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| - Script for Project Avalon Written by: Terry Nation Directed by: Michael Briant (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. Transcription: Malcolm Mladenovic. Proofreading: Dave Owen and Sue Clerc. Dramatis Personae: Blake Gareth Thomas Jenna Sally Knyvette Avon Paul Darrow Cally Jan Chappell Vila Michael Keating Gan David Jackson Zen Peter Tuddenham Travis Stephen Greif Servalan Jacqueline Pearce Avalon Julia Vidler Chevner David Bailie Mutoid Glynis Barber Scientist John Baker Terloc John Rolfe Guards David Sterne, Mark Holmes Walk ons: Chris Homes Michael de Wilde Christina Halstead Roberta Kingsley Kelly Varney Kavid Ianson Bruce Guest John Cannon John Jensen Doug Roe Peter Dukes Bunty Garland Gaye Hopkin David Charles Monique Briant Jay Dyer [Scene: Near blizzard conditions on a planet. Travis and a mutoid enter a cave mouth.] TRAVIS The temperature's dropping quickly. MUTOID It'll be dark soon. Then it'll freeze. TRAVIS The Long Cold. I find this planet...unnerving. Come. [They go in and down. A man is crouching hidden in rocks above the passage.] TERLOC [softly] Travis. TRAVIS Where are you? TERLOC Shhh! Softer. The sound travels in the caves. TRAVIS You're late. TERLOC They would've missed me had I come sooner. TRAVIS What have you got for me? TERLOC Avalon is moving to Winter quarters, in the ice caves. I've drawn a map. [He throws a paper down to Travis] TRAVIS But contact -- has Blake made contact with Avalon? TERLOC Yes. She's asked for transportation to a safer planet. TRAVIS And Blake has agreed? TERLOC His ship has already entered out star system. The rendezvous is expected within fifty hours. TRAVIS Good. Go back and join Avalon. Now. You understand what you have to do? TERLOC I understand. [He crawls away.] TRAVIS [To Mutoid] It's working; just as I predicted. [To himself] This time we'll be ready for you, Blake. [Scene: Liberator flight deck. A planet appears on the viewscreen.] BLAKE Zen, can you get an estimated surface temperature from this range? [The viewscreen shows wintry scenes on the surface.] ZEN Sensors indicate a temperature of minus one hundred and twenty degrees and still falling. VILA That's on the cool side, you'll need thermal suits. [Exits] BLAKE Cally, are you still getting Avalon's signal? CALLY It changed position by about eight miles but it's stationary now and switched to automatic. BLAKE Well, lock onto it and get a precise fix. Jenna, when Cally's got a fix, let her take us into orbit. You're the only one who's ever seen Avalon, I need you down there with me. Go and get kitted up. JENNA Right. BLAKE Cally, we want an orbit just inside teleport range. [Avon enters the flight deck, standing just inside.] GAN Blake, there are four...five interceptors orbiting the atmosphere now. They're all below the horizon at the moment. BLAKE Track them. GAN Right. AVON [Simultaneously] And don't imagine they will maintain the same orbit. [Moves onto deck and hands data to Blake.] I've summarized the relevant data. BLAKE And? AVON We've come at the worst time, of course. The northern hemisphere is just entering its winter cycle. They call it the Long Cold. Something of an understatement, it lasts the equivalent of eight-and-a-half Earth years. BLAKE Does it support any intelligent life? AVON Does the Liberator? [Blake and Jenna exchange looks.] There are humanoid creatures called subterrons. They live in caves. Quite what that says for their intelligence, I really wouldn't know. BLAKE Why are the Federation there? AVON Minerals. About thirty years ago it was discovered that deposits were seeping down into the ice and forming gem stones of outstanding purity and hardness. They are called 'Ice Crystals'. The Federation uses them in heavy duty lasers. They are mined by the subterrons as a slave labour force. BLAKE Ahh, that is why Avalon is here. AVON Perhaps, but the ice crystals are unique and as such quite valuable. BLAKE No, Avalon has started resistance movements on a dozen Federation planets. AVON Another idealist, poor but honest. I shall look forward to our meeting with eager anticipation. BLAKE Is your anticipation eager enough to come down there with me? AVON [Avon looks at the screen] Not quite. I think I shall contain my enthusiasm here in the warm. [Scene: A mutoid watches a guard below her position, then jumps him and after a brief struggle strangles him. Then she signals to various groups of mutoids with a morse-code like sender. The