(c) 1979 by the British Broadcasting Corporation. Series created by Terry Nation. This is a partial dialogue transcript for research purposes and is not for sale under any circumstances. Format (c) 1992 by Micky DuPree and Susan Hill.
Dramatis Personae
Roj Blake
Kerr Avon
Jenna Stannis
Cally
Vila Restal
Zen
Orac
Travis
Servalan
Ushton
Inga
Space Commander
Counsellor Joban
Molok
Mutoid
Uncredited:
Female voice
| VILA | Quiet, isn't it? |
| AVON | Yes. |
| ZEN | Information. Forward sensors indicate Federation pursuit ships. |
| BLAKE | Zen, strategy three, immediate operation. |
| ZEN | Confirmed. |
| AVON | Battle stations. |
| BLAKE | Give me bearing and number of hostiles. |
| ZEN | Battle computers will specify three seconds. |
| BLAKE | Activate the force wall. |
| AVON | Activated. |
| JENNA | What's happening |
| BLAKE | Pursuit ships homing in. Get us moving. |
| ZEN | Sensors indicate two hostiles bearing one three seven |
| BLAKE | Cally. |
| CALLY | Distance five hundred spacials and closing. |
| BLAKE | Full boost, Jenna. |
| JENNA | Full boost. |
| CALLY | Two hundred spacials and closing fast. |
| BLAKE | Evasion course. |
| JENNA | Evasion course under way. |
| VILA | Two plasma bolts launched and running. |
| JENNA | Changing course delta one vector..two nine. |
| VILA | Missed. |
| BLAKE | Increase speed to standard by ten. |
| ZEN | Confirmed. Speed increased to standard by ten. |
| JENNA | Blake, look. |
| VILA | Two more pursuit ships. |
| AVON | Bearing..one seven five |
| BLAKE | Distance? |
| CALLY | Four hundred spacials and closing. |
| BLAKE | We're turning into them. |
| JENNA | I can see that. Compensating zero nine five. |
| BLAKE | Increase speed to standard by twelve. |
| ZEN | Confirmed. |
| VILA | Plasma bolts launched and running. |
| AVON | They're well off target. No threat. Bolt strikes Liberator |
| VILA | I don't call that off target. |
| AVON | Where the hell did that one come from? |
| BLAKE | Zen. Forward vision. |
| VILA | Four more? |
| BLAKE | Bearing? |
| AVON | Two seven zero. |
| BLAKE | Cally? |
| CALLY | Four hundred spacials and closing. |
| JENNA | Blake, We're running out of room to manoeuver. |
| BLAKE | They're working to a pattern. Zen are the battle computers ready to project all enemy positions? |
| ZEN | Affirmative. Computers ready. |
| AVON | Blake, there's a mass of ionized particles, vector three nine. If we can fly into it it could confuse their scanners for just long enough. |
| BLAKE | Avon might be right. Tangent one eight. Go for it. |
| JENNA | Blake, at this speed even the smallest particle... |
| BLAKE | Quench it , Jenna, full thrust. |
| JENNA | Tangent one eight. Full boost is on. [Liberator enters cloud of particles] |
| BLAKE | Zen, nearest pursuit ship? |
| ZEN | Nine hundred spacials. Liberator is now out of detector range. |
| AVON | We've outrun them. |
| BLAKE | Well done, Jenna. |
| VILA | I thought we'd had it that time. |
| JENNA | So did I. |
| VILA | I could murder a relaxant. Any chance? |
| CALLY | It's for medicinal purposes only. You know that. |
| VILA | This once? |
| CALLY | Well, are you dying? |
| VILA | I'm thinking about it.
[Federation pursuit ship]
|
| COMMANDER | Has she picked us up yet? |
| MUTOID | No. commander.
|
| COMMANDER | Good. Our detector shield is working. Give me her exact position in three minutes at present speed. Mark. |
| MUTOID | Computer running..
|
| COMMANDER | Commander to lead flotilla. Grid reference one zero seven three delta in two minutes twenty three sections. Mark. Attack in sections, Alpha section leads. Thirteen seconds between waves. Speed, time distort ten. Now we'll see what the Liberator is made of. |
| MUTOID | Two minutes.
|
| COMMANDER | She won't get away a second time. |
| MUTOID | Do we join the action, Space Commander?
|
| COMMANDER | No. We just watch the execution.
|
| ZEN | Federation pursuit ships registering on forward detectors now number twenty. |
| BLAKE | Twenty? |
| VILA | Oh, no. |
| BLAKE | Activate force wall three sixty. Energy reserves? |
| JENNA | Switched in |
| AVON | Activated. |
| BLAKE | Zen, relative position? |
| ZEN | Liberator is centered on all flight paths. |
| JENNA | What course? |
| BLAKE | Maintain course Increase speed to standard by ten. |
| AVON | Zen, can we withstand an attack of this magnitude? |
| ZEN | No information. |
| AVON | Thank you, that's very helpful.
|
| MUTOID | Alpha section commencing attack run.
|
| COMMANDER | Excellent. This is what I've been waiting for. Goodbye, Blake. Liberator |
| AVON | Four plasma bolts, launched and running. |
| BLAKE | Hang on, everybody.
Command ship
|
| COMMANDER | They've got her. And again. How many strikes now? |
| MUTOID | Five bolts, running true.
|
| COMMANDER | She'll have to go. She'll never resist this. [Many shots strike the Liberator. Smoke fills the flight deck; the crew are thrown from their positions. Jenna gets back to piloting position. More shots, crew again thrown from their positions. Blake and Jenna scramble back to the controls] |
| BLAKE | It's all right Jenna, I've got it.
