Windmills is the seventh episode in the first season of The Expanse. It premiered on January 19, 2016 on Syfy.
Synopsis[]
Holden and crew realize they’re not alone on the Rocinante and find themselves up against a Martian military blockade. Believing all is lost, Detective Miller finds a new reason to forge ahead. Chrisjen Avasarala visits Holden’s family in Montana.
Recap[]
Despite being fired from Star Helix Security, Miller isn't giving up on the search for Julie Mao. In fact he's now a man on fire, blazing a trail of redemption as he looks to save the girl whom he believes might help him save himself.
Miller heads for the docks, where he confronts Anderson Dawes, the man who tried to have him killed. Dawes is impressed with Miller's newfound passion and determination, claiming that he might be a true Belter after all. However, there might still be something missing. "Maybe you haven't lost everything yet," Dawes says to the former detective. "When you do, you'll know your way home. And it will welcome you."
Miller breaks into Julie's apartment, where he quickly becomes frustrated upon realizing that nothing there will help put him back on the missing woman's trail. Just as he's about to throw in the towel, he spots a visitor outside the window: the sparrow that he fed outside his apartment earlier. Somehow, it's here.
Just then, Miller receives a message from his friend and colleague Inspector Sematimba from Eros, who tells him that the Anubis never showed up on Eros, though one of its short-range shuttles, the Anubis 1A, did, and is currently racking up dock fees.
As he prepares to leave the apartment, Miller finds Julie's necklace and takes it with him. He then returns to his apartment, where he collects a bunch of casino chips, the accumulated bribes of his career, and in a symbolic gesture of finally embracing his Belter blood, hangs up his hat. As Miller cashes in his winnings, he's confronted by Octavia Muss who wants to come with him to Eros. Miller tells her that he must take this journey alone and says goodbye to his former colleague and lover.
As a transport ship to Eros takes off for its destination, Miller is amongst the passengers, clutching Julie's necklace as he prepares for the unknown dangers ahead.
Meanwhile on Earth, Chrisjen Avasarala traverses the snowy farmland of Holden's family in Montana, where she visits Holden's mother, Elise. Chrisjen is struggling with the possibility that Holden may be responsible for the destruction of both the Canterbury and the Donnager, and she needs to know him as a person before labeling him as a terrorist.
Through Elise, she learns of Holden's upbringing. Holden was conceived by what Chrisjen calls a "cult of political extremists" as a trick to claim generational land rights, attempting to provoke an emotional response from Elise. Raised to one day take over the farm, 'Jimmy' prepared to defend and keep his family's legacy, told by his mother that "the land needed him"... until the day before his 18th birthday when Elise suddenly told him to "run".
Upon leaving the farm, Chrisjen contacts Sadavir Errinwright and tells him that while Holden definitely has "mommy issues and problems with authority", he's almost definitely not a terrorist mastermind. However, Errinwright tells her that he has already activated a black ops team to take Holden out, based on her spy's report, and that he's headed for Eros (he isn't, but Errinwright doesn't know that) on a converted MCRN gunship with fake transponder codes supplied by OPA bigwig Fred Johnson.
Errinwright got that intel from the stowaway aboard the Rocinante, Kenzo Gabriel, who was spying on Holden and Naomi back on Tycho. Amos discovers him and roughs him up in a crawlspace, where he's broadcasting a radio transmission. Upon being brought up to the ops deck, Kenzo reveals he's a consultant for Davila Aerospatiale, who has been stealing code and tech from Tycho Station for two years. He's also the spy that Chrisjen "borrowed" from Davila to keep an eye on Fred Johnson.
Much to Amos' chagrin, Kenzo ends up being handy when the Rocinante is approached by a Martian boarding skiff. Kenzo informs the crew that being a former Martian gunship, the Rocinante should have a series of code words that tell other Martian ships that they're involved with covert ops, and to back off. After some semi-brilliant stalling techniques from Alex, the crew finds the code words in the operations locker and the Martian boarding skiff turns around.
As the Rocinante continues on its course to the last known coordinates of Lionel Polanski (the sole survivor of the Scopuli, per Fred Johnson), Holden tells Naomi to get a leash on the increasingly volatile Amos or he's off the ship on the next port. He then locks up Kenzo in cell-like quarters, not telling him whether he's eventually going to be executed or not.
Cast[]
Main[]
- Thomas Jane as Josephus Miller
- Steven Strait as James Holden
- Cas Anvar as Alex Kamal
- Dominique Tipper as Naomi Nagata
- Wes Chatham as Amos Burton
- Florence Faivre as Julie Mao (credit only)
- Shawn Doyle as Sadavir Errinwright
- Shohreh Aghdashloo as Chrisjen Avasarala
Guest Starring[]
- Frances Fisher as Elise Holden
- Chad L. Coleman as Fred Johnson (credit only)
- Athena Karkanis as Octavia Muss
- Kevin Hanchard as Sematimba
- Elias Toufexis as Kenzo Gabriel
- Jared Harris as Anderson Dawes
Co-Starring[]
Transcript[]
Click "Expand" to see transcript... →
Miller : I used to be good at this.
Miller : There must've been a time...
Miller : (CLANGS)
...when I was good.
...when I was good.
Miller : Your daughter...
Miller : She was, uh...
$. : She was fired.
$. : Julie...
$. : Uh, had courage,
$. : and, um...
Miller : She deserved to be helped. Not everybody does, you know.
Miller : I'm sorry to say, sir, that the brass sends me cases like Julie's when they don't want 'em solved.
Miller : They took away all the cards. Didn't even want me
to bring her home.
to bring her home.
Miller : Sorry.
$. : AUTOMATED VOICE: Station
stop. Midtown stretch.
stop. Midtown stretch.
