| abstract
| - Script for DUEL by Terry Nation (c) 1977 by the British Broadcasting Corporation. Series created by Terry Nation. This is a complete dialogue transcript for research purposes and is not for sale under any circumstances. Format (c) 1993 by Micky DuPree and Frances Teagle Dramatis Personae Roj Blake Gareth Thomas Kerr Avon Paul Darrow Jenna Stannis Sally Knyvette Vila Restal Michael Keating Olag Gan David Jackson Cally Jan Chappell Travis Stephen Greif Zen Peter Tuddenham Sinofar Isla Blair Giroc Patsy Smart Mutoid Carol Royle Walk-ons: Christopher Holmes Cliff Diggins THE OPENING SHOT is of an Earth-type planet, with oceans and clouds. The scene changes to a barren region with narrow defiles and rock pinnacles. Frequent thunder and lightning illuminate a glimpse of a vast field of memorials beyond the rocks. Then the scene moves to The Monument - a carved humanoid figure apparently growing out of the rock, its face and outstretched arms are raised to the heavens as if crying out in despair. In either hand is half of a broken weapon. The other memorials are smaller versions of The Monument. A blinding flash of lightning - Sinofar materialises at the foot of The Monument. She is a beautiful woman, apparently in her thirties. She stands in the eerie blue light with her eyes closed, concentrating. SINOFAR Giroc, Giroc, I need you. You must come here to me now. GIROC All right, all right, I'm coming. [Giroc comes in. She is an elderly woman who clutches a six-foot staff of office, carved on it is a humanoid figure climbing toward the ball-shaped tip.] Have a little patience. We of all people should have learnt patience. I'm tired, I deserve some peace. SINOFAR No, we must earn our peace. GIROC I have Sinofar, I have earned it. SINOFAR You still came when I summoned you. GIROC I had no choice, you used my power against me. SINOFAR It is not your power, Giroc. GIROC I know, I know, it's the power of the race, but it's in me. I never wanted to be The Keeper, you know that Sinofar. SINOFAR Nor I, The Guardian. GIROC You could set us both free. If I controlled the power, that's what I'd do. SINOFAR You know that isn't possible. We must dissipate the power by restoring the balance, then you and I can be at peace. But first we must atone. GIROC Why us? SINOFAR We were chosen. GIROC I didn't ask to be chosen. SINOFAR One doesn't ask to be chosen. [They look up - shot of the starlit sky. A formation of three spaceships is seen.] GIROC [V.O.] Are you sure about them, Sinofar? SINOFAR [V.O.] Not yet, this may not be their killing ground. [Close-up of three Federation pursuit ships] PURSUIT SHIP ONE - Two mutoids are sat at the controls, Travis is standing behind them. TRAVIS There! [Points at screen] Estimate approach speed. MUTOID Time Distort Six. TRAVIS Minimum scan, their sensors mustn't register the beam. MUTOID Scan complete, identification confirmed. TRAVIS Blake. The other patrols have pushed him into this galaxy. I knew it, I knew it! This time I've got him. MUTOID Target vehicle maintaining course and sped. TRAVIS Set for orbital compensation, we'll use the planet to mask us from his scanners. MUTOID Orbital shift computed. TRAVIS Execute. Make it random pulse emission, I'm not going to lose him now. LIBERATOR - First and external shot, then the flight deck. Avon and Blake are looking at the planet displayed on the main screen. AVON I wonder what the surface conditions are like. BLAKE Jenna? JENNA Star is G Two, planet is Earth-type right across the range, Earth-level gravity, breathable atmosphere. There's a lot of static too, the place is alive with electrical storms. BLAKE Cally, anything on the star charts or planet listings? CALLY Nothing in the data banks at all. BLAKE Hmm, what do you think? JENNA It seems safe enough. AVON What Jenna thinks, is largely academic Blake, we've been running on full power for far too long. Slipping those Federation patrols has used up all our energy reserves. JENNA Four of our power banks are exhausted. If we had to make a run for it now, we couldn't do better than Standard by Two, and we couldn't hold that for long. BLAKE Recharge time? AVON Forty-eight hours. BLAKE All right, we'll hide here for a while. The planet should give us some protection from the detectors. Zen, take us into orbit as close as possible to the planet's surface. As close as