Script for Star One

by Chris Boucher

(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.

Dramatis Personae:

BlakeGareth Thomas
JennaSally Knyvette
AvonPaul Darrow
CallyJan Chappell
VilaMichael Keating
ZenPeter Tuddenham
ServalanJacqueline Pearce
TravisBrian Croucher
LurenaJenny Twigge
StottDavid Webb
PartonGareth Armstrong
DurkimJohn Bown
MarcolPaul Toothill
LeethMichael Maynard


[scene - shots of approaching space ships]

NOVA QN PILOT Keldan Control, Keldan Control, this is Nova Queen on primary approach zero-four-zero. Request orbital entry clearance. [beep]
K CONTROL Nova Queen, Nova Queen, this is Keldan control. Maintain zero-four-zero. Orbital entry is clear. [beep]
NOVA QN PILOT Keldan Control, this is Nova Queen. I have an unidentified trace on zero-four-zero. [beep]
K CONTROL Nova Queen, this is Keldan Control. Maintain zero-four-zero and switch to Computer Flight Coordination. [beep]
NOVA QN PILOT Switching to CFC, maintaining zero-four-zero. [beep] [pause] That ship is still coming at us. [beep]
K CONTROL Nova Queen, this is Keldan Control. The ship is an unmanned ore carier on Computer Flight Coordination. [beep]
NOVA QN PILOT I hope you're sure about that, Keldan, it's still on zero-four-zero. [beep]
K CONTROL Nova Queen, computer control is confirmed. No problem. [beep]
NOVA QN PILOT You know that and I know that, but does the computer know that? [beep]
K CONTROL It'll switch vectors any time now. Relax. [beep]
NOVA QN PILOT I'll relax when it gets that ship off zero-four- zero. [beep]
K CONTROL It will. [beep]
NOVA QN PILOT Keldan control, I have four thousand passengers on this ship and that ore carrier is still on zero-four-zero. [beep]
K CONTROL Computer flight coordination doesn't make errors. [beep]
NOVA QN PILOT To hell with that! Do something, Keldan. That thing is coming straight at us. [beep] Keldan Control! [beep]
K CONTROL Nova Queen, switch to manual control, engage emergency boosters and abort zero-four-zero. Confirm please. [beep]
NOVA QN PILOT I can see it! My God, it's too late!
K CONTROL Nova Queen, Nova Queen, this is Keldan Control, do you copy? [beep] Nova Queen, Nova Queen, come in please. [beep]

[scene - Servalan's office in Space Command]

SERVALANUnfortunate.
DURKIMYou do have a way with words, Supreme Commander. I'm sorry, that was unneccessary. Everyone on the Nova Queen died instantly of course, but it didn't end there. The ship's neutron drive unit broke free, survived the fall through the atmosphere. It went critical just about the time it hit the surface. Ground zero was slap in the middle of Keldan City. Half the population was killed outright.

SERVALANIt was a computer malfunction, presumably.
DURKIMYes.

SERVALANThese things happen, Durkim.
DURKIMThey're happening far too often, Supreme Commander. Computer Flight Coordination is breaking down on twenty different worlds and the problem is spreading.

SERVALANAre you saying it's a basic design fault?
DURKIMNo, that's not what I'm saying. Look. That's the equatorial zone on Palmero.

SERVALANPalmero?
DURKIMYes, and that is snow you're looking at, Supreme Commander. It'll be some time before they re-establish themselves as the Federation's main producer of tropical fruit. And this, the plains of Suni. Mean temperature has gone up by twenty degrees. It hasn't rained anywhere on that planet in sixty days. When it does, the effect will be something like this... The planet Vilka, where it hasn't stopped raining for sixty days. The planet Herom... Carthenis.... [1] Climate control has gone disastrously wrong on all the frontier worlds.

[1] Pronounced "Carthenis" on screen, but listed as "Carthanos" in the Blake's 7 Programme Guide.

SERVALANAnd it's spreading?
DURKIMRapidly.

SERVALANAnything else?
DURKIMIsn't that enough?

SERVALANNo, it's impossible, Durkim.
DURKIMYou mean unthinkable, don't you? Look, everything you've just seen has one common denominator.

