Blakes 7 - 1301 - The Keeper [ home ] [ prev ] [ next ]
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Author: Allan Prior
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Director: Derek Martinus [ IMDB ] |
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Excerpt from Blakes 7: The Program Guide by Tony Attwood Continuing their search for Star One, the crew of the Liberator visit the planet Goth, where according to Docholli the one man to know its location has settled. They have also been told that the key to Star One's location is in a brain print attached to an amulet worn by a member of the royal family of Goth. Blake, Jenna and Vila teleport to the surface but are attacked at once by the tribal inhabitants of Goth. Despite repeated requests for help from Liberator, this does not come. Avon having taken the Liberator out of orbit in order to attack Travis' ship. This he successfully destroys, but Travis has already been transferred to the surface. By the time the Liberator returns, only Blake remains free to teleport back up. On the surface Vila and Jenna become the property of Gola, the Charl, or chief, of the Goths. Jenna becomes betrothed to the Charl, whilst Vila becomes his jester. However Vila displeases the ruler and is thrown into prison. It is now revealed that Servalan too is on Goth with Travis and is also searching for the brain print which will reveal the location of Star One. Upon returning to the planet, Blake meets Gola's brother Rod, whom he frees from Gola's men. Rod agrees to help Blake in the rescue of Jenna and Vila, and it seems that he has reasons of his own for wishing to fight Gola. It emerges that although Rod, Gola and Gola's sister Tara are all members of the royal family and each wears an amulet, none of these has a brain print attached to it. Rod and Gola fight. Gola wins but is poisoned by Tara, who reveals that there is another member of the royal family still alive, their father who was thrown into prison by Gola and Rod many years before. Blake and the others find him dying in prison, but the brain print attached to his amulet has already been removed by Travis, who has stolen Servalan's ship and fled the planet. As he dies, Gola's father states enigmatically that, "A fool knows everything and nothing". Blake repeats this statement, and it triggers a mechanism within the brain of the old man's jester, who was thrown into prison with him. In a hypnotic trance the jester gives full details of the location of Star One. The crew surmise that Lurgen, the surgeon who had the knowledge of Star One, implanted it in the jester's mind, with the old king's phrase as the only trigger mechanism. Armed with this information, the crew leave for Star One. Review 07/04/2005 by ledlogic This is one of the sillier, cheaper episodes. While Star Trek had its share of tent-based scenarios, this is mostly a single set scenario versus showing the outdoors. At least Star Trek would have some technology relationship, this episode has no technology to speak of. (c) 1979 by the British Broadcasting Corporation. Series created by Terry Nation. This is a complete dialogue transcript for research purposes and is not for sale under any circumstances. Format (c) 1993 by Eddie Clark, Frances Teagle and Micky DuPree. Dramatis Personae
[LIBERATOR'S Flight Deck - Blake, Jenna and Vila are preparing to land on Goth.] VILA: We're not even sure that Lurgen was here. BLAKE: Docholli had no reason to lie. VILA: Some people don't need a reason. AVON: True, but let us assume that the keeper of the secret is somewhere down there on the planet Goth, and that the keeper is a royal personage. JENNA: Lurgen's brain print is on a thong around a chief's neck. That's what Docholli said. CALLY: Or he said it was Lurgen's brain that was on a thong. That might not be the same thing. AVON: If you find the brain print, and consequently the location of Star One, what then? BLAKE: Finish what we started. AVON: Destroy it? BLAKE: Of course. And the entire Federation with it. Does that bother you suddenly? AVON: Star One is the automatic computer control center for the entire Federation. BLAKE: Get to the point, Avon. AVON: That is the point. Through Star One we could control everything. The Federation could belong to us. VILA: I could be president. AVON: Ah. VILA: Or we can take it in turns. BLAKE: You ready to go, Vila? VILA: Why not? Now that would be worth the risks we're