Blake's 7 (1978) s01e11 Episode Script
Bounty
Guards!|Don't speak or make a sound.
My reflexes are dull.
|They almost fell over me before I heard them.
I've forgotten how useful telepathy is.
- Oh, I must practice that, too.
|- No sign of him? Just patrols, lots of them.
- I think I've found where he's being kept.
|- Is it as we were told? It's certainly very strange,|the weirdest prison I've ever seen.
Listen.
Keep down.
- What was it?|- I don't know.
But in the back position,|that was Sarkoff, wasn't it? That was President Sarkoff, yes.
Come on, let's go.
[FAINT ELECTRONIC CHIRPING.]
- Yes?|- I think we've got some intruders.
- Are you sure?|- Our electronic surveillance is usually reliable.
Very reliable, yes.
Last time it turned out to be a local|rodent digging a hole under one of your listening devices.
We spent two hours chasing|our tails on that occasion.
- That wasn't our fault.
|- All right, give me the coordinates.
|- Five, one If they are there then they've already|penetrated two of our security perimeters.
- Have you got them all?|- Yes.
Sub commander Cheney to all units.
|This is a red alert.
I repeat, this is a red alert.
|Electronic security reports intruders in Sector Three.
All units are now on Red Standby.
|Out.
At the double, move it.
Thank you, Tyce.
|You may put the automobile under cover now.
Don't forget the base commander's gift.
Ah, yes, it was very courteous|of the base commander, don't you think, to spend part of his leave getting this,|and then to bring it all the way from Earth? - He values your friendship.
|- Yes, I think he does.
And he's a social climber.
Probably works your name into every conversation.
|"My friend, ex President Sarkoff".
- Tyce, that is a most ill mannered remark.
|- It's the truth.
Civilisation has always depended|on courtesy rather than truth.
And I need civilisation.
|Now, more than ever.
He looks older.
|He is older.
It's 7 years since he came into exile.
Liberator.
|Come in, Liberator.
- Liberator to spacecraft.
Can you hear us?|- Looks like some sort of cruiser.
- Not making much headway.
|- Blake to Liberator, do you read me? - We read you.
|- Do you think he's ready to come up? We've run into more security than we expected.
|It's going to take longer.
Listen, Blake, we've got a problem.
|There's an unidentified ship moving in on our position.
Federation? Zen says not, but Gan can't make a voice contact.
|Seems to be closing in all the time.
- Well, what do you want to do?|- Investigate.
Be careful.
We can handle things.
If it turns out to be hostile,|we'll do a part orbit and lose it.
We can't just wait for it to close in.
If you've got to move off station, be as quick as you can,|and don't take any stupid risks.
We're taking enough of those down here.
- Don't worry.
|- I will if you're not back in time to get us out.
We'll be here.
- Good luck.
|- You too.
- I don't like the look of that.
|- Not again, Vila.
|- I'm entitled to my opinion.
It is your assumption that we are|entitled to it as well that is irritating.
What do you think? As a matter of fact,|I don't like the look of it either.
He agrees with me.
|The flight path is too erratic.
- Makes it all seem worthwhile somehow.
|- It looks deliberate to me.
It could be an injured pilot.
|It could be a trap.
It's not a very good one, then.
|We're suspicious of it already.
The test is not whether you are suspicious|but whether you are caught.
Then we'll make sure we're not.
Vila, clear the neutron blasters for firing.
|Zen, put up the radiation flare shields.
Confirmed.
Keep trying to establish a voice contact.
|Ill fly her on manual.
If you'll read the detectors and scanners? - First sign of trouble, we get out, right?|- Goes without saying.
I only wish it did.
We attack the guards or climb? There's a door on the ground floor,|it's the only entrance.
There is an open window|round the back but it's high up.
We've got to get onto that roof.
- We climb.
|- We don't want to risk raising an alarm.
Come on.
It's not a burrowing rodent this time.
|Looks to be two intruders, two at least.
Cheney to all units:|Red Standby Alert is now Red Mobilisation.
Repeat:|Red Mobilisation.
All units to move in on the residence.
Liberator to spacecraft, Liberator to spacecraft.
You're closing too fast for me|to get an accurate scan.
- All right, I'll reduce speed.
|- Thank you.
- Liberator to spacecraft.
Can you hear us?|- Blasters are ranged and ready to fire.
No sign of any external damage.
|Carries no heavy armament.
- I'm getting a voice, very faint, lot of static.
|- Boost it to the main channel.
Star Queen.
General distress call,|general distress call.
This is the civilian cruiser Star Queen.
|If anyone can hear me, we need help.
Please help us.
General distress call,|general distress call.
Zen, are we in teleport range? Liberator will be within teleport range of the|civilian cruiser Star Queen in seven minutes.
- Good.
|- No.
- They need help!|- Do they? Well, you heard him.
- It's not quite the same thing.
|- Avon's right.
We need more information.
Let me go across and get it.
If it is a trap.
Ill warn you.
|Then Vila can open fire.
- With you on board?|- If necessary.
- You feeling all right?|- Fine.
You would give the instruction for your own death;|you expect us to believe that? Yes.
|I expect you to believe that.
Cover me whilst I climb,|then hide the box.
Blake!|A guard is coming! You must get to Sarkoff.
|I will hide this one and then follow you.
Come on, Gan.
|What's taking so long? [COMMUNICATOR CHIME.]
His time's nearly up.
|Stand by to fire on that ship, Vila.
I still don't think this is such a good idea.
I didn't ask for your opinion.
|Are you standing by to fire? - We don't want to do anything hasty.
|- Vila! Yes, I'm standing by.
[COMMUNICATOR CHIME.]
This is Gan.
It's all right.
|You can bring me back across now.
There's no danger to us,|but they need our help all right.
I've got all the details.
|Bring me back.
Information:|Analysis of voiceprint confirms|that was not Olag Gan speaking.
Avon! Avon! All right, bring him up.
Avon! Avon! Avon! Answer me! Avon! It's not Gan! Avon? Jenna? Now don't let's be silly.
|Answer me, one of you.
