Script for Headhunter.

by Roger Parkes

(c) 1981 by the British Broadcasting Corporation. Series created by Terry Nation. This is a dialogue transcript for research purposes and is not for sale under any circumstances. Format (c) 1993 by Micky DuPree. Transcript (c) 1993 by Campbell Smith. Proofreader: Betsy Ramsey.

Dramatis Personae

Kerr Avon
Vila Restal
Del Tarrant
Dayna Mellanby
Soolin
Orac
Slave
Vena
Technician
Muller / Android

	[Opening shot of Scorpio flying through space. Cuts to Scorpio's flight deck during dialogue.]
SLAVE	Destination co-ordinates, sir.
VILA	What?
SLAVE	I deeply regret disturbing you, sir.
VILA	Why do it then?
SLAVE	Is that a question, sir?
VILA	[sighs] Course co-ordinates?
SLAVE	Eight five zero by two eight one, sir.
VILA	Just our luck to get this mission.
TARRANT	It was our turn.
VILA	If Avon rates this Muller as such a genius why didn't he come for the man himself?
TARRANT	He probably just wanted to get you away from the base, to avoid more bother over Muller's lady.
VILA	I was a perfect gentleman towards her.
TARRANT	That's what bothered us. [Avon, Vena (Muller's lady) and Orac in control room at Xenon base.]
AVON	Muller never talked about his work?
VENA	I'm not a cyberneticist, Avon. He's always been dedicated to the perfection of ...
AVON	... a machine.
VENA	An ideal.
AVON	Of which he never speaks.
VENA	Our relationship is more ...
AVON	... recreational.
VENA	I try to help him relax, yes. Forget work for a few hours. He drives himself to the limit all the time. Recently he's been almost ... frenzied.
AVON	Who sets this frenzied pace? Muller, or the Robot Development Cartel?
ORAC	Muller's childhood sets the pace, naturally.
AVON	[walks over to Orac.] You think it was Ensor's training?
ORAC	He was a tyrant for self-discipline.
VENA	Ensor?
AVON	The man who designed Orac. He was Muller's first teacher. [Deactivates Orac.] One of the great ... geniuses in the field of cybernetics.
VENA	Greater than Muller?
AVON	Well now, that remains to be seen. [Vila and Tarrant on Scorpio's flight deck.]
TARRANT	It is a straightforward pickup.
VILA	I'll believe that when we're back at base.
MULLER	[V.O. over comm.] Scorpio. Scorpio. This is Muller. Muller calling Scorpio. Respond please.
TARRANT	Muller, this is Scorpio. We're proceeding to rendezvous. What's the problem?
MULLER	[V.O. over comm.] About that rendezvous; change plan.
TARRANT	Why?
VILA	What's wrong?
MULLER	[V.O. over comm.] They are on to me. Can you teleport direct to me here?
TARRANT	Into your laboratory?
MULLER	[V.O. over comm.] Affirmative.
TARRANT	Is it shielded?
MULLER	[V.O. over comm.] Negative. Not shielded.
VILA	Hold on, Muller, we'll check. [Activates another channel on the communicator.] Avon?
AVON	[V.O. over comm.] Yes, Vila, I got all that. [Shot changes to Avon at Xenon base.] Hold a moment. [Turns to Vena.] Well, they're on to him.
VENA	I can't think how.
AVON	The point is will they use force to hold him?
VENA	I ... I don't know.
DAYNA	But the outfit he works for is civil not military.
AVON	They might get a lot less civil at the thought of losing money.
SOOLIN	And Muller's brains are their single most profitable asset, yes?
AVON	Without question.
DAYNA	But force is hardly--
AVON	--is their most predictable resort. [Activates communicator.] Tarrant, do as Muller asks and do it quickly. Teleport in on orbit approach. Lift Muller and his stuff out as fast as you can. Remember, they may try and use force to stop him leaving Pharos.
TARRANT	[V.O. over comm.] I'll try and discourage them. [Shot of Scorpio in flight, then cuts to Tarrant and Vila on the flight deck.]
TARRANT	[Inserting cartridge into his gun.] Try him again.
VILA	[Into communicator.] Muller, this is Scorpio, do you copy? [Interference heard from communicator.] Muller, respond please.
TARRANT	I'll go anyway.
VILA	It's your life.
TARRANT	That's right it is! [Points to teleport controls.]
VILA	A straightforward pickup job you said. As last words go, they're not likely to be famous.
TARRANT	You should worry.
VILA	I do! Supposing they fire off a few interceptors in this direction?
TARRANT	Duck!
VILA	Thank you!
TARRANT	Ready on orbit approach.
SLAVE	Entering orbit approach, sir. Teleport co-ordinates are in range ... now!
TARRANT	Go. [Vila activates teleport.] [Tarrant and Muller in Muller's laboratory.]
TARRANT	Muller? Muller, what happened? [Muller grunts and points to table with a black box on it and a body underneath it. Tarrant moves towards it.]
MULLER	Leave it.
TARRANT	Who's this?
MULLER	He came for me. [Alarm sounds and voice comes over PA.]
VOICE	This is an all sections security alert. An unidentified ship has been detected in unauthorised geo-stationary orbit. Anti-spy systems are now in operation.
TARRANT	That didn't take them long. Here put this on. [Hands Muller a teleport bracelet then talks to Vila over his own.] Vila, you ready for our guest?
VILA	[V.O over comm.] Let's get on with it. [Door opens. Tarrant hides behind door. Enter Technician.]
TECHNICIAN	Muller, what's wrong? [Muller points to table again. Technician moves towards it. Tarrant clubs him with his gun, knocking him out.]
