Buck Rogers in the 26th Century: The Draconian Wars "A Draconian Vacation" Written by Anthony B. I don't hold any copyrights to this story, and it was made without profit. Teaser: ext: Defense Directorate int: Hallway A man that looks like a futuristic postal carrier is walking down a hall with a large bag of mail. It is the middle of the night, as denoted by the windows, and so the hallways are quite empty. The mail carrier pulls out a map from his pocket, and looks at it. Mailman: "I hate all these halls..." He now sets his bag down, and sighs. Mailman: "I guess they're right. The first day on the job's always the hardest." As he gets a letter out of his bag, he stands up and mutters again. Cont.: "In this age of technology, we're still using paper letters..." He walks towards the end of the hall, and a hulking man appears from a connecting hallway. Not much can be seen about him, except that his face and upper torso. Mailman: "Oh, excuse me. Would you happen to know which room number Norton Hambal occupies?" The man says nothing, and looks at the bag. Finally, he pulls out a taser, and he walks out of the shadow. The man can be seen in a Defense Directorate uniform. Mailman: "Oh no. Listen, sir, I'm not an intruder. I just forgot to put my identification card around my neck." As he says this, he begins to dig in one of his pockets. "Look, it's here somewhere..." As he says this, the man takes the blunt end of the taser gun, and smacks the man across the head with it. The mailman then falls to the ground, and the man smiles. He pulls out a bottle of alcohol, and pours some down his mouth. He then goes into the shadows, and a door can be heard opening. After a beat, the man comes out again, wearing the mail uniform and he comes over and takes the bag from the man. He then begins to walk down the hall. Finally, he pulls out a letter from his pocket, and puts it at the top of the bag. He then begins to walk down the hall. ------------------------------------------------------------ ext: S.S.ANDROPOV int: Transmission Room Curtis is standing next to a large radio device. Behind him, two Draconian soldiers are working some strange machines. Curtis, donned in brown slacks, a white shirt under a brown sweater-vest and a red necktie, is staring intently at the radio device. Curtis: "Are you sure this won't drain all the power on the ship?" Worker 1: "No sir. Those enhancements gave you transmission to any ship in the Nova Fleet, regardless of where they are in this galaxy. As long as they didn't leave this solar system, you should be able to contact them." Curtis: "Good. I just hope the new recruit does his job." Worker 1: "All he has to do is deliver a few packages around the Defense Directorate. Even a new recruit can do that." Curtis: "I hope you're right..." ------------------------------------------------------------- int: Directorate Hall The man that is disguised as a postal worker now stops at a door. Taking the package out of the bag, he knocks on the door. It is still the middle of the night, so we wait a beat for Buck to answer the door. Buck answers the door in a robe, and it is visible that he was woken up. Buck (in a tired voice): "What do you need?" Imposter: "Sorry to bother you so late at night, but I had special delivery with specific instructions to deliver it straight to you." Buck takes the package. Buck: "Thanks." Imposter: "Have a nice evening, sir." As he says this, Buck closes the door, and the imposter smiles. He walks back to where the mailman is, and pours more alcohol down the man's mouth, before setting the bottle into the fallen mailman's head. Imposter (whispering): "You shouldn't drink on the job." After this, he pulls out a small machine, one that has a cover that props open. He opens it, and then presses a few buttons, although it is too dark for the audience to see what he is doing. Then he closes the device, slips it back in his pocket, and walks down the hall again. ----------------------------------------------------------------- int: Transmission Room Curtis is still standing near the screen, though the look on his face is showing impatience. Worker 1: "Sir, a message is coming up." Curtis: "Really? What's it say?" Worker 1: "It says 'Mission Complete'." Curtis smiles at this. Curtis: "Excellent! Use that fancy device to call Cynthia in here; it's time for phase two!" End of Teaser Opening Credits Commence ============================================== Beginning of Act One ext: Defense Directorate int: Buck's Room It is in the middle of the day, and Buck, Wilma, and Twiki are sitting in Buck's living room area. The package that was delivered last night is on a table, but it has been opened. The contents, however, are not obvious. Wilma: "Wow. Four tickets! One of those tickets alone is almost five thousand dollars." Buck: "Well, I guess whoever sent them must have a lot of money." Wilma: "Still, I think its odd someone would just send you four expensive tickets to the best resort on Earth and not even say who they are." At this, Twiki puts a hand in the box, and pulls out a letter. Twiki: "Maybe reading the letter that came with the tickets would give you a clue?" Buck (grabbing it from Twiki): "How could I have missed that?" Buck examines the letter. Wilma: "Well, come on Buck. Tell us who sent these." Buck opens the letter, and takes few beats to read the letter. After a while, Buck looks up and hands the letter to Wilma. Wilma takes a few beats to read the letter, and sets it on the