I shall come out in a rash.
|Zen, has something happened to them? Data is not available.
I don't want data!|I want to know what's happening.
It will be necessary for you to|make a personal investigation.
Oh, you're a big help.
"Personal investigation" "Personal investigation" The next time Avon wants to make a|personal investigation on how you work.
I shall make a personal point of handing|him the instruments, personally.
Beautiful, aren't they?|Earth insects of the order Lepidoptera.
- Butterflies.
|- Ah, so you're an historian, are you? No, but I did study some natural history.
It's interesting, isn't it, that when that term|"natural history" was originated, it referred to the study of living things.
It was much later that it came to mean the|study of things long since past and dead.
History in its more conventional sense.
- You don't seem surprised to see me.
|- I've been expecting you.
Oh, not you, specifically, but someone.
|Do you know what this is? Why are you expecting someone? Assassination has always been|a legitimate tool of statecraft.
Its respectability and public acceptance has|varied from civilisation to civilisation, but its practical application has|remained remarkably consistent.
[MUSIC PLAYING.]
- I |- Echoes of a more civilised age.
I didn't come here to murder you.
You know this is the finest private collection of|Twentieth Century Earth objects anywhere in the galaxy.
Even on Earth itself|you would find no collection like it.
This building is a replica of a typical residence|of that period, set in an authentic Earth garden.
I said, I'm not a murderer.
I'm grateful for your semantic precision.
|Political assassination I can live with.
|To be murdered would be the final, sordid indignity.
Now my educated friend,|do you know what this is? - Uh, it's a projectile weapon.
|- It's called a revolver.
Explosive charge here, projectile emerges with|great force and considerable accuracy, over short distances anyway.
|Primitive, but efficient enough for my purposes.
President Sarkoff, I must speak with you.
|Will you listen to what I have to.
[CLICK.]
EX president.
I haven't got time for the niceties|of this game that you're playing.
- Just time for a hasty rationalisation.
|- I just want you to listen.
I've wasted my life listening.
|Listening to people who are arrogant, or vacuous, or just plain vicious.
I smiled and|acquiesced in the face of prejudice and stupidity.
I've tolerated mediocrity and accepted the|tyranny of second class minds.
But now all that is over.
I am ready to die,|here among the things I value.
I am ready to let you kill me but I am not|ready to listen to you justify the act.
Quite still.
- Very good.
|- I meant what I said Put those down, Tyce.
I'm afraid they do work.
|I said, put them down.
I heard what you said|I heard every feeble, self pitying word.
Why should they send assassins for you,|you're already dead, Sarkoff.
Before I kill you,|who are you and what do you want? I came here to take President Sarkoff back to his people.
|My name is Blake.
Idiot, why didn't you report this to me immediately?|You two, around the rear.
I won't do it.
|No, Blake, what you ask is impossible.
It would be a mistake for me and the people|of my planet.
I am NOT the same man.
- To them you are.
|- I am no longer a politician.
But if I were, I would tell you that your|timing is wrong, anyway.
And if I were, I would tell you that if you|wait any longer it will be too late.
You don't understand.
- Blake?|- She's with me.
- I did tell you that.
|- Are there any more?|- No, just Cally.
Something has alerted the guards.
|Are we safe in here? Yes.
|But I'll go and check.
- Did you hide the box?|- Of course.
Is he ready? - Well, Cally.
Must I listen to you, too?|- No - Have you no opinions?|- None.
You are needed to unite your people.
I see.
Facts, not opinions.
Would we have risked our lives for an opinion? What do you think of my collection? It is most impressive.
"Impressive", only? Ah, but then your people|don't originate from Earth, do they? My people are the Auronar.
Yes, I remember in my last years of office,|we received an ambassador from Auron.
- His name was|- Lehan.
Yes, Lehan.
|I remember how alone he seemed.
- He did not return to us.
|- Because he failed.
- Because I failed him? I wanted that alliance.
|- So did we.
To resist the Federation.
You seem to have shifted your|ground somewhat since then.
I was leader of the planetary government|on Lindor for five years.
During that period I resisted political pressure to join the|Federation, even from factions within my own party.
Eventually I decided to settle the issue by trying to get|a vote of confidence.
So I called elections.
- And he was beaten.
|- Of course he was beaten.
My friend, I was totally annihilated.
Complete rejection.
And no precise|decisions followed my political disgrace.
Lindor did not join the Federation.
|You see, it wasn't a rejection of my policies.
The vote was merely a rejection of me.
So he ran away and hid.
Here on this empty, nameless planet|which the Federation so generously provided.
- Together with a security force.
|- And you're right, something has stirred them up.
Since there's nothing else that's any threat to them,|they must know you're around here somewhere.
I'm afraid that Tyce has never been able|to accept that I am no longer important It's a very impressive bodyguard for|someone who is no longer important.
Courtesy.
Besides it would be politically embarrassing|for them if I were to be killed while I was their guest.
Not unimportant, then.
Not naïve, either.
|I mean, surely you must realise you're a prisoner here? Of course he does.
Don't you see it, Blake?|He relies on them keeping him here.
- No, no that's not true.
|- Blake, we're running out of time.
President Sarkoff, your planet is in total chaos.
There are dozens of factions fighting for power.
|They're on the brink of civil war.
That cannot be true.
|I get regular reports.
When the fighting starts,|the Federation will move in a peacekeeping force.
Theyll take over the government|and your planet will have lost its freedom.
Just swallowed up into the Federation.
All quite legitimate|and not a single voice raised in protest.
That cannot happen.
I know the situation on Lindor.
|I get regular reports.
From the FEDERATION communications, yes? Yes.
|But I have proof of their authenticity.
The Lindor Strategy.
|That's what they called it.
It began with the rigged elections,|which removed you from power and will only end when you return to your planet|as the puppet leader of a subjugated people.
- I knew!|- Nonsense.
|- No.
We captured a Federation cipher machine.
|Now before they changed the code, we picked up a lot of information.
|Our computers have been unravelling it ever since.
One of the things they came up with|was the Lindor Strategy.
We have checked.
|It is happening.