possible Zen, the orbit could decay in forty-eight hours. ZEN Confirmed. The parameters were anticipated. BLAKE [Laughs] I get the distinct feeling I offended Zen's professional pride then. AVON It's just a machine, Blake. VILA And he should know. GAN Well Avon is the expert. VILA That's not what I meant. AVON No, he was calling me a machine, but since he undoubtedly defines himself as a human being, I shall choose to accept that as more of a compliment than anything else. BLAKE Yes, well since we've got some time on our hands, we might as well take a look at this planet. Anybody feel like some exercise. JENNA I'd be happy to get clear of this lot for a while. [Exits] BLAKE Gan? GAN I could do with a change of air. I'll get kitted up. [Exits] BLAKE Vila? VILA I'll stay here, thanks. BLAKE Then you can work the teleport. [As Vila leaves his console he comes face to face with Avon, who stares him down intimidatingly, then takes his place.] PURSUIT SHIP MUTOID Readings show target has assumed a stationary orbit. TRAVIS Excellent. [He sits in the commander's chair] MUTOID Orbit confirmed at one thousand spacials from the planet's surface. [She unfastens a panel in her tunic and places a small liquid container in a recess.] TRAVIS This is hardly the time for that. MUTOID Normally I wouldn't do it in the presence of an unmodified. TRAVIS Forget your coyness, I'm aware of your need for blood serum. MUTOID Most are, but few accept it for what it is - a functional convenience. Opponents of mutoid modification call us vampires. TRAVIS Rather appropriate, isn't it? MUTOID It is immaterial. I await your orders, Commander. TRAVIS Attack formation, fifteen hundred spacials trajectory. Pursuit Ships Two and Three move to flank, fire on my command. [Shot of pursuits separating] LIBERATOR - Teleport room BLAKE Vila, try and stay alert. VILA Of course I will, how can you doubt me? BLAKE It isn't easy, but somehow I manage it. Come on. Put us down. [Blake, Jenna and Gan teleport to the planet's surface and look around] BLAKE [Into bracelet] We're down safely. It looks very barren, there's nothing else to report. We'll check with you when we've had a look round. [pauses, but no reply from Vila] All right? VILA [Over intercom] Yes, all right. [Blake and Jenna examine the rocks.] BLAKE What do you think? JENNA The surface seems to be melted. It's almost like the effects of a fusion bomb. GAN Blake! Jenna! [They walk over to The Monument] BLAKE Well, at least we know the planet's inhabited. GAN WAS inhabited. BLAKE Hmm? GAN Look here [Points them to the memorials] as far as the eye can see. BLAKE Grave markers? JENNA So many. GAN [Turns and sees Sinofar and Giroc] Blake, we've got company. [When the others look, they have gone] They were here! Two women, watching us. There's nowhere they could have gone. JENNA So where are they now? GAN I hope my limiter hasn't malfunctioned. BLAKE Maybe we've all been on the ship too long. JENNA [Goes over to The Monument] Blake. BLAKE What is it? JENNA This broken weapon, could it be a symbol of peace? BLAKE Or defeat. This whole place is a memorial to the dead. Maybe they were ghosts you saw. GAN [Looking up] Those aren't ghosts! [The pursuit ships can be seen closing on Liberator] BLAKE Pursuit ships. They've got to be. JENNA Where did they come from? GAN They must have been waiting for us. BLAKE Travis's strategy again. [Into bracelet] Vila! Pursuit ships closing on you. [In the teleport room Vila has his feet up] Vila!! Full alert and get us up fast. Move it!! They're right on top of you. [Vila hits the alarm button and teleports them up.] VILA Sorry. [They all run for the flight deck.] PLANET - Sinofar and Giroc are watching the sky. SINOFAR So Giroc, the star ships are closing for battle. The choice is made. LIBERATOR - Flight deck, alarm blaring. AVON What's going on? VILA Pursuit ships. BLAKE Zen, can we get past them? ZEN All possible flight trajectories would require Liberator to cross enemy strike range. BLAKE Avon, what's our power reserve? AVON Banks five, six, and seven, full power; zero on the rest. BLAKE Maximum speed and range? JENNA Standard by four, about eight million spacials. BLAKE We can't even outrun them this time. VILA We've got the neutron blasters. CALLY But there isn't enough power. BLAKE Zen, state battle computer tactics. ZEN Preemptive action was