[Federation pursuit ship]
|
| COMMANDER | She's getting away. Alpha section, return to the attack. Repeat, alpha section, return to the attack. [Liberator flight deck] |
| CALLY | Blake, we're losing them I think. Forward vision is now clear. |
| BLAKE | Cally's right. |
| JENNA | But how? |
| AVON | A too intricate attack pattern. Their trajectories were too precise. They couldn't turn in time to match our forward velocity. |
| BLAKE | Maintain course and speed.
[Federation pursuit ship]
|
| COMMANDER | She's flown right through us. How many hits registered? |
| MUTOID | Twelve. |
| COMMANDER | What's her damage? |
| MUTOID | Cannot specify.
|
| COMMANDER | But there must have been a heavy drain on the neutron energy banks. |
| MUTOID | How much our computer cannot determine.
|
| COMMANDER | What's our course and speed? |
| MUTOID | One zero nine, time distort twenty. Commander:Twenty! Are you sure? |
| MUTOID | Computer confirms.
|
| COMMANDER | Then we can't possibly catch her. And I thought we had them for sure. Liberator |
| AVON | Used up half our energy reserves. Reading is forty-five percent of capacity. |
| BLAKE | It was the biggest attack they've mounted on us yet. We need time to recharge the banks, and ourselves. |
| AVON | Zen, are we clear of pursuit ships? |
| ZEN | Affirmative. Liberator is now out of detector range. |
| VILA | You said that last time. Avon, when are you going to repair that detector shield? |
| AVON | Whenever we stumble across the parts I need. |
| CALLY | Maybe we should give priority to getting them. |
| VILA | Yes, maybe we should. |
| BLAKE | Looks as though the Federation have developed a shield themselves. |
| CALLY | Yes, well they got very very close before we saw them. |
| AVON | That is the most depressing aspect of the whole affair. I was rather hoping to sell them the idea. [Flight deck. Vila is on watch, sleeping] |
| BLAKE | Vila, come on, wake up Vila. |
| VILA | unh |
| BLAKE | That message, did you log it? |
| VILA | What message? |
| BLAKE | Well, I thought I heard a call sign numerative. |
| VILA | Aw, it's just Federation traffic I expect. Orac'll have it. Shall I ask him what it was? |
| BLAKE | Orac, was that something? I thought I heard an identification Exbar. Was it Exbar? |
| ORAC | Automatic monitoring confirms.The message appears to be directed to you personally. |
| BLAKE | Me? |
| AVON | Have you decoded it? |
| ORAC | Not yet.It is a non-standard cipher. |
| BLAKE | What was the origin of the message? |
| ORAC | Point of origin was the planet Exbar. The sender is obviously aware of my unique intercept capability. Decode is now complete. Message carries a visplay. |
| BLAKE | Visplay. |
| AVON | Zen, transfer visplay to main screen. |
| ZEN | Main screen transfer complete. [Travis appears on the screen] |
| TRAVIS | Blake, I am sending from the planet Exbar. I have Ushton's daughter. Here she is. [Travis pulls Inga into the visplay] Her name is Inga, if you remember. Don't worry, I won't harm her. All I ask is come to Exbar and talk. Blake, this is not a trick. Like yourself, I am now a fugitive from the Federation. It is time we pooled our resources. Together we might survive. Alone the Federation will pick us off one at a time. |
| AVON | Starting with him, we hope. |
| VILA | He could have a point. |
| TRAVIS | Blake, the girl is safe if you come to Exbar within twenty five time units. Teleport at grid reference B W one three zero. If you do not come, the girl, regretfully, dies. |
| JENNA | Who exactly is Inga? |
| BLAKE | She meant a lot to me once. |
| AVON | What about Ushton? |
| BLAKE | He's my father's brother. I thought he was dead. He ought to be dead. He's been a prisoner on that planet for years. |
| AVON | Well, we didn't see him, so perhaps he is dead. |
| BLAKE | I don't know. |
| AVON | It's a trap, of course. |
| BLAKE | Possibly. |
| AVON | What else could it be? |
| VILA | He did say together we might survive. |
| AVON | Don't be stupid. |
| VILA | Listen, I heard it as well as you did. He said we should pool our resources and I still say he may have a point. |
| AVON | You turn your back on him you might find it between your shoulder blades. |
| VILA | That's what you say. |
| JENNA | Vila, he wants to kill us. |
| VILA | He used to want to kill us. Now the Federation want to kill him. He's in the same situation as us. |
| CALLY | Are you sure you recognize this girl? |
| BLAKE | Yes. |
| CALLY | You want to go to Exbar, don't you. |
| BLAKE | Yes, I do. |
| JENNA | Do you know the planet? |
| BLAKE | I visited it years ago. Spent some time there. It was a penal colony then. Only grade four offenders, allowed visitors, special privileges, that sort of thing. |
| JENNA | And now? |
| BLAKE | Abandoned, so I thought. |
| AVON | You're being irrational. That message, anybody could have picked it up. |
| BLAKE | No. It was non-standard code. The Federation listening stations don't use it. That is correct, isn't it Orac? |
| ORAC | Correct. That code was destandardized for general Federation traffic fifty years ago. |
| BLAKE | Thank you, Orac. |
| AVON | Travis hates you, and all of us. He wants to kill us. What can he possibly offer us? |
| BLAKE | I don't know. |
| AVON | You believe his story about our needing each other against the Federation? |
| BLAKE | Nope. |
| AVON | Well, then. |
| BLAKE | You heard him, he's got the girl. Do you believe that he won't kill her? |
| AVON | Nope. |
| BLAKE | That's why I want to go to Exbar. I don't expect any of you to come with me, I just want you to put me down, that's all. |
| CALLY | You just want us to put you down and that is all you ask? |
| BLAKE | Yes |
| JENNA | Well, if that's all.. |
| AVON | You're being naive, all of you. Vila? |
| VILA | Well, she has got a pretty face. |
| BLAKE | Right. |
| AVON | No. I still say that it is an unacceptable risk. |
| BLAKE | It is not unacceptable because I accept it. I want to save that girl, if I can. If I can't I might as well be a Federation slave like everyone else. As might you all. [He exits.] |
| JENNA | Zen, lay in a course for the planet Exbar [Space command headquarters.]