$. : (ANNOUNCING IN HINDI)
$. : Please exit the pod.
(SIGHS)
(SIGHS)
$. : (ANNOUNCING IN HINDI)
(EXHALES)
(EXHALES)
$. : Please exit the pod.
$. : (ANNOUNCING IN HINDI)
$. : Docks.
$. : (YELLING) Take me to the docks!
Alex : Oh, it's all over the feeds.
$. : Mars went ballistic when a Belter attacked the Scipio Africanus.
$. : So, now they're patrolling every shipping lane between here and Eros.
Amos : And we are driving a stolen Martian frigate.
$. : We didn't bargain for this.
$. : The only way this ship will pass for a freighter is if no one looks close enough.
$. : If anyone comes on board...
$. : They can't check every ship.
$. : They have no reason to board us.
$. : Once we cross that line, there's no turning back.
$. : Everything we do is gonna be under a microscope.
Amos : This little jaunt just got a whole lot more interesting.
$. : Then we just stay on course and mind our business.
$. : Just a run-of-the-mill gas hauler.
$. : I'm tired of rolling the dice.
$. : This whole trip is a gamble.
$. : (BEEPING)
$. : We just got pinged by a ranging laser.
$. : They're just givin' us a little love tap to let us know they're watchin'.
$. : If that love tap turns into a target lock, we need to be ready.
$. : Right.
$. : (BEEPING)
$. : What the hell?
$. : What did you do?
Naomi : This was an MCRN warship.
Naomi : Its systems normally recognize other Martian Navy as friendlies.
$. : Not anymore.
$. : We'll know if they're coming for us now.
Holden : How did someone as smart as you end up on the Canterbury?
Naomi : I failed upwards, to the level of my incompetence. Same as the rest of us.
$. : (CHUCKLES)
$. : Hey, now we're talking about me.
$. : Hey, y'all. Why are we broadcasting?
$. : What are you talking about? No one's broadcasting anything.
$. : Yeah, we are.
$. : He's right.
$. : It's a radio transmission coming from between the hulls.
$. : There's nothing down there but servos and conduit.
$. : Could be a faulty controller.
Naomi : No, it's modulated, in code.
$. : Alex, do MCRN ships send out status updates when they handshake other vessels?
$. :
$. : Maybe?
$. : Amos, check it out.
$. : Amos?
$. : I'm on it.
$. : (FOOTSTEPS DESCENDING)
$. : (BREATHING THROUGH SUIT)
$. : (BOTH GRUNTING)
$. : (AIR HISSING)
$. : (GASPING)
$. : (BEEPING)
What?
What?
Man : (IN EARPIECE)Just checking in, ma'am.
$. : No, l wasn't murdered in the last 30 seconds.
$. : I'd feel a lot better if I had
some people on the ground.
some people on the ground.
$. : This group has a history of
run-ins with the government.
run-ins with the government.
$. : Really? I'd no idea.
$. : Ma 'am... Think they'll
file an injunction on me?
file an injunction on me?
$. : I'd still like to further
understand exactly...
understand exactly...
$. : If I see one person on the ground
or one helicopter overhead,
or one helicopter overhead,
$. : you'll be living on Basic:
Assistance by the end of the month.
Assistance by the end of the month.
$. : Yes, ma'am.
$. : Elise Holden?
$. : I'm Chrisjen Avasarala,
UN Deputy Undersecretary.
UN Deputy Undersecretary.
$. : This about Jimmy?
$. : It is.
$. : MAN: (IN EARPIECE) Ma'am,
do not enter that residence.
do not enter that residence.
$. : We cannot maintain
your security here...
your security here...
$. : ALEX: It's not like we
stopped for gas or nothing.
stopped for gas or nothing.
$. : He's been with us
since Tycho.
since Tycho.
$. : NAOMI: A spy for our
friend, Fred Johnson.
friend, Fred Johnson.
$. : Hey, I take offense to...
Shut up!
Shut up!
$. : Why would Fred spy on us?
He knows more than we do.
He knows more than we do.
$. : Any idea what he
was transmitting?
was transmitting?
$. : No, he fried this thing
right down to the boards.
right down to the boards.
$. : I wouldn't have if Knuckles
over here hadn't jumped me.
over here hadn't jumped me.
$. : What part of "Shut up"
do you not understand?
do you not understand?
$. : I'm a consultant for
Davila Aerospatiale,
Davila Aerospatiale,
$. : I do special research...
Corporate espionage?
Corporate espionage?
$. : Call it whatever you want.
$. : I've been stealing codes and tech
from Tycho for two years now.
from Tycho for two years now.
$. : Then why are you
on our ship?
on our ship?
$. : Kenzo: (*sighs*)
$. : I dipped my fingers a little too
deep in Fred Johnson's cookie jar.
deep in Fred Johnson's cookie jar.
$. : I had to get off of Tycho before his
OPA leg-breakers scooped me up.
OPA leg-breakers scooped me up.
$. : I got a peek at
your flight plan,
your flight plan,
$. : I saw you were headed
for Eros, I hitched a ride.
for Eros, I hitched a ride.
$. : (SIGHS) I got contacts there.
$. : I was just calling them
to arrange a pick-up.
to arrange a pick-up.
$. : Too bad we're not
going to Eros.
going to Eros.
$. : You're not?
$. : Then where the hell... There's
nothing else out here.
nothing else out here.
$. : It's none of your
damn business.
damn business.
$. : (BEEPING)
$. : ALEX: They launched
a boarding skiff.
a boarding skiff.
$. : On an intercept course.
$. : They must've picked up this
asshole's transmissions.
asshole's transmissions.