groups move through caves. A number of mutoids surround a group of people in a cavern. Travis is in the background.] MUTOID Stay where you are. [Travis moves forwards] TRAVIS Which of you is Avalon? [He holds a nearby man and places his gun to the man's head.] I want Avalon -- now. [A figure moves forward. Another puts out a hand to stop her, but she continues forwards. Travis hits the man he was threatening, knocking him over.] AVALON Who betrayed us? TRAVIS [To mutoids] Take her. MUTOID [Indicating homing beacon] Shall I smash it? TRAVIS No. Give Blake his homing beacon -- make it easier for him. Finish it. TERLOC No, no, please wait. It's me, Terloc, I helped you. I gave you Avalon. I gave you Avalon. [The mutoid pushes him over with her foot] Ughh. Uh, ah. They're going to kill us. [Mutoids systematically shoot everyone amid lots of screams and shouts, then leave.] [Scene: Blake and Jenna enter the flight deck.] CALLY ...and holding. Orbital drift compensators? GAN Activated. JENNA Confirm position and status. ZEN All systems confirm instrument readings. Orbit is established, status is firm. JENNA [To Cally] Very impressive. I think I might have taught you too well. ZEN Navigation computers register positional error -- point zero zero zero one zero one. Automatics are compensating. JENNA Thank you, Zen, for that small compensation. BLAKE Hm. Are you ready, Jenna? JENNA Yes. BLAKE [to Avon] Have you got the teleport co-ordinates? AVON All computed. BLAKE All right, let's go. JENNA Keep sensors on full alert. Those pursuit ships are still around. GAN Don't worry -- we're watching. JENNA Good luck. CALLY You, too. [Scene: Teleport section, Vila is at the controls when Blake, Jenna and Avon enter.] VILA Surface temperatures are down to minus one eighty, better wrap up warmly. BLAKE [To Jenna] Set your suit to seventy-five percent. [They adjust their suit controls] Right, stay at the controls. If all goes well we'll be back in fifteen minutes. AVON We'll be ready. [They put on bracelets and Blake takes a number of spares.] BLAKE Right. [to Jenna] Is your suit fully heated? JENNA About ready to burst into flames. BLAKE Put us down. [Scene: Blake and Jenna materialize in a tunnel and find the guard's body.] [Scene: In the cavern where the massacre occurred, Chevner reaches for a rifle and hides. Jenna and Blake enter and see the bodies and the homing beacon.] BLAKE Federation security must have found them -- looks like their handiwork. JENNA None of them are armed. BLAKE That's what I mean. JENNA Weapons are still in the racks. BLAKE They probably tried to surrender. JENNA Let's get out of here, Blake. BLAKE No, we must find out if Avalon's one of them. No, we must know for certain. This homing beacon's still transmitting. Once Federation security found that they wouldn't have any trouble getting onto this place. [Chevner collapses and drops the rifle.] JENNA Blake! [They move over to him.] BLAKE He's still alive. [He and Jenna help Chevner sit up.] JENNA Careful, he's been hit in the shoulder. BLAKE It's all right, it's all right, we're friends. CHEVNER The others, what about the others? BLAKE I'm afraid they're dead. JENNA What about Avalon? Was she with you? Can you remember whether she was with you when you were attacked? CHEVNER Terloc betrayed us -- it was Terloc. BLAKE Where is Avalon? CHEVNER She was with us, she... They took her out, before the firing started. [Scene: A large laboratory inside the Centre.] COMPUTER Project A-six security green now in operation. Stand by yellow release to project A-eight. Doctor Ellisdee to area blue-six basement main control area. [Travis is working on a hand computer -- a mutoid enters.] MUTOID The Supreme Commander's ship has landed, they've already disembarked. TRAVIS Good. I think we're about ready. Oh, I'll need a human to assist in a test. Check with the detention block, see if they can give you someone. MUTOID Any special characteristics? TRAVIS No -- an ordinary unskilled labour grade will do -- an expendable. MUTOID If there isn't one in detention? TRAVIS Then detain one! MUTOID Yes, Commander. [Travis goes to an adjoining area -- Avalon is restrained in an interrogation machine.] TRAVIS [To scientist] Any problems? SCIENTIST Not that I can see. A good healthy specimen. No deformities or unusual features. The standard triple omega should provide a perfect basis. TRAVIS Good. Can you complete quickly? SCIENTIST I think so. We have an experienced team standing by, everything's