The Tripods (1984) s02e12 Episode Script
The Forest of Death
Casimir! Hey, you two.
Make yourselves useful.
There have been many opportunities for them to escape.
Why have they never taken them? They will go when it suits them, if you're foolish enough to leave them free.
We still have more than the Guards would have paid for turning them in.
But why not take the reward, too? Unless you believe this story of hidden treasure? I would still like to hear an explanation of this.
What do you call him? This one? Granada, for the place where I was born.
Do you think you'll ever return there when the circus is over? How? Why have you stayed with us? It's convenient.
I like your company.
But why so secret? And how have you and your friend avoided capping? You see When I first helped you, it was because you were in trouble with the Guards.
-I didn't think you'd stay.
-You do not want us with you? Some are happy, but I think you've done a deal with Ali.
-What, to spy on you? -Perhaps.
No, it is strictly a financial arrangement.
Look, we were able to offer him more than the Guards would pay, as a reward.
So now you're out of town, away from the Guards.
Well, Geneva is close to where we want to go, and we'd be less conspicuous travelling with you.
All right.
But watch Ali.
He might just grab you again and claim the reward as well.
-You don't trust him.
-Do you? You should have been capped a year now.
-We also ran away.
-You said you were going home.
We found a place where the elders aren't quite so strict about capping.
Why? Don't you want to be capped? To honour the Tripods? -Do you? -Yes, of course.
Well, like most children, I'm a little nervous.
(SCREAMING) How can you hope to see the line of the knife when it comes if your eyes are full of fear? Stupid girl! -Stop that! -What? (LAUGHING) -Poor girl's terrified! -Why, you insolent boy Never use it again on a human being! I'm a trainer, boy! How do you think they're gonna learn? Certainly not by fear.
Look! You've terrified her.
Do you think she'll ever be able to do that act? -It's the strongest one in the show.
-Because it's most likely to draw blood? First you should teach poor Gino here how to throw.
And when they respect his skill enough, someone might volunteer.
-What, this lot? Volunteer? -Perhaps even me.
On one condition.
He must throw at least 100 consecutive knives into the practice board without a single touch on the human shape.
(LAUGHING) (ALL CHATTERING APPRECIATIVELY) GIRL 1: Thanks.
GIRL 2: Thank you.
It is insane to risk your life in this way.
Do you want to take my place? For either of us, it is ridiculous.
I mean, think what you've been through.
I mean, the Games, the City And it will all have been for nothing if we can't get that information back to Julius.
-Think of Fritz! -I do! All the time.
He chose to stay.
-Well, you don't have to play the hero.
-What do you suggest? We leave now? We sneak away? And what will happen when we don't show up for the performance? Ali, the Black Guards, the whole town will be after us.
I got into this.
It's done us some good with the children.
I have to go through with it.
We must plan when and how to leave.
You've got the map.
Geneva's perfect.
It's maybe three days' walk to the White Mountain, but the question is when to leave.
-Before or after the last performance? -After, in darkness.
You just want to see me shredded.
What about the others? It's too risky, Will.
It is vital to get ourselves back, with the information about the City.
Yes, but imagine, though, a dozen uncapped children as well.
Will! Will! Where are you? -I've done the hundred! -Oh! Well-done.
GIRL: It's really good! -I threw a hundred knives! -Oh, congratulations.
And I hope you've got the courage of your tongue when it comes to the performance.
Well, I hope so, too.
Come and drink wine with me to end our quarrel? We have things to talk about.
One minute for Ali, the next minute against him.
-And now friends again.
-What are you saying? There's something about those two I cannot trust.
But look what he did for Mimi.
Even so, there is something secretive.
Perhaps he has shared these secrets with you.
-I like him, Kajik.
-Yeah.
Please, don't be jealous.
Look, they've run away from home, too.
So then why does the Turk protect them? After the show he'll just hand them back to the Guards and claim his reward.
Well, then I can't see why they stay.
(SOFTLY) Listen.
Will told me of a place not too far away from here, in the mountains, where the elders, they're not so strict on capping, and the Tripods seldom visit.
This is where we are now, and here, on the edge of this hill, is the ruined house.
Mmm-hmm.
Good, lets see.