$. : They probably think
we're smugglers,
we're smugglers,
$. : and now they're coming
to check us out.
to check us out.
$. : Put him in the airlock.
$. : Whoa, wait a minute...
AMOS: Fresh air it is.
AMOS: Fresh air it is.
$. : Just wait a minute!
HOLDEN: Keep him there.
HOLDEN: Keep him there.
$. : Disable the controls
so he can't get out.
so he can't get out.
$. : Just wait a minute!
$. : Let's hope we don't
open the wrong door.
open the wrong door.
$. : Just wait! Look! Look!
$. : We need to help each
other out here, okay?
other out here, okay?
$. : Now I don't want to get picked
up by any Mickie patrol,
up by any Mickie patrol,
$. : and I know you guys
don't want that either.
don't want that either.
$. : What do you know about us?
$. : It's none of my
business, okay?
business, okay?
$. : None of my business why
you guys are flying around
you guys are flying around
$. : in a stolen Martian
attack ship...
attack ship...
$. : You have no idea what
you're talking about.
you're talking about.
$. : Like I said, it's
none of my business.
none of my business.
$. : I don't care.
$. : You think the Martians are gonna
buy whatever story you're selling?
buy whatever story you're selling?
$. : Will you shut
him up, please?
him up, please?
$. : No, look, you need
to... (GRUNTS)
to... (GRUNTS)
$. : (GROANS)
$. : AMOS: Talk some more.
(GROANS)
(GROANS)
$. : You got a good right.
$. : You use it too much,
but you got a good right.
but you got a good right.
$. : HOLDEN: Enough!
$. : Get him below.
$. : (SIGHS)
$. : (INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)
$. : FEMALE ANNOUNCER: ...it's time to ask
yourself what you can do for the Belt.
yourself what you can do for the Belt.
$. : The OPA wants you.
$. : (LOUNGE MUSIC PLAYING)
$. : Detective Chapeau!
$. : (CROWD GASPS)
$. : I'm like some bad virus
you just can't shake.
you just can't shake.
$. : You want another
shot at me?
shot at me?
$. : In front of all these people?
$. : DAWES: Friends!
Friends, friends.
Friends, friends.
$. : (SIGHS)
$. : You all remember Mr. Miller.
$. : He used to
work for Earth,
work for Earth,
$. : but now he's
just one of us.
just one of us.
$. : Tonight, he's my guest.
$. : His drinks are on me, huh?
$. : This is a good day for
starting over, my friend.
starting over, my friend.
$. : Oh, no.
$. : This isn't over.
$. : (SIGHS)
$. : When we first met, you
told me that I was the
told me that I was the
$. : Patron Saint of Lost Causes.
You remember that?
You remember that?
$. : I think I may have found
another one in you.
another one in you.
$. : You think you've won?
$. : Not yet. But we are
getting closer, huh?
getting closer, huh?
$. : I was never fighting
against you, Miller.
against you, Miller.
$. : In fact, I was
fighting for you.
fighting for you.
$. : Yeah, I was thinking
that when your goons
that when your goons
$. : were tossing me
in the airlock.
in the airlock.
$. : You were thinking
about me then?
about me then?
$. : Hmm. I'm honored.
$. : Usually, when a man is
about to lose everything,
about to lose everything,
$. : he realizes what
mattered to him most.
mattered to him most.
$. : He sees it clearly
for the first time.
for the first time.
$. : I see everything
I need to see.
I need to see.
$. : Maybe you haven't lost
everything yet, huh?
everything yet, huh?
$. : When you do,
$. : you will know your way home.
$. : And it will welcome you.
$. : (TV PLAYING INDISTINCTLY)
$. : You want some tea?
$. : Thank you.
$. : ELISE: You want
anything, Tom?
anything, Tom?
$. : I'm okay.
$. : Can you give us a moment?
$. : That's James?
$. : That's all of us.
$. : Brave woman,
$. : being part of a family co-op.
$. : It's hard enough
for one husband
for one husband
$. : to get along with me.
$. : We try not to
keep secrets.
keep secrets.
$. : Good for any relationship.
$. : Printed books.
$. : We don't see these
much anymore.
much anymore.
$. : Are they antique?
$. : Some.
$. : Cervantes.
$. : Jimmy liked to think
of himself as a knight.
of himself as a knight.
$. : He thought it was
a funny story.
a funny story.
$. : I never broke it to him
that it was a tragedy.
that it was a tragedy.
$. : Can we stop with
the bullshit now?
the bullshit now?
$. : Oh, I had a little left about
how charming your home is.
how charming your home is.
$. : (CHUCKLES)
$. : Should we sit down?
$. : I don't think you're gonna
be staying that long.
be staying that long.
$. : You're not just here
to tell me my son is dead.
to tell me my son is dead.
$. : You could've done
that with a letter.
that with a letter.
$. : You're here because you think
he had something to do with it.
he had something to do with it.
$. : The water hauler the
Martians destroyed,
Martians destroyed,
$. : and the battleship
they lost
they lost
$. : You think
he was involved?
he was involved?
$. : (SCOFFS)
$. : I like living near the land.
Doesn't make me stupid.
Doesn't make me stupid.
$. : Was he involved?
$. : Of course not!
He would never...
He would never...
$. : Oh, no wait.
I know this one.
I know this one.
$. : "My boy was
a little angel,
a little angel,
$. : "he never even
hurt an insect...
hurt an insect...
$. : "Oh, if you'd just seen what
a wonderful child he was."
a wonderful child he was."
$. : And I thought we were
done with the bullshit.
done with the bullshit.
$. : How about this one?
$. : James Holden was conceived
$. : by a cult of political
extremists as a trick
extremists as a trick
$. : for eight people to claim
generational land rights.
generational land rights.
