The Lost World (1999) s03e18 Episode Script

Six days ago, this was the most amazing garden I've ever seen.
Look at it now.
Well, we should have been paying closer attention.
What kind of insects do this in a week! Well, that's a question for Challenger or Veronica, if she were here.
After all, it is her garden.
So what are WE going to do about it? Slash, burn, replant, what else can we do? Veronica must have some way to deal with insect problems.
I'm sure she does, but did any of us ever show any interest in her gardening techniques? Like you said, she's the gardener.
We can't all do everything.
But food is everyone's responsibility.
Oh, yes I know that.
Roxton hunts, Veronica gardens, I do more than my fair share of the cooking.
Still haven't worked out what you do yet.
Well, what does Challenger do besides work in his lab all day? Challenger does more work than any of us, Finn.
For one thing, he designed the electric fence that keeps the animals out.
So maybe he should design one that keeps the insects out too.
Yes.
At the moment, he's working on a substitute.
A substitute for what? Food.
That's crazy! I mean, even in the twenty-first century no one has figured that out! Ah, but that won't deter George Challenger.
When he saw what happened to this garden the other day, that was the first thing that popped into his head.
Anything to get out of real work.
Speaking of which, fresh crops won't plant themselves.
Shall we? Healthy weight gain, without your normal food.
Increased energy, and no obvious side effects.
If my beverage can nourish us in the same way, I can change the course of civilization.
No longer will our supply be at the mercy of the elements, or in danger of being devoured by insects or rodents.
No offence.
If I were back in civilisation now, the discoveries I have made here would revolutionize the world.
Ah, well.
One day my friends, one day.
This farming thing is kinda neat.
Planting things and watching them grow Perhaps this can be your contribution to the household.
Until Veronica returns, someone needs to assume responsibility.
That's not so hard.
Ah, look at that.
A little watering, a little weeding, and plenty of tender love and care.
Nothing to it really.
What about the insects? Maybe your crossbow will come in handy.
Yeah right! Farmer Finn.
That's me.
Farmer Finn! I do like that! The final test the human trial.
Ugh! Obviously an acquired taste.
Not unlike my good wife's cooking.
So.
Here's to domestic science.
Seems to be working.
My metabolism is increasing oh, good heavens Who's there? Who's At the dawn of the last century A band of explorers searched for a prehistoric world Driven by ambition Secret desires A thirst for adventure And seeking the ultimate story They are befriended by an untamed beauty Stranded in a strange and savage land Each day is a desperate search for a way out of the Lost World That was quite a jolt.
Good gracious! That's over an hour! Obviously too much of something Strange it didn't affect you Oh, well.
It's never as easy as you thought it would be, is it, George? How can you read this? - Scurf or scarf.
I can't - Scurf pea.
Psoralea corylifolia as it's known in Latin.
Very effective at killing bacteria.
Do we really need all these plants? Mugwort, red sage, dogwood, pagoda tree, kudzy vine? Kudzu vine! Very effective against the common cold.
Milk vetch, burdock, barrenwort this list goes on and on! Our medicine chest is very low, Marguerite.
We have to keep up our vitamin supply as well if we are to remain healthy, especially in light of that insect assault on the garden.
Not to mention my dismal failure in the laboratory.
Replacement for food is a tall order, George, even for you.
Don't be so hard on yourself.
Finn seems ready to take over the gardening duties.
And there's still plenty of game in the jungle.
We won't starve.
I realize that.
But a food substitute! Now that really would be an accomplishment, wouldn't it? Imagine what the world would be like if starvation could be eliminated completely! Yes, it would be very crowded! Oh, Marguerite.
Over half the world's population suffers from malnutrition.
A food substitute now that would be the greatest discovery of the century, wouldn't it? I'll not give up on this.
It's too bad, I was hoping you'd join us on this little weed-hunting expedition to identify the plants! Oh you don't need me.
There are sketches of all the plants on that list in this book.
I beg your pardon! Was that your stomach!? I haven't eaten in two days.
- Why ever not? - Well, it would be very difficult to gauge the effectiveness of my formula on a full stomach now, wouldn't it? Isn't that what mice are for? That's a very good point.
My initial recipe had a very positive effect on them but virtually no effect on me except to render me unconscious for an hour or so.
Oh, don't worry.
I think I found the cause of that.
It won't happen again.
George, I think you should abandon this experiment right now, before you kill yourself! Yes.
I tend to agree.
