Buck Rogers in the 26th Century



Episode 109x "Fire"

Written by: Erin Weinstock


I don't hold any of the copyrights in this story, and this story was 
made without profit.


Teaser:

ext: Landing Site:

Camera on the ground, close to the edge of a small pond that we can't 
see the full shape of yet. The water is boiling fast in tiny bubbles 
that are almost as small as the grains of sand that lie on the floor of 
it. Coming from far off in this scene, being a blurred image to more 
visible as it comes closer, is a small animal that looks like a pale 
lobster, with long pinchers.

Just after it's hit the edge of the water, and is sitting on the sand, a 
hand reaches down into the sand under it and lifts the little animal up 
into the air.

Cut camera to a normal-looking view of the scene. The sky has an amazing 
red to it. The trees have no leaves, and their bark has a burnt look to 
it. There are a number of them. Just beyond them - OK picture if a Z-87 
was a small sports car, this is a large van. This space ship is a 
transport vessel with the same ridged look, but no place on it for 
firing. It has smaller jet-rocket ports, and its back is used for 
loading and unloading. Buck is holding the small creature, flat palmed. 
Taindair is standing nearby. The creature is waving its claws around in 
the air.

Taindair: "What you're holding could be the last of its kind."

Buck: "Could it survive elsewhere, on another planet?"

Taindair: "If you like it, it could be taken to Sanopp. I'm sure it 
might have a chance at life there."

Buck: "The heat on your home world?"

Taindair: "No radiation. Remember it's the combination of the two that's 
killing all life here."

As they walk over to the shuttle these next few lines happen. Buck: "Do 
you have any idea why they don't want to leave this place?"

Taindair: "From the reports I heard, they don't see it as a threat. [ 
beat ] Maybe they just don't care what the supernova is doing to the 
planet."

Buck: "I really hate to think you're right about that. But I think 
nearly every living being fears death. These people have to know what's 
going on around them. They can't be that dim not to know what's 
happening."

Taindair: "They could be; my people did conquer them long ago."

Buck: "Taindair."

Taindair: "I'm sorry." They're both now at the shuttle. The two of them 
move around to its rear, and Taindair touches an access pad, making a 
doorway appear.

Cut to: 

int: Shuttle:

Buck and Taindair step into camera view. Immediately Taindair moves 
around the inside looking in various places of the ship, poking around. 
Buck: "There has to be something making these people stay."

Taindair: "And what do you suppose that is?"

Buck: "This is their home, it's all they know for living life."

Taindair: "To the land of heated sands, that makes no sense, Buck. To 
want to live on a dying world just because it's the only place they see 
as home. There are plenty of other planets out there. They know that, 
they've known that for hundreds of years."

From a cabinet that Taindair has just opened up. He pulls out a carrier 
that can only be accessed from its top. To its sides are the handles 
used for moving it. Buck: " [ beat ] Because it's home."

Taindair: "Maybe that makes sense to you, but not to me." Putting the 
carrier in front of Buck,  Cont: "Put the thick scale in here."

Buck: "Thick scale?"

Taindair: "The animal you're holding, the thick-scaled one with the 
fanned tail." After that line has been finished, Buck puts his hand with 
the creature on it down into the carrier. After a beat he takes his hand 
out. The creature not on it any more.

Buck: "Out of curiosity, Taindair, what if we can't get them to leave?"

Taindair: "Then we call on greater forces to help us get them to leave. 
We are doing this by order of the Defense Directorate, by order of the 
queen of my home world. This planet has been nearly forgotten by all 
with time. But it still belongs to Sanopp and its people. And they have 
a responsibility to it."

Buck: "These greater forces, what are you saying when you say that? That 
we call up the Directorate? Ask for pilots to come here bearing arms to 
drag these people onto carrier ships if need be?"

Taindair: "If it comes to that, yes."

Buck: "Armed?"

Taindair: "Without firing upon them, only to scare them into obeying 
us."

Buck stares at Taindair with a worried look. Then turns away and moves 
out of the ship.

Cut camera on to Taindair, who looks puzzled by Buck's action. After a 
beat, and talking to himself, Taindair: "That's not how you think we 
should take action is it?"

Cut Camera to behind Taindair. To now watching him make his way out of 
the ship to follow Buck.

End Teaser

Pre-Credits:

Beginning of Act One:

int: Prison Cell:

The camera is focused close up on a TV floating in the air. There's a 
nature show on, and the TV camera is focused on an alien creature moving 
around.

Talking in a calm voice, V.O. TV Voice one: "The Amvin seen here is 
acting against its own nature. It's awake during the daytime and moving 
about on open soil exposing itself to predators."

The TV screen clicks to a new image. The image now is a talk show. There 
are three quests and one host.

V.O. Host: "That's incredible, these stories I'm hearing! How you people 
survived in that totally Jovian planet!"

