SERIES ONE - Duel (A8)

[Close-up of three Federation pursuit ships]
PURSUIT SHIP ONE - Two mutoids are sitting at the controls, Travis is standing behind them.

TRAVIS:There! [Points at screen] Estimate approach speed.
MUTOID:Time Distort Six.
TRAVIS:Minimum scan, their sensors mustn't register the beam.
MUTOID:Scan complete, identification confirmed.
TRAVIS:Blake. The other patrols have pushed him into this galaxy. I knew it, I knew it! This time I've got him.
MUTOID:Target vehicle maintaining course and sped.
TRAVIS:Set for orbital compensation, we'll use the planet to mask us from his scanners.
MUTOID:Orbital shift computed.
TRAVIS:Execute. Make it random pulse emission, I'm not going to lose him now.

MUTOID:Readings show target has assumed a stationary orbit.
TRAVIS:Excellent. [He sits in the commander's chair]
MUTOID:Orbit confirmed at one thousand spacials from the planet's surface. [She unfastens a panel in her tunic and places a small liquid container in a recess.]
TRAVIS:This is hardly the time for that.
MUTOID:Normally I wouldn't do it in the presence of an unmodified.
TRAVIS:Forget your coyness, I'm aware of your need for blood serum.
MUTOID:Most are, but few accept it for what it is - a functional convenience. Opponents of mutoid modification call us vampires.
TRAVIS:Rather appropriate, isn't it?
MUTOID:It is immaterial. I await your orders, Commander.
TRAVIS:Attack formation, fifteen hundred spacials trajectory. Pursuit Ships Two and Three move to flank, fire on my command. [Shot of pursuits separating]

TRAVIS:He's low on power! He'd have made a run for it otherwise.
[Into communicator] Leader to Pursuit Three: continue barrage. Leader to Two: hold your fire.[to Mutoid] We'll make him keep that defence shield in operation, bleed his energy banks.
MUTOID:If Pursuit Three keeps firing, it won't have enough reserve to put up its own defence shield.
TRAVIS:Pursuit Three is expendable. So is Two. Let Blake destroy them both. Between them, they can run his reserves down to zero. This ship will still have full power, and we can move in, and finish him.

MUTOID:Pursuit Three reports total power shutdown. They're incapable of further action.
TRAVIS:[Into communicator] Pursuit Two, commence firing.
MUTOID:Target ship is underway. It's turning.
TRAVIS:He's running. There's nowhere to run, Blake! Compute course, speed, and lock on.
MUTOID:Time Distort Three and rising. Course zero-zero-zero -- they're coming straight at us.
TRAVIS:Stand by plasma bolts.
MUTOID:Holding course. Computers propose evasive action.
TRAVIS:No! Hold your position.

TRAVIS:Impossible. They're holding course. They're going to ram us. Evasive trajectory, full thrust.
MUTOID:Controls are not responding. All systems are locked.
TRAVIS:[Leaps to his feet] Operate boosters.
MUTOID:Still no response.
[Weirdness commences, everything goes haywire, affecting all ships. The lights dim, there are garbled sounds and time slows down, distorting speech]

[Liberator and the pursuit ship slowly close almost into an embrace and halt as Sinofar and Giroc assert control. Travis and Blake are seen clutching their heads in pain while the other crew members look around in surprise]

