Buck Rogers in the Twenty Sixth Century "The Five Hundred Year Duel" Written by Anthony I don't hold any copyrights to this story, and it was made without profit. Teaser: int: Waiting Room We are back in the 21st Century, in the same doctor's office that Buck was in before he was put in stasis. The camera focuses on a very well dressed old man in a gray three-piece suit. He is sitting in a chair, reading a magazine. Nurse: "Mr. Curtis?" The man named Charles Curtis stands up, following the nurse through a door, and into a patient's room. int: Patient's Room Nurse: "The doctor will see you shortly. Drug test, right?" Curtis: "Yes." The nurse leaves, and the camera shifts to the man's face. He is sitting in a chair designed for patients, and moves his hands inside his jacket. The camera shifts to a gun being pulled out. Curtis checks to make sure that it's loaded, before tucking it back in the jacket pocket. Note that in this position, it is completely hidden from view. The door then opens, and a doctor comes in. Doctor: "Charles? Is that you?" Curtis: "Donald? It's been ages since I've seen you!" Doctor: "How's it been? It says here you need a drug test?" Curtis: "My job requires it." Doctor: "Don't tell me your thinking of rejoining the military?" The doctor shuts the door, and sets down some equipment. Curtis: "Oh lord! At my age? Actually, it is for military use. They want me back on a project, but said due to my age I need to take some type of pill that's supposed to be an enhancement? Why do you ask?" Doctor: "I just had someone come in from the military. I'm actually administering the same type of test to someone in the other room." Curtis: "Buck Rogers?" To this the doctor looks surprised. Note that the camera shifts to the doctor, so that Curtis is hidden. POV Doctor: "How did you know that?" Curtis: "I saw him as I walked in. He went in the back room right when I sat down in the waiting room. My son worked under him..." As Curtis says that last sentence, Curtis's face is shown. He looks depressed for a beat, and then he returns to normal. Doctor: "I'm sorry about your loss. Both of them." Curtis: "My wife's depression... Dragged on for weeks after my son's death. They both left me in the same month... " Doctor: "Curtis, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought that up." Curtis: "No. It's alright. Maybe we should just get down to business. What do I need to do?" The doctor stands up and hands Curtis a pill with a plastic glass filled with water. Curtis is still sitting in the chair, and the doctor hands him the pill first. Doctor: "I need to knock you out for this procedure. This pill should do that for about two hours. Swallow it, and then drink the glass of water." Curtis: "I'm going to sleep here?" Doctor: "No. The pill takes a few minutes. I'm going to need to monitor you on some machines." At this, Curtis laughs. Curtis: "God! Donald. All this is so new. Makes me feel too old." Doctor: "Same here, old friend." After this is said, Donald takes the pill, and then swallows the glass of water. Afterwards, he gestured to stand up. Doctor: "I have to see go and see another patient. Follow the hall to the end. There should be a nurse that'll direct you to the monitoring rooms. Good luck, and may all go well." Curtis: "It really is nice to see you again. We need to catch up later. It's been too long." At this point, the doctor leaves and enters another room, and Curtis exits. ================ Cut to: int: Monitoring Room In this room, there are many machines. It looks just like Buck Roger's did in the first episode. The camera is on Curtis, who is sitting in another chair. He already has the machines hooked up to him, with a nurse nearby. Nurse: "Sir, you should be..." At this point, a loud alarm goes off. The doctor runs in. POV Doctor: "We're under attack! A bomb was aimed for this area!!" Nurse: "Oh my God! What are we gonna do?" Doctor: "We can't save ourselves. But, let's save those we can. Do you remember that new procedure? Stasis?" Nurse: "But that's only in an experimental stage!" The doctor runs over to where Curtis is. At this point, the pill has knocked him out, and he is asleep. The doctor runs over to a monitor. Doctor: "They'll die anyways. This is our only chance. How many are in these rooms?" Nurse: "There should be just two!" Doctor: "Then let's save them. Call the whole staff!" The nurse runs out of the room, and the doctor stands over Charles. The camera is showing Charles face. Doctor: "Well, Charlie, you should be happy. You may just outlive us all!" At this, the doctor chuckles. The screen then goes