|
| SERVALAN | What do you mean, your force lost him? Your orders
were to destroy Blake.
|
| COMMANDER | [on communications screen] We got close, Supreme
Commander, but the Liberator stood the attack.
|
| SERVALAN | Did you damage her?
|
| COMMANDER | We must have.
|
| SERVALAN | Where is she now?
|
| COMMANDER | I don't know. I've put all patrol units in sector four
on full alert.
|
| SERVALAN | Commander, I'm not interested in your excuses. You
will surrender your ship and place yourself under close
arrest.
|
| COMMANDER | But, Supreme Commander, I must protest.
|
| SERVALAN | Mutoid.
[a gun is seen next to the Commander's head]
|
| COMMANDER | We did very well to get close to the Liberator. It
could have worked. [Servalan closes communication.]
[communicator chimes]
|
| SERVALAN | Yes |
| VOICE | Communications section. We've just received a rather
odd signal. It's in top priority code one zero seven
and it's tagged for your personal attention.
|
| SERVALAN | For me., by name? |
| VOICE | Yes, supreme commander
|
| SERVALAN | Have your decoded It? |
| VOICE | Not yet.
|
| SERVALAN | What is the origin of the message? |
| VOICE | Unspecified. No Federation code sign was given.
|
| SERVALAN | Decode at once. |
| VOICE | And Counsellor Joban is here.
|
| SERVALAN | Send him in. Counsellor Joban. |
| JOBAN | Supreme commander.
|
| SERVALAN | An honor, counsellor. |
| JOBAN | Thank you. [sits down] Aren't you going to offer me a
drink?
|
| SERVALAN | Yes, of course. [pours drink for Joban] |
| JOBAN | Not joining me?
|
| SERVALAN | I prefer to keep a clear head. |
| JOBAN | Very wise. Personally, I like the edges a little
blurred.
|
| SERVALAN | I wish I could believe that. |
| JOBAN | Softened, then,
|
| SERVALAN | I find that even less likely. |
| JOBAN | [lifts glass to salute Servalan.] It failed, then?
|
| SERVALAN | I knew you were well informed, but.. |
| JOBAN | All that logistical output, and it failed.
|
| SERVALAN | It almost succeeded. |
| JOBAN | Almost succeeded is not really good enough, is it?
|
| SERVALAN | Did I suggest that it was? |
| JOBAN | Some members of the council are concerned. Many of our
citizens now know of Blake's activities, and those of
the renegade Travis.
|
| SERVALAN | But there have been no public spacecasts on either Travis or Blake. |
| JOBAN | People talk, Servalan. There's no way of stopping
them.
|
| SERVALAN | This is a major breach of security. The punishment is total. Who are these people who have been talking? I want their names, counsellor |
| JOBAN | All sorts of citizens from Alphas to labor grades know
of Blake's defiance of the Federation. They talk of
him as a sort of hero, many of them.
|
| SERVALAN | What rubbish. |
| JOBAN | There has been indeed progress, and more importantly
order. Order, order Servalan. It is all that matters.
|
| SERVALAN | I do not need you to remind me of that. |
| JOBAN | I supported your appointment. Perhaps I was wrong.
|
| SERVALAN | Perhaps you were. There's a First time for everything, Joban. |
| JOBAN | I've always admired your willingness to take risks.
|
| SERVALAN | Calculated risks. |
| JOBAN | I add up to a dangerous enemy.
|
| SERVALAN | Ummmmm. So do I, counsellor. |
| JOBAN | The council ask 'where is Blake's head?' And we have
no answer.
|
| SERVALAN | You shall have it. |
| JOBAN | The answer, or his head?
|
| SERVALAN | Both. |
| JOBAN | Good. I would not like to think I might have been wrong
in my choice.
|
| SERVALAN | Can I offer you another... |
| JOBAN | Thank you, no. I must try to emulate your clarity of
thought.
|
| SERVALAN | I value our friendship.
|
| JOBAN | Goodby, Supreme Commander.
|
| SERVALAN | Goodby, Counsellor Joban. [Joban exits]
[communicator chimes]
|
| SERVALAN | Yes. |
| VOICE | The message reads ' Travis is on the planet Exbar.'
|
| SERVALAN | Is that all? |
| VOICE | That is all, but communications have now established
that its origin was somewhere in the fourth sector. We
can't be more specific.
|
| SERVALAN | The fourth sector. Where was Blake's Liberator when it was attacked? |
| VOICE | Supreme Commander?
|
| SERVALAN | Do we have a command ship available? |
| VOICE | C twenty six has just returned.
