The Beginning. The compilation tape of the first four episodes: All four episodes written by Terry Nation, Series created by Terry Nation, [c] 1977 by the British Broadcasting Corporation. Episode 1: ''The Way Back'' Directed by Michael Briant Format [c] 1994 by Susan Clerc, M DuPree, Carol Reed and Susan Beth Schnitger. Episode 2: ''Space Fall'' Format [c] 1993 by Jonathan Day and Micky DuPree. Episode 3: ''Cygnus Alpha'' Format [c] 1993 by Micky DuPree and Caroljean Hanson. Episode 4: ''Time Squad'' Format [c] 1993 by Micky DuPree and Ruth Hanson. [A security camera monitors a sterile white hallway. Thoroughout this scene other people pass through the area in a lackadaisical, "out of it" manner while the P.A. broadcasts soothing music. Blake stops and looks around before moving on] RAVELLA: [Waiting behind a pillar labeled L/37] Roj. BLAKE: Ah, Ravella. RAVELLA: [She pulls him behind the pillar] Did you have any trouble? BLAKE: No. RAVELLA: You followed the route I gave you? BLAKE: Yes. Can we get on with it please. RAVELLA: Come on. [They begin walking] P.A.: [In the background, mostly unintelligible] ____ engineering of the new ___ of the new discovery ____- RAVELLA: And eating and drinking -- you've managed to do without? BLAKE: Well, since you were so insistent I've done without food or drink for thirty-six hours. RAVELLA: How do you feel? BLAKE: Hungry and thirsty, of course. RAVELLA: Nothing else? [She turns to check behind them] BLAKE: Ravella, is this some kind of practical joke? RAVELLA: It's no joke. [Unnoticed by Ravella and Blake, Dev Tarrant, who had been walking in a "drugged" manner, drops that mannerism and begins to follow them at a distance] P.A.: The President will be answering questions about new population control ____ measures. [They walk down a metal staircase into sub forty-three] RAVELLA: All our food and drink is treated with suppressants. Going without for a day and a half, they should be wearing off. BLAKE: [Laughs] Not that again. [Richie emerges from the side and kisses Ravella on the cheek] RAVELLA: Dal Richie, Roj Blake. [They shake hands] RICHIE: Been looking forward to meeting you. I hear your family settled on the Outer Planets? BLAKE: Brother and a sister on Ziegler Five. RICHIE: Do you hear from them much? BLAKE: I get vistapes a couple of times a year. Look, what is this? I was told you had some news about them. RICHIE: No, not me. The man we're going to meet. He specially asked us to contact you so he could tell you in person. He was on Ziegler Five a few months ago. [They have moved closer to a large, closed door] BLAKE: Where is he now? RAVELLA: Waiting for us. Outside. BLAKE: Outside? RICHIE: Don't worry. It's not all that bad. The air's fresh though it smells different. BLAKE: You realize going outside is a Category Four crime? RICHIE: We do know the law. RAVELLA: Yes, so whatever you see tonight you keep silent about. RICHIE: Well? Are you coming? BLAKE: Let's get on with it. [Richie fiddles around with the door panel and a tool box] What are you doing? RICHIE: Picking the lock. [Ravella looks back toward the staircase] BLAKE: What is it? RAVELLA: It's nothing. [Tarrant comes down the stairs unobserved, and watches from the base of the stairs] RICHIE: Now, one more thing. If you open the door, it registers on the computer. These are circuit integrators. Now you could steal this entire section of wall and the machine would cheerfully ignore you. Ready? RAVELLA: [To Blake] Now look: you report anything to the authorities, you'll find yourself implicated more deeply than you imagine. [Richie turns a crank on a box and the door opens. Tarrant watches from the stairs as the other three exit, then follows them through the door, up a ladder, and finally outside. The city, a huge, grey dome, looms behind them against the night sky. An owl hoots as they go. They stop at a stream. Ravella scoops up a handful of water and drinks.] RAVELLA: [To Blake] Try some. BLAKE: Hm? RAVELLA: It's natural water. [Blake tries some. Ritchie takes off socks and shoes] The stuff we get's been recycled a thousand times [Blake spits it out] -- and it's dosed with suppressants. RICHIE: I'll check ahead. Watch for my signal. [Starts crossing river.] RAVELLA: Okay. BLAKE: Improves the flavor if nothing else. [Richie wades off across the stream, carrying his boots.] RAVELLA: Doesn't it bother you that you spend your life in a state of drug-induced tranquillity? [removes her boots] BLAKE: We've got to traverse that? RAVELLA: Yeah. BLAKE: [Removes his boots] Why should the Administration try to drug us? RAVELLA: To keep control. They've been stepping up the suppressants because the number of dissidents is growing. BLAKE: Should I take this? [Picks up Richie's box and they begin to cross the stream] RAVELLA: They've seen what's happening and they want to stop it. BLAKE: Stop what? RAVELLA: Don't you know? Don't you remember anything about the treatments they gave you? BLAKE: I've had no treatments. RAVELLA: I thought there'd be something left, some trace of memory. BLAKE: What about my memory? RAVELLA: There's the signal. [A flashlight beam is seen waving. They walk, the dome behind them.] [Tarrant watches from the bushes. Blake and Ravella approach the tunnel entrance: a door opens and they are admitted by Richie] [Tarrant follows their route] [The tunnel. Richie takes his box from Blake. There are many people in the corridor, wearing mainly grey toned robes very different from the garb of city dwellers. They all watch as Blake passes by them.] BLAKE: They're Outsiders! RICHIE: Quite a few of them are working for our cause now. BLAKE: But it's illegal to have contact with anyone who lives outside the city. RICHIE: Right, but then this whole meeting is illegal. BLAKE: I'm leaving. I want nothing to do with this. You told me I was going to meet a man who could tell some news about my family. RICHIE: Hold on, Blake. You've got to hear Foster. BLAKE: I don't want to hear Foster. I should report everything I've seen to the Administration. RAVELLA: You can't do that. BLAKE: Why not? RICHIE: We've left documents in the city with your signature on them. Forged, of course, but convincing enough to implicate you in everything we've been doing. RAVELLA: Don't have any doubts. One word in the wrong place can make you look as guilty as any of us. RICHIE: And looking guilty is all it takes. [Foster approaches the three of them and shakes Blake's hand] FOSTER: Roj! Good to see you. It's been a long time. [Persists] Bran Foster. Oh! Stupid of me. You don't remember. You had the treatment. BLAKE: Look, what is this? I've had no treatments, my memory is fine. Now what is going on? FOSTER: [He takes Blake aside] I know, I know, it's difficult for you. Then, too, it's difficult for those of us who knew you before. But the important thing is, you're here. TARRANT: [Enters and speaks to Ravella and Richie in the background] I had trouble getting out of the city, the route was crowded. For a while there I thought we'd been infiltrated. FOSTER: Dev Tarrant's here. Dev! [Beckons him over] You remember Roj Blake. TARRANT: Oh, yes. We met before. [They shake hands] FOSTER: [To Blake] Dev Tarrant. [To Tarrant] Ah, I'm trying to persuade Roj to rejoin us. TARRANT: Yes. [Takes his leave] FOSTER: [Still leading Blake aside] Now, I want you to listen to what I have to tell you. After that you can do whatever you like. BLAKE: All right. Now what do you know about my family? FOSTER: Well, I'll come to that. There are other things you should know first. BLAKE: Forget the other things. Just what do you know? FOSTER: [Tarrant is visible in the background through most of this] They're dead. Your brother and sister are both dead. I'm sorry, I didn't intend you to hear it like that. They were executed four years ago just after your trial. BLAKE: Executed? No, that's not true. I hear from them regularly. I had a vistape only a month ago. FOSTER: Those tapes are fakes. Part of the treatment to keep your memory suppressed. Now, this isn't going to be easy for you, but I'm going to have to tell you things about yourself of which you have no memory. Will you hear me out? BLAKE: Go on. FOSTER: Four years ago, there was a good deal of discontent with the Administration. There were many activist groups. But the only one that really meant anything was led by Roj Blake. You and I worked together. We were outlawed and hunted. But we had supporters and we were making progress. Then someone betrayed us, I still don't know who. You were captured. So were most of our followers. They could have killed you. But that would have given the Cause a martyr. [As Foster continues, we see Blake's memories of being tortured, attempting to escape, captured, and beaten] So instead they put you into intensive therapy. They erased areas of your mind, they implanted new ideas. They literally took your mind to pieces and rebuilt it. And when they'd finished, they put you up and you confessed. You said you'd been "misguided." You appealed to everyone to support the Administration, hound up the traitors. Oh, they, they did a good job on you. You were very convincing. And then they took you back and erased even that. BLAKE: What happened to the others? FOSTER: In their benevolence, the Federation allowed them to emigrate to the Outer Worlds. Like your family, they were executed on arrival. BLAKE: Why are you telling me this now? FOSTER: Because we're preparing to move again. And if it were known that you were with us, we'd get more support. How do you feel? Will you help us again? BLAKE: I don't know. I'm not even sure that I believe you. FOSTER: It's all true. BLAKE: I have to think. FOSTER: Of course. We'll talk after the meeting. BLAKE: Hmm. [He walks off to another part of the tunnel] TARRANT: [Steps up to him] What do you think? FOSTER: I don't know. There's not much left of the man I knew. We'll see. All right, let's get started, shall we? TARRANT: Alright, everybody, come over here and make a group. We'll start the meeting now. [People gather round] [Blake wanders through the tunnel and hides when he sees Federation troopers arrive. While this is happening, Foster's voice is heard in the background. Blake changes hiding places as more troopers appear.] TROOPER: [V.O. on comm link] Unit Three, move in. [Troopers move through the corridors, and enter the central space, from several directions] FOSTER: [To the rebels] Now, do not attempt to resist arrest. No matter what the provocation, we must not resort to violence. [To troopers] We claim our rights as citizens, and demand to be treated as civil prisoners. [The troopers open fire and the rebels scramble for cover that isn't there, and cry out as they are shot. Scene cuts between the massacre and Blake listening helplessly in the tunnel. Blake emerges from hiding some time later and sees the corpses. When he returns to the city, he is captured, triggering again the memories shown during Foster's talk with him The voice of the Court Arbiter is heard at the end, and the scene shifts to the Court.] ARBITER: His crimes have been accorded a Category Nine rating, and as such are adjudged most grave. In sentencing you, the judgment machine has taken into account your past record, your service to the state, and your loyalty to the Federation. None of these have mitigated in your favour. It is the sentence of this tribunal that you be taken from this place to an area of close confinement. From there you will be transported to the penal colony on the planet Cygnus Alpha, where you will remain for the rest of your natural life. This matter is ended. [On a screen behind her are the charges against Blake --------------------------------------------------------- 3. ML563/MIN 4. ML563/MIN INCITE CORRUPT ACTS 5. ML563/MIN COMMIT CORRUPT ACTS 6. CR236/PER KIDNAPPING 7. CR192/PER ASSAULT 8. CR193/PER INTENT TO INJURE 9. CR193/PER CAUSE ACTUAL INJURY 10. CR333/SEC RESIST ARREST 11. ML100/DEV MORAL DEVIANCE guilty of all charges ---------------------------------------------------------- The last