You are far more important than a a substitute for food! I will not be deterred by a small failure.
I intend to see this one out.
How's it going? Not as well as I would like.
But that's all part of the scientific process, I'm afraid.
What are you doing? I'm taking blood samples to help me analyze the effects of this beverage I'm developing.
First I count the blood cells, red versus white.
If there's an excess number of white cells - That means you're sick.
- Precisely.
White blood cells are the body's defense against illness and disease.
A higher red blood cell count means you're healthy.
Lots of oxygen circulating through the blood.
How DO you know so much about blood? Radiation poisoning was very common in the XXI century.
After Zoth and his goons destroyed the world, the atmosphere was contaminated for years.
Radiation probably killed more people than the bombs.
- How horrible.
- Tell me about it.
I also have to test blood sugar for the nutritional level of the formula.
It's not good at all.
See? The blood sugar is very low.
Why do all this work if there's so much food around? Well, that may not always be the case, as well you know.
The role of the scientist is to provide solutions for what one day may well be very serious problems.
I'm losing weight as well.
The scientific method may appear to be rather slow, but it really is quite fascinating! Observation, experimentation, testing, and then recording all the data.
Sounds about as much fun as learning to read.
It does take a little effort.
But if you understood the principles I'm sure you would quite enjoy it! I think I'd rather be a farmer.
Of course.
I understand.
This doesn't look like dogwood to me.
More like mugwort, I would say.
- What do you think? - You are kidding me.
Yes, definitely mugwort.
All right, what's next on the list? - A cold drink and a hot bath! - Sounds like a good idea, but we can't go back to the tree house with just one plant.
Oh look! It says here that mugwort is a pain reliever which is just about what I need right now.
Ah yes, here it is.
Right there.
I just saw a weed like that.
And I thought you weren't paying attention! Here it is! Oh, no, no, no! Oh, Marguerite, that's poison ivy! It's not poison ivy.
I know what that looks like.
Just pick it, will you? I'm not touching it.
If you think that's kudzu vine, you pick it yourself! Fine! The sooner we get this done the better! What's next? So, grow already! A is for apple B is for boring.
Challenger's right.
Reading can be useful.
C is for crossbow - Something wrong? - No.
I told you it was poison ivy.
No it's poison ivy.
No, it wasn't! Then why are you scratching yourself? Damn Challenger and his lists! If we weren't out here collecting these weeds, this never would have happened! Well, if you'd listened to me in the first place, this never would have happened.
Oh, what are you, a botanist now? You can't even tell a fig tree from an oak! Maybe so.
At least I wasn't silly enough to pick up poison ivy.
There must be something in this list for skin rashes.
Burdock! Here it is.
That should be easy enough to find.
Well, let's hope it works.
In the meantime, stop scratching.
- Yeah.
- You'll only make it worse.
So, 2 grams of potassium, plus 1.
9 grams of fiber, of folic acid.
Great thunder! Well, you'll be fed soon.
All right.
Some for you and the rest for me.
Ugh.
The appearance and odor have not improved.
That is very filling.
Heart rate's increased.
So has my metabolism.
We will make believers of them yet! - Yes we will - Ah.
That's more like the man I know.
Who said that? Who the blazes are you? You ought to know, I'm you George Edward Challenger.
I don't believe this! You're not me! Oh but I am, I'm you when you were young and focused, without distractions.
A promising young scientist, fresh from his first doctorate, accepting the rightful congratulations of his peers.
This is impossible! I must be hallucinating.
Are you? Have not many strange and fascinating things happened to you in your lifetime? And not without reason.
It must be the effects of this beverage I've been developing.
Oh, nonsense! You're a man with a special destiny.
I've arrived to ensure you fulfill that destiny.
Oh, be off with you! Get away from me! Have you forgotten the ambitions of your youth? Your purpose is science, Professor, Challenger.
Scientific glory is your destiny.
Glory is for others to bestow.
My purpose is to work.
Since when? Work without recognition means you'll be forgotten.
Be trampled by imitators.
Tell me, George what have you actually accomplished here? I have made significant progress in many areas.
No you haven't! You've lost your edge.
Your talents have been wasted on gadgets for housewives and other useless distractions.
How dare you speak to me like that? How dare I? I am you! I am trying to help you.
While you rot in this ignominious place, your rivals back in London are laughing at your demise! You need to get back to civilization before it's too late.
If you think I'm bathing with this, you're crazy! At least I'm not itchy.
Here.