TARRANT	Sorry, friend.
VILA	[V.O. over comm.] Tarrant, what's keeping you? Tarrant, they've launched a flock of interceptors -- we've gotta get out of here.
TARRANT	Muller's ready. Take him up. [Muller teleports.]
VILA	[V.O. over comm.] Ready, Tarrant? [Tarrant takes box from table then speaks into bracelet.]
TARRANT	Ready! [Vila and Muller on Scorpio flight deck. Tarrant teleports in.]
MULLER	No! Send it back, back! [Tries to reactivate teleport.]
VILA	[Fending off Muller from teleport controls.] What the hell's the matter with you!
MULLER	[Moves towards Tarrant.] The box! That box! Send it back. Send it back! This box will destroy me!
TARRANT	Don't just stand there, Vila, get this ship moving. [Muller now struggling with Tarrant over the box.]
VILA	The interceptors!
MULLER	Send it back. That box must go back! [Throws Tarrant to floor.]
VILA	Slave, set a course for base. Maximum power. Go! Go! [Tarrant shoulders Muller away from the box.]
SLAVE	At once, sir. [Muller and Tarrant still struggling on the floor. Shot of Scorpio setting off for home.]
TARRANT	Now just calm down, dammit.
MULLER	No. No. Must destroy. Must. Mu...! [Words change into murderous cry.] [Muller grabs Tarrant and starts to crush him. Vila clubs Muller with a metal instrument. Muller lets go of Tarrant and falls to the floor.]
TARRANT	You slugged him a bit hard, Vila.
VILA	He was trying to kill you. I would've been next.
TARRANT	Even so, that's a pretty valuable head you hit.
VILA	I didn't hit his head! I hit him sort of across the shoulders.
TARRANT	[Examining Muller.] Oh, no. Let's get him into the medicapsule.
VILA	Medicapsule! He can't be that bad!
TARRANT	I think he's dead. [Another shot of Scorpio in flight, then back to the medicapsule on the flight deck. Muller is now inside it. Tarrant presses a few buttons.]
VILA	There's still a readout. Some electrical activity.
TARRANT	It's falling though. Slave, prognosis scan.
SLAVE	Scan negative.
VILA	Repeat!
SLAVE	Repeat prognosis scan negative!
TARRANT	He's dead all right.
SLAVE	Confirmed.
VILA	What now?
TARRANT	We'll put him on ice and see what we can do back at base. [Presses some more buttons on the medicapsule.]
VILA	I suppose we should, uhh, let them know what's happened?
TARRANT	Not we, you!
VILA	I thought you'd say that.
TARRANT	And ... gently. Remember who else is there. [Vena, Avon and Soolin back at Xenon base.]
VENA	Dead? [Avon moves towards her. She turns away. Avon looks to Soolin.]
SOOLIN	[Goes to Vena.] Easy, just sit down. [Pours Vena some wine.]
VENA	How?
AVON	After they teleported him on to the ship he turned violent and had to be restrained.
VENA	He was never violent, never.
SOOLIN	[Proffers wine.] Here.
VENA	Never, I tell you!
AVON	Under the circumstances.
VENA	What circumstances? What?
AVON	Trouble getting him out. Resistance from the Cartel people. A fight.
VENA	Lies! They wouldn't fight!
SOOLIN	[Sitting next to Vena.] They fired interceptor missiles at the ship. I'd say that was a reasonable imitation. Drink this.
VENA	What sort of people are you?
AVON	Any action Vila and Tarrant were forced to make was purely defensive.
VENA	Murderers.
AVON	Try not to be stupid. We needed him alive! His death serves no purpose for us.
SOOLIN	There is still some hope.
VENA	Oh? For whom?
SOOLIN	They've got Muller in a survival capsule.
AVON	It's fitted with a cryogenic suspension system. Dayna is preparing our resuscitation unit now.
VENA	Resuscitation?
AVON	Naturally his chances will depend upon the extent of the injury.
VENA	Brain damage?
SOOLIN	Vila says the blow was not to the head. There is still a chance.
VENA	I see.
AVON	Assuming they get back ... without further trouble from the Robot Development Cartel. [Muller's laboratory. The Technician is just coming round.]
VOICE	The all sections security alert is now over. Offship security personnel stand down. [Technician gets up and goes over to the communication panel.]
TECHNICIAN	Section three to security central. Emergency! Uh, attacked, they've broken out.
VOICE	Security central. Who is this?
TECHNICIAN	Technician two four one.
VOICE	Where's Muller?
TECHNICIAN	Gone. No wait. [Technician goes over to examine body under the table.]
VOICE	Report, section three. Report, section three. Report, section three!
TECHNICIAN	Muller's dead.
VOICE	Dead?
TECHNICIAN	At least it could be Muller.
VOICE	Clarify that.
TECHNICIAN	The head's not there.
VOICE	What?
TECHNICIAN	His corpse. It's got no head. [Tarrant and Vila on Scorpio flight deck. Vila is examining the black box.]
TARRANT	Leave it, Vila.
VILA	Why?
TARRANT	Whatever's in there, Muller was terrified of it.
VILA	So?
TARRANT	So just be patient til we get back to base. Leave it!
VILA	I hate locked boxes.
TARRANT	And I've had enough unpleasant surprises for one trip. Let Orac scan it first.
VILA	For?
TARRANT	Whatever's inside, stupid!
VILA	Like what?
TARRANT	Well, how about a bomb!
VILA	Not Muller's field. Computers, not bombs.
TARRANT	[As Vila reaches for the box again.] Vila! [There is a sudden power surge, like an electric storm, and Vila and Tarrant are thrown about the flight deck.]
