Lois' Daily Planet

The Pretender

SYNOPSIS FOR
QALLUPILLUIT
PART ONE OF THE THREE PART
SEASON FINALE
which aired on Saturday, May 22, 1999

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Part one of the season finale begins with Mr. Parker calling his daughter into his office and inviting her to lunch.  Miss Parker is suspicious of the offer, but Mr. Parker tells her that he's just concerned with how she's been coping with all that has happened to her.  Just as Miss Parker happily accepts the offer, Lyle, Mr. Raines and Brigitte come into Mr. Parker's office.   Mr. Raines tells Mr. Parker that they need to speak with him alone ... and Mr. Parker tells him that it will have to wait and starts to leave with his daughter.   But Mr. Raines stops him and Brigitte slips over to Mr. Parker - effectively stopping him in this tracks.   Miss Parker can see how this is going and tells Mr. Parker that it's okay - she wasn't really hungry anyway.  Mr. Parker apologizes and Miss Parker leaves.

As soon as she is gone, Raines says he just received a "Priority One" intercept from Ellesmere Island, a Centre research facility.  As Mr. Parker reads it, Raines tells him that there has been a breach of security.  Mr. Parker assumes that the breach involves Jarod, but Lyle tells him that it's not.  Raines says that it appears to be Jarod's Father, Major Charles.

In the air conditioning duct, Angelo is watching the entire exchange.  In fact, he's filming it and sending it via e-mail to someone ...

Jarod, wherever he is, is watching the video that is being shot by the security camera.  Mr. Parker is asking if they are sure that Major Charles was at Ellesmere and Lyle is telling him that he still could be there.   Mr. Parker tells Mr. Raines that he thought Raines had made certain that Major Charles was no longer a factor - and Raines replies that he thought he had, too.   Mr. Parker is upset and doesn't want the Triumvirate to know about any of this ... Lyle looks as though he agrees.   Mr. Raines says that they are at a critical stage with the work there and Mr. Parker tells Lyle to find out all that he can about what happened regarding Major Charles, then reminds everyone that no matter what it takes, no one must know what is going on there.

At the National Science Institute, Arctic Research Station, Smitty is using his radio and arguing with a helicopter pilot about whether or not it's okay to drop off a new arrival.   The pilot says that his orders say this new scientist gets dropped off now and he plans on doing that.   Smitty gets on the intercom and tells the Captain that someone is coming.

On Ellesmere Island, the helicopter is approaching the station.   The pilot is talking with his passenger ... who turns out to be Jarod!   Jarod shows the pilot a picture of Major Charles and asks him if he's the one who brought him in.   The pilot says that he wasn't.   He tells Jarod that if the guy was smart, he never came in the first place - and says that Jarod shouldn't either.   He lands the helicopter and Jarod suggests that he wait out an approaching storm -- but the pilot won't stay.   He tells Jarod that he'd rather take his chances with the weather.

Jarod enters the facility, tells Smitty that he is a climatologist and that he is with Earth Watch, there to monitor  weather systems.   While Jarod and Smitty are talking, another team member, Manuel, comes in - he wants to know if the helicopter has left yet.  When Smitty tells him that it has - Manny panics and tries to leave anyway.  Eventually, Manny and Smitty end up in a scuffle because Smitty says that he cannot call the helicopter back.   Manny wants to leave before the Qallupilluit gets him.  Jarod convinces him that Smitty is telling the truth and he leaves to get some medical attention for his bleeding hand ...

Smitty tells Jarod where to hang his parka and Jarod asks him about Qallupilluit ... Smitty says it's a local legend.

At The Centre, Miss Parker walks in to see Sydney and Broots running experiments on sets of twins - Sydney is asking them questions.  Miss Parker interrupts them and tells them about what happened in her Father's office - with Lyle, Raines and Brigitte -- she's wondering what it was all about.  Looking uncomfortable, Broots says that maybe it had something to do with the "Priority One" intercept that Mr. Raines received. Miss Parker takes Broots with her to figure out what's going on with her Father.