- Why should I believe you?|- What have I got to gain by lying? You are the only man who can reunite your planet.
If you act now, you can save it from war|and from the Federation.
Well? - He won't go with you.
|- He must.
|- He was broken, can't you see that? If you'd known him before, you'd understand.
|He was a very special man.
Brilliant and proud.
|Failure never occurred to him.
- But the elections were rigged.
|- It was still failure.
- That's something you should understand.
|- I thought I could help him.
- He must come with us, by force if necessary.
|- I know.
You will take us both? Put this on.
|And put one on him.
I'll go and check where the guards are.
Liberator, are you back on station yet?|Respond, please.
[COMMUNICATOR CHIME.]
Liberator, do you read me?|Respond, please.
Liberator, do you read me? What is this?|It's a teleport device Lib - Something to do with getting me to your ship?|- Yes, when I can contact them.
- Well, I shan't need it I'm not coming with you.
|- I'm sorry.
So am I.
It's too late, Blake, it's been too long.
|Defeat has become a habit.
Blake, if you ignite this it explodes.
|I thought it might be useful.
The whole of the front is cordoned off and there|are two men searching the woods at the back.
- Looking for the missing guard.
|- Do you think theyll find him?|- Well, I should think so.
Very soon they'll check in here, too.
|You two must go now while you still have a chance.
- Liberator's still not back on station.
|- Perhaps we'd be safer on the move.
- It depends how long they take to get back.
|- There is a place you could hide, safer than this.
|Deserted mine workings.
- How far?|- About twenty miles.
|- That's too far.
- That vehicle you use.
|- The automobile?|- Yes.
- Can you get to it without being seen?|- I think so.
All right, come with me.
Cally.
[MUSIC PLAYING.]
- What are you planning to do?|- Escape.
- I wish you hadn't involved Tyce in whatever it is.
|- She is coming with us.
- I should have realised.
|- Realised what? - That Tyce wouldn't stay with me, not now.
|- Does it make any difference? - To my decision? Of course not.
|- No, of course not.
Right.
Stay here, please.
Where else would I go?|This is all I have left.
The rear, quickly! Right.
Come on.
You must come with us.
No.
[SMASH.]
- All of it.
Piece by piece.
|- NO! No, please.
All right, I'll come.
Put that back on.
[ENGINE CUTS OUT.]
The starting handle! It's a trick!|The front, they're at the front! You get back inside.
|Let me try.
Hey! Get out.
|Everybody get out.
Cheney to all units: This is Blue Mobilisation,|I repeat, this is Blue Mobilisation.
Liberator, this is Blake.
|Do you read me? Respond.
Liberator, respond please.
Liberator! Do you read me? Come in! Liberator, we need teleport, now! [TELEPORT WHINE.]
[EXPLOSION.]
- Where are they?|- I don't know.
|- What is it? Stay here with them, Cally.
|Wait here, please.
Well, it's faster than the automobile|but not as amusing.
Where are they, Zen?|Please specify question more precisely.
The others.
My crew.
Where are they? Their absence from the flight|deck is the only data available.
Thank you, Zen.
Jenna! Where are the others? - They're all dead.
|- Dead? I still don't know what happened|there was a distress call.
Yeah, but I mean how did all the|what, are you all right - That was stupid.
|- None of us showed conspicuous|intelligence on this occasion.
Keep still.
- Who are they?|- They're Amagons.
Amagons?|I thought smuggling was the Amagon speciality.
It is, but they also manage a|little robbery, piracy, murder.
Anything to turn an honest profit.
|There.
- This lot are headhunters.
|- I wish you wouldn't call them that.
Bounty hunters.
|They're going to sell us to the Federation.
- But how did they get on board?|- Gan? It wasn't Gan's fault.
They used me and a voice synthesiser.
|It was very well planned.
Was Jenna behind it? No.
But when it was clear that we had lost,|THAT is when she changed sides.
Good to have you back with us, Jenna.
- This is purely a business arrangement, Tarvin.
|- You weren't always so cold.
- You weren't always a bounty hunter.
|- Have you forgotten Zolaf Four? - Is it worth remembering?|- Just the two of us in the mountains.
- And three hundred customs guards.
|- You saved my life.
- We all make mistakes.
|- I thought you liked me.
- Oh, I did.
Then.
|- Have I changed so much? One of us has.
[EXPLOSION.]
- I just saved your pretty neck.
|- I didn't like the price.
You paid it.
|What's Blake to you? We'd have got him anyway.
I don't think you would.
You just made it easy for them.
As betrayals go, it was really rather ordinary,|wouldn't you say? - Jenna! Stay here.
|- Don't you trust me? I trust you HERE.
|Then shut her up.
Keep your woman quiet, or I'll do it.
Don't presume on my gratitude too much, Tarvin.
I wonder if there's a price on your head anywhere? No.
But I imagine there is on yours, though.
I'd be ashamed if there weren't.
Computer, how long|before we rendezvous with the Federation ships? Two hours and seventeen minutes.
- I can't do it, Blake.
|- Keep trying.
Look, there are two ways to set this thing off.
|One is that control box they all carry.
Microwave transmitter.
Just point it in the direction|of the neckband and press the button.
The other way is to force the lock.
- You're not going to force it, are you?!|- And if I get it wrong, bang, no head.
- I trust you.
|- And if it blows up and I'm right behind you!|- That's why I trust you.
Computer, give me a visual.
|We ought to be in range by now.
I suppose I can wait a bit longer.
Tarvin, how much are the Federation|paying you for this? Supposing I made you a better offer? You're a pretty woman, Jenna,|but not THAT pretty.
- If you hand over this ship, you'll lose a fortune.
|- Me? How can I lose? - Oh, I'd expect a share.
|- Of what? You always did underestimate me, Jenna.
|It seems that now you take me for a fool.
Oh, no I think you show great public spirit,|giving up all that wealth just to bring Blake to justice.
- You can prove what you say, of course?|- Of course.
You mean it's actually on the ship,|this fortune of yours? Naturally.
Why else do you think that|I'd remain with Blake and his friends? - Go with her.
|- No one is going with me.