line blinks] BLAKE: I wish to make a statement. ARBITER: There can be no more said regarding this case. The matter has been assessed and judgment made. BLAKE: But the evidence is false. These charges are lies. ARBITER: If you have any complaint against the conduct of this tribunal, it must be directed through your advocate. BLAKE: You've got to listen to me. [Guard injects him and as he passes out he sees Tarrant emerging from a corridor behind Varon.] [Transit cell: prisoners, including Vila standing around, Jenna on the bed. An alarm sounds. A guard is prodding the prisoners to move] GUARD: All right, listen to me, all of you. Move out of here in single file into the embarkation channel. Come on, let's get started. Move! [Rousts Jenna] You! Come on. Move! Out. Pick up your bag. Go! Come on, faster, move. [To Blake] I said move. Single file! With one behind the other. Keep them in line, guards. You in front, move! [This is Vila.] [Exterior of the London] [The London. The prisoners shuffle in. Blake takes a seat by the window] GUARD: All right, come on, move. Keep moving. Come on, faster. Keep your voice down. Find the seat that's allocated to you and sit in it. Fasten the harness. Stand by for liftoff. Keep your voices down. You, fasten your harness. You, down in the front. That's your seat. Come on, move. You, stop talking. Fasten your harness. [Exterior of the London taking off] [The London. Blake has not buckled his harness and the guard approaches him] GUARD: You different to everyone else? Fasten your harness. BLAKE: What? GUARD: Hn. Maybe we can help you hear better. You can start with a couple of hours confinement. You'll be surprised how quickly your hearing improves. [to guard near a control panel] Seat eleven, confinement! [the other guard presses a few buttons. Blake's seat spins away from the window and constraints emerge from the sides to encircle him] [Outside. Tarrant and two troopers watch as the London blasts off past the dome] [Exterior shot of the London] [The interior London, panning over prisoners. Blake cranes his neck to look out the window at Earth and the moon] [Door to the prisoner's section opens. Raiker steps in] RAIKER: [To prisoners] I'm Sub-commander Raiker, and I think there are a few things you should know. [Raiker walks down the rows of seats] The voyage to Cygnus Alpha will take approximately eight months ship time. During this period, you will obey every order and instruction that is given you. There is a punishment scale for infractions, which starts with long periods of confinement in your launch seat and ends with the Commander's right to order execution. [Raiker heads back up the rows, to the door on the left of the prisoner's section] If you have any complaints, I don't want to hear them. Understand this clearly. You have no rights whatsoever. None. Questions? [To guard] Open it up. [Door opens. To prisoners] This is the limit of your world from now on. It has mess facilities, sleeping bays, recreation area. Sort out amongst yourselves how you use it. There are other rules. [Walking along row of prisoners.] But you'll find out what they are when you break them. That's all. Clear your harnesses, you're at liberty to move. [The prisoners, apart from Blake, stand up and wander out into the other section. Guards stand with backs to the wall] RAIKER: [To Blake] What have we here? Not a troublemaker, I hope? BLAKE: I didn't hear an order. RAIKER: You didn't hear an order, sir. ...SAY IT! BLAKE: I didn't hear an order...sir. RAIKER: That's better. What's your name? BLAKE: Blake. RAIKER: So you're Blake. Well, made quite a name for yourself a few years back. [He sits down.] Quite the celebrity. Something of a comedown for a leader of men, isn't it? Molesting kids? BLAKE: The charges were false. RAIKER: [sarcastically] Oh yes, of course. Well, let me tell you something Blake, as far as I am concerned, you are just another piece of cargo. Remember that and you might just survive the journey. Do you understand? BLAKE: I understand... sir. RAIKER: Good. You're learning. [Raiker stands up and walks over to the guard by the control panel] RAIKER: [to guard] Let him clear. [Switch to Prisoners' other room] VILA: Do you think this is a good time for me to tell them I suffer from flight sickness? NOVA: I don't think they'll be very sympathetic. [Raiker enters] JENNA: I expect they'll find a cure for it, though. A permanent one probably. VILA: They amputate your head! RAIKER: [To Jenna, putting his hand on her shoulder] Come with me. JENNA: [To Vila] Here goes. [Raiker and Jenna walk to the other end of the room] RAIKER: What's your name? JENNA: Jenna Stannis. RAIKER: Unfortunately, Jenna, there are no special facilities for female prisoners. But if you should find things difficult, I might be able to arrange something more comfortable. JENNA: That's very considerate of you. RAIKER: Why make it hard on yourself? JENNA: Why indeed? [Whispers something to Raiker, and stands back, expecting a reaction.] [Raiker slaps her across the face] RAIKER: You'll come round! I can be VERY persuasive! [Shift to Avon, who takes a note from his top pocket] [Jenna walks back to Vila, Avon & Nova] JENNA: That one's going to enjoy giving us a hard time. VILA: And you've improved his mood no end! Why couldn't you be nice to him?! JENNA: He's not my type. [Avon walks to a seat and sits down, looking at the note.] VILA: You can't afford to be choosy now! JENNA: Why else would I be talking to you? VILA: Thanks! JENNA: Pleasure. JENNA: [To Avon] What've you got there? AVON: Nothing. [Blake enters] BLAKE: Do you know how those door panels work? VILA: No, not that type. AVON: It's simple enough. All authorised personnel have their palm prints filed in the computer. The blue sensor plate reads the print. If it conforms, the computer opens the door. BLAKE: Neat. AVON: Most computer-based functions are. VILA: Blake -- Kerr Avon. When it comes to computers, he's the number two man in all the Federated worlds. NOVA: Who's number one? VILA: The guy who caught him. [To Avon] You've got nothing to be ashamed of. D'you know, he came close to stealing five million credits out of the Federation Banking System. BLAKE: What went wrong? AVON: I relied on other people. Why all the questions? Or is it merely a thirst for knowledge? BLAKE: Not exactly. Having defined the problem, the first step towards a solution is the acquisition of data. You should know that. AVON: Define the problem then. BLAKE: How to avoid spending the rest of our lives on Cygnus Alpha. [Several exterior shots of spaceship London moving through space] [Switch to flight deck] LEYLAN: There shouldn't be anything there at all. It's empty space. Nothing orbits through it, no marked space wrecks, no navigational hazards, nothing. ARTIX: Well, there's something there now, and our course takes us right through it. LEYLAN: Hmm. [There is a build-up of sound. A short time later, the ship seems to be hit by something.] [Raiker enters, carrying a flask and a cup] RAIKER: What's happening? LEYLAN: Full spectrum shock waves. We had one about ten minutes ago but that was only scale two. What was the reading on that one? ARTIX: Seven. LEYLAN: Right, put all sections on standby, turbulence alert. ARTIX: [Into desk-mounted intercom] All sections on standby, all sections on standby. Turbulence alert, turbulence alert. LEYLAN: [To Raiker, at the same time as Artix is speaking] Put out the deflector shields, there's some debris too. RAIKER: Deflectors out. Where's the blast coming from? LEYLAN: Somewhere in that top right hand sector. RAIKER: That's total void! LEYLAN: Not now, it isn't! [To Artix] Show him! [Artix hits a few buttons. A screen above the main flight position lights up, showing a grid with two blobs moving in a curve towards each other] RAIKER: I've never seen anything like that before. Can you increase magnification? [Artix hits a few more buttons. The screen now shows several blobs, moving in curves.] ARTIX: We're at the limit now. RAIKER: What sort of range? ARTIX: We're about five subsecs on the high-dee grid. RAIKER: Anything coming in on the communicators? ARTIX: No, static right across the range. RAIKER: I suppose it could be some sort of meteorite collision. [Two blobs collide. The screen is flooded with light] RAIKER: What the hell was that?! LEYLAN: I think it's a damn great space battle. Two fleets, maybe more. ARTIX: We haven't got any heavy combat stuff in this section, have we? LEYLAN: Well, they're not Federation ships, and that's not our battle. I want a new course. Take us round it, with a three subsec margin from the outer limits of the action. [Another build-up of sound. Ship rocks from another shock-wave hitting] LEYLAN: Reading? ARTIX: Scale nine! RAIKER: Shift course now, and we'll be taking those blasts broadside! They'll smash the guts out of us! LEYLAN: Better that than run into the middle of a war. [To Raiker] Manual control, Mister Raiker. [To Artix] Put the ship on full emergency, all crew to operational stations. ARTIX: [Into desk-mounted intercom] Full emergency, full emergency. All crew to operational stations. All crew to operational stations. [Blake is crawling though a narrow access channel. The ship lurches from another shock-wave. When he recovers, Blake continues to a small panel. He taps it three times and waits, before tapping three times again.] [Switch to prisoners. Vila, Jenna, Gan and others talk.] VILA: [To Gan] Keep an eye on me as well, will you? JENNA: [inaudible] VILA: Hey, Klein, got a little trick to show you. KLEIN: Have you? VILA: Now watch very, very closely, right? Right? Now watch carefully, watch carefully... And a one... KLEIN: Right, yeah. VILA: And a two... KLEIN: Yeah. [something inaudible] VILA: Watch closely now... [remainder of trick is inaudible] BLAKE: [To Jenna] I got past both the metal grilles this time. It'll work if only I can get him to do it. JENNA: He's through there. [Switch to the first prisoner section] [Blake walks through to where Avon is sitting, looking at his note. Blake sits down in a chair alongside] BLAKE: If you had access to the computer, could you open the doors? AVON: Of course. Why? BLAKE: Just wondered how good you really were. AVON: Don't try and manipulate me, Blake. BLAKE: Now why should I try and do that? AVON: You need my help. BLAKE: Only if you can open the doors. AVON: I could open every door, blind all the scanners, knock out the security overrides, and control the computer. Control the computer and you control the ship. BLAKE: [Moves closer to Avon] Then I do need your help. There's a service channel, runs the whole length of the ship. Every other compartment has an inspection hatch. The last one opens onto the computer section. AVON: Give me one good reason why I should help you. BLAKE: You're a civilized man, Avon. On Cygnus Alpha that will not be a survival characteristic. AVON: An intelligent man can adapt. BLAKE: Or recognise an alternative. AVON: I already have one. BLAKE: A private deal with the ship's crew to fake the running log? You've had four months to think about that. And it didn't take you that long to work out that they would have to kill you afterwards to keep you quiet. AVON: Whereas you are offering me safety. BLAKE: I'm offering you the chance of freedom. AVON: Generous, considering mine will be the most important job. BLAKE: You'll do it then. AVON: When? BLAKE: Now. [Jenna enters. The noise leading up to an impact becomes audible. Blake and Jenna rapidly get into launch seats] [Switch to flight deck. The ship is shaken quite badly.] LEYLAN: Damage report! ARTIX: [Into intercom] All sections report damage, all sections report damage. VOICE: Section Two. Err, Port deflector shields buckled, sir. VOICE: Section Four. The outer hull has been punctured astern. LEYLAN: Auto-repair circuits. RAIKER: They're sealing it. [There is a sound from the other end of the compartment.] VILA: What's that? [Points at white foam emerging from wall.] [Jenna walks over to the far wall, where a gel is squeezing through