The TV screen clicks to a new image. It's a music video that's just 
begun. Small print can be seen on the screen, giving some very basic 
information about the video. Where it says in this information who the 
band is, we catch that it says, "Andromeda." Techno music can be heard 
blasting. The TV screen is alive with oddly colored strange shapes.

Cut camera to Joelin sitting on the lower bunk of a bunk bed. Fiddling 
with a device that's snugly resting on his head. As he's doing this act, 
he looks to be in deep concentration and is agitated. We watch this for 
a beat before moving the camera up to the higher bunk. To see his 
roommate lying back in bed holding a remote control. Looking very bored, 
the Bunkmate clicks the remote after a beat. The TV produces some noise, 
then another beat, the Bunkmate clicks it again. This just keeps 
happening every few seconds.

Cut camera to Joelin looking more annoyed working away at what we last 
saw him at. After a beat he smiles and looks to the TV.

Cut camera back to his bunkmate. Bunkmate: "What gives, the TV just 
blacked out?!"

Suddenly Joelin rises up to his Bunkmate's view. Note: Joelin no longer 
has the device on his head. Joelin: "There shall be no more TV." He says 
looking mean in a smile.

Bunkmate: "What?"

The hand of the bunkmate that's holding the remote starts quivering. The 
Bunkmate looks in pain at this, and drops the remote. Bunkmate: 
"W-what's going on?!"

Focus the camera on the remote, which lifts into the air and only a 
quick beat later. Starts to crack and break up as it twists itself up.

Cut to:

ext: Town Square:

A man who could be in his 50's or 60's stands before a small crowd of 
people. Buck and Taindair are entering this scene from far behind the 
crowd. Note no one has noticed them yet. This man I mentioned a moment 
ago, is also standing on a platform as he talks. He sounds like an 
enraged preacher.

The man who I just wrote of, Kaleel: "When! If they come again, you must 
stay and pass this! This test of faith that has fallen upon us! We are 
all followers of the great Soil, Wind, and Water that are our makers! 
Only those who have let themselves be tainted with the blood of Sanopp, 
left! And for that our makers have it so! That they are doomed to die in 
the blackness that lies beyond our beloved three!"

Cut camera to Buck and Taindair still moving forward.

Buck: "Can you believe this?"

Taindair: "And I thought I could hold a grudge against something."

Cut camera to Kaleel; Kaleel: "But we shall not perish! For our numbers 
are more than they appear!" In a snap Kaleel's attention is caught by 
something forward, off camera. Cont: "They've come back to proceed with 
the test! Dressed in Sanopp's blood in all its blackness! Another has 
come for us! We must stand strong!" He says this pointing out from 
himself.

Cut camera back and above Kaleel. So we can see the crowd turn to where 
he's pointing, to Buck and Taindair.

Cut camera on to Buck and Taindair. Buck: "Oh isn't this lovely, 
Taindair? We've only been here a few hours and already these people love 
us." Buck has said this very sarcastically. For the crowd of people that 
nearly surrounds the two now, doesn't look very friendly.

Kaleel: "Stranger, leave the one of Sanopp before it taints you!"

Buck: "Taindair and I work together. We're not here to bring any harm to 
you or your followers. We're here to help you."

Woman one: "You're here to take us to the Darkness that our makers do 
not move upon!"

Woman two: "We won't join you, tainted one!"

Man one: "You offer no help we could want! Leave us now!"

Taindair: "My people left this planet long ago. We're no longer what you 
must still think we are. We are all allies now; Sanopp's rule over this 
planet is only in name. We only wish to take you to safety."

Kaleel is walking up as this next line is said. Buck: "Your planet is 
dying." Kaleel is now at the two, Kaleel: "Our makers are immortal. [ 
beat ] You say "my" makers are dying? Were you not born in their 
faith?!"

Buck: "I was not born of this world, but I still care for the fate of 
it's people."

Kaleel: "A liar tainted from the Darkness beyond the three." Kaleel 
turns to face the crowd and looks around at them.

Before returning to his platform, speaking as loudly and as demanding as 
he can, Cont: "They shall be made example of! Take them to the Weeping 
Sands, but make sure the tainted one is second! So he shall see how the 
one of Sanopp has misled him to his fate! To die in the clutches of Soil 
and Water hand in hand giving their vengeance for those of no faith!"

Cut camera to Buck and Taindair. Whispering, Taindair: "And you don't 
want us to truly force them?"

Whispering, Buck: "Their opinion of us isn't very high now. Do you think 
that will help?"

Whispering, Taindair: "They want to kill us." As this line is said some 
very sturdy people take hold of the two, and start leading them off.

Whispering, Buck: "In quicksand."

Whispering, Taindair: "Boiling quicksand." 

Buck tries to halt his forced movement forward. Buck: "AND WHO IS TO SAY 
YOUR LEADER ISN'T TAINTED!"

The ones clutching Buck and Taindair stop moving. Man two: "He is of a 
line straight from the depths of our makers!"

Woman three: "We must quiet their voices, the one of Sanopp and his 
tainted underling!"

