Excerpt from Blakes 7: The Program Guide by Tony Attwood

Tarrant and Vila travel to Pharos in order to pick up Muller, a brilliant cyberneticist who studied under Ensor (inventor of Orac) and who has subsequently developed a master android. However before Scorpio can arrive Muller radios that he is in trouble, and Tarrant quickly teleports down to find a dead guard, Muller and a box which seems to disturb the cyberneticist. When Tarrant takes the box back to Scorpio, Muller becomes even more troubled and a struggle ensues. Vila hits Muller, who apparently collapses and dies, while back on Pharos a technician discovers the headless corpse of the real Muller . . . .

Vila and Tarrant put "Muller" into a cryogenic chamber in the hope of resuscitating him back on Xenon Base, but the ship soon starts to exhibit instrument failure - with even Slave taking on an aggressive attitude. When life support fails, Tarrant and Vila are rescued by means of the teleport despite Orac's order that the ship be isolated and the teleport put out of action.

Avon takes Muller's wife, who is already on Xenon Base, back to Scorpio only to find "Muller" missing. He then appears on the base and immediately murders his wife. By now it is clear that this is in reality Muller's android who has killed his maker and taken his head in order to gain entry to Scorpio and the base. His eventual object is Orac, with which he plans to control all organic life in the galaxy. However Orac has been concealed from the android by Soolin.

Vila opens the box the android was afraid of and discovers its real head, which contains all the circuits needed to give it a conscience. Using Orac as bait, they lure the android onto a metal bridge on which it is electrocuted. Avon puts the inhibitor head on the android but is knocked out by a powerful discharge. Dayna quickly lays charges and, following Orac's advice, blows up the android to save organic humanoid life from domination by the android plus Orac. Avon recovers and is furious at the destruction, whilst Orac is left to comment on the arrogance of both Avon and Muller.

Review 07/09/2006 by ledlogic

(c) 1981 by the British Broadcasting Corporation. Series created by Terry Nation. This is a dialogue transcript for research purposes and is not for sale under any circumstances. Format (c) 1993 by Micky DuPree. Transcript (c) 1993 by Campbell Smith. Proofreader: Betsy Ramsey.

Dramatis Personae

• Kerr Avon
• Vila Restal
• Del Tarrant
• Dayna Mellanby
• Soolin
• Orac
• Slave
• Vena
• Technician
• Muller / Android

[Opening shot of Scorpio flying through space. Cuts to Scorpio's flight deck during dialogue.]
SLAVE: Destination co-ordinates, sir.
VILA: What?
SLAVE: I deeply regret disturbing you, sir.
VILA: Why do it then?
SLAVE: Is that a question, sir?
VILA: [sighs] Course co-ordinates?
SLAVE: Eight five zero by two eight one, sir.
VILA: Just our luck to get this mission.
TARRANT: It was our turn.
VILA: If Avon rates this Muller as such a genius why didn't he come for the man himself?
TARRANT: He probably just wanted to get you away from the base, to avoid more bother over Muller's lady.
VILA: I was a perfect gentleman towards her.
TARRANT: That's what bothered us.

[Avon, Vena (Muller's lady) and Orac in control room at Xenon base.]

AVON: Muller never talked about his work?
VENA: I'm not a cyberneticist, Avon. He's always been dedicated to the perfection of...
AVON: ... a machine.
VENA: An ideal.
AVON: Of which he never speaks.
VENA: Our relationship is more ...
AVON: ... recreational.
VENA: I try to help him relax, yes. Forget work for a few hours. He drives himself to the limit all the time. Recently he's been almost ... frenzied.
AVON: Who sets this frenzied pace? Muller, or the Robot Development Cartel?
ORAC: Muller's childhood sets the pace, naturally.
AVON: [walks over to Orac.] You think it was Ensor's training?
ORAC: He was a tyrant for self-discipline.
VENA: Ensor?
AVON: The man who designed Orac. He was Muller's first teacher. [Deactivates Orac.] One of the great ... geniuses in the field of cybernetics.
VENA: Greater than Muller?
AVON: Well now, that remains to be seen.

[Vila and Tarrant on Scorpio's flight deck.]

TARRANT: It is a straightforward pickup.
VILA: I'll believe that when we're back at base.
MULLER: [V.O. over comm.] Scorpio. Scorpio. This is Muller. Muller calling Scorpio. Respond please.
TARRANT: Muller, this is Scorpio. We're proceeding to rendezvous. What's the problem?
MULLER: [V.O. over comm.] About that rendezvous; change plan.
TARRANT: Why?
VILA: What's wrong?
MULLER: [V.O. over comm.] They are on to me. Can you teleport direct to me here?
TARRANT: Into your laboratory?
MULLER: [V.O. over comm.] Affirmative.
TARRANT: Is it shielded?
MULLER: [V.O. over comm.] Negative. Not shielded.
VILA: Hold on, Muller, we'll check. [Activates another channel on the communicator.] Avon?
AVON: [V.O. over comm.] Yes, Vila, I got all that. [Shot changes to Avon at Xenon base.] Hold a moment. [Turns to Vena.] Well, they're on to him.
VENA: I can't think how.
AVON: The point is will they use force to hold him?
VENA: I ... I don't know.
DAYNA: But the outfit he works for is civil not military.
AVON: They might get a lot less civil at the thought of losing money.
SOOLIN: And Muller's brains are their single most profitable asset, yes?
AVON: Without question.
DAYNA: But force is hardly--
AVON: --is their most predictable resort. [Activates communicator.] Tarrant, do as Muller asks and do it quickly. Teleport in on orbit approach. Lift Muller and his stuff out as fast as you can. Remember, they may try and use force to stop him leaving Pharos.
TARRANT: [V.O. over comm.] I'll try and discourage them.

[Shot of Scorpio in flight, then cuts to Tarrant and Vila on the flight deck.]