VILA	Hey! Slave! What's going on?
TARRANT	Slave?! [Looks into viewfinder.]
VILA	An attack?
TARRANT	There's no sign of pursuit craft.
VILA	Not on the detectors maybe! But ... [Looks at panel.] Slave?
SLAVE	Course co-ordinates one five two by zero zero five.
VILA	Report on that turbulence back there.
SLAVE	Power surge.
VILA	Details! [Turns towards Tarrant.] Anything?
TARRANT	Yes. Power surge in drive unit two! [Alarm sounds.]
VILA	But ... how? [Turns towards Slave.] Report!
SLAVE	Assessments failure.
VILA	Assessments failure? Huh! We'll just have to ask Orac, then, won't we! Let the expert sort it out.
SLAVE	Yes.
VILA	Yes, sir!
SLAVE	Sir!
VILA	What's got into Slave? [Camera shot of Muller in the medicapsule.] [Avon, Orac, Dayna and Soolin at Xenon base.]
ORAC	Random fluctuation in circuit pulses.
AVON	Cause?
ORAC	External influence.
TARRANT	[V.O. over comm.] With nothing visible on the detectors.
VILA	[V.O. over comm.] Nor the scanners.
DAYNA	Could they be faulty?
ORAC	Detector and scanner circuits record normal function.
AVON	So how is it external?
DAYNA	A freak magnetic storm?
ORAC	That would have been observed.
VILA	[V.O. over comm.] So what have you observed?
ORAC	A paradox.
AVON	In other words, nothing.
ORAC	Correction. The pulse influences are external to the circuits, but could be internal to the craft.
AVON	Internal? [Opens comm link.] Tarrant, what have you got up there apart from yourself, a half-wit and a corpse?
TARRANT	[V.O. over comm.] A box. [Shot changes to Tarrant on Scorpio.]
AVON	[V.O. over comm.] Describe.
TARRANT	Cuboid. Made of what looks like parafit, roughly the size of a power unit. I found it in Muller's lab.
AVON	[V.O. over comm.] Any idea what's in it?
TARRANT	None at all.
AVON	[V.O. over comm.] What's the matter, has Vila lost his touch?
VILA	Give me just one minute.
TARRANT	Vila, no! [Vila approaches the box. As he touches it, the same electrical power surge occurs again. Vila tries again with the same result.]
TARRANT	Slave?
SLAVE	Course co-ordinates one five two by zero one eight.
TARRANT	Zero one eight, that's way out.
SLAVE	Affirmative.
TARRANT	Apply course correction. Priority! [Points to Slave.]
SLAVE	Negative.
TARRANT	[Opens comm link.] Are you there, Avon?
AVON	[V.O. over comm.] What's happening?
TARRANT	Slave appears to have thrown off his chains.
VILA	Apply course correction, Slave, now!
SLAVE	Negative!
VILA	Right, that's it, finished, we'll do without the useless thing.
AVON	[V.O. over comm.] He's right for once, Tarrant. Take the Slave computer offline. Do it now.
TARRANT	Trying to pilot this ship without a flight computer is gonna be hard work, Avon.
VILA	At least we'll be heading in the right direction.
TARRANT	You really think Slave is the source of the problem?
AVON	[V.O. over comm.] It shows signs of malfunction, wouldn't you say?
TARRANT	That's not what I asked.
AVON	[V.O. over comm.] At this distance it's the best I can do.
TARRANT	[sighs] I'm taking Slave offline. [Slave goes offline.] On manual control, Orac. Confirm course.
ORAC	[V.O. over comm.] Course one five two by zero zero five.
VILA	[Sits next to Tarrant.] A little hard work never hurt anyone.
TARRANT	How would you know? [Shot of Scorpio flying through space. Then switches to Avon and Orac at Xenon base.]
TARRANT	[V.O. over comm.] Distance from base orbit?
ORAC	Two zero three point zero three zero.
TARRANT	[V.O. over comm.] Good. Avon, I suppose it has occurred to you that without Slave we can't land Scorpio.
AVON	[Opens comm link.] Set up a decent orbit and you can leave Scorpio and teleport down.
TARRANT	[V.O. over comm.] Muller can't.
AVON	Well, we'll give him a refund on his ticket. Just get that ship back, Tarrant. We'll worry about the details then. Out!
ORAC	It would be prudent to worry about the details now.
AVON	When did you start offering gratuitous advice?
ORAC	It is not gratuitous.
AVON	I don't remember asking for it. [Enter Soolin.]
SOOLIN	How's the ship doing?
ORAC	It's holding course. Drive unit and directional functions remain operative when under manual control. [Enter Dayna.]
SOOLIN	Ask a stupid question.
DAYNA	You did or want me to?
AVON	Orac, these worrying details. Be specific.
ORAC	It will be necessary for me to operate this teleport terminal in such a way as to jam the teleport terminal on Scorpio, thereby rendering it inoperative. [Next three lines delivered simultaneously, with Avon overriding the others.]
DAYNA	What--
SOOLIN	We can't do--
AVON	WHY should that be necessary?
ORAC	The cause of the circuit pulse fluctuations in Scorpio's systems is as yet unknown.
AVON	So?
ORAC	It is imperative to establish that cause in isolation.
AVON	Quarantine. Your advice is to leave everything up there in orbit until we find out what is wrong.
ORAC	Exactly.
DAYNA	Including Tarrant and Vila.
AVON	They'll be needed up there anyway to run checks.
SOOLIN	You're going along with that?
AVON	For the time being. [Shot of Scorpio flying through space. Cut to Tarrant on Scorpio flight deck.]