Approximately 150 kilometres.
Unencumbered with wagons and children, about two days' journey.
What about the children? Well, they'll be happy to stay here in Geneva.
You think so? Many of them wish to return to their own countries.
We have ways of changing their minds.
Come.
Let us drink to a richly rewarding future for us all.
(TRIPOD TRUMPETING) Do not attempt to escape, my friend, or the Guards shall be informed of this.
Either you have robbed the grave of a nobleman or you have used this to avoid capping, both crimes that call for the ultimate penalty.
That is the penalty you will suffer if you fail to lead me to the treasure house.
Is this the way you will change their minds? Why do you think the Tripod is here? Not come to watch the performance, is it? -What do you mean? -It's obvious, isn't it? It's here to cap us all.
But Ali told me we were going to Alexandria for the winter.
(CHUCKLES) Well, now he won't have to buy our fares, will he? How wonderful to be back home, my friends! Well, if a wandering circus ever has a home, I assure you we think of Geneva as ours.
But now, without no more ados, let me introduce you once again to Ali Pasha's Famous Circus! (CIRCUS MUSIC PLAYING) -What is this, a Black Guard benefit? -You might have warned us.
Oh, you would have been too nervous.
It was most effective, truly spontaneous.
-Are they here for the capping? -They're here to make their choices.
-Choices of what? -Of servants.
When the children are capped tomorrow, they shall be taken into the service of the Guards.
Come on.
Come on! (GASPING) (ALL GASPING) Well, not everyone's with us.
Casimir, for instance.
He's jealous of your friendship with Raquel.
Look, the more people who know, the greater the risk that Ali will find out.
Ali's entertaining the Guards, Fatima is preparing a spread.
Which means the Guards will be on hand if there's even a hint of trouble.
Will! Are you ready? (DISTANT APPLAUSE) (DRUM ROLL PLAYING) (GASPING) (PEOPLE GASPING) (AUDIENCE GASPS) (AUDIENCE APPLAUDING) (DRUM ROLL PLAYING) (AUDIENCE CHEERING) (INAUDIBLE) (CHILDREN LAUGHING) AUDIENCE: Ah! Now, my friends, let us discuss business.
-To business.
-GUARDS: To business.
(SOFTLY) We're not likely to be disturbed.
-Good.
I'll call the others.
-All right.
I know some of you have mistrusted us, but only now can we take you fully into our confidence.
We can't force you to do as we ask, but please think carefully about what you hear.
Your life with the circus is over.
The Tripod is here because tomorrow you will all be capped.
Capped? -Did Ali tell you this? -Yes.
And afterwards, the Black Guards will choose you for their servants.
Even now, they are bargaining for you with Ali.
-Why did he tell you? -Because he's corrupt.
And he believes we can lead him to a pot of gold, but we can be of much more help to you.
Tell us how, and leave us to judge.
But worst of all, we discovered that even the slavery of the cap will not last more than three years, because on its way from the Masters' own planet is a huge ship carrying machines to make the whole of the Earth's atmosphere suitable for the Masters to breathe.
And that means that it will be poisonous to all of us (ALL EXCLAIMING) to all our animals and plants.
This is the news we are taking back to the Free Men in the mountain.
Now, before you are capped in the morning, I beg you to come with us, all of you, to help fight for a future that will be free of the Tripods.
(FATIMA LAUGHING) (WHISPERING) Come on.
Now.
Shh! (HORSE WHINNYING) (GROANING) Can't we rest a while? No.
We must go as far as we can and as fast as possible before they find out what's happened.
Come on, I can hear the river, the road'll run beside it.
Come on.
It'll be easier now.
Can you see the -Follow us.
Run! -Come on, run! Quick! (TRIPODS SCREECHING) This is the last valley.
Behind that ridge is the lake.
Will, you are right! Only a few more minutes.
Let's give them the good news.
Well, we know where we are.
The Free Men's hideout is just over that ridge.
-I don't believe anybody lives up there.
-I hope there's enough food.
-I'm starving.
-BEANPOLE: You'll eat soon.
We'll go on ahead, check with the guards it's okay for us to bring you all.
-Wait here.
-We'll be back very soon.
Oh, Will.