Buck: "Don't you know anything of astronomy? Your sun has gone 
supernova, we're trying to sav-." Buck and Taindair get knocked out 
simultaneously.

Cut to:

int: Prison:

We see Bunkmate behind a force field, the same type we've seen in 
earlier episodes. He's furious, looking outwards.

Bunkmate: "You can't do this! Let me out, we're cell mates!"

Cut camera to hallway:

It has a very clean, untouched look about it. Moving all along one side 
of it are jail cells, that all look alike. Joelin stands outside of his 
former one. Looking at a few buttons next to the force field enclosed 
door to the cell. Joelin: "We're not cell mates any more, you feeble 
little mouse."

Bunkmate: "You'll regret this! I know where you're going!"

Joelin: "Think again, mouse. You can't do anything from where you are. 
However I can do nearly anything from where I am." 

Bunkmate: "What do you mean by that?"

Joelin: "So many buttons here, which to choose from? Sleeping gas, no. 
Releasing the pressure locks, no. Th, no, ful, no, dco, no. Carbon 
dioxide from the air filtering system? [ beat ] Which one do you like 
best?"

Bunkmate: "Sleeping gas! Sleeping gas!"

Joelin: "Nah, less fun. I want to get rid of you for good. Carbon 
dioxide, that should be an entertaining way for me to watch you go." 
Joelin now presses the button he knows is right for the job.

Cut camera to Joelin walking down the hallway. We can hear Bunkmate 
gasping for air in the background.

Cut to:

ext: Quicksand Area:

Camera close to the ground; we can see a rope moving. After a sort of 
beat we also start to see moving up into the scene, as the rope moves. A 
pair of hands gripping it, then moving up to the forearms.

Cut camera to being at more of a normal eye level and behind Buck. Who's 
the one we're seeing gripping the rope. And moving along out of the pool 
of quicksand that we can just barely make out where it begins. On the 
end of the rope that's helping Buck get to shore is a woman named 
Osjewelco. Note the quicksand is boiling. Where we can see it lying on 
Buck's skin, the skin looks irritated. Plus we can't see the whole 
quicksand pool.

Once Buck is fully out of the quicksand and on to dry land. Buck: "Thank 
you." This line is directed to Osjewelco. Then turning his attention 
back to the quicksand, Cont: "Taindair?"

Cut camera to a good view over the quicksand pool. Taindair's head is 
the only thing we can see of him sticking out of the pool. He looks very 
content where he is. Speaking slowly, Taindair: "What's the rush?"

Buck: "You'll die if you don't leave."

Still speaking slowly, Taindair: "But it feels so good."

Osjewelco: "Dressed in Sanopp's blood, he is a strange one."

Buck: "For him this is heaven because he's cold blooded. Though NOT 
QUITE BECAUSE HE'LL DIE IF HE DOESN'T LEAVE IT!"

Taindair lets out an annoyed sounding siss.

Buck: "Remember the job at hand, Taindair?" Holding on to one end of the 
rope. Buck throws the other end out to Taindair.

Taindair: "Thanks but no thanks, Buck. All Saurians are excellent 
swimmers." And with having said that line, Taindair swims to shore in a 
grace unthought of for being in a pool of quicksand.

Taindair: "You are different, you?"

Osjewelco: "Osjewelco."

Taindair: "It seems that since the last time a Saurian ever set foot on 
this planet. Your people have built some more interesting words around 
us."

Osjewelco: "You are the evil that tried to kill our makers years ago. 
But I don't believe you are the evil now testing our faith. Many others 
dressed in Sanopp's blood have come in recent weeks. Making claims we're 
all doomed if we do not follow them. Maybe, maybe the blackness that 
lies beyond my makers isn't all we've been brought up to believe it is. 
We're dying, you yourself are a being of death. I'd rather die seeing 
the evil killing me, than die at the hands of one that does not show 
itself."

Taindair: "Osjewelco, my kind, we do not wish to hurt your kind any 
more. We haven't hurt your kind for many eons. Please forgive my people 
for what they did long ago."

Taindair puts out an open hand to Osjewelco: "Take my hand if you 
forgive."

Osjewelco stares at the hand and then at Taindair's face. Looking in 
panic, she moves away fast from him and Buck. Scurrying up a sand bank 
and out of sight.

End of Act One:

Beginning of Act Two:

int: Prison Hallway:

Joelin is standing out outside of another jail cell. In this scene we 
can see both Joelin and who he's looking in on in the cell.

Joelin: "Just give me ONE reason why I shouldn't kill you now?"

Barney: "Because I know the prison better than you do. Because I've 
nearly escaped it four times."

Joelin: "Nearly escaped."

Barney: "Well with your help I could, we could. I've heard you're a man 
of some very interesting talent, Joelin Quince. Now I'm sure if we 
combined our talents. Leaving this place would be just a breeze."

Joelin: "We're under five thousand tons of water."

Barney: "Not a problem for you my man."

Joelin: "Just testing. [ beat ] If I help you, what's in it for me?"