Do you think I should let you run around loose? Now you take me for a fool.
|Do you think that I'd show him where the money is? Then stay here.
|I'll be satisfied with 13 million credits.
Or 12 million,|if the fancy takes me and I decide to keep you.
Very well.
Come on.
Information:|Federation ships are now within scanner range.
Where? Yes.
Look! It's almost done.
Tarvin underestimates me.
[SMASH.]
- I told you I couldn't do it.
|- I believed you all along.
- Nobody could open it.
|- I thought you could open anything, that's always been one of your more modest claims.
|- I could open that door in two minutes.
- This door is not quite the problem at the moment, is it?|- It seems to be a problem to you! Keep your head, Vila! That way I might have a chance|at keeping mine.
Yes.
- Avon?|- What?|- Shut up.
Please.
- Blake is finished, I'm afraid.
|- You really want to believe that, don't you? - I want you to recognise a fact.
|- Why? - Because I'm afraid for you.
|- Don't be.
- Accept it, Tyce, or it will destroy you.
|- You gave up.
You were wrong.
You are still wrong.
- Tell me, Tarvin.
You Amagons recognize facts.
|- You talk too much.
Yes, it's an occupational hazard, I'm afraid.
|What then is your reality? - Wealth.
|- Is that all?|- What else? Well, as the rallying cry for a crusade,|it lacks a certain inspiration.
There's my inspiration.
|The Federation are coming to me.
I summoned them.
|I'm going to sell them a crusader.
- You'd sell your grandmother, wouldn't you?|- I did.
She was going to sell me, I got in first.
You! Stop! What are you doing here? - Tarvin sent me to check on the others.
|- Why? - Why don't you go and ask him yourself.
Well?|- I'll come with you.
Open it.
Hello, Jenna.
I'm glad to see that you're all behaving yourselves.
Tarvin doesn't want you damaged,|unless necessary.
We're touched by his concern.
It'll be more impressive|if he can hand you over alive.
- A man who takes pride in his work.
|- What do you take pride in, Jenna? - Survival.
|- At the expense of your friends? - I didn't know that you cared, Avon.
|- He didn't.
And he was right.
Wait.
Tarvin gets impatient.
|Shall I tell him that you delayed me? - I'll come with you and tell him myself.
|- Why? - Move.
|- You'll regret this.
They've gone.
- I wouldn't have thought it of Jenna.
|- I'm still not sure that I believe it.
What does she have to do to convince you Blake,|personally blow your head off? If this goes wrong she won't get the chance.
Something's happened.
I told you you'd regret it.
I wonder how long before they|make contact with the Federation? Soon.
If I could just get close to some of them.
|The one called Tarvin, for example? - Right.
What's that expression of yours?|- Companions for our death? That's a bit morbid, isn't it? I've done it! I've done it! - Gently, gently!|- Now that is genius - You could well be right.
|- You want more proof? Excuse me.
- It's done.
|- Oh, yes? Oh.
Yes.
Get down! [EXPLOSION.]
No, you stay back.
Keep out of sight.
|Get him in there.
- Vila.
|- What?|- Take this off.
- Well, that's all very well, but who's|going to take mine off?|- Get on with it.
Who's going to take mine off? And, Vila, do be quick.
I'll be next.
Ahhh! - Thank you.
|- Come on, we haven't got much time.
They're almost here now.
I must congratulate you, Tarvin.
It looks as though you have accomplished|what no one else has been able to do.
You have taken Blake and his crew|alive and his ship intact.
- I will be a prince among my people.
|- Oh, at the very least.
- Do not mock me, old man!|- Nothing was further from my mind.
|I welcome Blake's capture.
- Why? What's he done to you?|- He didn't give up.
He fought.
Blake shamed him.
- And in the end lost, it was inevitable.
|- Inevitable.
I am the better man.
- You? Selfish, greedy, vicious|- I WON.
Yes, my dear, you see, it's a paradox.
|He won because he is not the better man.
- What?!|- And yet by winning, he becomes a prince among people.
- Among MY people.
|- Does it matter which people, Tarvin? Do you care? Tarvin calling Federation patrol.
|Do you read me? Tarvin calling Federation patrol.
Report.
Tarvin calling.
|We will be at the rendezvous point in seven minutes.
Request you have a boarding party standing by.
Confirmed.
|Out.
Jenna was obviously lying.
|13 million credits, I think.
- Turn the ship round, Tarvin.
|- Is that a weapon? - Guess.
Turn the ship round.
|- We'll die together.
- Be careful, Tyce!|- Leave it! - You think I'm afraid?|- No, but a dead prince, where's the fun in that? Sarkoff! - Shoot him.
|- We don't have a quarrel.
Shoot him, now.
Throw it away.
|You couldn't kill me in time to save her.
A reflex, a dying spasm,|and she's gone.
Shoot him, father.
You owe it to me.
|You owe it to our people.
Put it down, Sarkoff, you can't win.
|You haven't got the will for it.
- Do it!|- Tarvin.
[GUNSHOT.]
- So it really means that much to you?|- Aren't I President Sarkoff's daughter? Perhaps I just sounded as though I meant it.
Then perhaps I'd better sound as though|I mean to be President Sarkoff.
- The Amagon's dead.
|- Take us out of here, Jenna.
I should thank you,|but I'm not sure I have anything to be grateful for.
- I have, and I do thank you.
|- But as I'm supposed to be a politician,|I will thank you anyway.
- If ever you have need of our help again|- I think you've helped enough.
Goodbye, Blake.
- If you see Lehan|- I have work for Lehan.
|He and I have an alliance to put together.
Then tell him he can go home to Auron.
- Goodbye, Jenna.
|- Goodbye.
Goodbye, Blake.
|You'll always be welcome on Lindor.
- Yes, we may have need of 13 million credits.
|- Over my dead body.
I hope you're not going to make a habit|of that particularthreat.
Ready! Would you move back, please? Good luck.
Goodbye, Blake.
[TELEPORT WHINE.]
- I had the feeling she didn't mean all of us.
|- Yes, I had that feeling.
