This transcript provided by: Farscape Ally! with valuable aid from 30d954A. Thanks, 3030!
Suggestions for corrections/revisions/expansions are always gratefully accepted.
Getting tired, can't think of more creative way to thank $al-Man for the transcript edits except to say, "Thanks!"
| Starring: | |
|
Ben Browder
Claudia Black Virginia Hey Anthony Simcoe Gigi Edgley |
Commander John Crichton Officer Aeryn Sun Pa'u Zotoh Zhaan Ka D'Argo Chiana |
| Guest Starring: | |
|
Wayne Pygram Paul Goddard Claudia Karvan Matt Newton Nicholas Hope David Franklin Jennifer Fisher Adrian Brown |
Scorpius Stark Natira Jothee (Who did not appear in Pt 1) Akkor Lieutenant Braca PK Skipper Gan |
|
Writer: Grant McAloon Who also wrote: | |
Director: Andrew Prowse Who also directed: | |
| CREATED BY: | Rockne S. O'Bannon |
|
VOICE OF RYGEL: VOICE OF PILOT: |
Jonathan Hardy Lani Tupu |
| EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: | Richard Manning |
| EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: | Naren Shankar |
| PRODUCED BY: | Sue Milliken |
| WRITTEN BY: | Grant McAloon |
| DIRECTED BY: | Andrew Prowse |
| EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: |
David Kemper Brian Henson |
| EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: |
Rod Perth Robert Halmi, Jr. |
| EXECUTIVE CONSULTANT: | Rockne S. O'Bannon |
| CREATIVE CONSULTANT: | Justin Monjo |
| DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY | Russell Bacon |
| PRODUCTION DESIGNER: | Tim Ferrier |
| ASSOCIATE PRODUCER: | Andrew Prowse |
| MUSIC BY: | Guy Gross |
| COSTUME DESIGNER: | Terry Ryan |
| EDITOR: | Suresh Ayyar |
| SECOND UNIT DOP: | Danny Batterham |
| MAKEUP/HAIR SUPERVISOR: | Dave Patterson |
| STORY EDITOR: | Lily Taylor |
| SCRIPT EDITOR: | Grant McAloon |
| PRODUCTION EXECUTIVE: | Robert I. Wozniak |
| CREATURE SHOP CREATIVE SUPERVISOR: | Dave Elsey |
| VISUAL EFFECTS: | ANIMAL LOGIC |
COLD OPENMOYA, Command Clutching Stark's mask, Zhaan paces restlessly.
Crichton tries to obey Zhaan’s wishes, but Chiana and D’Argo standing far back by the open doorway, silently urge John back toward Zhaan. Reluctantly, Crichton turns back to the agitated Delvian.
D'Argo, interrupting Crichton's 'voice of reason', strides across the Command.
D'Argo slowly approaches Zhaan, intently serious and intimidating. Zhaan backs away and turns to Crichton for his support.
Crichton takes the mask from her, holding it in one outstretched hand, and looks down at it thoughtfully.
Crichton does a quick double-take, his words abruptly cutting off, as a ghostly image of Stark’s face fills the mask as it rests in Crichton’s hand.
Zhaan takes the mask from Crichton's hand, he's disturbed by this 'vision' and it's hard to say for certain that anyone but he and Zhaan even saw it... Pilot interrupting what may happen next.
Crichton moves quickly, exiting Command.
D'Argo follows Crichton out of Command. INTERCUT EXT. SPACE Moya’s docking web, a nebulous net of green strands, encases a bulky looking transport and draws it toward the open hangar door. INTERCUT MOYA, Hangar Bay/Maintenance Bay Crichton and D’Argo run from the hangar bay, entering the maintenance bay, dragging a unconscious Stark between them. A rag wrapped around his forehead secures a bit of cloth loosely over the right side of his face.
Stark's head snaps up, his breath coming in choking gasps, the cloth flutters with his urgently spoken words. Crichton and D'Argo stop running to listen.
END COLD OPENROLL OPENING CREDITSMy name is John Crichton... an astronaut... A radiation wave hit, and I got shot through a wormhole... Now I'm lost in some distant part of the universe on a ship... a living ship, full of strange, alien lifeforms... help me. Listen please... is there anybody out there who can hear me? ... I'm being hunted by an insane military commander... doing everything I can... I'm just looking for a way home. ACT IMOYA, Medical Bay Stark bolts upright from the table, a broad metallic cylinder in his hands.
