Blake's 7 (1978) s01e01 Episode Script

The Way Back

Public Address:|Attention.
|Level 38 walkways will be closed for one hour.
Level 38 cardholders|must report to Central immediately.
Roj.
Ah, Ravella.
Did you have any trouble?|No.
You followed the route I gave you?|Yes.
Can we get on with it please? Come on.
You've managed to do without|eating and drinking? I've done without food or drink|for thirty six hours.
- How do you feel?|- Hungry and thirsty, of course.
- Nothing else?|- Ravella, is this some kind of practical joke? It's no joke.
Public Address:|The President will be answering questions|about new population control measures.
All our food and drink is treated with suppressants.
|Go without for a day and a half, they should wear off.
Not that again.
Dal Richie, Roj Blake.
Been looking forward to meeting you.
|I hear your family settled on the Outer Planets? Brother and a sister on Ziegler Five.
- Do you hear from them much?|- I get vistapes a couple of times a year Look, what is this?|I was told you had some news about them.
No, not me.
|The man we're going to meet.
He wants to tell you in person.
|He was on Ziegler Five a few months ago.
Where is he now?|Waiting for us, outside.
Outside? It's not all that bad.
|The air's fresh, though it smells different.
You realise going outside|is a Category Four crime? We do know the law.
|So whatever you see tonight you keep silent about.
Well? Are you coming? Let's get on with it.
What are you doing?|Picking the lock.
- What is it?|- Nothing.
One more thing:|If you open the door, it registers on the computer.
These are circuit integrators.
Now you could steal this entire section of wall|and the machine would ignore you.
Ready? You report anything to the authorities; you’ll find|yourself implicated more deeply than you imagine.
[ELECTRONIC WHIRRING.]
[RUNNING WATERAND DISTANT ANIMAL NOISES.]
- Try some|- Hm? It's natural water.
The stuff we get has been|recycled a thousand times and dosed with suppressants.
- I'll check ahead.
Watch for my signal.
|- Okay Improves the flavour if nothing else.
Doesn't it bother you that you spend your life|in a state of drug induced tranquility? - We've got to go across that?|- Yeah Why should the Administration try to drug us? To keep control.
They've been stepping up the suppressants|because the number of dissidents is growing.
- They've seen what's happening and they want to stop it.
|- Stop what? Don't you know? Don't you remember anything|about the treatments they gave you? I've had no treatments! I thought there'd be something left, some memory.
- What about my memory?|- There's the signal [DRONE OF DISTANT MACHINERY.]
- They're Outsiders!|- Quite a few of them are working for our cause now.
It's illegal to have contact with anyone|who lives outside the city! Right, but then this whole meeting is illegal.
I'm leaving! I want nothing to do with this.
You told me I was going to meet a man|who could tell me some news about my family.
Hold on, Blake.
You've got to hear Foster.
I don't want to hear Foster! I should report|everything I've seen to the Administration.
- You can't do that|- Why not? We've left documents in the city with|your signature on them.
Forged of course, but convincing enough to|implicate you in everything we've been doing.
Don't have any doubts.
|One word can make you look as guilty as any of us.
And looking guilty is all it takes.
Roj! Good to see you It's been a long time.
Bran Foster Oh! Stupid of me.
|You don't remember.
You had the treatment.
I've had no treatments, my memory is fine.
|Now what is going on? Now, now I know it's difficult for you.
|It's also difficult for those of us who knew you before.
But the important thing is, you're here.
I had trouble getting out of the city.
|For a while there I thought we'd been infiltrated.
- Dev Tarrant's here.
Dev! You remember Roj Blake.
|- Oh, yes.
We met before.
- I'm trying to persuade Roj to rejoin us.
|- Yes.
Now, I want you to listen to what I have to tell you.
|After that you can do whatever you like.
- All right.
Now what do you know about my family?|- There are other things you should know first - Forget the other things.
|- What do you know? Your brother and sister are both dead.
I'm sorry; I didn't intend you to hear it like that.
|They were executed four years ago just after your trial.
Executed? That's not true I hear from them|regularly I had a vistape only a month ago.
Those tapes are fakes.
|Part of the treatment to keep your memory suppressed.
This isn't going to be easy, but I'm going to have|to tell you things about yourself.
of which you have no memory.
|Will you hear me out? Go on.
Four years ago, there was a good deal|of discontent with the Administration.
There were many activist groups.
But the only one|that really meant anything was led by Roj Blake.
You and I worked together.
|We were outlawed and hunted.
But we had supporters and we were making progress.