black, as the doctor walks back to the monitor. End of Teaser Opening Credits commence --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Beginning of Act One ext: Defense Directorate int: Huer's Office In the office, Huer is standing behind his desk. In front of the desk, Buck and Wilma are standing. Heur looks very nervous, while the others look confused. Buck: "What's so important that you had to call us in with such short notice?" Huer: "Buck, Wilma, have either of you received any messages in any form from Princess Ardala?" Wilma: "I certainly didn't! Buck, what about you?" Buck: "No. Me and Ardala haven't had any contact since that last time on her ship. Why do you ask?" Huer sits down, and he appears even more worried. Wilma: "Dr. Huer, what's wrong?" Huer: "A small moon base near Earth was just invaded by Draconians..." At this point, Buck and Wilma look surprised. Wilma: "Why would the Draconians want to invade a moon base? Huer: "I've asked myself the same question. It was a very small base. Too small to really do much damage to us. I thought maybe Ardala was trying to win you back, Buck." Buck: "By invading a moon base?" Wilma: "Buck, she did blow up a Star-Port!" Buck: "Yeah, she did. But somehow, I just couldn't see a moon base being the same." Huer: "Regardless of this, it was definitely well planned. The message I just received said that a small fleet of warships came in and opened fire on the base. After that, Draconians landed, and just fought their way in. No reason was given, and it isn't even known if anyone from that base lives." Buck: "We can't wait for that. We need to fight now!" Huer: "Buck, we can't be hasty on this! This could be a trap. If we send soldiers to the moon colony, the Defense Directorate could be ambushed." Buck: "So we're just going to let the Draconians keep the base? Huer: "Colonel Deering." Wilma: "Yes, sir?" Huer: "I want you to lead a small battalion to the moon base. Try to take back the base. However, if you can't, then report back to me about how large their numbers are." Wilma: "How many ships, sir?" Huer: "Including you and Rogers, make it about a total of twenty ships. I would sent more, but I need to prepare, in case the Draconians decide to attack us here. Now get everything ready, Deering." To this, Huer stands up again. Wilma leaves the room, and Buck is about to leave when Huer speaks. Huer: "Oh, and Buck. Do me a favor?" Buck: "What is it?" Huer: "Don't try and be a hero." ====================== Cut to: ext: Space A fleet of twenty ships can be shown leaving Earth. In the lead is Wilma, and flanking her is Buck. To her other side is Fox. As we watch this, we notice the camera zooming back rapidly, until the camera appears to be coming from binoculars. Note the view of the camera does not change this entire time, as the ships continue to move, although voices can be heard. Both voices are male. Mystery Voice 1: "Sir, they appear to be entering our trap." Mystery Voice 2: "Is Roger's amongst their ranks?" Mystery Voice 1: (beat) "He is." Mystery Voice 2: "He's so predictable... Good for me, though." Mystery Voice 1: "Shall we continue?" Mystery Voice 2: "Yes. Tell the others to prepare." Mystery Voice 1: "Yes sir!" ====================== Cut to: Buck's Ship The camera is focused on Buck inside the his ship the entire time. Buck: "Do you see anything?" Wilma: "If you mean Draconian ships, then no. We're getting pretty close to the moon base, though, so be careful." Buck: "I just hope twenty is enough." Wilma: "Buck, Dr. Huer picked twenty because it is enough to fight our way out of a small mess, but enough that we could split up and snoop around unnoticed to a certain extent." Fox: "Does anybody else have a strange feeling? Like we're being monitored?" Buck: "No. This wouldn't be a good place for an ambush, in this wideopen space." Fox: "You're right. Something still feels odd..." Buck: "Relax, Fox. You'll know when they really have their eyes on us." The camera shifts to space, where the fleet of ships can be seen heading closer to the moon. ======================== Cut to: Moon base The camera pans over what looks to be one long building, with a fence surrounding it. The building and the fence is badly damaged, and rubble piles the ground. Note that there doesn't appear to be any sign of the Draconains in this scene. The fleet of ships continue to fly towards the moon base. They are within the planet's gravitational pull at this point, and can be seen flying over the moon base. Buck: "It looks so deserted..." Fox: "Is this a trap?" Wilma: "I don't know. They could have just come here for