inhibited by manual overrides. Strategy options are now reduced to one. Battle computers suggest surrender. AVON Logic says we're dead! BLAKE Logic has never explained what dead means. ZEN Sensors report plasma bolt launched. BLAKE Direct vision. GAN On. [Screen shows approaching plasma bolt] JENNA Avon, put up the force wall. BLAKE No, wait. JENNA Why? BLAKE It's too much of an energy drain. VILA Blake! AVON They're closing fast, Blake. [Beat] Come on! BLAKE I said wait! JENNA Blake! BLAKE Activate! ZEN Second bolt launched. [Boom!] BLAKE Deactivate. Track second bolt. GAN Tracking. BLAKE Power status? AVON Seventy percent on bank five. ZEN Third bolt launched. GAN Second bolt closing. BLAKE [Waits] Activate! [Boom!] GAN Third bolt closing. [Boom!] BLAKE Deactivate. AVON Bank five has forty per cent remaining. CALLY They'll move in closer now and strike again. BLAKE Sensors on full alert. VILA Are we just going to sit here and let them shoot at us? BLAKE Yes! While they do they're using power faster than we are. Might even things up a bit - shorten the odds, anyway. VILA The odds on what? BLAKE Us being able to blast a way through them and run. ZEN Three plasma bolts launched and running. GAN Bearing directly. BLAKE Right. Hang on everyone, this is going to be rough. VILA I don't mind rough. It's fatal I'm not too keen on. [Cut to Travis' ship] TRAVIS He's low on power! He'd have made a run for it otherwise. [Into communicator] Leader to Pursuit Three: continue barrage. Leader to Two: hold your fire. [to Mutoid] We'll make him keep that defence shield in operation, bleed his energy banks. MUTOID If Pursuit Three keeps firing, it won't have enough reserve to put up its own defence shield. TRAVIS Pursuit Three is expendable. So is Two. Let Blake destroy them both. Between them, they can run his reserves down to zero. This ship will still have full power, and we can move in, and finish him. LIBERATOR - Laser bolt impact, everyone is thrown about. BLAKE Deactivate. AVON Bank five is finished. Drawing on six. BLAKE Zen: power reserves? ZEN At the present level of discharge, reserves will be exhausted in two point three hours. JENNA Which is when they'll move in for the kill. GAN Yes, and we'll be helpless. ZEN Plasma bolt launched. GAN Bearing directly. BLAKE Avon, Cally. Jenna, take command. Gan, Vila, you help her. [Avon and Cally join him, he draws diagrams on an electronic pad which are projected onto the screen] Now watch the screen. This is the Liberator, surrounded by one, two, three pursuit ships. They're trying siege tactics. Our only chance is to break out and run before we're too weak, do you agree? JENNA Activating. AVON We know we can't outrun them. [Violent impact.] BLAKE I wasn't planning to try. JENNA Deactivating. BLAKE Now, this is the pursuit ship that's done all the firing. That'll be low on power now, so it won't be a problem. CALLY So we can ignore it. BLAKE Right. This one hasn't fired at all yet, so this must be Travis. We're going straight for it. Not over, under, or around, but right through it. ZEN Plasma bolt launched. GAN Bearing directly. AVON Ram it? BLAKE The Liberator should be able to take the impact. AVON I admire your confidence. CALLY So that would leave only one more to deal with. BLAKE That's right, a straight fight, one against one. CALLY I agree. AVON If any of our control systems are damaged by the impact, we will be helpless. BLAKE We're not exactly in a commanding position now. JENNA Activating! BLAKE Have you got any better ideas? [Violent impact. As Blake and Avon reel back, Avon clutches Blake protectively, perhaps to steady him] AVON As a matter of fact, no I haven't. BLAKE Does that mean you agree? AVON Do I have a choice? BLAKE Yes. AVON Then I agree. [Lets go of Blake] JENNA Deactivating. BLAKE Vila, Gan, Jenna: we're going for a ram, take out the command ship. GAN A ram?!? BLAKE I don't see that there's any other hope for us. JENNA Neither can I, so let's get on with it. BLAKE Jenna, you'll have to fly us on manual. JENNA Yes, we'll need to take the impact on the lower hull. ZEN Plasma bolt launched. GAN Bearing directly. BLAKE Right, as soon as this one hits, we move. Stand by. [Pause] Activate! [Violent impact] AVON Force wall deactivated. BLAKE Right, now, Jenna. PURSUIT SHIP MUTOID Pursuit Three reports total power shutdown. They're incapable