BLAKE'S 7 Orac. The compilation tape of episodes 12, 13 and 14: [c] 2009 by Ron Clarke Geddes. All three episodes written by Terry Nation, Series created by Terry Nation, [c] 1977 by the British Broadcasting Corporation. Episode 12: ''Deliverance'' Directed by Michael Briant Format (c) 1993 by Micky DuPree and Kay Teel. Episode 13: ''Orac'' Transcription: Malcolm Mladenovic Proofreading: Sue Clerc, Dave Owen Episode 14: ''Redemption'' directed by Vere Lorrimer. Format (c) 1993 by Susan Clerc, Micky DuPree, and Frances Teagle. *? = unintelligible [A star system in an unidentified sector. A small while spacecraft is making slow progress. Through the front view port two men can be seen seated at the flight console.] [Exterior of Federation Space Headquarters. Interior of Servalan's office. Servalan is seated behind her desk studying a scanner readout. The intercom beeps.] VOICE: [V.O., over comm] The Space Administrators are assembled in the conference hall, Supreme Commander. You are eight minutes behind schedule. SERVALAN: I left orders that I was not to be disturbed. I will not see or speak to anyone. VOICE: [V.O.] But the conference -- SERVALAN: Cancel it. It will be reconvened when I am ready. VOICE: [V.O.] Yes, Supreme Commander. [Servalan disconnects.] COMPUTER: [V.O.] Surveillance tracer transmitting. Computer visualization of Spacemaster ship is on-line. [Exterior of the small white spacecraft. Switch to interior. The two men are in flight positions.] ENSOR: Take a look up there, Maryatt. [An orange planet is visible through the view port.] MARYATT: What is it? ENSOR: That's the planet Cephlon, which means that we're on course and speed. Six more days and we'll be at our destination. MARYATT: You keep saying "our destination." Just where is it? What's its name? ENSOR: You'll find out. All in good time. At one time it -- [He is interrupted by a loud, continuous beeping noise.] MARYATT: What's wrong? What's the matter? ENSOR: We're...we're getting trajectory shift. [The ship begins to vibrate.] Compensators aren't holding us up. Going over to manual. [To ship] Come on, come on, pull us back. [Ship keeps shifting.] Come on! Come on! MARYATT: We're picking up speed. ENSOR: Yes, it's gravity drag from Cephlon. I must have misjudged and got too close. MARYATT: Can you get us out? ENSOR: I'm on three-quarter boost as it is. She's not responding! I'm going to maximum. It's all right. It's all right. She's slowing. Compensators beginning to hold. [Ship starts to steady.] Come on, come on, that's my beauty. That's it, come on. Pull us back, pull us back. We're all right, she's coming back. We're all right. MARYATT: Don't do that too often, will you? I'm a very nervous passenger. ENSOR: I'm a very nervous pilot. [Exterior of the craft. There is an explosion. Interior. Flames shoot up from the control panel. The men shield themselves.] [Liberator flight deck. Gan, Jenna, Avon, Cally and Vila stand watching the scanner display of the other craft. Blake joins the group.] BLAKE: What's happened? AVON: There was an explosion. Could have been a power unit burnout. JENNA: Zen located her about five minutes ago. We put her on the scanner to run a security check. Suddenly she just went off course. CALLY: Shouldn't we try and help them? BLAKE: If they're still alive. [To Zen] Identification? ZEN: The ship is a Spacemaster, Series Five. Four neutron power units with a maximum thrust of four by six. BLAKE: Does she carry life capsules? ZEN: Standard equipment. Specification lists two high-impact, unpowered survival modules. AVON: She's entering the atmosphere. Beginning to burn up. [Interior of the burning spacecraft. There is much smoke. Ensor struggles to pick up Maryatt, who has collapsed.] ENSOR: Maryatt! Maryatt! Get yourself out, lad! (*?) the life capsule. [Ensor grabs a box, stuffs it in his pocket, and follows a straggling Maryatt to the life capsules.] Move, Man, you've got to get out! [Exterior shot of the ship swerving out of control.] [Liberator flight deck.] [Visual display shows computer representation of the out-of- control vessel. Two smaller objects emerge from it.] BLAKE: They've ejected. Zen, lock tracers on to those capsules. I want to know exactly where they land. ZEN: Trace locked on. [Life capsules are falling toward the planet. The spaceship crashes on Cephlon and explodes.] [Servalan's office. Servalan watches her scanner, then presses a button on a console.] COMPUTER: [V.O.] Surveillance tracer has ceased transmission. The ship has exploded. [Servalan smiles.] [Liberator flight deck. Cephlon is on the visual display. Blake switches it off.] BLAKE: [To Zen] Surface conditions? ZEN: The planet Cephlon has a breathable atmosphere with a high oxygen content. The radiation level is in excess of normal tolerance levels, and prolonged exposure could result in tissue damage. Massive variations in temperature levels. Gravity is one point two five G. [Avon enters the flight deck dressed in surface clothes and checks his weapon.] BLAKE: Life forms? ZEN: There is no current information. Logic units suggest that remaining life may have mutated through exposure to high radiation. BLAKE: None of which sounds very promising. [To Avon] You're sure you want to go down? AVON: Are you afraid that I'll be able to cope with it better than you? BLAKE: [Chuckles] No. AVON: Well, perhaps you ought to be. BLAKE: Down and back as fast as you can, right? AVON: Naturally. [Liberator teleport area. Jenna is waiting as Avon, Gan and Vila enter. Cally is at the controls.] AVON: We're going to have to make this fast. The chances are that any survivors won't have come through the landing impact anyway. JENNA: I disagree. They may well be alive. AVON: That's why we're going down. If we run into any kind of trouble we teleport back up immediately. All right, Cally? GAN: Do you know exactly what we're looking for? Because I don't think I've ever seen an impact life capsule. JENNA: They're bullet-shaped, built to be energy absorbing. Theoretically they could free fall from the edge of the atmosphere onto solid rock without even bruising the people inside. CALLY: Is there a life-support system? JENNA: Basic respirator, that's about all. [Blake enters.] BLAKE: The coordinates place both capsules within one square mile. [Hands Cally the coordinates.] We're going to put you down in the center of the search area. AVON: All right. [To Cally] Put us down. [Cally works the controls, and the four teleport.] [Avon, Jenna, Gan and Vila materialize on the rough, drab surface of Cephlon.] AVON: [indicating smoke over the ridge] That must be the wreck of the ship. No point in checking it. We'll split up into pairs to search. Jenna, you take Gan and cover that area. Vila, you come with me. [They split up and begin search. A primitive man watches Jenna and Gan pass, and follows them. Farther on, Gan and Jenna see a closed door set in the side of a mountain. They go to explore. Gan tries to open the door, but can't. He looks at the ground around the entrance.] GAN: No tacks. Can't be in regular use, anyway. I wonder what's behind it? JENNA: Half the hill, probably. Come on, let's go and look for those capsules. [As they leave, a circular panel in the door moves aside, revealing a peep-hole.] [Farther along the route Jenna and Gan are taking, a sealed capsule has landed. Gan and Jenna come upon it.] GAN: Let's get it open. [They open the hatch. Maryatt is inside. Gan removes Maryatt's oxygen mask.] He's dead. [Jenna operates her communicator.] [Another area on the planet's surface. Vila and Avon are searching. Avon raises his communicator.] AVON: Avon. JENNA: [V.O.] We've found one of the capsules -- [Switch to Jenna and Gan] -- but the man inside is dead. AVON: [V.O.] See if you can find any identification on the body. [Switch to Avon and Vila] Then seal up the capsule. JENNA: [V.O.] Right. AVON: One down, one to go. [Avon and Vila are walking. They spot the second capsule lying open and Ensor sprawled out beside it.] VILA: There! [They reach the capsule and crouch over Ensor's body.] He looks pretty far gone. AVON: There's nothing we can do for him here. We must get him up to the Liberator. VILA: Will he live through the teleport stress? AVON: We'll have to take that chance. Give me your bracelet. [A primitive is watching Gan and Jenna walking. Gan hears something and stops. Motioning for Jenna to wait, he goes off to explore. His communicator signals.] GAN: Gan. AVON: [V.O.] We found the second capsule, and the man's alive. We're going to get him up to the Liberator. Stand by for teleport. GAN: Ready. [Liberator teleport area. Cally sits on the stairs, listening to music on a headset. Blake sits next to her.] AVON: [V.O.] Bring us up, Cally. [Cally rushes to the controls and operates the teleport switch. Avon, Vila and Ensor are teleported. She operates another switch. Gan is teleported.] BLAKE: Is he still alive? AVON: Just about. BLAKE: Get him to the surgical unit. [Avon, Gan and Vila lift the moaning Ensor up and carry him off. Cally operates another teleport switch.] [Another corridor on the Liberator. Avon, Gan and Vila carry Ensor to the surgical unit.] GAN: Easy. ENSOR: [mumbling] Compensators... GAN: Okay. ENSOR: Not...holding... GAN: All right. Okay. Here we are now. [They lay him down in the surgical couch.] Here we go. AVON: [To Gan] Out of the way. GAN: [To Ensor] Okay. AVON: Respirator. [Cally rushes into the surgical unit.] CALLY: Jenna's not back yet. VILA: Where is she? AVON: Gan. You were with her. GAN: Well, she was right behind me when we teleported. BLAKE: Cally, look after him. You three come with me. [Cally goes to Ensor and takes the respirator from Avon. The others rush back to the teleport area. Blake tries the teleport controls but Jenna does not appear. He switches the controls off and operates the communicator.] BLAKE: [into teleport communicator] Jenna. This is Liberator. Do you read me? [Cephlon's surface. Jenna's teleport bracelet and weapon are on the ground. Jenna is unconscious. Two primitive men are searching through her things.] [Liberator teleport area. Blake tries the controls again, but nothing appears. Avon operates the teleport, still with no success.] AVON: We'll go back down. BLAKE: I think you'd better. [Blake teleports Avon, Gan and Vila to Cephlon.] [Cephlon. Avon, Gan and Vila materialize.] GAN: This way. [Avon and Vila follow him.] I left her here. VILA: The ground's scuffed about. And there's a footprint. A large footprint. [Avon picks up Jenna's necklace.] GAN: That's Jenna's. AVON: Obviously somebody, or something, attacked her. VILA: And obviously it won. GAN: She might have made a run for it. AVON: She would never have taken off her teleport bracelet. Therefore somebody else must have. GAN: Do you think they've killed her? AVON: Probably not. If they've robbed and killed her, why drag off the body? Why not just leave it? VILA: So, she's a prisoner. GAN: So let's find her. AVON: We'll do it a lot faster if we work separately. GAN: Agreed. AVON: [To Vila] Well? VILA: Bit of a risk, though. AVON: With the radiation level on this planet, just being here is a risk. GAN: Let's get started. AVON: Unless one of us finds something, we'll meet back here in an hour. [They split up to search.] [Liberator surgical unit. Cally is cleaning Ensor's wounds. Ensor is groaning. Blake paces to and fro.] BLAKE: They should have found her by now. CALLY: They will. It's just a matter of time. They'll find her. [Blake picks up Maryatt's ID and looks through it.] BLAKE: What about him? CALLY: I don't know. He's in a great deal of pain. [She notices the ID.] What's that? BLAKE: Gan found it on the man in the other capsule. CALLY: Who was he? BLAKE: His name was Maryatt. According to his ID he was a Space Surgeon in the Federation Medical Corps. [Surprised.] He's got a double-A security clearance! He's got a pass for any area in Space Command! CALLY: He must have been very important. Anything else? BLAKE: No. [Hands ID to Cally.] Some pictures, a woman and two children. [Goes over to Ensor.] Let's see if he's got any identification. [He searches Ensor and finds a box of small round disks that