supplies, although that doesn't make any sense. It looks safe for the moment. Buck, you and I are going to land in front of the entrance and see what type of damage was caused. Fox, you stay and keep sentry. If Draconians come, then hold them back while we return to our ships. Buck and Fox: "Yes Captain." The camera shifts to Buck and Wilma landing their ships in front of a destroyed entrance. Notice that while the building is damaged, much of the ceiling remains. Buck and Wilma walk over the entrance, both wearing futuristic versions of the helmets astronauts wear. Buck: "I sure hope this isn't a trap." Wilma: "Just keep your hand on your blaster, then." At this point, a loud yelling sound could be heard, that sounds like "Help me!" Wilma: "What was that!" ============================== Cut to: Binocular View This time the binoculars are pointed to the moon base. Note that we still can't see the people, but the clarity of the binoculars is amazing. The camera is focused on the entrance to the moon base. The same two voices as last time are heard. Mystery Voice 1: "How did you know Rogers would enter that base?" Mystery Voice 2: "The boy is too curious for his own good. You've heard about all his deeds throughout the galaxy? If he thought that anyone was still alive in there, he'd go check. Mystery Voice 1: "The prisoner is in place, sir." Mystery Voice 2: "You Draconians do good work. I'm surprised you haven't won this war yet." Mystery Voice 1: "I thank you for everyone, sir." Mystery Voice 2: "Get ready for phase two." Mystery Voice 1: "Yes sir." The camera then begins to go black, as one pair of footsteps can be heard walking away. End of Act One -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Beginning of Act Two int: Inside the moon base The camera pans around a ruined corridor, and there are many rooms on both sides of the corridor, as well as one at the end. Note that the ceiling is still mostly undamaged, and nothing is missing in that respect. This will be important soon. Voice: "Help!" Buck: "It sounds like it's coming from that room." Buck and Wilma run into the room at the end, where they see they see a human on the ground. His legs are buried under a pile of rubble. He is wearing the same helmet Buck and Wilma are, so his face is hidden. We will call him Worker. Worker: "Friend or foe?" Buck: "We came here to help you." Wilma: "We are with the Defense Directorate. Sir, while we help remove this rubble, would you mind telling us what happened?" At this point, Buck and Wilma begin to remove the rubble from the man's legs. Worker: "The Draconians came with a fleet of warships. We tried to fight them back, but they came so quickly. They just opened fire on us, destroying anything that moved. The big ship, it was the worst..." Buck: "The big ship?" Worker: "There was one ship much larger than the others. We tried to fight back... Wilma: "You did your best. What happened couldn't have been averted." At this point, Wilma pulls off the last of the debris, allowing the worker to stand up. Buck: "Can you stand up alright?" Worker: "I should be fine. What was odd, though, was when the Draconians entered the place. They just attacked everything. I don't know what happened to the operators of this base." At this point, the worker is helped to his feet by Buck and Wilma. He is still a bit wobbly, but can at least remain upright. Worker: "By the way. Whoever sent you two..." Wilma: "I led this expedition." Worker turns to Wilma. Worker: "If there is a Buck Rogers in your group, tell him to hurry home. The Draconians said they laid a trap for him here." Buck and Wilma quickly look at each other. Wilma is looking more at Buck then the worker: "A trap? What kind of trap?" All of the sudden, behind them, about ten to twelve Draconians soldiers jump from the other rooms in the corridor. Each of them has a gun pointed straight at Buck and Wilma, along with the same helmets as the others. Buck has his hand on his blaster, along with Wilma, but both are still in it's holster. Soldier: "Slowly move your hands away from the weapons!" Buck and Wilma slowly do as they are told, putting their hands straight out in the air. Soldier: "Buck Rogers. You are under Draconian arrest. Follow us peaceably, and no harm will come to you." At this point, two Draconian soldiers come towards Buck, and one puts on a futuristic pair of handcuffs. The other has a gun pointed at Buck's head. After a beat, the soldier that put the handcuffs on Buck pushes him forward, and he begins to move with the troop. The whole time, Wilma and the worker are ignored. Buck: "What's going