Smitty is showing Jarod around the research station and they end up in the infirmary where the Captain is watching the doctor attend to Manuel's hand.  Smitty introduces Jarod Meade to the Captain and tells him he's doing "hole in the ozone research" - but the Captain isn't all that thrilled about meeting him.  He's more concerned with why he wasn't told to expect another scientist.  Jarod gives the Captain his "papers" - which say that Jarod is there to evaluate the impact of ozone depletion for a Congressional study.  The Captain tells Jarod that he will check up on it and tells Smitty to put Jarod in the ‘guest quarters' for now.   Jarod lingers a little and speaks to the doctor, who says that they don't get many visitors and that he's the only one who is there on permanent assignment. 

On the way to the guest quarters, Jarod and Smitty start to walk past the laboratory - just as someone is leaving.  Joe Taylor is yelling at Beth, the person in the lab, telling her that he's tired of having his brain picked.   Joe Taylor already seems to know about Jarod and wants to know if he's the "El Nino" guy.   The lights begin to flicker and Joe Taylor says he has a generator to check and hurries off.   Smitty sticks his head into the lab and teases Beth about asking Joe Taylor about his feelings.   Beth doesn't seem to think it's very funny and slams the door in his face.  Smitty tells Jarod that he doesn't know all that much about Beth, except that some outfit in Delaware is funding her grant.

Jarod and Smitty finally get to the guest quarters.  Jarod remarks that everyone at the station seems a little sensitive on the subject of guests.   As Jarod unpacks, Smitty sees a picture of Jarod's Father and it looks as though he might recognize him.   He tells Jarod that if he can figure out a way to get him south of the 50th parallel, he might tell Jarod what he wants to know - and then he leaves.

At the Centre, Mr. Raines is on the phone to someone from the arctic research station.   He knows that Jarod is there but tells whoever it is that he's talking to that it can work out to their advantage and that he will get back to them.

In his guest room, Jarod is replaying the video feed from Mr. Parker's office.   Mr. Parker is saying that he wants to know all about Major Charles - and whether or not he's still at the station.  Jarod, too , is wondering if his Father is still there.

Later, Jarod quietly enters the lab and starts looking around.  He finds the computer and uses his own special writepad to enter "Alpha Project" ... the computer searches for a match and finds one.   As Jarod is watching the computer, he hears footsteps and a moment later Beth enters the room.   She sees Jarod at her desk, and checks to see what he is looking at on her computer.  The monitor shows satellite weather images.  Jarod tells her that he thought he could share her computer until his equipment arrives.   Beth isn't into sharing and tells Jarod as much -- he leaves.

In the elevator at The Centre Lyle tells Mr. Parker that Major Charles arrived at the research station three weeks prior, but Brigitte says they're  not certain if the Major is still there.   Raines says that they're assuming Major Charles knows everything, since the entire project file was accessed.  Mr. Parker starts to leave the elevator, but Raines says there is something else.  The elevator door opens and there are people waiting, but Lyle hits the "close door" button and, sure enough, the door closes in their faces.   Raines goes on to tell Mr. Parker that he knows that Jarod is now there.   Mr. Parker says to get a sweeper team up there, now.   Lyle says they've been trying, but the weather won't cooperate.  The elevator door opens again ... people are still waiting ... Lyle hits the button again and closes the door in their faces ... again!  Mr. Parker wants to know about the ‘inside source' at the station.   Brigitte says the Centre's inside source at the station knows what's going on and they are just waiting for Major Charles to make the next move.

In the control room at the research station, Smitty is at his desk, cleaning his equipment.   Someone that he knows comes into the room and Smitty wants to know what they are doing there so late at night.  Instead of getting an answer, he gets hit in the head by a large wrench.   With Smitty unconscious, the mysterious visitor pours solvent all over everything on the desk and lights it.   The desk and the radio bursts into flames.

Alarms sound.   The Captain, Joe Taylor and Manuel all come running.   Jarod uses an axe from a fire box and uses it to get the door open.   Someone grabs the fire extinguisher and uses it to put out the fire in the control room.   Jarod starts to examine Smitty but the doctor arrives and tells everyone that Smitty is dead.

One of the men  says that Smitty must have blacked out - from the smoke or the solvent fumes.  The Captain adds that it looks like Smitty fell and hit his head on the corner of the table.   Jarod is not convinced - is looking around the room and says that he thinks the head injury is too severe to have been caused by a table corner.   The Captain says that he's going to call Smitty's death in, but is told that the radio is now useless.   He tells the doctor to take a closer look at the body, and the doctor says he's no pathologist, but he'll see what he can do.  Beth finally arrives and with everyone now there, the Captain tells them that without the radio, they have no way to communicate with the outside world.   Manny begins raving about the Qallupilluit again - he is totally spooked.