emit a faint hum.] CALLY: What are those? BLAKE: I don't know. They look like micro power cells. CALLY: I've never seen that type before. ENSOR: [strangled whisper] Help...help...help me. Help me. BLAKE: You're quite safe. We've given you something to ease the pain. You're going to be all right. ENSOR: Maryatt? What happened...Maryatt? BLAKE: We found his body. He was probably dead before you left your ship. ENSOR: Energy cells... BLAKE: They're here. They're quite safe. [He replaces them in Ensor's pocket.] ENSOR: M-Must...get to my father. Without them, he has only a few days to live. CALLY: Gently, gently. Shhh. ENSOR: He'll die. Don't you understand? He'll die without them. CALLY: Now stay calm. ENSOR: You...you...get to him. Promise. Promise! BLAKE: We'll do everything we can. Now what was your destination? ENSOR: Planet Aristo. BLAKE: Where? ENSOR: Nav...Navigation log...give all flight details you need. BLAKE: All right. We'll run it through our computers. [He takes the flight log.] ENSOR: When you reach him...tell him...Federation have agreed...all terms. Will pay...one...hundred million credits for Orac... BLAKE: What is Orac? ENSOR: Or--- [Starts to moan in pain.] CALLY: Hand me the (*?spasm). Quickly! BLAKE: He won't take the shocks. It'll kill him. [Cally holds the respirator to Ensor's face.] CALLY: Well without it he'll die anyway. Come on. [She gives Ensor three shots. Ensor's breathing becomes more regular.] He's coming through. BLAKE: That was close. ENSOR: Must...get...started. BLAKE: Yes, we'll do everything we can. Now you must relax. ENSOR: Must go. Now. So little time. BLAKE: We will leave as soon as the others get back on board. [Cephlon. Vila meets Gan at the rendezvous point.] VILA: Anything? GAN: Not a single trace. You? [Vila shakes his head. Avon joins them.] VILA: So what do we do now? AVON: Start again. [Lifts bracelet.] Liberator. [Liberator flight deck. Blake and Cally are just entering. Blake is carrying Ensor's navigation log.] AVON: [V.O.] This is Avon. Do you hear me, Liberator? BLAKE: Avon. Have you found her yet? AVON: [V.O.] No. We're going to start searching again. BLAKE: Is there anything we can do? AVON: [V.O.] I'm open to suggestions. BLAKE: Well, if you haven't found her in four hours, you come back. Cally and I will take over. AVON: [V.O.] Whatever you say. BLAKE: Just don't give up on her. [Surface of Cephlon where Avon, Gan and Vila are standing.] AVON: No. We won't do that. Not yet. We'll be in touch. [Lowers his communicator.] Let's get started. [Liberator flight deck. Ensor staggers in.] ENSOR: Must go. Now. If we delay any longer, we'll be too late. BLAKE: One of my crew is lost on that planet. Right now finding her is all I care about. ENSOR: But...but he'll die, if I don't get to him. Don't you understand? My father will die! CALLY: Liberator is ten times faster than the ship you were traveling in. We will get there in time! ENSOR: But I can't risk that! We must go! Now! BLAKE: No! We're staying here for as long as it takes. [Ensor grabs Cally around her neck, drags her to the floor, draws a gun and aims it at Blake.] ENSOR: Keep back! [Points gun at Cally's head.] I'll kill her. I mean it. Now you get this ship started. Coordinates eleven, two, intersect five, nine. BLAKE: Not a chance! Do you think I'll abandon my crew, leave them on the surface? ENSOR: That's their problem. Now you do as I tell you. Look! I don't want to harm either of you, but I will. I'll kill her, and you. Her first, and then you. Now, don't force me to do it. Now get it started. Now! [Blake goes to the flight controls, but hesitates.] Do it! [Exterior of the Liberator. It changes course.] [Liberator flight deck. Ensor is holding Cally to the floor, his gun at her head.] BLAKE: In flight and on your course. ENSOR: Check it, on your computer. BLAKE: Don't you trust me? ENSOR: Computers can't lie. Put it on line. BLAKE: Zen, confirm course. ZEN: Liberator is on flight course coordinates eleven, two, intersect five, nine. ENSOR: Good. CALLY: Are we to stay like this for the whole flight? ENSOR: I've got no choice. I'm sorry about that. CALLY: The drugs I gave you keep back the pain. How long will you last once they wear off? ENSOR: I'll manage. BLAKE: You'll get tired. The pain will start eating into you. Sooner or later you'll lose concentration. It will need one second and then we'll take you. ENSOR: Perhaps. But pick that second very carefully. Misjudge it and you'll both be dead. [Cephlon. Avon checks his communicator.] AVON: There's no signal. No response at all. [To Vila] Try yours. VILA: [into communicator] Liberator. Blake. Cally. Do you read our signal? Respond! [Static.] Nothing. AVON: There can't be a fault on both communicators. They must have moved out of range. GAN: Without warning us? Why? AVON: I wish we could ask them. There could be Federation ships in the area, I suppose. VILA: Meanwhile we're stuck down here. AVON: That's largely academic at the moment. Let's hope they're back on station when we find Jenna. [Servalan's office.] TRAVIS: Orac? SERVALAN: There've been rumors about it for years. A scientist called Ensor has been working on it. Despite considerable investigation, we've never been able to locate him. TRAVIS: And you want me to find him for you. SERVALAN: Mm-mm. It's no longer necessary. A little while ago, Ensor's son came to see me. His father was ill. He needed medical help and equipment. While he was here, he showed me plans of his father's creation -- Orac. It is a brilliant achievement. There is nothing else like it in the universe. And he wanted to sell it. [Travis begins to say something.] Expensive, Travis. He wants one hundred million. TRAVIS: One hundred million? Are you sure whatever it is, is worth that much? SERVALAN: It's worth ten times that much. TRAVIS: Oh. SERVALAN: So I agreed to buy it. TRAVIS: Do you have the authority? SERVALAN: No. Now listen, Travis, I've told no one of this. Ensor and his father live alone on the planet Aristo. He made it clear that if there was any attempt to take Orac by force, he would destroy it. TRAVIS: Would he do that? SERVALAN: Oh, yes. He thought it through very carefully. He wouldn't even reveal the location of the laboratory until I'd agreed to all his terms. TRAVIS: Which were? SERVALAN: A Space Surgeon was to go with him. I sent Maryatt. TRAVIS: How much did you tell him? SERVALAN: Only what his orders were. TRAVIS: He's a good man. SERVALAN: Maryatt was to remain with Ensor as a hostage until the transaction was complete. I was to get the hundred million, take it in an unarmed ship, and in return I'd get Maryatt and Orac. TRAVIS: So now all you have to do is to persuade the Federation to let you spend one hundred million. SERVALAN: That could take years. TRAVIS: You have an alternative? SERVALAN: Yes. It occurred to me that if Ensor didn't get back in time, then in a very little while his father would die. So I took the precaution of placing a small explosive device in his ship. TRAVIS: You said Maryatt was on board. SERVALAN: Yes, that was unfortunate, but unavoidable, I'm afraid. Oh, don't you see? Orac is ours for the taking. [Cephlon. Avon, Gan, and Vila are searching. The sound of rocks falling attracts their attention and they look up. Two primitives are throwing rocks at them. Avon draws his gun, fires, and shoots one of the men. The man tumbles down the hill.] AVON: Let's get out of here! [They run, pursued by the primitives. Beyond a pass they encounter another group, carrying sticks and other crude weapons. They change course and come to the door in the side of the mountain. The primitives are following.] VILA: There's hordes of them! And they don't seem to like us much! GAN: How can you tell? VILA: Get down! AVON: [The primitives heave stones at them. The three crouch by the door.] [To Vila] See if you can open the door. [Avon draws his gun, as more men appear from over the surrounding hills. Vila tries the door.] VILA: I can't do it! [They remain there as the men come towards them. Suddenly the door opens behind them. Avon and Vila enter.] VILA: Gan! [Gan follows them inside.] [Interior of a small candlelit chamber. The door closes just as the primitives reach it. As the three catch their breath, a young woman enters from a side tunnel. Avon turns, then stops, surprised, as he sees her.] AVON: [pointing gun at her] Who are you? MEEGAT: And you shall answer. [She approaches and prostrates herself before him.] My name is Meegat, Lord. VILA: "Lord?" AVON: You opened the door? MEEGAT: I open the door. AVON: We're grateful. We seem to have made a few enemies outside. MEEGAT: That my Lord might find safety from his enemies. GAN: Well, she seems to be on our side. VILA: Yes, but the poor woman's insane. AVON: Not necessarily. [A primitive camp in another area of the planet. Tents made of skins are clustered around a fire. In one of the tents, Jenna is tied to a pole. She is trying to cut the bindings around her wrists. A primitive guards her, but his attention is on another task. She saws through the bindings, lifts a stone and hits the guard with it. He collapses. She looks out the front opening and sees the other primitives. She breaks the bindings around her ankles, peers out the back of tent, sees that it is clear, then crawls out under the skin walls. She stops abruptly as a primitive suddenly steps in front of her.] [Cephlon. The candlelit chamber.] MEEGAT: [still kneeling before Avon] I will describe the way to the scavengers' camp so that you may rescue your follower. AVON: My follower? I never really thought of her in those terms. Are you alone here? MEEGAT: Yes, Lord. Everything is as it was written. One waits. AVON: For what? MEEGAT: For you. VILA: [aside, to Gan] I told you she was mad. GAN: [to Meegat] How long have you been waiting? MEEGAT: All of my life, as those before me waited. But it is I who welcome you. Welcome, Lord, welcome! [She embraces Avon's ankles.] AVON: [extricating himself] Yes, well, let's not start all that again. GAN: You've hurt her feelings now. MEEGAT: I have offended you. AVON: No, you haven't offended me. MEEGAT: Forgive me! AVON: I forgive you. [Stoops and brings her to her feet.] VILA: You're enjoying this, aren't you? AVON: Probably. How many of your people are there? MEEGAT: Less than a hundred now. Our numbers grow smaller. More die. [They begin to walk through the chamber.] AVON: And the scavengers? MEEGAT: Perhaps twice as many, but they too are dying. We expected you to come long ago. [They stop. Meegat goes forward and opens a set of double doors. They enter a large, dusty room with four banks of consoles topped by candles. There are buttons, scanner screens, wires, etc. on the consoles. At the front of the room is a wall of dirt-covered windows.] VILA: Most of this stuff looks operational. There's no sign of any damage. You have a technology like this and still get your light from those? [Indicates candles.] MEEGAT: Technology? VILA: All this. MEEGAT: But it does not provide light. GAN: Well, it could, Meegat, if it was working. AVON: Of course. That's why they were waiting for us. MEEGAT: All things are known to you. You are truly Lord. [Kneels before Avon, holding his hand.] VILA: Counting yourself, that makes two people who think you're wonderful. [Avon lifts his hand and Meegat rises.] AVON: Tell me about the prophecy. MEEGAT: The ancients promised that strangers not of this world would be the means of our deliverance. GAN: Look, Meegat, we're not really gods from the skies, you know. We're just men from a spacecraft. VILA: With problems of our own. MEEGAT: You have come. The waiting is over. As it was promised, the Lord Avon will save our race. [At the front of the chamber, Gan wipes away dirt from a window panel. Behind the window is a rocket.] GAN: Look at this. AVON: [looking through window] A chemical rocket in launch position. MEEGAT: [as if reciting] He shall recognize deliverance and speak its name. He shall speak its name as a thing known and understood. As to him all things are known and understood. [Kneels before Avon.] VILA: [aside, to Gan] Been alone too long, definitely. [Meegat rises.] AVON: Is there