SERVALANComputers.
DURKIMNot computers. Computer. Singular. Very singular indeed. Our unbeatable control and coordination centre.

SERVALANNo!
DURKIMServalan, by design or accident Star One is failing.

SERVALANThere has to be another explanation.
DURKIMThere isn't.

SERVALANAnd if you want to keep your job you'll find it.
DURKIMWhy won't you face the facts?

SERVALANBecause I'm not convinced. And even if I were, there would be nothing I could do about it.
DURKIMWell, surely under the circumstances you could get clearance to put a team in.

SERVALANStar One is the most secure installation in the Federation.
DURKIMI know that.

SERVALANDo you know why it's so thoroughly secure?
DURKIMWell, presumably because knowledge of its location is severely restricted.

SERVALANNo! Knowledge of it's location is non-existent. Durkim, no one knows where Star One is! No-one at all!

[scene - Liberator flight deck]

BLAKESo, if Lurgan's coordinates are correct Star One is somewhere in there.
AVONWhich makes it about the only thing that is.
VILAAt least we'll recognize it when we see it, even if we don't recognize it when we see it, if it's the only thing that's there, if you see what I mean.
CALLYOh, shut up, Vila.
VILAI'm just trying to help.
BLAKEWhat do you think, Jenna?
JENNAIt's riskier than it looks. These coordinates are not precise enough. And however they built Star One it's not going to be so big that we can't miss it.
BLAKEWe'll probably have to search.
JENNAIt's a long way out, Blake - a long way from the edge of the galaxy.
CALLYIt's infinity. You're asking us to plunge out into infinity.
BLAKENow come on, Cally, that's a slight exaggeration.
CALLYIs it? What, the space between the island galaxies. It's the nearest we'll come to infinity before we die.
JENNAIf anything goes wrong out there we won't have a prayer, because nothing and nobody goes out that far.
VILAI hadn't thought of it like that.
BLAKEThe Federation went out there.
VILAWe've only got Lurgan's word for that. And we didn't even get it first hand.
AVONThere is only Lurgan's word. Everybody else who knew is either dead or amnesiac. One clue. Just one, and we have got it. Why are you listening to this drivel, Blake? We can take Star One, let's get on with it.
JENNAVery stirring. When did you become a believer?
AVONAre you just going to sit there? You have led them by the nose before.
BLAKE'Scuse me, are you going to answer her question?
AVONShow me someone who believes in anything and I will show you a fool.
BLAKEI meant what I said on Goth, Avon. We are not going to use Star One to rule the Federation, we are going to destroy it.
AVONI never doubted that. I never doubted your fanaticism. As far as I am concerned you can destroy whatever you like. You can stir up a thousand revolutions, you can wade in blood up to your armpits. Oh, and you can lead the rabble to victory, whatever that might mean. Just so long as there is an end to it. When Star One is gone it is finished, Blake. And I want it finished. I want it over and done with. I want to be free.
CALLYBut you are free now, Avon.
AVONI want to be free of him.
BLAKEI never realized. You really do hate me, don't you?
AVONWhen we have dealt with Star One, I will take you back to Earth and then the Liberator is mine, agreed?
BLAKEAgreed. Assuming the others go along with it.
JENNAWhy should we?
VILAYes, why should we? It's all a bit high-handed if you ask me.
ZENLiberator is approaching sector nine. Navigation computers now require further instructions.
BLAKEWell, do we look for Star One?
JENNAWe'll finish what we set out to do. Nothing else is settled.
CALLYAre we fanatics?
BLAKEDoes it matter?
CALLYMany, many people will die without Star One.
BLAKEI know.
CALLYAre you sure that what we're going to do is justified?
BLAKEIt has to be. Don't you see, Cally? If we stop now then all we have done is senseless killing and destruction. Without purpose, without reason. We have to win. It's the only way I can be sure that I was right.
CALLYThat you were right?
JENNACourse for sector eleven is laid in.
AVONDetectors on full range. All readings are clear.
VILAWeaponry system on standby.
BLAKEStandard by six, Jenna.
JENNARun course program, standard by six.
BLAKEConfirm boundary.
ZENConfirm Liberator is now crossing the theoretical boundary of the galaxy and is entering intergalactic space.
BLAKEIncrease speed to standard by twelve.