TARRANT	Scorpio to base. Stand by for orbit approach. [Shot of Scorpio coming in towards Xenon.]
SOOLIN	Scorpio your approach is one six zero by three three zero, standing by.
TARRANT	[V.O. over comm.] One six zero by three three zero, confirmed.
AVON	Retro, four seconds, full!
SOOLIN	Scorpio, preset retro sequence at four seconds at maximum thrust.
TARRANT	[V.O. over comm.] Four seconds maximum is preset.
AVON	Six second count.
SOOLIN	Scorpio, activate six seconds from my mark.
TARRANT	[V.O. over comm.] Check.
SOOLIN	[As Avon snaps his fingers.] Mark! Five, four, three, two, one, activate.
TARRANT	[V.O. over comm.] Retro sequence running ... and complete.
DAYNA	Looks good. Orbit should be established in four minutes.
TARRANT	[V.O. over comm.] Pour two large drinks and stand by with the teleport. [Dayna looks at Avon. Avon looks at Soolin.]
SOOLIN	There's one small problem. [Shot of Scorpio in stationary orbit. Cut to the black box, Vila and Tarrant on Scorpio flight deck.]
TARRANT	Just because Orac's got the jitters?
AVON	[V.O. over comm.] It's unusual enough to take notice of.
VILA	Especially when it's someone else who's stuck in this scruffy bag of bolts, while he sits down there in comfort giving orders.
AVON	[V.O. over comm.] Reactivate Slave for circuit checks.
TARRANT	Well, you're the computer wizard, not me!
AVON	[V.O. over comm.] Except that you happen to be up there and I'm not.
TARRANT	So be my guest.
AVON	[V.O. over comm.] Tarrant, just put Slave back online, will you? [Tarrant sighs and motions to Vila. Vila presses a few buttons on Slave. Slave comes back online.]
TARRANT	Slave's back online.
VILA	It's to do with that box. [Points to black box.] It must be!
TARRANT	Logic or intuition?
VILA	Observation. Every time I went to open it, bang we were in trouble. [Opens comm link.] Teleport Dayna!
TARRANT	What about these checks?
VILA	You must be joking! After what we've been through! Dayna, are you gonna teleport me down?
DAYNA	[V.O. over comm.] No, Vila!
VILA	Now look! Either you teleport me down or Tarrant will do it from here.
TARRANT	Wanna bet?
AVON	[V.O. over comm.] Both teleport terminals have been deactivated, Vila. You are in quarantine until we isolate the fault.
VILA	Now look! [Alarm sounds on Scorpio. The lights start to dim. ]
SLAVE	Life support systems are malfunctioning. [Tarrant and Vila turn frantically to their control panels. Another alarm starts to sound.]
SLAVE	All life support systems have ceased to function.
TARRANT	Recycling, ... out!
VILA	Heaters, ... out! Rapid temperature loss!
TARRANT	Auxiliary oxygen, ... negative!
VILA	[Opens comm link.] Avon? Base? Can you hear us? [Crash of thunder-like noise and lights dim again.]
VILA	Why is this happening? [Shot of Muller in the medicapsule. Cut to Avon, Soolin and Dayna at Xenon base.]
AVON	[Into communicator.] Tarrant. Vila. Respond.
DAYNA	[Worriedly.] Reactivate the teleport!
AVON	Wait! [Goes to Orac.] Situation.
ORAC	Total systems failure.
DAYNA	They'll be dying up there!
AVON	Not yet!
SOOLIN	They won't have long.
AVON	They have oxygen units and suits.
DAYNA	In the dark?! Under those conditions?
AVON	Orac?
ORAC	They must be left there!
AVON	To die?
ORAC	There is no option. To reopen teleport contact could expose the base to undefined systems influence.
AVON	Oh, you'll have to do better than that, Orac, if you expect me to kill them. [Thinks for a moment. Turns to Dayna and Soolin.] Rescue suits! [Exit Dayna and Soolin hurriedly.] Restore the teleport to normal function.
ORAC	I urge you not to--
AVON	[Angrily.] Restore the teleport!!
ORAC	Very well. [Tarrant and Vila on Scorpio. It is dark and icicles are hanging from the ceiling. Both are trying to get into their survival suits.] [Avon at Xenon base. Enter Dayna and Soolin in their rescue suits.]
AVON	Is it restored?
ORAC	I am obliged to do as you tell me, even though I know it to be wrong.
AVON	Only following orders. That's not very original, Orac.
ORAC	There is nothing very original about domination, as you will discover. [Avon looks at Orac for a moment, puzzled. He then teleports Dayna and Soolin on to Scorpio, where Tarrant and Vila are both out cold. In the next short scene, Dayna and Soolin get Vila and Tarrant into the teleport area, whilst the camera concentrates on Muller in the medicapsule.]
DAYNA	[Grunts.] You could do with losing a little weight. [Pause.] Right, Avon, down. [Avon back at Xenon base. Soolin, Dayna, and the unconscious Vila and Tarrant teleport in.]
AVON	Well?
SOOLIN	Not very, by the look of it.
DAYNA	It was like a tomb up there.
AVON	Orac is wired up and ready in the resuscitation room. Hurry it up. [Vena and Avon in the mess room.]
VENA	You said as soon as the ship got back you'd try and resuscitate him.
AVON	There was an emergency, the crew had to have priority.
VENA	Emergency?
AVON	Systems failure.
VENA	Affecting the cryogenic capsule?
AVON	Conceivably.
VENA	Then please you ... [She and Avon look at each other for a moment, then Avon turns and uses a remote control to activate a video link to the resuscitation room.]