of further action. TRAVIS [Into communicator] Pursuit Two, commence firing. MUTOID Target ship is underway. It's turning. TRAVIS He's running. There's nowhere to run, Blake! Compute course, speed, and lock on. MUTOID Time Distort Three and rising. Course zero-zero-zero -- they're coming straight at us. TRAVIS Stand by plasma bolts. MUTOID Holding course. Computers propose evasive action. TRAVIS No! Hold your position. [Cut to Liberator] BLAKE Zen, count down to impact. [Zen begins with thirty-six and proceeds to count down in the background.] BLAKE When Travis realizes we're going for a ram, he'll fire a full salvo. GAN Will the force wall hold at this rate? BLAKE We're about to find out. GAN Salvo fired, four of them! BLAKE Stand by the force wall. JENNA We're losing power, we're slowing. BLAKE Full thrust. JENNA It's not responding. Blake, we're stopping! PURSUIT SHIP TRAVIS Impossible. They're holding course. They're going to ram us. Evasive trajectory, full thrust. MUTOID Controls are not responding. All systems are locked. TRAVIS [Leaps to his feet] Operate boosters. MUTOID Still no response. [Weirdness commences, everything goes haywire, affecting all ships. The lights dim, there are garbled sounds and time slows down, distorting speech] LIBERATOR BLAKE Activate the force wall. ZEN [In background] Ten, nine, eight, seven ... AVON Force wall activated. ZEN Six, five... [Liberator and the pursuit ship slowly close almost into an embrace and halt as Sinofar and Giroc assert control. Travis and Blake are seen clutching their heads in pain while the other crew members look around in surprise] GIROC [Distorted voice] Travis... Blake... [She calls them repeatedly. Travis and Blake dematerialise and Sinofar brings them down to The Monument] GIROC Listen to me, listen to me all of you. [Both crews are seen listening to her voice in bewilderment] We are Giroc The Keeper, we are Sinofar The Guardian. Your ship is tethered, held in a stasis beam, it cannot break free. Only your life support systems will function normally, the rest will remain in our control, until we have completed our task. You yourselves have been released, so that you may watch, listen and understand. [Cut to Blake and Travis standing immobilized] We are ready, the warriors can be released. [Sinofar rouses them, they become aware of each other, but cannot move their feet] TRAVIS BLAKE?! [He tries to fire his hand blaster, but nothing happens] SINOFAR No. GIROC [Laughs] The weapon built into that hand will not work here, primitive. SINOFAR Nor will brute force, until *I* allow it. GIROC His impulse to kill is primitive. SINOFAR As ours was not? TRAVIS Who are you? SINOFAR I am Sinofar, the Guardian. This is Giroc, the Keeper. TRAVIS I am Space Commander Travis, an officer and representative of the Earth Federation. As an agent of my government, I demand an explanation. GIROC Not only is he primitive, he's pompous as well. [To Blake] And you, do you also make demands? BLAKE I am not an officer of the Federation, but I would like some answers. TRAVIS This man is an enemy of the state and a fugitive. He is my prisoner. [Grabs at Blake, but cannot move his feet.] GIROC [Laughing] Primitive, pompous, and stupid. SINOFAR Giroc! GIROC All right, all right. It's just that there is such violence in him, it's exciting. [Shamefacedly] Old instincts die hard, Sinofar. SINOFAR I know. TRAVIS You will lift this force field. SINOFAR There are things you must understand first. TRAVIS You do realize that any hostile act against me will be regarded as a hostile act against the Federation. [Giroc laughs.] Have you any idea of the risk you're running? [Giroc laughs harder.] BLAKE They don't seem very impressed, Travis. [Laughs] Why don't you try stamping your foot? TRAVIS Oh, that's very amusing, Blake. For a dead man. BLAKE Do you intend to keep us prisoners? GIROC Only for the moment. BLAKE You were responsible for what happened to my ship. SINOFAR It will be restored when this matter has been settled, [to Travis] as will yours. No harm will come to your crews or your ships. GIROC You have seen what we can do. We are capable of protecting our planet, your threats of reprisal are meaningless. SINOFAR Our powers grew out of a thousand years of war, out of hate, and fear and the will to survive. GIROC [On Liberator's screen] We built destruction, weapons