Then someone betrayed us, I still don't know who.
|You were captured.
So were most of our followers.
They could have killed you.
|But that would have given the cause a martyr.
So instead they put you into intensive therapy.
They erased areas of your mind,|they implanted new ideas.
They literally took your mind to pieces and rebuilt it.
And when they'd finished, you confessed.
|You said you'd been "misguided".
You appealed to everyone to support the Administration,|hound out the traitors.
They did a good job on you.
|You were very convincing.
Then they took you back and erased even that.
What happened to the others? In their benevolence, the Federation allowed them|to emigrate to the Outer Worlds.
Like your family,|they were executed on arrival.
Why are you telling me this now? Because we're preparing to move again.
And if you were with us we'd get more support.
|How do you feel? Will you help us again? - I don't know I'm not even sure that I believe you.
|- It's all true.
- I have to think.
|- Of course.
We’ll talk after the meeting.
What do you think? There's not much left of the man I knew.
|We'll see.
All right, let's get started, shall we? Come on everybody.
Let's start the meeting now.
|You come over here and make a group.
[APPLAUSE.]
Thank you for turning up.
|We all know the risks that we're running|in being here, so I'll be as brief as possible.
You've probably heard that the settlers in the Outer|Worlds are rightly demanding greater autonomy.
If we can help to unify their voices,|the Administration will have to listen.
The security forces are already overstretched.
If we step up our civil disobedience here on Earth,|they will have to concentrate their forces here, giving the Outer Worlds more freedom of action.
We must aim to have at least one world declare|its independence within the next two years.
Trooper Communication:|Unit three, move in.
I think most of you know my old friend, Dev Tarrant|Dev will give you details of how we can all help.
We've got to cause as much disruption as possible|in the food manufacturing division.
There's nothing more effective than|ration cuts to cause unrest.
I've worked out methods|to implement this disruption.
Do not attempt to resist arrest.
No matter what the|provocation; we must not resort to violence.
We claim our rights as citizens,|and demand to be treated as civil prisoners.
[GUNFIRE & SCREAMING.]
You're obviously suffering from a severe emotional|disturbance.
We must try to unravel this fantasy.
It is NOT a fantasy.
|Of course it isn't.
Do you believe me?|To you it isn't a fantasy.
Get out! Leave me alone! Reality is a dangerous concept.
|Each one of us interprets it in a slightly different way.
Every sense impression is filtered by the brain and altered,|sometimes just a little, sometimes completely, to fit our individual model of what the world is about.
|If that model should be challenged.
I am NOT insane I am NOT insane.
No! You must put that thought completely|out of your mind.
You've had a shock.
Yes.
We must work together to uncover what that shock was.
|I'm going to prescribe a mild sedative.
No drugs!|A mild sedative to help you to sleep.
You must rest.
No! No drugs.
|All right, no drugs.
Now try not to think anymore.
Don't worry; we'll get it sorted out.
I can't remember.
I can't remember! Can he break through the memory blocks, Dr Havant? It's unlikely.
We don't eradicate memory,|merely make it inaccessible.
But in the normal, healthy mind|the barriers are impenetrable.
Should he suffer anything like a nervous breakdown,|where all the mental circuitry malfunctions, then he might possibly find a route into his past.
That might just possibly prove something of a problem.
Can't he be eliminated? No, he's a symbol of opposition to the Administration.
So? We've done psych readings which show that|a high percentage of people believe that Blake's trial was a showpiece|and his statements were rigged.
His death could be used by the dissidents.
|They need a hero Alive or dead, Blake could be it.
Difficult.
I suppose my department could infect him,|some rapidly terminal disease.
Would his natural death help? I don't think so.
We need to discredit him.
|He could be deported to Cygnus Alpha.
Doctor, am I right in thinking you can create|experiences in a subject who will then believe that they really happened? Of course.
|Creating an illusion of reality is quite simple.
Good.
Then I think we can totally destroy|Blake's credibility and get him sentenced.
But I'd like to do a feasibility check.
|Doctor, would you come with me please? As you wish.
- I want to bring charges soon, Morag.
|- I shall report back.
- You heard?|- I heard.
Satisfied? Not yet.
He can identify me.
|My whole operation is at risk.
I'll be satisfied when the risk is eliminated.
[BLAKE'S VOICE ECHOING.]
|Remember.
Remember.
Varon.
Come in.
Do sit down.
|Thank you.
- You know Morag, don't you?|- Yes.
Varon I've got a defence assignment for you.
|Not a very pleasant one, I'm afraid.
Morag is prosecuting.
