SEASON ONE
101 — THE ARRIVAL
17 min
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A 3 a.m. phone call pulls Michael Peterson away from his family and onto a plane he isn't allowed to ask questions about. Something came down in the woods outside Beale Air Field, and it doesn't show up on radar, on camera, or to the naked eye. Getting it to put on a pair of sweatpants turns out to be the easy part.
Transcript
Full transcript — contains spoilers
MICHAEL
Yeah, this is Michael.
DR. STEVENS
This is Dr. Stevens from the NARB. Is this Michael Peterson?
MICHAEL
Yes. You might want to sit down. It's 3 AM. I'm doing more than that.
DR. STEVENS
We need your expertise. Pack a bag. A car will be waiting in your driveway in thirty.
MICHAEL
What's this about?
DR. STEVENS
What you've been waiting a lifetime for. You'll be briefed on the plane.
LARSON
Let me guess, you need to leave town?
MICHAEL
No more than a few days.
LARSON
Did someone discover another object traversing across the sky? Help, the sky is falling!
MICHAEL
You joke, my dear Larson, but you have no problem cashing them checks.
LARSON
You're right. It's just, if you keep catering to the believers, aren't they just gonna keep calling?
ANNOUNCER
Alpha 8, Episode 1, The Arrival. Alpha 8 is a production of Bizzie Media Group, created by Stephanie Elie. This episode was written and directed by Stephanie Elie. Sound design by Xperience J. Original sound composed by Steven Bias. Story editing by Jake Farrago.
OPERATOR
This is Beale Control. You are approaching a restricted airspace. I repeat, you are approaching a restricted airspace.
TRAFFIC CONTROLLER
40, 000 feet, approaching at 5, 000 knots.
WILLIS
What are we looking at?
TRAFFIC CONTROLLER
I don't know, but it's incredibly fast.
WILLIS
Are we talking SR 71 fast?
EVERYONE
What the hell? Oh my god! Shut it off! Shut it off! What was that? What is that noise?
WILLIS
Commander Garret.
COMMANDER
Status? Get back online. Make communication with that aircraft.
OPERATOR
Yes, Commander.
COMMANDER
Willis, what are we looking at? Russia? North Korea? I don't know, sir.
WILLIS
Nothing we've ever seen, sir. Maybe it's a UAP or a satellite drone, gone wrong?
COMMANDER
Get a bird up there. Grab that aircraft. There's no time, sir.
WILLIS
It's projected to make impact at 2120.
COMMANDER
Prep the emergency crew for retrieval.
OPERATOR
This is Beale Control. Do not attempt to land. Adjust your course. Or we'll be forced to respond.
COMMANDER
Now people. This is your last warning.
TRAFFIC CONTROLLER
2000 feet. 800 feet. 400 feet impact is imminent. Sir
RAMIREZ
You got those coordinates.
WILLIS
You see that fire? It's two clicks north of our location.
RAMIREZ
Ramirez, to Beale Control. We are outta roadway. Permission to approach on foot over.
OPERATOR
This is Beale Control. Clear to approach over.
RAMIREZ
Copy that. Listen up. Aircraft touchdown at 2130. Gear up. Taking two teams, Willis and Adams with me. Davis, go catch up to those guys from Delta. Satellites didn't pick up any heat signatures, gentlemen. So watch your six. We don't know what's out here. Let's move.
RAMIREZ
This is Bravo Leader to Delta. We're half a mile southwest of impact zone. Ready to go when you're in position. Over.
DELTA LEADER
Bravo Leader, this is Delta Leader. We're in position. Over.
RAMIREZ
Beale Control, both teams are in position. Are we clear for go?
OPERATOR
Affirmative, Bravo Leader. You are clear to approach. Over.
RAMIREZ
Roger. Out.
BRADY
Delta Leader, are you seeing this?
DELTA LEADER
Bravo Leader, come in. I've never seen anything like this. It's not a plane or helo, but it's big. Round. If it's a drone, it's nothing I've seen. And it's definitely not part of our fleet.
OPERATOR
Repeat that Delta Leader
DELTA LEADER
We're moving in. Delta out.
BRADY
Whoa, what is that?
DELTA LEADER
We're under attack.
WILLIS
They need our help.Ramirez, give the order.
RAMIREZ
Bravo leader to Delta. Delta leader, come in.
OPERATOR
Sir, this is Beale Control. Stand by. Over.
WILLIS
Stand by? They need us, sir.
OPERATOR
Bravo Leader, stand down. Air support is on approach.
RAMIREZ
Willis, you catch that last command?
WILLIS
No, sir. I don't think I did.
RAMIREZ
Willis, Adams, move in from the north. I'll approach from the south.
OPERATOR
Bravo Leader, come in. Commander, we've lost contact. With all of them.
WILLIS
I’ve Brady's radio.
BRADY
(Groans) I don't know where I am.
WILLIS
Brady! I’ve got Brady!
BRADY
What's happened?
WILLIS
Davidson’s down sir.
OPERATOR
We got air support ten minutes out. Over
MICHAEL
This is Michael Peterson, Lead Researcher at NARB, the National Anomaly Resolution Bureau. Reviewing ground reports from an incident three days ago near the Beale airfield.