that your peoples have not yet dreamed of. Every passing year brought new ways to kill, and throughout the centuries the war raged across our planet. SINOFAR With each generation there were fewer of us. The dead vastly outnumbered the living. There was not victory for either side. BLAKE How did it end? GIROC How? Another development of another weapon. We demanded their surrender, they refused, the weapon was used. Those that we call our enemy were annihilated. TRAVIS You won, that's all that matters. SINOFAR It wasn't a victory, only the end of the war. We were left with a planet made barren by radiation. Our children were monsters, or died, or were never born. This, we won. BLAKE How many of you are there now? GIROC None. We are a dead race. SINOFAR We tell you this so that you will understand our reasons for intervening in your dispute. GIROC Tell us, what is your dispute? TRAVIS I *have* told you. This man is an enemy of the Federation, tried and convicted. I must bring him back to justice or kill him. GIROC [To Blake] You? BLAKE I am an enemy of the Federation. But it is corrupt and oppressive. I will destroy it. If I can. SINOFAR Irreconcilable viewpoints. Your differences can only be resolved by the destruction of the other's belief. The classic pattern for war. TRAVIS I was about to resolve them when you interfered. SINOFAR [To Blake] How many are there in your group? BLAKE There are six of us. SINOFAR And in your ships, Travis? TRAVIS Nine. SINOFAR Fifteen people could die because of your beliefs. BLAKE My crew are with me by their own choice. AVON [Watching Liberator's screen] Really? TRAVIS [On pursuit ship screen] Mine swore allegiance to the Federation. GIROC I'm sure that you will both find supporters for your cause and each of you could be backed by a massive army eventually. SINOFAR But would numbers change the nature of the dispute? BLAKE Probably not. SINOFAR [to Travis] What do you say? TRAVIS Numbers? Immaterial. SINOFAR We understand that men will kill for their beliefs. GIROC Since each of you wishes to destroy the other, we are going to give you the chance. TRAVIS A duel? Is that what you are suggesting? GIROC A fight to the death. SINOFAR But this way, there will be a limit to the deaths, and we will ensure that the loser's ship will have an opportunity to get away. Don't you find that rational? TRAVIS No. When I've killed Blake, I'll simply hunt down the others. SINOFAR There will be no destruction within our influence, but we cannot control your actions beyond this planet. BLAKE I don't think I want to kill for your entertainment. GIROC You have no choice. BLAKE [To Travis] We could agree not to fight. TRAVIS [Chuckles slightly] Could we? GIROC If you trusted one another. SINOFAR There is another matter: a lesson you must learn about death. BLAKE I think we both know enough about that already. SINOFAR You both know how to kill. But here you must take a life. There will be no machines to make the act unreal. You must touch the life you take. TRAVIS Shall we get on with it! GIROC How anxious he is to reach the forest. Once there, you can only return when it is over. TRAVIS Weapons? SINOFAR Tools for survival. [Machetes materialise in their hands] BLAKE How long have we got? SINOFAR There is no limit - only your physical endurance. TRAVIS So this is your lesson. Pathetic. GIROC Half the lesson the death of an enemy; the other half is the death of a friend. VILA [Watching on Liberator] What does she mean? BLAKE I've seen friends die. SINOFAR Travis? TRAVIS Nothing concerns me but my duty. I don't give a damn about their lessons, I shall enjoy taking your life, Blake. BLAKE You talk a good fight, Travis. SINOFAR But now the talking is done. Learn. [She closes her eyes in concentration. Jenna and the Mutoid are teleported from their seats. Blake materialises in woodland. He looks around and starts to walk cautiously. Giroc's form is projected in front of him. She grins mischievously and he is afflicted by strange noises which affect his hearing and eyesight, and make him giddy. While he is stumbling about clutching his head, Travis materialises, sees him, draws his machete and sneaks up behind him.] TRAVIS Blake. [As Blake turns round he punches him in the midriff] Come on Blake, you don't want to die on your back. [Blake rises, but is thrown down again. Travis