on! Why am I under arrest?" Soldier: "The commander would only say that you were to be brought to him for war crimes." Wilma: "Buck!" Wilma begins to run towards Buck, but two soldiers point their guns at her. Soldier: "You two were not ordered to be captured. You may leave. However, if you interfere, we will kill you." At this time, Buck is far away, and is almost yelling. Buck: "Wilma, we're outnumbered. Just run!" Wilma: "Buck!" ================================ Cut to: Space Ship ext: A large warship is floating in space. On the side, one can see large letters painted on the side: THE S.S.ANDROPOV. The ship is certainly large enough to contain a loading dock and many rooms. The camera pans over the name, and then after a beat... int: The camera is now focused on a room. There are a few windows that can look at the outer space, but the camera is more focused on two portraits on the wall. The first is of a middle-aged woman with strawberry-blond hair and a beautiful complexion. The camera then pans to a portrait next to, of a young man in his twenties, in a military uniform that looks as though it came from America around 2002. The camera then pans over an older man, who is sitting in a wooden chair, looking at the two portraits. Note the man's face is not shown during this entire scene. All that can be seen is his back. He looks as though he is wearing a brown suit jacket, but it is too blurry to be able to tell for certain. The man walks up, and looks out the window, to a window, where he can see the moon. Note that the moon base looks to be a blur at this point. He then turns around and looks at the portraits again. ===================================== Cut to: Moon base Wilma and the Worker are running towards the exit of the moon base. Wilma to Worker. "What's your name?" Worker: "Private Douglas." At this point, note that Worker will be replaced with Douglas. Wilma: "We need to warn the others of this. After the attack, do you have any idea where they went?" Douglas: "I do not. But I did see something they could be taking Buck to. The big ship, it housed the commander of the squad. The way they talked, it sounded as though they came just for Buck. I bet they took them there." Wilma, talking more to herself: "You mean the Draconians did all this, attacked and destroyed a moon base, and killed all these people, just to get Buck?" ===================================== Cut to: Fox's Fighter Ship The camera is focused on Fox, looking out of the front window. Fox (to himself): "Wilma and Buck get all the fun. I'm stuck here on lookout, while they get to do the actual exploring. Boy, what I wouldn't do for... The camera shifts to a somewhat large ship flying away from the moonbase. The ship is flying away from the moonbase. Fox: "What a strange ship... I'm going after it!" The camera shifts to Fox's ship, flying closer to the enemy ship. However, he stops, though the reason is unclear at the moment. The camera then pans over to a different direction, where a small fleet of Draconain ships are rushing to the moon base. There only appears to be about fifteen or so. Fox's ship rushes over with the rest of the ships, and the Draconian ships keep coming closer, though no one is firing a shot at this point. A voice that sounds like Wilma's suddenly fills the ship. "Fox! I'm back in my ship. Buck was captured!" Fox: "How?" Wilma: "No time to explain. Fox, you and the rest take care of these Draconians. I'm going after the ship that has Buck." Fox: "No! It's too dangerous for you to go on alone." Wilma: "Now is not the time to argue. When you finish these grunts, follow my direction!" As the last line is said, a Draconian ship fires towards Fox. Fox avoids it, and a battle between the Defense Directorate and the Draconian Empire ensues. ===================================== Cut to: Wilma's Fighter Ship The camera focuses on Wilma's ship. Note that she follows it at a good distance, staying low to avoid being detected. As she follows it, she sees a very large ship. The camera pans once again to the large ship, where the words S.S.ANDROPOV can be seen. The camera then focuses on the ship Wilma is following enter a hanger area, and vanish from view. The camera then shifts back to Wilma Wilma: "Oh god!" ===================================== Cut to: S.S.ANDROPOV Buck can be seen being dragged by two Draconian soldiers down a hall, until he is taken to a large door. He is then dragged through the door. This is the same room where the portraits and the mysterious man was. Buck is pushed into a metal chair, where he has his hands bounded by futuristic-looking