some hairline cracks] JENNA: Sealing gel. If the outer hull gets punctured this stuff floods into the section and blocks it up. It goes solid in seconds. We must have been holed in that last turbulence. VILA: Gan, what about waiting... BLAKE: No! These blast waves are our best chance. The crew have their hands full just running the ship. [To Avon] You ready? AVON: Yes. BLAKE: Make it good Vila. VILA: Gan?... [Vila and Gan head towards the guard] BLAKE: We'll be ready in exactly fifteen minutes. Will that give you enough time? [Avon nods.] [Nova joins them] BLAKE: Knock out those scanners and open the doors. We'll do the rest. Good luck. [Blake walks through to the other section. Avon and Jenna follow. Avon pauses at the door.] AVON: [To Jenna] Luck has nothing to do with it. [Switch to flight deck.] ARTIX: Vision panels have cut out... but I'm getting blind readings, and an echo from something big... and pretty far off. I can't identify it without a scan. RAIKER: Could it be a ship from the battle fleet? ARTIX: It's a long way out from the centre of the action, seems to be drifting... Well, it's my guess that it's something being pushed along in the shock waves. It's running parallel to us. LEYLAN: Keep a check on it. And start working on those vision panels. [Switch to prisoner's living area] [Vila is showing Dainer a trick] VILA: And a one... [Jenna signals to Nova, who lets Avon into the service channel] DAINER: Never works first time. VILA: And a two... One more chance for you, right? Are you watching carefully now? DAINER: Yeah, right. VILA: One... two... three... [In the following sequence overlapping with Blake and Nova.] [Vila pulls the cloth away to reveal a full glass] DAINER: Now, that's better. VILA: Not bad, is it, eh? NOVA: [To Blake] How will we know when he's made it? BLAKE: The lights on the scanner -- when that goes off we're on our way. [Avon crawls through the service channel. He reaches the hatch leading into the computer room. He quietly opens the hatch, sees the technician, who is inspecting a computer panel, and closes the hatch again. The technician, doesn't notice, and continues checking the computer, moving around. Avon waits for a bit, checks his watch and briefly opens the hatch again.] [Prisoner area. Guard replaces Dainler. Shot of Gan talking to another prisoner.] VILA: He should have made it by now. JENNA: You think he's been caught? BLAKE: [Dismisses] No. No, there would have been an alarm. [Looks at the access hatch] I'd better get in after him. VILA: You can't do that. If it all starts happening while you're in there, who's going to get this lot moving? JENNA: Well, he's right. BLAKE: All right, you go then. VILA: Me? Uh, I'd be glad to, it's just that I've got this problem with confined spaces. There's a medical name for it. JENNA: Cowardice? NOVA: I'll go. Well, let me do it. I haven't done anything yet. VILA: I'm quite prepared to go, it's just that I don't want to let anyone down because of my, uh, complaint. NOVA: I want to help. VILA: What do you think? BLAKE: All right, let's get him in there. VILA: Gan, let's try it with this one. [Computer room.] [Avon looks out, prepares himself, coils up behind the hatch and bursts through.] [Switch to flight deck] LEYLAN: Here it comes again. Hang on. [Switch to Nova. Three punctures form in the hull immediately by him. He tries covering them with his hands, as the sealing gel begins to bubble out. Doors slam shut either side of him, and the section is flooded with sealing gel.] NOVA: Help. Help. Help... [Computer room. The technician lies on the floor, stunned. Avon picks up tools and starts looking at the computer.] [Switch to flight deck] LEYLAN: Damage? DAINER: Three hull punctures, sir. All sealed and solid. LEYLAN: OK. Carry on. [To Artix] What was the force? ARTIX: Down to nine again. It's reducing. LEYLAN: Not before time. Where's that echo? ARTIX: It's practically on top of us! We're on a collision course! RAIKER: Get those scans fixed! Come on! Move it! [Switch to computer section] AVON [holding a probe/tool]: Prison compartments... scanners... [He touches a metal rod against a component. There is a series of sparks.] [Switch to prison compartment. Prisoners standing/sitting around. The scanner suddenly stops.] JENNA: Off. BLAKE [Gets up]: Here we go... [To one of the other prisoners] Ready. JENNA: Come on Avon... [Notes guard] He's spotted it! Gan! [Gan leaps up, grabs the Guard by the throat & overpowers him] BLAKE: [Mutters to himself] Oh, come on Avon. The door. Come on. [Switch to computer section. Avon is just about to open the doors, when Garton recovers and attacks him. There is a lengthy fight.] [Switch to prison compartment.] BLAKE: Bring the guard. [To guard] Open the door. [To others] Put his hand on the door. [Jenna fails to unclench the guard's hand. Gan goes round to face the guard. Puts his hand to the guard's] GAN: Look, we only need the hand. If you want to stay attached to it, do as you're told. [The guard finally opens the door. The prisoners leave] [Switch to computer section. Avon is still fighting Garton, who grabs Avon's mouth: Avon #boxes Garton's ears#, (this is removed from later videos) and finally, knocks him out. He returns to the computer and opens all the doors.] [Switch to flight deck. The door opens, apparently of its own accord.] ARTIX: All checks complete, the fault must be in the computer. LEYLAN: [To Raiker] Get down there, Mr. Raiker. [Artix and Raiker leave, Raiker taking a weapon.] [Switch to corridor. Blake leads, carrying the gun. Gan is strong arming the guard to come along. Blake covers each corridor they pass.] BLAKE: Spread out and find the armoury. Jenna? JENNA: What? BLAKE: Let's find the computer room. [Switch to Raiker and Artix] RAIKER: All the doors are open! ARTIX: Well, perhaps that last shock-wave did more damage than we thought! It looks like the whole system's been disrupted! RAIKER: Let's find out. [Switch to Blake and Jenna. As they go through a junction, Raiker and Artix arrive through one of the other exits.] JENNA: Blake! Watch out! [Blake & Jenna duck behind cover. Blake & Raiker trade shots. The door to the computer section opens] AVON: Blake! BLAKE: [To Jenna] Now! [Blake fires once at Raiker, & dives into the computer room with Jenna] BLAKE: [To Avon] Close the door! Come on! Quickly! [Avon operates a control on the computer. The door shuts.] [Switch back to junction. Raiker moves in front of the door & signals Artix past. Artix tries to open the door & fails.] RAIKER: Get up to the flight deck! Tell the old man what's happening! [Artix runs back up the corridor. Raiker moves towards an alarm button and presses it.] [Switch back to computer room] AVON: Now what? JENNA: Cripple the chip! BLAKE: We've got all the bargaining power we need. Use it! AVON: [To Jenna] Excuse me! [On the flight deck, all the instruments go dead. Leylan gets up, looking worried. Artix comes in] LEYLAN: [To Artix] What the hell's going on! ARTIX: The prisoners have escaped, sir, and they've got hold of the computer. LEYLAN: What! Come on! [Keylan and Raiker go to computer room corridor.] LEYLAN: [To Raiker] They're still in there? RAIKER: Yes, sir. [Leylan grabs a communicator from it's bracket by the door] LEYLAN: [Into communicator] This is Commander Leylan. If you come out immediately and surrender yourselves, you will be treated leniently. If not, my men will blast their way in and you'll suffer the consequences. BLAKE: [Into communicator]Those are your terms? LEYLAN: Yes. BLAKE: These are mine. You will hand over all your weapons to my men. Whilst we hold the computer, the ship is helpless. It will remain that way until you agree. You will then fly this ship to the nearest habitable planet where the prisoners will disembark. Any attempt by your men to break into this room and we'll destroy the computer. Totally. That's all. [Blake moves to put the communicator back.] LEYLAN: Now Blake, Blake, listen to me very carefully. There is something large, travelling very near us, and we've been running blind. We may be on a collision course. You're putting everybody's life at risk! BLAKE: Better make up your mind quickly then. [Blake cuts off communications.] [Switch to corridor.] [A prisoner moves towards the computer room. Dainer shoots him in the back.] LEYLAN: Dainer! [Dainer goes over to Leylan] DAINER: Sir? LEYLAN: He wasn't armed. DAINER: We were lucky. They couldn't find the armoury. We've got most of them back to their quarters, we're just mopping up now. LEYLAN: So I see, Dainer...! DAINER: Some of our men have been injured, sir. LEYLAN: And the prisoners? DAINER: We've killed six. LEYLAN: Six? DAINER: [Glancing at body] Seven. In the course of quelling a riot and protecting the ship, sir. LEYLAN: Very well. Carry on. DAINER: Thank you, sir. RAIKER: [To Leylan] I can get them out of there, sir. LEYLAN: How? [Raiker walks over to Leylan] RAIKER: I want a free hand to take whatever action I think necessary. Do I have your permission, sir? LEYLAN: [Less than enthusiastically] All right. RAIKER: [To Dainer and some other guards] Come on! [Raiker & guards leave] [Computer room. Avon is tying Garton's hands behind his back.] JENNA: What do you think they'll do? BLAKE: Their time's running out. JENNA: So's ours. BLAKE: We have less to loose. AVON: [Standing up. He and Blake walk around.]You may have, but I value my life! JENNA: Assuming they do land us somewhere, what then? BLAKE: Find a way of getting back to Earth. JENNA: Back to Earth? BLAKE: Yes. That's where the heart of the Federation is. I intend to see that heart torn out. AVON: I thought you were probably insane. BLAKE: That's possible! They butchered my family, my friends. They murdered my past and gave me tranquilized dreams. JENNA: At least you're still alive. BLAKE: No! Not until free men can think and speak. Not until power is back with the honest man. [Faces Avon.] AVON: Have you ever met an honest man? JENNA: [Glances at Blake] Perhaps. [The communicator starts bleeping] [Switch to prisoners' room. Vila and Gan in centre.] RAIKER: Blake? Blake... switch on your vision panel... Scanner thirty- four. There's something I want you to see. [Switch to computer room.] [Blake nods to Avon who adjusts a control.] RAIKER: [On screen] You have a clear view of our little assembly, Blake? BLAKE: We see you. RAIKER: [On screen] Then lock off the scanner and keep watching. [Shoots one man.] RAIKER: I'm going to kill one of your friends every thirty seconds starting now. I'll stop when you give yourselves up, or I run out of prisoners. BLAKE: Raiker! Listen to me! Raiker, damn you, those men are unarmed! RAIKER: The talking's over, Blake. BLAKE: Let me talk to Leylan! [Raiker replaces the communicator, and cuts Blake off. Blake watches as Raiker shoots another man.] BLAKE: [Furious] Raiker! Raiker! [Defeated, to Avon] Open the door. AVON: You're throwing away our only chance. BLAKE: Open the door! [Avon opens the door.] LEYLAN: Hands on your heads. Stand where you are. BLAKE: Raiker's switched off... Tell him we're coming out... And quickly! [Leylan nods, and Artix runs off.] [Leylan, Teague and a guard enter.] [Artix bursts into the prison compartment and whispers to Raiker that the holdouts have surrendered. Vila moves out of the way. Raiker starts for the exit, stops, and calmly shoots another prisoner.] [Leylan sees what's happened on the screen and doesn't seem impressed.] LEYLAN: Move it. [Everyone slowly heads for the exit.] BLAKE: Commander, your first officer is guilty of murder. I demand that this incident is fully reported in your log. LEYLAN: Now don't tell me how to run my ship, Blake... Everything that happens here is logged and filed with the Flight Authority and they'll take whatever action they deem necessary. [Raiker enters with guards.] RAIKER: You could have won, Blake. All you needed was guts. BLAKE: I'll settle for yours! [He lunges for Raiker, but is pinned by two guards. Raiker punches him in the chest.] RAIKER: Take them back. Put them in close confinement. Not the