WILL: (SOBBING) I don't believe it.
Has it all been for nothing?
Make yourselves useful.
There have been many opportunities for them to escape.
Why have they never taken them? They will go when it suits them, if you're foolish enough to leave them free.
We still have more than the Guards would have paid for turning them in.
But why not take the reward, too? Unless you believe this story of hidden treasure? I would still like to hear an explanation of this.
What do you call him? This one? Granada, for the place where I was born.
Do you think you'll ever return there when the circus is over? How? Why have you stayed with us? It's convenient.
I like your company.
But why so secret? And how have you and your friend avoided capping? You see When I first helped you, it was because you were in trouble with the Guards.
-I didn't think you'd stay.
-You do not want us with you? Some are happy, but I think you've done a deal with Ali.
-What, to spy on you? -Perhaps.
No, it is strictly a financial arrangement.
Look, we were able to offer him more than the Guards would pay, as a reward.
So now you're out of town, away from the Guards.
Well, Geneva is close to where we want to go, and we'd be less conspicuous travelling with you.
All right.
But watch Ali.
He might just grab you again and claim the reward as well.
-You don't trust him.
-Do you? You should have been capped a year now.
-We also ran away.
-You said you were going home.
We found a place where the elders aren't quite so strict about capping.
Why? Don't you want to be capped? To honour the Tripods? -Do you? -Yes, of course.
Well, like most children, I'm a little nervous.
(SCREAMING) How can you hope to see the line of the knife when it comes if your eyes are full of fear? Stupid girl! -Stop that! -What? (LAUGHING) -Poor girl's terrified! -Why, you insolent boy Never use it again on a human being! I'm a trainer, boy! How do you think they're gonna learn? Certainly not by fear.
Look! You've terrified her.
Do you think she'll ever be able to do that act? -It's the strongest one in the show.
-Because it's most likely to draw blood? First you should teach poor Gino here how to throw.
And when they respect his skill enough, someone might volunteer.
-What, this lot? Volunteer? -Perhaps even me.
On one condition.
He must throw at least 100 consecutive knives into the practice board without a single touch on the human shape.
(LAUGHING) (ALL CHATTERING APPRECIATIVELY) GIRL 1: Thanks.
GIRL 2: Thank you.
It is insane to risk your life in this way.
Do you want to take my place? For either of us, it is ridiculous.
I mean, think what you've been through.
I mean, the Games, the City And it will all have been for nothing if we can't get that information back to Julius.
-Think of Fritz! -I do! All the time.
He chose to stay.
-Well, you don't have to play the hero.
-What do you suggest? We leave now? We sneak away? And what will happen when we don't show up for the performance? Ali, the Black Guards, the whole town will be after us.
I got into this.
It's done us some good with the children.
I have to go through with it.
We must plan when and how to leave.
You've got the map.
Geneva's perfect.
It's maybe three days' walk to the White Mountain, but the question is when to leave.
-Before or after the last performance? -After, in darkness.
You just want to see me shredded.
What about the others? It's too risky, Will.
It is vital to get ourselves back, with the information about the City.
Yes, but imagine, though, a dozen uncapped children as well.
Will! Will! Where are you? -I've done the hundred! -Oh! Well-done.
GIRL: It's really good! -I threw a hundred knives! -Oh, congratulations.
And I hope you've got the courage of your tongue when it comes to the performance.
Well, I hope so, too.
Come and drink wine with me to end our quarrel? We have things to talk about.
One minute for Ali, the next minute against him.
-And now friends again.
-What are you saying? There's something about those two I cannot trust.
But look what he did for Mimi.
Even so, there is something secretive.
Perhaps he has shared these secrets with you.
-I like him, Kajik.
-Yeah.
Please, don't be jealous.
Look, they've run away from home, too.
So then why does the Turk protect them? After the show he'll just hand them back to the Guards and claim his reward.
Well, then I can't see why they stay.
(SOFTLY) Listen.
Will told me of a place not too far away from here, in the mountains, where the elders, they're not so strict on capping, and the Tripods seldom visit.
This is where we are now, and here, on the edge of this hill, is the ruined house.
Mmm-hmm.
Good, lets see.
Approximately 150 kilometres.
