS,
by any means necessary.
(SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
(IN ENGLISH) We received the same orders.
So, Gordon…
They…
Yes, I never thought Nicholai and Alexey were capable of doing something so severe.
But now we both know different.
That means they can do worse, too.
Well, if that’s true, then, um…
I’m gonna help you.
I was praying you would say that.
I will create a distraction.
That’s why I need your key.
You go to your lab, use my key on Alexey’s lock box.
He keeps his notes inside it.
You will need them.
But more important are the samples stored in Node Zero.
The ones you’re looking for have red labels.
Take it with you in the Soyuz.
You will leave in…
Wait. What?
WERONIKA: You’re leaving…
No, no, no.
WERONIKA: Take the samples back to Earth on the Soyuz.
No, no… Nika, I can’t do that.
Yes. Please. Please, Kira, go. It has to be you.
Why does it have to be me?
Because you just told me the truth.
Which means you trust me.
So I trust you.
Nika.
I cannot do this without guidance.
Kira, you know more than you think you do.
No, No. If I don’t have guidance from the ground, it doesn’t matter.
I won’t make it.
Well, up here you…
We’re still falling, Kira.
At least this way you have a chance of saving some people.
Please, Kira.
Please, Kira, go.
This is the only chance to make all of it… to make any of this worth it.
But what about the rest of you?
We can still figure it out.
Your job is more important now.
This will save lives.
Do you understand what you need to do?
Yes.
Repeat it.
Lock box, Node Zero, red labels.
And move fast.
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
(WERONIKA MUTTERING IN RUSSIAN)
(SIGHS)
(SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
(SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
(NICHOLAI SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
KIRA: (IN ENGLISH) Come on, Foster. Come on.
What are you doing?
(BREATHING HEAVILY)
Christian.
I need your help,
and I don’t have time to explain everything.
Okay. What?
There’s a cure in Node Zero.
It’s for radiation sickness.
I’d love to help you, but…
I need to find it and I need your help as fast as you can.
You don’t understand.
Just need to…
Kira, there is no Node Zero.
She lied.
Who?
Weronika, she lied. She played me.
We gotta go, now!
We have to find her, now! Come on!
Hey.
(SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
(SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
(CHUCKLES)
Nika. (EXCLAIMING IN PAIN)
(WERONIKA GROANS)
CHRISTIAN: She was gonna blow up the station.
NICHOLAI: Get away from her!
We could’ve died.
You all saw that!
NICHOLAI: Get away from her!
I just saved you!
KIRA: Just hold her head!
NICHOLAI: Get away!
CHRISTIAN: You saw that!
We gotta go.
NICHOLAI: Go!
We need to go. Kira, we gotta go, now!
(NICHOLAI SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
(ALEXEY SHOUTING IN RUSSIAN)
ALEXEY: Nika!
(SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
(ALEXEY PANTING)
Nika. Nika!
We need to stay close because they’re gonna need us.
Christian, are you listening to me?
Where are we going?
Leonardo.
Garbage and storage.
It’s our best bet to hide until the radios come back online.
Gonna be about nine hours.
KIRA: No, no. Christian.
(SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING)
KIRA: Look, I know what you’re saying is true, but there’s still a chance that we can save her.
Okay? We have to try.
No, no, listen to me, listen to me.
She’s not gonna… She’s not gonna make it.
We don’t know that yet.
CHRISTIAN: No, I do because I felt the back of her skull cave in, okay?
And then there was…
(SNIFFLES)
There was something about it and, um, I could just tell that…
And she was being crazy, right?
You saw that.
KIRA: Oh, I…
And she lied to you.
Why else would she have wanted your key so badly if she didn’t want to destroy the station?
That’s what she asked for…
She said she was just going to create a distraction.
A distraction for you to do what?
Look, Kira, if you wanna be alone in all this, I need to know, okay, because I wanna get home and I wanna see my girls.
I wanna live.
So I just,
I need you to stay here with me, okay?
Okay.
Okay.
(SNIFFLES)
(SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
(SNIFFLES)
Nicholai.
(SHOUTS) Nicholai!
(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING)
Nika. (SOBBING)
(ALARM BEEPING)
(SLURPING)
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
Gordon.
Gordon.
Gordon.
Kira!
Gordon.
(TYPING)
(MACHINE WHIRRING)
(SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
Gordon.
(TRIUMPHANT MUSIC PLAYING)
(MACHINE WHIRRING)
(BAGS RUSTLE)
(CUBE THUDS)
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
(CUBE THUDS)
(WHISPERS) Go.
(TAPPING)
(ALEXEY SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
(NICHOLAI SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
(IN ENGLISH) Is there anybody here?
Alexey just informed me that Weronika is alive.
We were able to stop the bleeding and she’s asleep in her sleeping pod.
When she gets better, we should all get together and then think about how we can resolve this peacefully.
Nicholai.
(MUTTERING IN RUSSIAN)
(IN ENGLISH) It’s a nasty concussion, but it’s, uh, it’s nothing we cannot control.
So, uh… what do you say?
Brother.
Stop.
Nyet. Nyet!
CHRISTIAN: Hey. Whoa!
(ALEXEY GRUNTS)
(KIRA SHOUTS)
(ALL CLAMORING)
Go!
CHRISTIAN: No!
Get away!
(CHRISTIAN GRUNTING)
Hey!