Well, don't just stand there.
My reflexes are dull.
|They almost fell over me before I heard them.
I've forgotten how useful telepathy is.
- Oh, I must practice that, too.
|- No sign of him? Just patrols, lots of them.
- I think I've found where he's being kept.
|- Is it as we were told? It's certainly very strange,|the weirdest prison I've ever seen.
Listen.
Keep down.
- What was it?|- I don't know.
But in the back position,|that was Sarkoff, wasn't it? That was President Sarkoff, yes.
Come on, let's go.
[FAINT ELECTRONIC CHIRPING.]
- Yes?|- I think we've got some intruders.
- Are you sure?|- Our electronic surveillance is usually reliable.
Very reliable, yes.
Last time it turned out to be a local|rodent digging a hole under one of your listening devices.
We spent two hours chasing|our tails on that occasion.
- That wasn't our fault.
|- All right, give me the coordinates.
|- Five, one If they are there then they've already|penetrated two of our security perimeters.
- Have you got them all?|- Yes.
Sub commander Cheney to all units.
|This is a red alert.
I repeat, this is a red alert.
|Electronic security reports intruders in Sector Three.
All units are now on Red Standby.
|Out.
At the double, move it.
Thank you, Tyce.
|You may put the automobile under cover now.
Don't forget the base commander's gift.
Ah, yes, it was very courteous|of the base commander, don't you think, to spend part of his leave getting this,|and then to bring it all the way from Earth? - He values your friendship.
|- Yes, I think he does.
And he's a social climber.
Probably works your name into every conversation.
|"My friend, ex President Sarkoff".
- Tyce, that is a most ill mannered remark.
|- It's the truth.
Civilisation has always depended|on courtesy rather than truth.
And I need civilisation.
|Now, more than ever.
He looks older.
|He is older.
It's 7 years since he came into exile.
Liberator.
|Come in, Liberator.
- Liberator to spacecraft.
Can you hear us?|- Looks like some sort of cruiser.
- Not making much headway.
|- Blake to Liberator, do you read me? - We read you.
|- Do you think he's ready to come up? We've run into more security than we expected.
|It's going to take longer.
Listen, Blake, we've got a problem.
|There's an unidentified ship moving in on our position.
Federation? Zen says not, but Gan can't make a voice contact.
|Seems to be closing in all the time.
- Well, what do you want to do?|- Investigate.
Be careful.
We can handle things.
If it turns out to be hostile,|we'll do a part orbit and lose it.
We can't just wait for it to close in.
If you've got to move off station, be as quick as you can,|and don't take any stupid risks.
We're taking enough of those down here.
- Don't worry.
|- I will if you're not back in time to get us out.
We'll be here.
- Good luck.
|- You too.
- I don't like the look of that.
|- Not again, Vila.
|- I'm entitled to my opinion.
It is your assumption that we are|entitled to it as well that is irritating.
What do you think? As a matter of fact,|I don't like the look of it either.
He agrees with me.
|The flight path is too erratic.
- Makes it all seem worthwhile somehow.
|- It looks deliberate to me.
It could be an injured pilot.
|It could be a trap.
It's not a very good one, then.
|We're suspicious of it already.
The test is not whether you are suspicious|but whether you are caught.
Then we'll make sure we're not.
Vila, clear the neutron blasters for firing.
|Zen, put up the radiation flare shields.
Confirmed.
Keep trying to establish a voice contact.
|Ill fly her on manual.
If you'll read the detectors and scanners? - First sign of trouble, we get out, right?|- Goes without saying.
I only wish it did.
We attack the guards or climb? There's a door on the ground floor,|it's the only entrance.
There is an open window|round the back but it's high up.
We've got to get onto that roof.
- We climb.
|- We don't want to risk raising an alarm.
Come on.
It's not a burrowing rodent this time.
|Looks to be two intruders, two at least.
Cheney to all units:|Red Standby Alert is now Red Mobilisation.
Repeat:|Red Mobilisation.
All units to move in on the residence.
Liberator to spacecraft, Liberator to spacecraft.
You're closing too fast for me|to get an accurate scan.
- All right, I'll reduce speed.
|- Thank you.
- Liberator to spacecraft.
Can you hear us?|- Blasters are ranged and ready to fire.
No sign of any external damage.
|Carries no heavy armament.
- I'm getting a voice, very faint, lot of static.
|- Boost it to the main channel.
Star Queen.
General distress call,|general distress call.
This is the civilian cruiser Star Queen.
|If anyone can hear me, we need help.
Please help us.
General distress call,|general distress call.
Zen, are we in teleport range? Liberator will be within teleport range of the|civilian cruiser Star Queen in seven minutes.
- Good.
|- No.
- They need help!|- Do they? Well, you heard him.
- It's not quite the same thing.
|- Avon's right.
We need more information.
Let me go across and get it.
If it is a trap.
Ill warn you.
|Then Vila can open fire.
- With you on board?|- If necessary.
- You feeling all right?|- Fine.
You would give the instruction for your own death;|you expect us to believe that? Yes.
|I expect you to believe that.
Cover me whilst I climb,|then hide the box.
Blake!|A guard is coming! You must get to Sarkoff.
|I will hide this one and then follow you.
Come on, Gan.
|What's taking so long? [COMMUNICATOR CHIME.]
His time's nearly up.
|Stand by to fire on that ship, Vila.
I still don't think this is such a good idea.
I didn't ask for your opinion.
|Are you standing by to fire? - We don't want to do anything hasty.
|- Vila! Yes, I'm standing by.
[COMMUNICATOR CHIME.]
This is Gan.
It's all right.
|You can bring me back across now.
There's no danger to us,|but they need our help all right.
I've got all the details.
|Bring me back.
Information:|Analysis of voiceprint confirms|that was not Olag Gan speaking.
Avon! Avon! All right, bring him up.
Avon! Avon! Avon! Answer me! Avon! It's not Gan! Avon? Jenna? Now don't let's be silly.
|Answer me, one of you.
I shall come out in a rash.
|Zen, has something happened to them? Data is not available.