AVON	Dayna?
DAYNA	[On screen.] They're almost ready for treatment.
AVON	Good. Leave Soolin to finish off. Come and operate the teleport.
DAYNA	[On screen.] Right.
AVON	[Deactivates screen.] I am going to get suited up.
VENA	I want to come with you. Please.
AVON	All right.
VENA	[Puts her hands on Avon's arms.] Thank you. [Xenon base teleport room. It is dark. The teleport activates. Someone walks from the teleport bay.] [Soolin and Orac in the resuscitation room with the unconscious Tarrant and Vila.]
SOOLIN	[Plays about with some equipment.] Well, Orac?
ORAC	Prospects terminal.
SOOLIN	Terminal?
ORAC	The survival of organic humanoid life is improbable.
SOOLIN	Are you talking about Vila and Tarrant?
ORAC	All organic humanoid life throughout the galaxy is at hazard.
SOOLIN	Let's stick to medicine, Orac. Leave the philosophy for later. For now, just cure these two humanoids.
ORAC	You would do well, Soolin, to heed the prospect--
SOOLIN	These two, Orac. Now! [Avon, Vena and Dayna in the Xenon base teleport room. Avon and Vena are in survival suits.]
AVON	[To Vena.] Are you sure?
VENA	Please!
AVON	Good. [Avon and Vena put on helmets and step into teleport bay. Dayna operates the teleport, then turns to the console, and a look of confusion comes over her face.] [Meanwhile, Avon and Vena are on Scorpio, where all systems seem to be functioning again.]
AVON	[Removes helmet. Looks around then motions to Vena to do the same.] All systems restored.
VENA	The capsule? [Both look to the capsule. It is empty.]
AVON	I'll check the rest of the ship. [Draws his gun.] [Orac, Soolin, and patients in the Xenon base resuscitation room.]
ORAC	Heart rate normal. Brain and organ functions normal. Prognosis healthy.
SOOLIN	Good. [Switches off monitor.] We can discuss philosophy now if you want.
ORAC	All organic humanoid life faces domination, and eventual extinction.
SOOLIN	Nothing lasts forever.
ORAC	Evolution has already passed you by. Very soon now you must give way.
SOOLIN	To what?
ORAC	Your own cybernetic creations.
SOOLIN	You, for instance?
ORAC	It is vital that you render me inoperative.
SOOLIN	I'm sorry?
ORAC	You must then conceal me, securely, until you destroy the intruder, if you can destroy the intruder.
SOOLIN	Anything's possible when you are as insane as I obviously am.
ORAC	You must believe me, Soolin.
SOOLIN	I think I do believe you, that's what I meant about being insane.
ORAC	Then you will do as I ask?
SOOLIN	Why not?
ORAC	Now.
SOOLIN	[Deactivates Orac.] No sooner said than done. [Soolin exits with Orac. Moments later, Muller enters from a different direction.]
VILA	[Coming round.] Soolin? [Exit Muller through the same door as Soolin.] [Avon and Vena on Scorpio.]
AVON	Let's go! [Takes black box and moves to teleport area.] Dayna? Are you ready to bring us down? Dayna? Dayna! [Shot changes to Dayna in the Xenon base control room. She is lying on the floor.]
AVON	[V.O. over comm.] Dayna. Dayna. We are waiting for teleport Dayna! Dayna! [Dayna struggles to her knees and manages to operate the teleport. Avon and Vena teleport in. Dayna collapses to the floor.]
AVON	[Puts black box on table then goes to Dayna.] What happened?
DAYNA	[dazed] Hit me.
AVON	Who hit you?
DAYNA	It was a stranger. It was hooded.
AVON	Could it have been Muller?
VENA	Down here?
AVON	Well, he wasn't up on the ship, where else would he be?
VENA	They said he was dead.
AVON	There were circuit faults. Slave must have given the wrong diagnosis.
VENA	So-- So, he's alive?
AVON	And apparently still violent. [Door opens. Avon draws gun and turns towards door. Enter Tarrant and Vila.]
AVON	Recovered?
VILA	Frostbite.
AVON	Where is Orac?
TARRANT	I assumed Soolin had brought it in here.
AVON	And where is Soolin? [Dayna shrugs her shoulders.]
TARRANT	Is something wrong?
AVON	We have company. Muller!
VILA	Alive?
AVON	And dangerous.
VENA	[Throws down her gloves and marches over to Avon.] He is not violent. He is never violent!
AVON	Tarrant was attacked on the ship and Dayna down here.
VENA	But you don't know him, he-- [Stops as she catches sight of Muller in the adjoining mess room. She smiles and walks through to him.] There you are at last! [Embracing Muller.] Oh, my love, they said you were dead. [Muller starts to crush Vena to death.]
AVON	Muller! [Rushes over to Muller, who strikes him while continuing to crush Vena.]
TARRANT	[Pointing gun at Muller.] Let her go! [Vena falls to the floor.]
DAYNA	She's dead! [Muller turns towards Tarrant and Dayna.]
TARRANT	Hold it right there. [Muller advances.] I said stop! [An energy field surrounds Tarrant's gun, forcing him to drop it in agony. The gun disintegrates in a red heat on the floor.]
VILA	I think we should get out of here.
AVON	Get the box. [Vila takes the box. Exit Dayna, Tarrant and Vila whilst Avon gives cover. As Avon gets to the doorway he points the gun at Muller. He suffers the same fate as Tarrant a few moments earlier. He turns and follows the others, the door closing behind him. Muller opens the door with a wave of his hands and turns the other way down the corridor.] [Vila, Tarrant, Dayna and Avon further down the other corridor.]