$. : Kicked out of the Navy,
$. : he fell in with a radical
fringe group in the Belt
fringe group in the Belt
$. : because it reminded
him of home.
him of home.
$. : I can make shit up, too.
$. : Why are you here?
$. : I need to understand
your son.
your son.
$. : And what will that
accomplish now?
accomplish now?
$. : I have two governments,
$. : and whatever the hell
the OPA calls itself,
the OPA calls itself,
$. : on a course toward a war
that your son started.
that your son started.
$. : I want to stop it before
anyone else loses a kid.
anyone else loses a kid.
$. : I can't help you.
$. : Can't?
$. : Or you choose
not to?
not to?
$. : What good will
any of this do?
any of this do?
$. : What could I possibly say to you
that would make any difference now?
that would make any difference now?
$. : Make him make
sense to me.
sense to me.
$. : He's raised by
people like you,
people like you,
$. : and he joins
the Earth Navy?
the Earth Navy?
$. : Was he trying
to piss you off?
to piss you off?
$. : Or did he want to see
how the enemy worked?
how the enemy worked?
$. : Why did he leave your
little paradise here?
little paradise here?
$. : You haven't told
me he's dead.
me he's dead.
$. : You're dancing around it.
$. : Letting me say it.
Why is that?
Why is that?
$. : Jimmy's alive.
$. : Alex: Hey there, incomin'.
$. : This here's the gas
freighter Rocinante.
freighter Rocinante.
$. : Can't help but notice you're
sloping in towards us.
sloping in towards us.
$. : There ain't no
trouble now, is there?
trouble now, is there?
$. : SKIFF CAPTAIN: Rocinante, we are going
to need your flight plan and lading.
to need your flight plan and lading.
$. : Please transmit them now.
$. : Aw, hell, we're, uh... We're just
hauling some helium down to Eros.
hauling some helium down to Eros.
$. : Listen, if this is about that radio
thing, our comms are all messed up and...
thing, our comms are all messed up and...
$. : SKIFF CAPTAIN: Please transmit your
flight plan and lading, Rocinante.
flight plan and lading, Rocinante.
$. : Roger that.
$. : There you go.
$. : Tell you what.
$. : As soon as we hit dock, I'm gonna
be pulling this entire system...
be pulling this entire system...
$. : Yangtse Skiff: Your data's
corrupted, Rocinante.
corrupted, Rocinante.
$. : Please re-send.
$. : Um...
$. : There you go.
$. : SKIFF CAPTAIN: Rocinante, you
have been flagged for inspection
have been flagged for inspection
$. : per MCR Trade
Regulation A0-66.
Regulation A0-66.
$. : Do not deviate from
your present course.
your present course.
$. : If you do, you
will be fired upon.
will be fired upon.
$. : AMOS: Watch your step.
$. : Worried about what's gonna
happen when they board you?
happen when they board you?
$. : 'Cause they will board you.
$. : If that happens, you won't
be around to see it.
be around to see it.
$. : You think I won't
space you?
space you?
$. : Oh, I'm pretty sure
you will.
you will.
$. : It won't change
anything, though.
anything, though.
$. : It'll make me
feel better.
feel better.
$. : I think it's pretty clear you're
mad at more than just me.
mad at more than just me.
$. : I have dealt with these
Mickie patrols before,
Mickie patrols before,
$. : I know a few tricks might
help get us out of this jam.
help get us out of this jam.
$. : (SIGHS)
$. : I'm not gonna lie to you.
$. : Either way this plays
out, you're dead.
out, you're dead.
$. : And I'm the one that's gonna
bring you the good news.
bring you the good news.
$. : You're a loose end.
It's nothin' personal.
It's nothin' personal.
$. : Just like that, huh?
$. : Like water's wet.
Sky's up.
Sky's up.
$. : Must be nice to have life
all figured out like that.
all figured out like that.
$. : It has nothing
to do with me.
to do with me.
$. : We're just caught up
in the churn, is all.
in the churn, is all.
$. : I have no idea
what you just said.
what you just said.
$. : This boss I used to work for in
Baltimore, he called it the churn.
Baltimore, he called it the churn.
$. : When the rules
of the game change.
of the game change.
$. : What game?
$. : The only game.
$. : Survival.
$. : When the jungle
tears itself down,
tears itself down,
$. : and builds itself
into somethin' new.
into somethin' new.
$. : Guys like you and me,
we end up dead.
we end up dead.
$. : It doesn't really
mean anything.
mean anything.
$. : Or we happen to
live through it,
live through it,
$. : and well, that doesn't
mean anything either.
mean anything either.
$. : If survival is the game,
I can help us survive.
I can help us survive.
$. : So, you tell
your captain...
your captain...
$. : He's not our captain.
$. : You tell whoever's in charge that
I have valuable information.
I have valuable information.
$. : And, Christ, I've had to
pee for, like, two hours now.
pee for, like, two hours now.
$. : I'll see you soon.
$. : (POUNDING ON DOOR)
$. : (SIGHS)
$. : (BREATHING HEAVILY)
$. : (BIRD TWEETING)
$. : (COMMUNICATOR RINGING)
$. : Miller, you asshole!
Long time.
Long time.
$. : How're they swingin'?
$. : So, listen, that ship
you're looking for,
you're looking for,
$. : Anubis, whatever,
it never showed up here.
it never showed up here.
$. : But the funny thing is, a short-range
shuttle from that ship did.
shuttle from that ship did.
$. : Anubis 1-A is still here on
Eros, racking up dock fees.
Eros, racking up dock fees.
$. : Kinda interested to know
what's in it for you, amigo.
what's in it for you, amigo.
$. : Hey, listen, I gotta go.