Zhaan attempts to minister to Stark who is in a severely weakened state. The remainder of the crew cluster around him, except for John and Aeryn who stand apart in the background. D'Argo examines the mass of papers that Stark withdraws from the cylinder.
Zhaan forces Stark to lie back on the table.
Stark sits up again, while Zhaan works to remove the rag from his face.
Zhaan gently replaces it with Stark's mask.
D'Argo silences Rygel with a well placed hand. With Zhaan's assistance, Stark slides off the table, taking one of the blueprints in his hands.
Sitting on a table, apart from the others, Aeryn looks away for a moment, she is 'not' happy.
Aeryn walks toward Stark.
Crichton approaches the table, examining the blue prints.
Crichton slowly approaches Stark from around the table, looking him very closely in the eyes.
Turning, D'Argo moves to leave.
D'Argo stops and turns back.
D'Argo turns and stalks out. INTERCUT EXT SPACE Moya against a starfield, red nebula in the far background, a transport pod, exiting from Moya, completes and turn and heads down to the planet.
INTERCUT MOYA John walks down a passage, dressed for travel. The corridor reaches a junction and Aeryn joins him, moving from the opposite direction. She is also dressed for travel. They walk together toward the transport hangar.
INTERCUT INT. Transport Pod D’Argo listens to John over comms but does not reply.
INTERCUT MOYA Crichton continues to stalk down yet another branching corridor, Aeryn following, easily keeping the rapid pace.
INTERCUT EXT. PLANET SURFACE Gorgeous CGI of darkened planetary surface, overcast clouds with what looks like a very bitterly cold slanting rain falling. Many large buildings dot the darkened planet surface. It’s a beauty of a shot! INTERCUT INT. PROWLER Aeryn pilots and John perches behind her, leaning slightly over her shoulder for a better view as they approach the planet's surface. A massive structure dominates the view.
INTERCUT EXT. DEPOSITORY Dang! It IS big! It looks as if the top of the structure penetrates cloud cover! INTERCUT DEPOSITORY, Central Reception A heavy door slides open and Crichton and Aeryn enter the central reception area. Many 'civilian' aliens and guards move about. A very odd looking alien female, predominantly blue, walks and talks with a not so odd looking gray haired male alien. On the other side of the central area, D'Argo walks along the wall.
Aeryn watches the 'business' exchange between the two aliens with vague interest, John noting the direction of her gaze glances in that direction as well... and freezes. To his eyes, the alien speaking with the female is Scorpius.
John ducks behind an ornate support beam, dragging Aeryn with him. ( Nope... nothin’ suspicious happening here! )
Aeryn peers around the pillar quickly, then looks back to John.
John looks at her... only slightly disbelieving.
John looks back around the pillar and sees the ‘weird blue alien’ talking to a male alien - sure enough, neither one is Scorpius.
They walk past the ornate pillar, toward the central reception area. Abruptly an alarm begins blaring. Instantly on alert they whirl, back to back, weapons drawn. Many guards quickly surround them, pulse rifles at the ready.
Crichton and Aeryn immediately surrender their pistols, the alarms terminating. A tall gray haired guy approaches, eyeing them with obvious distaste.
Two guards 'sweep' Crichton and Aeryn for additional weapons. Crichton walks away from them, circling Akkor, running a serious bluff.
D'Argo takes the opportunity of distraction, and turns to a control panel, attempting to open a security door.
Crichton glances at D'Argo over Akkor's shoulder.
It seems that every guard in the place mobilizes to capture D’Argo. Crichton bolts in that direction as well. The guards reach him first as the door slides open, attempting to detain him, but he fights back a bit as they enthusiastically pound him to the ground.
Aeryn and Crichton watch from the background as D'Argo is driven to the floor beneath several armed guards.
Weird blue alien chick approaches. It's hard to tell where her 'skin' ends and 'clothing' begins, but I refuse to believe that those two inch heels are 'natural appendages'. She kneels beside D'Argo, pulling his braided mustache gently off his face with clawed fingers.