table. Wilma: "That was quite thoughtful of them, although they never did anything like that for me..." Twiki: "What did the letter say? No one bothered to pass the letter to me!" Buck: "Oh, sorry. It just says that Defense Directorate, wanted to give me a token of thanks for clearing up the off-world diplomacy mission last week. Apparently, Earth gained two new allies in the war against the Draconians." Wilma: "I though the Garuth and the Onacks wanted to remain neutral in this war?" Buck: "Me too. I guess they changed their minds. Regardless, I'm getting a vacation out it." Wilma: "WE are getting a vacation out of it. You remember that I almost died in that mission." Buck: "Of course I was going to take you, Wilma. I have yet to see you in a swimsuit, you know." Wilma glares at Buck with a "you pig" look, while Buck laughs. Wilma: "Anyways, that leaves two people left to decide who to take on the trip." Twiki clears his throat quite loudly, causing Buck and Wilma to turn and look at him. Twiki: "You say that you need a third person to go?" Buck: "Twiki, you're a robot. Robots don't need vacations." Twiki: "Says who? Are you a robot? Do you know what robots need?" Wilma: "But wouldn't you rust. We are going to be by the ocean, you know?" Twiki: "I suppose I would rust if I a year or so in direct exposure to the air there. But I don't think those tickets last a year, do they?" Buck: "I guess you wouldn't rust in one week. Sure, why not..." Wilma: "Are you serious?" Buck: "I'd never hear the end of it if I didn't bring him. You can come, but no causing trouble. Understand?" Twiki: "When do I ever cause trouble?" Buck (turning back to Wilma): "Who do you think the fourth person should be? Probably someone from the Directorate." Wilma: "Well, what about Fox or Hawk?" Buck: "Somehow, I don't think taking Hawk on a vacation would work out well. Plus, I think that Fox could use a vacation more." Wilma: "Perhaps we should go up and thank Dr. Huer for these. When do you think we should set our trip?" Buck: Considering that we have no missions at the moment, and the Draconians and the Houtens have been pretty calm lately, so I think we should take advantage of this opportunity now, before something happens." Wilma: "You're probably right, then. Alright, I'll thank Dr. Huer and tell him that we're going on leave. Why don't you talk to Fox?" Buck and Wilma both stand up, and Wilma begins to head toward the door. Buck: "Sounds good. Don't forget to tell him that Twiki's coming too, just in case." Wilma: "Sure thing, Buck." At this, Wilma exits Buck's living quarters, and Buck turns to Twiki. Buck: "Twiki, contact Fox and tell him to come up here right now." --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ext: Hawaii int: Grand Oasis Resorts What looks like a very small ship, with only enough room to fit two or three people, lands on a helipad that is on the beach. The door opens in to the plane, and Curtis steps out, along with Cynthia. Curtis is now wearing brown slacks, a white short-sleeved shirt, and a necktie that depicts a beach with a blue ocean and a yellow sun beating overhead, looking like it is straight from a tropical beach. The tiepin that's holding the tie back even looks like a surfboard. Cynthia is also out of uniform, and is in a flowered dress. Cynthia and Curtis begin to walk towards a large building, and it is obvious that they are on a beach from a resort of some kind. Curtis: "Is everything prepared, Cynthia?" Cynthia: "Yes sir. If all goes to plan, Rogers and whomever he brings with him will arrive in a few hours." Curtis: "Good work. Now, to get ourselves in position. Have you reserved our room?" Cynthia: "Of course, sir. Waiting in that room is a map of the resort." Curtis: "Excellent. They are now right in front of a large building, with "Grand Oasis Resorts" written in large, neon letters on the top of the building. Curtis and Cynthia proceed to walk inside. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- int: Fox's Room Buck and Fox are in a room that has the outlay of Buck's apartment area, but is decorated a bit differently. Fox is sitting on the couch, with Buck standing near him. Fox: "A trip where?" Buck showed him one of the tickets that he had. Buck: "Grand Oasis Resorts in Hawaii. We want you to be our fourth ticket holder." Fox: "Wow. Really? Where did you get these?" Buck: "The Defense Directorate sent these to us by surprise, for a job that I did a week ago." Fox: "I can't believe it. I'd love to go with you." Buck: "Great. In that case, get packed, because the airplane taking us there leaves in two hours." Fox: "What?" Fox now begins to stand up and go in the back room. "Thanks for taking me, Buck." Buck: "What are friends for? When you're finished, meet me at my apartment." Fox, before completely exiting to a backroom, looks at Buck. "By the way, how many people are coming?" Buck: "Four. Wilma and Twiki." Fox: "Twiki. Wouldn't he..." Buck: "He assured us that he'd be fine by the water, and I didn't have time to argue." Fox: "Oh, okay." At this, Fox goes in the backroom, and Buck turns to exit the apartment area. ----------------------------------------------------------------- int: Huer's Office Dr. Huer is sitting at his desk, as a woman who appears to be a secretary enters the room. Huer looks up from the papers that he was reading. Huer: "Yes, Anna?" Anna (Secretary): "Ms. Wilma Deering dropped off a note from a Mr. Buck Rogers. About the gift you gave them." At this point, she