Cricket? Up and at 'em.
And despite our efforts,
we're still struggling to stop the increase in global temperatures.
We're nearly past the point of no return,
which is why your mission is of utmost importance.
- Morning. - Morning, Bug.
Hey, Cricket.
So keep up the good work of creating an ecosystem up here.
Earth is depending on you.
You're a lifeboat for humanity. Keep 1.5 alive.
Cousineau out.
Why can't people just cooperate and help stop global warming?
It's not so simple.
A lot of places still depend on oil, and burning that oil harms the earth.
Good news is, we are making progress up here.
Growing plants in the soil. Close to finding water.
And the sooner we succeed, the sooner we can go back for a visit.
I love you guys,
but it's been two Christmases and a Halloween.
I miss trick-or-treating.
I miss the leaves and the smell of autumn.
Me too.
So, are you guys excited?
About?
Our houseguests. First visitors ever.
I spoke to Casey's parents last night on the comms.
They'll be here at 6:00 tomorrow.
Do you guys have any idea
what it's like having your only friend beamed into your room as a hologram?
I could use a high five. Like an actual high five.
Hey. Maybe we should make some chocolate chip cookies,
like the ones back home.
The next supply drop isn't for nine months.
Do we really wanna use all our chocolate for cookies?
- Yes. - Okay. Time to get a move on.
Waste management initiated.
All I was saying was that if we use up all our chocolate,
then there's none left for other stuff.
What about date nut bars?
Mom, I haven't had cookies in nine months.
There's conservation, and then there's silliness.
Conservation is important.
So is chocolate.
Hey, little guy. Bet you'd like a cookie.
I feel like he's earned one, stopping the bee collapse and all.
The drones are an assist. We still need real bees.
- No bees-- - No pollination.
No pollination, and there goes a third of the earth's food supply.
Even the littlest thing can have a big impact on our environment.
Sometimes, I just wish that people could see what we're doing up here.
One day they will.
Imagine a whole bunch of families living in habitats just like ours.
A lifeboat. A lifeboat that's exactly the same every day.
But not tomorrow.
Not tomorrow.
It'll be good to see people.
What are you gonna wear?
This, I guess.
No? Maybe you can pick something out for me?
Definitely.
- The house is fully charged. - Oxygen?
Environmental systems check.
- Atmosphere is good. - You ready to take the controls today?
Have my flight plan. Ready to rock.
Maximum height set at 300 meters. Request permission to launch.
Permission granted.
Liftoff initiated.
Solar panels clear of sand.
Hab structure is good.
Hi, Mom.
Communications tower operational.
Landing complete.
Nice work, Maverick.
Who?
Have a good day at school, Cricket. We love you.
To the stars and back.
Depressurization initiating.
Alert. Bay doors opening.
Morning, Digby.
Pick me up a cheeseburger and fries, okay?
You got it. Now go make your bed.
So, picking up where we left off. Thoreau is playing hide-and-seek with…
A hooting loon.
Anyone? Not an owl, but…
- Yes? - A hooting loon.
They can't hear us. It's recorded.
- I know, Casey. Habit. - Right.
So, he leaves the big city and gets a rustic cabin in the woods
and lives with the chipmunks and the partridges and the ants in Walden. Now…
- At least he's got ants. - And a pond.
And nature.
I'd kill for some ants around here. Even a spider, and I hate spiders.
Hang on.
I'm missing Aelish's awesome birthday party again.
Better unpause. They monitor our classes, Crick.
Exactly.
So, are you ready for my socially awkward dad
and super enthusiastic mom tomorrow?
Totally. Bring your baseball glove, your roller skates and your sequencer.
We've gotta record our song for the talent show.
My dad said that there'd be a time limit though.
We don't wanna deplete our oxygen supply.
Yeah, but we can have a lot of fun in four hours. It's gonna be awesome.
So, winter's on its way,
and our fella Thoreau gets a rustic cabin in the woods that protects him
from the harsh weather.
Your mom and I had a breakthrough on the rover today.
You found a wormhole back to Earth?
We're close to confirming Mars's underground water supply.
Our probe hit one kilometer depth.
If there's an underground lake, it changes everything.
It's the building block that humanity needs.
Microorganisms, a Martian sea, part of the recipe for a livable planet.
So, how was school today?
Good.
What about that song that you and Casey were working on?
Well, we're gonna record it tomorrow when he's over.
Need an audience?
No.
- Oh, come on. - Cricket.
Weather alert.
The weather rover is tracking a storm.
Small category A. Should be here in about 14 hours.
We'll have to postpone the visit from Casey and his family
until the sandstorm passes.
We'll check to see how our house is after, and then we can reschedule.
How long?