Barney: "A loyal right hand and I'll share my hidden stash with you."

Joelin: "Hidden stash, [ beat ] OK?"

Barney: "Why do you think I got in here, pickpocketing? No, I robbed 
the, now get this. The Crayiceion central storage center, Greax ambuquad 
inc., New Fort Knox."

Joelin: "Greax ambuquad inc.?"

Barney: "Jolly jiving Joelin, ambuquad parts can be worth a fortune when 
dealing with the right buyers on the black market."

Joelin: "Ambuquad, when I'm out of here I need to find some friends of 
mine. You can come with, so long as you never leave my side the whole 
time we're working together."

Barney: "That's it? I'm in? We're working together? That's great! But 
why don't you want me to leave your side the whole time we're working 
together?"

Joelin: "I want you in my sights at all times, due to the fact that my 
other friends and myself. We need to pay a visit to a man with an 
ambuquad who did leave our sights for a moment. You understand my 
meaning don't you?"

Barney: "I understand."

Joelin punches a combination of buttons beside Barney's cell door.

Cut to:

ext: Outskirts of town:

The camera is focused on the horizon, where there are no buildings or 
structures of any kind. Just the wilderness of the dying world, and the 
sun setting, low in the sky.

Cut camera to Osjewelco staring outwards at the scene just described. 
Behind her, what remains of the town's populace. The ones behind her are 
making a mound made of various objects, as the people add the objects. 
Kaleel walks in a circle around it over and over. He has a sack hanging 
off one of his shoulders. From within it, as he moves around the 
building mound. He's repeatedly throwing sand, and chanting softly. 
Beyond this in the scene, we can see the town.

Osjewelco turns her head back to look at what's going on behind her.

Cut camera to close on Kaleel; Osjewelco is walking up to him. As she 
gets closer to him, Osjewelco: "What is a supernova?" Kaleel continues 
at what he's been doing. Cont: "What is a supernova?"

Kaleel continues what he's been doing, only now he's not chanting. 
Kaleel: "I am certain it is the name our makers have given this test of 
our faith."

Osjewelco moving along with Kaleel around the pile, Osjewelco: "But the 
name, it was told by the tainted one. The tainted one, who walks with 
the pure evil. If they were told the name of the test our makers have 
given us. Maybe our makers have forgiven Sanopp in its darkness. Maybe 
they're here to help us move to a place of safer ground."

Kaleel: "Our makers will never forgive Sanopp for the evils it laid upon 
us long ago. Osjewelco, did you talk with them? The one dressed in 
Sanopp's blood and the tainted one?"

Osjewelco looking sheepish doesn't answer. After a beat, Cont: "Answer 
me, did you talk to them?

Osjewelco: "I did."

Kaleel: "You shouldn't have, Osjewelco. Their words were lies and 
nothing more. Their only wish was to taint you. Make you believe their 
lies so they could have you. [ beat ] Thank the gods they are no more, 
Soil and Water."

After a beat, speaking low, Osjewelco: "We continue to die."

Kaleel: "Not any more, they are dead now. The one dressed in Sanopp's 
blood and the tainted one. Killed by the hands of Soil and Water working 
together."

Osjewelco looks disturbed and is making little worried noises, as to say 
something's wrong.

Cont: "You wanted them alive?"

Osjewelco can't find the words to answer him. After a beat he turns 
around to face her. Stopping what he is doing.

Cont: "[ beat ] They-are-dead, correct?" She still can't answer him, she 
looks like she wants to cry.

Cont: "How?" She starts crying, Cont: "You have become tainted, woman! 
You are as evil as they are!" He says this angrily pointing at her.

Others working around Kaleel stop in the middle of what they're doing 
and watch the pair. Cont: "Because you have become tainted! Because you 
have stopped the gods in pursuing their justice on the evil ones! An end 
shall be put to you so you can taint no one with your lies!"

Man three: "How do you think that should be done, Kaleel? She doesn't 
have any respect for the might of Soil and Water. And Wind has not been 
of much help to us in recent weeks."

Kaleel circling around Osjewelco, Kaleel: "Yes, Wind hasn't been helping 
us much recently. His tunnels of destructive force across the plains 
have not come in to do away with the evil ones that keep coming before 
us. Nor his bringing of coldness as reward for us keeping our faith to 
him. She will die at the hands of the one coated in Sanopp's blood and 
the tainted one."

Man three: "Why would they hurt her? She took them away from Soil and 
Water's wraith?"

Kaleel stops circling Osjewelco and grabs her by her hair viciously. 
Kaleel: "All those who have come before to taint us! Making us go into 
the blackness that leads to Sanopp! Have had winged, fire drawn chariots 
to take us there! They must have a chariot here somewhere, we will find 
it! And when we do, we shall make her ride in it! Into the blackness, 
into her doom!"

Man three: "But what of the one of Sanopp and his tainted follower?"