According to the list, burdock is an effective balm against skin irritation.
Has Challenger ever steered us wrong? You are really enjoying my discomfort, aren't you? Not at all, in fact, I find your itch quite irritating.
- How is it? - Delightful! Keeping us apart, I see.
Any gentleman would do the same! Oh, ho! You're just afraid of catching it, that's all! Hardly! As a matter of fact, I'm one of the fortunate few who's immune to poison ivy.
- Really.
- Yes.
How about a little kiss? The mood you're in, I don't know if that's such a good idea.
Oh, I'm in the mood for a little romance.
How about you? - I hadn't really thought about it.
- Hmm, that'll be a first.
I think I should go and chop some firewood.
- It could get cold tonight.
- Yeah.
Very cold.
I promise you that! Oh it's not good.
Not good at all.
Blood sugar level is very low.
I have to mix up some more.
Don't you see what's holding you back? Oh, get away from me.
You are in my mind.
You are just a figment of my imagination.
- I'm over here.
- Leave that alone! That's better.
Now where was I? You can't get rid of me that easily.
What do you want? I told you.
I want to help you achieve your goals.
Return and recognition, that is the path to glory.
It won't happen in as long as you let these so-called friends of yours hold you back.
My friends have been immensely helpful to me.
In fact, they have saved my life Oh, rubbish! They treat you like a lab assistant whose sole purpose is to make their lives more comfortable.
You don't need them.
All they do is steal your ideas and sap your energy and distract you from your purpose.
- No! - Oh, yes.
You need to show the world what you can do.
I will receive recognition one day.
My work will not go unrewarded! I won't let them steal my ideas.
I'll do everything I have to, to stop them.
- What do you want? - Who were you talking to? I wasn't talking to anybody.
Oh, I might have been talking to myself.
Did it help? Don't you be flippant with me, young lady! What are you doing, creeping down here to spy on me! - Is that the game you're playing? - Spy on you? Don't you think I don't know what your motives are! You're just like the rest of them! You think my sole purpose is to invent gadgets for your comfort! - You're out of your mind! - This is my laboratory! It's my life's work! It belongs to me! - Get out of here! - Fine.
You can have it.
I'm outta here! Oh, bravo! Do you feel better now? Return and recognition that's what you need to focus on.
You're right! You're absolutely right! Oh, whatever you've made for dinner smells delicious.
Yeah, well, don't think I'm sharing anything with you.
What's wrong? You kicked me out of your stupid lab! I did? I'm so sorry.
I must have been preoccupied with my work.
You do look terrible.
Oh I feel exhausted.
I really must get some sleep.
Yeah, I think that's a good idea.
Jessie? Hello, George.
However did you get here? I'm your wife, George.
You seem to have forgotten that.
No! This is impossible.
Oh, you've driven yourself into exhaustion again, as usual.
No you're not here! You're back in London! Yes.
And time is running out for us.
You know how important my work is.
How necessary it was for me to come here! Your beloved science.
Yes, I know.
But I've been waiting for over three years now, George.
Three years without a word, not knowing whether you were you were alive or dead! I'm sorry, Jess, I couldn't get word to you or anybody else.
Believe me, I tried.
What about the years before that, George? Years lost waiting while you toiled in your lab, night after night My work is important.
You know that.
You lied to me, George.
- No, never! - I would be your wife, - you said.
- And I meant it, You are.
To whom am I married, George? To the man, or to his work? You know how I've always felt about you.
Always second to your science.
- I'll make it up to you! - Oh, George.
Don't do it for me.
Do it for us before there's nothing left.
Don't say that.
I'll never, never leave you like this again.
Never.
What are you doing? My chest is itchy.
And I thought you didn't want to get too close.
I'm sorry.
I must have rolled downhill during the night! Dammit! Not allergic to poison ivy, huh? Well, I never used to be.
What about you? You still feeling the effects? No, I am fine.
That burdock bath seems to have cleared it right up.
Well good.
I'll try some myself.
Sure you're not itchy? No! Not a bit.
In fact, I think we should collect those plants for Challenger that is, if you can keep your hands to yourself.
I'm sure that won't be a problem.
Jessie! Oh, it must have been a dream.
Some for you and the rest for me.
To you very good health.
That's excellent! Just what I needed.
Oh, it's working.
I never looked better, if that's possible.
Finally you're out of bed.
I thought you were going to sleep all day.
It's barely 6 a.
m.
While you were dreaming about your wife, one of your trusted friends was snooping around your laboratory.
