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MASTERS OF SCIENCE FICTION: THE AWAKENING (TV)

Summary

One in this science-fiction anthology series hosted by Professor Stephen Hawking.

In Al Musayyib, Iraq, the American pilot of a downed helicopter combs through the wreckage before having a standoff with an Iraqi soldier. Despite speaking different languages, the two soldiers seem to be able to understand each other. They are later found by more American soldiers, but they are both unresponsive to questions. They are taken to a laboratory in Washington D.C., as is a mysterious object found amongst the helicopter debris. The object in question could be an alien life form in some sort of cocoon, but an analysis of its DNA indicates that it is biologically identical to humans, albeit with a missing chromosome which apparently makes it genderless. It is still alive, although the scientists investigating it are baffled, especially since it collided with the helicopter mid-flight. The creature appears to be impervious to harm, including radiation, and is bioluminescent. The general in charge asks for Major Skynner to be recalled out of retirement, and he is found somewhere in the Adirondacks in New York. He is informed of the import of the situation, and speaks with the officer sent to retrieve him, Lieutenant Granger, a NASA astrophysicist. She also works for SETI, and seems convinced that the recovered alien is genuine; Skynner is being recalled due to his expertise on the subject. However, he now dreads the possibility of discovering alien life, as he believes that humanity would inevitably make an enemy of it.

One of the scientists inspecting the alien organism is struck by an odd surge of light emanating from its eyes. She enters a state of catatonia similar to the helicopter pilot and Iraqi soldier. Skynner and Granger inspect the catatonic subjects and the doctor notes that they appear to be in an extreme state of calm. Skynner gets to see the alien creature and learns that its cocoon has somehow prevented it from being probed by any kind of scan or x-ray. Skynner believes that it is an elaborate hoax, although the military officials in charge of the facility want Skynner to assess what threat, if any, the creature poses to them. While inspecting the light coming from the creature’s eyes, Skynner reveals to Granger that a few years ago his wife was diagnosed with a debilitating and eventually fatal neurological disease, which deeply inhibited his ability to believe in a “greater purpose.” He takes an audio signal derived from the light and plays it for the catatonic helicopter pilot; his hand twitches, and Skynner places a pencil in it for him to write with. The same occurs in the other catatonic individuals, all writing the same cryptic message.

Soon news reports describe similar alien objects falling from the sky all over the world. One of the phrases being written by the catatonic patients is “we are watching;” Skynner notes that these were the last words his wife said to him before she died. Suddenly the catatonic patients stop writing and start speaking, repeating a phrase over and over again, including passages from the holy scriptures of various religions. In the White House situation room, Skynner, Granger, the president and various advisors, as well as officials representing other nations via telecommunications, consider the implications of this message. The other entities elsewhere in the world appear to be physically identical to the one in Washington, and other catatonic subjects around the world are delivering the same message simultaneously. Skynner believes that the message is accompanied by a threat of ultimate destruction if they do not follow through with total disarmament, a prospect which does not sit well with the president’s military advisors. They believe that the world may be in the midst of an alien invasion, and that they should defend themselves accordingly. At that moment, a massive ball of light appears over the capitol building in Washington D.C., and similar displays occur above cities all over the world.

The president mobilizes his troops and tries to prepare a nuclear assault, although Granger advises against it. She and Skynner are dismissed and her pleas ignored. Skynner tries to offer her comfort, although she retorts that Skynner appears to have given up hope since the death of his wife. He responds at first but suddenly runs off. The aliens somehow begin disarming all the nuclear missiles being readied against them, and will disarm all of them within an hour. The president speaks with the other major global powers about this crisis, although several nations believe that it would be best to comply with the aliens, and asks the United States to join them in decommissioning all weapons of mass destruction, some believing that the aliens’ presence constitutes divine intervention. When the president indicates that he will not disarm, the other nations announce that they now view the United States as a threat and will strike against them first if they do not comply. With only a few minutes remaining, the president orders his missiles to launch, and the Chinese president orders his own missiles to launch against the United States.

Meanwhile, Skynner uses the alien beam to place himself in catatonia. He experiences a vision of his wife telling him that she is being shown “the universe” and that “one day they’ll all hear it” before he is awakened by Granger. The president admits to the leaders of the other nations that he is afraid of them and that their strikes against him are proving his fears to be true. Both the president and Skynner start proclaiming that all people are the same and “connected,” and that they can no longer be motivated by fear. This is enough to convince the world leaders to call off their nuclear assault. At that moment the alien cocoon in Washington opens, revealing an angelic creature, and disappears. The president calls off his own missiles, and finds that he and the other world leaders can now understand each other without the need for translators. The angelic creature appears before the president and his staff before vanishing. All of the alien creatures disappear into space, including the massive spheres of light, and all of the United States’ nuclear weapons are suddenly re-armed. The catatonic patients awaken and Skynner returns to the Adirondacks, hopeful that the newfound world peace will last. Includes commercials.