a legend of deliverance? MEEGAT: Yes, Lord. AVON: Tell me about it. MEEGAT: But you know it. AVON: Ah. Well, tell me about it anyway. MEEGAT: Our fathers fought a great war, and Kashell the Wise dreamed that all life would end in this place. GAN: Seems he was right. MEEGAT: So Kashell sought a way to preserve our race. A way for it to survive in a new place among the stars. And the way was found. VILA: That ship couldn't carry enough people to establish a new community. AVON: It could carry dormant cells. GAN: Genetic banks and brood units. Like those in the projectile we took on board the Liberator? AVON: The same principle, yes. These seem to be a little more advanced, though. VILA: But did they do it? AVON: "And the way was found." Does it go on? MEEGAT: Deliverance was prepared. And Kashell the Wise was satisfied that it was good. GAN: If there are cells on that ship, would they still be viable? I mean, could they be incubated into a new race of men after all these years? AVON: Theoretically the fertility span would be unlimited. The brood units would be programmed to activate on landing. If they set it up right, there's no reason why it shouldn't still work. [To Meegat] Go on. MEEGAT: All that was needed to complete deliverance was the word of Kashell. But our fathers killed him, and the word was forgotten. And so we wait for a new word from beyond the stars. We wait for deliverance. We wait for the nameless Lord whose name shall be spoken by the one who waits. Meegat speaks his name. His name is Avon. VILA: [looking down at console] Avon! [Avon looks at a glowing button Vila indicates.] AVON: It's an active power source register. VILA: That's what I thought. The automatics have closed it down. AVON: Well, if we could find the manual override we should be able to reactivate it. VILA: [tries another button] Output control is locked. AVON: There's a circuit breaker here. [Flips the circuit breaker.] Try the output control now. VILA: It's free. GAN: This alpha scale is registering. AVON: Take it to level one, see what we get. VILA: No, nothing's showing. GAN: Nope. AVON: Then there must be a secondary fail-safe. [Tries another button.] Try it again, Gan. [There is a buzzing sound.] GAN: It's coming in! AVON: Take it to level two. VILA: Level two, and we have power. [There is a croaking sound.] AVON: Let me see now. [Turns some knobs on console until the croaking sound becomes a voice.] VOICE: [V.O. (in background)] Telemetry and guidance are holding...systems rebalance...fuel and ignition, capability is green...inboard computers are green and functioning. Programs are stable... [The monitors on the consoles begin to show various readings and displays.] GAN: It's coming in. [Avon tries another switch and the lights come on in the room.] VOICE: [V.O. (in background)] ...environment is...solid and stable. Countdown minus sixty and holding...telemetry and guidance are balanced... MEEGAT: Behold, deliverance! [She looks through the window at the rocket. The launch area around it is illuminated.] VOICE: [V.O. (in background)] ...secondary stage is clear for count...meteorology checks confirmed. Clear for count...control checks confirmed...are cleared, green, and stable...telemetry systems... [The countdown check continues in the background.] GAN: Do you really think we could launch that ship? AVON: If the people who built it did their job properly, I don't see any reason why not. And it does seem we have a reputation to live up to. VILA: Oh, you certainly do, Lord Avon. GAN: [gestures] Look, before we try to fulfill any more prophecies, could we uh ... AVON: Yes. We must find Jenna. MEEGAT: If she is alive, you will find her. [Liberator flight deck. Ensor is rigging his gun.] ENSOR: I've put the energizer onto automatic. If I let it go, it will spring back and the gun will fire. If I pass out, the gun will fire by itself. Now you make certain that I don't go to sleep. [Cephlon. The four leave the launch room. Gan closes the double doors.] MEEGAT: I will await your return. VILA: You'll wait up there by the door? GAN: If we make it, we'll be back. MEEGAT: The Lord Avon will protect you. [Vila gives Gan a skeptical look and the two of them go on ahead.] AVON: Meegat. MEEGAT: Lord? AVON: Make sure that it is us before you open the door. The scavengers know about it now. [He touches her cheek and leaves.] [Cephlon. The primitives' camp. Gan, Vila, and Avon are watching the camp from a hill. The primitives are gathered around the fire.] [Avon goes down the hill toward the camp to the back of the tents, and is shortly joined by Vila.] AVON: You keep a watch. I'll try and find her. [They draw their guns. Avon checks one of the tents. A scavenger comes from another of the tents as Avon and Gan duck out of sight. Avon pulls back the skin from a second tent, then moves to a third. He raises the flap and sees Jenna tied up inside. Facing Jenna with his back to the rear of the tent, a scavenger is eating. Avon lets the skin drop and puts his gun away. He picks up a heavy stick and swings it against the tent. The man inside falls forward. Avon enters the tent and releases Jenna. Outside, one of the primitives sneaks up on Vila and grabs him. Vila cries out. The scavengers are alerted by the scuffle. As Jenna and Avon emerge from the tent the man throws Vila to the ground and comes after Avon. Avon kicks the man hard, then the three run off, joined by Gan. They are pursued by the scavengers, who carry sticks and bones as weapons.] GAN: (*?) this way. We'll be safe there. [Jenna runs to the door in the mountain. A scavenger comes upon her and grabs her. Gan arrives and more scavengers come after them. There is a scuffle. Vila and Avon reach the door and help pull the scavengers from Jenna.] JENNA: Help! [Inside Meegat is waiting. She opens the door. Jenna, Vila and Avon enter. Gan is fighting off the scavengers.] AVON: Gan! [Gan rushes inside and closes the door just as the scavengers reach it.] [Inside the small chamber.] AVON: [to Meegat] That was close. VILA: No respect. They obviously didn't realize who you were. JENNA: [to Meegat] Thank you. [Meegat does not acknowledge her. Avon and Meegat move on. Jenna follows.] [Liberator flight deck. Ensor is losing his grip on his gun as he loses consciousness.] BLAKE: Cally! [Cally rolls away. Ensor collapses and rolls on the floor. The gun goes off, the shot hitting the side of a flight console. Ensor lies on the floor, groaning.] BLAKE: You all right? CALLY: Yes. Yes, I think so. BLAKE: [bending over Ensor] He's almost gone. ENSOR: [hoarsely] The microcells ... get to father ... Orac ... [He goes limp.] BLAKE: He's dead. [He takes the package of microcells from Ensor's pocket.] CALLY: What is Orac? BLAKE: I don't know. If we deliver these, perhaps we'll find out. Got to get the others first. Zen, direct route for the planet Cephlon. Maximum speed. ZEN: Confirmed. [Exterior. The Liberator changes course.] [Cephlon. The launch room. Avon, Vila, Gan, and Jenna are working at the consoles. Meegat watches Avon. The automated countdown voices continue in the background.] JENNA: Avon, look at this. It's a sub-beam communications system. AVON: It's an interesting antique. JENNA: Look at the range scales. AVON: Yes. Liberator can receive and transmit sub-beam. Try it. [He goes to another console.] Right. I think everything is functional. We are ready for countdown. [Liberator flight deck. Blake and Cally are at the flight consoles.] JENNA: [V.O.] Liberator, this is Jenna. Do you read me, Liberator? BLAKE: We read you, Jenna. Are you all right? JENNA: [V.O.] I'm safe and well. What happened to you? BLAKE: A slight detour. We'll tell you when we see you. We'll be in teleport range in about four hours. JENNA: We'll be waiting. In the meantime, Avon's about to become a legend. BLAKE: What? JENNA: [V.O.] Out. [Cephlon. The launch room.] JENNA: They're on their way. AVON: So are they. [Presses a switch and the final countdown begins on the monitors.] VOICE: [V.O.] Ten. Nine. Eight. Seven. Six. Five. Four. Three. Two. One. We have lift-off. [The rocket lifts off.] AVON: Meegat, I'm sorry you've waited so long. MEEGAT: Our waiting brought you. AVON: That seems like a poor reward, somehow. [The rocket is climbing through space.] [Liberator flight deck. The whole crew is present.] ZEN: The rocket is now beyond sensor range. AVON: Have the navigation computers made a projection? ZEN: It is calculated that the rocket will make planet-fall in the system Magdalen Alpha. AVON: How many suitable planets are there in that system? ZEN: There are four with compatible biospheres. AVON: Flight time? ZEN: Five hundred earth years. VILA: You won't be a legend in your own lifetime, then. GAN: Fertility cells wouldn't know about us, anyway. CALLY: Meegat does. [To Avon] Did she really think you were a god? AVON: For a while. BLAKE: How did it feel? AVON: Don't you know? BLAKE: Yes. I don't like the responsibility, either. [Avon rises, looks at Blake, then leaves the flight deck.] However, now we have another. Ensor's father. Zen, have you laid in a course for Aristo? ZEN: Course for the planet Aristo is computed and laid in. BLAKE: Speed standard by six, Jenna. [Starfield] [Liberator flight deck. Aristo appears on the screen] BLAKE: Zen, run the scanner file from the moment we picked up visual contact with the Spacemaster ship. ZEN: Confirmed. Retrieval systems operating. AVON: What exactly are you looking for? BLAKE: I'm not sure yet. [Avon bends forwards] You quite sure you're all right? AVON: Yes, of course I'm all right. [Scene: A corridor. Jenna walks slowly along and stops just as Cally comes round the corner.] CALLY: Jenna, what is it? what's the matter? JENNA: I don't know. I, I feel terrible. One minute I'm all right, and then, then it comes over me again. CALLY: Oh, you've obviously got a fever. Come on, I'll get you to your cabin. [Scene: Return to Avon and Blake on the flight deck, watching the playback of the explosion of the Spacemaster ship. Vila is also watching.] BLAKE: Zen, hold it there. Now then, play it back, slowly. There! That's it, that's what's been bothering me. VILA: I don't see anything special. AVON: It's in the wrong place. BLAKE: Exactly. The explosion's in the forward section. Now, you thought it was a neutron burn out but that's nowhere near the engine housing. AVON: All right, but it doesn't make any difference, does it? BLAKE: Zen, I want a sensor reading for that moment. Full spectrum analysis. ZEN: Confirmed. VILA: What are you trying to prove? BLAKE: Ensor went to Federation Space Headquarters. He wanted medical assistance. He also wanted to sell something of enormous value. VILA: Orac. BLAKE: Right. AVON: Whatever that is. BLAKE: We can presume the sale was made because he told us they're prepared to pay a fantastic price for it. Now, they start on the return journey.... ZEN: The data you requested is now available. BLAKE: All right, let's have it. ZEN: Sensor readings for selected moment are as follows. The explosion registered one point three. Disturbance peaked at one one five. Spectral analysis of residual vapour confirms presence of Geritan explosive. BLAKE: Conclusion? ZEN: Probability is that a small explosive device was detonated in the gravity compensator controls. AVON: Sabotage. BLAKE: Yes. VILA: But why? AVON: Presumably so that the Federation could get their hands on Orac without paying a hundred million. BLAKE: That's the only thing that would make sense. VILA: So they'll be on their way to pick up Orac as fast as they can go, and that's fairly fast actually. BLAKE: Yeah, not as fast as us. AVON: Ever the optimist. [Cally enters.] CALLY: Blake. BLAKE: What is it? CALLY: Jenna is very sick. Gan is, too. They've both got the same symptoms. BLAKE: What's wrong with them? CALLY: I want to make a test. [She walks over to Avon and Vila] Avon, give me your hand. [She runs an instrument that sounds like a Geiger counter over the back of Avon's hand. It clicks noisily.] [To Vila] Now yours. [She does the same with Vila, with the same result.] The same as the others. They've all absorbed heavy doses of radiation. VILA: Radiation! All of