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| - Script for Pressure Point by Terry Nation (c) 1978 by the British Broadcasting Corporation. Series created by Terry Nation. This is a full dialogue transcript by Micky DuPree, Susan Schnitger and Karen Williamson for research purposes and is not for sale under any circumstances. Format (c) 1993 by Micky DuPree. Dramatis Personae: Roj Blake Jenna Stannis Kerr Avon Cally Vila Restal Olag Gan Zen Servalan Travis Kasabi Veron Arle Berg Mutoid Uncredited female voice [Field outside the Forbidden Zone] ARLE This is it. The Forbidden Zone. BERG Let's get back. ARLE No hurry. BERG Let's get back and report. ARLE We've got nothing to report. If we could get back and tell Kasabi what's INSIDE the zone-- BERG She said as far as the security boundary. ARLE You see any boundary? BERG I can see a notice. ARLE [laughs] You shouldn't believe everything you read. [Inside the security station] MUTOID Intruders in coordinate seventeen. TRAVIS Good. Kasabi's men, they must be. My intelligence reports were correct. Do you doubt me now, Supreme Commander? SERVALAN They are Outsiders. There is nothing to indicate they are Kasabi's men. TRAVIS They are. Scouting ahead of the main party. SERVALAN I'm not convinced. But assuming you're right, what do you intend doing about them? TRAVIS Nothing. SERVALAN Nothing. TRAVIS We wait. SERVALAN I have waited for eighteen days. TRAVIS It won't be much longer now. It's started, I can feel it-- SERVALAN Oh, Travis! TRAVIS --I know Blake is coming here. SERVALAN And them? [Indicates the monitor] TRAVIS Unimportant. They're already dead. [Inside edge of the Forbidden Zone] ARLE Doesn't look like much. BERG We've gone far enough, Arle. Kasabi said that this was the most heavily protected site anywhere in the Federation. ARLE Well, she was wrong, wasn't she? That must be where Control was housed. BERG Only the entrance to it. The main computer was supposed to be in an underground vault. ARLE Let's see if we can get inside. BERG Oh, I dunno. ARLE Oh, come on, Berg. You're not old enough to have lost your nerve yet. [They start to cross the field. Smoke begins to rise around their feet] Help me. Help me. I can't move. BERG I can't. [Small flames lick near their feet] I can't! [His scream is cut off when they are blown up.] [Flight deck of the Liberator] BLAKE How long before we reach our destination? CALLY We'll be in teleport range in three hours and four minutes. JENNA Teleport? BLAKE Take her on manual, Jenna. JENNA Switched to manual. GAN Teleport range, Blake? BLAKE In three hours we'll be in teleport range of Earth. VILA Earth? JENNA Blake, are you crazy? We can't afford to take risks like that. VILA We were just going to skirt the system, that's what you said, take a quick look at the defenses. GAN The perimeter defenses. VILA Yes, and that was dangerous enough. JENNA You never said anything about looking at the perimeter from the inside. CALLY We must take this risk. BLAKE All right, I didn't expect you to welcome the idea. That's why I misled you just a little. AVON That's very diplomatically put. BLAKE Is my phraseology your only complaint, Avon? AVON No, but it is my only surprise. BLAKE You knew? AVON I never really believed the long-range reconnaissance story. Earth has been on your mind for a long time, Blake. Too long for you to sit outside the planetary system and look. BLAKE It's time we really hurt the Federation. Oh, we've been hitting at the fingers, the arms. I want to hit at the heart. And the heart of the Federation is Earth. JENNA Where exactly, or do you plan to take the whole planet? BLAKE Two hundred years ago, when the Federation began expansion and conquest, the Administration established a computer complex to monitor information: political,civil, military -- everything. That computer is the nerve center of ALL Federation activity. Smashing that would be the biggest single step toward the destruction of their power. I don't think they would ever recover from it. JENNA You're suggesting that we go into the Forbidden Zone and attack Control? BLAKE Yes, that is what I am suggesting. CALLY Do we know where this computer complex is? JENNA Most Earth people have heard of it. CALLY But do we know where it is? GAN The Federation never made any secret of its whereabouts. AVON On the contrary, they advertise the fact. Control has become a symbol of Federation power. BLAKE It's a challenge. All the might and the power of the Federation is represented by Control. While it exists,the Federation is invulnerable. JENNA There have been many attempts to destroy it. They've all failed. That's true, isn't it, Blake? BLAKE Yes, there've been massive rocket attacks from space, ground assaults, every kind of attack. Control still operates untouched. VILA Armies can't do it, space fleets can't do it, but we can, is that it? BLAKE For the past