$. : But watch your chute, I hear things
are funny these days on Ceres.
are funny these days on Ceres.
$. : (CLICKS TONGUE)
Catch you.
Catch you.
$. : The property line
is that way.
is that way.
$. : I would tell you
if I could.
if I could.
$. : You will now leave, and if you
come back without a warrant...
come back without a warrant...
$. : Fine.
$. : I have intelligence that says
your son survived the Donnager.
your son survived the Donnager.
$. : (DOOR CLOSES)
(SIGHS)
(SIGHS)
$. : Now, will you stop posturing
and help me keep him that way?
and help me keep him that way?
$. : Where is he?
$. : Why did Jimmy leave?
$. : Is that for me?
$. : To take me to some
windowless room
windowless room
$. : so your interrogators
can make me talk?
can make me talk?
$. : Nobody wants to arrest you.
$. : Then why are you here?
$. : I have the facts
about your son,
about your son,
$. : but I don't understand him.
$. : I think you're full
of shit, lady.
of shit, lady.
$. : Jimmy is my son.
$. : He has all eight
of us in him,
of us in him,
$. : but I carried him in my
belly for nine months.
belly for nine months.
$. : He is mine!
$. : You have no idea what
you're playing with here.
you're playing with here.
$. : Just arrest me.
$. : You put all your
hopes on your son?
hopes on your son?
$. : I pressured mine
to join the Marines
to join the Marines
$. : or I wouldn't pay
for his education.
for his education.
$. : First step in a career
of public service.
of public service.
$. : Like mine and my father's.
$. : So, he did
what was expected.
what was expected.
$. : That's why he was in Callisto
during the insurrection
during the insurrection
$. : that took his life.
$. : I've been wanting
for someone to come around
for someone to come around
$. : and tell me that it was
all a terrible mistake,
all a terrible mistake,
$. : that my son is still alive.
$. : I'll be waiting on my
deathbed for that news.
deathbed for that news.
$. : So, I have a pretty clear idea
of what I'm playing with.
of what I'm playing with.
$. : I didn't know.
$. : That's not something
I usually lead with.
I usually lead with.
$. : (BEEPING)
$. : All right, knuckle-dragger.
Come to Daddy.
Come to Daddy.
$. : You get to help.
Congratulations.
Congratulations.
$. : So, all that nutty
talk before,
talk before,
$. : that was just psych
warfare, right? Well done.
warfare, right? Well done.
$. : I've still got to pee,
if anyone's interested.
if anyone's interested.
$. : HOLDEN: Secure for prisoner.
$. : Is this really
necessary?
necessary?
$. : You have something
useful to say, say it.
useful to say, say it.
$. : All right, you're flying
around in a Martian frigate
around in a Martian frigate
$. : with a bunch of junk
welded to it. Congrats.
welded to it. Congrats.
$. : But it's not gonna fool that skiff once
they get on board and see all this.
they get on board and see all this.
$. : That wasn't useful,
that's bloody obvious.
that's bloody obvious.
$. : This is a game. This
is a game of pretend.
is a game of pretend.
$. : And you guys are pretending
to be the wrong thing.
to be the wrong thing.
$. : The Mickies have been known to
disguise their attack ships
disguise their attack ships
$. : when they're doing
covert ops.
covert ops.
$. : They use a special set of codes
that tell other Martian ships
that tell other Martian ships
$. : that they are out there, they're
doing the nasty, and to get lost.
doing the nasty, and to get lost.
$. : How do you
know all this?
know all this?
$. : I'm a good spy.
$. : Which is why I don't want
to mess with the Mickies
to mess with the Mickies
$. : any more than you guys do.
$. : They have a few
grudges against me.
grudges against me.
$. : Donkey balls.
$. : Did you just say
"Donkey balls"?
"Donkey balls"?
$. : Back when I was flying
transpo for the MCRN,
transpo for the MCRN,
$. : we ran across this
unflagged tanker
unflagged tanker
$. : acting kind of suspect
in a pirate zone.
in a pirate zone.
$. : So, we prepared
to engage,
to engage,
$. : but when my captain
hailed them,
hailed them,
$. : they just jabbered on and on,
ending with the phrase,
ending with the phrase,
$. : "Donkey balls."
$. : And?
$. : And just like that...
(SNAPS FINGERS)
(SNAPS FINGERS)
$. : ...my Captain ordered me
to change my course.
to change my course.
$. : We parted our ways.
$. : None of the officers
said anything about it,
said anything about it,
$. : but everyone on the crew was absolutely
certain it was black ops stuff.
certain it was black ops stuff.
$. : That's because
it probably was.
it probably was.
$. : Listen to me,
$. : you guys give that skiff
the proper set of codes
the proper set of codes
$. : and they have to back off.
$. : For all they know, it's some training
exercise to weed out the cowboys.
exercise to weed out the cowboys.
$. : (SIGHS) Everything you need
should be in your code book.
should be in your code book.
$. : He's right. It should be in an operations
locker somewhere on this deck,
locker somewhere on this deck,
$. : somewhere right here.
$. : Right, right here.
Right here where?
Right here where?
$. : Kenzo: You gotta have
the code book!
the code book!
$. : All right, sweetheart. Show me
where the operations locker is.
where the operations locker is.
$. : (WHIRRING)
(CHUCKLES)
(CHUCKLES)
$. : NAOMI: Where did you get that key?
(BEEPING)
(BEEPING)
$. : HOLDEN: From Lopez.
$. : ALEX: Donkey balls.
$. : (SNIFFS)
$. : Avi.
$. : Cash me out, pal.
$. : That's a lot of winnings.
$. : For a lifetime
of losing.
of losing.
$. : You wanna throw
that in, too?
that in, too?