girl. She and I have some unfinished business. [To Jenna] or did you think I'd forgotten? LEYLAN: [Icily] Mister Raiker! Have you gone completely mad? [To the guard] Put her with the others. [To Artix] Mr. Artix, get a technical squad in there. I want that computer fully functional in ten minutes. [Artix dashes away] LEYLAN: Mr. Raiker! [Raiker comes over.] This time you went too far. There'll be an official inquiry. RAIKER: Naturally, Sir. And I'm sure you'll confirm that I was acting with your full authority. There were other officers present who heard you give me permission to do what was necessary. LEYLAN: Everything that was said or done by everybody... including me... will be in my report. [Raiker doesn't look so confident] [Switch to prison compartment] [Jenna, Blake and Avon - in front of them - are firmly secured into seats by restraints] JENNA: How do you feel? BLAKE: Sick. AVON: So you should. What a fiasco. You could take over the ship, you said, if I did my bit. Well, I did my bit, and what happened? Your troops bumble around looking for someone to surrender to, and when they've succeeded, you follow suit. JENNA: What do you think they'll do to us? BLAKE: Something unfriendly. JENNA: For a while, I really thought we'd made it. BLAKE: [Sighs] It was my fault. AVON: We know. BLAKE: I'll try and do better next time. AVON: We had one chance. You wasted it. There won't be a next time. JENNA: In which case, you can die content. AVON: [Almost laughs] Content. JENNA: Knowing you were right. [Avon smiles.] [Switch to flight deck. The control panels in the flight deck start to light up] RAIKER: We have power back sir. LEYLAN: About time. [Artix enters] ARTIX: We have normal functions on all systems. They're phasing them in now. LEYLAN: Have we got scan yet? ARTIX: Not yet. LEYLAN: Get me a blind reading on that echo. ARTIX: It's very close. RAIKER: These readings have got to be wrong! ARTIX: We've got the scan back. LEYLAN: Right, get me a picture. [Switch to a view of the Liberator] [Switch back to the flight deck] RAIKER: I don't believe it! LEYLAN: Take us in as close as you can Mr. Raiker. RAIKER: Yes sir. ARTIX: Where could it have come from? LEYLAN: I've never seen a ship like that before in my life. [Liberator drifts by on screen.] She seems to be drifting, Mr. Raiker. Maintain this distance. RAIKER: Right, sir. LEYLAN: Try and make contact, Mr. Artix - sound and vision. ARTIX: This is Civil Administration ship London out of Earth bound for Cygnus Alpha. Please identify yourself. [Close up of communicator. There is only static from it.] [Shot of London flying past Liberator.] RAIKER: I reckon she was involved in that space battle we picked up. She got caught in the big blast and the crew were either killed or got out in the life rockets. [Closeup of the side of the Liberator] LEYLAN: It's possible. No visible sign of damage, though. RAIKER: No sign of life either. LEYLAN: Hmph. Well if she's been completely abandoned... RAIKER: We could put on a boarding party. You know how much that ship would be worth in prize money if we could get her to a Federation planet? Millions of credits. Millions! LEYLAN: Leave a skeleton crew on it. We could do that. RAIKER: It's got to be worth a try! LEYLAN: [Clicks his fingers] Yes it has. [Walks over to communicator] LEYLAN: Ahh, Section four? Stand by to run out a transfer tube. Wallace and Teague? TEAGUE: [Over communicator] Sir? LEYLAN: Kit out with your survival units. I'll be with you in a minute. [To Raiker] Right. Take us in as close as you can and keep us there. RAIKER: Yes sir. [London sends out transfer tube, which links slowly extends from the London towards the Liberator. Eventually, it reaches it and clamps itself into place.] KRELL: Locked on, sir. Air pressure established, sir. [Inner airlock door slides open] [Wallace and Teague head towards the airlock. Leylan walks over to them.] LEYLAN: Now, keep your communicators open at all times. I want a full report of conditions inside that ship. If there is anyone alive over there, I want you to make peaceful contact. Weapons are only to be used as defence. Understood? [Wallace nods] TEAGUE: Sir. LEYLAN: All right, in you go. [Hatch opens.Wallace and Teague enter the airlock. The door shuts behind them] [Switch to transfer tube. Wallace and Teague start to walk along it] TEAGUE: [Into his communicator] Starting along the transfer tube now, sir. [Switch to section four. Leylan paces around the room] [Switch back to transfer tube. Wallace and Teague reach the hatch] [Switch back to section four] TEAGUE: We're against the hull. It is a hatch entrance. I'm about to activate the remote lock activator.... [Teague is crouched up against the hatch, operating some device] TEAGUE: No response... circuit one.... No response... circuit two. [Leylan stands still, looking tense] TEAGUE: No response... circuit three... [Teague is still trying to operate the device. The hatch starts to slide open] TEAGUE: No! Wait! It's opening... There's a powerful light source from somewhere. We're going in now. [Leylan turns round to Krell] LEYLAN: Krell? Get kitted up and standby to give backup if it's needed. [Teague's voice can be heard over the communicator] TEAGUE: We're in some sort of a cylinder. Type of airlock, I think. It's turning! It's fantastic, sir. I... I don't believe it! LEYLAN: What is it? What's happening? TEAGUE: Well, we've come out into what must be some sort of a flight deck I think, but it's like nothing I've ever seen before. LEYLAN: Well, describe it later. Now... now give me life support readout. TEAGUE: Pressure normal... minimal radiation... breathable oxygen atmosphere. LEYLAN: Good, good. Now, is there anybody on board? TEAGUE: Not that we've seen so far, but... I'm sorry? What was that? LEYLAN: I didn't speak! TEAGUE: [Hesitantly] Somebody did... [Massive hiss of static from the communicator] Somebody said something... LEYLAN: Teague! Report! Wallace! [To technician] Where the hell is that backup man?! [Krell enters] KRELL: Ready sir. LEYLAN: Right. Get across there as fast as you can. [Switch to flight deck] [Raiker and Artix are checking the flight controls.] LEYLAN: [Over communicator] Raiker. Let Artix take the ship. Get down here. RAIKER: Right sir. [Leaves. Art takes over.] [Krell walks down the transfer tube] [Leylan is standing by the communicator.] [Raiker enters section four.] [Krell can be heard over the communicator] KRELL: I'm inside... The design is strange to me... All the flight control positions are empty! LEYLAN: All right... all right. Now... now don't move. Now, just look around and tell me what you see. KRELL: What? I heard something. LEYLAN: What is it? KRELL: It's whispering... Ssshh... Yes... Yes I hear you... Davor?! What are you.... What are they doing to you! No! No! No!!!!! [Another massive burst of static bursts from the communicator] LEYLAN: Krell! [Speaking over static.] Krell! Answer me! Krell! Now listen to me Krell... if I have no signal from you within three minutes, I'm withdrawing the transfer tube. Three minutes! [Raiker reaches for Leylan] RAIKER: Wait! We can't give up that easily. That ship's worth a fortune. LEYLAN: Looks like I've already lost three men. I'm not risking any more of my crew. RAIKER: Then use prisoners. They've got nothing to lose. Use Blake and the other two. Let them take the risks... why not? LEYLAN: We might save the other three. RAIKER: Right. At least we'll have tried. LEYLAN: Right. Get them equipped and bring 'em down here... [Artix studies the controls, and heads for the communicator.] LEYLAN: [Through communicator] Leylan. ARTIX: I don't know if it's significant sir, but I'm picking up a specific focused energy field close by... I presume it's the other ship? LEYLAN: Is it constant? ARTIX: Well, that's the odd thing... there've been two violent discharges... right off the scale, but after each the source dropped back to constant. LEYLAN: Thank you, Mr. Artix. [Blake, Jenna and Avon enter, followed closely by Raiker and a guard.] LEYLAN: I hope Mr. Raiker's made it clear to you that you can refuse to do this. BLAKE: Oh yes. He's also made it clear that summary execution's one of our options. We chose the other. LEYLAN: Well if you're successful, I promise that I'll get your sentences quashed. AVON: And if we're not? RAIKER: Then you'll have no more problems anyway. JENNA: What is it that we have to do? LEYLAN: Find out what's happened to my men and see if it's safe to send a boarding party across. BLAKE: All right. JENNA: I've had worse offers. LEYLAN: Good. BLAKE: Do we get weapons? RAIKER: I'll toss them into the airlock... once you're inside. BLAKE: Very wise. [Blake and Jenna walk up to the hatch and stand either side of it.] BLAKE: [To Leylan] All right, open the hatch. LEYLAN: Open hatch. [Krell, foaming at the mouth, staggers out of the airlock. He tries to strangle Raiker. Raiker eventually overpowers him.] RAIKER: Get him out of here. [Two guards drag off Krell] JENNA: What do you suppose did that to him? AVON: That's what we're supposed to find out. Execution may have some appeal after all. BLAKE: Let's go. [They enter the airlock. Raiker throws in three guns.] LEYLAN: Right. Open it up. [Blake, Avon and Jenna walk across the transfer tube to the Liberator. At the hatch, they see a body. Blake checks it and looks up. Jenna gestures to carry on.] [Shot of Leylan, then back to flight deck.] [The three of them enter the flight deck. Avon heads for the pilot's console.] JENNA: It's beautiful! [Avon gestures to the console nearest Jenna] AVON: Look at that instrumentation. JENNA: A ship like this could go anywhere! [They look over the rest of the flight deck. Avon notices another body and takes a look.] AVON: This one is dead also. [There is a noise. Everyone looks to see where it is coming from.] [Jenna sees a strange sphere at the far end of the flight deck. It is fibrous, pulsating and with flashes across the surface.] JENNA: What is it? BLAKE: I don't know. [Closeup Jenna. Hallucination of a blonde woman surrounded by three Federation troopers. The woman is screaming.] [Closeup Blake.] [Closeup Avon. Hallucination of a fair-haired man, early 30s, silently repeating, "Avon."] [Closeup Blake.] BLAKE: You're dead. Those tapes are forgeries. You're dead! [The others move towards the sphere.] BLAKE: No, no. Get back! [Blake shoves Jenna to one side. He tries to shove Avon away from the sphere, but Avon pushes him back.] AVON: I must go to him. [Blake knocks him over. Jenna starts to reach for the sphere again. Blake whirls round and shoots the sphere. Jenna gives a short scream.] JENNA: What was it? BLAKE: I don't know. JENNA: I saw my mother. It was so real. Then something terrible, a nightmare. But it was my mother. AVON: I saw my brother. It used him like bait. I had to go closer. BLAKE: And if you had, it would have killed you. No, that thing took an image out of your minds, a memory, and then projected it back at you as though it were real. JENNA: But why didn't it affect you? BLAKE: It did, but somehow I knew it wasn't real. [To Avon] Huh. Seems I can recognise dreams. [Communicator bleeps.] LEYLAN: Blake. Are you all right? BLAKE: Yes! We're all right. We're still checking. [Switch to section 4] LEYLAN: Stay in contact, Blake. RAIKER: [To a technician] Get me a survival unit. [The technician leaves] LEYLAN: What're you going to do? RAIKER: They're still alive. I'm going to make sure they don't get any ideas about staying over there. [Switch to flight deck. Blake and Jenna continue checking the flight deck. Avon sits down at one of the consoles.] AVON: Blake! This would account for what happened to the crew. BLAKE: What is it? AVON: Life rocket launch control -- it's been operated. JENNA: But why? BLAKE: Maybe that thing drove them out. AVON: I imagined it was some kind of defence mechanism. BLAKE: [To Jenna] Could this ship operate under her own power? JENNA: I don't see why not. BLAKE: But could you pilot her? JENNA: Eventually I might just be able to make her start and stop. BLAKE: You've got two minutes, no more. Help her Avon. AVON: What are you going to do? BLAKE: Check the outer hatch in case someone decides to try and join us. [Switch to section 4] RAIKER: I want a boarding crew kitted out and ready to follow me over. [Technician nods.] [Switches between Blake, trying to push/pull the hatch closed, and Raiker in the tube. Raiker sees what Blake is trying to do. He fires. Blake falls over, injured. Raiker takes aim and fires again.] [Switch to flight deck of Liberator] JENNA: Shall we risk it? AVON: Why not? [Jenna operates a control.] [Shot of Blake.] [Switch to Transfer Tube. The hatch closes, and the tube disconnects. Raiker, being pulled along, tries to cling on to the sides.] [Shot of Blake.] [Switch to Liberator. It starts to move away from the London.] [Switch to Raiker. He starts to slide down the tube, and eventually goes flying into space.] [Switch to flight deck of Liberator. Blake enters rubbing his shoulder.] AVON: What happened? BLAKE: Slight disagreement with Raiker. And then the hatch closed. JENNA: We're on our way. BLAKE: What course have you set? JENNA: Name it. We're free. We've got a ship. We can go anywhere we like. BLAKE: Follow the London to Cygnus Alpha. Then we can free the rest of the prisoners. [Goes to Avon, and speaks to him] With a ship like this and a full crew, then we CAN start fighting back. [Avon looks less than pleased] [Shot of Liberator flying through space] [Cygnus Alpha. Exterior. Kara walks studies the sky, then returns to stand beside Lara, who is tending the fire.] LARAN: There. There it is. The Federation ship bringing in prisoners. KARA: Prisoners? New souls for the faith. I will go to the place of rebirth. [Goes off.] [Exterior. Civil Administration Ship London passes over planet.] [Liberator flies through space] [Interior. Liberator flight deck. Blake and Jenna present] BLAKE: Everything ok? JENNA: I think so. BLAKE: Whoever they were, they certainly knew something about engineering. JENNA: I'd feel a lot happier if we knew what had happened to them. [Jenna puts her hand on a green control.] JENNA: Blake, I can't move my hand. [Blake moves to help her] AVON: Don't touch her. JENNA: It's as though my hand was part of something. It's mixed with something else. It's ... it's in my head. Something in my mind. Asking. Answering. [pause] No. [pause] Ah, it's so peaceful, it's beautiful, [pause] to be completely known. It's like [pause] innocence. ZEN: Welcome, Jenna Stannis. JENNA: Who is it? [Avon picks up Federation handgun from seat] ZEN: Zen. Welcome, Roj Blake. BLAKE: Where are you? Show yourself. ZEN: Your species requires a visual reference point. JENNA: Blake. [Lights come on in an oval portion of one bulkhead] ZEN: This is your reference point. AVON: You're a computer. ZEN: As you say, Kerr Avon. BLAKE: Who owns this ship. Where are they? ZEN: The navigation units will accept your spoken commands. Please state speed and course. BLAKE: I want a course for the Earth Federation penal planet, Cygnus Alpha. ZEN: Galactic centre co-ordinates are confirmed. BLAKE: [to Jenna] Speed? JENNA: Standard? BLAKE: Standard speed. ZEN: Confirmed. JENNA: [looks at controls] That's done it. It seems we're on course now. AVON: It didn't answer any of your questions. More than that it deliberately ignored them. A computer can't have a will of its own. JENNA: You'd better tell Zen that. BLAKE: Let's look around the rest of the ship. And find out exactly what it is we've stolen. JENNA: Salvaged. AVON: Why don't we just interrogate Zen? BLAKE: Even if he'd answer... AVON: I'll make it answer. BLAKE: I'd still prefer to find out for myself. I'm not sure I entirely trust a computer with a mind of its own. JENNA: I don't think it means us any harm. AVON: It has no feelings about us at all. It's just a machine. JENNA: If you say so. BLAKE: Either way, it'll keep. Come on. [They exit flight deck] [Holding bay, Cygnus Alpha.] ARTIX: Come on, move it. Hurry. Move it. [Prisoners file in] Guard, make a double check that the rest of the prisoners are secure. GUARD: Yes sir. ARTIX: Move it. [Cygnus Alpha. Interior. Holding cell. Door shuts behind prisoners] ARCO: What happens now, then? VILA: This is nice, isn't it. What a miserable hole. If we all complained do you think they'd give us a refund. ARCO: Shut up. VILA: Can't you see the funny side of it? Hey, have you heard this one. There was a young lady from Cygnus, who thought that... ARCO: [grabs Vila] Are you going to shut your mouth or have I got to do it for you. GAN: [separates Arco and Vila] Only if you're lying down, cause if you touch him again, I'm going to break your arms and legs off. SELMAN: Why do you suppose they put us down here. VILA: Just a holding area. They'll release us soon. Don't worry about this place. It's what's on the other side of that that bothers me. SELMAN: What do you think it will be like, Arco? ARCO: How should I know. It won't be good will it? They don't put penal colonies on easy living planets. SELMAN: What about guards, authorities. VILA: Why should they bother. It's a long walk back. SELMAN: Well, why are they keeping us here. GAN: Relax. VILA: This is probably the nicest place on the planet. [Sound of the London's engines] Listen. SELMAN: They're getting ready to lift off. [Wall on one side of holding cell slides back. There are bars beyond it.] ARCO: Can you see anything? GAN: Some sort of passage. VILA: Cold as a corpse's armpit. ARCO: What's that smell? SELMAN: It's like something rotting. VILA: Dinner probably. [Sound level from London increases.] VILA: [covering his ears] Oh. [All prisoners cover their ears] [Cygnus Alpha. Exterior. London takes off.] [Cygnus Alpha. Interior. Holding cell. The prisoners are covering their ears as the sound gets louder.] [Shot of London taking off.] [Interior. London. Flight deck.] LEYLAN: Release prisoners. [Artix presses button.] [Cygnus Alpha. Interior. Holding cell. The barred gate slides back, giving access to the passageway.] ARCO: What now? GAN: What else is there? I mean we don't have much choice do we? Right. [They all go down passage and look out onto the planet. A bleak and empty place, with a bubbling mud pool.] VILA: [pointing] There's someone there. Look. ARCO: Where? VILA: There. [Across the way Kara beckons them] [Shot of a bubbling mud pool.] VILA: Someone beckoning. Do you see it, Gan. [pause] It's gone. ARCO: I didn't see anybody. VILA: You must have done. ARCO: I tell you I didn't. You're so scared your brain's curdling. VILA: [to Gan] Did you see it? GAN: I saw [pause] something. VILA: There you are. GAN: We're going to have to see what's out there sooner or later. VILA: Let's all go. [pause] Uh no, on the other hand, let's all stay. GAN: I'll take a look. [walks across the planet surface and disappears from view.] ARCO: Gan. You all right? VILA: Gan. [Echo] Gan. ARCO: He might be in trouble. Come on. VILA: Shouldn't we wait a bit longer? I mean, he might be all right. And if he isn't, what chance do the rest of us stand? ARCO: Come on. VILA: Look, uh... [others all go past him in the direction Gan took across the planet surface] Look wouldn't it be better if we all stay together? [Echo] Together. [Others disappear from view] Arco. [Echo] Arco. Great oaf. Why couldn't he stay here? [Vila looks around. Yells] Arco. [Vila runs to follow them] [Echo] Arco. Arco. Arco. [Echo] Arco. [Interior: Liberator teleport bay] BLAKE: Avon. [walking around in teleport area] What do you think? AVON: Before I decided to put my talents to more profitable use... JENNA: And got arrested. [Plays with teleport bracelet.] AVON: I handled the computer analysis for a research project into matter transmission. It was based on a new alloy... BLAKE: Aquatar. AVON: That's right. BLAKE: Yes, I worked on that project too. AVON: Small world. BLAKE: Large project. JENNA: I didn't work on it. AVON: The molecular structure of Aquatar [picks up teleport bracelet] appeared to contain the key to the reduction and the transmission of matter as pure energy. JENNA: Instant transportation. BLAKE: [picks up bracelet] Send solid objects like radio signals. Trouble was it seldom worked. AVON: And on living matter it never worked. Put a living creature into one end, take a dead creature out of the other, or nothing at all. JENNA: So you think that is what all this is for? Matter transmission? BLAKE: These bracelets contain Aquatar or something very like it. JENNA: [as ship sounds change] What's that? BLAKE: [to Jenna] Check it, would you? JENNA: Yes. [exits] AVON: The question is, have they solved the problem of living matter. BLAKE: And if they have, could we teleport down to the surface of the planet without ever having to land the ship. AVON: Too many ifs for my taste. BLAKE: [indicates bracelet] Presumably these are part of the recall system. This looks like a communicator. [into the bracelet] Hello. Testing. One. Two. Three. [to Avon] Seems to work all right. AVON: Tuned to transmit directly to the ship. Let's ask the computer how the system works. [Jenna enters] JENNA: Blake. I think you'd better come. BLAKE: What's happened? JENNA: We've stopped. Everything's gone dead. [All exit teleport area] [Exterior. Liberator appears stationary] [Interior. Liberator flight deck. Crew enter] BLAKE: Zen. ZEN: Please state speed and course. BLAKE: Cygnus Alpha, standard speed. ZEN: Completed. The Liberator is in stationary orbit, one thousand spacials above the planet surface. BLAKE: I see. AVON: "The Liberator"? JENNA: He got that from me. It was something I was thinking. ZEN: Your thought was accepted. AVON: Show us the planet. ZEN: You require the remote visualization unit? AVON: Yes. ZEN: Please look at the screen. JENNA: [Cygnus Alpha appears on main viewscreen] So that's where we would have spent the rest of our lives. AVON: What now? BLAKE: We've got to go down there and rescue the others. AVON: You're not going to try and land this thing? BLAKE: What's the alternative? AVON: Leave. I'm free, and I intend to stay that way. BLAKE: And I need a crew. [pause] Zen, how does the teleport system work? AVON: Would its function be injurious to our species? Have you the necessary data? ZEN: Wisdom must be gathered, it cannot be given. AVON: Don't philosophise with me you electronic moron. Answer the question. ZEN: ZEN! AVON: ZEN! JENNA: I don't think he likes you, somehow. AVON: I think I may have to reprogram this machine. JENNA: That still won't make you likeable. BLAKE: Avon's right we can't land the ship. [pause] I'm going to have to risk the teleport system. [pause] Come on. [Cygnus Alpha. Exterior. Prisoners are walking when they see a dark shape in the near distance.] GAN: Wait. There's a building. VILA: Cosy. GAN: What do you think it is? VILA: The architectural style is early maniac. ARCO: We need food and shelter. VILA: But do we need them that badly? [Arco passes him going toward the building] ARCO: Listen we....