ready. TRAVIS Good, good. Remember if you need any further equipment you have an absolute priority rating. Demand whatever you want -- on my authority. SCIENTIST Thank you, Commander. TRAVIS [To Avalon] You should be flattered by all this special attention. AVALON Anyone who opposes the Federation knows what to expect if they get captured. It's a risk we're all prepared to take. TRAVIS Obviously; but whatever the risks, no one really ever expects to get caught, do they, hmm? Still, I wish I could find the same urge to sacrifice among my subordinates. AVALON They have no cause. TRAVIS True. AVALON Every year more people defy the Federation, thirty planets in this sector alone, and others will follow -- many others. TRAVIS Yes. Well, you'll tell us about those, won't you? Their leaders, locations, their plans. I'm sure we'll be able to convince them that loyalty to the Federation is after all in their best interests. AVALON I know enough about these machines to realize that I will tell you everything. You will murder hundreds of people, maybe thousands. But you won't end the opposition, you'll never end it. TRAVIS Perhaps not. However, we shall persevere. You're right, of course, you will tell us everything. But first we need you for a far more important venture. We've codenamed it Project Avalon. AVALON I won't help you. You can't force me to help you. TRAVIS Don't be naive. I can force you to do anything. It isn't necessary, though. You're already helping me. Just by being here you've set in motion a chain of events that's been absolutely predetermined. AVALON I don't understand. TRAVIS No? Do you think your capture at this particular point was a matter of chance? It was a carefully calculated strategy. You're worth a great deal to me. You're going to give me Blake, his crew, and his undamaged ship. The Federation wants the Liberator -- you and I are going to give it to them. [Scene: The cavern. Blake and Jenna are tending to Chevner's wound.] BLAKE There, how does that feel? CHEVNER Not too bad, thanks. JENNA Are you sure that they took her to the Centre? CHEVNER They abandon the outer complex when the Long Cold sets in. Anyway, the main interrogation units are in the Centre. BLAKE That's where she'll be all right. Have you ever been inside the Centre? CHEVNER No. I helped build the outer complex, but the labour gangs were restricted in their movements. I don't exactly know my way around. JENNA Could you get us in there? CHEVNER To the Centre? JENNA Mmm hmm. CHEVNER No. Can't be done. BLAKE Listen, Avalon knows all the resistance movements in this star sector. Places, names, everything. CHEVNER She'd die before she told anybody anything. BLAKE Not a choice she'll be given. In a couple of days they'll know everything she knows. It'll be disaster for the resistance. JENNA And a lot of people will die. BLAKE So we have to get her before that happens. CHEVNER Well, you'd never make it through any of the normal entrances. They're computer-linked and manned by mutoid guards. BLAKE What about ventilation shafts? CHEVNER No, they're closed off during the Long Cold. The atmosphere is recycled. The regeneration plant. It's outside the Centre and linked by inlet and outlet channels. We might just make it through there. BLAKE All right, we'll have to give it a try. CHEVNER There's no guarantee it'll succeed. They're bound to have all sorts of security devices linked into it. BLAKE We have our own specialist in that area. [Into communicator] Blake, do you read? [The scene cuts between the cavern and flight deck.] CALLY Cally, we hear you. BLAKE [in the cavern] Vila, get on a thermal suit and come down here fast. VILA Me? Oh, now wait a minute, it's cold out there, and I'm very susceptible to low temperatures. I've got a weak chest. AVON The rest of you's not very impressive. BLAKE You're wasting time. Come down here and bring your bag of tricks. VILA I don't know why it always has to be me. I'm tired of being indispensable. BLAKE Gan. [V.O.] Any space activity? GAN Yes, a ship came in and docked about half an hour ago. BLAKE [V.O.] Can you identify it? GAN Well, the detectors read it as a military command cruiser and the trajectory suggested it could have come from Federation space headquarters. BLAKE It could be something to do with Avalon's capture. Maybe they're going to try and ship her out of here. JENNA We'd better get moving quickly. [Scene: Teleport section. Avon enters and then Cally.] CALLY [Hands over data.] The teleport co-ordinates based