$. : Not for sale.
$. : Miller!
$. : That's how you
say goodbye?
say goodbye?
$. : With a creepy message?
$. : I was just coming to
check your apartment,
check your apartment,
$. : thought I might find your
brains splattered on the wall.
brains splattered on the wall.
$. : Yeah. (CLEARS THROAT)
That didn't, uh,
That didn't, uh,
$. : come out very good.
$. : Yeah, no shit.
$. : What are you doing?
$. : Well, um...
$. : I'm gonna take a trip.
$. : To where?
Eros.
Eros.
$. : Yeah, I'm gonna, uh,
$. : see the sights.
$. : What sights? Miller,
Eros is a garbage dump.
Eros is a garbage dump.
$. : If this thing is as big
as you think it is,
as you think it is,
$. : you're gonna need someone
to watch your back.
to watch your back.
$. : A partner.
$. : Yeah.
$. : I think I'd better
do this one alone.
do this one alone.
$. : You were alone
in that airlock.
in that airlock.
$. : (SIGHS) Tavi...
$. : You can't come with me.
$. : Bad timing.
$. : My Specialty.
$. : Good luck, Miller.
$. : We've been trying
to save this land
to save this land
$. : ever since before
Jimmy was born.
Jimmy was born.
$. : He was gonna take
over for us.
over for us.
$. : The way we raised him,
$. : he grew up thinking he was alive
because the land needed him.
because the land needed him.
$. : That's a terrible
thing to tell a child.
thing to tell a child.
$. : But he never complained,
$. : because it was what
we all wanted.
we all wanted.
$. : By the time he
was a teenager,
was a teenager,
$. : he was reading all
the briefs Tom wrote.
the briefs Tom wrote.
$. : He went to the hearings,
$. : stood at the gates to
greet whatever goons
greet whatever goons
$. : the government
sent to harass us.
sent to harass us.
$. : No offense.
None taken.
None taken.
$. : We set him up
to be a leader,
to be a leader,
$. : and then gave him a
fight he could never win.
fight he could never win.
$. : (SIGHS)
$. : The day before
his 18th birthday,
his 18th birthday,
$. : I took him out
to mend a fence,
to mend a fence,
$. : and I told him to
get as far away
get as far away
$. : from this place
as he could.
as he could.
$. : And that if he didn't
go, then I would,
go, then I would,
$. : because I couldn't stand to watch
what we were doing to him anymore.
what we were doing to him anymore.
$. : You were right
to open the cage.
to open the cage.
$. : (SIGHS) I get a...
$. : Lovely message
from him every month.
from him every month.
$. : Or two. (CHUCKLES)
$. : From some ship or other,
deep out in the system.
deep out in the system.
$. : Jimmy still hasn't
found his place,
found his place,
$. : but at least he's free.
$. : (DRILL WHIRRING)
$. : Guys, this is taking
way too long.
way too long.
$. : It's composite titanium.
$. : If we'd started an hour ago...
$. : Who said that you could talk'?
HOLDEN: I did.
HOLDEN: I did.
$. : NAOMI: Just keep at it.
$. : Kenzo: That's not
gonna help, either.
gonna help, either.
$. : You kill the power to the magnetic
seal, the backup in that locker
seal, the backup in that locker
$. : is gonna kick in
and keep it shut.
and keep it shut.
$. : That's why I'm gonna kill
the power source first
the power source first
$. : so the backup doesn't trigger.
$. : It's a good idea, but
there's not enough time.
there's not enough time.
$. : You underestimate my
ability to break things.
ability to break things.
$. : Where are you going?
$. : I'm gonna go
prep for plan B.
prep for plan B.
$. : What's plan B?
$. : To get down to that airlock and
make sure nobody boards us.
make sure nobody boards us.
$. : Alex!
$. : Hold 'em off as
long as you can.
long as you can.
$. : Get us those
damn codes.
damn codes.
$. : Think you need
that hand-cannon?
that hand-cannon?
$. : I don't know.
$. : We'll see.
$. : HOLDEN: Hey, let's get
something straight.
something straight.
$. : Any Martians come
through that airlock,
through that airlock,
$. : we subdue and take them
prisoner. Nobody's dying.
prisoner. Nobody's dying.
$. : So, they'll have a chance
to ping the mother-ship?
to ping the mother-ship?
$. : (LAUGHS)
$. : That ain't my plan.
$. : That's a two-man
patrol skiff.
patrol skiff.
$. : I'm gonna take 'em
down clean and fast,
down clean and fast,
$. : then we're gonna burn
like hell somewhere safe.
like hell somewhere safe.
$. : Figure out what our next
move is from there.
move is from there.
$. : Do you know how many Martians
died getting us off the Donnager?
died getting us off the Donnager?
$. : Ship that size?
Few hundred.
Few hundred.
$. : And now you're gearing up to kill
a few more like it was nothing.
a few more like it was nothing.
$. : Because they are the
enemy right now.
enemy right now.
$. : And we're the fugitives.
$. : And as far as
they're concerned,
they're concerned,
$. : we're the ones who
blew up the Donnager.
blew up the Donnager.
$. : And I am not spending the rest
of my days in a Martian gulag.
of my days in a Martian gulag.
$. : How much justice do you
think you're gonna get
think you're gonna get
$. : for the Canterbury
inside a prison cell?
inside a prison cell?
$. : If the price of justice is more
innocent blood, then I don't want it.
innocent blood, then I don't want it.
$. : I thought so.
$. : A guy with big ideas,
want to take on the bad guys,
want to take on the bad guys,
$. : so long as it doesn't
cost him anything.
cost him anything.
$. : What the hell are
you babbling about?
you babbling about?