Natira stands and two guards haul D'Argo semi-upright between them, D'Argo managing a fairly disrespectful laugh.
Natira glances to Gan, who obliges her by burying his fist in the Luxan's gut. D'Argo groans loudly and doubles over. As D’Argo is marched away under heavy guard, Crichton watches in the background.
Crichton turns to leave, but Aeryn lingers as Natira turns about and surveys the crowd in the depository.
END ACT IACT IIMOYA Crichton and Aeryn, returning from the depository. Neither one is in a particularly pleasant mood. They enter a cell Stark must be using as quarters. Crichton attacks Stark immediately, grabbing him by his ragged shirt.
Drawing back a fist, Crichton barely restrains himself from hitting Stark.
Crichton flings Stark away from him, toward Aeryn. Aeryn grabs him and pushes him up against a wall.
Aeryn pulls him away from the wall, Crichton grabs him and flings him face first onto a small table, holding his head immobile with one hand, he presses one knee into Stark's back. ( To say Crichton is furious here, would be an understatement! )
Crichton glances up at Aeryn, panting heavily, face stormy, checking on 'her' belief level.
Stark pulls away from Crichton’s grasp and backs away. Crichton eyes him from across the room, still gravely angered and mildly out of control.
Crichton glances at Aeryn briefly.
Striding across the room, Crichton grabs Stark again, driving him back against the wall.
Unappeased and throughly angry, Crichton presses Stark back hard against the wall, then releases him abruptly.
INTERCUT DEPOSITORY, Natira's Quarters In Natira's quarters, D'Argo sits on the floor divested of his tunic, arms outstretched and secured to a very large wire 'sphere'. He grunts as his already heavily bruised chest is viciously kicked.
D’Argo gasps loudly as Natira tweaks a tentacle.
Natira grinds one of her heels on top of one of D’Argo’s collarbone rings to his attendant screaming! INTERCUT MOYA, Zhaan's Lab Two DRD’s emit light beams that slowly, layer by layer, sculpt a ‘statue’ around Rygel’s body, Zhaan works on a silver canister while Chiana works on Rygel.
Chiana grabs an earbrow and pulls firmly.
Chiana drops the 'gadget' into the bottom of the statue with a muffled clink.
Chiana plucks Rygel's comm from his tunic.
Chiana takes the tiny capsule Zhaan offers her... Zhaan takes one as well.
Rygel passes gas with an odd hollow sound as he is already half encased in the statue.
Zhaan holds a small silver cylinder in from of Rygel's face and it hisses as it emits a cloud of pink gas.
Rygel passes out… ( Finally! )
INTERCUT MOYA, Command At the strategy table, Stark works on hacking the Shadow Depository security system, repeatedly swapping out one chip after another on a small console on the table in front of him.
He swaps out another chip.
Crichton enters.
Crichton takes up a position next to him at the table, watching his progress closely.
Stark collects a small handful of chips and shoves them into John's hand
Stark resumes swapping out chips on the small console while Crichton eyes the chips in his hand.
A large holo image of the Shadow Depository resolves at the center of the table. Stark looks surprised.... then triumphant.
Crichton reaches across the table to put the chips back down. Stark pushes him back abruptly, going into a familiar rant.
Crichton looks surprised, and not too happy with this trip down memory lane, but seems prepared to exercise tolerance.
Quickly looking back at the distracted Stark, Crichton pauses slightly, disbelief etched on his features. Then-- instantly and coldly furious, Crichton pulls his pistol, pressing it firmly against the side of Stark’s neck, his softly spoken words, laced with anger.
Crichton cocks his head slightly, the silence menacing.
Slowly, and with a difficulty that didn't come with putting the weapon there, Crichton draws it away, slowly returning to... 'himself'.
Crichton holsters his weapon and departs without a backward glance.
Stark puts out one hand, as if to pat him gently as he leaves... sighing quietly in relief. Stark returns to his work. INTERCUT EXT. SHADOW DEPOSITORY Exterior shot of the depository, the weather hasn't improved one jot. INTERCUT INT. SHADOW DEPOSITORY Zhaan and Chiana enter the central reception area of the depository. Chiana decked out per usual, but Zhaan is outfitted in a bizzare 'pirate' outfit, complete with eyepatch.