taking. AVON: Blake is afraid that power would corrupt him. BLAKE: That sort of power would corrupt anyone. CALLY: Which is why the location of Star One has been kept such a secret. JENNA: Travis could change all that, and I doubt if he has your scruples. BLAKE: Then the very least we can do is make sure that he doesn't find the secret. [Blake, Jenna and Cally head for the teleport room] VILA: Now there is something that worries me, how do we know that Travis isn't down there now? AVON: You don't. [exits] [Teleport room] CALLY: ... But there are noxious gases. Anyone who lives above ground will die sooner or later from toxic lung infections. Also your eyes will be affected. BLAKE: So anyone who lives on Goth, lives underground. JENNA: If he's wise, he does. VILA: And if he's not, he's dead. BLAKE: All right, put us down Cally. [They transfer to Goth, landing in a wooded gorge.] BLAKE: [Into communicator] Down safe. Proceeding on bearing of zero-two-nine. VILA: Hey, the air is a bit niffy. JENNA: Hmm, sulphur. Rots your lungs eventually. VILA: Marvellous, I can hardly wait. [Shot of entrance to the Goths' cave, with standards and a sentry. A patrol of 3 or 4 Goth warriors comes out.] [External shot of a Federation pursuit ship.] [LIBERATOR Flight Deck] ZEN: Main detectors report Federation pursuit ship, bearing one three two, course two seven six, leaving the planet and entering orbit. AVON: Put it on the main screen. ZEN: Affirmative. [pursuit ship appears on screen] AVON: Are we in range of its detectors? ZEN: Negative. AVON: Plot us a course to intercept. ZEN: Affirmative. CALLY: You're not going to attack? AVON: Don't you recognize it? THAT is Travis' ship. CALLY: But if we leave here, we leave Blake and the others out of teleport range. AVON: This is our chance to finish off Travis. He is at our mercy. CALLY: Perhaps, but you can't just -- ZEN: Course for intercept, zero-seven-three, speed, Standard by Four, strike range in four minutes ten seconds. AVON: We've got him cold. We'll be there and back within ten minutes and Travis will be dead. Steer zero-seven-three, Cally. CALLY: Avon, I'm -- AVON: ZERO-SEVEN-THREE!! CALLY: All right. [Liberator turns - shot of pursuit ship on screen] AVON: This time we have him. Zen, put up the radiation flare shields, clear the neutron blasters for firing. ZEN: Confirmed. CALLY: Avon, I hope you know what you're doing. ZEN: Neutron blasters are cleared for firing. AVON: Can you think of a better way to stop Travis finding Star One? [External shot of Liberator in motion] ZEN: Target will be in strike range in exactly two minutes. CALLY: No indication that he's seen us. AVON: Good. I have no objection to shooting him in the back. [ON GOTH - Blake, Jenna and Vila are walking between overgrown rocks, heading into a deep narrow cleft - an overhead shot shows the Goth patrol lying in wait] VILA: All right to visit, but I wouldn't want to live here. Seems deserted, shame about that. [The Goths attack, leaping down on them] Avon, teleport! [Jenna is captured and Blake knocked out. Vila offers no resistance but surreptitiously calls the ship] Teleport! [Left alone for a moment, he runs off and hides in a crack in the rocks] Avon! where are you! [As the Goths search for him, the sulphur fumes make him sneeze and he is discovered. Blake recovers, picks up a branch and brains the Goth standing guard over him and escapes. Shot of Jenna and Vila being lashed to litters.] BLAKE: Avon, teleport now. Avon! Avon! [LIBERATOR - shot of pursuit ship on main screen.] CALLY: Why doesn't he move? AVON: How should I know? Just so long as he doesn't... [An electronic signal is heard] CALLY: What's that? He's transmitting. Who to? AVON: Who cares? Stand by. CALLY: His detectors must warn him soon. AVON: We are going to get as near as we can, Cally. [Exterior shot of Liberator stalking pursuit ship.] AVON: Goodbye, Travis. [Presses button - other ship blows up] Got him! [Main screen shows the explosion] CALLY: So much for Travis. Mind you, you could hardly miss at that range. AVON: What did you want me to do? Give him a sporting chance? CALLY: Zen, take us back into planetary orbit, Standard by Twelve. [GOTH] BLAKE: [coughing] Avon! Avon! [dives for cover as Goths fire explosive bolts with their crossbows] Liberator! Liberator! [LIBERATOR] AVON: We've solved one of Blake's problems for him. Let us hope that he can handle the rest as easily. CALLY: Coming into stationary