hands an envelope to Dr. Huer. Huer: "Ah, yes. Well, not really a gift, but I think giving Buck and Wilma two days vacation was the least I could after how well they handled that last mission. They gave two new allies against the Draconians, you know?" As he is saying this, he begins to open the letter, but he is not reading it. Anna: "I didn't know, sir. Will there be anything else?" Huer: "Nothing else. Thank you." Anna turns and nods her head, before exiting the room. Huer is just about to read the letter, when a ringing sound can be heard on his desk. Pressing a button on his computer, it appears as though he just activated some type of transmission. Huer sets the letter back in the envelope, and puts it to the side of his desk. "Yes, Anna?" Anna's voice: "Dr. Huer, a security guard from Corridor S-11 says that he needs to report something to you." Huer sighs. Huer: "Send him in." He then cuts the transmission, and quickly straightens his desk. Huer (to himself): I don't even have time to read a letter lately..." ----------------------------------------------------------------- ext: Grand Oasis Resorts int: Curtis's Hotel Room Curtis and Cynthia are both in a very nice looking hotel room. The background with the balcony shows that this is not on the first floor. Both are sitting around a very nice looking table, and on the table is a large map that looks like a map of the resort and the surrounding area, although it is too blurry to see. Curtis stands up from the table and points to a location on the map. Curtis: "Lets review the plan. This is where I reserved Buck's hotel room." Cynthia leans forward in order to get a better look of where exactly he is referring to. Curtis now points to another point on the map. Curtis: "This is where I'm going to have the soldiers hidden. When I give the signal, I want you to transmit the ships and tell them to plunge forward. When the soldiers, fully armed, storm the resort, what do you do?" Cynthia: "Run over to the hall where they're rooms are?" Curtis: "Very good. And what do you do if you see Wilma?" Cynthia: "Shoot to kill, sir." Curtis: "Buck?" Cynthia: "Switch the mode of the blaster to taser, and subdue him, but make sure to take him alive." Curtis: "Wonderful. Now on to our escape. While I jump aboard the ANDROPOV, what do you do?" Cynthia: "I take Buck and his companions hostage, and retreat to the transport ship that will be at location X, sir." Curtis: "Great. Remember the exact location, Cynthia. It's going to look like all the other ships." Cynthia: "I know, sir." Curtis now turns towards the balcony. Cynthia follows him, and the two of them walk out towards the balcony, with Curtis leaning over the safety rail. It is morning right now, and the beach looks wonderful. Curtis: "When we get back to Draconia, King Draco is no doubt going to reward us for this. He might even give you the promotion you deserve." Cynthia: "That would be wonderful sir, to return to my original position." Curtis: "Come now. You have a different title, but things haven't really changed. You’re still my assistant, just like before." Cynthia: "I suppose, sir. I just want respect." Curtis: "You have my respect, Cynthia. Now concentrate, soldier. We have a mission to do, and we're going to do it right." Cynthia almost salutes, but catches herself, seeing as how she is on the balcony. Cynthia: "Yes, sir." Curtis begins to walk back inside. Curtis: "I'm going to review the map one more time." Cynthia nods, and looks out over the beach again. As she does this, she sighs, and turns back around. As she returns to the room, she closes the door behind her. The screen then goes black. End of Act One ================================== Beginning of Act Two ext: The Grand Oasis Resort Beach On a little launch pad, very similar to the one that Curtis and Cynthia disembarked from, only this ship is bigger, and looks like it would collect tourists. The ship lands and the doors open. A few other people get out, before Buck, Fox, Wilma, and Twiki step out of the ship, and onto the beach. Note that they are no longer dressed in Defense Directorate uniforms, but instead they are dressed appropriately for a vacation at the beach. All four all holding luggage, except for Twiki. Wilma: "I can't believe the Defense Directorate would pay for four rooms to such a fancy hotel." Buck: "Me neither. But, it's best to enjoy it while we can; we don't know when they might be this generous again." Wilma: "I guess you're right." At this, the four begin walking towards the hotel, although there are a few people in the background that are staring at Twiki as they pass. Twiki: "Why do they stare at me?" Fox: "I don't think they expected to see an ambiquad on a beach." Twiki: "I think we have a right to go on vacation." Buck: "Of course you do." Buck then turns to Wilma. "What time is it right now?" Wilma: "About five o'clock. Why?" Buck: "Well, we got here kind of late in the day. I just wanted to make sure that there was still time to enjoy the beach." Fox: "The pamphlet says it’s not supposed to get dark until around eight o'clock or so." At this, they reach the entrance to the hotel. It is quite a grand entrance, with huge double doors, and a doorman to open the door for them as they enter. Buck nods "thanks" to them, and the four enter the hotel. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- int: The Grand Oasis Resort Main Lobby The four are now standing at the entrance of a very extravagant hall, where there are many people passing by. To the side, where the camera if facing, is a reception desk, with two people behind the counter. Buck: "Wilma, do you have the tickets?" Wilma nods, and reaches into one of the bags that she is holding. A beat later, she takes out four paper tickets, and hands them to Buck. Wilma: "Here you are." Buck: "Thanks." The four now walk up to the reception desk, Buck and Wilma in the lead, with Fox and Twiki standing behind them. Unlike outside, people are not really staring at Twiki. Receptionist: How may I help you, sir?" Buck: "I have four tickets to three days, two nights here." Receptionist: "Alright. Let's see if I have you on file." The receptionist now turns to a futuristic computer screen. "Name." Buck (to Wilma): "Uh, who do you think he put the tickets under?" Wilma: "Probably you're name." Buck now turns back to the receptionist. "Rogers, Buck." The receptionist types something into the computer, and a beeping noise can be heard emitting from the computer. Receptionist: "Alright, you're in order." She now reaches below her side of the desk, and pulls out what looks like a folded map. A sticky piece of paper at the top says "Buck Rogers". cont.: "Here is a map. You're rooms are marked on the map, and the keys to the rooms are inside the map. Are there any questions you have?" Buck: "Yeah. When's dinner?" The camera now zooms out a bit, and away from Buck and the gang. A man that is sitting on what looks like a huge sofa-chair is looking right at the group. He nods, and stands up, exiting into a room that looks like a bathroom. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ int: Curtis's Hotel Room Cynthia is sitting near the window, when a buzzing sound can be heard. She picks up something from a pocket in her dress, and holds it up to her ear. Note that the audience can't hear anything, but it appears that Cynthia can. At the end, she nods, presses a button, and puts it back in her pocket. She then stands up, and walks over to where Curtis is, who is back by the table with the map in it. He looks up from the map as she approaches. Cynthia: "Sir, Buck and his group has just checked in." Curtis: "Wonderful. Now all we do is wait." Cynthia: "That's it? Nothing else?" Curtis: "No. I think that everything is ready. I just checked everything while you were in the other room." Cynthia: "Uh sir, may I make a suggestion." Curtis slightly narrows his eyes. "Yes, Deputy?" Cynthia: "If we can't go to the beach, we could at least make sure that we take advantage of the room service. How about a nice, relaxing dinner first." Curtis: "Cynthia, we need to concentrate. Eating a large meal before we have to run around would just slow us down." Cynthia: "What if I kept it light?" Curtis: "Alright. I'll clear the table; you go back and order us something light. No wine or alcohol, though, I need you to have a clear head." Cynthia now looks very excited, and begins to walk towards the other room. Cynthia: "Yes sir!" Curtis carefully folds up the map, and begins to clear the table. After a beat of Curtis admiring how neat the table looks, he sits down on one of the chairs, and props his feet up on another that is nearby him. After a moment, a meal, which was a large plate of pizza and some drinks that looked non-alcoholic in nature, appeared. However, they appeared on a large tray, which sprung up from the table. Curtis looks at this with amusement, before turning to where Cynthia is. Curtis (shouting): "Back in my day, a bellhop had to come in the room with the trays of food." Cynthia enters the room. "What's a bellhop?" Curtis puts a hand on his forehead. "Damn, I'm old." ---------------------------------------------------------- ext: The Grand Oasis Resort int: The Lobby A window near the four of them can tell that it is getting pretty dark. Buck, Fox, and Wilma are in swimwear, which implies that they have just come in from being at the beach. They are now sitting a table, and there are emptied plates before three of them, barring Twiki. Buck pats his stomach. : "What a day. A nice swim at the beach, and the dinner was delicious." Fox: "I still can't believe that Wilma beat you in the race." Buck (jokingly): "I figured it was her first time in a swim race, so I'd better let her win." Wilma (not so jokingly): "Is that why you were panting so hard just to come in right behind me?" Twiki: "Come on, you two." Buck: "What? We're just playing around." Twiki: "I've seen some arguments start this way. We're on vacation, don't forget." Fox: "How could we forget? Just like I couldn't forget that waitress that served us." Fox then winks at Buck. Buck gives Fox a look that says "Not now, I'm with my girlfriend", and Fox just grins. Wilma notices this look, and glares at Buck. Buck: "What?" Wilma: "I know what you were thinking." Buck: "That I'm with my beautiful girlfriend on the best vacation that I've ever been on with my life?" Wilma tries to look mad, but finally she smiled and laughed. Fox: "Well, I don't know about you, but I'm thinking about checking out early. I don't know about you, but I want to hit the beach in the morning before it gets too crowded." Twiki: "How could you do that if you check out?" Buck: "It's an expression for sleeping. And yeah, that sounds like a good idea. Before it gets crowded, me and Wilma can have a rematch. Only this time..." Buck now turns to Wilma "...I'm not holding back." Wilma playfully hit him, and then the four began to get up and exit the scene. ------------------------------------------------------- ext: The skies above the Grand Oasis Resort It is now pitch black, clearly the middle of the night. However, the camera is focuses on the empty beach for a moment, and then slowly pans over the adjacent ocean. A faint sound could be heard, and it grows louder as the camera pan. It is the sound of a jet's motor, only very muffled. The camera then begins to slowly rise over the ocean, where about 13 Draconian ships are flying toward the beach in a "V" formation. The ships look fairly large, as though they could contain about five to ten people, including the pilot. The camera switches view, and to the point of view of the leading ship. It is looking directly at the resort and the empty beach, and it is getting closer. Note that the camera does not move from this position, and the resort is getting closer with each second. Voice of Draconian Soldier: "Commander Curtis, we are ready to take the resort at your request." Curtis's voice is clearly coming in from a radio. "Good. You may proceed when ready. It has been confirmed that Rogers and Deering are where they are supposed to be." V.O. Draconian Soldier: "Yes sir. We shall proceed." With that, it sounds as though a transmission has just been cut. The resort is now pretty close, and the camera, still in the point of view of the lead Draconian ship, begins to dive, as though it is heading for the beach. The camera then backs away, to show all 13 Draconian ships landing at the beach, and the screen goes black as the last one hits the sand. End of Act Two ========================== Beginning of Act Three ext: The Defense Directorate int: Dr. Huer's office Dr. Huer is sitting at his desk again. This time, though, the pile on his desk is gone. He now is holding the letter from Buck and Wilma, and began to read it. After a few beats of reading, he takes a confused look on his face. Huer (to himself): "I didn't give them tickets to the Grand Oasis Resorts. Good lord, the money that would cost us... But why would they think that I gave it to them. Wait a minute, didn't that guard tell me that a mailman was passed out in the hall..." At this, Huer jumps to his feet, and begins to walk out of the office, turning off the light behind him. ----------------------------------------------------- int: The Grand Oasis Resorts Lobby The resort lobby looks rather deserted. The only people that are here are a few guests occupying tables, and some security guards that are beginning to make the night rounds. The help desk has a clerk for the night shift, but overall, the huge lobby probably has no more than ten people or so total. The camera rests at the main door, where one would have to go through to enter or exit the resort. After a beat, it is bust down, and a hoard of Draconian troops bust through, each holding a gun in front of them, like they would shoot at anything that moved. The people in the lobby scream, and begin to hide under anything they can. One of the soldiers, the one who led the barge, looks to be of higher rank than the rest of the soldiers. Draconian Captain snaps his finger, and points to the right, which the camera shows us is down a hall. About half the troops begins to run down here, while the camera goes back to the captain, to show the other half subduing the night guards and the other guests. Draconian Captain: "Nobody move, and no one will get hurt." The help desk receptionist, as the camera focuses on him, begins to move his hand under the desk, presumably to where a button that would dial the police or military would be located. However, one of the soldiers sees this, and aims his gun at the man, firing a round with the gun that came off almost as a machine gun. ------------------------------------------------------- int: Buck and Fox's Room The sound of the machine gun can faintly be heard here, but it is enough to get Buck out of bed. Fox is still sound asleep, but Buck quickly pulls some clothes out of the bag, and runs in the bathroom. "Fox, get up and dressed!" Buck yells as he runs. Fox, wearily, gets up. "What the..." Another round of shots is heard, and Fox is now fully awake. The camera now goes black for a beat, and Buck then runs out, dressed sloppily in civilian clothes. Fox is dressed in the same manner. Both of them grab blasters. Buck: "What the hell's going on?" Fox: "I don't know, but I don't thing that blaster fire is a good sign. We should probably go check it out." Buck: "First, we have to alert Wilma and Twiki." Buck and Fox exit the room, and are now into the hall. Buck runs down the hall, to the room opposite theirs. Buck (shouting) "Wilma! Twiki! Are you in there!" There is no response, and after a beat, Buck opens the door and runs inside, followed by Fox. ----------------------------------------------------- int: Defense Directorate Medical Wing This is a very modern medical wing, and it looks like there are many different type of machines that could cure most diseases or ailments almost instantly. However, there are a few beds here, although only one is being occupied, by the mailman that was last seen in the teaser. Note that there is a bandage on his head, but other than that, he looks pretty healthy. Through the door, Dr. Huer walks in. He looks like he ran there, and is a bit short of breath. He looks around, and quickly sees the bed with the mailman inside. He then proceeds to walk towards him. Huer: "Are you the new mailman?" The mailman looks very nervous. Mailman: "Oh no. Sir, I swear that I didn't drink on