me? CALLY: The four of you went down to the surface of Cephlon, but you stayed down too long -- far beyond the tolerance limits. You need treatment and you need it quickly. VILA: Well, what are we waiting for? Let's get to the surgical unit. AVON: Relax. We'll all go onto a massive dose of decontaminant drugs. In a week or two we should all recover. CALLY: Not possible. BLAKE: Why not, Cally? CALLY: There are no decontaminant drugs on the ship. I've checked. There is nothing that will counter radiation sickness. BLAKE: Are you sure? CALLY: I'm sure. [Scene: Gan is in a cabin. We see him listen to the following conversation over the intercom.] BLAKE: Our only hope is if they have a supply on Aristo. VILA: But if they don't? BLAKE: They will have. VILA: But if they don't? BLAKE: They will have. AVON: There's no point in hiding it, our condition will deteriorate rapidly. If we don't get drug treatment very soon, we shall die. [view of the planet Aristo] (Transcript note: From now on, Ensor is the father of the earlier Ensor) [Scene: a laboratory/living quarters. An old man, Ensor, is looking at some fish in a tank. There is a loud sound of bird song.] ENSOR: [chuckles] Hello, my little ones. Hmm, ah, you hungry then, are you? Let's give you something to eat, then, mmm? [There is a sound of something electronic starting up.] Oh, yes, what is it? Have you something to report? ORAC: A space vehicle has made a surface landing about seven miles inland. ENSOR: My son's ship? ORAC: No. ENSOR: Ah, stupid question, I apologize. Had it been his he would have contacted us by now. Have you identified the ship? ORAC: Federation. Two passengers now disembarked and proceeding on foot towards this section. ENSOR: Is the defense zone operating? ORAC: Yes. ENSOR: Well they won't get far. [Scene: The planet's surface, on the sea shore. Stormy. Travis passes an obelisk and examines a plant.] SERVALAN: Travis -- here! [He comes over and opens a trap-door amongst the rocks.] TRAVIS: There must be an easier way to get into the laboratory than this. SERVALAN: The surface force barrier is impenetrable. We must go under it. TRAVIS: Let's see the old man's map again. SERVALAN: We go straight along this passage, turn right at the junction, and then straight on. TRAVIS: Yeah, they begin to run below sea level there. Let's hope they're not flooded. SERVALAN: Well, let's get started. TRAVIS: Right. [They go down some steps into a tunnel. Travis looks around.] SERVALAN: Travis! TRAVIS: Huh? SERVALAN: It's this way. [They walk through wet tunnels.] [Scene: Liberator: Blake enters a room where Avon and Gan are resting] BLAKE: I've had Zen run through the reference banks. A remarkable man this professor Ensor -- very impressive list of achievements. AVON: Yes, I know. When he was eighteen years old he developed something called a Tarriel cell. It led to a whole new generation of computers. Every computer in the known worlds now contains Tarriel cells. He also engineered and developed a lot of radical new concepts in computer technology, so that even the most advanced computers are based on his work. It's a surprise to me that the Federation ever let him go. BLAKE: They didn't -- well, not exactly. [Cally enters.] [To Cally.] How are they? CALLY: Well, much the same. Until they get treatment the only change can be for the worse. BLAKE: Who's at the controls? CALLY: Jenna is. BLAKE: Well, we're nearly there, another hour. AVON: It's ironic isn't it -- we are racing to deliver medical supplies that will save a man's life in the hope that he will have medical supplies that will save ours. BLAKE: Zen gave me something else that would explain why he needs those micro power cells. Zen, report -- medic information 'Ensor'. ZEN: It appears that Ensor took a vacation on a frontier planet. While there he suffered a massive heart attack. Medical facilities were primitive. The only available transplant was a mechanical heart powered by microcells. They have a life of about forty Earth years. BLAKE: All of which happened about forty years ago. CALLY: But didn't they substitute an organic unit once he got back? BLAKE: That's just the point, he never did get back. He disappeared. He and his four year old son simply vanished. They've never been heard of since. AVON: Until now. CALLY: And all the time they've been on Aristo. BLAKE: Cally, we'd better get ready to teleport down. [Scene: Liberator flight deck. View of Aristo. Jenna is at the controls, Blake enters.] BLAKE: D'you think you'll be up to handling things in here? JENNA: Ohh, assuming you don't take too long. BLAKE: Zen, surface conditions? ZEN: Tolerable. The land masses are arid and support only primitive plant life. Nine tenths of the planet is covered by water which is highly acidic. The level of the oceans is constantly rising and they now virtually cover all traces of the cities built by early civilizations. BLAKE: Life forms? ZEN: Life is evolving in the oceans. An amphibian species have begun to develop. JENNA: Anything else? ZEN: This constitutes all available data. JENNA: Well, at least there won't be too many natural hazards for you to deal with. [view of the Liberator above the planet] [Scene: The laboratory. Ensor is reclining with his eyes closed.] ORAC: An unidentified space vehicle is maneuvering to take a fixed orbit which threatens our security zone. What action do you wish taken? [pause -- There is no response from Ensor.] In the absence of further instructions I shall institute full security procedure. [view of ball shaped object] [Scene: Liberator flight deck. Jenna is at the controls.] ZEN: Transit complete. Liberator is in stationary orbit within teleport range of the planet Aristo. All circuits are. All circuits are. All circuits are. All circuits are. JENNA: Zen! ZEN: [Zen's voice slows and trails off.] All circuits are. All circuits are. All circuits are. JENNA: [Into intercom.] Blake, quickly! [Blake and Cally enter. Blake fiddles with some controls.] JENNA: I've done all that. [The background lighting turns red.] ORAC: [Through Zen.] You will identify yourselves and state clearly the purpose of your intrusion. BLAKE: Specify recognition code. ORAC: I repeat, identify yourselves and state the purpose of your mission. BLAKE: This is the spacecraft Liberator. We have medical supplies for someone on this planet. ORAC: You will explain the circumstances governing your previous statement. BLAKE: We went to the aid of a crashed spaceship. Before he died the pilot asked me to deliver some micro power cells. He said they were vital to save his father's life. ORAC: Your explanation is satisfactory. I am aware that you have teleport facilities. I will set co-ordinates for a surface landing. On arrival you will await further instructions. That is all. BLAKE: That is all! Jenna, institute a thorough check of the circuits. ZEN: All circuits are now free of interference and full function is restored. CALLY: What happened? ZEN: Preliminary research indicates that all computer functions were temporarily under external control. JENNA: But that's impossible! ZEN: Logic units concur that it is impossible. BLAKE: But it happened anyway. ZEN: Logic units concur that it happened. Investigation of this paradox is continuing. JENNA: I don't like it. A force that can take over the computers could easily take over the ship. BLAKE: We're not going to find out about it standing here. [Scene: Liberator teleport section. Cally and Blake are there, Avon enters] AVON: Blake! BLAKE: What is it? AVON: Look at the locator. BLAKE: It's setting the co-ordinates. AVON: By itself. It looks as if our computers are being over-ridden again, being programmed from another source. CALLY: Perhaps we should move out while we've still got a chance. AVON: While some of us have still got a chance. CALLY: Oh, I forgot. I'm sorry, Avon. BLAKE: Frankly, I doubt whether we could even if we wanted to. From what we've seen already it's obvious that machine could totally immobilize us. AVON: Then let's get on with it. BLAKE: [To Avon.] If you feel well enough, could you try and stay by the teleport? AVON: I have no plans to go anywhere else. BLAKE: All right, put us down. [Scene: The planet's surface. Blake and Cally land near the obelisk.] BLAKE: Some sort of obelisk, I suppose. CALLY: Well, what should we do now? BLAKE: Wait for further instructions -- there's not much else we can do. Let's take a look around. CALLY: Blake! BLAKE: What is it? CALLY: Look. [She puts her hand up to show some sort of barrier. Blake does the same.] BLAKE: It's a force barrier. The question is are we on the outside unable to get in or.... CALLY: On the inside unable to get out. BLAKE: Yeah. [Scene: The tunnels. Travis and Servalan are moving through them. There are loud breathing sounds in the background] SERVALAN: Travis. TRAVIS: Uh? SERVALAN: Listen. What is it? TRAVIS: I dunno, but it's been behind us since we started. SERVALAN: Let's keep going. TRAVIS: Look, the tunnel's blocked. SERVALAN: Well, can we get through? TRAVIS: I'll go and check. [He goes forward to inspect the blockage] SERVALAN: [Servalan looks uneasy as she hears various 'roars' from the tunnels.] Travis! Travis!! [Suddenly a clawed hand is placed on her leg.] Agh!! Travis! Travis, help me! [Travis shoots the creature. Servalan is shaking] TRAVIS: Are you hurt? SERVALAN: [Still shaken.] No. What is it? TRAVIS: I dunno -- some kind of lizard. We can get through. You have to crawl, but it widens out again later. The rewards and credit, remember? I'll go first, shall I? SERVALAN: No, Travis. You will follow me. [They continue on.] [Scene: The surface. A bright object approaches the camera over the sea. It is the ball-shaped object previously seen in Ensor's lab. It approaches Blake and Cally who are sitting next to the obelisk.] ORAC: You will stand up. You will stand up! [They do so.] You are carrying weapons, you will remove them. BLAKE: We'd prefer to keep them with us. ORAC: You will remove them. BLAKE: No! [There is a small explosion on the ground in front of them.] BLAKE: We will remove them. ORAC: You will make greater speed. Hurry. Hurry. CALLY: How do we get through the barrier? ORAC: You will follow me. CALLY: Versatile, isn't it? BLAKE: Let's hope it's still around when we want to get out of here. [Blake raises his communicator.] ORAC: It is too late to contact your ship. You are now inside the barrier. Signal transmission through the energy screen is not possible. You will follow me. [Scene: Liberator. Jenna is in the teleport area where Avon is seated at the controls.] JENNA: Any word? AVON: Nothing since they called in to say that they were down safely and waiting. JENNA: How long ago was that? AVON: A little over two hours. JENNA: We should have heard by now. [Scene: The surface of the planet. Blake and Cally are walking along. A black cylinder rises from the ground.] ORAC: You will make haste and approach the transporter. BLAKE: Transporter!? ORAC: Move forward. [They approach it.] You will now enter the transporter. [Blake walks around it.] BLAKE: There's no door. ORAC: You will enter the transporter. BLAKE: Look, I'm getting fed up with taking orders... How are we supposed to get inside this thing? ORAC: The girl will go first. Move to the other side of the transporter. [Cally moves to the other side of the cylinder, but when Blake follows her she has vanished. Then it opens with her inside.] BLAKE: I thought you started without me. [He steps in.] CALLY: So did I. [The door closes.] I said that thing was versatile. BLAKE: Maybe we should try and capture it. Perhaps Avon would like it as a pet. [The transporter sinks down some distance and then stops.] We seem to have arrived. [The door opens and closes after they exit. They move along a corridor to a junction and then on.] [Scene: Travis and Servalan still in the tunnels.] TRAVIS: Let's check the map. SERVALAN: We're almost there. [Scene: Blake and Cally reach a closed door] CALLY: It looks similar to the transporter. [It opens.] BLAKE: And just as disconcerting. [They enter the laboratory and look around.] CALLY: Blake, look. [The ball-shaped mobile is on a table.] ENSOR: [Entering.] Ah, at last. The energy cells, have you brought the energy cells? BLAKE: Yes, yes, yes, we've got them. Now, are you all right? ENSOR: Well, of course I'm not all right. If I was all right I wouldn't need you. It's certainly taken you long enough to get here. Ah, it's typical of you morons in physical medicine. CALLY: Oh, look, you don't understand. ENSOR: Always has to be a mercy dash, doesn't it? Not enough to simply arrive, do your work, and then get out, ooh no, no, it has to be a drama. BLAKE: We got here as quickly as we could. ENSOR: I don't want to hear your feeble excuses. Now let's get on with it. I've developed a system of electronic anaesthesia that I shall administer myself. Shan't need your filthy drugs. Now, you can start carving me up as soon as you like. CALLY: Look, you must listen to us, we...