[scene - Servalan's office]

SERVALANThere's no doubt in your mind that he was telling the truth? INTER-
ROGATORNone, Supreme Commander. We didn't rush him. He was telling the truth all right.

SERVALANVery well, interrogate the rest of his team just to make sure, and try not to kill them. [Durkim enters] Yes, Durkim, what is it?
DURKIMI find that just a little distracting, Supreme Commander. What's all this about?

SERVALANTime to defend ourselves.
DURKIMAgainst whom?

SERVALANEach other. Now what is it you want? Quickly, you're wasting time.
DURKIMThere's an emergency meeting of the High Council.

SERVALANI am aware of that.
DURKIMI've been summoned to appear before it. You put Headquarters on full security restriction. I can't get off this satelite without your direct clearance.

SERVALANNo.
DURKIMWell, 'no' you agree with what I'm saying or 'no' you refuse my clearance.

SERVALANBoth. Now get back to your work. I am still waiting for your theories about where Star One may be located.
DURKIMThat summons is a Presidential Order in Council. I have to go.

SERVALANSpace Command no longer recognises the authority of the President or of the Council.
DURKIMI don't think I understand.

SERVALANWe are the only force capable of handling the present emergency.
DURKIMI doubt if even we can do that.

SERVALANThe President and those members of the Council who are unable to accept the realities of the situation are even now being arrested, as are those of our own people whose loyalties may be divided. At a time like this complete unity is an absolute essential.
DURKIMThere isn't enough data. I can't even guess where Star One is.

SERVALANThen I suggest you try harder. Or I might think you're part of the plot.
DURKIMPlot?

SERVALANObviously, someone is trying to destroy the Federation, now perhaps it's you.
DURKIMWhy would I want to do that?

SERVALAN'Why' is always the most difficult question. At the moment I am more concerned with 'how'.
DURKIMIs she involved?

SERVALANYou know her?
DURKIMHer name's Lurena, I think. Isn't it. Er, we were acquainted.

SERVALANYou were more than just acquaintances.
DURKIMThat's a long time ago. She emigrated to one of the frontier worlds.

SERVALANShe's on Star One.
DURKIMShe can't be, it's unmanned. The systems are automatic.

SERVALANA group of scientists and technicians elected to spend the rest of their lives refining, checking and guarding the systems.
DURKIMKnowing they could never leave, never come home. That's appalling.

SERVALANInspiring, surely. In the best tradition of selfless devotion to the Federation.
DURKIMThat's your answer then. Some or all of them have changed their minds.

SERVALANUh-uh. They were all screened and conditioned very carefully by our best psycho-manipulation teams. None of the group could attempt to damage the systems, identify the location or contact anyone outside Star One without going obviously insane.
DURKIMHow can you be certain of that?

SERVALANThe head of the psycho-manipulation team has just finished... reassuring my interrogators. So whatever is happening on Star One is happening against her will.
DURKIMThere's nothing I can do.

SERVALANYou get back to work, Durkim. She may still have a chance. If we can find her in time.
DURKIMMay I offer you my personal congratulations, and loyalty, Madame President?
INTERCOM VOICESupreme Commander.

SERVALANWhat is it?
INTERCOM VOICEBlake and his crew. The strategy programs have all come up blank on the possible courses they took.

SERVALANRun them again.
INTERCOM VOICEBut, Supreme Commander.

SERVALANRun them again! [intercom off] I will not be President of a ruined empire.