seizes his hair and prepares to cut his throat] Goodbye Blake. [but the action is frozen] SINOFAR [V.O.] Giroc! [Back at the Monument - Giroc hobbles in] GIROC I just wanted to see how vicious he was. I wouldn't have let him kill yet. SINOFAR You misuse the power. GIROC Separate them, wipe it from their minds. Nothing's lost. SINOFAR How long must I suffer you, Giroc? GIROC Restart the contest Sinofar, these two show promise. [Sinofar closes her eyes in concentration. In the wood, Blake gets up, picks up his machete and walks on.] LIBERATOR - The crew are watching the action on the screen. AVON I don't understand it. How can we be seeing this? CALLY We see and hear through the mind of the being called Sinofar. GAN It doesn't matter. Blake's in trouble. AVON It could be just an illusion. CALLY No, it is happening. It is the truth beyond question. THE WOODS - Jenna is walking through the bushes. BLAKE [From hiding] Jenna! [comes out] how did you get here? JENNA I don't know. It seems your weird ladies have picked on me to demonstrate the death of a friend. BLAKE You heard all that? JENNA They beamed it into the ship's main screen. Everything else is on some sort of stasis beam. What are we going to do? BLAKE Seen any sign of Travis? JENNA Have you? BLAKE No. We'd better make ourselves some weapons. [LATER - Blake is sharpening two stakes into spears with his machete] BLAKE Finding Travis shouldn't be too difficult. If he runs true to form, he'll set a trap and then try and draw us into it. JENNA Who do you suppose he's got with him? BLAKE I don't know, his pilot maybe. Must present our hosts with something of a problem. How do you demonstrate the death of a friend to a man who hasn't got any? ANOTHER CLEARING TRAVIS Anything? MUTOID No, Commander. TRAVIS You've searched thoroughly? MUTOID Your opponent is not yet within this vicinity. TRAVIS Good, then I have a little plan we can put into operation. Come. WOODLAND - Blake finishes sharpening the stakes. He hands one to Jenna. BLAKE Not exactly a neutron blaster, but it's better than nothing. JENNA Not much better, though. LATER - Travis is pulling fibres out of a shrub, watched by Sinofar (in projection). The scene is also being shown on Liberator's screen GAN He seems to be working to a plan. VILA I wish we were. AVON [Entering] Well? Did any of the controls respond? GAN Nothing here. VILA Nothing on mine. CALLY Nothing on these. AVON That's it, then, I've done everything I can. Every machine except life support is frozen. CALLY Even Zen. AVON Zen is a machine. VILA Unless he just doesn't want to get involved. AVON What's Travis going? CALLY As Blake said, he's probably preparing a trap. It could be a mistake. That sort of war is best fought on the move. WOODS - Night; an enormous moon, loud animal cries, roars and snarls. BLAKE We'd better try and find somewhere safe. JENNA The quicker, the better. ELSEWHERE - Travis and the Mutoid are constructing something with poles and hand-made ropes - more loud roars. MUTOID The night hunters are at work. TRAVIS Come on, let's take shelter. Bring my knife. UP A TREE - more animal noises BLAKE Let's hope those things can't climb trees. JENNA Or fly. I don't know these star charts well enough to be sure, but I's say we're still on the same planet. BLAKE They must have teleported us to a different part of it. JENNA Do you believe what they told us? About themselves, I mean. BLAKE With that much power why bother to lie? JENNA That's one way to become a hunted man: trust the powerful. BLAKE True. What's your excuse? JENNA Oh, I wasn't clever enough, we none of us were. The Federation has beaten us all at least once. BLAKE At least. JENNA If we get out of this, ------------------------------------ it still won't be any || LIBERATOR - Vila and Gan, watching better. || [Main action] [snatches of conversation || VILA: She's right. Jenna's right, are heard over the sound || you know, why should it be system] || any different? We'll have || the Federation after us till ...the Federation... || the day we die. BLAKE ...escaped... half way|| GAN: Who says? We've been lucky across the galaxy.... || up till now, we'll be lucky || again. ...propped up in the || VILA: Have you thought what might middle of the night || happen if those two don't with a pointed stake || get back? I mean, could you for a weapon. [they || operate