- Bug, that depends on a lot of factors-- - How long?
Three weeks. Maybe two.
All I wanted was a few hours with my friend.
Is that too much to ask?
We're on a whole other planet, and the weather here is messing with us?
Seriously?
- We're sorry, Cricket. - We are.
Yeah. Me too.
Okay. You know, technically this one isn't their fault.
I mean, we've already been doing months and months of this.
What's another two weeks?
You know how people are always assuming
that someone is doing something about climate change?
Well, we're that someone.
And sometimes I don't wanna be that someone.
I hear you.
Now we're gonna miss the talent show. It's in two days.
We can still record it separately.
I just wish people hadn't broken the Earth.
- It's not too late. - Maybe.
Okay. So I was sorta playing around with the verse. Wanna hear it?
Lay it on me.
On a lonely planet Like holograms, we're only dancing light
From where you're standing You can take my hand
Take my hand And we'll run across the sky
Like echoes, never let go
Hundred million miles
Brighter than a smile
I'll be there in a while
And we can stare at the supermoon Ain't nobody here but me and you
And in the glow, we are shiny too
Hold on, we're golden
Hey, Son. You coming?
I'll be right there.
I gotta go play chess with my dad. Grudge match.
Don't forget to say good night.
I won't.
Good night, friend.
Thanks for handling the chores today, Bug.
No problem.
We'll secure the dig site and be back before the storm hits.
You okay?
Of course.
- Don't forget-- - Make my bed. I won't.
That grilled cheese looks amazing.
I know the idea of us having a simulated lunch at school
is supposed to make us feel less isolated,
but honestly, the more it feels like home, the more I actually miss it.
Okay. I have a joke to cheer you up. Check it.
Why haven't aliens come to our solar system yet?
They read the reviews. One star.
First of all, "check it"?
Second of all, how are you 13 years old and only know dad jokes?
Made you laugh.
I'm laughing at you, not with you.
But thanks for trying.
How are you so optimistic all the time?
It's a choice, I guess.
Can I ask you something?
Shoot.
Do you ever feel resentful of your parents?
- All the time. - Casey.
Sorry.
I mean, do you ever feel resentful that they brought us here?
Sometimes I feel like luggage.
Or a talking plant.
Look, I understand what we're doing.
It's important stuff, but I miss fresh air and running.
I miss my friends.
I'm your friend.
I know. I just miss home. That's all.
Look, I don't wanna be up here any more than you do.
But, I mean, what can we do?
I know. I'm sorry.
You know what I think?
We might as well accept things and make the best of it.
Maybe you're right.
I think I got the second half of the chorus figured out,
and then we can record it.
And we can stare at the supermoon
Ain't nobody here but me and you
And in the glow we are shiny too
Hold on, we're golden
And we can follow the Milky Way
We got the stars coming out to play
Catching the light of another day
So hold on, we're almost home
Pick it up at the second verse, into the chorus.
One, two, three, four.
In the constellations
We'll draw a map of All our wildest dreams
It's pixelated but on a clear night You can almost see
Intentions, lost connections
We're just floating by
Feeling so alive Yeah we're gonna fly
And we can stare at the supermoon Ain't nobody here but me and you
And in the glow we are shining too Hold on, we're golden
We can follow the Milky Way
Stars coming out to play
-Light of another day - Casey?
Hold on, we're almost home
Casey! Cas--
Casey?
- Oh, no.
Cricket, it's a category D.
Prepare for impact. Main hub. Now!
- Window shields up. - Got it.
- Backup generator online. Close air locks. - Closing.
Closing air locks.
Closed.
What happened to the weather rover? Why didn't it warn us?
Must have been knocked out before it could transmit readings.
Water, solar, eco, all green.
The Hab is sealed.
Proximity alert.
Brace for impact.
We've lost communication with Earth.
No.
Casey's Hab is dark. We have to go help them.
Hang on, Cricket. Confirming oxygen depletion.
Drone is good.
Mom, can we drive there and make sure they're okay?
Bug, listen. The bay door to the rover is jammed, and we've got an oxygen leak.
And a water situation. We're not even sure if the rover is operational.
We need to restore water flow
and reboot the electrolysis machine that gives us air to breathe.
Without our resources, we are in deep trouble.
We need to put ourselves first before helping other people.
Right now, it's about access to the water system.
Let's get our situation figured out, and then we can focus on Casey. Okay?
The access panel is outside.
We can't get there. The air lock doors are jammed.
What if we went through this tunnel to the panel,
and switched the water flow to the other channel?
That isn't big enough for human access.
I could do it. Like a mouse.
- Shoot. - Cricket.
- We should pull her out. - Wait.
I'm good.
Okay.
Water flow reinitialized.
