V (1984) s01e10 Episode Script

The Conversion

Good evening, I am Howard K.
Smith and this is the state of the War tonight.
In the boot of Italy near Rome, a battle is raging with Resistance fighters dug in all along the Appian Way.
Closer to home, our own freedom fighters yesterday attacked and obliterated an important supply depot of the Alien Central State's Army on the plains of Oklahoma.
Meanwhile, the standoff continues on the Mongolian rim in Arizona where the Rann Bishop commandos are hemmed against the sheer cliffs of the Grand Canyon, fighting for their lives.
On the brighter side, the Freedom Network has awarded this week's Medal of Valour to Dixie Reilly a high school science teacher who used his home computer to patch into the top secret Alien Security System.
The information he was able to provide the local Resistance prevented a surprise attack on Memphis.
And that's where we stand tonight.
From the Freedom Network in New York, our hopes are with you.
Good night.
We shouldn't be acting on our own.
We need backup.
There wasn't time.
We got word that Diana's moving the converter to Legation.
How can you be sure this is the convoy? Willie intercepted the radio message.
What if this converter is too big to haul out of here? We not gonna haul it, we're gonna trash it.
This is a lot of hardware for a trashing.
We're going to need it.
I told you we needed backup.
It is too late now.
We gotta go forward.
You take the back jeep.
Go.
Come on.
Move it.
Notify Diana we're taking them to the Mother Ship.
They did what? Why'd you let Ham do it? Couldn't you wait? There wasn't time.
We got word from Indio they were slipping the converter through tonight.
And you didn't try to stop him? Have you ever tried to stop a runaway train? I mean, that's why I called you.
- I want to know if they'll kill them.
- No way.
They hit the jackpot with Kyle and Ham.
Those weren't just prisoners, those were instant promotions.
Any luck monitoring the Visitor Legation? Not much.
It sounds as if they might have taken Kyle and Mr.
Ham to the Mother Ship.
Exchange me for them.
Absolutely not.
Diana won't hurt me.
- She wants me alive, not dead.
- Forget it, Elizabeth.
It's the only way.
No, sweetheart.
We'll think of another way.
Diana gets you, we'll never get you back.
Let's start looking.
The only way we're going to get them back is if we make our own breaks.
Just couldn't stay away, could you, Mr.
Tyler? Yeah, I'm nuts about you.
I'm going to have to discourage that.
I was going to eliminate you quickly.
I think I'll do it slowly instead.
What, throw away a winning hand? I don't play games.
Incinerate the tough one.
We'll dine on the tender.
Ship approaching.
Identify.
- Prospero.
- That's Charles' ship.
Don't go by reputation that's undoubtedly exaggerated and self-promoted.
In his case I'm not interested in lists of conquests.
I am interested in what he's doing here.
Why would the Leader send his Special Envoy? A promotion for you.
An award, perhaps.
Yes.
That must be it.
Tell the Prospero I'm onboard and will meet the shuttle.
Attention, docking crew, gate 7.
Prepare to offload the incoming command shuttle prop.
I wish that I had been given more warning.
Time for a fitting welcome.
Perhaps a dinner.
I've come to conquer, not to dine.
The Leader's become very impatient with our lack of progress in the war.
Yes, the loss of Lydia.
Oh, yes.
It was a terrible tragedy.
I conducted an investigation myself.
- Really? - Yes.
And what did you discover, Diana, dear? Obviously a plot by the Fifth Column.
- How did - I must be psychic.
I had a feeling there might be an accident.
I sent a drone in my place.
I took another shuttle.
What a relief.
I'll be preparing your quarters.
Would you be staying long? - As long as it takes.
- Takes for what? To win the war.
I don't understand.
You're assuming my command? It isn't necessary that you understand.
The Leader was disappointed with the report he received from Lydia on your record here.
Thus, I'm taking over your command.
And I have been made Charles' adjutant.
- No doubt a reward for your loyalty.
- No doubt.
I've been monitoring your activities here.
Some of your prisoners will be of value to me.
Yes, you snagged a fair bit of game, didn't you, Diana? Some work while others intrigue.
Not only a fair bit of game has been snagged but you've provided me with the very animal I was looking for.
I have plans for our Mr.
Tyler.
He's dangerous.
- He should be eliminated.
- All in good time.
But first I'm going to convert him.
The conversion process is not foolproof.
I've had disappointing results.
I know.
Charles has developed an improved method.
We've brought it with us on a microchip.
Fascinating.
I've moved the conversion chamber to the Legation.
Why don't you give me the microchip and I'll see that it's installed.
That's quite all right.
I'm sure Lydia can manage.
I see.