the job. Please don't fire me." Huer: "We'll see if that is true or not. First, what's your name?" Mailman: "Marvin Hinkley." Huer: "I see. Marvin, tell me exactly what happened in the hallway before you fell." Marvin (mailman): "Well, I was delivering a package, when some strange guy was standing around. He came up to me in a taser, and I thought that he wanted me to show him my identification card. Well, as I was about to show him, the last thing I remember was him swinging the blaster at my head. He must have knocked me out." Huer: "Was he carrying anything on him? This man." Marvin strains to think for a minute. Marvin: "I think he was carrying some type of letter in his pocket, I could see the bright white in contrast to the dark uniform. Listen, sir, I promise you that I wouldn't drink on my first day on the job." Huer looks deeply into Marvin's eyes, and then nods. Huer: "I believe you. If what you say is true, then I have to hurry." Huer begins to run out of the room, but he is stopped by Marvin. Marvin: "Wait! Sir, do you think you could get me my postal worker job back." Huer turns to him. "If you are telling me the truth, I'll not only give you the job back, I'll see to it that you get a raise along with it." The camera goes back to Marvin, who smiles, and then lies back down in the bed. ----------------------------------------------------------------- int: Wilma's Room Wilma, already dressed, is loading a blaster that is over a nightstand. She turns around to see Buck and Fox. At first, she points the gun at them, before realizing who it was. Wilma: "Why didn't you knock?" Buck: "I did. I knocked and yelled. I guess I should have knocked louder." Wilma: "No, I probably just didn't hear you. I heard the blaster fire, and I knew that something was wrong." Fox: "Wilma? Where's Twiki?" Wilma: "Uh, I don't know. Twiki!" Twiki now walks out of the bathroom, looking quite flustered. Buck: "What happened?" Twiki: "I saw a scratch on my arm, and I tried to see if Wilma had something that could cover it up." Wilma now glares at Twiki. WIlma: "Exactly how many of my things did you go through?" Buck: "Now's not the time! Come on, we have to go." Fox: "But where?" Wilma: "It sounded like the lobby." The three of them run out of the room. Twiki, however, is still obsessed with that scratch on his arm. The camera turns to the door, where Buck poked his head back in the room. Buck: "Come on, Twiki!" Twiki: "Let me just see if I can take care of this scratch. I'll meet up with you when I do." Buck rolls his eyes. Buck: "And you called humans vain." He now pops his head back out. ------------------------------------------------------------------- int: The Hallway As the four of them begin to run down the hall... Cynthia: "Stop where you stand!" The four turn around. Cynthia, flanked by about five guards with readied guns, has her blaster aimed at Buck and his friends. Note that Cynthia is now back in her Draconian Military Uniform, and is holding her blaster straight at Wilma. Buck (to himself): "Curtis! I should have known." Cynthia: "Silence! You are hereby under Draconian arrest..." She then stares intently at the group, and looks around. Cont.: "Wait a minute. Charles told me there were four of you!" Fox was about to say something, but Wilma cut in. Wilma: "Uh, our fourth guest is in Buck's room." Cynthia: "Which room?" Wilma points to the room that Buck originally came out of. "To your left." Cynthia nods, and cocks her head to the room. Cynthia: "Go get him!" Two Draconian soldiers ran in the room, and the rest turned back to the trio. At this, a radio goes off inside one of Cynthia's pockets. Cynthia, while she still has a gun pointed at Wilma, takes the radio with her other hand, and holds it up to her ear. Curtis's Voice: "How are things at your end?" Cynthia: "I'm about ready to make the kill." Curtis: "Excellent. The ship is ready for you. Remember, just Wilma." Cynthia: "Roger that." Cynthia then turns the radio off, and directs her full attention back to the trio. Wilma: "What did he mean by that?" Cynthia: "I have orders to kill you, and take Buck and his companions hostage. Now, are there any last words from you?" The camera then pulls close to Cynthia's hand, where she is just about to pull the trigger. However, before she does that, footsteps can be seen, and the two guards who ran in Buck's room come out. Draconian Soldier Two: "There is no one inside the room, ma'am." Cynthia: "What!?!" She takes a few steps closer to Buck, turning the gun to him. "Tell me where he is, Rogers, or will I'll not only kill you, but the other man you're with as well." Note that Cynthia is standing near to the door where Wilma is, but is just behind it. Buck looks to the door, and he sees Twiki standing behind the door, at an angle where Cynthia and the rest of the guard wouldn’t be able to see him. He winks at Buck, who turns to face the Draconians. Buck (to himself): "I just have to get her to move a bit closer." Cynthia: "What did you say?" Buck: "I said that he must have climbed out of the window. He's pretty sneaky, you know." Cynthia: "Well, there's men stationed just outside your windows, and somebody would have already informed me." She then turned to the two guards. "Are you SURE that you didn't see him?" Draconian Soldier Two: "We checked the whole place through." Cynthia now sighs. "Then obviously, I have to go check. After I take care of Wilma, though." She takes a step forwards, and points the gun at her head. The camera