Chiana turns to stalk out, Zhaan drags her back.
Chi follows 'pirate' Zhaan to the reception area, Akkor intercepts her as she walks, borrowing Aeryn's 'no-nonsense' stride.
Two guards electronically sweep a stack of goods.
Natira examines the smallish 'statue' that is part of 'Aralla's' goods.
Natira turns and with a preemptive gesture, a door slides open. Gan enters followed by two guards holding a very unsteady Luxan between them.
Chiana darts away to take D'Argo back to the ship. Standing together, aside from the action, 'Aralla's Guards'; Crichton and Aeryn, watch as D'Argo is lead past.
INTERCUT SHADOW DEPOSITORY, The Vault Predominantly bright white and pale blue, with an oddly shaped control console at the center, the vault is 'brightly lit'. An Octagonally shaped door slides to the side and Natira and 'Aralla' enter, followed by the large pallet of her 'possessions'.
Natira places one hand against the control panel, then indicates 'Aralla' should do the same.
An electronic 'chirping' follows Zhaan placing her hand against a control panel.
The vault container intended for ‘Aralla’ arrives with breathtaking speed, stopping suddenly mere inches from Natira’s face. Taken by surprise, Zhaan staggers backward slightly.
INTERCUT DEPOSITORY, Observation Room Akkor enters the ‘observation room’ with ‘Peacekeepers’, John and Aeryn, he engages a few controls so that ‘Aralla’s’ guards can keep an eye on the action.
Gan enters, he and Akkor stand in the back of the room quietly conferring.
Aeryn and Crichton turn to watch as Gan and Akkor depart in great haste.
Crichton turns back to the multiple observation screens, watching Zhaan and Natira in the vault.
Crichton turns away from the screens, waving an impatient hand in the air.
Aeryn walks past Crichton who still has his back to the screens.
Crichton turns about abruptly, walking back toward the view screens.
One of the observation screens clearly displays Scorpius and entourage walking down a corridor of the depository.
END ACT IIACT IIISHADOW DEPOSITORY, Corridor Akkor intercepts Scorpius and his entourage, while John and Aeryn watch on a screen in the Observation Room.
Scorpius growls impatiently.
Scorpius glances toward his Lieutenant, and Braca steps forward-- taking out Akkor with a couple of simple blows. Akkor collapses groaning to the floor.
Scorpius staggers slightly, panting.
PK Skipper goes into the cooling rod switch routine.
After seeming to edge further and further away from the screens, Crichton looks up at Aeryn's comment, and with piqued interest, he walks in for a closer look at a potential weakness.
They watch as PK Skipper switches out a bright red coolant rod, for a blue rod.
Gan intercepts Natira, passing on a particular bit of news.
Zhaan enters an ‘elevator’ with Gan, and it begins an ascent. Seeing that Zhaan is making a 'clean getaway', Aeryn and Crichton depart the Observation Room, as Scorpius catches up with Natira in the corridor.
INTERCUT DEPOSITORY, Central Reception Zhaan stands with her back against an ornate pillar, looking very relieved at a near miss when John and Aeryn enter from another door as it slides open.
INTERCUT EXT SPACE The transport pod approaches Moya, entering the side docking bay doors. INTERCUT DEPOSITORY, Natira’s Quarters Natira reclines on a couch and Scorpius crosses the room to an interesting looking 'web' chair, taking a seat while his 'entourage' (PK Skipper and Lt Braca) stand near the doorway.
Natira sighs wistfully, standing and crossing to stand over Scorpius reclining in the 'web' chair, Braca follows her, drawing closer to her, the closer she gets to Scorpius.
Natira glances slightly nervously over her shoulder at Braca, then circles around the chair.
INTERCUT MOYA, Command Crichton enters command, with more questions for Stark.
Crichton makes a flat, circular, spinning motion with one upraised index finger.
Stark looks surprised, but also pleased. Crichton stretches out one arm, pointing vehemently at Stark.
Crichton silences whatever ‘lie’ Stark was about to utter by shoving the point of his finger, like a gun, against Stark’s throat. ( And yes, it is all the 'more' menacing and frightening because of the lack of an actual weapon in his hand. )
Crichton flips out, flinging blueprints and chips across the table with both hands.