And what is my function to be? You will remain as Chief Science Officer.
Naturally, you will clear everything through me.
And Lydia? You may consult with her, if I'm not available.
Go to the Legation.
I want the converter operable as soon as possible.
Ladies.
Prepare a shuttle.
I'll be going to the Legation immediately.
Send a transmission to the Legation.
Tell them that Lydia is arriving by shuttle and is to be met at the landing pad.
Excuse me, Diana.
But security reports that all transmissions to and from the Legation is being monitored.
The Resistance? Shall I send a courier instead? No.
Leave it to me.
Put me through to Legation.
I want to make sure that Lydia has a reception befitting an adjutant.
Lydia 's shuttle will be arriving at the landing pad at 1400 hours.
As Charles's adjutant, she deserves VIP treatment.
What's up? Can we use this? This is it.
Thanks for the use of the limo.
What's that? Too tight? Sorry, one size fits all.
See that the cargo boxes containing the microchip and the spare parts for the converter are unloaded and brought to Legation at once.
Welcome to LA.
How many times are you going to ask the same questions? I'm sorry.
Let me ask you this.
What do you suppose this guy Charles is doing right about now? Tearing the city apart looking for me.
I hear he's hardly got enough time for that, the way Diana's keeping him occupied.
That's a lie.
How would you know that? The same way we knew when you were arriving.
That snake.
We hear that at this very instant she is having Ham Tyler interrogated on the Mother Ship.
She can't do anything without reporting to me.
I'm Charles' adjutant.
Tyler can't be transferred from the Legation without authorization from either me or Thanks.
We didn't know where he was.
You've made a serious error in kidnapping me.
Can it.
- Did you get all that? - Sure did.
We better get word to Elias before they try to move Ham.
Right.
We may get our hands on Kyle as well.
Since you took such pains to see the conversion chamber, Mr.
Tyler I'm delighted to introduce you to it.
Take him to 200 cycles.
In order to defeat your enemy you must know how to make him vulnerable.
First, we erode Mr.
Tyler's will then we program him to act on a trigger phrase.
Well, then, what does he like? Who does he love? He loved a woman and their daughter.
He married her in Cambodia.
She's missing.
He is still trying to find her.
Who does he hate? You, for a start.
But let's pick someone close to him, not an enemy.
Why not Mr.
Donovan? Begin dream sequence.
Sequence has begun.
Now to create the conflict.
I'm not here.
I'm definitely not here.
What do you think? Wave to Daddy.
You give him a nice wave, and you get over here.
What are you doing here, Donovan? Good stuff.
No, Donovan! That's my wife! That's my daughter.
That's my family, Donovan.
That's very interesting.
What do you plan to do with Mr.
Tyler when you're finished? Place him back inside the Resistance.
By the time I'm finished, Ham Tyler will kill Mike Donovan on live television for the entire country to see.
And the Resistance will be no more.
Turn it up to 500 cycles per second.
Dream, Mr.
Tyler.
Dream deeply.
Punch in conveyor, Ham's wife and children.
You're on final cycle.
He could break at 650.
Terminate at 640.
Punch in Donovan.
Donovan, what are you doing here? Just pushing the food along.
There's my son now.
Kill Donovan.
Take a look behind you, Ham.
Shut the machine off.
Can't do it.
Got a deadline.
Look.
Your wife your daughter There's my son now.
Kill Donovan.
This is not my family.
Donovan, help me! No.
Take a look down there.
Go ahead.
Pick up the gun.
Kill me.
I'm definitely not here.
They're at 644 cycles.
Good.
Now watch.
Bring it down to zero.
There's a good fellow.
Tell me what're you going to do for me now.
There's my son now.
Kill Donovan.
You see, Diana the sound cocks the pistol.
The phrase fires it.
Now, what's this fairy tale about? Tyler killing Donovan.
Fairy tales don't interest me.
Making history does.
Which is what I'm offering you.
Ham Tyler assassinating Mike Donovan on television.
Done under the guise of a prisoner exchange arranged by you.
Your security will then necessarily terminate the assassin.
That's very ambitious.
But even if you could get Tyler to kill his friend Donovan would never agree to a prisoner exchange arranged by me.
We're mortal enemies.
He'd suspect a trap.
Not if it's your son being exchanged.
- What? - He was captured with Ham Tyler.
Caught in the act of sabotage.
Those are grounds for execution.
But I decided to spare him.
He will be exchanged for Lydia, who has just been kidnapped.
Mr.
Chiang, you check on the whereabouts of my son.
Yes, Mr.
Bates.
Obviously I'd like to discredit the Resistance.
And I'd like to see Donovan and Tyler dead.