orbit now. SURFACE - The hunt for Blake - he is cornered by Goths who aim their crossbows at him] BLAKE: Teleport now! [he vanishes as the explosive bolts strike the rocks] [LIBERATOR] AVON: What the hell happened? What happened to the others? CALLY: Let him drink this first. [hands Blake a drink] AVON: Where are the others? BLAKE: The Goths have them. AVON: How? BLAKE: Ambush. CALLY: Are we going down to get them out? BLAKE: I am. [furiously] And where the hell were you? AVON: We just got Travis for you! BLAKE: What!!! [IN THE CAVES - Vila and Jenna are led into a large cave containing several richly decorated tents.] VILA: Well, how much further is it? GOTH: Move!! VILA: All right, there's no need to push. [GOLA'S TENT - a harper is playing, Gola is sitting in his throne on a dias, he is wearing an amulet. His fool is juggling, he muffs a trick.] GOLA: Fool, you do not amuse me as once you did. [The fool goes over to Tara's chair and crouches beside her where she bends over a steaming pot on a tripod.] TARA: Gola, you frighten him, that is why all his tricks go wrong. GOLA: Silence witch. [The fool tries to entertain him with handstands.] TARA: I could tell you better tricks. I could show you things in the future. GOLA: You can show me nothing! All that talks is your drug. In the end you will inhale too much and it will kill you. TARA: Nothing will kill me, I shall live for ever. GOLA: Tcha! [Travis enters] Kick that fool as you pass him. Possibly I might smile at his pain. [Travis does, they both laugh] GOLA: Travis, my friend. You'll take wine? TRAVIS: Thank you, oh Charl. GOLA: My sister here has all kinds of mind-bending potions if they are more to your liking. [they laugh] TARA: [Looking into the vapour] I see... I see: a man and a woman. The man is a fool, the woman is beautiful to behold. Here, in the Tents of Goth. GOLA: You see? She is not of this world. [more laughter.] PATROL LEADER: [Off screen] In there! VILA: [Off screen] All right! [Vila and Jenna are brought in] TRAVIS: You! Where is Blake? VILA: [To Jenna] They haven't got him. PATROL LEADER: Silence!! GOLA: [to Travis] You know these people? TRAVIS: Yes, oh Charl. They are enemies. Of myself, of Servalan, and also of Lurgen who mended your wound and took away the terrible pains. GOLA: Truly a magician, that Lurgen. Real magic, not foolery and potions. It's a pity he's gone from us. [fingering a red scar on his forehead] Without his cure, I would be wishing for death. You say these people are his enemies? TRAVIS: They pursue him to kill him. GOLA: A beautiful woman! And a fool. VILA: Eh?! TRAVIS: These two I leave to your mercies, oh Charl. GOLA: A beautiful woman - indeed she is so. [Vila and Jenna exchange nervous looks, the Fool scowls jealously] [LIBERATOR - teleport room] AVON: We had to stop Travis getting to Star One first. Well now he is stopped. BLAKE: IF he was on the pursuit ship. AVON: It seemed a reasonable assumption. BLAKE: If I'm not back in six hours, come down. Both of you. CALLY: That's a long time to stay in orbit. Stationary, we are an easy target. BLAKE: No one knows we're here. Unless you've alerted them. Put me down Cally. [SERVALAN'S TENT - she is lying on a couch eating fruit] TRAVIS: [Entering] It's them! It's that fool Vila and the girl, Jenna, they're here. SERVALAN: What? Is Blake here? TRAVIS: No. [into transmitter] Pursuit Ship Four, Travis here. Reply. SERVALAN: The Liberator has obviously destroyed it. TRAVIS: Yes. Blake must be one step behind us. We know the keeper of the secret is on Goth. We know he is a royal person. Perhaps Blake knows that too. SERVALAN: But which royal person? There is the Charl and there is his sister. TRAVIS: It has to be one of them. SERVALAN: But which one? TRAVIS: You will soon know, and when you do, you could control the Federation, you and I. SERVALAN: Don't be ridiculous, Travis. TRAVIS: Look, Star One is the computer control center. It controls the climate on more than two hundred worlds, communications, security, food production, it controls them all. It is the key to our very lives. Think of all that power. SERVALAN: You can see why the Council themselves don't know where Star One is. In the wrong hands -- TRAVIS: Yes, but in the right hands: yours and mine. SERVALAN: Be very careful you don't overreach yourself, Travis. TRAVIS: There'll come a time when such ideas seem unambitious. One day, Servalan -- SERVALAN: Yes? What are you