year now, I've been collecting all the information I could find. With Orac's help, I now know more about Control than anyone outside the senior echelon of the Federation. I think I can destroy it. [Avon claps slowly.] I'm not going to minimize the danger. It's a high-risk operation. That is why I'm not going to ask any of you to come with me. GAN You think you could do it without us? BLAKE I'd rather not try. But if I have to, I will not be alone. I've already contacted a Resistance leader. [Wooded area near the Forbidden Zone] VERON No sign of them? KASABI They should have reported back hours ago. I specifically told them to avoid any contact with the security forces. VERON Are you going to wait? KASABI No. Blake will be looking for our signal, I must get to the rendezvous point. Getting close to the Forbidden Zone. Stay quiet and be alert. [Inside the security station. Servalan and Travis have been watching on a security monitor.] SERVALAN Kasabi. At last. TRAVIS Worth an eighteen-day wait, Supreme Commander? SERVALAN Oh, Travis. I've waited longer than that. That woman was a senior political officer in Space Command. TRAVIS I am aware of her background. SERVALAN She taught officer cadets. But what she was teaching was treason. TRAVIS Until a very bright young cadet reported her. SERVALAN [smiles] Yes, Travis, I was. A very bright cadet. TRAVIS You? You reported her? SERVALAN There was an official inquiry, during which the stupid fools let her escape. TRAVIS I'll make sure that doesn't happen this time. SERVALAN You'll stay here, Travis. TRAVIS But-- SERVALAN Kasabi is mine. [Flight deck of the Liberator] JENNA Blake, we've decided to come with you. BLAKE Thank you. I could do with all the help I can get. JENNA There is a condition. BLAKE Yes? JENNA None of us is prepared to commit suicide. We don't intend to die making some heroic gesture. CALLY We need a chance of survival. VILA We want your word that if the mission looks impossible, then we'll pull out. [Blake looks at Gan.] GAN Yes. Guarantee that, and we're all with you. BLAKE It's understood the decision is mine and mine alone? CALLY Yes, that is understood. GAN Yes. BLAKE All right, if it looks as if we have less than an even chance, I promise I'll call the whole thing off. JENNA Good. BLAKE [To the men] You two get kitted up. [To the women] You two stand by. [Goes and sits by Avon in the pit] BLAKE The others have decided to go with me. AVON [smiles] I thought they would. Not very bright, but loyal. BLAKE That leaves you. AVON I have thought about it BLAKE And? [pause] Come on Avon, stop playing games. Are you going to go with me or not? AVON Well, of course. I am surprised you ever doubted it. BLAKE Thank you. AVON Frankly, I don't see how you can do it without me. Your strongest enemies are going to be the defense computers. I am the only one qualified to tackle them. BLAKE Yes, that had occurred to me. You better start getting kitted up. Do you want to tell me why? AVON I like the challenge. BLAKE You don't want to tell me why. AVON If we succeed, if we destroy Control, the Federation will be at its weakest. It will be more vulnerable than it has been for centuries. The revolt in the Outer Worlds will grow. The resistance movements on Earth will launch an all-out attack to destroy the Federation. They will need unifying. They will need a leader. YOU will be the natural choice. BLAKE Possibly. AVON Don't be modest, Blake. You are the only one that they would all follow. You would have no choice. You would have to stay on Earth and organize the revolt. BLAKE If there's no other way. AVON There wouldn't be. BLAKE That still doesn't explain why you're backing me. AVON With you running the campaign on Earth, somebody has to take charge of all this. BLAKE [Laughs] You want the Liberator. AVON [Almost laughs] Exactly. If we succeed, the destruction of Control gives us both what we want. BLAKE Could be you're planning just a little far ahead. AVON [Nods] Perhaps. But sooner or later, I will have my chance. BLAKE There's no hurry. ZEN Flight completed. We are in stationary orbit within teleport range of the planet Earth. BLAKE Put it on the screen, Zen. JENNA It's been a long time. [A wooded area. Servalan and two mutoids are on a ridge, watching Kasabi and her group pass.] SERVALAN Kasabi. Stay where you are. Stand still, all of you. Throw down your weapons. KASABI Run! SERVALAN [To the mutoids] Now. [The mutoids gun down the rebels.] Enough. Get the child. [One mutoid heads off. Servalan looks down at Kasabi's body] Kasabi. [Inside the security station. Kasabi is slumped unconscious in a chair.] TRAVIS You should have left it to me. SERVALAN Nothing's lost. TRAVIS Your opening fire could have ruined everything. SERVALAN But it didn't, Travis. TRAVIS My last chance, you said. SERVALAN Kasabi and I had unfinished business. TRAVIS This is no time for personal