Stark leans across the table, pointing a finger at Crichton.
Aeryn enters, standing beside Crichton who abruptly lowers himself tiredly onto a chair at the table.
Crichton draws one of the modified comms units toward him, tapping it lightly.
INTERCUT DEPOSITORY, Natira's Quarters
Both Braca and PK Skipper look as though they would ‘like’ to object, and perhaps have many reasons for doing so, yet they turn and reluctantly depart. INTERCUT MOYA, D'Argo's Quarters D’Argo is lying on his side on the bed, still in considerable pain. Chiana sits beside him attentively as Crichton enters.
Chiana stalks off leaving a much chastened Crichton in her wake.
Without answering, a much frustrated Crichton leaves. INTERCUT EXT. SHADOW DEPOSITORY Thunder rumbles amidst a heavy downpour. Miserable weather. ( ooooh... the CGI shot from above... the infamous snippet from the ‘Final Four Preview’ ) INTERCUT INT. 'DEPOSIT BOX' Inside the deposit box, the 'statue' stands, it's 'head' slightly blocked by a smaller crate. The statue quivers slightly and Rygel's muffled voice is heard from inside the statue as he struggles to escape.
Rygel finally pushes the top of the statue off, grunting and panting all the while.
INTERCUT DEPOSITORY, Central Reception 'Allara' and Chi stand at the window, conversing with Akkor.
INTERCUT INT. 'DEPOSIT BOX' Rygel climbs up the the interior wall of the deposit box.
An access hatch at the top of the container opens and Rygel's hands grip the edge as he grunts and pants.
Rygel's head and shoulders poke out the top of the deposit box, he pants and wheezes heavily, holding Stark's 'gizmo' in one hand.
Mechanical whirring sound is accompanied by movement of another deposit box in the background. INTERCUT DEPOSITORY, Observation Room Akkor escorts Aeryn and Crichton back into the Observation Room, then quickly departs.
Crichton crosses to the control station and presses a button.
Crichton’s channel surfing pays off in a view of Scorpy and Natira in her quarters.
INTERCUT Natira and Scorpius continue their visit in her quarters, Scorpius reclines on the couch while Natira... uh... licks his face.... ( ew! gah! ) John and Aeryn watch ‘unobserved’ from the observation room monitor.
Natira stands and moves toward the door. Scorpius stands and follows her out the door. In the Observation Room, Crichton watches with intense interest.
Crichton grabs Aeryn by the arm and dashes out of the Observation Room.
INTERCUT DEPOSITORY, The Vault Zhaan presses her hand against the central control panel.
INTERCUT DEPOSITORY, Deposit Box Rygel clings to the top of another deposit box, ready to climb back down inside, but the box begins to move - the force of the wind generated by the movement of the box forces Rygel to cling precariously to the top of the box - his clothes blow off (arg!) and he ‘plummets’ inside, first gasping in fear and then screaming as he falls! INTERCUT DEPOSITORY, The Vault Chiana and Zhaan watch as their box arrives. INTERCUT DEPOSITORY, Natira's Quarters Aeryn peers inside, and John creeps around the corner with exaggerated care - tip-toeing toward the table that holds the container of Scorpius’ coolant rods.
Crichton snags the container from the table and pops out one of the coolant rods.
Crichton waves his hand vigorously about his head as if to dispel the unwelcome voice. INTERCUT DEPOSITORY, The Vault Zhaan, Chiana and a Guard load her possessions onto a large cart - Zhaan spies Rygel poking out of one of the containers and gestures quickly to Chiana while Zhaan distracts the guard.
Chiana shoves Rygel unceremoniously back into the container and secures the lid.
INTERCUT DEPOSITORY, Natira's Quarters Aeryn keeps lookout while John struggles with accomplishing his plan for Scorpius, waving his hand desperately around his head, trying to silence a particularly annoying and persistent voice.
But it’s clear that he can’t as he desperately struggles to get his muscles to obey his mind, and bring the coolant rod and the jelifan paste together… his hands are held apart and his arms shake as if he strains against the hold of steel bands. Aeryn darts over and ‘tags’ him…
Crichton stands quickly, giving her the rod and the paste, and stands behind her - impatient and very agitated!