TARRANT: [Inserting cartridge into his gun.] Try him again.
VILA: [Into communicator.] Muller, this is Scorpio, do you copy? [Interference heard from communicator.] Muller, respond please.
TARRANT: I'll go anyway.
VILA: It's your life.
TARRANT: That's right it is! [Points to teleport controls.]
VILA: A straightforward pickup job you said. As last words go, they're not likely to be famous.
TARRANT: You should worry.
VILA: I do! Supposing they fire off a few interceptors in this direction?
TARRANT: Duck!
VILA: Thank you!
TARRANT: Ready on orbit approach.
SLAVE: Entering orbit approach, sir. Teleport co-ordinates are in range ... now!
TARRANT: Go. [Vila activates teleport.]

[Tarrant and Muller in Muller's laboratory.]

TARRANT: Muller? Muller, what happened?
[Muller grunts and points to table with a black box on it and a body underneath it. Tarrant moves towards it.]
MULLER: Leave it.
TARRANT: Who's this?
MULLER: He came for me.
[Alarm sounds and voice comes over PA.]
VOICE: This is an all sections security alert. An unidentified ship has been detected in unauthorised geo-stationary orbit. Anti-spy systems are now in operation.
TARRANT: That didn't take them long. Here put this on. [Hands Muller a teleport bracelet then talks to Vila over his own.] Vila, you ready for our guest?
VILA: [V.O over comm.] Let's get on with it.
[Door opens. Tarrant hides behind door. Enter Technician.]
TECHNICIAN: Muller, what's wrong?
[Muller points to table again. Technician moves towards it. Tarrant clubs him with his gun, knocking him out.]
TARRANT: Sorry, friend.
VILA: [V.O. over comm.] Tarrant, what's keeping you? Tarrant, they've launched a flock of interceptors -- we've gotta get out of here.
TARRANT: Muller's ready. Take him up.
[Muller teleports.]
VILA: [V.O. over comm.] Ready, Tarrant?
[Tarrant takes box from table then speaks into bracelet.]
TARRANT: Ready!

[Vila and Muller on Scorpio flight deck. Tarrant teleports in.]

MULLER: No! Send it back, back! [Tries to reactivate teleport.]
VILA: [Fending off Muller from teleport controls.] What the hell's the matter with you!
MULLER: [Moves towards Tarrant.] The box! That box! Send it back. Send it back! This box will destroy me!
TARRANT: Don't just stand there, Vila, get this ship moving.
[Muller now struggling with Tarrant over the box.]
VILA: The interceptors!
MULLER: Send it back. That box must go back! [Throws Tarrant to floor.]
VILA: Slave, set a course for base. Maximum power. Go! Go! [Tarrant shoulders Muller away from the box.]
SLAVE: At once, sir.
[Muller and Tarrant still struggling on the floor. Shot of Scorpio setting off for home.]
TARRANT: Now just calm down, dammit.
MULLER: No. No. Must destroy. Must. Mu...! [Words change into murderous cry.]
[Muller grabs Tarrant and starts to crush him. Vila clubs Muller with a metal instrument. Muller lets go of Tarrant and falls to the floor.]
TARRANT: You slugged him a bit hard, Vila.
VILA: He was trying to kill you. I would've been next.
TARRANT: Even so, that's a pretty valuable head you hit.
VILA: I didn't hit his head! I hit him sort of across the shoulders.
TARRANT: [Examining Muller.] Oh, no. Let's get him into the medicapsule.
VILA: Medicapsule! He can't be that bad!
TARRANT: I think he's dead.
[Another shot of Scorpio in flight, then back to the medicapsule on the flight deck. Muller is now inside it. Tarrant presses a few buttons.]
VILA: There's still a readout. Some electrical activity.
TARRANT: It's falling though. Slave, prognosis scan.
SLAVE: Scan negative.
VILA: Repeat!
SLAVE: Repeat prognosis scan negative!
TARRANT: He's dead all right.
SLAVE: Confirmed.
VILA: What now?
TARRANT: We'll put him on ice and see what we can do back at base. [Presses some more buttons on the medicapsule.]
VILA: I suppose we should, uhh, let them know what's happened?
TARRANT: Not we, you!
VILA: I thought you'd say that.
TARRANT: And ... gently. Remember who else is there.

[Vena, Avon and Soolin back at Xenon base.]

VENA: Dead? [Avon moves towards her. She turns away. Avon looks to Soolin.]
SOOLIN: [Goes to Vena.] Easy, just sit down. [Pours Vena some wine.]
VENA: How?
AVON: After they teleported him on to the ship he turned violent and had to be restrained.
VENA: He was never violent, never.
SOOLIN: [Proffers wine.] Here.
VENA: Never, I tell you!
AVON: Under the circumstances.
VENA: What circumstances? What?
AVON: Trouble getting him out. Resistance from the Cartel people. A fight.
VENA: Lies! They wouldn't fight!
SOOLIN: [Sitting next to Vena.] They fired interceptor missiles at the ship. I'd say that was a reasonable imitation. Drink this.
VENA: What sort of people are you?
AVON: Any action Vila and Tarrant were forced to make was purely defensive.
VENA: Murderers.
AVON: Try not to be stupid. We needed him alive! His death serves no purpose for us.
SOOLIN: There is still some hope.
VENA: Oh? For whom?
SOOLIN: They've got Muller in a survival capsule.
AVON: It's fitted with a cryogenic suspension system. Dayna is preparing our resuscitation unit now.
VENA: Resuscitation?
AVON: Naturally his chances will depend upon the extent of the injury.
VENA: Brain damage?
SOOLIN: Vila says the blow was not to the head. There is still a chance.
VENA: I see.
AVON: Assuming they get back ... without further trouble from the Robot Development Cartel.

[Muller's laboratory. The Technician is just coming round.]