|
| SERVALAN | Good. Put it on readiness and plot me a course for
Exbar. [Flight deck of the Liberator] |
| ZEN | The atmosphere on Exbar is breathable, but the envelope is narrow and oxygen begins to run out at relatively low altitudes. The terrain supports minimum vegetation which becomes increasingly sparse at higher altitudes. Near the top of the chalk escarpments, which are a feature of the area specified, the air is dangerously thin. |
| CALLY | So, it's very cold down there and you'll be short of oxygen on the higher ground. So move slowly and conserve your energy. |
| AVON | Better, still don't go at all. |
| VILA | At least don't go alone, not again. Let one of us go down with you. |
| AVON | Are you volunteering? |
| VILA | Me? |
| BLAKE | Thanks for the offer anyway. |
| AVON | Wait. |
| BLAKE | Why? We're approaching orbit. |
| AVON | At least let me make sure there are no Federation pursuit ships around. |
| BLAKE | Why should there be? |
| AVON | Why shouldn't there be? |
| BLAKE | Zen, any sign of a pursuit ship? |
| ZEN | Negative on main detectors. |
| BLAKE | Satisfied? |
| AVON | What happens if they arrive while you're down there. |
| BLAKE | Then you'll have to leave me down there. |
| AVON | That could happen. |
| BLAKE | I know. What's the matter with you, Avon? |
| AVON | I'm just reminding you, that's all. You are still assuming that we will risk our lives for you. |
| ZEN | Liberator is now moving into stationary orbit over planet Exbar. |
| BLAKE | I'm going to get ready. Vila. |
| VILA | Just think what we're missing on Exbar. All that cold and shortage of breath. [Cally looks thoughtful] |
| JENNA | Cally, what's the matter? |
| CALLY | No. I..I don't think it's important. |
| JENNA | Well, it might be. You've been right before. |
| CALLY | No, leave it, it..it's nothing. [Exbar] |
| BLAKE | Down safely. I seem to remember the place when I was a
boy. There's an old pathway going up a slope. I think
I'm near the right place. I'm moving off now. [Flight deck of the Liberator] |
| JENNA | It's not safe, staying in orbit like this. We're a sitting target. |
| CALLY | Well there should be no danger. Does anyone know we're here? Avon? |
| AVON | What? |
| CALLY | I said who knows we're here? |
| AVON | How do I know who knows? I still say anybody could have picked up that message. |
| CALLY | No they couldn't. You know they couldn't. Why are you so worried? |
| AVON | Why don't you get on with your job? |
| VILA | What's all that about? |
| JENNA | I've no idea. [Exbar] |
| BLAKE | Ushton? Ushton. |
| USHTON | Who are you? |
| BLAKE | Roj. Roj Blake. |
| USHTON | Roj Blake? Roj. [Both laugh] |
| BLAKE | It's good to see you again. |
| USHTON | You've grown. |
| BLAKE | It's been a long time. |
| USHTON | Yes, I suppose it has. |
| BLAKE | Where is Travis. |
| USHTON | Travis. Well, we'll get to him later. First I must take you to a fire, and under cover. |
| BLAKE | You're limping. |
| USHTON | Yes, broke my leg last winter, fell down a crevasse. Inga got me out. |
| BLAKE | Isn't there anyone else around here to help you? |
| USHTON | No. They're all too busy trying to stay alive. Trying to get enough to eat. |
| BLAKE | Federation. |
| USHTON | The Federation. They leave us alone now. Nothing else they want on Exbar. Hmph. Well, good to see you. Come on. |
| USHTON | Here we are? |
| BLAKE | Un? |
| USHTON | That's my dugout. |
| BLAKE | Where? |
| USHTON | There. Heheheheheh Come on. [Flight deck of the Liberator] |
| AVON | I'm going down. |
| JENNA | What! |
| AVON | I said I'm going down. Vila, come and operate the teleport. |
| VILA | Did you hear that? |
| JENNA | Yes, but I don't believe it. |
| CALLY | Why? |
| AVON | Blake may need some help. |
| VILA | And that concerns you? |
| JENNA | But you've been against it all until now. |
| AVON | I know, but I'm still going down. Vila? |
| JENNA | [to Cally] You know what all this is about, don't you? |
| CALLY | [nodding] I think I can guess. |
| JENNA | It is a trap, isn't it? |
| CALLY | Avon thinks so. |
| JENNA | Well Avon always thinks so. |
| CALLY | This time he feels responsible. |
| JENNA | Well why should Avon feel responsible? |
| CALLY | There can only be one reason. [Exbar. Avon teleports down, looks around and runs up cliff] [Exbar. Ushton's dugout] |
| BLAKE | Thank you. Tell me about Travis. |
| USHTON | Oh, He turned up here six days ago with men and guns. |
| BLAKE | How many men. |
| USHTON | Four. Crimos. |
| BLAKE | Crimos. |
| USHTON | Well, I've never seen them before but that's what they were, all right. |
| BLAKE | Criminal psychopaths. |
| USHTON | So I hear. |
| BLAKE | You know what they can do, don't you? |
| USHTON | Um. |
| BLAKE | And they have Inga. |
| USHTON | Yes. Well, Travis seems to have them well in hand. He says he doesn't want to hurt her. He just wants you to join him up there. |
| BLAKE | Do you believe him? |
| USHTON | I had no choice. He had the crimos and the guns. He took us by surprise. His ship must have landed on the lower plain. |
| BLAKE | So, where is he now, do you know? |
| USHTON | Yes, he's in the tower at the top of the escarpment. It's an old communications center, deserted, but it's still got an oxygen plant and the power to run it. |
| BLAKE | Why didn't you go after him? |
| USHTON | Oh, it's absolutely impossible. With this leg I couldn't even get up there. |
| BLAKE | um |
| USHTON | How did you come to hear about all this? |
| BLAKE | Travis sent me a summons. |
| USHTON | Summons. |
| BLAKE | Said come, or he'd kill the girl. |
| USHTON | So you came. |
| BLAKE | What else could I do? |
| USHTON | What does he want? |
| BLAKE | To talk, so he says. More likely to kill me. |
| USHTON | and you knew that and you still came. That was good of you. |
| BLAKE | So, how do I get up there? |
| USHTON | I'll show you. You should go up the back trail. Come at them from behind. Surprise them. |
| BLAKE | Oh, by the way, how do I get into this tower? |
| USHTON | Well there's only one door. |
| BLAKE | Yes, I was afraid of that. [Exbar Ushton points out the trail. Avon watches from hiding.] |
| USHTON | Right. Now, just go up here and you'll see a ridge. Climb the ridge and you'll find the tower. Oh, take this. [hands Blake a knife] It's quieter than that thing. |
| BLAKE | [laughs] I'll manage. [starts up the ridge.] |
| USHTON | Good luck, Roj. [returns to dugout, not limping] |
| AVON | [on teleport bracelet] Jenna. Send Vila down. I need
him. Adjust coordinates to zero, two, four six. [Ushton's dugout. He takes communicator from concealment and calls Travis] |
| USHTON | He's on his way up. |
| TRAVIS | I know. I saw him. [to Inga.] He's coming up. The back trail. Did you hear that, Inga? Your champion is coming to rescue you. He's very gallant, your Blake. Foolish, too. All right Molok. |
| MOLOK | Get him. |
| TRAVIS | I think my crimos are going to enjoy this. |
| INGA | You're going to kill him. |
| TRAVIS | Don't worry, I won't kill him, yet. [Federation pursuit ship]
|
| SERVALAN | Estimated time to Exbar? |
| MUTOID | Planetfall will be at twenty one fifty nine standard.