GIROC:[Distorted voice] Travis... Blake... [She calls them repeatedly. Travis and Blake dematerialise and Sinofar brings them down to The Monument]
GIROC:Listen to me, listen to me all of you.
[Both crews are seen listening to her voice in bewilderment]
We are Giroc The Keeper, we are Sinofar The Guardian. Your ship is tethered, held in a stasis beam, it cannot break free. Only your life support systems will function normally, the rest will remain in our control, until we have completed our task. You yourselves have been released, so that you may watch, listen and understand.
[Cut to Blake and Travis standing immobilized] We are ready, the warriors can be released.
[Sinofar rouses them, they become aware of each other, but cannot move their feet]
TRAVIS:BLAKE?! [He tries to fire his hand blaster, but nothing happens]
SINOFAR:No.
GIROC:[Laughs] The weapon built into that hand will not work here, primitive.
SINOFAR:Nor will brute force, until *I* allow it.
GIROC:His impulse to kill is primitive.
SINOFAR:As ours was not?
TRAVIS:Who are you?
SINOFAR:I am Sinofar, the Guardian. This is Giroc, the Keeper.
TRAVIS:I am Space Commander Travis, an officer and representative of the Earth Federation. As an agent of my government, I demand an explanation.
GIROC:Not only is he primitive, he's pompous as well. [To Blake] And you, do you also make demands?
BLAKE:I am not an officer of the Federation, but I would like some answers.
TRAVIS:This man is an enemy of the state and a fugitive. He is my prisoner. [Grabs at Blake, but cannot move his feet.]
GIROC:[Laughing] Primitive, pompous, and stupid.
SINOFAR:Giroc!
GIROC:All right, all right. It's just that there is such violence in him, it's exciting. [Shamefacedly] Old instincts die hard, Sinofar.
SINOFAR:I know.
TRAVIS:You will lift this force field.
SINOFAR:There are things you must understand first.
TRAVIS:You do realize that any hostile act against me will be regarded as a hostile act against the Federation. [Giroc laughs.] Have you any idea of the risk you're running?
[Giroc laughs harder.]
BLAKE:They don't seem very impressed, Travis. [Laughs] Why don't you try stamping your foot?
TRAVIS:Oh, that's very amusing, Blake. For a dead man.
BLAKE:Do you intend to keep us prisoners?
GIROC:Only for the moment.
BLAKE:You were responsible for what happened to my ship.
SINOFAR:It will be restored when this matter has been settled, [to Travis] as will yours. No harm will come to your crews or your ships.
GIROC:You have seen what we can do. We are capable of protecting our planet, your threats of reprisal are meaningless.
SINOFAR:Our powers grew out of a thousand years of war, out of hate, and fear and the will to survive.
GIROC:[On Liberator's screen] We built destruction, weapons that your peoples have not yet dreamed of. Every passing year brought new ways to kill, and throughout the centuries the war raged across our planet.
SINOFAR:With each generation there were fewer of us. The dead vastly outnumbered the living. There was not victory for either side.
BLAKE:How did it end?
GIROC:How? Another development of another weapon. We demanded their surrender, they refused, the weapon was used. Those that we call our enemy were annihilated.
TRAVIS:You won, that's all that matters.
SINOFAR:It wasn't a victory, only the end of the war. We were left with a planet made barren by radiation. Our children were monsters, or died, or were never born. This, we won.
BLAKE:How many of you are there now?
GIROC:None. We are a dead race.
SINOFAR:We tell you this so that you will understand our reasons for intervening in your dispute.
GIROC:Tell us, what is your dispute?
TRAVIS:I *have* told you. This man is an enemy of the Federation, tried and convicted. I must bring him back to justice or kill him.
GIROC:[To Blake] You?
BLAKE:I am an enemy of the Federation. But it is corrupt and oppressive. I will destroy it. If I can.
SINOFAR:Irreconcilable viewpoints. Your differences can only be resolved by the destruction of the other's belief. The classic pattern for war.
TRAVIS:I was about to resolve them when you interfered.
SINOFAR:[To Blake] How many are there in your group?
BLAKE:There are six of us.
SINOFAR:And in your ships, Travis?
TRAVIS:Nine.
SINOFAR:Fifteen people could die because of your beliefs.
BLAKE:My crew are with me by their own choice.
AVON:[Watching Liberator's screen] Really?
TRAVIS:[On pursuit ship screen] Mine swore allegiance to the Federation.
GIROC:I'm sure that you will both find supporters for your cause and each of you could be backed by a massive army eventually.
SINOFAR:But would numbers change the nature of the dispute?
BLAKE:Probably not.
SINOFAR:[to Travis] What do you say?
TRAVIS:Numbers? Immaterial.
SINOFAR:We understand that men will kill for their beliefs.
GIROC:Since each of you wishes to destroy the other, we are going to give you the chance.
TRAVIS:A duel? Is that what you are suggesting?
GIROC:A fight to the death.
SINOFAR:But this way, there will be a limit to the deaths, and we will ensure that the loser's ship will have an opportunity to get away. Don't you find that rational?
TRAVIS:No. When I've killed Blake, I'll simply hunt down the others.
SINOFAR:There will be no destruction within our influence, but we cannot control your actions beyond this planet.
BLAKE:I don't think I want to kill for your entertainment.
GIROC:You have no choice.
BLAKE:[To Travis] We could agree not to fight.
TRAVIS:[Chuckles slightly] Could we ?
GIROC:If you trusted one another.
SINOFAR:There is another matter: a lesson you must learn about death.
BLAKE:I think we both know enough about that already.
SINOFAR:You both know how to kill. But here you must take a life. There will be no machines to make the act unreal. You must touch the life you take.
TRAVIS:Shall we get on with it!
GIROC:How anxious he is to reach the forest. Once there, you can only return when it is over.
TRAVIS:Weapons?
SINOFAR:Tools for survival. [Machetes materialise in their hands]
BLAKE:How long have we got?
SINOFAR:There is no limit - only your physical endurance.
TRAVIS:So this is your lesson. Pathetic.
GIROC:Half the lesson the death of an enemy; the other half is the death of a friend.
VILA:[Watching on Liberator] What does she mean?
BLAKE:I've seen friends die.
SINOFAR:Travis?
TRAVIS:Nothing concerns me but my duty. I don't give a damn about their lessons, I shall enjoy taking your life, Blake.
BLAKE:You talk a good fight, Travis.
SINOFAR:But now the talking is done. Learn.