on the voice fix. [Vila enters wearing a thermal suit and puts on a teleport bracelet.] AVON Ready? VILA Just a minute, I want to set this to maximum. [Turns up temperature on his suit -- it is obviously too high.] Ah, ah! CALLY Turn it down, Vila! VILA Not a hope, I'd rather fry than freeze. [Cally and Avon watch Vila putting on extra clothing and exchange smiles after Avon teleports him.] [Scene: The cavern.] BLAKE Vila! This is Chevner. [To Chevner] Come on, you lead, we'll follow. VILA [To Jenna] What's the, er, problem? JENNA Avalon's been taken prisoner, we've got to get her out. VILA Oh no. [Scene: The Centre laboratory. Travis is watching Avalon and the scientist on a monitor screen, the latter comes over to the camera.] SCIENTIST We're finished -- we've everything we need. TRAVIS Good. Prepare to take her down to transfer. They're standing by. SCIENTIST Right. [mutoid enters with man] MUTOID Will he do? TRAVIS [Examines the man and hits him in the stomach.] Yeah, he seems healthy enough -- he'll do. [Servalan enters with mutoid guards.] TRAVIS Supreme Commander, it's good to see you. A safe journey I trust. SERVALAN Nothing is safe any more. You've heard, of course, that there have been two attempts on my life. TRAVIS I have. I was very concerned. SERVALAN I consider Blake to be responsible. [Slides fur coat off and drops it on the floor.] Oh, not personally, of course; but stories of his exploits are still circulating. They excite people. The fact that he is still free gives them hope. And that is dangerous, Travis. Hope is very dangerous. TRAVIS The loss of it can be fatal, and the source of it all is about to be wiped out. SERVALAN I think you should know that there's been considerable criticism of your handling of the Blake affair. TRAVIS What? SERVALAN Well, so far your operation has been very costly and there have been no worthwhile results. TRAVIS That's not entirely just. There have been two occasions where I could have destroyed Blake. It was only the Administration's insistence that the Liberator be captured undamaged that stopped me. SERVALAN I have made that point in your defence but I can't go on making excuses. I've been under considerable pressure to replace you. TRAVIS Ohh? SERVALAN Oh, so far I have resisted that pressure. But now, I need your reassurance that my confidence has not been misplaced. TRAVIS I think Project Avalon will silence the critics. SERVALAN It does seem an excellent plan. It should have every chance of success. TRAVIS I'm glad you approve. SERVALAN Oh, Travis, you know better than that. In my position one never approves anything until it is an undisputed success. TRAVIS Yeh. SERVALAN However you have my full support, unofficially, of course. TRAVIS Of course. SERVALAN Officially, you have my presence and my attention. [They move over to the viewscreen which shows Avalon.] SERVALAN So, this is the famous Avalon is it? I'd expected something more impressive. TRAVIS All the checks have been made. They're ready to take her down to transfer. SERVALAN Well, don't let me delay you. TRAVIS Take her down. SCIENTIST{?}: [Off screen -- very faint] Right. SERVALAN Travis, I think the labs have come up with what you wanted. It's totally new -- and very costly. [Travis takes a spherical phial out of a box held by a mutoid.] TRAVIS This is the only element that was missing. SERVALAN When will you test it? TRAVIS Now. Everything's prepared. SERVALAN Excellent -- I'm curious to see it work myself. [They move over to a screen showing an inner chamber in which the 'expendable' is restrained in a seat. Travis introduces the phial into the chamber.] TRAVIS Check door seals. MUTOID Door solid -- seals are firm. TRAVIS We're ready. SERVALAN Proceed. TRAVIS Activate. [The phial is smashed by remote control. A fungus appears to grow over the man's head and body. Another screen indicates the passage of time.] TRAVIS Twenty-three seconds. It's fascinating. How long before it neutralizes? [The screen indicates that it has neutralized.] SERVALAN It'll be clear now. [They move from the screen to a window. The man's body is now a skeleton.] Satisfied? TRAVIS Completely. [Scene: A security robot enters a tunnel.] [Scene: A tunnel: Blake, Jenna, Chevner and Vila approach a door at the end of a short side tunnel.] BLAKE Vila. [Vila starts working on the lock.] CHEVNER If he sets that alarm off... BLAKE He knows his job. [The security robot approaches.] JENNA Security robot. [They crouch down against the side of the