vendettas, Supreme Commander. SERVALAN Thank you, Travis. I'm obliged for the reminder. [To Kasabi] Are you feeling better? [pause] Oh, don't waste time, Kasabi. You have so little of it left. KASABI Time spent with you was always wasted, Servalan. SERVALAN It's good to see you again. KASABI Why did you murder my people? SERVALAN Well, they were traitors. Did they expect mercy? KASABI From you? TRAVIS Blake. KASABI Who? TRAVIS You were to rendezvous with him. KASABI [To Servalan] Is he young? More in your line, surely. SERVALAN If you tell me about the rendezvous, I will consider sparing your life. KASABI My life isn't yours to spare. SERVALAN Oh, but it is. KASABI Then take it. But don't try and browbeat me Servalan. Or have you forgotten that I knew you as a cadet? You were a credit to your background: spoilt,idle, vicious. [Pushes Servalan to the floor. To Travis.] My confidential assessment listed her as unfit for command. But I forgot how well-connected she was. TRAVIS That is no concern of mine. KASABI Then it should be. It should be everyone's concern. The Federation is degenerate, run by creatures like her. TRAVIS You are going to tell me about Blake. KASABI You think so? SERVALAN Oh, yes, we think so. TRAVIS You could spare yourself a lot of pain. KASABI No doubt. TRAVIS You are a very intelligent woman. KASABI Don't tell me you're squeamish, Space Commander? TRAVIS Not in the least. KASABI Your reputation suggests that you enjoy your work. TRAVIS And your reputation suggests you're playing for time. [Kasabi makes a run for the door but finds it blocked by two waiting mutoids.] Secure her to the chair. [They do so.] [Teleport room of the Liberator] AVON Your backup force doesn't seem too dependable, Blake. The signal is over an hour late. VILA Why don't we forget the whole thing? BLAKE No. GAN We've waited a long time to come back to Earth. Be a pity to miss the chance now. Blake, couldn't a couple of us teleport down, find out what's happened? BLAKE We will wait for the signal. AVON And if it doesn't come? BLAKE We'll pull out. Give it another hour. [Inside the Security station] TRAVIS Come on, come on. Where were you to rendezvous with Blake? KASABI You can rot, Travis. I'll tell you nothing, nothing. [Kasabi spits on Travis. Travis crosses to Servalan.] TRAVIS She's stronger than she looks. She's still resisting the drug. SERVALAN Double the dose. TRAVIS That amount could kill her. SERVALAN That's not important, just so long as she talks first. [Moves to Kasabi] Kasabi. Can you hear me, Kasabi? KASABI I hear you. SERVALAN Tell me about the rendezvous. KASABI [Shakes head] No rendezvous. SERVALAN Very soon now, you are going to die. Do you understand me? KASABI Always understood you. You're vicious, greedy, sick. [Servalan administers another dose of the drug. She indicates some items O.O.S.] Is there nothing here that might give us a lead? TRAVIS No, I've checked them. [Picks up one gadget.] This is the only important thing. SERVALAN A homing beacon? TRAVIS [Fiddles with beacon while speaking.] I'm presuming it was to give Blake a signal to give him a landing fix. SERVALAN That's all we need. TRAVIS No, the signal may have to be sent in code. If we don't get it right, we could scare Blake off. And the beacon may have to transmit from an agreed location. If its position does not match Blake's coordinates, he won't come in. Now, that should be long enough. [Returns to Kasabi's side] Where were you to rendezvous with Blake? KASABI Coordinates three three one, eleven zero one. SERVALAN That's better. TRAVIS Now, Kasabi, listen to this: was the homing beacon to transmit in a code pattern? KASABI Yes. It was pulse, three long, two short, recurring. [Servalan prepares a final dose of the drug. Travis moves to stop her, but Servalan slaps him off and administers it to Kasabi.] SERVALAN Now it's over, Kasabi. KASABI Servalan. I'm sorry. SERVALAN Sorry? KASABI I should have tried. In the beginning, I should have tried to help you. [She dies] [Teleport room of the Liberator] BLAKE Time's up. We're pulling out. Jenna, I want the shortest way out of this system. Avon, run a proximity check on battle fleet patrols. VILA Shall I get back to the flight deck, then? BLAKE You might as well. [The signal comes in.] Wait. That's it, that's the signal. [Listens as the signal repeats.] Three long, two short, three long, two short. Cally, get a fix on it. CALLY Three three one, eleven zero one. BLAKE That confirms it. Standby to put me down. CALLY You want to teleport to these coordinates? BLAKE Yes. No. Put me down at zero point five varying. That should be about a mile away from the rendezvous. CALLY Why? BLAKE I'll scout around before I make contact. AVON What's the matter, Blake? Don't you trust your friends? BLAKE Of course. I trust them the same way I trust you. CALLY Teleport's set. BLAKE Right. You all know what to