handcuffs to the chair. The chair is in front of a large desk. Note that the camera is still focused only on Buck being tied up, and the camera shifts to the soldiers. Soldier 1: "Our commander will be in to see you in a moment." The soldiers all leave, keeping Buck in the chair in the room alone. Buck looks around the room. Buck: "This looks like it came from my time." The camera pans from Bucks point of view, until he sees the portraits. He looks at the wife, but then he sees the son. The camera shifts back to him, where he gasps! Buck: "Chuck! What's going on, here?" The door to the room then opens. The camera is focused on Buck's face as he strains his neck to look at the man. Buck: "Who are you, and what do you want with me?" The camera then pans to the desk, and footsteps can be heard. The chair can be seen being pulled out, but the face is never shown. Buck: "Wait a minute... I think I remember you... But how..." The camera then pans over the man's face behind the desk. He is Charles Curtis from the teaser, only this time, he is wearing a dark brown three-piece suit, complete with a black bow tie. Curtis: "I've found you, Rogers! I've had the damnedest time doing it, but I finally found you." Buck: "Why have you been looking for me?" Curtis extends his face across the desk, so he is much closer to Buck. Curtis: "You killed my son!" End of Act Two -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Beginning of Act Three int: Same scene as Act Two left Buck: "I killed your son?" Curtis: "Over five-hundred years ago!" Buck: "Five-hundred years ago? Wait a minute, you're from my time?" Curtis: "My son was in the United States Navy, you two were of the same rank." Curtis stands up, and walks around the desk. A Draconian soldier walks in. She is female, and is not wearing a helmet. Plus, her uniform looks a little different from the other Draconian uniforms in the sense that she has a higher ranking on her chest. Curtis: "Cynthia, is this important?" Cynthia: "Sir, our lookout says that the ones from the Defense Directorate got past the wave of troops we sent them. They're heading this way." Curtis: "Tell the pilots to maneuver the ship away from the direction of the Directorate ships. Make sure we are in the middle of space, away from the moon. I want this scene to play out in a nice-and-open view. Cynthia: "Yes sir!" Cynthia then turns and leaves. The camera now pans over to where Buck is facing. Curtis returns to his desk, but is standing over his chair, rather than sitting. cont: "Cynthia's a good soldier. I couldn't have done all of this without her help. Or King Draco's... But enough of this. About my son!" Buck: "Just how do you think I killed him?" Curtis: "You shot my son! You murdered him on your own vessel!" Buck: "Your son was Chuck." Curtis: "Yes, Chuck. Tell me, Rogers, how did you kill him! WHY?" Buck: "Your son was an intruder on that boat! He was stealing ammunition, giving it away to the enemy. I found him on the boat one night, selling explosives to terrorists. I found him on accident, I told him to put his weapon down, but he wouldn't listen. I killed him to save a lot of people." Curtis slams his hands in front of the desk, and moves his face to be almost nose-to-nose with Buck's. Curtis: "LIES! You killed my son because you knew he would have become captain. You wanted the job, so you made up that phony story, and then killed him, just so you could get a promotion. You ruined three lives just to get a minor promotion!" Buck: "But, how did you find me? How did you live for over five-hundred years?" Curtis at this points sits back down in his chair. Curtis: "Buck, I was in the same clinic as you when the bomb went off. The doctor was a personal friend of mine. The last thing he did was put me in stasis, along with you. Think, a fifty-year-old man would be the relic of the past. The Directorate found me, and revived me." Buck: "But this is a Draconian ship? Are you a traitor?" Curtis: "Interesting choice of words, coming from one who would kill his fellow soldiers just to get ahead. I was revived long before you, Buck. A man by the name of Asimov awakened me." Buck: "The previous Defense Directorate leader?" Curtis: "That's right. He was a man of war, no doubt about it. He hoped I could provide a mirror to the past, one that would allow old technologies and strategies lost to time, one that could defeat the Saunerians." Buck: "You helped to defeat them?" Curtis: "No. Asimov taught me many great strategies. I became a rather clever man after listening to him. I used some of his basic ideas to trap you here, Rogers. But, you