But I need proof.
I appreciate a cautious man.
A demonstration will be arranged.
No harm must come to my son.
That is entirely up to you.
We can't just leave them.
We've gotta get them out.
We better surprise them, we don't stand a chance.
Come on.
He's right.
A frontal attack on the Legation right now would be suicide and you know that.
When Ham and I were in Nam, I got cut off.
I never would've made it if Ham hadn't come in and gotten me out.
So I'm not going to leave him now.
There must be something we can do.
I know Kyle wouldn't desert us if things were reversed.
Honey, we're not deserting him.
But we can't just risk everything without something definite to go on.
Excuse, please.
Charles, the Leader's convoy has taken Ham to Science Frontiers.
Envoy, Willie.
I think Diana is being replaced.
Perhaps.
But the arrival of Charles does mean one thing: That the Leader intends to win.
So do we.
Any sign of Kyle? No, but it's got to be up, right? If we hustle, we can catch Ham at Science Frontiers.
Or in transit.
He's got a good point.
Come on, Willie, we need you.
Wait outside.
Why don't you relax, Kyle? I can spare you the pain that Ham Tyler is suffering.
Selling out's my father's game, not mine.
That's a shame.
I find you very attractive.
I've learned much from your mating rituals.
I hope you've been comfortable in your gravity chair.
But I found a few secret pleasures that you might find interesting.
I'll bet.
You have no idea how appreciative I can be to those who cooperate.
I think I prefer the chair.
Keep him here till I get back.
Don't hurry on my account.
Sit tight.
Don't get up.
I'll find my own way out.
Gentlemen, I believe you two know each other.
You'll forgive me if I don't rise to shake your hand.
I wouldn't take it.
Same winning personality.
Place the photograph over there.
When I tell you to, read what's on this card.
Are you crazy? Now read the card.
"I don't see him.
"Wait.
"There's my son.
" Timing is all.
As you can see.
You have a few seconds to move away from Donovan.
The trigger phrase is underlined.
- "There's my" - I wouldn't finish that sentence.
Very impressive, Charles.
I'll set up the meeting right away.
Free live rodents for our troopers in uniform.
Step right up.
Don't be shy.
Here you go.
Enjoy.
If only my mother could see me.
Willie, you look cute.
She was bit of a chameleon, old mom.
- You mean a comedian.
- No, chameleon.
It's in my blood.
I hope this works.
Are you kidding? Live rodents, all you can eat.
They can't resist it.
Heads up, they're on their way.
- Got you.
- Let's make it.
Over here, guys.
Stop.
Free live rodents.
All you can eat.
Come one, they're free.
It will only take a minute.
Good job, Willie.
Come, Mr.
Ham.
Let's go.
Comb the ship and do it quietly.
Find Kyle Bates and notify no one but me.
When I move into my permanent quarters remind me to have a privacy circuit installed.
Of course.
I just thought you'd like to know that the Resistance has liberated Ham Tyler.
That is precisely the kind of incompetence that brought me here.
Never mind.
In fact, it will work even better this way.
The Resistance will never suspect Ham Tyler now that they've rescued him.
- How's Kyle Bates? - Difficult.
See that he's brought to the master control room at 1800 hours.
I've arranged with Bates for a telecast that will let the Resistance know we're ready to make the exchange.
Is something the matter? I was thinking about Lydia.
She knows many secrets valuable to the rebels.
She's not a strong woman.
I have found her amazingly vital.
Our perceptions of her are very different.
But mine's the one that counts.
I was worried.
We couldn't risk being followed.
So we took the long way back.
How you feeling? I need a little time to myself.
Where's Kyle? We didn't see him.
Last time I saw him was the Mother Ship.
He's probably there.
We'll get him back.
Don't worry.
All right? Never better.
What's wrong with you? Nothing.
He's had a tough time.
He just needs a little space.
Everybody knows what you're going through.
Especially me.
I went through it, remember? And I know if I can get through it, you can get through it.
I'm fine.
Look at this.
They're handing them out all over town.
Bates is going on television to ask for help.
Mike, what does it say? They've agreed to a live telecast of Kyle from the Mother Ship.
They're asking for a prisoner exchange.
Kyle for Lydia.
Bates to act as intermediary.
I don't trust Bates.
He wouldn't do anything to harm his son.
Bates would do anything to get what he wants.
On my furlough I'm going to go sun on a rock somewhere.
Now that sounds good, I think I'll do the same.
Hey, buddy, where you going? I'm going to go the Galápagos Islands.
I hear they're smog-free.
Would you like a fresh rodent? - No, thanks.
- Come on, it's the last one.