do. Gan, are you all set? GAN Yes. I'll be waiting. BLAKE All right. Put me down. [Blake appears in a wooded area.] BLAKE [Into bracelet] Down and safe. [He walks a few feet, looking about.] As far as I can see, it's all clear. Get an exact locator fix on my signal and send Gan down. CALLY [V.O.] Teleport locked on. He's on his way. [Gan appears] BLAKE [Into bracelet] Gan's down and safe. Now, you're quite clear about the rest of the plan? CALLY [V.O.] Quite clear. We all know what to do. [Teleport room of the Liberator] BLAKE [V.O.] All right, start the second countdown now. CALLY Countdown running. JENNA Good luck, Blake. [Wooded area near an abandoned building] GAN What is this place? BLAKE A church. GAN A church? BLAKE Place of religious assembly. GAN Must be ancient. BLAKE The Federation had them all destroyed at the beginning of the New Calendar. GAN There's no sign of Kasabi? BLAKE No. GAN [Touches tree, then looks at the wet blood now on his hand] Somebody's been here, though. And not long ago. BLAKE [Into bracelet] Liberator, we're going in now. Looks quiet enough, but if I give the word, teleport us out. Fast. [They enter the church, and walk down a flight of stone steps. Veron is lying on the floor in the lower section.] VERON No! [Blake and Gan take aim at Veron when she speaks. Veron confronts them with her gun] No. No-- [She collapses] BLAKE [Holsters weapon and crosses to her body. He removes her hat and then checks her pulse.] She's still alive. GAN Who do you think she is? BLAKE One of Kasabi's people. She's lost a lot of blood by the look of it. GAN Let's have a look. [He rips her sleeve open, revealing a small wound.] No, she'll be fine, soon as I treat her with this. BLAKE I'd better tell the others. [Teleport room of the Liberator] CALLY Come in, Blake. BLAKE [V.O.] Liberator, we're at the rendezvous point. Everything's all right. AVON You have made contact with Kasabi? BLAKE [V.O.] Not yet. Not directly. AVON Then everything is not all right. BLAKE [V.O.] It will be. I'll get back to you. AVON [To Vila] Do you get the feeling there's something he's not telling us? JENNA I don't know. I hate waiting like this. VILA Could be worse. We could be down there with him. CALLY I'd prefer that to being here. VILA You're welcome to take my place when the time comes. AVON If it comes. CALLY What do you mean? AVON Something's not right. VILA He's failed to make contact with Kasabi. AVON Exactly. But Kasabi's signal came from the rendezvous point. Blake has arrived there and failed to make contact. JENNA That doesn't necessarily mean anything disastrous. Perhaps they're just being extra careful. AVON Let's hope so. Because I have a feeling that we are not being careful enough. [Inside the church] VERON No! GAN It's all right, it's all right. We won't hurt you. [Hands her pill he has taken from a container.] Take this. VERON No. GAN Please. VERON [Swallows pill] Who are you? GAN My name is Gan. This is Blake. VERON Blake! You came, then. BLAKE Yes. What is your name? VERON Veron. I'm Kasabi's daughter. BLAKE Where is your mother? VERON She's, she's dead. BLAKE What happened? VERON We were ambushed, we didn't have a chance. My mother was hit, everyone else was killed. I, I started to run but they came after me, so I hid. [Buries head in Blake's shoulder and starts to sob.] BLAKE That's all right now. Sssh. Sssh. Gently, gently, gently. What happened then? VERON They searched the area. One of them came right up to where I was hiding. I was so frightened. They searched for a long time and then I, I stayed hidden for awhile, and then I came here as we planned. I gave the signal. GAN Well, you're safe now. We'll take care of you. BLAKE I'm very sorry about your mother. She was a remarkable woman. You lie here and rest while we decide what's to be done. VERON Thank you. [She lies down, Blake and Gan move away from her.] GAN Blake, we're going to have to pull out. BLAKE It's a setback, but we've come this far. It means a change of plan, but I'd still like to try for it. GAN What's the use? The risks are doubled now. BLAKE I'm not so sure. Kasabi was only giving us backup cover, holding off the security forces to give us time to penetrate the Forbidden Zone. GAN Yes, so how can we hope to do it without her? BLAKE We still have the element of surprise. Even more so now with Kasabi's force wiped out, security aren't going to expect another assault so soon. GAN You're guessing, Blake, guessing and hoping. BLAKE It is a calculated risk. Remember, we've got one foolproof factor: the teleport. Even if they do attack, we can still get out. We will have failed, but at least we'll be alive. GAN It's still a big risk. BLAKE It always was. Even with Kasabi's people, there were no guarantees. GAN All right, well, what do we do next, what do we do now? BLAKE We carry on as planned. The next step is still up to Avon and Vila. [Into