I don't want data!|I want to know what's happening.
It will be necessary for you to|make a personal investigation.
Oh, you're a big help.
"Personal investigation" "Personal investigation" The next time Avon wants to make a|personal investigation on how you work.
I shall make a personal point of handing|him the instruments, personally.
Beautiful, aren't they?|Earth insects of the order Lepidoptera.
- Butterflies.
|- Ah, so you're an historian, are you? No, but I did study some natural history.
It's interesting, isn't it, that when that term|"natural history" was originated, it referred to the study of living things.
It was much later that it came to mean the|study of things long since past and dead.
History in its more conventional sense.
- You don't seem surprised to see me.
|- I've been expecting you.
Oh, not you, specifically, but someone.
|Do you know what this is? Why are you expecting someone? Assassination has always been|a legitimate tool of statecraft.
Its respectability and public acceptance has|varied from civilisation to civilisation, but its practical application has|remained remarkably consistent.
[MUSIC PLAYING.]
- I |- Echoes of a more civilised age.
I didn't come here to murder you.
You know this is the finest private collection of|Twentieth Century Earth objects anywhere in the galaxy.
Even on Earth itself|you would find no collection like it.
This building is a replica of a typical residence|of that period, set in an authentic Earth garden.
I said, I'm not a murderer.
I'm grateful for your semantic precision.
|Political assassination I can live with.
|To be murdered would be the final, sordid indignity.
Now my educated friend,|do you know what this is? - Uh, it's a projectile weapon.
|- It's called a revolver.
Explosive charge here, projectile emerges with|great force and considerable accuracy, over short distances anyway.
|Primitive, but efficient enough for my purposes.
President Sarkoff, I must speak with you.
|Will you listen to what I have to.
[CLICK.]
EX president.
I haven't got time for the niceties|of this game that you're playing.
- Just time for a hasty rationalisation.
|- I just want you to listen.
I've wasted my life listening.
|Listening to people who are arrogant, or vacuous, or just plain vicious.
I smiled and|acquiesced in the face of prejudice and stupidity.
I've tolerated mediocrity and accepted the|tyranny of second class minds.
But now all that is over.
I am ready to die,|here among the things I value.
I am ready to let you kill me but I am not|ready to listen to you justify the act.
Quite still.
- Very good.
|- I meant what I said Put those down, Tyce.
I'm afraid they do work.
|I said, put them down.
I heard what you said|I heard every feeble, self pitying word.
Why should they send assassins for you,|you're already dead, Sarkoff.
Before I kill you,|who are you and what do you want? I came here to take President Sarkoff back to his people.
|My name is Blake.
Idiot, why didn't you report this to me immediately?|You two, around the rear.
I won't do it.
|No, Blake, what you ask is impossible.
It would be a mistake for me and the people|of my planet.
I am NOT the same man.
- To them you are.
|- I am no longer a politician.
But if I were, I would tell you that your|timing is wrong, anyway.
And if I were, I would tell you that if you|wait any longer it will be too late.
You don't understand.
- Blake?|- She's with me.
- I did tell you that.
|- Are there any more?|- No, just Cally.
Something has alerted the guards.
|Are we safe in here? Yes.
|But I'll go and check.
- Did you hide the box?|- Of course.
Is he ready? - Well, Cally.
Must I listen to you, too?|- No - Have you no opinions?|- None.
You are needed to unite your people.
I see.
Facts, not opinions.
Would we have risked our lives for an opinion? What do you think of my collection? It is most impressive.
"Impressive", only? Ah, but then your people|don't originate from Earth, do they? My people are the Auronar.
Yes, I remember in my last years of office,|we received an ambassador from Auron.
- His name was|- Lehan.
Yes, Lehan.
|I remember how alone he seemed.
- He did not return to us.
|- Because he failed.
- Because I failed him? I wanted that alliance.
|- So did we.
To resist the Federation.
You seem to have shifted your|ground somewhat since then.
I was leader of the planetary government|on Lindor for five years.
During that period I resisted political pressure to join the|Federation, even from factions within my own party.
Eventually I decided to settle the issue by trying to get|a vote of confidence.
So I called elections.
- And he was beaten.
|- Of course he was beaten.
My friend, I was totally annihilated.
Complete rejection.
And no precise|decisions followed my political disgrace.
Lindor did not join the Federation.
|You see, it wasn't a rejection of my policies.
The vote was merely a rejection of me.
So he ran away and hid.
Here on this empty, nameless planet|which the Federation so generously provided.
- Together with a security force.
|- And you're right, something has stirred them up.
Since there's nothing else that's any threat to them,|they must know you're around here somewhere.
I'm afraid that Tyce has never been able|to accept that I am no longer important It's a very impressive bodyguard for|someone who is no longer important.
Courtesy.
Besides it would be politically embarrassing|for them if I were to be killed while I was their guest.
Not unimportant, then.
Not naïve, either.
|I mean, surely you must realise you're a prisoner here? Of course he does.
Don't you see it, Blake?|He relies on them keeping him here.
- No, no that's not true.
|- Blake, we're running out of time.
President Sarkoff, your planet is in total chaos.
There are dozens of factions fighting for power.
|They're on the brink of civil war.
That cannot be true.
|I get regular reports.
When the fighting starts,|the Federation will move in a peacekeeping force.
Theyll take over the government|and your planet will have lost its freedom.
Just swallowed up into the Federation.
All quite legitimate|and not a single voice raised in protest.
That cannot happen.
I know the situation on Lindor.
|I get regular reports.
From the FEDERATION communications, yes? Yes.
|But I have proof of their authenticity.
The Lindor Strategy.
|That's what they called it.
It began with the rigged elections,|which removed you from power and will only end when you return to your planet|as the puppet leader of a subjugated people.
- I knew!|- Nonsense.
|- No.
We captured a Federation cipher machine.
|Now before they changed the code, we picked up a lot of information.
|Our computers have been unravelling it ever since.
One of the things they came up with|was the Lindor Strategy.
We have checked.
|It is happening.
- Why should I believe you?|- What have I got to gain by lying? You are the only man who can reunite your planet.