|
| SERVALAN | Are we at full capacity? |
| MUTOID | We are calculating at time distort nine. That is our
safety maximum.
|
| SERVALAN | I thought this ship was capable of time distort ten? |
| MUTOID | That is the emergency maximum.
|
| SERVALAN | This is emergency, time distort ten. |
| MUTOID | Yes, Supreme Commander. Time distort ten.
|
| SERVALAN | Mutoids. Don't you ever question anything? |
| MUTOID | This is not our function. Our function is to obey
without question. [chime] Computer reports message from
Counsellor Joban.
|
| SERVALAN | Ignore it. |
| MUTOID | It is from headquarters Supreme Commander.
|
| SERVALAN | I said, ignore it. |
| MUTOID | It is directed to this ship.
|
| SERVALAN | Is it directed to you?
|
| MUTOID | No.
|
| SERVALAN | To whom is it directed? |
| MUTOID | To you.
|
| SERVALAN | And I said ignore it. Understood? |
| MUTOID | Understood. [Liberator, teleport area] |
| JENNA | Now Vila, have you got everything? |
| VILA | Yes, I think so. |
| JENNA | Have you checked your thermal suit? |
| VILA | Un yes. |
| JENNA | All right then. Let's go. |
| VILA | You know Zen Said it was cold down there. Shouldn't I have some more clothes on? |
| JENNA | No. |
| VILA | [as he is teleported] What about a handwarmer? [Exbar. Vila is teleported down] |
| AVON | Vila. |
| VILA | Ulll... |
| AVON | Quiet. Listen, there's a man in that cave. Do you think you can keep an eye on him? |
| VILA | I suppose so. I've got me gun. |
| AVON | Don't use it unless you have to. |
| VILA | Is that the old man, Blake's uncle or whatever. |
| AVON | Yes,it is. I don't trust him |
| VILA | Why. |
| AVON | He had a limp. When he went back into the cave he didn't have a limp. |
| VILA | Perhaps he's a fast healer. |
| AVON | I think Blake's in trouble. I'm going after him; you stay. If the old man tries to go up the trail, stop him. |
| VILA | How? |
| AVON | Kill him. |
| VILA | Oh, marvelous. Kill Blake's old uncle. |
| AVON | Keep under cover. |
| VILA | Yes, yes. |
| AVON | Stay alert. Talk to the Liberator every ten minutes. |
| VILA | Yes, yes. I'm freezing. |
| AVON | Well, freeze in silence. [Avon follows Blake's trail] |
| AVON | [on bracelet communicator] Blake, this is Avon. Where are you? |
| BLAKE | [on bracelet] Hold on, Avon. [He continues climbing.] |
| AVON | Blake, Blake, this is Avon. Respond. [A hand is seen reaching for Blake's face. The crimo grabs Blake; they struggle, Blake rolls down the hill] Respond. [Blakes steps in a trap.] |
| AVON | [on bracelet] Blake. Where the hell is he? [Blake strains to reach his bracelet, a crimo lifts it with a stick.] [Liberator teleport area] |
| JENNA | Avon, are you all right? |
| AVON | I can't contact Blake. He's up the trail somewhere. Have you heard from Vila? |
| JENNA | No. |
| AVON | I told him to report in. |
| JENNA | I'll try and contact him now. |
| AVON | All right. I'm going on. Out. |
| JENNA | Vila, vila, come in please. Vila. Vila. [Exbar. Vila's bracelet chimes, he wakes up but Ushton is there] |
| USHTON | Who are you. |
| VILA | Chilly, isn't it. [Ushton's dugout] |
| USHTON | Of course, I don't want to hurt you son, but you leave me little alternative. |
| VILA | I thought that you were Blake's uncle. |
| USHTON | I am. I also happen to be Inga's father and Travis has Inga so I do as I'm told, don't I. |
| VILA | You tricked Blake into coming here, or helped to. |
| USHTON | Well, I had to. |
| VILA | Well, it's been..very..very nice meeting you. [Vila starts to leave] |
| USHTON | Just a minute. [Ushton pulls Vila back] |
| USHTON | For the last time, are you the only one to come down from that ship, or are there others. |
| VILA | Only me, I swear. |
| USHTON | Swear. |
| VILA | Yeah. |
| USHTON | When people swear I have to ask myself why they are
swearing Is it because they want me to believe them
when they're telling me a lot of rubbish. Now are you
telling me the truth son, because if you're not... The tower. Crimos bring Blake in. His hands are bound. |
| TRAVIS | Ah, Blake. Come in, Welcome. |
| BLAKE | Some welcome. |
| TRAVIS | Sit down. You know your cousin Inga of course. She and her father have been looking forward to meeting you again. |
| INGA | I'm sorry, Roj. |
| BLAKE | Are you all right? |
| INGA | Don't believe him. My father would never do the things he says. |
| TRAVIS | You're wrong, Inga. You should listen to me. I am the only one you can trust. |
| INGA | He says my father has betrayed you. |
| TRAVIS | [communicator chimes. Travis picks it up and speaks into it] Two more? You will? good. Thank you, Ushton? Inga, that was your father. He is being very cooperative. |
| INGA | He wouldn't spit on you. [Travis strikes her] |
| TRAVIS | [to crimos] Two more coming up the trail. Go and get em. [Crimos exit] |