bracelet] Liberator, do you read me? [Teleport room of the Liberator] CALLY We hear you. BLAKE [V.O.] We're going ahead with phase two. Avon and Vila ready? AVON What about Kasabi? BLAKE [V.O.] Avon, give me a rundown check on what you're going to do. AVON We teleport directly into the Forbidden Zone, we make an analysis of the defense systems, and then we teleport directly to your location. [Inside the church] BLAKE No more than five minutes in the zone. Get out sooner if you sense something's wrong. AVON [V.O.] I've already got that feeling, Blake. What about Kasabi? BLAKE Cally, if you don't get their signal, transfer them after five minutes anyway. [Teleport room of the Liberator] CALLY Confirmed. BLAKE [V.O.] That is all then. Good luck. AVON [To Vila] You ready? VILA He didn't answer your question. AVON He will. VILA I don't want to go. AVON You surprise me. VILA I don't feel well. I'm going to be a big handicap. AVON I'm used to that. JENNA Avon. Good luck. AVON Put us down, Cally. [The field beyond the blockhouse] AVON THAT will be the only access point. We have to get into there before we can try for the main vault. But before that, we have to cross the zone. VILA I've the feeling we're being watched. AVON [smiles slightly] Automatic scanners will have picked us up as soon as we got here. [They start across the field, but Avon stops after a couple of steps and halts Vila. He brushes aside some of the grass to reveal a wire cable.] VILA What's that? AVON High intensity radiation grid. The rays from these could burn you up in seconds. VILA In that case, do you think you ought to be fooling around with it? AVON It has to be activated somehow. Let's find out. Walk anywhere here, and you set the whole thing into operation. [Cuts through one of the cables. Immediately the ends begin to grow back towards each other and rejoin.] Total self-repair in eight seconds. How far would you say it is to that blockhouse? VILA Fifty yards, maybe more. Are you sure we're safe here? [Some flames and smoke start near the wires.] [Teleport room of the Liberator] JENNA Five, four, three, two, one. Time's up. CALLY Teleport now. [The field beyond the blockhouse. Avon and Vila vanish a split-second before a series of explosions happen.] [Inside the church. Avon and Vila appear and Veron screams. Gan moves to her side.] GAN Don't worry, they're friends. VERON How did they get here? GAN [showing her his bracelet] We have teleport equipment. VERON I don't know what that is. GAN You know, I'm not sure I do. BLAKE Well? AVON It is not going to be easy. BLAKE Can we do it? VILA Not a chance, it's absolutely impossible. AVON There is a way. Where are Kasabi and her people? GAN They were wiped out in an ambush. This is Kasabi's daughter. [Indicating the men in turn.] Veron, Avon, Vila. Veron was the only survivor. AVON I'm sorry. [To Blake] I knew you were lying. BLAKE Yes, well unless you can come up with some good reasons why not, we're going ahead as planned. VILA Certain death -- would you accept that as a good reason? [Removes a clear map disk from inside his jacket and gives it to Blake as he speaks.] AVON From somebody else, maybe. VILA All right, but if we all get killed, don't say I didn't warn you. BLAKE Let's hear the rest of it. [They all kneel down and look at the map, O.O.S.] AVON One thing is in our favor, there do not seem to be any security forces within the zone. BLAKE None at all? AVON They don't need them. The defense system is totally automated. It is more efficient than any brigade of troops. BLAKE That improves our chances. [Pointing to the map O.O.S.] This is the idea: we start here near the perimeter. Then we teleport across the Forbidden Zone directly into the entry blockhouse. GAN You know, the teleport will have to be precise. [Veron gets up and starts to leave.] A fraction out and we'll land up right in the middle of the zone. BLAKE Cally and Jenna won't make any mistakes. GAN [Halting Veron as she passes him.] You all right, Veron? VERON Do you mind if I go up for some air? I still feel a bit faint. GAN Well, don't go too far. You mustn't take any chances. VERON I won't. BLAKE Now, once we're into the entry blockhouse-- VILA Why don't we teleport right down to the control computer chamber? BLAKE Too deep. Teleport won't necessarily reliably transmit through that level of density. Anyway, we need an exact locator fix. The only way to get that is to -- VILA -- is to go there first. BLAKE Right. AVON I wouldn't be too certain that it can even get us into the blockhouse. Judging by the electronics we've seen, there's bound to be anti-matter screening built into the structure. BLAKE All right, then we teleport right up to the door of the entry blockhouse. Then it's up to Vila to break the locking systems. GAN Can you do it, Vila? VILA Well, that's a stupid question. At least I think it is. BLAKE Right. Let's