[drowned out by Ensor] ENSOR: Press the red switch, will you. [Blake presses the red button.] The RED one! [Blake presses the green one.] Now you'll have to work quickly. An implant operation can't be done in ten minutes you know. The last time I checked it showed there was very little in reserve. BLAKE: Professor, what are you doing? ENSOR: The instrument isn't entirely accurate, but it does give a, an indication. Well, I suppose you enjoy this sort of thing. Hmm? Boosts your egos to have the power of life and death, adds to the mystique with which you medics like to surround yourself. All right, now, [presses the green button] which of you is the surgeon? Oh, come on, speak up, which of you is the butcher? BLAKE: We are not medics, I'm afraid. ENSOR: What? CALLY: We went to the aid of a spacecraft that had crashed, one of the crew was already dead and the other man was dying, but before he died he asked us to get these to you. ENSOR: Both men dead, you say? CALLY: Yes. ENSOR: One of them was my son. CALLY: I'm sorry. He tried desperately to reach you. ENSOR: Oh I, I'm sorry if I snapped at you. It's, it's just my way. Thank you, for doing all you could to help. CALLY: We were hoping you might be able to help us. ENSOR: Mmm, what is it you want? BLAKE: The four of my crew who went down to help your son suffered from high doses of radiation. Now, unless they get decontaminant drugs they also will die. ENSOR: Ah, couldn't be easier. Whole cabinet of drugs over there round the corner -- you'll see it. Take all you want, help yourself. [Cally goes off in the indicated direction.] Can't stand them, myself. Filthy things, drugs. Ohh. BLAKE: Listen, how long have you got before these power cells run out? ENSOR: Thirty minutes, at the very outside a couple of hours. BLAKE: Well, then there is still a chance. If we can get you back to our ship then we may be able to perform the implant ourselves. I mean, it's a relatively simple operation -- our computer can instruct us. ENSOR: You have the facilities to perform an operation? BLAKE: Liberator has one of the finest surgical units you've ever seen. ENSOR: Might be possible, I suppose. BLAKE: Well, come with us, you've got a chance, stay here you'll die certainly. ENSOR: I'll do it. I'll do it. Ahah, it will be strange to leave this place, you know. I, I haven't been away for over forty years. BLAKE: [Handing him a teleport bracelet.] Put this on. ENSOR: What is it? BLAKE: Well, if you can, er, get rid of that force barrier then we can teleport you directly from here. ENSOR: Ah, it's not practical. BLAKE: Why not? ENSOR: Oh, if I were to disconnect it now it would be, ooh, five hours before its dissipates and I haven't got five hours. No, no, we've got to get to the surface. CALLY: [Returning.] Blake, I think I've found enough for everybody. BLAKE: Oh good, at least the others will be all right. ENSOR: Well, I'm ready, shall we get started? BLAKE: Well, wait a minute. There is something else. ENSOR: What? BLAKE: What about Orac? ENSOR: Orac. Of course, yes, I can't leave Orac here. CALLY: That was the message we were to give you. Your son says 'The Federation is willing to pay a hundred million for Orac'. ENSOR: [chuckles] They're willing to pay are you? Well, he's worth ten times that much. Now, come on you, help me, help me, help me. I'm gonna get him out of here. Quick. Quick. Come on. That's it. Careful. Careful. Careful. Put him over here, yes. Now, you should be able to carry him between you. CALLY: This is Orac? BLAKE: A hundred million for that? CALLY: Is it a computer? ENSOR: It most certainly is not. It is a brain, a genius. It has a mind that can draw information from every computer containing one of my cells. Orac has access to the sum total of all the knowledge of all the known worlds. BLAKE: You mean it can draw information from any other computer without a direct link? ENSOR: Precisely that, yes. Now are you going to stand there and listen to a lecture or might you consider it more important to try and sustain my life? Now, will you put him in there? BLAKE: Oh, yes, I'm sorry. ENSOR: Careful, careful, careful. That's right. You better take that. Right. Ahh, just a minute. You'd better take that. BLAKE: What is it? ENSOR: It's a simple on/off device that activates Orac. Use it and Orac will advise you of every detail of the operation you intend to perform. Now, shall we go? [They leave the room.] [Scene: Travis and Servalan next to a hatch] TRAVIS: It's not good, it won't shift. It's solid. SERVALAN: What are you going to do? TRAVIS: I'm gonna use a charge. Right, let's take cover. [the charge on the hatch goes off. It leads inside] ENSOR: What was that? BLAKE: Get back to the lab. [He goes off.] CALLY: Can you help me carry this? ENSOR: Yes, yes all right. CALLY: Come on. TRAVIS: Come on. [He steps through as Blake turns the corner into the corridor] Blake! [He fires and misses. He and Servalan follow Blake] Which corridor did they take? [Scene: Blake, Cally and Ensor back in the lab] BLAKE: Weapons? ENSOR: I disapprove of weapons. BLAKE: So do I, but I disapprove of dying even more. CALLY: Is there another way out of here? ENSOR: No, oh, yes, there is, we could go by the tunnels under the old city. BLAKE: Well, let's go then. ENSOR: But it isn't safe. CALLY: But it might be safer than here. Show us. BLAKE: All right, this way. Oh, it's locked. BLAKE: Well, get it open. ENSOR: Key, now where did I put the key? [Scene: Servalan and Travis reach the laboratory door] SERVALAN: Blast it open. TRAVIS: Right, stand back. Keep clear. [The door is blown and they enter.] There, they've gone through another door. He's getting away! He's getting away! SERVALAN: Travis, forget Blake -- find Orac, although they've probably taken it with them. Travis. Look. TRAVIS: What is it? SERVALAN: [Pointing to a map she has found.] Now, this is where we are. In order to get to a surface exit they have to go back along this passage, along here up there and there's your surface exit. Now, if we go back the way we came, along here, we'll get there first and we can be waiting for them. Let's go. [Scene: Blake, Cally and Ensor in the tunnels] BLAKE: How much further? ENSOR: Oh, some way yet. I, I shall have to rest soon. CALLY: We should keep on moving, they could be right behind us. BLAKE: Yes, without weapons we don't stand a chance. [view of the Liberator above Aristo] [Scene: Teleport area. Avon raises his head and checks his watch. He activates the intercom.] AVON: Vila. [Scene: The scene switches to Vila in a cabin, reclining in a chair.] VILA: What is it? AVON: [On communicator] How do you feel. VILA: You woke me up to ask me how I feel? AVON: [On communicator] Can you walk? VILA: Why should I want to? AVON: [On communicator] Meet me in the teleport area in your surface clothes, and hurry. [Scene: Teleport area. Avon, in surface gear, drops a gun on the console. Jenna wakes up.] JENNA: What is it, what's the matter? AVON: Cally and Blake -- they've been down on the surface for far too long. They must have run into some kind of trouble, see if you can wake Gan up.[To Vila, handing him some pills.] Take these. VILA: What are they? AVON: [He throws the remaining pills to Jenna.] They will help, for a while anyway. JENNA: Ready? AVON: Get on with it. [Vila is still not completely dressed, he is holding one boot.] [Avon and Vila materialize on the planet's surface. Vila's bootless foot is in a puddle.] VILA: Ohughhh. I've got a wet foot now. AVON: Come on. [Scene: The tunnels. Cally and Ensor are carrying Orac.] ENSOR: Wait, wait. Wait a minute. I have to rest. [There is a roar from the tunnels.] CALLY: What is that? ENSOR: Uh, there are some creatures that live down here. CALLY: Are they dangerous? ENSOR: Oh, I don't think they'll harm us. CALLY: Blake, look! [They see some stairs at the top of which light is visible.] BLAKE: Ensor! Ensor! [Ensor is dead]. CALLY: I am sorry. Just a little longer and we might have saved you. BLAKE: Come On. [Scene: Blake and Cally are on the beach.] BLAKE: Call Liberator. [There is a small explosion nearby.] TRAVIS: [with his gun-arm raised] Goodbye, Blake. SERVALAN: Wait. TRAVIS: I have waited. Too long. SERVALAN: He's the bonus, Travis. Orac is the prize. [To Blake] Where is Ensor? BLAKE: Ensor, like his son, is dead. SERVALAN: It was to be expected. He survived longer than we thought was possible. That box -- Orac -- that's what we came for. If it does only half of what was promised it will give the Federation greater power than it's ever known. CALLY: What are you going to do? TRAVIS: What do you think I'm going to do? BLAKE: I think you're going to kill me, Travis, with or without orders from the Supreme Commander. SERVALAN: With orders, Blake. All right, Travis, go ahead. [Avon shoots Travis' gun-arm] TRAVIS: Ah! Ah! AVON: Don't move. BLAKE: Good shot, Avon. AVON: I was aiming for his head. VILA: You took your time, what have you been up to? CALLY: We had a few minor problems. VILA: Did you bring the decontaminants? CALLY: Yes, we've got them. BLAKE: Tell them to bring us up. VILA: Jenna, stand by. TRAVIS: Well what are you waiting for? Come on, man. Why don't you kill us? BLAKE: No, I've got a better idea: we'll get a message through to the Federation, tell them that you let us take Orac. I'm sure they'll be quite fascinated by your explanation. [Blake, Cally, Avon and Vila teleport.] SERVALAN: You're in a lot of trouble, Travis. [Scene: Flight deck. Avon inserts the activator into Orac. It hums.] JENNA: Well, for a hundred million credits you'd expect something a little more spectacular than that. VILA: Try kicking it. GAN: Are you sure it's fully switched on? ORAC: Of course I'm properly switched on. Having depressed the activator button what else would you expect? CALLY: It's his voice. BLAKE: It's exactly as though Ensor were speaking. ORAC: Surely it is obvious even to the meanest intelligence that during my development I would naturally become endowed with aspects of my creator's personality. AVON: The more endearing aspects by the sound of it. ORAC: Possibly. However similarities between myself and Ensor are entirely superficial. My mental capacity is infinitely greater. JENNA: Modest, isn't he? ORAC: Modesty would be dishonesty. VILA: What's wrong with being dishonest? ORAC: Is that a question? VILA: Yes. ORAC: The question is futile. Were I to say that I am incapable of dishonesty how would you know if I was being dishonest or not? BLAKE: A question for a question. Well, you're capable of evasion, anyway. VILA: I think I've heard enough. I don't like him. Orac, be a good junk heap -- shut up. CALLY: I agree with Vila. ORAC: Define the words 'Shut up.' BLAKE: Stop talking. Do not speak. Be silent. ORAC: That is better. Our relationship will be best served if your statements are free of ambiguity. GAN: Let's switch him off and go back to work. BLAKE: No, wait a minute, let's find out what he is capable of. Orac, what are your limits? ORAC: They have not yet been defined. My knowledge is virtually infinite. My secondary ability is to logically process that knowledge and make accurate predictions. CALLY: Are you saying you can see into the future? ORAC: The words future, present, past are meaningless. AVON: Define 'meaningless'. ORAC: I have the capacity to predict events that have not yet taken place. AVON: That is not what I asked. ORAC: In the circumstances the question is meaningless. [Avon laughs.] BLAKE: Now, that's ridiculous. Give us a demonstration. ORAC: Demonstrate as a command is insufficient. GAN: What does he mean? AVON: He means, like Zen, that he requires specific instructions. ORAC: Instructions are not needed if commands are succinct. VILA: I'm getting tired of this. Go on, predict something. ORAC: I will project an image on your scanner screen. JENNA: Go on then, show us. GAN: Hey that's us. VILA: It's Liberator. BLAKE: It's not much of a prediction, just travelling through space. ORAC: It is not a prediction; it is an immutable certainty. Space vehicle will be destroyed. JENNA: What! VILA: You're not given to practical jokes are you, because that's not funny. BLAKE: When's this supposed to happen? ORAC: The event is not far distant. BLAKE: How far distant? GAN: There must be some way of making him tell us when. AVON: Be more precise. ORAC: The event is now even less distant. VILA: I don't believe it. JENNA: Zen, system status. ZEN: All systems are functioning normally. VILA: Yes, but Zen's only a machine. AVON: So is Orac. [He removes the activator and throws it across the flight deck.] VILA: That's all right, that's fixed Orac. BLAKE: No, it hasn't. JENNA: What do you mean? BLAKE: We've forgotten something. The prediction has still been made. JENNA: Blake! [the on-screen ship explodes] [A starfield, then an exterior shot of Liberator] [Flight deck] BLAKE: All right, Zen. Run it again for me, will you? ZEN: Confirmed. Play back, normal speed. [Shots of maintenance work in progress - Cally and Jenna in teleport section, Gan and Vila in a subcontrol room] [Flight deck] BLAKE: Orac, why won't you give us the background to that prediction? ORAC: Because that would invalidate the prediction. BLAKE: And if we knew the future in detail we could change it, and so it wouldn't be the future. ORAC: Correct. That is the paradox of prediction. BLAKE: All right, Zen, standby to run it again -- at half speed. ZEN: Confirmed. AVON: Slow or fast, it will still look the same. BLAKE: How long have you been there? AVON: I was here when you came in. BLAKE: Why didn't you speak? AVON: I had nothing in particular to say. Besides, you looked as though you were planning something you didn't want the rest of us to know about. BLAKE: Orac's prediction still hasn't come into effect. I am trying to find some reason why he was wrong. AVON: Have you found what you want? BLAKE: No. AVON: That's because you're looking for the wrong things. BLAKE: What exactly does that mean? AVON: It's a common enough failing. Now if you've finished with Zen, I'd quite like to get on; we have a malfunction on the intermediate range sensors. I need to check the systems. BLAKE: Leave it! If I've missed something, I want to know what it is now, Avon. AVON: Well now, all you had to do was ask. Zen! Replay, half speed. ZEN: Confirmed. [Replays prediction in slow motion] AVON: Stop. All right, reverse to the instant before the explosion. [The explosion sequence is run backward] Freeze it there. Selective magnification. Show us the background. ZEN: Confirmed. [Zooms into starfield on the main screen] AVON: Look at it, Blake. Look at the configuration of the stars. That position is unique in the universe. BLAKE: Ah! Of course. Zen can give us a precise astral fix and tell us exactly where the event is supposed to have happened. AVON: Congratulations. BLAKE: All right, where is it? AVON: It's in the Twelfth Sector. Astral point seven eight one. BLAKE: What? But that's halfway across the galaxy. Now if we make sure that we never go into that area, then the prediction becomes void. I'll tell the others. Uh, how long have you known? AVON: Oh, several hours. BLAKE: And you just let the others go on worrying? AVON: Well, all they had to do was ask. Perhaps in future, they won't rely on you to provide all the answers. [An explosion rocks the ship. They both go down, with Avon's arm draped over Blake] [Jenna and Cally are thrown about the teleport section] [Flight deck] AVON: What the hell is going on? BLAKE: Zen, report. ZEN: Aft hull sensors register two strikes by medium-range neutron blasters. AVON: Where are they coming from? ZEN: Due to the malfunction of our intermediate range detectors, that information is not available. [Explosion] BLAKE: Zen, activate the force wall, increase speed to Standard by Eight. Battle computers on-line. ZEN: Confirmed. BLAKE: Avon, get the others in here fast. [Avon moves to the force wall console] Zen, direct vision three-sixty orbital scan. ZEN: Confirmed. AVON: [Into intercom] Attention! We are under attack. Battle stations! [Exterior shot of Liberator in flight] [Flight deck] BLAKE: [Two points of light -- the hostile ships-- are shown on the main screen] Hold it there. Two ships homing in on us. Concentrate force wall on coordinates five five three one. ZEN: Confirmed. Five five three one. [Jenna and Cally, then Gan and Vila enter] BLAKE: Vila, activate the weaponry system. Jenna, take her on manual. [The main screen shows the hostile ships making an attack run, then there's an explosion on the flight deck] BLAKE: Re-energize the force wall. ZEN: Confirmed. JENNA: What are they, Blake? BLAKE: I don't know. GAN: Blake, look. [The main screen shows a planet] ZEN: Battle computers propose evasive course. JENNA: Specify. ZEN: Planetary orbit at two thousand spacials. BLAKE: Closer. Make it one thousand. ZEN: Confirmed. BLAKE: Cally, give me tracking on the hostiles. Maximum magnification. [Exterior shot of the two hostile ships] VILA: They must be Federation ships. ZEN: First analysis indicates that they are not vehicles of a type used in Federation fleets. BLAKE: Who are they? [No response] AVON: Who are they? ZEN: That information is not available. [Exterior shot of Liberator pursued by hostile ships] [Flight deck] JENNA: Entering planetary orbit now. BLAKE: Hold it there. [Exterior shots of Liberator pursued by hostile ships] [Flight deck] GAN: Closing in on us. BLAKE: Jenna, hold course till they're within our range. JENNA: Holding course. VILA: Weapons systems primed for firing. BLAKE: Lock on target. VILA: Target fixed. BLAKE: Range? VILA: Fifty thousand spacials and closing fast. They're traveling at almost Standard by Twelve. AVON: Impossible. VILA: I tell you, they are. [Exterior shot of Liberator pursued by hostile ships] [Flight deck] CALLY: They'll be in range in fifty-one seconds. BLAKE: Hold course. JENNA: Holding. GAN: I've got their communications frequency. BLAKE: Voice contact? GAN: No, just computer talk. BLAKE: Can our machines translate? GAN: Negative. BLAKE: Zen, identify the hostiles. CALLY: Forty-two seconds. BLAKE: Zen! [Zen burbles] AVON: The information must be bypassing the translator systems. CALLY: Thirty-five seconds. VILA: Let me launch a couple of seekers before they fire. It might throw their attack run. BLAKE: Go ahead. VILA: Firing one and two, now. [Chirping from his console] BLAKE: Come on, come on. VILA: They won't fire. The fail-safes keep cutting in. BLAKE: Override them. CALLY: Twenty seconds. VILA: The whole system is locked into negative. AVON: Blake, without firepower we'll be blasted to pieces. CALLY: Hostiles closing fast. Thirteen seconds to blaster range. BLAKE: Avon, stand by the force wall. CALLY: In range. BLAKE: Force wall. AVON: [Tries to activate force wall but it just burbles] Primary malfunction. Force wall won't activate. BLAKE: Leave it. Hit it, Jenna, all the power we've got. Hang on! [Exterior shots of Liberator and hostiles, then quick cuts between exterior of ships and the flight deck: hostiles fire, crew fall about on flight deck, hostiles fire again, explosion on flight deck, hostiles fire again and hit underside of Liberator. A close-up of the hostile ships reveals the similarity in design to Liberator, and the lead ship emits a burbling noise similar to Zen's] [Shots of Gan, Vila, and Jenna lying about the flight deck] BLAKE: [Looking around flight deck] Gan! Cally! Vila! [Exterior shot of Liberator] [Starfield] [Flight deck] VILA: [Getting up from floor] Oh... BLAKE: It's all right, Vila. I think we've lost them. VILA: How'd you know? BLAKE: We're still here. Cut the auxiliaries. Get back to primary drive. [To Avon] Are you all right? AVON: All I am willing to admit is that I am still alive. BLAKE: We've got to know if those ships are still coming. See if you can get a scan. [Jenna comes to, Gan and Cally help her up] Cally, take her down to her quarters. Gan, go and check the power units, will you? GAN: Right. VILA: Blake, I can't cut the auxiliary drive. We're still running on full power. AVON: The scan is out, we're flying blind. BLAKE: What's it register, Vila? VILA: Maximum. Can we hold together at that speed? AVON: We won't have to. VILA: What do you mean? BLAKE: Running at full power will drain the energy banks in -- what? AVON: Two hours at the most. BLAKE: And then we'll have no power at all. [Intercom chimes. Blake uses the one at the force wall console. Scene cuts between flight deck and subcontrol room] BLAKE: [Into intercom] Blake. GAN: [Into intercom] Gan. I'm in Subcontrol One. There's a lot of damage here. Virtually all the control systems seem to be out. BLAKE: [V.O.] Check the other subcontrol rooms. GAN: [Into intercom] Right. VILA: Where did those ships come from? Who were they? BLAKE: Yes, and why did they attack? Zen was confident they weren't Federation. VILA: So why did they pick on me? AVON: I doubt if it was personal, Vila. VILA: It felt personal. It always feels personal when someone tries to kill me. BLAKE: It seems we were pretty lucky. Those ships came up on us when we were blind. They should have been able to wipe us out completely. Zen, I want a full damage report, and then an assessment of how much the breakdown can be handled by auto- repair. [No response.] AVON: The translator unit must be out. BLAKE: Then we'll have to do it all ourselves. Vila, go down and see if you can help Gan, make a list of all the faults you can find. I'm going to isolate the auxiliaries from the energy units before they burn up all our power. Avon, concentrate on Zen. Give priority to the detectors and the navigation systems. And then see if you can get us some scans. AVON: Is that all? What shall I do with the other hand? BLAKE: I'll let you know. [Exits] VILA: When you get Zen working, ask him to prescribe something for a headache, will you? I've got this shocking pain right behind the eyes. AVON: Have you considered amputation? [Flight deck] CALLY: [Enters] What can I do? AVON: Strip down the auto-navigator, remove the damaged components, and list them for replacement. CALLY: This is going to take time. It could have been worse. AVON: It should have been worse. CALLY: What do you mean? AVON: Something Blake said. Those ships should have been able to knock us out completely. Why didn't they? CALLY: There could be many reasons. AVON: I have considered all of them. Only one is satisfactory. CALLY: And which is that? AVON: They didn't want to destroy us. CALLY: But it was a full-scale attack. AVON: Was it? Their first attack knocked out our weaponry system. The second run knocked out virtually every instrument system. Right now Liberator is out of control. At least, out of OUR control. CALLY: You think all this was intentional, and we're not running on a random course? AVON: Oh, I think we're going somewhere quite particular. [Exterior shot of Spaceworld] [Control room, Spaceworld. Alta 1 is seated, Alta 2 and two guards stand at the back. A large white dome on a pedestal beeps and Alta 1 rises from her seat, walks to the dome, and places her hands on it. The dome emits deeper-toned gargling sound] ALTA 1: [In mechanical voice] Acknowledged. [Both Altas touch the silver dots on the foreheads. To Alta 2 in her normal voice] The pursuit craft have made contact, and have initiated all programmed functions. Assemble the assault group and prepare for transference. ALTA 2: Acknowledged. [Exits] [Exterior shot of Liberator] [Subcontrol room. Blake enters, inspects panels, and then screws a lever into a console socket and