| TRAVIS | Now, Blake, you and I have business, I believe. |
| BLAKE | I can't think what. |
| TRAVIS | I am tired of being hunted by Servalan and the Federation. Sooner or later I shall be cornered. My problem is, I want the Liberator. |
| BLAKE | I see, yes of course. |
| TRAVIS | It is the fastest, the most powerful ship in existence. |
| BLAKE | Not a chance, Travis. |
| TRAVIS | We'll see. [Exbar] |
| AVON | [into communicator] Jenna, this is Avon. I'm up near the plateau. Anything from Vila? |
| JENNA | No communication with Vila at all. |
| AVON | Something is very wrong. I don't know, I think Ushton must be.. [Avon is captured in a net] |
| JENNA | Avon. Avon, are you all right? Come in , please. Are you all right. Can you hear me? As Avon is being pulled up a cliff in the net his bracelet chimes. Ushton and Vila, his hands bound come along the trail just as the chime sounds |
| USHTON | Wait. Get that bracelet. |
| VILA | Sorry. |
| USHTON | On. [Pushes Vila] The tower. |
| BLAKE | I said I wouldn't give you the Liberator, Travis, and I won't.But I think you're probably right. Together we stand more chance than operating as single units. I am prepared to do a deal with you. |
| TRAVIS | Most cooperative of you, since you have no choice. Inga struggles with Molok, gets free and runs out the door. |
| MOLOK | Bring her back. |
| TRAVIS | Futile gesture. The girl's a fool. She actually wants to die. Can you understand that Blake? |
| BLAKE | Can you? |
| TRAVIS | Oh yes, I understand shame very well. Now, you were telling me about your change of heart. About sharing the Liberator. Pity, I was beginning to enjoy it. Molok brings Inga back. |
| TRAVIS | You wanted to die, Inga. Why was that? |
| INGA | You wouldn't understand. |
| TRAVIS | So that Blake wouldn't hate your father? But he does. |
| BLAKE | I do not hate him. |
| TRAVIS | Ushton betrayed you. You must hate him; I would in your place. |
| BLAKE | That is the difference between us Travis. Travis backhands Blake. |
| BLAKE | That, too |
| TRAVIS | Take him in there.
Blake is pushed into another room Liberator, teleport area |
| JENNA | Blake, Blake, come in please. Avon. Vila. Nothing. |
| CALLY | Of course it's a trap. Let's go down. |
| JENNA | No, we'll wait. |
| CALLY | For what? |
| JENNA | It's Travis's move. We still control the Liberator. |
| CALLY | A sitting target. |
| JENNA | Not for him. |
| CALLY | Not for anybody. |
| JENNA | Where are you going. |
| CALLY | I'm going to clear the neutron blasters for firing, |
| JENNA | Well, what are you going to fire at? |
| CALLY | Anything that moves. The tower |
| USHTON | Now you've got all three. So let me have my daughter. |
| TRAVIS | Wait. |
| USHTON | You promised. |
| INGA | Father. |
| USHTON | Leave her alone. |
| TRAVIS | Old man, don't be difficult. She was ashamed of you. She tried to run away. |
| USHTON | I may be an old man, but if you cheat me Travis.. |
| TRAVIS | Why should I. I've got Blake in there; now I've got the other two. You kept your part of the bargain. It'll be dark before long and you can take your daughter down in the morning. All right? |
| USHTON | all right. |
| INGA | Why did you do it.? |
| USHTON | I had to. |
| INGA | No you didn't, Father. |
| USHTON | He would have killed you, Inga. |
| INGA | I would rather he had. |
| TRAVIS | Take them in there. |
| AVON | I thought you wanted to do a deal with us, Travis? |
| TRAVIS | I've changed my mind, Avon. |
| AVON | And you believed him. |
| VILA | How was I to know he'd change his mind. Vila and Avon are put into the room with Blake. |
| BLAKE | Nice of you to drop in. |
| AVON | The old man betrayed us. |
| BLAKE | I know. |
| AVON | I won't say that I told you so. |
| BLAKE | Thank you. |
| AVON | At least we are still Alive. |
| BLAKE | For the time being. |
| VILA | What does that mean? |
| AVON | These gentlemen do not mean us well, or haven't you noticed. |
| VILA | Well, why should they want to kill us? |
| BLAKE | Because they enjoy it. |
| AVON | All we can hope for is that it's quick. Main room of the tower. Molok is twisting Inga's shoulder. She screams. |
| TRAVIS | Who is the weakest. |
| USHTON | What do you want to know for? |
| TRAVIS | Who is the weakest? |
| INGA | Don't help them anymore, Father. [Screams as Molok twists her shoulder] |
| USHTON | The one they call Vila. |
| TRAVIS | Vila, Bring him out. Leave the other two in there. Seal off the door. [Turns tap attached to pipe.] |
| USHTON | What are you doing? You're going to kill them, aren't you. |
| TRAVIS | What else did you think I was going to do with Blake, you old fool. |
| MOLOK | You. |
| VILA | Me? |
| MOLOK | You. |
| VILA | Now wait a minute. Let's not be hasty. |
| VILA | There's no need for violence, is there?