Water pressure stabilizing.
Still no contact from Earth.
And the oxygen leak?
We sealed the garden air lock. It's contained.
What if all the plants die?
That would be catastrophic for our work, but we'd be okay.
Just have to replant and start from scratch.
Order some new plants on the next supply drop.
Start a new ecosystem.
Now, it's not that easy back home.
Yeah, there's no other Earth to order plants from.
And Casey?
I'm sure they're following protocol, same as we are.
Can we please try contacting them?
The comms aren't working.
And we're losing sunlight.
So, we need to power down and save every kilowatt.
Tomorrow, Bug.
Good night, friend.
Hey.
He didn't signal back.
He always signals back.
Casey is probably telling jokes
and playing chess with his dad by flashlight.
Today got away from us. We will take action tomorrow. I promise.
I love you, Mama.
To the stars and back?
To the stars and back.
Found the leak. Sealed it.
Plants are okay, and the drones are pollinating.
We can't drive to the other Hab. I'm sorry, Cricket.
Managed to get the inner door open, but the rover isn't an option.
Can't see it on the bay camera. The winds must have pushed it.
So, we're locked in.
Warning. Oxygen leak detected.
Life support on the other Hab is showing multiple oxygen leaks.
- Critical? - Not yet.
What about the drone?
What about it?
I mean, couldn't we at least see if they're okay?
Bug, it's the only drone we have. We don't have a backup.
- We need to check the dig site. - We can check the dig site later.
Right, Max? I mean, I am concerned about their oxygen.
I got this.
Mom, I can do this.
It's a straight shot.
- Cricket… - He's my best friend.
Liftoff initiated.
Nice job, Bug.
Almost there.
Watch your horizon.
Range alert. Transmission to drone compromised.
Condition critical. Drone offline.
No!
There is no plan B for that equipment, Amahle. It's gone.
That was foolish. I'm sorry.
The damage to the air lock has sealed us in,
and now we're blind without the drone.
- We can't take any more risks. - We have to stay focused on us. Period.
That's not what this is about.
This entire experiment, you both have taught me
that the reason we're here on Mars is to help humanity.
To create a lifeboat to save lives.
Every little action can make a difference. Right?
- Yes. - Of course.
Well, there are humans right over there, right now.
Casey's not signaling back. What if they're out of oxygen?
We have to see if they need help.
Cricket.
Seriously? We're not even gonna try?
What if it was us? What if it was me?
Wouldn't you want them to come save us?
Bug, the rover is broken.
We're locked inside with a busted air lock.
How do you suggest we help?
We walk.
Onboard oxygen supply.
It gives us six and a half hours to get there.
Just enough. But it's a one-way ticket.
If we manage to open that busted main air lock,
we'll lose all air in the Hab.
And if we can't get it closed again, there's no coming back.
Mom, you can do this.
We can do this. I know we can.
Depressurization initiated.
Moms?
You've got to be kidding me.
We never left?
Did you know?
No!
Of course not.
Cricket.
What is even happening right now?
You're okay. Are you upset? I mean, I--
I think I'm upset, but I'm not really sure.
I'm kind of feeling everything right now.
I'm mad but I'm glad.
I'm just happy to see you.
I'm so glad you're okay.
Where are your parents?
They're being debriefed. We just found out too.
I drove the rover for 14 months.
It was a sim. A stationary video game with hydraulics.
The point of the experiment was to make sure
a family could survive under pressure living on Mars.
And work together to problem solve in a crisis.
I… think we understand.
My mind is kind of blown right now.
You showed resourcefulness, teamwork and a dedication to human life.
And you excelled at all the necessary experiments.
You are the kind of family that we need to colonize and sustain life on Mars.
What if we don't need to go?
Mars isn't the lifeboat. It's the lesson.
We've lived a carbon-neutral, zero-waste life for 14 months.
And the only real sacrifice was being alone.
Why do we have to go all the way to Mars to live clean?
If we can do all these things right here on Earth,
it's literally the best of both worlds.
We can save the planet together. We won't need a lifeboat.
Cricket June, what you did these past 24 hours
is a lesson for all of us.
You're a born leader.
Me?
Yes. You.
You do your work here.
We'll move forward with the Mars Lifeboat program.
My hope is you won't need it.
Just one more thing before we get started.
- What time is it, please? - 3:00 p.m.
There's still time.
Casey, you got your sequencer?
Yeah.
Yeah, we're gonna fly And we can stare at the supermoon
Ain't nobody here but me and you And in the glow we are shining too
Hold on, we're golden
We can follow the Milky Way
We got the stars coming out to play Catching the light of another day
So hold on, we're almost home
Supermoon
Hold on, we're almost home