[scene - Star One]

LURENAWhat are you doing? _What are you doing?_
STOTTJust a routine check, Lurena.
LURENAIs that why you're using a laser probe? I've been watching you, Stott.
STOTTI know.
LURENAYour behaviour has been very suspicious for some time now.
STOTTForgive me, Lurena, but, well, we've all noticed that you seem to be under some kind of stress.
LURENAThere was nothing wrong with that control circuit, I checked it myself an hour ago.
STOTTThat's why I was checking it again.
LURENAYou think I don't know what I'm doing?
STOTTI'm afraid that's what we all think. Someone's been tampering with the systems, it can only be you. Your conditioning, a reaction to it. You're not to blame. You're ill, that's all.
LURENAStay where you are, or I'll kill him.
PARTONWe only want to help you, Lurena. Please, put down the gun.
LURENAYes, you'd like that wouldn't you. Stay where you are.
STOTTDo as she says, Parton.
LURENAI see it now, you're all in this together.
PARTONThat's impossible, you know that's impossible, look Lurena.
LURENAYou're all against me. All of you. Whispering, plotting behind my back. You want to kill me.
PARTONWe want to help you.
LURENADon't move!
PARTONPlease, Lurena. [she runs off] [to the others] Get after her. Find her before she does any more damage. And don't bother to bring her back. Just kill her. I was right, we should have done it as soon as we knew.
STOTTI didn't realise how far she'd got.
PARTONNow she's running around loose.
STOTTWell at least we know what to expect, anyway. And after all, what can she do, alone? She is the last one.

[chase scene]

VOICE[off stage] This way.

[chase scene]

[scene - Liberator flight deck]

BLAKEAnything on the detectors?
AVONNo.
BLAKEJenna, how long before we reach Lurgan's coordinates?
JENNAEight minutes. If there's anything there it should be showing by now.
CALLYPerhaps Star One doesn't come within detector range until we reach the coordinates.
VILAOur detectors are better than anything the Federation have got. We should be able to see it by now.
AVONI think we can. There, you see, at the extreme edge of the range.
JENNAWhat is it?
AVONThe readings say that it is a star, small, pale and very dense.
BLAKEA white dwarf by the look of it.
VILAYou couldn't put a computer complex on that. Could you?
AVONHardly.
CALLYDoes it have a planetary system?
AVONProbably not a system, more likely a single planet.
BLAKEA single planet orbiting an isolated, dying star.
VILAStar One.
BLAKESeems reasonable.

[scene]

STOTTHave they found her?
PARTONWe've been through all the control sectors, searched the storage rooms, living quarters.
STOTTMaybe she went out onto the surface?
PARTONShe won't last long if she has, there's nothing out there for her.
STOTTBetter send a search party anyway.
PARTONWe can't waste any more time on her.
STOTTDo it!
PARTONShall I call off the search down here?
STOTTLeave three to continue, send a party out onto the surface, put the rest back to work. Don't be insolent.
PARTONMaintenance takes effort. If we could revert to ourselves...
STOTTNo, not while she's free. If she realized, her conditioning might break down completely.

[scene]

LURENAZhokov, I'm sorry, I... [body turns into alien]

[scene]

BLAKEPut the planet on visual.
ZENConfirmed.
VILALooks like yet another garden paradise.
BLAKESurface conditions?
ZENThe atmosphere is breathable. Surface temperatures are low. Calculations suggest that they rise above freezing point only during daylight hours at the equator.
BLAKEGood.
VILAIt is? You like dead planets with dying suns?
BLAKEI do when I'm looking for a complex underground installation. Jenna, program a course to orbit the planet's equator.
VILAYou don't have to explain it to me, I only came for the ride.
AVONWith surface conditions like that where would you build the main installation?
JENNACourse program laid in.
BLAKEMaximum scan, Cally. Look for anything unusual or out of place, sudden temperature variation, anything. They're bound to have left some clue as to where they put that installation. A door would be nice if you could manage it.
CALLYI'll do my best.
BLAKEPreferably one marked 'Entrance'.
CALLYReady on the scan, Jenna.
JENNARun course program.
ZENConfirmed. Course program running.

[later]

AVONI have been doing some calculations, if this is Star One...
BLAKEIf it is?
AVONFirst catch your computer, but all right it probably is, and that being the case the choice of location is fascinating.
BLAKEI'm glad you're enjoying it.
AVONThe nearest large galaxy to our own is Andromeda.
BLAKESo?
AVONSo, this is the nearest point to Andromeda. If anyone could cross intergalactic space in less than a lifetime we are now precisely upon the route that they would take.
BLAKEWhat are you trying to say, Avon?
AVONI directed the detectors toward the Andromeda galaxy. There are thousands of satellite generators out there, beyond Star One.
BLAKEWhat?
AVONEven with the Federation's resources it must have taken them years.
BLAKEThat must be the biggest antimatter minefield ever put together.
VILLAMinefield, what minefield?
AVONPerhaps the intergalactic drive has been developed. Question is, by whom.
BLAKEA defence zone to keep mankind in, or something else out.