Kaleel: "We will not come to them to hear their lies! Or if they come to 
us, we will not hear their pleas for sanctuary from the wraith of our 
makers! They shall pay for tainting Osjewelco with their lives! Dying of 
no faith, in the face of the test we are faced with!"

Cut to: 

ext: Wilderness:

Buck and Taindair are walking through a dead forest, tall leafless trees 
loom over their heads. Dead rotting plants can be seen about their feet. 
Along with pools of boiling water randomly dotting the forest floor. 
It's this place that will lead on into the landing site shortly. As 
they're walking Buck is brushing off sand that's stuck to him. Taindair 
doesn't seem to mind the sand stuck to him.

Buck looks over to Taindair, who looks more content with the situation 
than he is. Buck: "These people don't want to give up what they know. 
Soon after I first woke up in this century, I didn't want to live in it. 
It wasn't what I was used to. When your whole life you've only had one 
idea in your head for what your reality of living should be. Suddenly 
when and if someone starts to push a new idea on you for the reality you 
should be living in. How are you supposed to take it? That's what's 
happening with these people, Taindair. They don't know how to take it."

Taindair: "Saurians, we haven't dealt with this planet for ages, till 
recently. Who'd have thought they'd see us this way. Well Saurians, not 
Humans."

Buck: "They don't seem too wild about my presence either."

Taindair: "At least you look like them."

After a beat, Buck: "Taindair, when we were packing to come here. Um, 
how well did you think they'd take to us being here? Was anything packed 
that we weren't told to pack?"

Taindair: "I don't follow on the packing, Buck. But when it comes to 
thinking about how well they'd take to us being here. I presumed they 
wouldn't act hostile, because I thought they'd grown used to in recent 
weeks seeing Saurians come here. Thought why should we be different."

Buck: "Remember the devices Wilma and I used back on your home world?"

Taindair: "[ beat ] I follow, certainly would help the situation here 
some."

Buck: "I can't believe it's come down to this, Taindair."

Taindair: "We need help in getting through to these people. Since you 
don't want to use weapons in doing this, I don't see any other way."

Buck: "On Sanopp, the queen is the highest monarch of the planet's 
government. I hope she'll come when we call for her over transmission 
from the ship. [ beat ] Though if she does come, we may, well we hope 
that her status among your people makes the ones here listen. [ beat ] I 
hope they don't act towards her, how they've been acting towards us."

Taindair: "That's wishful thinking, Buck. But we are protectors, and 
good ones at that. So if they do act as a danger to her -."

Buck: "We're at least well able to protect her, I know that's great. But 
I still don't like it that we might be putting her in danger in the 
first place."

Taindair is looking straight out. Buck is looking at the ground right 
now. Taindair: "That's odd."

Buck: "But it has to be done."

Taindair: "No, not that with protecting my queen. The locals, the locals 
have our ship surrounded."

Buck looks up and out at having heard that last line. Buck: "What the h 
-."

Cut to:

ext: Landing Site:

We're right by the shuttle, which has all of the town's folks by it, 
except for Kaleel and Osjewelco. Hold on this for a beat before ...

Cut to: 

int: Shuttle:

Osjewelco is sitting on its floor, it looks like she's been crying. But 
at the moment she's acting calm and accepting of her situation. Kaleel 
is at the shuttle's controls trying his best to make heads or tails of 
them; he looks frustrated.

Kaleel: "You know what's being done to you is just, Osjewelco. You know 
this is what the gods want in turn for your evil." 

Kaleel continues looking around at the controls. Now he starts randomly 
pressing buttons, slowly to find out what they are. After a beat of 
this. He presses one that prompts the ship to start purring with the hum 
of power.

Close up now on Kaleel smiling wickedly.

End of Act Two:

Beginning of Act Three:

This act begins were Act Two left off, only now the camera is more 
pulled away from Kaleel. Noise can be heard in the background as Buck 
and Taindair enter the shuttle. As the scene starts Kaleel turns his 
attention away from the ship to the noise.

Entering into camera view along with Taindair, Buck: "And just what is 
it you think you're doing?"

In a growling manner, Kaleel: "Carrying out justice for the gods I know 
you only spit upon. I'm sending the one you tainted to meet her end."

Taindair: "Back away from the controls!"

Kaleel: "I take no orders from Sanopp, you scaly devil."

Right after that last line. Buck forcefully grabs Kaleel and throws him 
away from the controls down on to the floor near Osjewelco. Buck: 
"Believe it or not we're here to save you!"

Kaleel: "I'll bet, I've never seen you before tainted one. Just how is 
it you became tainted?" Kaleel points to Taindair. Cont: "Made you 
betray your faith to our makers. What lies did it tell you that would 
make you turn your back on the ones who truly love you?"

Buck goes right up to Kaleel. Buck: "I have never been one of your 
people! I come from another world like my friend does! There are many 
other worlds out there. [ beat ] You are?!"

Kaleel: "Kaleel!"

Buck: "There are many other worlds out there, Kaleel! With many people 
of many faiths! I do not hate or disrespect yours! But believe me when I 
tell you this: Taindair and I are not evil beings bent on mocking the 
good of your makers!"