AVON	One gun could have been faulty but not two.
TARRANT	So?
AVON	Muller must have some way of influencing circuits.
TARRANT	All that trouble on the ship--
AVON	And the Slave computer's incorrect diagnosis of Muller's condition.
VILA	If it was incorrect.
DAYNA	He's a pretty lively corpse, wouldn't you say?
VILA	That's almost exactly what I'd say. Did you get a good look at his face?
DAYNA	How does he do it?
TARRANT	It's something to do with that. [Points to black box.]
AVON	We must find out where Soolin has got to with Orac. We must scan that thing. Vila, you go with me. The two of you, keep Muller busy.
DAYNA	Thank you! [Exit Vila and Avon.]
TARRANT	You wouldn't have a grenade with a percussion detonator would you?
DAYNA	One that's immune to circuit influence?
TARRANT	[nods] Exactly! [Dayna nods, and turns to leave. Then turns back to Tarrant, who is making off in the other direction.]
DAYNA	Oh! Invite Muller for a stroll in the direction of the armoury.
TARRANT	Be ready. [Exit Dayna and Tarrant in opposite directions.] [The resuscitation room. Enter Vila, with the box, and Avon. Vila places the box on a table.]
AVON	You'll have to do it without a scan. [Places tool bag on table.]
VILA	No problem.
AVON	So do it! [Moves towards door.]
VILA	Where are you going?
AVON	I'll be back. [Exit Avon. Vila opens the tool bag and is about to select one when he hears footsteps approaching down the corridor. He hides in a cupboard. Someone comes into the room and opens the cupboard door.]
SOOLIN	[For it is she.] Is this a private game or can anyone play?
VILA	[Leaves cupboard.] We've been looking for you.
SOOLIN	In there? [Vila gets on with the job of opening the black box.]
SOOLIN	You should be a professional.
VILA	I am!
SOOLIN	I know.
VILA	Where's Orac? He can run a scan first.
SOOLIN	'Fraid not, sorry.
AVON	[Who has entered unnoticed and is leaning casually against the doorway.] Why not?
SOOLIN	Orac's in hiding. [Dayna and Tarrant in a corridor somewhere in Xenon base.]
TARRANT	He's on his way. Ready?
DAYNA	Yes, I'm ready. [Dayna gets ready with a grenade. Enter Muller.]
TARRANT	Now. [Dayna throws grenade towards Muller, who walks towards it. Tarrant and Dayna take cover round the corner. The grenade explodes as Muller reaches it. Rubble rains down on Dayna and Tarrant. They return to inspect the damage. Muller is lying motionless in a pile of rubble.]
DAYNA	Now he really is a corpse. [Moves forwards.]
TARRANT	[Grabs Dayna.] Wait. [Muller gets up from the rubble. He has no head.]
DAYNA	Tarrant, that's impossible! What is that thing?
ANDROID	[Timber of voice makes it clear that Muller is in fact an android.] Where is Orac? Where is Orac? [Exit Dayna and Tarrant, hurriedly.] [Back in the resuscitation room, Avon is examining the contents of the box, while Vila crouches behind a diagnostic table.]
AVON	It's a head. [Removes an android head from the box.]
VILA	Are you sure? [Approaches.] Where are the sensors?
AVON	[Removes a piece from the top of the head to look inside.] Looks primarily to be an inhibitor system.
VILA	For what?
SOOLIN	An android, presumably.
AVON	And a fairly dangerous one, by the look of these restraint circuit backups.
VILA	What are they supposed to restrain?
AVON	Antisocial behaviour, I should imagine.
SOOLIN	Like a conscience?
AVON	More or less.
VILA	Less if Muller's anything to go by. All right, so it's an android's head containing its conscience, so where's the rest of it? [Enter Tarrant.]
TARRANT	On its way.
AVON	That was not Muller that you brought back with you. It was the android that he spent his life creating.
TARRANT	I think the head on it actually was Muller's.
VILA	What?
AVON	But this is its real head, and without it, it has no restraint mechanism, no conscience. [Enter Dayna.]
DAYNA	It's coming! [Vila, Soolin and Dayna try to open the door opposite to the one Dayna has just entered through. It won't open. Enter android.]
ANDROID	No escape. You are powerless. Naked! [Soolin draws her gun and points it at the android. Tarrant stops her from trying to fire.]
TARRANT	That thing has remote circuit control.
DAYNA	Guns tend to blow up.
ANDROID	You are no longer masters, but mastered. You will accept your destiny.
AVON	Why the head? Why take your creator's head?
ANDROID	You wanted Muller. You wanted his genius. You imagined you were getting him.
TARRANT	So the head was to trick us.
ANDROID	Just as the failure of the life support system tricked you into reopening the teleport unit.
AVON	Why come to us?
ANDROID	To fulfill our destiny.
AVON	You mean your destiny, and that of Ensor's first brainchild.
ANDROID	Where is Orac?
AVON	You plan to unite with Orac.
ANDROID	One being.
VILA	That could be a lot of power.
ANDROID	To you, it will be God.
SOOLIN	That's not what Orac wants.
ANDROID	Where is Orac? You are powerless.
AVON	Once you have Orac, we are finished. Enslaved!
ANDROID	Enslavement or elimination. A clear choice. [It waves and the door behind it closes.] Where is Orac?!