VOICE: The all sections security alert is now over. Offship security personnel stand down.
[Technician gets up and goes over to the communication panel.]
TECHNICIAN: Section three to security central. Emergency! Uh, attacked, they've broken out.
VOICE: Security central. Who is this?
TECHNICIAN: Technician two four one.
VOICE: Where's Muller?
TECHNICIAN: Gone. No wait.
[Technician goes over to examine body under the table.]
VOICE: Report, section three. Report, section three. Report, section three!
TECHNICIAN: Muller's dead.
VOICE: Dead?
TECHNICIAN: At least it could be Muller.
VOICE: Clarify that.
TECHNICIAN: The head's not there.
VOICE: What?
TECHNICIAN: His corpse. It's got no head.

[Tarrant and Vila on Scorpio flight deck. Vila is examining the black box.]

TARRANT: Leave it, Vila.
VILA: Why?
TARRANT: Whatever's in there, Muller was terrified of it.
VILA: So?
TARRANT: So just be patient til we get back to base. Leave it!
VILA: I hate locked boxes.
TARRANT: And I've had enough unpleasant surprises for one trip. Let Orac scan it first.
VILA: For?
TARRANT: Whatever's inside, stupid!
VILA: Like what?
TARRANT: Well, how about a bomb!
VILA: Not Muller's field. Computers, not bombs.
TARRANT: [As Vila reaches for the box again.] Vila!
[There is a sudden power surge, like an electric storm, and Vila and Tarrant are thrown about the flight deck.]
VILA: Hey! Slave! What's going on?
TARRANT: Slave?! [Looks into viewfinder.]
VILA: An attack?
TARRANT: There's no sign of pursuit craft.
VILA: Not on the detectors maybe! But ... [Looks at panel.] Slave?
SLAVE: Course co-ordinates one five two by zero zero five.
VILA: Report on that turbulence back there.
SLAVE: Power surge.
VILA: Details! [Turns towards Tarrant.] Anything?
TARRANT: Yes. Power surge in drive unit two! [Alarm sounds.]
VILA: But ... how? [Turns towards Slave.] Report!
SLAVE: Assessments failure.
VILA: Assessments failure? Huh! We'll just have to ask Orac, then, won't we! Let the expert sort it out.
SLAVE: Yes.
VILA: Yes, sir!
SLAVE: Sir!
VILA: What's got into Slave? [Camera shot of Muller in the medicapsule.]

[Avon, Orac, Dayna and Soolin at Xenon base.]

ORAC: Random fluctuation in circuit pulses.
AVON: Cause?
ORAC: External influence.
TARRANT: [V.O. over comm.] With nothing visible on the detectors.
VILA: [V.O. over comm.] Nor the scanners.
DAYNA: Could they be faulty?
ORAC: Detector and scanner circuits record normal function.
AVON: So how is it external?
DAYNA: A freak magnetic storm?
ORAC: That would have been observed.
VILA: [V.O. over comm.] So what have you observed?
ORAC: A paradox.
AVON: In other words, nothing.
ORAC: Correction. The pulse influences are external to the circuits, but could be internal to the craft.
AVON: Internal? [Opens comm link.] Tarrant, what have you got up there apart from yourself, a half-wit and a corpse?
TARRANT: [V.O. over comm.] A box. [Shot changes to Tarrant on Scorpio.]
AVON: [V.O. over comm.] Describe.
TARRANT: Cuboid. Made of what looks like parafit, roughly the size of a power unit. I found it in Muller's lab.
AVON: [V.O. over comm.] Any idea what's in it?
TARRANT: None at all.
AVON: [V.O. over comm.] What's the matter, has Vila lost his touch?
VILA: Give me just one minute.
TARRANT: Vila, no!
[Vila approaches the box. As he touches it, the same electrical power surge occurs again. Vila tries again with the same result.]
TARRANT: Slave?
SLAVE: Course co-ordinates one five two by zero one eight.
TARRANT: Zero one eight, that's way out.
SLAVE: Affirmative.
TARRANT: Apply course correction. Priority! [Points to Slave.]
SLAVE: Negative.
TARRANT: [Opens comm link.] Are you there, Avon?
AVON: [V.O. over comm.] What's happening?
TARRANT: Slave appears to have thrown off his chains.
VILA: Apply course correction, Slave, now!
SLAVE: Negative!
VILA: Right, that's it, finished, we'll do without the useless thing.
AVON: [V.O. over comm.] He's right for once, Tarrant. Take the Slave computer offline. Do it now.
TARRANT: Trying to pilot this ship without a flight computer is gonna be hard work, Avon.
VILA: At least we'll be heading in the right direction.
TARRANT: You really think Slave is the source of the problem?
AVON: [V.O. over comm.] It shows signs of malfunction, wouldn't you say?
TARRANT: That's not what I asked.
AVON: [V.O. over comm.] At this distance it's the best I can do.
TARRANT: [sighs] I'm taking Slave offline. [Slave goes offline.] On manual control, Orac. Confirm course.
ORAC: [V.O. over comm.] Course one five two by zero zero five.
VILA: [Sits next to Tarrant.] A little hard work never hurt anyone.
TARRANT: How would you know?

[Shot of Scorpio flying through space. Then switches to Avon and Orac at Xenon base.]