tunnel as the robot crosses the entrance from the main tunnel.] BLAKE Vila! [Scene: Flight deck.] ZEN Sensors report spacecraft approaching. AVON Identify. ZEN Analysis indicates they are Mark Four Federation interceptors. CALLY Compute course, speed and range. ZEN Interceptors are bearing directly on this position. Speed standard by two. Range two million spacials. CALLY Have they seen us? ZEN Hull sensors register scanning beams. AVON So they know we're here. [He checks a console.] We'll be within their attack range in minutes. CALLY We must tell Blake. [Scene: The tunnel. The robot moves past and away.] BLAKE All right, Vila. [Vila sets to work again. Blake spots the robot again.] He's coming back. [They flatten themselves against the wall again. Blake's communicator beeps and he muffles the sound.] [Scene: Flight deck. Cally is pushing buttons on the force wall console communicator.] CALLY He's not answering. GAN They're coming in very fast. What do we do now? AVON Run for it -- we daren't risk a fight now. CALLY But that'll leave them trapped down there if they need to get out quickly. AVON If we stay here there might not be anything to get out to. Our only hope is to make a fast orbit, lose those interceptors, then come back onto station. Well, have you got any better ideas? [Gan and Cally don't reply.] All right, then let's get the hell out of here! Cally, take her on manual. [Scene: The tunnel. The robot moves away again.] BLAKE OK, Vila. [Into communicator] Avon. Cally. JENNA Problem? BLAKE There's no response. JENNA [Into communicator] Avon. Cally. [To Blake] Jammed. BLAKE No. Well, let's hope they're back on station by the time we need them. Come on, Vila. CHEVNER Here we go. BLAKE Right. [They clamber through as Vila packs up his tools.] Vila, move it! [Scene: The Centre laboratory. Servalan and Travis are seated in a sort of waiting area.] MUTOID [Into communicator] Yes. Understood. [She moves over in front of Travis and Servalan.] TRAVIS Well? MUTOID Space security report. Our interceptors have detected an alien ship. TRAVIS Has it been identified? MUTOID Available data suggests it could be the Liberator. TRAVIS Suggests? Suggests? Of course it's the Liberator. What action's been taken? MUTOID Our ships are in pursuit. SERVALAN Shouldn't you call them off? TRAVIS Not really. I know they can't match the Liberator's speed but it would look suspicious if they took no action. SERVALAN True. TRAVIS Hmm. If I read my man correctly we can expect him to penetrate the Centre within the next twelve hours. [Scene: Another tunnel. They reach another door.] BLAKE [To Chevner] Try this one or move on to another? CHEVNER Well, I think we should be well inside the main Centre now. Let's give it a go. BLAKE Vila, you're in business again. VILA That has Klyber fastenings on the other side. You need a lot of explosives or a genius to open that. BLAKE Can you do it? VILA Of course. BLAKE All right, we'll applaud you later. For now just get on with it. [Scene: The Centre detention block, the scientist is putting Avalon in cell F2.] TRAVIS Ah, are you finished with her? SCIENTIST Yes, we've just put her in her cell. SERVALAN Was everything satisfactory? SCIENTIST Perfectly. COMPUTER Interrogation team one report to duty control. Repeat. Interrogation team one report to duty control. [Travis manipulates a control panel to show cell F2.] COMPUTER F-two. Avalon. TRAVIS [To guard] You've drawn your new weapon from the armoury, I see. GUARD Sir. TRAVIS Good. Stay alert. COMPUTER Stand by medic unit and report to area control. [Pause] [Chevner looks into the centre through a doorway] Doctor Ellisdee to area blue six basement main [(fades out).] [Scene: Chevner backs through the door into the tunnel where the others wait.] CHEVNER [To Blake] It's clear. BLAKE Recognize the area? CHEVNER No -- it must be one of the sublevels, but I don't know which one. BLAKE All right, let's find out. [The group moves into the Centre.] COMPUTER Yellow release now on project A-eight. Stand by blue control... Interrogation team one report to duty control. Repeat. Interrogation team one report to duty control. [Blake, Jenna, Vila and Chevner advance.] COMPUTER Attention block seven, report to duty control. Project A-six security green now in operation. BLAKE [Very quietly] There's a guard coming. [He stands in the hallway and claps his hands.] VILA [Whispering] What are you doing? BLAKE Getting us a guided tour! [Loudly] You, there! What are you doing in this section? GUARD