[stops and points] [Kara and several robed figures approach] GAN: Who are you? KARA: I am the servant of your God. Kneel. [Gan kneels. The others follow his lead. Kara walks over to Gan and kisses him. She takes his hand, indicating he should rise] KARA: Welcome, brothers. Come. Follow us. God has prepared a place for you. [They follow her toward the building. Vila and Arco pause.] ARCO: Well? VILA: I like God's taste in servants. ARCO: Shut up. [They follow the others] [Interior. Liberator teleport area] JENNA: Got everything? BLAKE: I'm all set. [speaks into communicator] Testing. [Communicator repeats.] Any change and I will contact you on this. BLAKE:. [into communicator] Testing. JENNA: If something happens to you... if we don't hear or we can't get you back? BLAKE: You must decide for yourselves. But I wouldn't want you to leave too soon. AVON: Oh, come on, Blake. [Smiles] Do you really think we'd leave you down there? JENNA: No, we wouldn't. BLAKE: No, I don't think you would. [walks into teleport] Right. Shall we get started. AVON: I think we've got it worked out now. Transmit and receive are quite straightforward. All the other controls are directional . A little more practice and we should be able to put you down with precision. [He goes to console, at which Jenna is sitting, and presses button] JENNA: All right. Ready? [pause] Go. [Avon presses button and teleports Blake.] [Cygnus Alpha. Exterior. Blake materializes on the planet's surface, holding a Liberator hand gun, and lands on a slope. He moves toward the building. Blake approaches the main door. A sign with a crude carving of a hand reads "Only from this hand comes life." He enters what appears to be the main room of a church. The sound of chanting can be faintly heard. He explores. There is a rough sculpture of a helmeted head above an altar. There is a gun on the altar: Blake picks it up, looks at it and puts it down. He conceals himself when he hears someone approach. Kara enters and kneels before the altar. Vargas enters from another door.] VARGAS: His blessings are upon you. Speak and he will hear you. KARA: I am thy true servant. [kisses Vargas' feet] VARGAS: The souls from the outer darkness are amongst us? KARA: They are in the place of the novices. VARGAS: A true bounty. Have they been touched by the death? KARA: The curse of Cygnus is upon them all. VARGAS: Then let them know his mercy. You will teach them the first law. Only from his hand comes life. KARA: Only from his hand comes life. VARGAS: And from his wrath comes death. KARA: And from his wrath comes death. VARGAS: We obey him and give thanks for his mercy. KARA: We obey him and give thanks for his mercy. [Vargas opens a compartment and places some white tablets on a plate Kara holds.] VARGAS: He is the giver of salvation. KARA: Salvation. VARGAS: His power drives out the ravening beast that is death. KARA: Death. VARGAS: It is he who must be obeyed. KARA: We thank you. [They bow to the head.Kara exits in one direction, Vargas in the opposite. Blake makes sure they have gone, then attempts to open the cabinet.] [Interior. Liberator teleport area. Avon is at the teleport controls. He is examining the circuitry. Jenna enters.] JENNA: Avon. [comes down the stairs and models her new clothes] What do you think? AVON: I'm glad to see you haven't been wasting your time on frivolities. JENNA: [noticing teleport console] What have you done? AVON: Just looking. JENNA: If we can't get Blake back... AVON: Where did you get the clothes. JENNA: I found a room full of them down there. Why don't you go and have a look? AVON: Perhaps I will. Just out of curiosity. [Rises] You can take over here, can't you. [gestures to one of the panels] That is the recall button. [starts to leave] JENNA: Avon. AVON: Yes? JENNA: There's another room you should see while you're down there. At the far end. You might find it interesting. [Avon exits teleport area] [Cygnus Alpha. Interior. Blake goes through a door and past Laran, who is sharpening his knife. Blake descends stairs and douses light.] LARAN: [grumbles] [Blake runs down the passageway to the cells holding the new arrivals] [Cygnus Alpha. Interior. Cell. Vila goes and gets some water. Gan is standing with his back to one wall] BLAKE: [whispers] Vila. [pause, then louder] Vila. [pause] Gan.[pause] Gan. GAN: [moves to bars] Blake. BLAKE: What is it? What's the matter with everybody? GAN: How did you get here? BLAKE: Never mind that now. What's wrong? GAN: Disease. Something in the atmosphere. All new arrivals get it. BLAKE: Well, can it be cured? GAN: The priests have given us a drug. They say we'll be over it soon. BLAKE: Why are they keeping you prisoners? GAN: We're not prisoners. We're just confined 'til we're well again. BLAKE: Listen... GAN: No, the priests, they've been very good to us, Blake. They've given us food and drink. Treated us well. BLAKE: Listen, I've got a ship. I can take you and the others off this planet. GAN: We can't leave here. BLAKE: What are you talking about? GAN: The sickness. We're all infected. BLAKE: You said you've had the drug. GAN: No, you don't understand, Blake. To survive we have to be treated with the drug every day for the rest of our lives. If we leave here, we die. BLAKE: Everybody? GAN: Everybody. The priests call it the curse of Cygnus, and no one is immune. BLAKE: Well then why haven't I got it? GAN: Ah, you will have. We all came down with it about two hours after we arrived. BLAKE: But I've been here for nearly that long. GAN: Then it's already in your system. Blake, you can't go back to your ship. BLAKE: I'll talk with the leaders. I'll get them to give us a supply of the drug or at least tell us how it's made. In return I can...I can offer some of them a chance to get off here. GAN: They might agree. It's worth a try. BLAKE: Well, I'll have to persuade them. Now you rest, now. I'll be back. [Gan moves to the interior of the cell] [Cygnus Alpha. Interior. Passageway. Blake starts for exit. One of the priests comes up behind him and hits him. He falls to the floor, unconscious] [Interior. Liberator teleport area. Avon enters carrying a sack.] JENNA: You found it then? AVON: [empties the sack on the table and jewels spill out] Do you know how much is in there? Millions. Millions. And this is just a sample. There must be almost as much wealth in that single room as there is in the entire Federation banking system. Look at it. JENNA: You could buy a lot of freedom with this. AVON: You could buy anything with this. Anything at all. Think of it Jenna, there isn't anything you couldn't have. JENNA: But what about Blake? AVON: What about him? JENNA: No. AVON: We could own our own planet. BLAKE: We're not leaving him there. AVON: We have to. He's a crusader. He'll look upon all this as just one more weapon to use against the Federation. And he can't win. You know he can't win. What do you want to be rich or dead? [picks up necklace] We might never have this opportunity again. JENNA: An hour. We'll wait an hour. If he's not back by then we'll leave. AVON: Why? Why wait? JENNA: Because that way I can convince myself that we gave him a fair chance. If he's not back by then.... [walks away] AVON: All right. [Cygnus Alpha. Interior. Vargas looks out of window at the Liberator] [Cygnus Alpha. Interior. Main room of the temple. Blake is manacled to a chair. Vargas is watching him.] VARGAS: You are recovered? BLAKE: Just about. [Vargas nods at priests, who withdraw] VARGAS: An interesting design. [picks up Blake's gun] A hand weapon of some kind. You will instruct me in its use. BLAKE: I'm not too certain about it myself. VARGAS: Your possessions are forfeit. [uncovers the teleport bracelets laying on the table] I found these [picks up a bracelet] fascinating. Some sort of body adornment I thought at first. And then I wondered why a man would carry so many. Perhaps to use in trade, in barter. And then I thought again and that didn't seem to be the answer either. BLAKE: They have no value in themselves. VARGAS: Ahhh. [crushes a teleport bracelet] How did you get here? BLAKE: I was a prisoner on the Federation ship. VARGAS: [crushes another bracelet] That is untrue. The prisoners were observed from the moment they landed. All are accounted for. So when a new star was in our heavens, then I understood. It is a spacecraft, isn't it? [holds up another bracelet] BLAKE: Don't destroy any more of those. VARGAS: Answer me. BLAKE: It is a spacecraft. I was a prisoner on the Federation ship. With two others I escaped and we took control of a ship. VARGAS: It seems unlikely, but it has the ring of truth. [puts on teleport bracelet, laughs] I am the supreme power here. [picks up Blake's gun] My word is law. My followers obey without question. [points gun at Blake] They worship me. BLAKE: Or fear you. VARGAS: The two are inseparable. BLAKE: Why you? BLAKE: I came here only to find my friends. They have a disease. I understand you have a drug which will combat it. VARGAS: They will require it each day for the rest of their lives. BLAKE: Well, I ask that they be allowed to choose whether they come with me. I ask that you give me a supply of that drug. VARGAS: No. BLAKE: I need those men. I must have a crew. VARGAS: [yells] NO! This society needs people. New blood, muscle and sinew to work the land. Human souls are the only currency. Our God is bankrupt without them. BLAKE: Will you trade them then? There must be something on my ship that you need. VARGAS: Toys like this? [picks up gun] And these. [picks up bracelet] Is that what you offer me. BLAKE: What do you want? VARGAS: Power. BLAKE: That you already have. VARGAS: Here, yes. But to take the word beyond, to gather followers in new worlds, new disciples bound together and obeying the one true God. That is what I want. That is what you will give me. BLAKE: How? VARGAS: Your ship. You will give me your ship. BLAKE: No. VARGAS: I command it. You will contact your ship and order it to land. BLAKE: I can't do that. VARGAS: You are mistaken. [to priests] He has defied the word. Teach him what happens to unbelievers. [They grab Blake] Teach him. [In another part of the room is what looks like a torture area. A priest stands holding a chain. Vargas laughs. OOV Blake screams] [Exterior. Liberator in stationary orbit.] [Cygnus Alpha. Interior. Vargas' room. Kara looks out window at the sky. Vargas sits reading.] KARA: Is it a sign? VARGAS: It tells us that the time is come to take our truth out into the universe. New worlds shall honour the power of the word. [Laran enters] LARAN: Lord Vargas. VARGAS: Yes, Laran. LARAN: The unbeliever will not submit. VARGAS: [sighs and dismisses Laran with a nod and a wave of the hand] Kara, go to the place of novices. Speak to those who have newly come to us. Tell them what happens to those who disobey. [Kara nods and exits. Vargas remains seated] [Cygnus Alpha. Interior. Cell. Door is opened and Blake is tossed in. Others stand away from him.] BLAKE: Give us a hand, will you? [No one moves. Finally, Gan helps Blake to his feet] BLAKE: Thank you. What's the matter with you. Selman? Arco? Vila? ARCO: You've got to give them what they want, Blake. BLAKE: Oh, really? That madman wants the ship. Give him that and we're finished. ARCO: We're finished already. VILA: They're not going to give us the drug unless you do as they order. Without it we die. SELMAN: Tell him the rest. VILA: If you delay, one of us will be chosen for sacrifice. ARCO: We're not going to let that happen, Blake. If they can't convince you then I will. [tries to attack Blake] BLAKE: [sidesteps the attack] You're pathetic. I should leave you to rot. You want to live like slaves? Live or die at the whim of a madman, then fine. But you're not taking me down with you. I'm getting out. I'm better off without you. VILA: Even if we got away, we wouldn't have the drug. BLAKE: I know where it's kept. ARCO: How long will it last? BLAKE: That ship up there is the most advanced design I've ever seen. There are medicines on board. There's a laboratory. We can... we can... we can analyse the drug, make it ourselves. ARCO: That's what YOU say. BLAKE: Very soon now they're going to come and take one of you away and there is nothing you can do to stop that happening, because there is no way I am going to order that ship to land. The choice is very simple. You can either fight or you can die. [Cygnus Alpha. Interior. Main chapel. Robed figures are gathered, kneeling before the altar. Chanting can be heard. Kara is kneeling at the altar. Robed figures enter escorting Gan, his hands shackled.] BLAKE: [disguised in robe] The novices made attack on us. We were able to overcome them. VARGAS: They will be punished. Come, prepare the sacrifice. [Gan walks forward and lays on table. Priest picks up knife and hands it to Vargas] VARGAS: [to image above the altar] Oh, Lord of our people, in offering up this sacrifice we crave your blessing. [holds knife up turns to table and raises knife over Gan] Oh Lord of our people, we dedicate this sacrifice to you. BLAKE: Now. [he throws off his robe] Get the bracelets. [Gan takes off binders. The prisoners fight with the priests. Blake puts on a