[She closes her eyes in concentration. Jenna and the Mutoid are teleported from their seats. Blake materialises in woodland. He looks around and starts to walk cautiously. Giroc's form is projected in front of him. She grins mischievously and he is afflicted by strange noises which affect his hearing and eyesight, and make him giddy. While he is stumbling about clutching his head, Travis materialises, sees him, draws his machete and sneaks up behind him.]

TRAVIS:Blake. [As Blake turns round he punches him in the midriff] Come on Blake, you don't want to die on your back.
[Blake rises, but is thrown down again. Travis seizes his hair and prepares to cut his throat] Goodbye Blake. [but the action is frozen]

BLAKE:Finding Travis shouldn't be too difficult. If he runs true to form, he'll set a trap and then try and draw us into it.
JENNA:Who do you suppose he's got with him?
BLAKE:I don't know, his pilot maybe. Must present our hosts with something of a problem. How do you demonstrate the death of a friend to a man who hasn't got any?

ANOTHER CLEARING

TRAVIS:Anything?
MUTOID:No, Commander.
TRAVIS:You've searched thoroughly?
MUTOID:Your opponent is not yet within this vicinity.
TRAVIS:Good, then I have a little plan we can put into operation. Come.

MUTOID:The night hunters are at work.
TRAVIS:Come on, let's take shelter. Bring my knife.

TRAVIS:Tell me something, do you remember who you were?
MUTOID:I don't understand the question, Commander.
TRAVIS:Yes you do - in your previous life before you were modified. Do you know who you were?
MUTOID:Of course not.
TRAVIS:Aren't you curious about it?
MUTOID:No.
TRAVIS:I find that hard to believe.
MUTOID:Memory is an encumbrance. All trace of it is removed and with it all trace of identity.
TRAVIS:And it doesn't concern you?
MUTOID:Why should it? That identity doesn't exist, even in the central computers.
TRAVIS:Yes it does. I know who you were. Your name was Keyeira, Keyeira.
MUTOID:Keyeira.
TRAVIS:You were very beautiful, very much admired. Shall I go on?
MUTOID:As you wish.
TRAVIS:[Obviously disappointed] This doesn't interest you at all, does it?
MUTOID:How could it?
TRAVIS:Keep watch.
MUTOID:Yes Commander.