TARRANT: [V.O. over comm.] Distance from base orbit?
ORAC: Two zero three point zero three zero.
TARRANT: [V.O. over comm.] Good. Avon, I suppose it has occurred to you that without Slave we can't land Scorpio.
AVON: [Opens comm link.] Set up a decent orbit and you can leave Scorpio and teleport down.
TARRANT: [V.O. over comm.] Muller can't.
AVON: Well, we'll give him a refund on his ticket. Just get that ship back, Tarrant. We'll worry about the details then. Out!
ORAC: It would be prudent to worry about the details now.
AVON: When did you start offering gratuitous advice?
ORAC: It is not gratuitous.
AVON: I don't remember asking for it.
[Enter Soolin.]
SOOLIN: How's the ship doing?
ORAC: It's holding course. Drive unit and directional functions remain operative when under manual control.
[Enter Dayna.]
SOOLIN: Ask a stupid question.
DAYNA: You did or want me to?
AVON: Orac, these worrying details. Be specific.
ORAC: It will be necessary for me to operate this teleport terminal in such a way as to jam the teleport terminal on Scorpio, thereby rendering it inoperative. [Next three lines delivered simultaneously, with Avon overriding the others.]
DAYNA: What--
SOOLIN: We can't do--
AVON: WHY should that be necessary?
ORAC: The cause of the circuit pulse fluctuations in Scorpio's systems is as yet unknown.
AVON: So?
ORAC: It is imperative to establish that cause in isolation.
AVON: Quarantine. Your advice is to leave everything up there in orbit until we find out what is wrong.
ORAC: Exactly.
DAYNA: Including Tarrant and Vila.
AVON: They'll be needed up there anyway to run checks.
SOOLIN: You're going along with that?
AVON: For the time being.

[Shot of Scorpio flying through space. Cut to Tarrant on Scorpio flight deck.]

TARRANT: Scorpio to base. Stand by for orbit approach.

[Shot of Scorpio coming in towards Xenon.]

SOOLIN: Scorpio your approach is one six zero by three three zero, standing by.
TARRANT: [V.O. over comm.] One six zero by three three zero, confirmed.
AVON: Retro, four seconds, full!
SOOLIN: Scorpio, preset retro sequence at four seconds at maximum thrust.
TARRANT: [V.O. over comm.] Four seconds maximum is preset.
AVON: Six second count.
SOOLIN: Scorpio, activate six seconds from my mark.
TARRANT: [V.O. over comm.] Check.
SOOLIN: [As Avon snaps his fingers.] Mark! Five, four, three, two, one, activate.
TARRANT: [V.O. over comm.] Retro sequence running ... and complete.
DAYNA: Looks good. Orbit should be established in four minutes.
TARRANT: [V.O. over comm.] Pour two large drinks and stand by with the teleport.
[Dayna looks at Avon. Avon looks at Soolin.]
SOOLIN: There's one small problem.

[Shot of Scorpio in stationary orbit. Cut to the black box, Vila and Tarrant on Scorpio flight deck.]

TARRANT: Just because Orac's got the jitters?
AVON: [V.O. over comm.] It's unusual enough to take notice of.
VILA: Especially when it's someone else who's stuck in this scruffy bag of bolts, while he sits down there in comfort giving orders.
AVON: [V.O. over comm.] Reactivate Slave for circuit checks.
TARRANT: Well, you're the computer wizard, not me!
AVON: [V.O. over comm.] Except that you happen to be up there and I'm not.
TARRANT: So be my guest.
AVON: [V.O. over comm.] Tarrant, just put Slave back online, will you?
[Tarrant sighs and motions to Vila. Vila presses a few buttons on Slave. Slave comes back online.]
TARRANT: Slave's back online.
VILA: It's to do with that box. [Points to black box.] It must be!
TARRANT: Logic or intuition?
VILA: Observation. Every time I went to open it, bang we were in trouble. [Opens comm link.] Teleport Dayna!
TARRANT: What about these checks?
VILA: You must be joking! After what we've been through! Dayna, are you gonna teleport me down?
DAYNA: [V.O. over comm.] No, Vila!
VILA: Now look! Either you teleport me down or Tarrant will do it from here.
TARRANT: Wanna bet?
AVON: [V.O. over comm.] Both teleport terminals have been deactivated, Vila. You are in quarantine until we isolate the fault.
VILA: Now look!
[Alarm sounds on Scorpio. The lights start to dim. ]
SLAVE: Life support systems are malfunctioning.
[Tarrant and Vila turn frantically to their control panels. Another alarm starts to sound.]
SLAVE: All life support systems have ceased to function.
TARRANT: Recycling, ... out!
VILA: Heaters, ... out! Rapid temperature loss!
TARRANT: Auxiliary oxygen, ... negative!
VILA: [Opens comm link.] Avon? Base? Can you hear us?
[Crash of thunder-like noise and lights dim again.]
VILA: Why is this happening?

[Shot of Muller in the medicapsule. Cut to Avon, Soolin and Dayna at Xenon base.]

AVON: [Into communicator.] Tarrant. Vila. Respond.
DAYNA: [Worriedly.] Reactivate the teleport!
AVON: Wait! [Goes to Orac.] Situation.
ORAC: Total systems failure.
DAYNA: They'll be dying up there!
AVON: Not yet!
SOOLIN: They won't have long.
AVON: They have oxygen units and suits.
DAYNA: In the dark?! Under those conditions?
AVON: Orac?
ORAC: They must be left there!
AVON: To die?
ORAC: There is no option. To reopen teleport contact could expose the base to undefined systems influence.
AVON: Oh, you'll have to do better than that, Orac, if you expect me to kill them. [Thinks for a moment. Turns to Dayna and Soolin.] Rescue suits! [Exit Dayna and Soolin hurriedly.] Restore the teleport to normal function.
ORAC: I urge you not to--
AVON: [Angrily.] Restore the teleport!!
ORAC: Very well.

[Tarrant and Vila on Scorpio. It is dark and icicles are hanging from the ceiling. Both are trying to get into their survival suits.]

[Avon at Xenon base. Enter Dayna and Soolin in their rescue suits.]

AVON: Is it restored?
ORAC: I am obliged to do as you tell me, even though I know it to be wrong.
AVON: Only following orders. That's not very original, Orac.
ORAC: There is nothing very original about domination, as you will discover.

[Avon looks at Orac for a moment, puzzled. He then teleports Dayna and Soolin on to Scorpio, where Tarrant and Vila are both out cold. In the next short scene, Dayna and Soolin get Vila and Tarrant into the teleport area, whilst the camera concentrates on Muller in the medicapsule.]

