'Terra Nova,' Season 1, Episode 7, 'Proof'

In "Terra Nova," Season 1, Episode 7, "Proof," the Shannon kids, Josh and Maddy, each get their own adventure in which the truth features prominently. Taylor, in the meantime, hatches a scheme to infiltrate the Sixers.

Spoilers surely follow.

Professor Horton, one of the greatest scientists of the 22nd Century, arrives back at the colony after a six-month field expedition. Maddy, it turns out, is a big fan. It speaks well of her that she idolizes a scientist rather than an actor or musician. Perhaps this is a 22nd century thing or Maddy is just exceptional. In any case, Maddy wrangles an internship with the scientist, which is when the trouble starts.

Horton seems to be hazy on key details of his own life and research, including a response to a fan letter that Maddy had sent her. Was it because of the stroke he had four years ago? Maddy begins to suspect that Horton is not Horton at all, but rather someone else. At first her investigations get nowhere. Even a DNA test offers no proof.

But, in fact, Horton is actually Horton's research assistant, who killed the scientist and took his place on the pilgrimage to Terra Nova. Fortunately Shannon catches up to him before he can arrange for an "accident" to kill the only witness who can expose him.

Meanwhile, Josh finds out that the Sixers have a way to communicate with the future and gets to talk to his 22nd century girlfriend. Now convinced that the Sixers are the key to getting her to Terra Nova, he agrees to steal some medicines that the Sixers need from his mom's own cabinet. However, things go wrong, and eventually Josh is forced to admit to what he had done since the drug he stole is needed to treat a patient in critical condition.

Taylor, who had been fishing with Shannon (a dangerous activity in the age of dinosaurs), catches up with a man whom he had exiled for murder. He makes the man a deal. Join the Sixers and be his eyes and ears and, perhaps, he might be readmitted to the colony. It is a deal he feels unable to refuse.