$. : I'm talking about
that clown upstairs,
that clown upstairs,
$. : that as soon as you out loose, will
sell us to the highest bidder.
sell us to the highest bidder.
$. : I'm talking about
the Mickies
the Mickies
$. : comin' through that airlock
to take us down.
to take us down.
$. : You logged the
distress call, Holden.
distress call, Holden.
$. : Welcome to the churn.
$. : Naomi was right to
be afraid of you.
be afraid of you.
$. : (ALARM BLARING)
$. : ALEX: (OVER SPEAKER)
Proximity alarm, people.
Proximity alarm, people.
$. : We are officially out of time.
$. : SKIFF CAPTAIN: Rocinante,
release your outer airlock door
release your outer airlock door
$. : and prepare for boarding.
$. : ALEX: Roger that.
$. : Got any ideas for
revising this plan?
revising this plan?
$. : Stall them.
Oh, there's an idea!
Oh, there's an idea!
$. : Hey there, fellas!
$. : Uh, welcome to
the neighborhood.
the neighborhood.
$. : See you're extending
out your docking tube,
out your docking tube,
$. : though there might be a little
problem with the link-up, uh...
problem with the link-up, uh...
$. : We're still workin'
out some kinks.
out some kinks.
$. : Amos, we are
not those guys.
not those guys.
$. : We're not the assholes.
$. : I'm done talking, Holden.
$. : We're about to have company.
$. : I will take you down,
$. : before I let you
take them down.
take them down.
$. : You got a clean shot.
Back of the head.
Back of the head.
$. : Take it if you need it.
$. : You don't think I'll do it.
$. : There's only one
way to find out.
way to find out.
$. : ALEX: All right there,
boys, get ready to dance.
boys, get ready to dance.
$. : Yangtse Skiff: Rocinante, release
your outer airlock door now
your outer airlock door now
$. : or we will breach.
$. : Hey there, boys, just a couple
of sec: there, friend-os.
of sec: there, friend-os.
$. : Uh, trouble's just a problem
I ain't fixed yet.
I ain't fixed yet.
$. : Okay, listen. We gotta
let them in now
let them in now
$. : or we get a bomb
on our hull. You pick.
on our hull. You pick.
$. : I've got it!
What? You got it?
What? You got it?
$. : I've got it! Aah!
$. : (NAOMI SIGHS)
$. : It's this one.
$. : SKIFF CAPTAIN: Rocinante,
this is your final warning...
this is your final warning...
$. : Yeah, I'm sorry. I'm sorry to be
such a pain, boys, um, but, uh...
such a pain, boys, um, but, uh...
$. : Our power problems,
they've been so, uh...
they've been so, uh...
$. : Ubiquitous and...
$. : Mendacious and polyglottal.
$. : Like a couple
of donkey balls.
of donkey balls.
$. : SKIFF CAPTAIN: Received
and understood, Rocinante.
and understood, Rocinante.
$. : You get those comms checked
out when you hit port.
out when you hit port.
$. : You got it, fellas.
And, hey.
And, hey.
$. : You boys be careful out
there, you hear?
there, you hear?
$. : SKIFF CAPTAIN: You too,
Rocinante. Safe travels.
Rocinante. Safe travels.
$. : (LAUGHING) Whoo-hoo!
$. : ALEX: (OVER SPEAKER)
Son of a bitch!
Son of a bitch!
$. : Can you believe that?
Damn, I'm good!
Damn, I'm good!
$. : That worked out.
$. : ALEX: Well done, y'all.
$. : (ALEX LAUGHING)
$. : You see? It wasn't so bad.
$. : MAN: (OVER EARPIECE) Yes, ma'am.
Secretary Errinwright is calling.
Secretary Errinwright is calling.
$. : Put him through.
$. : Errinwright: Unauthorized
field trips, now, huh?
field trips, now, huh?
$. : CHRISJEN: I think
our boy James Holden
our boy James Holden
$. : may have mommy issues,
problems with authority
problems with authority
$. : and guilt for not
saving the world,
saving the world,
$. : but I don't see a
terrorist mastermind.
terrorist mastermind.
$. : We'll have the asset bag him and
bring him home for a long chat.
bring him home for a long chat.
$. : Errinwright: Your corporate
spy's been compromised.
spy's been compromised.
$. : He's missed his last
two comm windows.
two comm windows.
$. : His final report said that
Holden was heading for Eros
Holden was heading for Eros
$. : in a converted MCRN gunship,
$. : with fake transponder codes
supplied by Fred Johnson.
supplied by Fred Johnson.
$. : So your analysis of his
character notwithstanding,
character notwithstanding,
$. : I've activated
a black ops team.
a black ops team.
$. : We're taking Holden
off the board.
off the board.
$. : Taking him off the board
$. : for a series of circumstances
we don't even understand?
we don't even understand?
$. : We're beyond circumstantial
here, Chrisjen.
here, Chrisjen.
$. : And we can't afford
to wait for the next
to wait for the next
$. : disaster in Holden's wake.
$. : Things are fragile enough
out there right now.
out there right now.
$. : When Holden gets
to Eros, he's done.
to Eros, he's done.
$. : Field trip's over.
$. : I need you back here.
$. : Shit.
$. : Well,scopes
are clear, chief.
are clear, chief.
$. : No more patrols between
here and Eros station.
here and Eros station.
$. : According to Fred's
coordinates,
coordinates,
$. : the last known residence
of Lionel Polanski
of Lionel Polanski
$. : is a charted Belt Asteroid
Bravo Alpha 834024112.
Bravo Alpha 834024112.
$. : We got ourselves a rock.
$. : Hopefully one with
some answers on it.
some answers on it.
$. : Yep.
$. : Hey, can I just...