[scene - Star One] [Lurena opens outer door, then hides inside]

[scene - searching outside on the surface of Star One]

MARKOVLeeth. Leeth!
LEETHWhat is it, Markov?
MARKOVThe main entrance is open. She must have come out after we did. She followed us out.
LEETHShe can't have got far then. Spread out, all of you. Keep searching.

[Lurena hides, finds dead crew, collapses in shock]

[scene - Liberator flight deck]

VILAI don't like explosives, very crude. Difficult to reason with a bomb.
CALLYBlake?
AVONThey won't explode until they are primed.
VILAAnd if it was faulty? bit late to complain to the manufacturer.
CALLYScanners are showing a temperature variation. From the pattern it could almost be the door you were talking about.

[scene - surface of Star One]

LEETHI think it was a trick.
MARKOVWhat was?
LEETHThe open door. I think she doubled back. I don't think she's out here at all.
MARKOVNo, she wouldn't've been thinking clearly enough for that.
LEETHI hope you're right, but we're not really sure how they function under heavy stress. [faintly] Come on.

[scene - Liberator flight deck]

JENNAStationary orbit is established and confirmed.
BLAKETeleport, Vila. [exeunt Blake, Vila and Cally]
JENNAAvon?
AVONYes.
JENNAWatch yourselves, Blake's rushing things. I get the feeling he's not giving himself time to think.
AVONBlake is an idealist, Jenna. He cannot afford to think.

[scene - surface of Star One]

BLAKE[into communicator] Down and safe. [to Cally and Avon] Defences?
AVONThey've relied on secrecy, I don't think they've tricked the place out, but it won't do any harm to be careful.
BLAKELet's look for that entrance.
CALLYI thought this place was unmanned.
AVONMore idealists.
BLAKEThey must have volunteered to be marooned for life.
AVONYes, it makes you proud to be human, doesn't it?
CALLYWhat are they doing here?
BLAKEMaking sure everything works, presumably.
AVONWhat now?
BLAKEFollow them.

[they follow the aliens to the base]

BLAKEOne door.
CALLYAs requested.
BLAKEWell done, Cally.
AVONIt isn't marked 'Entrance'.
CALLYNobody's perfect.

[Blake and Cally enter, and are captured]

CALLY[telepathically] Avon, it's a trap. [outside Avon retreats and hides]
BLAKENot a very friendly welcome. Shall we go? I'm sure whoever is in charge would wish to speak with us.

[scene - Avon, outside]

AVONVila, teleport Cally and Blake, quickly.
VILA[on communicator] Right.
AVONCome on, come on.
VILA[on communicator] Avon.
AVONWell?
VILA[on communicator] There's no response. What's going on, where are they?
AVONInside. It must be shielded.
VILA[on communicator] Do you want to come up?
AVONNo.
JENNA[on communicator] Avon. [scene switches to Liberator]
AVON[on communicator] What is it, Jenna?
JENNAThere's a ship, its coming in for a surface landing.
AVON[on communicator] Have they spotted you?
JENNAI've got the detector shield up.
AVON[on communicator] What sort of a ship is it?
JENNAI don't know, it's a new type to me. Looks like it's coming down somewhere near you, though. [scene switches to planet]
VILA[on communicator] Do you want to come up now?
AVONNo, let's see who else knows about this place.
VILA[on communicator] Are you going to tell us what's going on down there? Avon... Avon!

[scene - Liberator flight deck]

JENNAVila, I need you in here to stand by the weaponry system.
VILA[on communicator] What about the teleport?
JENNAI'll put Orac on it.
VILA[on communicator] He's not as quick as we are.
JENNAWe'll have to live with that.
VILA[on communicator] You mean they will.
JENNAJust get on with it. Orac, operate the teleport as instructed.
ORACOh, very well.
JENNAAnd check that intergalactic defence zone. I want everything you can find out about it, including why it's there.

