SERIES ONE - Project Avalon (A9)

[Scene: Near blizzard conditions on a planet. Travis and a mutoid enter a cave mouth.]
TRAVIS: The temperature's dropping quickly.
MUTOID: It'll be dark soon. Then it'll freeze.
TRAVIS: The Long Cold. I find this planet...unnerving. Come. [They go in and down. A man is crouching hidden in rocks above the passage.]
TERLOC: [softly] Travis.
TRAVIS: Where are you?
TERLOC: Shhh! Softer. The sound travels in the caves.
TRAVIS: You're late.
TERLOC: They would've missed me had I come sooner.
TRAVIS: What have you got for me?
TERLOC: Avalon is moving to Winter quarters, in the ice caves. I've drawn a map. [He throws a paper down to Travis]
TRAVIS: But contact -- has Blake made contact with Avalon?
TERLOC: Yes. She's asked for transportation to a safer planet.
TRAVIS: And Blake has agreed?
TERLOC: His ship has already entered our star system. The rendezvous is expected within fifty hours.
TRAVIS: Good. Go back and join Avalon. Now. You understand what you have to do?
TERLOC: I understand. [He crawls away.]
TRAVIS: [To Mutoid] It's working; just as I predicted. [To himself] This time we'll be ready for you, Blake.

[Scene: A mutoid watches a guard below her position, then jumps him and after a brief struggle strangles him. Then she signals to various groups of mutoids with a morse-code like sender. The groups move through caves. A number of mutoids surround a group of people in a cavern. Travis is in the background.]
MUTOID: Stay where you are. [Travis moves forwards]
TRAVIS: Which of you is Avalon? [He holds a nearby man and places his gun to the man's head.] I want Avalon -- now. [A figure moves forward. Another puts out a hand to stop her, but she continues forwards. Travis hits the man he was threatening, knocking him over.]
AVALON: Who betrayed us?
TRAVIS: [To mutoids] Take her.
MUTOID: [Indicating homing beacon] Shall I smash it?
TRAVIS: No. Give Blake his homing beacon -- make it easier for him. Finish it.
TERLOC: No, no, please wait. It's me, Terloc, I helped you. I gave you Avalon. I gave you Avalon. [The mutoid pushes him over with her foot] Ughh. Uh, ah. They're going to kill us. [Mutoids systematically shoot everyone amid lots of screams and shouts, then leave.]

[Scene: A large laboratory inside the Centre.]
COMPUTER: Project A-six security green now in operation. Stand by yellow release to project A-eight. Doctor Ellisdee to area blue-six basement main control area. [Travis is working on a hand computer -- a mutoid enters.]
MUTOID: The Supreme Commander's ship has landed, they've already disembarked.
TRAVIS: Good. I think we're about ready. Oh, I'll need a human to assist in a test. Check with the detention block, see if they can give you someone.
MUTOID: Any special characteristics?
TRAVIS: No -- an ordinary unskilled labour grade will do -- an expendable.
MUTOID: If there isn't one in detention?
TRAVIS: Then detain one!
MUTOID: Yes, Commander. [Travis goes to an adjoining area -- Avalon is restrained in an interrogation machine.]
TRAVIS: [To scientist] Any problems?
SCIENTIST: Not that I can see. A good healthy specimen. No deformities or unusual features. The standard triple omega should provide a perfect basis. TRAVIS: Good. Can you complete quickly?
SCIENTIST: I think so. We have an experienced team standing by, everything's ready.
TRAVIS: Good, good. Remember if you need any further equipment you have an absolute priority rating. Demand whatever you want -- on my authority.
SCIENTIST: Thank you, Commander.
TRAVIS: [To Avalon] You should be flattered by all this special attention.
AVALON: Anyone who opposes the Federation knows what to expect if they get captured. It's a risk we're all prepared to take
TRAVIS: Obviously; but whatever the risks, no one really ever expects to get caught, do they, hmm? Still, I wish I could find the same urge to sacrifice among my subordinates.
AVALON: They have no cause.
TRAVIS: True.
AVALON: Every year more people defy the Federation, thirty planets in this sector alone, and others will follow -- many others.
TRAVIS: Yes. Well, you'll tell us about those, won't you? Their leaders, locations, their plans. I'm sure we'll be able to convince them that loyalty to the Federation is after all in their best interests.
AVALON: I know enough about these machines to realize that I will tell you everything. You will murder hundreds of people, maybe thousands. But you won't end the opposition, you'll never end it.
TRAVIS: Perhaps not. However, we shall persevere. You're right, of course, you will tell us everything. But first we need you for a far more important venture. We've codenamed it Project Avalon.
AVALON: I won't help you. You can't force me to help you.
TRAVIS: Don't be naive. I can force you to do anything. It isn't necessary, though. You're already helping me. Just by being here you've set in motion a chain of events that's been absolutely predetermined.
AVALON: I don't understand.
TRAVIS: No? Do you think your capture at this particular point was a matter of chance? It was a carefully calculated strategy. You're worth a great deal to me. You're going to give me Blake, his crew, and his undamaged ship. The Federation wants the Liberator -- you and I are going to give it to them.