discuss what we do once we get inside. According to intelligence reports, there is a shaft -- GAN Down! [An arm reached in the church's doorway and throws a cylinder down the steps. It begins to emit a cloud of gas. Veron enters and moves to each of their unconscious bodies, removing their bracelets.] [Inside the Security station] SERVALAN Are you beginning to have doubts, Travis? TRAVIS No. It won't fail. SERVALAN I hope not. There'll be no second chances. TRAVIS I won't need them. It's running my way now. The luck has changed. It's my turn. SERVALAN Capturing the girl was the only luck you've had so far. TRAVIS That single event has given me total control of the situation. SERVALAN You've gambled everything on her cooperation. TRAVIS That was no gamble. She will do precisely as she was instructed. She has no choice. SERVALAN [to mutoids, indicating Kasabi's body] Get rid of that. [In the church] BLAKE [getting to his feet] Sono gas. VILA Yes, but who threw it in? BLAKE Veron. It had to be. GAN No, I don't believe that. Why should she do it? AVON By all means, let us stand around and discuss it. BLAKE Avon's right. We're not safe here any longer. Let's move out. [They climb the stairs. Vila reaches the door first and tries to open it.] VILA The door's been blocked off. It won't budge. BLAKE [Tries to force it open] It's barred. GAN Let me try. [He throws his weight against it three times.] It won't move. BLAKE Well, leave it. I'll tell Cally. [Lifts wrist and discovers that the bracelet is gone. The others see this and simultaneously check their own bare wrists.] We've no means of getting hold of the Liberator, no means of getting out of here. Someone set up a trap. VILA And it worked, didn't it? [Inside the Security station] TRAVIS [Holding all four bracelets] With no teleport to snatch them away, they're mine. [Tosses the bracelets away.] SERVALAN [To Veron] They believed your story. VERON It wasn't difficult. It was close to the truth. The only lies were that I escaped the ambush, and that my mother was dead. TRAVIS You did seal the entrance? VERON Yes, just as you told me. TRAVIS Good. You did well. You can be proud of yourself. VERON I disgust myself. TRAVIS That will pass. There is a reward for Blake, you know. VERON What you made me do -- TRAVIS Might even get you a civilian citation. VERON No! TRAVIS You were sensible. You did what was expedient. VERON I betrayed four men, men who represent the only cause worth fighting for. That's what I did. And now I want my side of the bargain. SERVALAN Bargain? Travis, did you make a bargain with this traitress? VERON My mother, let me take her. He promised me my mother would no-- TRAVIS Don't concern yourself with your mother. She died one hour ago. VERON NO! I want my mother-- [Travis chops her down.] TRAVIS Now you'll stay here as my prisoner. SERVALAN I'll deal with her. You just bring me Blake. TRAVIS As the Supreme Commander orders. [exits] SERVALAN [turns Veron's body face up] Kasabi's child. [In the church. Avon and Blake step away from the door.] AVON It's no good. GAN Let me try again. [He throws himself against the door repeatedly.] VILA It's opening! GAN [After a few more blows they are able to force it open.] Sorry it took so long. I'm a bit out of condition. [Teleport room of the Liberator] CALLY Come in, Blake. This is Liberator. Come in. [Pause] Avon, Vila, Gan, respond. Are you reading us? Come in. JENNA It's over an hour since our last contact. CALLY It can't be a communicator fault. JENNA Not on all four bracelets, no. CALLY What do you think has happened? JENNA They've run into trouble. CALLY Yes. And what do we do, wait and guess? JENNA What was our last contact bearing? CALLY [switches on display and indicates light spot.] Here. [In the church. Travis enters with two mutoids to find it empty.] MUTOID They have not had time to get far. TRAVIS Couple of miles at the most, and without their teleport they're earthbound now. MUTOID I will call security. TRAVIS No! MUTOID But they would have men searching the woods for them now -- TRAVIS I want to take him myself. MUTOID Shall I call Central? TRAVIS Hum. There's still a way. We have to think like Blake. Think how he would act in a situation like this. Now where is the most dangerous place he could go? The last place we would think of searching for him? The Forbidden Zone, he'd go into the Forbidden Zone. That's what he came for, and that's where he'll go. Come on! [They exit.] [The field beyond the blockhouse. Avon is showing the wire grid to Blake.] AVON These are weight and disturbance sensitive. Touch them and you activate the ray emission. They have already registered our presence, so the whole area will be sensitized and primed. Cut the mesh, and it has an eight second repair cycle. BLAKE Sounds unbeatable. AVON It may well be. BLAKE But come on, you've got something on your mind. AVON If I can