KIRA: Oh, Gordon!
Jesus!
GORDON: Where is she?
Where’s Weronika?
(GORDON PANTING)
(SHOUTING) Where’s Weronika?
(SHOUTING) Where’s Weronika?
(ALEXEY SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
What?
Just tell me where she is.
KIRA: She’s go… She’s…
Fuckin’ tell me where she is. Just tell me where she is.
GORDON: Where is she?
KIRA: Gordon.
Nika!
Look at me! Look at me!
We… We have to do something!
Don’t you do… No, no, no. No!
KIRA: Gordon!
CHRISTIAN: Gordon!
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
Stop! (ECHOING)
(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING)
(BOTH GRUNTING)
No!
(BOTH GRUNTING)
(GRUNTS ECHOING)
CHRISTIAN: Here.
ALEXEY: Come on, come on.
Come on!
CHRISTIAN: Here, here.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
Come on!
(MACHINE WHIRRING)
(YELLS)
(GORDON GROANS)
(BOTH YELLING)
(BOTH GRUNTING)
(DRILL WHIRRING)
(BOTH GRUNTING)
(TOOLS WHIRRING)
(GORDON PANTING)
(NICHOLAI GRUNTING)
(GROANS)
(DRILL WHIRRING)
(GORDON GASPING)
(DRILL WHIRRING)
(GORDON GRUNTING)
(SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING)
(GORDON GRUNTING)
(SOMBER MUSIC CONTINUES)
Come on!
(TOOLS WHIRRING)
Fuck!
(SOMBER MUSIC CONTINUES)
(DOOR CREAKING)
(BOTH GRUNTING)
No! No!
Gordon!
(SOMBER MUSIC CONTINUES)
(FAN WHIRRING)
Node Zero.
Oh, my God.
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
She wasn’t lying.
Christian!
Christian, there is a Node Zero!
Why didn’t you tell me?
Christian! Wake up…
Oh, my God.
(KIRA SIGHS)
A Soyuz suit.
Are you leaving without us?
(FAN WHIRRING)
(WHIRRING STOPS)
Oh, my God.
(PIANO MUSIC PLAYING)
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATION)
Everything okay?
Yeah, just…
Just a headache.
Yeah.
CHRISTIAN: You know, I was thinking, what happened up here is nothing short of tragic, don’t get me wrong.
But…
(KNIFE SCRAPING)
I wonder if there isn’t a silver lining to all this.
I mean, think about it.
We’re gonna be heroes when we get back home.
Or did you wanna be the only one?
So you think we’ll make it home?
Depends on if you leave some room in the Soyuz for us, this time.
What’re you talking about?
What am I talking about?
What am I talking about?
That you would be the hero with the cure while the rest of us fall out of the sky.
That Weronika’s idea?
Leaving me here?
“No man left behind” mean anything to you, Kira?
What are you talk…
It’s okay. No hard feelings.
For what it’s worth, I’m glad that you’re still here.
(MUSIC STOPS)
Christian, whatcha making?
A sandwich.
I’m not really hungry, but I just realized I haven’t eaten in a day, so…
Do you want one?
Yeah. I’ll… I’ll make it myself.
(WRAPPER CRINKLING)
(SNIFFS)
(BANGING)
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
Do you mind?
Oh, there’s some plastic knives in that bag, right there.
KIRA: That one will do just fine.
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC BUILDS)
(CHUCKLES)
I’m sorry. The…
My head’s all over the place.
Hey, Alexey.
(SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
ALEXEY: Da, da.
(SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
(SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
(TENSE MUSIC BUILDS)
(KIRA GRUNTS)
(ALEXEY GROANING)
KIRA: Christian!
(BOTH GRUNTING)
(STRUGGLING)
(CHRISTIAN GRUNTING)
(KIRA BREATHING HEAVILY)
(ALL GRUNTING)
(GRUNTING)
(GROANS)
KIRA: Sorry.
(ALEXEY GROANING)
(SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING)
(FAN WHIRRING)
(BOTH SIGHING)
(KIRA CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
(MICE SQUEAKING)
(IN ENGLISH) Was this you?
(IN ENGLISH) You put this here for them?
ALEXEY: Good… to have something to hold onto.
(SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING)
(BEEPING)
(COMPUTER BEEPING)
(METAL GROANING)
(GENTLE MUSIC PLAYING)
(ELECTRONIC BEEPING)
(COMPUTER BEEPING)
(ELECTRONIC BEEPING)
(COMPUTER BEEPING)
(TRIUMPHANT MUSIC PLAYING)
MAN1 : (OVER RADIO) MS31, this is Mission Control Houston standing by to provide guidance on the ground.
(MAN 2 SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
MAN 1: (IN ENGLISH) Who is onboard the Soyuz?
(MAN 2 SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
MAN 1: (IN ENGLISH) Please respond.
(MAN 2 SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
MAN 1: (IN ENGLISH) Please provide the names of all crew onboard, immediately.
We are standing by to assist any Americans onboard.
Do you copy?
(MAN 2 SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
ALEXEY: Kira.
Where are we going?
KIRA: I don’t know.
(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING)
(SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING)
(UNSETTLING MUSIC PLAYING)
(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING)
(UNSETTLING MUSIC PLAYING)
(TRIUMPHANT MUSIC PLAYING)
(MYSTERIOUS MUSIC PLAYING)
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