Broots tells Miss Parker that he's figured out that the ‘intercept' concerns a secret research center and the fact that it has been ‘compromised' by Major Charles.   He hasn't been able to figure out where the research center is located yet and Miss Parker presses him on it - she wants Major Charles, the man she thinks is responsible for her Mother's death.   Sydney warns her about killing him, saying he'll be more valuable to everyone alive ... 

In the infirmary at the research station, Jarod comes in and offers his help on the autopsy, but the doctor says that he has already determined the death to be an accident - a mild concussion with the cause of death being accidental due to smoke inhalation.   Jarod doesn't believe it.  The Captain tells Jarod to go with him and they leave.

Jarod and the Captain are in the Captain's office ... and the Captain asks Jarod what he was up to in the infirmary.   Jarod tells him that he's concerned about the cause of Smitty's death.   The Captain doesn't seem to want to buy it - but Jarod tells him that Smitty was afraid of something and that he thinks there's something "wrong" about the research center.   The Captain tells Jarod that they are stranded there until the weather clears - maybe for days - and says that he doesn't want him to say or do anything that will add to the stress.

Later, Jarod finds Manuel looking at a snapshot of a child.   Manuel tells Jarod it's his son and that he hasn't even seen him yet - that he was born while he was stationed at the research center.  Jarod asks Manuel what a Qallupilluit is and Manuel explains that it's part of an old Inuit story about an evil creature that lives in the ice cracks.   Jarod asks Manuel if he has seen any visitors, other than himself -- but Manuel becomes more and more aggravated.  He makes his hurt hand bleed and Joe Taylor tells him that he'd better go back to see the doctor about it.

Taylor asks Jarod what he did to Manuel.  As they talk, Manuel returns and he's nearly paralyzed with fear.   He tells them both that the Qallupilluit "got doc."

The infirmary is a mess ... everything is turned upside down and broken -- and on the floor there is a bloody scalpel.   The doctor is nowhere to be found, but there is a large trail of blood, leading out the door and to the incinerator - which is in full operation.   Inside they can see what looks like a human skull ...

Back inside the station, the Captain has gathered everyone together.   Jarod says that the doctor's death was no "accident" -- and soon everyone is suspicious of everyone else.   Manuel points out that he's seen someone else - a man, coming and going with the Inuits ... Manuel and Joe Taylor saw the man come in with the Inuits, but neither saw him leave the station.   Just then, the lights begin to flicker ... The Captain gets a gun from a locked case, loads it, then tells Joe Taylor to check on the generator and bolt the door to the mechanical room.   He tells Manuel to salvage what he can from the infirmary and says that when they are done, everyone is going to stay together until help arrives.

At The Centre, Miss Parker is asking Broots about the video feed from her Father's office - the part where they were talking about Major Charles.   Broots says that someone sent the feed as an e-mail to on off-site location and he was able to replay it.   He knows that the feed was sent to Jarod and that Major Charles found out about something called the "Alpha Project" -- something being run from an arctic research station that is funded by The Centre.   Miss Parker wants Major Charles and tells Sydney and Broots that they are going ...

In the mechanical room at the research station, Joe Taylor is checking on the generator.   Someone enters and Joe Taylor tells them that everything is going according to plan ... with the exception of Jarod.   Joe Taylor ends up getting hit the same way that Smitty did.

Back at The Centre, Miss Parker is taking what is supposed to be the gun that was used to murder her Mother out of her desk drawer -- she is interrupted when her Father walks in.   Mr. Parker is surprised to see the gun and they end up talking about the situation.   Miss Parker tells her Father that she is going to Ellesmere Island ... she asks him what he's really afraid of ... that she may find Major Charles, or the truth?  She leaves.

Jarod finds Beth ... they talk and Jarod asks her what she thinks is going on at the research center.   Beth is unable to explain it, other than to say that whatever it is, it frightens her.   Jarod shows her the picture of his Father and asks her if she has seen him.   She tells him that she thinks he was with the Inuits when they were there last -- and that maybe she saw the Captain give him a package.   She also overheard the doctor telling the Captain that he should never have let him in there - that he was dangerous.