bracelet.] BLAKE: [into communicator] Get us up, Avon. Quick. [Interior. Liberator teleport area.] BLAKE: [v.o.] Make it fast. [Avon does not move. Jenna reaches for the button. Avon grabs her hand.] AVON: We lose it all. [Cygnus Alpha. Interior. Main chapel. The fighting continues. Gan manages to retrieve a bracelet. Vila crawls past the table and gets one.] BLAKE: Vila, where's Selman? VILA: He's dead. [Fighting continues. Arco is wounded. Gan throws man aside. A priest throws a spear.] KARA: Gan. [Gan steps back. The spear misses him and hits Kara. The fight continues. Blake is struggling with one of the priests. Vila stabs the priest, and looks at the bloodied knife in surprise.] BLAKE: Don't just stand there Vila. Run. Gan, come on. [They run out door. Gan slams it shut and holds it] BLAKE: Gan, can you hold them? GAN: As long as the door doesn't break. VILA: Did you see? They killed Arco. BLAKE: I don't understand. There's no response from the ship. VILA: Perhaps these bracelets don't work any more. BLAKE: And we can't hold out much longer. That's certain. VILA: And they'll be getting reinforcements. BLAKE: Look, there's only one way for it. You and Gan run. Out there hide among the rocks. Anywhere. At least in the dark you've got a chance. I'm going back in to get the gun. VILA: They'll kill you. BLAKE: Gan, when I give the word, let go of the door. VILA: Blake, we'll all be killed. BLAKE: Gan, do as I tell you. Now. [Gan opens the door. Men come hurtling out.] GAN: [pulls Vila away] Come on. [Cygnus Alpha. Interior. Blake grabs gun. Three robed figures attack him. They struggle. The gun goes off, hitting the image above the altar and partially destroying it. The others fall to their knees. Blake jumps over crossed lances blocking the door. He rolls over into the next room] VARGAS: No. [Blake's bracelet comes off. Vargas closes door and points gun at Blake. He fires and misses. Blake runs but is blocked by the wall. Vargas points gun at Blake and laughs. Teleport sound, and Vargas vanishes.] [Interior. Liberator teleport area.] BLAKE: [v.o] Make it fast. JENNA: [presses button] Get the ship moving. [Avon exits. Vargas materialises. Blake, Vila and Gan materialise in another teleport section.] JENNA: [turning to teleport] Blake? VARGAS: [point gun at others] Get over there. All of you. You'll take this ship down to the surface. JENNA: We're already moving away. VARGAS: Then get it back. BLAKE: If you kill us, there is no way you can run this ship. You're getting further and further away from your precious drug. VARGAS: [Laughs] There is no drug. A simple compound. The disease is a mild poison that clears itself. But for centuries the followers have believed in the disease, believed in the cure just as you have believed. BLAKE: So you and those before you built your power on fear and ruled them with it. VARGAS: I ruled. I ruled. A small prison planet with never more than five hundred people. But with this. With this I could rule a thousand planets. For that prize, do you think I would hesitate to kill you? Now take this ship back to Cygnus Alpha. [He backs up into teleport area] VARGAS: NOW. I was their priest. I shall return to them a god... [Blake teleports him into space where he explodes] [Exterior. Liberator is under way.] [Interior. Liberator flight deck. Entire crew is present.] ZEN: Information. Sensors register that Liberator has been scanned by detector beams. A fleet of ships is approaching and has changed course toward this system. BLAKE: Put them on the screen. [Viewscreen shows star field. Three moving objects can be seen.] JENNA: There they are. BLAKE: Identify. ZEN: Available data classifies them as Federation pursuit ships. BLAKE: Set a course to take us away from them. Maximum speed. ZEN: Course and speed confirmed. AVON: With our speed we'll probably outrun them. This time. But they'll keep coming. Pushing us, tracking us. They'll never give up. BLAKE: Nor will we. When we can handle this ship properly, we'll stop running. Then we'll fight. [Exterior. Liberator moves through a star field] [Interior. Liberator flight deck. Blake is at the main pilot's console. Jenna is beside him. Gan, Vila and Avon are at their flight positions. Vila plays with a control as Zen speaks.] ZEN: Negative on all systems. There are no space vehicles within detector range. JENNA: We've lost them. VILA: So much for federation pursuit ships. GAN: At least we know we can outrun them. VILA: Outrun them, in this we can out stroll them. AVON: Don't get too relaxed about it. They'll keep on coming. VILA: We have the whole universe to hide in. BLAKE: Except that we're not going to hide. Very soon now the Federation ships will know exactly where we are. Or at least where we've been. VILA: I don't follow you. AVON: Oh, but you do. And that's the problem. BLAKE: Up until now we've only been a minor irritation to the Federation. I think it's about time we hurt them. JENNA: I don't like the sound of that. AVON: Neither do I. I thought it was agreed we wouldn't do anything without discussing it thoroughly. BLAKE: True. It was also agreed that anybody could opt out at any time. Just tell me when you want to leave. AVON: Oh, I will. But in the meantime I think we have a right to know what it is you're planning. BLAKE: Zen, set a course for Saurian Major, speed standard by two. ZEN: Speed and course confirmed. AVON: That falls a little short of my idea of a thorough discussion. GAN: We can talk and travel. We're safer on the move. AVON: Another one who's prepared to let Blake do his thinking for him. BLAKE: Enough, Avon. VILA: Saurian Major? BLAKE: Zen, visual star sector four two point six one. It's there, on the edge of the system. One of the early self-governing colonies subsequently annexed by the Federation. When the settlers declared their independence again, the Federation crushed them with typical efficiency. JENNA: How typical? BLAKE: Half the population were butchered. The other half were rounded up and transported to frontier planets. A few managed to escape to the hills and form guerrilla bands. VILA: Why are we going there, though? I mean I feel for them. But we've got problems of our own. BLAKE: They've built a vast transceiver complex there. All Federation signals and navigation controls are beamed into Saurian Major, boosted and redirected. It's a vital nerve centre in the Federation space control system. [Zen shows image of the complex]Destroy that, and you blind, deafen and silence them. That's what we're going to do. AVON: A blow for freedom. GAN: Yes, our freedom. For a clever man you're not very bright. Deaf, dumb and blind how are they going to catch us? AVON: I'm sure Blake will manage it somehow. [Exterior. Liberator moves through a star field] [Interior. Liberator flight deck. Entire crew is present] AVON: There's nothing coming back except the same distress call. It must be on a mechanical repeater. BLAKE: Do you recognize the type? [Zen shows image of projectile crossing starfield: there is a mechanical beeping.] AVON: Primitive. Too small to sustain a full life support system by the look of it. JENNA: Doesn't seem to be any heavy armament. BLAKE: Could be a high speed transporter. JENNA: To transport what? VILA: Do we care? JENNA: [slight laugh] Getting nervous? VILA: No, I've been nervous all along. I do not like the look of that thing. BLAKE: Zen, have the sensors picked up any sign of life? ZEN: No information can be given. BLAKE: That is not what I asked. I want to teleport across there. ZEN: There is room. BLAKE: And life support? ZEN: There is life support for a [pause] limited [pause] period. [Gives electronic whine.] BLAKE: I'll go and take a look then. JENNA: I'll come with you. BLAKE: Avon. [Blake and Jenna leave the Liberator flight deck] ZEN: [with difficulty] It is in... in... in... AVON: I'll have to overhaul that [pause] thing. ZEN: [drawn out] ...sane.[switches off.] [Avon leaves Liberator flight deck] GAN: I wonder. It's almost as if Zen has a limiter. VILA: A limiter? GAN: Something that stops him from helping us too much. Or maybe it's someone who stops him. VILA: Gan, if you're trying to scare me, you're succeeding. [Shot of projectile] [Blake and Jenna are inside the alien projectile. The interior is cramped. There are three oblong containers visible, taking up most of the available space. To the rear is a hatch to another compartment] [Blake opens the outer cover on one of the containers. There is a male alien in it] JENNA: Blake, look. Look at his eyes. He's alive. [They bend over and look into the container. Blake touches the outside surface of the unit and draws his hand back quickly.] What is it? BLAKE: It's cold, it almost took the skin off my fingers. JENNA: That's it. This is the same process they used centuries ago on the early deep space flights. They subjected their crew to extremely low temperatures to suspend the ageing process. This is a cryogenic capsule. BLAKE: [Opens the outer cover on the other cryogenic capsules. One of the occupants is dead; the other, alive.] There's not much we can do for them here. Re-animation will be a slow process. JENNA: We can't just leave them here. BLAKE: Yeah, we'll worry about that when we get back. Our air is running out, in case you hadn't noticed. JENNA: I hadn't wanted to worry you. BLAKE: [Into communicator] Avon, do you read? AVON: [v.o.] I hear you. BLAKE: Bring us back. [Pause] [v.o.] Bring us back. [Interior. Liberator teleport area. Avon is at the console. Gan is there] AVON: I can't. The teleport control is burnt out. [Vila enters Liberator teleport area] JENNA: What did you do? AVON: [v.o.] Not a thing. It blew all by itself. BLAKE: [v.o.] Can you repair it? AVON: No need. There is an automatic repair system and it's working. BLAKE: [v.o.] How long? AVON: I don't know. BLAKE: [v.o.] Why not? AVON: Zen won't tell us. BLAKE: Our air is running out. AVON: [v.o.] Yes, I was afraid of that. How long? BLAKE: Minutes. Get Zen to manoeuvre the ship 'round and bring the entire projectile on board. AVON: I'd already thought of that. Zen refuses to do it. BLAKE: [v.o.] Then you'll have to. AVON: That's very chancy, Blake. If Liberator so much a nudges that ship-- BLAKE: [v.o.] Then you'd better get it right. [Interior. Alien projectile] BLAKE: Why didn't Zen warn us? JENNA: I think he tried to. BLAKE: I'm sorry. JENNA: I'm all right. [Interior. Liberator flight deck. Avon is at the main pilot's console; Vila at the flight position to his left, Gan to his right] AVON: Commencing docking procedure [pause] now. [Interior. Alien projectile] BLAKE: He's taking his time. JENNA: It's delicate manoeuvre. He'll get there. BLAKE: I'm breathless with anticipation. JENNA: [laughs] [Exterior. Liberator moves closer to alien projectile] [Interior. Liberator flight deck] AVON: Gently. Easy. Easy. Good. Alignment is exact. [Exterior. Projectile veers out of alignment with Liberator] [Interior. Liberator flight deck Avon manipulates controls.] VILA: She's turning. AVON: Right lateral. VILA: Quickly. GAN: She's drifting under the laser projection. AVON: Down degree point zero one. VILA: You're too close. She's going to hit the ramp broad side on. GAN: Get around. AVON: Down another point. More lateral. [Interior. Alien projectile. Blake and Jenna] [Interior. Liberator flight deck.] VILA: You're too close. Pull away, Avon. AVON: No time. She's coming 'round. Gan, when the tail is on the laser projection, I'll go straight in. GAN: NOW! [Exterior. Projectile is brought on board Liberator] [Interior. Liberator flight deck] VILA: You've done it. You've done it. AVON: [Taking a deep breath.]Close the main locks. Zen, transfer to inner hold number five. ZEN: Transfer process commenced. [View from hold. Outer doors close] [Interior. Liberator flight deck] GAN: Hull re-pressurized. VILA: Inner hatches released. AVON: Switch the visual. [Main screen view changes to projectile at rest in inner hold] VILA: Very delicate. [On board projectile. Jenna and Blake open outer hatch. They clamber out of projectile into inner