I was posted here by the security commander. BLAKE My orders were that no one should enter this area. What is your security commander's name? GUARD Sergeant-Major Garven, may I have your name and authority, sir? VILA [Prodding him with gun.] His name is Blake, and this is his authority. BLAKE You have a woman prisoner here called Avalon. Where is she being kept? GUARD All prisoners are being held in the main detention block. [Chevner scouts ahead to the nearest corridor junction.] BLAKE Right, take us there, now. VILA He said "now". [Scene: Flight deck.] ZEN Sensors indicate that Liberator is no longer being scanned. CALLY I'll make a fast turn so that they do not pick us up again, then we must return to position. GAN How long will that take? ZEN Minimum possible transit time is thirty-seven point zero one minutes. GAN That's a long time to hold on if you're in trouble. AVON Then let's get on with it. Speculation and fast turns aren't going to make it any shorter. [Scene: Detention block. Blake, Jenna, and Vila are around the guard.] BLAKE [To the guard] Right, remember to do exactly as I told you. And remember there are two guns right behind you. [To the others] All right, let's go. [Jenna holds both men's' guns on the guard as he marches Blake and Vila down the hall as if they were prisoners. They approach the guard at the entrance to the cells.] COMMANDER Halt. GUARD I have two prisoners to be confined in detention unit four. COMMANDER This area is under maximum security and totally off limits. GUARD Down, it's Blake! [He shoves Blake and Vila into the other guard and takes off down the hall.] BLAKE Chevner! [A fight ensues.] Jenna! COMPUTER Detention block seven -- condition red. [Alarm starts.] BLAKE Get after him, Jenna. [Blake manipulates the control panel -- various detainees appear on the monitors as he does so.] COMPUTER A-twelve Istar. S-eight Hend. N-fifteen Raiker. T-five Kalor. G-one Pelar. F-two Avalon. BLAKE I hope she's all right. JENNA [Returning from chasing the runaway guard.] I lost him, he must have got down a transit shaft. BLAKE Right, cover this end. [Giving him a teleport bracelet] Chevner, put this on. Get down and cover the other corridor. BLAKE Come on, Vila. [He and Vila go into an inner corridor.] F-two -- there, open that. [Into communicator] Liberator, come in Liberator, stand by to teleport. Liberator, do you read me? [Jenna, Chevner, and the guards engage in a gun battle as Vila opens the door and during the ensuing conversation and escape.] BLAKE Avalon -- I'm Blake. We had hoped to get you out sooner, we've had a bit of trouble. VILA [Noting the brief tunic Avalon wears] She'll freeze to death dressed like that. BLAKE [To Vila, giving him his utility belt and gun] Take this, and this. VILA Right. BLAKE [To Avalon, giving her his outer top] Put this on. Right. Let's move it...Right Vila, fall back...Go...Jenna. [To Avalon] Right, go! [They make their way out of the Centre, exchanging fire with the guards.] CHEVNER [To Vila] Come on. [Blake is hit in the shoulder.] JENNA Ahh! BLAKE I'm all right -- go on. [The chase continues until they exit the original outer door. Avalon is shot in the leg and must be helped out by the others.] BLAKE Chevner, the security robot. [Into communicator] Avon! Cally! Bring us up! [Scene: Cuts between the Liberator and the tunnel.] ZEN Liberator has resumed original position and status. AVON You'd better switch on the communication channel. [Gan crosses flight deck and switches it on.] BLAKE [V.O.] Liberator, we need teleport now. Come in, Liberator, Liberator, do you read me? We need teleport now! [End V.O.] Do you hear me? Bring us up! Avon! Cally! [Avon rushes into the teleport section. The teleport activates just in time to save them.] AVON Welcome back. BLAKE Vila, Jenna, get the ship moving. Gan, take care of Avalon -- put her down in a cabin. If the Federation find out where we are, they'll send up everything they've got after us. AVON What went wrong? BLAKE I was about to ask you that. [Scene: The Centre. Travis and Servalan are standing at a communication screen.] GUARD [On screen] We have a firm location reading and an accurate track. TRAVIS Have the pursuit ships been launched? GUARD Yes, sir. TRAVIS Good. Keep me informed. Couple of hours and it should be all over. [Scene: A room on the Liberator. Chevner, Cally, and Avalon -- now changed out of her tunic -- are sitting round. Jenna enters.] JENNA [To Avalon] How are you feeling? AVALON I'm fine. I'm