As they are talking, the power goes out ... in a moment, the emergency lights come on.   Beth and Jarod head for the mechanical room and find Joe Taylor dead -- his body is shorting out the generator.   As Beth and Jarod check the body, the Captain and Manuel come in.   Manuel loses it and begins blaming the Captain - saying that he was the one who sent Joe Taylor to the mechanical room.  He attacks the Captain, who shoots him in the shoulder.   The Captain then turns the gun on Jarod and Beth, saying that since he knows he is not the killer - it must be one of them.   Jarod tries to convince him to let him look at Smitty's body - to figure out who the killer really is - but it's to no avail.   The Captain says he is going to lock everyone in the storage locker until he can figure out what to do.

At the storage locker, the Captain realizes that the door is already open when it shouldn't be.   He soon realizes that the explosives that should be in the storage locker aren't there anymore -- and it dawns on him that maybe they are not alone in the station after all.

Jarod examines Smitty's body as Beth puts a dressing on Manuel's shoulder.   The captain says that both the generators are blown and passes out coats.  Jarod tells them that he has found the Qallupilluit -- but to find the murderer, they'll have to find a dead man.

In The Centre's jet, Miss Parker, Broots and Sydney are on their way to the research station.   The pilot tells her that she's going to have to land until the weather clears.   Miss Parker is not happy about that.  Sydney says that "if we can't get in ... they can't get out."

Back at the infirmary, Jarod is explaining what he meant.   He tells everyone that Smitty did not die from smoke inhalation, as the doctor claimed ... that he was already dead before the blaze started.   He goes on to explain that the scalpel that was supposedly used to murder the doctor has the wrong blood type on it ... which means that the doctor faked his own death and is still alive.   Jarod confronts the Captain, saying that he knows more than he's been saying and asks him about Major Charles.   He tells the Captain that Major Charles is his Father ...

The pilot tells Miss Parker, Broots and Sydney that it will be another 24 hours before they can get a helicopter in there.   Miss Parker is thinking about everything that brought her to this point ... she feels as though something ominous is going to happen.

Still in the infirmary, the Captain is explaining ... he tells Jarod that he and Major Charles were in the "Circle of Fire" unit together in the Air Force ...The Captain thought that Major Charles had been murdered not long after Jarod ‘disappeared' -- but knew better when Major Charles contacted him recently - a little over a year prior.   Major Charles explained to the Captain what The Centre had done - to him and to his family - said that he had never stopped looking for Jarod and had found out about what was really going on at the research station.   To help him, the Captain got himself transferred to the research station -- the Major and the Captain planned to expose the project and reunite the Major with his family.

The Captain moves a cabinet and exposes the doorway that is behind it ... it leads to a research area, which is hidden below the station - it is possibly the first station - the one upstairs was built right over the remains of an older one.   The Captain says that he found it several weeks ago and was able to find the evidence that the Major wanted -- about what was really going on at the station.   Everyone heads downstairs to see.   Jarod quickly figures out what all of the equipment is for ... and says that Dr. Moore was working on genetic research ... on the human genome project -- but the Captain corrects him and says that Dr. Moore had actually finished the project - had successfully identified the genetic DNA blueprint.   But before the Captain can say what the project was to be used for, he is shot ... by the doctor!!

The doctor tells everyone that he's set a timer to blow the station up -- they have 3 minutes!   Jarod asks him what he has done to his Father - and the doctor confesses that he was unable to do anything to Major Charles.   Then he points the gun at Beth, intending to shoot her, too, but the Captain has managed to regain consciousness long enough to shoot the doctor instead.   The Captain gives Jarod a two-way radio, tells him to contact his friends at the nearby Inuit camp and urges him to get Manuel and Beth out of the station before it blows up.  He gives Jarod his "circle of fire" ring to give to his daughter along with a picture of him and his daughter in front of the Osborne flight school - Jarod promises that he will.  Jarod wants to know what his Father found at the station and the Captain tells him that Dr. Moore wasn't just working on the genome project ... he was working on Jarod's genome ... he also tells Jarod that he sent Major Charles to stay with his daughter - and that Jarod will find him there, then he dies.

Jarod, Manuel and Beth race to get out of the station in time ...

Outside of the research station, which has blown up ... there is a dog sled moving through the snow.   It carries three passengers ... Jarod, Manuel and Beth -- Manuel will get to see his son after all.

And the screen fades to black ...




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