talking about, Travis? [he sits down] TRAVIS: I must alert the nearest Federation flotilla to attack the Liberator. I can't do it from here on this thing. I'll have to use your ship. SERVALAN: The Liberator may pick you up. TRAVIS: It's a chance we'll have to take unless you're prepared to risk Blake getting to the secret before we do, well? SERVALAN: All right. How long? TRAVIS: Three hours. SERVALAN: That long? TRAVIS: You could have the secret by then, it has to be one of those two, the chief or his sister. Don't you trust me? SERVALAN: No, of course not. TRAVIS: Then trust my ambition. You will be the new keeper of the secret. SERVALAN: Yes. [LIBERATOR - teleport room] BLAKE: [Over the intercom] ...at the moment, ground bearing one-two-zero. AVON: Is he all right? CALLY: So far. ZEN: Main detectors report ship leaving planetary orbit. AVON: Identify. ZEN: It is a modified Class One Federation pursuit ship. AVON: Grid reference? ZEN: Grid reference B-three-seven-two-one AVON: Modified Class One ... that must be Servalan. Zen, have they detected us? ZEN: Negative. AVON: Cally, set a course to intercept. CALLY: What? AVON: A course to intercept. CALLY: No. AVON: Yes. CALLY: If we leave here we leave Blake alone again. AVON: This is an ideal opportunity. CALLY: Not this time. AVON: She will be out of range in one minute. We will never get her. CALLY: All right, then. We'll never get her. AVON: Cally, listen. CALLY: NO! [GOTH - The woods. Rod is being dragged along by four guards with his arms lashed to a wooden yoke behind his neck.] ROD: Let me go you dogs! Let me fight you one by one. [a guard strikes him] BLAKE: Hold it! [ducks as a Goth throws a tomahawk at him, then fires a shot and drops the guard] I said leave him! [He fires again, dropping another guard, the others run away] ROD: [laughs] Thank you, whoever you are. [Breaks the yoke] You are a friend. BLAKE: Who are you? ROD: My name is Rod. Greeting. BLAKE: Greeting. [puts his blaster away] ROD: And what is that? BLAKE: Er - nothing. ROD: You say that it is nothing, yet men fall. It is magic. You are for the Tents of Goth? BLAKE: Yes, when I can find the way. ROD: Hmm, they are underground. So! I will take you there. Your name? BLAKE: Blake. ROD: [Laughs] And whom do you seek? The ones called Servalan and Travis? BLAKE: [Short laugh] They are no friends of mine. ROD: Nor mine. So! I will help you defeat them. I like your machine but I will not kill you for it, you saved my life. My brother, he would kill you for it. That is the difference between us. [GOLA'S TENT] GOLA: [Contemplating Jenna] Very beautiful. [Begins an arm wrestling bout with a henchman] You know Lurgen has gone? JENNA: We do not mean him any harm. GOLA: Then why are you here? JENNA: We come to help the Federation. GOLA: The Federation means nothing to me, I live as my ancestors have lived. We are a warrior people [wins the bout, his followers applaud] we fight to live and we live to fight. What can the Federation offer us but slavery? [reaches out to touch her face. Vila sneaks forward in an attempt to get a look at his amulet] You are of Goth blood, I know it. Proud, fit mate for a warrior Charl. [Notices Vila and slaps him away.] JENNA: If you do not want Federation servitude, why do you harbour their lackeys? GOLA: You talking about Travis? He's a refugee from the Federation. JENNA: Where is Lurgen? GOLA: If you wish to kill him, why should I, I who am his friend, who bless his name, why should I tell you where he is? JENNA: I've told you, we mean him no harm. GOLA: You come from a spaceship. My guards capture you, or else by now you would have killed us. [holding up teleport bracelets] What are these? You - fool! What are these? VILA: Just bracelets, Oh King. [Gola puts them on] Gola: Do me a trick, Fool. VILA: What? Now? GOLA: Now! VILA: Ermm - a trick ... I take this chain from about my neck and place it in my fist, like so -- it's gone! GOLA: Ah-ah! VILA: The chain now travels up my right arm, across my chest, down my left arm [dropping it into Gola's hand] and into my great king's noble hand. GOLA: Splendid! Better than my own fool. [The Fool creeps to the foot of the throne and produces a knife - Gola kicks him away] The next time, I'll kill you. TARA: He is jealous. He thinks you do not love him any longer and he feels badly about it. GOLA: He'll feel much worse if I send him below - eh Fool? FOOL: No! Not below! GOLA: Why not? I have a