"Quality Time" is the eighth episode of Season 2 of The Zeta Project. Zeta and Agent Bennet are forced to work together to save their loved ones, who are stuck in a broken down submarine that is taking on water.
Plot
Agent Bennet is at home, reviewing Zeta's file, starting right from the moment when Zeta went renegade, including information such as Dr. Selig, the person who helped create Zeta and that Zeta is still trying to get into contact with him. Agent Bennet still believes that the evil organisation, Brother's Day is behind Zeta and wonders what they would want with Dr. Selig. He tries to find out what Selig is currently working on, but discovers that he doesn't have access to know.
James wanting to spend quality time with his father.
He tries to discover more, by asking the computer to find information on other work Selig is working on, but is interrupted by his son James, who reminds his father that he promised to take him sailing. However too focused on capturing Zeta, Bennett tells James that he can't and that he must continue with his work, thus disappointing James. As James begins to leave, the computer alerts Bennett to some of Dr. Selig's other work at a Marine Center as he was sent information from professor, Marion O'Keefe. Seeing this as a perfect opportunity to both discover more on what Dr. Selig is working on and make James happy at the same time, Bennett invites James to go to the Marine Centre instead of sailing.
Ro and Bret flirting with each other.
At the Center, Zeta (having also discovered the information regarding Dr. Selig) is just leaving and finds Ro, who is flirting with one of the workers Bret, who drives one of the submarines and invites Ro on a date. However they are soon interrupted by Zeta who tells Ro that he has just finished speaking to Dr. O'Keefe and informs her that they can go. Ro pulls Zeta aside and tells him that she wants to stay around longer so that she may enjoy her date with Bret. Bret leaves to prepare the sub as Zeta and Ro go for a walk, around the same time Bennett and James arrive. However, James soon realizes that the Marine Centre is actually a research centre, discovering that his father is still continuing with his work.
Bennett however tells him that they are spending time together, but he needs to take care of business at the same time. However, seeing that James is disappointed, Bennett spots Bret working on the submarine and gains an idea. Bennett goes up to Bret and asks him to take James with him on the sub, Brett doesn't allow him, informing him that the sub is already full, but after Bennett insists further by showing his NSA badge, Brett reluctantly agrees to take James with him. Bennett says goodbye to James and goes off to work, though James is still disappointed. Soon after Bennett leaves, Ro arrives for her date, where she meets James and is informed of the change of plans.
Ro, James and Brett enter the sub, where Ro and James are forced to share a seat, since the sub only allows two passengers. They dive into the water and start to explore the coral reef, though Ro and James are not happy with their current situation. Wanting to cheer them up, Bret decides to take them to a coral reef, aware they missed a danger sign. Back at the centre, Bennett speaks with Dr. O'Keefe, where she informs him that Dr. Selig was there just over a week ago and that he wanted to learn more information of how starfish regenerate themselves. She also informs him that he is the second person to ask about the information, suspicious Bennett asks who was the first, where she points out Zeta who is nearby.
Shocked, Bennett grabs weapons from his car and a chase ensures between him and Zeta. He briefly captures Zeta, until he manges to escape again. Back in the submarine, Bret continues to show Ro and James the sights, but both remain unimpressed. Tired of their attitudes, Bret tells them off, but distracts himself from from jellyfish. The submarine briefly crashes where one of the extra engines is gone, causing water to begin to fill in the sub as it spirals out of control. Bret tries to regain control of the sub, but with the engine gone it's no use. The sub soon crashes, but while Ro and James are alright, Bret is knocked unconscious.
Ro instructs James to get help on the radio while she drives the submarine, however with the extra engine gone, the submarine slithers around on the ground. The submarine begins to take on more water, James starts to panic and begins to work on calling for help on the radio. Back at the centre, Bennett continues to search for Zeta, however an alarm goes off. Zeta changes into one of the professors as he overhears one of them speaking of the crashed submarine. In the control room, James alerts everyone of the crashed sub also alerting them it's taking on water. Bennett begins to worry as Dr. O'Keefe assures him and asks of Bret. James explains what happened, informing them of Brett's condition and of the sub.
Dr. O'Keefe realizes what's wrong. Bennett says they should call for help, but seeing that they are taking and water and can't wait, Dr. O'Keefe informs everyone that they'll have to send another sub down to rescue them.
Zeta and Agent Bennet form a brief and uneasy alliance.
Dr. O'Keefe says that she needs two volunteers as that is all the submarine can take. Zeta then reveals himself to everyone, informing them that he is their best hope of rescuing them. Bennett however is angered and informs Zeta it's his family who are in danger, however Zeta informs of the same as Ro is in danger as well. Refusing to believe him at first, Bennett calls his son and asks for a description of the girl he is with who confirms her to be Ro. Realizing the truth, but refusing to let Zeta go rescue his son alone, Bennett says that he will go as well and handcuffs Zeta as they go to rescue James and Ro.
In the broken down sub, James discover the sub to have a pump, but seeing as it was slightly damage in the crash, he does it manually. Having remember his name from earlier, Ro asks if his related to Bennett and he confirms it. Ro then tells him her relationship with his father, revealing that she and Zeta are the ones that Bennett is after. She and James get to know each other better, although Ro is surprised to imagine Bennett as a family person as he has always been so obsessed with catching her and Zeta. James believes she must hate him, but she denies that and states he's a lot better than her date, putting a smile on James' face.
Zeta and Bennet searching for Ro and James.
Bennett and Zeta are in a sub and continue to look for the submarine containing Ro and James, Zeta is still handcuffed and tells Bennett that he won't be able to help in his current state. Bennett informs him that he'll only release Zeta when it's necessary. However, Zeta states that he would never hurt him, which Bennett disbelieves. Bennett becomes suspicious and believes that James being with Ro in the same sub is a trick that Zeta worked up, Zeta instead asks if James was forced into the sub, but Bennett avoids the subject.
Zeta tells Bennett that at some point he is going to have to trust him, assuming his son is more important than his capture. Offended, Bennett reveals that his son is indeed important to him, but that doesn't mean he forgets his job. Bennet then explains that the reason why he works so hard to capture Zeta is because that he wants James to be safe in the world he grows up in, he also informs Zeta that despite whatever happens while rescuing the kids, he is still going to arrest him.
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Continuity
Background information
Production inconsistencies
- Zeta's escape is said to be August 5, 2041. In the Batman Beyond episode "Zeta", this event is said to be six days ago, thus placing Zeta's fight with the NSA at Hamilton Hill High School in that episode on August 11, 2041. That will be a Sunday and during the summer, not likely a day for classes.
- In security footage, the fleeing Zeta is using his "Zee" disguise. He didn't get this until he first met Ro.
Trivia
Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Diedrich Bader | Zeta / Zee |
| Julie Nathanson | Rosalie "Ro" Rowan |
| Kurtwood Smith | Agent Bennet |
| Chris Demetral | Bret |
| Mari Devon | Computer |
| Michael Galasso | James |
| Laraine Newman | Dr. Marion O'Keefe |
Quotes
Ro: Did you say your name is James Bennet? |
Ro: Never thought of Bennet as a family type. He always struck me as sort of a... robot. |
Agent Bennet: When we get to the surface, help me bring in the synthoid and I'll help you find your parents. |
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