The evidence is indisputable If I were you,|I should concentrate on the mitigation.
Mm.
Varon, I'm going to say this because|I feel so very strongly about this case.
I want you to do everything in your power|to help the man.
Our first concern must be justice.
Public address:|Security clear on cell unit M 3|for Justice Department access.
I'm Tel Varon, Justice Department.
|I've been assigned to defend you.
- I don't need a defence.
I'm going to plead guilty.
|- Come now.
The evidence against you is strong.
I just want to make a statement in open court.
|I want those responsible for the massacre brought to trial.
I'm sorry? There can be no justification for deliberate murder.
|There's nothing in the charges about murder.
There are a number of other counts Assault on a minor,|attempting to corrupt minors, moral deviation.
Let me see that! All involving children! None of this is true!|That's why you pleading guilty surprises me.
Well, yes, but not to this, not to these charges.
They are the only charges against you.
And frankly|the evidence against you is very damaging.
- Well, if there is any evidence, it's been faked!|- I've had the opportunity of talking to the children that is, the prosecution witnesses;|and they do seem very certain of their facts.
Oh, yes, yes.
|Their briefing would have been perfect.
- I'll outline how I think we should conduct your case.
|- They set me up beautifully.
There is a possible approach if we could cite your record: Your breakdown after your involvement|with those illegal political groups, the remorse and guilt that you felt|has placed you under an enormous strain.
We can submit that these assaults were|carried out whilst you were mentally unbalanced.
I will offer no defence, but I will plead not guilty.
These are grave charges.
|You might face deportation.
A mental institution would be better than|spending the rest of your life on Cygnus Alpha.
I will offer no defence.
Right? Won't you reconsider? Even if you could prove me innocent, the charges|have been made.
I've got to hand it to them.
You've done a brilliant job!! Good morning.
I've had a chance to think things through.
It's vital that I have the opportunity to make|that statement to the open court.
Well that’s up to the Arbiter.
|It's not usual.
There's no way you can|prove my innocence, is there? You've given me no chance to try.
IS THERE? It is doubtful.
- I AM innocent.
|- I've spoken to the children.
Their statements were all verified by a lie detector.
|And that puts them beyond dispute.
The Administration has gone to enormous trouble.
|They've even put themselves at risk.
There must be a number of people involved who know|the truth.
Why would they take that chance? There's no possible reason that I can think of.
I know you've heard the evidence but,|just for the moment, assume that I am innocent.
All right.
At first, I thought they wanted to silence me because|I was the only witness to the murder of twenty people.
If they're as ruthless as you suggest,|then why didn't they simply eliminate you? Because I was something of a political figure;|or so you told me.
You had a considerable following, but then you publicly denounced your whole|movement and pledged support to the Administration.
There are those who secretly believe|you were coerced into that statement.
Exactly!|And my death would merely reinforce those beliefs.
It's exactly the same as if I were arraigned|for being at a proscribed political meeting.
So they trump up these charges against me.
If it were true, do you realise the|implications of what you're saying? It would mean corruption at a|high level of the Administration.
Public address:|Now be silent.
By the authority of the Terran Federation,|this tribunal is in session.
The Arbiter will permit submissions.
Let the accused be brought forward.
Have you, the accused, been made aware of the|charges that are laid against you? Do you fully understand the nature|and gravity of those charges? Yes.
- Who speaks for the Federation?|- I do.
- Who speaks for the accused?|- I do.
Are you both satisfied that the|evidence was fairly obtained? And that all statements were certified as|true and correct by lie detector? I am.
Is the accused satisfied that his defence has been|fully and fairly prepared? The charges against me are totally false.
|I am not guilty therefore I offer no defence.
Your guilt or innocence is what we are here|to determine.
The case will be examined.
Let it be seen that the evidence for the prosecution|is sealed and approved by the defence.
Let it be seen that the evidence for the defence|is sealed and approved by the prosecution.
Let the matter be assessed and may justice prevail.
The accused has been found|guilty on all charges.
His crimes have been accorded a Category 9 rating,|and as such are adjudged most grave.
In sentencing you, the judgment machine has|taken into account your past record, your service to the state,|and your loyalty to the Federation.
None of these have mitigated in your favour.
It is the sentence of this tribunal that you be taken|from this place to an area of close confinement.
From there you will be transported to the|penal colony on the planet Cygnus Alpha, where you will remain|for the rest of your natural life.
This matter is ended I wish to make a statement.
There can be no more said regarding this case.
|Assessment and judgment have been made.
But the evidence is false.
|These charges are lies! If you have any complaint against the conduct|of this tribunal, it must be directed through your advocate.