better fool now. FOOL: Great Charl, Leader of the Goths, greatest and strongest warrior of them all, have mercy on a fool that's lost his magic! GOLA: Behave and maybe I will. Tara, what do you think of the girl? TARA: You think to take her to pair-bond. GOLA: How do you know that? But you're right - I need a line to follow me. I need sons, to kill my brother if he kills me first. TARA: He will try that, that is as certain as our eyes. GOLA: If you say that once more, your head is forfeit! [Tara laughs] I mean it, sister or not, if you say that once more ... TARA: I say - I say that he will kill, but he will die. GOLA: We will kill each other then? TARA: That I do not know. GOLA: [kicking over the stand] Woman, you are addled with that stuff. [to Jenna] Come, sit by me. [she takes the seat on his left, a gold tiara is placed on her head] You like that? JENNA: Well --- yes. It's very nice, very nice indeed. GOLA: Good. [CAVE ENTRANCE - Blake and Rod appear above as a sentry comes out. Blake jumps him.] [LIBERATOR] AVON: Zen, any sign of Federation pursuit ships on the main detectors? ZEN: Negative. AVON: Any activity whatever? ZEN: There is no activity on the main detectors. AVON: What about the extra-range detector? CALLY: You know that puts a heavy drain on the energy banks. ZEN: Negative on the extra-range detector. CALLY: Satisfied? AVON: No. I think we're in real danger, hanging around here in stationary orbit. [GOTH - The dungeons, Road and Blake enter] ROD: Stay here. Wait for me, I will be back. BLAKE: All right. ROD: I will then take you to the tents. Wait for me. [He goes. Blake shines his torch through one of the cell doors.] [TARA'S TENT - It contains her occult paraphernalia, including a totem of skulls decorated with beads. Tara is looking into the vapour - a shot of her amulet.] TARA: Your name is what? JENNA: Jenna. [she is now richly dressed in a red and gold gown] TARA: You are of what tribe? JENNA: I come from Earth. TARA: Earth - then you must gain my approval earthwoman, or no pair-bond. JENNA: You remember Lurgen, the man who made your brother well? He will speak for me. TARA: He had magic, certainly. JENNA: He is one of the best cyber-surgeons in the whole of the Federation. TARA: But he is no longer here. JENNA: Oh? TARA: [Looking into the vapour] He is gone, far away. JENNA: Where? TARA: The vapour does not tell me that. JENNA: Lurgen left behind him a secret, what does the vapour say about that? The keeper of the secret may not even know that he, or she, is the keeper. TARA: And you are asking me who the keeper is? JENNA: Yes. TARA: And if I could tell you, what then? JENNA: Ask for anything in the whole galaxy, and it is yours. TARA: [Chuckles] It must be a very important secret, this thing you ask about. JENNA: It is. TARA: Yes, you are very beautiful, I can see why my brother wishes to pair-bond with you. JENNA: This secret, I am told, is on a person of royal blood. TARA: Ahh! JENNA: It hangs from the neck of such a person. TARA: Like the one I wear? Like the one my brother wears? JENNA: Perhaps. TARA: Well? JENNA: Yes. TARA: Mmmm - and you would like to look at it, eh? JENNA: Yes, may I? [she reaches for it, but catches Tara's hypnotic stare and is immobilised] I can't move my hand. TARA: No. [takes her hand, releasing the spell] JENNA: Was that some of your magic? TARA: Does it matter? JENNA: You must have great powers. TARA: I do know some of the mysteries handed down from the lost time. I can speak with my people of my own blood. [considering Jenna] Yes, you are very lovely. I think my brother will pair-bond with you. The vapour tells me how deeply he desires this. JENNA: I don't think you need the vapour to tell you that. You don't want me to bond with him, do you? You would rather I left Goth and never returned. TARA: Possibly. JENNA: If I stay, you're afraid that I might take some of your powers away. TARA: Hmm... The vapour says that if you remain here, you may die. JENNA: Once I know who the keeper is, I will go, I promise. Would you help me? TARA: Yes, I would help you to go, IF I knew who the keeper was. JENNA: Isn't it you? TARA: You may touch the amulet now. I will not stop you. [Jenna turns it over, it is blank] JENNA: There is nothing on it. TARA: No. You are disappointed. JENNA: I thought it might be you. TARA: Hmm ... now? And now? JENNA: And now I have to stay. TARA: Why is that? JENNA: You know why. There is only the chief, he