They both hear a noise in the corridor outside the room.
Crichton drops to the floor, concealed behind the couch. Aeryn puts the ‘contaminated’ rod back into the case and dives over the couch, landing on top of John-- both out of sight just as PK Skipper arrives to fetch the coolant rod case. John is having some difficulty keeping quiet, and Aeryn places her fingers over his lips. PK Skipper departs with the coolant rod case. INTERCUT DEPOSITORY, The Vault PK Skipper changes out one of Scorpy’s coolant rods, Natira approaches.
INTERCUT DEPOSITORY, Corridor Zhaan leads while Chiana pushes the large cart. A guard accompanies them.
Zhaan shoots a glare at Chi.
INTERCUT MOYA, Command Stark watches the hologram of the bank, D'Argo lurking in the background. INTERCUT DEPOSITORY, The Vault Scorpius stands inside an open container holding the head of the Hynerian ‘statue’.
Natira steps quickly to the central control panel, engaging a control, an alarm blares.
Natira dashes away like a scared rabbit! INTERCUT DEPOSITORY, Corridor John and Aeryn, caught by surprise as the alarm begins to pulsate. They RUN! INTERCUT Growling furiously, Scorpius follows Natira. INTERCUT John and Aeryn bolt full speed down a bank corridor, just making it past a security door before it closes. INTERCUT Stark looks up, noting with great surprise that all hell is breaking loose in the Depository. INTERCUT One of the massive security doors closes in front of Zhaan and Chiana.
Chiana gasps fearfully and Rygel pokes his head out of the top most container on the pallet. INTERCUT John and Aeryn continue running down a corridor, but this time they fail to make it past a security door before it closes.
Crichton engages Stark's passkey in front of the sealed door. I does NOT open.
They turn and run back the way they came, taking a side corridor.
END ACT IIIACT IVDEPOSITORY, Corridor John and Aeryn run around a corner, the alarm continues to blare.
INTERCUT Zhaan and Chiana, remain trapped behind the closed security door.
Zhaan takes the guard down and out.
INTERCUT John and Aeryn run into another sealed portal, John tries the passkey to no effect.
INTERCUT
INTERCUT
INTERCUT Stark continues to calmly work with the depository security systems. INTERCUT
INTERCUT
INTERCUT DEPOSITORY, Observation Room Scorpius, Akkor, Natira and Braca gather in the Observation Room, the alarm is abruptly cut off by an engraged Scorpius slamming his hand against a control.
INTERCUT MOYA, Command
INTERCUT
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INTERCUT The security screens in the observation room are filled by incoherent static.
INTERCUT
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Crichton clicks the 'passkey' on and off several times.
INTERCUT
INTERCUT
Crichton flips out again, trying to drive the voices out of his head - ranting in the background as Aeryn works out a ‘revised’ plan.
INTERCUT
INTERCUT
The security door rolls open in front of her and she walks through. INTERCUT D’Argo smirks at this reminder of his own actions. INTERCUT
INTERCUT John and Aeryn walk down a dark and silent corridor - silent except for the murmuring voice in John’s head.
Crichton stops walking and begins an abrupt and mad dance, flinging both his arms in the air, swatting madly at some unseen force-- completely out of control! Seeing this, Aeryn dashes back toward him, grabbing a handful of jacket, skillfully avoiding an accidental blow.
Crichton continues flailing about as Aeryn drags him out of sight in a side corridor, pressing him up against the wall.
Voice still echoing in his head, Crichton grabs hers, focussing on her face as the voice falls silent... and kisses her! Aeryn permits this for a moment, but then pushes him away.
Crichton hangs onto her face, stroking her hair with the fingers of one hand.
They both hear someone approaching.
John and Aeryn stand ready in the side corridor as the guards approach their point of concealment. Stepping out Crichton decks one with a right cross while Aeryn kicks the gun out of the hands of the other guard. Disarmed, Crichton decks him too, with a solid left. They both look down at the unconscious guards a moment…
INTERCUT The sealed portal in front of Zhaan and Chiana slowly opens before them. INTERCUT
INTERCUT Zhaan and Chiana push the cart down the corridor quickly, in a minor panic.