remember when the Draconians controlled the pirate ships, as a ruse?" Buck: "I was the one that discovered that." Curtis: "I know, got King Draco in quite a huff. Back when the Directorate was invaded by Saunerian forces, I decided to take it upon myself and warn Asimov of the attack. Remember, he was away at the time. It was such chaos, I didn't know someone else also went to tell him. Along the way, my ship got captured by the pirate ships." Buck: "They didn't kill you?" Curtis: "I told them my story, that I was a man from the past. I told them I worked for Asimov. They decided to let me tell my tale to King Draco. I was sent to him, and I told him about being put in stasis, and about my job as a war strategist back on Earth. He believed the truths of my story, and allowed me to join the Draconian fight." Buck: "He just accepted you, just like that?" Curtis: "No, he did not. it was my idea, however, to instate a treaty that would take advantage of the fact that no one knew the pirate ships were Draconians, the one you botched royally. However, he thought that was such a good idea, he made me a war minister afterwards, complete with my own ship." Buck: "Why did you come to attack the moon base?" Curtis: "King Draco told me to find you. He said you were causing to many problems for them. I came up with the rest, including the attacks on the moon base. Just to find you!" Buck: "You killed all those people to help King Draco." Curtis stands up again at this point. Curtis: "No Rogers, that is my official reason. My true reason is because I wanted to settle the score with you. I wanted you to suffer like I had to. I watched my wife die from depression after you brought about those slanderous charges against my son." At this point, the door opens up once again, and Cynthia walks inside. Cynthia: "Sir, we are in a good spot for what we have planned. The ship is being turned around so you can watch out the window." Curtis: "Good work, soldier. Get the torpedoes ready." Cynthia: "Post-haste, sir!" Cynthia then leaves the room, and Curtis begins to walk over to the door. Buck: "What do you have planned?" Curtis: "Buck, you caused me so much pain. I had to watch all of my loved ones die, all because of you. Well, now you get to watch the ones dear to you perish!" Buck: "If you hurt any one of them, I swear..." Curtis: "Don't worry, Buck, I'm not going to hurt you. King Draco wanted me to deliver you in a healthy condition. I just want you to live in the same pain that I had to." At this point, two Draconian soldiers enter the room, carrying a telescope. It's not large, but it looks like it could pull out in a lot of places. Buck: "What's that?" Curtis: "I might as well not give you any surprises. I have high-grade torpedoes loaded near the front of the ship. Ones that could cut through titanium, if need be. Or stronger, if I so choose. Once Wilma and the rest of your little friends come in range..." Buck: "NO!" Curtis: "Yes! Troops, move Rogers. Make sure his eyes are in both eyepieces. I want him to watch this." With that, the soldiers grab Rogers from the chair, untie his feet, and move him from the room. While the other soldier carries the telescope. Curtis: "I have a much better window for your viewing pleasure than in here!" ================================== Cut to: Wilma's fighter jet Note that while it is crowded, Douglas has managed to crowd in the ship, although it is very obvious how uncomfortable it is. Wilma is flying, and she has the speaker system off, so no one else can hear the conversation. The camera goes over the S.S.ANDROPOV, which is somewhat in the distance, far enough that it is slightly blurry. Wilma: "I hope this isn't a trap... Douglas, what type of weapons did the big ship have?" Douglas: "Mostly it just deployed the Draconain Fighter Jets. That's about it. Oh, it did shoot out some short-range torpedoes to a few ships." Wilma turns to Douglas, looking frantic. "Short-range torpedoes? Draconian torpedoes?" Wilma then turns to her speaker system, so that everyone can hear her. cont: "Everyone, halt formation!" The camera pans over the small fleet of ships led by Wilma. Note that there are only about half the ships as before the Draconain attack at the moon base. Fox: "What's wrong?" Wilma: "This is a trap. Douglas, you said that they would make Buck suffer, right? They want to kill us. The ship is probably waiting for us to get in range, before firing. The explosion from impact would be large enough to get all of us." Fox: "Are you serious? What are we going to do?" Wilma: "Simple. Douglas, do you remember from where on the ship the