is the only other person of royal blood. [Tara laughs uproariously] [GOLA'S TENT - More wrestling - Gola wins and the loser is dragged out.] GOLA: Wine! [The Fool tastes the wine and hands it to him] Where is the girl? [The Fool pretends the wine is poisoned, then laughs - Gola shoves him away.] Ah! there you are. [Jenna enters, smiling] Come and sit next to me, I feel low, this fool is not amusing me. Music! [the harpist strikes up] So, you do not hate me now? JENNA: I have never hated you. GOLA: Ah! That's good. You'll pair-bond with me whether you like it or not, you know. JENNA: It is an honour. GOLA: Ahhh...good. More wine. JENNA: You are truly a most remarkable man [attempts to touch his amulet, he repulses her] I am sorry, it looks interesting. GOLA: Do not touch a Charl's person. JENNA: I am sorry. GOLA: Humility is good in a woman. [THE DUNGEONS - Blake is sat waiting.] OLD MAN: [Appears at a cell door - moans. He is wearing an amulet.] BLAKE: Who are you? OLD MAN: Go away, go, go, go. BLAKE: Look, I'm not going to harm you. Who *are* you? OLD MAN: Go away, leave me to die. Go away ... LEAVE ME! BLAKE: Quiet! You'll bring the guards. OLD MAN: Not the guards! Not the guards! BLAKE: Then keep quiet. [Old Man drops out of sight.] [GOLA'S TENT - He is playing chequers with Jenna, Servalan is watching.] GOLA: There! I win! [they laugh] SERVALAN: She let you win. GOLA: What? SERVALAN: She is a superior-grade citizen of the Federation. Her IQ is very high. She let you win. GOLA: You are a friend of Lurgen's, or I ... SERVALAN: What? GOLA: I'd send you down below. SERVALAN: You lay a finger on me and the Federation battle fleets will blast you to ashes. You and all your tents. GOLA: We are a long way under the ground. Do not be sure any bomb would reach us. SERVALAN: There is not a hole deep enough for you to hide in. GOLA: Silence! I am Charl here. I do not wish your presence in my tent. Go. SERVALAN: Very well, but I must speak to you alone, in one hour, in my tent. It would be wise for you to be there. GOLA: You will come to me. SERVALAN: [shakes her head] Uh..uh. [She leaves. Tara laughs] GOLA: What are you cackling at? TARA: She represents the Federation and you are afraid of her. GOLA: No I am not. TARA: HE would not be afraid of her. GOLA: Shut up about him! JENNA: Who is she talking about? GOLA: Nobody. You didn't let me win, did you? JENNA: Of course not. VOICE: [Sounding very like Vila] Oh yes she did. JENNA: Vila! VILA: Eh? JENNA: [Under her breath] Be quiet! VOICE: But she did! She let you win. GOLA: What did you say? VILA: Eh? GOLA: You said she let me win. [The Fool turns and winks at Tara] VILA: No I didn't. I didn't say anything. JENNA: [In an urgent whisper] Vila, shut up! VILA: But I didn't say anything. GOLA: Guards! You are going down below. VILA: But I said nothing. GOLA: You do not insult the Charl of the Goths - BELOW! VILA: [carried off by guards] But I didn't speak. Honestly, I didn't. You've got to believe me. I said nothing - I said nothing! [he is hauled out protesting as Jenna tries to intervene] JENNA: Gola, please! GOLA: No, no, you must learn. JENNA: Gola, don't kill him, please. [Vila is heard shrieking protests off stage] GOLA: We'll see, we'll see. [THE DUNGEONS - Blake hides as Vila is dragged in.] VILA: But you don't understand, it's all been a terrible mistake! Put me down! I didn't say one word, really! You've got to believe me! I did not speak, I'm telling you, I didn't say a word. PATROL LEADER: Come along, we know where you've got to go. Come along. [opens cell door] In you go. [shoves him inside] Behave! VILA: I was behaving. [Guard locks door and leaves] Ah, don't leave me here, at least leave me a torch. I don't like the dark. I like to see what I'm scared of. BLAKE: Vila. VILA: Huh! Blake! BLAKE: Shhh, quiet. VILA: Am I glad to see you. What are you doing here? BLAKE: Is Jenna all right? VILA: Only pair-bonding with the chief. BLAKE: Good. VILA: Well, come on, get me out. BLAKE: I can't, not for a while. You'll have to stay here for a bit. VILA: Marvelous. OLD MAN: [Groans] VILA: Who's that? BLAKE: He seems harmless. VILA: He smells horrible. BLAKE: Well, so would you if you'd been here for as long as he has. VILA: Well let's not think about that. BLAKE: Tell me what's going on out there - everything. [SERVALAN'S TENT - Jenna enters, followed by two guards.] JENNA: Where is Travis? SERVALAN: I can see you have the run of the