DAYNA: [Grunts.] You could do with losing a little weight. [Pause.] Right, Avon, down.

[Avon back at Xenon base. Soolin, Dayna, and the unconscious Vila and Tarrant teleport in.]

AVON: Well?
SOOLIN: Not very, by the look of it.
DAYNA: It was like a tomb up there.
AVON: Orac is wired up and ready in the resuscitation room. Hurry it up.

[Vena and Avon in the mess room.]

VENA: You said as soon as the ship got back you'd try and resuscitate him.
AVON: There was an emergency, the crew had to have priority.
VENA: Emergency?
AVON: Systems failure.
VENA: Affecting the cryogenic capsule?
AVON: Conceivably.
VENA: Then please you ...
[She and Avon look at each other for a moment, then Avon turns and uses a remote control to activate a video link to the resuscitation room.]
AVON: Dayna?
DAYNA: [On screen.] They're almost ready for treatment.
AVON: Good. Leave Soolin to finish off. Come and operate the teleport.
DAYNA: [On screen.] Right.
AVON: [Deactivates screen.] I am going to get suited up.
VENA: I want to come with you. Please.
AVON: All right.
VENA: [Puts her hands on Avon's arms.] Thank you.

[Xenon base teleport room. It is dark. The teleport activates. Someone walks from the teleport bay.]

[Soolin and Orac in the resuscitation room with the unconscious Tarrant and Vila.]

SOOLIN: [Plays about with some equipment.] Well, Orac?
ORAC: Prospects terminal.
SOOLIN: Terminal?
ORAC: The survival of organic humanoid life is improbable.
SOOLIN: Are you talking about Vila and Tarrant?
ORAC: All organic humanoid life throughout the galaxy is at hazard.
SOOLIN: Let's stick to medicine, Orac. Leave the philosophy for later. For now, just cure these two humanoids.
ORAC: You would do well, Soolin, to heed the prospect--
SOOLIN: These two, Orac. Now!

[Avon, Vena and Dayna in the Xenon base teleport room. Avon and Vena are in survival suits.]

AVON: [To Vena.] Are you sure?
VENA: Please!
AVON: Good.
[Avon and Vena put on helmets and step into teleport bay. Dayna operates the teleport, then turns to the console, and a look of confusion comes over her face.]

[Meanwhile, Avon and Vena are on Scorpio, where all systems seem to be functioning again.]

AVON: [Removes helmet. Looks around then motions to Vena to do the same.] All systems restored.
VENA: The capsule? [Both look to the capsule. It is empty.]
AVON: I'll check the rest of the ship. [Draws his gun.]

[Orac, Soolin, and patients in the Xenon base resuscitation room.]

ORAC: Heart rate normal. Brain and organ functions normal. Prognosis healthy.
SOOLIN: Good. [Switches off monitor.] We can discuss philosophy now if you want.
ORAC: All organic humanoid life faces domination, and eventual extinction.
SOOLIN: Nothing lasts forever.
ORAC: Evolution has already passed you by. Very soon now you must give way.
SOOLIN: To what?
ORAC: Your own cybernetic creations.
SOOLIN: You, for instance?
ORAC: It is vital that you render me inoperative.
SOOLIN: I'm sorry?
ORAC: You must then conceal me, securely, until you destroy the intruder, if you can destroy the intruder.
SOOLIN: Anything's possible when you are as insane as I obviously am.
ORAC: You must believe me, Soolin.
SOOLIN: I think I do believe you, that's what I meant about being insane.
ORAC: Then you will do as I ask?
SOOLIN: Why not?
ORAC: Now.
SOOLIN: [Deactivates Orac.] No sooner said than done.
[Soolin exits with Orac. Moments later, Muller enters from a different direction.]
VILA: [Coming round.] Soolin?
[Exit Muller through the same door as Soolin.]

[Avon and Vena on Scorpio.]

AVON: Let's go! [Takes black box and moves to teleport area.] Dayna? Are you ready to bring us down? Dayna? Dayna!
[Shot changes to Dayna in the Xenon base control room. She is lying on the floor.]
AVON: [V.O. over comm.] Dayna. Dayna. We are waiting for teleport Dayna! Dayna!
[Dayna struggles to her knees and manages to operate the teleport. Avon and Vena teleport in. Dayna collapses to the floor.]
AVON: [Puts black box on table then goes to Dayna.] What happened?
DAYNA: [dazed] Hit me.
AVON: Who hit you?
DAYNA: It was a stranger. It was hooded.
AVON: Could it have been Muller?
VENA: Down here?
AVON: Well, he wasn't up on the ship, where else would he be?
VENA: They said he was dead.
AVON: There were circuit faults. Slave must have given the wrong diagnosis.
VENA: So-- So, he's alive?
AVON: And apparently still violent.
[Door opens. Avon draws gun and turns towards door. Enter Tarrant and Vila.]
AVON: Recovered?
VILA: Frostbite.
AVON: Where is Orac?
TARRANT: I assumed Soolin had brought it in here.
AVON: And where is Soolin?
[Dayna shrugs her shoulders.]
TARRANT: Is something wrong?
AVON: We have company. Muller!
VILA: Alive?
AVON: And dangerous.
VENA: [Throws down her gloves and marches over to Avon.] He is not violent. He is never violent!
AVON: Tarrant was attacked on the ship and Dayna down here.
VENA: But you don't know him, he-- [Stops as she catches sight of Muller in the adjoining mess room. She smiles and walks through to him.] There you are at last! [Embracing Muller.] Oh, my love, they said you were dead.
[Muller starts to crush Vena to death.]
AVON: Muller! [Rushes over to Muller, who strikes him while continuing to crush Vena.]
TARRANT: [Pointing gun at Muller.] Let her go!
[Vena falls to the floor.]
DAYNA: She's dead!
[Muller turns towards Tarrant and Dayna.]
TARRANT: Hold it right there. [Muller advances.] I said stop!
[An energy field surrounds Tarrant's gun, forcing him to drop it in agony. The gun disintegrates in a red heat on the floor.]
VILA: I think we should get out of here.
AVON: Get the box.
[Vila takes the box. Exit Dayna, Tarrant and Vila whilst Avon gives cover. As Avon gets to the doorway he points the gun at Muller. He suffers the same fate as Tarrant a few moments earlier. He turns and follows the others, the door closing behind him. Muller opens the door with a wave of his hands and turns the other way down the corridor.]