torpedoes were fired from?" Douglas: "A hole on the front of the ship. However, the hole doesn't have to be facing you. They'll just be targeted on you. Wilma: "These missiles will come very fast, I'm sure. That's why this plan has to be very precise." ====================== Cut to: Buck's hostage area The camera pans over what appears to be a loading dock. However, there is a very large window. It is not made of glass, but is very strong, yet can be seen out of very clearly. Buck is tied to yet another chair, and the telescope is looking different. The eyepieces have been pulled out, and there are two eyepieces instead of once. Buck's face has been pushed into the nosepiece, where he is forced to look out it. Note also that there is a hole in the side of the room, where a door encases it, but is clearly used to allow fighter ships to enter and exit. Buck: "Let this go! Wilma did nothing to you!" Curtis: "As my wife did nothing to you! As my son did nothing to you! AS I DID NOTHING TO YOU!" Buck: "I killed your son because I had to. Trust me, I didn't want to..." ===================== Cut to: Wilma's fighter jet The camera pans over whoever is talking during this scene. Wilma: "Understand the plan?" Fox sounds very hesitant. "I do. But are you sure that it's wise?" Wilma: "It's the only way. If we wait for reinforcements, the ship will take off, or charge at us and fire the torpedoes. No, I have to take care of this." Fox: "So we just go in after you... distract them..." Wilma: "I understand what I'm doing. But trust me on this Fox..." Fox: "Fine." Note that Douglas is in another ship at this point, and he is alone. (If anyone is wondering how this happened, for logical purposes, he was wearing the space helmet, and one pilot agreed to give up his ship and share with another, and the ships pulled next to each other and made the transfers) Douglas: "I'm ready, Colonel Deering." The camera then pans to the ships charging ahead. All that can be seen is Wilma charging towards the torpedo hole. ========================= Cut to: Loading Dock Buck is still attached to the telescope, and Curtis is holding a pair of futuristic binoculars. Curtis: "Here it comes, here it comes!" Wait a beat and... The camera takes the view of Buck's telescope. Wilma's ship is seen for a beat, and then a large explosion, where Wilma's ship is blown to bits. The camera zooms out a bit, and all that can be seen is smoke and explosion. The camera zooms to Curtis, who immediately rips Buck from the telescope. Curtis: "I have to see your face, Rogers! I have to see how you look!" Buck looks devastated, and that may be putting it lightly. Buck: "Wilma... How could you kill Wilma, you sick..." Curtis: "Feel my pain, Rogers! Feel what I felt." Curtis laughs, his face clearly maniacal, and wait for a beat... End of Act Three -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Beginning of Act Four Curtis laughs for a longer while, and he turns around as the Draconain Soldiers have their guns out. Curtis: "What the?" The camera pans over two ships, both that fly over the holes and into the large loading dock. The camera pans over to Fox, but the second ship is not shown who is inside. Fox then maneuvers the ship so that it flies right near Buck. The two Draconain soldiers duck, and are able to avoid being squashed. The second ship lands a bit away, and Douglas jumps out, with a blaster in hand. Wait a beat, and Wilma jumps out as well, also holding a firearm. Curtis: "I thought I killed you!" Wilma: "Put your hands over your head." At this, Wilma points her blaster at Curtis, and has a face expression that dares him to defy her. Curtis: "You kill me, and Buck dies as well!" The camera then shifts over to a Draconain soldier, who has a gun pointed to Buck's head. Fox: "Wilma, what are we going to do?" Wilma: "Buck for you and your ship." Curtis: "Your making deals with me?" Wilma: "You release Buck, and we'll leave." The camera stops on Curtis's face, as he appears to be thinking. Curtis: "Fine, we'll leave the room, and as soon as we do, you take Rogers and scram. However, you persist, and I'll send out hoards of soldiers down all your throats. Just one question." Curtis and the Draconians begin to leave, although the two soldiers are still holding their guns, and the soldiers are walking backwards. Wilma: "What?" Curtis: "The missile hit your ship directly. How did you outsmart me?" Wilma: "You made one flaw in your logic. You shot the torpedo at the moon base, and then left alive someone who saw it. I switched planes, and set that one to autopilot to head straight for the