place. JENNA: I am betrothed to the Charl and I have his protection. SERVALAN: I still may kill you. JENNA: I only have a minute. Where is Travis? SERVALAN: Oh, he'll be back. JENNA: I think not. I think he already knows the location of Star One and he's on his way there already. SERVALAN: Really? And who do you imagine told him? JENNA: The only person who knew: Lurgen. SERVALAN: Lurgen was gone before we arrived. JENNA: Was he? Are you sure. SERVALAN: Travis knows better than to trick me. I've already told him he's dead if he tries. JENNA: With all that power at stake, do you think that he really cares? GOLA: [Off stage] Jenna! Where is Jenna? SERVALAN: [Laughs] I may not kill you after all. A lifetime with Gola would be very educational for you. [GOLA'S TENT - Jenna is dancing with the Charl when she sways and reels into his arms] JENNA: I feel strange - dizzy. It must have been the wine. GOLA: The wine? Seems all right. JENNA: I must sit. [Sits on a couch] GOLA: [Rounding on the Fool] YOU gave her the wine. FOOL: No, no! GOLA: I saw you give it her. You gave her a potion. One of HER potions. FOOL: No! I swear I did nothing. GOLA: Guards! You are going down below. FOOL: Not below! GOLA: While I decide how you will die. Get him out of here! FOOL: I did nothing! I did nothing! [carried off protesting just like Vila] GOLA: Are you all right, my love? JENNA: [Lying on couch] Yes, I think so. I did not drink too much. Gola, please release Vila. GOLA: What? JENNA: He was telling the truth. Your fool tricked him by throwing his voice. You see how much he hates us. Oh, Gola, please - or else you will have no fool to entertain you. GOLA: Guards, bring the other fool back up. Be well my love. [To Tara] Will she be well? TARA: [Keeping a straight face] Oh yes. GOLA: Good. JENNA: [Looking at the amulet again] Oh, I'm sorry, it is forbidden. GOLA: No, no, please my love. [She turns it over, it is blank. Tara laughs triumphantly] [DUNGEONS] VILA: It has to be Gola, it's not his sister, so it has to be him. OLD MAN: [Feebly] No... VILA: Shut up, will you. Who is he anyway? BLAKE: I don't know. Look, I'm going up there, soon. VILA: What about me? BLAKE: Shh, quiet! [The guards bring the Fool down, Blake hides] FOOL: No! Don't put me down there, please! I didn't put poison in her drink, I didn't, I tell you. I didn't put poison in her drink, I didn't! [They shove him into Vila's cell and haul Vila out] VILA: Hey! What's going on? PATROL LEADER: You're free - orders of the Charl. VILA: Eh? PATROL LEADER: You're the new fool. If you aren't funny, you'll be back. VILA: Wonderful. [They leave] FOOL: [Moans] I knew it would come to this in the end. OLD MAN: Who is it? FOOL: It's I, your fool. OLD MAN: Who? FOOL: You've forgotten. Never mind, we'll all die and be forgotten down here. It's a sad life, that of a fool. [GOLA'S TENT - Gola is lying with Jenna on the couch.] VILA: [Demonstrating a trick] He loves her! GOLA: [Unenthusiastically] It's quite good - quite good. [Tara offers him a drink] A drink from your hand? [pushes it away, they both laugh] he is the fool, not I. VILA: And now - for my next trick [he juggles, they applaud] [DUNGEONS - Rod enters laughing] BLAKE: I thought you were never coming. ROD: My men are already in the tunnel. BLAKE: You going up alone? ROD: I have business with my brother. BLAKE: Who is your brother? ROD: Come. [they leave] OLD MAN: [Groans - the Fool fills a cup with water.] FOOL: Drink master [hands it through the bars] Water. [The old man drinks.] [A CORRIDOR - Rod and Blake enter - they hear Gola laughing.] BLAKE: I thought you said they'd all be asleep. [they continue] [GOLA'S TENT - Vila is playing a cat's cradle game with Jenna.] VILA: In this trick, the captive ring is liberated without breaking the rope. Watch closely, is there a break above? [looking Jenna in the eye] or a Blake below? And - one - two - three. [pulls the ring free] GOLA: Splendid! Your friend is a good fool. I will keep him here with me forever. Like you, eh, my sweet pair-bond partner. JENNA: Of course. GOLA: Tara, tell us the future. I'm in a mood to know. Will I be happy with my sweet pair-bond partner? TARA: No. GOLA: What?! TARA: You will not have her. GOLA: You talk nonsense. TARA: The vapour sees a duel of the blood. GOLA: No! TARA: Yes, a duel of the charls - tonight! GOLA: How can that be? TARA: It is! GOLA: [With a roar, he kicks over her tripod] ROD: [Entering] Leave the