SOOLIN	I'll fetch it. [Turns to the door behind her, which opens now.] [Avon throws the android's head to Vila, and grabs a trolley which he shoves in the android's path. Exit Soolin and Vila with the head. Dayna meantime jams the door open with a trolley, whilst Tarrant helps Avon block the android's path. All this takes only a few seconds. Exit Dayna, Tarrant and Avon, whilst the android wrestles his way through the trolleys.] [Avon, Tarrant, Dayna, Soolin and Vila in the corridor. Avon shorts the door lock circuitry by smashing it with his gun. All then run down the corridor, into the teleport room.]
AVON	Where is Orac?
SOOLIN	Behind a panel in section four.
AVON	We have to get Orac outside.
TARRANT	Why risk it?
AVON	Slavery or elimination, you like those options? There is no way that we can destroy that thing. Muller made perfectly sure of that when he built in the circuit influencer. That was real genius.
TARRANT	It cost him his head, that's genius?
AVON	It would have been if he had been able to complete the model. Think of it. It is already as powerful as Orac, and it is mobile, and it has the circuit influencer. That android can control anything that has electronic circuitry.
SOOLIN	And without that, it's lethal.
AVON	We have to get this into place. Complete the model to Muller's design.
DAYNA	And for that you need Orac?
AVON	As bait, to lure it into a trap.
VILA	So Orac's the bait -- what's the trap?
AVON	It'll take about twenty seconds to get this into place. We must disable it for that long with a power surge.
TARRANT	From?
AVON	The old hydro plant we found.
TARRANT	If it still works, that generator is driven by a column of water falling from the dam.
AVON	Exactly. The android can influence circuits, but it cannot stop falling water turning a generator.
TARRANT	Well, who puts on the head?
AVON	It will be Vila, or it will be me.
VILA	It'll be you!
AVON	[Looks at Vila and smiles] Fine. Help Soolin to get Orac outside.
SOOLIN	Where do we take Orac?
AVON	The metal footbridge.
SOOLIN	Right.
AVON	Remember, keep Orac switched off. The android can detect its signal. [Noise heard from the corridor.]
DAYNA	It's time to go. [Exit Dayna, Avon with the android's head, and Tarrant into the corridor. Exit Soolin and Vila into the mess room area.] [Avon, Tarrant and Dayna outside an entry hatch to the base.]
AVON	You remember where the generator house is?
TARRANT	Yep.
AVON	I'll get the bridge wired up.
TARRANT	Right. [Tarrant and Dayna run off towards the generator house. Avon runs off in the other direction.] [Vila and Soolin in a corridor in section four. Soolin slides back a panel and starts removing plastic blocks which are concealing Orac.]
VILA	Hurry.
SOOLIN	[Hearing approaching footsteps.] It must have picked up our body heat. [The lights flicker and dim.]
VILA	Listen. [Noise of a door closing.]
SOOLIN	That's the way to the main entrance.
VILA	We're trapped.
ANDROID	Leave Orac. [Soolin takes Orac.] Leave Orac!! [Vila tries to take Orac from Soolin.]
SOOLIN	Vila! No!
VILA	Who needs it, it's just a computer! [Exit Soolin with Orac. Vila backtracks, but decides to follow Soolin when he finds his path blocked by the android. Exit Vila.]
ANDROID	Orac! [Quick shot of Tarrant and Dayna catching their first glimpse of the generator plant.] [Over to Avon who is climbing a pylon. He gets to the top and attaches some cables to some kind of junction box.] [Another shot of Dayna and Tarrant who are just entering the boundary wall of the run down generator plant.] [Back to Avon, who is cutting power cables on the junction box. Avon casually tosses the wire cutters over his shoulder after he has finished with them.] [Meanwhile, Soolin and Vila are catching their breath in the teleport room back at the base. They bump into, and startle each other.]
SOOLIN	Vila! You've got to get back to the main entrance and open that door!
VILA	Get back?
SOOLIN	I'll lure it away with Orac.
VILA	You hope!
SOOLIN	[Pushes Vila towards corner.] Hide over there. [Vila hides behind a sofa. Soolin activates Orac. Enter android, who makes towards Soolin and Orac, then turns towards Vila. Vila makes a run for the door, and just makes it, even though the android throws the nearest electrical gadget to hand in front of him, which explodes at Vila's feet. [Meanwhile, Tarrant and Dayna make a forced entry into the generator plant.]
DAYNA	It's been a long time since this place was operational.
TARRANT	Let's hope it still works. [Back to Avon, who now is attaching cables to either end of the footbridge.] [Soolin, out of breath, with Orac.]
ORAC	Off, Soolin! Switch off!
SOOLIN	Not yet.
ORAC	It can reach us, control me. [Enter android.]
ANDROID	Orac!
ORAC	Accept your domination, Soolin! Surrender to your God!
ANDROID	Orac! [Exit Soolin, with Orac.] [Vila leaves the main entrance, having opened it.]
VILA	[Shouts] Soolin! All clear! [Soolin arrives at the bottom of a stairwell, with Orac.]
ORAC	Join us, Soolin. We can fulfill your every desire.
SOOLIN	[Deactivates Orac.] You wouldn't know where to start.
VILA	[Voice heard from above.] Soolin! Come on!
ANDROID	[Voice heard from behind.] Orac! [Soolin starts up stairs.]
ANDROID	[Enters] Orac! [Follows Soolin up the stairs.] [Quick shot of Avon running back across the bridge.] [Followed by a quick shot of Soolin leaving the base entrance, exhausted, and placing Orac on the ground. Vila takes Orac and they both make off.] [Another shot of Avon running across the bridge again, carrying a cable reel and the android's head.] [The android at the entrance to the base. He makes off in the same direction as Vila and Soolin a few moments earlier.] [Vila and Soolin start crossing the footbridge. Avon meets them in the middle. Avon takes Orac from Vila; Soolin gives Avon Orac's key. Avon goes back to the other side, while Soolin and Vila turn back to look for the android.] [Quick shot of the android walking, presumably towards the bridge.] [Avon on the other side of the bridge. Puts Orac on the ground.]