[Scene: The Centre laboratory. Travis is watching Avalon and the scientist on a monitor screen, the latter comes over to the camera.]
SCIENTIST: We're finished -- we've everything we need.
TRAVIS: Good. Prepare to take her down to transfer. They're standing by.
SCIENTIST: Right. [mutoid enters with man]
MUTOID: Will he do?
TRAVIS: [Examines the man and hits him in the stomach.] Yeah, he seems healthy enough -- he'll do. [Servalan enters with mutoid guards.]
TRAVIS: Supreme Commander, it's good to see you. A safe journey I trust.
SERVALAN: Nothing is safe any more. You've heard, of course, that there have been two attempts on my life.
TRAVIS: I have. I was very concerned.
SERVALAN: I consider Blake to be responsible. [Slides fur coat off and drops it on the floor.] Oh, not personally, of course; but stories of his exploits are still circulating. They excite people. The fact that he is still free gives them hope. And that is dangerous, Travis. Hope is very dangerous.
TRAVIS: The loss of it can be fatal, and the source of it all is about to be wiped out.
SERVALAN: I think you should know that there's been considerable criticism of your handling of the Blake affair.
TRAVIS: What?
SERVALAN: Well, so far your operation has been very costly and there have been no worthwhile results.
TRAVIS: That's not entirely just. There have been two occasions where I could have destroyed Blake. It was only the Administration's insistence that the Liberator be captured undamaged that stopped me.
SERVALAN: I have made that point in your defence but I can't go on making excuses. I've been under considerable pressure to replace you.
TRAVIS: Ohh?
SERVALAN: Oh, so far I have resisted that pressure. But now, I need your reassurance that my confidence has not been misplaced.
TRAVIS: I think Project Avalon will silence the critics.
SERVALAN: It does seem an excellent plan. It should have every chance of success.
TRAVIS: I'm glad you approve.
SERVALAN: Oh, Travis, you know better than that. In my position one never approves anything until it is an undisputed success.
TRAVIS: Yeh.
SERVALAN: However you have my full support, unofficially, of course.
TRAVIS: Of course.
SERVALAN: Officially, you have my presence and my attention. [They move over to the viewscreen which shows Avalon.]
SERVALAN: So, this is the famous Avalon is it? I'd expected something more impressive.
TRAVIS: All the checks have been made. They're ready to take her down to transfer.
SERVALAN: Well, don't let me delay you.
TRAVIS: Take her down.
SCIENTIST{?}: [Off screen -- very faint] Right.
SERVALAN: Travis, I think the labs have come up with what you wanted. It's totally new -- and very costly. [Travis takes a spherical phial out of a box held by a mutoid.]
TRAVIS: This is the only element that was missing.
SERVALAN: When will you test it?
TRAVIS: Now. Everything's prepared.
SERVALAN: Excellent -- I'm curious to see it work myself. [They move over to a screen showing an inner chamber in which the 'expendable' is restrained in a seat. Travis introduces the phial into the chamber.]
TRAVIS: Check door seals.
MUTOID: Door solid -- seals are firm.
TRAVIS: We're ready.
SERVALAN: Proceed.
TRAVIS: Activate. [The phial is smashed by remote control. A fungus appears to grow over the man's head and body. Another screen indicates the passage of time.]
TRAVIS: Twenty-three seconds. It's fascinating. How long before it neutralizes? [The screen indicates that it has neutralized.]
SERVALAN: It'll be clear now. [They move from the screen to a window. The man's body is now a skeleton.] Satisfied?
TRAVIS: Completely.

[Scene: The Centre laboratory. Servalan and Travis are seated in a sort of waiting area.]
MUTOID: [Into communicator] Yes. Understood. [She moves over in front of Travis and Servalan.]
TRAVIS: Well?
MUTOID: Space security report. Our interceptors have detected an alien ship.
TRAVIS: Has it been identified?
MUTOID: Available data suggests it could be the Liberator.
TRAVIS: Suggests? Suggests? Of course it's the Liberator. What action's been taken?
MUTOID: Our ships are in pursuit.
SERVALAN: Shouldn't you call them off?
TRAVIS: Not really. I know they can't match the Liberator's speed but it would look suspicious if they took no action.
SERVALAN: True.
TRAVIS: Hmm. If I read my man correctly we can expect him to penetrate the Centre within the next twelve hours.