Buck moves away from Kaleel and takes hold of the piloting controls of 
the ship. Buck: "Taindair, we're leaving."

Taindair: "But the rest of them on this planet?"

Buck: "We're not going to be gone for long. Just long enough for me to 
make a point."

Buck presses some of the controls and the ship powers up further.

Cut camera on to Kaleel and Osjewelco. Osjewelco looks the same as she's 
been, but Kaleel has gone wide-eyed in fear.

Cut to: 

ext: Space:

At first this scene starts out with just the emptiness of space with 
only stars dotting it. Then the camera pans to a small ship labeled, 
"Prison Transport." Note in this scene the ship is moving. V.O. Barney: 
"You keep out of there, that's private stuff!"

Cut to: 

int: Prison Transport:

Joelin is at the ship's controls. Barney is sitting in one of the many 
chairs built into the sides of the ship. Marcus sits across from him, 
and Charisse stands before him. Joelin: "Enjoying Charisse's company?"

Barney: "She's a mind reader! Joelin, I was only going to share my stash 
with you. Not her. Now she-she knows where it is and more! I don't like 
this woman, Joelin. I say we get rid of her at the next stop. What do 
you say?"

Joelin: "No, we work together."

Charisse: "Don't worry about what I'm doing, Beany. I'm only finding out 
whether or not you're trustworthy." At hearing her call him "Beany," he 
gives her a dirty look.

Joelin: "Beany? Never heard you call anyone that before, Charisse. 
Prison changed you?"

Charisse: "Beany Barney is the nick name his fellow partners in crime 
used to call him before he got landed in jail." Smiling at the enraged 
Barney, Cont: "Would you like me to tell them how you got that 
nickname?"

Camera close: a beat as Barney gives her an evil glare. Cont: "My you're 
a sensitive one aren't you? I won't tell."

Marcus chuckles at this, Barney: "You find this funny, ya big lug?" 
Pointing at Joelin and then Charisse as he says this next line, Barney: 
"You can move objects with your mind, and she can read minds. What's 
mister talkative do, try his best to make use of his?"

Marcus gets an angry look on his face at hearing that last line. 
Charisse: "I wouldn't provoke him if I were you, Beany. He may not talk 
much but he can be very good at expressing himself."

Barney: "In what, miming?"

Now Marcus gets up and stands before Barney in an angry manner. Joelin: 
"He's as strong as ten men and he feels no pain. Want to continue 
provoking him?"

Barney who now looks like he's been put in his place, Barney: "No no, 
I'd never think to do anything of the sort from now on."

Cut to:

ext: Space:

The whole of the camera's view is taken up by the picture of the sun 
gone supernova. Hold on this for a short beat before:

Cut to:

int: Shuttle:

The camera is set a way back into the ship. The POV is Kaleel's of Buck 
half turned to him, holding on to the driver's seat with one hand. With 
the other, he's pointing out the window in the front of the ship. Buck: 
"That isn't a test of your people's faith, Kaleel! That's a star, one of 
countless many others! With many of them having planets revolve around 
them! [ beat ] Your star, your sun is dying and with it your planet."

Cut camera to Kaleel and Osjewelco. Osjewelco looks very calm and 
relaxed, while Kaleel looks enraged. Kaleel: "Our makers, Soil, Water, 
Wind would never betray us. My home is the makers of its denizens, and 
all who share it that come from it are its providers! THIS fiery ball 
that lives in the darkness means nothing to us!"

Osjewelco: "Kaleel, please listen to him, we're dying."

Kaleel: "You are tainted, your words mean nothing to me."

Osjewelco: "I haven't thought like you or the others for some time. 
True, the ones dressed in Sanopp's blood did horrible things to us long 
ago. But that was long ago. The great carvings scriptured in Soil's 
hardened body have faded by Wind's hand in the ages since they brought 
terrors to our people. Wind took away writings we once held dear and 
should still, but they are no more. Over the ages it's people like you 
who through the ages have been taught what was on the scriptured 
carvings, to replace what Wind took away. Maybe Wind took away the 
carvings for a reason. Maybe we didn't come to be as we've been bought 
up to believe we have."

Kaleel: "Wind may be one of our makers. But Wind is also a trickster, 
sounding to us falsely to make us move when we hear a storm. Wind took 
away the carvings to make us listen more to him than his brothers. It's 
people like me who know all of what the Scriptures say, and not just 
Wind's word."

Osjewelco: "Kaleel, have you ever stopped to think the other gods might 
be in on this too?"

Kaleel: "Blasphemer!"

Osjewelco: "I think there's more to the skies than what you see in it!" 
Osjewelco points outwards to Buck and Taindair. Cont: "Have they tried 
to hurt us? No, but according to you and those who came before you! We 
should be dead by now, by their hands! Doesn't this fact mean anything 
to you!"

Kaleel: "Osjewelco, they haven't killed us! But I'm sure they have an 
agenda to do something evil to us!"