If you act now, you can save it from war|and from the Federation.
Well? - He won't go with you.
|- He must.
|- He was broken, can't you see that? If you'd known him before, you'd understand.
|He was a very special man.
Brilliant and proud.
|Failure never occurred to him.
- But the elections were rigged.
|- It was still failure.
- That's something you should understand.
|- I thought I could help him.
- He must come with us, by force if necessary.
|- I know.
You will take us both? Put this on.
|And put one on him.
I'll go and check where the guards are.
Liberator, are you back on station yet?|Respond, please.
[COMMUNICATOR CHIME.]
Liberator, do you read me?|Respond, please.
Liberator, do you read me? What is this?|It's a teleport device Lib - Something to do with getting me to your ship?|- Yes, when I can contact them.
- Well, I shan't need it I'm not coming with you.
|- I'm sorry.
So am I.
It's too late, Blake, it's been too long.
|Defeat has become a habit.
Blake, if you ignite this it explodes.
|I thought it might be useful.
The whole of the front is cordoned off and there|are two men searching the woods at the back.
- Looking for the missing guard.
|- Do you think theyll find him?|- Well, I should think so.
Very soon they'll check in here, too.
|You two must go now while you still have a chance.
- Liberator's still not back on station.
|- Perhaps we'd be safer on the move.
- It depends how long they take to get back.
|- There is a place you could hide, safer than this.
|Deserted mine workings.
- How far?|- About twenty miles.
|- That's too far.
- That vehicle you use.
|- The automobile?|- Yes.
- Can you get to it without being seen?|- I think so.
All right, come with me.
Cally.
[MUSIC PLAYING.]
- What are you planning to do?|- Escape.
- I wish you hadn't involved Tyce in whatever it is.
|- She is coming with us.
- I should have realised.
|- Realised what? - That Tyce wouldn't stay with me, not now.
|- Does it make any difference? - To my decision? Of course not.
|- No, of course not.
Right.
Stay here, please.
Where else would I go?|This is all I have left.
The rear, quickly! Right.
Come on.
You must come with us.
No.
[SMASH.]
- All of it.
Piece by piece.
|- NO! No, please.
All right, I'll come.
Put that back on.
[ENGINE CUTS OUT.]
The starting handle! It's a trick!|The front, they're at the front! You get back inside.
|Let me try.
Hey! Get out.
|Everybody get out.
Cheney to all units: This is Blue Mobilisation,|I repeat, this is Blue Mobilisation.
Liberator, this is Blake.
|Do you read me? Respond.
Liberator, respond please.
Liberator! Do you read me? Come in! Liberator, we need teleport, now! [TELEPORT WHINE.]
[EXPLOSION.]
- Where are they?|- I don't know.
|- What is it? Stay here with them, Cally.
|Wait here, please.
Well, it's faster than the automobile|but not as amusing.
Where are they, Zen?|Please specify question more precisely.
The others.
My crew.
Where are they? Their absence from the flight|deck is the only data available.
Thank you, Zen.
Jenna! Where are the others? - They're all dead.
|- Dead? I still don't know what happened|there was a distress call.
Yeah, but I mean how did all the|what, are you all right - That was stupid.
|- None of us showed conspicuous|intelligence on this occasion.
Keep still.
- Who are they?|- They're Amagons.
Amagons?|I thought smuggling was the Amagon speciality.
It is, but they also manage a|little robbery, piracy, murder.
Anything to turn an honest profit.
|There.
- This lot are headhunters.
|- I wish you wouldn't call them that.
Bounty hunters.
|They're going to sell us to the Federation.
- But how did they get on board?|- Gan? It wasn't Gan's fault.
They used me and a voice synthesiser.
|It was very well planned.
Was Jenna behind it? No.
But when it was clear that we had lost,|THAT is when she changed sides.
Good to have you back with us, Jenna.
- This is purely a business arrangement, Tarvin.
|- You weren't always so cold.
- You weren't always a bounty hunter.
|- Have you forgotten Zolaf Four? - Is it worth remembering?|- Just the two of us in the mountains.
- And three hundred customs guards.
|- You saved my life.
- We all make mistakes.
|- I thought you liked me.
- Oh, I did.
Then.
|- Have I changed so much? One of us has.
[EXPLOSION.]
- I just saved your pretty neck.
|- I didn't like the price.
You paid it.
|What's Blake to you? We'd have got him anyway.
I don't think you would.
You just made it easy for them.
As betrayals go, it was really rather ordinary,|wouldn't you say? - Jenna! Stay here.
|- Don't you trust me? I trust you HERE.
|Then shut her up.
Keep your woman quiet, or I'll do it.
Don't presume on my gratitude too much, Tarvin.
I wonder if there's a price on your head anywhere? No.
But I imagine there is on yours, though.
I'd be ashamed if there weren't.
Computer, how long|before we rendezvous with the Federation ships? Two hours and seventeen minutes.
- I can't do it, Blake.
|- Keep trying.
Look, there are two ways to set this thing off.
|One is that control box they all carry.
Microwave transmitter.
Just point it in the direction|of the neckband and press the button.
The other way is to force the lock.
- You're not going to force it, are you?!|- And if I get it wrong, bang, no head.
- I trust you.
|- And if it blows up and I'm right behind you!|- That's why I trust you.
Computer, give me a visual.
|We ought to be in range by now.
I suppose I can wait a bit longer.
Tarvin, how much are the Federation|paying you for this? Supposing I made you a better offer? You're a pretty woman, Jenna,|but not THAT pretty.
- If you hand over this ship, you'll lose a fortune.
|- Me? How can I lose? - Oh, I'd expect a share.
|- Of what? You always did underestimate me, Jenna.
|It seems that now you take me for a fool.
Oh, no I think you show great public spirit,|giving up all that wealth just to bring Blake to justice.
- You can prove what you say, of course?|- Of course.
You mean it's actually on the ship,|this fortune of yours? Naturally.
Why else do you think that|I'd remain with Blake and his friends? - Go with her.
|- No one is going with me.