this ship properly? laugh] || GAN: Let's just listen. ...the Federation || VILA: Well, could you? hasn't got a chance. ------------------------------------ [Main action - back at the tree] Right, are you going to go to sleep first, or shall I? JENNA You can. BLAKE Right, wake me when you're tired. TRAVIS'S TREE TRAVIS Tell me something, do you remember who you were? MUTOID I don't understand the question, Commander. TRAVIS Yes you do - in your previous life before you were modified. Do you know who you were? MUTOID Of course not. TRAVIS Aren't you curious about it? MUTOID No. TRAVIS I find that hard to believe. MUTOID Memory is an encumbrance. All trace of it is removed and with it all trace of identity. TRAVIS And it doesn't concern you? MUTOID Why should it? That identity doesn't exist, even in the central computers. TRAVIS Yes it does. I know who you were. Your name was Keyeira, Keyeira. MUTOID Keyeira. TRAVIS You were very beautiful, very much admired. Shall I go on? MUTOID As you wish. TRAVIS [Obviously disappointed] This doesn't interest you at all, does it? MUTOID How could it? TRAVIS Keep watch. MUTOID Yes Commander. BLAKE'S TREE - Jenna rouses and sees a small vampire bat sucking at Blake's left hand JENNA Blake! BLAKE Huh? [He shakes it off] JENNA Are you all right? BLAKE It's just a small cut, that's all. JENNA I'm sorry. I went to sleep. BLAKE No, it's all right, it was my fault. We should have both stayed awake. LIBERATOR - The tired crew are watching the screen. Avon gets up. VILA Have you thought of another plan? AVON Yes. I'm going to get some sleep. VILA How can you sleep with all this happening? AVON With all what happening? Blake is sitting up in a tree, Travis is sitting up in another tree. Unless they're planning to throw nuts at one another, I don't see much of a fight developing before it gets light. GAN You're never involved, are you Avon? You ever cared for anyone? VILA Except yourself? AVON I have never understood why it should be necessary to become irrational in order to prove that you care, or, indeed, why it should be necessary to prove it at all. [Exits] VILA Was that an insult or did I miss something? CALLY You missed something. WOODS - Daylight; Blake and Jenna climb out of the tree. Jenna takes a look at Blake's hand. JENNA It's a very big bite, looks inflamed. BLAKE Yes, it makes my arm a bit sore. It's nothing that I can't cope with. ELSEWHERE - The Mutoid is working on an apparatus of sharpened stakes fastened to a frame. Travis inspects the corpse of a vampire bat and throws it away. TRAVIS What were these things doing at the foot of the tree, hmm? MUTOID They came in the night. I trapped them. TRAVIS You did more than that. MUTOID My serum supply is running low, there was a little blood in each of them. TRAVIS There's a lot of blood in me. MUTOID There still is, Commander. You are a Federation officer, as I am. TRAVIS Just so long as you remember that. MUTOID Do you now believe we mutoids are vampires? TRAVIS I believe you're useful. Get on with it. MUTOID My function will be impaired if I don't get further serum soon. TRAVIS Maybe that could be arranged. LIBERATOR - Crew are watching Travis on the screen. VILA Is that what I think it is? AVON I don't imagine that it is a recreational aid. VILA I can't see Blake throwing himself on it, though. Can you? AVON I can't ever see Blake finding the right place. GAN How is he supposed to find it. I mean, he hasn't got anything to go on, has he? CALLY I've been watching Blake. He's quartering the area. That is the correct search pattern. AVON IF it is the correct area. THE WOODS TRAVIS Any sign? MUTOID None, Commander. TRAVIS I've lit a fire, it'll draw Blake to us. Since I was given you, he must have been given a companion as well. Whoever it is, I want you to find them, bring them back here. Dead or alive, it doesn't matter, just bring them. MUTOID And Blake? TRAVIS No. Don't touch Blake. He belongs to me. [The Mutoid looks slightly ill] Well, go on - what's the matter with you? MUTOID The blood of those creatures, it was not suitable. TRAVIS When you've found Blake's companion, there'll be plenty of blood. ELSEWHERE - BLAKE We can't even be sure they're in this area. JENNA We have to assume they are. BLAKE Well, maybe I can see something from up there. [Climbs tree. Jenna hears rustling in the bushes and