Details

  • NETWORK: ABC
  • DATE: August 11, 2007 Saturday 10:00 PM
  • RUNNING TIME: 0:58:10
  • COLOR/B&W: Color
  • CATALOG ID: B:93133
  • GENRE: Drama, fantasy/science fiction
  • SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, fantasy/science fiction
  • SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 2007
  • COMMERCIALS:
    • TV – Commercials – AT&T phone service
    • TV – Commercials – Always feminine hygiene pads
    • TV – Commercials – Band-Aid bandages
    • TV – Commercials – Burlington Coat Factory clothing store
    • TV – Commercials – Chase credit cards
    • TV – Commercials – Clairol hair coloring
    • TV – Commercials – Conair hair dryers
    • TV – Commercials – Dr. Scholl’s insoles
    • TV – Commercials – Excedrin pain relief
    • TV – Commercials – Frosted Mini-Wheats breakfast cereal
    • TV – Commercials – JCPenney department stores
    • TV – Commercials – Lowe’s home improvement stores
    • TV – Commercials – McDonald’s restaurants
    • TV – Commercials – Nasonex nasal spray
    • TV – Commercials – Olay hygiene products
    • TV – Commercials – Oust air sanitizer
    • TV – Commercials – Pantene Pro-V shampoo
    • TV – Commercials – QuitAssist cigarette addiction prevention website
    • TV – Commercials – Shout stain remover
    • TV – Commercials – Taco Bell restaurants
    • TV – Commercials – Verizon phone service
    • TV – Commercials – Yoplait yogurt
    • TV – Commercials – “300” home video release
    • TV – Commercials – “The Invasion” motion picture
    • TV – Commercials – “Wild Hogs” home video release
    • TV – Promos – “Big Shots”
    • TV – Promos – “Carpoolers”
    • TV – Promos – “Cavemen”
    • TV – Promos – “Dirty Sexy Money”
    • TV – Promos – “NASCAR in Primetime”
    • TV – Promos – “Pushing Daisies”
    • TV – Promos – “iCaught”

CREDITS

  • John W. Hyde … Executive Producer
  • Brad Mendelsohn … Executive Producer
  • Andrew Deane … Executive Producer
  • Keith Addis … Executive Producer
  • Sam Egan … Co-Executive Producer
  • Lisa Richardson … Co-Executive Producer
  • Mick Garris … Co-Executive Producer
  • Grant Rosenberg … Supervising Producer
  • Ben Browning … Co-Producer
  • Adam Goldworm … Co-Producer
  • Brendan Ferguson … Co-Producer
  • Lee Wilson … Consulting Producer
  • Michael Petroni … Director, Writer
  • Howard Fast … Based on the short story "The General Zapped an Angel" by
  • John Frizzel … Music by
  • Laura Karpman … Music by
  • Edward Shearmur … Theme Music by
  • Stephen Hawking … Narrator
  • Terry O'Quinn … Cast, Albert Skynner
  • Elizabeth Rohm … Cast, Lt. Granger
  • William B. Davis … Cast, The President
  • Julian D. Christopher … Cast, General MacKenzie
  • Malcolm Stewart … Cast, Col. Dingham
  • Doron Bell Jr. … Cast, Kirby
  • Samir El-Sharkawi … Cast, Iraqi
  • Dave Lantaigne … Cast, Army Officer
  • Adrian McMorran … Cast, Medic
  • Dean Marshall … Cast, General's Aide
  • Hiro Kanagawa … Cast, Captain Oguchi
  • Johannah Newmarch … Cast, Assistant
  • Mitra Lohrasb … Cast, Palestinian Woman
  • Andre Fex … Cast, French Leader
  • Deni Delory … Cast, Interpreter
  • Veena Sood … Cast, Dr. Kashani
  • Parm Soor … Cast, Palestinian Leader
  • Scott Miller … Cast, Technician
  • Eddy Ko … Cast, Chinese Leader
  • Igor Ingelsman … Cast, Russian Leader
  • Laura Soltis … Cast, Skynner's Wife
  • Ben Cotton … Cast, Creature