|
| BLAKE | So what happens now? [pulsing sounds] |
| AVON | They turn off the air and we suffocate?
|
| TRAVIS | You're going to help me, Vila. How do these things work? |
| VILA | I don't know. One of the others always does it for me. I'm not very good with technical things. |
| VILA | Don't play the idiot with me. |
| VILA | You're gonna kill us any way so why don't you get on with it. |
| VILA | What are you doing? |
| TRAVIS | Now you see Molok has a bracelet on. All you have to do is talk. Demonstrate. Tell us the word. |
| VILA | I'm saying nothing. Travis arms bionic hand. |
| TRAVIS | The word. Tell us the word. |
| VILA | [sotto voice] Teleport. |
| TRAVIS | I'm sorry, we didn't here the word, did we Molok. |
| VILA | I'm not helping you, never. |
| TRAVIS | Now, for the last time, tell us the word. The Word The Word. [to Molok] Switch the bracelet on The Word the Word, The Word. |
| VILA | TELEPORT. I told you TELEPORT. teleport area |
| CALLY | Jenna, did you hear that? |
| JENNA | Yes, it sounds as though Vila's in trouble. I'm teleporting him now. |
| CALLY | I'll be with you Jenna operates the teleport. Molok appears. |
| MOLOK | Don't move. Keep away from those switches |
| JENNA | Who are you? what do you want? |
| MOLOK | You are Jenna. What is the state of the ship? |
| JENNA | We're in stationary orbit. We're on automatic. |
| MOLOK | You will fly the ship for Travis. Cally enters. |
| MOLOK | Wait. Over there. Quick. |
| MOLOK | You are Cally. |
| CALLY | Yes. |
| JENNA | What's happened to our friends? |
| MOLOK | They're dead. |
| JENNA | What? |
| CALLY | I don't believe it. |
| MOLOK | Show me the ship; I must learn about it. |
| CALLY | You're a crimo, aren't you? |
| MOLOK | I have an high intelligence quotient but I enjoy inflicting pain. In that I am a true crimo. so don't be stupid, do as I say, show me the flight deck. |
| JENNA | No. |
| JENNA | If you kill us, you won't be able to fly this ship on your own. |
| MOLOK | I'll take that chance. Will you? Move. [Vila is thrust back with Blake and Avon] |
| AVON | What happened. |
| VILA | They teleported one of the crimos up to the Liberator. |
| AVON | [knees Vila in the groin] You told them how to do it. |
| VILA | No I didn't. Travis tricked me. |
| AVON | That wouldn't be too difficult. So now they have the Liberator. |
| VILA | What have I done to deserve this? |
| AVON | How long a list would you like? |
| BLAKE | Leave him alone, there's no point. |
| AVON | Blake, listen. |
| BLAKE | Sit down, don't talk. Save oxygen. |
| AVON | Listen. I sent a message to Space Command headquarters, to Servalan, that Travis was here. |
| BLAKE | you did what? |
| AVON | I set the dogs on Travis. What's so strange about that? |
| BLAKE | Why? |
| AVON | It seemed the only rational thing to do. I thought they would get there ahead of us, get Travis and save us the trouble. |
| VILA | So this all your fault. |
| AVON | How do you arrive at that conclusion? |
| VILA | I'd still be on the ship if it wasn't for you. |
| BLAKE | Shut Up. We must conserve the air for as long as possible. |
| VILA | How long have we got? |
| AVON | Minutes. |
| VILA | How many? |
| AVON | I'll let you know. Teleport area. Cally and Jenna are marched in by Molok. |
| MOLOK | Wait. Turn round.You were wise to cooperate. You [gestures at Cally] You and I are returning to the planet. You [indicates Jenna] you will stay here. When we come back we'll have Travis with us. If you try to move the ship or cause any kind of trouble she'll be dead. Now put us down. Cally steps into teleport area. Molok joins her, then notices she is not wearing a teleport bracelet. |
| MOLOK | Wait. Put your bracelet on. [Cally puts on a bracelet and returns to the teleport area] Operate the controls. Do it. I will count to three, then I'll kill you. One. Two. Cally kicks Molok in the groin. He doubles up, as Cally moves out of the teleport area. Jenna moves the levers to teleport Molok. |
| CALLY | Where did you send him? |
| JENNA | Into space. There won't be much left of him by now. |
| ZEN | Information. |
| CALLY | What is it Zen, |
| ZEN | Main detectors indicate a single federation pursuit ship approaching planet Exbar. |
| CALLY | I know they're still alive. We've got to go down and try and find them. |
| JENNA | Get my bracelet and the guns. |
| JENNA | Zen, how long before the pursuit ship's planetfall? |
| ZEN | Fifteen minutes. |
| JENNA | How long before her detectors pick us up? |
| ZEN | Twelve minutes. |
| JENNA | We can't go down, if that's all the time we've got. |
| CALLY | That pursuit ship may be alone, or it may be the first of a flotilla. |
| JENNA | Either way, all we can do is wait. Tower room |
| VILA | I'm dying. |
| AVON | Not yet. Soon. |
| VILA | [goes to door and calls through window] Travis, let us out. We'll drive the Liberator for you. |
| TRAVIS | I like to hear you scream for mercy Vila. |
| VILA | You'll never fly her on your own. |
| TRAVIS | You underestimate my crimos. They can fly my ship Why not yours? |
| VILA | Travis, please. |
| USHTON | Travis. She's run off. |
| TRAVIS | Get her. [all the crimos run after Inga] Ushton hits Travis over the head |
| USHTON | Inga. [she comes out of hiding as Ushton restores the oxygen to the room] Get them out of there. I'll deal with Travis. [Ushton drags Travis out and dumps him down a cliff] Inga lets Blake, Avon and Vila out |
| AVON | [to Vila] What's the matter with you. |
| VILA | Pins and needles. |
| USHTON | Blake, you fit? |
| BLAKE | Just about. |
| USHTON | Let's get them before they get us. |
| VILA | Oh, Oh |
| BLAKE | Come on, Vila |
| VILA | I don't think I can make it. |
| BLAKE | Inga, stay and look after him. |
| AVON | Blake, come on. |
| INGA | [to Vila] You all right? |
| VILA | I'm not sure. Oh! |
| INGA | Where does it hurt? |
| VILA | Everywhere. Ushton, Blake and Avon chase crimos. |
| USHTON | That way. Travis calls to crimos from where Ushton dumped him. |
| TRAVIS | Crimos. Crimos. forget the girl, the prisoners are
free. Come on this way, Follow me.