Quiet.
Quiet.
$. : Hey, next port we hit,
$. : I want your boy
Amos off this ship.
Amos off this ship.
$. : What's happened?
$. : Whatever leash you had him on,
you better get him back on it.
you better get him back on it.
$. : He's not my dog.
$. : (FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)
$. : We getting this
show on the road?
show on the road?
$. : Get him under control.
$. : You're the only
one who can.
one who can.
$. : (Kenzo URINATING)
$. : (SIGHS DEEPLY)
$. : Some things in life
are worth waiting for.
are worth waiting for.
$. : It's like gettin'
another stone tablet.
another stone tablet.
$. : (GRUNTING)
$. : (SIGHS)
$. : Look, I know we got off
to kind of a rocky start,
to kind of a rocky start,
$. : but we came through it okay.
$. : To a guy like me,
that means something.
that means something.
$. : (SIGHS) Bein' in the trenches with people.
Goin' through shit.
Goin' through shit.
$. : So what do you say,
when we get to Eros
when we get to Eros
$. : or wherever it is
you're going,
you're going,
$. : we shake hands and forget
all this ever happened.
all this ever happened.
$. : We'll cross that bridge
when we get to it.
when we get to it.
$. : Okay, so let me
ask you something else.
ask you something else.
$. : Are you anything like
that animal you got topside?
that animal you got topside?
$. : Amos, you call him.
$. : No.
Good.
Good.
$. : I don't care what
you're involved in.
you're involved in.
$. : I am just a guy trying to do my
job, like you and your people.
job, like you and your people.
$. : I have family
out there, too.
out there, too.
$. : If you can look at
yourself in the mirror
yourself in the mirror
$. : and still decide that you're
gonna toss me into space
gonna toss me into space
$. : because I'm
$. : inconvenient to you,
$. : then at least you
can do me the respect
can do me the respect
$. : of telling me that
it's gonna happen.
it's gonna happen.
$. : And mercy is not
in the cards for me.
in the cards for me.
$. : So I can make my peace.
$. : Because I am not
an animal either.
an animal either.
$. : Mmm.
$. : CAPTAIN OVER SPEAKERS: We will be
cruising at a comfortable one-third g,
cruising at a comfortable one-third g,
$. : so feel free to move about the compartments
until our mid-point flip-and-burn.
until our mid-point flip-and-burn.
$. : Next stop, Eros station.
Media[]
THE EXPANSE Inside The Expanse Episode 7 Syfy
Inside The Expanse - Episode 7 THE ZONE SKY TV
The Expanse - The Churn
Notes[]
Goofs[]
- Craig Henry appears in two episodes as "Javi" the Bouillotte Dealer. For the first appearance, the word Dealer is shortened to just three letters, DLR, in his closing credit. For the second appearance, the word Bouillotte is misspelled and shortened instead, omitting an "L" leaving only one.
Trivia[]
- The episode title was revealed by James S. A. Corey on Reddit May 26, 2015.[1]
- The title is likely one of many references to Don Quixote in the book and TV series, where the idiom "tilting at windmills" derives from.
- The scene with Chrisjen in the snowfield was filmed between two days of heavy weather. It could not have been filmed a day later or earlier.[2]
- Shohreh Aghdashloo and guest Frances Fisher are both good friends in real life and have previously worked together in the film The House of Sand and Fog.[2]
- During his explanations to Kenzo, Amos references the events and theme that inspire the novella The Churn.[2]
- Thomas Jane wanted to call the Bouilotte dealer, who cashed out Miller's chips, by name on the day of filming because he wasn't identified in the script. The dealer was instead given the name Javi after screenwriter Javier Grillo-Marxauch.[2] Closed Captions show the name "Avi".
- Despite being credited, Chad L. Coleman does not appear in this episode.
- The word "ubiquitous", as used in the sequence of code words given by Alex to the Yangtse, apparently evolved in the TV adaptation from the use as a signal (in the novel Leviathan Wakes) between the survivors of the Canterbury and Fred Johnson to indicate no coercion.
- The character of Kenzo Gabriel does not appear in the novels; he was created specifically for the television series. Coincidentally, the script for this episode was written by Ty Franck and Daniel Abraham, aka James S.A. Corey, the writers of the novels.[2]
- Although Alli Chung is credited with the role of Samantha Rosenberg, at the end of Abaddon's Gate and at the beginning of Nemesis Games, her character is referred to as "Samantha". Otherwise, the books usually name the character Samara Rosenberg.
- Furthermore, Sam is a bigger role in the books; however, the creators decided to give the actress Cara Gee's character a bigger role by acquiring some of Sam's. Beyond that, Samantha's part appears to have been cut, particularly in what is streamed on Amazon.
- In September 2017, it was noted that credits shown for streamed episodes on Amazon Instant Video were revised to include more stunt performer credits. Also added were stunt wire team credits. These additional credits are available on the Amazon Instant Video Ultra HD 4K stream.
Cast credits on-screen[]
Frances Fisher as Elise Holden
Chad L. Coleman as Frederick Lucius Johnson
Athena Karkanis as Detective Octavia Muss; Kevin Hanchard as Sematimba; Elias Toufexis as Kenzo Gabriel
Jared Harris as Anderson Dawes
References[]
- ↑
Three episode titles revealed
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 syfy.com: Fun Facts: Season 1, Episode 7
External links[]
Archive on 15-Mar-2016 of 
SYFY - Season 1 Episode 7 Recap - Windmills
| "Dulcinea" • "The Big Empty" • "Remember the Cant" • "CQB" • "Back to the Butcher" • "Rock Bottom" • "Windmills" • "Salvage" • "Critical Mass" • "Leviathan Wakes" |