zooms closer to her, where she is about to fire the weapon. However, as she almost does this, Twiki jumps out of the room, and tackles Cynthia to the ground. The other guards get ready to fire, but Buck and the trio takes this opportunity to fire a round of weapons at the Draconians. The camera goes to Twiki, where a blaster shot singes part of his arm. However, most of the Draconian soldiers behind Cynthia have fallen before they realize that the trio is shooting at them. Cynthia (to herself): "I forgot to tell them to disarm." Then she grabs Twiki by the neck, and pushes him off of her, where she stands up, and kicks him in the head. Twiki: "Oww!" Cynthia: "Silence, you rusty idiot." She then turned to Buck and Wilma, who are charging towards her. She grabs her blaster, and fires it at Wilma. However, Wilma ducks, and punches her in the face. Buck is about to subdue her, but Cynthia takes the part of Twiki's arm that was singed off and slaps Buck across the head with it, making him stagger back. Wilma holds the blaster to her face, and the fighting stops. Cynthia's eyes go wide with fear, before she quickly knocks the gun out of Wilma's hands. ------------------------------------------------------------- ext: The S.S. ANDROPOV int: Pilot Room Curtis is looking out the window at the front of the ship, while two soldiers are sitting at computers that look like radars, and other functions the ship would need. The ship, from the view of the window, is still landed. A beeping sound can be heard from one of the nearby computer. Pilot One: "Sir, bad news." Curtis: "What is it?" Pilot: "A fleet of Directorate ships is approaching the Grand Oasis Resorts. They should be here in about ten minutes." Curtis: "Damn it! How did they know...? Radio in Deputy DeBane, and any other captains. Tell them to retreat. Now!" Pilot: "Yes sir!" --------------------------------------------------------- int: Hallway in front of Buck's Room About ten more troops are now behind Cynthia. Twiki is now standing up, with one arm missing. Fox has a blaster, and is in the crack of a doorway, exchanging fire with Draconian guards. Wilma, meanwhile, is behind Fox, while Cynthia is now leading the Draconian soldiers, who are slowly approaching Fox and Wilma. Buck is holding the wall for support, and holding his head with the other hand, where a great big gash could be seen. The radio goes off again, and Curtis is now yelling loud enough for Fox and Wilma to hear over the blaster fire. V.O. Curtis: "Cynthia, retreat, now! The Directorate is on its way." Wilma now makes a little smile, while Fox gives out a small "yes". V.O. Curtis: "We're going to fire the main cannon, and destroy the resort. If we can't kill him with manpower, then we're going to just have to sacrifice some others, won't we." Wilma's face now looks horrified, and so does Fox's. Cynthia: "Yes sir!" Cynthia then presses a button on that radio, and then turns to her guards. "Everyone, retreat, and return to your respective ships." The guards all begin to run in the opposite direction, although they are doing so in an orderly, military like manner. Cynthia is about to do the same, and the camera shows Fox and Wilma in the hall, with Buck still clutching the wall to the side. Cynthia: "If you try to escape the hotel, you will be shot down by the ships. In the end, the Draconian Army always wins!" At this, Cynthia runs down the hall, leaving a wounded Buck and Twiki along with Wilma and Fox. Fox: "What are we going to do?" Buck: "We have to get out of here now, without being seen." Wilma: "But how are we going to do that?" Fox: "And shouldn't we warn all the people in the hotel?" Buck holds up both hands to his head. Buck (shouting): "I don't know. Give me a minute to think!" Wilma: "We don't have a minute! As soon as everyone is inside their ships, the Draconians are going to blow the place up!" Buck: "Well, what would you do, then?" Wilma: "Alert everyone, and then run for it." End of Act Three ============================================ Beginning of Act Four int: The Grand Oasis Resorts Lobby The lobby certainly looks like it had just been invaded. Chairs are overturned, and many people are inside the lobby are looking panic stricken. The lobby is very crowded, and it looks like almost everybody in the hotel is packed into the lobby, implying that they have already have been alerted of the danger. Buck's group is now standing in front of the help desk. Buck looks around, and then stands on a table in the center of the room. Buck (yelling): "I have an idea!" Everyone stops, and the camera shows everyone turning their attention to Buck. Buck looks to the person behind the help desk. Buck: "How many exits are there?" Help Desk Guy: "There are five exits. One down the left and right hall, one in the back, one behind the employee station, and the main entrance. Buck turns back to the crowd of people. "Alright. We can't go out the front doors, because the Draconians will most likely open fire on a crowd. However, they are in a hurry, and we can use that to our advantage. Everyone needs to escape out the back doors, NOW!" People now begin to run out down the halls, towards the doors, as Buck and his group begin to the same. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ int: Front of the S.S.ANDROPOV Curtis, Cynthia, and two pilots are in the room, with the window where the pilot's look out facing the Grand Oasis Resorts. Cynthia is standing near a machine that has a red bar. The camera focuses on the machine for a beat, as the red bar is nearly full, until it fills completely, and turns green. The words "MISSILE ACTIVATED" appears over the bar, and the camera focuses back to the scene. Cynthia: "The missile is fully charged, sir." Curtis: "Excellent!" Curtis then walks over to where pilots are, and takes what looks like a handheld intercom. Cont.: "Attention, all ships! The Defense Directorate should be here in about five minutes. Everyone, fall back, and follow the Mother Ship's lead!" Finally, Curtis turns back to the pilots, and cocks his head towards the window that faces the Grand Oasis Resorts. Curtis: "Fire!" --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- int: Beach behind the Resort A whole crowd of people are on a beach area that is behind the hotel. Note that there are no Draconian ships in this area, nor would it be possible for them to see this side of the beach from the front of the hotel, considering how large the building structure is. Note that the crowd is fairly far away from the building, as the back beach extends back a good ways. Buck, Wilma, Fox, and a damaged Twiki are standing at the edge of the crowd. Wilma points to something above the resort. Wilma: "Buck... Look!" The four turn to look at the resort, as a large crashing sound can be heard. The resort immediately catches fire, and pieces of the building begin to fall and crumble off. The crowd has gone ballistic, and is beginning to run in random directions, more like a riot. Wilma and Buck look at each other, and then at Fox. Fox: "How could they..." The camera focuses on the four watching as the resort continues to burn. In the background, a hoard of Draconian ships takes off, moving far away from the resort, with the S.S.ANDROPOV in the lead. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- int: Dr. Huer's Office Dr. Huer has a stack of papers on his desk, and looks very flustered. Buck, Fox, and Wilma are sitting in chairs before his desk. Buck: "Doctor, how many causalities were there?" Huer sighs. Huer: "Between the people that were crushed to death from both the building, and the mob riot, not to mention those that didn't get out of there on time... 35 people were killed, and 45 were wounded." Buck looks very angry at hearing this. Buck: "How could he!" Huer: "The resort, should the United States wish to repair it, would cost a little under 2 billion dollars. I'm not including the costs it would take to purify the lake from the building debris floating around in it." Wilma: "Did the Directorate ships capture any Draconian units?" Huer: "Two ships were shot down, and it was estimated that maybe 4 people on their side were either killed or injured. However, they suffered almost nothing in comparison to Earth." Fox: "I can't believe this. What are we going to do?" Wilma: "What can we do? We still don't have the support of every country." Huer: "If there is anything good to come out of this, the United States gives us their full support. The President wants Curtis's head, and is willing to funnel as much money as we may need." Before anything else can be said, Twiki walks in the room. Not only is his arm repaired, but he looks like his metal coat was just polished. Buck: "I see you were able to get fixed up." Twiki: "Well, I think I deserved it, after the 'vacation' we had." Huer: "Oh yes, speaking of that, I actually did plan on giving you some real vacation time for you hard work. It was going to be two days, but considering what you went through, I'm giving you both a week of leave-time. Fox, I will grant you five days worth, since I was tacking on the two days I was originally going to give them." Buck: "Thank you, sir." Wilma: "Yes, thank you very much." Huer: "Well, I have nothing more to say. If you don't either, then you're dismissed. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ext: S.S.ANDROPOV int: Curtis's Office Curtis and Cynthia are sitting at a small table that is designed for their dining. There is a good amount of food before them, and while Curtis looks very content, Cynthia looks rather nervous. Cynthia: "Once again sir, I apologize..." Curtis waves his hand. Curtis: "Cynthia, it's alright. You'll get them next time." Cynthia: "But I had ample time. I should have just fired when I had the chance. But that robot got me." Curtis takes a bite of food, and chews it for a beat before swallowing it. Curtis: "Cynthia, did you see when I destroyed that building?" Cynthia: "Yes sir." Curtis: "Do you know how much a building like that costed. Besides, I'm pretty sure that the riot behind the building trampled a few people, not to mention the fact that not everyone escaped before we shot at it. Cynthia, we gave Earth a reason to fear us. We sent the message that we can cause destruction at will, and that next time, it will be greater." Curtis now winks at Cynthia. "At least, that's what I'm going to say in my report to the king." Cynthia now looks as though she's cheered up a little. Cynthia: "You planned to destroy that building all along, did you?" Curtis: "Only if we didn't capture Buck and the others. Remember, Cynthia, the Nova Fleet results in favor of the Draconian Crown, and as long as we do that, we get funding, right?" Cynthia now smiles, and takes a piece of food. Cynthia: "I understand, Commander." Curtis smiles at this, and takes another bite of the food, as the camera goes away from Cynthia, and out of the window, to the vast blackness of space. End of Act Four Ending Credits Commence