perfectly all right. But my tunic -- it is very important, my tunic. JENNA It's all right, relax, I'll go and get it for you. CALLY You just rest for a while. Perhaps we could talk later. I've admired your work for the resistance for a long time. [Chevner looks strangely at Avalon.] [Scene: Flight deck. Blake is examining a Federation gun. Avon and Gan are looking at a control console. Jenna enters.] JENNA Avalon seems to have recovered. BLAKE Jenna, there's something wrong. There's something about our escape that bothers me. JENNA Well, like what for instance? BLAKE Like the fact that we did escape. Federation troops are very efficient, they're highly trained and they totally outnumbered us and yet we still managed to escape. JENNA Well, we were lucky. BLAKE Yes, we were. One of those guards got a clear shot at me. The impact knocked me over, that's all. JENNA That should have ripped your shoulder off. BLAKE Yes, and Avalon was hit in the leg. [Shoots at a tumbler on a table. It falls over. He picks it up and inspects it] A nasty kick, that's all. Avon, what do you make of this? [Tosses the weapon to Avon.] AVON It's not standard issue. Low energy bolt discharge. This could bruise or stun, but it couldn't cause any serious injury. GAN A dud gun doesn't make sense. BLAKE Exactly. I think they wanted us to escape. AVON That's an interesting idea but I don't see the logic. BLAKE Neither do I. AVON The Federation chases you all over the galaxy with the highly understandable desire to destroy you, then when they've got you pinned down they let you go. Why? JENNA They could have got all of us, but there were still three of you left on the Liberator. BLAKE The Liberator! That's it! They must want the Liberator. The only way they could do that is to put somebody here on board. The whole thing has been set up and we have fallen for it beautifully. GAN Not Avalon. I mean, we are sure that woman is Avalon, aren't we? JENNA Well, yes, I've only met her once, but, yes, that's her. AVON Then it must be Chevner. GAN Chevner. How do you think he'll do it? BLAKE I don't know. We've got to find out. Gan, you stay here. [To Avon and Jenna] You two come with me. [Scene: They hurry to the room and discover Cally unconscious. Avon goes in to check on her.] AVON She's alive. BLAKE [To Jenna] Warn the others. Start searching. He's got to be found. [to Avon] You stay and look after her. [Scene: Blake and Vila meet in a corridor.] BLAKE Jenna tell you? VILA Yes, but there's no sign of him in any of the cabins. BLAKE Right, let's try the hold. [Scene: Avalon enters the flight deck and finds Gan alone there.] GAN Avalon. AVALON Hello. GAN Come and sit down. Here, let me help you. Are you feeling better now? AVALON I'm fine, thank you. GAN Ah, good. There. [He helps her to the couch.] AVALON Where's Blake? GAN He's gone to look for Chevner. Wait a minute, wasn't... wasn't Chevner with you? AVALON Yes, but he attacked Cally and then he dragged me out. I thought he was going to use me as a hostage, but then he just went off somewhere. GAN So Blake was right. Well, they'll find him -- don't you worry. Is there anything you want? AVALON Oh, yes, my tunic. There is something I need. GAN Ah well, I...I'll go and find it for you. [Scene: Jenna returns to the room and finds Cally alone, slumped in a chair. As she is tending to her, a very badly injured Chevner staggers towards them.] JENNA Ahhhh! [Chevner collapses, Jenna goes over to him, he mouths something that is indistinct over the background noise.] [Scene: Teleport section. Gan and Avalon enter.] GAN Jenna had your tunic in here. She must have left it around somewhere. Ah yes, here it is. [He retrieves it from behind the console and gives it to her.] AVALON Thank you. GAN There. [Avalon takes the phial out of the tunic and holds it up, dropping the tunic] JENNA [Entering from the corridor] Gan, that's not Avalon. [Avalon drops the phial and it lands on her tunic. She struggles with Jenna and Gan, but is obviously stronger than they are. Blake and Vila arrive and the four of them overpower her.] BLAKE [To Jenna] Get something to tie her up with! [Scene: Flight deck. The phial is under the dome in front of Zen.]] ZEN Preliminary analysis suggests the phial contains a virus artificially mutated from the delta seven-zero-six classification subset two-zero-five originally known incorrectly as the Phobon plague. This mutation appears to have a short life cycle and be self-eliminating. GAN If she'd managed to crush that