hold] VILA: [entering hold] There you are, you see. Nothing to worry about. What have we here? BLAKE: Take a look. [Avon enters hold] BLAKE: [to Avon] Thank you. AVON: Glad to be of help. JENNA: You don't sound too sure about that. Thanks anyway. Nice flying. [Blake goes to intercom] GAN: [v.o] Gan. BLAKE: Blake. See if Zen's back on our side yet. GAN: [v.o] I don't think he ever left it. BLAKE: Tell him to resume course for Saurian Major, speed standard by two. ####GAN: [v.o.] Understood. [Avon moves back to flight controls. Inside one of the capsules, the alien moves his hand.] [Exterior. Liberator is once again under way.] [Interior. Liberator flight deck. Jenna is at the main pilot's console, Avon and Vila at their usual positions. Blake enters] BLAKE: How are you getting on with that? AVON: I'm still waiting for the decoders to work out the notational system. It's taking rather longer than I thought. BLAKE:[Going to Jenna] Has anyone been down to see our guests lately? JENNA: Vila went down a little while ago. BLAKE: And? VILA: Thawing nicely. Couple of hours, we should be able to talk to them. ZEN: Liberator is now in stationary orbit one thousand spacials from the surface of the planet Saurian Major. BLAKE: Then it's time we went. Vila, I shall want you down there with me. VILA: Oh. Right. BLAKE: Bring your bag of tricks. Avon? AVON: Isn't he enough? BLAKE: Their detectors are concentrated on neutral space. We came in from Federation territory. They won't have spotted us yet. But they will, sooner or later, and I can do what needs to be done faster with your help. AVON: No doubt. BLAKE: Jenna will teleport us down. [Exterior. Surface of Saurian Major. The ground is rocky. There are strange plants dotted here and there around the area, and a reddish tinge to the atmosphere.] VILA: [touches plant, then draws his hand back] Ehyeh. AVON: Did it sting you? VILA: It's warm. Clammy. A bit like flesh. [Avon reaches out to touch plant] BLAKE: You have to be careful of the planet life around here. Some of it's carnivorous. [Avon draws hand back quickly] BLAKE: Some species even have an intelligence rating. VILA: That's a comfort. I should hate to be eaten by something stupid. BLAKE: [holds up pocket chart] Now look. This is the communications complex. This is where we are. VILA: Looks like a long trek. AVON: How do you intend to make contact with the rebels? BLAKE: If they're any good, they'll make contact with us. We won't make any secret of our presence. Just set up camp and wait. VILA: And if the security forces get to us first? AVON: They won't patrol this far from the complex. BLAKE: A small fire first, I think. [Avon and Vila move off] [Interior. Various areas of the Liberator] JENNA: [v.o.] Gan, respond please. Report your location. [Interior. Liberator hold five. View of broken communicator.] JENNA: [distorted v.o.] Report your location. [Interior. Liberator teleport area] JENNA: Gan, where are you? [Jenna draws her gun and begins making her way to the hold. She reaches the hold, opens the door and enters.] [Interior. Liberator hold five. Jenna enters.] JENNA: [whispers] Gan. [There is a heavy cable connecting the projectile to the main power supply in the hold. Jenna looks at the power cable. Jenna goes to the projectile and looks in.] [Interior. Alien projectile. Jenna is visible through the open hatch] JENNA: [whispers] Gan. [The sound of a door slamming shut. Jenna moves away from the hatch. A hand reaches up from inside one of the cryogenic units.] [Interior. Liberator hold five. Jenna is moving back toward the exit and looks at the power supply. Alien drops down from above. They struggle. He draws his knife. Jenna shoots him. Gan climbs out of projectile and slumps down] GAN: [groans] JENNA: [moves to him] What happened? GAN: Jenna, couldn't stop them. Couldn't stop them. Implant. [Puts hand on hair, exposing implant. Jenna looks at implant.' JENNA: What! GAN: [groans] JENNA: Brain implants. GAN: Limiter. Not possible for me to kill now. JENNA: Gan, what happened in the projectile. GAN: Never wanted to. They kill. Anyone, everyone who isn't theirs. JENNA: One of them is already dead. GAN: The other one. I saw his face. Jenna, despises us. [Exterior Saurian Major] [Blake begins to put out fire. From behind a red-clad figure knocks Blake off balance. Blake rolls down hill. Cally slides down after him, and plants a foot in his chest. Blake is winded, and takes several breaths.] CALLY: [telepaths] Who are you? [pause] Will you answer my question? Who are you? I ask you for the last time, who are you? BLAKE: Do you mind if I get up. [lunges at her] [Cally quickly goes around him and knocks him flat again.] CALLY: [telepaths] Try that again and I'll blow your head off. Now what are you doing here? BLAKE: My name is Blake. I'm trying to make contact with the resistance group. CALLY: [telepaths] How did you get here? BLAKE: We came from.... [looks quickly to the side]. [Cally also looks to the side. Blake grabs her and throws her over his head. Blake disarms her. Points the gun at her on the ground] CALLY: May you die alone and silent. BLAKE: Well, you can talk then. You may be telepathic but you certainly can't read minds or you never would have fallen for that, would you. CALLY: I will tell you nothing. BLAKE: I'm not with the Federation security force. CALLY: I do not need to read minds to know that you lie. BLAKE: I came here with two of my crew a few hours ago. CALLY: I keep a check on the landing area. Nothing has come in or gone out. BLAKE: I'm hardly likely to use the landing area am I? I need to contact the resistance fighters. CALLY: Your words are meaningless to me. BLAKE: We came here to destroy the communication centre. Your people have information that would be invaluable to us. CALLY: Oh, it is quite clear that you seek information. BLAKE: [disables the weapon] I'll make contact some other way. Take it. [puts the gun down in front of her] We'll manage without you. [walks away] CALLY: [picks up gun and gets to her feet] Can you prove what you say? BLAKE: If I can get inside that centre I'll prove it with the biggest explosion you've ever seen. CALLY: I might be able to help you. Perhaps. BLAKE: Cally, how do we contact the resistance force? CALLY: There is no resistance force. They're all dead. BLAKE: All of them? CALLY: We were getting stronger. The security forces kept hunting us, but we knew the hills and jungles too well. We made an attack on the main generating plant. And for the first time, they saw us a real threat. AVON: What happened? CALLY: They released poison from the sky. All the fighters died, except me. Perhaps because I am alien to this planet. BLAKE: You've been working alone ever since. CALLY: My work was in communications. But there will be companions for my death. I plan to raid the complex. To destroy until I am destroyed. BLAKE: Well, our aim's the same. But I wasn't planning a suicide mission. VILA: I should hope not. CALLY: He fears death? VILA: I plan to live forever. Or die trying. BLAKE: If you can get us inside that complex, we'll provide all the destruction you want. And still get out safely. AVON: Or die trying. CALLY: [telepaths] I will guide you. [starts away] BLAKE: [follows Cally, then turns back to Avon and Vila] She said yes. [Avon and Vila exchange glances and follow] [They reach the outer edge of the communications complex: colour of light/atmosphere more normal/Earth-like. Blake, Avon, Vila follow Cally] CALLY: [telepaths] It's clear. [They move on. They penetrate the interior of the complex. It is heavily guarded. Arrive at heavy door.] ZEN: Olag Gan. Basic decoding of projectile's autolog is now complete. Occupants are identified as programmed guardians. They are conditioned to eliminate any life form which could be a threat to the brood units and genetic banks contained in the rear section of the projectile. Liberator crew are such a threat and will be attacked. There are four guardians. Repeat, four guardians. GAN: [Gasping for breath] Jenna. [gets up and starts back out] BLAKE: This is it. The control room for the paraneutronic generator. If we can sabotage the limiter settings, the chain reaction will blow this entire complex off the planet. AVON: We'll need to blast the door. That will alert the guards before we've even started. VILA: [to Avon] Listen fingers, computers are yours, doors are mine. Right? BLAKE: You can open it? VILA: One side please. [picks the lock] There you are. BLAKE: [opens the door] Good, Vila. Very good. VILA: It was almost nothing. [They begin to move through the open door. Guard spots them and yells] BLAKE: Everybody inside. Come on, quick. [An alarm sounds. All run down the inner corridor and into the generator room] [Saurian Major. Interior. Generator room] AVON: Vila. BLAKE: [closing door] Avon, can you do it? AVON: [crouching near control panel] Five minutes. [pause] I know. Make it two. [Liberator teleport area. Jenna enteres, and is attacked by second alien, whom she fights. As he is about to kill her Gan comes in with a gun, but cannot fire. The alien takes the gun from Gan, and Jenna has enough time to shoot and kill the alien.] [The two of them spend a few moments recovering.] JENNA: [coughing] It's all right. We got them. Everything's over. [Interior. Liberator flight deck. Gan comes down the stairs and falls.] GAN: [yells] JENNA! [passes out] [Interior. Liberator hold five. Jenna begins to disconnect power cable.] [Interior. Alien projectile. A hand unlocks the rear compartment] [Saurian Major. Interior. Guards in the corridor fire at door of generator room.] [Saurian Major. Interior. Generator room] AVON: [pulls out a part of the control mechanism] Got it. Reaction's building. Nothing can stop this generator now. [smashes the part with his foot] BLAKE: [into communicator] Jenna, we're ready. Stand by to bring us up. [pause] Control. [Interior. Liberator teleport area. Gan regains consciousness, pulls himself up, trying to reach teleport controls] BLAKE: [v.o.] Control. Now! Jenna. Gan. Teleport NOW. [Gan makes another attempt at the controls] Can you hear me? [Saurian Major. Interior. Generator room] AVON: It's going. It's going up. BLAKE: Teleport now. [Interior. Liberator teleport area. Gan operates the controls] [ Saurian Major. Interior. Generator room. The group is teleported.] [Interior. Liberator hold five. Jenna is still working to disconnect the power cable.] [Interior. Alien projectile. Rear compartment is opening.] [Interior. Liberator teleport area] BLAKE: Where's Jenna? GAN: Jenna. In the hold. BLAKE: Look after him. [runs out of Liberator teleport area] [Interior. Liberator hold five. Guardian creeping up on Jenna, his knife drawn. Blake enters] BLAKE: Jenna! [Jenna falls. Blake pushes alien. Alien falls against power panel and is killed] [Interior. Liberator flight deck. Entire crew and Cally are present. Main screen on, explosions] BLAKE: That should give them problems for a while. CALLY: [telepaths] You have my thanks. BLAKE: Pleasure. [pause] Do you wish to return to Auron? CALLY: I cannot return to my people. I have failed. BLAKE: Then stay with us. CALLY: Thank you. JENNA: What are we going to do about the projectile. BLAKE: Dump it in deep space. JENNA: Thanks a lot. GAN: I don't like the sound of that. It's murder. AVON: Would you rather it was hooked back into the power system. You heard Zen. A single cell from those genetic banks can be incubated into fully grown adult in one point six minutes. VILA: We could be up to our armpits in homicidal maniacs within the hour. BLAKE: Maybe that's why Zen was so uncooperative. JENNA: It seems to me it should have taught us something. Something about the wisdom involved in bringing aliens aboard. BLAKE: Seven of us can run this ship properly. VILA: Six surely. BLAKE: You forgot Zen. AVON: You're not counting that machine as a member of the crew. BLAKE: Oh, what do you say to that Zen? ZEN: Please state course and speed. BLAKE: Very diplomatic. Set a course for Centero, speed standard by two. ZEN: Confirmed.