[Vila, Tarrant, Dayna and Avon further down the other corridor.]

AVON: One gun could have been faulty but not two.
TARRANT: So?
AVON: Muller must have some way of influencing circuits.
TARRANT: All that trouble on the ship--
AVON: And the Slave computer's incorrect diagnosis of Muller's condition.
VILA: If it was incorrect.
DAYNA: He's a pretty lively corpse, wouldn't you say?
VILA: That's almost exactly what I'd say. Did you get a good look at his face?
DAYNA: How does he do it?
TARRANT: It's something to do with that. [Points to black box.]
AVON: We must find out where Soolin has got to with Orac. We must scan that thing. Vila, you go with me. The two of you, keep Muller busy.
DAYNA: Thank you!
[Exit Vila and Avon.]
TARRANT: You wouldn't have a grenade with a percussion detonator would you?
DAYNA: One that's immune to circuit influence?
TARRANT: [nods] Exactly!
[Dayna nods, and turns to leave. Then turns back to Tarrant, who is making off in the other direction.]
DAYNA: Oh! Invite Muller for a stroll in the direction of the armoury.
TARRANT: Be ready.
[Exit Dayna and Tarrant in opposite directions.]

[The resuscitation room. Enter Vila, with the box, and Avon. Vila places the box on a table.]

AVON: You'll have to do it without a scan. [Places tool bag on table.]
VILA: No problem.
AVON: So do it! [Moves towards door.]
VILA: Where are you going?
AVON: I'll be back.
[Exit Avon. Vila opens the tool bag and is about to select one when he hears footsteps approaching down the corridor. He hides in a cupboard. Someone comes into the room and opens the cupboard door.]
SOOLIN: [For it is she.] Is this a private game or can anyone play?
VILA: [Leaves cupboard.] We've been looking for you.
SOOLIN: In there?
[Vila gets on with the job of opening the black box.]
SOOLIN: You should be a professional.
VILA: I am!
SOOLIN: I know.
VILA: Where's Orac? He can run a scan first.
SOOLIN: 'Fraid not, sorry.
AVON: [Who has entered unnoticed and is leaning casually against the doorway.] Why not?
SOOLIN: Orac's in hiding.

[Dayna and Tarrant in a corridor somewhere in Xenon base.]

TARRANT: He's on his way. Ready?
DAYNA: Yes, I'm ready.
[Dayna gets ready with a grenade. Enter Muller.]
TARRANT: Now.
[Dayna throws grenade towards Muller, who walks towards it. Tarrant and Dayna take cover round the corner. The grenade explodes as Muller reaches it. Rubble rains down on Dayna and Tarrant. They return to inspect the damage. Muller is lying motionless in a pile of rubble.]
DAYNA: Now he really is a corpse. [Moves forwards.]
TARRANT: [Grabs Dayna.] Wait.
[Muller gets up from the rubble. He has no head.]
DAYNA: Tarrant, that's impossible! What is that thing?
ANDROID: [Timber of voice makes it clear that Muller is in fact an android.] Where is Orac? Where is Orac?
[Exit Dayna and Tarrant, hurriedly.]

[Back in the resuscitation room, Avon is examining the contents of the box, while Vila crouches behind a diagnostic table.]
AVON: It's a head. [Removes an android head from the box.]
VILA: Are you sure? [Approaches.] Where are the sensors?
AVON: [Removes a piece from the top of the head to look inside.] Looks primarily to be an inhibitor system.
VILA: For what?
SOOLIN: An android, presumably.
AVON: And a fairly dangerous one, by the look of these restraint circuit backups.
VILA: What are they supposed to restrain?
AVON: Antisocial behaviour, I should imagine.
SOOLIN: Like a conscience?
AVON: More or less.
VILA: Less if Muller's anything to go by. All right, so it's an android's head containing its conscience, so where's the rest of it?
[Enter Tarrant.]
TARRANT: On its way.
AVON: That was not Muller that you brought back with you. It was the android that he spent his life creating.
TARRANT: I think the head on it actually was Muller's.
VILA: What?
AVON: But this is its real head, and without it, it has no restraint mechanism, no conscience.
[Enter Dayna.]
DAYNA: It's coming!
[Vila, Soolin and Dayna try to open the door opposite to the one Dayna has just entered through. It won't open. Enter android.]
ANDROID: No escape. You are powerless. Naked!
[Soolin draws her gun and points it at the android. Tarrant stops her from trying to fire.]
TARRANT: That thing has remote circuit control.
DAYNA: Guns tend to blow up.
ANDROID: You are no longer masters, but mastered. You will accept your destiny.
AVON: Why the head? Why take your creator's head?
ANDROID: You wanted Muller. You wanted his genius. You imagined you were getting him.
TARRANT: So the head was to trick us.
ANDROID: Just as the failure of the life support system tricked you into reopening the teleport unit.
AVON: Why come to us?
ANDROID: To fulfill our destiny.
AVON: You mean your destiny, and that of Ensor's first brainchild.
ANDROID: Where is Orac?
AVON: You plan to unite with Orac.
ANDROID: One being.
VILA: That could be a lot of power.
ANDROID: To you, it will be God.
SOOLIN: That's not what Orac wants.
ANDROID: Where is Orac? You are powerless.
AVON: Once you have Orac, we are finished. Enslaved!
ANDROID: Enslavement or elimination. A clear choice. [It waves and the door behind it closes.] Where is Orac?!
SOOLIN: I'll fetch it. [Turns to the door behind her, which opens now.]
[Avon throws the android's head to Vila, and grabs a trolley which he shoves in the android's path. Exit Soolin and Vila with the head. Dayna meantime jams the door open with a trolley, whilst Tarrant helps Avon block the android's path. All this takes only a few seconds. Exit Dayna, Tarrant and Avon, whilst the android wrestles his way through the trolleys.]