Finn! Who else? Searching through your notes, looking for anything she could steal.
But Finn can't even read! Oh! What a fool you are, you taught her to read.
She practices night and day, with only one thing on her mind to steal your ideas and make her own way out of here.
No! I can't believe that of her.
No! She comes from a different world than you, George.
A world destroyed by war.
Her only quest in life is to help herself, to escape her dismal situation any way she can.
Was she really down here in my laboratory? Look around.
It's obvious that somebody's been here.
Well yes.
If you don't do something about it, she will steal your life's work, and reap all the rewards for herself.
- But what can I do? - Kill her.
George.
No! I can't! You know you can and you must.
No there has to be another way.
Kill her before she shoots you in the back with that nasty little crossbow of hers.
Oh yes, that's what she's planning to do, once she's made off with everything you have! Why that ungrateful little vagabond! That's the way.
Make an example of her for the others.
There she is! Don't let her get away.
Good bye, Finn.
Do it now! What are you doing? You betrayed me, Finn! - How did I do that? - My work! - You know it's my life! - I didn't touch your work.
You were snooping around my laboratory last night.
You need to stop drinking your experiment.
That's close enough.
There's nothing the matter with me.
You're poisoning yourself and you don't even know it.
What? That crud you've been drinking I've seen it happen before.
You don't know what you're talking about! Yes, I do.
Now turn around, and go back to the treehouse.
- Try and sleep it off.
- I do not take orders from you.
Then maybe you'll listen to Roxton and Marguerite when they get back.
- Traitors! All of you! - Go! I'll get you! Every one of you! That burdock didn't help a bit.
Scratch that one off Challenger's list.
No pun intended.
Are you sure you still not itchy? Nope, not a bit, although I am getting a little tired of walking around in circles.
I'm sure we covered this area - yesterday - I saw that! All right! My rash is worse than ever! Why didn't you tell me, you silly thing! Because I was trying to pay you back for your cruel behavior.
- Cruel! - Yes! Laughing at my misfortune! Oh! We can't go on like this.
Tell me about it.
There is one thing we could try though.
When I was a lad my brother pushed me into a poison ivy patch.
Well, we found out that mud is the best thing for it.
Mud? No, I think I'll pass on that.
All right.
You suit yourself.
There's got to be some mud around here somewhere.
Well did it work? Oh, why didn't I pull the trigger? How could I let her escape? I need nourishment Look at you! You've lost your senses! My friends have betrayed me.
- What sort of nonsense is that? - Finn was in here last night going through my notes.
That young girl? She loves you like a father, George.
She would never do anything to hurt you.
You don't know her! She threatened to kill me.
In the state you're in, I'm not surprised.
- Are you falling apart, George.
- No! It's time now to think of your home, and your family.
You don't understand the pressure that I'm under the importance of my work! Oh, that's right, Hide behind your science - even when it leads to your demise.
- Demise! Science is everything to me.
And I will not be deterred, Jessie.
Not even by you.
You understood that when we married.
When we were married, you were a different man! No, he wasn't.
You tried to hold him back, to change him.
But he was the stronger man.
He left you in England where you belong! You were the one he should have left behind.
What did you ever do to help him? Noooo! No! Both of you, be quiet! I gave him purpose and direction, the desire to succeed all the ingredients necessary to become a great man.
You gave him blind ambition! You made him selfish and paranoid, demon-possessed in the pursuit of fame and glory! Not a man at all! This is disgusting! Yep.
But does it feel good? Well, I've lost the urge to scratch, but as far as the rash goes, it's a little hard to tell.
Well, we can assess that situation when we wash off down in the stream.
We? Oh no, Marguerite! Please, not in here! You have got a filthy mind! I'm going have a swim.
And YOU are going to stay here until I have finished.
Of course.
Cover your eyes, Mud in your eyes if you don't close them! Oh, whatever was I thinking.
John!? - What is it? - Don't look! Someone's taken our clothes! I said don't look! Sorry! You have to know the path of science is the only way Better than drinking poison, testing yourself like some lab rat.
Better than giving up his work and becoming mediocre like everyone else.
Better to be human! To understand what it means to be alive! A mere human? All you want is for him to fail! All I want is the love he once had for me He doesn't love you.
He never did! All that ever mattered to him was science! That isn't true! He's capable of both! No! Just get out! - Get out! Get out! - You're killing him! You're the one who's doing that.
- What are you doing? - I can't take this any more.