INTERCUT Stark eyes the Hologram in a major panic! INTERCUT Zhaan and Chiana push the cart while Rygel whines from his spot near the top.
INTERCUT Stark appears frozen with panic, D’Argo looms over his shoulder!
INTERCUT Aeryn and John, having removed the guards uniforms, they discuss John’s ‘plan’.
Seizing the opportunity, Aeryn tosses the uniform aside and runs in the opposite direction. Crichton tosses the other uniform aside, attempts a very weak bit of misdirection, and follows her.
INTERCUT
INTERCUT Chi and Zhaan continue pushing the loaded pallet down a corridor, the distant voices of guards do nothing for their peace of mind, they remain in something of a minor panic. INTERCUT John and Aeryn approach another closed door, both armed with stolen pulse rifles. John, still conducting an internal battle with Scorpius, uses Stark’s ‘gizmo’ to open the door.
INTERCUT Zhaan and Chiana are stalled behind a final closed portal.
INTERCUT
INTERCUT
INTERCUT Stark survey's the depository holo... his panic growing in increments. INTERCUT
INTERCUT Stark completely panics and starts pounding the ‘hacking device’ against the table. D’Argo stuns him handily and tosses his unconscious body on the floor. INTERCUT John and Aeryn round a corner as John is overwhelmed by the voice in his head, grimacing in pain his arm flails madly in the air. Aeryn moves to help him again, and he grabs her arm, his grip painful!
Aeryn tries to keep moving but he pulls her back to him.
Aeryn moves away, leaving a dazed Crichton to follow. INTERCUT Scorpius, Gan, Braca and PK Skipper move down a depository corridor, attempting to intercept John.
INTERCUT
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INTERCUT Zhaan takes her pill.
INTERCUT The hologram of the depository resolves on the command table.
D’Argo, amazed, stares at the hologram, panting with relief.
INTERCUT
Zhaan manipulates the small silver canister of Melar gas - just as three guards catch up with them.
The final door slides open, and more guards are revealed outside the corridor.
Zhaan nods to Chiana, then triggers the melar gas container, tossing it at the guards feet. Dark pink smoke fills the area and the guards keel over immediately.
Rygel keels over from the gas.
Both laugh with relief! INTERCUT DEPOSITORY, Corridor Scorpius strides quickly down the corridor.
INTERCUT DEPOSITORY, Observation Room
INTERCUT
Braca and Gan race ahead and are soon out of sight.
Scorpius growls and pushes her away. INTERCUT Zhaan and Chi push the pallet into the central processing area, another door slides open and Zhaan gets ready to blow whoever it is away with a ‘borrowed’ pulse pistol/rifle, but it’s only Aeryn and a weary Crichton - still struggling a bit with internal Scorpy.
The voice murmuring in Crichton's head is much weaker, as Crichton also seems, the words unintelligible.
Aeryn, Zhaan and Chiana enter another segment of the Depository… looks to be an enclosed room/freight elevator… the doors close slowly as John secures the first access portal, then walks to the second.
Aeryn and Zhaan disappear behind the closed door as John pauses seeming to listen intently to something we can’t quite hear, he glances toward the door Aeryn just disappeared behind and then moves to a third portal. Glancing down at the guards littering the floor he hears muted voices and the definite sound of approaching footsteps.
Crichton engages the portal control, the door slowly sliding closed. John conceals himself to the side just as Gan arrives and flings himself in the opening, attempting to hold the door open. It continues to slide closed despite his effort.
Braca tries to hold the door open with Gan, it’s closing by millimeters, so he opts for a second plan, and striking Gan he pushes him through the door. Gan screams as the door crushes him. Braca scrambles through the opening over Gan’s body.
Crichton steps into view, shoving the pulse rifle in Braca’s face
Crichton clubs Braca with the rifle, and he falls through the door opening. Crichton steps around Gan’s body, puts the rifle on the floor and attempts to wedge Gan’s body back through the propped open doorway. Without warning a black clad arm shoots through the opening and seizes Crichton’s throat. We are treated to an abrupt close up of Scorpy’s face through the slight opening in the door. John struggles to rip the claw off his throat as Scorpius easily pushes the door open with his free hand. A blood chilling moment-- straight out of Crichton’s nightmares. Scorpius leers at his captive prey.