goes to investigate. The Mutoid surprises her and knocks her out] BLAKE Jenna, Jenna! There's some smoke over there. Jenna? [Climbs down and looks around] Jenna, Jenna! UNDER A LARGE TREE - Travis has suspended the deadfall from a high branch of a large tree. Jenna is being staked out beneath it by the Mutoid - she is gagged. The Mutoid extrudes a long needle from the cuff of her gauntlet and prepares to draw blood from Jenna's neck. TRAVIS No! Not yet - get to your position. NOW! [Throws down his machete. The Mutoid picks it up] Blake! Blake, can you hear me? I know you're there Blake, I know you're close by. Here me Blake, I have your friend. Your friend will die Blake, unless you give yourself up. [Blake breaks cover and runs to release Jenna] JENNA [muffled by the gag] Blake, look out! Up there... TRAVIS NOW!! [The Mutoid hacks at the rope while Blake frees Jenna's feet, but she takes three tries to sever it, giving them time to roll clear as the harpoon grid crashes down, missing them. Blake thrusts his machete into the ground for Jenna to cut her ropes with, then grabs his stake and races across to engage with Travis, also armed with a sharpened stake. Jenna frees her feet and kicks the mutoid away as she tries to bleed her again. Blake and Travis are using their stakes as quarter staves - Jenna throws the Mutoid head first against a tree, where she falls unconscious. Blake disarms Travis and stands over him, poised to skewer him - he hesitates] VILA [Watching] You've got him. GAN Go on! CALLY Kill him. AVON [Smiles faintly and shakes his head slightly] [Blake lowers his weapon and Sinofar teleports him away] THE MONUMENT - Blake and Jenna materialise. GIROC You fought well, Blake. BLAKE I'm glad you enjoyed it. GIROC Why didn't you kill him? BLAKE Too weak? Or maybe I didn't entirely trust your motives. Besides, as long as he's alive, he'll be the one chasing me. And I know I can beat him. GIROC [Laughs] At least you're not stupid. BLAKE [To Sinofar] I need time enough to get my ship away and to recharge the energy banks. SINOFAR They have been recharged. I will see that your ship gets away. BLAKE Another reason why I didn't kill Travis: I would have enjoyed it. SINOFAR Perhaps there was nothing for you to learn. LIBERATOR - Backs out of embrace with pursuit ship. BLAKE Jenna, what speed? JENNA Standard by Six. ZEN Confirmed. [Liberator moves away] GAN [Massaging Blake's hand with ultrasound vibrator] What was she like? BLAKE Who? GAN Sinofar. BLAKE Of course. You never saw her. GAN No. [Finishes treatment] BLAKE Thank you. She was, uh, she was very beautiful, wasn't she, Jenna? JENNA [Unenthusiastically] Yes. Very. VILA All we saw was the ugly one. How is it you get all the fun? BLAKE Oh, I don't know, some of us are born lucky and some ... [grins rather smugly] THE MONUMENT - The Mutoid is propped against a rock, apparently lifeless. TRAVIS Where is Blake? SINOFAR He won the right to go. It was agreed. TRAVIS It changes nothing. GIROC And what about your friend? TRAVIS A mutoid? It's little better than a machine. In any case, she's dead. SINOFAR Travis. Your companion is not dead. I will heal her. TRAVIS She is of no further value to me. I have a fugitive to hunt. Return me to my ship. GIROC It is good to see a man like Travis again after so long. SINOFAR You remind her of our people. GIROC He is just like our people, and like them he learns nothing. SINOFAR That's why we're prisoners. You keep us prisoners, Giroc. Never return to this planet, Travis. [She teleports him away and dematerialises herself. Giroc turns and walks slowly toward the memorials] PURSUIT SHIP - The Mutoid has just topped up her serum level. TRAVIS The condemned ate a hearty meal. [Grabbing her by the chin] Your failure cost me Blake. MUTOID I warned you that my function would be impaired, Commander. TRAVIS [Pushing her away] Well, perhaps the court martial will take that into account, but I doubt it. [Sits] Tell me, what happens to a mutoid that's dismissed the service? MUTOID We exist only to serve. TRAVIS Oh? Then you'll probably cease to exist. MUTOID Ready, Commander. TRAVIS Follow Blake's course. MUTOID We can't match his speed. TRAVIS We don't have to, just match his course. You see, he made one fatal error. He should have killed me. Script Index Back to B7 Top
|
![[RDF Data]](/fct/images/sw-rdf-blue.png)