TRAVIS:What were these things doing at the foot of the tree, hmm?
MUTOID:They came in the night. I trapped them.
TRAVIS:You did more than that.
MUTOID:My serum supply is running low, there was a little blood in each of them.
TRAVIS:There's a lot of blood in me.
MUTOID:There still is, Commander. You are a Federation officer, as I am.
TRAVIS:Just so long as you remember that.
MUTOID:Do you now believe we mutoids are vampires?
TRAVIS:I believe you're useful. Get on with it.
MUTOID:My function will be impaired if I don't get further serum soon.
TRAVIS:Maybe that could be arranged.

TRAVIS:Any sign?
MUTOID:None, Commander.
TRAVIS:I've lit a fire, it'll draw Blake to us. Since I was given you, he must have been given a companion as well. Whoever it is, I want you to find them, bring them back here. Dead or alive, it doesn't matter, just bring them.
MUTOID:And Blake?
TRAVIS:No. Don't touch Blake. He belongs to me. [The Mutoid looks slightly ill] Well, go on - what's the matter with you?
MUTOID:The blood of those creatures, it was not suitable.
TRAVIS:When you've found Blake's companion, there'll be plenty of blood.

UNDER A LARGE TREE - Travis has suspended the deadfall from a high branch of a large tree. Jenna is being staked out beneath it by the Mutoid - she is gagged. The Mutoid extrudes a long needle from the cuff of her gauntlet and prepares to draw blood from Jenna's neck.

TRAVIS:No! Not yet - get to your position. NOW!
[Throws down his machete. The Mutoid picks it up] Blake! Blake, can you hear me? I know you're there Blake, I know you're close by. Here me Blake, I have your friend. Your friend will die Blake, unless you give yourself up.

[Blake breaks cover and runs to release Jenna]

JENNA:[muffled by the gag] Blake, look out! Up there...
TRAVIS:NOW!!
[The Mutoid hacks at the rope while Blake frees Jenna's feet, but she takes three tries to sever it, giving them time to roll clear as the harpoon grid crashes down, missing them. Blake thrusts his machete into the ground for Jenna to cut her ropes with, then grabs his stake and races across to engage with Travis, also armed with a sharpened stake. Jenna frees her feet and kicks the mutoid away as she tries to bleed her again. Blake and Travis are using their stakes as quarter staves - Jenna throws the Mutoid head first against a tree, where she falls unconscious. Blake disarms Travis and stands over him, poised to skewer him - he hesitates]

THE MONUMENT - The Mutoid is propped against a rock, apparently lifeless.

TRAVIS:Where is Blake?
SINOFAR:He won the right to go. It was agreed.
TRAVIS:It changes nothing.
GIROC:And what about your friend?
TRAVIS:A mutoid? It's little better than a machine. In any case, she's dead.
SINOFAR:Travis. Your companion is not dead. I will heal her.
TRAVIS:She is of no further value to me. I have a fugitive to hunt. Return me to my ship.
GIROC:It is good to see a man like Travis again after so long.
SINOFAR:You remind her of our people.
GIROC:He is just like our people, and like them he learns nothing.
SINOFAR:That's why we're prisoners. You keep us prisoners, Giroc. Never return to this planet, Travis.
[She teleports him away and dematerialises herself. Giroc turns and walks slowly toward the memorials]

PURSUIT SHIP - The Mutoid has just topped up her serum level.

TRAVIS:The condemned ate a hearty meal. [Grabbing her by the chin] Your failure cost me Blake.
MUTOID:I warned you that my function would be impaired, Commander.
TRAVIS:[Pushing her away] Well, perhaps the court martial will take that into account, but I doubt it. [Sits] Tell me, what happens to a mutoid that's dismissed the service?
MUTOID:We exist only to serve.
TRAVIS:Oh? Then you'll probably cease to exist.
MUTOID:Ready, Commander.
TRAVIS:Follow Blake's course.
MUTOID:We can't match his speed.
TRAVIS:We don't have to, just match his course. You see, he made one fatal error. He should have killed me.

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