Unencumbered with wagons and children, about two days' journey.
What about the children? Well, they'll be happy to stay here in Geneva.
You think so? Many of them wish to return to their own countries.
We have ways of changing their minds.
Come.
Let us drink to a richly rewarding future for us all.
(TRIPOD TRUMPETING) Do not attempt to escape, my friend, or the Guards shall be informed of this.
Either you have robbed the grave of a nobleman or you have used this to avoid capping, both crimes that call for the ultimate penalty.
That is the penalty you will suffer if you fail to lead me to the treasure house.
Is this the way you will change their minds? Why do you think the Tripod is here? Not come to watch the performance, is it? -What do you mean? -It's obvious, isn't it? It's here to cap us all.
But Ali told me we were going to Alexandria for the winter.
(CHUCKLES) Well, now he won't have to buy our fares, will he? How wonderful to be back home, my friends! Well, if a wandering circus ever has a home, I assure you we think of Geneva as ours.
But now, without no more ados, let me introduce you once again to Ali Pasha's Famous Circus! (CIRCUS MUSIC PLAYING) -What is this, a Black Guard benefit? -You might have warned us.
Oh, you would have been too nervous.
It was most effective, truly spontaneous.
-Are they here for the capping? -They're here to make their choices.
-Choices of what? -Of servants.
When the children are capped tomorrow, they shall be taken into the service of the Guards.
Come on.
Come on! (GASPING) (ALL GASPING) Well, not everyone's with us.
Casimir, for instance.
He's jealous of your friendship with Raquel.
Look, the more people who know, the greater the risk that Ali will find out.
Ali's entertaining the Guards, Fatima is preparing a spread.
Which means the Guards will be on hand if there's even a hint of trouble.
Will! Are you ready? (DISTANT APPLAUSE) (DRUM ROLL PLAYING) (GASPING) (PEOPLE GASPING) (AUDIENCE GASPS) (AUDIENCE APPLAUDING) (DRUM ROLL PLAYING) (AUDIENCE CHEERING) (INAUDIBLE) (CHILDREN LAUGHING) AUDIENCE: Ah! Now, my friends, let us discuss business.
-To business.
-GUARDS: To business.
(SOFTLY) We're not likely to be disturbed.
-Good.
I'll call the others.
-All right.
I know some of you have mistrusted us, but only now can we take you fully into our confidence.
We can't force you to do as we ask, but please think carefully about what you hear.
Your life with the circus is over.
The Tripod is here because tomorrow you will all be capped.
Capped? -Did Ali tell you this? -Yes.
And afterwards, the Black Guards will choose you for their servants.
Even now, they are bargaining for you with Ali.
-Why did he tell you? -Because he's corrupt.
And he believes we can lead him to a pot of gold, but we can be of much more help to you.
Tell us how, and leave us to judge.
But worst of all, we discovered that even the slavery of the cap will not last more than three years, because on its way from the Masters' own planet is a huge ship carrying machines to make the whole of the Earth's atmosphere suitable for the Masters to breathe.
And that means that it will be poisonous to all of us (ALL EXCLAIMING) to all our animals and plants.
This is the news we are taking back to the Free Men in the mountain.
Now, before you are capped in the morning, I beg you to come with us, all of you, to help fight for a future that will be free of the Tripods.
(FATIMA LAUGHING) (WHISPERING) Come on.
Now.
Shh! (HORSE WHINNYING) (GROANING) Can't we rest a while? No.
We must go as far as we can and as fast as possible before they find out what's happened.
Come on, I can hear the river, the road'll run beside it.
Come on.
It'll be easier now.
Can you see the -Follow us.
Run! -Come on, run! Quick! (TRIPODS SCREECHING) This is the last valley.
Behind that ridge is the lake.
Will, you are right! Only a few more minutes.
Let's give them the good news.
Well, we know where we are.
The Free Men's hideout is just over that ridge.
-I don't believe anybody lives up there.
-I hope there's enough food.
-I'm starving.
-BEANPOLE: You'll eat soon.
We'll go on ahead, check with the guards it's okay for us to bring you all.
-Wait here.
-We'll be back very soon.
Oh, Will.
WILL: (SOBBING) I don't believe it.
Has it all been for nothing?