[scene - Star One control room - section 4]

STOTTYou're here, then.
BLAKEApparently.
STOTTI was told you would be alone.
BLAKEObviously you were misinformed.
STOTTWho is this woman?
BLAKEShe is my mother.
STOTTMay I see your identification?
BLAKEWhat for? After all, who else knows about this place?
STOTTI was told you could be difficult.
BLAKEYou seem to have been told rather a lot about me.
STOTTI was interested. I am not unfamiliar with traitors, but the scale of your treachery is unusual. And your insistence on carrying out the final act personally must make you unique.
BLAKEYour disapproval would carry more conviction if you wre not going to benefit from my treachery. Now when do I get to perform the final act?
STOTTWhich of your hands is artificial?
BLAKE[raises left hand] This one. Rather good, don't you think?
STOTTAnd the eye patch, what happened to that?

[scene - outside the base entrance]

AVONHold it, touch that and I'll drop you where you stand. Well, now. Travis. Fancy meeting you here.
TRAVISPut the gun down, Avon, it's too late to stop it now.
AVONConvince me.
TRAVISBe polite and I may let you live.
AVONBe informative and I may let you die. You'll want that after I've shot off an arm and a leg or two.
TRAVISI thought you were supposed to be the one with brains?
AVONBrains but no heart. Now talk or scream, Travis, the choice is yours.

[scene - Liberator flight deck]

ORACMy preliminary examination of the defence zone indicates that it is made up of a network of satellite generators.
VILAWe could have told you that.
ORACEach of which performs a dual function; namely, to indicate the approach of an intruder and then to destroy that intruder by a powerful anti-matter implosion.
JENNASo it's a combined alarm system and minefield.
ORACCorrect. If I may continue.
VILAHe always makes me feel as if I should be taking notes.
ORAC_If_ I may continue. The defence zone is controlled and monitored from the computer complex known as Star One.
VILAAhh.
ORACA cursory examination of the relevant Star One systems indicates that this defence zone is one of a number of such zones located at strategic points on the rim of that section of the galaxy colonized by mankind.
VILAThen they are expecting an invasion? A hoard of hairy aliens.
ORACThere is no logical reason why aliens should be hairy.
VILAThere is no logical reason why people should be hairy. I don't like this Jenna, we could be sitting in the front line.
ORACI see no cause for alarm. From the design and construction patterns it would appear that the defence zones have been built up very gradually over a long period of time. My conclusion is that they are merely precautionary rather than a response to some specific threat.
JENNAWell if there's no threat why bother with precautions?
ORACIf the resources are available to eliminate even the vaguest threat, it would seem logical to do so.
VILAI'd agree with that. What do you call a vague threat?
ORACA contact, er, sometime in the past, either a communication or a physical contact.
VILAA physical contact?
ORACA scoutship, perhaps.
VILAA scoutship, perhaps! Like that one down on the surface now, perhaps!
JENNAZen, put the battle computers online.
ZENConfirmed, battle computers are online.
JENNAGive me maximum available range on the detectors.

[scene - inside Star One]

CALLYWhat do you think is going on?
BLAKEWell, they were waiting for Travis, so obviously he's expected to take over.
CALLYExcept there's more to it than that.
BLAKEYes, the final act. Well, whatever that is we've got a final act of our own to arrange. You work your way through the other control rooms. If anyone questions you be arrogant, you're with Travis, and he's about to become Emperor of the galaxy.
CALLYWhat about you?
BLAKEI'll wait for Stott. As long as he thinks I am Travis we'll have no problems. Huh, besides I might find even out the rest of it. I'm going to set this timer for one hour.

[Cally leaves, Blake sets charge, Stott returns]

STOTTMost of the systems have been modified already. The chaos and destruction should already be sufficient to ensure that resistance is slight.
BLAKEWhen will you be ready for the ultimatum?
STOTTUltimatum?
BLAKELaying out of our terms for the restoration of order.
STOTTPolicy is not our concern, Travis. It is sufficient to serve.

[shots of Cally placing bombs]

[scene - Avon and Travis outside base entrance]

AVONI hope these people will really do as you tell them, Travis.
TRAVISThey will.
AVONThe first one who doesn't will cost you your head.