Do you think I should let you run around loose? Now you take me for a fool.
|Do you think that I'd show him where the money is? Then stay here.
|I'll be satisfied with 13 million credits.
Or 12 million,|if the fancy takes me and I decide to keep you.
Very well.
Come on.
Information:|Federation ships are now within scanner range.
Where? Yes.
Look! It's almost done.
Tarvin underestimates me.
[SMASH.]
- I told you I couldn't do it.
|- I believed you all along.
- Nobody could open it.
|- I thought you could open anything, that's always been one of your more modest claims.
|- I could open that door in two minutes.
- This door is not quite the problem at the moment, is it?|- It seems to be a problem to you! Keep your head, Vila! That way I might have a chance|at keeping mine.
Yes.
- Avon?|- What?|- Shut up.
Please.
- Blake is finished, I'm afraid.
|- You really want to believe that, don't you? - I want you to recognise a fact.
|- Why? - Because I'm afraid for you.
|- Don't be.
- Accept it, Tyce, or it will destroy you.
|- You gave up.
You were wrong.
You are still wrong.
- Tell me, Tarvin.
You Amagons recognize facts.
|- You talk too much.
Yes, it's an occupational hazard, I'm afraid.
|What then is your reality? - Wealth.
|- Is that all?|- What else? Well, as the rallying cry for a crusade,|it lacks a certain inspiration.
There's my inspiration.
|The Federation are coming to me.
I summoned them.
|I'm going to sell them a crusader.
- You'd sell your grandmother, wouldn't you?|- I did.
She was going to sell me, I got in first.
You! Stop! What are you doing here? - Tarvin sent me to check on the others.
|- Why? - Why don't you go and ask him yourself.
Well?|- I'll come with you.
Open it.
Hello, Jenna.
I'm glad to see that you're all behaving yourselves.
Tarvin doesn't want you damaged,|unless necessary.
We're touched by his concern.
It'll be more impressive|if he can hand you over alive.
- A man who takes pride in his work.
|- What do you take pride in, Jenna? - Survival.
|- At the expense of your friends? - I didn't know that you cared, Avon.
|- He didn't.
And he was right.
Wait.
Tarvin gets impatient.
|Shall I tell him that you delayed me? - I'll come with you and tell him myself.
|- Why? - Move.
|- You'll regret this.
They've gone.
- I wouldn't have thought it of Jenna.
|- I'm still not sure that I believe it.
What does she have to do to convince you Blake,|personally blow your head off? If this goes wrong she won't get the chance.
Something's happened.
I told you you'd regret it.
I wonder how long before they|make contact with the Federation? Soon.
If I could just get close to some of them.
|The one called Tarvin, for example? - Right.
What's that expression of yours?|- Companions for our death? That's a bit morbid, isn't it? I've done it! I've done it! - Gently, gently!|- Now that is genius - You could well be right.
|- You want more proof? Excuse me.
- It's done.
|- Oh, yes? Oh.
Yes.
Get down! [EXPLOSION.]
No, you stay back.
Keep out of sight.
|Get him in there.
- Vila.
|- What?|- Take this off.
- Well, that's all very well, but who's|going to take mine off?|- Get on with it.
Who's going to take mine off? And, Vila, do be quick.
I'll be next.
Ahhh! - Thank you.
|- Come on, we haven't got much time.
They're almost here now.
I must congratulate you, Tarvin.
It looks as though you have accomplished|what no one else has been able to do.
You have taken Blake and his crew|alive and his ship intact.
- I will be a prince among my people.
|- Oh, at the very least.
- Do not mock me, old man!|- Nothing was further from my mind.
|I welcome Blake's capture.
- Why? What's he done to you?|- He didn't give up.
He fought.
Blake shamed him.
- And in the end lost, it was inevitable.
|- Inevitable.
I am the better man.
- You? Selfish, greedy, vicious|- I WON.
Yes, my dear, you see, it's a paradox.
|He won because he is not the better man.
- What?!|- And yet by winning, he becomes a prince among people.
- Among MY people.
|- Does it matter which people, Tarvin? Do you care? Tarvin calling Federation patrol.
|Do you read me? Tarvin calling Federation patrol.
Report.
Tarvin calling.
|We will be at the rendezvous point in seven minutes.
Request you have a boarding party standing by.
Confirmed.
|Out.
Jenna was obviously lying.
|13 million credits, I think.
- Turn the ship round, Tarvin.
|- Is that a weapon? - Guess.
Turn the ship round.
|- We'll die together.
- Be careful, Tyce!|- Leave it! - You think I'm afraid?|- No, but a dead prince, where's the fun in that? Sarkoff! - Shoot him.
|- We don't have a quarrel.
Shoot him, now.
Throw it away.
|You couldn't kill me in time to save her.
A reflex, a dying spasm,|and she's gone.
Shoot him, father.
You owe it to me.
|You owe it to our people.
Put it down, Sarkoff, you can't win.
|You haven't got the will for it.
- Do it!|- Tarvin.
[GUNSHOT.]
- So it really means that much to you?|- Aren't I President Sarkoff's daughter? Perhaps I just sounded as though I meant it.
Then perhaps I'd better sound as though|I mean to be President Sarkoff.
- The Amagon's dead.
|- Take us out of here, Jenna.
I should thank you,|but I'm not sure I have anything to be grateful for.
- I have, and I do thank you.
|- But as I'm supposed to be a politician,|I will thank you anyway.
- If ever you have need of our help again|- I think you've helped enough.
Goodbye, Blake.
- If you see Lehan|- I have work for Lehan.
|He and I have an alliance to put together.
Then tell him he can go home to Auron.
- Goodbye, Jenna.
|- Goodbye.
Goodbye, Blake.
|You'll always be welcome on Lindor.
- Yes, we may have need of 13 million credits.
|- Over my dead body.
I hope you're not going to make a habit|of that particularthreat.
Ready! Would you move back, please? Good luck.
Goodbye, Blake.
[TELEPORT WHINE.]
- I had the feeling she didn't mean all of us.
|- Yes, I had that feeling.
Well, don't just stand there.