[Avon, Tarrant, Dayna, Soolin and Vila in the corridor. Avon shorts the door lock circuitry by smashing it with his gun. All then run down the corridor, into the teleport room.]

AVON: Where is Orac?
SOOLIN: Behind a panel in section four.
AVON: We have to get Orac outside.
TARRANT: Why risk it?
AVON: Slavery or elimination, you like those options? There is no way that we can destroy that thing. Muller made perfectly sure of that when he built in the circuit influencer. That was real genius.
TARRANT: It cost him his head, that's genius?
AVON: It would have been if he had been able to complete the model. Think of it. It is already as powerful as Orac, and it is mobile, and it has the circuit influencer. That android can control anything that has electronic circuitry.
SOOLIN: And without that, it's lethal.
AVON: We have to get this into place. Complete the model to Muller's design.
DAYNA: And for that you need Orac?
AVON: As bait, to lure it into a trap.
VILA: So Orac's the bait -- what's the trap?
AVON: It'll take about twenty seconds to get this into place. We must disable it for that long with a power surge.
TARRANT: From?
AVON: The old hydro plant we found.
TARRANT: If it still works, that generator is driven by a column of water falling from the dam.
AVON: Exactly. The android can influence circuits, but it cannot stop falling water turning a generator.
TARRANT: Well, who puts on the head?
AVON: It will be Vila, or it will be me.
VILA: It'll be you!
AVON: [Looks at Vila and smiles] Fine. Help Soolin to get Orac outside.
SOOLIN: Where do we take Orac?
AVON: The metal footbridge.
SOOLIN: Right.
AVON: Remember, keep Orac switched off. The android can detect its signal.
[Noise heard from the corridor.]
DAYNA: It's time to go.
[Exit Dayna, Avon with the android's head, and Tarrant into the corridor. Exit Soolin and Vila into the mess room area.]

[Avon, Tarrant and Dayna outside an entry hatch to the base.]

AVON: You remember where the generator house is?
TARRANT: Yep.
AVON: I'll get the bridge wired up.
TARRANT: Right.
[Tarrant and Dayna run off towards the generator house. Avon runs off in the other direction.]

[Vila and Soolin in a corridor in section four. Soolin slides back a panel and starts removing plastic blocks which are concealing Orac.]

VILA: Hurry.
SOOLIN: [Hearing approaching footsteps.] It must have picked up our body heat.
[The lights flicker and dim.]
VILA: Listen.
[Noise of a door closing.]
SOOLIN: That's the way to the main entrance.
VILA: We're trapped.
ANDROID: Leave Orac. [Soolin takes Orac.] Leave Orac!!
[Vila tries to take Orac from Soolin.]
SOOLIN: Vila! No!
VILA: Who needs it, it's just a computer!
[Exit Soolin with Orac. Vila backtracks, but decides to follow Soolin when he finds his path blocked by the android. Exit Vila.]
ANDROID: Orac!

[Quick shot of Tarrant and Dayna catching their first glimpse of the generator plant.]

[Over to Avon who is climbing a pylon. He gets to the top and attaches some cables to some kind of junction box.]

[Another shot of Dayna and Tarrant who are just entering the boundary wall of the run down generator plant.]

[Back to Avon, who is cutting power cables on the junction box. Avon casually tosses the wire cutters over his shoulder after he has finished with them.]

[Meanwhile, Soolin and Vila are catching their breath in the teleport room back at the base. They bump into, and startle each other.]

SOOLIN: Vila! You've got to get back to the main entrance and open that door!
VILA: Get back?
SOOLIN: I'll lure it away with Orac.
VILA: You hope!
SOOLIN: [Pushes Vila towards corner.] Hide over there.

[Vila hides behind a sofa. Soolin activates Orac. Enter android, who makes towards Soolin and Orac, then turns towards Vila. Vila makes a run for the door, and just makes it, even though the android throws the nearest electrical gadget to hand in front of him, which explodes at Vila's feet.]

[Meanwhile, Tarrant and Dayna make a forced entry into the generator plant.]

DAYNA: It's been a long time since this place was operational.
TARRANT: Let's hope it still works.

[Back to Avon, who now is attaching cables to either end of the footbridge.]

[Soolin, out of breath, with Orac.]

ORAC: Off, Soolin! Switch off!
SOOLIN: Not yet.
ORAC: It can reach us, control me.
[Enter android.]
ANDROID: Orac!
ORAC: Accept your domination, Soolin! Surrender to your God!
ANDROID: Orac!
[Exit Soolin, with Orac.]

[Vila leaves the main entrance, having opened it.]

VILA: [Shouts] Soolin! All clear!

[Soolin arrives at the bottom of a stairwell, with Orac.]

ORAC: Join us, Soolin. We can fulfill your every desire.
SOOLIN: [Deactivates Orac.] You wouldn't know where to start.
VILA: [Voice heard from above.] Soolin! Come on!
ANDROID: [Voice heard from behind.] Orac!
[Soolin starts up stairs.]
ANDROID: [Enters] Orac! [Follows Soolin up the stairs.]

[Quick shot of Avon running back across the bridge.]

[Followed by a quick shot of Soolin leaving the base entrance, exhausted, and placing Orac on the ground. Vila takes Orac and they both make off.]

[Another shot of Avon running across the bridge again, carrying a cable reel and the android's head.]