woman! Try your strength with a man. GOLA: Rod! ROD: Brother - I will not call you Charl. GOLA: Then I shall make you. [Blake enters] JENNA: Blake! BLAKE: Shhh! GOLA: Who is this? ROD: This is my second. GOLA: I see, where's my second? [to Vila] You, fool! VILA: What? I don't ... GOLA: [To henchman] and Master of the Duel - you! TARA: It is written he will kill you. GOLA: You called him back, didn't you? TARA: Yes I did. GOLA: Why? TARA: Because you betrayed the tribe. You seek to take her to pair-bond and she is not of the Tents of Goth. The vapour has prophesied that if you take her to pair-bond, you will die by your brother's hand. GOLA: I am not afraid of your vapour. TARA: Hmm - we shall see. [preparations for the duel overseen by the Master of the Duel. Rod and Gola's left wrists are linked by a six foot chain.] BLAKE: [To Vila] That is Rod, Gola's brother. Now that's his brother... VILA: I see what you mean. BLAKE: Now is not the right time. [Master of the Duel signals a start, a gong strikes.] ROD: He who lives be Charl GOLA: He who lives be Charl. [The duel begins. Gola kills Rod by strangling him with the chain and stabbing him, gong strikes to mark end of duel] GOLA: The victory is mine. I am Charl here. [applause - Tara hands him a cup] BLAKE: Vila! [Vila checks Rod's amulet, it is blank] GOLA: [drinking triumphantly] Your vapour lied. [The drink is poisoned, he starts to choke] JENNA: Gola! GOLA: Aaaaargh... [collapses and dies. Blake comes across to check his amulet] JENNA: No, it's not him. BLAKE: Then who is there left? TARA: Ask the true Charl, the greatest leader of them all. BLAKE: Who is he? TARA: He who is most magnificent, the greatest truest charl of the Tents of Goth, [turning to Vila] your companion of the cells. VILA: What, that old man? TARA: Their father. They deposed him, and then quarrelled between themselves as to who should be the new charl. BLAKE: Their father? That old man? TARA: Go now. Take this key and take the bracelets. Leave this place. Go! BLAKE: All right. Come on. [They go. Tara mounts the dias, the Master of the Duel places a fur cape on her shoulders and she sits on the throne, laughing triumphantly.] [DUNGEONS - Blake, Jenna and Vila enter.] FOOL: Let us out. [Blake unlocks his door, then the old man's. He is lying on his bed.] BLAKE: Who is the keeper? FOOL: Leave him - let my master die in peace. BLAKE: Who is the keeper? FOOL: [Singing] I sing you of the Tents, my Master, Charl of the Goths, I sing you of the golden tents Where your fathers wait to greet you... BLAKE: [Examining the talisman] It's gone, the brain print's gone! FOOL: You seek the talisman the brain of the healer. The man with the eye patch took it. BLAKE: Travis! Old man, old man, Lurgen, the healer, did he talk of Star One? Did he speak to you of anything? OLD MAN: [virtually inaudible] A fool knows everything and nothing. [dies] FOOL: He's dead! [pushes Blake away and croons over the body] I sing you of all the wise charls I sing you of all that Your life, your death, Brought honour to the tents... VILA: That's it then. Long live President Travis. We might as well lock the door and stay where we are. JENNA: Did he say anything to you Blake? BLAKE: He said "A fool knows everything and nothing." [louder] A fool knows everything and nothing. FOOL: [In a mechanical monotone, his eyes rolling] The location of Star One is at grid reference C-one-seven-three-two-zero in the Eleventh Sector. VILA: Eleventh Sector? That must be in the middle of nowhere. BLAKE: Shut up. FOOL: The location of Star One is at grid reference C-one-seven- three-two-zero in the Eleventh Sector. BLAKE: Lurgen must have planted it in his brain. VILA: A man with a sense of humour. BLAKE: A fool knows everything and nothing. FOOL: [in the background] The location of Star One is at grid reference C one-seven-three-two-zero in the eleventh sector... BLAKE: Yes, that must have been the trigger phrase. The fool to keep a secret that Lurgen never wanted in the first place. JENNA: All we have to do now is find it. CALLY: [Intercom] Blake, this is Cally. Do you read me Blake? BLAKE: Yes Cally, bring us up. [They teleport] [LIBERATOR - They enter the flight deck.] AVON: Another few seconds and I would have left you, Blake. BLAKE: Course for evasion Zen. ZEN: One eight nine, standard by ten. BLAKE: Jenna! JENNA: One eight nine, standard by ten - and on, with luck, to Star One. [Liberator gets under way.] |