Maybe just this once.
Thank you.
Are you sure you want it? Looks awfully good.
Didn't anyone ever tell you not to play with your food? I wonder what's going on.
That Diana, always up to something.
We're ready.
Good evening.
I am Charles, Special Envoy from our Leader.
I come to you in good faith and with the hope that we can set aside some of the misconceptions that have divided our peoples.
We are not your enemies.
What is this? An Oxford or a Cambridge list? In the words of one of your famous presidents I'm having déjà vu.
''You have nothing to fear, but fear itself.
'' Tonight I wish to allay that fear.
Kyle Bates, son of one of your important leaders was captured during an act of sabotage in which several of our people were killed.
He was not harmed.
Lydia, my adjutant was kidnapped by the Resistance.
I have offered Kyle Bates in exchange for her safe return.
He is here.
He is well.
I'm sure he'd like to speak to his father.
Please feel free to say whatever you want.
Free speech.
Right.
They haven't given me a whole lot of time here so I just want to you to know that I'm okay.
Elizabeth if you're watching, I want you to know that I love you.
No matter what happens, nothing will ever change that.
I love you, too, Kyle.
This concludes our special broadcast from the Mother Ship.
We will give you updates as they become available.
This transmission will be rebroadcast later this evening.
It's obvious Bates is desperate.
He's willing to risk his own son's life to get to us.
We're the only thing standing in Bates' way of controlling the city.
Diana's in his way.
Bates could live with that.
It's a trap, Mike.
Not if we reset it.
We agree to the prisoner exchange, but on our terms.
Won't they be waiting for us? I have an idea.
We wait until the very last minute before we announce the exact spot.
I'd say the abandoned sports arena at Riverhead.
This guy Charles has rigged a worldwide television hookup.
But they'll only broadcast what they want seen.
Right.
But Deke Harris at KDHB is an friend of mine.
I can get him to rig a hookup of our own.
How's Bates gonna violate a truce in front of 40 million people? What do you say? I say we go for it.
How bad was it? What did they do to you? I don't know.
You must remember something.
My wife.
My daughter.
Bits and pieces of things.
What things? I'm not sure.
Angry? Killing angry? Yes.
Who? They messed with my mind.
You've been through worse, Ham.
Like Julie said, it didn't work on her.
You're a hell of a lot tougher than she is.
Maybe.
Maybe not.
I've been expecting your call.
The way the phones are tapped here I thought I'd play it safe.
I've heard from the Resistance.
Time and place of the exchange are set.
Live TV coverage.
You'll notice they're set up in anticipation of a trap.
They could never anticipate Donovan being shot by one of his own.
A sports arena.
How quaint.
They've barely given us enough time to get there.
I suggest you call Charles and tell him to get there with my son right away.
Do I detect a note of concern? I didn't know you and Kyle were all that close.
Let me tell you something, Diana they say that red blood's thicker than green.
Something happens to my son, I'll spill a little of yours just to find out.
I'll see you later.
We'll use these tunnels to get out in case anything goes wrong.
Ties into the main sewer line.
At least we can get back.
What if they try and trick us? We'll rig explosives just in case we need a diversion.
The exchange will happen over here.
What about the news people? Won't they be hurt? It will just be a lot of noise, Willie.
Nobody will get hurt.
We got you covered.
Let's move out.
Okay, everybody, let's get moving.
We need to plant these explosives to cover the escape.
Resistance can be extremely unpredictable.
That is both a strength and a weakness to be used to our advantage.
I wonder if the people will believe it when Tyler kills Donovan.
They'll believe whatever we want them to.
I want to take a moment with my son.
Bring Mr.
Bates his son.
Thank you.
Despite our obvious differences, I've come to help you.
- I didn't ask for your help.
- I know.
But you might need it.
If I need you, I'll holler.
Kyle, for once in your life, listen to me.
There is not much time.
Please don't shut me out.
There's a lot of danger here.
Anything could happen, go wrong.
When it does, I want you to stay clear of it.
You understand? I'll keep it in mind.
I know I've made a lot of mistakes.
When this is over come see me.
Maybe we can talk.
Time is up.
I want to remind you that you are here under a flag of truce.
I expect everyone to act accordingly.
Are the Visitors ready for the exchange? We are.
The Resistance? - Where are you going? - Keep him honest.
We're ready.
I see you've brought Lydia.
All right, let's proceed.
No, where's Kyle? Where is he? I don't see him.
Wait.
There's my son now.
No! Dad.
Take off! Let's go.
Move it.
Remarkable.
Tyler missed Donovan.
But hit Bates.
It could have been worse.
They might have shot Lydia as well.
Or you.
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