George, don't, don't, don't please! Leave me alone! Get away from me! Both of you! They're killing me! They're killing me! - George, please let me help you! - Don't listen to her.
Remember who you are, what you need to be.
You are driving me out of my mind!! You can escape your destiny.
- Don't listen to him! - Get away from me! Just get away! - Stay away! - Uff.
Roxton and Marguerite better get back here soon.
Now what?! Come on, Marguerite! Don't use all the hot water! This is glorious! Yeah! Glorious for you! But I'm still a mess.
It was your idea to take a mud bath to begin with.
You must admit it cured the poison ivy.
I still can't believe I let you talk me into it.
I can't believe you picked that plant when I told you not to! This mud isn't coming off very easily.
Then maybe you'd like me to get in there with you.
- Don't you dare! - Ahem! Finn! - Don't come any closer.
- Don't YOU come any closer.
And this isn't what it looks like! - Someone stole all our clothes.
- Yes.
So you covered yourselves in mud.
It was the only way we could stop the itch! I don't need to hear any more.
I just thought you'd might like to know that Challenger just ran off screaming through the jungle.
Okay.
I think he's poisoning himself with the stuff he's been drinking.
He tried to kill me.
When we were married you were just a man So hungry.
That's better much better - Much better - You are killing him.
He's weaving all over the damn place.
You're mad at me, aren't you? You think I should have tried to stop him.
Oh, what could you do all by yourself? - You think I'm afraid of him? - That's not what I'm saying, Finn.
Well, you're right.
Okay, I should have done more to help him.
- I hope he's going to be okay.
- Me too.
I must have more Leave him alone.
We've got work to do! We're running out of time! I won't let you hurt him anymore.
You don't know what you're talking about! - Get up you old clod! - Don't you touch him! - Look at him, he's almost dead! - Thanks to you! You leave us alone! You know I'll give my life to save him first! What kind of fiend are you? The man you fell in love with.
Oh, no.
You only look like him.
George, George! You're killing me! He must be inside.
Challenger! George? George.
He's dying.
Finn's right.
If we don't do something, he's going to die.
What can we do? Did you find any of that concoction he was drinking? No, just 101 ingredients.
Dammit, Challenger! What have you done to yourself, huh? He needs a blood transfusion.
It's the only way to save him now.
Blood transfusion? They did that during the war, didn't they? Yes, but we don't know Challenger's blood type.
What differences does it make? I mean, if - it's going to save him, let's do it! - No, John! I saw a man die after being given the wrong type of blood.
- We cannot risk it.
- I can.
- What are you talking about? - I'm type O-negative.
It's called the universal donor.
It's the one type that can be given to anyone without rejection.
- How do you know so much about this? - I'm from the future, remember? We got to know a lot of stuff you guys don't.
Then what are we waiting for, what do we need? I know, Challenger will have it in his lab.
- What is it? - He tried to kill me, Roxton.
What if we save him but his mind is gone? Let's get on with it.
First you gotta let him bleed a little.
- Now what? - Now we have to unclamp this tube and let my blood flow into him.
Then we can use the clamps to control the blood flow.
It'll stop the pressure from building in him.
Come on, Challenger you have to pull through this.
With my blood, he'll be as good as new.
His pulse is getting stronger.
I'll always love you, George.
- Come back to me.
- I will, Jess, I promise.
Who's he talking to? His wife! Her name is Jessie.
She She was here.
Welcome back to reality, George.
You gave us quite a scare.
Me too.
You know, I think I put too much potassium in that formula.
Did you really see your wife? I certainly thought I did, I do believe she's still waiting for me back in London.
Do you think she'll wait forever? Oh, that's too much to ask of anybody.
But I know how very important she is to me.
And how much I want to get home to her one day.
Do you think you ever would? I'm eager to learn more about your life on the plateau in the twenty-first century, Between now and then, someone obviously found a passage to the outside world.
- Don't ask me where it is.
- We'll find it together, I hope.
All of us.
Are you ready for a little plant classification, George? Before we all rush off into another day's toil, I think we deserve a small break from our labours, don't you? Are you sure you're feeling okay, George? I feel marvelous, I assure you.
You don't have some important scientific experiment to finish? - No invention to invent? - Well, yes.
But they can wait.
So you're saying you want to take some time off.
Yes.
That doesn't sound so horrible, does it? Spend some time with friends Oh, yes, he FEELS perfectly normal.
How perfectly abnormal! *