pulls it forward. The engine hum drops and he attempts to unscrew the lever, fails, gives up and turns toward the door. A wall panel behind the console blows out and the lever slides backwards by itself and the engine hum climbs rapidly again. Intercom chimes] BLAKE: [Into intercom] Blake. AVON: [V.O.] The lights are pulsating. What's happening? BLAKE: [Into intercom] Nothing. Just get on with what you're doing. AVON: [V.O.] Switching the drives in and out isn't helping, you know. BLAKE: [Annoyed] I'll call you IF I need you. [Returns to the console and tries to move the lever again but a thick coiled cable leaps out at him. He grabs a screwdriver from a nearby tool chest. The cable knocks it from his hand, showering sparks when it touches the metal floor. He dives for the door, but it closes before he can escape. The cable traps Blake against the wall, next to the intercom] [Jenna passes through the teleport section and sees the controls moving by themselves] [Flight deck] CALLY: [Replaces a component] Good. That's all completed. AVON: [Tries to turn Zen on with no luck, Zen just burbles] That's strange. [Tries again] Thought so. Zen is functioning, the computers are working, but not for us. JENNA: [Enters] Avon, there's something wrong in the teleport section -- all the controls are activating. AVON: Are you sure? JENNA: The locators are setting bearings. Come and see. AVON: No. No one is to go near that section until we have Zen under control. CALLY: Why? AVON: I think I know what's happening now. The teleport section will be the most dangerous area on the ship. When it happens, THAT is where it will start. JENNA: When what happens? What are you talking about? AVON: If I'm right, this will show it. [Connects wires and the component Cally replaced shorts out] CALLY: It's rejecting the replacement. AVON: It's more fundamental than that. We are the cause. It is rejecting us. [Subcontrol room. Blake clicks on intercom. Scene cuts between subcontrol room and flight deck] JENNA: [V.O.] Jenna. BLAKE: [Into intercom] Jenna, it's Blake. I'm in Subcontrol Room Four. Get Avon down here fast. JENNA: Avon. AVON: I heard. I'm busy. JENNA: [Into intercom]He's working on Zen. BLAKE: I don't care what he's working on, get him down here! [Avon enters the subcontrol room and reaches for the cable still hovering by Blake] BLAKE: Easy! Easy. This coil's live in every sense. It's got enough energy to vaporize both of us. AVON: All right, you're giving the orders -- what do you want me to do about it? BLAKE: Turn off the power -- without touching the main switch. AVON: [Ducks under cable and moves to console] What happened? BLAKE: I tried to shut off the auxiliaries. But they switched back on automatically. AVON: That's happening to every function onboard. BLAKE: And then this coil leapt at me as though it was trying to protect the switchbox. AVON: The ship is working against us. From now on we are just passengers. BLAKE: The question is, where to? AVON: I'm going to try and break the circuit. [Another section of cable moves to block him] BLAKE: It knows. It knows what you're trying to do, Avon. AVON: [Moves to another part of the console] It's linked to the computer circuits. They're feeding in a defensive program. I'm going to put an explosive charge across the main energy feed. When it senses what I'm trying to do, it should move away from you. BLAKE: Towards you. AVON: When it does, you move to the door. BLAKE: And when it homes in on you? AVON: [Placing explosive device and timer] I think my instinct for survival is more finely tuned than it is. BLAKE: It's moving. Leave it now. Come on. [Blake leaves. The door closes before Avon can reach it. Both men try to force door open from their sides. The device explodes and the door opens. Avon spills into corridor and Blake. Shot of cable lying inert.] [Flight deck] VILA: [Accepts cup from Jenna and swallows pill] Thanks. JENNA: [To Blake who has just entered flight deck with Avon] You all right? BLAKE: Yes. Where's Gan? CALLY: Treatment unit. He tried to reconnect one of the servo links and it burned his hand. BLAKE: Right, sit down. [All but Vila sit at a small table to the left of flight consoles] No one is to attempt to repair any equipment till the computers are back under our control. JENNA: What is it, Blake? What's going on? BLAKE: Well, the computers seem to be making decisions for themselves. They're resisting all interference. JENNA: But that's not possible. BLAKE: [Motions to Avon] Avon. AVON: It is if you think of the ship as a living entity with massive networks of electronics acting as a nervous system. JENNA: All linked into a central computer. BLAKE: The brain. AVON: Carry the analogy a stage further. When a living creature is hurt -- a cut or a wound -- antibodies gather around the injury to repair it and to fight infection. VILA: You mean the computers are treating us like germs. AVON: [Brief smile at Blake] Crude, but accurate. CALLY: But antibodies kill infection. Why are we still alive? BLAKE: We're not sure. There are dozens of ways the ship could destroy us: cut off the air supply, drop the temperature so we freeze to death -- VILA: Stop putting ideas into its head. BLAKE: [To Avon] Actually, one touch of that cable would have done it. No, I don't think it wants to kill us. AVON: Well, not yet, anyway. It's saving us for something. VILA: Dinner? JENNA: Look, we've been on the Liberator for a long time. The computers have never turned against us before. Why now? AVON: That's what I was trying to find out when you sent for me. There's something else I'd like to try. [Burbles and gargles in two tones from Zen] JENNA: It's another computer. It's communicating with Zen. VILA: Someone outside is controlling the Liberator. BLAKE: Yes, we know. But who and why? [Gan in the teleport section. The light changes. Scene cuts between teleport section and flight deck] GAN: [Into intercom] Blake. BLAKE: [Into intercom] Yes, Gan. GAN: [Into intercom] Blake, there's something peculiar happening in the teleport section. I think the - [Sound of the teleport operating. Gan is attacked by assailants with weapons similar to Liberator hand guns] BLAKE: Cally, Vila, come on. [They exit] JENNA: It's the teleport. AVON: I told you. I warned them to keep away from there. [Teleport section] BLAKE: [Enters] Gan! VILA: He didn't come past us. He must've gone that way. BLAKE: Go and see if you can find him. [Vila exits] CALLY: Could he have operated the teleport? BLAKE: How and to where? Anyway, all the bracelets are still here. CALLY: Then he is still onboard. BLAKE: Well try and get him once more on the communicator. If you can't reach him, go and give Vila a hand to find him. [Exits] CALLY: [Into intercom] Gan, make your way to the flight deck immediately. [Flight deck] AVON: The energy banks are drained. We must be getting close to our destination. JENNA: You're sure there's a pattern to all this? AVON: Very precise and carefully calculated. I think the takeover will be completed quite soon. BLAKE: [Enters] Jenna, get the guns. We're not giving this ship up without a fight. JENNA: [Going to gun locker and reaching for one] They're white hot. BLAKE: White hot? All of them? [She tries a few more but withdraws her hand from each] AVON: They've covered everything. [Intercom chimes] BLAKE: [Into intercom] Blake. CALLY: [V.O.] Cally. We've made a thorough search. There is no trace of Gan. BLAKE: [Into intercom] All right, come back to the flight deck. [Teleport section] CALLY: Vila? Vila. [Looks to far side of room. There is blood on the wall unseen by Cally] [Flight deck] AVON: I think the attack ships did exactly what they intended. They knocked out our manual control systems. JENNA: Their blaster strike would have to be enormously accurate to cause selective damage. AVON: It could be done if they knew the vulnerable points. JENNA: All right, but how could their computers override Zen? AVON: There's a command code programmed into every system. Key that code, and the computers will only respond to orders from source. JENNA: But who would know the code that operates Zen? BLAKE: It's obvious, isn't it? JENNA: The people who built the Liberator? BLAKE: Just taking back what's theirs. Redemption. [Cally is attacked in a corridor] [Exterior shot of Liberator] [Jenna, and Blake and Avon enter the flight deck from opposite corridors] BLAKE: [To Jenna] Anything? JENNA: Nothing. AVON: Then there's not a trace of any of them. BLAKE: [Into intercom] Cally. Gan. [No response] AVON: I warned them to stay away from the teleport area. The people who built this ship will have the same teleport capability as we have. They'll use it to board us. JENNA: That doesn't account for their disappearance. BLAKE: Unless they've already boarded us. AVON: Ah, that would be logical. They'll take us out a few at a time. They wouldn't want to risk a full-scale battle. It might damage the ship. JENNA: Isn't there anything we can do to hold them off? AVON: No. Not unless we can regain control of the computers. I don't see any way of doing that. BLAKE: Let's try Orac again. JENNA: What good will that do? BLAKE: Maybe he can analyze Zen's programming and eradicate the override. JENNA: And bring Zen back under our instruction. BLAKE: [Inserts the key] Right. You will clear the receptor circuits to receive an emergency program. Confirm when ready. [No response] AVON: Confirm readiness. Come on, come on! JENNA: What's wrong? AVON: You tell me. JENNA: Maybe it's been taken over, too. BLAKE: No, that's not likely. Orac's systems are entirely independent of all the Liberator's. AVON: [Crouches next to Orac's stand] Now then, Orac. Are you going to function or are you not? ORAC: All principle circuits are operating at full capacity and cannot receive new programs at this time. BLAKE: Well, clear the circuits. This is priority. ORAC: Circuit clearance and reprogramming will take precisely one hour and thirty-seven point nine seconds. BLAKE: That could be just a little late. ORAC: State your program requirements. They will be implemented when capacity is available. BLAKE: We want total analysis of Zen's override system and erasure of that control. Eliminate any links with an external computer. Key the voice systems to respond only to the commands of Avon, myself, and Jenna. [A console in front of Zen explodes and the crew turn and see Alta 1 and 2] ALTA 2: Take control. [Guards enter flight deck] AVON: [To Jenna] I think we just lost our ship. ALTA 1: [Into bracelet] The ship is now under our control. The three remaining crew are prisoners. Restore all operating functions and program for docking. [Zen burbles] JENNA: The repair circuits are working. BLAKE: Zen, too. JENNA: Another few minutes and we'll be fully operational. AVON: Zen! [Moves toward Zen but is stopped by guard] ALTA 2: You will all remain under guard until docking is complete. Orders must be obeyed instantly. Failure will result in punishment. BLAKE: Where are the rest of my crew? [She ignores him] Well, at least tell us if they're alive. ALTA 1: You will remain silent. That is an order. BLAKE: I accept that we are your prisoners, but I demand to know what has happened to my crew. ALTA 1: Force level three. [A guard places a longer version of a Liberator handgun against the side of Blake's neck, causing him great pain. It seems to work like a cattle prod. Jenna tries to help Blake but is pushed away] ZEN: All malfunctions have now been rectified. Systems are fully operational. ALTA 2: Lock onto docking flight path. ZEN: Confirmed. ALTA 1: Release. [Guard stops torturing Blake and he collapses] [Exterior shot of Liberator approaching Spaceworld] [Flight deck] JENNA: [Helping Blake to his feet] You all right? BLAKE: Felt as though every nerve in my body was being scraped. ALTA 1: You disobeyed an order. Further infractions will be dealt with more severely. ALTA 2: Screen forward vision. ZEN: Confirmed. JENNA: [Sees Spaceworld on main screen] I don't believe it. BLAKE: Impressive. JENNA: I've never seen a space station on that design before. BLAKE: That's more than just a station. JENNA: The technology... AVON: It's the kind that built