missile." Curtis, who is almost at the door at this point, starts laughing. " I was outsmarted by you. We'll meet again, Rogers. I promise you that, we will meet again!" Curtis and the others go through the door, and Fox unties Buck. Fox: "Buck, are you alright?" Buck now has his arms untied, and Fox is working on the legs. "For the most part, yes. They were very careful they didn't hurt me, saying that the Draconian King wanted me alive and well." Fox unties the legs, and Buck stands up, walking towards Fox's ship. The camera goes to Wilma and Douglas, who are also walking towards the ship, Wilma: "I warn you, Buck, it gets very crowded when two people crowd into those ships." ======================== Cut to: Huer's office Buck, Wilma, Fox, and Douglas are standing before Huer, who is sitting in his desk. Huer: "I can't believe someone would cause so much destruction, just for one man." Buck: "In a way, I caused it. I killed his son, and that caused his madness." Wilma: "Buck, I believe you when you say you killed his son because he was going to deliver weapons. You had no choice. He would have killed you if you didn't. You saved a lot of people." Buck's face is in an expression that he clearly doesn't view the events that way. Huer: "Buck, I don't hold you at all responsible for the attack. King Draco said to capture you, and Curtis tried to. They are at fault, not you." Buck: "I have enough enemies just from this time. Apparently, now they follow me five-hundred years in the future." Huer turns to Douglas. "Douglas, you did a fine job as well. You appear to be the only one that survived the attack. Therefore, as Head of the Defense Directorate, I hereby make you the commander of the moon base once it is rebuilt." Douglas looks excited. "Thank you very much, sir!" Fox: "Boy, something about Buck seems to make Draconians violent. Ardala destroys a Star-Port, and now this..." Wilma: "Unlike Ardala, though, I have a feeling that he won't give up. He'll be back, I'm sure of it." The camera cuts in on Buck's face as he says the last line. Buck: "Next time, I'll be ready for him!" ======================== Cut to: Curtis's room The camera pans across the S.S.ANDROPOV once more, and then quickly shifts to Curtis's room. He is standing, his face looking at the portraits of his family. Curtis: "I failed. I was going to avenge you two, but I didn't. As the camera pans across the portraits, it moves to Curtis. Note that you can't see behind him, only the front of him. Cynthia: "You'll get him, sir." Curtis turns around, surprised. "Cynthia, how long have you been here?" Cynthia: "I just entered. I was passing, and I heard you talking to yourself." Curtis turns to his desk, and sits down. He then pulls out his gun, but he is not pointing it at Cynthia. Note that this is the same gun that was in the introduction. Curtis: "Cynthia, this is the same gun I was going to kill Rogers with. I tracked him to a doctor's office. I was going to go into his room. I had a fully-loaded gun, but I planned to make only two shots. One aimed for him, and then one aimed for me." Cynthia looks very nervous, as he holds the gun. "Sir, you aren't going to..." Curtis smiles, and then puts the gun back in his jacket. "No, I'm not. I'm not going to die until I have him. I may be in my seventies, but damn it! I'm gonna keep kicking until I've finally repaid Rogers for all of the hurt he caused me." Cynthia smiles at this, and the camera moves closer to her. "Sir, both I and this crew will follow you to the ends of the galaxy. I just hope King Draco forgives this blunder." Curtis: "He will. After all, I showed them all just how vulnerable to attack they are. Wilma may have avoided death, but I caused destruction. They'll fear the Draconians!" Cynthia: "Yes sir, they will." Curtis: "I will defeat Rogers. I plan on taking everything dear to him. I'm a war minister, the best of them. I've made many great strategies. One's that have worked. This one failure will not erase them from memory." Curtis stands up, and looks out the small window in his room. Cynthia: "You have the full support of the crew of the Andropov." The camera focuses on Curtis looking out the window. His face can be shown, and he looks very determined. Curtis: "I know I do. Buck Rogers, if you can hear me, this is not over. I will hunt you down again. I don't care if I fail a hundred times in destroying you, I'm just going to keep trying until I do. Just you wait, Rogers, just you wait." At this point, Curtis begins to laugh, but the camera is now focused on the scenery outside the window. End of Act Four Ending Credits Commence