fire at ground level, the beam radiation should be great enough to cut a narrow channel through the sensor mesh. That would give you eight seconds to get from here to the blockhouse. The mesh would start its repair cycle instantly. Take one step off the channel and you're dead. I know it's a slim chance, but it's the best I can come up with. BLAKE Let's try it. AVON How's your sprinting? BLAKE I think I'm about to find out. AVON Make it quick. There is no room for a good loser in this race. You go the minute I give you the word, understand? BLAKE Right. AVON [Takes aim and fires] GO! [Blake begins to run.] Faster, Blake! BLAKE [Reaches blockhouse safely. Turns to shout back.] You next, Vila. You can get started on the door. VILA I'm about to set a new galactic record. AVON [Fires again] Now! [Vila begins to run, and Gan starts running right after him.] Gan! BLAKE [muttering] Come on, come on. GAN Vila! [Vila and Gan reach the blockhouse safely.] BLAKE You took a big risk there, Gan. GAN I thought it might save time. Besides, I needed a pacemaker. VILA Me, too. Implanted in me heart. BLAKE Just get started on the door. [Avon fires again and starts to run but trips and falls.] BLAKE Avon! [The wires grow toward each other.] GAN It will repair before he gets here. [Blake takes aim with his gun.] VILA [Grabbing Blake's arm] You'll hit him! BLAKE Let go! [Shakes free, takes aim, and fires] Avon, run for your life! [Muttering] Come on, come on. AVON [Completes his dash with Gan catching him. Places his hand on Blake's arm.] THANK YOU. BLAKE [To Vila] How long? VILA Oh, it's a difficult one. Thirty seconds? BLAKE Get started. [Inside the Security station] TRAVIS [Over viewscreen] Supreme Commander, I don't know how he did it, but Blake has penetrated the Control complex. I want to go in after him. I'll need the zone deactivated. SERVALAN I don't have the authority to order that. TRAVIS Then get the authority. I'm so close now. The only way out is the way Blake went in. I can shut him off. I want that authority. SERVALAN Stand by. [Switches off viewscreen then presses something O.O.S.] FEMALE VOICE Central. SERVALAN This is Supreme Commander Servalan. I want a direct link to the High Council, priority rating one. FEMALE VOICE Hold. [Blake and the others descend a ladder down a white wall, then travel through some white corridors.] [Blake and the others descend a ladder down a wall lit in red, then travel through some red-lit corridors. They see a door down the next corridor.] AVON [Blocking Blake] Hold it. BLAKE What is it? AVON More security. [He gestures to Vila who hands him some doodads. Avon tosses one. It explodes.] VILA Sprinting's one thing, but I think flying's beyond me. BLAKE [Jumps up to hang from one of the pipes that form a "horizontal ladder" down the corridor ceiling. He passes from rung to rung down five of them.] Am I safe now? AVON [Tosses another doodad. It explodes.] No. BLAKE [Continues for three more pipes.] What about now? AVON [Tosses another. It just bounces. Blake starts to swing forward.] Possibly. BLAKE [drops to floor safely] Come on, Vila, there's another lock here. VILA Times like this, I wish I'd gone straight. [Gan boosts him up to reach the bars. Vila starts moving along them.] [Inside the Security station] SERVALAN [turns on viewscreen] Travis? TRAVIS [From viewscreen] Yes, Supreme Commander? SERVALAN I've staked a great deal on this, Travis, but I've achieved what you wanted. The zone will be deactivated in precisely fifteen seconds. TRAVIS That's all I'll need. SERVALAN Both our heads are on the block now, Travis. This must not fail. TRAVIS Don't worry, Supreme Commander, I will not fail you. SERVALAN [Breaks contact, turns, says to someone O.O.S. just as the door opens] Who are you? [Red corridor. Avon passes along the pipes safely. Gan begins to cross, then one of the pipes breaks under his weight.] BLAKE Gan! [Gan catches himself, swings, and lands safely.] [Blake and the others descend a ladder down a blue-lit wall.] [Travis and two mutoids run through white corridors.] [Blake and the others travel through some blue-lit corridors up to a blue door with the Federation symbol on it.] BLAKE This is it! VILA [Looking at the lock] Oh, it's a bad one. GAN Can you do it? VILA I'm not sure. BLAKE You've got to! Behind this door is the key to it all: Control. That computer is the most vital part of Federation power. We're the thickness of this door away from destroying them. [Travis and the mutoids descend the white wall.] [Blue corridor at the blue door] VILA That should do it. Come on, open, open. [Nothing happens.] BLAKE Come on. VILA I'll have to try another way. It means starting all over again. BLAKE Take all the time you want. [Grabs Vila by the shirt] You CAN do it. [Vila selects another card and works on it with an electronic probe.] [Travis and the mutoids run down a red corridor.] [Blue