we'd have been wiped out and the Liberator left totally unharmed. AVON [Examining Avalon's head, from which he has removed a portion of plastic and hair.] It very nearly worked, too. They've made a perfect replica. This is the best robotic engineering I've ever seen. JENNA I never had a moments' doubt that it was Avalon. CALLY I talked with her, about her work. Not details, but her reasons and beliefs. I still find it hard to believe. AVON Brilliant programming. They transferred complete key areas of Avalon's personality. It's really quite impressive. BLAKE And the only one it didn't completely fool was Chevner. JENNA Ah, but he'd known the real Avalon for quite some time. He must have been suspicious of this one. AVON That's why it killed him. VILA He shouldn't have tried to tackle it alone. AVON He probably didn't. Just being suspicious would have been enough. A machine of this type would have recognised that easily, more easily than we would. BLAKE Can you make it safe? AVON I can deprogram it, scramble its brain. BLAKE Can you reprogram it? AVON No. A few minor functions, perhaps, not much else. BLAKE That's enough. Jenna, take us back into the precise orbit we were in. Cally, I want an exact locator fix on that laboratory. We still have to get Avalon out of there. [Scene: The Centre. Servalan and Travis come through a door into a corridor, followed by a group of mutoids and guards.] SERVALAN I think I'll stay on during Avalon's interrogation. I have the feeling she's going to tell us a great deal. TRAVIS There's no doubt of that. SERVALAN When will you begin? TRAVIS I want to finish with the Liberator first. As soon as it's confirmed they've put a boarding party on her we'll get started. [An intercom beeps and Travis answers it.] Travis. What!? Are you sure of that? Keep checking, I'm coming up. I don't understand. Space track control say the Liberator's moved back into orbit. SERVALAN It must be another ship. TRAVIS No, no, no, they seem very certain. [Alarms start to sound and a Mutoid enters] COMPUTER Detention block one zero... MUTOID Blake is here, sir, in the main laboratory. TRAVIS Blake? MUTOID He is demanding to see you. SERVALAN He is demanding? MUTOID I report only what I have been told, Commander. He also says you are to bring Avalon with you. TRAVIS How many of them are there? MUTOID Just Blake, sir. TRAVIS Right, I'll deal with this. Bring the prisoner. [Scene: The Centre laboratory. Blake, with the Avalon robot beside him, holds several scientists and guards at gunpoint. Travis and Servalan enter.] BLAKE Ahh, Travis. Didn't work. It was very clever but it didn't work. TRAVIS How did you stop it? BLAKE Does it matter? All I want to do is finish what I started. I'm going to take Avalon out of here. TRAVIS [Raising his artificial arm] I don't think so. BLAKE [Taking out the phial] That would not be very clever. TRAVIS You wouldn't do it. BLAKE What have I got to lose? TRAVIS It's not a pleasant death, Blake. BLAKE So I gather, but it would have its compensations: I'd share it with you -- and the Supreme Commander. Are you quite sure I wouldn't do it? SERVALAN Bring the prisoner in. [Travis grabs Avalon as she walks past him.] Let her go. [He doesn't.] I said, let her go. TRAVIS You still have to get her out of here, Blake. Are you sure your teleport's fast enough to stop me killing you both? BLAKE [Takes bracelet from the robot and gives it to Avalon.] Put this bracelet on your wrist. [To Travis] I'm afraid we've had to reprogram your machine slightly. It's nowhere near as sophisticated as it was but it will perform a few basic functions. [To the robot] Raise your arm. Enough. Open your thumb and forefinger. [He holds the phial between her finger and thumb.] Close the thumb and forefinger. Enough. [To Travis and Servalan] The robot will crush the phial in response to one of three triggers. A particular word, a specific sound or a certain movement. You had all better be very, very careful about what you say and do. [Into communicator] Bring us up. [Blake and Avalon teleport out.] [Travis edges forwards and manages to catch the phial when the robot drops it.] SERVALAN [To Travis] Project Avalon has failed totally. There will be a full inquiry. Until that time you are relieved of your command. TRAVIS [To himself] If it takes all my life, I will destroy you, Blake. I will destroy you. I will destroy you. SERVALAN Launch the pursuit ships. Script Index Back to B7 Top
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