Liberator. [Exterior shots of Spaceworld and Liberator. Scene cuts between shots of the runway lights and shots of Altas' and crews' faces] [Flight deck] ZEN: Docking complete. Walkway to main hatch secured. ALTA 2: All flight systems off. ZEN: Confirmed. ALTA 1: You will now walk towards the main hatch. Move. [Blake, Avon, and Jenna exit followed by guards. [Blake, Avon, and Jenna are marched out the walkway door and then through a large building complex under guard] ALTA 2: Halt! [To guards] Take the leader. [Blake is seized] BLAKE: Why are you separating us? ALTA 2: You are to be interrogated by the System. BLAKE: The System? AVON: What happens to us? ALTA 2: You will remain in the detention section until the System decides on the method of your execution. JENNA: Execution? ALTA 2: [To guards] Move them. [Avon and Jenna are taken away] BLAKE: [Struggling with guards] You can't do that! What right have you got to destroy us?! ALTA 2: Sustained. Level five. [Guard uses prod on Blake again] Release. You were warned. A third time and I will command destruction level. Move. [Exterior shot of Spaceworld] [Jenna and Avon in a cell] JENNA: They've gone. What are you looking for? AVON: Surveillance devices. You check the lock. I think it's clean. JENNA: Magno-lock. Probably linked to a central register. AVON: [Looks at door] Jointed metal plate. No hope there. It might have possibilities if we had a heavy-duty cutter and a couple of explosive devices. JENNA: Even if we do get out, we're in space, Avon -- we've got nowhere to go. AVON: So you're just going to sit here and wait for them to eliminate us? You saw the size of this place. If we get out of here, we can run and we can hide. If they're going to kill us, let us at least try and make it difficult for them. [Blake is marched through hallway. A gang of slaves carrying a heavy pipe section stagger, the rear slave falls and is punished by a guard. Blake runs over to stop the guard and helps the slave up. The guard moves to hit Blake] ALTA 2: [To guard] Stop! [To slaves and guards] March on. [Control room. Alta 2 enters and she and Alta 1 touch the silver dots on their foreheads. The pedestal dome beeps, Alta 2 places her hands on it, and it gargles. Blake is pushed into the room and Alta 1 motions him to a chair across from hers] ALTA 2: Acknowledged. [To Alta 1] There is disturbance on the control program. ALTA 1: Until stable, all commands must be checked and confirmed. ALTA 2: Acknowledged. ALTA 1: [To Blake] The System has questions to put to you. BLAKE: I'd like to ask one or two myself. ALTA 1: That is not permitted. BLAKE: For instance, what is the System? ALTA 1: The System is the supreme power of Spaceworld and the three life-supporting planets which orbit our sun. The System is a complex of infallible machines. BLAKE: All of this? You mean even you are computer controlled? ALTA 1: We serve the System. Its questions and orders are routed through me, but the words and thoughts are those of the System. Is that understood? BLAKE: I demand your assurance that the rest of my crew remain unharmed. ALTA 1: [To guard] Force level seven. [Guard puts prod against Blake's neck] BLAKE: All right! Understood. ALTA 1: We will commence. [Places hand on smaller dome next to her chair and speaks in a mechanical voice] State the circumstance by which you came to be aboard Deep Space Vehicle II. BLAKE: We call it the Liberator. It was found abandoned and drifting in space. I was part of a crew that was put on board. ALTA 1: [M.V.] State the astral location in which you found DSV II. BLAKE: I don't know it. My nearest point of reference is a Federation prison planet called Cygnus Alpha. ALTA 1: [M.V] State any further information you have regarding DSV II. BLAKE: We assume it had been in a space battle. ALTA 1: [M.V] State any further information you have regarding ... regarding ... regarding ... ALTA 2: [At dome, it gargles] Circuitry disturbances are continuing. An outside influence has been analyzed. ALTA 1: [Normal voice] We will resume the questioning when the disturbance has been rectified. [Rises and walks towards the door] BLAKE: It's nice to know that computers can have their bad days, too. ALTA 1: The System is infallible. [Exits] BLAKE: [Under his breath] Orac! [Shot of Orac] [Cell. Jenna is sitting on a bench attached to the wall, Avon is pacing] JENNA: Perhaps we could chew our way out. ALTA 2: [V.O., over P.A.] Attention all guards. Security report: slave group number seven have attacked their escort and escaped. They are to be recaptured and eliminated. Repeat: recaptured and eliminated. AVON: [Stops pacing and spins toward window] Jenna, come here. JENNA: [Joins him] What is it? AVON: You remember Orac's prediction? JENNA: That's the least of our problems at the moment. AVON: I checked the star pattern behind Liberator. What Orac predicted was happening halfway across the galaxy. I made a mental note of the configuration. JENNA: And? AVON: You're looking at it. This is the Twelfth Sector. Astral point seven eight one. Exactly where Orac predicted we would be destroyed. [Zoom-in shot of starfield] [Control room.] ALTA 2: [Presses buttons and Alta 1 appears on a screen mounted on the wall. Alta 1 touches the dot on her forehead] The System confirms massive malfunctions. Emergency programs are to be activated. ALTA 1: [On screen] Transfer all prisoners to elimination chamber four, sentence to be carried out immediately. BLAKE: Look, wait a minute, wait a minute! [Guards restrain him] ALTA 1: Take this prisoner to elimination chamber two. [In the complex. Two guards are dragging dead slaves into a pile as Blake is marched past and up a short flight of stairs. At the top he lashes out with both arms, one guard is knocked down the stairs and the other staggers back. Blake seizes Alta 2 and grabs her gun, unplugging her metal collar from its power pack. She drops and Blake shoots a guard off a high walkway, then knocks out the first guard and shoots the second. Two guards from below rush up, one brawls with Blake, knocking the gun from his hand, while the other reconnects Alta 2's collar, reactivating her. Blake escapes and runs into a blind alley. A door in a wall opens] SLAVE: Hey! [Blake goes through door] BLAKE: Thanks. SLAVE: Shhh! [Shot of guard looking around outside] BLAKE: [Whispers] Where are we? SLAVE: It's an old service lift. Those young guards, they don't even know it exists. [Light comes on] BLAKE: Listen, I've got to get to the detention block. Do you know where it is? SLAVE: [Nods] I'll show you. [Lift starts to descend] BLAKE: Good. SLAVE: Where do you come from? BLAKE: Planet called Earth. SLAVE: Earth? BLAKE: How long’s all this been here? SLAVE: From before my father was born. BLAKE: Before that? SLAVE: Those times? The three planets were always fighting or getting ready to fight. BLAKE: [Laughs] Sounds familiar. SLAVE: Then one of the planets developed a computer so powerful it was able to take over the weaponry computers of the other two. BLAKE: So all three became one? SLAVE: One gigantic System that totally governs the three worlds. BLAKE: And the System built this as a control center? SLAVE: Yes, now there's no war, no famine -- BLAKE: And no freedom. SLAVE: Yes. The System uses people. We are flexible, adaptable ... expendable. BLAKE: What about the ones that give the orders? SLAVE: The Altas? They're linked into the System. They're not really people at all. [Cell. Avon and Jenna are sitting on the bench. They hear a noise at the door and Avon signals Jenna to stand by the window while he moves behind the door to attack whoever enters. Avon lets fly before he realizes it's Vila] VILA: Oh! AVON: I'm sorry, Vila. VILA: Been looking all over for you two. JENNA: How did you get here? VILA: I was just passing -- thought I'd drop in and see you. AVON: Where are Gan and Cally? VILA: They're in a cell along the corridor. AVON: Well, what kept you? VILA: Magno-locks aren't that easy to open. Even for me. AVON: Practice. Let's go. VILA: Just a minute. Where's Blake? JENNA: They took him away for questioning. VILA: Questioning? AVON: I don't think we should hang around. VILA: No, neither do I. JENNA: [Checking wound] What did you do to your head? VILA: One of the guards didn't like me. AVON: Come on! [Avon, Jenna, and Vila sneak through the building complex meeting Cally and Gan] GUARD: Stop! [Crew dash amid explosions and firing guards until they run into a pack of guards coming down a staircase] GAN: Go on, I'll hold them! [He fights and defeats several guards] VILA: Gan, don't just stand there! Come on! [More running. Alta 2 and a guard stop them] ALTA 2: Raise your hands. Turn round. [They obey] Kill them. [Blake and Slave attack Alta 2 and guard from behind] SLAVE: [Applying prod to Alta 2's neck] Destruction level! [Alta 2 dies, Blake applies prod to fallen guard] BLAKE: Come on! [More running. They reach the walkway door] SLAVE: Through that door. BLAKE: Right. [Blake and Slave open and hold the door so the others can escape] AVON: [To Blake as guard appears and fires] Look out! BLAKE: Right. Get the ship moving and fast! AVON: Jenna! [The others run through doorway] BLAKE: [To Slave] Right. Come on! SLAVE: I'll stay here. JENNA: [Re-appearing at door] Blake, come on! [She pulls Blake through. Slave starts to close door but two guards arrive and shoot him] [Avon and Vila run onto flight deck] AVON: Zen! Prepare immediate launch! ZEN: Confirmed. [Guards entering the walkway] BLAKE: [Enters flight deck] Zen, hundred-eighty turn, full lateral thrust. ZEN: Confirmed. [Heavy smoke -- guards flushed from walkway by fumes] [Jenna pulling flight controls] [Dead guard in walkway entrance] [Control room. Alta 1 teleports two grenade-wielding guards. Scene cuts between control room and Liberator's teleport section] GAN: [Enters teleport section] Cally, quick! [Cally runs behind console and teleports guards back to Spaceworld as they prime their grenades. Arriving back in the control room, they throw the grenades away and duck. When the smoke clears, Alta 1 is standing rigid by the pedestal dome] ALTA 1: [Mechanical voice] Destruct...destruct...destruct...destruct... [Flight deck] ZEN: Walkway severed. Main hatch closed. BLAKE: Give me rear vision. [Shot of the runway lights receding rapidly] [Gan and Cally enter flight deck] [Shots of runway intercut with shots of crews' faces] [Liberator leaving Spaceworld] [Flight deck] JENNA: We're out! VILA: We've made it! BLAKE: [Hugs Jenna] Well done, Jenna! ZEN: Information. Sensors register secondary launch, a space vehicle in pursuit. Speed, Standard by Fourteen. BLAKE: Vila, ready the weaponry system. We'll make a fight of it. JENNA: It's too late, Blake, we're lost. BLAKE: Do it, Vila! GAN: Blake, there's no point. JENNA: Orac's prediction is coming true. AVON: She's right, we are in the precise location where Orac predicted our destruction. BLAKE: It hasn't happened yet! ZEN: Pursuit ship moving into missile attack. BLAKE: Cally, put her on the screen. CALLY: There she is. [Another ship that looks like Liberator appears on main screen] AVON: The same ship. The same as Liberator. BLAKE: That's it. It's a sister ship. That's what Orac showed us. It wasn't the Liberator. AVON: Sister ship or not, she's coming at us. BLAKE: Well, activate the force wall. ZEN: Sensors register missile emission. VILA: Blake, there is no point in going on -- we're finished. At this range we haven't a chance. She can't miss us. [The other ship explodes as the crew watch on the main screen] BLAKE: Vila, did you fire? VILA: No. BLAKE: Well, what happened? ORAC: I took the precaution of scrambling their launch system. It pre-detonated their missiles. Had I not done so, my prediction would have been inaccurate. BLAKE: [Laughs, walks over to Orac] Orac, you are a genius. Next time let us know what you're planning. ORAC: I am closing down. I have much to do. You have engaged my circuits on your petty affairs for far too long. BLAKE: Thank you, Orac. [Disconnects] Zen, take over. ZEN: State course and speed. BLAKE: Speed Standard by Three, Earth Sector. We have unfinished business with the Federation. [end credits]