Unable to release the iron grip on his throat, Crichton gasps for breath, his voice hoarse.
Scorpius walks further into the room, walking John backward, he slowly rises up on his toes, fighting the grip on his neck as he's lifted up and thrust against a pillar, Scorpius right in his face.
Gasping under difficulties of his own, Scorpius collapses to his knees, taking Crichton with him.
Scorpius pales dramatically ( as if THAT were possible ), his breath a choking gasp, greenish ooze spills out the side of the coolant rod chamber. Crichton grins, almost laughing.
Crichton reciprocates his point by tapping on Scorpius' head, enjoying the moment despite his position. Scorpius reciprocates himself, by slamming Crichton face down on the ground, holding him there with immovable force.
PK Skipper runs into the chamber, kneeling beside Scorpius with the coolant rod container.
She does her thing with Scorpy’s coolant rod chamber. It cycles out of his skull as Crichton continues to struggle and Scorpius gasps. PK Skipper removes the red coolant rod and, finding something odd about it, rises - closely examining it. - It BLOWS in her face-hurling her backward, landing just in front of John, her blood covered face up close and personal-- this is not his desired result. Scorpius, entirely pissed (as if he weren’t before), yanks Crichton to his knees by the back of his coat.
Crichton's refusal obviously causes him a great deal of pain, and only comes at the cost of great effort.
Completely against his own will, Crichton finds himself pulling a coolant rod from the container, he stares at it with amazed disbelief.
Scorpius collapses against John who continues to struggle mightily against his own hand which inches closer to the coolant rod chamber with each command.
Crichton screams as he flings Scorpius away from him. They both collapse to the floor on their backs.
Crichton leaves the coolant rod lying on the floor, before rolling onto his side …
Crichton begins ‘crawling’ away, wailing a familiar tune at the top of his lungs - drowning out the insistent voice in his head!
Scorpius abandons persuading the retreating John and attempts to reach the rod himself, which John so thoughtfully left on the floor nearby.
Scorpius’ hand fractionally decreases the distance between it and the blue rod as John’s voice fades away. END ACT IVEPILOGUEMOYA, Cargo Bay Zhaan, Stark, Rygel, D'Argo and Chiana confer in the Cargo Bay, surrounded by the many black crates purloined from the Shadow Depository. Each one filled with large octagonal shaped 'ingots'.
Zhaan steps away from Stark briefly, pulling an ingot from Rygel's fingers, she places it back inside the crate, her words directed at Rygel and Chiana.
Zhaan returns to Stark, smiling warmly.
Chiana places one smaller crate on top of a larger one as D'Argo turns to her.
Chiana rests one hand over D'Argo's, briefly and then turns to leave. INTERCUT MOYA, Command John sits alone on the floor, back braced against the far wall, his head bowed. Aeryn enters, and stands before him, and his head slowly rises by increments to look into her eyes. His entire being is defeated, dejected, depressed.
His head lowers slowly once more.
Aeryn sits beside him, and he relaxes slightly, releasing his knees, tucking one leg in close, the other straightens slightly as she settles into place.
Aeryn turns slightly away, her expression grave. He squeezes his eyes closed, an intense frown building as he remembers.
Inexpressably tired, Crichton leans forward, lowering his head and pressing his mouth to his bent knee.
John has something on his mind and wants to share it, he's having difficulty getting it out, but Aeryn waits patiently, leaning in slightly to catch his slightly muffled voice as he speaks... hesitantly.
He shakes his head slightly.
Aeryn pulls him toward her, resting his head on her shoulder.
Grave concern expresses itself in her eyes as she gently strokes the back of his head and neck. INTERCUT MOYA, Cargo Bay Vacant now as all have departed, the area is darkened and still, except for a faint rattling sound. Inside one of the containers, small mechanical 'spider' legs protrude from one of the 'ingots'. The once 'ingot', now, ‘spider’, climbs out of the container and drops to the floor and scurries away. In hiding between containers the ‘spider’ extrudes a greenish acid that slowly burns into Moya’s deck. TO BE CONTINUEDFADE TO BLACKROLL ENDING CREDITS |