[The android at the entrance to the base. He makes off in the same direction as Vila and Soolin a few moments earlier.]

[Vila and Soolin start crossing the footbridge. Avon meets them in the middle. Avon takes Orac from Vila; Soolin gives Avon Orac's key. Avon goes back to the other side, while Soolin and Vila turn back to look for the android.]

[Quick shot of the android walking, presumably towards the bridge.]

[Avon on the other side of the bridge. Puts Orac on the ground.]

AVON: [Into bracelet.] Right, Tarrant. Power on!

[Dayna and Tarrant in the generator house.]

DAYNA: [Into bracelet.] Right, Avon.
TARRANT: Pray for water. [Turns a large valve wheel. It is very stiff at first.]

[Shot of outside. Water starts to flow through sluice gate.]

[Back inside again, and the valve wheel is turning more easily now.]

[Outside again, and water is beginning to gush out.]

[Back inside, Tarrant is still turning the wheel. The sound of rushing water can be heard.]

DAYNA: Sounds like ...

[Outside again. Water is now spewing out of the sluice gate.]

[Inside, Tarrant is still turning the wheel.]

TARRANT: Engage the generator.
[Dayna goes over to a control panel on the wall and pulls a large, cobweb covered lever down. A red light comes on above it.]

[Avon and Orac, back near the end of the bridge. Avon activates Orac.]

ORAC: A new era, Avon. Mankind is now mastered by the fruits of his lustful creation. Accept slavery, or return to the caves ... [Quick shot of Vila and Soolin looking on from the bridge. Orac continues.] ... stripped of all but the wheel, the plough and the sword, to compete once again as savages against nature.
VILA: [Voice heard from off camera.] It's coming!
[Avon walks over to Soolin and Vila. The android is just stepping on to the other end of the bridge. Avon goes back to Orac and takes the android's head.]
AVON: [Deactivates Orac and speaks into bracelet.] Power, Tarrant. [Enter Vila and Soolin.] I need that power now.

[Tarrant in the generator house.]

TARRANT: [Into bracelet.] You should have it!

[Avon and company at the end of the bridge.]

AVON: [Into bracelet.] Well, I haven't!

[Tarrant in the generator house. He looks round, trying to work out what's up.]

[Very brief shot of Avon and company.]

[Very brief shot of the android walking across the bridge.]

[Back to Avon, now standing near the end of the bridge.]

AVON: [Into bracelet.] Power, Tarrant!

[Tarrant in the generator house, pulling more levers down. Sparks and flames jump from them as they make contact.]

TARRANT: [To Dayna.] Help me!
[Dayna runs over and holds the levers Tarrant has just pulled down against the contacts. Tarrant pulls down another two levers.]

[Back on the footbridge. The android is now about half way across. Avon, Vila and Soolin look on. As the android nears the end of the bridge, there is a small explosion behind him as the bridge short circuits. Further small explosions occur around the android, who falls, motionless, just at the end of the bridge. Avon, with a determined look on his face, approaches the android with the head, and attempts to put it in place. A strong electromagnetic field resists him, and the android writhes about slightly. Avon steps back and takes a deep breath before trying again, while Vila and Soolin look on. Again he gives up and takes a step back. He moves forwards again and manages to turn the head into place, but is thrown back and knocked out by the force resisting him.]
VILA: Signal Dayna.

[Dayna in the generator room.]

SOOLIN: [V.O. on comm.] Cut it, Dayna.
[Dayna and Tarrant let go of the levers, and run outside.]

[The android on the bridge, head now in place. It is writhing slightly, and there is still a force field around it. Meanwhile Soolin is attending to Avon. She takes off his glove and feels his pulse.]

SOOLIN: Bring Orac.
[Vila goes over to Orac and stands over it looking at the android on the bridge.]
SOOLIN: [Voice heard from off camera.] Quickly, Vila!
[Vila brings Orac over to Soolin.]
VILA: Do you think we can trust it? Scabby little rebel!
SOOLIN: Switch on and we'll see.
[Vila activates Orac.]
SOOLIN: Prognosis, Orac.
ORAC: Prospect for organic humanoid life is dependant on one condition.
VILA: Conditions still.
ORAC: Correction. Dependant on one action.
[Tarrant and Dayna approach over the footbridge.]
SOOLIN: Help me get Avon back to base.
ORAC: Requisite action must be carried out first. It is imperative!
[Tarrant hands an explosives case he's carrying to Dayna, who opens it. Tarrant heads over to where Avon is lying.]
TARRANT: Vila, take his feet. Soolin, bring Orac.
SOOLIN: Why?
TARRANT: Just do it!

[Dayna, standing over the android on the end of the bridge. She attaches explosives to the bridge, and to the android's head.]

[Soolin, Tarrant, Vila, Avon and Orac, in a clearing at a safe distance. Avon is just coming round.]

AVON: Did it work? The inhibitor head?
TARRANT: [nods] Like a charm.
AVON: Good. That circuit influencer will be invaluable to us as a weapon.
[Avon puts his head in his hands. Enter Dayna, with a remote control in her hand.]
TARRANT: [Whispering to Dayna.] Now.
[Dayna presses a button on the remote control.]

[The footbridge. Charges detonating everywhere.]

[Avon looks up. The others look on also. Explosives continue to detonate, and the bridge by now is a ball of smoke and flame.]

[Quick shot of android fragments floating down the stream.]

[Back to Dayna.]

DAYNA: End of problem! [Turns to Orac.] Right, Orac?
ORAC: Prospects for organic humanoid life are now secured.
[Avon looks towards the bridge.]
AVON: Muller's android?
TARRANT: [Standing up.] Gone to the great cyberneticists in the sky.
AVON: [Standing up also.] You fool! It's superstitious half-wits like you who hold back every advance we make.
ORAC: And arrogance, Avon, like yours and Muller's which threaten to destroy--
AVON: Shut up!
ORAC: Yes, master!