You've got to listen to me! Voice of Bran Foster:|They erased areas of your mind,|they implanted new ideas.
They literally took your mind|to pieces and rebuilt it.
When they finished, they put you up and you confessed.
|You said you'd been 'misguided'.
You appealed to everyone to support the|Administration, hound out the traitors.
They did a good job on you.
|You were very convincing.
And then they took you back|and erased even that.
Let me go! Let me go! No! No! Take it easy! I hate personal violence,|especially when I'm the person.
- Who are you?|- I'm Vila Restal.
- Where are we?|- In a transit cell.
I don't understand.
You're on your way to the penal colony|on Cygnus Alpha.
Or you will be when the prison ship's refuelled.
Try to look on the bright side.
|It must have something.
None of the guests have ever left early.
In fact, none of them have ever left at all.
Why are you going there? They didn't give me a choice.
I steal things.
|Compulsive, I'm afraid.
I've had my head adjusted by some of the best|in the business.
But it just won't stay adjusted.
A professional thief? More a vocation than a profession.
|Other people's property comes naturally to me.
What's the time? Just taking care of it while you were unconscious.
|The place is full of criminals.
- Thanks.
|- Jenna.
Blake.
What's your story? I'm innocent.
|Of what I was charged with anyway.
We have something in common, then.
|All victims of a miscarriage of justice.
- It's true!|- Of course it is.
What about the others? Oh, a very antisocial bunch.
|Murderers, liars, cheatssmugglers.
Thieves.
and they're the nice people.
How long before we take off? About 24 hours If you're expecting a|last minute reprieve you'd better forget it.
Once they get you this far there’s no going back.
You'd better get used to the idea.
|Nobody out there gives a damn about you.
What time is it? Late.
|Come to bed.
- There's something wrong, you know.
|- Blake? The prosecution evidence was so|complete that I accepted it.
I assumed Blake was guilty and concentrated|on justification and appeals for mercy.
Well, what else could you do?|You interviewed all the victims, the witnesses.
- None of them had any doubts.
|- Perhaps they should have.
What do you mean? I don't know.
Perhaps Blake is guilty.
|Even so it's too perfect.
Where are you going?|The Public Records computer.
To look for what?|I don't know.
Give me one minute and I'll come with you.
I'm Tel Varon with the Justice Department.
I want to|run a check on the medical records of those children.
It'll have to wait until the morning.
I want them now.
Alpha 3375.
|C612: Leesal, Renor.
Nothing.
Admissions to clinic, treatment records.
|It all tallies with the evidence.
Let me have the school attendance|records on those three.
Alpha 3377: Leesal, Renor.
Interesting.
He was absent from school|on the afternoon before the assault.
C417: Deca, Carl.
So was he.
C512: Fen, Payter.
Well that makes it more than a coincidence.
|Now where were they? Give me the admissions to the|Central Clinic on that day.
Alpha 00288 Alpha.
[ALARM SIGNAL.]
What's the matter? The information has been classified.
|Can't be obtained without a Priority 3 clearance.
But I need that information.
Not possible.
Look, the Justice Department can|get a clearance but it takes time.
This didn't happen, of course.
No, of course it didn't.
Look at that:|Outpatient admission, identity unrecorded.
And there's another.
And a third.
Three unidentified admissions on the date|the victims weren't at school.
It's not absolute proof,|but it gives us somewhere to start.
But why would they have been to the clinic? Mental implantation? What's that? A fictional experience implanted into the|mind so vividly that it becomes reality.
Is that possible? The process was perfected years ago,|but prohibited by the medical profession.
But if it is being used again, Blake could be telling the truth.
And that could blow the top off the whole|Administration.
Come on.
Where are we going? [COMMUNICATOR BEEP.]
Security? The meeting place how did you get to it? I don't know.
It was dark.
Which exit did you use? Sub 43.
Well, we walked for about three miles.
|There was a stream.
Is there anything else you can tell us? Yes, there was a man.
|I saw him in court just before I passed out.
What about him? I saw him at the meeting.
I thought he was|one of them.
He must have betrayed them.
His name was Tarrant.
Dev Tarrant? Do you know him? He works in the Outer Worlds most of the time.
|He's in Security.
He's a murderer.
Then he'll come to trial like|everyone else in this cover up.
And what about me? First, I'm going to get a holding order to|keep you on Earth while I investigate.
You haven't got much time.
With luck I'll get you taken back to the city|detention area within a couple of hours.
Thanks.
Listen, I'm sorry I didn't believe you.
|I'll be in touch.