[They enter the base]

AVON[To Travis] Don't move. [Avon struggles with Lurena - Travis escapes]
AVONDamn!
LURENAThey're all dead.
AVONYes, I can see that. Did you kill them?
LURENANo. They are trying to kill me.
AVONThey have a novel approach to the job.
LURENAYou don't understand. In here they're dead, but out there, out there they're still alive, walking about.
AVONTrying to kill you?
LURENAYes.
AVONYes.
LURENALook out! [Avon shoots alien]
LURENAWhat are they?
AVONUnfriendly. Which is fortunate, really. They'd be difficult to love. Come on.

[scene - Liberator flight deck]

VILANothing. There's nothing there. I knew we were panicking unneccessarily. Alien hordes, I mean to say.
JENNAThere they are.
VILAWhere? Where?
JENNAJust coming into detector range.
VILAThey're too far off to be sure. They could be meteors.
JENNAThey're ships.
VILANo, they couldn't be, there's too many of them. That's a cloud of meteors. Well, come on Jenna, you can see that, admit it. That's a cloud of ... big meteors. Very big meteors. And it's slowing down.
JENNAThey know about the defence zone.
VILAJenna, let's run for it.

[scene - central Star One control room]

STOTTIs it nearly complete?
PARTONAs you see.
STOTTConstructing the circuits required to deactivate the defence zone was difficult, but we were able to keep the technicians alive long enough to duplicate their entire brain patterns as well as their physical shape.
BLAKETheir physical shape?
STOTTWhy do we still retain it? The woman Lurena has escaped. It's just a precaution. May I ask you an impertinent question?
BLAKEIf you don't mind an impertinent answer.
STOTTI have taken on the shape of your species. I use your words, and yet I cannot understand you. The woman Lurena and the other technicians that were here, these I could understand. But you. Why have you betrayed your own kind? Why have you given us the means to eradicate your species?
BLAKEEradicate humanity?
STOTTVirtually.
BLAKEWell maybe I just don't like crowds. [Travis enters and shoots Blake]
BLAKETravis.
STOTTYou are Travis?
TRAVISI am Travis.
STOTTThen who is this?
TRAVISHis name is Blake. Hm. His name was Blake.

[scene - Star One control room - section 4]

AVONWhere's Blake?
CALLYWell I left him in here. What's that?
AVONWe seem to have stumbled over an alien invasion. [to Lurena] Which of these control sections handles the defence zone?
LURENAI can't tell you that.
AVONYou must know. Now think, woman.
LURENAI can't tell you because you haven't been cleared by security.
AVONWell, neither had that!
CALLYShe's been conditioned, Avon. She wants to tell you but she can't.
AVONCome on.

[scene - central Star One control room]

TRAVISYour people are well trained.
STOTTThey serve, as do we all.
TRAVISHow much longer?
PARTONEach of these keys will close down one sector of the defence zone. When I've connected this last one, you can begin.
TRAVISMy one regret is that they'll never know who really killed them.

[scene - Liberator flight deck]

VILAWhy are they just sitting there?
JENNAThey're waiting for someone to clear that defence zone.
VILADo you think Blake knows what's happening? Why hasn't he come back yet? What are we supposed to do, Jenna?
JENNAGive the alarm.
VILATerrific idea, who do you suggest we tell?
JENNAServalan.
VILAOh now, wait a minute.
JENNAI just hope Blake understands why we betrayed him. Orac, I want you to punch through a message to the strategy computer in Space Command headquarters. I want you to tell it that there's an alien battlefleet estimated at six hundred ships about to enter Federation space. Give it these coordinates. Tell it that the information comes from Blake on the Liberator. Can you do that, Orac?
ORACI would remind you that I am not a communicator.
JENNAYour carrier beam is the fastest way to contact Servalan.
ORACThat is not the purpose for which it was developed.
VILADo it, you useless bunch of junk. You got us into this mess, "No cause for alarm" you said, or have you forgotten?
ORACI have passed the message, as you requested. The Space Command strategy computer is now registering the data.

[scene - Star One central control room]

PARTONIt is finished. Now you can open the way for our fleet to enter.
TRAVISThe final act.

