A Message to the Science Community is a PSA relating to NASA's Mars rover.
Characters[]
Red Team[]
Blue Team[]
Synopsis[]
Simmons begins to introduce the PSA in the usual manner, but is interrupted by Tucker screaming that he can't take it. As what appears to be planetary rovers move in the background, Tucker states that there's no time for introductions and that they have a problem. Simmons agrees, telling the audience that they have a message for NASA, who the team calls "the most voyeuristic nerds in the universe." Tucker and Simmons continue, saying that while from a million miles away, Blood Gulch is interesting, it's not worth sending fourteen rovers.
Tucker suggests simply calling them, and Simmons adds that they'd be happy to send samples. Church says that the other day he had been napping, when a rover drilled a hole in his rear and photographed him. Donut thinks he is a celebrity camwhore, and has married middle-aged men sending him messages all day. Donut attempts to give out his Amazon wishlist, but is interrupted by Church. Simmons looks on the bright side, revealing that Grif has found out how to make the rovers into skateboards. The rovers have begun harassing Sheila as a clawed rover threatens Caboose. Another rover comes too close to the camera for Simmons's liking. The rovers begin to transmit pictures, much to the chagrin of all. The PSA ends with a series of photos.
Transcript[]
Fade to Simmons standing alone in Blood Gulch. A photograph of a planetary rover can be seen moving behind him, accompanied by a mechanical whirring noise.
Simmons: Hi. I'm private Dick Simmons, from the popular web series, Red Vs. Blue. But you know, I'm not here today-
Tucker: STOP IT!
Simmons looks to the right
Tucker: I CAN'T TAKE IT!
Tucker is standing next to Simmons. Another rover can be seen in the background.
Tucker: Look, we don't have time for introductions today. We've got a problem.
Simmons turns to the camera
Simmons: Yeah, we need someone on Earth to get a message to the engineers at NASA.
Tucker: Or as we like to call them, "The most voyeuristic nerds in the universe."
Simmons: We know that our little canyon may seem interesting from a million miles away, but it's REALLY not worth all the effort you're putting in to sending all these rovers up here.
Tucker: One was bad enough, but now there's like fourteen of these things up here. Hey, if you guys wanna know what's going on up here, I've got a crazy idea. Why don't you try calling us? PICK UP A PHONE. We're here ALL DAY.
Simmons: Yeah, if you want some pictures of some rocks, or some jars of dirt, just let us know, and we'd be happy to send it to you.
The camera cuts to show that Church has joined the two. Yet another rover rolls by in the foreground.
Church: You guys aren't kidding. The other day I'm taking a nap; one of these things rolls up and drills a hole in my right butt cheek; starts taking pictures. That's not too cool!
Tucker: Now Donut thinks he's some sort of celebrity camwhore because one of these rovers keeps posting pictures on the internet. He's got 46-year-old married dudes e-mailing him all day long. (Tucker continues in a mocking voice) "What's your phone number?" "What are you wearing?" "Gonna come over after work?" "My wife doesn't get me, only you get me."
Donut is seen to Simmons's left
Donut: For those of you who are interested, my Amazon wishlist URL is: www-
Church: (interrupting) Jesus, would you just shut up?
Simmons: At least Grif figured out how to turn them into skateboards.
Grif zips past the camera, and Donut, Simmons, and Tucker turn as he goes past.
Grif: Whoo-hoo-hoo!
Simmons: Hey, Sarge says you're supposed to wear a helmet!
Grif: (offscreen) I'm gonna build a ramp, who wants to help?
Sheila: (offscreen) Help. Leave me alone!
Everyone turns around
Church: Ay-way, homes! [needs checking] Get away from our tank!
Sheila is shown to be confronted by two rovers, and is looking back and forth at them.
Rover 1: Hey, baby. Do those tank treads go all the way up?
Sheila: Get these dorks away from me!
The sound of a camera is heard
Rover 1: Wow. You are so photogenic. Are you a model or famous actress?
Sheila: Caboose, help me.
Caboose is shown faced with a robotic claw arm
Caboose: This one has a really big pinchy-thing.
Rover 2: That's right. Fear the claw, bitch.
Cut to Simmons, alone in shot again, with a rover behind him
Simmons: So please, for the love of God, stop sending these things. Trust us: there's NOTHING going on up here.
A robotic "head" comes up into shot
Rover 3: Fear the claw! Fear the claw!
Simmons: (angrily) Hey, get down! Don't touch the camera!
Tucker is seen in close-up with Church behind him as the sound of a satellite datafeed is heard starting.
Tucker: Ah, crap, they're transmitting pictures again!
Church: (hysterically) Just shut up! Make 'em stop, MAKE 'EM STOP! SHUT UP! SHUT UUUP!
Screen fades to black
Sheila: Hey, watch the hand, buddy.
Hawaiian-style music starts up to a photo montage, with each photo accompanied by the sound of a camera shutter. The photos show Caboose wearing a floral-print shirt over his armor with the caption, "Wish You Were Here!"; a napping Church about to have his buttcheek drilled into; a "camwhore"-like picture of Donut with the caption, "O.M.F.G. Finals suck!"; and Grif performing a handstand on the rail of a quarter-pipe with one of the rovers. As the music ends, the video fades to black.
Trivia[]
- The noise heard when the rovers are transmitting is the sound made by satellite datafeeds, which is how NASA actually encrypts transmissions to and from the International Space Station, from live feeds on rocket launches, and so forth.
- The robotic claw is similar in appearance to various build-it-yourself science kits for children. Many robotics kits of this type exist, most having very simple controls for each joint.
- The photos shown at the end of the episode were made using Halo: Combat Evolved action figures.