Friends in high places?|Can't you put a word in for me? I’ll try and think of one.
Leaving us? I hope so.
Nothing personal.
|Why are you here? You didn't tell me.
I was trading around the Near Worlds.
|I'm a free trader.
A smuggler.
She's a big name.
|It's an honour to be locked up with her.
I'm glad you're pleased.
Public address:|Attention security personnel.
Launch is advanced|to 17:00 hours Earth time.
That is all.
That's about eight hours.
It looks to me as though we've all been used.
It wasn't Morag's fault, but the|prosecution case was based on a deception.
But why? Well, Blake claims he was arrested|after he went Outside.
Outside?|About three miles beyond Sub 43.
What did he go Outside for? An anti Administration meeting.
He says everyone|there was murdered by Security forces.
Leaving him as sole survivor? No, him and a security agent named Tarrant.
|He says Tarrant organised the massacre.
Ah, I can't believe that.
|Still, it will bear examination.
Then you'll order an inquiry? Yes.
You've raised a reasonable doubt.
|The whole matter must now be investigated.
Thank you.
|Now go home and get some rest.
Not yet.
|I'd like your authority to go outside the city.
To look for those tunnels?|No, I'll have a team make a survey of the area.
All right.
|And Blake's holding order? Leave everything to me.
Go home and get|some sleep.
You've done all you can.
Is he going to be all right? There's something not"to look for|those tunnels".
I didn't say anything about tunnels.
What? [COMMUNICATOR BEEP.]
|Link me with Dr Havant.
Central Clinic.
Speakerphone:|Doctor Havant.
Voice heard through door:|Ven Glynd I think we may have a problem.
Might be best if you were|unavailable for a few days.
Is it a very serious problem? No, no, nothing that can't be handled.
I'll take a few days’ leave and stay at home.
Good.
Arrange to take calls only from me.
|Goodbye.
What does it mean? It's obvious.
He's involved.
|Then where do we go from here? Higher up.
|To the President if we have to.
But if we're going to make accusations against|Glynd, we'll need the strongest possible evidence.
[UNCLEAR P.
A.
ANNOUNCEMENTS.]
I'm going to try something.
[COMMUNICATOR BEEP.]
Central Clinic, Doctor Havant.
|Tell them it's Glynd.
Doctor Havant.
Doctor Havant, I have Glynd for you.
Sorry to call again, are there any|clinical records about the matter? Yes, of course.
They're in my office.
|You want them? Yes, I'd like to have a look at them.
|I'll have them picked up from your reception.
I'll get my assistant to bring them down now.
Thanks.
Goodbye.
We've got them.
You go to the clinic and pick up the|records, then go home and collect the tape camera.
Where are you going? To talk to a thief and borrow a lock pick.
|I'll meet you in 2 hours at Sub 43.
You're running out of time.
They've had long enough to issue a holding order.
It's a long process.
|Don't worry, they'll get it.
I wish someone was working for me.
Until now it hasn't seemed real.
|Now it's getting close, I'm getting scared.
Maja.
Did you get everything? And there are the records from the hospital.
Good.
Yes, we can build a case on these.
Did you get what you wanted? Come and see.
I've never been Outside before.
I have, years ago|I didn't like it much; it's very strange.
[ALARM.]
[KLAXON.]
Listen, all of you.
Move out of here into the|embarkation channel.
Come on, move! Move out! Pick up your bag.
|Go! Come on, faster, move! I said move! Single file! One behind the other.
Keep them in line, guards.
|You in front, move! Stay here.
|I'll search the bodies and get picture tapes.
[DISTANT WARNING SIRENS.]
All right, come on, move.
|Keep moving Come on, faster.
Keep your voice down.
Find the seat that's|allocated to you and sit in it.
Fasten the harness.
Stand by for lift off.
|Keep your voices down.
You, fasten your harness.
You, down in the front.
That's your seat.
|Come on, move! You, stop talking.
Fasten your harness.
How long before lift off? You in a hurry to get there? Don't worry.
There's still time.
I've got everything we need Enough to keep Blake here on Earth? More than enough.
[WARNING SIRENS.]
You different to everybody else?|Fasten your harness.
What? Hmm.
Maybe we can help you hear better.
|You can start with a couple of hours confinement.
You'll be surprised how quickly your hearing improves.
|Seat 11, confinement! [INCREASING ROAR OF ENGINES.]
I think a "transporter accident'.
Killed instantly.
|Very tragic.
See to it, will you? Take a long look.
|That's the last you'll ever see of it.
No, I'm coming back.

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