[scene - Liberator flight deck]

ZENInformation. One sector of the defence zone has now been deactivated.

[scene - Star One control room - Travis and Stott are shot by Blake, then Avon enters and shoots Parton]

CALLYAvon!
AVONHow bad is he?
CALLYBad enough.
BLAKEIs he dead, Avon? Is Travis dead? [Avon shoots Travis again, Travis falls into central well]
AVONHe is now. Are you?
BLAKEI've had better days.
CALLYWe must get him back to the ship.
BLAKENo, the aliens were closing down the defence zone. There must be a fleet out there. We must warn the Federation.
CALLYFrom the ship.
BLAKEThe charges, Cally. We cannot blow this place up. Humanity is going to need all the resources it can get.
CALLYAll the charges are set, Blake, they'll blow in ten minutes. We can't stop them now they're primed, it's too late.
BLAKEWell get them out onto the surface.
AVONIn ten minutes?
BLAKETry, Cally. Help her, Avon.
AVON[to Lurena] You. Do what you can for him.

[scene - Servalan's office]

SERVALANWhen did this come in?
DURKIMIt showed up on the strategy readout.

SERVALANAll right, Durkim. Red One mobilization.
DURKIMYou believe it?

SERVALANAll fighting ships to make maximum speed. Patch this office into the fleet coordination suite. Well, get on with it!

[scene - inside Star One]

AVONHow many more?
CALLYThree. How long have we got?
AVONTwo-and-a-half minutes.

[scene - the Star One control room]

BLAKEI forgot.
LURENATry not to move about.
BLAKENo, you don't understand. There's another explosive charge.
LURENALook, lie still. You'll kill yourself.
BLAKEThey don't know about it. I've got to get it out.
LURENAI'll get it. Tell me where it is.
BLAKEI put it in section four on one of the panels.
LURENAAll right. Now lie still.
BLAKEYou'll have to hurry.

[scene - elsewhere in Star One]

AVONCome on, come on. We've got a minute and fifteen seconds.
CALLYThat's the last.
AVONMove!

[Cally runs outside and throws the bombs over the brow of a rise. Lurena finds the bomb in section four, but is surrounded by aliens. Hiding the bomb behind her back she walks towards them so that it explodes in the midst of them]

[scene - Servalan's office]

CONTROLLER 1Flagship Galileo reports galactic eigth fleet under way. estimate achieve coordinates in four hours.
CONTROLLER 2Cruiser Beagle now estimating rendezvous in three hours and seventeen minutes.
CONTROLLER 3Flotillas fourteen and sixteen confirm four hours and eight minutes.
DURKIMBut what happens in the meantime?

[scene - Liberator flight deck]

AVONI gave him my word.
VILATo fight off that fleet until the Federation get here?
AVONThat is what I promised.
JENNAWhy, Avon?
AVONWhy not?
CALLYThey are under way, they're moving towards the gap in the defence zone.
AVONZen, put it on visual.
ZENConfirmed.
AVONWell?
JENNAZen, battle computers to calculate intercept course and strike ranges.
ZENConfirmed.
VILAPut up the radiation flare shield, clear the neutron blasters for firing.
ZENNeutron blasters are cleared for firing.
AVONZen, put up the force wall.
ZENConfirmed. [Blake enters]
AVON[to Blake] Why didn't you stay in the medical unit? Couldn't you bring yourself to trust me just this once?
BLAKEI thought I might be able to help.
AVONIn that condition?
BLAKEAll right I'll go back.
AVONCan you manage, alone?
BLAKEYes. Avon, for what it is worth, I have always trusted you, from the very beginning.

[scenes of alien fleet]

CONTROLLER 4Flotilla seventeen estimates two hours and six minutes.
CONTROLLER 5Battle cruiser Newton reports coordinates achievable in one hour and seven minutes.

[scene - Liberator flight deck]

CALLYOne minute to strike range.
VILAWe can't hold all of them.
JENNAThey can't all come through that gap at once.

[Liberator approaches alien fleet]

AVONStand by to fire.
VILAAvon, this is stupid!
AVONWhen did that ever stop us? [pause] Fire!

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