Osjewelco is directing this line at Kaleel. Osjewelco: "And just what do 
you think that is exactly?!"

Buck: "It's nothing evil, we just thought that if a high ranking member 
of the community you live in. Was shown that Taindair and I have been 
speaking the truth. Then maybe he could convince his followers to follow 
us to safer ground."

Osjewelco: "You see, Kaleel, they don't plan on doing anything of an 
evil nature to us! In fact they need your help to help us!"

Kaleel stays silent for a beat. We can tell by the way he looks his 
wheels are turning in thought. Speaking softly, Kaleel: "Head us back 
home. [ beat ] I need to present myself right to my people."

Osjewelco: "We may be leaving our gods behind for this, but they will 
always be with us."

Buck: "You've done the right thing. Your people will thank you for 
this."

After a beat Kaleel quietly starts moving around. Opening up cabinets 
built into the walls of the ship, moving round their unseen contents. He 
looks in deep concentration to find whatever it is he's looking for. 
Osjewelco: "What are you looking for?"

Kaleel doesn't answer as he continues his search.

Cont: "One of Sanopp? Tainted one? What could he be looking for?"

Taindair looks back to the pair. Taindair: "My name's Taindair Toluo and 
his name's Buck Rogers. Is there something you require to comfort you, 
in this moment, for your new outlook on what's to come?"

Still no answer as Kaleel continues about his activity.

Osjewelco: "You're taking this well right? You're up to something good 
right?"

Kaleel turns to her for a moment and gives her a glare during that time. 
Cont: "Kaleel, what are you up to?"

Osjewelco is starting to look a bit worried. After a beat she gets up 
and goes over to Buck. Cont: "Buck, there's nothing on this chariot 
that's evil right?"

Buck: "Why do you ask that?"

Osjewelco: "I think Kaleel doesn't plan to present himself in a good way 
to my people."

A beat as Buck furrows his brow in thought, before a moment later he 
smiles. Buck: "No evil; we didn't come here with any weapons."

Osjewelco: "Nothing of evil?"

Buck: "Nothing of evil."

Kaleel: "Clean excrement, nothing of evil! Osjewelco, once our people 
see that I have been slain by an instrument of your evil. No one will 
follow you to your so called "promised land"!"

Osjewelco: "Buck!"

Taindair: "He didn't want us to bring any weapons to your world. And as 
the result of this - as he's told you before. There's nothing dangerous 
on board."

At having heard those lines from Taindair Osjewelco turns her attention 
back to Kaleel. Who has just pulled out the carrier last seen in teaser. 
Carefully setting it down on to the floor of the ship. He then proceeds 
to open it up.

Cut camera close up on him as his expression turns to one of shock. 
Osjewelco: "What is it?"

Kaleel: "It's - it's a Brillure, and it's -"

Osjewelco leans in to see it.

Cut to:

int: Carrier:

In this scene we see the little lobster-like animal moving about on 
transparent flakes of plastic, soaking in a thin layer of water. In one 
corner of the carrier is a glob of amphibian looking eggs. V.O. 
Osjewelco: " [ beat ] Only when they're most content."

Cut to:

int: Shuttle:

Kaleel is holding the carrier with Osjewelco bent over his shoulder. 
Buck is moving up to them, and Taindair is were he was in the scene 
before last. Kaleel: " [ beat ] Not observed for two hundred years. What 
could have made it -?"

Buck: "It trusts its surroundings as you should right now."

Kaleel closes his eyes in thought. Osjewelco: "And all who share it are 
our providers. I think the Brillure is trying to say something to you."

His eyes still closed, Kaleel: "So it is, Osjewelco. So it is."

End of Act three:

Beginning of Act Four:

ext: Prison:

Kellogg, Charisse, Marcus, Joelin, and Thairact stand at the entrance to 
the prison that up until moments ago held Kellogg and Thairact. They're 
looking inward towards the prison. Its courtyard is strewn with the 
bodies of humans and robots. Along with debris of various sizes from 
multiple objects. It's nighttime and the only light in this scene is 
from lampposts that surround the prison.

Stating this proudly, Kellogg: "It's amazing what we can all do when we 
work together again as a team."

Thairact: "Force fields and gadgets to make us fall in line. Did they 
really think they could hold us captive forever?"

Joelin: "Feel like thanking anyone for this?"

Kellogg: "Not yet, Joelin, [ beat ] your little friend?"

Joelin: "Oh that little rat? I don't think he's any sort of problem to 
us."

Charisse: "I wouldn't be so sure about that."

Cut to:

int: Prison Transport:

Barney is sitting in the pilot's seat, feet propped up on the dashboard. 
What he's doing here is whistling some nonsensical tune. And picking his 
way through a wallet; not his own. As this scene starts, he's happily 
going away at what was mentioned of him. Till he notices the five coming 
towards the ship.