|
| TRAVIS | Come on. Blake, Avon and Ushton roll boulders on the crimos and Travis. One crimo is crushed. |
| USHTON | That's one gone. I'll get the other two, you get Travis. |
| BLAKE | You're unarmed. |
| USHTON | I'll manage. Travis is alone, calling for his men. |
| TRAVIS | Crimos. Crimos. Crimos. [He sees Blake and Avon and
hides as they run past him.]
Ushton defeats two crimos with a stick.
Blake and Avon have pinned Travis down in some brush.
Ushton throws crimo down a cliff into water. As he finishes
another crimo grabs him.
Travis decoys Blake's shot by moving a patch of grass. Blake and
Avon give away their position by shooting where they think Travis
is hiding. As they get up to run Travis shoots and hits Avon in
the arm. Avon falls to the ground. Blake bends over him.
|
| BLAKE | How bad is it? |
| AVON | I don't know. |
| BLAKE | Let me look. |
| AVON | Leave me. Watch yourself. |
| BLAKE | We've got to get you back to the Liberator. |
| AVON | Leave me! |
| BLAKE | Come on. |
| TRAVIS | Don't move. |
| BLAKE | Still no deal, Travis |
| TRAVIS | I'm not gonna bargain with you Blake, I'm gonna kill you. Two for the price of one. Ushton throws net on Travis. |
| USHTON | Get him. |
| AVON | Why don't we kill him while we still have the chance. |
| BLAKE | No. We'll leave him for the federation |
| USHTON | [to Avon] Are you badly hurt? |
| AVON | I'll survive. |
| BLAKE | [to bound Travis] That is your way. Pushes Travis to the ground. [to Avon] We've got to get you to the Liberator quickly. |
| AVON | What about the crimos? |
| BLAKE | That's the last of them. Come on, let's go. Tower |
| INGA | Did you get them. |
| BLAKE | We got them. |
| INGA | [to Avon] Oh, you're hurt. |
| AVON | It's just a scratch. |
| BLAKE | He'll be all right once he gets to the Liberator. |
| VILA | Blake, we've only got two bracelets. |
| BLAKE | I know. [into bracelet] Jenna. |
| JENNA | Blake are you all right? |
| BLAKE | Yes. Get a voice fix and bring three bracelets. |
| JENNA | There's a Federation pursuit ship landed somewhere on Exbar. It may have a flotilla behind it. |
| BLAKE | You'd better get a move on then. |
| JENNA | Right |
| INGA | Roj. |
| BLAKE | You're both coming with us. |
| INGA | No, we can't. |
| BLAKE | Why not? |
| USHTON | It's too late for me, but you could go. |
| INGA | No. Travis left us a legacy. We could never break into this place, but he managed. it. |
| BLAKE | So? |
| INGA | That storage room contains enough food to feed every starving mouth on this planet. If we can find them all, get them together, organize them, we can survive. |
| BLAKE | When that's done, Inga, I'll come back for you. |
| INGA | Could take a long time. |
| BLAKE | If you want me to come back. Jenna teleports down. |
| INGA | I'd like that. |
| JENNA | [coldly] We could be running out of time, Blake. |
| BLAKE | Blake and Inga kiss chastely. Good luck. |
| USHTON | Thanks, my boy. |
| BLAKE | You all right, Jenna? |
| JENNA | Bring us up, Cally.
|
| INGA | Come on, father.
|
| SERVALAN | Hello, Travis. |
| TRAVIS | Servalan.
|
| SERVALAN | Has Blake gone? |
| TRAVIS | Yes.
|
| SERVALAN | [to mutoid] Release him. |
| TRAVIS | I wanted the Liberator.
|
| SERVALAN | I thought it must be something like that. |
| TRAVIS | Are you and I still enemies?
|
| SERVALAN | Officially, yes. Unofficially, you lead me to Blake whenever you can. If you help me get him I'll see you officially listed as dead. There's no one as free as a dead man. Flight deck |
| JENNA | How's Avon? |
| BLAKE | He'll be all right. Flight plan ready? |
| JENNA | [tersely] Quite ready |
| BLAKE | Then take us out of here, speed standard by twelve. |
| JENNA | Standard by twelve.
|