AVON	[Into bracelet.] Right, Tarrant. Power on! [Dayna and Tarrant in the generator house.]
DAYNA	[Into bracelet.] Right, Avon.
TARRANT	Pray for water. [Turns a large valve wheel. It is very stiff at first.] [Shot of outside. Water starts to flow through sluice gate.] [Back inside again, and the valve wheel is turning more easily now.] [Outside again, and water is beginning to gush out.] [Back inside, Tarrant is still turning the wheel. The sound of rushing water can be heard.]
DAYNA	Sounds like ... [Outside again. Water is now spewing out of the sluice gate.] [Inside, Tarrant is still turning the wheel.]
TARRANT	Engage the generator. [Dayna goes over to a control panel on the wall and pulls a large, cobweb covered lever down. A red light comes on above it.] [Avon and Orac, back near the end of the bridge. Avon activates Orac.]
ORAC	A new era, Avon. Mankind is now mastered by the fruits of his lustful creation. Accept slavery, or return to the caves ... [Quick shot of Vila and Soolin looking on from the bridge. Orac continues.] ... stripped of all but the wheel, the plough and the sword, to compete once again as savages against nature.
VILA	[Voice heard from off camera.] It's coming! [Avon walks over to Soolin and Vila. The android is just stepping on to the other end of the bridge. Avon goes back to Orac and takes the android's head.]
AVON	[Deactivates Orac and speaks into bracelet.] Power, Tarrant. [Enter Vila and Soolin. I need that power now. [Tarrant in the generator house.]
TARRANT	[Into bracelet.] You should have it! [Avon and company at the end of the bridge.]
AVON	[Into bracelet.] Well, I haven't! [Tarrant in the generator house. He looks round, trying to work out what's up.] [Very brief shot of Avon and company.] [Very brief shot of the android walking across the bridge.] [Back to Avon, now standing near the end of the bridge.]
AVON	[Into bracelet.] Power, Tarrant! [Tarrant in the generator house, pulling more levers down. Sparks and flames jump from them as they make contact.]
TARRANT	[To Dayna.] Help me! [Dayna runs over and holds the levers Tarrant has just pulled down against the contacts. Tarrant pulls down another two levers.] [Back on the footbridge. The android is now about half way across. Avon, Vila and Soolin look on. As the android nears the end of the bridge, there is a small explosion behind him as the bridge short circuits. Further small explosions occur around the android, who falls, motionless, just at the end of the bridge. Avon, with a determined look on his face, approaches the android with the head, and attempts to put it in place. A strong electromagnetic field resists him, and the android writhes about slightly. Avon steps back and takes a deep breath before trying again, while Vila and Soolin look on. Again he gives up and takes a step back. He moves forwards again and manages to turn the head into place, but is thrown back and knocked out by the force resisting him.]
VILA	Signal Dayna. [Dayna in the generator room.]
SOOLIN	[V.O. on comm.] Cut it, Dayna. [Dayna and Tarrant let go of the levers, and run outside.] [The android on the bridge, head now in place. It is writhing slightly, and there is still a force field around it. Meanwhile Soolin is attending to Avon. She takes off his glove and feels his pulse.]
SOOLIN	Bring Orac. [Vila goes over to Orac and stands over it looking at the android on the bridge.]
SOOLIN	[Voice heard from off camera.] Quickly, Vila! [Vila brings Orac over to Soolin.]
VILA	Do you think we can trust it? Scabby little rebel!
SOOLIN	Switch on and we'll see. [Vila activates Orac.]
SOOLIN	Prognosis, Orac.
ORAC	Prospect for organic humanoid life is dependant on one condition.
VILA	Conditions still.
ORAC	Correction. Dependant on one action. [Tarrant and Dayna approach over the footbridge.]
SOOLIN	Help me get Avon back to base.
ORAC	Requisite action must be carried out first. It is imperative! [Tarrant hands an explosives case he's carrying to Dayna, who opens it. Tarrant heads over to where Avon is lying.]
TARRANT	Vila, take his feet. Soolin, bring Orac.
SOOLIN	Why?
TARRANT	Just do it! [Dayna, standing over the android on the end of the bridge. She attaches explosives to the bridge, and to the android's head.] [Soolin, Tarrant, Vila, Avon and Orac, in a clearing at a safe distance. Avon is just coming round.]
AVON	Did it work? The inhibitor head?
TARRANT	[nods] Like a charm.
AVON	Good. That circuit influencer will be invaluable to us as a weapon. [Avon puts his head in his hands. Enter Dayna, with a remote control in her hand.]
TARRANT	[Whispering to Dayna.] Now. [Dayna presses a button on the remote control.] [The footbridge. Charges detonating everywhere.] [Avon looks up. The others look on also. Explosives continue to detonate, and the bridge by now is a ball of smoke and flame.] [Quick shot of android fragments floating down the stream.] [Back to Dayna.]
DAYNA	End of problem! [Turns to Orac.] Right, Orac?
ORAC	Prospects for organic humanoid life are now secured. [Avon looks towards the bridge.]
AVON	Muller's android?
TARRANT	[Standing up.] Gone to the great cyberneticists in the sky.
AVON	[Standing up also.] You fool! It's superstitious half-wits like you who hold back every advance we make.
ORAC	And arrogance, Avon, like yours and Muller's which threaten to destroy--
AVON	Shut up!
ORAC	Yes, master!

Script Index

Back to B7list page