Quickly he takes his feet off the dash and stows the wallet in one of 
his pockets. Jumps out of the chair and makes his way over to the 
entranceway. Note, the entrance isn't open, he's just standing a few 
feet before it.

Camera close on Barney, who looks nervous for a beat. Then a look of 
realization crosses his face.

Backing the camera up; Barney takes a chip-like key out of one of his 
pockets and swipes it in a slot by the door.

The door opens up, and standing within its airlock are the five. Joelin: 
"So good you could open the door for us."

Cheerfully, Barney: "I saw you coming."

Charisse: "We knew that." She says this line, as her and the other four 
enter the main ship.

As the five enter, extending a friendly hand to Thairact, Barney: "Hi, 
name's Barney, glad to meet -"

Speaking low, Thairact: "It would be very wise of you to return the 
wallet."

With a look of shock, Barney: "You know about that?"

Cut to:

ext: Landing Site:

Osjewelco and Buck are standing together. Buck has his hand around her 
shoulders. They're both looking up at the sky.

Osjewelco: "I'm scared."

Buck: "It's all right to be scared. What's out there are many new 
dangers and wonders for you to explore. I was scared too when my whole 
world suddenly changed around me."

Osjewelco looks to Buck, who then looks to Osjewelco in turn. Osjewelco: 
"You've lost your whole world before too?"

Buck: "I have, but I've accepted how my life has changed because of it. 
As alien as this all must seem to you now. I'm certain you'll adapt to 
your new life out there."

Osjewelco looks at him some more for a beat. Before giving him a peck on 
the cheek. Taking one last good look at her home and heading off for the 
shuttle. Note, the whole time this scene has been happening in the 
background as the two were talking. Taindair has been standing by the 
shuttle helping lead the town's folk into it.

Cut to:

ext: Space:

In the scene we see the Prison Transport, not moving.

Cut to:

int: Prison Transport:

The five are having a meeting among themselves. Note they're talking in 
low, hushed voices. Pan camera to elsewhere in the ship to Barney, who's 
sitting cross-legged on the floor. Annoyed he's not with the others. 
Barney: "Can I?"

Charisse gives him a look then turns her attention back to her teammates 
as they continue talking.

Then Kellogg walks over to him, and speaking in a calm, polite voice, 
Kellogg: "We need to talk."

Barney gets up. Barney: "About what? That mind reader you deal with, she 
doesn't like me and I don't know why. I'm a good person, Kellogg. I know 
I could help you guys."

Kellogg: "You're good guy. [ beat ] Could you keep your voice down?"

Suddenly looking sheepish and speaking soft and low. Barney: " [ beat ] 
Yea, I'm the very kind of person that could help you."

Kellogg: "As for the matter of you joining us. I'd like to speak to you 
[ beat ] more alone, in a more private place."

Still speaking low, Barney: "The bathroom?"

Kellogg: "No, not in the bathroom. A place more tasteful, the airlock."

Kellogg motions for Barney to move into the airlock, which he does. But 
Kellogg doesn't follow him in.

Barney motions for Kellogg to come into the airlock with him, but he 
doesn't. Barney: "Why not? You said you wanted to talk to me in here."

Kellogg: "You wait in here, I'll be back in a moment. Got to have a word 
with the rest of the League first."

Barney gives a smile and a goodbye wave to Kellogg. 

Kellogg shuts the airlock door on Barney.

Cut to:

int: Airlock:

Barney is giving himself a look over, looking pleased with himself. As 
he does this he grooms his clothes. Brushing at his pants with his hands 
and trying to make his shirt look nice and neat.

Cut to:

int: Prison Transport:

Kellogg talking to the rest of his companions. Pointing backwards to the 
airlock behind him. Kellogg: "Joelin, could you have found anyone more 
gullible?"

Cut to:

int: Airlock:

The camera is a couple feet behind Barney. We can see Kellogg by the 
entrance to the airlock. Suddenly after a beat, unseen to us, Kellogg 
hits the controls by the door. We only know he's done this by the 
movement of his arm.

Then in a swift move backwards, towards the camera, Barney disappears 
from the scene.

Cut to:

int: Prison Transport:

Everyone is where we saw them last. After a beat, when this scene 
starts. Just after Kellogg has started talking he starts moving towards 
the rest of the group. Kellogg: "You all understand why that had to be 
done, correct?" He says this giving an inquisitive look that no one 
answers to.

A beat as he's slowly moving up to them. Cont: "He was a con. True, 
that's what we all are. But he was a con artist, a fraud. We don't need 
to have any more fakes among us."

Cut camera to being on Charisse, who looks ashamed of herself. Cont: 
"Now I know your telepathic abilities aren't what they used to be. But 
you've served the League well for as long as you've been in it."

Cut camera back so we can see more of the scene. Cont: "It's because 
you've been so good to us that I'm not going to get rid of you. However 
it's because of your lack of mental prowess. That you won't be with the 
others and myself when we take out our revenge on the one who landed us 
in prison: Captain Buck Rogers."

End Of Act Four.

The End. 

Roll Credits.