OPERATOR
Bravo leader, come in.
WILLIS
They're not dead, sir. They appear to be sleeping.
RAMIREZ
Say again, Willis? Over.
WILLIS
Bravo Leader. Something’s out here, man. But I can’t see. What the… No…No!
RAMIREZ
Willis! Willis! Bravo Leader to Beale Control
OPERATOR
Go ahead, Bravo Leader.
RAMIREZ
Willis is down. We’re under attack. Something’s out here. The UAP… It’s… It’s one. Over.
MICHAEL
Dr. Stevens, come in.
DR. STEVENS
Are you all settled?
MICHAEL
I'm still waiting on a few more boxes. They should be here today.
DR. STEVENS
Good. Now, if there's anything you need.
MICHAEL
No, but thank you. I appreciate you bringing me in.
DR. STEVENS
Don't thank me yet. The Commander's not happy with the progress.
MICHAEL
It's only been 72 hours.
DR. STEVENS
I know. But their clock started ticking the minute the UAP breached our atmosphere.
MICHAEL
I am getting closer.
DR. STEVENS
We just need to demonstrate some goodwill. That we're making progress.
MICHAEL
Well, the fact that everyone is alive is an insane sign of goodwill. You heard the recording.
DR. STEVENS
We need something tangible. If not, That thing will be on ice and shipped off to an unnamed facility.
MICHAEL
I'll find a way to get through. Get me something worth reporting.
MICHAEL
It's been five days since our first encounter with Alpha 8. That's what we're calling it. So, what do we know? It's translucent surface is impossible to detect unless it's wet. The team created a simulation device to mimic rain conditions, forcing Alpha 8 to become visible enough for us to capture it. It doesn't seem to want to hurt humans. Not a single casualty. It disarms a threat by temporary paralysis. So, why is it here? What does it want? Larson, I'm in the middle of something, so I can't…
LARSON
Glad I called you boys, tried calling.
MICHAEL
Yeah, I, um
LARSON
A package came for you, another set of LPs, I'm guessing? Starting to think you care more about your jazz music and that job of yours more than us back home.
MICHAEL
Uh huh.
LARSON
Anyway, I'm checking on your flight. Am I picking you up tomorrow?
MICHAEL
Larson, I was actually about to call you. I can't
LARSON
No! No, we talked about this.
MICHAEL
I'm still needed here.
LARSON
This is a big moment for her.
MICHAEL
I know. I know. It's out of my hands. I, I can't come home. Not yet.
LARSON
Then she needs to hear that from you. And it needs to be soon. I will not be the bad parent again.
MICHAEL
I'll make it up to you.
LARSON
Not to me, Michael.
MICHAEL
I'll make it up to Taryn. But right now, I'm needed here. (beat) You know, I have to go. We still can't clearly distinguish all Alpha 8's features. But, it appears to be anatomically similar to humans. It left a print, a hand like print on the viewing window when I stepped away from the isolation room. Six digits instead of five. If we want to develop a connection, The environment in the isolation room, it just won't work. It isn't conducive to developing a relationship of trust. So we relocated Alpha 8 to Sector 39. This will allow us to observe it in a more humane environment. It includes a bed, table, bookshelf stacked with all the classics. I mean, it is unclear if Alpha 8 can process our English language. Paging Michael Peterson. You're wanted in Sector 39 at 1300.
MICHAEL
Samantha, updates?
SAMANTHA
Nope. Alpha 8 went all ghost mode. Been like that ever since. Kinda crazy it doesn't just run. I mean, it's invisible. Could vanish in the halls, no one would be the wiser.
MICHAEL
It must need something from us.
SAMANTHA
Do you think it sleeps? It's not like we would ever know. I mean, does it even have eyes?
MICHAEL
We'll have to investigate.
SAMANTHA
I bet it does. What's with the clothes?
MICHAEL
It's for Alpha 8. We're gonna send R 23 into the pod. Activate the robot.
SAMANTHA
And you thought frumpy chic was the way to go.
MICHAEL
Standard issue sweats and all I could find. Observations for K. We're sending R 23 into the pod to deliver clothes to Alpha 8.
SAMANTHA
Frumpy. Clothes.
MICHAEL
We are delivering these highly functional sweats to Alpha 8.
SAMANTHA
So, now what? Just wait? Hope it's smart enough to know how to put clothes on?
MICHAEL
Acclimating Alpha 8 to human behavior will help us communicate.
SAMANTHA
Oh my god, you are not… What are you doing? Your pants? Seriously?
MICHAEL
What? Kids learn from watching their parents. We can't expect Alpha 8 to know how to get dressed. We have to show it. Pants? Slip them on like This.
SAMANTHA
That's it. One leg at a time.
MICHAEL
Perfect. Now
SAMANTHA
Sweatshirt! Everyone loves a great sweatshirt.
MICHAEL
That's it. Over the head.
SAMANTHA
It's working. Through the sleeves.
MICHAEL
Whoa. I was right. Anatomically.
SAMANTHA
Human like.