[Scene: The Centre detention block, the scientist is putting Avalon in cell F2.]
TRAVIS: Ah, are you finished with her?
SCIENTIST: Yes, we've just put her in her cell.
SERVALAN: Was everything satisfactory?
SCIENTIST: Perfectly.
COMPUTER: Interrogation team one report to duty control. Repeat. Interrogation team one report to duty control. [Travis manipulates a control panel to show cell F2.]
COMPUTER: F-two. Avalon.
TRAVIS: [To guard] You've drawn your new weapon from the armoury, I see.
GUARD: Sir.
TRAVIS: Good. Stay alert.
COMPUTER: Stand by medic unit and report to area control. [Pause] [Chevner looks into the centre through a doorway] Doctor Ellisdee to area blue six basement main [(fades out).]

[Scene: The Centre. Travis and Servalan are standing at a communication screen.]
GUARD: [On screen] We have a firm location reading and an accurate track.
TRAVIS: Have the pursuit ships been launched?
GUARD: Yes, sir.
TRAVIS: Good. Keep me informed. Couple of hours and it should be all over.

[Scene: The Centre. Servalan and Travis come through a door into a corridor, followed by a group of mutoids and guards.]
SERVALAN: I think I'll stay on during Avalon's interrogation. I have the feeling she's going to tell us a great deal.
TRAVIS: There's no doubt of that.
SERVALAN: When will you begin?
TRAVIS: I want to finish with the Liberator first. As soon as it's confirmed they've put a boarding party on her we'll get started. [An intercom beeps and Travis answers it.] Travis. What!? Are you sure of that? Keep checking, I'm coming up. I don't understand. Space track control say the Liberator's moved back into orbit.
SERVALAN: It must be another ship.
TRAVIS: No, no, no, they seem very certain. [Alarms start to sound and a Mutoid enters]
COMPUTER: Detention block one zero...
MUTOID: Blake is here, sir, in the main laboratory.
TRAVIS: Blake?
MUTOID: He is demanding to see you.
SERVALAN: He is demanding?
MUTOID: I report only what I have been told, Commander. He also says you are to bring Avalon with you.
TRAVIS: How many of them are there?
MUTOID: Just Blake, sir.
TRAVIS: Right, I'll deal with this. Bring the prisoner.

[Scene: The Centre laboratory. Blake, with the Avalon robot beside him, holds several scientists and guards at gunpoint. Travis and Servalan enter.]
BLAKE: Ahh, Travis. Didn't work. It was very clever but it didn't work.
TRAVIS: How did you stop it?
BLAKE: Does it matter? All I want to do is finish what I started. I'm going to take Avalon out of here.
TRAVIS: [Raising his artificial arm] I don't think so.
BLAKE: [Taking out the phial] That would not be very clever.
TRAVIS: You wouldn't do it.
BLAKE: What have I got to lose?
TRAVIS: It's not a pleasant death, Blake.
BLAKE: So I gather, but it would have its compensations: I'd share it with you -- and the Supreme Commander. Are you quite sure I wouldn't do it?
SERVALAN: Bring the prisoner in. [Travis grabs Avalon as she walks past him.] Let her go. [He doesn't.] I said, let her go.
TRAVIS: You still have to get her out of here, Blake. Are you sure your teleport's fast enough to stop me killing you both?
BLAKE: [Takes bracelet from the robot and gives it to Avalon.] Put this bracelet on your wrist. [To Travis] I'm afraid we've had to reprogram your machine slightly. It's nowhere near as sophisticated as it was but it will perform a few basic functions. [To the robot] Raise your arm. Enough. Open your thumb and forefinger. [He holds the phial between her finger and thumb.] Close the thumb and forefinger. Enough. [To Travis and Servalan] The robot will crush the phial in response to one of three triggers. A particular word, a specific sound or a certain movement. You had all better be very, very careful about what you say and do. [Into communicator] Bring us up. [Blake and Avalon teleport out.] [Travis edges forwards and manages to catch the phial when the robot drops it.]
SERVALAN: [To Travis] Project Avalon has failed totally. There will be a full inquiry. Until that time you are relieved of your command.
TRAVIS: [To himself] If it takes all my life, I will destroy you, Blake. I will destroy you. I will destroy you.
SERVALAN: Launch the pursuit ships.

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