corridor at the blue door] VILA Gan, try pushing it, this time. GAN Right. [The door opens.] BLAKE [Races through the door] We've done it! We've done it! We've done it! I've done it! AVON Blake! There's nothing here. [Blake turns to stare at him. Avon holsters his weapon.] There's nothing here. [Blake turns slowly and falls to his knees. Avon grabs him by the arm and shoulder. Whispers.] Nothing. [Travis laughs O.O.S.] BLAKE Travis. TRAVIS You believed it, Blake, like all the other fools before you. Destroy Control and you destroy the Federation. No. BLAKE [Grabs Avon] It WAS here. Everybody knows it was here. TRAVIS Of course. We've never concealed it. On the contrary, we've broadcast the fact. We used it as a challenge to our enemies, we invited them to attack Control. BLAKE It was never here? TRAVIS It was moved -- thirty years ago. BLAKE [Lets Avon go] To where? TRAVIS Even I don't know that. But it's safe and secure and will remain so while those who seek to destroy us believe it's here. You see, it's the great illusion, Blake. You give substance and credibility to an empty room, and the real thing becomes undetectable, virtually invisible. Now take their weapons. [The mutoids disarm Blake and his men. Blake and Avon are now on their feet.] I've waited a long time for this moment, Blake, and it was worth it. Move out. SERVALAN [Moves into the doorway] Release your prisoners, Travis. TRAVIS No! SERVALAN Your mutoids will put down their weapons. TRAVIS What are you talking about? SERVALAN Do as I order! TRAVIS What's the matter with you, Servalan? [Jenna and Veron emerge into sight behind her in the doorway. Both are armed.] JENNA She's nervous. BLAKE Jenna! JENNA When we lost contact, I came looking for you. I happened to come across this one. I thought she might come in useful. I also found somebody else. She told me what had happened. Travis threatened to kill her mother unless she betrayed you. VERON Then he killed her anyway. TRAVIS The moment you pull that trigger they will be dead. JENNA That's right, but so would your Supreme Commander. VERON And so would you. SERVALAN Release them. [pause] Do it! BLAKE Your move, I think, Travis. [Travis gestures angrily to the mutoids.] BLAKE Take their weapons. [The men from the Liberator re-arm themselves.] All right, let's move. It seems as though we both failed, Travis. [He and his crew exit.] TRAVIS [To mutoids] Get after them! SERVALAN [Slaps Travis] You hesitated. My life was at risk and you hesitated. [Tries slapping him again, but he catches her hand] [Blake and crew hurry through the red corridors.] [Blake and crew hurry through the white corridors. Blake stops to speak to Jenna.] BLAKE Jenna, have you got the teleport bracelets? JENNA Yes. BLAKE Too risky to use them here. Let's get nearer the surface. JENNA Right. [White corridor. Travis is arming a grenade. Servalan and two mutoids hurry to reach him.] SERVALAN Travis, what's that? TRAVIS Strontium grenade. SERVALAN [She grabs his arm.] You fool, it's too powerful. You'll bring the roof in. [Travis shakes her off and throws it.] [Another white corridor. The building shakes with the explosion, and a door starts to come down in front of Blake and the others.] GAN The door! [He rushes forward and braces it open while the others pass through.] BLAKE Now, come on, Gan, hurry, come on, come on. [There are more explosions and crashes as slabs of masonry come down.] [A white ladder. Jenna is a few rungs up it, looking back.] JENNA Blake! [At the door in the white corridor. It has closed, catching Gan's leg. Rubble is lying about.] GAN My leg! [More rumbling sounds] Blake! Go! I'm not worth dying for! [More chunks of masonry crash down. When it stops Blake is lying stunned just in front of Gan.] BLAKE [Stirs] Gan! Gan. [Holds Gan's head. Gan dies in his arms, and Blake lowers his body gently to the floor. He shakes his head.] No. [After a few seconds he leaves.] [Base of the white ladder] JENNA They must be trapped. Come on, let's go back. [Blake arrives.] Blake? VILA Where's Gan? BLAKE Gan's dead. [White corridor] MUTOID It's completely blocked. There's no way through. SERVALAN Brilliant! TRAVIS They'll dig us out eventually. SERVALAN Oh, yes. They'll dig us out eventually. And then I'll bury you. [exits] [White corridor near the blockhouse entry. Blake and the other crew put on bracelets.] BLAKE [To Veron] You're welcome to come with us. VERON I have a debt to pay. BLAKE So have we. VERON Mine must be paid here on Earth. BLAKE [Into bracelet] Bring us up, Cally. [They vanish. Veron smiles very slightly.] [Flight deck of the Liberator] ZEN State course and speed. BLAKE Standard by Ten. Get us out of the solar system. ZEN The instruction is imprecise. BLAKE Just do it. ZEN Confirmed. [Blake looks back at Gan's empty station.] Script Index Back to B7 Top
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